JPH0532015A - Printing and device therefor - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To minimize the consumption of an electric battery following an initialization action by interpreting whether a means for printing which prints data received from a host computer is already initialized and, if a printing chance signal is connected by the host computer during non-initialization time, to allow initialization prior to printing. CONSTITUTION:A printer-type personal computer consists of a mainframe 101, a keyboard 102, a top cover 104 with a display 103 and a printer 2. The printer 2 is controlled by a host computer including CPU in the mainframe 101. In this case, first, after initializing a printing data area in CPU during power supply turnon, it is interpreted whether a printer drive system(carriage, capping and sheet feed) is already initialized, and the initialization result is stored in a means for storing data. If the initialization is not yet performed as a result of interpreting the content stored by the means for storing data and a printing chance signal is connected by the host computer, the initialization of the drive system is allowed prior to printing.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to initial processing of a printer.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in a printing apparatus, initial processing such as moving a carriage to a home position has been performed when the power is turned on.

[0003]

Therefore, in the information processing apparatus having the built-in printing device, the printing device is initialized when the power is turned on, even if the printing device is not used at all.

In particular, in a battery-operated laptop computer, there is a major drawback that the battery life is shortened by the initial operation of the printer.

[0005]

[Means (and Action) for Solving the Problems] In order to solve such a drawback, a means for judging whether or not the print initial processing is completed is provided, and the print start command and the output of the judgment means are not completed. When output, the initial process is executed.

[0006]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a printer-integrated personal computer as an information processing apparatus of the present invention.
The apparatus main body 101, the keyboard 102, the upper cover 104 including the display unit 103, the printer 2, and the like. The upper cover 104 is rotatably attached to the apparatus main body 101 via hinges 104a provided at both ends of its rear edge. As a result, when the present apparatus is used, the upper cover 104 can be opened to a position where the display 103 can be easily viewed by the rotation thereof, and can be closed when not in use to function as a cover.
As the display element of the display section 103, a liquid crystal display element is used because the display section can be made thin.

The printer unit 2 using an ink jet recording head is arranged in front of the display unit 103,
It is stored in the apparatus main body 101. Further, the printer unit 2 has an opening (not shown) that can be opened and closed by the operator so that the recording head can be replaced.

The recording paper 3 is inserted from a paper feed port 101a provided in the lower portion of the keyboard 102, is transported in a transport path penetrating the inside of the apparatus main body 101, and is discharged from a paper discharge port (not shown) at the rear of the device. It The keyboard 102 is the device body 1
01 is rotatably attached via hinges 102a provided on both sides of 01. Thereby, even when a relatively short length of recording paper such as an envelope or a postcard is used, the keyboard 102 can be opened at the top and the recording paper 3 can be inserted deep inside the transport path. Since the conveyance path for the recording paper 3 is provided below the keyboard 102, the keyboard 102 and the display unit 103 are set even when the recording paper is set.
Various operations using are possible.

In this embodiment, a portion other than the printer unit 2, a so-called computer portion, is called a host computer.

[Schematic Block Diagram of Host-Printer] FIG. 2 shows a schematic block diagram of a host computer and a printer.

First, in the host computer, it is the central processing unit (CPU) that controls the main control, and it is the BIOS ROM that directs the basic control.
(Basic Input Output System
m ROM). From floppy disk (FDD) or hard disk (HDD) to floppy disk controller (FDC) or hard disk controller (H
The application program is read via the DC) and the program is executed using the system memory (RAM). At this time, the display method of the screen is VG
Characters and the like are displayed on a liquid crystal (LCD) using an A (Video Graphic Array) controller (VGAC), and key input from the keyboard (KB) is performed via the keyboard controller (KBC). Here, the numerical processor (FPU) is a CPU
To support arithmetic processing. or,
The real time clock (RTC) indicates the elapsed time at the present time, and the operation is performed by the dedicated battery even when the power of the entire system is turned off. The DMA controller (DMAC) transfers data at high speed between the memories, between the memories, between the memories and I / O, and between the I / O and I / O, so that the data is transferred without intervention of the CPU. The interrupt controller (IRQC) accepts interrupts from each I / O and performs processing according to the priority order. The timer (TIMER) has a free-running timer of several channels and manages various times. In addition, a serial interface (SI
O), an expansion port (PORT), and an LED that informs the user of the operating status. The printer is connected to the host computer through a general-purpose parallel interface, and data is transmitted / received at the register level of the I / O port, and the image of the connection is the same as when it is exchanged with an external printer.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view for explaining the internal structure of the printer unit 2 using the ink jet recording system to which the present invention is applied or applied. In FIG. 3, 5001 is an ink tank, and 5012 is a recording head coupled thereto. The ink tank 5001 and the recording head 5012 form an integral replaceable cartridge. Reference numeral 5014 is a carriage for attaching the cartridge to the printer main body, and reference numeral 5003 is a guide for scanning the carriage in the sub-scanning direction.

