JP2002059615A - Portable printer - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To solve the problem of a printer which can be driven through both power supplies, i.e., an AC adapter and a battery, that the lifetime of the charging power of the battery power supply is short because the battery power supply is charged from an AC adapter power supply using a charging circuit incorporated in the printer only when the main power switch thereof is turned off. SOLUTION: In the portable printer which can be driven through both power supplies, i.e., an AC adapter 51 and a battery 54, the battery 54 is charged with power from the AC adapter 51 when the main power switch 56 of the printer is turned off. When the main power switch 56 is turned on, charging power being fed from the AC adapter 51 to the battery 54 is reduced as compared with the case where the main power switch is turned off thus sustaining the charged state of the battery 54 and charging power supply to the battery 54 is prohibited only during print operation of the thermal head or the sheet carrying mechanism of the printer.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a portable printer driven by both an AC adapter power supply and a battery power supply, and more particularly, to a portable printer apparatus capable of constantly maintaining a full charge state of a battery power supply. About.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, a portable electronic device is driven by both a battery power and an AC power.
When the electronic device is used in a place where AC power cannot be obtained, the electronic device is driven by the battery power. The battery power supply uses a rechargeable secondary battery, and is charged by a charger when the power stored in the secondary battery is reduced.

As a method of charging a battery power supply using a secondary battery, a method in which a battery power supply can be removed from the electronic device and the removed battery power supply is attached to a dedicated charging device to perform charging, There is a method in which a main body is provided with a battery power supply and a charging function so that the main apparatus is charged when a main operation power switch of the electronic apparatus is turned off.

When the battery power is charged by the dedicated charging device, it is necessary to remove the battery power from the electronic device and perform a complicated act of charging with the dedicated charging device. When charging is performed using the charging function, there is a problem that the time required for charging generally increases.

Therefore, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 6-153044 discloses a first secondary battery built in a main body of a video camera as a portable electronic device and a second secondary battery attached to a power supply adapter. And a video camera charging system for charging a second secondary battery attached to the power adapter prior to a first secondary battery built in the video camera body.

That is, the first and second rechargeable batteries are charged while the AC power adapter is connected to the video camera main body. When the power switch of the video camera main body is turned off, the video camera is first mounted on the AC adapter. Second 2 done
The secondary battery is rapidly charged, and after the charging of the second secondary battery is completed, the first secondary battery incorporated in the video camera body is charged at a normal speed.

Accordingly, when it is not possible to take a sufficient time for charging the secondary battery, the operation of the video camera can be performed with the second secondary battery without waiting for the completion of the charging of the first secondary battery. Is possible.

On the other hand, the above-described video camera generally captures and records a moving image. In recent years, a still image has a capturing and recording function, and a digital camera dedicated to a still image has a higher pixel count. There is a demand for printing a captured image on paper, and a small and lightweight portable printer device for printing a still image captured electronically is required.

In order to use a portable printer in a place where an AC power supply cannot be used, as in the case of the video camera and the digital camera, it is necessary to use a battery power supply. Can be

[0010]

When a secondary battery that can be charged to the battery power is used by holding both an AC power and a battery power as a drive power for the portable printer device, the above-mentioned Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. H06-20964 discloses a portable printer. It is conceivable to use the charging system disclosed in Japanese Patent No. 153044.

That is, there is provided a first secondary battery built in the printer apparatus main body and a second secondary battery attachable to an AC adapter having a function dedicated to charging. For this reason, when carrying the printer device, it is necessary to always bring the AC adapter having the charge-only function, which is a factor that hinders the portability of the printer device.

Further, while the first or second secondary battery is being charged, the operation switch of the printer must be turned off. It is said that charging of the first secondary battery built in the printer device body is impossible, and a separate dedicated AC for charging is required to charge the second secondary battery.
An adapter will be provided.

That is, in the charging system disclosed in the above-mentioned Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 6-153044, the charging of the secondary battery built in the main body of the apparatus is performed when the operation switch of the apparatus is turned off.
The battery can be charged by the charging power from the adapter, and the charging operation of the secondary battery is stopped during the operation of the device by the power from the AC adapter. For this reason, when charging the first secondary battery built in the apparatus main body, it is necessary to stop the driving operation of the apparatus, and it takes a long time for charging. There was a problem that the charging time was restricted.

In the case where an AC adapter having a dedicated function for charging and containing a second secondary battery is provided, the first
This AC adapter can be charged in a shorter time than the charging time of the next battery. However, this AC adapter is a special adapter with a charging function, and there are two types of adapters, an AC adapter with a charging function and an AC adapter without a charging function. Therefore, possession of the adapter becomes complicated and there is a problem that portability is impaired.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned conventional problems, and
A portable printer device that can be driven by both the drive power supply of the adapter power supply and the battery power supply built into the device.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a portable printer device capable of driving an apparatus main body with an AC power supply by a C adapter, charging the battery power supply, and constantly maintaining the battery power supply in a fully charged state.

