JP3332432B2 - Data communication method and print control device - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a method of communicating data with an external device in a printing apparatus for performing printing in accordance with print data sent from the external device, and a print control device using the data communication method.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a printing apparatus that executes printing based on print data from a host device such as a host computer has a data input unit for receiving the print data. The print data received by this data input unit is
It has text data and control commands composed of character codes, control codes, and the like. The data input unit does not have a signal line for distinguishing between a plurality of text data transmitted via a data line and between text data and a control command. For this reason, between a plurality of text data,
Was the distinction between text data and control commands, etc. made by additionally defining a control code for discriminating between plural text data, between text data and control commands, etc. in the control code constituting the text data? No distinction has been made between a plurality of text data, between text data and control commands, and the like.

[0003]

However, the above-mentioned prior art has the following disadvantages.

[0004] 1) Control codes constituting text data include:
When a control code for additionally discriminating between a plurality of text data, between text data and a control command, and the like is additionally defined, a process for interpreting the additionally defined control code is required, which complicates the process. Further, in order to additionally define a control code for distinguishing between a plurality of pieces of text data, between text data and control commands, etc., it is necessary to define a control code which forms the text data so as not to overlap with a control code which forms the text data. A definition code must be used, and no additional definition can be made for a control code constituting text data in which no undefined code remains. Furthermore, even when undefined codes are left, data that should be invalidated as undefined codes will affect the print result,
Correct printing results may not be obtained.

2) When no distinction is made between a plurality of text data, between text data and a control command, etc., the user has to instruct the printing apparatus to distinguish between them using an operation panel or the like of the printing apparatus. Is annoying.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems, and has been made in consideration of measures such as additional definition of a control code for distinguishing data types while minimizing addition of hardware to an existing interface. It is intended to be unnecessary.

[0007]

A print control apparatus according to the present invention for achieving the above object has the following arrangement. That is, using an interface having a data line for print data and a plurality of signal lines that are provided independently of the data line and whose function is defined by a standard,
A print control device that receives print data from a data source and causes the print unit to print the print data, and a receiving unit that receives the print data via the interface according to a predetermined signal line of the interface. And said
At the time the print data is received by the receiving means, wherein the predetermined combination of a plurality of different control signals received via the plurality of signal lines of the interface
A control signal, is detected in response to the predetermined signal line, wherein
Control means for distinguishing the type of the print data based on a predetermined combination of control signals .

Further, a data communication method according to the present invention for achieving the above object has the following procedure. That is, a data line for printing data, is provided independently of the corresponding data line, using an interface having a plurality of signal lines whose function is defined by the standard, marks
A data communication method in a print control device that receives print data from a data source and causes the print unit to print the print data, wherein the print data is received via the interface according to a predetermined signal line of the interface. upon that, at the time the print data is received, the predetermined combination of a plurality of different control signals received via the plurality of signal lines of the interface
A control signal, is detected in response to the predetermined signal line, wherein
The type of the print data is distinguished based on a predetermined combination of control signals .

[0009]

According to the above arrangement and procedure, at the time when print data is received from a data source, a plurality of signal lines whose functions are defined by an interface standard, which are different from data lines for transmitting print data. more control signal of a predetermined combination of input different control signals, the interface is detected in accordance with a predetermined signal used to receive print data. Then , based on the detected signal content, the type of the received print data
Distinction is carried out.

[0010]

Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

<First Embodiment> FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic control configuration of a printing apparatus according to a first embodiment.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 11 denotes the entire printing apparatus according to the present embodiment. A CPU 1 controls the entire printing apparatus 11. Reference numeral 2 denotes a system bus. The CPU 1 controls each unit connected to the system bus 2 through the system bus 2. Reference numeral 3 denotes a ROM, which stores various programs, data, and the like for operating the CPU 1. In the present embodiment, the ROM is used. However, the ROM is not necessarily required as long as it has a function of storing programs, data, and the like. Reference numeral 4 denotes a RAM which is used as a work area of the CPU 1 for temporarily storing data and the like.

