I have a box full of Scanplus 1800 SR's. I am trying to use them in a project for a local 501(c)3. To do so, I need to fabricate some cables that will make available the "RS232" interface from the scanner.
[for those unfamiliar with these types of scanners, in general, they typically have several interfaces on board and *one* is selected for use by the choice of cable connecting the scanner to . So, the trick here is to figure out which pins carry the RS232 signals -- usually RD/TD with RTS/CTS possibly added]
I've not been able to find any documentation indicating the pinout of this connector. "Google, thou doth fail me!"
I've made the expected sacrifice to the god of barcode scanners and successfully disembowled a unit. I was hoping to find an obvious level translator and just trace foils.
Alas, the gods look down in disfavor and refuse to share their secrets with me. :<
There's a small serial flash (configuration?), a parallel flash (program store?), an LM358 (probably some signal conditioning for the optics?), an AD8051 driver (probably for the deflection servo) and a TI QFP marked with "house numbers" (probably a masked DSP that does the real work!).
The only other actives are a bunch of discrete Q's scattered around the board. No doubt, one of these is acting as the Tx translator (?).
Unless, of course, there are some bits in the *cable* assy that contribute to the interface :< (not likely -- at least in most of the other scanners I've tinkered with).
Obviously, the DSP (?) is a good place to start. Regardless of the code therein, knowing the pinout could be a big win towards narrowing down which pins are likely to be of interest. Anyone with enough *breadth* of knowledge re: TI's offerings able to comment if there is a core pinout shared among devices? Or, are there just too many flavors to choose from? :<
(I'll have to remove the deflection assy to see if there are any other goodies cowering underneath...)
We do a lot of work with scanners, so I might be able to offer some assistance. You probably have found most of this already, but I will repeat it here, just in case.
ScanPlus series were Intermec scanners
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The part number for the RS-232 cable is 0-364032-00. You might consider buying one as a model and then building what you need from that. Quick peek shows cheapest a $ 29.00. Your time has to count for something.
The POS market has a large number of used equipment sellers/refurbishers. One may be able to help you out. This stuff has many lives and tends to live forever.
The interface is usually just TX, Power, and Ground. Most POS systems do not employ or depend on handshake lines. Just detect a label and output the results. Pictures of this scanner with the RS-232 cable show an external power conversion box which typically contain a regulator to 5 V DC.
Since you seem to be involved in a charitable enterprise, perhaps the manufacturer would be willing to help with some engineering, equipment or at least documentation.
Yes, I have found a smattering of documentation. But, nothing "under the hood". E.g., metrologic scanners tend to have more of the little details available (I have a few of those that I could fall back to -- but not nearly enough; hence the desire to use the intermec parts -- "use what you have" :> )
Yeah, that's an option. I don't want to have to buy "one for each scanner" as that gets expensive. In which case, why not find the *right* scanner for the job (instead of "making do"?)
Of the devices I have "accumulated", the best bet seems to be a "cordless" scanner (can't recall if it is metrologic, intermec, etc.). This would better fit some of the other applications it needs to address (I would hate to have to support lots of different scanners; this is a "pro bono" effort on my part :< ).
Ideally, I'd buy some wireless barcode "terminals" - but most of those seem to run proprietary software (i.e., I just want access to the barcode data and the screen... move all the smarts *out* of the terminal)
I've made a few calls and they all think what they have is "priceless". Sheesh!
I am hoping to find scanners that I can "talk to". At the very least, so I can disable the "beep on scan" annunciator and use the annunciator for *my* purposes (too often, scanners beep independent of theapplication and convey the *wrong* information!). Ideally, I would like to be able to do all of the configuration through the interface, too (the wireless scanner I mentioned has this ability, IIRC). This would make it a lot easier for these people to "reinitialize" a hung scanner: scan the "RESET" barcode and then let my software initialize you the way I want you to be initialized (done at each IPL).
[I don't want to write myself in for a "free lifetime support" role, here! :> ]
There are several different uses for the scanners so I am trying to find some common ground -- in terms of the interface (hardware and software) and mechanical characteristics.
At the front door, a stationary scanner will be used to scan "ID" cards. We're not concerned about forgery; the folks who are "trusted" have no incentive to forge an ID as there is no money involved, etc. The folks who are
*not* trusted are monitored during check-in and check-out (the software protocols require an "authorized user" to vouch for each "sign in/out").
The scanner used here must be stationary and can't be allowed to be "re-aimed" -- some of the folks who come through are developmentally disabled. You *know* they will *want* to "look at the pretty red lines"! :<
Elsewhere, I use the scanners as alternatives to keyboard/touchpanel. E.g., scan a label affixed to a parcel to identify that parcel. Scan the label affixed to a scale to associate the weight displayed on that scale with that parcel. Etc. Here, cordless can be a real win -- attach a charging base to each forklift so the forklift operator can scan the appropriate labels without leaving the cab!
Still other places the scanners are semi-fixed -- like the "price checkers" at WalMart, Target, etc.
In other places, they can be tethered to a rolling cart (e.g., when we are taking inventory and need to scan all of the boxes in each room, etc.).
The folks using these devices aren't tech savvy. Some have problems with dementia, vision, development disabilities, other physical disabilities, etc. Much of my "value added" is in designing a system that gives them lots of leeway in how they use it as *enforcing* some rigid protocol would just result in lots of bad data and frustrated users.
E.g., a classic "wand" would be a non-starter. Folks with parkinsonian tremor would not be able to pass it uniformly across a label. Some of the develomentally disabled folks would treat it like a *crayon* and try to "scribble" with it. etc.
:<
I.e., it is a delightfully challenging application. Trying to do it while spending no *money* makes it even moreso! :> Part of that is picking devices that we have lots of -- to eliminate the need for any cash outlays. And, to have a stockpile of "spare parts" to draw on in the future (again, I don't want to put myself into a support role!)
Yes, that's my fallback position. But, if I end up having to contact a manufacturer "on letterhead", then i will want to ask for what I *ideally* want (and not what I am willing to settle for! :> )
So, I am trying to exhaust my options *before* that point.
That's exactly case with an EconoScan that I'm now using. There's a 10-pin ethernet-type connector in the unit which sends CMOS-level signals to a lump in the cable. I purchased the RS-232 version, and upon disassembly, found an RS-232 level shifer inside the cable lump. I suppose that there are just different components inside the cable for the USB and keyboard wedge versions.
Yes! That seems pretty common as the attachment interface on the scanner end. (why the hell they couldn't trim two pins off it so you could use an "RJ45" connector really irks me! I can't fabricate 10-pin cables :< )
Ouch! That is unfortunate. The metrologic devices have all of the interfaces in the scanner. The cable is nothing more than an appropriate set of connections and connectors.
I suspect that is the case with this unit. :< Though it is still possible that the necessary signals are there along with the translators (using discretes -- "STL" :> )
Unfortunately, there is no guaranteed way to probe signals to verify this. I think they shutdown or repurpose the interface pins depending on the configuration chosen.
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