JP2001341380A - Printing apparatus and printing system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a printing apparatus in which controlling a power source is carried out by a command from a connected computer and the power source can be arbitrarily controlled from the computer, and provide a printing system in which controlling a power source is carried out by a computer connected to a printing apparatus and the power source can be arbitrarily controlled from the computer. SOLUTION: There are provided a control command-receiving means for receiving the power source control command from the computer connected to the printing apparatus to control the predetermined power source to a predetermined state, and a power source control means for controlling the predetermined power source in accordance with the power source control command received by the control command-receiving means.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a printing apparatus connected to a computer, and a power supply control method for the printing apparatus. The present invention relates to a printing system performed by a connected computer.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a printing apparatus such as a printer connected to a computer controls a power supply (power ON / OFF) according to an instruction from a user via an operation unit provided on the printing apparatus.
OFF etc.) had been performed. In addition, power control such as reducing power consumption during standby has been performed according to an instruction from the printing apparatus itself or a user via the operation unit.

For this reason, the user has to go to the printing apparatus in order to control the power supply of the printing apparatus. Therefore, the printing apparatus has forced the user to spend much time and effort in controlling the power supply. In addition, since the above-described time is required after the use of the apparatus is completed and before the power of the printing apparatus is turned off, the printing apparatus consumes power even when it is not operating. The point was pointed out. In particular, when the power supply of a plurality of printing apparatuses has to be controlled, it takes much time to control all the power supplies.

On the other hand, in the prior art disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 3-154118, the power of the system device and the power of the printer device are turned on / off independently, and a printer cable connecting the two devices is provided in a printer cable. In a printer control method of a system having a reset signal for initializing the printer, when the value of the DC power supply of the system becomes lower than a predetermined value, a means for generating a reset signal is provided, and the power of the printer is turned on. When the power of the system is turned off in the state of (1), the reset signal generating means generates a reset signal and sends it to the printer. The printer detects the reset signal and notifies the operator of forgetting to turn off the power. Thereby, it is possible to notify the operator of forgetting to turn off the power of the printer device.

[0005]

However, according to the above-mentioned prior art, the user can know that the user has forgotten to turn off the power of the printer, but still has to go to the printer to control the power. . Therefore, it cannot be said that this prior art shows any countermeasure against the above problem.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in consideration of the above problems, and has as its object to provide a printing apparatus in which power control is performed according to an instruction from a connected computer, and the power can be arbitrarily controlled from the computer. And It is another object of the present invention to provide a printing system in which a computer connected to a printing apparatus controls power supply, and the computer can arbitrarily control power supply.

[0007]

In order to achieve the above object, according to the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a control instruction receiving means for receiving a control instruction from a computer connected to a printing apparatus, and a control instruction receiving means for receiving the control instruction. Power supply control means for controlling the power supply in accordance with the control instruction given above.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the printing apparatus according to the first aspect, the control instruction is transmitted to the printing apparatus as a command created by a computer, and the power control unit receives the command by the control instruction receiving unit. If
Power supply control corresponding to the command is performed using a table in which commands and control instructions are associated with each other.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the printing apparatus according to the first aspect, the control instruction corresponds to a state of the power supply control signal line changed by the computer, and the power supply control means controls the power supply control by the computer. When the change of the state of the signal line is received by the control instructing means, power control corresponding to the change of the state of the power control signal line is performed.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the printing apparatus according to any one of the first to third aspects, a power supply status is monitored,
Power supply status information generating means for generating information on the power supply status, and information transmitting means for transmitting information on the power supply status to the computer when the computer instructs to transmit the information on the power supply status, is further provided. And

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the printing system having a computer and a printing device, the computer has a control instruction transmitting means for instructing the printing device to change the power supply to a predetermined state. The printing apparatus includes: a control instruction receiving unit that receives an instruction from a computer; and a power control unit that controls a power supply in accordance with the instruction received by the control instruction receiving unit.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the printing system according to the fifth aspect, the instruction is transmitted to the printing apparatus as a command created by a computer, and the power control unit receives the command by the control instruction receiving unit. ,
Power supply control corresponding to the command is performed using a table in which commands and control instructions are associated with each other.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in the printing system according to the fifth aspect, the instruction corresponds to a state of the power supply control signal line changed by the computer, and the power supply control means includes: When the change of the state of the line is received by the control instructing means, power control corresponding to the change of the state of the power control signal line is performed.