Reference numeral 5 denotes a printing mechanism interface.
The bit image drawn on the RAM 4 by the PU 1 is converted into a dot image conforming to the mechanism of the printing mechanism 6, and performs processing such as converting parallel data into serial data. A printing mechanism 6 prints a dot image on paper. The printing mechanism section 6 includes any printing mechanism such as a wire dot, thermal transfer, or laser beam printer. In this embodiment, a laser beam printer is used as an example. Therefore, in the following description, the printing device 11
Is described as a laser beam printer 11. Reference numeral 7 denotes an operation panel for displaying or inputting various information. Reference numeral 8 denotes a data input / output unit which inputs and outputs data input to and output from the host computer 10. Reference numeral 9 denotes a communication path, which is a communication cable through which input data and the like from the host computer 15 input to and output from the data input / output unit 8 pass.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view showing the internal structure of the laser beam printer (LBP) 11 of this embodiment. This L
The BP 11 performs printing based on text data received from a data source (such as the host computer 15). In FIG. 2, reference numeral 11 denotes an LBP main body, which generates a dot image according to text data supplied from an externally connected host computer or the like, and forms an image on a recording paper as a recording medium. Reference numeral 7 denotes an operation panel on which various switches for operation and an LED display are arranged.
A printer control unit that controls the entire BP 11 and analyzes text data and the like provided from the host computer.

The printer control unit 101 converts text data into a video signal of a corresponding dot image and outputs the video signal to a laser driver 102. Laser driver 10
2 is a circuit for driving the semiconductor laser 103;
The semiconductor laser 103 is turned on and off according to the input video signal. The laser beam 104 is swung right and left by a rotary polygon mirror to scan on an electrostatic drum 106.
As a result, an electrostatic latent image of a dot image is formed on the electrostatic drum 106. This latent image is developed by a developing unit 107 around the electrostatic drum 106 and then transferred to a recording sheet. Here, a cut sheet is used for the recording paper,
The cut sheet recording paper is stored in a paper cassette mounted on the LBP 11, and is supplied with a paper feed roller 109 and a transport roller 110.
And 111, the electrostatic drum 1
06.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of the data configuration of the communication path 9 according to this embodiment. In the figure, reference numeral 200 denotes a strobe signal for data transfer from the host computer 10;
01 is an 8-bit data signal, 202 is a data transfer acknowledge signal from the printing apparatus 11, and 203 is the printing apparatus 1
1 is a busy signal, 204 is a paper empty (no paper) signal from the printing apparatus 11, and 205 is the printing apparatus 11
Select signal 206 from the host computer 10
207, an initialization signal from the host computer 10, an error signal 208 from the printing apparatus 11, and a select-in signal 209 from the host computer 10.

The input and output of print data such as text data
The data on the 8-bit data signal 201 is converted to a strobe signal 200, an acknowledge signal 202, and a busy signal 20.
The transfer is performed by the handshake of No. 3, and the control of the printing apparatus and the output of the status are performed by other signals.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a part of the circuit configuration of the data input / output unit 8 when the communication path is configured as shown in FIG. In FIG. 4, only a part of the circuit of the communication path signal and the data input / output unit and the like are described, but the part not shown is realized by a known circuit configuration such as a normal input / output port.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing the operation timing of some signals on the communication path in FIG.

The operation of the circuit of the data input / output unit 8 of this embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. The flip-flop 401 is preset at the falling edge of the strobe signal 200 on the communication path 9 and the busy signal 2 on the communication path 9
03 becomes “1”, indicating that the host computer 10 is busy. On the other hand, the strobe signal 200 is a trigger signal for the data latch of the flip-flops 402 and 403. Therefore, at the falling of the strobe signal 200, the states of the data signal 201 and the select-in signal 209 of the communication path 9 are changed to the flip-flops 402 and 4 respectively.
03 is stored.

The CPU 1 receives the data signal 20 stored in the flip-flops 402 and 403 via the system bus 2.
1 and the state of the select-in signal 209, and outputs a pulse of the acknowledgment signal 202 to the communication path 9 and outputs a pulse to the signal 404, so that the flip-flop 40
By setting 1 to "0", the busy signal 203 of the communication path 9 is set to "0", and the busy state shown to the host computer 10 is released.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a procedure of data processing in a steady state of the printing apparatus according to the first embodiment.
Hereinafter, the processing procedure of the print data in the LBP 11 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

First, in step S601, it is determined whether there is data received from the host computer 10. The determination of the presence or absence of the received data uses a reception flag indicating that data has been received by the strobe signal 200. Since the technology relating to such a reception flag is known, the description thereof is omitted here.

