Last Modified: 21 Jun 99
The following commands are available on the RS-485 communications link to the BPR module. See "ASIMET MODULE OPERATIONS" document for instructions on how to hook up this link to your PC and RS-485 adapter.
Note: commands sent are indicated in BOLD, responses in normal text. <crlf> represents ASCII carriage return and line feed; <crlfetx> represents ASCII carriage return, line feed, ETX (03h).
Command Description
A Address acknowledge
- returns address of module, terminated by <crlfetx>
- e.g. #BPR01A BPR01<crlfetx>
- NOTE: BPR01 is the default address of the BPR module; it
may be changed by the 'U' command but any failure of
BB_RAM will result in the use of the default address. In
the event of BB_RAM failure, a message is sent to the RS-
232 console port on startup. In addition, use of
defaults is reported in the 'L' command.
B Output both calibrated and raw values
- outputs both calibrated and 'raw' data values, in millibars,
as follows: BPR : BPRraw<crlfetx>
- example: #BPR01B 1026.31 : 1026.31<crlfetx>
- NOTE: sensor output is calibrated, however minor corrections
may be made (see U command)
- C language format: "%7.2f %7.2\r\n\x03"
C Output calibrated data
- outputs calibrated value, in mbar, as follows:
BPRmbar<crlfetx>
- example: #BPR01C 1015.24<crlfetx>
- C language format: "%7.2f\r\n\x03"
D Set RT clock date/time: 'YYYY/MM/DD HH:MM:SS'
- on module startup, the date and time are initialized from
the battery-backed Dallas RTC chip. The 'D' command
accepts a fixed format string of exactly 19 characters
representing date and time. For example, sending the
following command:
#BPR01D1996/01/18 10:35:15
will set the date to 18 January 1996 at 10:35:15 AM.
- the module returns <crlfetx> in acknowledgement.
- the time will be set at the instant that the last digit is
sent; thus you may enter the module address, command and
first 16 characters of the date and time, and finally
enter the 19th character in sync with your reference
clock. The current date and time may be determined using
the 'L' command.
F PCMCIA card access (only if FLASH card installed)
- there are 5 'F' commands available for accessing the
4 or 8 megabyte FLASH memory card used for data
storage. These commands allow reading the card contents
via the RS-485 command link, storing BB_RAM contents for
archival purposes, and FLASH card erasure.
- the lowest 128 kilobyte block of the FLASH card is
reserved for system information. As of the current
revision (VOS51BPR v1.4), only stored BB_RAM contents
reside here, beginning at byte 257 (100h) and continuing
for 1024 bytes (4FFh). The rest of the 128 kilobyte
block reads as all FFh. This block may be erased without
affecting data stored in the rest of the FLASH card.
FB - Read any 512 byte block, hex
- any 512 byte block from 1 to 8192 may be chosen as the
starting block. Block 1 is the default starting point.
- blocks are formatted as 32 bytes (64 ASCII characters) of
HEX-ASCII per line by 16 lines per 512 byte block.
- example (default start block - note BB_RAM info stored by
'FS'):
#BPR01FB
Start block # [1] -> (hit ENTER here for default)
FFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFF
FFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFF
FFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFF
FFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFF
FFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFF
FFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFF
FFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFF
FFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFF
FFFFFFFFFFFFFFFF57484F492F47454F464600FFFFFFFFFF4D4B3100FFFFFFFF
FFFFFFFFFFFFFFFF30303100FFFFFFFF31354D415239350041495200FFFFFFFF
FFFFFFFFFFFFFFFF53422D324100FFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFF2D00FFFFFFFFFFFF
2D00FFFFFFFFFFFF47454F464600FFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFF5454384250520000
FFFFFFFFFFFFFFFF312E3100FFFFFFFF30344150523935002D00FFFFFFFFFFFF
2D00FFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFF2D00FFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFF
4E4F2043414C00FF425052303100FFFF25372E326600FFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFF
FFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFF
- to read the next block, hit ENTER.
- to quit, hit X followed by ENTER.
- Note 1: Blocks 1, 2, and 3 contain the 1024 bytes of
BB_RAM image, if written by the 'FS' command below. The
BB_RAM image begins at the middle of block 1 and ends in
the middle of block 3.
- Note 2: The first DATA record is written at block 257
(above the first 128 Kbyte reserved system info area at
card physical address 20000h).
FR - Read data record, formatted
- any 256 byte record from 1 to 15872 may be chosen as the
starting record. Record 1 is the default starting point.
- records are formatted as 1 line of date and time followed
by 60 minutes of BPR readings in mbar sent as 10 lines of 6
minutes each. Readings occur on the minute, beginning
with minute 0 and ending at minute 59, with the record
written to the FLASH card at 59 minutes, 01 seconds of
each hour.
