JP2002160427A - Peripheral - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a peripheral in which a processing required for downloading a driver program in a main unit can be simplified. SOLUTION: The peripheral, i.e., a facsimile board 71, stores a driver program in an image memory 75. When a main machine is connected with the facsimile board 71, a CPU 72 reads out the driver program from the image memory 75 and transmits it to the main copy machine. Consequently, the driver program can be downloaded without requiring any external unit and the number of process steps and cost required for downloading the driver program can be reduced.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a peripheral device (such as a communication device) used by being connected to a main device (such as a copying machine).

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, when a peripheral device (optional device; facsimile device, card reader, etc.) is added to a main body (main device) of a digital copying machine or a printer, a driver program for controlling (driving) the peripheral device. To the control unit of the main unit (download)
There is a need.

Therefore, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 9-258919
Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Publication No. H11-139,086 discloses a printer that downloads a driver program from a host computer that is an external device. In the printer disclosed in JP-A-11-149377, an IC connectable to the printer is used.
It is set so that a driver program can be downloaded using a card.

[0004]

However, in the above-mentioned prior art, in order to download the driver program, it is necessary to use a host computer and an IC card reader in addition to the main device and peripheral devices. For this reason, there is a problem that the number of processing steps and processing cost for downloading cannot be reduced.

The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned conventional problems. An object of the present invention is to provide a peripheral device capable of reducing the number of processing steps and processing cost required for downloading a driver program by a main device.

[0006]

In order to achieve the above object, a peripheral device of the present invention (this peripheral device) is connected to and driven by a main device to improve the function of the main device. The device includes a storage unit that stores a driver program for driving a peripheral device in the main device, and a program transmission unit that reads the driver program from the storage unit and transmits the driver program to the main device when connected to the main device. It is characterized by having.

In the above configuration, the main device includes a control unit capable of reading and executing a program, and is, for example, a personal computer, a copying machine, a printer, or the like. The peripheral device is a separate device that is connected to the main device and driven under the control of the main device, and enhances existing functions of the main device or adds new functions to the main device. It is an optional device for performing.

Further, the main device uses a driver program to drive the peripheral device. The driver program is program data necessary for driving (controlling) the peripheral device in the main device. For example, a command set in the peripheral device or a command between the main device and the peripheral device is used. This specifies the method of data transfer and the like.

[0009] Particularly, in the present peripheral device, the above-mentioned driver program is stored in a storage section in the present peripheral device. Furthermore, the setting is made such that the driver program is read from the storage unit and transmitted to the main device when connected to the main device by the program transmitting unit.

Thus, the peripheral device does not need to use an external device (a host computer or an IC card reader) other than the peripheral device in order to download (transmit) the driver program to the main device. Therefore, in this peripheral device, it is possible to reduce the number of processing steps and processing cost for downloading the driver program.

It is preferable that the program transmission section is set so as to delete the driver program from the storage section after transmitting the driver program to the main device. Thereby, the driver program that has already been downloaded to the main device and becomes unnecessary can be deleted from the storage unit, and the storage unit can be used for another purpose.

For example, the main device is a printing device that prints an image on a sheet based on image data, and the peripheral device transmits and receives image data to and from an external device via a communication line. Is provided, the storage unit from which the driver program has been deleted can be used as a memory for image data. That is,
A communication device for a printing device requires a memory for storing image data. Therefore, by using the storage unit as a memory for image data, the manufacturing cost of the peripheral device can be reduced.

In the configuration in which the transmitted driver program is deleted, the program transmitting section transmits the driver program to the main apparatus only when the main apparatus is connected to the peripheral device and only when the driver program exists in the storage section. I will be.

Some main units need to be restarted in order to read the driver program and drive the peripheral device after holding the driver program. When connected to such a main device, it is preferable that the program transmission section of the peripheral device is set so as to restart the main device after transmitting the driver program to the main device. As a result, the main device can be set to a state where the peripheral device can be used immediately after downloading the driver program.

[0015]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS One embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an appearance of the small digital copying machine (the copying machine) according to the present embodiment. As shown in this figure, the copying machine includes a document table (described later) and a document cover 6 on an upper surface (xy plane).
An operation panel 10 is provided on the front surface (zx plane). Also,
A paper ejection tray 69 is provided at the back of the operation panel 10.
Further, a fixed paper feed cassette 15 is provided at the bottom.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing the internal configuration of the copying machine. As shown in this figure, the copying machine is configured to include a scanner unit A, a printing unit B indicated by a broken line, a sheet conveying unit C, an operation panel 10 illustrated in FIG. 2, and a control unit (not illustrated).

The scanner section (original reading section) A irradiates the original with light and generates image data corresponding to the image of the original from the reflected light. Printing unit (printing unit) B
Is for forming a toner image (developing material image) based on the image data generated by the scanner unit A, and printing the toner image on a predetermined recording sheet (sheet). The sheet transport section C supplies sheets to the printing section B and discharges printed sheets.

The operation panel 10 has an LCD display, various operation keys, and switch buttons. Then, it has a function as an interface for transmitting a user's instruction to the copying machine and displaying an operation state of the copying machine to the user. The control unit is a central part of the copying machine for controlling the operation panel 10, the scanner unit A, the printing unit B, and the sheet conveying unit C.

Next, the detailed configurations of the scanner section A, the printing section B, and the sheet transport section C will be described. First, the scanner unit A will be described. As shown in FIG. 3, the scanner section A has a document table 7 made of transparent glass or the like below a document cover 6 that can be freely opened and closed. A scanner optical system 8 is provided below the document table 7. Further, the scanner optical system 8 includes an exposure lamp 11, reflecting mirrors 12-1, 12-2, and 12-3, an imaging lens 13, and a photoelectric conversion element (CCD) 14.

The exposure lamp 11 is a light source for scanning a document with light by reciprocating below the document table 7. The reflecting mirrors 12-1, 12-2, and 12-3 guide the reflected light from the original to the imaging lens 13 and the CCD 14, for example, as indicated by broken lines in the drawing.

The CCD 14 receives the reflected light imaged by the imaging lens 13 and generates an image signal of an electric signal according to the amount of received light. This image signal is converted into digital data by an A / D converter (not shown), and then subjected to predetermined processing in an image processing unit described later, and is output as image data.

Next, the printing section B and the sheet transport section C will be described. As shown in FIG. 3, the printing unit B includes a photoreceptor roller 28, a charging unit 29, a developing unit 30, a transfer charger 31, a cleaning device 32, and a laser scanning unit (LSU) 51.

The photoreceptor roller 28 is a drum-shaped photoreceptor roller, and is driven to rotate in the direction of arrow W. The charging unit 29 uniformly charges the surface of the photoconductor roller 28 to a predetermined potential.

The LSU 51 receives, from the image processing unit, image data on which predetermined image processing has been performed. Then, by exposing the charged surface of the photoreceptor roller 28 with laser light (image light modulated based on image data), an electrostatic latent image corresponding to the image data is formed (photoconductive action). Electrostatic latent image formation).

The developing section 30 forms a toner image on the photosensitive roller 28 by developing the electrostatic latent image formed by the LSU 51 with the developing roller 30a. The transfer charger 31 transfers the toner image on the photosensitive roller 28 to a sheet. The cleaning device 32 removes the toner remaining on the surface of the photoconductor roller 28 after the toner image is transferred onto the sheet.

Further, as shown in FIG.
Are a conveyance path L, a fixed paper feed cassette 15, a pickup roller 18, a registration roller 22, a fixing roller 23, a paper discharge port R, a paper discharge roller 25, a registration pre-detection switch 61,
A fixing paper detection switch 62, a paper discharge detection switch 63, and a paper discharge tray 69 are provided.

