JPH05254219A - Printer controlling apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To make it possible to perform easily rewriting of a software in a printer controlling apparatus wherein operation of the apparatus is controlled by means of a built-in software. CONSTITUTION:The title apparatus is constituted of a rewriting command detecting device 5 detecting that a rewriting command instructing the rewrite of a software stored in a memory 3 is input in a control device from the outside of a printer 1 through an interface 4 and a software rewriting device 6 for rewriting the data in the memory 3 to the data sent to the control device 2 from the outside of the printer 1 through the interface 4 after the rewriting command when the rewriting command is detected by means of a rewriting command detecting device 5.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a printer control device in which the operation of the device is controlled by built-in software.

The built-in software is stored in the memory in the printer, but it may be necessary to rewrite it with new software in order to improve the function of the printer.

[0003]

2. Description of the Related Art In a conventional printer controller,
Software was generally stored in EPROM, mask ROM, or the like.

[0004]

The ROM storing the software is mounted on the substrate and arranged inside the printer device. Further, in order to rewrite the software, it is necessary to remove the ROM, which requires a special tool or the like, and it has not been possible to easily rewrite the software to improve the function.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a printer control device in which software can be easily rewritten.

[0006]

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, a printer control apparatus according to the present invention, as shown in FIG. 1, is a control for controlling the operations of apparatuses 10 and 11 provided in a printer 1. The memory 3 storing software for determining the control processing operation of the means 2, the interface 4 for receiving signals from the outside of the printer 1 in the control means 2, and the software stored in the memory 3 are rewritten. A rewriting command detecting means 5 for detecting that a rewriting command instructing that the rewriting command is input from the outside of the printer 1 to the control means 2 via the interface 4, and the rewriting by the rewriting command detecting means 5 When a command is detected, the data in the memory 3 is transferred via the interface 4 after the rewriting command. Characterized by providing a software rewriting means 6 for rewriting the data sent to the control unit 2 from outside the printer 1.

[0007]

When the rewriting command detecting means 5 detects that the rewriting command is input to the control means 2 from the outside of the printer 1 via the interface 4, the software rewriting means 6 causes the memory rewriting means 6 to execute a memory operation. Three
The software therein is rewritten to the data sent from the printer 1 to the control means 2 via the interface 4 after the rewrite command.

[0008]

Embodiments will be described with reference to the drawings. In FIG. 2, reference numeral 1 is a printer, which is used as an output device of a personal computer 20 which is a host device.

The operation of the printing section 11 provided in the printer 1 is controlled by a mechanical controller 12 which receives a control signal from a central processing unit (CPU) 2. Further, the display of the display unit 10 that displays a paper jam or the like is also controlled by a control signal from the CPU 2.

The software for determining the control processing operation executed by the CPU 2 is a read only memory (RO
M) 13 so-called rewritable flash memory 3
It is stored separately in and.

That is, the software for controlling the printing operation and the display operation to be rewritten is stored in the flash memory 3, and the software for rewriting the software in the flash memory 3 is stored in the ROM 1.
It is stored in 3.

Reference numeral 14 is a random access memory (RAM) used by the CPU 2 for performing arithmetic processing and the like. 15
Is a character generator (CG) that stores display character data.

Reference numeral 4 denotes an interface for inputting / outputting a signal to / from the personal computer 20, and C
It is controlled by the input / output controller 16 which receives a control signal from PU2. The interface 4 is also connected to the flash memory 3 and the like by the system bus 17.

The operation of the personal computer 20 is controlled by the CPU 21 provided in the personal computer 20. A ROM 22 stores software for that purpose. Reference numeral 23 is a RAM used for performing arithmetic processing and the like for that purpose. Reference numeral 24 denotes an interface for inputting / outputting signals to / from the interface 4 of the printer 1. Reference numeral 25 is an input / output controller for performing the control.

The personal computer 20 is provided with a floppy disk drive (FDD) 26 into which the floppy disk 30 can be inserted and removed. Therefore,
Various data can be input from the floppy disk 30 and stored in the RAM 23.

Next, the software rewriting operation in the printer 1 of the above embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 3 is a flow chart showing the contents of software stored in the ROM 13 of the printer 1, and S indicates a processing step.

This processing is performed by the personal computer 20.
It starts when the signal sent from the command is a command for instructing the processing content, and first, it is determined whether or not the command is a rewrite command for instructing rewriting of the software stored in the flash memory 3 ( S1).

If it is not a rewrite command, the contents of the command are executed (S2). If it is a rewrite command, the software data stored in the flash memory 3 is first erased (S
3).

Subsequently, the software data sent from the personal computer 20 via the interface 4 after the rewriting command is written in the flash memory 3 (S4).

The software newly written in the flash memory 3 is used to upgrade the function of the printer 1, and is supplied from the floppy disk 30.

FIGS. 4 and 5 are flowcharts showing an example of the software rewritten in this way. FIG. 4 is old software erased from the flash memory 3, and FIG. 5 is new software written in the flash memory 3. It is software.

The software rewritten in this example is
It is for performing paper jam detection and display control processing, and when there is a possibility of paper jam after the suction sensor of the printer (not shown) detects the paper, the old software ejects paper not shown. If the sensor was turned on, there was no paper jam (S1
The new software 6) has a function improved so as to further judge the paper jam even when the paper sensor is turned on (S27).

In the above embodiment, the software for detecting and displaying the paper jam is rewritten, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the software for controlling the operation of the printing unit 11 is rewritten. Etc. may be rewritten.

[0024]

According to the printer controller of the present invention,
The software for controlling the operation of the device provided in the printer can be easily rewritten from the outside of the printer as needed to improve the function of the printer. Since a so-called flash memory or the like can be used as a memory for rewritably storing software, it can be realized easily and at low cost.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of an embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a control processing flowchart of the embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a flow diagram of rewritten old software of the embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a flow diagram of rewritten new software of the embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Printer 2 CPU (Control Unit) 3 Flash Memory 4 Interface 5 Rewriting Command Detection Unit 6 Software Rewriting Unit 10 Display Unit (Device) 11 Printing Unit (Device)

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A device (10,) provided in a printer (1).
Memory (3) storing software for determining the control processing operation of the control means (2) for controlling the operation of (11)
An interface (4) for receiving signals from the outside of the printer (1), and a rewrite command for instructing the control means (2) to rewrite the software stored in the memory (3). The rewriting command detecting means (5) for detecting the input to the control means (2) from outside the printer (1) via the face (4) and the rewriting command detecting means (5) When a rewrite command is detected, the data in the memory (3) is sent from outside the printer (1) to the control means (2) via the interface (4) after the rewrite command. And a software rewriting means (6) for rewriting the incoming data.