JP3050155B2 - Printing equipment - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a printing apparatus for executing a printing process based on print data input from a host such as a personal computer or a copying machine. The present invention relates to a printing apparatus that receives data from a host at a data transfer rate based on a synchronization signal.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A host informs a user of a host of a current state of a printing apparatus (for example, printing, printing completed, no paper, etc.). Therefore, on the printing device side,
A status signal, which is a signal for notifying the host of the state of the own device, is transmitted to the host as necessary. As described above, in the case of transmitting and receiving data between the printing apparatus and the host based on the synchronization signal transmitted from the printing apparatus to the host, such a status signal is synchronized with the synchronization signal. And transmitted from the printing apparatus to the host.

[0003] Here, for example, if the host has a low data receiving capability, that is, if the input buffer in the host is small or the processing capability of the received data is low, data loss may occur in the host. . Therefore, conventionally, in such a case, a method has been adopted in which the data transfer speed of transmission and reception between the host and the printing apparatus is set low enough to be processed by the host.

By the way, among printing apparatuses which execute predetermined printing processing based on print data transmitted from a host, a synchronizing signal is supplied to the host from the printing apparatus side, and the printing data synchronized with the synchronizing signal is supplied to the host. There is a type that adopts a bidirectional synchronous serial interface system that receives a command from a host. In a printing apparatus adopting such an interface method, required print processing is performed by receiving print data transmitted by the host at the same timing as a synchronization signal supplied to the host.

Here, a command for changing the data transfer rate is transmitted from the host to the printing apparatus so that the data transfer rate of the synchronization signal output from the printing apparatus is reduced to a level that can be processed by the host. In some cases, the data transfer speed of a synchronization signal output from a printing apparatus is temporarily changed. In that case, the host receives a synchronization signal of the changed data transfer rate from the printing device, prepares for data reception at this speed, and when the preparation is completed, the completion signal (e.g., Read
After transmitting the y signal), data from the printing apparatus is received. After receiving the data from the printing apparatus, the same processing is performed to change to the original data transmission speed.

In the above-described processing for changing the data transfer speed, a protocol for such control is set on the host side, a predetermined command is sent to the printing apparatus based on the protocol, and the printing apparatus is controlled. This is done by providing a corresponding protocol on the side.

[0007]

However, in the above-described conventional configuration, when the data transfer speed between the host and the printing apparatus is set to be low, the data transfer speed from the host to the printing apparatus is reduced. The time required for print data transmission from the side becomes long, and it takes time to complete the print processing. In addition, when the data transfer speed is temporarily changed, it is necessary to perform a complicated process as described above, which complicates the control and takes extra time to execute the process.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a printing apparatus which does not have the above-mentioned problems and can reliably transmit necessary data to a host even when the host has a low data processing capability.

[0009]

A printing apparatus according to the present invention for solving the above-mentioned problems includes an interface control unit for transmitting / receiving data to / from a host, and a predetermined printing process based on data received from the host. And a print processing execution unit. The print processing execution unit includes a timer unit that sequentially counts a set count value, and the interface control unit issues a data output instruction each time the count of the count value in the timer unit expires. And a data transmission unit for transmitting data of a predetermined length in time to the host at predetermined time intervals in accordance with the data output instruction.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a printing apparatus, wherein the interface control unit sequentially counts a set count value, and the timer unit expires counting the count value. A control unit for issuing a data output instruction every time, and a data transmission unit for transmitting data of a predetermined length in time to the host side at a predetermined time interval according to the data output instruction. I do.

Preferably, the print processing execution unit further includes a command detection unit for detecting a command in the data received from the host, and the command detection unit includes a change command from the host for instructing the change of the count value. The configuration is such that the setting of the count value in the timer unit is changed when detecting (for example, data on the type of host transmitted from the host side, change request data from the host).

Alternatively, the interface control section further includes a command detection section for detecting a command in data received from a host, wherein the command detection section comprises:
When detecting a change command from the host instructing the change of the count value (for example, data on the type of the host transmitted from the host side, change request data of the count value from the host), the count value in the timer unit is detected. May be changed. The print processing execution unit may include a reception buffer memory unit that stores print data in data received from the host, and perform the print processing while sequentially reading the stored data.

[0013]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

(First Embodiment) FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a system using a printing apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention.
This system includes a host 10 such as a computer, and a printing device (printer) 20 connected to the host 10 via a printer cable (not shown). The printing apparatus 20 includes an interface control unit (I / F) 21 for transmitting / receiving data to / from the host 10 and a print processing execution unit 2
And 2.

As shown in FIG. 2, the interface section 21 includes a data receiving section 21A, a control section 21B, a synchronization signal output section 21C, and a data transmitting section 21D.

The data receiving section 21A receives the data signal S1 transmitted from the host 10, and receives the data signal S1.
Is output to the print processing execution unit 22. Synchronous signal output unit 21
C outputs a synchronization signal S3 to the host 10 and
Outputs data to the printing device 20 in synchronization with the synchronization signal S3. The control unit 21B detects the expiration of the count of the count value in the timer unit 227 described later, and when detecting the expiration, outputs a data output instruction to the data transmission unit 211D. The data transmission unit 21D temporarily stores data transmitted from the printing apparatus 20 to the host 10, such as a status signal transmitted from a state detection unit 228 described later. When the data output instruction is given from the control unit 21B, data of a predetermined length in the stored data is converted into a signal S2 as a signal S2.
Output to 0.

The print processing execution section 22 includes a reception buffer memory section 221, a data reading section 222, a command detection section 223, a data analysis / conversion section 224, and a data development section 22.
5, a print processing unit 226, a timer unit 227, and a state detection unit 228.

The reception buffer memory section 221 temporarily stores data input via the data receiving section 21A of the interface section 21. Data reading unit 222
Reads data accumulated in the reception buffer memory unit 221 sequentially. When the command detection unit 223 detects a change command instructing to change the data or the count value in the data signal S1 regarding the type of the host 10, the command detection unit 223 changes the count value set in the timer unit 227. The data analyzer / converter 224 analyzes the read data and converts the data into a predetermined data format. The data expanding unit 225 expands the data converted by the data analyzing / converting unit 224 into print image data.
The print processing unit 226 performs print processing based on the expanded print image data.

A predetermined count value is set in the timer section 227, and the timer section 227 sequentially counts this count value in synchronization with a synchronization signal. In addition, the state detection unit 226 includes
A status signal representing the current state (printing, printing completed, out of paper, etc.) at 0 is output at a predetermined timing in synchronization with the synchronization signal S3. This status signal
The data is input to the data transmission unit 21D and temporarily stored.
In addition, in addition to the status signal, for example, a code signal for notifying the model of the printing apparatus 20 is stored in the data transmission unit 21D. The signals stored in the data transmission unit 21D are transmitted from the data transmission unit 21D to the host 1 at a predetermined timing as a signal S2 as described later.
Output to 0.

Each of the above functional blocks is normally provided in the printing apparatus 20 in accordance with an instruction group (computer program and necessary data) stored in an instruction storage means such as a ROM provided in the printing apparatus 20. The processing unit (CPU) is formed by executing required processing.

Next, the operation of the printing apparatus 20 of the above embodiment will be described. First, in a state where the printing apparatus 20 and the host 10 are connected via a printer cable,
The synchronization signal S3 is output from the interface unit 21 to the host 10. The host 10 transmits the synchronization signal S
3 and a data signal S1 from a transmitting circuit (not shown) in synchronization with the synchronization signal S2.
Output to 0. This data signal S1 is output to the printing device 20 via a printer cable. Then, in a normal state, the print data in the data signal S1 transmitted from the host 10 is transmitted to the print processing execution unit 22 via the data reception unit 21A, and the print processing execution unit 22 performs a predetermined print process.

On the other hand, when the printing apparatus 20 outputs an output signal to the host, such as the above status signal or code signal, before printing, during printing, or when printing is completed, These signals are temporarily stored in the data transmission unit 21D.

Here, the control unit 21B includes a timer unit 227
When the count of the count value in has expired, a data output instruction is issued to the data transmission unit 21D. Upon receiving this instruction, the data transmission unit 21D transmits only a predetermined length of the temporarily stored data, for example, only 1 byte,
The signal is output to the host 10 as a signal S2. The output of the signal S2 is performed every time there is a data output instruction from the data transmission unit 21D. Then, when there is a data output instruction and there is no accumulated data, the signal S2 is not output from the data transmission unit 21D.

When the model of the host 10 is changed, or in an environment where the host 10 is connected to another computer or a peripheral device by a LAN (local area network), the host prints data for printing. When it is necessary to change the data transfer speed from the printing device 20 due to the necessity of the host performing other processing at the same time when outputting the data to the printer 10, such data is included in the data signal S1 from the host 10. Contains change commands. This change command is input to the print processing execution unit 22 via the data reception unit 21A, and is detected by the command detection unit 223 of the print processing execution unit 22.

The command detector 223 appropriately changes the count value set in the timer 227 based on the change command, thereby changing the output timing of the signal S2 from the data transmitter 21D. .

(Second Embodiment) FIG. 3 shows a printing apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, the data reception unit 21A of the interface control unit 21 is configured by a print data detection unit 211 and a command detection unit 212, and the interface control unit 21 is provided with a timer unit 21E. Elements having the same functions as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals.

The print data detector 211 detects print data in the data signal S1 transmitted from the host 10,
The detected print data is transmitted to the print processing execution unit 22. The command detection unit 212 has the same function as the command detection unit 223 of FIG. 1, detects a change command in the data signal S1, and responds to the command by the timer unit 22.
7 is to change the set count value. The timer section 21E has the same function as the timer section 227 of FIG. 1, has a predetermined count value set, and has a function of sequentially counting this count value in synchronization with a synchronization signal.
The control unit 21B detects the expiration of the count of the count value in the timer unit 21E, and when detecting the expiration, outputs a data output instruction to the data transmission unit 21D.

The operation of the printing apparatus of this embodiment is as follows.
This is the same as in FIG. That is, the change command from the host 10 is transmitted to the command detecting unit 2 of the data receiving unit 21A.
12, the command detection unit 212 appropriately changes the count value set in the timer unit 21E based on the change command, and sends the data transmission unit 21D
The output timing of the signal S2 is changed.

[0029]

As is apparent from the above description, according to the present invention, there is an effect that necessary data can be reliably transmitted to the host even when the data processing capability of the host is low.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic explanatory view of a printing apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram illustrating a main configuration of the printing apparatus in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a functional block diagram illustrating a main configuration of a printing apparatus according to a second embodiment of the invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 10 host 20 printing device 21 interface control unit 21A data reception unit 21B control unit 21C synchronization signal output unit 21D data transmission unit 21E, 227 timer unit 22 print processing execution unit 211 print data detection unit 212, 223 command detection unit 224 data analysis / Conversion unit 225 Data development unit 226 Print processing unit

Claims (5)

(57) [Claims] An interface control unit for transmitting / receiving data to / from a host; and a print processing execution unit for performing a predetermined print process based on data received from the host. Includes a timer unit that sequentially counts a set count value, wherein the interface control unit is a control unit that issues a data output instruction each time the counting of the count value in the timer unit expires, and the data output instruction A data transmission unit for transmitting data of a predetermined length in time to the host at predetermined time intervals. 2. An interface control unit for transmitting / receiving data to / from a host, and a print processing execution unit for performing a predetermined print process based on data received from the host, wherein the interface control unit A timer unit for sequentially counting a set count value, a control unit for issuing a data output instruction each time the counting of the count value in the timer unit expires, and a predetermined length of time by the data output instruction. A data transmitting unit for transmitting the data to the host at predetermined time intervals. 3. The print processing execution unit further includes a command detection unit that detects a command in data received from a host, wherein the command detection unit receives a change command from the host instructing a change of the count value. 3. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the setting of the count value in the timer unit is changed when the detection is performed. 4. The interface control unit further includes a command detection unit that detects a command in data received from a host, wherein the command detection unit detects a change command from the host instructing to change the count value. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the setting of the count value in the timer unit is changed when the printing is performed. 5. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined data output from the data output instruction unit is data relating to a status of the printing apparatus.