4 Jul
2010
4 Jul
'10
1:47 p.m.
On Sun, Jul 4, 2010 at 11:30 AM, Tony Duell <ard at p850ug1.demon.co.uk> wrote:
I wonder (and it's of no use to me at the momnet)... How hard would it be
to make a device with a Centronicts-like _input_ on one side and a USB
port on the other, adn some data buffering memory. The idea is that you
link it between your BBC micro, Amiga, TRS-80, etc (which thinks it's a
printer) and a PC running suitable software. The classic machine 'prints'
to this device. the software on the PC takes the data and stores it in a
file on the PC for later formatting and printing.
My guess is the hardware is little more than a microcontroller, amybe
with a bit of logic to ensure the handshake timing is correct (a D-type
and a couple of gates). The software is another matter, though...
It might not take too much to build up something to do that using an
FTDI FT245R - USB FIFO IC.
http://www.ftdichip.com/Products/FT245R.htm
It has a write strobe input and a FIFO full output, which might need
some simple logic to handshake with a standard LPT output. But you
wouldn't have to write any firmware for the USB microcontroller.