JP2766237B2 - Printer with radio - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a printer with a wireless device, and more particularly to a printer with a wireless device having a power saving function of wirelessly transferring data to and from a host device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a conventional printer with a wireless device for wirelessly transferring data with a host device, when the main power supply of the printer unit is ON, the power of the wireless device attached to the printer remains ON. Yes, the radio always consumed power even when there was no communication from a higher-level device.

[0003] Known examples of conventional printers with a wireless device include Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 5-342388 and Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 5-246.
No. 0, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 4-187476, and the like.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a portable printer described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 5-342388. The portable printer shown in FIG.
And a receiving module 9 that only receives wireless data from a handy terminal (not shown). The printer body 8 includes a printer unit 14 including a thermal head 10, a head drive circuit 11, a pulse motor 12, and a motor drive circuit 13, a printer control unit 15, and a battery 2
8, power switch 29, DC / DC converter 30
And are included. Note that the printer control unit 15
ROM 17, RAM 18, operation panel 19, sensor 20, timer circuit 21, reset circuit 2 connected to U16
2 and a power supply control circuit 23. On the other hand, the receiving module 9 is provided with the CPU 16 in the printer control unit 15.
A PLL circuit 24 connected to the power supply control circuit 23,
It comprises a waveform shaping circuit 25, an RF high-frequency circuit 26, an antenna 27, and a DC / DC converter 31. When the power switch 29 is turned on, the power of the battery 28 is directly supplied to the DC / DC converter 31 of the receiving module 9 and the DC / D
The C converter 30 is configured to be supplied via a power control circuit 23.

The printer body 8 has a normal mode and a power saving mode. In the normal mode, power is normally supplied from the battery 28 to the DC / DC converter 30 via the power supply control circuit 23, and a normal printing operation is performed. When the printing operation is completed, the timer circuit 21 is started, and when the standby time exceeds a preset reference time, the CPU 16 controls the power supply control circuit 23, and the power supply control circuit 23 reaches the DC / DC converter 30 from the battery 28. The power supply is stopped, and the operation mode is set to the power saving mode. This allows
Unnecessary power consumption by the printer body 8 during a period in which there is no print data is prevented, and power saving is realized.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a wireless printing apparatus described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 5-2460. In FIG. 5, printing information (print data and control code) from host computers 32 to 34 is transmitted to the printing device 3 via wireless data transmitting and receiving units 35 to 37, respectively.
8 is transferred. Each of the wireless data transmitting / receiving sections 35 to 37 has a unique frequency, and may identify the host computer 32 to 34 by the frequency, or may identify the host computer 32 to 34 using the same frequency and a unique ID number.

The printing device 38 includes a control unit 39, a wireless data transmission / reception unit 40, a power operation unit 41, and a printer unit 42. The control unit 39 includes a printing device 38
Performs overall control. The wireless data transmission / reception unit 40 has a wireless communication function, a carrier wave reception level monitoring function, a line switching function to cope with a plurality of host computers, and wirelessly transmits and receives print information to and from the host computers 32-34. While the power cord of the printing device 38 is inserted into the outlet, the power switch 43 is turned ON / OFF.
Regardless of the OFF state, the power is always supplied and the operation state is maintained. The power supply operation unit 41 is a unit that manages power supplies other than the wireless data transmission / reception unit 40, and a power switch 43 in accordance with an instruction from the wireless data transmission / reception unit 40 and the control unit 39.
Control the state of the. The printer unit 42 is a printing mechanism unit for forming a permanent visible image on recording paper based on print information received from the host computers 32 to 34.

The wireless data transmitting / receiving unit 4 of the printing device 38
0 constantly monitors the reception level of the carrier signal transmitted from the external device by the carrier reception level monitoring function,
The state of the power switch 43 of the power operation unit 41 is controlled based on the output and the status of the line switching function.
In addition, the turning on and off of the power to the printer unit 42 can be automatically controlled according to the transmission state of the external device. Further, the power can be turned on and off remotely based on a power control command transmitted from an external device. If the printing process is being performed during the power-off process, the control unit 39 controls so as to shut off after the printing process is completed. In this manner, the wireless data transmitting / receiving unit 40 except when the printing operation is performed.
Power consumption is reduced by reducing the power consumption of the printing apparatus except for.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a vehicle-mounted radio communication system described in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 4-187476. MCA wireless device 44 and portable terminal device 4 for storing and processing data collected by the worker
5 and an in-vehicle printer 47, and the wireless device 44 and the terminal device 45 are connected by an interface cable 46 such as RS-232C. The terminal device 45 is a network control device (N) that controls connection with another device via a telephone line.
CU). The in-vehicle printer 47 receives transfer of print data and the like from the terminal device 45 via an interface cable 48 such as Centronics, and the power supply control cable 49 controls the power ON / OFF state.