Reference numeral 5000 is a platen roller for scanning the recording paper 3 in the main scanning direction. Reference numeral 5024 is a paper feed motor for rotating the platen roller. The carriage 5014 is provided with a flexible cable (not shown) for supplying a signal pulse current for driving and a current for head temperature control to the recording head 5012, and a print circuit provided with an electric circuit for controlling the printer. It is connected to a plate (not shown).

Further, the printer unit 2 having the above structure will be described in detail. The carriage 5014 that engages with the spiral groove 5005 of the lead screw 5004 that rotates via the driving force transmission gears 5011 and 5009 in conjunction with the forward / reverse rotation of the drive motor 5013 has a pin (not shown),
It is reciprocated in the directions of arrows a and b. Reference numeral 5002 denotes a paper pressing plate which holds the paper in the platen 5 in the carriage movement direction.
Press against 000. Reference numerals 5007 and 5008 denote home position detecting means for confirming the presence of the lever 5006 of the carriage 5014 in this area by a photocoupler and switching the rotation direction of the motor 5013. 5016
Is a cap member 502 that caps the front surface of the recording head.
Reference numeral 5015 is a member for supporting the inside of the cap, and 5015 is a suction means for sucking the inside of the cap.

Reference numeral 5017 is a cleaning blade.
Reference numeral 019 denotes a member that allows the blade 5017 to move in the front-rear direction, and these members are supported by the main body support plate 5018. Needless to say, a well-known cleaning blade can be applied to this example instead of this form. Reference numeral 5021 is a lever for starting suction for suction recovery, and a cam 502 that engages with the carriage 5014.
It moves along with the movement of 0, and the driving force from the driving motor is movement-controlled by a known transmission means such as clutch switching.

That is, by rotating the drive motor 5013 in the reverse direction from the home position of the carriage 5014, the power transmission gear 5011 is switched to 5010 (not shown), and the drive force from the drive motor 5013 is applied to the cam 5020.
Is transmitted to the lever 5021 via the recording head 5012.
It is designed for capping, cleaning, and suction recovery.

[Block diagram of Printer] FIG.
3 shows a block diagram of a printer.

The printer has a CPU # for controlling the printer.
2. ROM # 2 with printer control program, printer emulation and print font, RAM # for storing expanded data for printing and received data from host
2. A printer driver that drives the print head and motor of the printer, a controller that controls access to the memory, exchanges data with the host, and sends control signals to the printer driver.

[Arrangement of Printer Driver] FIG. 5 shows the arrangement of the recording head and head driver.

In this example, the discharge unit has 64 discharge ports, and # 1 to # 64 represent numbers corresponding to the positions of the discharge ports provided in the discharge unit. R1 to R64 are heating resistors as ejection energy generating elements provided corresponding to the ejection ports # 1 to # 64. The heating resistors R1 to R64 are divided into blocks in units of eight, and the switching transistors Q1 to Q8 of the common side driver circuit are shared by each block.
Are connected. The transistors Q1 to Q8 turn on / off the energization path in response to turning on / off of the control signals COM1 to COM8, respectively. It should be noted that D1 to D64 arranged in the energization paths to the heating resistors R1 to R64 are diodes for backflow prevention.

On / off transistors Q9 to Q16 of the segment side driver circuit are connected to the heating resistors located at corresponding positions between the blocks. The transistors Q1 to Q16 have control signals SEG1 to SEG, respectively.
The energization path for the heating resistor is turned on / off according to the turning on / off of 8.

FIG. 6 shows a timing chart for driving the head according to this structure. At a certain position in the head scanning direction, the common side control signals COM8 to COM1 are sequentially turned on. When the block is turned on, one block is selected to be in a state in which it can be energized.
When the EG8 to SEG1 are turned on or off, the heating resistors are selectively energized, and ink is ejected according to the heat generation to perform dot recording.

FIG. 7 is a configuration diagram of the carriage motor and the motor driver.

FIG. 8 shows the driving timing.

Explaining with reference to FIGS. 7 and 8, a stepping motor having coils Φ1 to Φ4 is used as a carriage motor, and switch transistors TR1 to TR4 connected to each coil by drive signals CM1 to CM4.
By properly turning on / off, as shown in FIG.
It is driven by the phase excitation method.

The feed motor has the same structure,
It is driven by the drive signals FM1 to FM4.

[Configuration of Printer Controller] FIG. 9 shows a configuration diagram of the printer controller.

