JP2002032204A - Data transmission control method, computer system, printer driver and computer peripheral equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To enhance throughput in the case of data transmission. SOLUTION: A command to specify the width of an acknowledgement(Ack) signal to be generated when peripheral equipment, for example a printer, receives data is transmitted from a computer to the peripheral equipment (S2), specified data are transmitted from the computer to the peripheral equipment (S3), whether the peripheral equipment correctly receives the specified data is judged (S4, S6) and the width of the acknowledgement signal is decided according to judgment (S8).

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a data transmission control method, a computer system, a printer driver, and a computer peripheral device, and more particularly, to data transmission control for a peripheral device connected to a computer via a parallel interface.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, an IE which is widely adopted as a parallel port interface standard for connecting peripheral devices in a personal computer which has become widespread,
EE1284 is IEEE (American Electrical and Electronic Engineers Association)
Is a standardized standard, which is adopted by most models as a printer interface standard.

[0003] In IEEE 1284, a new data transfer mode is added for speeding up while maintaining compatibility with the conventional Centronics. There are five data transfer modes: a Centronics compatible mode, a nibble mode, a byte mode, an ECP mode, and an EPP mode. Further, two-way communication is also possible, and the personal computer can acquire information such as the font name, paper type, and operating state contained in the printer.

The configuration of the parallel interface conforming to the IEEE1284 standard has 36 terminals, 8 data buses, control signals from four host computers to the recording device, and five control signals from the recording device to the host computer. It consists of control signals. Control signals from the host computer to the recording device include Init, Cell
ctIn, Autofeed, and Strobe. Control signals from the recording device to the host computer include:
Ack, Busy, PE, Select, Faμsec
lt.

The function of these control signals will be briefly described. Init is an initial signal of a low-active recording apparatus. When this signal is set to low, the recording apparatus is reset and performs an initialization operation. Strobe is a signal indicating the validity of the data bus appearing on the interface. When this signal is in an active state, data is taken into the recording device. SelectIn is a signal for setting from the host side so that the recording apparatus can take in data. PE is an abbreviation for paper empty, and becomes active when a paper sensor on the recording apparatus side detects that there is no paper. The Busy signal becomes active when the recording apparatus is processing, and during this time, the host computer cannot transmit any new data. The Ack (acknowledge) signal is activated for a certain period of time when the recording apparatus receives 1-byte data. Select is a signal for the user to turn on / off the data reception state of the recording device on the recording device side. When the data reception is turned off, this signal becomes active and the data reception of the recording device is temporarily stopped. Stop.

FIG. 3 is a timing chart showing the state of each signal in data transmission from the host computer to the recording apparatus. In the figure, reference numerals 301 to 305 indicate the timing at which each signal changes. First, data to be transmitted from the host computer to the recording device appears on the data bus (301), and then St indicating the validity period of the data.
The probe signal becomes active (302). When the Strobe signal becomes active (302) on the printing apparatus side, the Busy signal indicating that the printing apparatus is processing data is made active (303), and the data is taken into the printing apparatus.

When a series of processing is completed, the Ack signal is output (304, 305), the Busy signal is set to negative (305), and the end of the operation is notified to the host computer. Signals necessary for a series of processes for transmitting data to the recording device include the data bus 8 bits and the Strobe
Only e, Busy, and Ack are not directly used for data transmission.

In the IEEE 1284 standard, a period in which each signal line is to be held in the data transmission sequence is defined, and A is used when the recording apparatus receives data.
The period of ck = 'L' is 500 nsec or more and 10 μsec
It is as follows.

Also, software (printer driver) for transmitting print data to a printing apparatus operating on a host computer normally performs data transmission via an OS function incorporated in the host computer.
These sequences cannot be controlled in detail.
In other words, the printer driver only passes the data to be transferred to the recording device to the OS, and the actual communication sequence depends on the software incorporated in the OS, and the printer driver only determines whether or not the data transfer is successful. I can't judge.

[0010]

The IEEE 1284 standard was enacted in 1994, and since there was no such a clear standard in the conventional parallel interface, various sub-interfaces with respect to signal timing have been developed. Exists.

