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The embedded computer that controls the operation of the Artist 8800-X plotter is based on a Mini-ATX motherboard (x86) running Windows CE 4.2. The plotter receives plot data from the Internet using an Ethernet connection, or from local sources using USB.
A plot engine controller located on a dedicated PCI card that plugs into the motherboard manages setup information and image data sent to the print engine, and reads the status information received back from the engine. A USB controller is also located on the PCI plug-in card. The USB controller, which has its own CPU, transfers data at high speed via DMA to the x86 processor on the motherboard.
For Windows CE device driver development, WDV used WinDriver for Windows CE .NET, from Jungo Software Technologies, to develop the driver and hardware access layers. According to Jungo, WinDriver can automate and simplify the development of user mode device drivers and applications for USB, PCI, CardBus, ISA, PCMCIA, PMC, PCI-X, and CompactPCI hardware, under Windows CE, Windows XP Embedded, and other popular operating systems.
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