[0016]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A portable printer device according to the present invention comprises a battery power supply means, an AC adapter means, a main power switch for turning on / off the power supply of the apparatus, and a main power switch for turning off the main power switch. The main power switch is turned on when the main power switch is turned off, and the battery power is supplied to the battery power source when the main power switch is turned off. Control means for supplying power smaller than the charging power supplied to the means to charge the battery power supply means.

Further, the portable printer device of the present invention has a battery power supply means, an AC adapter means, a main power switch for turning on / off the power supply of the apparatus, and an apparatus for printing an image based on image data on paper. Thermal head,
When the main power switch is off, the battery power means is charged using power supplied from the AC adapter means, and when the main power switch is on, the main power switch is turned off. At this time, the battery power supply means is supplied with less power than the charge power supplied to the battery power supply means to charge the battery power supply means, and the supply of charging power is prohibited while the power is supplied to the thermal head. And control means for performing the control.

The control means of the portable printer device of the present invention performs the printing operation by the thermal head in parallel with the conveyance of the paper from the timing after the paper is conveyed and arranged at a predetermined position. It is characterized in that the supply of charging power is prohibited until the timing of starting the paper transport operation following the end of the printing operation.

In the portable printer according to the present invention, the voltage of the battery power supply and the voltage supplied from the AC adapter are substantially the same, and when the power is supplied from the AC adapter to the battery power supply. And a booster circuit for boosting the supply voltage.

The portable printer according to the present invention has the AC
A determining unit that determines whether the adapter unit is connected to the apparatus; the control unit performs a charging operation to the battery power unit when the determining unit determines that the AC adapter unit is connected; Is started.

Further, the portable printer device of the present invention comprises:
A first determining unit that determines whether the AC adapter unit is connected to the device; and a second determining unit that determines whether the battery power unit is connected to the device. , By the first and second determining means,
When it is determined that both the adapter and the battery power supply are connected, the charging operation to the battery power supply is started.

According to the present invention, even when an AC adapter and a battery power supply are connected to the printer device and the main power switch of the device is turned on and the printer is in a driving state, the charging power is always supplied from the AC adapter to the battery power supply, and Can always be fully charged. Also,
By inhibiting the supply of charging power from the AC adapter to the battery power during paper transport and thermal head driving, fluctuations in driving power during printing are suppressed, and print quality can be maintained.

[0023]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of a charging circuit of a portable printer device according to the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an entire configuration of the portable printer device according to the present invention.

An overall configuration of the portable pudding device will be described with reference to FIG. In addition, this printer device prints a predetermined image on the paper by superposing a printing paper and an ink ribbon coated with an ink paint, and performing a thermal transfer or a sublimation thermal transfer of the ink of the ink ribbon with a thermal head. It is.

AC adapter 5 connected to AC power supply 51
Numeral 2 rectifies an AC power supply 51 which is a commercial power supply to obtain a predetermined DC constant power supply. The adapter has a rectifier circuit and a DC constant voltage circuit for generating a predetermined constant voltage in an adapter. Supplying the constant DC voltage to the portable printer device through the connector, or
The portable printer device is simply connected with an AC power supply connector, and the rectifier circuit and the DC constant voltage circuit are provided in the portable printer device. Either method may be used.

The DC constant voltage (hereinafter, referred to as an adapter power supply) generated by the AC adapter 52 is supplied to a charging circuit 53.
And one of the fixed terminals of the power switch 55. The charging circuit 53 charges a battery pack 54 which is a battery power supply.
Is supplied to the other fixed terminal of the power supply switch 55. The movable terminal of the power switch 55 is connected to a power circuit 57 via a main power switch 56. The power supply circuit 57 generates a driving power supply for driving various functions of the printer device.

The driving power generated by the power supply circuit 57 includes a thermal head 58, a microcomputer (hereinafter, simply referred to as a CPU) 59 for driving and controlling various functions of the printer, and a liquid crystal microcomputer (hereinafter, a liquid crystal CPU). 60), and various functions such as a paper transport motor, an ink ribbon transport motor, a thermal head drive motor, an image signal decoder circuit, and various sensors (not shown).

The thermal head 58 is for holding the ink ribbon and the paper in close contact with each other on a platen roller (not shown) and thermally transferring the ink paint of the ink ribbon to the paper based on an image signal described later.

