JP2009202362A - Printing device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a printing device which can certainly store the printing data input from the outside. <P>SOLUTION: A memory management section 701a for managing the storage region 703a of a memory 703 forms two or more storage regions for each medium in the storage region 703a so that the printing data of two or more outside storage media may be stored individually. The memory management section 701a cancels the forming state of a memory card region 701b1 or a ODD region 703b3 in the storage region 703a if the data size of the printing data drawn from a data size outlet part 701b is larger than the magnitude of a IrDA domain 703b2, for example, when receiving the printing data from a mobile telephone 80 with a camera, and then this section 701a can certainly store the printing data of the mobile telephone 80 with camera in the IrDA domain 703b2 formed in the memory 703 in order to increase the magnitude of the IrDA domain 703b2. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a printing apparatus that prints an image based on print data input from the outside on printing paper.

  Conventionally, printing is performed based on print data input via a wired LAN such as IEEE 802.2, a wireless LAN such as IEEE 802.11b / g / a, an interface such as a USB interface or a memory card slot, or an input device such as a scanner. A printing apparatus that prints on paper is known (see Patent Document 1). In the printing apparatus described in Patent Document 1, an external storage medium such as a host computer or a digital still camera (DSC) is connected via a wireless LAN, a wired LAN, or a USB interface, and the external storage medium including a memory card is a memory card slot. The print data can be received from these external storage media. In addition, print data can be received from an external storage medium such as paper via a scanner. As described above, the conventional printing apparatus is configured to receive print data from various external storage media and print images, characters, and the like based on the received print data on printing paper.

Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2007-210285 (paragraphs 0022 to 0029, FIGS. 1 and 2, etc.)

  In the printing apparatus described above, since print data may be input simultaneously from a plurality of external storage media, a plurality of print data for each external storage medium can be stored individually, and a plurality of print data can be stored in the storage area of the print data storage memory. A storage area for each medium is provided. With such a configuration, even if print data is simultaneously input from a plurality of external storage media to the printing apparatus, each print data is stored in the corresponding storage area for each medium, thereby ensuring that the input print data is stored. Can be received. By the way, in recent years, the resolution of digital images taken with a digital still camera, a camera-equipped mobile phone, etc. has been increasing and the gradation has been increasing, and the data size of print data tends to increase. Therefore, if print data larger than the size of one medium storage area provided corresponding to one external storage medium is input from one external storage medium, the print data is stored in one medium storage area. Since the print data cannot be stored, there is a possibility that the print data cannot be received.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object thereof is to provide a printing apparatus capable of reliably storing print data input from the outside in a memory.

  In order to achieve the above object, a printing apparatus according to the present invention is a printing apparatus for printing an image based on print data input from the outside on a printing paper, a memory capable of storing the print data, and N (N: 2 Print data receiving means capable of simultaneously receiving the print data from the above (natural number) external storage media, and data for deriving the data size of the print data based on the print data received via the print data receiving means The size deriving unit and the storage area of the memory in which the print data is stored can be managed, and the print data of the N external storage media received via the print data receiving unit can be stored individually. Memory management means for forming N storage areas for each medium in the storage area, wherein the memory management means is configured to store the N external storage media. When the one print data is received from the one external storage medium, the data size of the one print data derived by the data size deriving means corresponds to the one medium-specific storage corresponding to the one external storage medium. If it is larger than the size of the area, the state of formation of the other storage area for each medium in the storage area is canceled, and the size of the one storage area for each medium is increased.

  In the invention configured as described above, the memory management unit that manages the storage area of the memory in which the print data is stored individually prints the N external storage media received through the print data receiving unit. N storage areas for each medium are formed in the storage area so that they can be stored. When the memory management unit receives one print data from one of the N external storage media, the data size of the one print data derived by the data size deriving unit is one external data. If it is larger than the size of one storage area for each medium corresponding to the storage medium, the formation state of the other storage area for each medium in the storage area is canceled and the size of one storage area for each medium is increased. One print data input from can be reliably stored in one storage area for each medium formed in the memory.

  The data size deriving unit may derive the data size of the one print data by receiving all of the one print data of the one external storage medium. With such a configuration, even if one print data does not have information on the data size as header information, for example, by receiving all of the one print data, the data size of one print data can be reliably set. Can be derived.

  The memory management unit may further include a notifying unit that notifies the user that the formation state of the other storage area for each medium in the storage area has been eliminated. With such a configuration, the notification means notifies the user that the formation state of the other storage area for each medium has been eliminated, so that the user can reliably input print data from another external storage medium. Thus, it is possible to reliably prevent malfunction caused by inputting print data from another external storage medium.

  The print data receiving unit may be configured to receive the one print data from the one external storage medium in units of packets. With such a configuration, the data size of the print data can be efficiently derived for each packet by the data size deriving unit.

  The print data receiving means may be configured to receive the one print data from the one external storage medium in units of packets by wireless communication using infrared rays. With such a configuration, the print data receiving unit can be easily realized by a wireless communication standard using infrared rays such as the IrDA standard or the IrSimple standard.

  FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a photo printer which is an embodiment of the printing apparatus of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an outline of the internal configuration of the photo printer. In this photo printer 10, a printing mechanism 50 (see FIG. 2) is built in the printer main body 12, and in response to an operation command from a controller 70 (see FIG. 2) that controls the entire photo printer 10. Printing on the paper P is executed. Then, the printed paper is discharged to the front surface of the printer main body 12.

  As shown in FIG. 1, a front door 14 is attached to the front surface of the printer main body 12 so as to be freely opened and closed. The front door 14 is a lid for opening and closing the front surface of the printer main body 12. In the open state, it functions as a paper discharge tray for receiving the paper P discharged from the print mechanism 50. In addition, various memory card slots 16 provided on the front surface of the printer main body 12 can be used by the user. That is, in this state, the user can insert the memory card (corresponding to the “external storage medium” of the present invention) M storing the image file to be printed into the memory card slot 16. Furthermore, in this embodiment, a disk DC such as a music CD (Compact Disc) or a video DVD (Digital Versatile Disc) can be used as a recording medium (external storage medium) in addition to a memory card. ing. That is, an optical disc drive (ODD: Optical Disc Drive) 13 is provided in the base portion of the printer main body 12. In addition, an infrared communication port 184 is provided next to the memory card slot 16 so as to enable communication with an infrared communication device such as a camera-equipped mobile phone. The infrared communication port 184 will be described in detail later.

  An operation panel 20 is provided on the upper surface of the printer main body 12, and a cover 30 is attached to an inner side of the upper surface of the printer main body 12 so as to be freely opened and closed. The cover 30 is a resin plate molded to a size that can cover the upper surface of the printer main body 12, and exposes the surface of the operation panel 20 to the outside in the open state (see FIG. 1). On the other hand, when the cover 30 is closed, the entire operation panel 20 is covered.

  The operation panel 20 includes a display unit 22 that displays characters, graphics, symbols, and the like, and a button group 24 arranged around the display unit 22. As shown in FIG. 2, the button group 24 includes a power button 24a for turning on / off the power, a menu button 24b for calling the main menu screen, canceling the operation in the middle, and interrupting the printing on the paper P in the middle. A cancel button 24c for printing, a print button 24d for instructing execution of printing on the paper P, a save button 24e for saving an edited image in the memory card M inserted in the memory card slot 16, a display unit Each of the up / down / left / right arrow buttons 24f to 24i operated when selecting a desired option from the plurality of options displayed on the screen 22 or moving the cursor, and the up / down / left / right arrow buttons 24f to 24i. An OK button for instructing that the option selected by the arrow buttons 24f to 24i arranged in the center is selected. 24j, a display switching button 24k for switching the screen display on the display unit 22, a left guide selection button 24l for selecting the left guide displayed on the display unit 22, and a right for selecting the right guide displayed on the display unit 22. It includes a guide selection button 24m, a paper discharge tray open button 24n for opening the front door 14 having a function as a paper discharge tray, and the like.

  Further, in order to confirm the display content of the display unit 22, the cover 30 is provided with a window 32 having the same size as the display unit 22. That is, when the cover 30 is in the closed state, the user can check the display content of the display unit 22 through the window 32. On the other hand, when the cover 30 is in the open state, the display unit 22 can be adjusted to a desired angle as shown in FIG.

  Thus, when the cover 30 is in the open state, the cover 30 is held while being inclined obliquely rearward with respect to the operation panel 20 and can be used as a tray for supplying the paper P to the print mechanism 50. . Further, at the back of the operation panel 20, a paper feed port 58 of the printing mechanism 50 is provided, and a pair of paper guides 59, 59 that are slid in the left-right direction so that the guide width matches the paper width are provided. ing.

  Then, the paper P is sent to the print mechanism 50 through the paper supply port 58 and printing is executed. As shown in FIG. 2, the carriage 53 is driven by a timing belt 51 spanned in a loop shape in the left-right direction and reciprocates left and right along the guide 52. The carriage 53 is provided with a paper edge detection sensor 57 for detecting the left and right edges and the upper and lower edges of the paper P. In other words, the paper edge detection sensor 57 detects the left and right edges of the paper set in the paper supply port 58 before the printing, and allows the paper width to be recognized by detecting the right and left edges of the paper. Or detecting the trailing edge of the paper during printing to enable recognition of the paper length.

  The carriage 53 is mounted with an ink cartridge 54 that individually accommodates ink of each color such as cyan, magenta, yellow, and black. Each of these ink cartridges 54 is connected to a print head 55. The print head 55 applies pressure to the ink from the ink cartridge 54 and ejects the ink from the nozzle (not shown) toward the paper P. In this embodiment, the print head 55 employs a method in which a voltage is applied to the piezoelectric element to deform the piezoelectric element and pressurize the ink. However, a voltage is applied to the heating resistor (for example, a heater) to apply the ink. You may employ | adopt the system which pressurizes ink with the bubble generated by heating. The printed paper P is sent out to the opened front door (paper discharge tray) 14 by the transport roller 56.

  Further, a battery pack can be mounted on the back of the printer main body 12, and the printer 10 can be operated by a battery without being connected to a commercial power source. Because of this point and the fact that the printer 10 is a stand-alone printer that can be used without being connected to a host computer, the printer 10 is easy to carry and can be used anywhere.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the controller 70 includes a USB (Universal Serial Bus) host controller 711, an external device such as a digital still camera or a camera-equipped mobile phone as an “external storage medium” of the present invention, and a photo printer. A wireless communication device 17 having an IrDA (IrSimple) standard auxiliary communication function that enables connection to the wireless communication using infrared rays is connected according to the USB standard. In the present embodiment, the wireless communication device 17 includes a wireless communication device having an IrDA standard auxiliary communication function. However, the wireless communication device 17 has an auxiliary communication function based on the Bluetooth (registered trademark) standard or the wireless LAN standard. It is good also as a structure provided with the radio | wireless communication apparatus which has. With such a configuration, not only external devices such as a digital still camera and a camera-equipped mobile phone, but also a host computer as an “external storage medium” of the present invention can be connected to the photo printer 10 via the wireless communication device 17. Can be connected.

