JPH0934609A - Extending method for pci system, extension board for pic bus connection and printer using the same - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To reduce a device cost by reducing the cost of an extension board simplex. SOLUTION: This method is constituted in such a way that the internal local buses 201e, 202c of extension boards 201, 202 are connected to the PCI bus 203a of a PC mother board 203 via the PCI bridge 204c of an extension board 204 for PCI bus connection by arranging the extension board 204 for PCI bus connection equipped with the PCI bridge 204c, a connector 209 for PCI interface and connectors 207, 208 for internal local bus interface between the PC mother board 203 and the extension boards 201, 202, and connecting the connector 209 to PCI connectors 210-212 provided in the PC mother board 203, and the connectors 207, 208 to the connectors 205, 206 of the extension boards 201, 202.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a method for expanding a PCI system, a PCI bus connecting expansion board, and a printer device using the same, and more particularly to expanding through a PCI bridge of the PCI bus connecting expansion board. The present invention relates to a PCI system expansion method for connecting an internal local bus of the board to a PCI bus of a PC motherboard, a PCI bus connection expansion board, and a printer device using the expansion board.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, due to the development of fine processing technology, C
The processing speed of the PU has dramatically increased, and the processing speed of a device equipped with such a high-speed CPU is limited by the performance of the system bus. Therefore, as one of the high-speed buses that solves this problem, PCI (Perip
heral Component Interconn
ect) buses include PCI SIG (Sp
provided by the International Interest Group).

FIG. 5 shows a PCI using a conventional PCI bus.
A schematic configuration of the system is shown. As shown in the figure, the PC motherboard 501 has a host CPU and memory connected to a host bus (internal local bus), and a general-purpose P
A device with a large amount of data (here,
An HDD (hard disk), a device that needs to transfer data at high speed (for example, high-speed I / O such as a video device), and the like are connected. In addition, the PCI bus and the host bus are connected to the PCI host bridge (bus bridge circuit).
PC motherboard 501 by connecting via
The entire CPU can be controlled by the host CPU.

Further, an expansion board 50 having a certain function
PCI bus conversion LSIs 502a and 503a including a PCI bridge (bus bridge circuit) are mounted in 2, 503, and expansion board 502, 503 side connector 50
4 and PCI connector 50 on the PC motherboard 501 side
PCI bus conversion LSI 50 by connecting to
The internal local buses of the expansion boards 502 and 503 and the PCI bus of the PC motherboard 501 are connected via 2a and 503a so that the system can be expanded.

FIG. 6 shows an example of mounting an expansion board in a conventional PCI system. For example, the expansion board 5 is attached to a PCI connector 505 on the PC motherboard 501 side.
The system can be easily expanded by inserting the No. 02 connector 504.

On the other hand, in recent years, along with the demand for high performance, multi-functionality, and miniaturization of various devices, printers are also used in printer devices for the purpose of advancing network (LAN construction) and reducing installation space. By combining a printer module unit having a function and a scanner module unit having a scanner function via a PC motherboard having a PC function, in addition to the printer function and the scanner function, a multi-function such as a copy function and a facsimile function. A printer device that realizes the realization has been proposed.

[0007]

However, according to the above-mentioned conventional technique, the PCI bus conversion LSIs are mounted on the expansion boards themselves, and the internal local bus of the expansion board and the PC motherboard are connected via the PCI bus conversion LSIs. Although connected to the PCI bus, PCI bus conversion L
Since the cost of SI is high, the cost of the expansion board becomes high, and the PCI number increases as the number of expansion boards increases.
There is a problem that the device cost of the device equipped with the system increases.

For the same reason, the printer module section having the printer function and the scanner module section having the scanner function are connected to the P module having the PC function.
Even in the printer device configured to be integrated via the C motherboard, there is a problem that the device cost increases.

The present invention has been made in view of the above, and an object of the present invention is to reduce the cost of a single expansion board to reduce the device cost.

[0010]

In order to achieve the above object, a PCI system expansion method according to a first aspect of the present invention includes at least a host CPU, an I / O, a memory, a host bus, and a P.
PC with CI host bridge and PCI bus
It is possible to connect an expansion board with at least I / O and an internal local bus to the motherboard.
In the CI system, a PCI bus connection expansion board having at least a PCI bridge, a first connector for a PCI interface, and a second connector for the internal local bus interface is arranged between the PC motherboard and the expansion board. By connecting the first connector to the PCI connector provided on the PC motherboard and connecting the second connector to the connector of the expansion board, the PCI bus connection via the PCI bridge of the expansion board is performed. The internal local bus of the expansion board is connected to the PCI of the PC motherboard.
It connects to a bus.

