pic18f driving usb printers

[Luciano]

Hi Serkan,

I understand you are currently using a printer with a serial port.

A simple solution could be a DOS compatible printer with a centronics parallel port.

Some low cost printer are GDI printer only. (Windows host-based printers).
These printes will not work if connected to a DOS based PC or microcontroller.

For a quick test, boot the PC from DOS and type the DOS internal command:

DIR *.* > PRN

(Make sure the parallel port is set as "Normal" in PC BIOS).

If you see the output on paper the printer understands "text only".

If the first test is OK, then try to see if the printer supports the
Epson Escape Codes or the Hewlett-Packard PCL commands.


Interface to your portable recorder:

Using a PIC, build a serial to parallel converter. The centronics pin 18 of
the printer will supply the necessary current for the PIC inside the converter.

See this link about PIN 18, search text "VCC (aka SLCT)".
http://nemesis.lonestar.org/referenc...entronics.html

This solution is compatible with the current version of your portable recorder.


Best regards,

Luciano

[ephesus]

Hi Luciano,
I think this topic will be closed by the way that you submitted.
Yes, I'd better to built a serial/parallel converter to drive commonly used, low cost parallel printers.
So we'll never use a pic18f as a host.
Thanks yo very much.

Serkan

[Dwayne]

Hello Serkan,

Serkan>>Right, we're talking how to drive USB printers especially inkjet or
laser ones for contiued models. Simply to print a complete ascii A4 page.
First we need some specifications of thoose printers, if available standart
page languages or easiest way to do. Then creating a driver software using pbp USB in/out statements.<<

This will probably not happen... overhead and stuff is too great...As you have already said and I have said...you will have to create fonts and the works...Each printer is different... same brand printers are sometimes somewhat compatible.

Your only hope relys upon the printer having its own built in fonts. usually by rule of thumb, if it has its own built in fonts, it can do pure ASCII input/output....Like the matrix printers.

Dwayne

[bot402]

Microcontroller USB implementation is peripheral only. In order to control a Printer or any other USB device requires a HOST.

The only thing that a host and a peripheral has in common is the name USB. They are totally different things and are not interchangeable.

So the bottom line is you cannot control a USB printer from a PICmicro unless you interface using a host peripheral such as ones supplied by Cypress or Philips etc. These are not simple devices to control and a knowledge of programming and USB is required. There is also the USBWIZ with its simple interface, but this may be overkill.

[mister_e]

This is what i thought. Thanks Bot402 for confirmation of my First. and Second post

But your explanation is much better than mine

[ephesus]

"Microcontroller USB implementation is peripheral only.",bot402,
it's clear to understand..
Thanks friends..
Serkan

[maheshmurty]

I wanted to ask then what is USB OTG. I read some articles over the web & came to know that USB OTG helps an embedded device to configure both as a device / host. So can't we do anything with it?