JPH0624090A - Printing processor - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To receive the information of a functional expanding board for expanding a function from a host device in a printing processor, and to set the operation of an anew added functional expanding board. CONSTITUTION:When an expanding functional board 5-n having a new ID number having no information such as an initialization data is connected to a nonvolatile memory in a printing treater, a user is informed of the connection through an indicator 3 and the initialization data is required, and the initialization data is received from a host device 1, stored in the nonvolatile memory 4 and set to the expanding functional board 5-n, thus bringing the expanding functional board 5-n having a new ID number having no information such as the initialization data to a usable state.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a print processing apparatus, and more particularly to a print processing apparatus capable of increasing a print processing function by additionally connecting an expansion function board.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A conventional print processing apparatus of this type, as shown in FIG. 4, includes a CPU and a micro program, and controls a print operation of the print processing apparatus.
And a read-only memory 42 (hereinafter abbreviated as ROM) in which extended function board initial setting data usable by the print processing device is stored in advance and data is not damaged even when the power is turned off. ID registers 11 and 12 in which the ID (identification) numbers of the boards are set in the plurality of extended function boards 5-1 and 5-2 connected to each other.
And operation setting registers 12 and 22 for setting initial setting data which is information for operating in an environment where each board is connected.

During the operation, as shown in the flow chart of FIG. 5, when the power of the print processing apparatus is turned on and the operation is started, the control circuit 41 first connects a plurality of extended function boards by the process P4. The ID information is read from the ID registers 11 and 12 of the extended function boards 5-1 and 5-2 through the bus. In FIG. 4, two extended function boards 5 having ID numbers "1" and "2" respectively 5-
Information that 1, 5-2 are connected and there is one board unconnected is obtained.

Then, the control circuit 41 performs the process P2 from the read-only memory 42 to the initial setting data for the ID numbers "1" and "2", as shown in the memory map of FIG. At the addresses 0 to 4, the extended function board with the ID number "1" 5-
The initial setting data of 1 is written. ) Is read out and set in the operation setting registers 12 and 22 of the respective extended function boards 5-1 and 5-2, and the extended function boards 5-1 and 5-
2 is made to operate in the print processing apparatus, and then the process P3
Then, the operation such as printing of the original print processing apparatus is started.

[0005]

In the conventional print processing apparatus described above, only the initial setting data for the ID number of the extended function board used in the print processing apparatus is manufactured in advance at the time of manufacture.
Since it is stored in the ROM 42, there is a drawback that a newly added extended function board having an ID number that does not exist in the ROM 42 cannot be used as it is after the print processing apparatus is manufactured.

[0006]

A print processing apparatus according to the present invention includes a processor (CPU) and its microprogram, a control circuit for controlling data reception from a host apparatus and overall printing operation, and a power supply for the apparatus. Non-volatile memory that can hold the initial setting data of the extended function board,
When a new extended function board without the initial setting data is added to the nonvolatile memory, the new extended function is provided, which has a display for visually displaying the data indicating the state of the device and notifies the user. The initial setting data for the board is received from the host device, additionally registered and held in the non-volatile memory, and the new extended function board is made available.

[0007]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Next, the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an embodiment of the present invention. The higher-level device 1 transmits device setting data and print data to the print processing device. The control circuit 2 includes a CPU and its microprogram, and controls data reception from the higher-level device 1 and the entire printing operation of the print processing apparatus.
The nonvolatile memory 4 can retain the initial setting data of the extended function board even when the power of the device is turned off, and the control circuit 2 can read and write the data. The display unit 3 visually displays the state of the print processing apparatus to notify the user. A plurality of extension function boards are connected to the bus 5. The plurality of extended function boards 5-1 to 5-n connected to the bus 13
ID register 1 in which the ID number of each board is set
1, 21 to n1 and operation setting registers 12, 22 to n2 for setting initial setting data serving as information for operating in an environment where each board is connected are provided.

In the operation, as shown in FIG. 2, that is, the flow chart of the microprogram executed by the control circuit, when the power of the print processing apparatus is turned on and the operation is started, the control circuit 2 first executes the processing S1. Through the bus 13 to which a plurality of extended function boards are connected, the ID registers 11 to n of the extended function boards 5-1 to 5-n are connected.
The ID information is read from 1. In this embodiment, information that a plurality of extended function boards having ID numbers "1" to "n" are connected is obtained.

Next, the control circuit 2 executes the process S2 from the non-volatile memory 4 to the respective initial setting data for the ID numbers "1" to "n". For example, as shown in FIG. Initial setting data of the extended function board 5-1 having the ID number “1” is written in the addresses 0 to 4. ) Is read, and each extended function board 5-1
Nos. 5 to 5-n are set in the operation setting registers 12 to n2 so that the extended function boards 5-1 to 5-n can be operated by the print processing apparatus, and then the ID number read in the above-mentioned process S1 is judged in the judgment. In the non-volatile memory 4
It is determined whether or not there is an ID number with no data inside.

For example, assume that the ID number "n" of the extended function board 5-n is a newly added extended function board having no initial setting data in the nonvolatile memory 4. In this case, if it is determined in the determination S3 that there is no initialization data of the ID number "n", the control circuit 2 determines the ID number "n" in the processing S4.
No initial setting data is displayed on the display, and the user is informed of it. In judgment S5, it is determined whether the user has transmitted the initial setting data of ID number “n” to the print processing apparatus by the host apparatus. to decide. In the determination S5, the ID from the host device 1
When it is determined that the initial setting data of the number "n" is received, the initial setting data of the ID number "n" received in step S6 is written to the nonvolatile memory 4 in the memory addresses 23 to 28 of FIG. .

Next, the control circuit 2 receives the received I
The initial setting data of the D number "n" is set in the operation setting register n2 of the newly added extended function board 5-n. The extended function board 5-n has an operation setting register (1
By setting the initial setting data in 4), the print processing apparatus becomes operable.

Thereafter, the control circuit 2 starts the print processing operation in step S8.

When the power source of the print processing apparatus is once turned off and then turned on again, the initial setting data of the extended function board 5-n is written in the non-volatile memory 4 in the above-mentioned step S6. The circuit can read this out and use it.

[0015]

As described above, according to the present invention, there is no new I without any information such as initial setting data in the print processing apparatus.
When an extended function board with a D number is connected, the user is informed through the display unit to request the initial setting data, the initial setting data is received from the host device and stored in the non-volatile memory, and the extended function board is received. By setting to
A new I with no information such as initial setting data in the print processing device
The extended function board that also has the D number can be used by the print processing apparatus.

[Brief description of drawings]

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

FIG. 2 is a flowchart of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a memory map of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a conventional method.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart of a conventional method.

FIG. 6 is a conventional memory map.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Upper device 2 Control circuit 3 Display 4 Non-volatile memory 5-1 to 5-n Extended function board 11 to n1 ID register 12 to n2 Operation setting register

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A control circuit including a processor (CPU) and its microprogram for controlling the entire data reception and printing operation from a host device, and initial setting data of an extended function board even when the device power is turned off. It has a non-volatile memory that can be used and a display that visually displays data indicating the state of the device and informs the user, and when a new extended function board without the initial setting data is added to the non-volatile memory. Prints by receiving the initial setting data for the new extended function board from the host device, additionally registering and holding the same in the non-volatile memory, and making the new extended function board available. Processing equipment.