The functional blocks of the controller are an I / O data register for exchanging data at the command level with the host, a receive buffer controller for directly writing the received data from the register to RAM # 2, and recording in RAM # 2. The print data is read out from the data buffer, and is sent to the head driver COM1 to COM8.
/ SEG1 to SEG8, a print buffer controller for sending control signals, and a memory controller for controlling memory access to RAM # 2 from three directions (that is, CPU # 2, reception buffer controller, print buffer controller). It is composed of four blocks.

FIG. 10 shows a map of the printer I / O data register (shown in FIG. 9).

Among them, the motor control port controls the port by directly rewriting the value of the register to drive each motor (CM1 to CM4, FM).
1 to FM4).

The print buffer area is used to set a data area required for printing, and the start address (PB STA
RT) and end address (PB END) are set, the print buffer controller sequentially reads the print data from the start address within the range, and the print data is read from RAM # 2 until the end address, and the head driver is read. Send a control signal. At this time, the print data address pointer (PB POINT) indicates the data address of the data currently being sent.

Similarly, the reception data buffer area also sets a data area required for reception, and has a start address (IB START) and an end address (IB END).
By setting, the reception buffer controller writes the reception data in order from the start address within the range, and the reception data is written to the RAM # 2 until the end address. At this time, the reception data address pointer (IB POINT) indicates the data address that has already received the data.

FIG. 11 shows the address areas of the print buffer (PB) and the receive buffer (IB) on the RAM # 2 in the above operation. Each address is shown in Figure 1.
As indicated by 0, it is designated in the printer I / O register. The interface area is a common I / O area between the host computer and the printer. The interface area is an area for exchanging data with the host computer, and corresponds to a parallel interface port in the host computer.

The interface area is shown in FIG.
Will be described with reference to a diagram showing the correlation in the interface area between the host computer and the printer.

The I / F data, I / F status, and I / F control registers on the host side show the same addresses as the I / F data, I / F status, and I / F control registers on the printer side. In addition, the address map is set so that the address (n, n + 1, n + 2) seen from the host side can correspond to the address (m, m + 1, m + 2) seen from the printer side.

That is, the address of this portion is a register which can be read and written bidirectionally.

The host computer side is also provided with an I / O register for controlling peripheral devices, which is used for I / O control in the host computer. That is, with the I / O area of each block shown in FIG.
Only the control area of the interface in it,
The configuration is common to the interface area of the I / O register on the printer side. Figure 12
The relationship is shown.

The respective processes after the power is turned on on the host computer side will be described below.

FIG. 13 is a flowchart when the power is turned on.
First, the process proceeds to step S10. The soft reset process by the keyboard also goes to step S10, similarly to when the power is turned on. POST processing is performed in step S10,
POST processing is poweron self-test
Then, test and initialize each hardware. Next, in step S11, a boot program for loading the system program is loaded. The boot program is stored in an FD (floppy disk) or HD (hard disk), for example, track 0,
It is located in sector 1. The boot program is loaded by reading track 0 and sector 1 into the memory. ROM from step S10 to step S11
Exists in BIOS. Next, the procedure proceeds to step S12, and the loaded boot program is executed. The boot program is a program that loads a program for loading an OS program from the FD or HD,
Next, in step S13, the OS load program is loaded. Next, in step S14, the OS load program is executed. The OS load program is a program for loading the OS into the memory, and first loads the I / O driver in step S15. The I / O driver is a program for controlling I / O.
The OS uses the / O driver to exchange data with various I / Os. Next, in step S16, I / O test and initialization are performed. Then, the process proceeds to step S17
Load S into memory. When the OS is ready to be executed in the steps so far, the process proceeds to step S18, and the OS is executed. The OS processes the input from the keyboard, displays various messages on the display, and interacts with the operator. The OS executes various command processes according to the input of various commands by the operator.

FIG. 14 is a flow chart for explaining the POST of S10 of FIG. 13 in detail.
A test (numerical operation processor, coprocessor) is performed (step S20). Next, a ROM test is performed (step S21). Next, the power source and the battery are checked (step S22). Next, for the LCD adapter that tests and initializes the LCD and LCD adapter,
The AM and ROM are also included and checked (step S23). Next, the interrupt controller is tested and initialized (step S24). Next, the timer is tested (step S25). Next, the DMA controller is tested (step S26). Then the keyboard,
Test the keyboard controller (step S
27). Next, the serial / parallel port is tested and initialized (step S28). Next, it is checked whether it is a soft reset (step S29). If it is a soft reset, the RAM test and the initialization process in step S30 are skipped and the process proceeds to step S31. If it is not a soft reset, the process proceeds to step S30 to test and initialize the RAM. Next, an FD (floppy disk) test is performed (step S31). Next, an HD (hard disk) test is performed (step S32). Next, the real time clock test is performed (step S33).
Next, the printer is tested (step S34). The printer test checks various printer ports and printer connections. Next, the LED is tested (step S35). Then return. With the above processing, the POST processing shown in S10 of FIG. 13 is performed,
If there are errors in each device, notify them.

Next, the keyboard interrupt processing and the key code acquisition processing will be described. In the keyboard interrupt process, an interrupt is generated from the keyboard controller in response to a key press on the keyboard, the interrupt controller processes the interrupt, and the keyboard interrupt process is executed. In the key code acquisition process, the key code saved by the keyboard interrupt is retrieved from the key buffer, and the key code is returned to the required process. Although not shown, the key buffer is provided in the BI0S common area on the RAM shown in FIG. Keyboard interrupt processing is for each I / O
Is assigned to a hardware interrupt entry or the like on the interrupt map (not shown), and the key code acquisition process is assigned to a software interrupt entry or the like. Each is executed by calling an interrupt or software interrupt from the keyboard.

FIG. 15 is a flowchart showing the processing when a keyboard interrupt occurs. In the figure, when a keyboard interrupt occurs, the key scan code is read from the port assigned to the I / O keyboard in S40. The read code is S41
In step S42, it is determined whether or not the code corresponds to the soft reset. If Yes, the print buffer clear command transmission is executed in S42, and after execution, the actual soft reset operation is started. If the read code is not a soft reset, it is confirmed in S43 whether the keyboard buffer is full. If it is full, a beep sound is generated as a warning in S44, and the process ends. If it is not full, the key scan code is converted into a key code corresponding to the character code in S45, the converted key code is set in the key buffer in S46, and the process is terminated.

As described above, the buffer clear command is transmitted to the printer when the soft reset is executed in the keyboard interrupt process, and the buffer clear process of the printer is performed.

FIG. 16 shows a flowchart relating to the key code acquisition processing.

In the figure, when the key code acquisition is started, it is first checked in S50 whether or not there is a key code in the keyboard buffer. If not, S50 is repeated until the key code is stored in the keyboard buffer. If the key code exists, it is checked in S51 whether or not the key code needs to be converted, and if so, the key code is converted in S52 (the key code conversion mainly occurs when the keyboard is different for each country). Yes.).

When it is not necessary to convert the key code, or after the conversion is necessary in S52, the key code is set in the register for returning the key code in S53, and the process ends.

FIG. 17 is a diagram showing a flow of command analysis processing input by key input in the host.

When the command analysis processing is executed, S60
At, the operator receives a command input from the keyboard or the like, and it is checked at S61 whether the command received is a country switching command. YE
If it is S, the country switching print command transmission process is executed in S62, and the command input is waited again.

If NO, it is checked in S63 if it is another command. If YES, the corresponding process is executed in S64 and the command input is waited again.

Similar processing is expanded in S61 to S64 by the number of necessary commands, but detailed description will not be given here.

Next, the case where the country switching command is executed will be described. The OS executes the following country switching processing according to the specification of the country switching command from the operator.

FIG. 18 is a diagram showing a flow of the country switching print command transmission processing on the host side in S62 of FIG.

When the country switching print command transmission process is executed, in S70, the current country mode setting on the host side is changed to the desired country mode setting in accordance with the command input from the key. The information is the RAM of FIG.
It is stored in. When the change is completed, in S71, the country switch print command is transmitted to perform the same country switch to the peripheral device, and the process ends.

FIG. 19 is a diagram showing a flow of the country switching print command transmission processing in S81 of FIG.

When the country switching print command transmission process is executed, the country mode changed based on the country information stored in the RAM on the main body (host) side in FIG. 2 is checked in S80, and the country mode is transmitted to the printer side. , Corresponding country No. To decide.

In S81, the determined country number. In order to switch the printer to the country corresponding to the above, the country switching print command is transmitted and the processing is terminated.

FIG. 20 is a diagram showing a flow of a country switching print command transmission process (emulation switching) as another embodiment.

When the country switching print command transmission process is executed, the changed country information stored in the RAM of the main body (host) side in FIG. 2 is checked in S90, and the corresponding emulation number. To decide. The emulation No. Are stored in the RAM of FIG. 2 in a table format corresponding to country information.

At S91, an emulation switching print command is transmitted to the printer side in order to switch the printer to the decided emulation, and the process is terminated.

As described above, by issuing the country switch command, it is possible to switch the country mode of the host and simultaneously switch the country on the printer side or switch the emulation on the printer side. The control on the printer side will be described later with reference to FIG.

Next, the processing on the printer side will be described. The printer has three emulation processes and can switch each program.

FIG. 21 is a diagram showing details of the read / write memory including the buffer, the flag and the like in the RAM # 2 shown in FIG. In the figure, a reception buffer is a buffer for receiving print commands and print data transferred from the main body to the printer, and holds data input to the input port of the printer. The drive system initialization flag is a flag indicating whether or not the print drive system such as the carriage has been initialized. The print data area is a data area including flags and registers necessary for printing, and printing is performed using the value held in this area, for example, margin information.
The emulation data area is a data area containing flags, registers, and emulation information necessary for emulation, and the emulation processing uses the value held in this area to perform emulation. Further, the contents of this emulation data area are shown in FIG.
Details are shown in. The work buffer is a work area that is temporarily used for printing and emulation, and is used for work such as data processing and modification. The print buffers 1 to 3 are areas for holding data to be printed, print image data created by emulation is stored, and the data held in the print buffer is transferred to the printing unit to execute printing. One of the print buffers 1 to 3 can store data of a size required for one printing, and in this embodiment, it has three buffers of 1 to 3. Multiple print buffers are provided so that the print image can be expanded to another buffer while one print buffer is actually printed. Data expansion to the print buffer and printing are parallel. You can do it. The download font buffer is an area that stores the font data transferred from the main body when printing fonts other than the font data stored in the printer. When fonts are transferred to this download font, the fonts held in this area are stored. Printing is performed.

FIG. 22 is a diagram showing details of the emulation data area, and emulation flag EMFLA.
G holds the emulation number. EMFL
AG uses two bits B0 and B1 to indicate the corresponding NO of emulation. B0 and B1 can have values from 0 to 3, with 0 indicating emulation 1, 1 indicating emulation 2 and 2 indicating emulation 3. In this embodiment, the emulations 1 to 3 are supported, and each emulation corresponds to the value registered in the emulation flag EMFLAG. EMFL
AG is the emulation number specified when the emulation switching print command is executed. Is set. The country flag CNTFLAG is a buffer that holds a country code, and is a 4-bit bit of B0 to B3. Is held. B0 to B3 can take values from 0 to 15, and with this value, the country's No. Can be represented.
In this embodiment, two countries, Japan and USA, are used. Therefore, if the value is 0, the value is USA, and if the value is 1, the value is Japan. It is possible to have individual values for other countries. According to the country switching print command, the country number is displayed on the country flag. Is set. The emulation information 1 to 3 is an area for holding emulation information held by each emulation, and is an area represented by 24 bits B0 to B23. Each bit of B0 to B23 is used to specify information necessary for each emulation, such as character quality and page length. In addition, it holds the initial values used for each emulation, and these information can be set and changed by setting and changing commands for each information.
The information corresponding to the emulation currently being executed is rewritten. In this embodiment, description of the contents of each bit is omitted, but necessary emulation information can be held. The emulation information 1 to 3 have the same format, but the setting for the bit contents can be specified by each emulation.

FIG. 23 shows a specific example of emulation information. In this example, B0 to B2 bits are used to give each bit a function of character quality, reduced character, and character code, and each bit represents 0 or 1 to indicate the setting of each function in each emulation. Each emulation can have a similar format or a separate format. It is also possible to perform classification so as to have several values by using multiple bits.

As described above, each emulation is executed according to the value held in the emulation data area.

FIG. 24 is a diagram showing a table for emulation execution, which is held in ROM # 2 (on the printer side) in FIG. The emulation selection table includes a pointer that points to each emulation control table and corresponds to each of the tables 1 to 3.
The emulation control tables 1 to 3 are management tables of each emulation of emulations 1 to 3 and correspond to each emulation. The emulation initial information 1 to 3 is a table holding the initial value of each emulation information and has the initial value corresponding to each emulation. This initial value is used as an initial value when a command is specified and when information is not set.
Is a value to be set in the areas of emulation information 1 to 3 of. The emulation programs 1 to 3 hold programs for each emulation, and any one of the emulation programs 1 to 3 is executed when each emulation is executed.

FIG. 25 is a diagram showing the configuration of the tables shown in FIG. 24, where .fwdarw. Indicates a pointer and holds its address. The emulation selection table has pointers to the emulation control tables a to c. The emulation control table has emulation IDs and EMIDs, which are identifiers of emulations corresponding to each emulation, and have individual values for each emulation. The emulation name is a character example showing the name of the emulation and can be used when you want to know the name of the emulation. The initial information pointer is a pointer that points to a table containing the initial value of the emulation initial information, and points to the table of each initial information in each emulation. The information pointer is a pointer that points to each emulation information (FIG. 22).
This is a pointer that points to the current emulation information table, and emulation is executed based on the data at the end of this pointer. The program pointer is a pointer that points to an emulation program, and is a pointer that indicates a program executed by each emulation. The address of each program is used when switching each emulation using this pointer.

FIG. 26 is a diagram showing the initial values set in the emulation initial information of FIG. 25 in the ROM # 2 of FIG. 4, which corresponds to the emulation information of FIG. 23. The initial value in the case of the example is shown.
In the case of this emulation, high-quality, normal, and katakana settings are initial values, and the contents of this table are initial values of emulation information.

As described above, the actual emulation switching and management are performed using the emulation execution table.

FIG. 27 is a flow chart showing the printer side processing of this embodiment. First, initialization processing is performed in step S100. In the initialization processing, processing such as clearing the print buffer is performed. Next, in step S101, emulation selection processing is performed. The details of this selection process are shown in FIG.
9 shows. Any one of the emulations 1 to 3 is selected by the selection processing in step S101 and is executed. One of the three emulations of steps S102 to S104 is performed,
Since each emulation moves so as to complete a series of operations, when the emulation switching command is executed, each emulation ends and the process proceeds to emulation selection processing step S101. Repeat the above.

FIG. 28 is a flowchart showing the details of step S100 in FIG. 27. First, in S110, the I / O port of the printer drive system (carriage, paper feed, etc.) is initialized, and in S111, the printing shown in FIG. 21 is performed. Initialize the data area. Then, in S112, 0 is set to the drive system initialization flag shown in FIG. 21 to indicate that the drive system has not been initialized.

FIG. 29 is a flow chart showing the details of step S101 in FIG. 27. First, in step S120, the emulation No. set in the emulation flag EMFLAG shown in FIG. Take out. The emulation flag EMFLAG is shown in FIG. Is set. Next, the process proceeds to step S121, and the emulation No. of the emulation flag EMFLAG. Select the corresponding emulation control table from the emulation selection table corresponding to. The pointer of the emulation program is fetched from the selected emulation control table. Next, the process proceeds to step S122, the process branches to the program address fetched in step S121, and execution of each emulation program starts. Through the above processing, emulation selection processing is executed and emulation is selected.

FIG. 30 shows steps S102 to S10 of FIG.
4 is a flowchart for explaining the emulation shown in FIG. 4 in detail, and shows a part common to each emulation.
First, initialization processing is executed in step S130. The initialization process executes initialization of the data area required for each emulation.

Next, in step S131, a print command is received from the sent print command and print data. As the print data, the data sent from the main body is once stored in the reception buffer, and the data is taken out from the reception buffer. If there is no received data, it waits for received data. Next, in step S132, it is checked whether the command is an emulation switching command. If it is an emulation switching command, the process proceeds to step S133 to execute emulation switching processing. FIG. 31 shows a detailed flowchart of the emulation switching process. Then return. If it is not an emulation switching command, the process proceeds to step S134, and it is checked whether it is a country setting command. If it is a country setting command, the process proceeds to step S135, and country setting processing is executed. FIG. 32 shows a detailed flowchart of the country setting process. After execution, returns to command reception. If it is not a country setting command, it is processed by another command.

Next, it is checked whether or not it is a buffer clear command. In the case of the buffer clear command, the process proceeds to step S136, and the buffer clear process (S137)
To execute. After executing the buffer clearing process, the process returns to the command receiving process. If it is not a buffer clear command, it is checked whether it is a character quality setting command (S138).
If it is a character quality setting command, the process proceeds to step S139 to execute character quality setting processing. Then, the process returns to the command receiving process.

Next, CR (print return) and FF (page break)
It is checked whether the print command is such a print command (step S140). If it is a print command, proceed to S141,
Perform print processing. Although the description of the processing of other commands is omitted, commonly used emulation commands can be executed. Step S13 after execution of each command
The process proceeds to 1 and the above process is repeated.

With the above processing, the processing of the emulation switching command and the country setting command can be executed during the emulation processing.

FIG. 31 is a diagram showing the details of the emulation switching process. When the switching command is received,
To be executed. First, in step S150, the switching emulation No. Decide. Switching emulation No.
Is received in addition to the switch command. Next, the emulation No. received in step S151. Determine the emulation control table from. Next, it is checked whether the switching command is a command with initialization (step S152). 2 for switching command
There are different types of commands, one with an initialization command and one without an initialization command. If it is an initialization command, the process proceeds to step S153, and the initial information is copied to the emulation information area. Then step S
If it is not an initialization command, the process proceeds to step S154.
Proceed to 54. Then, in step S154, the emulation flag EMFLAG is changed to the emulation flag EMFLAG.
Are set in bits B0 to B1. Then return.

By the above processing, the emulation switching processing is executed, and the preparation for the emulation switching can be made.

FIG. 32 is a diagram showing the details of the country setting process, which is executed when the country setting command is received. First, in step S160, the country flag CNTFLAG is set to the country N.
o. Set. Then return. With the above processing, the country setting process is executed, and the country setting can be performed.

FIG. 33 is a diagram showing the details of the buffer clear process, which is executed when the buffer clear command is received. First, in step S170, the buffer is cleared. The buffer includes buffers such as a print buffer that need to be initialized. By the above processing, the buffer clear processing can be performed.

FIG. 34 is a diagram showing details of the character quality switching process, which is executed when the character quality switching command is received. First, in step S180, the emulation No. set in the emulation flag EMFLAG. Take out. Next, this emulation N
o. Determines the address of the emulation control table registered in the emulation selection table. Next, in step S181, the address registered in the information pointer in the control table determined in step S180 is taken out. There is emulation information at the destination pointed to by this address, and this emulation information is held in the RAM. Next step S1
Proceed to 82 to check whether to set high quality. This is performed by a value indicating whether the command is high quality or draft. When high quality is designated, the process proceeds to step S184, and the B0 bit of the emulation information is set to 0. If the B0 bit is set to 0,
It becomes a high-quality designation. If the high quality is not designated, the process proceeds to step S183, and the B0 bit of the emulation information is set to 1. When the B0 bit is set to 1, the draft is designated. Then return. By the above processing,
Execution processing of the character quality switching command is performed, and thereafter, the quality is selected based on the B0 bit of this emulation information, and printing is executed.

FIG. 35 is a flow chart showing the details of step S141 in FIG. 30. First, in step S190, the drive system initialization flag is tested to determine whether the printer drive system such as the carriage has already been initialized. If the flag is 0
If it is not initialized in step S191, the initialization steps of S191 to S194 are executed.

The carriage initialization in S191 is to move the carriage 5014 shown in FIG. 3, confirm the existence of the carriage 5014 with the photocouplers 5007 and 5008, and position the carriage 5014 at the home position. Details are shown in FIG.

Next, capping is performed (S192).
Capping is the cap member 5022 shown in FIG.
Is an operation of capping the front surface of the recording head 5012, and serves to prevent the recording head 5012 from drying. The recording head 5012 must be capped by the cap member 5022 except during printing. The details of the capping operation are shown in FIG.

Next, the paper feed is initialized (S193).
Paper feed initialization is initialization of the paper feed motor 5024, and is performed to determine the print line position. It will not be described in detail in this embodiment.

Further, the drive system initialization flag 1 is set to indicate that the initialization has been performed. Therefore, S191 to S194 are skipped in the subsequent print processing.

In S195, the cap is opened, and in S19
At 6, the carriage, recording head, etc. are driven to print the print data in the print data area, and the command that triggers printing is executed. After the command is executed, the carriage is returned again in S197 to cap and the printing process ends.

FIG. 36 is a detailed flow of the carriage initialization, which will be described with reference to FIG. The lever 5006 attached to the carriage 5014 is a photo coupler 5007, 50.
08 (HP sensor) is crossed (HP sensor On)
By doing so, it is possible to detect whether the carriage 5014 is in the home position side area, and the HP sensor turns off the
The position that has become the home position (HP) of the carrier.

First, in S201, it is determined whether the carriage 5014 is already in the home position side area. If it is already in the home position side area, the process proceeds to S202, and the drive motor 5013 is rotated by 45 pulses in the forward direction (the carriage 5014 is moved by 45 pulses in the right direction) to move the carriage 5014 to the outside of the home position side area.
If the HP sensor is not On in S201, S203 and S2
In step 04, the drive motor 5013 is rotated in the reverse direction by one pulse (the carriage 5014 is moved in the left direction by one pulse), and the carriage 5014 is moved to the home position side area. In S205 and S206, the carriage 501 is turned on again until the HP sensor turns off.
4 is moved to the right by one pulse at a time, and further moved to the right by 20 pulses in S207. And S208,
In step S209, the carriage 5014 is moved to the left by one pulse, and when the HP sensor is turned off, the carriage 5014 is stopped and the initialization is completed.

FIG. 37 is a detailed flow of capping. This is control by the CPU # 2 in FIG. By rotating the drive motor 5013 from the home position of the carriage 5014 in the opposite direction, the power transmission gear is switched, and the lever 5021 is moved via the cam 5020. In order to move the lever 5021 to the capping position, the following three controls (S211 to S213) are required as a capping flow. First, when the carriage 5014 is at the home position, the drive motor 501
3 in the reverse direction by 34 steps, and drive transmission gear 50
Switching between 10 and 5011 (S211). Next, the cap member 5022 is further rotated by 11 steps in the reverse direction to move the cap member 5022 away from the recording head 5012 once (S212), and further rotated by 45 steps in the reverse direction to rotate the cap member 5022.
Is pressed against the surface of the recording head 5012 to complete the capping (S213).

