Dart Scanner for DMP-Printers

The DART scanner for DMP printers

A scanner for the Amstrad DMP 2000/3000 printers from Dart Electronics.

The Dart Scanner was reviewed in Amstradbladet 1987, Issue 3, page 8 (Danish)

Uses port FBEFh, the port seems to be read-only.

 Bit2 Carriage Returned/Parked (0=Wait/Head Parked, 1=Scan/Head Moving)
 Bit? Scanned Pixel Color      (0=Black, 1=White)

Scanning is done in single scanlines (one pixels height). The scanning procedure waits while FBEFh.Bit2=0 (which probably indicates that the head is in the left-most position, or that it has just leaved it, or so). The horizontal "dot clock" is implemented as software delays. When scanning a black dot, one or more bits in Port FBEFh become non-zero (not sure which ones; the driver software simply checks "IF Port[FBEFh]<>FFh THEN PLOT pixel").

Observe that the manual includes some patches for usaging the scanning software with different printers.

• The Dart Scanner Cover
• 

  Back Cover

• 

  Front Cover

• The Dart Scanner Tape
• 

  The Dart Scanner Tape

• The DART scanner
• 

  The scanner attached to a CPC6128 and a DMP2000

• 

  The interface box

• 

  The scanner head

• 

  Interface hand head (A new grey version?)

Dart Scanner Manual (pdf)

• Dart Scanner Driver (cas)
• File:Scanner Dart DISK-UTIL.zip

http://cpcrulez.fr/hardware_scannerDART.htm ( You can download the software here )