According to another aspect of the PCI bus connection expansion board of the present invention, at least an I / O is provided on a PC motherboard provided with at least a host CPU, I / O, memory, host bus, PCI host bridge and PCI bus.
And a PCI system capable of connecting an expansion board provided with an internal local bus, at least a PCI bridge, and a first connector for a PCI interface connectable to a PCI connector provided on the PC motherboard, A plurality of second connectors for the internal local bus interface connectable to the connector of the expansion board, the first connector and the PCI connector are connected, and the second connector and the connector of the expansion board are connected By doing
The internal local bus of the expansion board is connected to the PCI bus of the PC motherboard via a CI bridge.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a printer device using the expansion board for PCI bus connection, comprising a printer module unit having a printer function, a scanner module unit having a scanner function, and a P module having a PC function.
In a printer device that realizes multifunctional functions such as a copy function and a facsimile function in addition to a printer function and a scanner function by fusing through a C motherboard, the printer board is a control board of the printer module unit and has an internal local function. A printer controller board on which a bus is laid, a scanner controller board that is a control board for the scanner function and on which an internal local bus is laid, a PC motherboard on which a host bus and a PCI bus are laid, and at least a PCI bridge, A PCI bus connection expansion board having a first connector for a PCI interface and a plurality of second connectors for the internal local bus interface, and the P connector provided on the first connector and the PC motherboard. Connect the I connector, said second connector said printer controller board or /
And connecting the connector of the scanner controller board to connect the internal local bus of the printer controller board and / or the scanner controller board to the PCI bus of the PC motherboard via the PCI bridge of the expansion board for PCI bus connection. Is.

[0013]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION An embodiment of a PCI system expansion method, a PCI bus connection expansion board and a printer apparatus using the same according to the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows a printer device 102 of this embodiment.
The external view of is shown. The printer device 102 of this embodiment is
In addition to having a printer function by itself, by combining with a scanner 101 as shown in the figure, the image data read by the scanner 101 can be output by the printer device 102. In other words, the copy function can be realized by the configurations of the printer device 102 and the scanner 101. Reference numeral 103 denotes a table for mounting the printer device 102 and the scanner 101.

FIG. 2 shows a hardware structure of a control system, which is a main part of the present invention. The printer device 102 is a printer controller board as a control board of a printer module part for controlling the printer engine 102a to realize a printer function. 201, a scanner controller board 202 as a control board of a scanner module unit that realizes a scanner function by controlling the scanner 101 from the printer device 102 side, and the printer device 102.
PC mother board 203 which performs various controls for multi-function of PC and internal local buses 201e and 202c of printer controller board 201 and scanner controller board 202 are connected to PC of PC mother board 203.
It is composed of a PCI bus connecting expansion board 204 for connecting to the I bus 203a.

The printer controller board 20
Reference numeral 1 denotes an ASIC 201a for exchanging data with the printer engine 102a, and a CPU 2 for controlling the printer function of the printer device 102.
01b, memory 201c and I / O 201d, RI
An internal local bus 201e composed of an SC bus and a connector 205 for connecting the internal local bus 201e to a PCI bridge 204c of a PCI bus connection expansion board 204 described later are provided. Although illustration is omitted, it is assumed that an interface such as NIC for connecting to a LAN or a telephone line and an expansion memory such as an HDD are provided as necessary.

The scanner controller board 202 is
An ASIC 202a for exchanging data with the scanner 101, an I / O 202b for realizing a scanner function from the printer device 102 side, and an RI.
An internal local bus 202c composed of an SC bus, a connector 206 for connecting the internal local bus 201c to a PCI bridge 204c of a PCI bus connection expansion board 204 described later, and an internal local bus of another expansion board (for example, internal Local bus 201e) and internal local bus 2 of the scanner controller board 202
The connector 206A for connecting with 02c. Although not shown in the figure, if necessary, CP
An expansion memory such as a U or HDD can be provided and has at least the illustrated configuration.

The PC motherboard 203 is a general-purpose PCI.
Bus 203a and internal local bus 2 which is a host bus
03b, PCI bus 203a, and internal local bus 20
PCI host bridge 203c for connecting to 3b, and CPU for host connected to internal local bus 203b
203d, a memory 203e, an HDD 203f and an I / O 203g connected to the PCI bus 203a, and PCI bus slots 210 to 212 which are PCI connectors for connecting another expansion board to the PCI bus 203a.

