JPH07152509A - Printing device control part - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To attain the connection of a conventional host computer even in an integrated network environment by specifying only one of plural printing device operating systems in accordance with the interface port to which the date are inputted and switching the operating system to the specified one. CONSTITUTION:When the print data are inputted to a host interface port 4 or 5, it is sensed which one of both ports 4 and 5 undergone an access. Then an operating system switch signal is transmitted to an operating system switch control part 7. The relationship is previously defined between the ports 4 (5) and an operating system so that the 1:1 correspondence can be selected between them. The part 7 selects the desired one of both printing device operating systems OS A 9 end OS B 10 which are stored in a main storage 8 consisting of a ROM.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a printing apparatus control applicable to a printing apparatus capable of generating print information in pixel units based on print data from a host computer and drawing on print media such as paper or OHP. It is about the department.

More specifically, the present invention is a printer control device which is equipped with a dedicated network operating system common to a host computer and is operable under an integrated use environment of a plurality of host computers and a plurality of peripheral devices. And more specifically,
By adopting printing method such as laser beam printing method, high-speed and high-quality printing is possible, and it can be applied to high-performance printing devices.
The present invention relates to a printer control unit.

[0003]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 4 shows a conventional example of a printer control unit using a laser beam system. The printing apparatus shown in this drawing converts character codes, graphics codes, image data and the like transmitted from the host computer 101 into pixel-based drawing information and draws on a print medium such as paper or OHP sheet. . The printing device is the printing device control unit 10.
2 and the printing device printing unit 113.

Hereinafter, FIG. 4 will be described.

Reference numeral 103 denotes a received data storage unit composed of a rewritable storage element such as a RAM, and the host computer 101.
After receiving the print data from, store it temporarily. 104
Is a main control unit composed of a computing element such as a microprocessor, and controls all the controls in the printing apparatus control unit. Reference numeral 105 denotes a main memory unit including a memory element in which data has been written, such as a ROM, and stores the program code of the main memory unit, pixel unit information of characters, fill pattern information, and the like.

Reference numeral 106 denotes an image generation unit composed of a storage element and a logic circuit. The main control unit 104 analyzes the information in the received data storage unit 103, extracts the information in the main storage unit 105, and outputs the image information in pixel units. To generate.

An image storage unit 107 is composed of a rewritable storage element such as a RAM, and stores the pixel unit information generated by the image generation unit 106 for one page.

Reference numeral 108 denotes a video data output section comprising a FIFO and a shift register, which outputs the pixel unit information in the image generation section 107 as video data 108 to the printing section 109 at a predetermined timing.

The printing unit 109 forms an electrostatic latent image on the drum by irradiating the photosensitive drum while switching the laser diode ON / OFF according to the value of the received video data. Drawing is performed by attaching toner to this latent image and transferring it to a printing medium such as paper.

Nowadays, a network type in which a plurality of hosts and a plurality of peripheral devices are connected is mainly used, rather than a stand-alone type in which a printing apparatus and a host computer are connected one-to-one. In particular, an integrated network system has been proposed in which a common operating system is installed in each of the host computer, peripheral equipment, and OA equipment, and the functions of all equipment are used in an integrated manner.

[0011]

However, in the above case, data must be exchanged by a dedicated protocol, and a dedicated operating system (OS) is required.
The conventional stand-alone host computer cannot be used for the integrated network system that cannot be used unless it is incorporated in the printer control unit.

Therefore, in view of the above points, an object of the present invention is to
Another object of the present invention is to provide a printing device control unit capable of connecting a conventional host computer even in an integrated network environment.

[0013]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a storage device having a plurality of printing device operating systems, a plurality of host computer interface ports, and an interface port to which data is input. Accordingly, an operating system switching control unit that identifies only one of a plurality of printing device operating systems built in the storage element and enables it to be operated by the main control unit is automatically provided from the accessed interface port. It is possible to switch the internal printing device operating system and receive print data from a stand-alone host computer that does not belong to the network.

Here, as a storage element containing the printing apparatus operating system, a semiconductor element such as a mask ROM or EPROM, a magnetic storage device such as an HDD, or an IC using a ROM and a RAM.
It is preferable to use a removable storage element such as a card.

Further, the correspondence definition between the host interface port and the printing device operating system can be freely changed.

[0016]

According to the present invention, a dedicated OS is installed in the control unit of the printing apparatus.
It has an interface port dedicated to a network that requires a computer, an interface port that can be connected to a stand-alone PC (personal computer), and a function that can switch the OS in the printer control unit according to the interface port accessed from the host computer. By doing so, it is possible to realize a printing device that can be connected to a conventional host computer even in an integrated network environment.

[0017]

EXAMPLES Hereinafter, each example of the present invention will be described in detail.

Embodiment 1 FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a control unit of a laser beam type printing apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, 3 is a printing device control unit, which analyzes character codes, graphics codes, image data, etc. transmitted from the host computer, converts them into pixel-based drawing information, and outputs them to the printing device printing unit 16. Is. The printing device printing unit 16 draws on a printing medium such as paper or OHP sheet.

Reference numeral 1 is a host computer (host A) having a built-in dedicated network operating system.
It is connected to the printing apparatus by a bidirectional Centronics compliant interface or an Ethernet interface (host I / F A) 4.

2 is an MS-DOS personal computer or Apple
A host computer (host B) that operates on a machine other than the above-mentioned dedicated network operating system, such as Macintosh, RS232C, or Local.
It is connected by an interface (host I / FB) 5 such as Talk.