In general, a communication sequence in which data transfer is normally performed includes a fall of Busy of a recording device and an Ac
There are three types as shown in (a) to (c) of FIG. 4 depending on the timing of the fall / rise of the k signal.
(A) is Ack-in-Busy, (b) is Ack-a
after-Busy, (c) is Ack-While-B
usy. In any case, Busy =
Acknowledgment after preparation for setting to "L", that is, when the recording apparatus is ready to accept the next data.
Signal fall / rise can be performed. In addition, the period during which Ack = 'L' is held at this time is conventionally empirically predetermined at 4 μsec and fixed.

In recent years, as the performance of the host computer and the recording apparatus has improved, the amount of recording data has increased dramatically, and it has been necessary to improve the data transfer speed. In order to increase the data transfer amount (throughput) per unit time as much as possible, it is effective to shorten the Busy period and the Ack width. However, the Busy period is determined by the hardware configuration, and thus the Ack width is shortened. It is possible.

However, depending on the type of the host computer, if the Ack width transmitted by the recording device is too short, the host cannot correctly recognize the completion of 1-byte transmission, and the data transmission from the host to the recording device is not performed correctly. Cases arise.

The present invention has been made in view of the above situation, and has a data transmission control method, a computer system, a printer driver, and a computer peripheral that can increase the throughput of data transmission from a host to peripheral devices. The purpose is to provide equipment.

[0015]

In order to achieve the above object, a data transmission control method according to the present invention is a data transmission control method for a peripheral device connected to a computer via a parallel interface. A command for specifying a width of an acknowledgment signal generated when data is received, a specifying step of transmitting from the computer to the peripheral device; a transmitting step of transmitting specific data from the computer to the peripheral device; A determining step of determining whether the peripheral device has correctly received the specific data; and a determining step of determining a width of the acknowledgment signal based on the determination.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a computer system including a computer, and a peripheral device connected to the computer via a parallel interface. Width specifying means for transmitting a command for specifying a width of an acknowledgment signal generated when data is received, transmitting means for transmitting specific data to the peripheral device, and the peripheral device correctly receiving the specific data Determining means for determining whether or not the determination is successful, and determining means for determining the width of the acknowledgment signal based on the determination,
The peripheral device includes a width setting unit that sets a width of the acknowledgment signal in response to receiving the command.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a printer driver which communicates with a printing apparatus connected to a computer via a parallel interface, and specifies a width of an acknowledgment signal generated when the printing apparatus receives data. Width specifying means for transmitting a command to be transmitted, transmitting means for transmitting specific data to the recording device, determining means for determining whether or not the recording device has correctly received the specific data, and And a determination means for determining the width of the acknowledgment signal.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a peripheral device connected to a computer via a parallel interface, wherein response signal generating means for generating an acknowledgment signal when data is received from the computer; The present invention is also achieved by a computer peripheral device comprising: a width setting unit configured to set a width of the acknowledgment signal to a width specified by the command when receiving a command specifying a width of the acknowledgment signal.

That is, a command for specifying the width of the acknowledgment signal generated when the peripheral device receives data is
The specific data is transmitted from the computer to the peripheral device, the specific data is transmitted from the computer to the peripheral device, it is determined whether the peripheral device has correctly received the specific data, and the width of the acknowledgment signal is determined based on the determination.

In this manner, data can be transmitted from the computer to the peripheral device with the width of the acknowledgment (Ack) signal being a required minimum, so that the data transmission throughput can be improved.

[0021]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

In the embodiment described below, an ink jet printer will be described as an example of a recording apparatus connected to a host computer by a parallel interface conforming to the IEEE1284 standard.

In this specification, "recording" (sometimes referred to as "printing") means not only a case where significant information such as characters and figures are formed, but also whether a person is visually perceived as significant or insignificant. Regardless of whether or not the image has been exposed so as to be able to perform the process, the case where an image, a pattern, a pattern, or the like is widely formed on a recording medium or a case where the medium is processed is also described.

The "recording medium" is not limited to paper used in general recording apparatuses, but is widely applicable to ink, such as cloth, plastic films, metal plates, glass, ceramics, wood, and leather. Things are also represented.

Further, “ink” (sometimes referred to as “liquid”) is to be interpreted as widely as the definition of “recording (printing)”, and by being applied on a recording medium, A liquid that can be used for forming an image, a pattern, a pattern, or the like, processing a recording medium, or processing ink (for example, coagulating or insolubilizing a colorant in ink applied to the recording medium) is used.

