JP3658044B2 - Printer control apparatus and method - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
[Industrial application fields]
The present invention relates to a system for printing data from a host computer, a word processor or the like, which is monitored by the host computer and the printer is operated on the screen of the host computer.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Conventionally, when a document from a host computer is printed on a printer, operations such as temporarily stopping printing halfway or resuming printing after removing an error are performed by a panel operation on the printer side. In particular, in an ink jet printer, cleaning of the print head is instructed by a panel operation during printing. However, since the operator always works toward the host computer, it is inconvenient to operate the printer operation panel.
[0003]
Also, when an error occurs in the printer or other warning information is issued, this is done by LED or LCD display attached to the same operation panel. However, since the operator always works toward the host computer, it is inconvenient to pay attention to the display on the operation panel of the printer.
[0004]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
The present invention provides a printer control apparatus and method that allow a host computer to perform display and operations that have been performed on a conventional operation panel in order to eliminate the inconveniences of the prior art described above.
[0005]
Another object of the present invention is to provide a low-cost printer by performing display and operation on the host computer side and eliminating the panel on the printer side.
[0006]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, the printer control apparatus of the present invention provides:
A determination means for determining whether the input command is a printer command or an emergency command ;
If the command entered by the determining means is determined to be a printer command, and means for reducing the is the input to the receive buffer are processed sequentially command by the command processing means,
And a means for passing the input command to a processing means for executing the emergency command without filling the received buffer when the command input by the determination means is determined to be an emergency command. .
Further, the printer control device of the present invention includes:
A receive buffer for storing printer commands;
Command processing means for sequentially processing printer commands stored in the reception buffer;
A processing means for processing an emergency command;
If the input command is a printer command, passing the commands the input to the reception buffer, if the command entered an emergency command, and means to pass to the processing means without passing the commands the input to the receive buffer It is characterized by having.
[0007]
Further, the printer control method of the present invention includes:
A determination step of determining whether the input command is a printer command or an emergency command ;
If the command entered by the determining step is determined to be a printer command, a step of packing the inputted command in the receive buffer to be processed sequentially by the command processing means,
Passing the input command to a processing means for executing the emergency command without filling the reception buffer when the command input by the determination step is determined to be an emergency command. .
Further, the printer control method of the present invention includes:
A printer control method in a printer having a reception buffer for storing a printer command, command processing means for sequentially processing the printer command stored in the reception buffer, and processing means for processing an emergency command,
If the input command is a printer command, passing the commands the input to the reception buffer, if the command entered an emergency command, characterized in that passed to the processing means without passing the commands the input to the receive buffer And
[0012]
【Example】
FIG. 1 shows a configuration example of a system according to the present invention.
[0013]
FIG. 2 shows a system configuration example of a conventional printer corresponding to this. In FIG. 2, 10 is a host computer and 20 is a printer. 31 is an interface for connecting the two. In the printer, 21 is an interface circuit for connecting to a host computer. Commands and data sent through 31 are queued in 22 receiving buffers in the order of reception.
[0014]
A command processing unit 23 comprising a microcomputer and a ROM for storing a command processing program takes out commands and data queued in 22 in the same order as they are received, interprets and processes them, and prints bitmap data to be printed. It converts into the information which controls the mechanism part 24. The printing mechanism unit 24 receives bitmap data to be printed and control information, and performs printing.
[0015]
The state monitoring unit 25 includes a sensor group that monitors the operation of the printing mechanism unit 24 and a mechanism that interprets a signal from the sensor. Information obtained by the state monitoring unit is always stored as latest information in 26 status information storage units.
[0016]
A panel control unit 27 comprising a microcomputer and a ROM for storing a panel control program displays the latest information stored in 26 on the panel display 28. The panel control unit 27 displays the latest information stored in 26 on the panel display 28. The panel display includes a display that notifies an error and an operating state by lighting of an LED, and a display that displays characters using an LCD. The 29 panel switches are key switches attached to the same panel portion, thereby giving various instructions to the printer. The instruction by the operation 29 is interpreted by the panel control unit 27 and issues a command to the command processing unit 23 and the printing mechanism unit 24 according to the content of the instruction. For example, when an online / offline operation is performed, the interface is stopped or restarted with respect to the interface circuit 21. When head cleaning is designated, the printing mechanism unit 24 is instructed.
