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From: jmunkki@hila.hut.fi (Juri Munkki)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.handhelds
Subject: Re: I need a serial port connector
Message-ID: <1990Sep16.163311.4065@santra.uucp>
Date: 16 Sep 90 16:33:11 GMT
References: <1990Sep1.203648.22242@santra.uucp> <19080004@hpfinote.HP.COM>
Sender: news@santra.uucp (Cnews - USENET news system)
Reply-To: jmunkki@hila.hut.fi (Juri Munkki)
Organization: Helsinki University of Technology, FINLAND
Lines: 29

In article <19080004@hpfinote.HP.COM> rrd@hpfinote.HP.COM (Ray Depew x2419) writes:
>Hmm, next question:  Given the space constraints on the calculator (have
>you taken yours apart yet?  (DON'T!) ), what would you define as the "standard"
>connector or pin spacing that should be used?  This is the same problem that
>Poqet, Atari, Sharp and others have had to face.  There ain't no standard.
>The 9-pin DIN is too big and bulky.  All other choices are "nonstandard."

One possibilty would have been the connector that is used for telephones,
but this would probably have resulted in people trying to plug their HPs
into phone networks, so it might not have worked. Apple uses this connector
successfully to connect the keyboard to a MacPlus.

The most obvious choice is to find something with a more common pin spacing
and then use a custom connector to connect to those pins. There are industry
standards and real standards. If I say "standard PC equipment", most people
will at least guess that I'm talking about IBM-compatible computers. They
will not start asking me for an ISO or DIN code number.

Another good choice would have been a miniature stereo headphones plug. You
can't get two ground signals on one of those, but so far I have been able to
do with two. The connector is small, widely available and it is easy to build
cables.

Any other questions?

   ____________________________________________________________________________
  / Juri Munkki	    /  Helsinki University of Technology   /  Wind  / Project /
 / jmunkki@hut.fi  /  Computing Center Macintosh Support  /  Surf  /  STORM  /
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