IO-Warrior - What you always wanted to know

1. Does IO-Warrior require specific drivers?
2. Is there software to use IO-Warrior on Linux?
3. Is there a Delphi Component for IO-Warrior?
4. What is the maximum data rate of IO-Warrior?
5. Why so slow? USB Low Speed is supposed to be 1,5MBit/sec?
6. is there going to be an IO-Warrior with higher data rate?
7. What is in the Starterkit?
8. Is it possible to run multiple IO-Warrior chips parallel?
9. Is it possible to download software onto IO-Warrior or change its ProductID and Vendor ID?
10. IO-Warrior V1.0.2.0 did already have the LED matrix and switch matrix functions implemented. Is it possible to use these functions?
11. What is the function of the LED on the IOW24 starterkit?

1. Q: Does IO-Warrior require specific drivers?
   A: Only on Linux. IO-Warrior is a device of the HID Class (Human Interface Device). HID devices are controlled by system drivers on MacOS and Windows. The system drivers allow to access the IO-Warrior from application programs. Only on Linux we do provide a specific driver as the Linux system drivers do not allow direct access.
2. Q: Is there software to use IO-Warrior on Linux?
   A: Yes, complete Linux support is part of the SDK.
3. Q: Is there a Delphi component for IO-Warrior?
   A: Yes, a component and sample code are part of the SDK.
4. Q: What is the maximum data rate of IO-Warrior?
   A: IO-Warrior is a HID Class device, IOW40 and IOW24 are in the Low Speed category. This means by the USB specification it is limited to sending 100 reports per second. Actual system implementations use a 8msec polling speed, resulting in 125 reports per second input speed. A report always contains the status for all pins of IO-Warrior or a data packet from one of the special mode functions (i.e. IIC, LCD). Using the IIC function this results in 600 to 800 bytes transfer per second.
   IO-Warrior56 is a full speed device, this allows it to transfer up to 1000 reports per second and to put more data into each report. Using SPI IOW56 can achieve about 60.000 bytes per second.
5. Q: Why so slow? USB is supposed to be 1,5MBit/sec or 12MBit/sec?
   A: That is right, but USB limits the amount of data than can be transferred by a single device. Otherwise the bandwith for other devices would be reduced.
6. Q: What is in the Starterkit?
   A: All components that are on the photos are contained in the kit (not necessarily exactly the same components, but functional equivalent parts), that means the IO-Warrior chip, the PCB, socket, connector, and all the other parts. You only need to provide your own USB cable and of course some solder and tools. A printed placement plan and a CD with the SDK is enclosed as well.
7. Q: is it possible to run multiple IO-Warrior chips parallel?
   A: Yes, the libs for Windows, Linux and MacOS X have support for multiple chips. Since chip version 1.0.1.0 all IO-Warriors do have unique serial numbers that allow to identify them. Without the serial numbers it is impossible for Windows to identify which of the two interfaces of IO-Warrior belong to the same chip.
8. Q: Is it possible to download software to IO-Warrior or change its ProductID or VendorID?
   A: No. IO-Warrior has a fixed programming. Though custom parts are possible for larger orders.
9. Q: IO-Warrior V1.0.2.0 did already have the LED matrix and switch matrix functions implemented. Is it possible to use these functions?
   A: To some degree.
   The LED matrix function in V1.0.2.0 chips does have severe problems when being used on a OHCI type USB host. Reports can be lost and the communication can hang. This does not happen on UHCI hosts. Using the function with V1.0.2.0 chips on MacOS is virtually impossible as Mac host controllers are always of OHCI type. PCs are less likely to have this problem as the UHCI type controller is more widespread (i.e. Intel uses UHCI, VIA uses OHCI).
   The switch matrix function is rather usable on V1.0.2.0 chips as the only problem there is that sometimes only one of the two reports is transmitted. This can be compensated by sending a request to the IO-Warrior to resend the reports.
10. Q: What is the function of the LED on the IOW24 starterkit?
    A: The LED is connected to port 0.3 and has no specific function. When the port pin is set to 0 the LED will be on.