The CPU 59 controls the driving of various functions of the printer device based on various control programs.
The thermal head 58, an external memory 62, an image data decoder 63, an I / O controller 64, and a detection signal output 67 are connected via a bus 61.

The external memory 62 is, for example, a semiconductor memory in which image data of a still image picked up by the above-mentioned video camera or digital camera is written and recorded by a predetermined data compression method. It is built in the digital camera or detachable from the video camera or digital camera.

The image data decoder 63 is connected to the CPU 5
9, the image data read from the external memory 62 is temporarily stored, the image data is decoded by a predetermined decompression method, and the image data is scaled to the size of the image to be printed. The thermal head 58 is driven for thermal transfer printing by the decoded image signal.

The I / O controller 64 includes various motors 65 such as the paper transport motor, the ink ribbon transport motor, and the thermal head drive motor, the paper position detection, the ink ribbon position detection, and the thermal head 58.
It controls the transmission and reception of control signals between the CPU 59 and various sensors 66 for detecting the driving state of the driving function of the printer device such as temperature detection.

The detection signal output 67 outputs information on the current state controlled by the CPU 59 to the charging circuit 53. In particular, the detection signal output 67 turns on / off the main power switch 56.
OFF state, paper conveyance state, and thermal head 58
Is output.

The liquid crystal CPU 60 is connected via a bus 68
A liquid crystal panel 69 and a keyboard 70 are connected, and various information is transmitted to and from the CPU 59. The liquid crystal panel 69 displays the operation state of the printer device provided on the surface of the printer device (not shown). For example, the identification of print image data, the number of prints, the print mode, the date, and the like are displayed in a character figure. Is what you do. The keyboard 70 is a button or a switch for inputting various operation modes, instructions for print image data, instructions for the number of prints, and the like when operating the printer device.

The liquid crystal CPU 60 recognizes various instruction inputs inputted from the keyboard 70, controls the driving of the liquid crystal panel 69, displays the instruction input information, and sends the instruction input information to the CPU 59. Is transmitted. Further, an operation state is displayed on the liquid crystal panel 69 based on the operation state information transmitted from the CPU 59.

That is, this portable printer device is
It is driven by either the power supply of the adapter 52 or the battery pack 54, and in accordance with the print image data and the operation mode inputted from the keyboard 70, the print image data inputted and inputted under the control of the CPU 59. From the image data decoder 63, various motors 65,
The driving of the various sensors 66 and the thermal head 58 is controlled to print a predetermined image on a sheet.

The power supply switch 55 uses, for example, a relay switch. When the AC adapter 52 is connected to the AC power supply 51 and a predetermined adapter power supply is supplied, the power supply switch 55 is connected to the relay coil by the adapter power supply. To excite
The movable terminal is connected to the fixed terminal to which the AC adapter 52 is connected. When the adapter power is not supplied from the AC adapter 52, the battery pack 5
4 is connected to the connected fixed terminal.

Further, the adapter power supply of the AC adapter 52 and the battery power supply of the battery pack 54 have the same voltage value, for example, 7.5 V. This is the thermal head 58
This is to make the supply voltage from the AC adapter 52 and the battery pack 54 at the time of thermal transfer substantially constant so as to prevent errors in print density. That is, if there is a difference between the power supply voltages of the AC adapter 52 and the battery pack 54, the power is supplied to the thermal head 58 when printing is performed by power supply from the AC adapter 52 and when printing is performed by power supply from the battery pack 54. It is intended to prevent the occurrence of a difference in the voltage values of the inks and a difference in the density of the ink to be thermally transferred.

Next, the circuit configuration of the charging circuit 53 will be described with reference to FIG. The AC adapter terminal 11 to which the adapter power is supplied from the AC adapter 52 includes:
A circuit power supply switching unit 12 having the same function as the power supply switch 55, a booster circuit 13, and a voltage determination unit 14 are connected. The booster circuit 13 boosts the adapter power of 7.5 V from the AC adapter terminal 11 to 13 V. The voltage determining unit 14 detects the adapter power supply voltage supplied to the AC adapter terminal 11 and outputs the detection result to the charging on / off determining unit 17.

A loading detection switch 15 for detecting that the battery pack 54 has been loaded into a predetermined battery storage section (not shown) of the printer device is provided. The loading detection switch 15 is provided with the battery pack 54 loaded therein. Is turned on. When the loading detection switch 15 is turned on, the battery pack determination unit 16 determines that the battery pack 54
Is generated and output to the charging on / off determining unit 17.

The charging on / off determining section 17 detects the adapter power supply of the AC adapter terminal 11 from the voltage determining section 14 and the battery pack 5 from the battery loading determining section 16.
4 are supplied, the booster circuit 13 and a charge start / stop current value setting control unit (to be simply referred to as a charge start / stop control unit) 31 which will be described later are turned on / off. An off signal is generated and supplied.

That is, the AC adapter 52 and the battery pack 5
4 are connected and loaded, the charging on / off determining unit 17 generates and supplies an on signal for driving the booster circuit 13 and the charging start / stop control unit 31, and the AC adapter 52
Alternatively, when one of the battery packs 54 is not connected and mounted, an off signal is generated and supplied.

The DC power supply boosted to 13 V by the booster circuit 13 is connected to the input terminal of a coil 19 and a flywheel via a switch element 18 using a P-channel MOS type FET applied as a variable resistance element. Diode 2
0 (the element 20 itself is a normal diode), and the output terminal of the coil 19 is connected to the anode of the reverse current blocking diode 21. The anode of the flywheel diode 20 is grounded. This coil 19 and flywheel diode 20
Has a role of converting a disconnection current due to a switching output by the switch element 18 into a substantially DC current by smoothing the disconnection current. Then, a direct current is supplied to the battery pack 22. The cathode of the backflow prevention diode 21 is connected to the circuit power supply switching unit 12 or the power supply switch 55 and the positive terminal of the battery pack 22 that is the same as the battery pack 54. The battery pack 22 is composed of a secondary battery. Voltage dividing resistors 23 and 24 are connected in parallel between terminals of a positive electrode and a negative electrode, and the negative electrode is grounded via a resistor 25.

That is, the step-up DC power supply 13 V output from the step-up circuit 13 passes through the switch element 18, passes through the regulator circuit composed of the coil 19 and the flywheel diode 20, and passes through the reverse-current element diode 21.
The positive electrode terminal of the battery pack 22 is supplied as charging power.

The resistor 25 is a resistor for detecting the charging current, outputs a charging current detection signal to the charging current controller 26, and is a feedback signal for controlling the charging current value. The current is compared with a current set value output from the charging start / stop control unit 31, and is controlled by the charging current control unit 26 to be a constant current.

The negative terminal of the battery pack 22 is connected to the switch element 18 via a charging current control unit 26.
It is connected to the gate of the OS type FET. The charging current control unit 26 includes an on / off control signal 31a from a charging start / stop control unit 31 described later and a charging current value setting signal 31b.
Thus, the on / off control of the switch element 18 and the operation characteristics of the switch element 18 are controlled to control the current value of the charging power supply supplied to the battery pack 22.

The battery pack 22 includes a thermistor 28
Are arranged in a built-in manner, and one end of the thermistor 28 is
A reference voltage (V, REF) is supplied via a resistor 27,
The other end is connected to the negative terminal of the battery pack 22.
The thermistor 28 detects a temperature rise state during charging of the battery pack 22. Generally, the battery pack 22 generates heat during charging, and the heat generation temperature increases at the start of charging, decreases with the progress of charging, and decreases during charging. At the time of the complete full charge, the heat generation temperature increases again. Therefore, the temperature change during charging of the battery pack 22 causes the thermistor 28 to charge.
Of the resistor 27 changes, and the divided voltage generated at the connection point between the resistor 27 and the thermistor 28 changes. The voltage change at the connection point between the resistor 27 and the thermistor 28 is measured by the battery temperature rise rate measuring unit 2.
9 to generate an over / under temperature and charge completion detection signal (hereinafter referred to as a temperature information signal) 29a indicating the state of charge of the battery pack 22 from the temperature state of the battery pack 22. It is supplied to the control unit 31.

Further, a battery voltage drop rate measuring unit 30 is connected to a connection point of the voltage dividing resistors 23 and 24 connected in parallel to the battery pack 22. The voltage dividing resistors 23 and 24
Detects the voltage value between the positive and negative electrode terminals of the battery pack 22. Generally, the voltage value between the positive and negative electrode terminals decreases as the charging progresses from the fully discharged state of the battery pack 22. This voltage change between the positive and negative terminals appears as a divided voltage value of the voltage dividing resistors 23 and 24. This voltage dividing resistor 23,
The change in the partial pressure value from the battery voltage drop rate measuring unit 3
0, and generates an overvoltage / undervoltage and a charge completion detection signal (hereinafter, referred to as a charge voltage information signal) 30a indicating the charge state of the battery pack 22 from the voltage state supplied to the battery pack 22. Charging start / stop control unit 3
1 is supplied.

The charge start / stop control section 31 includes an on / off signal from the charge on / off determination section 17 and information signals 29a from the battery temperature rise rate measurement section 29 and the battery voltage fall rate measurement section 30, respectively. , 30a to generate and supply an on / off signal 31a or a charging current value setting signal 31b to the charging current controller 26.

The charging start / stop control unit 31 includes:
The output of the operating timer circuit 32 is supplied by an on / off signal from the charging on / off determining unit 17, and is further recognized by the CPU 59 to detect the detection signal 6.
7 (see FIG. 2) output from the main power switch 56
Main power switch detection signal 3 that detects the on / off state of
3, and a thermal head drive detection signal 34 that detects the operation state of the thermal head 58 is supplied.

That is, the charge start / stop control unit 31
Controls the start and stop of the charging operation of the battery pack 22;
It has the function of charge state monitoring control during charging.

More specifically, the operation will be described. First, the adapter power from the AC adapter 52 is supplied to the AC adapter terminal 11 and the battery pack 22 is not loaded, or the AC adapter terminal 11
Adapter power is not supplied from C adapter 52,
When the battery pack 22 is loaded, that is, A
When only either the C adapter 52 or the battery pack 22 is connected, the charge ON / OFF determination unit 17 is supplied with only the determination signal of either the voltage determination unit 14 or the battery loading determination unit 16. For this purpose, a signal for turning off the booster circuit 13 and the charge start / stop control unit 31 is generated and supplied from the charge on / off determination unit 17. Accordingly, the printer device operates using either the adapter power supplied from the AC adapter terminal 11 or the battery power supplied from the battery pack 22 as a driving power.

Next, when adapter power is supplied to the AC adapter terminal 11 and the battery pack 22 is loaded, the power switch 55 and the circuit power switch 12 are forcibly set to the AC power. Connected to the adapter 52,
When the main power switch 56 is turned on, the printer operates with the adapter power from the AC adapter 52. On the other hand, the adapter power supply of the AC adapter terminal 11 is connected to the charging circuit 53 regardless of the operation of the main power switch 56.
Is supplied to The charge ON / OFF determination unit 17 generates an ON signal based on both determination signals from the voltage determination unit 14 and the battery loading determination unit 16, and
3 and the charge start / stop control unit 31.

In response to the ON signal from the charging ON / OFF judging section 17, the booster circuit 13 performs an operation of boosting and outputting the adapter power supply 7.5V supplied from the AC adapter terminal 11 to 13V.

On the other hand, based on the ON signal from the charge ON / OFF determination section 17, the charge start / stop control section 31 generates and supplies an ON / OFF signal 31a for turning on the charge current control section 26. By the operation of the charging current control unit 26, the switch element 18 is turned on to supply charging power to the battery pack 22. At this time, the main power switch detected by the charging start / stop control unit 31 is detected. When the signal 33 is a signal indicating that the main power switch 56 is off, the charging current value setting signal 31b supplied from the charging start / stop control unit 31 to the charging current control unit 26 is necessary for full charging. It generates and supplies a setting signal for the charging current value. Thereby, the charging current control unit 26
The operation characteristics of the switch element 18 are set to a supply current for fully charging the battery pack 22 from the charging power supply 13V from the booster circuit 13.

The charging progress state after the start of the charging operation of the battery pack 22 is determined by the temperature information signal 29a and the charging voltage information generated and measured by the battery temperature rise rate measuring section 29 and the battery voltage falling rate measuring section 30. The signal 30a is sequentially supplied to the charge start / stop control unit 31. This temperature information signal 29
The charging start / stop control unit 31 generates a charging current value setting signal 31b in accordance with a and the charging voltage information signal 30a, and supplies the charging current value setting signal 31b to the charging current control unit 26. The charging current control unit 26 controls the operating characteristics of the switch element 1 according to the charging current value setting signal 31b to control the charging power supplied to the battery pack 22. When the completion of the charging of the battery pack 22 is indicated by the temperature information signal 29a and the charging voltage information signal 30a, an on / off signal 31a for turning off the charging current control unit 26 from the charging start / stop control unit 31. Is generated and supplied, and the switch element 18 is turned off.

That is, the AC adapter terminal 11
Adapter power is supplied from the C adapter 52, and
When the battery pack 22 is loaded and the main power switch 56 is off, the battery pack 22 is set to a charged state at a predetermined charge power value boosted by the booster circuit 13.

Next, the charging operation when the main power switch 56 is turned on during the charging operation of the battery pack 22 will be described. When the main power switch 56 is turned on, the adapter power from the AC adapter 52 is
The power is supplied to the thermal head 58, the CPU 59, the liquid crystal CPU 60, and other various functions of the printer device via the power supply circuit 56, and the printer is ready for operation. When the main power switch 56 is turned on, the AC adapter 5 is turned off.
The adapter power supply from the battery pack 22 (battery pack 54) via the charging circuit 53 and an operation power supply for preparing the printer apparatus for operation to each function.
Is supplied as a charging power source. For this reason, the load of the adapter power supply of the AC adapter 52 increases, and the operation power supply supplied to each function of the printer apparatus decreases.

