JPH03286323A - Character processor - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To minimize the power consumption and to surely reset and restart the normal operation of a character processor after interruption of a printing operation by providing a mode switching means to set a power save mode concurrently with occurrence of the interruption of the printing operation. CONSTITUTION:A mode switch means (CPU 1) always analyzes the output received from a state monitor means (consisting of various sensors provided at each part of a printer 12 and outputting the outputs of these sensors to a printer controller 11) during a printing operation. When the CPU 1 detects some abnormal printing state, the action mode is automatically changed to a power save mode where the power consumption is automatically suppressed. Thus the supply of power is suppressed to the devices having large power consumption. As a result, the power consumption is minimized while interruption of a printing operation and the reduction of the normal working time is prevented. Then the stable supply of power is attained to the input processing.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Industrial Application Field] The present invention relates to a character processing device equipped with printing means for printing manually input character information.

[Prior art 1] Conventionally, in this type of device, when a print start instruction is given, the input character information is read out and printing is started on a recording medium.
The printer is configured to continue printing until there is no more print information on the recording medium that is fed manually or automatically.

In addition, with the recent trend toward laptops, portable, battery-powered products of this type have been developed. In this case, power loss is often greatest during printing. This is due to starting the drive motor that drives members such as the platen and carriage. Therefore, an auto power shutoff mechanism is added that automatically turns off the power if no character information is input for a certain period of time.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] However, since there is no means for managing power consumption during the printing process, where power loss is the greatest, there may be cases where there is no ink during printing (depending on the type of ink material), or automatic In a device that is equipped with a paper feed mechanism and can automatically print multiple pages of text information, a situation occurs in which paper runs out or some kind of accident occurs during printing, such as a paper jam, and printing cannot continue. In this case, unless the cause of the interruption or the cause of the accident is eliminated, the configuration continues such that printing cannot be restarted until the operator or the like performs a cancellation process.

As a result, the power is left on unnecessarily, resulting in considerable loss from the standpoint of saving electrical energy.

In addition, especially in the case of devices powered by batteries (including rechargeable types), even if the auto power shutoff mechanism described above is added, no power loss avoidance processing is performed during normal print processing mode. First, there are problems in that the battery life is significantly shortened, printing becomes impossible due to power shortage after interruption processing, and the time available for character information input processing is significantly shortened. For this reason, the effective operating time of small, portable text information processing devices that can be powered by batteries is limited, and improvements are desperately needed from this point of view as well.

This invention was made in order to solve the above-mentioned problems. By switching to the power save mode at the same time as a printing interruption occurs during the printing operation mode, power consumption is limited to the minimum and printing is possible. An object of the present invention is to obtain a character processing device that can guarantee resumption of normal operation after interruption.

[Means for Achieving the Problem 1 The character processing device according to the present invention includes a status monitoring unit that monitors the printing status of the printing unit, and an operation mode that analyzes the output from the status monitoring unit during the printing operation. A mode switching means is provided for automatically switching to a power save mode for automatically suppressing power.

[Effect]

In this invention, when the mode switching means constantly analyzes the output from the condition monitoring means during the printing operation and detects any abnormality in the printing condition, the mode switching means automatically switches the operation mode to the power save mode that automatically suppresses power consumption. Reduce the power supplied to large devices to minimize power consumption.

[Embodiment 1] FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating the configuration of a character processing device showing an embodiment of the present invention. Reference numeral 1 denotes a microprocessor (CPU) that controls the entire device, and is stored in a ROM 9. Control program (Figures 3 (a) to (c) described later)
path line 2 based on the flowchart shown in
comprehensively control each device connected to the

3 is a keyboard (KB), which includes various keys (for example, alphabet keys (alphanumeric characters), katakana keys, and insertion and deletion keys) as shown in FIG. 2, which will be described later.

Command keys such as line feed, page break, etc.) are arranged, and input key manual information is encoded by the keyboard controller 4. The keyboard controller 4 sends an interwoven signal to the path line 2. The pass line 2 functions as an address bus for specifying the address of each input/output memory, which will be described later, and a bidirectional data bus used for transferring various data. It consists of control lines used to transmit set timing, etc.

A keyboard controller (KBC) 4 encodes data input from the keyboard 3 and sends included signals to the pass line 2.

Reference numeral 5 denotes a liquid crystal display (LCD), which is configured to display alphanumeric characters, kana, kanji, and the like. A liquid crystal display controller (LCDC) 6 processes display information on the liquid crystal display (LCD) 5. A refresh memory (RM) 7 stores character patterns to be displayed on the liquid crystal display 5 and outputs one character pattern as appropriate in response to a display drive signal from the liquid crystal display controller 6. 8 is a character generator (CG) in which alphanumeric characters, hiragana one-piece board names, kanji, and special character patterns are stored.

Reference numeral 10 denotes a random access memory (RAM), which is used to temporarily store various data or to store information necessary for character processing. In RAM10,
A document memory SM functions to store character information, and a key manual data register INDR temporarily stores key manually input data.

It has a document memory address register ADH etc. which functions as a register for indicating a storage location in the document memo 93M. 11 is the printer controller (PRTC),
It is equipped with a status monitoring unit (various sensors) that monitors the printing status of the printer (PRT) 12 serving as a printing unit, and notifies the CPU of printing status information detected during printing operation.

A floppy disk controller (FDC) 13 controls an external storage device, such as a floppy disk drive, and controls read/write access to the external storage device, such as a floppy disk (FD) 14.

15 is a power save control circuit (PSC) that executes power saving control of the power supply, and a power supply unit (PS) that supplies power of various potentials necessary for the entire device to corresponding devices.
16.

In addition, in this example, power save mode is
For example, means for slowing down the oscillation frequency of the operating clock of the CPU 1, power saving function means built into the LSI of the CPU 1, etc., forcibly lowering the brightness of the backlight when the LCD 5 is equipped with a backlight, etc. means a general term for the modes in which the means operate, and means that can limit power consumption are not limited to the above means.

In the character processing device configured in this manner, the mode switching means (also served by the CPU 1) is configured to monitor the status during printing operation (consisting of various sensors provided in each part of the printer 12), and sends the sensor output to the printer controller 1.
1), and if any printing abnormality is detected, the operation mode is automatically switched to the power save mode mentioned above, which automatically suppresses power consumption, and reduces the power supplied to devices that consume large amounts of power. , to minimize power consumption.

FIG. 2 is a plan view showing an example of the structure of the keyboard 3 shown in FIG. 1.

In addition, to cancel the power save mode mentioned above, follow the specified troubleshooting process (clear the paper jam).

This is achieved by performing an operation of instructing ``resume'' displayed on the LCD 5 using a selection key on the keyboard 3 after replacing the ribbon, etc.).

Assume that you are currently creating a document with 20 vertical lines and 30 columns, and want to print this document. First, when printing is selected, the print routine sequentially reads character codes from a certain address of the document memory SM in the RAM 10, for example from the address indicated by the address register ADR, or from the first address of the document memory SM. It's coming. Next, the character code is decoded to determine whether it is a function code, such as a line feed, interruption, or line feed. If it is not a function code but a kana, kanji, or alphanumeric code that is usually printed as a character image, the character image is read from the CG 8 based on the character code and sent via the printer controller 11. It is sent to the printer 12 and printed.

Then, the document memory address register ADH is incremented by one and the process proceeds to the next process.This process is repeated for many characters until a print end command is received.

In the case of a function code other than a character code, for example a line feed mark, no character image is read from the CG 8, and instead carriage return and line feed signals are sent to the printer controller 11. The printer controller 11 converts the signal into an actual motor drive signal and causes the printer 12 to perform a line feed operation.

In the case of a line feed, the paper feed motor continues to be driven until the paper end sensor detects that there is no paper. In this way, the function code does not print a character image, but it is a code that can electrically control the operation of the entire device and the movement of the printer 12.

In this way, printing is performed according to the contents of the document memory SM, which serves as a document buffer.

The above is the normal normal printing processing operation, but if, for example, a ribbon sensor (not shown) detects that ink is running out during printing processing, it will be impossible to continue printing, and the ink ribbon will run out. This state is maintained until it is replaced. For example, at this time, the line feed motor and carriage motor are kept excited in the hold state, and the power save mode is activated, in this case the backlight of the LCD display 5, which has little direct impact on printing. or turn off the floppy disk drive (FDD) motor. especially,
If the motors do not need to be excited, there is no need to excite them. Also, at this time, some kind of warning sound may be emitted,
Since it is not directly related to this invention, detailed explanation will be omitted.

In addition, in character processing devices that can use an automatic paper feeder, when there is no paper or a single paper jam occurs, printing is similarly interrupted and the device goes into power save mode.
Wait for the next operation instruction.

If there is no ink, replace the ink ribbon and select ``Resume J'' to cancel power save mode.

Hereinafter, the power save mode setting/cancellation processing operation in the character processing device according to the present invention will be explained with reference to FIGS. 3(a) to 3(C).

FIG. 3(a) is a flowchart illustrating an example of the first power save mode setting/cancellation processing procedure in the character processing device according to the present invention. Note that (1) to (5) indicate each step.

The power save control circuit (PSC) 15 is connected to the printer 12.
This flowchart starts when CPU 1 receives a notification from the paper presence/absence detection sensor that there is no paper to feed next among the various sensor outputs provided in the CPU 1.
In addition to displaying the information on the CD 5, the power save mode is set (1) and the power save processing described above is executed.

Next, the key from keyboard 3 enters the standby state (
2) When some key force is generated, it is determined whether the key force was to press the "Resume" key (or a process of selecting "Resume" displayed on the LCD 5).3)
, if NO, the process moves to other processing, and if YES, the printer controller 1 checks whether or not paper is set.
Judging from the output of 41. If NO, execute other processing, if YES, determine that the reason for printing interruption has been resolved,
The power save mode set in step (1) is canceled (5) and the process proceeds to other processes.

FIG. 3(b) is a flowchart illustrating an example of the second power save mode setting/cancellation processing procedure in the character processing device according to the present invention. In addition, (1) to (5)
indicates each step.

The power save control circuit (PSC) 15 is connected to the printer 12.
Among the various sensor outputs provided in the CPU, this flowchart starts when the paper jam detection sensor notifies the user that paper cannot be fed during paper feeding.
is displayed on the LCD 5, and the power save mode is set. 1) Execute the power save process described above.

Next, the key from keyboard 3 enters the standby state (
2) When some kind of key force is generated, it is determined whether the key force has pressed the "Resume" key (or a process of selecting "Resume J" displayed on the LCD 5).3)
If NO, proceed to other processing; if YES, determine from the output of the printer controller 11 whether or not the paper jam has been resolved.4) If NO, execute other processing; if YES, the reason for printing interruption has been resolved. It was determined that
The power save mode set in step (1) is canceled (5) and the process proceeds to other processes.

FIG. 3(c) is a flowchart illustrating an example of the third power save mode setting/cancellation processing procedure in the character processing device according to the present invention. Note that fl) to (5) indicate each step.

The power save control circuit (PSC) 15 is connected to the printer 12.
This flowchart starts when the CPU 1 receives a notification that there is no ribbon from the ribbon breakage detection sensor among the various sensor outputs provided in the
5 and set the power save mode 1) to execute the power save processing described above.

Next, the keyboard 3 enters the key manual standby state (
2) When some key force is generated, it is determined whether the key force was to press the "Resume" key (or a process of selecting "Resume" displayed on the LCD 5).3)
If No, proceed to other processing; if YES, determine from the output of the printer controller 11 whether or not a printable ribbon is set; 4) If No, execute other processing; if YES, determine the reason for printing interruption. It is determined that the problem has been resolved, the power save mode set in step (1) is canceled (5), and the process proceeds to other processing.

[Effects of the Invention 1] As explained above, the present invention includes a state monitoring means for monitoring the printing state of the printing means, and an automatic control method for automatically suppressing power consumption by analyzing the output from the state monitoring means during printing operation. We have provided a mode switching means that automatically switches to a power save mode, so if a situation occurs in which the printing process has to be interrupted for some reason, the power supply mode to each device is changed at the same time as printing is interrupted. automatically switches to power save mode, minimizing power consumption during printing interruptions.

Therefore, it is possible to prevent shortening of the normal operation time of a battery-driven character processing device, and to realize a reliable power supply for the input processing inherent in the character processing device.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating the configuration of a character processing device showing an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a plan view showing an example of the configuration of the keyboard shown in FIG. 1, and FIG. 3(a) 3(b) is a flowchart illustrating an example of the first power save mode setting/cancellation processing procedure in the character processing device according to the present invention, and FIG. Flowchart illustrating an example of a cancellation procedure. FIG. 3C is a flowchart illustrating an example of a third power save mode setting/cancellation procedure in the character processing device according to the present invention. In the figure, 1 is CPU, 2 is pass line, 3 is KB, 4 is K
BC15 is LCD, 6 is LCD, 17 is RM, 8 is CG
, 9 is ROM, 10 is RAM, 11 is PRTC112 is PRT, 13 is FDC114 is FD, 15 is PSC11
6 is PS.

Claims (1)

[Claims] Character processing comprising a character information input instruction means, a memory for storing the character information input from the input instruction means, a display means for displaying the contents of this memory, and a printing means for printing the contents of the memory. In the apparatus, a state monitoring means for monitoring the printing state of the printing means, and a mode for automatically switching the operating mode to a power save mode for automatically suppressing power consumption by analyzing the output from the state monitoring means during printing operation. 1. A character processing device comprising: switching means.