JPH0511338B2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention is applicable to any type of computer (business computer, personal computer, etc. applied to office automation, factory automation, laboratory automation, home automation, etc.). A signal conversion device for connecting between general-purpose computers (computers, process computers, etc.), or between each of the computers and terminal equipment (output devices such as printers, displays, input devices such as card readers, scanners, etc., or process equipment interfaces). It is related to.

[Conventional technology]

Transmission and reception signals from computers and terminal devices are composed of transmission conditions, codes, transmission procedures, and the like.
The transmission conditions include signal voltage level, read timing (method of reading the rising edge of the signal, or
There are two types of signal transmission methods: parallel method (parallel method/serial method and AC (multi-level)/DC method (binary level)), and the control standard code. (Control codes such as back code, return code, line feed code, etc. in standard codes such as JIS, ASCII, ISO, etc.) and character codes (ANK code in standard codes such as JIS, ASCII, ISO, etc.) There are various procedures such as BCS, HDLC, PIO communication, etc.For example, as a method for connecting a computer and a printer that have different input/output signals,
For example, there is a proposal in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 158484/1984.

This Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 158484/1984 discloses a printer for adapting any model of computer to a specific printer with a built-in I/O interface and CPU (center processing unit; microprocessor; microcomputer). A memory storing software is built into a printer connector, the memory is connected to an empty pin of the connector, and the memory is connected to the printer via the empty pin of the connector and the empty pin socket of the printer. be.

[Problem that the invention seeks to solve]

This printer software only stores codes such as the control code and character code described above, and a conversion program for the transmission procedure, and only converts the transmission conditions such as the voltage level, transmission method, reading timing, etc. Since the program is not stored, it can be used with printers or I/Os with different transmission conditions.
It is inoperable for printers that do not have a built-in O interface and CPU, and the connection range is greatly limited.

Furthermore, in order to connect the memory to the printer via the empty pins of the connector, there are problems such as the need to connect the empty pin sockets on the printer side and the CPU built into the printer.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to increase the versatility of connections between various computers or between computers and terminal equipment, and to substantially eliminate the need for connection work for hardware combination.

[Means for solving problems]

The present invention has been made to advantageously solve these problems, and its means include standard codes for input/output signals, transmission procedures, voltage levels, signal transmission methods, data reading timing, and transmission speed. In a signal conversion device that connects computers with different types or between computers and terminal equipment, the standard codes and transmission procedures for signals used by various computers and terminal equipment, various programs to determine their meanings, and different standard codes and transmission procedures are prepared in advance. A pair of storage units storing a program for converting procedures; a switch mechanism provided for each storage unit to select any standard code, transmission procedure, or various programs stored therein; and each of the pair of storage units , the various programs selected by the switch mechanism are read, and based on the read programs, the standard code and transmission procedure of the signal from one computer or terminal device to be connected is transmitted to the other computer or terminal to be connected. A conversion memory is provided which is composed of a microcomputer that converts and outputs the standard code and transmission procedure of the device, and a pair of adjustment controllers are provided in which the microcontroller of the conversion memory is connected in the middle. each has a circuit in advance for converting or inversely converting various voltage levels of signals used by various computers and terminal equipment to voltage levels used by the conversion memory, and a switch mechanism for selecting this circuit. a level converter, and a circuit for converting or inversely converting each signal transmission method used by various computers and terminal devices into the signal transmission method of the conversion memory, and a switch mechanism for selecting this circuit. and a circuit that converts or inversely converts each data read timing and transmission speed of the signals used by various computer terminal devices into the data read timing and transmission speed of the conversion storage device, This signal conversion device is characterized by comprising a switch mechanism for selecting this circuit.

[Effect]

The signal conversion device of the present invention, as shown in FIG. Memory B for conversion to
It is equipped with a level converter 10, a signal selection circuit 11, and a timing adjustment circuit 12, each of which converts an input signal into the signal transmission conditions of the connected computer 2. A plurality of circuits are provided for each transmission condition, and the selection switches 10SW, 11SW, and 12SW select the circuit according to the transmission condition of the output signal of the connected computer 2, and set the transmission condition of the signal input from the computer 2 to the specified ( It is converted into the transmission conditions of the conversion memory B) and output to the conversion memory B). Conversely, the signal transmission conditions inputted from the conversion memory B are converted into the transmission conditions of the connected computer 2 and output to the computer 2.

