JPH05165586A - Printer device - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] [Purpose] The same EMC can be used regardless of the presence or absence of a built-in ROM, and the EMC and the built-in ROM can be used simultaneously in terms of software. [Structure] A built-in ROM 2 stores a control program for performing a printing operation corresponding to a first higher-level device, and an EMC3 detachably attached to a printer device corresponds to a second higher-level device. It stores the control program for printing. Then, when the MPU 4 executes the processing for print control, the ROM select section 1 selects either the built-in ROM 2 or the EMC 3 according to the attachment / detachment state of the EMC 3, and reads the control program.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a printer device which performs a printing operation according to the type of a host device to be connected, and more particularly to a printer device which is compatible with many host devices by replacing an emulation cartridge (EMC). Regarding

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a printer device can be connected to various types of host computers.

Since the print control information output from the host computer is output as information for various printer devices, the printer device must prepare a processing program capable of operating in accordance with such information. ..

An emulation cartridge is provided in order to prepare a plurality of types of emulation programs, which are programs for receiving print information output to a specific printer device and performing print processing equivalent to printing by the specific printer device. A printer device that can be used as (hereinafter, abbreviated as EMC) has been considered.

The above-mentioned EMC is attachable to a printer device, and by exchanging the EMC, it is possible to support various kinds of host computers.

Besides the above-mentioned EMC, a control program for operating in response to the print control information sent from the host computer is also stored in the built-in ROM. Examples of the relationship with are as follows.

First, FIG. 6 shows a program arrangement of the first conventional example, in which (a) is a configuration not having an EMC,
(B) has shown the case of the structure which has EMC.

As shown in the figure, both (a) and (b) are always executed from the program in the built-in ROM.
When the EMC is mounted as in (b), the execution destination is moved to the EMC by the JMP instruction of the built-in ROM, and the program of the EMC is executed.

FIG. 7 shows the program arrangement of the second conventional example, in which (a) is a configuration without EMC.
(B) shows a configuration with EMC.

As shown in the figure, as shown in FIG.
If is not installed, the program of the built-in ROM is executed, and if the EMC is installed as in (b), the program of the EMC is executed. In this way, the ROM that stores the program depending on the presence or absence of EMC
The address of is switched.

[0011]

However, in the above-mentioned first conventional example, since only the combination of the built-in ROM and the EMC is necessary for operation, only the EMC and no built-in ROM are provided.
Alternatively, there arises a problem that it does not operate in a configuration in which only the built-in ROM is used and no EMC is used.

In the second conventional example, a built-in ROM is used.
Since the program is designed so that both the EMC and the EMC are placed at the start address, the internal ROM cannot be used while the EMC is in use, so it is possible to support dynamic double emulation by the internal ROM and the EMC, that is, multiple types of specifications. Can not.

Further, since the arrangement addresses of the programs are different and cannot be shared between the EMC of the first conventional example and the EMC of the second conventional example, the EMs of the first conventional example and the second conventional example are shared.
Since C must be distinguished, it becomes inconvenient in terms of design, production, and sales, and it becomes inconvenient for users to not be able to share the EMC.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems. It is possible to use the same EMC regardless of the presence or absence of a built-in ROM, and it is also possible to simultaneously use the EMC and the built-in ROM in terms of software. To aim.

[0015]

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, a printer device of the present invention is a printer device which performs a printing operation according to the type of a connected upper device, and corresponds to a first upper device. A first memory storing a control program for performing a printing operation, and a second memory configured to store a control program for performing a printing operation corresponding to a second host device and be detachably attached to a printer device. And an MPU that executes a process for print control according to a program read from the first or second memory, the first or the second depending on the address value generated by the MPU and the attachment / detachment state of the second memory. Select one of the second memories,
And a reading means for reading the control program.

[0016]

That is, in the printer device of the present invention, the first memory stores the control program for performing the printing operation corresponding to the first host device, and is configured to be detachable from the printer device. The second memory stores a control program for performing a printing operation corresponding to the second host device. Then, when the MPU executes the processing for print control according to the program read from the first or second memory, the reading unit is operated according to the address value generated by the MPU and the attachment / detachment state of the second memory. Either the first or second memory is selected and the control program is read.

