JPH01255864A - Ic for image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To easily change specifications at a user side by providing a non- volatile and rewritable memory on the same chip as the chip of a CPU which controls the entire part of the device and allowing the rewriting of the contents of this memory from the outside of the device. CONSTITUTION:The CPU 2 which controls the entire part of the entire part of the device and the non-volatile and electrically rewritable memory 3 are provided on the same chip in the device. An input/output means 13 for rewriting the contents of the memory 3 from the outside of the device is provided. The each change of the specifications of respective apparatus from the outside is thereby enabled; in addition, the memory 3 is provided on the same chip as the chip of the CPU which controls the entire part of the device and, therefore, less wirings are necessitated and the simple constitution is obtd.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to an IC for an image forming apparatus that can improve each function and performance within the apparatus.

(Prior Art) One of the conventional image forming apparatuses is an apparatus using electrophotography, such as a copying machine.Such apparatuses include charging, W light,
There are complex processes such as development, transfer, and fixing, and the functions of each device in these processes are usually fixed and incorporated into the device at the time of manufacture. Therefore, the switching operations that can be performed by the user or service person are mainly through key operations on the operation panel, with the exception of the service person setting switches for image adjustment. but,
Recently, the functions of copiers have become more diverse, and the copy magnification settings are 9
In addition to single-color editing, continuous page copying, and double-sided copying, there is also a sorter that sorts copy paper and a DF that automatically sets originals.
(Document feeder) can also be operated using key switches on the operation panel.

[Problem to be solved by the invention]

However, with conventional devices, manufacturers have uniformly set a variety of specifications that cover a wide range of user requirements as described above, making it impossible for users to change specifications and requiring complex functions. The device is difficult for the user to use, and incorrect copying may occur due to incorrect usage, and the device's functions cannot be fully utilized. In addition, for service personnel who maintain and maintain the equipment, image adjustments must be made by switching switches and adjusting the volume, which makes the service work complex and time-consuming, and limits the scope of service. It is difficult to understand the operating status of the system, and users need to visit the system frequently for maintenance. Specifically, it is difficult to quickly respond to user complaints because the frequency and location of paper jams in the device cannot be determined, or the environment in which the device is used is different, such as high temperature, high humidity, low temperature, high altitude, etc. There is no way for the user to adjust the device, or the user has to use a switch or volume, so it is not possible to provide sufficient support. Furthermore, on the manufacturing side, the display language and the language of the whistle recorder must be changed depending on the destination, making manufacturing management complicated. Since the design covers the entire range from 10% RH to 90% RH, there may be an increase in cost or manufacturing limitations. In addition, in the case of a printer device used as an output means of a computer, it is necessary to rewrite the set conditions such as the device's selection number and color specification 1 magnification all at once to the desired data. It is difficult to use because it does not have a function to retain the set data.

Therefore, EEPROM (Electrical
ly ErasableProgrammable R
It is also being considered to allow the user to change each specification of the device by using the OM), but in this case, the circuit would be complicated due to the relationship with other devices, and it would also increase wiring and cost. etc., making it difficult to realize.

In other words, with conventional electrophotographic devices, it is difficult for the user to change the specifications, and each function is difficult to change.

I couldn't take full advantage of the performance, and the operability was poor.

There was a problem that serviceability could not be improved.

The present invention was developed in view of these problems, and allows the user to easily change specifications, and has a simple configuration and miniaturization.

An object of the present invention is to provide an IC for an image forming apparatus that can be manufactured at a low price.

[Means to solve the problem]

The image forming device IC of the present invention includes a CPU for controlling the entire device and a nonvolatile and electrically rewritable memory on the same chip, and the contents of the memory can be rewritten from outside the device. It is equipped with input/output means.

Further, the IC for an image forming apparatus of the present invention has the above-mentioned memory as a C.
This memory is also used as the memory around the PU, and furthermore, each data of image forming conditions is stored in this memory.

It is designed to be able to store at least one of data for each function and data indicating usage status.

