JPH02170641A - Interface repeating device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To smoothly communicate with the respective interfaces of plural devices by making different the frequencies of synchronizing clocks used for a data transmission at every interface. CONSTITUTION:The control signal such as a command and picture data sent by a printer interface control part 25 are once received by a printer repeat control part 36. According to the contents of the respective control signals, the printer repeat control part 36 drives and controls a paper feeding part 37 and a paper ejecting part 35, reads the respective types of sensors, and sends the picture data and the control signal such as the command to an interface control part 26 of a printer unit 9. The printer repeat control part 36 fetches a state signal (status) from the printer unit 9 through the interface control part 26, inputs the state signals of the paper ejecting part 35 and paper feeding part 37, and returns the respective state signals (status) to the printer interface control part 25.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to an interface relay device that transmits and receives various signals to and from each interface of a plurality of devices, and is an interface suitable for use in, for example, facsimile machines and digital copying machines. This relates to a relay device.

[Conventional technology]

Conventionally, various relay methods have been proposed for this type of device.

(1) Among multiple external serial interfaces,
While communicating with one interface, a transmission/reception disabled signal is sent to the other external interface so as not to accept interrupts from the other interface.

(2) When a high-priority serial interface exclusive interrupt occurs, the current communication is immediately interrupted and the serial interface is connected to the interrupt destination.

etc.

[Problem that the invention is trying to solve] However,
According to method (1), each external serial interface must always identify whether or not it is communicable before transmitting or receiving data, and must wait while other interfaces are transmitting or receiving data.

Furthermore, according to the method (2), data transmitted and received on the interface side having a low priority is interrupted midway, which may cause an interface error. If the serial reception buffer or the like is configured with hardware, it is possible that incorrect data may be received due to an insufficient number of clocks, etc.

The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and provides an interface relay device that enables smooth communication with each interface of a plurality of devices.

[Means for solving problems]

In order to achieve the above object, the interface relay device of the present invention has the following configuration.

That is, in an interface relay device that can be connected simultaneously to each interface of a plurality of devices and that transmits and receives various signals to and from each of the interfaces,
An object of the present invention is to provide an interface relay device in which the frequency of a synchronous clock used during data transfer is made different for each interface.

Further, the other invention is No. 1. Each second device has a first
．． can be connected simultaneously with the second interface,
Said 1st. In an interface relay device that sends and receives various signals to and from a second interface, the second The present invention provides an interface relay device that terminates data transfer to an interface.

〔Example〕

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

FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram of a laser facsimile to which the present invention can be applied, and FIG. 8 shows a schematic circuit configuration of the laser facsimile shown in FIG. Figures 7 and 8
The laser facsimile shown in the figure has two functions: a scanner controller unit IO that receives image signals from the facsimile machine, reads an original, and sends the image signals; and a printer unit 9 that performs recording operations. Note that a well-known laser beam printer can be used as the printer unit 9.

Further, the scanner controller unit 10 and the printer unit 9 are separately installed units, and are connected via a cable. In the figure, 1 is a top cover for releasing a jam, 2 is a slider for adjusting the document width, 3 is a document table, 4 is a document table cover, 5 is a document tray, 6 is a telephone, 7 is an operation panel, 8
9 is a pedestal, 9a is a cassette, and 9b is a paper discharge tray. Further, numeral 21 in FIG. 8 is an operation section, which includes the operation panel 7. 22 is a transmission control section, 23 is a central control section, 24
25 is a reading section, 25 is a printer interface control section, and 21 to 25 constitute a scanner controller unit. Further, 26 is an interface control section on the printer unit side, 27 is a printer control section, and 26 and 27 constitute the printer unit 9.

As an outline of the operation, the operation unit 21 performs a setting operation for copy mode or transmission mode. Further, the image data obtained by reading the original in the reading section 24 is output to the line by the central control section 23 through the transmission control section 22 in the case of the transmission mode, and is output to the printer unit through the printer interface control section 25 in the case of the copy mode. 9. The received data obtained via the line in the same way is
The central control unit 23 sends the data to the printer interface control unit 25 through the transmission control unit 22 . The received data or read data is then recorded on the printer unit 9 side.

In the above configuration, by connecting a relay device to be described later between the scanner controller unit 10 and the printer unit 9, the following functions can be added.

(1) Two sizes of recording paper can be fed.

(2) It is possible to feed a larger amount of paper than the paper feeding capacity of the cassette 9a.

(3) The paper ejection position is arranged outside the bedside table 8 to increase the paper ejection capacity.

The relay device of this embodiment can be implemented without changing the hardware and software specifications of the printer interface control section of the scanner controller unit IO (and without changing the hardware and software specifications of the interface control section of the printer unit 9). Above (1)
, (2), and (3) can be added.

The relay device of this embodiment will be described in detail below.

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a laser facsimile to which a relay device (also referred to as a printer relay unit) is connected. Also, the second
The figure is a circuit configuration diagram corresponding to FIG. 1. Furthermore, Figure 7,
Components having the same functions as those in FIG. 8 are given the same reference numerals. In the figure, 8 is a pedicle, 31 is a paper ejection unit, 1
0 is a scanner controller unit, 32 is a cassette that can store about 200 sheets of deer recording paper, 33 is a paper deck that can hold a large capacity (for example, 1000 sheets) of recording paper, 9 is a printer unit, 30 is a transport guide, and 34 is a The stacking tray 40 is a printer relay unit.

The configuration shown in FIG. 1 has a paper discharge unit 31 of a conveyance guide 30, an external cassette paper feed mechanism 32, and a paper deck paper feed mechanism 33 added to the structure shown in FIG. 21 in Figure 2
27 have the same configuration as in FIG. In FIG. 2, a printer relay unit 40 is added to the configuration shown in FIG.
37 is a paper feed section. The outline of the operation is the same as that shown in FIG. 8 up to the point where image data is sent to the printer interface control section 25.

Control signals such as commands and image data sent by the printer interface control unit 25 are once received by the printer relay control unit 36. Printer relay control unit 36
In accordance with the contents of each control signal, the controller 30 sends control signals such as image data and commands to the interface control section 26 of the printer unit 9 while controlling the drive of the paper feed section 37 and the paper ejection section 35 and reading various sensors. .

Further, the printer relay control section 36 receives a status signal (status) from the printer unit 9 via the interface control section 26, and also receives a status signal from the paper ejection section 35 and the paper feed section 3.
7 status signals are input, and various status signals (status) are returned to the printer interface control unit 25. Therefore, although the printer relay unit 40 is connected between the scanner controller unit 10 and the printer unit 9, various signals can be exchanged as if the scanner controller unit 10 and the print unit 9 were directly connected. It can be carried out.

3(a) and 3(b) are general views of the printer unit 9, in which 9c is a printer opening/closing lever, 9a is a recording paper cassette, 9d is a printer display section, 9e is a printer power switch, and 9b is a recording paper tray. .

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of the recording paper conveyance path of the printer unit 9. In the figure, 91 is a cassette paper feeding section, 92 is a separation conveyance section,
93 is a fixing paper discharge section.

In this embodiment, the paper feed adapter 60 can be attached to the cassette feed section 91 in FIG. 4, and the recording paper output section of the printer relay unit 40 in FIG. 1 can be connected without modifying the printer unit 9. Also, without using the recording paper tray 9b in FIG. 3, the recording paper that has passed through the fixing paper discharge section 93 in FIG. It is structured as follows.

FIG. 5 is a circuit diagram of the printer relay unit 40 main body. As will be described later, the printer relay control unit 36 relays between the scanner controller interface and the printer interface, inputs inputs from various sensors of the paper ejection unit 35 and the paper feed unit 37, and controls various drive units.

In the figure, reference numeral 42 denotes a paper ejection motor, which is a motor for transporting recording paper ejected onto the upper surface of the printer unit 9 using the transport guide 30. A paper discharge jam sensor 43 is disposed near the paper discharge unit 31 and is turned on while recording paper is passing through. In the printer relay control unit 36, a paper discharge jam sensor 43 is activated after a certain period of time has elapsed after the paper is discharged from the printer unit 9.
It is determined that there is a jam when the switch does not turn on, or when it does not turn off within a certain period of time after turning on.

Reference numeral 44 denotes a conveyance guide opening/closing sensor, which is turned on when the conveyance guide 30 is mounted in contact with the printer unit 9, and turned off when it is not mounted as it springs upward from the printer unit 9. In the printer relay control unit 36, when the conveyance guide opening/closing sensor is off, the paper discharge jam sensor 4
3, the jam detection is not performed, and the paper ejection motor 42 is not driven. In this case, the ejected recording paper is stacked on the top surface of the printer unit 9.