According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, in the printing system according to any one of the fifth to seventh aspects, the computer comprises:
A transmission instructing unit that instructs the printing device to transmit information about the power status, and an information presenting unit that presents information about the power status transmitted from the printing device to a user, wherein the printing device has a power status. Power supply status information generating means for monitoring the power supply status, and information transmitting means for transmitting information on the power supply status to the computer when instructed to transmit the information on the power status from the computer. It is characterized by having.

According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, in the printing system according to any one of the fifth to eighth aspects, the computer comprises:
The control instruction transmitting means further includes a timer means for transmitting the instruction at a predetermined time.

[0016]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 shows a computer system having a printing device 2 and a host computer 1 connected to the printing device 2. Printing device 2 and (host) computer 1
Are connected by the external I / F unit 3.

The host computer 1 obtains the power status from the printing device 2 and controls the power of the printing device 2 as described later.

The printing apparatus 2 transmits information on the status to the host computer 1 and controls the power supply in accordance with an instruction from the host computer 1 as described later. The printing device 2 includes a data processing unit 201, an engine control unit 202,
An engine unit 203 and a power control unit 204 are provided.

The data processing unit 201 analyzes (control) data and outputs it to the engine control unit 202. The engine control unit 202 sends the image data and control data sent from the data processing unit 201 to the engine unit 203.
The engine unit 203 forms an electrostatic latent image on a photoconductor in accordance with the control data based on the image data input from the engine control unit 202, and forms an image by developing, transferring to a transfer paper, and fixing. The power control unit 204 controls the power of the engine unit 203 via the printing device 2 and / or the engine control unit 202.

The power control unit 204 controls the power based on a command transmitted from the host computer 1 and / or a change in the state of a power control signal line performed by the host computer 1 as described later. This power control may be not the power control of the entire apparatus but the power frequency of each unit or the clock supplied to the device may be switched to lower the operating frequency. The power supply control can be performed by a known method.
When the 2011 reads out the data read from the reception buffer into the image memory and confirms the above instruction, the power supply control unit 204 changes the power supply control signal line from high (High) to low ( (Low), the power state is changed, and in response to this change, the power control unit 204 may perform power control.

The host computer 1 and the printing apparatus 2 may be connected by any method, for example, a Centronics I / F (interface) or a network I / F.
F or the like may be used. In addition, it is sufficient that bidirectional communication can be performed using one or more of the above connection methods.

The data control unit 201 includes a CPU 2011,
Program ROM 2012, temporary storage memory 2013,
Image memory 2014 for print data, ROM 2 for fonts
015, an image processing IC 2016, an internal bus 2017, an external I / F bus 2018, and a video bus 2019;
Having.

The CPU 2011 includes a program ROM 20
According to 12, the print data or control data from the host computer 1 is processed. Program ROM 20
Reference numeral 12 stores a program for data processing in the data processing unit 201, data management, or control of peripheral modules. The temporary storage memory 2013 temporarily stores print data or control data from the host computer 1. Image memory 2 for processing print data
Reference numeral 014 stores image data on which predetermined image processing has been performed by the image processing IC 2016. Font ROM 20
Reference numeral 15 stores various types of fonts used for printing. The image processing IC 2016 has an external I / F
The image data input via the bus 2018 is analyzed according to a predetermined data analysis program. Internal bus 201
7. External I / F bus 2018 and video bus 201
Reference numeral 9 denotes a digital transmission path for print data or control data for executing predetermined processing in the data processing unit 201.

Hereinafter, the control of the power supply performed by the printing apparatus 2 will be described in detail. The power supply control includes a first power supply control and a second power supply control.

<First Power Control> In the first power control, the operation of the printing apparatus 2 according to the present invention for controlling the power by a command transmitted from the host computer 1 will be described in detail with reference to FIG. explain.

The power supply control section 204 always, at predetermined time intervals, and / or when receiving an instruction from the host computer 1, executes the printing apparatus 2 and / or predetermined components (for example, engine control) in the printing apparatus 2. The power supply state of the unit 202, the engine unit 203 and / or the data processing unit 201) is monitored (step S301).

The user transmits data from the host computer 1 (step S310). Of this data,
The commands include a power status request command and a power status transition command. The power status request command is a command that instructs the printing device 2 to notify the power status of the printing device 2 and / or a predetermined component in the printing device 2. The power status transition command is the printing device 2 or / And a command instructing to control the power supply of a predetermined component in the printing apparatus 2.

