JPH05221088A - Printer - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide a printer having a structure which enables a power supply for a printer to be partly turned ON/OFF under control using a signal from a host computer 1 and a setting part without cutting off the power supply for a main printer system, and thereby minimizes the wasteful consumption of energy. CONSTITUTION:The subject printer consists of a power supply control part 4, a signal monitor part 2 which monitors a data strobe signal 12 from a host computer 1 and sends a signal to a power supply control part 4, if the length of time in which the signal is at a specified level, exceeds a specified length of time, and a setting part 3 which sets the specified length of time and a power supply destination. A device in claim 2 has an auxiliary power supply part 13 between the power supply control part 4 and the signal monitor part 2. Devices in claims 3 and 4 are equipped with a dip switch monitor control part respectively as devices for instructing the signal monitor part 2 regarding the monitoring of a data strobe signal 12.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a printer device, and more particularly to an electrophotographic printer device for a personal computer.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a conventional printer device.

As shown in FIG. 5, a conventional desk-top type electrophotographic printer device 30 for a personal computer includes a reception buffer unit 26 that receives print data 31 from a host device 21, a processing unit 27 that analyzes and processes this data, It comprises a printing unit 28 for printing data, a heat roller unit 27 for fixing the printing, and a power supply unit 25 for supplying power to these. Since the power source is not associated with the power source of the higher-level device 21, the power source of the printer device 30 cannot be automatically turned off when the power of the higher-level device 21 is turned off. Among them, it was not possible to divide the equipment into groups, for example, to control the power supply only to the heat roller unit 29 or to control the power supply other than the heat roller unit 29.

[0004]

This conventional desk-top type electrophotographic printer for a personal computer is provided with a method other than the method of directly turning off the switch of the power source of the printer when it is turned on, for example, a host device. The power of the printer device could not be turned off by the method of turning off the power of. Therefore, when the host device and the printer device are separated from each other, the power of the printer device is forgotten to be turned off, and further, it is impossible to turn off the power of only the heat roller part or other parts of the printer device. There was a problem of waste of money.

An object of the present invention is to provide a power supply control means for automatically turning on / off each set section of a printer device when a power supply of a host device is turned off after a predetermined time. It is an object of the present invention to provide a printer device in which there is no risk of waste of energy even when the printer is forgotten to be turned off.

[0006]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a printer device for monitoring a data strobe signal from a host device and, when the time period during which the data strobe signal has a predetermined level exceeds a predetermined time, a power source is supplied. A signal monitoring unit that sends a signal to the control unit, a predetermined time period monitored by the signal monitoring unit, and a supply destination to which the power supply control unit supplies power, and a setting unit that sets the
And a power supply control unit that controls a power supply unit that supplies electric power to each unit in the printer according to the signal from the signal monitoring unit and the setting from the setting unit.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, the printer device monitors the data strobe signal from the host device, and when the data strobe signal has a predetermined level for a predetermined time, the power supply control unit is signaled. A signal monitoring unit that sends a signal, a setting unit that sets a predetermined time for the signal monitoring unit to monitor, and a power supply control unit that controls the ON / OFF switching of the power supply unit and the auxiliary power supply unit by the signal and signal from the signal monitoring unit And an auxiliary power supply unit that functions as a power supply unit only for the signal monitoring unit and the power supply control unit in response to an ON signal from the power supply control unit.

Further, the printer device according to claim 3 of the present invention has the requirements of claim 1 or 2 and includes means for including a dip switch for setting whether or not the signal monitoring section monitors the data strobe signal from the host device. Or a monitoring management unit that sets whether or not to monitor according to a command from the host device.

[0009]

When the power switch of the printer device according to the first aspect is on, the signal monitoring unit monitors the data strobe signal from the host device. When the power of the host device is turned off, the data strobe signal becomes "0". When the time when the data strobe signal is "0" exceeds the time set by the setting unit, the signal monitoring unit sends a power off signal to the power control unit. The power supply control unit controls the supply of power to each unit according to the setting from the setting unit. The signal monitor continues to monitor the data strobe signal. In this state, when the power supply of the host device is turned off, the data strobe signal becomes "1", the power supply control unit supplies power to all parts, and the printer is put into operation.

In the case of the apparatus according to the second aspect, among the above explanations, the operation process up to "Send a power off signal to the power controller" is the same. After that, it becomes as follows. The power supply control unit turns on the auxiliary power supply unit and turns off the power supply unit. The auxiliary power supply unit causes the signal monitoring unit to continue to monitor the strobe signal. When the power of the host device is turned on in this state, the strobe signal becomes "1", the power supply unit 5 is turned on, the auxiliary power supply unit is turned off, and the printer is put into operation.