The PCI bus connection expansion board 204 of this embodiment is a P board provided on the PC motherboard 203.
PCI interface connector (first connector) 2 connectable to the CI bus slots 210 to 212
09 and the connector 20 of the printer controller board 201 and the scanner controller board 202
Two connectors (second connector) 20 for internal local bus interface connectable to 5,206
7, 208 and a driver / receiver 204a for exchanging data with the internal local bus side via connectors 207, 208, a controller 204b for controlling the driver / receiver 204a, an internal local bus and a PCI bus PCI bridge 204c for connecting to 203a. Here, the driver / receiver 204a and the controller 204b
The PCI bridge 204c corresponds to a conventional PCI bus conversion LSI.

An example of mounting using the PCI bus connection expansion board 204 (that is, a PCI system expansion method) in the above configuration will be described with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4.

As shown in FIG. 3, the PC motherboard 20
The connector 209 of the PCI bus connection expansion board 204 is inserted into the PCI bus slot 210 of No. 3, and the PCI bus connection expansion board 204 is connected to the PC motherboard 203. Next, connect the connector 205 of the printer controller board 201 to the expansion board 204 for PCI bus connection.
The printer controller board 201 is connected to the PCI bus connection expansion board 204.

As a result, as shown in FIG. 2, the internal local bus 20 of the printer controller board 201 is
1e is a connector 205, a connector 207, a driver / receiver 204a, a PCI bridge 204c,
It is connected to the PCI bus 203 a of the PC motherboard 203 via the connector 209 and the PCI bus slot 210.

Similarly, the scanner controller board 2
The connector 206 of No. 02 is inserted into the connector 208 of the expansion board 204 for PCI bus connection, and the scanner controller board 202 is connected to the expansion board 2 for PCI bus connection.
When connected to 04, the scanner controller board 20
The second internal local bus 202c is connected to the PCI board 203 via the PCI bus connection expansion board 204.
It is connected to the bus 203a.

Further, it is possible to connect the expansion board 301 and the PC motherboard 203 by directly inserting the connector 302 of the expansion board 301 into the PCI bus slot 212 as in the conventional case. However, in this case, it goes without saying that a PCI bus conversion LSI is mounted on the expansion board 301.

Alternatively, the expansion board 2 for PCI bus connection
As another mounting example using 04, as shown in FIG.
0 to connector 2 of expansion board 204 for PCI bus connection
09 and insert the expansion board 204 for PCI bus connection into P
After connecting to the C motherboard 203, insert the connector 206 of the scanner controller board 202 into the connector 207 of the PCI bus connection expansion board 204,
The scanner controller board 202 may be connected to the PCI bus connection expansion board 204, and then the connector 205 of the printer controller board 201 may be connected to the connector 206A of the scanner controller board 202.

In this case, the internal local bus 202c of the scanner controller board 202 has the same structure as in FIG.
The internal local bus 20 of the printer controller board 201 is connected to the PCI bus 203a of the PC motherboard 203 via the PCI bus connection expansion board 204.
1e is connected to the internal local bus 202c of the scanner controller board 202 via the connector 205 and the connector 206A, and then connected to the PCI bus 203a in the same path as the internal local bus 202c of the scanner controller board 202.

That is, the internal local bus 201e and the internal local bus 202c are integrally connected to the PCI bus 203a.

As described above, according to this embodiment, the expansion board (printer controller board 201, scanner controller board 2) is connected via the expansion board 204 for PCI bus connection equipped with the conventional PCI bus conversion LSI.
02 etc.) can be connected to the PC motherboard 203,
Since it is not necessary to arrange the PCI bus conversion LSI on the expansion board side, the cost of the expansion board alone can be reduced. Further, this can reduce the device cost.

In this embodiment, the PC motherboard 2
Although three PCI bus slots 210 to 212 are provided in No. 03, the number is not particularly limited to this. Similarly, the connector (2
07, 208) is not limited to two.

[0030]

As described above, according to the PCI system expansion method (claim 1) of the present invention, at least the PCI bridge and the PCI are provided between the PC motherboard and the expansion board.
An expansion board for PCI bus connection having a first connector for an interface and a second connector for an internal local bus interface is arranged, and the first connector is connected to a PCI connector provided on a PC motherboard, and a second connector is connected. The PCI bus connection expansion board P can be
Since the internal local bus of the expansion board is connected to the PCI bus of the PC motherboard via the CI bridge, there is no need to arrange a PCI bus conversion LSI on each expansion board, reducing the cost of the expansion board alone and reducing the device cost. It can be reduced.

