JP2004025590A - Radio printer - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a radio printer which has the auto power ON/OFF capability of automatically entering an energy saving mode when no printing datagram is present under controlling of a radio interface section and automatically reverting to an operation mode when a printing datagram comes, and which consumes less electric power. <P>SOLUTION: A means is set for governing an electric power supply to a control part and to a printer section of the radio printer. It is so designed that at least the electric power supply to the control part is governed by a radio section. The electric power supply to the control part and the printer section is made effective at stages when connection to a printing host device is established or at stages when a printing JOB from the printing host device starts. The electric power supply to the printer section and the control part is made ineffective at stages when connection to the printing host device extinguishes or at stages when the printing JOB from the printing host device finishes. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a wireless printer that prints data wirelessly transmitted from an external device, and more particularly to a wireless printer device that controls power of a printer unit at a wireless interface unit that transmits and receives wireless data.
[0002]
[Prior art]
[Conventional example 1]
FIG. 6 is a block diagram for explaining a conventional printer device.
[0003]
In the figure, reference numeral 61 denotes a power supply unit for supplying power to each unit of the printer, 63 denotes an interface unit for receiving data from a print host device (not shown), 65 denotes a printer unit for actually performing printing, and 62 denotes a printer unit 65. A power operation unit 64 for operating power supply to the apparatus is a control unit for controlling the entire apparatus.
[0004]
The control unit 64 controls the printer unit 65 to print data received from the host device via the interface unit 63. In addition, when the auto power ON function by the print data reception is implemented, the power supply operation unit 62 is controlled at the time of the power OFF to cut off the power supply to the printer unit 65, and the power supply operation unit 62 is also controlled at the time of the print data reception. To supply power to the printer unit 65. As the interface unit 63, a wired connection means such as USB / parallel or a wireless connection means such as radio wave / light is used.
[0005]
[Conventional example 2]
In Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 5-2460 (wireless printing apparatus), printing means, monitoring means for monitoring the reception level of a carrier signal transmitted wirelessly, and power supply operation means for turning on / off the power supplied to the printing means There is disclosed a wireless printing apparatus comprising: a control unit that controls power supply to the printing unit by the power operation unit based on an output of the monitoring unit.
[0006]
In the invention, when the power of the wireless printing apparatus is turned off, the reception queue is empty when all the host computers are turned off, and a power-off command is issued from the currently connected host computer. In addition, as a condition for turning on the wireless printing apparatus, a case where at least one of the host computers is turned on, and a case where any one of the host computers issues a power-on command. It has been disclosed.
[0007]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
In the first conventional example, in order to implement the auto power ON function, it is necessary to always turn on the power to the interface unit and the control unit, and there is a problem that the power consumption when the power is turned off increases.
[0008]
In the second conventional example, since the monitoring means for monitoring the reception level of the carrier signal is used, it cannot be applied to a system that cannot detect the reception level of the carrier signal.
[0009]
The present invention has been made to address the above problem, and automatically enters an energy saving mode when there is no print data under the control of the wireless interface unit, and automatically returns to the operation mode when print data arrives. It is an object of the present invention to provide a wireless printer device with an automatic power ON / OFF function and low power consumption.
[0010]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The present invention has a configuration in which a control unit of a wireless printer device and a unit for controlling power supply to the printer unit are controlled, and at least power supply to the control unit is controlled by the wireless unit, and a connection with the print host device is established. At the stage or when the print job from the print host starts, the power supply to the control unit and the printer unit is enabled, and when the connection with the print host device is lost or at the stage when the print job from the print host device ends. The power supply to the printer unit and the control unit is disabled.
[0011]
With the configuration described above, it is possible to realize a wireless printer device that supplies power to the main part in a minimum necessary time and realizes an auto power ON / OFF function.
[0012]
In addition, if it explains in more detail, this invention could solve the said subject by the following structures.
[0013]
(1) In a wireless printer device that receives wireless data from a print host device and performs printing,
Wireless means for transmitting and receiving data,
First power supply means for supplying power to the wireless means,
Printer means for performing printing;
Having a second power supply means for supplying at least one type of power to the printer means,
The wireless printer device controls the power output of at least one kind of the second power supply means.
[0014]
(2) The wireless printer according to (1),
The wireless means responds to establishment of a wireless connection with the print host device or disconnection of the wireless connection,
A wireless printer device for controlling the second power supply means.
[0015]
(3) The wireless printer according to (1),
The wireless unit responds to the start or end of printing from the print host device,
A wireless printer device for controlling the second power supply means.
[0016]
(4) In a wireless printer device that receives wireless data from a print host device and performs printing,
Wireless means for transmitting and receiving data,
First power supply means for supplying power to the wireless means,
Printer means for performing printing;
Control means for controlling the printer means,
Second power supply means for supplying at least one type of power to the printer means,
Having a third power supply means for supplying at least one type of power to the control means,
The wireless printer device controls at least one type of power output of the second and third power supply units.
[0017]
(5) The wireless printer according to (4),
The wireless means responds to establishment or disconnection of a wireless connection with the print host device,
A wireless printer device for controlling the second and third power supply means.
[0018]
(6) The wireless printer according to (4),
The wireless unit responds to the start or end of printing from the print host device,
A wireless printer device for controlling the second and third power supply means.
[0019]
(7) In a wireless printer device that receives wireless data from a print host device and performs printing,
Wireless means for transmitting and receiving data,
First power supply means for supplying power to the wireless means,
Printer means for performing printing;
A control unit for controlling the printer means,
Second power supply means for supplying at least one type of power to the printer means,
Having a third power supply means for supplying at least one type of power to the control means,
The control means controls at least one type of power output of the second power supply means,
The wireless printer device controls at least one type of power output of the third power supply unit.
[0020]
(8) The wireless printer according to (7),
The control means responds to a wireless connection or a wireless disconnection with the print host device,
Controlling the second power supply means,
The wireless means responds to establishment or disconnection of a wireless connection with the print host device,
A wireless printer device for controlling the third power supply means.
[0021]
(9) The wireless printer according to (7),
The control unit controls the second power supply unit according to the start or end of printing from the print host device,
The wireless printer device according to claim 1, wherein the wireless unit controls the third power supply unit according to the start or end of printing from the print host device.
[0022]
(10) The wireless printer according to (7),
The wireless unit responds to the start or end of printing from the print host device,
A wireless printer device for controlling the second and third power supply means.
[0023]
[Action]
According to the present invention, a wireless printer device having a simple configuration, low power consumption, and an auto power ON function can be realized.
[0024]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
[First Embodiment]
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
[0025]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram for explaining a wireless printer device according to a first embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, an example in which an ink jet mechanism is employed as a printer is described.
[0026]
In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a wireless printer device, which is a power supply unit 11 for supplying power to each unit, a power supply operation unit 12 for switching an output of the power supply unit 11, and wirelessly transmits and receives data to and from a print host device (not shown). It comprises a wireless interface unit 13 for performing printing, a printer unit 15 of an ink jet mechanism for performing actual printing, and a control unit 14 for controlling the printer unit 15. A commercial power supply, a battery, or the like is connected to the power supply unit 11 (not shown), and a first output system that is not interrupted and is supplied to the wireless interface unit 13; It has two outputs, a second output system supplied to the printer unit 15. The power supply operation unit 12 performs a switch operation of outputting or not outputting the power of the second system to the control unit 14 and the printer unit 15 under the instruction of the wireless interface unit 13. The print data from the print host device is passed to the control unit 14 via the wireless interface unit 13, and the control unit 14 controls the printer unit 15 based on this data to perform an actual printing operation.
[0027]
Next, a specific operation of the first embodiment of the present invention in the above configuration will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. FIG. 2 is a flowchart of a part of the wireless interface unit 13 relating to the present embodiment.
[0028]
First, in step S1, it is checked whether a connection with the print host device has been established. If it is not established, the process loops. If it is established, the process proceeds to step S2 to turn on the switch of the power supply operation unit 12. As a result, power is supplied to the control unit 14 and the printer 15, and the printer 15 performs an initialization operation under the control of the control unit 14, and then can print. That is, it is an auto power ON function. In the next step S3, the printer initialization time is waited for a predetermined time, and then the process proceeds to step S4. In step S4, it is checked whether the connection has been established. This check is for detecting an external noise or a wireless communication error occurring due to a system down of the host device or the like. If the establishment of the connection is not maintained in step S4, after waiting for a predetermined time in step S8, the switch of the power operation unit 12 is turned off in step S9, and the power supply to the control unit 14 and the printer 15 is cut off. That is, the auto power is off. Normally, in the case of an ink jet printer, power cutoff processing such as capping of a print head when power is cut off is required. This step S8 is a wait for waiting for the end of the power cutoff process for a predetermined time, and it is necessary to set the wait time under control of the control unit 14 to be sufficiently longer than the end of the power cutoff process of the printer unit 15. If the connection has been established in step S4, the flow advances to step S5 to check whether command / print data has been received wirelessly. If data has not been received, the process returns to step S4 and loops through steps S4 and S5 (when the connection is maintained). When the print data is received in step S5, the data is transferred to the control unit 14 in step S6, and the process proceeds to step S7 to check whether the reception of the print job is completed. If the job has not been completed, the process returns to step S5 to check the reception of the next data. If the job has been completed, the process returns to step S4 to check whether the connection has been established. If the connection is disconnected after the print host device finishes transmitting the print job, the process branches to step S8. After waiting for a predetermined time, the power supply to the control unit 14 and the printer 15 is cut off in step S9. That is, the auto power is off. As for the weight in step S8, it is described above that "it is necessary to set a sufficiently long time under the control of the control unit 14 before the power-off processing of the printer unit 15 ends". However, in this case, even if the reception of the print job is terminated and the connection is disconnected, data may remain in the print buffer in the control unit 14 and the printing by the printer unit 15 may not be completed. Therefore, it is necessary that the wait in step S8 is actually longer than the sum of the time required for printing the print buffer in the control unit 14 and the time required for the power shutdown process. If the connection is maintained, for example, when the print host device transmits the next job in step S4, the process branches to step S5, and the power supply to the control unit 14 and the printer 15 is not interrupted.
[0029]
As described above, the power supply to the control unit and the printer unit of the wireless printer device is controlled by the wireless unit, and the power supply to the control unit and the printer unit is performed when the connection with the print host device is established. By effectively disabling the power supply to the control unit and the printer unit when the connection with the print host device is disconnected, the power supply to the control unit and the printer unit is kept to the minimum necessary time, and It is possible to realize a wireless printer device that realizes a power ON / OFF function.
[0030]
[Second embodiment]
In the first embodiment, power is supplied to the control unit and the printer unit when a connection is established, and power is cut off when the connection is disconnected. However, the power may be supplied at the start of data reception (JOB start) and cut off at the end of JOB. An embodiment in this case will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. FIG. 3 is a flowchart of a part of the wireless interface unit 13 relating to the present embodiment. However, the device configuration is the same as in the first embodiment.
[0031]
First, in step S11, reception of command / print data by wireless is checked. If the data has not been received, the process loops. If the data has been received, the process proceeds to step S12. In step S12, it is checked whether the received data is data for starting a print job. If it is not the start data, the process proceeds to step S15, and if it is the start data, the switch of the power supply operation unit 12 is turned on in step S13, and after waiting for a predetermined time in step S14, the process also proceeds to step S15. By this step 13, power is supplied to the control unit 14 and the printer 15, and the printer 15 performs an initialization operation under the control of the control unit 14 and then becomes capable of printing. That is, it is an auto power ON function. Step S14 is the initialization waiting time of the printer. In step S15, the data received in step S11 is passed to the control unit 14, and the process proceeds to step S16. In step S16, it is checked whether the reception of the print job has been completed. If not completed, the process returns to step S11 to wait for the next data. Then, the power supply to the printer 15 is cut off, and the process also returns to step S11. The interruption of the power supply in step S18 is automatic power OFF. The weight in step S17 is, as in the first embodiment (step S8 in FIG. 2), a time sufficiently longer than the sum of the time required for printing the buffer in the control unit 14 and the time required for the power shutdown process. Need to be
[0032]
As described above, at the start of the print job, power supply to the control unit 14 and the printer 15 is started (step S13), and at the end of the print job, the power supply to the control unit 14 and the printer 15 is cut off (step S18).
[0033]
As described above, the power supply to the control unit and the printer unit of the wireless printer device is controlled by the wireless unit, and the power supply to the control unit and the printer unit is started when the print job starts from the print host device. By effectively disabling the power supply to the control unit and the printer unit when the print job from the print host device is completed, the power supply to the control unit and the printer unit is kept to a minimum necessary time, and It is possible to realize a wireless printer device that realizes an auto power ON / OFF function.
[0034]
[Third embodiment]
In the above embodiment, the power supply to the control unit and the printer unit is controlled by the wireless unit. However, the power supply to the printer unit is controlled by the control unit, and the power supply to the control unit is performed by the wireless unit. An embodiment in this case will be described below.
[0035]
FIG. 4 is a block diagram for explaining a wireless printer device according to a third embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, an example in which an ink jet mechanism is employed as a printer is described. In the figure, reference numeral 3 denotes a wireless printer device, which includes a power supply unit 31 for supplying power to each unit, power supply operation units 32 and 33 for switching the output of the power supply unit 31, and a print host device (not shown) wirelessly communicating data with the print host device. It comprises a wireless interface unit 34 for sending and receiving, a printer unit 36 of an ink jet mechanism for actually performing printing, and a control unit 35 for controlling the printer unit 36. A commercial power supply, a battery, or the like is connected to the power supply unit 36 (not shown), and a first output system that is supplied to the wireless interface unit 34 and is not interrupted. It has two outputs, a second output system to be supplied, and a third output system that is switched by the power supply operation unit 33 and supplied to the printer unit 36. The power operation unit 32 performs a switch operation to output or not output the power of the second system to the control unit 35 under the instruction of the wireless interface unit 34, and the power operation unit 33 performs the switch operation under the instruction of the control unit 35. A switch operation is performed to determine whether to output the third system power to the printer unit 36 or not. Further, print data from the print host device is passed to the control unit 35 via the wireless interface unit 34, and the control unit 35 controls the printer unit 36 based on the data to perform an actual printing operation.
[0036]
Next, a specific operation of the third embodiment of the present invention having the above configuration will be described. However, since the operation flow is almost the same as that of the first embodiment, only points different from the first embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.
[0037]
In the first embodiment, the switch of the power supply operation unit 12 is turned on in step S2, and power is supplied to the control unit 14 and the printer unit 15. However, in this embodiment, the switch of the power supply operation unit 32 is turned ON, and power is supplied only to the control unit 35. The control unit 32 that has been supplied with power and started operation turns on the switch of the power supply operation unit 33 and supplies power to the printer unit 36. The printer unit 36 can perform printing after performing an initialization operation under the control of the control unit 35. This operation is the automatic power ON which is performed after the connection with the print host device is established in step 1.
[0038]
Further, in the first embodiment, after waiting for a predetermined time in step S8, the switch of the power supply operation unit 12 is turned off in step S9, and the power supply to the control unit 14 and the printer 15 is cut off. However, in the present embodiment, the wait in step S8 is unnecessary, and the step S9 includes transmitting the OFF request command to the control unit 35, waiting for the OFF command, receiving the OFF command from the control unit 35, and turning off the switch of the power operation unit 32. It becomes four steps. The details of step S9 and the operation of the control unit 35 will be described with reference to the flowchart in FIG. The wireless interface unit 34 transmits an OFF request command to the control unit 35 in step S91, and enters a command waiting loop from the control unit in step S92. Upon receiving the OFF request command from the wireless interface unit 34 in step S31, if data remains in the print buffer in step S32, the control unit 35 controls the printer unit 36 to perform printing. Subsequently, in step S33, power cutoff processing such as capping of the print head of the printer unit 36 is performed. In step S34, the switch of the power operation unit 33 is turned off to cut off the power supply to the printer unit 36, and in step S35, the power supply is turned off. The command is transmitted to the wireless interface unit 34. Upon receiving the OFF command from the control unit 35 in step S93, the wireless interface unit 34 turns off the switch of the power operation unit 32 in step S94, and cuts off the power supply to the control unit 35. This operation is the auto power OFF that is performed after the connection with the print host device is lost in step S4.
[0039]
After the connection with the print host is established (step S1), power is supplied to the control unit 35 and the printer unit 36 (step S2). The power supply to the control unit 35 is cut off (step S9).
[0040]
As described above, the power supply to the control unit of the wireless printer device is controlled by the wireless unit, and the power supply to the printer unit is controlled by the control unit. When the connection with the print host device is established, The power supply to the control unit and the printer unit is enabled by disabling the power supply to the control unit and the printer unit, and disabling the power supply to the printer unit and the control unit when the connection with the print host device is disconnected. It is possible to realize a wireless printer device which has a minimum necessary time and realizes an auto power ON / OFF function.
[0041]
[Fourth embodiment]
In the third embodiment, power is supplied to the control unit and the printer unit when a connection is established, and power is cut off when the connection is disconnected. However, as in the second embodiment, the power may be supplied at the start of data reception (JOB start), and the power may be cut off at the end of JOB.
[0042]
The device configuration in this case is the same as that of the third embodiment, and is the configuration shown in FIG. Since the operation flow is almost the same as that of the second embodiment, only points different from the second embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.
[0043]
In the second embodiment, the switch of the power supply operation unit 12 is turned on in step S13, and power is supplied to the control unit 14 and the printer unit 15. However, in this embodiment, the switch of the power supply operation unit 32 is turned ON, and power is supplied only to the control unit 35. The control unit 32 that has been supplied with power and started operation turns on the switch of the power supply operation unit 33 and supplies power to the printer unit 36. The printer unit 36 can perform printing after performing an initialization operation under the control of the control unit 35. This operation is an auto power ON which is performed after the start of the print job in step 12.
[0044]
Further, in the second embodiment, after waiting for a predetermined time in step S17, the switch of the power supply operation unit 12 is turned off in step S18, and the power supply to the control unit 14 and the printer 15 is cut off. However, in the present embodiment, the wait in step S17 is unnecessary, and the part in step S18 is to send the OFF request command to the control unit 35, wait for the OFF command, receive the OFF command from the control unit 35, and switch the power operation unit 32. There are four steps of OFF. Since this portion is the same as that in FIG. 5 of the third embodiment, the description is omitted, but the auto power-off can be performed after the end of the print job in step S16.
[0045]
As described above, at the start of the print job (step S12), power supply to the control unit 14 and the printer 15 is started (step S13), and at the end of the print job (step S16), power supply to the control unit 14 and the printer 15 is performed. Can be interrupted (step S18).
[0046]
As described above, the power supply to the control unit of the wireless printer device is controlled by the wireless unit, the power supply to the printer unit is controlled by the control unit, and the print job from the print host device starts. To enable the power supply to the control unit and the printer unit, and to disable the power supply to the printer unit and the control unit at the end of the print job from the print host device. It is possible to realize a wireless printer device in which supply is kept to a minimum necessary time and an auto power ON / OFF function is realized.
[0047]
[Other Examples]
In the above embodiment, the case where both the control unit and the printer unit supply one system of power has been described as an example. However, control can be similarly performed when a plurality of power systems are used.
[0048]
Further, when a plurality of power systems are used, there may be a case where the power system is divided into a switched power system and a non-switched power system. For example, the CPU and the like of the control unit are placed under switch control, but the RAM and the like are not switched and the power is not shut off. Alternatively, the motor, the print head, and the like of the printer unit are placed under switch control, but the sensors, switches, and the like are not switched and the power is not shut off.
[0049]
Furthermore, although only wireless is described in the embodiments, it goes without saying that the present invention can be applied to wireless devices such as BLUETOOTH and IEEE802.11.
[0050]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, the power supply to the control unit and the printer unit of the wireless printer device can be controlled, and at least the power supply to the control unit is controlled by the wireless unit, and the connection with the print host device is established. The power supply to the control unit and the printer unit is enabled at the stage when the print job from the print host is started, and the connection with the print host device is lost, or when the print job from the print host device is completed. By disabling the power supply to the printer unit and the control unit, the power supply to the control unit and the printer unit is kept to the minimum necessary time, and a wireless printer device that realizes the auto power ON / OFF function is realized. It is possible to do.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a wireless printer device according to a first embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating the operation of the first embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating the operation of the second embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a wireless printer device according to a third embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating the operation of the third embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating the operation of a conventional example. Description】
REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 wireless printer device 3 wireless printer device 11 power supply unit 12 power supply operation unit 13 wireless interface unit 14 control unit 15 printer unit 31 power supply unit 32 power supply operation unit 33 power supply operation unit 34 wireless interface unit 35 control unit 36 printer unit

Claims (10)

In a wireless printer device that receives wireless data from a print host device and performs printing,
Wireless means for transmitting and receiving data,
First power supply means for supplying power to the wireless means,
Printer means for performing printing;
Having a second power supply means for supplying at least one type of power to the printer means,
The wireless printer device controls the power output of at least one kind of the second power supply means. The wireless printer device according to claim 1,
The wireless means responds to establishment of a wireless connection with the print host device or disconnection of the wireless connection,
A wireless printer device for controlling the second power supply means. The wireless printer device according to claim 1,
The wireless unit responds to the start or end of printing from the print host device,
A wireless printer device for controlling the second power supply means. In a wireless printer device that receives wireless data from a print host device and performs printing,
Wireless means for transmitting and receiving data,
First power supply means for supplying power to the wireless means,
Printer means for performing printing;
Control means for controlling the printer means,
Second power supply means for supplying at least one type of power to the printer means,
Having a third power supply means for supplying at least one type of power to the control means,
The wireless printer device controls at least one type of power output of the second and third power supply units. The wireless printer device according to claim 4,
The wireless means responds to establishment or disconnection of a wireless connection with the print host device,
A wireless printer device for controlling the second and third power supply means. The wireless printer device according to claim 4,
The wireless unit responds to the start or end of printing from the print host device,
A wireless printer device for controlling the second and third power supply means. In a wireless printer device that receives wireless data from a print host device and performs printing,
Wireless means for transmitting and receiving data,
First power supply means for supplying power to the wireless means,
Printer means for performing printing;
A control unit for controlling the printer means,
Second power supply means for supplying at least one type of power to the printer means,
Having a third power supply means for supplying at least one type of power to the control means,
The control means controls at least one type of power output of the second power supply means,
The wireless printer device controls at least one type of power output of the third power supply unit. The wireless printer device according to claim 7,
The control means responds to a wireless connection or a wireless disconnection with the print host device,
Controlling the second power supply means,
The wireless means responds to establishment or disconnection of a wireless connection with the print host device,
A wireless printer device for controlling the third power supply means. The wireless printer device according to claim 7,
The control unit controls the second power supply unit according to the start or end of printing from the print host device,
The wireless printer device according to claim 1, wherein the wireless unit controls the third power supply unit according to the start or end of printing from the print host device. The wireless printer device according to claim 7,
The wireless unit responds to the start or end of printing from the print host device,
A wireless printer device for controlling the second and third power supply means.

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