JP2003263283A - Image forming apparatus, image read in apparatus, and control board for the same - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a low-cost control board. <P>SOLUTION: The control board 1 is constructed so as to allow a card-type recording medium 5 to be removed and reinstalled. It is provided with a CISC microprocessor 2 connected to the card-type recording medium 5, main ROM 3 having a control program recorded thereon, and boot ROM 4 having a starting program stored therein and configured to store backup data. If the card-type recording medium 5 is not mounted, the program recorded on the main ROM 3 is read by the CISC microprocessor 2 operations are executed. If the card-type recording medium 5 is mounted and software which is to be downloaded to the main ROM 3 is recorded on the card-type recording medium 5, the CISC microprocessor 2 executes the starting program stored in the boot ROM 4 so as to download the software recorded on the card-type recording medium 5 to the main ROM 3. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2003,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, a printer and a facsimile, an image reading apparatus such as a scanner, and a control board used for these.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Recently, as shown in FIG. 11, an image forming apparatus has a control board 41 using a RISC microcomputer 40, and a card type recording medium (memory card or the like) 42.
Various control software such as machine main software and font software are downloaded to the main ROM 43. Incidentally, the control board 4 of such an image forming apparatus
In No. 1, when the power is turned on, the program stored in the main ROM 43 is once expanded in the DRAM 44 by the operation of the RISC microcomputer 40, and then the program expanded in the DRAM 44 is read and executed by the RISC microcomputer 40. With such a configuration, various control software downloaded from the card type recording medium 42 can be stored in the main ROM 43. Then, a backup RAM 45 is provided on the control board 41 of the image forming apparatus as a main ROM 43 and D.
It is installed separately from the RAM 44.

[0003]

However, the RIS
The control board 41 configured to use the C microcomputer 40 and the DRAM 44 is a simple image forming apparatus with a small number of produced units and almost no optional equipment or functions, and has a low job processing speed such as printing. It is expensive for an image forming apparatus (abbreviated as an inexpensive type image forming apparatus). Therefore, in order to reduce the cost of the image forming apparatus, the cost of the control board 41 becomes a bottleneck, and it has been desired to provide the control board 41 with the reduced cost.

Therefore, the present invention has been devised in order to meet such a demand, and provides a low-priced image forming apparatus and a low-priced image processing apparatus by devising the structure of the control board. With the goal.

[0005]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, a card type recording medium is configured to be detachable, and a CISC microcomputer connected to the card type recording medium and a main program in which a control program is recorded. The present invention relates to a control board that includes a ROM and a boot ROM that stores a backup program and that stores a boot program. When the card type recording medium is not mounted on the control board, the CISC microcomputer reads out and executes the program in the main ROM. In addition, this control board
When the card type recording medium is mounted and the software to be downloaded to the main ROM is recorded in the card type recording medium, the CISC microcomputer executes the boot ROM starting program. hand,
The software in the card-type recording medium is downloaded to the main ROM.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the card type recording medium is configured to be removable, the CISC microcomputer connected to the card type recording medium, the main ROM in which the control program is recorded, and the start-up. The present invention relates to a control board including a boot ROM configured to store backup data as well as a backup program. When the card-type recording medium is not mounted on the control board, the CISC microcomputer reads out and executes the program in the main ROM. Further, in this control board, when the card type recording medium is mounted, and when the software to be downloaded to the main ROM is recorded in the card type recording medium, the CISC microcomputer causes the boot RO.
The software in the card type recording medium is downloaded to the main ROM by executing the M booting program. In the case where it is determined that the boot ROM is out of order or has expired because the backup data cannot be written in the boot ROM a plurality of times consecutively, a card type recording medium for storing the backup data is mounted. If the boot ROM
The backup data therein is downloaded to the card-type recording medium for storing the backup data. afterwards,
When the defective or expired ROM is replaced with a new boot ROM, the backup data stored in the card-type recording medium for storing backup data is downloaded to the new boot ROM.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a scanner section for reading image information of a document, a printing section for printing image data read by the scanner section on a recording member, and the first aspect.
Alternatively, the present invention relates to an image forming apparatus including the control board of No. 2. The image forming apparatus is characterized by including the control board in each of the scanner section and the printing section.

