WedgeLink SP Hardware Wedge
Copyright © 2011-2012 MicroRidge Systems, Inc.
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Printed: Sunday, March 04, 2012 at 9:04 AM in Sunriver, Oregon.
Table of Contents
IContents
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Introduction
...................................................................................................................................
Using WedgeLink SP
...................................................................................................................................
ComTestSerial
...................................................................................................................................
Warranty Information
...................................................................................................................................
Contact MicroRidge
...................................................................................................................................
1
3
4
6
7
Copyright © 2011-2012 MicroRidge Systems, Inc.
WedgeLink SP Hardware Wedge
1 Introduction
WedgeLink SP is a hardware keyboard wedge that allows you to transfer RS-232 data into any
application that supports keyboard input. WedgeLink SP looks like a standard HID (human
interface device) peripheral to a PC. Other HID peripherals that we are all familiar with are the
USB keyboard and mouse. Since WedgeLink SP looks like a standard HID peripheral to your
PC, you do not need to install any drivers for this wedge. WedgeLink SP is simple to use and
does not require any configuration steps by the user.
Introduction 1
Keyboard wedges are often used with applications such as Excel, Access and other database
applications. The information sent from WedgeLink SP looks like data entered from the
keyboard attached to your PC.
Features
The key features of WedgeLink SP are as follows:
Compact size: 1.76" x 1.24" x .63 ".
No driver installation required; product looks like a standard HID peripheral.
Includes 6' USB cable.
Sends all supported characters received from the attached serial device directly to your
PC. Input packets from the serial device do not have to be terminated with a carriage
return or a line feed character.
Available WedgeLink SP Models
There are 3 different WedgeLink SP models available. Each model is pre-configured to operate
with a specific baud rate and communication parameters. These RS-232 settings cannot be
changed by the user. Contact us if you need a version of WedgeLink SP that uses a different
baud rate or communication parameters.
9600-N-8-1 Supports all serial devices with 9600-N-8-1 or 9600-N-8-2 baud rate and
communication parameters. This includes the GageWay Interfaces and
MobileCollect Wireless manufactured by MicroRidge systems.
Copyright © 2011-2012 MicroRidge Systems, Inc.
WedgeLink SP Hardware Wedge
19.2K-N-8-1 Supports all serial devices with 19.2K-N-8-1 or 19.2K-N-8-2 baud rate and
communication parameters.
4800-E-7-S Supports all serial devices with 4800-E-7-1 or 4800-E-7-2 baud and
communication parameters. This model supports gages with the Simplex
Opto or Proximity interfaces. The Simplex Opto and Proximity interfaces are
found on many handheld gages (calipers, Micrometers, etc.) manufactured by
Brown & Sharpe, Fowler, Mahr Federal, Starrett, Sylvac, etc.
Supported Characters & Data Output
WedgeLink SP supports the standard ASCII characters found on North America keyboards.
When a supported character is received by WedgeLink SP, the character will be sent directly to
the PC. If WedgeLink SP receives an unsupported character, the unsupported character will be
discarded.
The characters supported by WedgeLink SP include the following:
Human readable characters found on the standard keyboard. This included ASCII
characters from ASCII 32 to ASCII 126 (space, a to z, A to Z, 0 to 9, #, &, etc.).
Control characters (less than ASCII 32) backspace, carriage return, escape and tab.
Introduction 2
The characters not supported by WedgeLink SP include the following:
Extended ASCII characters greater than ASCII 126.
Control characters (less than ASCII 32) not mentioned above.
Function keys such as F1, F2, etc.
Copyright © 2011-2012 MicroRidge Systems, Inc.
WedgeLink SP Hardware Wedge
2 Using WedgeLink SP
WedgeLink SP requires no configuration before you start to use the wedge. When you plug
WedgeLink SP into a USB port on your PC, the PC will automatically install the necessary
drivers within a few seconds. You may or may not hear a beep from your PC when WedgeLink
SP is ready to use. Remember, the baud rate and communication parameters of your serial
device must match the baud rate and communication parameters of WedgeLink SP.
You cannot change the baud rate or communication parameters in WedgeLink SP. Also, you
cannot send commands from WedgeLink SP to your serial device. If you need to specify the
baud rate, communication parameters or send a command to your serial device, you should take
a look at the WedgeLink HW keyboard wedge and WedgeLink Standard software wedge.
These wedges are also manufactured by MicroRidge Systems and allow the user numerous
configuration options. Refer to the Keyboard Wedges Overview page on the MicroRidge web
site
Caution! When WedgeLink SP is connected to a PC and you send data from the serial device
connected to WedgeLink SP, data will be sent to the application on your PC that currently has
the focus. Be sure you have the focus set to where you want the data to be sent. Remember,
WedgeLink SP looks like just another keyboard to your PC.
Using WedgeLink SP 3
Displaying Copyright Information
WedgeLink SP can send copyright and configuration information to your PC. In order to send
this information, you must connect one end of a female to female null modem cable (not supplied
with WedgeLink SP) to WedgeLink SP and the other end to a serial port on your PC.
WedgeLink SP must also be connected to a USB port on your PC. You would then use
ComTestSerial to send the necessary commands to WedgeLink SP. Normally there is no need
for you to obtain the copyright and configuration information from a WedgeLink SP unit.
A sample output for the copyright and configuration information is shown below.
WedgeLink 9600 Keyboard Wedge for RS-232 Devices.
Supports serial devices with the parameters shown below.
Copyright (C) 2011 MicroRidge Systems, Inc.
All rights reserved.
Model number.......... WLNK-96-00
Firmware version...... 1.02
Firmware date......... 11- 1-11 10:44:20
Serial number......... WLNK-9600-00-00000000
Baud & comm param..... 9600-N-8-1
Your source for interface & wireless solutions!
www.microridge.com 541-593-1656
Copyright © 2011-2012 MicroRidge Systems, Inc.
WedgeLink SP Hardware Wedge
3 ComTestSerial
ComTestSerial 4
ComTestSerial, a serial communications test program is included on the WedgeLink SP CD. It is
unlikely that you will need to use ComTestSerial to retrieve the copyright and configuration
information from WedgeLink SP. ComTestSerial was included primarily so that you can test and
verify the output coming from your serial device.
Verifying the Output from a Serial Device
To verify the output from a serial device follow the steps listed below.
Connect your serial device to a serial port on your PC.
Run the ComTestSerial communications test program.
Press the Serial Port button on ComTestSerial and select the appropriate COM port, baud
rate and communication parameters. The baud rate and communication parameters
selected must match the current setting in your serial device.
Press the send button on your serial device.
If the information displayed by ComTestSerial looks like garbage (unreadable information),
you have selected the wrong baud rate and/or communication parameters.
Copyright © 2011-2012 MicroRidge Systems, Inc.
WedgeLink SP Hardware Wedge
If no information is displayed by ComTestSerial, your serial device may not have sent any
information or you may have select the wrong serial port in ComTestSerial.
ComTestSerial 5
Copyright © 2011-2012 MicroRidge Systems, Inc.
WedgeLink SP Hardware Wedge
4 Warranty Information
The standard MicroRidge warranty for products it manufactures and resells is described below:
MicroRidge warrants that equipment manufactured by MicroRidge to be free from defects in
material and workmanship, when properly maintained under normal use, for a period of
twelve (12) months from date of purchase of the product (the “warranty period”). Some
products sold and distributed by MicroRidge are warranted by the manufacturer of the
products.
Warranty for gage and RS-232 interface cables is 30 days from date of shipment.
Products which do not conform to their description or which are defective in material or
workmanship will, by MicroRidge decision, be replaced or repaired, or, at MicroRidge’s
option, credit for the original purchase price may be allowed provided that customer notifies
MicroRidge in writing of such defect within thirty (30) days of discovery and returns such
products in accordance with the MicroRidge instructions. No products may be returned
without MicroRidge prior written authorization.
This warranty does not apply to any product which has been subjected to misuse, abuse,
negligence or accident by the customer.
Warranty Information 6
MicroRidge makes no other warranty or representation of any kind with respect to the
products, either express or implied, including without limitation, that of merchantability or
fitness for a particular use. Failure to make any claim in writing, or within the thirty (30) day
period set forth above, shall constitute an irrevocable acceptance of the products and an
admission by the customer that the products fully comply with all terms, conditions and
specifications of customer’s purchase order. MicroRidge shall not be liable for direct,
indirect, incidental, special or consequential damages, under any circumstances, including,
but not limited to, damage or loss resulting from inability to use the products, increased
operating costs or loss of sales, or any other damages. To make a claim under this
warranty, customer must notify MicroRidge in writing within the warranty period.
Customer will pay all shipping charges (and duty and taxes) for equipment returned to
MicroRidge for warranty service. MicroRidge will pay shipping charges for equipment
returned to customer in North America. Customers outside the USA are responsible for
duty and taxes on equipment returned to them.
Software developed by MicroRidge is warranted to operate in accordance with the software
documentation on the hardware specified in such documentation, for a period of six (6)
months from date of shipment. During the warranty period, MicroRidge will at no charge
correct any programming error in the software that interferes with normal operation of the
software provided that MicroRidge is able to reproduce such error on MicroRidge
computer.
Copyright © 2011-2012 MicroRidge Systems, Inc.
WedgeLink SP Hardware Wedge
5 Contact MicroRidge
Email:
Support: support@microridge.com
Sales: sales@microridge.com
Information: info@microridge.com
Phone:
Support: 541.593.1656
Sales: 541.593.3500
Main office: 541.593.1656
Fax: 541.593.5652
Mailing Address:
Contact MicroRidge 7
MicroRidge Systems, Inc.
PO Box 3249
Sunriver, OR 97707-0249
Shipping Address:
MicroRidge Systems, Inc.
56888 Enterprise Drive
Sunriver, OR 97707
Note: There is no mail delivery to this address. This address should only be used for
package delivery services such as UPS, FedEx, etc.
Web: www.microridge.com
Copyright © 2011-2012 MicroRidge Systems, Inc.
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