45 is a cassette size sensor, which is attached to the cassette 32 in FIG.
The tip of the printer is placed on the printer relay unit side. This sensor is similar to the cassette size sensor (not shown) disposed in the cassette paper feed section 91 of FIG.

A paper deck size sensor 46 is configured to detect the size of the recording paper based on the position of a slider (not shown) that moves according to the width of the recording paper stacked on the stacking tray 34.

47 is a cassette recording paper presence/absence sensor;
Check the presence of recording paper.

48 is a paper deck recording paper presence/absence sensor, which checks the presence or absence of recording paper in the paper deck 33.

Reference numeral 49 denotes a sensor for detecting the position of the uppermost stacked paper, which checks whether the stacking tray has been lifted and the uppermost paper has reached a predetermined position.

Reference numeral 50 denotes a cassette paper feed solenoid, which is turned on when paper is fed from the cassette, and drives the paper feed roller 54.

Further, the paper feed roller 55 on the paper deck 33 side is driven by turning on/off a clutch (not shown).

Reference numeral 51 denotes a printer paper feed size changing solenoid, which is arranged near the cassette paper feed section 91. This solenoid 51 is turned on/off by the printer relay control section 36 according to the size of recording paper to be fed, and drives a cassette size sensor (not shown) of the printer unit 9.

As a result, the printer unit 9 pseudo-judges that a cassette of the corresponding size has been loaded.

52 is a solenoid for lifting the stacking tray. A push-up spring (not shown) is provided below the stacking tray 34, and the spring causes the stacking tray 34 to rise. The loading tray lifting solenoid 52 is equipped with an actuator at its tip to stop the lifting, and when the solenoid is turned off,
The lifting of the stacking tray 34 is stopped. When the solenoid 52 is turned on, this actuator releases the stop lock and raises the stacking tray 34.

A paper feed motor 13 is a motor for transporting recording paper fed from the cassette 32 or the stacking tray 34 to the inside of the printer unit 9.

Next, a flowchart for feeding paper from the paper deck 33 and recording is shown in FIG. 6, and will be described in detail.

Note that this flowchart is programmed and stored in the ROM in the printer relay control section 36.

The Brita relay control unit 36 waits for a print signal from the scanner controller unit IO in step S1, and when the print signal is input, the process moves to step S2. In step S2, the paper feed motor 53 and the like are activated in order to feed the recording paper from the paper deck 33 side of the paper feed section 37 of the printer relay unit 40.

In step S3, the process waits until the recording paper fed by the paper feed roller 55 is conveyed to the original position of the leading edge of the recording paper in the cassette 9a of the printer unit 9. When the print signal is reached, a print signal is sent to the printer unit 9 in step S4, and in synchronization with the paper feeding operation in the printer unit, the paper feeding section 37 in the printer relay unit feeds out the recording paper.

After waiting for the trailing edge of the recording paper to leave the printer relay unit in step S5, the driving of the motor of the paper feed section 37 is stopped in step S6.

In step S7, the recording paper discharged from the fixing paper discharge section 93 of the printer unit 9 is transferred to the conveyance guide 3 of the paper discharge unit 31.
0, and when it is determined that the recording paper has reached the conveyance guide 30, the motor 42 of the paper discharge unit and the like are activated in step S8.

After waiting for the recording paper to finish being discharged in step S9, the drive of the paper discharge motor 42 and the like is stopped in step SIO.

The above operation sequence is an example of the operation of feeding and discharging a single sheet of paper from the paper deck 33, but feeding and discharging a single sheet from the cassette 32 is also possible by sending a cassette selection signal from the scanner controller unit 10 to the printer relay control unit 36. Similar paper feeding and discharging can be performed.

In addition, the continuous paper feeding and ejection operations performed in conventional printers are
This is possible by repeatedly performing the above-mentioned operation sequence.

Furthermore, by suitably advancing the timing at which the print signal sent in step S4 is sent to the printer unit 9, a throughput equivalent to the maximum throughput obtained with the single cassette 9a can be obtained.

The cassette 32 shown in FIG. 1 is equivalent to the cassette that is originally attached directly to the printer unit 9, but it is also possible to use a different cassette with a larger capacity or a different size.

Further, the paper deck 33 shown in FIG. 1 has a large capacity configuration, for example, the capacity of the cassette 32 is 1000 sheets, whereas the cassette 32 has a capacity of 1000 sheets. Furthermore, the paper size is, for example, A4. B
5. Various sizes can be used, such as B4.

Furthermore, although the paper ejection tray section of the paper ejection unit 31 shown in FIG. 1 has one stage in this embodiment, it may be configured to have a larger paper ejection capacity, or may be expanded with a multi-stage sorter, etc. .

Although this embodiment has been explained using a laser facsimile as an example, the present invention can also be applied to other recording devices such as a copying machine.

Furthermore, a configuration may be adopted in which a personal computer or the like is connected to the relay device instead of the scanner controller unit.

As described above, by adding a relay device to the interface between the separate scanner control unit and printer unit, the functionality of the printer unit can be improved. At that time, there is no need to modify the printer unit body or change the interface conditions from the scanner controller unit, so it is possible to easily upgrade the functionality of the system without incurring any cost.

In this example, we added a relay device to the printer unit, which has a limited paper feed capacity, and realized a large capacity paper feed. It is possible to further improve the functionality of the system.

Next, FIGS. 9 to 12 describe the communication procedure in this embodiment.
This will be explained using figures.

FIG. 9 is a diagram for explaining various signals between each unit, in which unit A (61) corresponds to the scanner controller unit 10, the central control unit 62 corresponds to the printer relay unit 40, and the unit B (63
) corresponds to the printer unit 9. The central control unit 62 is also on the mask side of unit B (62) and on the slave side of unit A (61). Therefore, unit B becomes a slave side of central control unit 62. Next, each signal transmitted and received between unit A, the central control unit, and unit 8 will be explained. still,
Unit A.

For signals transmitted and received between the central control units 62, the symbol "A" is added after the signal name, and the central control units 62
．． Signals sent and received between the control units 63 are given the symbol "B#" after the signal name.

The (2) signals, that is, the (2) conference signal and the (1) signal are bidirectional 8-bit serial signals. The serial signal sent by the mask side unit is called a command, and the serial signal sent by the slave side unit is called a status. 1 byte (8 bits) sent by the mask side unit
In response to this command, the slave unit always communicates by returning a 1-byte status.

The C1 signal, ie, the C1's signal, is a synchronous clock signal (serial clock) when transmitting and receiving commands or statuses on each line.

The r signal, i.e. the r trillion ■■ signal, and the n signal are respectively command busy signals indicating to the slave side unit that the mask side unit occupies the π line and the C1 line in order to send commands via the π line. It is.

The old sign ■ signals, that is, the phantom 2 signal and the n-th signal, are used by the slave unit to transmit status via the π line. This is a busy signal.

Next, the logical configuration within the central control unit 62 will be explained using FIG. The circuit shown in FIG. 1O constitutes a part of the print relay control section 36 shown in FIG. 6 in the diagram
4 is a CPU, which includes a serial transmission terminal Tx, a serial reception terminal Rx, a serial clock terminal CLKT, a serial interface switching terminal A/B, and an interwoven terminal I.
NTA and INTB, status busy terminals FA, PH
It is equipped with various terminals. Further, 65 to 75 are input buffers.

By the program in the CPU, terminal λ/B and terminal PA
, set the output of PB to High/Low, and send the various signals mentioned above, serial clock a1, status/command ■
Signals and the like are input and output through terminals CLKT, Tx, Rx, etc.

FIG. 11 shows the hardware protocol of the interface in each unit. When sending commands from the mask side unit, the ■R■ signal changes from Low to High.
After confirming that it has become gh and after the shield fixed time T1 or more has elapsed? Change the signal from High to Low. After a predetermined time T2, command data is output from MSB to the Ω line in synchronization with the serial clock 1. After sending command data up to a predetermined number of bits (e.g. 8 bits), when a predetermined time T4 has elapsed after the final clock of G1 goes from Low to High, the signal changes from Low to High.
Return to

After that, the slave side unit changes the ■B■ signal from High to Low after a predetermined time T6 or more has elapsed, and after a predetermined time T7, synchronizes it with 1 of the serial clock and outputs the status data from the MSB on the Ω line. . After sending status data up to a predetermined number of bits (e.g. 8 bits), the final clock of Sake 1 changes from Low to High.
When a predetermined time T has elapsed after the m signal went high, the m signal is returned from low to high.