Reference numeral 6 denotes an input data sensing unit of the printing apparatus. When print data is input to the host interface port 4 or 5, it senses which interface port has been accessed, and outputs the operating system as an operating system switching signal. Notify the switching control unit 7. The correspondence between interface ports and operating systems is pre-defined and can be selected on a one-to-one basis.

The operating system switching control unit 7 stores a plurality of printing device operating systems (OS A9, OS B) stored in a main memory 8 composed of a ROM.
From 10), select the required printing device operating system. At that time, the operating system switching control unit 7 rewrites the value of the program counter with the address of the corresponding operating system. According to the control code of the selected operating system, the main control unit 11 causes the image generation unit 13 to execute the print image generation process, and generates the pixel unit information in the image storage unit 14 including the RAM.

The pixel unit information is converted into serial data via the video data output unit 15 and output to the printer printing unit 16.

Reference numeral 12 is a FONT containing FONT data.
ROM.

Second Embodiment FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a printer control unit according to a second embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, the same or corresponding parts as those in FIG. 1 are designated by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof will be omitted.

In FIG. 2, 17 is a printer control unit, and 1
Reference numeral 8 is a sub-storage unit including an HDD, and 19 is a main storage auxiliary unit including a RAM. A plurality of printing device operating systems are stored in the sub storage unit 18 (OS A2
0, OS B21).

When print data is transmitted from the host computer 1 or 2, the input data sensing unit 6 detects which interface port is accessed and issues a switching signal to the operating system switching control unit 7. Next, the operating system switching control unit 7 selects a predetermined printing device operating system from the plurality of printing device operating systems in the sub storage unit 18, and the main control unit 11 displays the image according to the control code of the selected operating system. Generator 1
3, the print image generation process is executed, and pixel unit information is generated in the image storage unit 14 including the RAM.

At this time, if the access time between the main control unit 11 and the sub storage unit 18 is long and the performance deteriorates,
In order to shorten the access time, it is downloaded to the main memory auxiliary unit 19. After that, the main control unit 11 reads the code of the printing apparatus operating system from the main memory auxiliary unit 19.

The contents of the sub memory 18 can be rewritten from the host computer, and flexible correspondence is possible, which is a difference from the first embodiment.

The other operations are the same as those in the first embodiment.

Third Embodiment FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a printer control unit according to a third embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, the same or corresponding parts as those in FIG. 1 are designated by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof will be omitted.

In FIG. 3, reference numeral 22 denotes a printer control unit, 2
Reference numeral 3 is a sub-storage unit composed of an IC card. Sub memory unit 23
Stores a plurality of printing device operating systems (OS A24, OS B25).

When print data is transmitted from the host computer 1 or 2, the input data sensing unit 6 detects which interface port is accessed and issues a switching signal to the operating system switching control unit 7. Next, the operating system switching control unit 7 selects a predetermined printing device operating system from the plurality of printing device operating systems in the sub storage unit 23, and the main control unit 11 displays the image according to the control code of the selected operating system. Generator 1
The print image generation process is executed from No. 3, and the pixel unit information is generated in the image storage unit 14 including the RAM.

The sub-memory unit 23 can be attached / detached / replaced and can be flexibly handled, which is a difference from the first embodiment, and the second point is that the access time with the main control unit 11 is short. This is a difference from the embodiment.

Other operations are the same as those in the first embodiment.

[0036]

As described above, according to the present invention, the printing apparatus controller has an interface port dedicated to a network that requires a dedicated OS and an interface port connectable to a stand-alone PC, and is accessed by a host computer. By providing a function capable of switching the OS in the printing device control unit according to the interface port, it is possible to realize a printing device that can be connected to a conventional host computer even under an integrated network environment, and the multifunctionality of the entire system is achieved. Can be achieved.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a printing device control unit according to a first embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a printing device control unit according to a second embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a printing device control unit according to a third embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a printer control unit of a conventional example.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Host Computer A 2 Host Computer B 3, 17, 22 Printing Device Control Unit 4 Host I / F A 5 Host I / F B 6 Input Data Sense Unit 7 OS Switching Control Unit 8 Main Storage Unit 9, 20, 24 Operating System A 10, 21, 25 Operating system B 11 Main control unit 12 FONT ROM 13 Image generation unit 14 Image storage unit 15 Video data output unit 16 Printing device printing unit 18, 23 Sub storage unit 19 Main memory auxiliary unit 101 Host computer 102 Printing Device control unit 103 Received data storage unit 104 Main control unit 105 Main storage unit 106 Image generation unit 107 Image storage unit 108 Video data output unit 109 Printing device printing unit

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A storage device having a plurality of printing device operating systems built-in, a plurality of host computer interface ports, and a plurality of printing device operating systems built in the storage devices according to interface ports to which data is input. It has an operating system switching control unit that identifies only one from the system and makes it operable by the main control unit, automatically switches the internal printing device operating system from the accessed interface port, and is a stand-alone specification that does not belong to the network. A printing device control unit capable of receiving print data from a host computer. 2. The semiconductor device such as a mask ROM or EPROM, or H as a storage device containing the printing apparatus operating system according to claim 1.
Magnetic storage device such as DD, or ROM and RAM
A printing device control unit using a detachable storage element such as an IC card using the printer. 3. The printer control unit according to claim 1, wherein the correspondence definition between the host interface port and the printer operating system can be freely changed.