JPH04301655A - Master/slave controller - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To execute control accurring no malfunction by providing a storage means storing the programs of each stage of an old version and a new version, on the master CPU of a controller. CONSTITUTION:A copying machine main body 1 has the master CPU 2, a ROM 3, a RAM 4, and an operating load 5, and a peripheral equipment 6 has a slave CPU 7, a ROM 8, a RAM 9, and an operating load 10. A new program and the number of its version are stored in the ROM 3 of the copying machine main body 1 side whenever version-up is carried out. In other words, the master CPU 2 can control the slave CPU 7 in the stages of the version-up, etc., with the program stored in the ROM 3, as well. On the other hand, the programs of each stage are stored so as to correspond to the programs of any stages of the version-up in the slave CPU 7, as well, and simultaneously, the number of the versions of each program is stored. Then, this program is selected to carry out the control.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

0001

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a master-slave control device for a copying machine, in which a master CPU is provided in the main body of the copying machine, and a slave CPU is provided in peripheral equipment such as an automatic document feeder.

0002

2. Description of the Related Art Copying machines in recent years can be optionally equipped with various peripheral devices such as an automatic document feeder and a sheet reversing device. Each of these peripheral devices includes a slave CPU, and when installed in the copying machine main body, is connected to the master CPU of the copying machine main body via a communication line. The slave CPU then operates peripheral devices based on signals from the master CPU.

0003

[Problem to be Solved by the Invention] On the other hand, in copying machines, the programs of the master CPU and slave CPU are updated in consideration of user requests, operability, etc., and the program of the slave CPU is also updated accordingly. be done. However, when actually using a copying machine, the version number of the master CPU and the slave C may be changed by purchasing additional options or replacing the copying machine itself.
Sometimes the version numbers of the PUs did not match, and the following combinations were sometimes used. ■Old version master CPU New version slave C
PU, ■New version master CPU Old version slave CPU, ■New version master CPU
This is a new version of the slave CPU. Among these combinations, in the case of (1), the instruction system (master) program and the operation system (slave) program correspond to each other, so they can be operated without any problem. In addition, in normal cases, old functions will not be lost due to version upgrades, and even if instructions from the old version are applied to a peripheral device by the combination of ■, the peripheral device will be fully compatible and no inconvenience will occur. . However, in the case of ■, since the master CPU, which is the command system, is a new version, a completely unknown command may be sent from the command system (copier main body) to the operation system (peripheral equipment). As a result, inconveniences such as malfunctions may occur.

An object of the present invention is to provide a master-slave control device that can perform control without malfunction regardless of whether the program version of a slave CPU connected to a master CPU is new or old.

[0005]

[Means for Solving the Problems] The present invention provides a master-slave control device in which a copying machine main body is provided with a master CPU and peripheral devices are provided with slave CPUs.
U includes a storage means for storing programs at each stage of old version and new version, means for reading the version number of the control program of the connected peripheral device, and means for reading the version of the program according to the read version number of the peripheral device. The method is characterized by comprising a means for selecting.

[0006]

[Operation] The master CPU of the control device of the present invention has storage means for storing programs at each stage of the old version and the new version. It is also possible to control either the old version or the new version as needed. Select the program version on the connected slave C
It is set according to the version number of the control program of the PU (peripheral device). For example, when the slave CPU is of an old version, even if a new version of the program is stored in the master CPU, the slave CPU is controlled by the old version of the program.

[0007]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a control section of a copying machine according to an embodiment of the present invention. The copying machine is constructed by combining a copying machine main body 1 and peripheral equipment (eg, ADF) 6.

The copying machine main body 1 has a master CPU 2 and a ROM 3.
, RAM 4, and operating load 5. Further, the peripheral device 6 includes a slave CPU 7, a ROM 8, a RAM 9, and an operating load 10. RO on the copy machine main body 1 side
M3 stores a new program and its version number every time the program is upgraded. That is, master C is controlled by the program stored in ROM3.
PU2 is a slave CP at which stage of version upgrade.
It is also possible to control U7. On the other hand, the slave CPU 7 also stores programs at each stage so that it can handle programs at any stage of version upgrade, and also stores the version number of each program.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing a part of the processing procedure of this master-slave control device. First, when the power of the copying machine is turned on, the master CPU 2 accesses the slave CPU and starts reading the version number stored in the ROM 8 (n1). slave CP
When there is a response from U7, the version number is read (n2→n3, n4), and a program matching the version number is set in the master CPU 2 (n5, n6). If there is no response from the slave CPU 7, set the old version of the program (n
2→n5).

As described above, by reading the version number of the slave CPU when the copying machine main body is powered on, it becomes possible to perform control corresponding to the version of the installed slave CPU. ) is no longer output to the slave CPU 7 (peripheral device) with instructions that cannot be handled. Note that although this example shows an example of a one-step version upgrade, the same control can be performed even when the version upgrade is performed in several stages. For example, in the master CPU, M1.0X→M2.0X...→Mm. 0X→Mn
．． 0X is upgraded, and in the slave CPU, S1.0X→S2.0X...→Sm. 0X →
Sn. When version 0X is upgraded, master CPU 2 will update version N of slave CPU when the power is turned on.
o can be read and controlled by a program corresponding to the version number.

[0011]

According to the present invention, even if the master CPU is upgraded but the slave CPU is not, the master CPU reads the version number of the slave side and performs control using the program corresponding to the version number. Therefore, an instruction that cannot be processed is not provided to the slave CPU, and malfunctions can be prevented.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a master-slave control device in a copying machine according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[Figure 2] Flowchart showing part of the processing procedure of the device

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Copy machine body 2 Master CPU 3 ROM 4 RAM 5 Operating load 6 Peripheral equipment 7 Slave CPU 8 ROM 9 RAM 10 Operating load

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A master-slave control device comprising a master CPU in a copying machine main body and a slave CPU in peripheral equipment, wherein the master CPU is connected to storage means for storing programs at each stage of an old version and a new version. 1. A master-slave control device comprising: means for reading out a version number of a control program for a peripheral device that has been read; and means for selecting a version of the program corresponding to the read version number for the peripheral device.