In this way, the mask side unit and the slave side unit perform interface control by transmitting and receiving commands/status. In the central control unit 62, which serves as both the mask side and the slave side, the 7 signal and the m signal are input to the CPU's interrupt terminals INTA and INTB.
It is configured to prepare for reception within the CPU interrupt processing.

FIG. 12 is a time chart for explaining the communication procedure in the central control unit 62. In this time chart, after the 0 trillion ■■ signal changes from High to Low, until the command data m and the serial clock 2 are output from the unit A, there is a time period corresponding to one clock cycle of 1.

Furthermore, the clock period T C1, KB of 1 has the following relationship with the clock period T CLKA of 1.

(T CLKB X (N +1) ) < TC
LKA・” ■However, N represents the number of bits of command/status.

In FIG. 10, when the y signal changes from High to Low, the CPU 64 is interrupted and detects that there is a command input instruction from unit A. The CPU 64 determines whether or not the interface with unit B is in communication at that time, and if it is, the current one command transmission or! Only status reception is allowed to continue, subsequent communication with unit B is interrupted, and the communication partner is switched to unit A. FIG. 12 shows a case where a serial command input interrupt is input from unit A immediately after sending the command busy signal C "TSUKA1" to unit B.

Fig. 12 shows the case where N=8 in the above-mentioned 2〇, but as shown in Fig. 12, the command sending to unit B is finished before command data X pieces are sent from unit A. be able to. In other words, r ``Tsuka 1 signal is L
If the output of terminal λ/B is changed from High to Low immediately after changing from ow to High, the transmission of command data to unit B will not be interrupted (and the command data from unit A can be received). becomes possible.

In the example shown in Fig. 12, the timing is assumed such that the 0 trillion ■I signal becomes a low level immediately after the 0 ■■1 signal becomes a low level.
Even if the timing at which the signal goes to w level is at the same time as the timing at which the B signal goes to low level, the command is sent from unit A before the command is sent to unit B because the cycle of one clock is sufficient. It will not be done.

In the above embodiment, the number of ones in the serial clock is N=
Although the case of 8 has been explained as an example, it may be set to any value for the convenience of the system. Furthermore, although there were only two serial interfaces, unit A and unit B, it is now possible to connect to an additional unit C using a faster serial clock r1, as shown in FIG. Similarly, the number of connectable units can be expanded arbitrarily.

As explained above, when connecting a relay device to multiple serial interfaces at the same time and sending and receiving various signals such as commands and status, it is possible to use a simple configuration such as changing the serial clock speed of each of the multiple serial interfaces. Each interface device can communicate reliably without being aware of the availability of the interface signal line (and without having to wait or even be interrupted).

〔effect〕

As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to smoothly communicate with each interface of a plurality of devices.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Fig. 1 is an overview diagram of the laser facsimile of this embodiment with a relay device connected, Fig. 2 is a circuit configuration diagram corresponding to Fig. 1,
3(a) and 3(b) are general views of the printer unit, and FIG. 4 is a sectional view of the recording paper conveyance path of the printer unit.
Fig. 5 is a block diagram of the main body of the printer relay unit, Fig. 6 is a flowchart of paper feeding and ejection, Fig. 7 is an overview of the laser facsimile, Fig. 8 is a circuit block diagram corresponding to Fig. 7, Figure 9 is a diagram for explaining various signals between each unit, Figure 10 is a circuit configuration diagram of the central control unit 62, and Figures 11 to 13 are timing charts of signals sent and received between each interface. be. In the figure, l is the top cover, 2 is the slider, 3 is the document table,
4 is a document table cover, 5 is a document tray, 6 is a receiver, 7 is an operation panel, 8 is a pedicle, 9 is a printer unit, and 10 is a scanner controller unit. Second Flash (b) Figure 3

Claims (2)

[Claims] (1) In an interface relay device that can be connected to each interface of multiple devices at the same time and that sends and receives various signals to and from each of the interfaces, the frequency of the synchronization clock used during data transfer is different for each interface. An interface relay device characterized in that the interface relay device is configured such that the (2) It is possible to simultaneously connect the first and second interfaces of the first and second devices, respectively, and
, in an interface relay device that sends and receives various signals to and from a second interface, after a signal indicating that data transfer is to be started is input from the first interface and before the data transfer starts, the second An interface relay device characterized in that it terminates data transfer to an interface.