[Effect]

Since the IC for image forming apparatus of the present invention is provided with a nonvolatile and electrically rewritable memory, the specifications of each device can be easily changed from the outside. Furthermore, since this memory is provided on the same chip as the CPU that controls the entire device, it has a simple configuration with fewer wiring lines.

In addition, if the above memory is also used as the memory surrounding the CPU, the configuration becomes even simpler, and by storing data on each image forming condition, data by function, data indicating usage status, etc. in this memory, it can meet the needs of a wide range of users. can be satisfied.

(Embodiment) FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention, and shows the case of a copying machine or a printer device. In the figure,
The part within the dotted line is configured on the ICI of the l chip, and within this is the CPU core 2 that manages and controls the entire device.
, non-volatile and electrically rewritable memory (EE
A PROM) 3, a program memory 4 that stores basic operating programs such as device sequences, and a data memory 5 that stores data that needs to be sequentially rewritten according to the operation content, such as display data, are provided.

The program memory 4 is mask ROM or FRO.
The data memory 5 is composed of SRAM or DRAM.

These memories 4 and 5 are connected to a switch board 6 and an LCD display 7 in the device, respectively.
)' are connected via the Lye equation 9.

This chip also includes a serial input/output unit (ILO) as an input/output means for inputting and outputting data from a boat 11 for inputting signals from each sensor 10 inside the device and an external controller 12 outside the device. ) 13 are provided.

Note that 14 in the figure is an internal bus within the chip.

The switch board 6 is normally located in the operation section, and is lined with switches for various settings used by the user when selecting a copy mode. The contents of each mode and copy operation selected by these switches are once written into the data memory 5, and the contents are displayed on the LCD display 7 by the LCD driver 9. At the same time, the LCD display 7 displays the status of each device detected by the sensors 10, such as the position of the document table and the presence or absence of copy paper.

The operating status of equipment necessary for copying machines and printers, such as the driving status of each motor and solenoid, is displayed.

The main processes in this electrophotographic apparatus include charging, exposure, development, transfer, and fixing, and all of these steps are controlled in a predetermined manner for the purpose of obtaining stable images. For example, in the charging and transfer processes that normally use corona discharge, constant current control is performed so that a constant current always flows, constant voltage control is performed so that a constant voltage is always applied, and the respective voltage and current values are switched. etc. are carried out.

However, the control conditions for stiffness vary depending on the environment in which it is used, such as temperature, humidity, and atmospheric pressure, and also change over time.
For example, changes in the characteristics of the photoreceptor.

It also varies depending on the dirt on the discharge component material.

As a countermeasure to this problem, a method of controlling charging, developing conditions, etc. using various sensors that detect temperature, humidity, atmospheric pressure, etc. has been considered, but the equipment is expensive and cannot be completely controlled. is the current situation. Also, consider where the equipment will be set up, and consider whether there is a way to manually record each condition at the time of manufacture, or consider the environment in which the equipment, of which tens of thousands of units are produced per month, will be used. Setting different data for each product and shipping it is extremely difficult in terms of production management and has low feasibility.

At the same time, to obtain stable images under all environments,
The reality is that electrophotographic technology is complex and has too many unstable elements, making it unreasonable to design it.

Furthermore, the amount of exposure of service personnel in the market.

In some cases, the amount of current, etc. can be adjusted with a volume or switch, but kneading is not very easy to work with, and the adjustment range is limited, so it cannot be said to be sufficient at the current stage.

Therefore, in this embodiment, a service person can send data containing various conditions into the apparatus from the external controller 12 shown in FIG. 1 and store it in the memory 3, and control the electrophotographic process under those conditions. This allows stable images to be obtained. The stored contents of this memory 3 do not change even if the power is turned off or the device is used again the next day or a week later. Since the service person is familiar with the environment in which the device is installed, he or she can accurately determine what data should be written to the memory 3. When you want to check the contents of this memory 3,
It is also possible to display the data from the data memory 5 on the LCD display 7 via the LCD driver 9.

In addition, recently, copying machines have become multi-functional and the number of switches on the control panel has increased, so users often make mistakes when selecting the desired copy mode, or the operation becomes cumbersome. This is copy magnification setting 1 editing 1 color specification, page continuous shooting.