[0017]
As described above, in the conventional printer, the display attached to the operation panel of the printer is viewed, and operations and instructions are given to the printer by the switches on the panel.
[0018]
FIG. 1 shows a configuration example of the system of the present invention. As in FIG. 2, 10 is a host computer, and 20 is a printer. 31, 32, and 33 are in an interface cable that connects the two, and each transmits functionally different information, but need not be physically separated into three types. The interface control unit 41 in the printer controls information exchange with the host computer and includes the function of the interface circuit 21.
[0019]
In the present invention, there are two types of commands sent from the host computer to the printer: printer commands and emergency commands.
[0020]
What is sent through 31 is called a printer command and is used to control all printing of the printer. Conventionally, all commands and data sent from the host computer to the printer are the same as those described with reference to FIG. Processing of the printer command is the same as that of a conventional printer. As described with reference to FIG. 2, the commands are queued in the reception buffer 22 in the order received, processed by the command processing unit 23, and printed by the printing mechanism unit 24. Similarly to the conventional printer, the status monitoring unit 25 stores the latest information in the status information storage unit 26 as described with reference to FIG.
[0021]
What is sent through 32 is unique to the present invention called an emergency command. Upon receipt, it is passed to an emergency command processing unit comprising a microcomputer for storing 42 microcomputers and an emergency command processing program, and processed. This command includes emergency execution commands that the printer must execute immediately, such as pausing and resuming printing operations, and cleaning the printer head. Further, this command includes a command for inquiring about the status of the printer. These commands are immediately executed asynchronously with the commands stored in the 22 reception buffers. The emergency command processing will be described by dividing it into two types, an emergency execution command and a status inquiry command.
[0022]
In the case of a status inquiry command, the emergency command processing unit 42 retrieves necessary information from the status information storage unit 26 according to the content of the inquiry and delivers it to the interface control unit. The interface control unit returns this status information to the host computer through 33.
[0023]
In the case of an emergency execution command, the emergency command processing unit 42 immediately processes it, and issues an instruction to the command processing unit 23, the printing mechanism unit 24, and the panel control unit 27 according to the content of the command.
[0024]
The panel control unit 27 displays the latest information of the status information unit 26 on the 28 panel display as in the conventional printer. However, the panel operation from 29 is transmitted to the emergency command processing unit 42 and processed there. This is because it is handled together with the emergency command from the host computer.
[0025]
The host computer 10 displays a printer operation screen or a printer instruction screen on the CRT screen 11, sends a printer command or an emergency command to the printer according to the operator's instruction, and performs processing according to the operator's instruction. Also, a status inquiry command is sent to acquire information relating to the printer status, and information necessary for the operator is displayed on the CRT screen for notification.
[0026]
FIG. 4 shows an embodiment of the state monitoring unit 27 when the printing mechanism unit 24 is a bubble jet printer.
[0027]
Reference numerals 101 to 106 denote sensors that monitor the operating state of the printing mechanism.
A head temperature sensor 101 observes the temperature state of the head nozzle, and detects that ink is not supplied to the nozzle by detecting an abnormal temperature rise during printing.
The home position sensor 102 is a photo sensor for adjusting the home position of the print head, but can also detect that there is an obstacle in carriage movement.
The 103 ASF (auto sheet feeder) sensor detects an abnormality in the paper pulling operation by the automatic paper feeder.
-The 104 paper out sensor is a photo sensor that detects the presence or absence of paper at the print position, but it detects paper out (no paper supply) and paper jam (paper does not advance even if it is caught and fed). To do.
The 105 suction motor sensor detects an abnormality of the motor for the rotation operation of the head nozzle.
The ink cartridge sensor 106 is a photo sensor that detects reflected light on the ink cartridge surface, and detects whether the ink cartridge is attached and whether there is ink in the cartridge.
[0028]
Detection signals from these 101 to 106 are constantly monitored by the microprocessor 110, and various abnormalities are detected with the aid of the program in the ROM 111. The detected abnormality information is written in the status information storage unit 27. The microprocessor 110 and the ROM 111 may be dedicated for constituting the state monitoring unit, or may be realized by using only one set provided in the printer.
[0029]
FIG. 5 shows a configuration example of the interface control unit of the present invention.