The conversion memory B stores in advance a discrimination program that discriminates the meaning of the code or transmission procedure of the signal input from various computers 2 or terminal devices 3 to be connected, by code standard and by type of transmission procedure. , a conversion program prepared in advance for each code standard is stored, and the computer 2 or terminal device 3 is converted by the program selected with the selection switches RSW ₁ to RSW ₃ according to the code and transmission procedure of the computer 2 or terminal device 3 to be connected. The code and transmission procedure of the signal input from the device 3 are determined, and the meaning thereof is determined (deciphered). The determined code is converted into a code for an input signal of an output side computer or terminal device according to a code conversion program, and the converted code is output according to a pre-stored transmission procedure program.

The adjustment controller C converts the transmission conditions of the signal output from the conversion memory B into various transmission conditions used by the computer or terminal device 3 connected to the other side, and further converts the input signal from the computer or terminal device 3. A plurality of circuits for converting the transmission conditions of 1 to the predetermined transmission conditions of the conversion memory B are provided for each code standard or transmission condition of the computer or terminal device 3 to be connected.
Select switch 16SW~ according to the signal transmission conditions of
18 SW selects a circuit and converts the predetermined transmission conditions input from the conversion memory B into signal transmission conditions for the computer or terminal device 3, or converts the transmission conditions of the signal input from the computer or terminal device 3. Conversion is performed to the predetermined transmission conditions of conversion storage B.

In this way, it is possible to transmit information between computers or between a computer and a terminal device that have completely different signal transmission conditions, codes, and transmission procedures.

〔Example〕

An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIG.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a signal conversion device 1 that implements the present invention in one embodiment when connecting a computer 2 and a printer 3.
Computer interface (hereinafter simply I/F)
) 2A to the printer 3,
I/F2A converts signals to be transmitted to the printer 3 into transmission conditions, codes, and transmission procedures, and vice versa.
Transmission conditions, codes, and transmission procedures.

The adjustment controller A, which adjusts the voltage level, transmission method, reading timing, etc. of the transmission signal, converts the signal transmission conditions given from the I/F 2A into predetermined transmission conditions to the conversion memory B, and further Memory device B
This adjustment controller converts the signal transmission conditions given from the I/F 2A into the same transmission conditions as the transmission conditions of the I/F 2A, and is composed of a level converter 10, a signal selection circuit 11, and a timing adjustment circuit 12.

The level converter 10 performs conversion to match the input/output signal voltage levels of various I/Fs 2A to the input/output voltage levels of the microcomputer 14, which is the read/write controller of the conversion memory B. It is configured to be switchable by a selection switch 10SW according to the output signal voltage level of the I/F 2A.

The signal selection circuit 11 selects a transmission circuit according to the transmission method of input/output signals of the I/F 2A.
It is configured to be selectable with 1SW.

The timing adjustment circuit 12 controls the input/output of I/F2A.
It performs conversion to match the data reading timing and transmission speed of the output signal and a predetermined input/output signal of the conversion memory B (microcomputer 14),
It is configured to be switchable by a selection switch 12SW depending on the output signal data reading timing and transmission speed of the I/F 2A.

Conversion memory B is created and prepared in advance.
A timing adjustment circuit 12 which stores standards-based control codes, character codes, and type-based discrimination programs for transmission means used in various computers and terminal equipment, and stores code-conversion programs for standard-based control codes and character codes. And the control code, character code, and transmission procedure of the signal input from the input/output control circuit 13 are determined by the above discrimination program.
The printer 3 or I/F 2 on the output side
Convert to control code and character code of A. Then, the converted control code and character code are output according to the transmission procedure program of the printer 3 on the output side that has been stored in advance, and the storage unit ROM1,
ROM2, microcomputer 14 and switch RSW ₁ ~
It consists of RSW ₆ . In addition, here, microcontroller 1
4 is a microcomputer system consisting of a CPU, RAM, and other LSIs.