<Schematic Description of Apparatus Main Body> FIG. 5 shows an ink jet printer IJ which is a typical embodiment of the present invention.
It is an external appearance perspective view showing the outline of composition of RA. In FIG. 5, the carriage HC that engages with the spiral groove 5004 of the lead screw 5005 that rotates via the driving force transmission gears 5009 to 5011 in conjunction with the forward and reverse rotation of the drive motor 5013 has pins (not shown). Guide rail 50
03 reciprocates in the directions of arrows a and b. The carriage HC includes a recording head IJH and an ink tank IT.
Integrated inkjet cartridge IJC
Is installed.

Reference numeral 5002 denotes a paper holding plate, and a carriage H
The recording paper P is pressed against the platen 5000 over the moving direction of C. Reference numerals 5007 and 5008 denote photocouplers, which are home position detectors for confirming the presence of the carriage lever 5006 in this region and switching the rotation direction of the motor 5013.

Reference numeral 5016 denotes a member for supporting a cap member 5022 for capping the front surface of the recording head IJH.
Reference numeral 15 denotes a suction device that suctions the inside of the cap, and performs suction recovery of the recording head through the opening 5023 in the cap. 5
Reference numeral 017 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 5021 denotes a lever for starting suction for suction recovery, and a cam 5020 which engages with the carriage.
The driving force from the driving motor is controlled by a known transmission mechanism such as clutch switching.

The capping, cleaning, and suction recovery are configured so that desired processing 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. If a desired operation is performed at the timing, any of the embodiments can be applied.

<Description of Control Structure> Next, a control structure for executing the recording control of the above-described apparatus will be described.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a control circuit of the ink jet printer IJRA. In the figure showing a control circuit, 1700 is an interface for inputting a recording signal, 1701 is an MPU, 1702 is an MPU 17
ROM for storing a control program executed by 01, 17
Numeral 03 denotes a DRAM for storing various data (such as the recording signal and recording data supplied to the head). 170
Reference numeral 4 denotes a gate array (GA) that controls supply of print data to the print head IJH, and also controls data transfer between the interface 1700, the MPU 1701, and the RAM 1703. MPU 1701, ROM 17
02, a DRAM 1703, and a gate array 1704 constitute a control unit 1720.

Reference numeral 1710 denotes a carrier motor for transporting the recording head IJH, and reference numeral 1709 denotes a transport motor for transporting the recording paper. Reference numeral 1705 denotes a head driver for driving the recording 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 control configuration will be described. When a recording signal enters the interface 1700, the gate array 1
The recording signal is converted into recording data for printing between the 704 and the MPU 1701. And the motor driver 1
The printheads 706 and 1707 are driven, and the printhead is driven according to the print data sent to the head driver 1705 to perform printing.

Here, the control program executed by the MPU 1701 is stored in the ROM 1702.
An erasable / writable storage medium such as an EEPROM may be further added so that the host computer connected to the inkjet printer IJRA can change the control program.

<Explanation of Ink Cartridge> As described above, the ink tank IT and the recording head IJH are formed integrally and are exchangeable ink cartridge IJC.
However, the ink tank IT and the recording head IJH may be configured to be separable so that only the ink tank IT can be replaced when the ink runs out.

FIG. 7 is an external perspective view showing the structure of an ink cartridge IJC in which the ink tank and the head can be separated. As shown in FIG. 7, the ink cartridge IJC holds the ink tank IT and the recording head I at the position of the boundary line K.
JH can be separated. When the ink cartridge IJC is mounted on the carriage HC, the ink cartridge IJC is provided with an electrode (not shown) for receiving an electric signal supplied from the carriage HC side. Is driven to eject ink.

In FIG. 7, reference numeral 500 denotes an ink ejection port array. The ink tank IT is provided with a fibrous or porous ink absorber for holding ink.

<System Configuration> FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the recording system of the present invention including the above-described ink jet printer IJRA. In this system, when a user attempts to print an image or character data from an application, the host computer 201 can transmit recording data that allows the user to obtain a desired print result by the inkjet printer IJRA of the present invention. Built-in printer driver.

