Specifically, what kind of serial control? It is possible to use the serial
port within your Palm app, but some of the control lines are not under your
control. Sign up for the SDK & HDK and get all the details you need.
-----Original Message-----
From: Russ Pritchett <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: Palm Developers Forum List <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Date: Wednesday, October 27, 1999 6:30 PM
Subject: [Fwd: Palm Application Questions]
>I'm posting this message to the Developers Forum hoping that someone may
>be able to help me with general information about Palm devices. The msg
>below was submitted to [EMAIL PROTECTED] last week and I haven't heard a
>peep. I've tried calling Palm directly, to no avail.
>
>My client and I are looking at other devices that are targeted at serial
>control; but the Palm device is an attractive package with what appears
>to be a good development platform.
>
>Any comments are appreciated!
>
>
>-------- Original Message --------
>Subject: Palm Application Questions
>Date: Fri, 22 Oct 1999 15:27:02 -0700
>From: Russ Pritchett <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
>To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
>
>I'm a consultant working a manufacturer of laser systems for scientific
>and
>OEM use. They have an instrument with an established serial control
>protocol and would like to develop a remote control for this system
>using an off-the-shelf, commercially available product. I'm inquiring
>about using a Palm device for this purpose.
>
>I've reviewed material in the development section of the web site and
>have a few questions about this application as it relates to the Palm
>environment. Let me say that the development tools (Code Warrior,
>software emulators, etc.) look great, and I hope that I'll be able to
>write an application for one of these devices.
>
>
>1. The serial port on the instrument is a 3-wire connection (RD, TD,
>GND). The instrument implements a XON/XOFF data flow control mechanism.
>I noticed in the Palm serial port information that RTS and CTS hardware
>handshaking are required for baud rates exceeding 2400 bps. This
>apparently results from the small 8-byte buffer on the UART. Is there no
>provision in the Palm OS Serial Manager for XON/XOFF flow control? Is
>there any other way to increase the data rate without using the hardware
>handshake?
>
>
>2. For this application, my client would like to have the instrument
>connected to the Palm serial port directly without using the cradle. I'm
>assuming that if we participate in the "Serial Port & Modem Casing
>Program" we will receive information concerning vendors who will sell us
>(custom) cables for the Palm.(?)
>
>
>3. This application requires the serial port to remain open to receive
>unexpected error messages from the instrument. In one of the on-line
>books, I read that typical Palm applications leave the serial port open
>only long enough to transmit/receive data. This is done to prevent power
>drain on the AA batteries (power hungry inverters are required to drive
>the RS-232 signals). Is it possible to power the Palm over a dedicated
>serial cable using pin 2(+3.3V) and pin 10 (SG) of the serial
>connection? Do you know if this has ever been done before?
>
>
>4. I'm assuming there is no non-volatile memory in the device without AA
>batteries. If the Palm is powered over a dedicated serial cable, could
>AA batteries still be used to produce 'non-volatile' memory between
>power cycles of the instrument?
>
>
>5. Also for the Palm powered over a dedicated cable, can the 'sleep'
>mode be disabled using the Palm OS? If not, can the device 'wake up'
>when a character is received on the serial port?
>
>
>6. Is it possible to write an application using the Palm OS such that on
>power up the application starts automatically?
>
>
>Thanks alot for your time with these questions. Please feel free to call
>at the number listed below.
>----------------------
>Russ Pritchett
>650.728.0409
>[EMAIL PROTECTED]
>----------------------
>
