JP3523380B2 - Printer device using expansion board for PCI bus connection - Google Patents

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0001] [Technical Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a printer apparatus using the P CI expansion board bus connection and, more particularly, PCI bridge expansion boards for PCI bus connection It relates printer apparatus using <br/> the PC I bus connection expansion board that connects to the PCI bus of the PC motherboard internal local bus expansion boards through. [0002] In recent years, with the development of fine processing technology, C
The processing speed of the PU has been dramatically increased, and the processing speed of a device equipped with such a high-speed CPU is limited by the performance of the system bus. For this reason, PCI (Perip) is one of the high-speed buses to solve this problem.
heral Component Interconn
ect) bus is PCI SIG (Sp) including Intel
electrical Interest Group). FIG. 5 shows a conventional PCI bus using a PCI bus.
1 shows a schematic configuration of a system. As shown in the figure, a PC CPU 501 and a host CPU and memory are connected to a host bus (internal local bus).
A device with a large amount of data (here,
An HDD (hard disk), a device that needs to transfer data at high speed (for example, a high-speed I / O such as a video device) and the like are connected. The PCI bus and the host bus are connected to a PCI host bridge (bus bridge circuit).
Through the PC motherboard 501
The whole control can be performed by the host CPU. Further, an extension board 50 having a certain function is provided.
2 and 503, PCI bus conversion LSIs 502a and 503a including a PCI bridge (bus bridge circuit) are mounted, and connectors 50 on the extension boards 502 and 503 side are mounted.
4 and the PCI connector 50 on the PC motherboard 501 side
5, the PCI bus conversion LSI 50
The internal local buses of the expansion boards 502 and 503 and the PCI bus of the PC motherboard 501 are connected via 2a and 503a, so that the system can be expanded. FIG. 6 shows an example of mounting an expansion board in a conventional PCI system. For example, an expansion board 5 is connected to a PCI connector 505 on the PC motherboard 501 side.
By inserting the 02 connector 504, the system can be easily expanded. On the other hand, in recent years, with the demands for higher performance, multi-functionality, and miniaturization of various devices, progress in networking (establishment of a LAN) and reduction of installation space, etc. By combining a printer module unit with a function and a scanner module unit with a scanner function via a PC motherboard with a PC function, in addition to the printer function and the scanner function, multi-functions such as copy function and facsimile function Printer devices that realize the realization are proposed. However, according to the above-mentioned prior art, a PCI bus conversion LSI is mounted on each expansion board itself, and the internal local bus of the expansion board is connected to the expansion bus via the PCI bus conversion LSI. Although connected to the PCI bus of the PC motherboard, the PCI bus conversion L
Since the cost of the SI is high, the cost of the expansion board increases, and the PCI increases with the number of expansion boards.
There is a problem that the device cost of the device equipped with the system is increased. For the same reason, a printer module having a printer function and a scanner module having a scanner function are connected to a P
Even in a printer device configured to be integrated via a C motherboard, there is a problem that the device cost increases. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above, and an object of the present invention is to reduce the cost of a single expansion board and reduce the cost of a device. [0012] In order to achieve the above object,
According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a printer using a PCI bus connection expansion board, in which a printer module having a printer function and a scanner module having a scanner function are integrated via a PC motherboard having a PC function. Thus, in a printer device that realizes multi-functions such as a copy function and a facsimile function in addition to the printer function and the scanner function, the control board of the printer module unit and the internal local bus are laid. Local bus
A printer controller board having a front-end connector and a rear-end connector connected to the printer, a control board for the scanner function, an internal local bus laid, and a front-end connector connected to the laid local bus.
A scanner controller board having a scanner and a rear end connector, a PC motherboard on which a host bus and a PCI bus are laid, and at least a PCI bridge and a PC.
Comprising an expansion board for PCI bus connection with a second connector for the first connector and the internal local bus interface for I interface, and a first connector, a PCI connector provided on the PC motherboard To the PCI bus connection expansion board.
And the over de and the PC motherboard and contact <br/> connection so as to be substantially perpendicular, and the second connector, the printer controller board contact and scanner controller board Neu
One of the front end connectors is for the PCI bus connection
So that the expansion board and the one board are substantially vertical
Connected to the rear end connector of the one board.
And the front connector of the other board is
Each board is almost parallel to the PC motherboard
The connected Rukoto to be, the PCI bus connection expansion board through the PCI bridge of the printer controller board contact and scanner controller board the PC motherboard internal local bus of a PC
It connects to the I bus. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Hereinafter, an embodiment of a printer apparatus using the PC I bus connection expansion board of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows a printer 102 according to this embodiment.
FIG. The printer device 102 of the present embodiment
In addition to having a printer function on its own, image data read by the scanner 101 can be output by the printer device 102 by combining with the scanner 101 as shown in the figure. In other words, the configuration is such that the copying function can be realized by the configuration of the printer device 102 and the scanner 101. Reference numeral 103 denotes a table on which the printer device 102 and the scanner 101 are placed. FIG. 2 shows a hardware configuration of a control system which is a main part of the present invention. A printer device 102 controls a printer engine 102a to realize a printer function. 201, a scanner controller board 202 as a control board of a scanner module unit for controlling the scanner 101 from the printer device 102 side to realize a scanner function, and a printer device 102
PC motherboard 203 for performing various controls for multi-functionalization of PC, and internal local buses 201e and 202c of printer controller board 201 and scanner controller board 202 are connected to PC motherboard 203.
And a PCI bus connection expansion board 204 for connecting to the I bus 203a. The printer controller board 20
Reference numeral 1 denotes an ASIC 201a for exchanging data with the printer engine 102a, and a CPU 2 for controlling a printer function of the printer device 102.
01b, memory 201c and I / O 201d, and RI
An internal local bus 201e composed of an SC bus and a connector 205 for connecting the internal local bus 201e to a PCI bridge 204c of a PCI bus connection expansion board 204 described later are provided. Although not shown, it is assumed that an interface such as an NIC for connecting to a LAN or a telephone line and an extended memory such as an HDD are provided as necessary. The scanner controller board 202 includes:
An ASIC 202a for exchanging data with the scanner 101; an I / O 202b for implementing a scanner function from the printer device 102;
An internal local bus 202c composed of an SC bus, a connector 206 for connecting the internal local bus 201c to a PCI bridge 204c of a PCI bus connection expansion board 204 described later, and an internal local bus of another expansion board (for example, Local bus 201e) and the internal local bus 2 of the scanner controller board 202.
And a connector 206A for connecting to the H.02c. Although illustration is omitted, if necessary, CP
An extended memory such as U or HDD can be provided, and has at least the configuration shown in the figure. The PC motherboard 203 is a general-purpose PCI
A bus 203a and an internal local bus 2 as a host bus
03b, PCI bus 203a and internal local bus 20
3b, and a host CPU connected to the internal local bus 203b.
203d, a memory 203e, an HDD 203f and an I / O 203g connected to the PCI bus 203a, and PCI bus slots 210 to 212 which are PCI connectors for connecting another expansion board to the PCI bus 203a. Further, the PCI bus connection expansion board 204 of this embodiment is
PCI interface connector (first connector) 2 connectable to CI bus slots 210-212
09 and the connector 20 of the printer controller board 201 and the scanner controller board 202.
2 connectors (second connector) 20 for an internal local bus interface connectable to 5,206
7, 208, a driver / receiver 204a for exchanging data with the internal local bus via the connectors 207, 208, a controller 204b for controlling the driver / receiver 204a, an internal local bus and a PCI bus. And a PCI bridge 204c for connecting to the power supply 203a. Here, the driver / receiver 204a and the controller 204b
And the PCI bridge 204c corresponds to a conventional PCI bus conversion LSI. With reference to FIGS. 3 and 4, an example of mounting using the PCI bus connection expansion board 204 in the above configuration (that is, a PCI system expansion method) will be described. As shown in FIG.
The connector 209 of the PCI bus connection expansion board 204 is inserted into the third PCI bus slot 210, and the PCI bus connection expansion board 204 is connected to the PC motherboard 203. Next, the connector 205 of the printer controller board 201 is connected to the PCI bus connection expansion board 204.
The printer controller board 201 is connected to the PCI bus connection expansion board 204. As a result, as shown in FIG. 2, the internal local bus 20 of the printer controller board 201 is
1e is a connector 205, a connector 207, a driver / receiver 204a, a PCI bridge 204c,
The connector 209 is connected to a PCI bus 203 a of the PC motherboard 203 via a PCI bus slot 210. Similarly, the scanner controller board 2
02 is inserted into the connector 208 of the PCI bus connection expansion board 204, and the scanner controller board 202 is connected to the PCI bus connection expansion board 2
04, the scanner controller board 20
2 is connected to the PCI bus of the PC motherboard 203 via the PCI bus connection expansion board 204.
Connected to bus 203a. Further, the connector 302 of the expansion board 301 can be directly connected to the PCI bus slot 212 to connect the expansion board 301 to the PC motherboard 203 as in the conventional case. However, in this case, it goes without saying that a PCI bus conversion LSI is mounted on the extension board 301. Alternatively, a PCI bus connection expansion board 2
As another installation example using the PC bus 04, as shown in FIG.
0 is the connector 2 of the expansion board 204 for PCI bus connection.
09 and insert the PCI bus connection expansion board 204 into P
After connecting to the C motherboard 203, the connector 206 of the scanner controller board 202 is inserted into the connector 207 of the PCI bus connection expansion board 204,
The scanner controller board 202 may be connected to the PCI bus connection expansion board 204, and then the connector 205 of the printer controller board 201 may be connected to the connector 206A of the scanner controller board 202. In this case, the internal local bus 202c of the scanner controller board 202 is, like FIG.
The internal local bus 20 of the printer controller board 201 is connected to the PCI bus 203a of the PC motherboard 203 via the PCI bus connection expansion board 204.
1e is connected to the internal local bus 202c of the scanner controller board 202 via the connector 205 and the connector 206A, and then connected to the PCI bus 203a along the same route as the internal local bus 202c of the scanner controller board 202. That is, the internal local bus 201e and the internal local bus 202c are integrally connected to the PCI bus 203a. As described above, according to this embodiment, the expansion boards (the printer controller board 201 and the scanner controller board 2) are connected via the PCI bus connection expansion board 204 equipped with the conventional PCI bus conversion LSI.
02 etc.) can be connected to the PC motherboard 203,
There is no need to arrange a PCI bus conversion LSI on the extension board side, and the cost of the extension board alone can be reduced. In addition, this can reduce the cost of the apparatus. In this embodiment, the PC motherboard 2
03, three PCI bus slots 210 to 212 are provided, but the number is not particularly limited. Similarly, the connector of the PCI bus connection expansion board 204 (2
07, 208) is not limited to two. As described above, the printer device using the PCI bus connection expansion board of the present invention (claim)
1 ) is a control board of the printer module part, and an internal local bus is laid ,
Has front and rear connectors to connect to the bus
A printer controller board to be installed, a control board for the scanner function, and an internal local bus laid, and a front-end connector connected to the laid local bus
A scanner controller board having a connector and a rear end connector, and a PC on which a host bus and a PCI bus are laid
It includes a motherboard, at least PCI bridge, the expansion board for PCI bus connection with a second connector for the first connector and the internal local bus interface for a PCI interface, and a first connector provided on the PC motherboard PCI connector and PCI bus connection expansion board and PC motherboard
Connect so that the de becomes substantially perpendicular, and a second connector, the printer controller board contact and one of the front connectors of the scanner controller board,
The expansion board for PCI bus connection and one board are almost vertical
And the rear end connector of one board
The front connector of the other board is
Each board should be approximately parallel to the PC motherboard.