[0017]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the configuration of an embodiment of a printer apparatus according to the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 1, the printer device of this embodiment comprises a ROM select section 1, a built-in ROM 2, an emulation cartridge (hereinafter abbreviated as EMC) 3, and a microprocessor (hereinafter MPU) 4. .. In this embodiment, the MPU 4 has a data width of 32 bits and the ROM and EMC have capacities of 16 MB each.

In such a structure, the built-in ROM
Reference numeral 2 stores a control program for performing a printing operation corresponding to the first host device. The EMC 3 detachably attached to the printer device stores a control program for performing a printing operation corresponding to the second host device.

The MPU 4 is the built-in ROM.
2 or the process for print control is executed according to the program read from the EMC 3. ROM select section 1
Is the address value generated by the MPU4 and the EMC3.
Either the built-in ROM 2 or the EMC 3 is selected according to the attachment / detachment state and the control program is read.

In this embodiment, the address signals AD23 ...
2 is common, and based on the signal from the address signal AD24 for identifying the areas 1 and 2 and the signal indicating "presence / absence of EMC", which program of the built-in ROM2 and EMC3 is to be used for control? The ROM selector 1 is selected.

FIG. 2 shows such identification contents. When the address signal AD24 is "0", the area 1 is shown.
If "1", area 2 is identified.

FIG. 3A shows the identification contents in area 1,
2B shows the identification content in the area 2. For example, in FIG. 2B, the address signal AD2
When the signal "1" indicating the area 2 by 4, the signal indicating "absence" of the internal ROM, and the signal indicating "existence" of the EMC are input, the internal ROM2 is selected. In this case, the internal ROM2 Does not work. In addition, the address signal AD
The internal ROM 2 is selected even when a signal "1" indicating the area 2 by 24 and a signal indicating "none" for both the EMC3 and the internal ROM 2 are input, but the same operation is not performed in this case.

FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining the areas 1 and 2 in the logical address space of the MPU 4.

First, as shown in FIG. 3 (a), the EM
If C3 is not installed, Area 1, Area 2
Both are allocated to the built-in ROM2. As a result, the program starts from the head address of the built-in ROM 2 and operates based on only the program of the built-in ROM 2.

Then, as shown in FIG. 3B, the EMC
If 3 is mounted, the EMC 3 is assigned to area 1 and the built-in ROM 2 is assigned to area 2. This allows EM
Start from the top address of C3, operate according to the program on EMC3, and if necessary, built-in ROM2
It is also possible to move the execution destination to the head address of and operate based on the program. This makes it possible to support dynamic double emulation by the built-in ROM 2 and the EMC 3, that is, a plurality of types of specifications.

In addition, the EMC3 as shown in FIG.
Although a configuration in which is mounted and does not have the built-in ROM 2 is conceivable, in such a case, both area 1 and area 2 are assigned to the EMC 3. In this case, the operation is based on only the EMC3 program. This allows
EMC even if it is not a combination of built-in ROM2 and EMC3
Only 3 can work. In addition, since the start addresses of the areas 1 and 2 are preset,
Control can be transferred to each other by the JMP instruction.

Next, FIG. 4 shows the built-in ROM 2, EMC3.
3 is a diagram for explaining the logical structure of FIG.

FIG. 4A shows a logical structure of the built-in ROM 2. As shown in the figure, the built-in ROM 2 is basically designed to operate in the area 2.

Then, as shown in FIG.
In order to correspond to the case where the internal ROM 2 is not mounted or the internal ROM 2 is arranged in the area 1, a JMP instruction for the area 2 is inserted at the head address of the internal ROM 2. This JM
When the program is executed by the P command, the program moves to the head address of area 2 at the same time as the execution of the program. If the EMC3 is not installed, the program of the internal ROM 2 is executed in the area 2 and the EMC3
If is attached, the EMC program is executed in area 2.

FIG. 4 (c) shows the logical structure of the EMC3. The EMC3 is basically designed to operate in the area 1, and a dummy instruction is added at the head to align the structure with the internal ROM2. It is also possible to enter.

In addition, the built-in ROM2, E for each program
If a routine for JMP that determines the presence / absence of MC3 is incorporated, control can be transferred between the built-in ROM 2 and EMC 3 as required.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing the configuration of a page printer that employs the printer device of the present invention.