Upon receiving the data from the host computer 1 (step S302), the printing apparatus 2 determines whether the data is a power status request command (step S302).
303). This determination may be made using a table in which commands prepared in advance and power control and the like correspond. If this data is a power status request command (step S303 / YES), the power status is notified to the host computer 1 according to the above instruction (step S3).
05). Upon receiving this notification (step S311), the host computer 1 presents it to the user and ends the processing.

If the data is not a power status request command (step S303 / NO), the power control unit 204
Determines whether the data is a power state transition command (step S304). If the data is a power state transition command (step S304 / YES), the power control unit 204 performs power control instructed by the command (step S306), and ends the processing.

If the data is not a power state transition command (step S304 / NO), the printing apparatus 2 performs a normal operation (step S307) and ends the processing.

As described above, the printing apparatus 2 notifies the host computer 1 to which the printing apparatus 2 is connected via the external interface of the power state of the apparatus, and this power state is displayed on the screen of the host computer 1, and based on this display, the power Control can be instructed. Therefore, it is possible to remotely control the power supply of the printing apparatus 2. Further, the user does not need to go to the printing apparatus 2 to control the power supply. Further, since the power supply can be controlled in the host computer 1, more detailed power supply control becomes possible, and power consumption can be reduced.

Further, a job completion notification may be sent from the printing apparatus 2 to the host computer 1 so that the host computer can recognize whether or not the printing has been normally completed in job units. As a result, when the data processing of the job is abnormal, the job can be returned. If an abnormality occurs in the job, the job completion notification is not sent, so that the host computer 1 can recognize that the job has not been completed by timeout control or the like, and resends the current job as a discarded current job. It becomes possible.
This makes it possible to avoid data loss due to the occurrence of an abnormality.

<Second Power Control> The operation in which the printing apparatus 2 according to the present invention controls the power by changing the state of the power control signal line will be described in detail with reference to FIG.

The printing apparatus 2 constantly monitors whether or not an interrupt process has occurred (step S401; interrupt standby process). This interrupt processing is performed when the host computer 1 changes the transition state of the power supply control signal line as shown in the figure (step S410; power supply state transition notification).

If there is no transition interruption (state change) of the power supply state signal line (step S402 / NO), the printing apparatus 2 ends this processing. When a transition interrupt of the power supply state signal line occurs (step S402 / YES; FIG. 4)
, The control signal changes from low (Low) to high (Hig).
h)), the power control unit 204 changes the power state (step S403), and ends the processing.

As in the first power control, the power status of the printing apparatus 2 may be notified to the host computer 1 by using a power status request command.

As described above, since the second power supply control is performed based on the change in the state of the control line, there is no need to decode the command, unlike the first power supply control. Therefore, a system can be constructed relatively easily. Also,
Since the control is performed based on a change in the state of the control line, it is particularly effective for connection means having a plurality of control lines such as a Centronics I / F.

Hereinafter, the operation of controlling the power supply of the printing apparatus 2 by the internal timer of the host computer 1 will be described in detail with reference to FIG. In the following description, the power is controlled by the first power control. However, the power may be controlled by the second power control.

The operation of the printing apparatus 2 is the same as the operation in the first power control, except for the operation of the host computer 1 issuing the power state transition command.

The user sets the control contents for controlling the power supply of the printing apparatus 2 and the time at which the power supply control is to be performed (step S510; internal timer function setting). The host computer 1 waits from the set time to the set time (steps S511 and S512). In the setting, a time may be set. Thus, the host computer 1 waits until a predetermined time has elapsed.

When the set time has come, the host computer 1 creates the power state transition command and sends it to the printing device 2 (step S513).

As described above, since the power supply of the printing apparatus 2 is controlled at a predetermined time based on the clock function possessed by the host computer 1, the user performs the timer control of the power supply even if the printing apparatus 2 does not have the clock function. It becomes possible. That is, the printing apparatus 2 can realize the same performance as having the clock function (particularly, the timer function). Also,
In order to set the timer by the host computer 1,
The user can make settings more easily than using an operation panel or the like on the printing device 2 having a timer function. In particular, when managing a plurality of printing devices 2,
Setting can be performed more easily. Furthermore, since the printing apparatus 2 may be configured to perform the first and / or second power control described above, the apparatus configuration is not complicated and is excellent in versatility.

The power supply control may be used for a computer peripheral device other than the printing device.