The Rukoto is connected to so that the internal local bus of the printer controller board contact and scanner controller board via the PCI bridge expansion boards for PCI bus connection for connecting to the PCI bus of the PC motherboard, the individual expansion board There is no need to arrange a PCI bus conversion LSI, so that the cost of the expansion board alone can be reduced and the cost of the device can be reduced. In addition,
Runner controller board and printer controller
Laboards are connected together in series, and the PC
By being connected almost vertically to the I-bus connection expansion board
Therefore, maintain the positional relationship almost parallel with the PC motherboard
The height of the PCI bus connection expansion board
Dimension of the equipment to reduce
Noh. The scanner controller board and
When assembling the printer controller board,
After connecting both boards together in series, the PCI bus
Since it is connected to the connection expansion board, the number of manufacturing steps is reduced,
And other boards vertically with respect to the vertically arranged expansion board.
Can reduce the complicated work of connecting
You.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is an external view of a printer device according to the present embodiment. FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of a control system that is a main part of the present invention. FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of attachment using the PCI bus connection expansion board of the embodiment. FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing another example of attachment using the PCI bus connection expansion board of the embodiment. FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing a schematic configuration of a conventional PCI system using a PCI bus. FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of mounting an expansion board in a conventional PCI system. DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 101 Scanner 102 Printer device 201 Printer controller board 201e Internal local bus 202 Scanner controller board 202c Internal local bus 203 PC motherboard 203a PCI bus 203b Internal local bus (host bus) 203c PCI host bridge 203d Host CPU 204 PCI bus connection expansion board 204a Driver / receiver 204b Controller 204c PCI bridge 205 Connector 206, 206A Connector 207, 208 Connector (second connector) 209 Connector (first connector) 210, 211, 212 PCI bus slot (PC
I connector)

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuation of the front page (56) References JP-A-7-334564 (JP, A) JP-A-5-181791 (JP, A) JP-A-4-286047 (JP, A) JP-A-4- 333909 (JP, A) JP-A-7-99552 (JP, A) US Patent 5123092 (US, A) US Patent 5191657 (US, A) International Publication No. WO 93/020517 (WO, A1) U) Registered utility model 3001429 (JP, U) (58) Fields investigated (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB name) G06F 3/00 B41J 29/38 G06F 3/12 G06F 13/36 320

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims 1] A printer module unit having a printer function and a scanner module unit having a scanner function are fused via a PC motherboard having a PC function, so that the printer function and the In a printer device that realizes multi-functions such as a copy function and a facsimile function in addition to a scanner function, a control board of the printer module unit;
Internal local bus is laid, the laid down by local
Has front and rear connectors to connect to the bus
A printer controller board to be controlled, a control board for the scanner function, and an internal local bus laid, and connected to the laid local bus.
A scanner controller board having a front end connector and a rear end connector connected thereto, a PC motherboard on which a host bus and a PCI bus are laid, a first connector for at least a PCI bridge, a PCI interface, and the inside comprising an expansion board for PCI bus connection with a second connector for local bus interface, wherein the a first connector and a PCI connector provided on the PC motherboard expansion for the PCI bus connection
So that the upholstery board and the PC motherboard are substantially vertical
Connected to a second connector, either the printer controller <br/> board contact and scanner controller board
One front end connector is the PCI bus connection expansion board.
Board and the one of the boards are connected so that they are substantially vertical.
The other connector on the one end of the board
The front end connector of one board is
So that each is substantially parallel to the PC motherboard
The connected Rukoto in, characterized by connecting the internal local bus of the printer controller board contact and scanner controller board via the PCI bridge of the expansion board for PCI bus connected to the PCI bus of the PC motherboard P
A printer device using a CI bus connection expansion board.