When the system is in a state of waiting for reception of data transmitted from a distant computer system, the engine of the automobile is normally stopped, and the radio 44 and the terminal device 45 are stopped.
Is in the ON state, but the power supply of the in-vehicle printer 47 is in the OFF state. When data is transmitted from the computer system and received by the wireless device 44, the wireless device 44 transfers the print data to the terminal device 45 via the interface cable 46. When the CPU in the terminal device 45 outputs the hook-off command, a power control signal of “H” level is output, and the vehicle-mounted printer 47 is turned on after being reset. The CPU in the terminal device 45 outputs a print command and print data via the interface cable 48. Thereby, printing is started in the in-vehicle printer 47. When the printing is completed, the CPU in the terminal device 45 outputs a hook-on command to output “L”.
The power control signal of the level is output, and the in-vehicle printer 47 is turned off. As described above, since the power ON / OFF state of the in-vehicle printer 47 can be controlled by the terminal device 45, the process from power control to printing control of the in-vehicle printer 47 can be automated, and the consumption of the battery of the vehicle is minimized. be able to.

[0011]

In the above-mentioned conventional printer with a wireless device, when the main power of the device is turned on, the power of the wireless device attached to the printer is turned on, and communication with a higher-level device is performed. Since the power of the wireless device remains ON even in the standby state where the wireless device is not performed, there is a problem that the wireless device constantly consumes power.

An object of the present invention is to provide a printer with a wireless device that can reduce power consumption of the wireless device in a standby state in which no communication is performed with a host device, can resume operation without delay at the start of communication, and can improve power saving effect. It is to be.

[0013]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a printer with a wireless device for wirelessly transmitting and receiving print data and response data to and from a higher-level device, wherein print data is not transmitted from the higher-level device. In the standby state, the power supply to the wireless device is turned on and off for a predetermined ON period.
ON / OFF control is performed periodically in combination with period F,
When the wireless device receives the print data in the standby state, the power supply to the wireless device is continuously turned on. When the print data is not received even after a certain period of time after the reception of the print data is completed, the standby state is set. And the length of the ON period is determined by the host device.
Mark for resending print data because response data cannot be received
It is characterized in that it is set longer than the time interval between character data .

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a printer with a wireless device.
Wirelessly send and receive print data and response data to and from
For printers with radios, print data from the host
Power is supplied to the radio in the standby state where no data is transmitted.
Combination of ON period and OFF period respectively specified
ON / OFF control periodically in the standby state.
When the line machine receives the print data,
Turn on the power supply continuously and finish receiving print data.
Print data is not received after a certain period of time
To return to the ON / OFF control in the standby state when
In addition, the length of the OFF period indicates that the higher-level device receives the response data.
The time between print data when retransmitting print data due to inability to communicate
From the value obtained by adding twice the packet length of print data to the interval
Is also set to be short .

A printer with a wireless device according to a third aspect of the invention
In 1 SL placing radio printer with twice the packet length of the print data to the time interval between the print data when the length of the OFF period to retransmit the print data host device can not receive the response data added It is characterized in that it is set shorter than the set value.

A printer with a wireless device according to a fourth aspect of the present invention comprises a host device.
Wirelessly send and receive print data and response data to and from
For printers with radios, print data from the host
Power is supplied to the radio in the standby state where no data is transmitted.
Combination of ON period and OFF period respectively specified
ON / OFF control periodically in the standby state.
When the line machine receives the print data,
Turn on the power supply continuously and finish receiving print data.
Print data is not received after a certain period of time
To return to the ON / OFF control in the standby state when
The wireless device is set so as to transmit a timing signal at the start of the ON period.