- example (default start record):
#BPR01FR
Start record # ->
1996/01/09 09:59:00
1021.53 1021.50 1021.50 1021.53 1021.53 1021.50
1021.50 1021.50 1021.45 1021.42 1021.45 1021.45
1021.55 1021.53 1021.55 1021.55 1021.55 1021.45
1021.55 1021.58 1021.55 1021.60 1021.53 1021.55
1021.53 1021.50 1021.45 1021.53 1021.58 1021.60
1021.62 1021.60 1021.55 1021.50 1021.53 1021.48
1021.58 1021.58 1021.50 1021.48 1021.48 1021.53
1021.45 1021.48 1021.50 1021.50 1021.48 1021.45
1021.50 1021.42 1021.40 1021.38 1021.42 1021.45
1021.45 1021.45 1021.40 1021.38 1021.38 1021.33
- to read the next record, hit ENTER.
- to quit, hit X followed by ENTER.
- Note 1: values of 900.0 indicates no reading was available
from the sensor for that minute; each minute's data is
placed at a fixed location in the storage array
corresponding to the minute when the data was acquired.
Values of Na indicates an unused portion of the FLASH
card has been accessed. This value corresponds to the
all FFh condition of the erased FLASH card.
- Note 2: The first data record is written at block 257
(above the first 128 Kbyte reserved system info area at
card physical address 20000h). Using the 'FB' command
above and selecting block 257 as the start block, you may
inspect the packed binary format of the data at record 1.
Since each block is 512 bytes long, you will see data
from 2 records at a time.
- See document BPRFLASH for FLASH card internal storage
format.
FS - Store BB_RAM constants
- on startup, 1024 bytes of the BB_RAM are read into system
RAM and mapped onto a data structure of miscellaneous
system information and calibration constants. This area
of system RAM may be modified using the 'U' command, and
the BB_RAM may then be re-written with the modified
information. As an additional backup for possible data
processing use later, this information may also be
written out, in binary format, to the system/info area of
the FLASH memory card.
- example: #BPR01FS System info written to PCMCIA<crlfetx>
- NOTE: The system/info area must be erased prior to each
use of the 'FS' command.
- the system area may be read in HEX-ASCII format by reading
blocks 1, 2, and 3 with the 'FB' command above, or as
part of the binary dump of the entire FLASH card using
the 'XMODE' command below.
- See document BPRFLASH for FLASH card internal storage
format.
FE - Erase entire card (Y/N)
- use ONLY if you wish to erase the entire FLASH card. This
command takes several seconds to complete. After each
128 Kbyte block erase, a dot (.) is sent, followed by a
"Cleared" message when done.
- upon entry, you are prompted "Do you really want to erase?
Y/[N]" The default response is NO; in fact any response
other than uppercase Y will abort with
"Aborting<crlfetx>".
- example:
#BPR01FE Do you really want to erase? Y/[N]<crlf>
Y Erasing Flash Card................................<crlf>
Cleared<crlfetx>
- upon completion, the next hour record will be written at
record 1.
FI - Erase system/info area (Y/N)
- this command allows erasure of the system area ONLY, and
in particular, the BB_RAM info stored with the 'FS'
command above. The data area will NOT be erased by this
command.
- upon entry, you are prompted "Do you really want to erase
system info? Y/[N]" The default response is NO; in fact
any response other than uppercase Y will abort with
"Aborting<crlfetx>"
- example:
#BPR01FI Do you really want to erase system info? Y/[N]<crlf>
Y Erasing...System info cleared<crlfetx>
H Help
- #BPR01H - a multiple line response with text similar to
the first line of each command description in this
document as the help line, with each line terminated
<crlf> and final line terminated <crlfetx>, as follows:
A - Address acknowledge
B - Output both raw and cal
C - Output calibrated data
D - Set RT clock date/time: 'YY/MM/DD HH:MM:SS'
F - PCMCIA card access
FB - Read any block, hex
FR - Read data record, formatted
FS - Store BB_RAM constants
FE - Erase entire card (Y/N)
FI - Erase system/info area (Y/N)
H - Display Help message
I - Report ID information
L - Report ID, serial #, cal info, etc.
P - Enter polled test mode
R - Output raw data
T - Enter test mode
U - Update BB_RAM constants - password 'OK'
V - Output last hour averaged data
XMODE - XMODEM Dump PCMCIA card via console
Note: 'F' and 'XMODE' not present unless FLASH card is
installed
I Report ID information
- #BPR01I - displays the text information stored in BB_RAM,
with headers as follows, each line terminated in crlf:
MODADR: ( 5 bytes text) module address
MODMFG: (16 bytes text) module manufacturer
MODMOD: (16 bytes text) model number
MODSER: ( 8 bytes text) serial number
MODDAT: ( 8 bytes text) manufacture date
SENMFG: (16 bytes text) sensor manufacturer
SENMOD: (16 bytes text) model number
SENSER: ( 8 bytes text) serial number
SENDAT: ( 8 bytes text) manufacture date
SFTMFG: (16 bytes text) program origin
SFTNAM: (16 bytes text) program name
SFTREV: ( 8 bytes text) serial number
SFTDAT: ( 8 bytes text) revision date
CALFAC: (16 bytes text) calibration facility
CALPER: (16 bytes text) calibration technician
CALDAT: ( 8 bytes text) calibration date
DATFRM: (64 bytes text) calibrated data output format
DATDES: (64 bytes text) calibrated data description
DATUNI: (64 bytes text) calibrated data units
RAWFRM: (64 bytes text) raw data output format
RAWDES: (64 bytes text) raw data description
RAWUNI: (64 bytes text) raw data units
- the last scan sent is terminated by <crlfetx>.