If there is no received data, step S60
Return to step 1 and wait for the received data to be sent. If there is received data in step S601, step S602
To check the state of the select-in signal stored in the flip-flop 403. If the output of the flip-flop 403 is “0”, the process proceeds to step S603, and the data stored in the flip-flop 402 is processed as normal text data. And step S
Return to step 601 and wait for the next data. On the other hand, step S6
When the state of the select-in signal stored in the flip-flop 403 is "1" in 02, the process proceeds to step S604, and the data stored in the flip-flop 402 is processed as a control command. Then, step S60
Return to 1 and wait for the next data. Note that the above-described step S6
03 and step S604, it is needless to say that the acknowledgment signal 202 and the signal 404 are output at the time of capturing the data.

As described above, according to the printing apparatus of the first embodiment, a control code for discriminating between a plurality of text data, between text data and a control command, or the like is additionally defined, or the printing apparatus is operated by the user. It is possible to distinguish between sentence data and control commands without instructing the printing apparatus to distinguish between them using the operation panel or the like.

<Second Embodiment> The circuit configuration of the data input / output unit 8 is not limited to that described in the first embodiment (FIG. 4), and various modifications are possible. In a second embodiment, one example will be described.
Accordingly, the configuration of the printing apparatus according to the second embodiment is the same as that of the first embodiment except for the data input / output unit 8, and a description thereof will be omitted.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a part of the circuit configuration of the data input / output unit 8 in the printing apparatus according to the second embodiment when the communication path is configured as shown in FIG. In FIG. 7, only a part of the circuit of the signal and the data input / output unit of the communication path is described, but the part not shown is realized by a known circuit configuration such as a normal input / output port.

Next, the operation of the circuit of FIG. 7 will be described with reference to FIGS.

First, the flip-flop 401 is preset at the falling edge of the strobe signal 200,
The busy signal 203 of the communication path 9 becomes “1”, indicating a busy state to the host computer 10. At this time,
When the select-in signal 209 is “0”, the strobe signal 200 of the communication path 9 passes through the gate 703, and the state of the data signal 201 of the communication path 9 is stored in the flip-flop 701. The CPU 1 reads the state of the data signal 201 stored in the flip-flop 701 via the system bus 2 and outputs a pulse of the acknowledge signal 202 to the communication path 9. Then, a pulse is output as the signal 404, and the busy signal 203 of the communication path 9 is set to "0" by setting the flip-flop 401 to "0", thereby canceling the busy state shown to the host computer 10.

On the other hand, a case where the select-in signal 209 is "1" will be described. At the falling edge of the strobe signal 200, the flip-flop 401 is preset, the busy signal 203 of the communication path 9 becomes "1", indicating a busy state to the host computer 10. At this time, since the select-in signal 209 is “1”, the strobe signal 200 of the communication path 9 passes through the gate 704, and the state of the data signal 201 of the communication path 9 is stored in the flip-flop 702. CPU 1 is system bus 2
, The state of the data signal 201 stored in the flip-flop 702 is read, and a pulse of the acknowledge signal 202 is output to the communication path 9. Then, a pulse is output to the signal 404 and the busy signal 203 of the communication path 9 is set to “0” by setting the flip-flop 401 to “0”.
Then, the busy state shown for the host computer 10 is released.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing processing in a steady state of the printing apparatus according to the second embodiment. Hereinafter, FIG.
According to the flowchart of FIG.

First, in step S801, it is determined whether or not there is received data in the flip-flop 701. If there is no received data, the process advances to step S802 to determine whether the flip-flop 702 has received data. If there is no received data, the process returns to S801, and waits for the received data to be sent. If it is determined in step S802 that there is received data, the process advances to step S804 to process the data stored in the flip-flop 701 as normal text data.
The process returns to step S801 and waits for the next data. Needless to say, in steps S803 and S804, the acknowledgment signal 202 and the signal 404 are output at the time when the data is captured.

