JPH03230989A - Printing operation controller - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To write the mode data of corresponding printing operation easily and to prevent the inferiority of printing operation by rewriting the content of the data of the printing operation mode stored in the second memory means upon alteration of the first memory means. CONSTITUTION:When the data of the machine type status read from an EEPROM 4 is different from the status data from a system ROM 12, an error signal is outputted to a display part 8 through a display part driver part 8' to perform error display. Thereafter, the key input of an operator is waited and, when automatic rewriting processing is instructed from an operation part 6, the set data in the system ROM 12 is written on the EEPROM 4. The data stored in the system ROM 12 mounted on a printer 1 is the data of the most common printing operation mode suitable for the processing of the printing operation order data of the host computer 11 corresponding to the system ROM 12 and written on the EEPROM 4 at this time. In the case of no instruction, the operator writes the data set by an operation switch on the EEPROM 4.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Technical Field of the Invention] The present invention relates to printer devices such as LED printers and LCD printers, and particularly relates to a printing operation control device that controls printing operations.

[Conventional technology]

Since printer devices capable of high-speed printing, such as LCD printers and LED printers, are generally expensive, one printer device is often shared by multiple host devices.

In this case, if the host device connected to the printer device is different, the format and data structure of the print operation command information input to the printer device will be different. For this reason, in a printer device that requires versatility as described above, a corresponding processing program for executing command processing corresponding to the connected host device is stored in a system ROM in the form of a cartridge, and this ROM cartridge is used in the printer. A method is adopted in which it is attached to a device and used.

In addition, on the printer side, multiple printing operation modes are prepared for the commands that constitute the printing operation command information output from the host device, and the printing that is executed in response to the above commands is stored in the dip switch and nonvolatile memory. Some printers are configured to set operation mode selection data so that a desired printing operation is performed in response to a command. For example, when the command "CR" is output from the host device, the print operation mode of this command is set in advance to a so-called carriage return operation using a dip switch, or the print operation mode is set to a carriage return operation including line feed. It is something. In this way, by storing the specification of the printing operation mode to be executed in response to various commands output from the host device in the printer/device settings or storage means, the corresponding processing can be performed when the corresponding command is input. can be set.

[Problems with conventional technology]

However, the printing operation command information for setting the printing operation mode differs depending on each host device.

For this reason, even if the program that controls the printer device can be easily changed to a system program compatible with the connected host device by simply replacing the system ROM cartridge, the printing operation mode set in the dip switch or non-volatile memory The data had to be set again every time the host device was changed, and the setting operation was complicated and extremely difficult to operate.

Further, even if a system ROM cartridge compatible with the host device is installed, if the printing operation of the printer device is performed without changing the setting data of the printing operation mode in the nonvolatile memory by mistake, malfunction will occur.

[Purpose of the invention]

In view of the above-mentioned conventional drawbacks, the present invention provides a system ROM in a printing operation control device that is equipped with a system ROM cartridge and processes printing operation command information corresponding to a host device.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a printing operation control device that makes it possible to easily write corresponding printing operation mode data in response to cartridge replacement and prevents printing operation defects.

[Key points of the invention]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a printing operation control device for a printer that controls a printing unit to perform a corresponding printing operation in accordance with printing operation instruction information sent from a host device, which corresponds to the printing operation instruction information. a first storage means that stores a printing operation control program and is configured to be removably attached to the printing operation control device; a nonvolatile second storage means that stores a printing operation mode corresponding to the printing operation command information; The printing operation mode data stored in the second storage means is characterized in that the data contents are rewritten as the first storage means is changed.

〔Example〕

Hereinafter, one embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a system block diagram of a printer device including a printing operation control device according to an embodiment. In the figure, the system configuration within a printer device 1 is composed of an interface controller 1a and a printer controller ib that executes actual printing processing. The printing operation control device of this embodiment is included in the interface controller la,
It's rare.

This interface controller 1a includes a CPU (central processing unit) 2, a RAM 3, and a non-volatile memory EE.
PROM4, frame memory 5, operation unit 6, system R
It is composed of a cartridge adapter 7 for mounting the OM, a display section 8, a CGROM 9 in which font data is stored, and the like. In addition, the interface controller 1a includes a host interface (hereinafter referred to as host l-1/F) 10.
A host computer 11, which is a host device, is connected via. Furthermore, the interface controller 1a
Since there are multiple types of host computers connected to the computer, they are indicated by lla, Ilb, . . . lln in the figure. This host computer 11 is a host device with respect to the printer device 1, and character codes and print operation instruction information (commands) are outputted from the host computer 11 to the interface controller 1a.

The cartridge adapter 7 also includes a printer device 1.
System ROM 12, which is a system ROM cartridge compatible with the model of host computer 11 connected to
is installed. In addition, the system ROM 12a shown in the same figure,
12b, . . . 12n are the host computers Ila mentioned above.
, llb, . . . lln.

The CPU 2 is the system R installed in the printer device 1.
Each part of the printer device 1 is controlled according to a system program stored in the OM 12.

For example, the character code and print operation command information output from the host computer 11 are stored in the RAM 3 via the host l-1/FIO, and the character code is read out from the RAM 3 and is executed by a character generator consisting of CG RO and M9. It performs processing for converting into dot pattern data and sequentially reads printing operation command information from the RAM 3 and performs control processing according to the printing operation command information.

In the EEPROM 4, initial data of the printing operation mode is stored in advance through the operation section driver circuit 6' by setting the operation switch on the initial operation section 6. Also,
As will be described in detail later, it is also possible to store data on the printing operation mode outputted from the system ROM 12, model information of the host computer 11, etc. later.

FIG. 2 shows the memory configuration within the EEPROMJ.

Each storage area of EEFROM4 consists of 1 byte,
Printing operation mode data, which is setting data from the operation switch, and printing operation mode data from the system ROM 12 are stored at addresses "00°" to "'03'" (shown in hexadecimal notation).

For example, the data stored in this area includes information on whether or not to issue a time signal indicating paper shortage, information on selecting the type of interface control signal with the host computer 11, and the like. Also, address ゛04''.

``05''... stores data on printing operation mode related to print processing.For example, data stored in this area includes information such as the so-called boat rate that specifies the printing direction, landscape printing specification, etc. .moreover,
Host computer 11 at address “ID”, “IE”
Model information is stored. This model information is also EEPR in advance.
It is assumed that initial model status data has been set in the OM4 by the operation unit 6.

In addition, the checksum area (address "'IF") is E.
The added value of the data in EPROM4 is stored, and the initial value is EE.
It is used to check for defects in PROM4.

The processing operations of the printing operation control device having the above configuration will be explained below using the flowchart shown in FIG.

When the power of the printer device 1 is turned on, the CPU 2 executes an initial setting process, and during this process, a check is also performed to see if there is any abnormality in the data stored in the EEPROM 4 (step (hereinafter referred to as S) 1).

Specifically, this check is determined based on whether the total data written in the EEPROM 4 matches the data stored in the check sum area. If there is a defect here, the process moves to error processing (not shown).

If there is no problem in the above system check, the CPU
2 reads out the model status data stored in the EEPROM 4 (S2). The model status data read from the EEPROM 4 at this time is the initialized data as described above.

Thereafter, the CPU 2 reads the status information from the system ROM 12 attached to the cartridge adapter 7 and compares it with the model status data read from the EEPROM 4 as described above (S3, S4). If the rain data match at this time (S4 is Y (yes)), EEPR
The data of various printing operation modes stored in the OM4 corresponds to data for processing each command included in the printing operation command information of the system ROM 12 installed in the printer device 1, and from then on, normal printing processing is executed. do. That is, the CPU 2 stores printing operation command information etc. output from the host computer 11 connected to the printer device 1 in the RAM 3, and further reads character codes from the RAM 3 as described above and outputs them to the character generator consisting of the CGROM 9 to generate dots. Convert to pattern. This dot pattern data is sequentially written into the frame memory 5. Further, printing operation command information is sequentially read out from the RAM 30 and corresponding processing is executed. For example, if a certain command in the print operation command information is a carriage return operation command including a line feed during print processing, when the CPU 2 reads this command, it stores the corresponding processing program in the system ROM 1 in order to execute the above processing.
Read and execute from 2. Further, if print direction selection designation data is stored in the EEPROM 4 as, for example, boat rate selection data, corresponding processing is performed. When one page of dot pattern data is stored in the frame memory 5 in this way, the video interface (V/F)
The dot pattern data is outputted to the printer controller 1b via 13.

On the other hand, in the above judgment (S4), the model status data read from the EEPROM 4 and the system ROM 12
If the status data from (S4 is N(
(No)), the display unit 8 via the display unit driver circuit 8'
An error signal is output and an error is displayed (S5).

After that, wait for the operator's key input, and if automatic rewriting processing is instructed from the operation unit 6 (S6 is Y), the system RO
Write the setting data in M12 to EEPROM4 (S
7). At this time, the data stored in the system ROM 12 installed in the printer device 1 is the data of the most general printing operation mode suitable for processing the printing operation command information of the host computer 11 corresponding to this system ROM 12. This data is stored in BEPR at this time.
Written to OM4.

On the other hand, if automatic rewriting processing is not instructed (S6 is N)
, the data set by the operator using the operation switch is
Write to EPROM 4 (S8).

In this case, when all data are set by the operation switches, the process advances to step S9.

After that, the CPU 2 uses the Noatres “ID” in the EEPROM 4.
The model status data of "" and "IE'" is rewritten to status data corresponding to the system ROM1'2 (S9). Furthermore, data in the checksum area in the EEPROM 4 is also rewritten (SIO).

Thereafter, the printing process is executed in the same manner as described above using the new data written in the EEPROM 4.

That is, when the model status data is different as described above, the print process is executed after changing the data in the EEPR'OM4 to the data of the print operation mode suitable for processing the print operation command information of the post computer 11 corresponding to the system ROMI2. be done.

As described above, this embodiment uses the data stored in the EEPROM 4 and the system RO installed in the printer device 1.
If the M12 is not compatible, this is detected and the operator is notified of this condition. Furthermore, the apparatus of this embodiment is a printing operation control apparatus that can perform printing processing even when the installed system ROM 12 is different by writing corresponding data to this ROM.

In this embodiment, the data setting area from the deep switch to the EEPROM 4 is set to addresses "'00" to "03".
Although the setting area for model status data, etc. has been specified, it goes without saying that the storage area for each data is not limited to the above-mentioned area.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As explained in detail above, according to the present invention, the system R
In a printing operation control device that is equipped with an OM cartridge and processes printing operation command information corresponding to the host device, even if the system ROM cartridge is replaced, the data of the printing operation mode corresponding to that cartridge can be easily non-volatile. can be written to physical memory.

In addition, simply by replacing the system ROM cartridge, the data of the printing operation mode for processing the printing operation command information of the connected host device is stored in the nonvolatile memory, so printing defects can be prevented.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a system block diagram of a printer device including a printing operation control device according to an embodiment, FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of an EEPROM, and FIG. 3 is a flowchart explaining the operation of the printing operation control device according to an embodiment. be. l...Printer device, 2...CPU, 3...RAM, 4...EEPROM. 5...Frame memory, 6...Operation unit, 7...Cartridge adapter, 8...Display unit, 11, lla, Ilb,...Host computer, 12.12a, 12b,... System RAM.

Claims (1)

[Claims] In a printing operation control device of a printer that controls a printing unit to perform a corresponding printing operation according to printing operation instruction information sent from a host device, a printing operation control program corresponding to the printing operation instruction information is stored and the printing operation is performed. The second storage means has a first storage means that is configured to be detachable from the control device, and a nonvolatile second storage means that stores a printing operation mode corresponding to the printing operation command information. A printing operation control device characterized in that the data of the printing operation mode stored in the printing operation mode is rewritten as the first storage means is changed.