JP2007076056A - Printer - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To facilitate the change of a sequence for moving into or restoring from a power save mode with respect to the change of designing without rewriting a program. <P>SOLUTION: A printing controller 3 controls movement into a power save mode and restoring therefrom in each of devices (A)-(N) by sequentially executing power save control routines, respectively, corresponding to the devices (A)-(N) in an order set in a power save control table. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a printing apparatus, and more particularly to a technique suitable for application to a printing apparatus that performs power saving design.

Conventionally, various printing apparatuses having a power saving mode for reducing power consumption by reducing or cutting off power supply to each part of the apparatus during printing standby have been proposed (see, for example, Patent Documents 1 to 4). This type of printing device uses a mode that consumes as little hardware resources as possible (power saving) according to the power saving control program stored in the ROM when printing is not performed for a long time. Mode) to reduce power consumption.
JP-A-8-101609 JP 2005-117715 A JP 2005-124132 A JP 2004-287530 A

  By the way, in recent years, a plurality of processors are also installed in a printing apparatus. For example, in a printing apparatus (so-called large-format printer) that can print on a large format paper, the amount of image data handled is enormous. Therefore, in addition to the CPU that controls the operation of the entire apparatus, those equipped with a processor (DSP) that specializes in image processing have appeared. For this reason, it has become difficult to formulate a procedure for shifting / restoring power saving between various processors and hardware devices installed in the printing apparatus. There is a problem that the method described in a fixed manner in the program cannot easily cope with a change in hardware design afterwards. This is also a problem that usually arises due to the fact that software (firmware) designers and hardware designers are generally different.

  In addition, in this method of fixing the power saving transition / return sequence on the ROM, when multiple models are configured in the same system, if the types of devices mounted between the models differ, the ROM for each model Unless the above program was rewritten, the sequence could not be changed, and a corresponding program had to be prepared for each model. This problem occurs regardless of the number of installed processors.

  The present invention has been made in view of such a conventional situation, and an object of the present invention is to easily change a power saving transition / return sequence with respect to a design change without rewriting a program. To provide a printing apparatus.

  In order to achieve the above object, according to a first aspect of the present invention, a print controller and a print engine that performs printing based on data output from the print controller are provided. In the printing apparatus that switches the power mode of each device unit in the print controller with the second mode in which consumption is suppressed, a process for shifting each device unit to the second mode and each device unit in the second mode A power saving control routine in which processing for returning from the mode is defined for each device unit, an order for shifting the device units to the second mode, and an order for returning the device units from the second mode, respectively. A predetermined power saving control table, and the print controller executes a power saving control routine corresponding to each device unit. It is characterized by comprising power saving control means for controlling the transition of each device unit to the second mode and the return from the second mode by sequentially executing according to the order set in the power control table. .

  According to this configuration, the power saving control means sequentially calls and executes the power saving control routine defined for each device unit according to the order set in the power saving control table, thereby executing the power saving transition / return control. I do. For this reason, the power saving transition / return order can be easily set to an arbitrary order regardless of the number and type of processors and device units installed. In addition, even when there are design changes such as different types of installed devices among multiple models, it is easy to change the sequence without rewriting the program, only by changing the settings of the power saving control table. Can do.

  In the printing apparatus configured as described above, the power saving control table includes sequence data indicating an execution order of the power saving control routine, skip data indicating an unmounted device unit that skips execution of the power saving control routine, and A mode in which is set can be employed.

  According to this configuration, the sequence data and the skip data are described in the power saving control table, so that the device unit corresponding to the power saving control routine to be executed is not mounted. Processing (power saving transition / return processing) can be skipped.

  In the printing apparatus having the above configuration, the print controller includes a CPU that controls the operation of each device unit, and the order data is set based on the degree of access to each device unit by the CPU, and the CPU Can adopt a mode in which the order of transition to the second mode is set after the device units, and the return order from the second mode is set before the device units.

  According to this configuration, it is possible to determine the power saving transition / return order of the CPU and each device unit based on the degree of access to each device unit by the CPU. In that case, the power saving transition order of the entire system can be optimized by setting the power saving transition order of the CPU after each device unit and the power saving return order before each device unit. it can.

  In the printing apparatus having the above-described configuration, the print controller further includes an image processing processor capable of executing color conversion processing and binarization processing, and the image processing processor has a transition order to the second mode from the CPU. Also, it is possible to adopt a mode in which the return order from the second mode is set after the CPU.

  According to this configuration, when an image processor is mounted in addition to the CPU, the power saving transition order of the image processor is set before the CPU, and the power saving return order is set after the CPU. Therefore, it is possible to optimize the power saving transition / return processing of the entire system.

In the printing apparatus having the above configuration, it is possible to adopt a mode in which the power saving control table is stored in a rewritable nonvolatile memory.
According to this configuration, by storing the power saving control table in the rewritable nonvolatile memory, even if there is a subsequent design change, it can be arbitrarily rewritten to the corresponding contents.

DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, an embodiment of the invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an overall configuration of a printer 1 (printing apparatus) according to the present embodiment. The printer 1 is an ink jet printer that enables printing on large format paper as an example, and is used by being connected to a host computer 2.

  The printer 1 receives print data S1 in response to a print interrupt from the host computer 2, and performs predetermined processing on the print data S1 to generate data for image formation (hereinafter, image formation data S2). And a print engine 4 that prints an image based on data supplied from the print controller 3. The print engine 4 includes a print head 5, various motor groups 6 such as a carriage (CR) motor included in a carriage mechanism (not shown), and a paper feed (PF) motor included in a paper feed mechanism.

  The print controller 3 includes a control circuit 13 including a CPU 11 and an image processing ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit) 12 (hereinafter simply referred to as ASIC 12). In the present embodiment, the control circuit 13 is formed on one chip and constitutes an SOC (System On a Chip).

  The CPU 11 and the ASIC 12 are connected via a CPU bus 14. The CPU bus 14 can also be expressed as an “external bus” in the sense of a bus configured outside the control circuit 13 (SOC). A program ROM 15, EEPROM (electrically erasable rewritable ROM) 16, first SDRAM (synchronous DRAM) 17, and auxiliary ASIC 18 are further connected to the CPU bus 14 outside the control circuit 13. .

  The program ROM 15, the EEPROM 16, and the first SDRAM 17 are external memories that are accessed by the CPU 11 via the CPU bus 14. Data transfer between the external memory and the CPU 11, between the auxiliary ASIC 18 and the CPU 11, and between the ASIC 12 and the CPU 11 via the CPU bus 14 is controlled by a bus controller 11 a built in the CPU 11.

  The program ROM 15 is configured by a nonvolatile memory (for example, a flash memory). The EEPROM 16 is also a nonvolatile memory. The program ROM 15 includes a print sequence program, a print engine control program for controlling the print engine 4 and the like, as well as a power saving control program according to the present embodiment (prepared for each power saving transition and return sequence program described later and each device unit). Various control programs such as a power saving control routine) and data necessary for executing these programs are stored. The EEPROM 16 stores a power saving control table T1 (see FIG. 2) described later.

  The first SDRAM 17 temporarily stores print data S1 received from the host computer 2, a part of various programs executed by the CPU 11, and data necessary for executing these programs. . The auxiliary ASIC 18 controls operations of a mechanical sensor 21 such as a paper feed sensor, an operation panel 22 on the printer 1 operated by a user, and a motor driver 23 that drives the various motor groups 6 described above.

  Connected to the ASIC 12 is a DSP (Digital Signal Processor) 25 as an image processor configured by a second SDRAM 24 and an external dedicated processor. A third SDRAM 26 used as a work memory by the DSP 25 is connected to the DSP 25.

  The second SDRAM 24 is, for example, a double data rate synchronous DRAM (DDR-SDRAM), which is a large-capacity and high-speed memory. The second SDRAM 24 is connected to a memory controller 27 built in the ASIC 12 via a memory bus 28, and access to the SDRAM 24 is performed from the memory controller 27 via the memory bus 28. In the second SDRAM 24, the print data S1 received from the host computer 2 and data after various processing (data after color conversion and binarization processing, or data after microweave and nozzle forward conversion processing) are temporarily stored. A plurality of buffer areas are secured for storage.