The cap can be opened by reversing this flow.

(Other Embodiments) In another embodiment, the welfare elements of the printer (carriage system, capping system, paper feed system) are used.
More detailed initialization control is carried out with an initialization flag for each, but the details are the same as in the first embodiment and will not be described.

As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to omit the printer initialization when the power is turned on or when the emulation mode is changed, and it is possible to perform a smooth operation.

Further, when the present invention is applied to a battery-powered printing device built-in type information processing device, there is an excellent effect that the life of the battery can be extended.

[0097]

As described above in detail, according to the present invention, when the data from the host is received and printed, the initialization related to the printing is not performed, and the printing trigger is issued from the host. In this case, it is possible to provide a printing method and apparatus that perform the above initialization prior to printing.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a printer-integrated personal computer of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic block diagram of a host computer and a printer.

FIG. 3 is an internal configuration of the printer unit 2 of FIG.

FIG. 4 is a printer block diagram.

FIG. 5 is a configuration diagram of a recording head and a head driver.

FIG. 6 is a timing chart of head drive.

FIG. 7 is a configuration diagram of a carriage motor and a motor driver.

8 is a drive timing of the driver of FIG.

FIG. 9 is a configuration diagram of a printer controller.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a map of a printer I / O register.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing address areas of a recording data buffer and a receiving buffer.

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing a correlation between I / O areas of a host computer and a printer.

FIG. 13 is a flowchart when the power is turned on.

FIG. 14 is a POST flowchart.

FIG. 15 is a flowchart of keyboard interrupt processing.

FIG. 16 is a flowchart of a key code acquisition process.

FIG. 17 is a flowchart of command analysis processing.

FIG. 18 is a flowchart of host-side country switching processing.

FIG. 19 is a flowchart of printer-side country switching processing.

FIG. 20 is a flowchart of printer-side country switching processing when emulation is executed.

FIG. 21 is a diagram showing a configuration of RAM # 2.

FIG. 22 is a detailed diagram of an emulation data area.

FIG. 23 is a diagram showing a specific example of emulation information.

FIG. 24 is a diagram showing a table when emulation is executed.

FIG. 25 is a diagram showing the configuration of the table shown in FIG. 24.

FIG. 26 is a diagram showing initial values of emulation information.

FIG. 27 is a flowchart of printer control according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 28 is a flowchart of printer unit initialization control.

FIG. 29 is a detailed flowchart of step S101 of FIG.

FIG. 30 is a detailed flowchart of steps S102 to S104 in FIG. 27.

FIG. 31 is a detailed diagram of emulation switching processing.

FIG. 32 is a detailed diagram of country setting processing.

FIG. 33 is a detailed diagram of buffer clear processing.

FIG. 34 is a detailed diagram of character quality switching processing.

FIG. 35 is a detailed flowchart of step S141 of FIG.

FIG. 36 is a detailed flowchart of carriage initialization.

FIG. 37 is a detailed flowchart of capping.

   ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued front page    (72) Inventor Koji Fukunaga             Kyano, 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo             Within the corporation (72) Inventor Naohisa Suzuki             Kyano, 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo             Within the corporation (72) Inventor Jiro Tateyama             Kyano, 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo             Within the corporation (72) Inventor Susumu Takase             Kyano, 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo             Within the corporation

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. A printing unit that receives and prints data from a host, a storage unit that stores whether or not the initialization of the printing unit has been performed, and the storage unit is determined to perform initialization. A printing apparatus characterized by having an initialization means for performing the above-mentioned initialization prior to printing when a print trigger is issued from the host. 2. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the printing means comprises a plurality of constituent elements, and the plurality of storage means are provided so as to correspond to each constituent element. 3. The printer according to claim 1, wherein the host and the printing unit are connected via a general-purpose parallel interface. 4. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the printing means causes a volume change by the action of thermal energy and ejects ink droplets from an ejection port. 5. When receiving and printing data from a host, storing whether or not initialization related to printing has been performed, initialization has not been performed, and a printing trigger is issued from the host. If so, the printing method is characterized in that the initialization is performed prior to printing. 6. The printing method according to claim 5, wherein the host side and the printing side are connected via a general-purpose parallel interface. 7. The printing method according to claim 5, wherein in the printing, a volume change is caused by an action of thermal energy, and ink droplets are ejected from an ejection port.