[0017]

Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 1 shows a printer with a wireless device according to this embodiment.
As shown in (1), there is a function of transmitting / receiving wireless data to / from a higher-level device, and a function of ON / OFF-controlling the current supply to the wireless device 1 at predetermined intervals when there is no communication from the higher-level device for a fixed time A wireless control unit 2 that controls data transmission and reception of the wireless device 1, a printer HW unit 4 that performs a printing operation, and a print control unit 3 that receives print data from the wireless control unit 2 and controls the printer HW unit 4. It is provided with. A transmission data line 6 and a reception data line 7 for transmitting and receiving data and a radio current supply control signal line for controlling current supply to the radio 1 are provided between the radio 1 and the radio control unit 2. 5 is connected.

This printer with a wireless device has a standby mode when there is no print request from the host device, and an operation mode in which print data is received from the host device and printing is performed. Switching is controlled by the wireless control unit 2. In the standby mode, the power consumption of the wireless device 1 as well as the printer HW unit 4 is reduced, so that the wireless control unit 2 turns on / off the current supply to the wireless device 1 at predetermined intervals.
It is configured to perform OFF control. When the power is turned on to the printer with the wireless device, the printer enters the standby mode, and when print data is received from the host device, the printer enters the operation mode. When the printing operation is completed and there is no communication from the host device for a certain period of time or more, the process returns to the standby mode.

In the standby mode, the wireless control unit 2 sets the built-in CPU to the standby state, and sets the CP at regular time intervals.
A timer for setting U to transition from the standby state to the normal state and returning to the standby state again is set. When the first reference time set in the timer elapses, the CPU of the wireless control unit 2 shifts from the standby state to the normal state, and turns on the current supply to the wireless device 1 via the wireless device current supply control signal line 5. When the second reference time set in the timer elapses without print data being received by the wireless device 1 from the host device, the current supply to the wireless device 1 is turned off.
After the FF state, the CPU is set to the standby state again and the timer is reset. This operation is repeated until the print data is received by the wireless device 1. When the print data is received by the wireless device 1, the mode shifts from the standby mode to the operation mode, and the printing process is executed.

The print control unit 3 receives print data via the wireless control unit 2 and controls the printing operation of the printer HW unit 4. After the end of the printing operation, if there is no transfer of print data from the wireless control unit 2, the built-in CPU is set to the standby state, and the printer HW unit 4 is set to the standby state with low power consumption. When receiving a print start instruction from the wireless control unit 2, the CPU changes the CPU from the standby state to the operation state, and operates the printer HW unit 4 to print the transferred print data.

Next, a series of operations of the printer with a wireless device of this embodiment will be described in detail.

When there is no print request from the host device, the CPU of the wireless control unit 2 repeats the standby state and the normal state at the interval set by the timer, and the current supply to the wireless device 1 changes the ON / OFF state at the same interval. Repeat.

If the current supply to the wireless device 1 is ON when the print data is sent from the host device, the wireless control unit 2 receives the print data sent from the wireless device 1 and repeats the timing. Stop the operation of the timer that determines, and shift from the standby mode to the operation mode. That is,
The print data reception result is returned to the host device as response data (normal reception or abnormal reception).
U is returned from the standby state to the normal state, the normally received print data is transferred to the print control unit 3, and the printer HW
The user operates the unit 4 to print.

On the other hand, when the print data is sent from the host device, if the current supply to the wireless device 1 is in the OFF state, the wireless device 1 cannot receive the print data and does not return the response data. . For this reason, the host device cannot receive response data for the transmitted print data within a predetermined time, and retransmits the same print data after a predetermined time has elapsed. If the response data cannot be received even at the time of retransmission, the transmission of the same print data is further repeated. However, if the response data cannot be obtained even after repeating the predetermined number of times, the transmission is stopped as a failure.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the operation at the time of print data transmission performed on the host device side. When transmitting print data from a higher-level device, a series of print data is divided into data packets of a fixed length and transmitted while confirming whether or not each data packet has been normally received. First, an initial value (n when the same data packet is repeatedly transmitted up to n times) that determines how many times retransmission is attempted when transmission data is not normally received is set in the transmission retry counter (step S1) One data packet is transmitted from the head of the print data (step S2). Subsequently, it is determined whether or not there is response data from the printer for the transmitted print data (Step S).
3) If response data is returned within a predetermined time, it is determined whether the response is a normal response or an abnormal response (step S4).
If the response data is a normal response, it is determined whether there is subsequent print data (step S5). If there is subsequent print data, the process returns to step S1 and the transmission retry counter is reset to the initial value. In step S2, the next data packet is transmitted. If there is no subsequent print data, the transmission of a series of print data is completed. If the response data is an abnormal response in step S4, the transmission retry number counter is set to 1
Is counted down (step S6), and if the transmission retry number counter does not become 0 (step S7), the process immediately returns to step S2 to repeatedly transmit the same data packet. If the number of transmission retry counters becomes 0 in step S7, it is determined that a failure has occurred and necessary abnormal termination processing is performed (step S8), and transmission is stopped. If the response data is not returned within the predetermined time in step S3, after a predetermined time has elapsed (step S3).
9), proceed to step S6, count down 1 from the transmission retry counter, and if the transmission retry counter does not become 0 (step S7), return to step S2, retransmit the same data packet, and if it becomes 0, Judge as a failure and stop sending.

FIG. 3 is a timing chart for explaining the operation of the printer when the print data is transmitted from the host device. As shown in FIG. 3A, the power supply of the wireless device in the standby mode is in the ON state from t1 to t2,
The periodic change from OFF to t3 is repeated from 2 to t3. When the print data (A1) is transmitted from the host device at an intermediate timing between t2 and t3, the response data is not returned because the power supply of the wireless device is in the OFF state.
Therefore, the same print data (A1 ') is resent after a certain time interval (T) has elapsed. This timing is shown in FIG.
Immediately after t3 as in (a), the power of the radio is turned on.
Due to the status, it is received normally and printing starts.

On the other hand, FIG. 3B shows the print data (A) immediately after the wireless device power is turned off.
1) is shown. In this case, since a part of the retransmitted print data (A1 ') depends on the wireless power supply ON state, the wireless device 1 can detect the reception of the print data, and switches the standby mode to the operation mode. However, an error was detected because the head of the print data was missing, and an abnormal response (C) was returned as response data.
Will be returned. FIG. 3C shows a state after returning the abnormal response (C). The host device that has received the abnormal response (C) immediately transmits the same print data (A1 ″). Since the data is normally received, a normal response (B) is returned as response data. Upon receiving this, the host device immediately transmits the subsequent print data (A2), and a normal response (B) is returned in response. Similarly, after the last print data (A3) is transmitted and the normal response (B) is returned, if no print data is transmitted after a certain period of time, the operation mode is again changed to the standby mode at time t6. Becomes From FIG. 3B, the OFF period (t3−t2) in which the power of the wireless device is OFF is defined as
If it is set shorter than the retransmission time interval (T) plus twice the print data packet length, the power
It can be seen that printing can be started only once by resending the print data due to the FF state.

FIG. 3D shows a case where the transmission timing of the print data is immediately before the power supply of the wireless device is turned on. The response data to the print data (A1) is not returned, and the head of the retransmitted print data (A1 ') depends on the period in which the power supply of the wireless device is in the ON state. (B) is returned. FIG.
From (d), the ON period (t
If 2-t1) is set longer than the retransmission time interval (T), the print data retransmitted while the power of the wireless device 1 is ON is always detected, and the print data is not included in one cycle of the power ON / OFF control. It can be seen that printing can be started.

As described above, one embodiment of the present invention has been described in detail, but the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment. For example, in the above-described embodiment, the higher-level device transmits at an arbitrary timing and performs retransmission when response data cannot be received, but transmits a timing signal when the printer wireless device is turned on. If the host device starts transmission in response to the timing signal, it is not necessary to perform retransmission. Also, in FIG.
The retry number counter of the higher-level device counts retransmissions due to the inability to receive response data and retransmissions due to the reception of an abnormal response, and has been described as detecting an abnormality based on the total number of times. Good. Note that the ON period and O
The length of the FF period can be appropriately set in consideration of a power saving effect, a delay in starting printing due to a retry, and the like.
Further, in the above description, the host device and the printer with a wireless device are in a one-to-one correspondence. For example, information specifying the host device is included in a timing signal transmitted from the wireless device at the start of the ON period. If it is included and the polling format is used, it can be made to correspond to a plurality of higher-level devices.