The storage unit ROM1 is an I/F for various computers.
It stores various transmission procedure programs for 2A output signals, standard-specific control codes, and character codes, as well as code conversion programs and discrimination programs, and selects the transmission procedure programs, control codes, and character code selection switches RSW ₁ to RSW. ₃ so that it can be read into the microcomputer 14.

The storage unit ROM 2 stores various transmission procedure programs, standard codes, and character codes for signals used in various printers 3, and also stores code conversion programs and discrimination programs, and similarly stores the transmission procedure programs and control programs. The microcomputer 1 is configured so that the code and character code can be read into the microcomputer 14 via selection switches RSW ₄ to RSW ₆ .
4 is the control code stored in ROM1 and ROM2,
Reads the character code and transmission procedure program, their discrimination program, and code conversion program, distinguishes whether the input signal is a control code or character code, determines (deciphers) its meaning, and converts the determined control The code and character code are output according to a transmission procedure program on the output side (printer 3) that is stored in advance. 13 is microcomputer 1
4, the input signal is sent to the microcomputer 14 in the subsequent process.
Alternatively, it is an input/output control circuit that outputs to the timing adjustment circuit 12 in the previous process.

The adjustment controller C is the conversion storage unit B (ROM2)
This is an adjustment controller that converts the signal transmission conditions given by the printer 3 to those for the printer 3, and the signal transmission conditions given from the printer 3 to the signal transmission conditions for the conversion memory B, and the timing adjustment circuit. 1
6, a signal selection circuit 17, a level converter 18, and switches 16SW, 17SW, and 18SW.

The timing adjustment circuit 16 converts the input signal to match the data reading timing and transmission speed of the printer 3 or the microcomputer 14, and selects the selection switch 16SW according to the data reading timing and transmission speed of the printer 3.
It is configured so that the selection can be switched with .

The signal selection circuit 17 is configured such that a transmission circuit corresponding to the transmission method of the connected printer 3 can be selected by a selection switch 17SW.

The level converter 18 converts the voltage level of the input signal to match the voltage level of the input signal of the printer 3 or the microcomputer 14, and the selection switch 18SW is used to convert the voltage level of the input signal to match the voltage level of the input signal of the printer 3 or the microcomputer 14. It is configured to be selectively switchable.

Next, the preliminary work required to make this device function and the operation of the device will be explained.

First, the format of the input/output signals of this I/F 2A and the input/output signals of the printer 3, that is, the signal voltage level, transmission method, data reading timing,
Investigate and analyze transmission speeds, transmission procedures, control codes, and character codes.

The selection switches 10SW are installed in each of the level converter 10, signal selection circuit 11, timing adjustment circuit 12, and storage ROM1 so as to match the input/output signal format of the I/F 2A, which was investigated and analyzed. 13 Select and input SW, RSW ₁ to RSW ₃ .

Furthermore, the storage section was adjusted to match the format of the input/output signal used in printer 3, which was investigated in the same manner as above.
Selection switches RSW ₄ to RSW 6 and _16SW to 18SW provided in each of the ROM 2, timing adjustment circuit 16, signal selection circuit 17, and level circuit 18 are selectively turned on. As a result, the signal output from the I/F 2A is converted to the operating voltage level of the microcomputer 14 by the level converter 10 and input to the signal selection circuit 11. The signal input to the signal selection circuit 11 is selected by the selection switch 11 according to the transmission method of the signal (for example, parallel method, AC signal: 3 levels).
The circuit selected by the SW converts the signal into a predetermined signal readable by the microcomputer 14 (for example, a DC signal in a serial format: 2 levels), and inputs it to the timing adjustment circuit 12 as it is. Timing adjustment circuit 1
In step 2, the circuit selected by the selection switch 12SW adjusts the input signal to the readable timing and transmission speed of the microcomputer 14 so that the microcomputer 14 can read the input signal, and inputs it to the input/output control device 13.