The fixed paper cassette 15 is for storing sheets P to be printed. The pick-up roller 18 is a half-moon-shaped feeding roller for outputting sheets P one by one from the fixed sheet feeding cassette 15 and feeding the sheets P to the transport path L.

Further, the fixed sheet feeding cassette 15 is provided with a sheet separating portion (not shown) for assisting the discharge of the sheet P. The sheet separating section can be composed of a roller and a friction sheet member or a reverse roller.

The pre-registration detection switch 61 is connected to the transport path L
Is to detect that the sheet P being conveyed has passed a predetermined position, and to output a predetermined detection signal.

The registration roller 22 temporarily holds the sheet P being transported on the transport path L. In addition, it has a function to convey the sheet P to the transfer charger 31 with good timing in accordance with the rotation of the photoconductor roller 28 so that the toner image on the photoconductor roller 28 can be satisfactorily transferred to the sheet P.

That is, the registration roller 22 is controlled based on the detection signal output from the pre-registration detection switch 61.
The leading end of the toner image on the photosensitive roller 28 is the sheet P
The sheet P is conveyed so as to be pressed against the leading end of the printing range in the above.

The fixing roller 23 heat-fixes the toner image on the sheet P after printing on the sheet P (melting and fixing of the toner image by heating and pressing). The fixing paper detection switch 62 detects that the sheet P has passed through the fixing roller 23.

The discharge roller 25 is provided near the discharge port R and is a roller for discharging the sheet P discharged from the fixing roller 23 to a discharge tray 69. The discharge detection switch 63 detects the discharge of a sheet from the discharge roller 25.

Next, the configuration of the control unit in the copying machine will be described. FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing a configuration of the control unit 40 in the copying machine and a configuration of a facsimile board 71 described later. As shown on the left side of FIG.
Are a CPU 41, an image processing unit 42, a flash ROM 4
3, an image memory 44 and a RAM 45.

A CPU (Central Processing Unit) 41 uses the other members 42 to 45, the scanner unit A, the printing unit B, the paper transporting unit C, and the operation panel 10 to operate the entire copying machine. The operation (including the printing operation) is controlled.

Flash ROM (flash Read Only Memo)
ry) 43 is a control program (CPU
41 to be used). The flash ROM 43 is a type of memory that can repeatedly erase and write electrical data, and is a type of EPROM.

EPROM (Erasable Programmable Read)
Only Memory) can read and write data in units of 1 byte, and this flash ROM is set so as to erase and write data in batches or in blocks. The flash ROM also has the advantage that no external power supply is required to maintain the stored contents.

A RAM (Random Access Memory) 45 is
A memory that can support high-speed processing, and temporarily stores a program stored in the flash ROM 43 so that the program can be used by the CPU 41 when the power of the copying machine is turned on. It is. Also, RA
The M45 also has a function as a work memory for the overall operation of the copying machine.

The image processing section 42 performs predetermined image processing on digital image data received from the scanner section A. The image processing by the image processing unit 42 includes, for example, smoothing processing, γ correction for image formation density, filtering of wavelength region setting,
Image quality processing such as setting of a scaling factor, shading correction and the like can be mentioned.

The image memory 44 is a buffer for storing image data output from the scanner unit A or the image processing unit 42. That is, in this copying machine, the image reading speed by the scanner unit A, the image processing speed by the image processing unit 42, and the printing processing speed by the printing unit B are different from each other. For this reason, the image data is set to be temporarily stored in the image memory 44 before and after each process.

Next, a facsimile board, which is an optional device connectable to the copying machine, will be described. This facsimile board is a peripheral device which is inserted into a slot (not shown) of the copying machine and is driven by the control of the CPU 41 in the copying machine. The power of the facsimile board is supplied to the copying machine.
The facsimile board is connected to the copier by being supplied with power from the copier. The copier (main device) is set to have a new function as a facsimile device by connecting a facsimile board (peripheral device).

As shown on the right side of FIG. 1, the facsimile board 71 includes a CPU 72, a modem 73, an NCU 74, an image memory 75, an encoding / decoding unit 76, and a print buffer 7.
7, scan buffer 78, flash ROM 79, R
The configuration includes an AM 80 and an image processing unit 81.

NCU (Network Control Unit)
Reference numeral 74 is for establishing communication between the facsimile board 71 and an external device by performing a response process (network control; transmission and reception of a dial signal to the telephone line network) with the telephone line network.

The encoding / decoding unit (communication unit) 76 encodes image data transmitted from the copying machine. Further, the encoding / decoding unit 76 also has a function of decoding image data received from outside (image data demodulated by the modem 73).

The modem (communication section) 73 modulates image data transmitted from the copying machine (image data output from the encoding / decoding section 76) so that facsimile communication is possible. The modem 73 also has a function of demodulating image data received from the outside.

The image processing section 81 is an interface for exchanging image data with the copying machine. The image processing unit 81 uses the scan buffer 78 and the print buffer 77 when transmitting and receiving image data. In other words, the image processing unit 81
8 to temporarily store the image data transmitted from the copying machine. The image processing unit 81 also temporarily stores external image data using the print buffer 77.

The CPU 72 (program transmission unit) controls the members 73 to 81 of the facsimile board 71. The flash ROM 79 stores a program for fax processing. RAM80
Is for temporarily storing this program so that it can be used at high speed by the CPU 72.

The image memory (storage unit) 75 is a buffer for temporarily storing image data relating to the facsimile processing, and is used by the CPU 72. The image memory 75 has a function of storing a driver program. The driver program is program data necessary for driving (controlling) the facsimile board 71 in the copying machine. For example, the driver program indicates commands specified on the facsimile board 71, a method of data transfer between the copying machine and the facsimile board 71, and the like.

By downloading the driver program, the CPU 41 of the copying machine can transmit an instruction (command) to the CPU 41 of the facsimile board 71 to execute the facsimile processing. Further, the user can use the operation panel 10 to control the facsimile processing (such as inputting the contents of the facsimile processing). The driver program in the image memory 75 is set so as to be deleted after being loaded into the copying machine.

Here, the flow of facsimile processing in the copying machine using the facsimile board 71 will be briefly described.

First, the transmission process will be described. In the transmission process, under the control of the CPU 41, the scanner unit A of the copying machine reads the document image and stores it in the image memory 44. Thereafter, the CPU 41 controls the image processing unit 42 to read out image data from the image memory 44 and perform predetermined image processing. Then, the CPU 41 instructs the CPU 72 of the facsimile board 71 to transmit image data.

In the facsimile board 71, the CPU 41
Is received, the CPU 72 controls the image processing unit 81 to acquire image data from the image processing unit 42 and store the image data in the scan buffer 78. After that, the CPU 72
The image data is read from the scan buffer 78, and is controlled and encoded by the encoding / decoding unit 76.
To accumulate. Thereafter, the CPU 72 sets the image memory 75
, And modulates the image data in the modem 73, and transfers it to the outside (telephone network) by the NCU 74.
The process ends.

Next, the receiving process will be described. The CPU 41 of the copying machine is the CPU 7 of the facsimile board 71.
2 is instructed to constantly receive fax communication from outside.

When image data is transmitted from outside by facsimile communication, the facsimile board 71
Then, under the control of the CPU 72, the NCU 74 receives the image data. Thereafter, the image data is transmitted to the modem 73.
, And is stored in the image memory 75.
Next, the image data is read from the image memory 75 under the control of the CPU 72, decoded by the encoding / decoding unit 76, and stored in the print buffer 77. Thereafter, the image processing section 81 transmits the image data in the print buffer 77 to the image processing section 42 of the copying machine.

In this copying machine, under the control of the CPU 41,
The image processing unit 42 performs predetermined image processing on the image data,
The image is stored in the image memory 44. After that, the CPU 41
The image data is printed using the printing unit B, and the process is terminated.

Next, a process for downloading a driver program when the facsimile board 71 is connected to the copying machine for the first time will be described. As described above, the facsimile board 71 is set to receive power supply from the copying machine. Therefore, the power of the facsimile board 71 is turned on at the same time as the power of the copying machine is turned on.

FIGS. 4 and 5 are flowcharts showing the flow of this processing. As shown in FIG. 4, when the facsimile board 71 is inserted into the slot of the copying machine and the power of the copying machine and the facsimile board 71 is turned on,
The CPU 72 of the facsimile board 71 stores the image memory 7
It is determined whether or not a driver program exists in S5 (S8). And if it is determined that it does not exist,
The CPU 72 determines that the facsimile board 71 has been used (connected) in the copying machine in the past and the download of the driver program has already been completed, and enters the standby mode (S16). Note that the standby mode of the facsimile board 71 is a mode in which a facsimile communication is received from the outside and an image data transmission instruction is issued from the copying machine.

On the other hand, if it is determined that the driver program exists in the image memory 75, the CPU 72 requests the copying machine to load the driver program (become a download mode) (S).
9).

When this request is received, the CPU 4 of the copying machine
1 enters the download mode (S1, S2). That is, the CPU 41 stores the flash ROM 43 of the copying machine.
Is transmitted to the RAM 45 and the program is executed (S3). After that, the CPU 41
Sends a download transfer request to the facsimile board 71 (S4). That is, by transmitting this download transfer request, the CPU 41 transmits to the facsimile board 71 that the driver program can be loaded.

In the facsimile board 71 which has received the download transfer request, the CPU 72 reads the driver program from the image memory 75 and sends it to the copying machine (S10 / S11).

Thereafter, in the copying machine to which the driver program has been transferred, the CPU 41 receives the driver program and stores it in the flash ROM 43 (S
5). Then, the CPU 41 transmits a notification indicating the transfer completion (transfer completion notification) to the CPU 72 of the facsimile board 71 (S6). Upon receiving this notification, the CPU 72 deletes the driver program in the image memory 75 (S
12. S13). After the completion of the deletion, the CPU 72
Requests the CPU 41 of the copying machine to restart the copying machine (S14). In response to this, the CPU 41 of the copying machine restarts the copying machine and returns to S1 (S7).

After the restart, the CPU 41 of the copying machine
Is executed by executing the driver program in the flash ROM 43 (writing in the RAM 45) (S1).
7; see FIG. 5), the setting is such that the facsimile board 71 can be used, and the apparatus enters the standby mode (S18). The standby mode of the copying machine is a mode (normal mode) in which a user's instruction (facsimile transmission instruction, print instruction, etc.) on the operation panel 10 or a print instruction from an external device is waited.

Since the power of the facsimile board 71 is temporarily cut off in response to the restart of the copying machine, the facsimile board 71 is restarted in the same manner as the copying machine. After the power is turned on again in response to the restart, the driver program does not exist in the image memory 75. Therefore, the CPU 72 sets the facsimile board 71 in the standby mode (S8, S16).

As described above, the facsimile board 71 connected to the copying machine has the driver program stored in the image memory 75. Then, the CPU 72 is set to read the driver program from the image memory 75 and transmit the driver program to the copying machine.

Thus, there is no need to use an external device (host computer or IC card reader) to download the driver program to the copying machine. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the number of processing steps and processing cost required for downloading the driver program.

In the facsimile board 71, the driver program is stored in the image memory 75, and the driver program is set to be transmitted by using the CPU 72 for controlling the facsimile communication. This eliminates the need for the facsimile board 71 to include a member that is unnecessary for fax communication and that is used only for downloading a driver program. Thereby, the configuration of the facsimile board 71 can be simplified, and
Manufacturing costs can be reduced.

