Frequently asked questions (F.A.Q.)| FAQ about RoboPro | ||
| Questions about our Robopro Software | ||
| Is the Robopro Software under Windows Vista running?. | ||
| > The Robopro Software runs under the 32 bit version of Windows Vista (Standard version of the home edition). Until now it does not work under the 64 bit version. | ||
| Is the Robopro Software under Mac running? > | ||
| > > The Robopro Software runs under Mac. Here is one possibility:
http://www.apple.com/macosx/compatibility/ http://www.apple.com/support/bootcamp/ |
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| Questions about Robo interface and I/O extension | ||
| I can't install the USB driver. I always get an error message. | ||
| > If you can't install the USB driver, this may have many causes. First, you must make sure that you have administrator rights on your computer. In Windows XP, you check this with "Start/Control Panel/User Accounts." In addition you must determine if your system also installs unmarked drivers. Using the commands "Start/Control Panel/System" and the tab "Hardware" and the button "Driver Marking" it must be insured that the level is set to "Ignore" or better at "Warn." If the button is set to "Block," then the driver cannot be installed. However, if there are still problems with the installation of a driver, then this should be completely removed from the system and reinstalled. If the interface is still not recognized, contact our hot line. | ||
| How high is the transformation rate for analog channels? | ||
| > In the complete Robo system, an internal time pulse of 10ms is used. This means that a program receives a new analog value every 10ms. | ||
| How can I find out if the Robo interface has recognized the connected I/O extension? | ||
| > You can recognize this by the fact that only the green "Ext" LED is blinking. | ||
| How many expansion modules can I connect to the Robo interface? | ||
| > The Robo interface can control a maximum of three I/O extension modules. | ||
| When downloading programs, I get the message "Error, the module is sending an unexpected return code-storage on interface too small." | ||
| > Conduct a company product update in the interface to a new version then the problem should be eliminated. | ||
| When downloading programs, I get the message, "Error, the device sends an unexpected return code." | ||
| > Conduct a company product update in the interface to a new version then the problem should be eliminated. | ||
| After I download programs, the red LED in the interface lights up continously and the program will not run. | ||
| > Conduct a company product update in the interface to a new version then the problem should be eliminated. | ||
| Questions about the FtLib | ||
| How can I address several USB interfaces? | ||
| > In order to operate several interfaces
on the USB, first each interface must be assigned its own serial number. As a standard, all interfaces
are delivered with the same serial number in order to avoid problems with the exchange of interfaces.
The Windows operating system, however, recognizes only those interfaces with different serial numbers.
For "each" serial number, the corresponding driver is installed. To do this with Windows 2000 or
XP administrator rights are necessary. Therefore, as a standard, all ROBO interfaces and ROBO I/O extensions are delivered with the same serial number. As long as only one interface is used on a computer, there are no problems, if the interfaces are operated on different computers. The computer differentiates the products by their names such as ROBO interface, ROBO I/O-Extension and Robo RF-DataLink and their particular serial number. Therefore, a Robo interface and a Robo I/O extension can be operated at the same time on a computer without changing the serial number because these are different products. However, if several of the same products such as Robo interfaces are to be operated on one computer through the USB, then before this is done the serial numbers of the interfaces must be changed so that these are seen as different by the computer. Note! If connected to the serial port on the computer, then no serial number must be changed. The interface has therefore stored two serial numbers. Using the software, the setting can be made to have the standard serial number "1" be active or the device serial number "2," which the manufacturer programs, to be active when the device is turned on. The changing of the serial number can be done using the software FtDiag.exe, RoboPro or the function, GetFtDeviceSetting() or SetFtDeviceSetting() of the FtLib. To change the serial number, only one product may be connected to the USB because otherwise the computer cannot recognize a difference between them. In FtDiag.exe, go to "SCAN USB" and then click on the "USB Device" button and then go to the menu Properties/Setup. In this window, you can set the desired serial number, which will be active after you turn it on the next time. Note! The serial numbers, which are printed on the products, are Hex numbers. Even, if the USB "theoretically" allows up to 127 devices, practice has shown that with Windows XP with SP1 on a 3 GHz Pentium 4 only about 4 to 5 products can be reliably operated parallel, which means that the updating time for the transfer area is a maximum of 10ms. With Windows 98 this is up to 10 devices. This is due to the fact that the internal Windows drivers are not optimized for the motherboard hardware under XP for "real time applications." Therefore, it is more useful to connect IO extensions to the Robo interfaces instead of each product individually to the USB. |
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| In what data area in the TRANSFER_AREA is an IO extension module addressed if it is directly connected to a USB port? | ||
| >
If an interface is connected "directly" to a PC then its I/Os are controlled by the I/Os of the
interface, that is E_Main/M_Main etc. Functions, which are not supported by the connected interface
such as PWM values for the old intelligent interface are not evaluated by the FtLib. The first I/O extension module, which is connected to the interface, is controlled by the E_Sub1 / M_Sub1 variables. If a second one is connected, then its values are found at Sub2 etc. In this respect, it does not make any difference what serial number the I/Os have, this is only needed for the USB |
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| In which data area in the TRANSFER_AREA is an intelligent interface with a connected extension module addressed? | ||
| > If you want to control an intelligent interface, you will find its values in the main area. If this is an interface with a connected slave module (FT_INTELLIGENT_IF_SLAVE), the values of the slave module are stored in the Sub1 area. | ||
| Are the I/O extension modules automatically recognized when they are connected to Robo interface or must I change the serial number? | ||
| > The I/Os are automatically recognized. You must only insure that the outputs are actually updated (MPWM_Update, affects all outputs) and that the PWM values are set (7 = fast) and, if applicable, the auto OFF/SaveEnergy function (at "00" on a motor connection) is deactivated (see MES_Main...). | ||
| Can I call up FtLib routines within the callback routine of the transfer thread? | ||
| > You should not call up any FtLib function from the transfer thread because this produces a "deadlock" because the functions are multithread capable and thus block each other. Due to reasons of time, you should only set identifiers, which are then recognized by the main program, within your callback function. | ||
| FAQ about LLWIN | ||
| I have the "intelligent interface." When I want to control my fischertechnik model through "LLWin," I get the message "no connection to the interface." | ||
| > The problem may have various causes. Please download the PDF file, 30402verb. This explains exactly what you have to do. | ||
| Can the universal interface (parallel port) be coupled with the serial intelligent interface? | ||
| > No, that is not possible. However, two parallel ports can be combined. In addition, with the extension module, you can double the outputs and the digital inputs of the intelligent interface. | ||
| Can I control my fischertechnik computing models with other software than LLWin? | ||
| > Yes. At the factory, due to the number of PCs with Windows, however, only LLWin is developed further and supported. However, fischertechnik fans have developed drivers, for example, for Visual Basic, C++ and Delphi etc. The corresponding links can be found at "Links." Apple users also receive a corresponding interface and software from the company, Boenig & Kallenbach. | ||
| FAQ about other software | ||
| I have a Pentium computer and fischertechnik DOS software. However, my models do not function as planned. For example, impulses are counted incorrectly. Why? | ||
| > The timing problem is known. Pentium PCs or very fast 486s (100 Mhz and above) overtax the old fischertechnik software with their speed. Our latest software Robo Pro (93293) provides a remedy. A demo-version for this easy-to-use Windows application can be downloaded at "Downloads." | ||
| If you have further questions, please send them by e-mail to: info@fischertechnik.de | ||