JP2785813B2 - Data output device - Google Patents

Description

Description: BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a data output device capable of interrupting and outputting other file data when one file data is being output. 2. Description of the Related Art Recent printers are provided with a large-capacity input buffer so that a host computer can continuously transmit a fixed amount of data irrespective of a printing operation and reduce transmission waiting time. I have. In the case of using a printer having such an input buffer, the host computer transmits all the file data to be printed to the input buffer, and then executes another job without waiting for the completion of the printing operation. Can be performed. Thus, when the capacity of the input buffer is large, there is an advantage that the operation efficiency of the host computer is good. However, there is a case where one file data is being printed and another file data needs to be printed urgently. However, the conventional printer does not have an interrupt printing function. When the capacity of the input buffer is large, it is necessary to wait for a long time until all the data stored in the input buffer is printed. For this reason, especially in case of urgency, turn off the printer power during the printing operation,
There was no alternative to forcibly stopping the printing operation and printing other file data. For this reason, there is a problem that the usability of the printer is poor and the working efficiency is reduced. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems. The data output operation can be temporarily interrupted by a simple operation to enable the interrupt output of other data. It is an object of the present invention to provide a data output device capable of easily confirming that data is being loaded. [0006] In order to solve the above problems, a data output device according to the present invention provides a data output device which performs data output processing.
Data output device that interrupts and outputs other data
Means for generating an interrupt signal;
Based on the interrupt signal generated by the interrupt signal generating means of
Output interruption means for interrupting the output of data during output processing
And after the interruption by the output interruption means,
Interrupt data output means for interrupting, and a means for generating the interrupt signal.
After an interrupt signal is generated by the stage,
First display means for indicating that the output has not been interrupted,
While the interrupt data is being output by the interrupt data output means,
Second display means for indicating that the Further, in the data output device of the present invention,
The first display means and the second display means share a common display line.
May be pumped. Further, in the data output device of the present invention,
The output data is print data,
The interrupt signal is generated by the interrupt signal
If an error occurs, the output suspending means outputs the page currently being printed.
The output may be interrupted after the output of the page. Further , in the data output device of the present invention,
After the interrupt signal is generated by the interrupt signal generating means ,
Before the output is interrupted by the output interrupting means,
Flashes, and outputs the interrupt data by the interrupt data output means.
The indicator lamp is turned on during output,
Action of first display means, action of second display means, and display
A lamp may be used. Further, in the data output device of the present invention,
Both normal print data and print data at interrupt are stored
Input buffer and the amount of free space in the input buffer
And an empty area determining means for determining
While the print data is being printed out, the interrupt signal generation means
When an interrupt signal is generated, the page currently being printed is displayed.
After the input, the empty area determination means
Judge whether the sky area is equal to or more than a predetermined amount, and
If the amount is more than the current output,
Stop printing of the print data of the above multiple pages and interrupt
Data is printed and the empty area of the input buffer is
If less than the amount, print multiple pages currently being printed
Print until the end of the next page of data, and then
The empty area of the input buffer is equal to or less than a predetermined amount by the area determination means.
It may be determined whether it is above or not. In the data output device according to the present invention, when the interrupt signal is generated by the interrupt signal generating means during the data output, the first display means displays the signal before the output is interrupted by the output interrupting means.
The output of the data during the output processing is interrupted by the output interrupting means. After the interruption by the output interrupting means, another data is interrupted by the interrupt data output means, and the output of the interrupt data is performed. The fact that it is in the middle is displayed on the second display means. Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the electrical configuration of the printer according to the embodiment. A central processing unit (hereinafter, referred to as "CPU") 1 constituting a control unit of the printer P has a ROM 2, a RAM 3, and input / output interfaces 4, 5, 6 via an address bus, a data bus, and a control bus, respectively. It is connected. The ROM 2 stores a print control program including various function processing routines, font patterns, and the like. In the RAM 3, an FI for temporarily storing input data is provided.
An input buffer 31 having an FO (First In First Out) configuration, a line buffer 32 for creating a character pattern for one line, an interrupt flag 33 for detecting an interrupt signal and setting the printer P to an interrupt print mode, and printing. A format data memory 34 for storing the current format data of the file data whose operation is to be interrupted is provided. Drive units 7, 8, and 9 are connected to the input / output interfaces 4, 5, and 6, respectively. Each drive unit has an LF motor 10 for feeding paper and a print head. CR motor 1 for moving carriage
1. Printing solenoid 12 for driving impact wire
Are connected respectively. The input / output interface 6 is connected to an interrupt switch 13 which constitutes an interrupt signal generating means and an interrupt display lamp 14 for displaying an interrupt print mode. The input interface 15 of the printer P
Is the input / output interface 1 on the host computer 17 side
6 and the RA on the host computer 17 side.
