Upstate Networks Incorporated
Products to interface vending devices to PCs since 1994.
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The MDB2PC™

The MDB2PC™ is a Computer Peripheral for interfacing vending machine protocol used by various devices including: Dollar Bill Validators, Coin Acceptors, Coin Dispensers, Smart Cards, Foreign Currency etc.

This describes the Interface Protocol for the MDB2PC™ Hardware circuit. The MDB2PC™ is a microprocessor controlled hardware interface with embedded firmware that converts the MDB protocol to an RS232 protocol.

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What is MDB and why do I need the MDB2PC™?

MDB stands for "Multi-Drop Bus" and is a protocol developed by vending machine industry. The "Multi-drop Bus" (MDB) protocol is not compatible with the standard RS-232 PC protocol and therefore a hardware and software interface is necessary. The MDB2PC™ is a microprocessor controlled hardware interface with embedded firmware that converts the MDB protocol to an RS232 protocol and also performs the necessary voltage conversion. The MDB2PC™ also relieves the Polling requirements thereby allowing the same PC to perform other tasks.

The MDB2PC™ is necessary to interface the industry standard MDB Vending machine protocol to a standard PC because:

• The MDB uses 11 Bits and a nine (9) bit byte.
• The polling requirements for the various MDB devices are excessive (20-200 ms).
• A non-dedicated PC can not meet the polling requirements.
• The MDB2PC™ takes care of the polling requirements and generates an interrupt on the serial port of the PC.
• This methods allows the PC to perform normal operations and respond to interrupt driven comm events in the UART buffer.
• All data from an MDB device is available to the PC.
• Additionally, all commands can be sent to the MDB device from the PC (ie. dispense, write to smart card etc...)

The MDB2PC™ interfaces any MDB vending device (6-pin molex/5pin MTA) to the PC via the serial port (DB-9). Future support may include Universal Serial Bus. The MDB2PC™ protocol is compatible with standard RS-232 Protocol.

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Benefits and Features

Up to eight (8) MDB compliant devices may be attached to a single MDB2PC™. The programming interface is user-friendly and may be downloaded for free. Sample source code is available and may be freely distributed. We also offer a Software Developer's Kit

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Coin Acceptors/Dispensers and Foreign Currency

Any MDB compliant device may be interfaced to a PC. This now makes it possible to accept and dispense any coin types including foreign currency and Euro Dollar (when available).

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Smart Card Reader

MDB compliant smart card readers can now be accessed.

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Specifications

Power requirements
24 to 35 Vdc
90 ma Typical
300 ma Maximum
Enviromental
Operating Temp 32°F to 158°F
0°C to 70°C
Storage Temp -22°F to 165°F
-30°C to 74°C
Relative Humidity 5% to 95% Non-condensing
Physical Weight
< 1 lb
Physical Dimensions
Length 4.0 inches Width 3.0 inches Height 1.1 inches
Connector Info
PWR 24-35V Pin 2 +24Vdc Nominal
Pin 4 Ground
MDB Pin 1 +24Vdc Nominal
Pin 2 Ground
Pin 3 N/C
Pin 4 MDB Receive Data
Pin 5 MDB Transmit Data
Pin 6 Common

RS-232 Pin 1 N/C
Pin 2 PC Transmit Data
Pin 3 PC Receive Data
Pin 4 DTR
Pin 5 Ground
Pin 6 N/C
Pin 7 N/C
Pin 8 CTS
Pin 9 N/C
LED/Jumper Designations
D2 +5Vdc
D3 MDB Activity
D4 PC Activity
D5 Status 1
D6 Status 2
Jmp1 Mode Select 1
Jmp2 Mode Select 2
Reliability
MTBF Actual TBD
Estimated 250,000 Hrs.

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Contact us for pricing and availability at (315) 732-5664

Upstate Networks Incorporated.
Copyright © 2001-2006 [Upstate Networks Incorporated.]. All rights reserved.
Information in this document is subject to change without notice.
The MDB2PC BA2PC and CashCube are trademarks of Upstate Networks Inc.