The PCI bus connection expansion board according to the present invention (claim 2) includes at least a PCI bridge and a PC.
A first connector for a PCI interface that can be connected to a PCI connector provided on a mother board, and a plurality of second connectors for an internal local bus interface that can be connected to a connector of an expansion board are provided. By connecting the PCI connector and connecting the second connector to the connector of the expansion board, the internal local bus of the expansion board is connected to the PCI bus of the PC motherboard via the PCI bridge.
It is not necessary to arrange a PCI bus conversion LSI on each expansion board, and the cost of the expansion board alone can be reduced, and the device cost can be reduced.

A printer device using the expansion board for PCI bus connection according to the present invention (claim 3) is a control board for a printer module section, and a printer controller board provided with an internal local bus and a scanner. A scanner controller board on which a function control board and an internal local bus are laid, a PC motherboard on which a host bus and a PCI bus are laid, at least a PCI bridge, a first connector for a PCI interface, and an internal local bus PCI with multiple second connectors for interface
Equipped with a bus connection expansion board, and has a first connector and P
Connect the PCI connector provided on the C motherboard,
By connecting the second connector to the connector of the printer controller board or / and the scanner controller board, the internal local bus of the printer controller board or / and the scanner controller board is connected to the PC motherboard via the PCI bridge of the expansion board for PCI bus connection. Since the PCI bus conversion LSI is connected to each PCI bus, it is not necessary to arrange a PCI bus conversion LSI on each expansion board, and the cost of the expansion board alone can be reduced and the device cost can be reduced.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an external view of a printer device according to an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing a hardware configuration of a control system that is a main part of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of mounting using the PCI bus connection expansion board of the present embodiment.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing another example of attachment using the PCI bus connection expansion board of the present embodiment.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing a schematic configuration of a PCI system using a conventional PCI bus.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of mounting an expansion board in a conventional PCI system.

[Explanation of symbols]

101 Scanner 102 Printer Device 201 Printer Controller Board 201e Internal Local Bus 202 Scanner Controller Board 202c Internal Local Bus 203 PC Motherboard 203a PCI Bus 203b Internal Local Bus (Host Bus) 203c PCI Host Bridge 203d CPU for Host 204 Expansion for PCI Bus Connection Board 204a Driver / receiver 204b Controller 204c PCI bridge 205 Connector 206, 206A Connector 207, 208 Connector (second connector) 209 Connector (first connector) 210, 211, 212 PCI bus slot (PC
I connector)

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A PC motherboard provided with at least a host CPU, I / O, memory, host bus, PCI host bridge, and PCI bus, and at least I / O.
In a PCI system capable of connecting an expansion board provided with an internal local bus, at least a PCI bridge, a first connector for a PCI interface, and the internal local bus interface between the PC motherboard and the expansion board. An expansion board for PCI bus connection having a second connector for connection is arranged, the first connector and the PCI connector provided on the PC motherboard are connected, and the second connector and the connector of the expansion board are connected. By connecting, the internal local bus of the expansion board is connected to the PC via the PCI bridge of the expansion board for PCI bus connection.
A method for expanding a PCI system, characterized by connecting to a PCI bus of a motherboard. 2. A PC motherboard provided with at least a host CPU, I / O, memory, host bus, PCI host bridge, and PCI bus, at least I / O.
And a PCI system capable of connecting an expansion board provided with an internal local bus, at least a PCI bridge, and a first connector for a PCI interface connectable to a PCI connector provided on the PC motherboard, A plurality of second connectors for the internal local bus interface connectable to the connector of the expansion board, the first connector and the PCI connector are connected, and the second connector and the connector of the expansion board are connected By doing
An expansion board for connecting a PCI bus, wherein an internal local bus of the expansion board is connected to a PCI bus of the PC motherboard via a CI bridge. 3. A printer module unit having a printer function and a scanner module unit having a scanner function are fused together via a PC motherboard having a PC function to provide a copy function in addition to a printer function and a scanner function. In a printer device that realizes multifunctional functions such as a facsimile function, a printer controller board that is a control board of the printer module section and has an internal local bus laid,
A scanner controller board for controlling the scanner function and having an internal local bus, a PC motherboard having a host bus and a PCI bus, at least a PCI bridge, a first connector for a PCI interface, and A PCI bus connection expansion board having a plurality of second connectors for an internal local bus interface;
Connector and PC provided on the PC motherboard
By connecting the I connector and connecting the second connector to the connector of the printer controller board or / and the scanner controller board,
An expansion board for PCI bus connection, characterized in that an internal local bus of the printer controller board and / or scanner controller board is connected to a PCI bus of the PC motherboard via a PCI bridge of the expansion board for PCI bus connection. The printer device that was.