The print data stored in M18 is stored in the host computer 1
7, the data is transmitted to the printer P, stored in the input buffer 31, and the data is printed by the processing of the CPU 1 of the printer P. Next, the processing procedure of the CPU 1 of the printer P will be described with reference to the timing chart of FIG. 2, the flowcharts of FIGS. 3 and 4, and the memory map of the input buffer of FIG. When the power of the printer P is turned on or reset, the main program shown in FIG. 4 is started. Step 2
0 (hereinafter referred to as “S20”; the same applies to the following steps)
Then, the input buffer 31 is cleared together with various initial settings, the interrupt flag 33 is initially set to off, and the active-high BUSY signal is set to the L level in the next S21. That is, in the timing chart of FIG.
The USY signal goes to L level, and the printer P
The state becomes USY, and data can be received from the host computer 17. Next, the flow shifts to S22, where the input buffer 31
Is determined whether or not there is data. In the first execution cycle, since no data exists in the input buffer 31, S
The determination result at 22 is NO, and the process returns to S21. In the first execution cycle, the BUSY signal is already at the L level, and once the BUSY signal level is set, it is latched until the next setting. Therefore, the processes of S21 and S22 are repeated until the power of the printer P is turned on and the data is received from the host computer 17. On the other hand, when a printer output routine is executed in the host computer 17, the level of the BUSY signal is determined in the printer output routine. B
When the USY signal is at the L level, it means that the printer P is in a receivable state.
It is detected that the Y signal is at the L level, an 8-bit parallel DATA signal is output, and at time t3, an active-low inverted DATA STROBE signal for giving a read timing of the signal is output. This active-low inverted DATA ST
When the ROBE signal is input to the input / output interface 15, the inverted DATA STROBE signal is input to the CPU 1 as an interrupt signal, and the interrupt program shown in FIG. 3 is executed. At time t3 when S1 is executed, the BUSY signal is set to the H level to prohibit transmission of the next data from the host computer 17. And the next S
At 2, it is determined whether or not the interrupt flag 33 is on. However , since the interrupt flag 33 is off in the first execution cycle,
The determination in S2 becomes NO, and the process proceeds to S3. In S3, the data of one character input to the input / output interface 15 is read, and the data is stored in the input buffer 31. In the next S4, the FIFO of the input buffer 31 such as the start data address, the end data address, and the data length is input. The parameters are updated. Next, at S5, to notify the host computer 17 of the confirmation of the data reception, the inverted ACK signal is set to the L level at time t4 when S5 is executed.
At time t5 when step 6 is executed, the inverted ACK signal is set to the H level. After all, negative pulse, active low inverted ACK
The signal is output to the host computer 17 via the input / output interface 15. Then, it is determined in S7 whether or not an empty area exists in the input buffer 31. Since an empty area exists in the input buffer 31 in the first execution cycle, S8 is executed.
To notify the host computer 17 of permission to receive the next data, the BUSY signal goes low via the input / output interface 15 at time t5 when S8 is executed.
Level, and the processing of this interrupt program ends. When the interrupt program ends, the CPU 1 returns to the loop of S21 and S22 of the main program of FIG. on the other hand,
The host computer 17 detects that the BUSY signal has become L level, and if there is transmission data, outputs the next 8-bit parallel DATA signal at time t6, and outputs the inverted DATA STROBE signal to the printer P at time t7. Is output to Then, the CPU 1 executes the interrupt program of FIG. 3 again by the inverted DATA STROBE signal, and the data receiving process is performed.
As described above, by repeating the processing of S1 to S8 of the interrupt program, the input buffer 31 stores all data of the file A to be printed, as shown in FIG. Next, returning to FIG. 4, if data is input to the input buffer 31 and the determination in S22 becomes YES, the process proceeds to S23.
Then, it is determined whether or not the interrupt flag 33 is off.
In the first execution cycle of S23, since the interrupt flag 33 is off, the determination in S23 is YES, and the flow shifts to S24 to read one line of data from the input buffer 31 and store it in the line buffer 32 for one line. Is formed, and a one-line printing process is performed. And the next S
The one-line print data printed in step S25 is deleted from the input buffer 31, and in step S26, the FIFO in the input buffer 31 is deleted.
The parameters are updated, and in the next S27, the interrupt switch 13
Is turned on. If the interrupt switch 13 is not turned on, the interrupt switch 13 is determined to be off and the process returns to S22, and the printing process of the next line is sequentially executed by the above-described process. As shown in FIG. 5B, the memory map of the input buffer 31 is deleted from the input buffer 31 in accordance with the progress of the printing process, and the data whose printing is completed is released to an empty area. As described above, when the data of the file A input to the input buffer 31 is being printed,
When the interrupt switch 13 is operated, the determination in S27 is YE
In S, the interrupt indicator lamp 14 is flickered in the next S28 to indicate that the interrupt switch 13 has been received. Then, in S29, it is determined whether or not the data of the file A has been printed to the end of the page. The interrupt switch 13
The on / off state is inverted each time the operation is performed, and the on / off state is latched until the next operation. If the data of file A has not been printed to the end of the page,
Returning to S22, the above-described printing process is continued until printing is completed to the end of the page in S29, and the interrupt lamp 14 is blinking. At S29, it is determined that printing has been performed up to the end of the page.
In the next S30, it is determined whether or not the empty area of the input buffer 31 is equal to or more than a predetermined capacity enough for interrupt printing, and if not, the flow returns to S22 and the empty area of the input buffer 31 is equal to or more than the predetermined capacity. Is continued until the end of the page, and the interrupt lamp 14 is blinking. If the empty area of the input buffer 31 is equal to or larger than the predetermined capacity, the determination in S30 becomes YES, and S
Move to 31. In S31, the interrupt indicator lamp 14 is turned on. In the next S32, the head data address, data end address, and data length of the file A stored in the input buffer 31 at that time are stored. The format data is stored in the format data memory 34. At this time, the memory map of the input buffer 31 is shown in FIG.
(C), the empty area of the input buffer 31 is defined as a sub-buffer for inputting the data of the file B to be subjected to the interrupt printing in S34, and the head data address, end data address, etc. of the sub-buffer are defined. The sub-buffer FIFO parameters are initialized. Then, the interrupt flag 33 is set to ON in S35, and the process returns to S23. At this time, since the interrupt flag 33 is set to ON in S35, the determination in S23 is NO, and the process proceeds to 36. In S36, it is determined whether or not data exists in the sub-buffer. However, since data does not exist in the sub-buffer in the first execution cycle, the determination in S36 is NO, the process proceeds to S37, and the interrupt switch 13 is turned off. It is determined whether or not the interrupt switch 13 is not turned off.
Returning to 1, the BUSY signal is set to L level. And
Until it is determined in S36 that data has been input to the sub-buffer, S21, S22, S23, S36, and S37 are repeatedly executed. During this time, the BUSY signal is at the L level, so that the host computer 17 can transmit data of the file B. When the data is transmitted from the host computer 17, the inverted DATA STROB is output.
The interrupt program of FIG. 3 is started in synchronization with the E signal.
In FIG. 3, the BUSY signal is set to the H level in S1,
At S2, it is determined whether or not the interrupt flag 33 is on. At this time, since the interrupt flag 33 is on, the process proceeds to S9, where the data received by the input / output interface 15 is stored in the sub-buffer. In the next S10, the FIFO parameters of the sub-buffer are updated. Then, the process proceeds to S5 and thereafter, the above-described inverted ACK signal is output, and the BUSY signal is set to the L level to receive the next data. As described above, the sub-buffer shown in FIG.
As shown in (d), the data of the file B is stored. When data is input to the sub-buffer, the determination in S36 of the main program in FIG. 4 becomes YES, and the process proceeds to S38, where 1
Line printing processing is executed. Then, in the next S39, FIG.
As shown in (e), the one line print data printed from the sub-buffer is deleted, and the
The O parameter is updated. Next, in S41, it is determined whether or not the sub-buffer is at the data end. If not, the process returns to S36, and the printing process of the file B input to the sub-buffer is continued as described above. When it is determined in S41 that the sub-buffer is in the data end state, the flow shifts to S40, where it is determined whether or not the interrupt switch 13 is off. If the interrupt switch 13 is not turned off, it is further assumed that there is a file C to be subjected to interrupt printing following the file B, and as described above, S34 and S
After performing the process of S35, the process returns to S23. Thereafter, as described above, S23, S36, S37, S21, S22
Are repeated. During this time, if the data of the file C is input from the host computer 17, the data of the file C is printed in the same manner as the data of the file B described above. On the other hand, while the file B is being printed or the file C
Waiting for data reception (S23, S36, S37, S2
1, while S22 is being executed), if the interrupt switch 13 is turned off, S42 after printing is completed or S3 waiting for data reception.
7 is YES, the process proceeds to S43. In S43, the FIFO parameters of the input buffer 31 relating to the file A saved in S32 are restored. In the next S44, the file A saved in the format data memory 34 in S33 in S33.
