CPCWiki - THE Amstrad CPC encyclopedia! - User contributions [en]

Fischertechnik Interface

2020-07-12T09:17:44Z

Afajpok:

The [[Fischertechnik Interface]] is used for :

* the [[Fischertechnik Trainingsrobot]]
* the [[Fischertechnik Computing Experimental]] kit
* the [[Fischertechnik Plotter/Scanner]].

== Inputs/Outputs ==

The interface for the CPC (as well as newer RS232/USB versions) consists of:

* 8 single bit inputs ports (eg. for sensing when a robot-arm reached its end-position)
* 4 "bidirectional" ports (for motor control) (here "bidirectional" rather means "three-state-output" aka "forward/stop/backward")
* 2 analog inputs (eg. for temperature sensor)

== Covertape ==

<gallery caption="Fischertechnik Interface">

Image:Fischertechnik Covertape.jpg|Covertape

</gallery>

== Tape ==

<gallery caption="Fischertechnik Interface">

Image:Fischertechnik Tape - side B.jpg|side B
Image:Fischertechnik Tape - side A.jpg|side A

</gallery>

== Download ==

* [[Media:Fischertechnik Computing - Baukasten Construction Kit (tape).zip|Fischertechnik Computing - Baukasten Construction Kit (tape).zip]] (CDT for Emulators)

== Interface Versions ==

Fischertechnik has built several interfaces:

* Interface for Parallel Ports (used on C64/VIC20/CPC/PC/Atari/Amiga)
* Interface for RS232 Ports (used on PCs) (9600 baud, 8bit, no parity, 1 stopbit)
* Interface for USB Ports (used on PCs)

=== Parallel Printer Port Interface ===

Designed for one-directional [[Printer Port|Printer Ports]]: Data is read/sent via Pin11/Pin4 (which data is to be transferred is selected via the other DATA lines) (details on how the data is transferred exactly are unknown?).
Printer Pin Interface Signal Comment
Pin2 (Data Bit0) Load-out ;motor control output
Pin3 (Data Bit1) Load-in ;digital sensor 8bit input
Pin4 (Data Bit2) Data-out ;data from computer
Pin5 (Data Bit3) Clock ;data clock
Pin6 (Data Bit4) Trigger-x ;analog sensor X input
Pin7 (Data Bit5) Trigger-y ;analog sensor Y input
Pin11 (Busy) Data/Count-in ;data to computer (some variants seem to have separate pins: Busy=Data-in and Ack=Count-in)
Pin.. (GND) Ground ;ground
The parallel fischertechnik interface has a 20pin (or 10pin) cable (the 10pin cable was used in early commodore versions, the 20pin variant was invented to simplify printer-port connections, which have GND on each 2nd wire). The various supported computers have different pin-outs: 24pin Edge (C64/VIC20), 25pin DSUB (PC/Amiga/Atari), 34pin Edge (CPC464/CPC664), or 36pin Centronics (german CPC6128). To solve that, some cables have a N-pin connector on a 20-pin cable. Others have a 20-pin connector, with additional 20-pin to N-pin adaptor.

== Pictures ==

<gallery>
Image:Fischertechnik Scheider Interface.JPG|Schneider Interface (20pin cable with 34pin connector)
Image:Fischertechnik-C64-Interface.JPG|Commodore Interface (10pin cable with 24pin connector)
Image:Fischertechnik Interface Adapter IBM Amiga Atari 25pol.jpg|PC/Amiga/Atari (20pin-to-25pin adapter)
Image:Fischertechnik pc2c64 impulsdiagramm.gif|Timing diagram from sascha-bader.de
</gallery>

== Weblinks ==

* https://web.archive.org/web/20170625102106/http://www.sascha-bader.de/html/ftpc2c64.html - Fischertechnik DIY Adapters

[[Category:Peripherals]]

Dart Light Pen

2020-04-24T10:02:47Z

Afajpok: /* Pictures */

a light-pen by [[Dart Electronics]] for CPC464.

[[image:DARTPen closeup.jpg|right]]
Main features:
* allows you to write freehand at normal speed (hi speed)
* pixel accurate, 320 x 200 resolution (hi definition)
* uses Polymer Fibre Optic technology
* works on both Green & Colour monitors
* works in all three screen modes
* through port

Mentioned on [[:File:Amstrad Computer User8512 007.jpg]], advert on [[:File:ACU8510-109.jpg]] and ACU8603-110.jpg.

Also sold by [[Amstrad Computer User]] magazine as an "exclusive readers offer".

== Software ==

??

== Pictures ==

<gallery caption="DART Light Pen">
image:DARTPen ACU ad March1986.jpg|ad in [[Amstrad Computer User]]
image:DARTPen ACU March1986.jpg|review in [[Amstrad Computer User]] March 1986
image:DARTLightPen ad ACU May1986.jpg|ACU readers offer
image:DartLightPenTop.jpg|Dart Light Pen Top
image:DartLightPenBottom.jpg|Dart Light Pen Bottom
image:DartLightPenPCBTop.jpg|Dart Light Pen PCB Top
image:DartLightPenPCBBottom.jpg|Dart Light Pen PCB Bottom

</gallery>

[[Category:Input Device]] [[Category:Peripherals]]

File:DartLightPenPCBBottom.jpg

2020-04-24T09:58:33Z

Afajpok: User created page with UploadWizard

=={{int:filedesc}}==
{{Information
|description={{en|1=Dart Light Pen PCB Bottom}}
|date=2020-04-24
|source={{own}}
|author=[[User:Afajpok|Afajpok]]
|permission=
|other versions=
}}

=={{int:license-header}}==
{{self|cc-by-sa-4.0}}

[[Category:Uploaded with UploadWizard]]

File:DartLightPenTop.jpg

2020-04-24T09:58:33Z

Afajpok: User created page with UploadWizard

=={{int:filedesc}}==
{{Information
|description={{en|1=Dart Light Pen Top}}
|date=2020-04-24
|source={{own}}
|author=[[User:Afajpok|Afajpok]]
|permission=
|other versions=
}}

=={{int:license-header}}==
{{self|cc-by-sa-4.0}}

[[Category:Uploaded with UploadWizard]]

File:DartLightPenPCBTop.jpg

2020-04-24T09:58:33Z

Afajpok: User created page with UploadWizard

=={{int:filedesc}}==
{{Information
|description={{en|1=Dart Light Pen PCB Top}}
|date=2020-04-24
|source={{own}}
|author=[[User:Afajpok|Afajpok]]
|permission=
|other versions=
}}

=={{int:license-header}}==
{{self|cc-by-sa-4.0}}

[[Category:Uploaded with UploadWizard]]

File:DartLightPenBottom.jpg

2020-04-24T09:58:31Z

Afajpok: User created page with UploadWizard

=={{int:filedesc}}==
{{Information
|description={{en|1=Dart Light Pen Bottom}}
|date=2020-04-24
|source={{own}}
|author=[[User:Afajpok|Afajpok]]
|permission=
|other versions=
}}

=={{int:license-header}}==
{{self|cc-by-sa-4.0}}

[[Category:Uploaded with UploadWizard]]