According to a fourth aspect of the invention, an image forming apparatus for printing image data on a recording member is provided with the control board according to the first or second aspect.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, an image reading device for reading image information of a document is provided with the control board according to the first or second aspect.

[0010]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings.

[Control Board] FIG. 1 shows a control board 1 for an image forming apparatus or an image reading apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. The control board 1 includes a CISC microcomputer 2, a main ROM 3 and a boot ROM 4. Among them, the CISC microcomputer 2 downloads various control software such as machine main software and font software from the card type recording medium (memory card etc.) 5 to the main ROM 3 or main ROM (single or plural).
The program stored in No. 3 is read and executed.

The main ROM 3 is a flash RO.
M, the main software for control is built in advance, and when the card-type recording medium 5 is connected to the control board 1,
The software downloaded from the card type recording medium 5 is stored.

The boot ROM 4 is a flash ROM and has a built-in program (boot program) for starting the CISC microcomputer 2. Further, the boot ROM 4 is adapted to record backup data (for example, copy, printer count) by using the free space other than the area used for storing the boot program. By providing the boot ROM 4, the software downloaded from the card type recording medium 5 can be written in the main ROM 3.

Here, in the control board 6 having no boot ROM as shown in FIG. 2, even if the software can be downloaded from the card type recording medium 5, the software is downloaded to the main ROM 3 executing the program. I cannot write the software I created. In addition, a ROM built-in CPU is used as the CISC microcomputer
It is conceivable to store boot software in the OM and mask the ROM so that the data cannot be rewritten or erased. However, CISC microcomputers with such a mask can be used in image forming devices and image reading machines with a small number of production. When applied to an apparatus, the cost for applying the mask increases, and there arises a problem that the price of the control board cannot be within the required range. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 3, the boot ROM 8 is installed on the control board 7. In some cases, the ROM capacity of the mask CPU is too small to mask the program.

As shown in FIG. 3, the backup R
AM (SRAM with built-in battery or SRA connected to battery)
Although it is possible to store the backup data in M) 10, in the present embodiment, the backup RAM 10 is omitted and the boot ROM 4 is empty in consideration of the capacity of the boot software and the capacity of the backup data. Backup data is stored in the capacity part. As a result, the cost of the control board 1 can be reduced by the amount that the backup RAM 10 is omitted. Further, as in this embodiment, the backup RAM 10
It is also preferable from the standpoint of ecology that the battery embedded in or connected to the backup RAM 10 shown in FIG.

Here, the control board 1 of the present embodiment does not manage the life of the boot ROM 4 which stores backup data by the number of times of erasing of the sector, but the boot ROM 4
At the end of the life, the sector ROM cannot be erased (data cannot be written) and the time when the write error occurs a plurality of times in succession is determined to be the life of the boot ROM 4.

Incidentally, for example, 2 Mbit (256 Kbyte)
When the boot ROM 4 having the capacity of e) is used, it is assumed that the boot area is 64 Kbytes and the remaining 192 Kbytes is used as a backup area.
Let's calculate the life of 4. First, during the machine life,
The most backed up data is the copy or printer counter. Assuming that the capacity of all backup data including this copy or printer counter is 2 Kbytes for one count, and the life of each sector of the boot ROM 4 is 10,000 times (the minimum value guaranteed by the manufacturer), the number of times the sector is erased. Is {192 (Kbyte)
/ 2 (Kbyte)}-10000 = 960000 (9
60,000 times). The erase count of this sector is the boot ROM
4 lifespan. On the other hand, since the life of a copier or the like as an image forming apparatus to which the control board 1 of the present embodiment is mounted is normally 650,000 counts, the life of the boot ROM 4 (960,000 times) for the copier or the like. Is a sufficient value. However, the control board 1 according to the present embodiment is old in consideration of the case where the boot ROM 4 fails before the end of its life or the case where there is a user who continues to use the machine even after the end of the machine life (the life of a copying machine or the like). It has a function (backup exchange function) of transferring the backup data of the boot ROM 4 to the newly replaced boot ROM 4.

Next, the operating state of the CISC microcomputer 2 used in the control board of this embodiment will be described with reference to the flow charts shown in FIGS.

(Normal Operation State) The normal operation state of the CISC microcomputer 2 will be described with reference to the flow chart shown in FIG. First, the power is turned on, and the card-type recording medium 5 is
When connected to the SC microcomputer 2, the boot program is read from the boot ROM 4 by the CISC microcomputer 2 and executed. The CISC microcomputer 2 determines that the card-type recording medium 5 is connected (step S1) and reads the main ROM code from the card-type recording medium 5 (step S2). Download to (Step S
3). After that, when the CISC microcomputer 2 determines that the download is completed (step S4), it outputs a download end signal to the operation unit and causes the operation unit to display the download end (step S5). This series of operations is performed based on the program in the boot ROM 4. After that,
The CISC microcomputer 2 can perform various controls based on the program downloaded from the card type recording medium 5 to the main ROM 3. Here, when the card type recording medium 5 is not connected to the control board 1, the CIS
C2 executes the program in the main ROM3.

(Download of Backup Data etc. from Boot ROM to Card Type Recording Medium) Boot ROM 4
FIG. 5 shows a download operation of backup data and the like from the boot ROM 4 to the boot ROM replacement card type recording medium 5 (backup data saving operation) at the time of exchanging the data.
It will be described based on the flowchart of FIG.

If an error in writing backup data to the boot ROM 4 occurs a plurality of times in succession, the boot R
It is determined that the OM4 has reached the end of its life or has failed, and a message prompting replacement of the boot ROM is displayed on the display screen of the operation unit. This work is performed according to the program in the main ROM 3.

When the boot ROM 4 is replaced, an operator (for example, a service person in charge of maintenance of the image forming apparatus) connects the card type recording medium 5 to the control board 1 according to the display screen of the operation unit (step S11). It is determined whether the card type recording medium 5 is a boot ROM replacement card type recording medium (step S12). here,
The boot ROM replacement card type recording medium 5 before being connected to the control board 1 has no files such as data and programs recorded therein. If the card-type recording medium 5 has the main ROM code, it is determined that the card-type recording medium 5 is not the boot ROM replacement card-type recording medium.

When it is determined that the card type recording medium 5 connected to the control board 1 is the boot ROM replacement card type recording medium 5 (step S12), the boot ROM
The backup data and backup code of No. 4 are downloaded to the card type recording medium 5 (step S1).
3). When the backup data and the backup code have been downloaded (saved) to the boot ROM replacement card type recording medium 5 (step S14), a download end signal is sent to the operation unit and a download end display is displayed on the display screen of the operation unit. After allowing (Step S1
5) A message for prompting the removal of the boot ROM replacement card type recording medium 5 from the connection part of the control board 1 is displayed on the display screen of the operation part (step S16).

When it is determined that the boot ROM replacement card type recording medium 5 has been removed from the connection part of the control board 1 (step S17), a message instructing replacement of the boot ROM 4 is displayed on the operation screen of the operation part (step S1).
8). If it is determined in step S12 that the card-type recording medium 5 connected to the control board 1 is not the boot ROM replacement card-type recording medium, a message prompting replacement with the boot ROM replacement card-type recording medium 5 is displayed. It is displayed on the display screen of the operation unit (step S19).

(Download of backup data etc. from card type recording medium to new boot ROM) Boot ROM
The operation of downloading the backup data and the like from the boot ROM replacement card type recording medium 5 to the new boot ROM 4 (recovery operation of the backup data) at the time of replacement of No. 4 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

New boot ROM instead of old boot ROM 4
4 is inserted into a predetermined IC socket of the control board 1,
The boot ROM replacement card type recording medium 5 is reinserted into the connection portion of the control board 1, and the boot ROM replacement card type recording medium 5 is connected to the CISC microcomputer 2 (step S
21), the backup code recorded in the boot ROM replacement card type recording medium 5 is read (step S
22) When the data restoration signal is input from the operation unit (step S23), the backup data in the boot ROM replacement card type recording medium 5 is downloaded to the new boot ROM 4 (step S24). This new boot ROM
When the download of the backup data to the data storage device 4 (data restoration process) is completed (step S25), the data restoration process is completed, and the fact that all the replacement work of the boot ROM 4 is completed is displayed on the operation screen of the operation unit (step S2).
6). The new boot ROM 4 is pre-recorded with the boot software.

[Copier as Image Forming Apparatus] (First Example of Copier) FIG. 7 shows a schematic configuration of a copier 20 in which the control board 1 according to the present embodiment is mounted.

As shown in FIG. 7, a copying machine 20 as an image forming apparatus includes a scanner section 21 for reading image information of a document, and a recording member such as copy paper based on the image information read by the scanner section 21. And a printer unit 22 for printing an image.

The scanner section 21 irradiates the original with light from a light source, inputs the reflected light from the original through a lens to a light receiving element (for example, an optical sensor such as a CCD), and reads the read image data into an A / D. Convert and digitize. Then, the digitized data is subjected to image processing according to the type of copy and the like. The types of copy include enlarged copy, reduced copy, black and white inversion, and the like.

Here, as described above, the scanner section 21 is equipped with the image reading board 23 for operation control for reading and digitizing the image information of the document. Further, the scanner unit 21 is an image processing board 2 for performing image processing on digitized data according to the type of copy or the like.
4 is installed. Further, the scanner unit 21 has an AD
A scanner / operation unit control board 25 for controlling the operation of the document driving motor such as F and the operation unit is mounted. Of these, the image processing board 24 and the scanner / operation unit control board 25
The control board 1 according to the present embodiment is used for.

The printer unit 22 writes the image-processed data on the surface of the photoconductor with a semiconductor laser to form an electrostatic latent image on the surface of the photoconductor, and then forms the electrostatic latent image into a toner image by a developing device. The toner image is transferred onto a transfer material such as paper by a transfer device, and the toner image transferred onto the transfer material is fixed by a fixing device.

Here, the printer unit 22 includes an image output board 26 for controlling the above-described series of printing operations, a motor and various switches for feeding and transferring a transfer material such as paper from a paper feed tray. And an engine control board 27 for controlling operation. Among these, the control board 1 of the present embodiment is used for the image output board 26 and the engine control board 27.

Then, the scanner unit 21 and the printer unit 2
2 can be operated based on control data output from a controller 30 connected to a data processing device 28 such as an external personal computer. The controller 3
0 is an option and is not standard equipment.

As described above, in the copying machine 20 according to the present embodiment, the control board 1 is arranged for each function of the scanner section 21 and the printer section 22. Therefore, as will be described later, the scanner unit 21 and the printer unit 22 of the copying machine 20 can be separated and used independently. In such a case, many control boards 1 are used, so compared with the case of mounting an expensive control board using a RISC microcomputer,
If the control board 1 according to the present embodiment, which uses the CISC microcomputer 2 and is inexpensive, is mounted, a great advantage is brought about in terms of cost reduction.

(Second Example of Copying Machine) FIG. 10 shows a wide and large-sized industrial copying machine 20 which enables copying of a paper size such as A0 size. Such a large-scale industrial copying machine 20
Since the drive mechanism section 31 such as the sheet feeding motor and the image forming section 32 are separated from each other, if the drive control or the like is performed by a single control board, the wiring length becomes long, and the control signal causes noise. Easily affected by. Therefore, in such a large-sized industrial copying machine 20, an engine control board 33 that controls the drive of the sheet feeding motor and the like is arranged in the vicinity of the drive mechanism unit 31 such as the sheet feeding motor and the operation control of the image forming unit 32 is performed. The image output board 34 for performing the above is disposed near the photoconductor drum that constitutes the image forming section 32, and the overall wiring length is shortened to reduce the adverse effect of noise, and the data exchange between the boards 33 and 34 is performed. It is supposed to be done by communication. In the copying machine 20 having such a structure, as in the copying machine 20 of the first example described above, a plurality of control boards 1 using the CISC microcomputer 2 according to the present embodiment are mounted, and therefore the control using the RISC microcomputer is performed. The cost can be reduced as compared with the case of using a plurality of substrates.

[Printer as Image Forming Apparatus] FIG.
Shows a mode in which the printer unit 22 separated from the copying machine 20 constitutes a printer 35 together with the controller 30. Then, as in the case of the copying machine 20 described above,
The controller 30 is connected to a data processing device 28 such as a personal computer, and the controller 30 sends control data to the image output board 26 based on transmission data from the data processing device 28.
Can be sent to. The control board 1 according to the present embodiment is used as the image output board 26 and the engine control board 27 that constitute the printer 35.

[Scanner] FIG. 9 shows a mode in which the scanner section 21 separated from the copying machine 20 constitutes the scanner 36 together with the controller 30. The controller 30 is connected to a data processing device 28 such as a personal computer, and the image data read from the document by the controller 30 can be sent to the external data processing device 28. The control board 1 according to the present embodiment is used for the image processing board 24 and the scanner / operation unit control board 25 that form the scanner 36.

[Other Embodiments] The present invention is not limited to the electrophotographic copying machine 20 and the printer 35 illustrated in the above-described embodiments, but may be applied to an inkjet copying machine or printer. You can Further, the present invention is not limited to the copying machine and printer exemplified as the image forming apparatus, but can be applied to a facsimile machine, a copying machine, a printer, and a multifunction machine having a facsimile function.

[0039]

As described above, according to the present invention, the CISC microcomputer is used in place of the RISC microcomputer, and the start-up program is incorporated in place of the backup RAM containing the battery or the backup RAM and DRAM connected to the battery. In addition, since the boot ROM configured to record the backup data is used, the cost of the control board can be reduced. as a result,
The cost of the image forming apparatus and the image reading apparatus using the control board of the present invention can be reduced.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a control board according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a control board of a first comparative example with respect to the control board according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a control board of a second comparative example with respect to the control board according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a first flowchart showing an operating state of the control board according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a second flowchart showing the operating state of the control board according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a third flowchart showing an operating state of the control board according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a schematic configuration diagram of a copying machine using the control board according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a schematic configuration diagram of a printer that uses the control board according to the embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 9 is a schematic configuration diagram of a scanner using the control board according to the embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 10 is a schematic configuration diagram of a large-sized copying machine using the control board according to the embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a conventional control board.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 ... Control board, 2 ... CISC microcomputer, 3 ... Main ROM, 4 ... Boot ROM, 5 ... Card type recording medium, 20 ... Copier (image forming apparatus), 21 ... Scanner section, 22 ...... Printer section, 35 ...... Printer (image forming apparatus), 36 ...... Scanner

   ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued front page    (72) Inventor Hiroshi Abe             1-2-2 Tamatsukuri, Chuo-ku, Osaka-shi, Osaka Prefecture             Kyocera Mita Co., Ltd. F-term (reference) 2C061 AP03 AP04 HH03 HJ08 HK08                       HN02 HN15                 2C087 AA03 BC12 BD41                 5B021 AA01 CC06 DD19                 5C062 AA02 AA05 AB10 AB38 AB42                       AC21 AC41 AF00 BA01

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A CI, which is configured so that a card-type recording medium can be attached and detached, and which is connected to the card-type recording medium.
SC microcomputer and main R with control program recorded
A boot ROM that contains an OM and a boot program and is configured to store backup data
And a C-type recording medium having no card-type recording medium attached,
In the case where the program of the main ROM is read and executed by the ISC microcomputer and the card type recording medium is loaded, and the software to be downloaded to the main ROM is recorded in the card type recording medium. The CISC microcomputer executes the boot ROM startup program,
A control board, wherein software in the card-type recording medium is downloaded to the main ROM. 2. A CI which is constructed so that a card type recording medium can be attached and detached and which is connected to the card type recording medium.
SC microcomputer and main R with control program recorded
A boot ROM that contains an OM and a boot program and is configured to store backup data
And a C-type recording medium having no card-type recording medium attached,
In the case where the program of the main ROM is read and executed by the ISC microcomputer and the card type recording medium is loaded, and the software to be downloaded to the main ROM is recorded in the card type recording medium. The CISC microcomputer executes the boot ROM startup program,
Software in the card-type recording medium is adapted to be downloaded to the main ROM, and the boot ROM is out of order or has expired because backup data cannot be written to the boot ROM a plurality of times in succession. If it is determined, and the card-type recording medium for storing the backup data is attached, the backup data in the boot ROM is downloaded to the card-type recording medium for storing the backup data, and the failure or New boot ROM is the end of life boot ROM
Control board, the backup data stored in the card-type recording medium for storing the backup data is downloaded to the new boot ROM. 3. An image forming apparatus comprising: a scanner section for reading image information of a document; a print section for printing image data read by the scanner section on a recording member; and the control board according to claim 1 or 2. According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image forming apparatus, wherein the scanner section and the printing section each include the control board. 4. An image forming apparatus for printing image data on a recording member, comprising the control board according to claim 1 or 2. 5. An image reading device for reading image information of a document, comprising the control board according to claim 1 or 2.