Is restored when the stamp is interrupted. And S4
At 5, the interrupt indicator lamp 14 is turned off, the interrupt flag is turned off at S46, and the process returns to S23. At this time, the input buffer 3
The memory map of No. 1 is as shown in FIG. 5 (f), and since the interrupt flag 33 has been turned off in S46, the determination in S23 becomes YES, and the above-described S24 and subsequent steps are executed. That is, the printing of the data of the file A remaining in the input buffer 31 is restarted, and the input buffer 31 sequentially stores the data of the file A as the printing progresses as shown in FIG. 31 is deleted. If the interrupt switch 13 is turned on after the printing of the file A is resumed, another file can be interrupt-printed again. In the above embodiment, since all the data of the file A is input to the input buffer 31 at one time, the host computer 17 has already finished the printing program of the file A during the printing operation. Therefore, the interrupt switch 13
Since the print program of another file B may be executed by the host computer 17 after the operation of the operation, the on / off state of the interrupt switch 13 does not need to be notified to the host computer. However, if the on / off state of the interrupt switch 13 is notified to the host computer 17, the host computer 17 detects the on state of the interrupt switch 13 and suspends the execution of the printing program for the file A. Therefore, the printing program of the file B can be executed, so that it is not necessary to transmit all the data of the file A to the input buffer 31 at one time. The interrupt signal generating means for setting the interrupt print mode may be constituted by means for transmitting an interrupt command from the host computer 17. In this case, the input data may be determined when one character data is input by the interrupt program of FIG. 3, and the interrupt print mode may be set when an interrupt command is received. As shown in FIG. 6, when the interrupt switch 13 is turned on to input the data to be interrupt-printed, the first file data stored in the input buffer 31 is transferred from the head address of the input buffer 31 to the first address. Rearrangement may be performed, and a sub-buffer including an empty area may be formed later. As described in detail above, in the present embodiment, when the data of the file A is not completely printed until the end of the page by using the interrupt display lamp 14, the interrupt display lamp 14 is blinked, Since the interrupt display lamp 14 is turned on together with the printing, after the interrupt switch 13 is operated,
It is possible to accurately identify whether interrupt printing has started or not,
In addition, a single interrupt indicator lamp 14 can be used at a low cost. According to the present invention, when an interrupt signal is generated during output of data, the first display means outputs the data by the output interrupt means.
Before interruption of data output, and output of data during output processing
The power is interrupted by the output interruption means, and the output interruption means
Interrupted, another data is interrupted by the interrupt data output means.
While the interrupt data is being output.
Is displayed by the display means. Therefore, when one file data is being output, not only can the output of that file data be temporarily interrupted to interrupt the output of other file data, but also the output
This has the effect that it is possible to easily confirm that it is before and that the interrupt data is being output.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration of a printing apparatus embodying the present invention. FIG. 2 is a timing chart showing data input to a printer. FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a processing procedure of a CPU used in the printing apparatus. FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a processing procedure of a CPU used in the printing apparatus. FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing a memory configuration of an input buffer. FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing a memory configuration of an input buffer according to another modification. [Description of Signs] P Printer 1 CPU 3 RAM 13 Interrupt switch 14 Interrupt indicator lamp 15, 16 I / O interface 17 Host computer 31 Input buffer 32 Line buffer 33 Interrupt flag 34 Format data memory

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] In a data output device for outputting another data by interrupting the data being output, an interrupt signal generating means for generating an interrupt signal, and an interrupt signal generated by the interrupt signal generating means. Output interruption means for interrupting the output of data during output processing, interrupt data output means for interrupting the another data after interruption by the output interruption means, and an interrupt signal generated by the interrupt signal generation means. After being generated,
Indicates that before the output is interrupted by the output interrupting means
A data output device comprising: a first display unit; and a second display unit that indicates that interrupt data is being output by the interrupt data output unit. 2. The first display means and the second display means are common
The display lamp according to claim 1, wherein:
Data output device. 3. The output data is print data, and
Interruption by the interrupt signal generation means during page printout
When a signal is generated, the output suspending means is currently printing.
Output is interrupted after the page is output
The data output device according to claim 1. 4. An interrupt signal is generated by the interrupt signal generating means
Later, before the output is interrupted by the output interrupting means,
The lamp blinks and the interrupt by the interrupt data output means
Turn on the indicator lamp during data output.
3. The data output device according to claim 2, wherein: 5. In addition, normal print data and print data at the time of interrupt
An input buffer in which both are stored, and a vacant area determining means for determining the amount of vacant area in the input buffer.
And the interruption signal during printout of the plurality of pages of print data.
When the interrupt signal is generated by the
After outputting the page in the character,
It is determined whether or not the empty area of the input buffer is equal to or more than a predetermined amount.
The mark of the print data of the plurality of pages currently being printed out.
Printing of interrupt data by stopping characters, and when the empty range of the input buffer is smaller than a predetermined amount.
Is the next page of the print data of multiple pages currently being printed
Print until the end, and again by the empty area judgment means
Judge whether the empty area of the input buffer is equal to or larger than a predetermined amount
4. The data output device according to claim 3, wherein: