Cut Sheet

7 Addional Informaon
7.1 Host Mode Command
The MINI-ARRAY controller can communicate with a computer or PLC via either an RS-232 connecon (all models) or RS-485 connecon
(discrete-output models). The host can respond to output from the controller when the controller is programmed for either the
Connuous or Gate control mode.
Alternately, the host can control sensor scanning. When the Host control mode is selected, the host computer or controller iniates
scans using a command string. The command string is a three-byte message, consisng of:
Control byte with decimal value 248
Controller ID (one of 16 ASCII leers A through O, as specied in the PSF)
Scan iniaon byte (ASCII leer S)
The command string is further
dened, as follows:
unsigned char msg[3]; /*declare three byte unsigned character array using C language*/
msg[0]=248; /*control byte*/
msg[1]=65; /*assume the controller ID is the
leer A*/
msg[2]=83; /*scan iniaon byte which is the ASCII leer S*/
The host transmits this three-byte message at the dened baud rate. The format is one start bit, one stop bit, even parity, and eight
data bits. When this message is received by the MINI-ARRAY controller, the controller iniates a scan and updates its outputs as
required. The MINI-ARRAY controller then waits for the next command string.
7.2 Serial Data Format
The programmed measurement mode or modes determine the type of informaon that is transmied. For example, if Meas1 is set for
FBB and Meas2 is set for LBB, then the data transmied to the host contains the values of the rst and last beam blocked.
The ALL measurement mode provides the status of all beams to the host. The VHS mode does not provide serial output data. In addion
to measurement mode informaon, the data transmission also contains a start string and a terminaon byte. The start string consists of
two unsigned character bytes:
Hex value 1C
The controller ID value
The terminaon byte is the ASCII character for a linefeed (hex value 0A). These three bytes are collecvely called the Header.
7.3 ASCII Format Data Transmission
There are two ASCII formats. The one used depends upon which measurement modes are selected. For the ALL measurement mode,
each data byte is presented in an eight bit ASCII format which conveys the status of four consecuve channels (four consecuve beams).
Each subsequent byte conveys the status of the next four channels, unl the status of all channels is reported.
The allowable data values are the ASCII numbers 0 to 9 and the ASCII leers A to F. In the table shown, the 0 represents a clear channel,
and the 1 represents a blocked channel.
The other measurement modes use three ASCII bytes to represent their values. For example, if Meas1 is FBB and Meas2 is LBB, and the
measured values are 6 and 120, and the controller ID is A, then the data string is as follows:
0x1c A 0 0 6 1 2 0 0x0a
The controller allows suppression of clear data. This means that data is sent one
me when the array is completely clear (i.e., when no
beams are blocked), and no further data is sent unl one or more beams is blocked.
Denions
for ASCII Data Values For the ALL Measurement Mode
Character Ch 4 Ch 3 Ch 2 Ch 1
F 1 1 1 1
E 1 1 1 0
D 1 1 0 1
C 1 1 0 0
B 1 0 1 1
A 1 0 1 0
9 1 0 0 1
8 1 0 0 0
7 0 1 1 1
A-GAGE
®
MINI-ARRAY
®
Measuring Light Screen System
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