[0045]

As is apparent from the above description, according to the present invention, the user checks the power supply state of the apparatus on the computer screen, and based on the result, the user of the printing apparatus located far from the computer. The power supply state can be arbitrarily changed. Therefore, the power consumption of the printing apparatus is smaller than when the power state of the printing apparatus is not changed. In addition, operability is improved as compared with the case where control is performed using an operation panel or the like present on the printing apparatus surface or the like.
In particular, when a plurality of printing devices are connected to the computer, it is not necessary to go to each printing device and perform power control settings, so that it is possible to increase the efficiency of power control work. Become.

Further, according to the present invention, even if the printing apparatus does not have a timer function, the power supply can be timer-controlled using a clock function built in the computer or the like. As described above, since the timer control is realized using the clock function of the computer or the like, the configuration of the printing apparatus is simpler than the printing apparatus having the timer function. Furthermore, the power consumption of the printing device is reduced by the absence of the timer function.
It consumes less power than a printing device having a timer function, and consumes less power than a printing device without a timer function.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a system configuration diagram showing a configuration of a computer system to which a computer peripheral device according to the present invention is connected.

FIG. 2 is an internal configuration diagram showing an internal configuration of a computer peripheral device (printing device) according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart for explaining an operation of controlling a power supply of a computer peripheral device (printing device) by a command according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of controlling a power supply of a computer peripheral device (printing device) according to the present invention by changing the state of a power supply control signal line.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of controlling a power supply of a computer peripheral device (printing device) according to the present invention using an internal timer of the computer.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 1 host computer 2 printing device 201 data processing unit 202 engine control unit 203 engine unit 204 power control unit 2011 CPU 2012 program ROM 2013 temporary storage memory 2014 print data image memory 2015 font ROM 2016 image processing IC 2017 internal bus 2018 external I / F bus 2019 Video bus

Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification symbol FI Theme coat II (reference) G06F 3/12 G06F 1/00 334P

Claims (9)

[Claims] 1. A control instruction receiving means for receiving a power control instruction from a computer connected to a printing apparatus, and a power control means for controlling a predetermined power supply to a predetermined state in accordance with the power control instruction received by the control instruction receiving means. And a printing device comprising: 2. The power supply control instruction is transmitted to the printing apparatus as a command created by the computer, and the power supply control unit responds to the command when the control instruction reception unit receives the command. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein power supply control is performed. 3. The control instruction receiving means receives a state of a power control signal line changed by the computer in accordance with the power control instruction. The power control means: 2. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein when the control instructing unit receives the change of the state of the power supply, the power supply control corresponding to the change of the state of the power supply control signal line is performed. 4. A power status information generating means for monitoring a power status and generating power status information relating to the power status, and when the computer instructs to transmit the power status information, the power source is transmitted to the computer. The printing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising: an information transmission unit configured to transmit status information. 5. A printing system including a computer and a printing device, wherein the computer includes a control instruction transmitting unit that transmits a power control instruction for instructing the printing device to change a predetermined power supply to a predetermined state. The printing apparatus comprises: a control instruction receiving unit that receives the power control instruction instruction transmitted from the computer; and controls a predetermined power supply to a predetermined state according to the power control instruction received by the control instruction receiving unit. And a power supply control unit. 6. The power supply control instruction is transmitted to the printing apparatus as a command created in response to the instruction by the computer, and the power supply control unit receives the command by the control instruction reception unit. The printing system according to claim 5, wherein power supply control corresponding to the command is performed. 7. The power control instruction corresponds to a state of a power control signal line changed by the computer, and the power control unit controls the computer to change a state of the power control signal line. 6. The printing system according to claim 5, wherein when the fact is received by the control instructing means, power supply control corresponding to a change in the state of the power supply control signal line is performed. 8. The computer according to claim 1, further comprising: a transmission instructing unit that instructs the printing apparatus to transmit information about a power status, and an information presenting unit that presents information about the power status transmitted from the printing device to a user. The printing apparatus further comprises: a power supply status information creating unit that monitors a power supply status and creates information about the power supply status; and when the computer sends an instruction to transmit the information about the power supply status, The printing system according to any one of claims 5 to 7, further comprising: an information transmitting unit configured to transmit information on the power status to a computer. 9. The printing system according to claim 5, wherein the computer further includes a timer unit that causes the control instruction transmitting unit to transmit the instruction at a predetermined time. .