[0030]
A case will be described as an example where a Centronics interface that is typically used in a printer is used as the physical interface. Originally, the Centronics interface was used for one-way data transmission. However, according to the IEEE draft standard P1284, a method of using this interface for bidirectional data transmission has been proposed. FIG. 5 is based on the usage in the ECP mode in the draft standard, but only the signals relating to the present invention are described.
[0031]
In the figure, the left side from the broken line is the host computer and the right side is the printer. Reference numeral 200 denotes an interface control unit 42 on the printer side. The DATA line 201 is an 8-bit parallel bidirectional data signal line. All commands and status information are sent and received through this signal line. The REV line 202 determines the direction of the DATA line by a signal from the host. The circuit portion 210 is a DATA line direction switching circuit. When REV is 0, the direction of the DATA line is from the host to the printer and when the REV is 1, the direction from the printer to the host is effective. A COM line 203 is a signal from the host, and designates whether DATA from the host is a print command or an emergency command. HostClk 204 is a so-called strobe signal that designates a period during which DATA and COM from the host are valid. When this signal once falls and rises again, DATA and COM are taken into the latches 221 and 220, respectively, and the printer receives them. Reference numeral 230 denotes a microcomputer on the printer side, which can read the COM and HostData received by the REVs 220 and 221 of 202 as signals from the host. When HostData is latched, this is notified to the microcomputer by an interrupt signal. On the other hand, when sending data from the printer to the host, it is confirmed that the REV signal is 1, and the data is written in the transmission latch 222. When data is written, a pulse signal is automatically generated in the strobe signal PeriphClk 205 to notify the timing of host data reception.
[0032]
In the case of a system that can implement only the nibble mode in the draft standard P1284, it is impossible in principle to send two types of commands (printer command and emergency command) separately from the host computer to the printer. However, when sending a special command, an emergency command can be distinguished and sent by using the extended function of negotiation shown in the draft standard P1284.
[0033]
FIG. 6 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the microcomputer 230 of the interface control unit. The operation shown in the flowchart is started by the interruption due to the reception of HostData described with reference to FIG. 5, and is executed every time a 1-byte code is received from the host computer (step 600). The microcomputer 230 reads 220 COM and 221 HostData described in FIG. When COM is 0, it is determined that HostData is a print command, and when COM is 1, it is an emergency command (step 601). If it is a printer command including print data, it is packed in the reception buffer 22 (step 602). If it is an urgent command, this command is delivered to the urgent command processing unit 42 to promptly process it (step 603).
[0034]
Although this operation has been described with reference to a flowchart, it can be performed at higher speed by hardware without using a microcomputer.
[0035]
FIG. 7 illustrates the operation of the emergency command processing unit in detail with reference to a flowchart.
[0036]
In step 603 of FIG. 6, the emergency command processing unit 42 receives the emergency command and starts operation (step 700). In this embodiment, all emergency commands are represented by 1 byte. First, the emergency command codes are compared and assigned to the target processing (step 701).
[0037]
If it is a status information inquiry command, the process proceeds to step 710, where the inquiry information is read out by the status information storage unit 26, compiled into a 1-byte code, and passed to the interface control unit. In this embodiment, the status information is also expressed by 1 byte. The interface transmits to the host by writing to the transmission latch 222 as described in FIG. The status information inquiry command includes various inquiry commands. Although there is no description in the figure, when the inquiry content is the free space of the reception buffer, the free space of the buffer is calculated from the buffer management information of the reception buffer 22 and converted into a format expressed by 1 byte to be described later. Return to the host computer through the interface controller.
[0038]
If it is a command for enabling or disabling the panel operation, the process proceeds to step 720 or 730 to instruct the panel control unit 27 to instruct to enable or disable the panel operation. It is very confusing for the operator to enable or disable the panel operation in the middle of one print job. In order to avoid this, the present invention takes the following considerations. The command processing unit 23 always transmits and stores the job execution state to the status information storage unit 26. For example, it is notified what job is being executed, what page is being processed, and the start / end of the job. The emergency command processing unit monitors the information, and if the job is being executed, waits for the job to end (steps 715 and 725), and gives an instruction to enable or disable the panel operation. It is emitted from.