In the facsimile board 71, the CP
U72 is set to delete the driver program from the image memory 75 after transmitting the driver program to the copying machine. Thereby, the image memory 75
Storage capacity can be used without waste, and there is no need to provide a storage unit for a driver program.

Further, in the facsimile board 71, when the power is turned on together with the copying machine in a state where the driver program is connected to the copying machine, and the driver program exists in the image memory 75, the driver program is executed. It is set to transmit to this copier. Therefore,
Just turn on the power and the driver program can be downloaded automatically.

In the present embodiment, the CPU 72 of the facsimile board 71 is set to restart the copying machine after the download is completed. As a result, the copying machine can be set to a state where the facsimile board 71 can be used immediately after downloading the driver program without causing the copying machine to voluntarily restart.

In this embodiment, a digital copying machine is used as a main device, and a facsimile board 7 is used as a peripheral device.
1 describes the invention. However, the present invention is not limited thereto, and any device such as a personal computer, a copying machine, a printer, and the like can be adopted as the main device of the present invention as long as it can execute a driver program.

The peripheral device of the present invention includes a storage unit for storing a driver program, and a member (program transmission unit; CPU, etc.) for transmitting the driver program to the main device. Any device can be adopted if it exists. For example, an acceleration device (accelerator) for improving the operation clock of the control unit in the main device, a storage medium driving device such as a hard disk, a magneto-optical disk driver, a compact disk driver, a floppy (registered trademark) disk driver, an image processing board , A scanner, a printer, a liquid crystal monitor and the like can be used as the peripheral device of the present invention.

In the present embodiment, the CPU 72 of the facsimile board 71 is set to restart the copying machine after the download of the driver program is completed. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the copier may be set to be automatically restarted after the download of the driver program is completed. This makes it possible to quickly restart the copying machine.

Further, in the present embodiment, in response to the transfer completion notification regarding the driver program from the copying machine,
The CPU 72 deletes the driver program from the image memory 75. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the CPU 72 may delete the driver program from the image memory 75 immediately before the copying machine is restarted and the power of the facsimile board 71 is turned off.

If the copying machine is set to be restarted voluntarily after the driver program is downloaded, the CPU 72 detects the restart of the copying machine (when a restart signal is received). ), The driver program may be deleted. FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing a restart signal output when the copier in this configuration is restarted. In the configuration shown in FIG.
The U41 restarts the copying machine by outputting a restart signal (RESET signal) to the copying machine (CPU 41 itself). The CPU 41 is also set to transmit a restart signal to the facsimile board 71 (CPU 72), and to notify that the copying machine is restarted.

In the present embodiment, in the copying machine to which the driver program has been transferred, the CPU 41
The driver program is received and the flash ROM 43
It is going to be memorized. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the driver program may be directly transmitted from the image memory 75 to the flash ROM 43.

In the processing shown in FIG. 4, the copier enters the "standby mode" before confirming the request for the download mode (before S1), and when "NO" in S1, It may be set to return to the “standby mode”.

In the copying machine, the image memory 44
It can be said that the purpose (reason) of accumulating image data is that the timings of reading an image and outputting the image data are different.

Further, the image processing section 81 may control an I / F with the main body (the copying machine) and other image data buffers. Further, the encoding / decoding unit 76 may encode or decode the image data output from the image processing unit 42 of the copying machine. Further, the driver program may include all functions of the copying machine.

In the facsimile transmission process in the copying machine using the facsimile board 71, the reading process in the scanner unit A, the image memory 4
4 and the image processing by the image processing unit may be set to be performed in this order. Further, in the facsimile board 71, image reception, storage processing in the scan buffer 78, encoding processing in the encoding / decoding unit 76, transfer processing to the image memory 75, modulation processing in the modem 73, NC
Transmission processing from U74 to the line may be performed in this order.

Further, in the receiving process, the facsimile board 71 performs the receiving process from the line by the NCU 74, the modulation process by the modem 73, the storing process in the image memory 75, the decoding process by the encoding / decoding unit 76, the print buffer 77 The transfer processing to the copying machine and the processing to output image data (print data) to the copying machine may be performed in this order.

Further, the facsimile board 7
The download transfer request transmitted to the CPU 41
Can be said to be a request to inform that the company has taken a data-accepting posture. Alternatively, the facsimile board 71 may be configured to be supplied with power from the copying machine, and both power supplies may be turned on at the time of restart. Further, the CPU 72 may transmit the driver program to the copying machine using the image processing unit 81.

Further, in the processing shown in FIG.
Thereafter, the CPU 72 of the facsimile board 71 may be set to delete the driver program from the image memory 75 and enter the standby mode after confirming the restart of the copying machine. Also, at the time of restart, the CP
U41 may be set to output its own RESET. Further, the copier and the facsimile board 71 may be set so as to return to the power-on state after the restart and execute the normal operation.

Further, the facsimile board 71 is provided in the copying machine.
By downloading the driver program of
It may be set so that image data can be exchanged between the facsimile board 71 and the copying machine, and the facsimile board 71 can be controlled using the operation panel 10.

The image data transmitted from the image processing unit 42 of the copying machine to the image processing unit 81 of the facsimile board 71 is scanner image data, and the image data transmitted from the image processing unit 81 to the image processing unit 42. Is print (received) image data.

Further, the peripheral device of the present invention is described in the following first to first aspects.
It can also be expressed as a fourth peripheral device. That is, the first peripheral device is connected to the main device, and in a peripheral device for adding a new function to the main device, a storage unit for storing a driver program necessary for driving the peripheral device in the main device. And a program transmission unit that reads a driver program from the storage unit and transmits the read driver program to the main device when the peripheral device main body and the main device are connected.

Thus, it is not necessary to use a configuration other than the peripheral device in order to download the driver program to the main device and use the peripheral device. Therefore,
The number of processing steps and processing cost for downloading the driver program can be reduced.

In the second peripheral device, in the first peripheral device, the program transmission section is set so as to delete the driver program from the storage section after transmitting the driver program to the main apparatus. It is. This makes it possible to use the storage unit for other purposes by deleting the driver program that has already been read into the main device and is no longer needed.

Further, the third peripheral device is a second peripheral device, wherein the main device is a printing device for printing an image on a sheet based on image data, and the peripheral device is connected via a communication line. Communication device for transmitting and receiving image data to and from an external device, and the storage unit is a memory for image data. A communication device for a printing device always includes a memory for storing image data. Therefore, by using this memory for storing the driver program, it is not necessary to separately provide a memory for the driver program.

The fourth peripheral device is the second peripheral device, wherein the program transmission unit is connected to the main device and is powered on together with the main device. When a driver program exists,
The configuration is such that the driver program is set to be transmitted to the main device. Thus, the driver program can be automatically downloaded only by turning on the power.

Further, the present invention can also be expressed as the following first to sixth image forming apparatuses. That is, the first
Is an image forming apparatus capable of adding optional functions such as a facsimile function and a printer function. In the optional function to be added, program data of the image forming apparatus corresponding to the added function is stored. Configuration.

In the second image forming apparatus, the program data of the image forming apparatus corresponding to the additional function is stored on the optional function side in the first image forming apparatus.
This is a configuration having detection means for detecting that the information is stored. Further, in the third image forming apparatus, in the second image forming apparatus, the detecting method by the detecting means is performed by detecting that program data is stored in a memory for storing image data. is there.

Further, in the fourth image forming apparatus, in the second or third image forming apparatus, the detection by the detection means is performed when the power of the image forming apparatus is turned on. Further, in the fifth image forming apparatus, in the first image forming apparatus, after transferring the program data stored in the image memory to the image forming apparatus (main body side), the program data is erased, and the image data is stored. This is a configuration that is used as a memory area. Further, the sixth image forming apparatus transfers the program data stored in the image memory to the image forming apparatus (main body side),
It is a configuration to restart.