On the other hand, when the main power switch 56 is turned on and the operating power is supplied to the CPU 59, the CPU 59 outputs a main signal indicating that the main power switch 56 is turned on from the detection signal output 67. A power switch detection signal 33 is generated and output. By the main power switch detection signal 33 indicating the ON state of the main power switch 56, the charging start / stop control unit 31 of the charging circuit 53 causes the charging current for reducing the power of the charging power supplied to the battery pack 22 to be reduced. A value setting signal 31b is generated. Based on the charging current value setting signal 31b, the charging current control unit 26
Controls the operating characteristics of the switch element 18 so that the power of the charging power supply supplied to the battery pack 22 is smaller than when the main power switch 56 is turned off.

That is, the AC adapter 52 is connected to the printer.
When the battery pack 22 (or 54) is mounted, the battery pack 22 (or 54) can always be charged with the adapter power from the AC adapter 52 regardless of the operation of the main power switch 56 of the printer device. When the main power switch 56 is turned on while charging the battery pack 22 (or 54), the battery pack 2
The charging power supplied to the second (or 54) is smaller than the charging power when the main power switch 56 is turned off, so that the charging of the battery pack 22 (or 54) is continued. Things.

As a result, the battery pack 22 (or 54) built in the printer device is always charged as long as the adapter power is supplied from the AC adapter 52, and the main power switch 56 of the printer device is turned on. In this case, the charging power is set to a value smaller than the charging power when the main power switch 56 is turned off, and it is possible to secure a predetermined power for performing a predetermined operation of each function of the printer device.

Next, the relationship between the printing operation of the printer device and the charging operation of the battery pack 22 will be described. As described above, the AC adapter 5 of the printer according to the present invention is used.
1 and the battery power value of the battery pack 22 (or 54) have the same voltage of 7.5V. This is because the power required for thermally transferring the ink of the ink ribbon by the front thermal head 58 is the same when the adapter power supply and the battery power supply are driven, so that there is no difference in the density of the printed image. .

For this reason, the AC adapter 52 and the battery bag 22 (or 54) are attached to the printer device, and the thermal head 58 is driven while charging power is always supplied to the battery pack 22 (or 54). When the printing operation is performed, the adapter power from the AC adapter 52 is supplied as the operating power for each function of the printer device including the thermal head 58 and also as the charging power. Thus, the load of the printer device when driven by the adapter power supply of the AC adapter 52 and the battery pack 2
2 (or 54) when the printer is driven by the battery power, a difference occurs in the load of the printer. In particular, the power of the power supplied to the thermal head 58 at the time of the operation of the adapter power is reduced as compared with the time of the battery drive. As a result, a difference in shading occurs between the print image during the operation of the adapter power supply and the operation of the battery power supply.

In order to eliminate the shading error of the print image when the adapter power supply and the battery power supply are driven, the CPU 59 is used.
From the detection signal output 67 during the driving control of the printing operation of the thermal head 58.
Supplies the thermal head drive detection signal 34 indicating that printing is being performed to the charging start / stop control unit 31. Based on the thermal head drive detection signal 34 indicating that the thermal head print is being driven, the charge start / stop controller 3
1 is an ON / OFF state in which the charging current control unit 26 is turned off.
An off signal 31a is generated and supplied. This charging current control unit 2
The control unit 6 controls the switch element 18 to be turned off based on an on / off signal 31a to be turned off, thereby stopping supply of charging power to the battery pack 22 (or 54).

As a result, the supply of power to the charging circuit 53 of the adapter power supply is prohibited and the power supply circuit 56
Is supplied as a drive power supply for each function of the printer device via the. In other words, during the printing operation by driving the thermal head 58, the driving load by the adapter power supply and the battery power supply are under the same condition, and there is no difference in density of the printed image due to the difference in the driving power supply.

Next, when the printer device is driven by the adapter power supply of the AC adapter 52 of the printer device of the present invention,
Another embodiment will be described in which the charging circuit 53 is set in a charging stop prohibition state while the thermal head 58 is being driven for printing.

This type of thermal transfer type printer device has an ink in which three primary colors of yellow (Y), magenta (M) and cyan (C) and an overcoating (OP) paint are applied on a base sheet at predetermined intervals. A ribbon is used, and printing is performed by overlaying a sheet for each paint.