In any case, since the power on / off can be partially controlled by the signal from the host device without turning off the power of the printer main body, the energy of the printer device can be included even when the power of the printer device is forgotten to be turned off. It is possible to eliminate waste.

The case of claim 3 will be described later.

[0013]

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows a printer device according to the present invention.
It is a block diagram showing the composition of one example. The printer device 10 according to the present exemplary embodiment includes a signal monitoring unit 2, a setting unit 3, a power supply control unit 4, a power supply unit 5, a reception buffer unit 6, a processing unit 7, a printing unit 8, and a heat roller unit 9. Is in contact with the signal monitoring unit 2.

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described.
The signal monitoring unit 2 monitors the data strobe signal 12 from the host device 1. Normally, this data strobe signal 12
Is "1" when the power of the host device 1 is on, and "0" when it is off. Print data 11 when the power is on
When sending, "1" and "0" appear alternately.

The signal monitoring unit 2 uses the data strobe signal 1
When the time when 2 is "0" exceeds the predetermined time set by the setting unit 3, the power supply off signal is sent to the power supply control unit 4. Since the setting unit 3 can change the set predetermined time, the signal monitoring unit 2
Can change the time until the power supply controller 4 starts to send a power-off signal. Further, the setting unit 3 can set to which part the power supply control unit 4 supplies power, that is, can set or change each desired supply destination.

When the setting unit 3 sets, for example, turning off the power of only the heat roller unit 9, the power supply control unit 4 receives the power off signal from the signal monitoring unit 2 and supplies power to the heat roller unit 9. Stop the supply of. At this time, the power is continuously supplied to the parts other than the heat roller unit, and the signal monitoring unit 2 keeps the data strobe signal 1 from the host device 1 as it is.
Monitor 2.

When the setting unit 3 sets, for example, the power source other than the heat roller unit 9 to be turned off, the power source control unit 4 receives the power off signal from the signal monitoring unit 2 and the heat roller unit 9 and the signal monitoring unit. Other than 2, that is, the power supply to the reception buffer unit 6, the processing unit 7, and the printing unit 8 is stopped.
At this time, power is continuously supplied to the heat roller unit 9 and the signal monitoring unit 2, and the signal monitoring unit 2 monitors the data strobe signal 12 from the host device 1 as it is.

When the setting unit 3 sets, for example, all power supplies to be turned off, the power supply control unit 4 supplies power to the units other than the signal monitoring unit 2 when a power off signal is sent from the signal monitoring unit 2. stop. At this time, the power supply to the signal monitoring unit 2 is continued, and the signal monitoring unit 2 monitors the data strobe signal 12 from the host device 1 as it is.

When the power of the host device 1 is turned on in each of these states, the data strobe signal 12 becomes "1", and the signal monitoring section 2 sends a power on signal to the power control section 4. When the power control unit 4 receives the power-on signal, the power supply control unit 4 starts supplying power to the portion which has been stopped until then, and the signal monitoring unit 2
Power is supplied to the setting unit 3, the reception buffer unit 6, the processing unit 7, the printing unit 8, and the heat roller unit 9. At this time, the signal monitoring unit 2 continues the data strobe signal 12 from the higher-level device 1.
When the print data 11 is sent, the printer device 10 starts printing.

Next, a second embodiment (claim 2) will be described. FIG. 2 shows a second embodiment of the present invention, which is an auxiliary power supply unit 1.
3 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a printer device 10 having the third embodiment. FIG.

The first point different from the first embodiment is that the auxiliary power supply section 13 is provided, and the second point is that the setting section 3 plays the role, and the signal monitoring section 2 monitors the data strobe signal 12. It is only to set and change the time to be performed, and therefore not to set the power supply destination.

The process until the power supply control unit 4 receives a signal from the signal monitoring unit 2 is the same as that of the first embodiment. Receiving this signal, the power supply control unit 4 turns off the power supply unit 5 and turns on the auxiliary power supply unit 13. The auxiliary power supply unit 13 works as a power supply for only the signal monitoring unit 2 and the power supply control unit 4. The power supply to the reception buffer unit 6 or the heat roller unit 9 is stopped. The signal monitoring unit 2 continuously monitors the data strobe signal 12 from the host device 1.

