JPH05307448A - Printer - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To transmit/receive a control signal at timing corresponding to respective emulations at a common interface even if a host computer different in emulation is connected so as to execute an accurate operation as a printer. CONSTITUTION:When a change-over switch 16 selects an emulation A and a strobe from the host computer 2 is turned on, the host computer 2 calls information for deciding the timing of the control signal at the time of the emulation A from ROM 12 and controls the interface 13 based on the information. When the change-over switch 16 selects an emulation B and the strobe from the host computer 2 is turned on, the host computer 2 calls information for deciding the timing of the control signal at the time of the emulation B from ROM 12, and controls the interface 13 based on the information.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a printer which operates based on an external printer control command.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In this type of printer, for example, an interface transmits and receives signals and data to and from the host computer at a predetermined timing based on a printer control command from the host computer, and performs a printing operation based on print data from the host computer. Is supposed to do. That is, as shown in FIG. 4, when the strobe from the host computer is turned on, the printer inverts the signal B to the host computer from the low level to the high level and processes the data input from the host computer. When the data input processing is completed, the signal A to the host computer is inverted from the high level to the low level, the signal B is inverted from the high level to the low level, and the signal A is inverted from the low level to the high level.

In such a printer, conventionally, the timing of the control signal of the interface on the printer side is determined so as to match the printer control command system of the host computer (hereinafter referred to as emulation).

[0004]

However, in such a printer, since the timing of the control signal of the interface is fixed, there is a problem that it cannot be used at all if the emulation of the connected host computer is different.

Therefore, when trying to determine the timing of the control signal of the interface on the printer side so that the host computer can be connected to a plurality of host computers having different emulations, the timing of the control signal is set so as to match various emulations of the host computer. Therefore, there is a problem that precise timing management of timing is required, which makes implementation quite difficult.

Therefore, according to the present invention, even if host computers having different emulations are connected, control signals can be transmitted / received at a timing corresponding to each emulation through a common interface. Therefore, based on printer control commands from the host computers having different emulations. The present invention aims to provide a printer capable of performing accurate operation.

[0007]

The invention according to claim 1 is
In a printer that operates based on printer control commands from the outside, an interface that controls transmission and reception of signals and data with the outside and information that determines the timing of control signals that this interface controls transmission and reception are based on multiple printer control command systems. Memory for storing a plurality of types of data, selection means for selecting a printer control command system, and information for determining the timing of the corresponding control signal from the memory based on the selection of the printer control command system by this selection means. Signal control means for controlling the timing of a control signal in response to a printer control command from the outside.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, a plurality of types of interfaces for controlling transmission / reception of signals and data to / from the outside and a plurality of types of information for determining the timing of control signals for transmission / reception control by this interface are provided based on a plurality of printer control command systems. The stored memory, the call control means for selectively calling the information stored in this memory, and the timing control of the control signal or the stop control of the control signal for the printer control command from the outside based on the information called from the memory. A signal control means for performing is provided.

[0009]

According to the first aspect of the invention, the selection means selects the same command system as the external printer control command system. As a result, the information for determining the timing of the corresponding control signal is called from the memory, and the timing control of the control signal is performed based on the information with respect to the printer control command from the outside.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the information for determining the timing of the control signal that matches the external printer control command system is called from the memory by the calling control means. As a result, in response to a printer control command from the outside, timing control of the control signal or stop control of the control signal is performed based on the selected information.

[0011]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

In FIG. 1, 1 is a printer and 2 is a host computer externally connected to the printer 1.

The printer 1 includes a CPU (central processing unit) 11 which constitutes a main body of a control unit, and a ROM which stores program data for the CPU 11 to control each unit.
(Read-only memory) 12, an interface 13 controlled by the CPU 11 to control transmission and reception of data and signals with the host computer 2, the CPU
11, a printer drive unit 15 that drives and controls the printer mechanism unit 14 to perform a printing operation, and a changeover switch 1 as a selection unit that selects an emulation (printer control command system) of a host computer.
6. Input the signal from the changeover switch 16 to the CP
An I / O port 17 for supplying to U11 is provided.
The change-over switch 16 selects emulation A when the contact a grounded is closed, and selects emulation B when the contact b connected to the plus terminal is closed.

In the ROM 12, two kinds of information for deciding the timing of the control signal which the interface 13 controls with the host computer 2 are stored based on the emulations A and B.

When the CPU 11 takes in the signal from the change-over switch 16 via the I / O port 17, it carries out the processing shown in FIG. That is, the signal from the changeover switch 16 is the emulation A (contact a is ON).
Is selected? Emulation B (contact b is ON)
Is selected, and when the emulation A is selected, when the strobe from the host computer 2 is turned on, the ROM 12 calls the information for determining the timing of the control signal when the host computer 2 is in the emulation A. , And controls the interface 13 based on the information. That is, first, the signal B is inverted from the low level to the high level to process the data from the host computer 2. When the data input process is completed, the signal B is next inverted from the high level to the low level.

Next, the signal A is inverted from the high level to the low level, and then the signal A is inverted from the low level to the high level to end the transmission / reception control.

When the signal from the changeover switch 16 selects the emulation B, when the strobe from the host computer 2 is turned on, the ROM 12 is turned on.
The host computer 2 calls information for determining the timing of the control signal when the host computer 2 is in the emulation B, and controls the interface 13 based on the information. That is, first, the signal B is inverted from the low level to the high level to process the data from the host computer 2. When the data input processing is completed, the signal A is then inverted from high level to low level.

Next, the signal B is inverted from the high level to the low level, and then the signal A is inverted from the low level to the high level to end the transmission / reception control.

In the embodiment having such a configuration, when the printer 1 is connected to the host computer 2 which controls the printer by the emulation A, the changeover switch 16 selects the emulation A (contact a is ON). As a result, when the strobe from the host computer 2 is turned on, the interface 13 inverts the signal B from the low level to the high level to process the data input from the host computer 2, and when the data input process is completed, the interface B outputs the signal B. The control signal is controlled at a timing corresponding to the emulation A in which the high level is inverted to the low level, the signal A is subsequently inverted from the high level to the low level, and then the signal A is inverted from the low level to the high level.

When the printer 1 is connected to the host computer 2 which controls the printer by the emulation B, the emulation B is selected by the changeover switch 16.
Select (contact b is ON). As a result, when the strobe from the host computer 2 is turned on, the interface 13 inverts the signal B from the low level to the high level to input the data from the host computer 2, and when the data input processing is completed, the interface 13 outputs the signal A. The control signal is controlled at a timing corresponding to the emulation B in which the high level is inverted to the low level, the signal B is subsequently inverted from the high level to the low level, and then the signal A is inverted from the low level to the high level. After the input data is edited into print data, it is supplied to the printer drive unit 15 and printed out by the printer mechanism unit 14.

Thus, it is possible to cope with different host computers whose emulations are A and B by a simple operation of switching the changeover switch 16 according to the emulation of the connected host computer. That is, whether the host computer for emulation A or the host computer for emulation B is connected, the printer 1 can correctly receive the printer control command from the host computer through the common interface 13, and can always operate correctly. Become.

Although the emulation selection is made by the changeover switch in the above embodiment, the emulation selection is not necessarily limited to this. For example, the emulation selection can be made by the key operation of the operation panel provided in the printer. It may be.

Further, in the above embodiment, two kinds of emulation are selected by the changeover switch, but the emulation is not limited to this, and three kinds or more may be selected.

Next, another embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The hardware configuration is the same as in FIG.

In this case, the change-over switch 16 does not select emulation, but selects information for determining the timing of two types of control signals stored in the ROM 12.

That is, the CPU 11 uses the changeover switch 1
When the signal from 6 is taken in via the I / O port 17, it is shown in FIG.
The processing shown in is performed. Changeover switch 16
When the strobe signal from the host computer 2 is turned on when the signal from the above is low level, one information for determining the timing of the control signal is called from the ROM 12 and the interface 13 is controlled based on the information. That is, first, the signal B is inverted from the low level to the high level to process the data from the host computer 2. When the data input process is completed, the signal B is next inverted from the high level to the low level.

Next, the signal A is inverted from the high level to the low level, and then the signal A is inverted from the low level to the high level to end the transmission / reception control.

When the signal from the changeover switch 16 is at high level and the strobe from the host computer 2 is turned on, the other information for determining the timing of the control signal is called from the ROM 12 and the interface 13 is based on the information. To control. That is, first, the signal B is inverted from the low level to the high level to process the data from the host computer 2. When the data input processing is completed, the signal A is then inverted from high level to low level.

Next, the signal B is inverted from the high level to the low level, and then the signal A is inverted from the low level to the high level to end the transmission / reception control.

In the embodiment having such a structure, two kinds of information for determining the timing of the control signal can be selectively called by the change-over switch 16, so that the same printer control command can, of course, be fetched from a host computer having a different emulation. Even if the contents of the emulation are changed in the host computer 2 of the ROM 1, the information for determining the timing of the control signal according to the changed emulation is stored in the ROM 1.
It can be dealt with by storing in 2.

In the above embodiment, the selection is made from two types of information that determine the timing of the control signal, but the present invention is not limited to this, and it is also possible to make a selection from three or more types of information. ..

[0032]

As described above in detail, according to the present invention, even if host computers having different emulations are connected, control signals can be transmitted / received at a timing corresponding to each emulation through a common interface, and therefore different emulations are performed. It is possible to provide a printer that can perform an accurate operation based on a printer control command from a host computer.

[Brief description of drawings]

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

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing main part control of the printer in the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing main part control of a printer according to another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing control of a main part of a printer in a conventional example.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 ... Printer, 2 ... Host computer, 11 ... CP
U, 12 ... ROM, 13 ... Interface, 16 ... Changeover switch.

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. In a printer that operates based on a printer control command from the outside, an interface for controlling transmission and reception of signals and data to and from the outside, and a plurality of printers that provide information that determines the timing of control signals for which the interface controls transmission and reception. Memory for storing a plurality of types based on the control command system, selecting means for selecting the printer control command system, and information for determining the timing of the corresponding control signal from the memory based on the selection of the printer control command system by the selecting means. A printer comprising signal control means for calling and controlling the timing of a control signal in response to a printer control command from the outside based on the information. 2. In a printer that operates based on a printer control command from the outside, an interface for controlling transmission and reception of signals and data to and from the outside, and a plurality of printers that provide information that determines the timing of control signals for which the interface controls transmission and reception. A memory storing a plurality of types based on a control command system, a call control means for selectively calling information stored in the memory, and a control signal for a printer control command from the outside based on the information called from the memory. A printer provided with signal control means for performing timing control or control stop of a control signal.