  Similarly, devices such as the ODD 13 and the memory card slot 16 are connected in accordance with the USB standard, and these devices (USB devices) 17, 13, and 16 are arranged in the printer main body 12. In addition, a USB connector (not shown) for connecting an external device to the USB host controller 711 is disposed so as to be exposed to the outside of the printer main body 12, and an external device such as a host computer as the “external storage medium” of the present invention. A device or an external USB device 18 such as a USB device or a USB memory having the auxiliary communication function described above can be connected. When an external device such as a host computer and a USB memory are directly connected to a USB connector without passing through the wireless communication device 17 or the external USB device 18 having an auxiliary communication function, the external devices such as the host computer are externally connected. The device and the USB memory are connected to the photo printer 10 via a USB root hub 800 and a USB host controller 711 which will be described later. Therefore, the photo printer 10 is configured to perform data communication with the host computer and the USB memory via the USB host controller 711 so that print data can be transmitted and received.

  The controller 70 receives data (print data) of the image file of the memory card M inserted into the memory card slot 16 or an externally attached USB memory, and the wireless communication device 17 or wireless communication. Image file data (print data, command signals, etc.) is input from a host device such as a camera-equipped mobile phone, digital still camera, or host computer connected via an external USB device 18 having a function. As described above, in this embodiment, the memory card slot 16, the optical disk drive (ODD: Optical Disc Drive) 13, the wireless communication device 17, the USB host controller 711, and the USB root hub 800 are the “print data receiving unit” of the present invention. It is functioning. Therefore, the photo printer 10 can simultaneously receive print data from various external storage media such as a disk DC, a mobile phone or a digital still camera, a memory card M, or a host computer connected to a USB connector (not shown). Based on the received print data, the print data such as images and characters based on the print data can be printed.

  Further, a detection signal from the paper edge detection sensor 57 of the print mechanism 50, a command signal from the button group 24 of the operation panel 20 or a host computer, and the like are input. Further, the controller 70 stores an edited image or the like in the memory card M, and outputs a control signal to the print head 55 of the print mechanism 50 and a control signal to the display unit 22 of the operation panel. Furthermore, the controller 70 receives each button operation of the button group 24 by the user and executes control processing according to the operation. Note that when an external USB device (wireless communication device) 18 having an auxiliary communication function is connected to the USB host controller 711, the USB devices 17 and 18 are set by the user operating the button group 24 on the operation panel. It is configured to be able to make a setting that makes the connection with any one of these effective. Next, the controller 70 will be described in more detail with reference to FIGS.

  3 and 4 are block diagrams showing the main part of the configuration of the controller 70. As shown in FIG. 3, a CPU 701, ROM 702, RAM 703, nonvolatile memory 704, VRAM 705, image processing unit 707, ASIC 708, USB host controller 711, and the like are connected to the system bus 700 of the controller 70. The CPU 701 performs arithmetic processing for executing operation control of the print mechanism 50. The ROM 702 stores a program (firmware) necessary for the control of the CPU 701. The RAM 703 (corresponding to the “memory” of the present invention) temporarily stores data such as print data input from the outside, and the nonvolatile memory 704 stores various data and tables necessary for the control of the CPU 701. The VRAM 705 stores image data to be drawn on the display unit 22. The configuration and function of the CPU 701 will be described later.

  The USB root controller 800 is connected to the USB host controller 711 via a USB cable 810, and the memory card slot 16 is connected to the USB root hub 800 via the USB cable 810. The USB host controller 711 communicates with the memory card slot 16 (USB interface 16a) via the USB interface 801 of the USB root hub 800, and stores an external storage medium such as the memory card M inserted into the memory card slot 16. Image data (print data) can be read. In addition, the USB host controller 711 communicates with the memory card slot 16 (USB interface 16 a) in order to save the edited image or the like in the memory card M, and transmits image data to the memory card slot 16. The USB host controller 711 will be described later.

  The image processing unit 707 performs necessary image processing on image data provided from an external storage medium such as a memory card M read via the USB host controller 711. The image processing unit 707 has a function of generating display data corresponding to a printer-specific image such as a menu screen to be displayed on the display unit 22. Data obtained by combining the display data and the image processed image data is given from the image processing unit 707 to the LCD controller 709, and the display of the display unit 22 is controlled by the LCD controller 709. The ASIC 708 performs drive control of the print head 55 and a control circuit that performs speed control such as a motor (not shown) that transports the paper P provided in the print mechanism 50 and a motor (not shown) that rotates the timing belt 51. Built-in control circuit. The ASIC 708 sends a motor control signal generated based on a control signal from the CPU 701 and the control signal for the print head 55 to a drive circuit (driver) 710. Further, detection data from the sensor 57 and the like is taken into the CPU 701 through the ASIC 708.

  Next, USB connection devices (devices) 16, 13, 18, and 17 connected via the USB host controller 711 will be described with reference to FIG. As shown in FIG. 3, a USB root hub 800 having a plurality of USB ports Port 1 to Port 4 is connected to the USB host controller 711 via a cable 810. A USB physical connection and data communication are established between the USB host controller 711 and the USB interface 801 of the USB root hub 800. Further, as described above, in this embodiment, the USB port Port 1, Port 2, and Port 3 of the USB root hub 800 are respectively connected to the memory card slot 16, ODD 13, and wireless communication device 17 built in the printer main body 12 with the USB cable 810. Connected through. A USB connector (not shown) connected to the USB port Port3 is disposed so as to be exposed to the outside of the printer main body 12 so that the external USB device 18 can be connected to the USB port Port3.

  The USB host controller 711 and the USB interfaces 16 a, 13 a, and 17 a included in the memory card slot 16, the ODD 13, and the wireless communication device 17 are physically connected via the USB interface 801 of the USB root hub 800. And data communication is established. When the external USB device 18 is connected to the USB port Port3, the USB host controller 711 and the USB interface 18a of the external USB device 18 are connected to the USB of the USB root hub 800, as with other USB connected devices. A USB physical connection and data communication are established via the interface 801.

  Incidentally, the USB interface includes two signal lines (D + / D−) for performing communication between the USB host controller 711 and each of the USB devices 16, 13, 18, and 17, and the USB host controller 711 to each USB. A power line (VBUS) that enables power supply to the devices 16, 13, 18, and 17 is provided, and power can be supplied to the USB devices 16, 13, 18, and 17 connected to the printer main body 12 as a USB host. It is configured. Further, in the USB standard, when the USB devices 16, 13, 18, and 17 are supplied with power via the power supply line VBUS, the AC adapter, or the like, the signal lines correspond to the communication speeds of the USB devices 16, 13, 18, and 17, respectively. By pulling up one of D + and D−, it is specified to notify the USB host controller 711 of the communication speed of the device itself.

  Then, the USB host controller 711 detects that the USB devices 16, 13, 18, and 17 are connected by pulling up one of the signal lines D + and D−, and after the detection, the USB device 16, A bus reset signal is output to 13, 18, and 17. When each USB device 16, 13, 18, 17 receives a bus reset signal from the USB host controller 711, the USB device 16, 13, 18 is in a period until the output of the bus reset signal is canceled (minimum 10 msec). , 17 is configured to perform initial setting of the USB interfaces 16a, 13a, 18a, 17a. Then, after the output of the bus reset signal is canceled and the initial setting of the USB interfaces 16a, 13a, 18a, and 17a is completed, the USB host controller 711 performs address setting of the USB devices 16, 13, 18, and 17 or the like. The enumeration process is executed. When this enumeration process is completed, communication between the USB host controller 711 and the USB devices 16, 13, 18, and 17 becomes possible.

  In this embodiment, when the photo printer 10 is turned on, the CPU 701, the memories 702 to 705, the ASIC 708, the USB host controller 711, and the like included in the controller 70 are initialized. When the initialization of the USB host controller 711 is completed, power supply to the USB root hub 800, the memory card slot 16, the ODD 13, and the wireless communication device 17 is started via the power supply line VBUS. Upon receiving power supply (VBUS output) via the power line VBUS, the memory card slot 16, ODD 13, and wireless communication device 17 send signals according to the communication speed (full speed, low speed, high speed) of each device. By pulling up the lines D + and D−, the USB host controller 711 is notified of its own communication speed. The USB host controller 711 outputs a bus reset signal to each of the USB devices 16, 13, 17 in response to the pull-up of the signal lines D +, D−, and performs address setting for each of the USB devices 16, 13, 17. The enumeration process to be performed is executed to recognize each USB device 16, 13, 17, and the connection process with each USB device 16, 13, 17 is performed.

  Next, functions of the CPU 701 of the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. As shown in FIG. 4A, the CPU 701 manages a storage area 703a of a memory 703 in which print data is stored, and receives a plurality of external storages such as a camera-equipped mobile phone that is received via a USB host controller 711 or the like. A memory management unit (corresponding to the “memory management means” of the present invention) 701a that forms a plurality of storage areas 701b1, 701b2, 701b3,... For each medium in the storage area 703a so that the print data of each medium can be stored individually. I have. That is, the print data of the memory card M received via the memory card slot 16 is stored in the memory card area 703b1, and the print data of the camera-equipped mobile phone or digital still camera received via the IrDA standard wireless communication device 17 is IrDA. The print data of the disk DC received through the ODD 13 is stored in the ODD area 703b3 in the area 703b2.

  The CPU 701 also includes a data size deriving unit 701b (corresponding to “data size deriving means” of the present invention) for deriving the data size of the print data based on the print data received from various external storage media. Specifically, if the received print data includes the data size information of the print data as header information, the data size deriving unit 701b derives the data size of the print data based on the data size information. When the received print data does not have header information related to the data size, it is configured to derive the data size of the print data by receiving all the print data.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 4B, the memory management unit 701a prints one print from, for example, a camera-equipped mobile phone (corresponding to “one external storage medium” of the present invention) 80 among a plurality of external storage media. When the data is received, the data size of the one print data derived by the data size deriving unit 701b corresponds to the camera-equipped mobile phone 80, that is, the size of the IrDA area 703b2 corresponding to the IrDA standard wireless communication device 17. If larger than this, the formation state of the other medium-specific storage areas 703b1 and 703b3 in the storage area 703a is canceled, and the size of the IrDA area 703b2 is increased. Then, as shown in FIG. 4C, after the IrDA area 703b2 is increased, the print data is received again from the camera-equipped mobile phone 80, so that the print data is reliably stored in the memory 703. It can be stored in the IrDA area 703b2.

  Further, as described later, when the memory management unit 701a cancels the formation state of the other storage areas 703b1 and 703b3 for each medium in the storage area 703a, the display unit 22 displays the cancellation of the formation state. It is configured to notify the user. Thus, in this embodiment, the display unit 22 functions as the “notification unit” of the present invention. In this embodiment, the camera-equipped mobile phone 80 is taken as an example of “one external storage medium” of the present invention, and print data of the camera-equipped mobile phone 80 is received via the IrDA standard wireless communication device 17. The case will be described by way of example, but the type of external storage medium is not limited to this, and data receiving means (ODD13, etc.) from various external storage media (disk DC, memory card M, digital still camera, host computer, etc.) The present invention can be applied to the case where print data received via the memory card slot 16, the wireless communication device 17, the USB host controller 711, or the like is stored in the memory 703. Next, specific configurations of the IrDA standard wireless communication device 17 and the camera-equipped mobile phone 80 according to the present embodiment will be described in detail with reference to FIGS.

  FIG. 5 is a diagram showing the configuration of the IrDA standard wireless communication device 17 and the camera-equipped mobile phone 80. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a frame used for data transfer in unidirectional communication. FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a structure of a frame format at the time of IrSMP data transfer. The wireless communication device 17 of the present embodiment is configured to be capable of performing infrared communication based on the so-called IrSimple standard that enables high-speed communication in transferring large-capacity print data, as well as infrared communication based on the IrDA standard. In the IrSimple standard, data transfer by unidirectional communication as well as bidirectional communication as in the IrDA standard is possible. Since the configuration of these IrDA standards and IrSimle standards is a well-known technique, the description thereof is kept to a minimum and detailed description thereof is omitted.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the wireless communication device 17 according to the present embodiment includes an infrared communication port 184 that receives and emits infrared light, and a mobile phone with a camera as an external storage medium that is an infrared communication device by controlling the infrared communication port 184. It includes a telephone 80 and an IrDA controller 170 that only transmits / receives print data or receives print data. The IrDA controller 170 and the controller 70 are configured to be able to execute transmission / reception of various control signals and print data in units of packets via the USB host controller 711.

  The infrared communication port 184 receives the infrared light emitted from the camera-equipped mobile phone 80 by the phototransistor 185 and allows the LED 186 to emit infrared light toward the camera-equipped mobile phone 80. It is provided on the side. The infrared communication port 184 is configured to be able to communicate with a communication method compliant with the IrDA standard and the IrSimple standard. The communication system conforming to the IrDA standard is bidirectional communication. For example, when performing 500 kbyte image transfer from the camera-equipped mobile phone 80 to the photo printer 10 using the IrDA-4M system, the device discovery procedure (500 msec to 1 sec) is first performed at 9600 bps. Since the apparatus connection procedure (300 msec to 500 msec) is executed and data transfer is performed while performing bidirectional communication at 4 Mbps, it takes about 3 seconds in total. On the other hand, there are two types of communication methods conforming to the IrSimple standard: bidirectional communication and unidirectional communication. For example, when transferring 500 kbytes of images from the mobile phone 80 to the photo printer 10 by unidirectional communication, the device connection procedure is first performed at 9600 bps. Since the data transfer is unilaterally performed at 4 Mbps after the operation is completed, it takes less than 1 second in total. Note that both the phototransistor 185 and the LED 186 are used in the bidirectional communication, but only the phototransistor 185 is used and the LED 186 is not used in the unidirectional communication.

  The IrDA controller 170 receives the infrared rays by the phototransistor 185 of the infrared communication port 184 and converts the voltage signal IrRx output from the infrared communication port 184 into a binary (value 0 and value 1) data string, An encoder 172 that generates a voltage signal IrTx to be output to the infrared communication port 184 to drive the LED 186 of the infrared communication port 184 from the binary data string, and conversion of each voltage signal IrRx, IrTx and the binary data string And a clock generator 173 for generating a sampling clock for defining timing. The clock generator 173 can generate different sampling clocks corresponding to two different speeds (9600 bps and 4 Mbps in this embodiment). The infrared communication port 184 and the IrDA controller 170 are electrically connected so that the signal IrRx output from the infrared communication port 184 is input to the IrDA controller 170 and the signal IrTx output from the IrDA controller 170 is input to the infrared communication port 184. It is connected to the.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the camera-equipped mobile phone 80 is equipped with an infrared communication function conforming to the IrDA standard or IrSimple standard, and functions as a determination button 81a, a cancel button 81b, an arrow key 81c, and an Ir high-speed transmission button. Is assigned to a button (hereinafter referred to as “Ir high-speed transmission button”) 81d, operation buttons 81 such as a numeric keypad (not shown), a microphone 82 for collecting voice spoken at the earpiece, and a mouthpiece. A speaker 83 that outputs sound to the outside, a display 84 that displays various screens (images), a CCD camera 85 that captures images, a transmission / reception unit 86 that is a data input / output interface of a mobile phone network, and various files , A memory 87 that can temporarily store data, an infrared communication port 88 that receives and emits infrared light, and an infrared communication port 88 Control to an external infrared communication device (e.g., photo printer 10) includes and IrDA controller 89 for transmitting and receiving data, and a cellular phone controller 90 for controlling the entire mobile phone.

  Here, in the memory 87, a telephone directory file that is sequentially created by operating the operation buttons 81, and a transmission mail file that is transmitted or scheduled to be transmitted to another mobile phone or personal computer via the transmission / reception unit 86. The received mail file received from another mobile phone or personal computer via the transmission / reception unit 86, the notepad file created by operating the operation buttons 81, the image file taken by the CCD camera 85, etc. are stored. Yes. The configurations of the infrared communication port 88 and the IrDA controller 89 are the same as those of the infrared communication port 184 and the IrDA controller 170 of the photo printer 10. The mobile phone controller 90 executes various controls, and as one of them, the Ir high-speed transmission button 81d of the operation buttons 81 is pressed and a transmission command in one-way communication conforming to the IrSimple standard is input. At this time, one or more image files selected from the image files in the memory 87 are transmitted to the photo printer 10 via the infrared communication port 88 and the IrDA controller 89 described above.

  Then, the controller 70 outputs a command to the print mechanism 50 to execute printing of the image file (print data) received from the camera-equipped mobile phone 80 or performs wireless communication based on the command of the button group 24 on the operation panel 20. Data to be transmitted to the transmission destination by infrared communication is output to the IrDA controller 170 of the device 17, and a control command for the button group 24 of the operation panel 20 is output to the display unit 22. Next, the unidirectional communication of the IrSimple standard will be described with reference to FIGS.

  As shown in FIG. 6, as a frame used for data transfer, a frame A including an SNRM (Set Normal Response Mode) command is used as a connection signal, and data to be transmitted (for example, an image file selected by a user). Frame B, C, and D including image data obtained by dividing the image data, and a cutting frame used as a cutting signal (not shown). At the time of data transfer, first, frame A is transferred at 9600 bps, then frame B is transferred at 4 Mbps after 50 msec, and then frames C and D are similarly transferred at 4 Mbps with an interval of 100 μsec. At this time, in each frame, various headers of a PUT command that is a file transfer command of an OBEX (OBject EXchange) protocol that realizes a file transfer function, an IrSMP protocol header that is one of protocols for realizing communication based on the IrSimple standard, and the like It is included. The NAME header which is one of the headers of the PUT command is included in the first frame transmitted when each file is transmitted, and the NAME header describes the file name of the file to which the data included in the frame belongs. Has been. In addition, an ENDBODY header, which is one of the headers of the PUT command, is included in the last frame transmitted when each file is transmitted. Furthermore, an IrSMP protocol header is included in each frame. In the IrSMP protocol header, sequential sequence numbers given in the order in which frames are transmitted are described.

  Here, as shown in FIG. 7, the frame at the time of IrSMP data transfer includes Begin of Frame (BOF), Payload Data, Frame Check Sequence (FCS), and End of Frame (EOF). Is included. Here, a cyclic redundancy check (CRC) is stored as the FCS. The CRC is 32-bit data in the IrDA standard, and is calculated according to payload data. Therefore, the CRC can be regarded as a value unique to each packet. The payload data includes an SMP header and OBEX user data. The SMP header has a size of 3 bytes (24 bits), and includes a data last bit (DL), a block last bit (BL), a sequence number, and the like. DL and BL are set to a value of 1 when the transmitting side sends the last packet in unidirectional communication, and set to a value of 0 otherwise. The sequence number is 20-bit data that is incremented for each packet by the transmission side. In the present embodiment, the OBEX user data is data obtained by dividing an image file into a plurality of pieces.

  Next, the operation when image data (print data) is transmitted from the camera-equipped mobile phone 80 to the photo printer by unidirectional communication conforming to the IrSimple standard and the image data is printed by the photo printer 10 will be described with reference to FIGS. Will be described with reference to FIG.

  FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating print data reception processing. FIG. 9 is a diagram showing the display contents of the display unit 22 during the print data reception process. First, the user operates the arrow key 81c of the operation buttons 81 of the camera-equipped mobile phone 80 to select the file name of the image file to be printed, and the mobile phone controller 90 presses the enter button 81a. Is stored in the memory 87 each time it is determined. Next, it is determined whether or not the Ir high-speed transmission button 81d of the operation buttons 81 has been pressed. If the Ir high-speed transmission button 81d has not been pressed, the file name of the image file selected and confirmed by the user is selected again. Remember. On the other hand, when the Ir high-speed transmission button 81d is pressed, the IrDA controller 89 is controlled to transmit a frame as a connection signal including the SNRM command at 9600 bps, and stored in the memory 87 after a predetermined time (for example, 50 ms). The IrDA controller 89 is controlled so that a frame including image data (print data) obtained by dividing the image file corresponding to the file name is transmitted at 4 Mbps.

  That is, the image file selected / confirmed by the user is transmitted to the photo printer 10 by one-way communication as print data in packet units. Then, after the transmission of the frame including the image data is completed, the IrDA controller 89 is controlled so as to transmit a cutting frame. Subsequently, the display 84 is controlled to display a message asking whether or not to retransmit the image file that has just been transmitted. Next, it is determined whether or not the Ir high-speed transmission button 81d is pressed by the user. When the Ir high-speed transmission button 81d is pressed, the same image data is transmitted to the photo printer 10. That is, the user can retransmit the same image data as the previous one by pressing the Ir high-speed transmission button 81d again after transmitting the image data once. On the other hand, when the Ir high-speed transmission button 81d is not pressed, it is determined whether or not the transmission end is input by pressing the transmission end determination button 81a by the user, and when the transmission end is input, The file name stored in the memory 87 is cleared, and the image data transmission process ends. As described above, the image data is transmitted unilaterally regardless of the reception state of the photo printer 10.

  Next, print data reception processing of the photo printer 10 will be described with reference to FIGS. This process is stored in the ROM 702 of the controller 70 and is executed when a frame including the above-described SNRM command is received. Note that the sampling clock of the clock generator 173 is adjusted so that the photo printer 10 can receive data at a communication speed of 9600 bps in the print data input standby shown in step S100. When the input of print data is started, the memory management unit 701a initializes the IrDA area 703b2 of the storage area 703a of the memory 703 (step S101). Next, a command is output to the IrDA controller 170 to receive the print data transmitted from the camera-equipped mobile phone 80, and the print data packet data is received (step S102).

  The IrDA controller 170 that has received the command to receive the packet data adjusts the sampling clock of the clock generator 173 so that the print data of 4 Mbps can be received, and the packet frame including the image data (frame B, frame of FIG. 6). C, frame D). Then, when a packet frame (not shown) as a disconnection signal is received, the sampling clock generated from the clock generator 173 is adjusted so that a packet frame including an SNRM command with a communication speed of 9600 bps can be received. .

  In step S103, the CPU 701 determines whether the received packet data has been successfully received. If NO, the process proceeds to step S117, and the error message shown in FIG. 9C is displayed on the display unit 22. It progresses to step S100 and a process is complete | finished. On the other hand, if the packet data is normally received and it is determined as YES in step S103, the data size of the packet data is acquired by the data size deriving unit 701b (step S104). Next, whether or not the total size of all the packet data received from the camera-equipped mobile phone 80 including the one packet data determined to be normally received in step S103 is larger than the size of the IrDA area 703b2. If it is determined (step S105) and NO is determined, one packet data received in step S102 is stored in the IrDA area 703b2. On the other hand, if it is determined as YES in step S105, the process proceeds to step 107 without storing the received packet data, and it is determined whether or not all the packet data constituting the print data has been received.

  If NO is determined in step S107, the process proceeds to step 102, and the next packet data is received. If it is determined in step S105 that the total size of the received packet data is larger than the size of the IrDA area 703b2, the received packet data is not stored in the IrDA area 703b2 after the determination. The packet data is received until the last packet data constituting the print data is received. With this configuration, it is possible to derive the data size of the print data by receiving up to the last packet data constituting the print data while deriving the data size of the received packet data by the data size deriving unit 701b. it can.

  On the other hand, if YES is determined in step S107, it is determined in step S108 whether all print data has been normally received and stored in the IrDA area 703b2, and if YES is determined, based on the received print data. Printing is executed (step S109). If NO is determined in step S108, the process proceeds to step S110, where it is determined whether the data size of the received print data is larger than the size of the IrDA area 703b2, and if NO, the IrDA area 703b2 is determined. Some abnormality such as data loss has occurred in the stored print data. After the error message shown in FIG. 9C is displayed on the display unit 22 in step S117, the process proceeds to step S100 and the process is terminated.

  If “YES” is determined in the step S110, the process proceeds to a step S111, and the formation state of the memory card area 703b1 other than the IrDA area 703b2 in the storage area 703a of the memory 703, the ODD area 703b3, and the like based on the data size of the received print data If the above is eliminated, the memory management unit 701a determines whether the received print data can be stored in the memory 703. Then, the determination result by the memory management unit 701a in step S111 is determined in step S112. If NO is determined, the process proceeds to step S117, and the error message shown in FIG. It progresses to S100 and complete | finishes a process. On the other hand, if “YES” is determined in the step S112, a message shown in FIG. 9A for confirming whether or not the user shifts to the IrDA printing only mode is displayed on the display unit 22 in a step S113.

  If the user operates the button group 24 of the operation panel 20 to perform an operation that does not shift to the IrDA printing only mode, it is determined as NO in Step S114, and the process proceeds to Step S100 to end the process. On the other hand, if YES is determined in step 114, the memory management unit 701a is instructed to increase the size of the IrDA area 703b2 of the memory 703 (see step S115, FIG. 4B), and IrDA. A message shown in FIG. 9B indicating that the mode has shifted to the print-only mode is displayed on the display unit 22, and the process proceeds to step S100. Next, if the user operates the camera-equipped mobile phone 80 and transmits print data again, the processing from step S100 is executed, and the received data increases in size as shown in FIG. The print processing is executed based on the stored print data stored in the IrDA area 703b2.

  Although the print data reception process is performed by the above IrSimple one-way communication, the print data reception process may be performed by bidirectional communication. Also in this case, similarly to the print data reception process by the above-described unidirectional communication, even if the total size of the received packet data becomes larger than the size of the IrDA area 703b2 during the reception of each packet data, The data size of the print data can be derived by receiving up to the last packet data constituting the print data on the assumption that the packet data has been normally received. In addition, in the IrDA standard and the IrSimple standard, data transfer from the camera-equipped mobile phone 80 to the photo printer 10 cannot be waited more than necessary due to the standard even in bidirectional communication. Accordingly, even when it is determined that the data size of the print data received by the memory management unit 701a is larger than the size of the IrDA area 703b2, it is possible to efficiently receive the print data data by receiving all the print data. The size can be derived.

  As described above, in this embodiment, the memory management unit 701a that manages the storage area 703a of the memory 703 in which the print data is stored receives the received print data of a plurality of external storage media such as the camera-equipped mobile phone 80, respectively. A plurality of medium-specific storage areas such as an IrDA area 703b2 are formed in the storage area 703a so that they can be stored individually. When the memory management unit 701a receives, for example, one print data from the camera-equipped mobile phone 80 as one external storage medium, the data size of the one print data derived by the data size deriving unit 701b is If the size of the IrDA area 703b2 corresponding to the mobile phone 80 is larger than the size of the IrDA area 703b2, the formation state of the other storage areas for each medium such as the memory card area 701b1 and the ODD area 703b3 in the storage area 703a is canceled. Therefore, the print data of the camera-equipped mobile phone 80 input from the outside can be reliably stored in the IrDA area 703b2 formed in the memory 703.

  In this embodiment, the size of the storage area for each medium such as the IrDA area 703b2 formed in the memory area 703a of the memory 703 is adjusted according to the size of the received print data, for example, high-speed data communication. Since large-capacity print data received by data communication based on the IrSimple standard that can be stored in the storage area 703a of the memory 703 can be reliably stored, the capacity of the memory 703 installed in the photo printer 10 can be minimized. The manufacturing cost can be reduced.

  Further, since the data size of the print data is derived by receiving all the print data, even if the print data does not have data size information as header information, for example, by receiving all the print data The data size of the print data can be surely derived.

  Further, the memory management unit 701a cancels the formation state of the memory card area 703b1 and the ODD area 703b3 in the storage area 703a, and displays a message on the display unit 22 that the size of the IrDA area 703b2 is increased. Therefore, the user can surely know that the print data cannot be input from the external storage medium such as the memory card M or the disk DC, and the malfunction due to the input of the print data from the external storage medium can be reliably confirmed. Can be prevented.

  Since the print data is received in units of packets, the data size of the print data can be efficiently derived in units of packets by the data size deriving unit 701b. At this time, print data can be easily received in units of packets from an infrared communication device such as a camera-equipped mobile phone 80 as an external storage medium based on a wireless communication standard such as an IrDA standard or an IrSimple standard using infrared rays. Of course, the print data may be received as packet data by a wireless LAN or the like. Needless to say, print data may be received not in units of packets but in units of files from an external storage medium such as a disk DC, memory card M, or USB memory.

  The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications other than those described above can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention. For example, in the above embodiment, the data size of the print data is derived by receiving all the print data. However, the data size information stored as the header information in the first packet data constituting the print data is used. Thus, the data size of the print data may be derived. With this configuration, for example, when print data is received via a wireless LAN, the size of the print data is first determined, and the storage area 703a of the memory 703 is managed as necessary. After that, the print data can be received.

  In the above-described embodiment, devices such as the wireless communication device 17, ODD 13, and memory card slot 16 are connected via the USB interface, but via a dedicated controller for connecting the devices 17, 13, and 16. Each device may be provided in the photo printer 10. In the above embodiment, the ink cartridge type photo printer 10 has been described as an example. However, other printing apparatuses such as an ink jet printer, a printing apparatus as a network printer having a wired LAN, a FAX, a scanner, and the like. The present invention may also be applied to a printing apparatus as a multifunction machine provided. Also, by providing a scanner, it is possible to convert information described in an external storage medium such as paper into print data.

1 is a perspective view showing a photo printer which is an embodiment of a printing apparatus of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an outline of an internal configuration of a photo printer. The block diagram which shows the principal part of a structure of a controller. The block diagram which shows the principal part of a structure of a controller. The figure which shows the structure of the wireless communication apparatus of IrDA specification, and a mobile phone with a camera. The figure which shows the flame | frame used for the data transfer of unidirectional communication. The figure which shows the structure of the frame format at the time of the data transfer of IrSMP. The figure which shows print data reception processing. The figure which shows the display content of the display part in process of print data reception.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Photo printer (printing apparatus), 13 ... ODD (print data receiving means), 16 ... Memory card slot (print data receiving means), 17 ... Wireless communication apparatus (print data receiving means), 18 ... External USB device (printing) (Data receiving means), 22 ... display section (notification means), 701a ... memory management section (memory management means), 701b ... data size derivation section (data size derivation means), 703 ... memory, 703a ... storage area, 703b1 ... memory Card area (medium storage area), 703b2 ... IrDA area (medium storage area), 703b3 ... ODD area (medium storage area)

Claims (5)

In a printing apparatus that prints an image based on print data input from the outside on printing paper,
A memory capable of storing the print data;
Print data receiving means capable of simultaneously receiving the print data from N (N: a natural number of 2 or more) external storage media;
Data size deriving means for deriving the data size of the print data based on the print data received via the print data receiving means;
The storage area of the memory in which the print data is stored is managed, and the print data of the N external storage media received via the print data receiving means is stored in the storage area so that it can be stored individually. Memory management means for forming a storage area for each medium,
The memory management means includes
When one print data is received from one of the N external storage media, the data size of the one print data derived by the data size deriving means is stored in the one external storage medium. If the size is larger than the corresponding one storage area for each medium, the formation state of the other storage area for each medium in the storage area is canceled, and the size of the one storage area for each medium is increased. Characteristic printing device.   The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the data size deriving unit derives a data size of the one print data by receiving all of the one print data of the one external storage medium.   The printing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a notification unit that notifies the user that the memory management unit has canceled the formation state of the other storage area for each medium in the storage area.   The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the print data receiving unit is configured to receive the one print data from the one external storage medium in units of packets.   The printing apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the print data receiving unit is configured to receive the one print data from the one external storage medium in units of packets by wireless communication using infrared rays. .

Images