[0093]

As described above, the peripheral device of the present invention (the peripheral device) is connected to and driven by the main device to improve the function of the main device. And a program transmission unit that, when connected to the main device, reads the driver program from the storage unit and transmits the driver program to the main device.

In this peripheral device, the driver program is stored in a storage section in the peripheral device. Further, in the present peripheral device, the setting is made such that the driver program is read from the storage unit and transmitted to the main device when connected to the main device by the program transmitting unit.

Thus, in this peripheral device, it is not necessary to use an external device (a host computer or an IC card reader) other than the peripheral device in order to download (transmit) the driver program to the main device. Therefore, in this peripheral device, it is possible to reduce the number of processing steps and processing cost for downloading the driver program.

It is preferable that the program transmission section is set so as to delete the driver program from the storage section after transmitting the driver program to the main device. Thereby, the driver program that has already been downloaded to the main device and becomes unnecessary can be deleted from the storage unit, and the storage unit can be used for another purpose.

For example, the main device is a printing device that prints an image on a sheet based on image data, and the peripheral device transmits and receives image data to and from an external device via a communication line. Is provided, the storage unit from which the driver program has been deleted can be used as a memory for image data. That is, a communication device for a printing device requires a memory for storing image data. Therefore, by using the storage unit as a memory for image data, the manufacturing cost of the peripheral device can be reduced.

In the configuration in which the transmitted driver program is deleted, the program transmission section transmits the driver program to the main apparatus only when the main apparatus is connected to the peripheral device and only when the driver program exists in the storage section. I will be.

Some main units need to be restarted in order to read the driver program and drive the peripheral device after holding the driver program. When connected to such a main device, it is preferable that the program transmission section of the peripheral device is set so as to restart the main device after transmitting the driver program to the main device. As a result, the main device can be set to a state where the peripheral device can be used immediately after downloading the driver program.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing a configuration of a control unit in a small digital copying machine according to an embodiment of the present invention and a configuration of a facsimile board connectable to the copying machine.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing an appearance of the digital copying machine.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing an internal configuration of the digital copying machine shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a flow of processing related to downloading a driver program when a facsimile board is connected to the digital copying machine shown in FIGS. 2 and 3;

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a part of the flow of processing related to the download of the driver program shown in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing a restart signal output when the digital copying machine shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 is restarted.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 10 operation panel 40 control unit 41 CPU 71 facsimile board 72 CPU (program transmission unit) 73 modem (communication unit) 74 NCU (communication unit) 75 image memory (storage unit) 76 encoding / decoding unit (communication unit) A scanner unit B Printing section C Paper transport section

Continued on the front page (72) Inventor Hiroaki Nakamura 22-22 Nagaikecho, Abeno-ku, Osaka City, Osaka Inside (72) Inventor Kotobuki 22-22 Nagaikecho, Abeno-ku, Osaka City, Osaka Inside Sharp Corporation F term (reference) 2C061 AP03 AP04 AQ06 5B021 AA05 AA19 BB01 CC05 CC06 DD00

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A peripheral device that is connected to and driven by a main device to improve the function of the main device. A storage unit that stores a driver program for driving the peripheral device in the main device; A peripheral device, comprising: a program transmission unit that reads a driver program from a storage unit and transmits the read driver program to a main device when connected. 2. The peripheral device according to claim 1, wherein the program transmission unit is configured to delete the driver program from the storage unit after transmitting the driver program to the main device. 3. The printer according to claim 1, wherein the main device is a printing device that prints an image on a sheet based on image data, and further includes a communication unit that transmits and receives image data to and from an external device via a communication line. 3. The peripheral device according to claim 2, wherein the storage unit is further used as an image memory for storing image data for transmission and reception. 4. The peripheral device according to claim 1, wherein the program transmission unit is set to restart the main device after transmitting the driver program to the main device.