[0032]

As described above, in the printer with the wireless device of the present invention, the power supply to the wireless device is periodically turned ON / OFF in the standby state where the print data is not transmitted from the host device.
OFF control, power supply is continuously turned on when print data is received, and ON / OFF when print data is not received after a certain period of time after print data reception is completed
The control is restarted, and in the standby state, not only the power consumption of the printer HW unit but also the wireless device is reduced, and when print data is transmitted in the standby state, printing can be started quickly. There is an effect that the power saving performance can be improved without impairing the performance.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating an operation at the time of print data transmission performed on the host device side.

FIG. 3 is a timing chart for explaining an operation of the printer after receiving print data transmitted from a host device.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a first example of a conventional printer with a wireless device.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a second example of a conventional printer with a wireless device.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a third example of a conventional printer with a wireless device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1,44 wireless device 2 wireless control unit 3 print control unit 4 printer HW unit 5 wireless device current supply control signal line 6 transmission data line 7 reception data line 8 printer body 9 reception module 10 thermal head 11 head drive circuit 12 pulse motor 13 Motor drive circuits 14, 42 Printer unit 15 Printer control unit 16 CPU 17 ROM 18 RAM 19 Operation panel 20 Sensor 21 Timer circuit 22 Reset circuit 23 Power supply control circuit 24 PLL circuit 25 Waveform shaping circuit 26 RF high frequency circuit 27 Antenna 28 Battery 29, 43 power switch 30, 31 DC / DC converter 32, 33, 34 host computer 35, 36, 37, 40 wireless data transmission / reception unit 38 printing device 39 control unit 41 power supply operation unit 45 terminal device 46, 48 interface cable Cable 47 In-vehicle printer 49 Power supply control cable

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (58) Field surveyed (Int.Cl. ⁶ , DB name) B41J 29/38 B41J 3/44 B41J 5/30 G06F 3/12

Claims (4)

(57) [Claims] 1. A printer with a wireless device for wirelessly transmitting and receiving print data and response data to and from a host device,
In a standby state in which print data is not transmitted from a host device, power supply to the wireless device is periodically turned on / off by a combination of a predetermined ON period and an OFF period, and the wireless device receives print data in a standby state. When the power supply to the wireless device is performed, the power supply is continuously turned on, and when print data is not received even after a certain period of time after the reception of the print data is completed, the control returns to the ON / OFF control in a standby state . And the length of the ON period is higher
When the printer cannot receive response data and resends print data
A printer with a wireless device, wherein the time interval is set longer than a time interval between print data . 2. A print data and a response data between a host device and a host device.
In a printer with a wireless device that sends and receives data wirelessly,
None in the standby state where print data is not transmitted from the host device
The power supply to the line machine is controlled by the specified ON period.
ON / OFF control periodically in combination with OFF period
When the transceiver receives print data in standby mode
Indicates that the power supply to the radio is continuously ON, and
Print data even after a certain period of time
ON / OFF control of standby state when data is not received
And the length of the OFF period is higher.
If the device cannot receive response data and resends print data
Print data packet length in the time interval between print data
It is set shorter than the value obtained by adding twice
Printer with a wireless device. 3. The length of the OFF period is shorter than a value obtained by adding twice a packet length of print data to a time interval between print data when the host device cannot receive response data and retransmit print data. claim 1 Symbol placement of radio-equipped printer, characterized in that it is set. 4. Print data and response data between the host device and the host device.
In a printer with a wireless device that sends and receives data wirelessly,
None in the standby state where print data is not transmitted from the host device
The power supply to the line machine is controlled by the specified ON period.
ON / OFF control periodically in combination with OFF period
When the transceiver receives print data in standby mode
Indicates that the power supply to the radio is continuously ON, and
Print de even after the lapse of a certain period of time received by the end of the character data
ON / OFF control of standby state when data is not received
Back As configured, and radios printer with you wherein radio at the start of the ON period is set to transmit a timing signal to the.