[0039]
If the command is a command for stopping the printer operation (corresponding to the function of the conventional offline key) or resuming (corresponding to the function of the conventional online key), the process proceeds to step 740 or 750, and an instruction to pause or resume the print job is issued. Commands the command processing unit 23.
[0040]
If it is a command for forcibly terminating the print job, the process proceeds to step 760, the reception buffer 22 is cleared, the command processing unit 23 is initialized (step 761), the printing paper is forcibly discharged, and the print mechanism unit 24 is initialized. (Step 762) Cancels the job being executed.
[0041]
Although not shown in the drawing, if it is a print head cleaning command, it instructs the print mechanism 24 to perform head cleaning. Further, if the command is a paper feed command, the printing mechanism unit 24 is instructed to discharge the paper.
[0042]
In this way, all emergency commands are processed under the control of the emergency command processing unit.
[0043]
As can be seen from a comparison between FIG. 1 of the present invention and FIG. 2 of the conventional example, the printer control method according to the present invention can be realized by adding an emergency command and incorporating an emergency command processing unit for processing the command. This means that this method can be applied to various conventional printers. It also means that it can be easily realized without compromising conventional development assets.
[0044]
FIG. 3 shows another embodiment of the present invention in which the printer operation panel is omitted. According to the present invention, all operations conventionally performed from the printer panel can be instructed from the host computer. In addition, everything displayed on the printer panel can be displayed on the screen of the host computer in more detail and clearly. Therefore, a printer without any trouble can be realized without the panel control unit 27, the panel display 28, and the panel switch 29 shown in FIG. All the constituent elements 10 to 42 in the figure all have the same functions as those described in FIG.
[0045]
8 and 9 are lists of emergency commands used in the present invention. All emergency commands are represented by 1 byte. 8 shows a list of status inquiry commands, and FIG. 9 shows a list of emergency execution commands.
[0046]
10 to 16 are lists of status information returned to the host computer. Status information is also expressed in 1 byte.
[0047]
In FIG. 16, the capacity of the empty buffer is represented by a 5-bit mantissa part and a 3-bit exponent part with 4 as the base. According to this expression, the range that can be expressed by 1 byte is 1 to 496K (31 * 4 ^ 7). On the other hand, if the free buffer amount is expressed in a normal integer expression, 1 to 255 for 1 byte and only 1 to 64K can be expressed with 2 bytes. In this embodiment, hardware is simplified by aligning all status information into one byte. Also, considering how the host computer uses the free buffer amount information, I want to know exactly how many bytes can be received when the free buffer amount is small. On the other hand, when there is enough free buffer, I am not impressed with how many bytes of small digits, but in order to judge how much priority should be given to the work of generating print data, a rough value of how much is free Is required. Exponential expression like this embodiment is suitable for expressing such a target value.
[0048]
【The invention's effect】
According to the present invention, all the displays and operations that can be performed on the operation panel of the printer can be performed on the screen on the host computer side based on the commands issued from the host computer and the status information sent from the printer, thereby achieving the object of the present invention. I was able to do things.
[0049]
Further, according to the present invention, an instruction which cannot be performed only by the panel operation of the conventional printer can be performed only by the screen operation on the host computer side. For example, it is possible to cancel a print job, display details of an error, and display a recovery method.
[0050]
Further, according to the present invention, it is possible to designate the operation panel of the printer as invalid, and it is possible to prevent the printing from being failed due to carelessness of another person touching the printer panel. Such a failure is likely to occur when the printer is shared.
[0051]
Furthermore, according to the present invention, the host computer can know the free capacity of the reception buffer of the printer, and efficient multitask processing can be performed. That is, by knowing in advance the amount of data that can be received by the printer, if the capacity is small, the host CPU can be scheduled to be assigned to another job.
[0052]
Furthermore, according to the present invention, it is a method that can be realized simply by adding an emergency command to a conventional printer and incorporating an emergency command processing unit, and can be applied to various printers, and can be easily developed without losing conventional development assets. Is the method.
[0053]
Furthermore, according to the present invention, the operation panel of the printer can be eliminated, the production cost can be reduced, and a low-cost printer can be provided.
[0054]
Furthermore, according to the present invention, the operation screen of the printer can be displayed on the screen of a host computer having a high resolution and a wide display range, and a detailed operation screen that is easier to understand than the operation panel of the conventional printer can be realized.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of another embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram of a conventional printer.