This is because, in addition to double-sided copying, etc., peripheral devices such as a sorter and DF can be controlled equally without priority. In this embodiment, even in such a case, the user can send the copy mode that he or she often uses into the device in advance from the external controller 12 shown in FIG. Memory 3 via port 8 from each key switch of 6
It can also be stored. Then, when copying, you can set the required mote from the memory 3 using a key switch or other means from among the several copy modes that you often use, and you can easily obtain the desired copy without making mistakes. . At that time, it is easy to change or add the desired copy mode, and recently there are cases where user management is performed using 10 carts. In this case, the external controller 12 is an ID cart such as a magnetic cart, optical card, or IC card. It may be.

Furthermore, even in cases where some representative copy modes are memorized, such as the function keys of a personal computer, to improve usability, the contents of key operations can be set and changed.

It is clear that there is a great advantage in having the memory 3 built-in when considering retention and the like.

Table 1 shows an example of how to use the above function keys. In this usage example, 8 items are provided, but this varies depending on the functions of the device, and the number of function keys can also be increased if more are required. . And for example F
If you select item l, the image will be enlarged at a magnification of 115%, the front side will be in color, the back side will be black, there will be an eraser function, there will be a sorter, and there will be DF operation.
The density is set to 4, and the same applies to the others.

In this way, since the device has a non-volatile and rewritable memory 3, the user can easily change the specifications and change each function.

Performance can be fully utilized, and operability and serviceability can be improved.

At this time, since the memory 3 and the CPU core 2 are provided on the same chip, the configuration is simple, and miniaturization and cost reduction can be achieved. Further, this memory 3 may also be used as a memory around the CPU core 2, and in this case, the configuration becomes even simpler. FIG. 2 shows a memory map in that case, and this memory 15 includes an EEPROM area 15a and a program memory area 15a corresponding to each memory 3, 4, and 5.
It is divided into a data memory area 15c and a data memory area 15c.

Further, FIG. 3 shows a schematic flowchart of the above-mentioned operation. When the CPU core 2 determines that the key switch of the switch port 6 is operated to start copying (step S1), it determines whether there is a copy mode setting input from the switch board 6 or the external controller 12 (step S2). Settings for each device are performed according to the user's human power (step S3).

Then, the copying process is performed based on the set conditions, and control contents, operations, etc. are displayed on the LCD display 7 as necessary (step S4).

Note that the data to be stored in the memory 3 may include data on image forming conditions by electrophotography, data for each function to improve operability, data indicating usage status, and the like. For example, charging data, exposure data, development data, transfer data, fixing data, electrostatic separation data, static electricity removal data, as well as functional assignment data for operation unit switches,
Display data, audio data, device selection number data, trouble data such as paper jams, user registration data, history data of the copy mode used by the user, etc. can be stored, and these data can be written. This will further improve operability and serviceability.

In addition, CPU core 2. In the same chip as memory 3,
Operational amplifier for controlling various power supplies such as low voltage, high voltage, and exposure, P
WM (pulse width control) circuit.

A/D (analog/digital) converter.

A D/A (digital/analog) converter and the like can also be configured, resulting in a simple configuration.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As explained above, according to the present invention, a non-volatile and rewritable memory is provided on the same chip as the CPU that controls the entire device, and the contents of this memory can be rewritten from outside the device. Specifications can be easily changed, each function and performance can be fully utilized, operability and serviceability can be improved, and the product has a simple configuration, small size, and low price. There is.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing one embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a memory map, and FIG. 3 is a schematic flowchart showing the operation of FIG. 1. 1...IC 2...CPU core 3...Memory 4...Program memory 5...Data memory 6... Switch board 8...Port 12...External controller

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A CPU that controls the entire device and a non-volatile electrically rewritable memory are provided on the same chip, and an input is provided for rewriting the contents of the memory from outside the device. An IC for an image forming apparatus characterized by comprising an output means. 2. The IC for an image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the memory is also used as a memory around the CPU. 3. The IC for an image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the memory stores at least one of data on image forming conditions, data for each function, and data indicating usage status.