For this reason, after the paper is conveyed into the printer device, the starting end of the paper and the starting end of the first color paint of the ink ribbon are placed on the platen, and pressed by the thermal head 58, The first color printing is performed until the end of the sheet while the sheet and the ink ribbon are being conveyed. When the printing of the first color is completed, the paper is fed back to the starting end and
Printing is performed in the same manner as the first color from the beginning of the color paint. In this manner, printing of the ink ribbon up to the OP paint is completed, and color printing is performed.

It is also possible to control the charging operation of the charging circuit 53 based on the paper transport operation during printing.

The paper transport control operation of the CPU 59 at the time of printing by the printer having the adapter power supply and the battery power supply will be described with reference to the operation flowchart of FIG.

When it is recognized in step S1 that the main power switch 56 of the printer is turned on, it is checked in step S2 whether the battery pack 22 (or 54) is loaded. If it is determined, in step S7, the display without the battery on the liquid crystal panel 69 or the printing drive is terminated via the liquid crystal CPU 60.

If it is determined in step S2 that the battery is loaded, the process proceeds to step S3 where the keyboard 7
It is determined whether a print start has been input from 0, and if it is determined that a print start has been input, the battery power supply voltage value is measured in step S4, and then the battery power supply voltage measured in step S4 is measured in step S5. Then, it is determined whether the remaining amount of the battery power required for the printing drive is sufficient, and if the remaining amount is not necessary for the printing drive, the insufficient remaining amount is displayed on the liquid crystal panel 69 in step S7. If it is determined that there is a remaining amount for printing drive, it is determined in step S6 whether the AC adapter 52 is connected.

If the result of determination in step S6 is that AC adapter 52 is connected, then in step S8,
The paper feed motor provided in the various motors 65 is driven via the I / O controller 64 to feed the paper to a predetermined print start initial position.
It is confirmed that the sheet has been fed to a predetermined printing start initial position by a sheet position detection detection sensor provided in 6.

When it is confirmed in step S8 that the paper has been fed to the initial position for starting printing, in step S9 the first color applied to the ink ribbon is printed while the ink ribbon and the paper are being conveyed. Is completed, in step S10, the paper is returned to the printing start initial position. In step S11, the printing operation for the second to fourth colors is performed in the same manner as in steps S9 to S10.

Next, when the end of printing of the first sheet is confirmed in step S12, it is determined in step S19 whether or not there is a continuous printing number instruction based on the same image data. If there is, the flow returns to step S4 to perform the printing of the next print number in the same manner. If there is no continuous printing instruction, the flow returns to step S3 to wait for the next new print start input.

If it is determined in step S6 that the AC adapter 52 is not connected, the printing operation is performed by the battery power supply. In step S13, even if the AC adapter 52 is connected during the printing operation by the battery power supply. Until the printing is completed, a power supply switching prohibition signal is output in order to perform printing driving based on the battery power supply.
Is forcibly connected to the battery pack 22 (or 54).

Next, in step S14, the paper feed motor provided in the various motors 65 is driven via the I / O controller 64 to feed the paper to a predetermined initial position for starting printing, and It is confirmed by the paper position detection sensor provided at 66 that the paper has been fed to a predetermined initial printing start position. When it is confirmed in step S14 that the paper has been fed to the initial printing start position, the first color applied to the ink ribbon is printed while the ink ribbon and the paper are conveyed in step S15. When completed, step S16
Then, the sheet is returned to the printing start initial position, and the printing operation of the second to fourth colors is performed in step S15 in step S17.
To S16, and in step S18, the paper 1
When the end of printing of the sheet is confirmed, step S19 and subsequent steps are executed.

In the control operation of the CPU 59, when it is detected in step S8 that the paper has been fed to the initial printing start position while printing is being driven by the adapter power supply from the AC adapter 52, the detection is performed. From the signal output 69, a paper conveyance detection signal (not shown) is supplied to the charging start / stop control unit 31 in place of the thermal head drive detection signal 34, and the step S12 is performed.
When the printing operation of the first sheet is completed, the supply of the sheet conveyance detection signal is stopped.

Thus, the charge start / stop control unit 31
Generates and supplies an on / off signal 31a for turning off the charging current control unit 26, and the switching operation of the charging current control unit 26 also causes the switch element 18 to be turned off. The charging operation is prohibited from being stopped.

As a result, while the printer device is driven by the adapter power supply of the AC adapter 52 and the paper feeding operation for the printing operation is performed, the stop of the charging operation of the charging circuit 53 can be disabled. A difference in density of a printed image when driven by the adapter power supply and the battery power supply of the printer device does not occur.

The timer circuit 32 starts counting the timer in response to an ON signal from the charge ON / OFF judging section 17, and after a lapse of a predetermined time, starts the charging start / stop control section 31.
Generates and supplies an on / off signal 31a for turning off the charging current control unit 26. The timer circuit 32 allows the charging operation time of the charging circuit 53 to be controlled.

As described above, the printer of the present invention can be driven for printing by using both the power supply of the AC adapter and the battery, and when both the adapter power supply and the battery power supply are connected to the printer, the printer is operated. When the main power switch is off, the charging power is supplied from the adapter power to the battery power to cause the battery power to be charged. When the main power switch is turned on, the charging power supplied from the adapter power to the battery power. In this case, the charging state with less power than the charging power when the main power switch is in the off state is maintained, the battery power can always be maintained at the full charging state, and the occurrence of a printing inoperative state due to insufficient battery power is reduced. It became possible to make it.

When the printing operation is performed based on the adapter power supply while the battery power supply is being charged, the charging operation of the battery power supply is inhibited during the driving of the thermal head or the sheet conveyance, so that the adapter power supply and the battery power supply are prevented. Thus, there is no difference in the density of a printed image during printing driving, and printing with stable image quality can be performed regardless of the driving power supply.

[0084]

The printer device of the present invention can be driven for printing by any of an AC adapter power supply and a battery power supply.
When both the AC adapter power supply and the battery power supply are connected and mounted, the main power switch of the printer is turned on / off.
The charging operation state can be maintained without being restrained by the OFF operation, and the battery power supply has an effect that the full charge state can always be maintained.

Further, the printer device of the present invention inhibits the supply of charging power to the battery power source during thermal transfer printing driving by the thermal head or during printing and transporting of printing paper, so that the AC adapter and the battery There is no difference in print image quality due to the driving of both power supplies, and there is an effect that printing with uniform image quality can be performed even if the driving power supply is different.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an embodiment of a charging circuit used in a printer device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the overall configuration of the printer device according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a printing operation of an AC adapter power supply and a battery power supply of the printer device according to the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11 ... AC adapter terminal 13 ... Boost circuit 14 ... Voltage judgment part 16 ... Battery loading judgment part 17 ... Charge on / off judgment part, 18 ... Switch element 22, 54 ... Battery pack 26 ... Charge current control part 28 ... Thermistor 29 ... Battery temperature rise rate measuring section 30 Battery voltage drop rate measuring section 31 Charging start / stop current value setting control section 51 AC terminal 53 Charging circuit 55 Power switch 56 Main power switch 57 Power circuit 58 Thermal Head 59 ... Microcomputer 60 ... Microcomputer for liquid crystal 61, 68 ... Bus 62 ... External memory 63 ... Image data decoder 64 ... I / O controller 65 ... Various motors 66 ... Various sensors 67 ... Detection signal output 69 ... Liquid crystal panel 70 ... keyboard

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A battery power supply means, an AC adapter means, a main power switch for turning on / off a power supply of an apparatus, and a power supply from the AC adapter means when the main power switch is off. To charge the battery power means, and when the main power switch is on,
A portable printer device comprising: a control unit that supplies less power than the charging power supplied to the battery power unit when the main power switch is turned off to charge the battery power unit. 2. A battery power supply means, an AC adapter means, a main power switch for turning on / off the power of the apparatus, a thermal head for printing an image based on image data on paper, and the main power switch. When the main power switch is off, the battery power means is charged using the power supplied from the AC adapter means, and when the main power switch is on, the power is supplied when the main power switch is off. Control means for supplying power less than the charging power supplied to the battery power supply means to charge the battery power supply means, and for inhibiting the supply of charging power while supplying power to the thermal head; A portable printer device comprising: 3. The control unit performs a printing operation by the thermal head in parallel with the conveyance of the sheet from a timing after the sheet is conveyed and arranged at a predetermined position,
3. The portable printer device according to claim 2, wherein the supply of charging power is prohibited until the timing of starting the paper transport operation after the end of the printing operation. 4. The voltage of said battery power supply means and said AC
The voltage supplied from the adapter means is substantially the same voltage, and further comprises a booster circuit for boosting the supply voltage when supplying power from the AC adapter means to the battery power supply means. 3. The portable printer device according to 3. 5. A control device comprising: a determination unit configured to determine whether or not the AC adapter unit is connected to the device; wherein the control unit determines that the AC adapter unit is connected when the determination unit determines that the AC adapter unit is connected. 5. The portable printer device according to claim 1, wherein a charging operation of the battery power supply unit is started. 6. A first determining means for determining whether or not the AC adapter means is connected to the device, and a second determining means for determining whether or not the battery power means is connected to the device. The control means starts a charging operation to the battery power means when the first and second determination means determine that both the AC adapter means and the battery power means are connected. 5. The portable printer device according to claim 1, wherein: