JP2018060435A - Image forming device, image forming system, information processing device, and firmware data updating method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image forming device that can reduce time required for updating firmware even when the device has a plurality of CPUs.SOLUTION: The image forming device includes a master unit that comprehensively controls operation of functional units that device has, and a plurality of slave units that perform controlling for specified functional units among the respective functional units on the basis of control signals from the master unit. The device also includes a plurality of ROMs in which firmware data of each of the slave units is stored. An arrangement ID for specifying the functional unit to be controlled by the slave unit is stored in the ROM, and the slave unit identifies to set the setting information of the self-unit, on the basis of the arrangement ID, from single firm data stored at the same time or in parallel with the other slave unit by the master unit.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

  The present invention relates to a technique for updating firmware data included in an image forming apparatus.

In an image forming apparatus for forming an image on a recording medium (for example, a sheet such as paper) or an image forming system including the image forming apparatus, control software (also referred to as firmware data) for controlling each functional configuration is provided. Have.
In recent years, firmware data of a CPU (Central Processing Unit) incorporated in such a device is stored in a rewritable ROM and is rewritten and updated for the purpose of correcting operations and adding functions.

  On the other hand, in order to increase functionality and performance, the number of image forming systems divided into sub-units for each control purpose, such as a CPU for a laser scanner unit and a CPU for a sheet conveying unit, is increased. ing. In other words, the number of CPUs incorporated in the image forming system and the opportunity to update firmware data are increasing. For this reason, the time required for updating the firmware data is also increasing.

  For example, according to the update method disclosed in Patent Document 1, only data suitable for a mounted device is updated from a data pack in which a plurality of firmware data is collected.

JP 2011-164842 A

  In the method disclosed in Patent Document 1, unnecessary time is prevented by omitting a firmware data update procedure for a control CPU that is not connected. Therefore, there remains a problem that the time for updating the firmware data increases in proportion to the number of CPUs included in the apparatus.

  The main object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus capable of shortening the time required for updating firmware data even if the apparatus has a plurality of CPUs.

  The present invention is an image forming apparatus for forming an image on a recording medium, and includes a first control unit that comprehensively controls the operation of each functional unit included in the image forming apparatus, and a specific one of the functional units. A plurality of second control means for controlling the functional unit based on a control signal from the first control means, and a plurality of storage means for storing firmware data of the second control means, respectively. And the storage means stores identification information for specifying a functional unit controlled by the second control means, and each of the second control means is provided by the first control means. The setting information of the self-control means is specified and set based on the identification information from the single firmware data stored simultaneously or in parallel with the second control means.

  According to the present invention, since the same (single) firmware data can be written to a plurality of slave units simultaneously or in parallel, the time required for updating the firmware data can be shortened.

1 is a diagram illustrating an example of a configuration of an image forming system according to an embodiment. 2 is a diagram for explaining an example of a configuration of an image forming apparatus. FIG. FIG. 3 is a block diagram for explaining an example of a functional configuration of the image forming apparatus. FIG. 6A is a timing chart for explaining firmware data update processing in a conventional general image forming system. FIG. 6B is a timing chart for explaining firmware data update processing in the image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of a configuration of data stored in a ROM included in each slave unit of the image forming apparatus. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a processing procedure of firmware data update processing in the image forming apparatus. The flowchart which shows an example of the process sequence of the initialization process at the time of starting using arrangement | positioning ID. The flowchart which shows an example of the process sequence of a basic slave unit control process.

Hereinafter, description will be given by taking the case where the present invention is applied to an image forming system as an example.
The technical scope of the present invention is established by the claims, and is not limited by the individual embodiments described below.

[Example of overall device configuration]
FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of a configuration of an image forming system according to the present embodiment.
The image forming system 1000 includes an image reading device 200 that reads an image of a document, the image forming device 100, and a UI (user interface) device 600.

The image reading device 200 reads a document placed on a platen glass and outputs image data.
The image forming apparatus 100 forms an image on a recording medium (for example, a sheet such as a sheet) based on read data read by the image reading apparatus 200 or image data input from an external apparatus connected via a network. To do.
The UI device 600 has a display screen such as a liquid crystal display with a touch panel. The UI device 600 also accepts job input operations such as presentation of information to the user and designation of a print mode and post-processing mode from the user via a GUI (graphical user interface) displayed on the display screen. .

[Configuration example of image forming apparatus]
FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining an example of the configuration of the image forming apparatus 100.
The image forming apparatus 100 includes process units 101y to 101k that are yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (K) process units corresponding to full-color image formation. Each process unit includes a photosensitive drum, a developing device, a charging roller, and the like.
Hereinafter, among the yellow, magenta, cyan, and black process units each having the same configuration, the black process unit will be described as a representative.

The process unit 101k is provided with a photosensitive drum 102k at the center thereof, and is driven to rotate by receiving a driving force of a drum motor (not shown).
The charging roller 103k applies a high voltage to uniformly charge the surface of the photosensitive drum 102k.

The laser scanner unit 104k scans the laser modulated and output from the laser diode in the longitudinal direction (direction perpendicular to the sheet conveying direction) through the polygon mirror rotating body.
The laser scanner unit 104k forms an electrostatic latent image by performing laser exposure on the uniformly charged photosensitive drum 102k according to input image information.
The developing device 105k forms a visible toner image corresponding to the electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive drum using a two-component developer composed of toner and carrier.

The toner bottle 106k is a toner bottle filled with toner, and supplies the toner to the developing device 105k.
The primary transfer roller 107k is for primary transfer from the photosensitive drum to the intermediate transfer body 108, which is an endless belt-like member, in order to sequentially superimpose Y, M, C, and K colors.
The auxiliary charging brush 109k is charged so that the untransferred toner that could not be transferred by the primary transfer roller has a uniform charge.

The photosensitive drum 102k, the charging roller 103k, the developing unit 105k, and the auxiliary charging brush 109k included in the process units 101y to 101k have been described only for black, but yellow, magenta, and cyan are also common.
Hereinafter, the description of the photosensitive drum 102, the charging roller 103, the developing device 105, and the auxiliary charging brush 109 will be described assuming that they correspond to the configurations of yellow, magenta, cyan, and black.

The toner image primarily transferred to the intermediate transfer member 108 is secondarily transferred onto the sheet via the secondary transfer roller 110. The residual toner that could not be transferred by the secondary transfer roller 110 and the adjustment toner image that is not intended to be transferred onto the sheet are collected by the intermediate transfer body cleaner 111.
The pattern density detection sensor 112 detects a change in light and shade of a pattern formed on the intermediate transfer member.

The sheet is stored in the sheet feeding cassette 113 and is conveyed toward the conveying path via the sheet feeding roller 114. Thereafter, the sheet is fed to the secondary transfer roller 110 after the skew is corrected by the registration roller 115.
After the toner image is transferred by the secondary transfer roller 110, the toner is thermally fixed through a fixing roller 117 having a heater and a pressure roller 118.
Thereafter, the sheet is discharged by the discharge flapper 119 via the discharge path 120 or sent to the double-side reversal drive 122 according to the setting contents.

Further, the sheet sent to the double-side reversal drive 122 is sent to the double-sided re-feeding drive 124 by the reverse rotation of the double-side reversal drive 122 and the rotation of the double-side reversal flapper 123, and is discharged after the second side image is formed again. The
The sheets are also stored in the second extension sheet cassette 125 and the third extension sheet cassette 126, and can be fed from the extension cassette sheet feed roller 127 and the extension cassette sheet feed roller 128.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram for explaining an example of a functional configuration of the image forming apparatus 100.
The image forming apparatus 100 includes a printer engine unit 900 that functions as a master unit (first control unit) that comprehensively controls each functional unit included in the apparatus. In addition, the image forming apparatus 100 includes a plurality of slave units 801, 802, and 803 (second control units) that control specific functional units among the functional units included in the image forming apparatus 100.
For example, the slave unit 801 controls the operation of the laser scanner units 104y to 104k based on a control signal from the printer engine unit 900. The slave unit 802 controls the operations of the fixing roller 117 and the pressure roller 118 based on a control signal from the printer engine unit 900 to perform fixing control. The slave unit 803 controls the sheet conveyance operation based on a control signal from the printer engine unit 900.

The printer engine unit 900 includes a master CPU (Central Processing Unit) 901, a ROM (Read only memory) 902, a RAM (Random access memory) 903, and communication interfaces 904 and 905. The ROM and RAM function as recording means (storage unit) that stores various data.
The master CPU 901 controls image formation by outputting control signals to other control units included in the image forming apparatus 100, for example, slave units 801, 802, and 803. The ROM 902 stores a program for the master CPU 901 to operate. The RAM 903 is used for the CPU to temporarily store data.

  The communication interface 904 mediates communication with each of the slave units 801, 802, and 803. Further, the communication interface 905 mediates communication with external devices of the image forming apparatus 100 such as an external storage device in which firmware data (not shown) is stored, the image reading device 200, and the UI device 600.

The slave unit 801 includes a slave CPU 811, a ROM 821, a RAM 831, and a communication interface 841.
The slave unit 802 includes a slave CPU 812, a ROM 822, a RAM 832, and a communication interface 842.
The slave unit 803 includes a slave CPU 813, a ROM 823, a RAM 833, and a communication interface 843.

The ROMs 821, 822, and 823 store programs for operating the corresponding slave CPUs 811, 812, and 813, respectively.
The RAMs 831, 832, and 833 are used by CPUs corresponding to the RAMs 831, 832, and 833 to temporarily store data.

In the communication interfaces 841, 842, 843, each slave unit mediates communication with the printer engine unit 900 (master CPU 901).
Note that the master CPU 901 can directly read data from and write data to the ROMs 821, 822, and 823 or the RAMs 831, 832, and 833 of each slave unit via the communication interfaces 841, 842, and 843. .

The slave units 801, 802, and 803 can be configured as the same control circuit unit (SOC: System On a Chip) including a CPU.
Further, each slave unit is connected to different devices (for example, sensors, actuators, etc.) depending on the arrangement position, functional role, etc. in the image forming apparatus 100.

  The slave unit 801 controls driving of a polygon motor (not shown) for rotating the polygon mirror rotating body of each laser scanner unit based on a control signal from the master CPU 901. Thus, the slave unit 801 performs control related to the operation of the laser scanner unit.

  The slave unit 802 controls heating via a fixing heater (not shown) in the fixing roller 117 based on a control signal from the master CPU 901. As described above, the slave unit 802 performs control related to the fixing operation.

  The slave unit 803 controls driving of each roller related to sheet conveyance, such as the sheet feeding roller 114, based on a control signal from the master CPU 901. Specifically, control related to sheet conveyance is performed by controlling driving of a conveyance motor (not shown).

  FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining an example of a firmware data update process. FIG. 4A is a timing chart for explaining firmware data update processing in a conventional general image forming system. FIG. 4B is a timing chart for explaining firmware data update processing in the image forming apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment.

In the firmware data update process of the conventional example shown in FIG. 4A, it can be seen that firmware data is sequentially updated one by one for a plurality of slave units incorporated in the image forming apparatus.
Specifically, first, the master CPU 1 transmits a predetermined REQUEST command for erasing data stored in the slave ROM 2 and prepares to store new data in the slave ROM 2.

Next, new data (new firmware data) is divided by a predetermined unit from the master CPU 1 and transmitted to the slave ROM 2 for storage. Such a storing procedure is repeated.
The reason why the data is divided and transmitted is that a large amount of data cannot be stored at one time due to the rewrite characteristics of the ROM medium, for example, the occurrence of a waiting time until the completion of writing or the data length restriction by the communication protocol of the communication path. .

Then, after the transmission of all the new data is completed, the master CPU 1 reads the new data stored in the slave ROM 2 and performs known error detection using, for example, a checksum on the read data. In this way, the process up to confirming the consistency of the data stored in the slave ROM 2 is completed, and the update of one ROM is completed. Thereafter, the update procedure is performed for the remaining slave ROMs 3 and 4.
As described above, in the firmware data update process in the conventional general image forming system, the firmware data is sequentially updated for each of the plurality of slave units.

  On the other hand, in the image forming apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment, even if the configuration includes a plurality of slave units, it is possible to perform parallel processing (parallel processing) of update procedures by sharing firmware data. . Therefore, the time required for updating firmware data can be shortened. Hereinafter, this point will be specifically described with reference to FIGS.

  In the image forming apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment, the same (single) firmware data is stored (written) simultaneously or in parallel to a plurality of connected slave units (control circuit unit (SoC)). Also, the register setting is performed based on the arrangement ID (identification information for specifying the functional unit controlled by the slave unit) at the start after the completion of writing.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of a configuration of data (firmware data) stored in the ROMs 821, 822, and 823 included in each slave unit of the image forming apparatus 100.
The arrangement ID 4001 shown in FIG. 5 is SoC type information in which a value is set for each slave unit. The arrangement ID 4001 is data used when the slave unit itself specifies which unit of the image forming apparatus 100 is to be controlled.
The arrangement ID 4001 is stored in advance when the first firmware data is stored, such as when the apparatus is assembled, and is not included in the updated firmware data because it does not need to be changed when the firmware data is updated.

The control processing information 4002 is a control processing program common to the slave units. The control processing information 4002 is data for setting one of the setting data strings (setting information) of the setting pattern information 4003 to 4005 in the slave unit with reference to the arrangement ID 4001.
For example, any setting data string of setting pattern information 4003 to 4005 is set in a predetermined register of the slave unit. This makes it possible to operate peripheral circuits such as sensors and actuators connected to the slave unit.

The setting pattern information 4003 to 4005 is a setting data string (setting information) corresponding to the value of the arrangement ID 4001. The setting pattern information 4003 to 4005 includes data of items common to the slave units, such as baud rate setting values of the communication interfaces 841, 842, and 843, for example.
In the setting pattern information, for example, the setting pattern information 4003 stores data values suitable for individual slave units, such as laser canister unit control, and the setting pattern information 4004 uses fixing control.

  FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a processing procedure of firmware data update processing in the image forming apparatus 100. Each process shown in FIG. 6 is mainly performed by the master CPU 901. Also, the master CPU 901 starts the process shown in FIG. 6 when receiving an instruction to start the firmware data update process.

The master CPU 901 multicasts a predetermined ROM erasure command for erasing data already stored in all of the ROMs 821, 822, 823 of the slave unit via each communication interface (904, 841, etc.). Transmit (S5001).
If the ROM erase command can be transmitted at almost the same timing, there is no need for multicast. As described above, the transmission of the ROM erase command is not particularly limited in the communication method.

  Further, in the image forming apparatus 100, the master CPU 901 can rewrite the ROMs 821, 822, and 823 of the slave units without the intervention of the slave CPUs 811, 812, and 813. For this reason, the communication parameters such as the communication baud rate are configured to have a uniform predetermined value when no setting process is performed.

  On the other hand, by switching the CPU start mode to the update mode, the CPU is operated with a small program (boot program) for update processing. It is also possible to configure so that communication setting processing, firmware data transmission / reception, and firmware data update processing are performed by the boot program that has been started.

The master CPU 901 determines whether or not all the ROMs 821, 822, and 823 of the slave units have completed the ROM erasing operation (S5002).
When the master CPU 901 determines that the process is completed (S5002: Yes), the master CPU 901 multicasts a predetermined write command for one new firmware data packet to all of the ROMs 821, 822, and 823 of the slave unit (S5003).

The master CPU 901 determines whether writing of one packet of firmware data has been completed in the ROMs 821, 822, and 823 of the slave units (S5004).
If the master CPU 901 determines that it has been completed (S5004: Yes), it determines whether or not writing of all new firmware data has been completed in all of the ROMs 821, 822, and 823 of the slave unit (S5005). That is, it is determined whether storage of firmware data for all update sizes has been completed.

  If the master CPU 901 determines that writing of firmware data for all the update sizes has not been completed (S5005: No), the master CPU 901 returns to the process of step S5003. Otherwise (S5005: Yes), the process proceeds to step S5006. In addition, after the process of step S5006, the data (firmware data) stored in each slave ROM is verified by the update process.

  The master CPU 901 reads firmware data stored in the ROM 821 of the slave unit (S5006). Note that, as described above, the area in which the arrangement ID 4001 is stored is not changed, so it is not necessary to check the area and is excluded from the reading target.

The master CPU 901 derives a checksum based on the firmware data read in S5006 (S5007).
The master CPU 901 compares the checksum value derived in the process of step S5007 with the checksum value of the original firmware data before transmission to the slave unit, and determines whether or not they match (S5008).

If the checksum values do not match (S5008: No), that is, if the update of the firmware data is not completed normally, the master CPU 901 proceeds to the process of step S5101.
Otherwise (S5008: Yes), the master CPU 901 reads firmware data stored in the ROM 822 (S5009).

The master CPU 901 derives a checksum based on the firmware data read in step S5009 (S5010).
The master CPU 901 compares the checksum value derived in the process of S5010 with the checksum value of the original firmware data before transmission to the slave unit, and determines whether or not they match (S5011).

If the checksum values do not match (S5011: No), that is, if the update of the firmware data is not completed normally, the master CPU 901 proceeds to the process of step S5101.
Otherwise (S5011: Yes), the master CPU 901 reads the firmware data stored in the slave ROM 823 (S5012).

The master CPU 901 derives a checksum based on the firmware data read in the process of S5012 (S5013).
The master CPU 901 compares the checksum value derived in the process of S5013 with the checksum value of the original firmware data before being transmitted to the slave unit, and determines whether or not they match (S5014).

  If the checksum values do not match (S5014: No), that is, if the update of the firmware data is not completed normally, the master CPU 901 proceeds to the process of step S5101. If not (S5014: Yes), the series of processing ends.

  When the update of the firmware data is not normally completed, the master CPU 901 outputs information indicating the update failure. The output information indicating the update failure is stored in, for example, the RAM 903 (S5101). If the checksum values do not match, it is assumed that normal updating has not been completed due to a communication error or the like. For this reason, for example, when the information indicating that the update has failed is stored in the RAM 903, the master CPU 901 performs a control (retry function) to start the update process from the beginning.

Here, a control processing program executed by the slave CPUs 811, 812, 813 shown as the control processing information 4002 shown in FIG. 5 will be described.
FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a processing procedure of initialization processing (startup processing) at the time of startup using the arrangement ID. This initialization process is executed by each slave unit, that is, each of the slave CPUs 811, 812, 813. In the following description, as an example, a case where the slave CPU 811 executes will be described as an example.

The slave CPU 811 reads the arrangement ID from the data storage area of the ROM 821 (arrangement ID 4001 shown in FIG. 5) (S6001).
The slave CPU 811 refers to the data storage area of the setting pattern information (setting pattern information 4003 to 4005 shown in FIG. 5) based on the arrangement ID acquired by reading, and a setting data string (setting information) corresponding to the arrangement ID. Is set in a predetermined register (S6002).

  For example, it is assumed that the arrangement ID acquired by reading is “02”. In this case, for example, setting data representing 78 [kbps] communication speed existing in the area of setting pattern information 4004 shown in FIG. 5 and control parameters such as sensor monitoring period 4 [msec] are set in the register. Specifically, these setting data are set in the baud rate setting register of the communication interface 841 and the variable area of the RAM 831. That is, the setting information of the own unit (self-control means) is specified and set based on the identification information from the stored single firmware data.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a processing procedure of basic slave unit control processing.
Each process shown in FIG. 8 is repeatedly executed after the start process shown in FIG. 7 is executed. This process is executed by each slave unit, that is, each of the slave CPUs 811, 812, 813. In the following description, as an example, a case where the slave CPU 811 executes will be described as an example.

The slave CPU 811 determines whether a predetermined control signal has been received from the printer engine unit (master unit) 900 via the communication interface 841 (S7001).
When the slave CPU 811 receives a control signal from the printer engine unit (master unit) 900 (S7001: Yes), the slave CPU 811 executes processing according to the received control signal (S7002).
The process according to the control signal is a control process such as starting or stopping the rotation of the polygon motor of the laser scanner unit.

  Note that the control process can include a plurality of control processes in which arbitrary processes are combined as long as it can be configured as firmware data common to the slave CPUs 811, 812, and 813.

As described above, the image forming apparatus 100 (image forming system 1000) according to the present embodiment is configured such that each slave unit performs control processing based on each arrangement ID of each slave unit. Therefore, the same (single) firmware data can be written to the ROMs of the plurality of slave units simultaneously or in parallel.
As a result, the time required for updating the firmware data can be reduced as compared with the conventional system in which the firmware data is sequentially updated one by one.

The embodiment described above is for explaining the present invention more specifically, and the scope of the present invention is not limited to these examples.
For example, the present invention can also be applied to an information processing apparatus having the above-described master unit function and slave unit function.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 ... Image forming apparatus, 200 ... Image reading apparatus, 821, 822, 823 ... Slave CPU, 821, 822, 823 ... Slave ROM, 841, 842, 843, 904 ... Communication interface 901 Master CPU 1000 Image forming system.

Claims (7)

An image forming apparatus for forming an image on a recording medium,
First control means for comprehensively controlling the operation of each functional unit included in the image forming apparatus;
A plurality of second control means for controlling a specific function part among the function parts based on a control signal from the first control means;
A plurality of storage means for storing firmware data of each of the second control means,
The storage means stores identification information for specifying a functional unit controlled by the second control means,
Each of the second control means is based on the identification information from a single piece of firmware data stored simultaneously with or in parallel with the other second control means by the first control means. It is characterized by specifying and setting the setting information.
Image forming apparatus. The first control unit is configured to update the firmware data of each of the plurality of second control units by storing the single firmware data in each storage unit.
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1. The first control unit determines whether or not the update of the firmware data of each of the second control units is normally completed, and outputs information indicating an update failure when the update is not completed normally. It is characterized by
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1. Whether the first control means acquires the firmware data stored in each storage means, compares the acquired firmware data with the firmware data before being stored in each storage means, and is the update completed normally? It is characterized by determining whether or not,
The image forming apparatus according to claim 3. An image reading device for reading an image;
The image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the image forming apparatus forms an image on a predetermined recording medium based on read data read by the image reading apparatus.
Image forming system. First control means for comprehensively controlling the operation of each functional unit included in the information processing apparatus;
A plurality of second control means for controlling a specific function part among the function parts based on a control signal from the first control means;
A plurality of storage means for storing firmware data of each of the second control means,
The storage means stores identification information for specifying a functional unit controlled by the second control means,
Each of the second control means is based on the identification information from a single piece of firmware data stored simultaneously with or in parallel with the other second control means by the first control means. It is characterized by specifying and setting the setting information.
Information processing device. A master unit for controlling the operation of each functional unit of the device;
A plurality of slave units that perform control of specific functional units among the functional units based on control signals from the master unit, and
A plurality of storage units for storing firmware data of each of the slave units, and a method for updating firmware data of an apparatus having:
The storage unit stores identification information for specifying a functional unit controlled by the slave unit, and a single unit stored in the storage unit simultaneously or concurrently with another slave unit by the master unit. A step of identifying and setting the setting information of the own unit based on the identification information from the firmware data of
How to update firmware data.

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