JPH02283466A - Printer - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To quicken printing speed by shortening waiting time until an image buffer area is empty by a method wherein when an external memory means is judged to be mounted, an alteration in which an image buffer area of an internal memory means is enlarged by comparing with an external memory means unmounted state, is instructed to a printing control part. CONSTITUTION:Whether an external memory means M3 is mounted on a printer body M1 or not is detected with a detection means M7. When the external memory means M3 is judged to be mounted with a memory area alteration means M8 based on this detection signal, a printing control part M6 is commanded so that an image buffer area M4 in an internal memory means M2 is expanded. Therefore, when the external memory means M3 is not mounted, the internal memory means M2 becomes capable of being variously used as other buffer areas. Besides, when the external memory means M3 is mounted, the external memory means M3 becomes capable of being used as an input buffer area or the like, and a capacity in which a printing signal can be developed as an image data grows larger. Printing speed is increased thereby.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Industrial Application Field] The present invention is based on RAM (Random Access
The present invention relates to a printer that can be equipped with an external storage means such as a memory card.

[Conventional technology and its problems] For example, the dot-impact type printer [top
Some printers are equipped with internal RAM for storing various data in order to increase printing processing speed. That is, in addition to an input buffer area for temporarily storing received data received from the host computer, this internal RAM also stores print data obtained by converting the character code in the receiving button into a dot pattern via a pattern storage section. The capacity for two print lines is secured as an image buffer area for storing the image buffer area, and while printing the print data that has been developed as a dot pattern in the image buffer area for one print line, the print data for one other empty print line is printed. The received data is developed in the image buffer area, and the image buffer area of two print lines is used alternately for printing and data development, thereby increasing the printing processing speed.

However, in addition to using the internal RAM as an image buffer area, this area is also used as a download storage area in which one printing line can be used to register dot patterns that are not stored in the pattern storage section and are used by the user. There are also printers that can be configured with a switch.

However, for users who do not need a storage area for downloading, reserving a portion of the image buffer area exclusively for downloading has the problem of reducing the image buffer area and slowing down the printing speed. Furthermore, there is a demand for an increase in storage space for downloads.

To meet this demand for increased storage capacity, simply increasing the internal storage area of the printer would make the printer expensive, and for users who do not download, it would be a waste of memory. It will be equipped with.

The present invention has been made in order to solve the problems of the above-mentioned conventional technology, and it is possible to expand the storage capacity by installing an external storage means such as an external RAM card, and also to expand the image buffer area of the internal storage means. The purpose is to effectively utilize the storage area of the internal storage means by changing the storage area depending on whether or not an external RAM card is installed, and to provide a printer that is easy to use for users who desire an expanded storage area. do.

[Means for solving the problems] As shown in FIG. an external storage device M3 that is detachably provided in the storage device; an image buffer area M4 that stores the storage areas of the internal and external storage devices M2 and M3 as image data; and an input area that temporarily stores data from an external device. In a printer equipped with at least a buffer area M5 and a print control section M6 that performs printing based on developed image data, detecting whether an external storage means M3 is installed in the printer main body M. Detection means M
7, and when the detection means M7 determines that the external storage means M3 is installed, the image buffer area M4 of the internal storage means M2 is expanded compared to the state where the external storage means M3 is not installed. The present invention is characterized in that it includes a storage area changing means M8 for instructing the print control section M6 to perform the following operations.

[Function] In the printer of the present invention, an erasable internal memory M2 is provided within the printer body M, and an external memory M3 is detachable.

The storage areas of these storage means M2 and M3 are divided by the print control unit M6 into at least an image buffer area M4 where print data is developed as image data, and an input buffer area M5 where data from an external device is temporarily stored. . And image buffer area M4
Based on the image data developed in the print control unit M6
Printing is performed by.

In this way, the storage area of the internal storage means M4 etc. is divided into the predetermined areas as described above, and the areas are determined by detection and determination by the detection means M7 and the storage area changing means M8.

That is, the detection means M7 detects whether the external storage means M3 is installed in the printer main body M1, and based on this detection signal, the storage area changing means M8 determines whether the external storage means M3 is installed. When it is determined, the print control section M is instructed to expand the image buffer area M4 of the internal storage means M2.

Therefore, when the external storage means M3 is not installed, the internal storage means M2 can be used in various ways as another buffer area, while when the external storage means M3 is installed, the external storage means M3 can be used as an input buffer area. Capacity that can be used as a storage area, etc., and can expand print signals from an external device as image data because the storage area of the internal storage unit M2, which has been taken over by the external storage unit M3, is expanded as an image buffer area M4. becomes larger. Therefore, the waiting time until the image buffer area M4 becomes available is shortened and the rough printing speed is increased.

[Example] An example of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing a printer capable of mounting an IC card according to this embodiment.

This printer includes a well-known printing mechanism 1, an electronic control device 2, an IC card detection device 4 that detects whether an IC card 3 equipped with an external RAM 3a is mounted, and the like.

The printing mechanism 1 includes a carriage drive mechanism and its drive circuit that use a motor to move a carriage on which a print head is placed along the longitudinal direction of the platen, and a paper feed mechanism and its drive circuit that use a motor to feed printing paper. It consists of a print head drive circuit, and a print head drive circuit.

The electronic control unit 2 is a well-known CPU (CentraP
rocessig Unit) 5 and RO
M (Read Only Memory) 6, internal RAM 7 and at least 4 10 ports 8a-8d
110 port 8a of the input/output interface 8, a printing mechanism] is connected to the 110 port 8a of the input/output interface 8, and an I10 port 8a. ,8b
An IC card detection device 4 is connected to. Also,
When the IC card 3 is installed, the external RAM 3a is connected to the I10 port 8d. The ROM 6 in the electronic control unit 2 stores, in addition to programs for controlling the printing mechanism 1 in correspondence with various code types, a program for setting the storage area of the internal RAM 7 when the power is turned on as shown in FIG. ing. This internal RAM 7 is a memory that temporarily stores data, and is set as a memory map into a working area W, an input buffer area 1n, an image buffer area 1m, and a download buffer area, as shown in FIG. . Here, the working area W is
This is an area for calculation processing, reception, and flag setting.The input buffer area 1n is an area that temporarily holds data from the host computer, etc., and the image buffer area 1n is an area where the print data is expanded into a dot pattern. The download buffer area is an area for registering dot pattern data such as characters that the user uses independently.Figure 4 shows the case where the IC card 3 described later is installed. Internal RAM7 (
a) and the storage area (b) of the external RAM 3a. Note that the ID area of the external RAM 3a is an area for storing identification codes such as file names and flags.

The IC card detection device 4 shown in FIG. 2 has a terminal 9 connected to two ports 8b and 8C of an input/output interface 8.
b, 9c are connected to the connector ]O, and one of these terminals 9
The b side is connected to the reference voltage V via the resistor 11. The other terminal 9C is grounded. Also, IC card 3 is
Terminals 13b and 13c shorted by connecting wire 12 are connected to connector]
4, the terminal 13b is connected to the terminal 9b, and the terminal 13c is connected to the terminal 9b.
is configured to be connected to terminal 9C.

To explain the operation of this IC card detection device 4, if the IC card 3 is not installed in the printer body, there is no connection between the terminals 9b and 9c.
A reference voltage V is generated between a and 9b, and rH is generated at port 3.
J level signal is applied. On the other hand, I
If C card 3 is installed, terminals 9a and 9b
contacts the terminals 13b and 13c, and is short-circuited at the connecting wire 12. Therefore, since no voltage is generated between the terminals 9b and 90, the rl-J level is applied to the I10 port 8b. In this way, whether or not the IC card 3 is mounted is detected based on the voltage level of the I10 port 8b.

Next, the storage area setting process executed by this embodiment will be explained based on the flowchart of FIG. 5.

Note that in the following explanation, step is abbreviated as S.

q- 10- This process is executed after the printer is powered on. First, a check of the internal RAM 7 is executed at Sl. This process is performed using a well-known check method, namely, the internal R
After writing the specified data to the specified address of AM7,
This is a method that reads the data and determines that the internal RAM 7 is normal if it is determined that they match. If it is normal, it is used as a printer buffer, but if it is abnormal, it displays an error message. . In continuation <32,
It is determined whether the IC card 3 is installed.

This determination process is performed by determining whether or not the 110 port 8 b 1m reference voltage V is being applied based on the detection by the 10 card detection device 4 shown in FIG. If it is determined in S2 that the 1c card 3 is not installed, the process advances to S3 and the memory area of the internal RAM 7 is set as shown in FIG. That is, the working area W,
Input buffer area 1n, image buffer area 1
In addition to m, set the download buffer area. On the other hand, if it is determined in S2 that the IC card 3 is mounted, the process advances to S4 and a check of the external RAM 3a is executed. This process also executes a check method similar to Sl. Note that if the external RAM 3a is equipped with a backup power source, a thumb-check method may be adopted to prevent data from being destroyed.

In continuation <35, the storage areas of the internal RAM 7 and external RAM 3a are set. This setting process differs from the setting in S3 and is set as shown in FIG. That is, the internal RAM 7 is divided into a working area W, an input buffer area 1n, 2
An image buffer area of 1 ml and 1 m2 for each print line is set, and the external RAM 3a is set as the download buffer area shown in FIG. 4(b).

Therefore, according to the above embodiment, when the IC card 3 is not installed, the internal storage area for downloading is secured as shown in FIG. , When the IC card 3 is installed, as shown in Figure 4(a), the internal RA
The download buffer area of the storage area of M7 is eliminated and the download buffer area is taken over by the external RAM 3a, thereby increasing the storage area for downloading, and expanding the image buffer area of the internal RAM 7 storage area by 1 ml and 1 m2. Therefore, the printing data can be expanded quickly, and the printer can print at high speed.

Note that since the 1c card 3 is used as a storage area for downloading, the external RAM 3a is equipped with a backup power source to prevent the registered dot pattern data from disappearing. The external RAM 3a is an EPROM (Erasable and Erasable).
(Programmable ROM), no backup power supply is required.

In addition, users who do not need to download
So that a can be used for the input buffer area 1n,
A changeover switch or the like may be provided so that it is possible to select whether the external RAM 3a is used as the download buffer area or the input buffer area 1n.

[Effects of the Invention] As explained above, according to the present invention, when no external storage means is installed, the image buffer area of the internal storage means can be reduced and used in various ways as other buffer areas. On the other hand, when an external storage device is installed, the external storage device takes over the role of the internal storage device and the image buffer area of the internal storage device is expanded, so there is a waiting time until the image buffer area becomes available. The printing speed can be increased.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the main parts of a printer according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a printer according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG.
4 and 4 are explanatory diagrams showing the setting state of the storage area of the RAM, and FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the storage area setting process of the same embodiment. M]...Printer main body M2...Internal storage means M
3...External storage means M4...Image buffer area M5...Image buffer area (implant buffer area) M6...Print control section/-detection means M8...Storage area changing means 1/printing mechanism M
2.Electronic control device M3C card (external storage means)
3a-External RA7...Internal RAM (internal storage means) C card detection device (detection means)

Claims (1)

[Claims] An erasable internal storage means provided within the printer body, an external storage means removably provided within the printer body, and the storage areas of the internal and external storage means are configured to store print data as an image. A printer comprising at least an image buffer area for developing data and an input buffer area for temporarily storing data from an external device, and a print control unit for printing based on the developed image data, a detection means for detecting whether or not the external storage means is installed in the printer body; and when the detection means determines that the external storage means is installed, the image buffer area of the internal storage means is A printer comprising: storage area changing means for instructing a print control unit to change an area to be expanded compared to a state in which no external storage means is installed.