The following common communications relationships are supported by the SmartMotor:
Host / Slave
Host / Interactive
Host / Independent
Stand-Alone
In a Host / Slave relationship, the PC host transmits commands over the RS232 one at a time for immediate execution by the SmartMotor. In this relationship, the host assumes all of the timing functions for the application. It is also clear that certain SmartMotor commands don't work in this relationship, for example the WHILE command.
In Host / Interactive relationships, the host program and the SmartMotor program interact. There are two basic sub-categories of this relationship.
In one, the host interacts with a running program through RS232 messaging or I/O level signaling. The SmartMotor may or may not be sending messages back to the host by similar methods.
In another, the host sends preparatory (program configuration) data to the SmartMotor, then issues a RUN command. The SmartMotor executes its independent program, which may or may not include messaging and host signaling. Upon program termination, the SmartMotor simply waits for further host instruction. This special category of host / slave relationships is called Host / Independent relationships: Entire programs are downloaded from the host to the SmartMotor. RUN may be initiated by either the host or by external hardware input. One main feature of this type of relationship is the relative autonomy of the individual motors