4 is a diagram illustrating an example of a state monitoring unit 25. FIG.
FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of an interface control unit 41;
6 is a flowchart illustrating the operation of the interface control unit 41. FIG.
7 is a flowchart illustrating the operation of the emergency command processing unit 42. FIG.
FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a list of status information inquiry commands.
FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a list of emergency execution commands.
FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a bit configuration of a first operation status.
FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating a bit configuration of a second operation status.
FIG. 12 is a diagram showing a list of unrecoverable error information.
FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a list of user-corresponding error information.
FIG. 14 is a diagram showing a list of ink-related error information.
FIG. 15 is a diagram showing a list of warning information.
FIG. 16 is a diagram illustrating a free capacity of a buffer.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Host computer 20 Printer apparatus 21 Conventional interface circuit 22 Reception buffer 23 Command processing part 24 Printing mechanism part 25 Status monitoring part 26 Status information storage part 27 Panel control part 28 Panel display 29 Panel switch 31 Conventional interface 32 Bidirectional Interface 33 Bidirectional interface 41 Interface control unit 42 Emergency command processing unit

Claims (19)

A determination means for determining whether the input command is a printer command or an emergency command ;
If the command entered by the determining means is determined to be a printer command, and means for reducing the is the input to the receive buffer are processed sequentially command by the command processing means,
And a means for passing the input command to a processing means for executing the emergency command without filling the received buffer when the command input by the determination means is determined to be an emergency command. Printer control device. A receive buffer for storing printer commands;
Command processing means for sequentially processing printer commands stored in the reception buffer;
A processing means for processing an emergency command;
If the input command is a printer command, passing the commands the input to the reception buffer, if the command entered an emergency command, and means to pass to the processing means without passing the commands the input to the receive buffer A printer control apparatus comprising: The emergency command includes a status information inquiry command,
3. The printer control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the processing unit returns status information to the host computer. The emergency command includes a panel valid command,
The printer control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the processing unit enables panel operation. The emergency command includes a panel invalid command,
The printer control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the processing unit invalidates panel operation. The emergency command includes a printer operation stop command,
3. The printer control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the processing unit instructs to stop command processing. The emergency command includes a printer operation restart command,
The printer control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the processing unit instructs resumption of command processing. The emergency command includes a print job forced termination command,
The printer control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the processing unit cancels the job being executed. The emergency command includes a print job forced termination command,
3. The printer control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the processing unit clears the reception buffer, initializes the command processing unit, and initializes the printing mechanism unit. A printer control device according to any one of claims 1 to 9,
A printer having printing mechanism means for performing printing based on a printer command processed by the command processing means. A determination step of determining whether the input command is a printer command or an emergency command ;
If the command entered by the determining step is determined to be a printer command, a step of packing the inputted command in the receive buffer to be processed sequentially by the command processing means,
Passing the input command to a processing means for executing the emergency command without filling the reception buffer when the command input by the determination step is determined to be an emergency command. Printer control method. A printer control method in a printer having a reception buffer for storing a printer command, command processing means for sequentially processing the printer command stored in the reception buffer, and processing means for processing an emergency command,
If the input command is a printer command, passing the commands the input to the reception buffer, if the command entered an emergency command, characterized in that passed to the processing means without passing the commands the input to the receive buffer Printer control method. The emergency command includes a status information inquiry command,
The printer control method according to claim 11, wherein the processing unit returns status information to a host computer. The emergency command includes a panel valid command,
13. The printer control method according to claim 11, wherein the processing unit enables panel operation. The emergency command includes a panel invalid command,
The printer control method according to claim 11, wherein the processing unit invalidates panel operation. The emergency command includes a printer operation stop command,
The printer control method according to claim 11, wherein the processing unit instructs to stop command processing. The emergency command includes a printer operation restart command,
The printer control method according to claim 11, wherein the processing unit instructs to resume command processing. The emergency command includes a print job forced termination command,
The printer control method according to claim 11, wherein the processing unit cancels the job being executed. The emergency command includes a print job forced termination command,
13. The printer control method according to claim 11, wherein the processing unit clears a reception buffer, initializes a command processing unit, and initializes a printing mechanism step.

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