As described above, according to the second embodiment as well, it is possible to additionally define a control code for distinguishing between a plurality of text data and between the text data and the control command, or to allow the user to operate the operation panel of the printing apparatus. Thus, it is possible to distinguish between a plurality of text data, between text data and a control command, etc., without instructing the printing apparatus to distinguish.

This embodiment is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention.

For example, in the above-described embodiment, the communication path uses an 8-bit parallel interface. However, other communication path forms such as a start-stop synchronous serial interface may be used as shown in FIG. 4 or FIG. Obviously, the circuit configuration can be realized by a circuit equivalent to the above circuit configuration.

In the above embodiment, the select-in signal 209 is used as a signal for distinguishing data, but it goes without saying that the same function can be realized by using other signals.

Further, in the above embodiment, two types of data are configured to be distinguished. However, by preparing a plurality of signals for distinguishing data, for example, data input from a plurality of host computers can be distinguished. It is clear that three or more data can be distinguished. By distinguishing the sentence data for each host computer as described above, for example, an emulation mode can be selected according to each host computer.

In each of the above embodiments, the text data and the control command are distinguished from each other. However, it is apparent that a plurality of text data can be similarly distinguished.

Although the laser beam printer has been described as an example of the image forming apparatus of the present embodiment, the present invention is not limited to this, and can be applied to an ink jet printer described below.

FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram of an ink jet recording apparatus IJRA to which the present invention can be applied. In the figure, the carriage HC that engages with the spiral groove 5004 of the lead screw 5005 that rotates via the driving force transmission gears 5011 and 5009 in conjunction with the forward and reverse rotation of the drive motor 5013 has a pin (not shown). Then, it is reciprocated in the directions of arrows a and b. An ink jet cartridge IJC is mounted on the carriage HC. Reference numeral 5002 denotes a paper pressing plate, which presses the paper against the platen 5000 in the moving direction of the carriage. Reference numerals 5007 and 5008 denote home position detecting means for confirming the presence of the lever 5006 of the carriage in this area and switching the rotation direction of the motor 5013. 50
16 is a cap member 5 for capping the front surface of the recording head.
Reference numeral 5015 denotes a suction unit for sucking the inside of the cap, and performs suction recovery of the recording head through an opening 5023 in the cap. Reference numeral 5017 denotes a cleaning blade. Reference numeral 5019 denotes a member which allows the blade to move in the front-rear direction. These members are supported by a main body support plate 5018. It goes without saying that the blade is not limited to this form and a known cleaning blade can be applied to this example. Reference numeral 5012 denotes a lever for starting suction for suction recovery, which moves with the movement of the cam 5020 which engages with the carriage, and the driving force from the driving motor moves by a known transmission means such as clutch switching. Controlled. The capping, cleaning, and suction recovery are configured so that desired operations can be performed at the corresponding positions by the action of the lead screw 5005 when the carriage comes to the area on the home position side. Any desired operation can be applied to this example.

Next, a control configuration for executing the recording control of the above-described apparatus will be described with reference to a block diagram shown in FIG. In the figure showing the control circuit, 170
Reference numeral 0 denotes an interface for inputting a recording signal, which corresponds to the data input / output unit 8 described above. 1701 is an MPU,
Reference numeral 1702 denotes a program ROM for storing a control program executed by the MPU 1701, and reference numeral 1703 denotes a dynamic RAM for storing various data (such as the print signal and print data supplied to the head). These correspond to the above-described CPU 1, ROM 3 and RAM 4 of FIG. A gate array 1704 controls supply of print data to the print head 1708, and also controls data transfer between the interface 1700, the MPU 1701, and the RAM 1703. 1710 is a recording head 1708
1709 is a carrier motor for conveying the recording paper. Reference numeral 1705 denotes a head driver for driving the head, and reference numerals 1706 and 1707 denote motor drivers for driving the transport motor 1709 and the carrier motor 1710, respectively.

The operation of the above-described control configuration will be described. When a recording signal is input to the interface unit 1700, the recording signal is converted between the gate array 1704 and the MPU 1701 into recording data for printing. Then, the motor drivers 1706 and 1707 are driven, and the recording head is driven according to the recording data sent to the head driver 1705 to perform printing.

The components of the present invention can be incorporated into the above-described control structure of the ink jet printer, and it goes without saying that the present invention can be applied not only to the laser beam printer but also to the above ink jet printer and the like.

According to the above embodiment, a control code for additionally discriminating between a plurality of text data, between text data and a control command, or the like is additionally defined, or the user instructs the printing apparatus on the operation panel or the like of the printing apparatus. This makes it possible to distinguish between a plurality of text data, between text data and a control command, and the like.

The present invention may be applied to a system composed of a plurality of devices or an apparatus composed of one device. Needless to say, the present invention can be applied to a case where the present invention is achieved by supplying a program to a system or an apparatus.

[0046]

As described above, according to the present invention,
A predetermined control among different control signals received from a plurality of signal lines whose functions are defined by an interface standard, which is different from the data line transmitting the print data, in order to distinguish the type of the print data. A combination of signals is used. In addition, the detection timing
A predetermined signal (for example, strobe) used for reception is used.
Can be. For this reason, measures such as additional definition of a control code for distinguishing the type of data are not required, and
Hardware additions to existing interfaces can be minimized.

[0047]

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a schematic control configuration of a printing apparatus according to an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view showing an internal structure of the laser beam printer.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of a data configuration of a communication path according to the embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a part of a circuit configuration of a data input / output unit according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating operation timings of some signals in a communication path.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a data processing procedure in a steady state of the printing apparatus according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a part of a circuit configuration of a data input / output unit in a printing apparatus according to a second embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating a data processing procedure in a steady state of the printing apparatus according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a schematic view of an ink jet recording apparatus.

FIG. 10 is a block diagram illustrating a control configuration of the inkjet recording apparatus.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 CPU 2 System bus 3 ROM 4 RAM 5 Printing mechanism interface 6 Printing mechanism section 7 Operation panel 8 Data input / output section 9 Communication path 10 Host computer 11 Printing device

Continuation of front page (58) Field surveyed (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) G06F 3/12

Claims (8)

(57) [Claims] A data source for print data is provided by using an interface having a data line for print data and a plurality of signal lines which are provided independently of the data line and whose functions are defined by a standard. received from, a print control apparatus for printing the print data to the printing unit, a receiving unit that receives the print data through the interface in response to a predetermined signal line of the interface, by the receiving means When print data is received,
A predetermined combination of a plurality of different control signals received through the plurality of signal lines of the interface.
Detecting the control signal according to the predetermined signal line,
Control means for distinguishing the type of the print data based on the predetermined combination of control signals . 2. The control means, based on a control signal of a predetermined combination among the plurality of different control signals,
The print control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the print control apparatus determines whether the print data is a control command or text data. 3. The printing control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the combination of the predetermined control signals is a combination of a strobe signal and a select-in signal. 4. The printing section is a laser beam printer.
The method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein
Print control device. 5. The printing unit according to claim 1, wherein the printing unit is an ink jet recording apparatus.
4. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein:
Print control device. 6. A data source for print data using an interface having a data line for print data and a plurality of signal lines provided independently of the data line and having functions defined by a standard. received from, when a data communication method in a print control apparatus for printing the print data to the printing unit, for receiving the print data through the interface in response to a predetermined signal line of the interface, said printing at the time the data is received, the control signal of a predetermined combination of a plurality of different control signals received via the plurality of signal lines of the interface, and detecting in response to the predetermined signal line , The predetermined set
A data communication method, wherein the type of the print data is distinguished based on a control signal for registration. 7. The data communication method according to claim 2 , wherein the print data is a control command or text data based on a predetermined combination of control signals of the plurality of different control signal lines. 7. The data communication method according to claim 6 , wherein: 8. The data communication method according to claim 1, wherein a combination of a strobe signal and a select-in signal among the control signals received through the plurality of signal lines is included in the predetermined control signal.
The data communication method according to claim 6 , wherein the type of the print data is distinguished by using the combination .