Ap1300 User Guide Page 5 of 16
3
MODES OF OPERATION
The Ap1300 has three operating modes, when not actually printing:
y
"Idle Mode": ready to accept data, but no data are in the buffer awaiting printing, and the
printer motor is not running;
y
“Sleep Mode": effectively switched off;
y
"Spool Mode": active, but storing data for later printing.
Modes are indicated by different colour combinations on the front-panel LED (see section 6).
No light is emitted in sleep mode.
No hardware power switch is fitted, as power control is either automatic or by command from the host
computer. To save power, the printer enters sleep mode after a period of inactivity. It can also be
programmed to stay idle indefinitely or to go to sleep on command.
3.1 IDLE
MODE
In idle mode, the printer is ready to receive data, which will be printed as soon as complete lines or
graphics patterns are decoded. It responds to the paper feed button in the normal way, and can also
produce a demonstration print (see below). Power consumption is such that a fully-charged battery
pack would last up to 10 hours, but the printer will normally switch from idle mode into sleep mode
when there is no activity, extending battery life.
3.2 SLEEP
MODE
The printer enters sleep mode after a period of inactivity. This period is factory-set to 30 seconds
(except the Ap1300-BT which is factory-set to 4 minutes), but is programmable from the host.
In sleep mode, power consumption is negligible, but data stored in the buffer are lost. Special
routines allow for data to be printed out automatically before going to sleep. User programmable
settings such as Baud rate and operational preferences are, however, retained during sleep mode or
battery replacement. The system designer can maximise battery life by arranging that the printer is
generally in sleep mode, except when printing.
The printer enters sleep mode as follows:
y
by command from the host;
y
at the end of the (programmable) period of inactivity (This period is extended in spool mode);
y
the battery voltage falls below a pre-set lower limit.
But, the Ap1300 will never enter sleep mode when:
y
a charger is connected;
y
data is being received;
y
the RS-232 "Wake-up" control line is 'active';
y
an IrDA connection is present ("Ap1300-IR" only).
The printer is woken up from sleep mode as follows:
y
by pressing the paper feed button;
y
by connecting the external battery charger;
y
by an RS-232 data stream from the host: a certain period of logical '0' bits is required,
typically a string of 50 NUL characters at 9,600 Baud. These data will be lost. There is a
delay of up to 100 ms before the serial output lines are established and the printer is
ready to accept data;
y
by the RS-232 "Wake-up" control line becoming 'active';
y
by Infra-Red activity ( "Ap1300-IR" only).
3.3 SPOOL
MODE
In spool mode, data is received and stored, but not printed. This is useful when printing needs to be
suppressed during data transfer (for example in mobile radio systems); or when the printer is unable
to print because the paper has run out or the lid is open.
The Ap1300 will automatically enter spool mode when the paper is out, when the head is up, or if
some other error condition occurs, or alternatively by command from the host. Spool mode may be
cleared by host command, automatically when the condition is cleared, or by "double-clicking" the
feed button. Power consumption in spool mode is similar to that in idle mode.
