Black Box Micro-MiniBuffer-256K, User Manual

10

MICRO-MINIBUFFER

4. Operation

You can set all the options with the Reset and Copy\Pause buttons.  Different
options and settings are described below.

4.1 Switches And Pushbuttons

4.1.1 R

ESET

B

UTTON

When pressed, Reset causes the unit to “read” the settings. If you change any
of the DIP switches on the rear of the unit, you must press Reset for the unit
to “read” those changes. Reset also clears the copy feature (see Copy\Pause)
and clears all data in the buffer.

4.1.2 S

TATUS

LED

The Status LED is steadily lit while the unit is on. It blinks only when you set
the amount of copies to be printed.

4.1.3 C

OPY

\P

AUSE

B

UTTON

Presetting multiple copies.

First, press the Reset button to clear all previous

settings. Before you send the data, depress the Copy\Pause switch once for
each copy you want printed. For example, if you want 10 copies of a
document, press the Copy\Pause button 10 times before sending the
document to the Micro-MiniBuffer. The LED blinks each time you add a
copy. You can set the unit to print up to 99 copies. 

Printing one additional copy. 

For one additional copy of the data you just sent,

press the Copy\Pause button. One copy of the most recent job sent to the
buffer is sent to the printer. If a 7-second time period of inactivity on the
input port occurs, the unit considers it the end of a print job.

Stopping data output.

Pressing Copy\Pause while data is being sent stops the

output of data from the buffer while allowing data input to continue. The
buffer remains in the “Pause” mode until you press Copy\Pause again.

4.2 Handshaking

The Micro-MiniBuffer usually accepts data much faster than the output
devices (such as printers) to which it is attached.  Handshaking is a form of
flow control which prevents the unit from overrunning the ability to accept
the data. 

Data loss can be prevented if equipment connected to the input and output
serial ports support X-ON/X-OFF or hardware handshaking.