In the figure, 10 is a host computer as a higher-level device, and 20 is a printer.

The printing device 20 includes an interface (I / F) controller 30, a printer engine (hereinafter abbreviated as PR engine) 40, and a PR connecting the I / F controller 30 and the PR engine 40.
It is composed of an interface 50.

The I / F controller 30 further includes a host interface 300, MPU 4, built-in ROM 2,
RAM 301, EMC 3, reception buffer 302, image data generator 303, frame memory 304, ROM
It is configured by the selection unit 1.

The host interface 300 includes 8
Data is transmitted / received to / from the host computer 10 having a bit-parallel interface (such as Centronics compliant) or a serial interface (such as RS-232C compliant) and having an interface of the same standard.

The MPU 4 operates according to the command analysis and system management programs stored in the built-in ROM 2.
/ Controls each unit in the F controller 30.

The RAM 301 is used as a work area for the MPU 4.

The receive buffer 302 is used by the host computer 10 received by the host interface 300.
Character generator (hereinafter abbreviated as CG) ROM that stores commands and data from the computer as character patterns (image data) to correspond to character codes.
And a CGRAM in which a character pattern (external character) designed by the user is stored.

The frame memory 304 is a bit map memory for developing an image for one page, and has a storage capacity for the maximum printable print paper except for a predetermined margin width in the vertical and horizontal directions. There is.

The PR engine 40 includes a printer section 40.
0, a print head (not shown), a paper size detection sensor, various sensors, and various loads such as a photosensitive drum.

The printer section 400 monitors and controls the entire state and operation of the PR engine 40 in order to form the image of the video signal sent from the I / F controller 30 on a print sheet, and at the same time, outputs the video signal. It is converted into image data, and the print head is controlled based on the image data. The paper size detection sensor detects the size of the cassette, that is, the size of the printing paper, from a notch or the like provided in a cassette (not shown) in which the printing paper is stored.
Then, the detected paper size is determined by the printer unit 400.
Is sent to the MPU 4 of the I / F controller 30 via the video interface. The PR interface 50 converts the image data expanded in the frame memory 304 from the I / F controller 30 into a video signal and transmits the video signal to the PR engine 40.
Status signal from the I / F
It transmits to the controller 30.

The printer device of the present invention is adopted in the I / F controller 30 in the above page printer.

As detailed above, according to the present invention, the EM
The same E can be used for double emulation that has both C and built-in ROM, or for EMC that does not have built-in ROM.
MC can be used. Furthermore, since both EMCs can be shared without distinction, the burden of management costs in terms of design, production, sales, etc. can be reduced, and the burden of investment and handling by the user can be reduced.

Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described above, it is needless to say that the present invention is not limited to these and can be improved and changed. For example, in the above embodiment, the logical address space of the MPU is composed of two areas, area 1 and area 2, but it may be composed of two or more areas.

[0047]

According to the present invention, the same EMC can be used regardless of the presence or absence of the built-in ROM.
It is possible to provide a printer device that enables the use of the software at the same time.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of a printer device according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing identification contents of a ROM select section 1 in the first embodiment.

FIG. 3 shows a logical structure when two areas are prepared in a logical address space of the MPU 4 in the first embodiment.

FIG. 4 shows a built-in ROM 2 and EMC 3 in the first embodiment.
It is a figure which shows the logical structure of.

FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining the configuration of a page printer that employs the printer device of the present invention.

FIG. 6 shows a program arrangement of a printer device of a first conventional example.

FIG. 7 shows a program arrangement of a printer device of a second conventional example.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 ... ROM select section, 2 ... Built-in ROM, 3 ... EMC,
4 ... MPU.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A printer device for performing a printing operation according to a type of a connected upper device, a first memory storing a control program for performing a printing operation corresponding to a first upper device, and A second memory configured to store a control program for performing a printing operation corresponding to the second host device and configured to be detachably attached to the printer device; and a program read from the first or second memory, An MPU that executes a process for printing control, and selects either the first memory or the second memory according to the address value generated by the MPU and the attachment / detachment state of the second memory, and the control program A printer device comprising: a reading unit for reading the.