  The DSP 25 is connected to the DSP controller 29 built in the ASIC 12 via the DSP bus 30, and access to the DSP 25 is performed from the DSP controller 29 via the DSP bus 30.

  The DSP 25 can execute color conversion processing for converting RGB color system image data (RGB image data) into CMYK color system image data (CMYK image data) corresponding to the ink color space used in the printer 1. is there. For example, in the present embodiment, C (cyan), M (magenta), Y (yellow), K (black), LC (light cyan), LM (light magenta), LK (first light black), LLK (second) CMYK image data corresponding to eight color inks (light black).

  The DSP 25 can execute a binarization process for converting the gradation value of the CMYK image data from a multi-value into a binary (hereinafter referred to as binarized data). This binarized data is 2-bit data for each color indicating whether or not, for example, three types of large, medium, and small dots are ejected for each of the eight color inks described above.

  In the present embodiment, such color conversion processing and binarization processing are realized by a program using an external dedicated processor instead of dedicated hardware in the ASIC 12 (SOC), so that the processing can be easily changed. It can be adapted to. The DSP 25 performs resolution conversion for converting the resolution of the image data to a higher resolution as necessary.

  The ASIC 12 receives print data S1 from the host computer 2 via a predetermined communication path NET (serial, USB, IEEE 1394, etc.). The ASIC 12 stores the received print data S1 in the second SDRAM 24 via the memory controller 27 and the memory bus 28. The received print data S1 can also be stored in the first SDRAM 17 by the CPU 11.

  The print data S1 stored in the second SDRAM 24 (or the first SDRAM 17) is read by the CPU 11 and its input format (compression format) is determined. In the present embodiment, the printer 1 can receive three types of input formats.

  First, JPEG compressed data obtained by compressing RGB image data (each color of 8 or 16 bits) in the JPEG format. Second, it is run-length compressed data composed of CMYK image data and binarized data (2 bits for each color). Thirdly, it is RHV2 compressed data (hereinafter referred to as RHV2 compressed data) which is CMYK image data and compares the data before binarization (8 bits for each color) with the previous raster and takes the difference. The CPU 11 determines these compression formats by analyzing a command added to the print data S1.

  The ASIC 12 performs a decompression (decoding) process corresponding to the compression format based on the compression format determined by the CPU 11. Then, the ASIC 12 passes the decompressed data to the DSP 25 as necessary, and executes color conversion processing and binarization processing. Further, the ASIC 12 performs a microweave (MW) process that decomposes the binarized data for each scan pass of the print head 5, and then performs a nozzle order conversion process that rearranges the data in the order of the nozzles of the print head 5. The ASIC 12 generates the image formation data S2 by performing such processing, and supplies the generated image formation data S2 to the head driver 31.

  The head driver 31 generates a print drive signal S3 for driving the print head 5 based on the image formation data S2 supplied from the ASIC 12. Thus, the print head 5 is driven based on the print drive signal S3, and an image is printed.

  The print controller 3 receives a voltage of 42 V for driving the print head 5 and various motor groups 6 from a power supply board 32 prepared on the print engine 4 side, a voltage of 5 V for driving a parallel interface (not shown), A voltage such as 3.3V or 1.5V for driving a logic system such as the CPU 11 or the ASIC 12 or various sensors is received.

  In the printer 1 configured as described above, in the present embodiment, the bus controller 11a incorporated in the CPU 11, the ASIC 12, the memory controller 27 incorporated in the ASIC 12, the DSP controller 29, the program ROM 15, the EEPROM 16, the first to the first. The hardware devices of the SDRAMs 17, 24, 26, the auxiliary ASIC 18, the motor driver 23, and the head driver 31 correspond to the device sections.

Next, the power mode of the printer 1 having the above configuration will be described.
The printer 1 of the present embodiment has three types of power modes.
First, the printer 1 receives the print data S1 from the host computer 2, and executes printing by performing command analysis corresponding to the input format (compression format) and image processing as necessary (printing state). ) Is the power mode. This power mode is called “normal mode”.

  The second mode is a power mode when printing is not being performed (standby state). This power mode is called “standby mode”. In this standby mode, power consumption is suppressed as compared with the normal mode.

  Third, there is a power mode in a power saving state that is controlled when the standby state continues for a certain time. This power mode is referred to as a “power saving mode”. In this power saving mode, power consumption is further suppressed than in the standby mode, and each of the above-described device units is put into a power saving mode when the supply power is cut off or the clock supply is stopped. For example, the SDRAMs 17, 24, and 26 are each in the power down mode. The ROM 15 enters a sleep mode. The CPU 11 is also in a predetermined power saving state. In the present embodiment, the standby mode corresponds to the first mode, and the power saving mode corresponds to the second mode.

  The CPU 11 has a function as power saving control means for switching and controlling these three types of power modes. When the printer 1 receives the print data S 1 from the host computer 2, the CPU 11 supplies the necessary power to each corresponding device unit in the print controller 3 to execute predetermined processing to execute printing. That is, each corresponding device unit is controlled to the normal mode. Then, when printing is finished, each device unit is controlled to a standby mode. When printing is not performed within a certain time after entering this standby mode, the power supply to each device unit is reduced or cut off, etc. By doing so, each device unit is shifted to the respective power saving mode. Thereafter, when the printer 1 receives the print data S1 from the host computer 2, switching control is performed such that each device unit is restored from the power saving mode to the standby mode, and further to the normal mode.

  The CPU 11 controls the shift of each device unit to the power saving mode and the return from the power saving mode based on the power saving control table T1 (FIG. 2) stored in the EEPROM 16 and stored in the program ROM 15. Control by executing the program. The control program is defined for each device unit, a power saving transition sequence program (FIG. 3), a power saving return sequence program (FIG. 4), and each device unit corresponds to each device unit according to the above sequence program. It consists of a power saving control routine (power saving shift routine and power saving return routine) for performing power transfer and return control.

  FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing the power saving control table T1. In the power saving control table T1, order data D1 indicating the order of transition of each device unit to the power saving mode and order data D2 indicating the return order of each device unit from the power saving mode are set. In the present embodiment, the CPU 11 (device unit (A)), ASIC 12 (device unit (B)), bus controller 11a (device unit (C)), memory controller 27 (device unit (D)) in the print controller 3. ), DSP controller 29 (device unit (E)), program ROM 15 (device unit (F)), first SDRAM 17 (device unit (G)), EEPROM 16 (device unit (H)), second SDRAM 24 (device) Part (I)), DSP 25 (device part (J)), third SDRAM 26 (device part (K)), auxiliary ASIC 18 (device part (L)), motor driver 23 (device part (M)), and head driver 31 (device part (N)) is set.

The transfer order and return order of the device units (A) to (N) are set based on the access degree of the CPU 11.
Specifically, at the time of shifting to the power saving mode, the motor driver 23 (device unit (M)) and the head driver 31 (device unit (N)) are controlled to the power saving mode first, followed by image processing. The third SDRAM 26 (device unit (K)), DSP 25 (device unit (J)), DSP controller 29 (device unit (E)) and second SDRAM 24 (device unit (I)) which are related device units. The memory controller 27 (device unit (D)) is controlled to the power saving mode. Subsequently, the auxiliary ASIC 18 (device unit (L)), program ROM 15 (device unit (F)), EEPROM 16 (device unit (H)), first SDRAM 17 (device unit (G)), ASIC 12 on the CPU bus 14. (Device unit (B)) and the like are controlled to the power saving mode. Then, after the bus controller 11a (device unit (C)) in the CPU 11 is controlled to the power saving mode, the CPU 11 (device unit (A)) is finally controlled to the power saving mode.

  On the other hand, when returning from the power saving mode, the device units (A) to (N) are returned to the standby mode in the reverse order of the transition. That is, the CPU 11 returns to the standby mode first, and the motor driver 23 and the head driver 31 return to the standby mode last.

  Note that the transition order and the return order described here are examples, and the CPU 11 is finally changed to the power saving mode at the time of transfer, and the order is changed as long as the CPU 11 is first returned to the standby mode at the time of return. can do. That is, the power saving transition / restoration order set in the power saving control table T1 is arbitrarily changed by rewriting the data in the EEPROM 16 according to the mounting type of each device unit (A) to (N), various design specifications, and the like. be able to.

  FIG. 3 is a process flowchart showing a power saving transition sequence. This power saving transition sequence is executed as an interrupt routine from the standby mode. The CPU 11 loads various control programs and data (power saving control table T1) executed at the time of the power saving transition into an internal memory (not shown) of the CPU 11 beforehand, and information in the internal memory at the time of the power saving transition. To access and control.

First, in the standby state of the printer 1, the CPU 11 determines whether or not the standby state has continued for a predetermined time (step 100).
When it is determined in step 100 that the standby state continues for a certain time (YES), that is, when the print data S1 is not received from the host computer 2 for a certain time, the CPU 11 refers to the power saving control table T1. The device unit in which the order data D1 indicating the power saving transition order is set to “1” is recognized (step 101).

  Next, the CPU 11 shifts the device unit to the power saving mode by calling and executing a power saving transition routine corresponding to the device unit whose execution order is “1” (step 102).

  Next, the CPU 11 determines whether or not the power saving transition routine of each device unit has been executed, that is, whether or not all the device units to be controlled have been shifted to the power saving mode (step 103).

  If it is determined in step 103 that all have been executed (YES), the CPU 11 ends this routine. On the other hand, if it is determined in step 103 that all are not executed (NO), the CPU 11 returns the process to step 101 and refers again to the power saving control table T1 to recognize the device unit whose execution order is set next. To do. Similarly to the above, the power saving transition routine corresponding to the device unit is read and executed.

  In this way, until the CPU 11 executes all the power saving transition routines of each device unit to be controlled (in this embodiment, each device unit (A) to (N)), in other words, the CPU 11 Steps 101 to 103 are repeated until the mode is finally shifted to the power saving mode. Thereby, each device unit is shifted to each power saving mode.

  FIG. 4 is a process flowchart showing a power saving return sequence. This power saving return sequence is executed as an interrupt routine from the power saving mode. Note that the CPU 11 loads various control programs and data (power saving control table T1) to be executed at the time of power saving return to an internal memory (not shown) of the CPU 11 beforehand, and information in the internal memory at the time of power saving return. To access and control.

The CPU 11 first determines whether or not the print data S1 is received from the host computer 2 in the power saving state of the printer 1 (step 200).
If it is determined in step 200 that the print data S1 has been received (YES), the CPU 11 refers to the power saving control table T1 and the device unit in which the order data D2 indicating the power saving return order is set to “1”. (CPU 11 in this embodiment) is recognized (step 201).

  Next, the CPU 11 returns the device unit from the power saving mode by calling and executing a power saving return routine corresponding to the device unit (= CPU 11) whose execution order is “1” (step 202).

  Next, the CPU 11 determines whether or not all the power saving return routines of the respective device units have been executed, that is, whether or not all the device units to be controlled have been returned from the power saving mode (step 203).

  If it is determined in step 203 that all have been executed (YES), the CPU 11 ends this routine. On the other hand, if it is determined in step 203 that all are not executed (NO), the CPU 11 returns the processing to step 201 and refers again to the power saving control table T1 to recognize the device unit whose execution order is set next. To do. Then, a power saving return routine corresponding to the device unit is read and executed.

  In this manner, the CPU 11 performs steps 201 to 203 until it executes all the power saving return routines of each device unit to be controlled (in this embodiment, each device unit (A) to (N)). Repeat. Thereby, each device unit is returned from each power saving mode.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, the following effects can be obtained.
(1) The CPU 11 defines a power saving control routine (power saving shift) defined for each device unit (A) to (N) according to the order (power saving shift and return order) set in the power saving control table T1. And the return routine) are sequentially called and executed. In such a configuration, only one sequence program for power saving transition and restoration is provided, and the transition and restoration order of each device unit (A) to (N) is arbitrarily set by the power saving control table T1. Can do. This makes it easy to change the sequence without rewriting the program, even if there is a design change such as different device units installed among multiple models, by simply rewriting the settings in the power-saving control table T1. It can be carried out.

  (2) The power saving transition / return order of each device unit (A) to (N) is set based on the degree of access by the CPU 11, and the power saving transition order of the CPU 11 is set after each device unit to save power. The power recovery order was set before each device unit. By doing so, it is possible to optimize the power saving transition / return processing of the entire system.

  (3) The power saving transition order of the DSP 25 mounted as an image processing processor is set before the CPU 11 and the power saving return order is set after the CPU 11. By doing so, it is possible to optimize the power saving transition / return processing of the entire system.

  (4) The power saving control table T1 is stored in the EEPROM 16, which is a rewritable nonvolatile memory. By doing so, even when there is a design change, the contents (order) corresponding to the change can be arbitrarily rewritten.

In addition, you may implement the said embodiment in the aspect of the following modifications.
(Modification 1) Data set in the power saving control table T1 is not necessarily limited to the order data D1 and D2. For example, when the type of the device unit registered in the power saving control table T1 is fixed to a certain type, there may be a device unit that is not mounted depending on the model. In that case, for example, “0” is set as skip data in the data field corresponding to the device section that is not mounted, and when this skip data is read from the power saving control table T1, the device section (not mounted) is saved. A mode in which the power control routine is skipped may be employed.

(Modification 2) The rewritable nonvolatile memory for storing the power saving control table T1 is not limited to the EEPROM 16.
(Modification 3) The present invention is not limited to a mode in which the print data S1 is received from the host computer 2 and printed. The printing may be performed by inputting image data recorded on a portable recording medium such as a memory card, CD-R, or DVD-R as print data S1. The image data stored in a digital camera or the like may be input as the print data S1.

  (Modification 4) Although the DSP 25 is an external processor, the ASIC 12 may be provided as dedicated hardware. The unit of the hardware configuration in the print controller 3 can be arbitrarily changed.

1 is a block diagram showing the overall configuration of a printer (printing apparatus). An explanatory view showing a power saving control table. The process flowchart which shows a power saving transfer sequence. The process flowchart which shows a power saving return sequence.

Explanation of symbols

  T1: Power saving control table, D1, D2: Order data, 1: Printer (printing device), 3: Print controller, 4: Print engine, 11: CPU (power saving control means), 15: Program ROM, 16: EEPROM (Rewritable nonvolatile memory), 25: DSP (image processing processor).

Claims (5)

A print controller and a print engine that performs printing based on data output from the print controller, and includes a print controller in the print controller between a first mode and a second mode that consumes less power than the first mode. In the printer that switches the power mode of each device unit,
A power saving control routine that defines the process for shifting each device unit to the second mode and the process for returning each device unit from the second mode for each device unit;
A power saving control table that defines an order of shifting each device unit to the second mode and an order of returning each device unit from the second mode, and
The print controller sequentially executes a power saving control routine corresponding to each device unit in accordance with the order set in the power saving control table, so that each device unit shifts to the second mode and the second mode is executed. A printing apparatus comprising power saving control means for controlling return from the mode. In the power saving control table, order data indicating the execution order of the power saving control routine and skip data indicating an unmounted device unit that skips execution of the power saving control routine are set.
The printing apparatus according to claim 1. The print controller includes a CPU that controls the operation of each device unit,
The order data is set based on the degree of access to each device unit by the CPU,
In the CPU, the order of transition to the second mode is set after the device units, and the return order from the second mode is set before the device units.
The printing apparatus according to claim 2. The print controller further includes an image processor capable of executing color conversion processing and binarization processing,
In the image processor, the transition order to the second mode is set before the CPU, and the return order from the second mode is set after the CPU.
The printing apparatus according to claim 3. The power saving control table is stored in a rewritable nonvolatile memory.
The printing apparatus according to claim 1.

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