When a part of the signal input to the input/output control device 13 is input to the microcomputer 14, the microcomputer 14 starts operating and selects the selection switches RSW ₁ to
Read the control code, character code, and transmission order program stored in the storage units ROM1 and ROM2 selected by RSW ₆ . The control code read from this ROM1,
According to the character code, the transmission program, and the discrimination program read in advance, the output signals of the I/F 2A arriving at the input/output control device 13 are sequentially read and discriminated. The control code, character code, and transmission procedure of the determined signal are converted into those for the conversion storage section B according to various control code and character code conversion programs read in advance. Then, the converted signal is converted into an output side (for printer 3 operation) control code and character code according to the conversion program input from the ROM 2. The converted signal
It outputs to the input/output control device 15 according to the transmission procedure program input from the ROM 2, and controls the timing adjustment circuit 16, signal selection circuit 17, and level converter 18.
are outputted to the connected printer 3 as an operation signal.

Based on this signal, the printer 3 starts operating. Further, the signal output from the printer 3, for example, the format of the output signal of the printer 3 is converted into the signal format of the computer 2 by the adjustment controller C, the conversion storage unit B, and the adjustment controller A, and is sent to the computer from the I/F 2A. 2 to notify the computer 2 that the printer 3 is out of order.

In this embodiment, the case where the computer 2 and the printer 3 are connected has been described, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the computer 2 and the printer 3 are connected to each other.
Computer and card reader as terminal equipment,
The present invention can be similarly applied when connecting an input device such as a scanner or a keyboard.

Alternatively, the microcomputer 14 may be provided with a buffer memory, the signals from the computer 2 may be fetched in block form via the input/output control device 13, and the microcomputer 14 may convert the fetched signals into codes and transmission procedures for the printer 3. good.

Further, an operator may adjust and analyze the input/output signal transmission conditions and code transmission procedures of the computer 2 and terminal device 3 to be connected, or an automatic analyzer may be used.

〔Effect of the invention〕

According to the present invention described above, it is possible to operate a group of computers with different input/output signal transmission conditions, codes, and transmission procedures by a simple operation, and to arbitrarily connect a group of terminal equipment within or between groups. It does not require any modification of the group equipment, and has a great economic effect in this field where standardization and compatibility have not yet been sufficiently improved.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a signal conversion device 1 that implements one aspect of the present invention. 1: Signal conversion device, 2: Computer, 2A:
Interface, 3: Printer, 14: Microcomputer, A, C: Adjustment controller, B: Conversion memory.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. In a signal conversion device that connects computers with different input/output signal standard codes, transmission procedures, voltage levels, signal transmission methods, data reading timings, and transmission speeds, or between computers and terminal equipment, various a pair of storage units storing the standard codes and transmission procedures of signals used by the computers and terminal devices, various programs for determining their meanings, and programs for converting different standard codes and transmission procedures, and a pair of storage units for each storage unit. a switch mechanism for selecting the stored arbitrary standard code, transmission procedure, and various programs, and further reading the various programs selected by the switch mechanism in each of the pair of storage sections, and A conversion system consisting of a microcomputer that converts the standard code and transmission procedure of the signal from one connected computer or terminal device into the standard code and transmission procedure of the other connected computer or terminal device based on the following. A pair of adjustment controllers are provided in which the microcomputer of the conversion storage is connected in the middle, and each adjustment controller is configured to adjust voltage levels in advance from various voltage levels of signals used by various computers and terminal devices. A level converter has a circuit for converting or inversely converting the voltage level used in the conversion memory, and also has a switch mechanism for selecting this circuit, and a level converter that has a circuit for converting to or inversely converting the voltage level used in the conversion memory, and a level converter that has a switch mechanism for selecting this circuit; A signal selection circuit has a circuit for converting or inversely converting the transmission method to the signal transmission method of the conversion memory, and has a switch mechanism for selecting this circuit; A signal comprising: a circuit that converts or inversely converts each data read timing and transmission speed into the data read timing and transmission speed of the conversion storage device; and a switch mechanism that selects this circuit. conversion device.