When the power of the host device 1 is turned on in this state, the data strobe signal 12 becomes "1", and the signal monitoring section 2 sends a power on signal to the power control section 4. The power supply control unit 4 turns on the power supply unit 5, and then turns off the auxiliary power supply unit 13. When the power supply unit 5 is turned on, the supply of power to the signal monitoring unit 2, power supply control unit 4, reception buffer unit 6, processing unit 7, printing unit 8, heat roller unit 9 and setting unit 3 is started. At this time, the signal monitoring unit 2 continuously monitors the data strobe signal 12 from the higher-level device 1, and the print data 11
Is sent, the printer starts printing.

As described above, in both the first and second embodiments, even when the power source unit 5 of the printer device 10 itself is not turned off, when the power of the host device 1 is turned off and the level of the data strobe signal 12 thereof is changed. When the duration time reaches a predetermined condition, it is possible to save power other than the power for monitoring the data strobe signal 12, and immediately after the power of the higher-level device 1 is turned on, the printing work system is immediately performed. Can be taken.

Next, a third embodiment will be described. FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a part of the configuration of the third embodiment having the DIP switch of claim 3.

When the switch for signal monitoring of the DIP switch 14 is off, the signal monitoring unit 2 stops monitoring the data strobe signal 12 from the host device 1 and does not control the power supply. When the switch for signal monitoring of the DIP switch 14 is on, the signal monitoring unit 2 monitors the data strobe signal 12 from the higher-level device 1 and performs the same operation as described in the first embodiment.

Next, a fourth embodiment will be described. FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a part of the configuration of the fourth embodiment having the monitoring management unit 15 of claim 3.

When the monitoring end control command 16 is sent from the higher-level device 1 to the monitoring management unit 15, the monitoring management unit 15 sends an end signal to the signal monitoring unit 2, and the signal monitoring unit 2 sends the monitoring signal to the higher-level device 1.
The monitoring of the data strobe signal 12 from is stopped and the power supply is not controlled. The monitoring end control command 16 is sent to the host device 1.
Is sent, the monitoring management unit 15 sends a start signal to the signal monitoring unit 2, and the signal monitoring unit 2 starts monitoring the data strobe signal from the higher-level device 1, and the same operation as described in the first embodiment. I do.

[0030]

As described above, the present invention has a structure in which the power on / off can be partially controlled by the signal of the host device without turning off the power of the printer main body. Since the heat roller and other parts can be set to control the power supply, even if the power to the printer device is forgotten to be turned off when the host device is far from the printer device, the energy waste of the printer can be minimized. Have an effect.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an embodiment of a printer device of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a printer device according to a second embodiment of the present invention when an auxiliary power supply unit 13 is provided.

FIG. 3 is a third view having the DIP switch 14 according to claim 3;
It is a block diagram showing a part of composition of an example of.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a part of the configuration of a fourth embodiment having a monitoring management unit 15 of claim 3;

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a conventional printer device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1,21 Upper device 2 Signal monitoring unit 3 Setting unit 4 Power supply control unit 5,25 Power supply unit 6,26 Reception buffer unit 7,27 Processing unit 8,28 Printing unit 9,29 Heat roller unit 10,30 Printer device 11, 31 print data 12 data strobe signal 13 auxiliary power supply unit 14 dip switch 15 monitoring management unit 16 control command (monitoring start, monitoring end)

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A desk-top type electrophotographic printer device for a personal computer, which monitors a data strobe signal from a host device, and when a data strobe signal has a predetermined level for a predetermined time, a power control unit A signal monitoring unit that sends a signal, a setting unit that sets the predetermined time monitored by the signal monitoring unit, and a supply destination to which the power supply control unit supplies power, and a signal from the signal monitoring unit and the setting unit. And a power supply control unit that controls a power supply unit that supplies electric power to each unit in the printer apparatus. 2. A desk-top type electrophotographic printer device for a personal computer, which monitors a data strobe signal from a host device, and when the data strobe signal has a predetermined level for a predetermined time period, a power supply control section is provided. A signal monitoring unit that sends a signal, a setting unit that sets the predetermined time period monitored by the signal monitoring unit, and a signal from the signal monitoring unit and the signal to control ON / OFF switching of the power supply unit and the auxiliary power supply unit. A printer apparatus comprising: a power supply control unit for performing the operation; and an auxiliary power supply unit that functions as a power supply unit for only the signal monitoring unit and the power supply control unit by an ON signal from the power supply control unit. 3. The printer device has a unit including a DIP switch for setting whether or not the signal monitoring unit is to monitor the data strobe signal from the higher-level device, or whether the printer device is to be monitored or not. Having a monitoring management unit that sets according to commands from the device,
The printer device according to claim 1.