The inkjet printer IJRA has an interface 1700 for receiving data transmitted from the host computer 201 via the parallel interface 203 defined by the IEEE1284 standard.
Command analysis means for analyzing and executing a command from a printer driver incorporated in the host computer 201, and an Ack for changing the Ack width stepwise or to a width designated by the host computer 201 by a command from the host computer 201. And a control unit 1720 including a width control unit.

The ink jet printer IJR
A supports an ECP mode or a nibble mode according to the IEEE1284 standard, and an inkjet printer IJ.
Arbitrary data can be transferred from the RA to the host computer.

<Flow of Ack Width Setting Operation> FIG. 1 shows the Ack width performed before the actual recording in the system of FIG.
It is a flowchart which shows the process of width setting operation. In addition,
In this embodiment, the Ack width setting operation is performed by the printer driver of the host computer from the inkjet printer IJ.
This is performed by transmitting a command to the control means 1720 of the RA.

First, the Ack width is set to 0.5 μsec, which is the minimum width defined by the IEEE1284 standard (step S1), and an Ack width designation command is transmitted to the ink jet printer IJRA, which controls the ink jet printer IJRA. The Ack width is determined (Step S2). Next, the echo command and the subsequent test data are transferred by an arbitrary number of bytes (step S3).

Here, it is determined whether or not the transmission of the echo command has failed (step S4).
The setting of the ck width is increased by one step (step S7), and the process returns to step S2. If it is determined in step S4 that the process is successful, the mode is switched to the reverse channel or the nibble mode of the ECP mode according to the IEEE1284 standard (step S4).

After the mode is switched, the echo command data is received from the inkjet printer IJRA (step S5). Here, it is determined whether or not the data transfer has been normally performed based on whether or not the previously transferred test data matches the test data returned by the recording device (step S6). If it is determined that the data transfer has been normally performed, the host computer 201 can normally perform a handshake at the time of data transfer even if the Ack width is 0.5 μsec. .5 μsec (step S
8) Set to transfer the recording data.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step S6 that the returned test data does not match the previously transferred test data and that the data transfer was not performed normally, A
The setting of the ck width is increased by one step (step S7), and the process returns to step S2.

Steps S2 to S7 are repeated until normal data transfer is completed, and the smallest Ack width that allows normal data transfer is detected and set.

After performing the above Ack width setting operation, when printing is actually performed, the recording data is transferred from the host computer to the ink jet printer with the set Ack width, so that the Ack width is changed. Since the length can be shortened within a range where transmission is performed correctly, the throughput of data transmission can be increased as a result.

[0049]

[Other Embodiments] In the above embodiment, the configuration in which the Ack width of the ink jet printer is set from the printer driver of the host computer has been described.
The setting of the k width (specifically, the operations in steps S1 and S7 in the flowchart of FIG. 1) may be performed on the printer side.

Further, although an ink jet printer has been described as an example of the recording apparatus, it is apparent that the present invention can be implemented with other types of printers.

Further, the present invention can be similarly applied to other peripheral devices other than the recording device connected to a host computer such as a PC (personal computer) by a parallel interface defined by the IEEE1284 standard.

Even if the present invention is applied to a system including a plurality of devices (for example, a host computer, an interface device, a reader, a printer, etc.), an apparatus including one device (for example, a copier, a facsimile) Device).

Further, an object of the present invention is to supply a storage medium (or a recording medium) in which a program code of software for realizing the functions of the above-described embodiments is recorded to a system or an apparatus, and a computer (a computer) of the system or the apparatus. It is needless to say that the present invention can also be achieved by a CPU or an MPU) reading and executing the program code stored in the storage medium. In this case, the program code itself read from the storage medium implements the functions of the above-described embodiment, and the storage medium storing the program code constitutes the present invention. Also,
When the computer executes the readout program code, not only the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized, but also the operating system (OS) running on the computer based on the instructions of the program code.
It goes without saying that a case where the functions of the above-described embodiments are implemented by performing some or all of the actual processing, and the processing performs the functions of the above-described embodiments.

Further, after the program code read from the storage medium is written in the memory provided in the function expansion card inserted into the computer or the function expansion unit connected to the computer, the program code is read based on the instruction of the program code. Needless to say, the CPU included in the function expansion card or the function expansion unit performs part or all of the actual processing, and the processing realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments.

When the present invention is applied to the storage medium, the storage medium stores program codes corresponding to the above-described flowchart (shown in FIG. 1).

[0056]

As described above, according to the present invention, since the width of the acknowledgment (Ack) signal can be minimized, the data can be transmitted from the computer to the peripheral device.
Throughput at the time of data transmission can be improved.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an operation flowchart of a data control method and a recording apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram for explaining a schematic configuration of a recording apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a time chart of data reception described in the IEEE1284 standard.

FIG. 4 shows A in a conventional Centronics interface.
FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a relationship of ck / Busy.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an appearance of a printer according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram illustrating a control configuration of the printer in FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an ink jet cartridge of the printer in FIG. 5;

[Explanation of symbols]

201 Host computer IJRA inkjet printer 203 Interface based on IEEE1284 standard

Claims (15)

[Claims] 1. A data transmission control method for a peripheral device connected to a computer via a parallel interface, comprising: a command for designating a width of an acknowledgment signal generated when the peripheral device receives data; A designation step of transmitting from the computer to the peripheral device; a transmission step of transmitting specific data from the computer to the peripheral device; and a determination step of determining whether the peripheral device has correctly received the specific data. Determining a width of the acknowledgment signal based on the determination. 2. The determining step includes changing the width of the acknowledgment signal stepwise until it is determined in the determining step that the specific data has been correctly received. 2. The data transmission control method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of: 3. The data transmission control method according to claim 1, wherein the determining step includes a step of returning the specific data received by the peripheral device to the computer. 4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the parallel interface is an IEEE.
4. The data transmission control method according to claim 1, wherein the data transmission control method conforms to the E1284 standard. 5. A computer system, comprising: a computer; and a peripheral device connected to the computer via a parallel interface, the computer comprising: a computer that transmits an acknowledgment signal generated when the peripheral device receives data; Width specifying means for transmitting a command for specifying a width; transmitting means for transmitting specific data to the peripheral device; determining means for determining whether the peripheral device has correctly received the specific data; Determining means for determining the width of the acknowledgment signal based on the determination, wherein the peripheral device includes width setting means for setting the width of the acknowledgment signal in response to receiving the command. Computer system. 6. The transmitting means, wherein the width specifying means changes the width of the acknowledgment signal stepwise until it is determined in the determining step that the specific data has been correctly received. 6. The computer system according to claim 5, wherein the transmission of the specific data and the determination by the determination unit are repeatedly performed. 7. The computer system according to claim 5, wherein the determination unit transmits a command for returning the specific data received by the peripheral device to the computer. 8. The method according to claim 1, wherein the parallel interface is an IEEE.
The computer system according to any one of claims 5 to 7, wherein the computer system conforms to the E1284 standard. 9. A printer driver for communicating with a printing device connected to a computer via a parallel interface, the printer driver comprising a command for designating a width of an acknowledgment signal generated when the printing device receives data. Transmitting width specifying means, transmitting means for transmitting specific data to the recording device, determining means for determining whether the recording device has correctly received the specific data, and affirmative based on the determination. Determining means for determining the width of the response signal. 10. The transmitting means, wherein the width specifying means changes the width of the acknowledgment signal in a stepwise manner until it is determined in the determining step that the specific data has been correctly received. 10. The printer driver according to claim 9, wherein the transmission of the specific data and the determination by the determination unit are repeatedly performed. 11. The computer according to claim 9, wherein the determination unit transmits a command for returning the specific data received by the peripheral device to the computer.
0. The printer driver described in 0. 12. The computer according to claim 1, wherein the parallel interface is an IE.
The printer driver according to any one of claims 9 to 11, wherein the printer driver conforms to the EE1284 standard. 13. A peripheral device connected to a computer via a parallel interface, said response signal generating means for generating an acknowledgment signal when data is received from said computer; Computer peripheral equipment comprising: width setting means for setting a width of the acknowledgment signal to a width specified by the command when a command specifying a width is received. 14. The computer peripheral device according to claim 13, wherein the recording device is a recording device that performs recording on a recording medium in accordance with data transmitted from the computer. 15. The system according to claim 15, wherein the parallel interface is an IE.
15. The computer peripheral device according to claim 13, wherein the peripheral device conforms to the EE1284 standard.