L Report ID, serial #, cal info, etc.
- the 'L' command provides miscellaneous status information
about the module in a multi-line response. The number of
lines in the response may vary depending upon the
battery-backed RAM and PCMCIA card status. Normally,
after an initial <crlf>, 8 lines of info are provided, as
follows:
#BPR01L<crlf>
module id from BB_RAM<crlf>
module serial number from BB_RAM<crlf>
firmware name and version number from program FLASH EPROM<crlf>
crystal frequency from EPROM
calibration date from BB_RAM<crlf>
current date and time<crlf>
BPR cal constants A, B
if PCMCIA card installed - PCMCIA card status<crlf>
PCMCIA card 1 hour records used, available<crlfetx>
- example normal response (8 lines plus initial <crlf>):
BPR01
001
VOS51BPR v1.4
2.4576 Mhz
NO CAL
99/04/10 11:23:35
BPR: 2.40000e+00 1.00000e+00
EDI Intel-compatible 8MB PCMCIA CARD present - CARD OK!
Records used: 125; available: 15747
- the last line is terminated by <crlfetx>.
- NOTE 1: if an Intel Type 2+ 4MB PCMCIA card is installed, the
card present line will display:
Intel Type 2+ 4MB PCMCIA CARD present - CARD OK!
- NOTE 2: if no PCMCIA card present, the last two lines will be
replaced by "No PCMCIA card installed" message.
P Enter polled test mode
- responds with individual scans of data in the 'B' command
response format, except <crlf> terminator only. Upon
receipt of any character except ESC, another scan of BPR
data is sent. For example:
#BPR01P 1024.62 1024.62<crlfetx>
send <cr> (or other character)
1024.62 1024.62<crlf>
send <cr> (or other character)
1024.62 1024.62<crlf>
.
.
- the command terminates on receipt of an ASCII ESC (1Bh)
character. The last scan sent is terminated by <crlfetx>.
R Output raw value (currently same as 'B' command)
- outputs both calibrated and raw data values, in millibars,
as follows: BPR : BPRraw<crlfetx>
- example: #BPR01R 1024.75 : 1024.75<crlfetx>
- C language format: "%7.2f %7.2f\r\n\x03"
T Enter test mode
- responds with continuous scans of data in the 'B' command
response format, except <crlf> terminator only. For
example:
#BPR01T 1024.75 1024.75<crlf>
1024.75 1024,75<crlf>
1024.75 1024,75<crlf>
1024.75 1024,75<crlf>
.
.
- the command terminates on receipt of an ASCII ESC (1Bh)
character. The last scan sent is terminated by <crlfetx>.
U Update BB_RAM contents
- enters the update mode after confirmation of 'OK'
password. New BB_RAM values may be entered in this mode.
- upon initial entry, you must send the letters OK after the
command or the command is ignored, e.g. #BPR01UOK. Upon
receipt of the correct password, a set of prompts will be
issued to allow entry of new module address, module
manufacturer's info, sensor info, software info,
calibration facility info, raw and calibrated output
format info, up to 8 sets of calibration constants,
display entire info area, and exit with or without
update.
- the '0' choice for 'Exit without update' leaves the module
RAM and BB_RAM in its original state.
- all responses to prompts must be terminated with <cr>.
The final response from the module upon exit is
<crlfetx>.
- the A and B parameters of the 1st cal constant set apply
a simply polynomial (y = A + Bx) to the reading that is
received from the sensor. This is typically used for minor
offset corrections only (anything more indicates a possible
sensor problem). Most instruments will have A = 0 and B = 1.0
for no correction.
NOTE 1: Upon completion, the newly updated module address
will not take effect until the next reset or power-up.
XMODE XMODEM Dump PCMCIA card via console in RS232 mode only;
(only if FLASH card installed)
The following description assumes PCPLUS for terminal software,
but any terminal program capable of XMODEM transfer should work.
On entry, the module will prompt:
Set terminal speed for 38400 then hit any key
After setting speed and hitting a key, you will see:
XMODEM Send Function
Waiting for start...
Start a transfer (PgDn in PCPLUS) - on completion, you will see:
Sent 89 blocks - done
Restore terminal speed to 9600 then hit any key
After resetting speed to 9600 baud and hitting a key, the module
will send a "\r\n"
Ignore occasional gibberish when changing baud rates!
Note: Only the data record portion of the FLASH card
is dumped via XMODEM;
Revision history: