JPH08292892A - Copying system - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To provide a digital copying system which has NA architecture that can start up a user interface of high priority and abnormality detection quickly when the power source is turned on. CONSTITUTION: The copying system has a scanner part, a printer part, a system control part, and a communication path of bus constitution that can communicate image data and control information data by connecting them, and performs copying operation; and this system has a means which stores the control program of the system in the ROM 15 of the system control part and loads the control program to the RAM 17 for execution of the system control part to execute the program, and loads a control program of high control priority preferentially from the ROM 15 to the RAM 17 when the system is reset to execute the program.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a copying operation having a scanner section, a printer section, a system control section, and a communication path having a bus structure for connecting these to communicate image data and control information data. In particular, the present invention relates to a digital copying system having an NA architecture capable of quickly starting a high-priority user interface and abnormality detection after power-on.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, in a copying system such as a digital copying machine, the specifications of an operating section have become complicated due to the high functionality of the copying system. Conventionally, all the control functions of the copying machine are one microcomputer (hereinafter referred to as MPU)
However, even if the latest high-speed MPU is used, it is becoming difficult for one to perform the processing in order to realize high functionality. Also, in terms of cost, an MPU with lower performance than using one fastest MPU
It is usually advantageous to use more than one. Therefore, there is an increasing number of configurations in which the scanner unit, the printer unit, the system control unit, the operation unit, and the like, which are each unit of the copying machine, hold the MPU.

However, due to the above-mentioned high functionality, a high-level user interface is required also in the operation function, and for example, a 640 × 480 dot LCD.
Copiers with complicated operation modes (liquid crystal panel) and touch panel are beginning to appear. In order to realize such a highly functional operation unit, the hardware configuration and operating system (O
By installing S), a high-level user interface can be used and the software development efficiency can be dramatically improved. Based on such an idea, a system has been proposed in which the system control unit and the operation unit are independent of the scanner unit / printer unit, and these are connected by a general-purpose bus (such as SCSI-2 bus).

Further, in the above copying system, it is often impossible to have a hard disk, a floppy disk, a backup power source, etc. due to cost and usage conditions. Therefore, the hardware configuration of the system control unit is so-called built-in. Type MPU, ROM, R
It is often composed of an AM, a small-capacity non-volatile RAM (NV-RAM), a peripheral circuit LSI, a communication / operation unit interface, and the like. Where the program is R
When operated on the OM basis, the ROM generally has a slower access time than the RAM, resulting in a slower processing speed. For this reason, a method has been proposed in which the execution program is stored in the ROM, and after the power is turned on, the execution program is loaded from the ROM to the RAM and then started up to secure the processing speed.

On the other hand, as a requirement for general stand-alone office equipment such as a copying machine, it is required that the equipment can be operated immediately after the power is turned on. That is, the above L
In a digital copying machine having a complicated operation mode using a CD and a touch panel, it was desired to quickly launch a user interface with a high priority such as a message display such as "Please wait" by a VGA control program. Further, in the case of the above digital copying machine, it is necessary to turn on the heater immediately after the power is turned on in order to accelerate the warm-up time of the heater in the fixing section. However, if there is an abnormality in the fixing heater, the heater should be turned on to prevent danger. O
N is not possible, this abnormality is detected as soon as possible and the heater is turned on.
It was necessary to prioritize whether or not to perform N. That is, it was desired to start the abnormality detection as soon as possible after the power was turned on. However, the above digital copying machine,
In particular, in a digital copying machine having an NA architecture, no measures have been taken to quickly activate the above-mentioned high-priority user interface and abnormality detection after the power is turned on.

[0006]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned conventional problems, and an object thereof is to enable a user interface having a high priority and an abnormality detection to be activated immediately after power-on. An object is to provide a digital copying system having an architecture.

[0007]

In order to achieve the above object, the invention described in claim 1 is a bus structure for connecting a scanner unit, a printer unit, a system control unit, and connecting them to communicate image data and control information data. In a copying system that performs a copying operation with the communication path of the above, the control program of the system is stored in the ROM of the system control unit, and the control program is loaded into the execution RAM of the system control unit at the time of execution. In addition to having means for executing the control program, the control program having a high control priority is preferentially loaded from the ROM to the RAM and executed when the system is reset. According to a second aspect of the present invention, a copying operation is performed by including a scanner unit, a printer unit, a system control unit, and a communication path having a bus structure that connects these units and can communicate image data and control information data. In the copying system, the control program of the system is stored in the ROM of the system control unit, and the control program is executed for execution by the RA of the system control unit during execution.
Means for loading and executing in M, and a control program having a high control priority when the system is reset, and the ROM
And a means for directly executing the above.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the copying system according to the first or second aspect, when the control program stored in the ROM is compressed and stored, the high priority portion is not compressed. And is stored in the ROM. According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the copying system according to the first, second or third aspect, the control program having a high priority is a communication program of control information data.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the copying system according to the first, second or third aspect, the control program having a high priority is one having a high operational priority among the operation unit programs. It is characterized by Claim 6
The invention described in claim 1 is the copying system described in claim 1, 2 or 3, characterized in that the control program having a high priority detects and controls an abnormality of the system.

[0010]

As a result of having the above-described configuration, even in a copying machine system having an NA architecture and an advanced user interface, it is possible to quickly start up the user interface and abnormality detection without turning up the power. Becomes

[0011]

An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. 1A, 1B, and 1C are schematic configuration diagrams of a copying system in which the present invention is implemented, and FIG.
3 is a schematic system block diagram of the NA architecture in the copying system shown in FIG. 3, and FIG. 3 is a block configuration diagram of an SCU unit (system control unit) which is a main part of the present invention shown in FIG. First, this copying system forms an image using a scanner unit 1 as shown in FIG. 1A for reading an image from a document, and a photoconductor 3 from a signal of the image read by the scanner unit 1. A printer unit 5 as shown in FIG. 1B and an SCU unit (system control unit) 7 as shown in FIG. 1C for controlling the scanner unit 1 and the printer unit 5 are provided. There is. As shown in FIG. 2, the copying system includes the scanner unit 1 and
An NA in which the printer unit 5 and the SCU unit 7 are connected to each other via a SCSI-2 bus 9.
The architecture is structured.

As shown in FIG. 3, the SCU section 7 has an MPU (microcomputer) 13, a ROM 15, a RAM 17, and an NV-RA via a system bus 11.
M19, peripheral circuit LSI 21, and VGA control unit 23
, The touch panel control unit 25, the operation key LED display control unit 27, and the SCSI-2 control unit 29 are mutually connected, and the VGA control unit 23 and the touch panel control unit 2 are connected.
5, an LCD display unit 31 including a touch panel is connected, and the operation key LED display control unit 27 is connected to an LED display unit 33 and an operation key 35.
The SCSI-2 bus 9 is connected to the -2 control unit 29.

Further, as shown in FIG. 4, operation keys 35 such as a numeric keypad, a cursor key, and a start key, an LED display section 33 such as a 7-segment LED and an individual LED, and a high-performance user interface 640 × 48
A large-sized LCD having a display capability of 0 dots and the touch panel 31 form an operation unit.

An MPU for controlling the SCU unit 7
13 is 32 due to the spread of personal computers in recent years.
Bit high-speed MPU is now available at low cost, so use it. Windows can also be used as an OS having a high-performance user interface, and VGA can be used as a control device for a large LCD.
There are standard and easy-to-use systems, so use them.

For the fixing unit 37 of the copying machine shown in FIG. 1C, a temperature-controlled heater is used. However, if there is an abnormality in the temperature sensor, the temperature cannot be controlled and a dangerous state occurs. Therefore, the temperature sensor abnormality can be detected, and when a thermistor or the like is used as the temperature sensor, the resistance value shows only a constant value (including zero resistance value and infinity) to detect the abnormality. There is. Since the fixing unit 37 belongs to the printer unit 5, when the abnormality detection information is displayed on the operation unit, the SCS
The SCU unit 7 is notified as control information data through the I-2 bus 9.

Next, referring to the flow chart of FIG. 5, the operation of starting and executing the control program at the time of power-on or manual reset in the first embodiment of the copying system will be described. In this first embodiment,
When the power is turned on or reset, a control program (user interface and fixing abnormality detection) having a high control priority is preferentially loaded from the ROM 15 to the RAM 17 and executed.

First, when the power is turned on or reset, the load program of the control program is started on the ROM 15 in step 101 of FIG.
03, the VGA control program from the ROM 15 to the R as a high-priority user interface.
It is loaded into AM17 and activated. And step 1
At 05, the message "Please wait" is displayed on the LCD 31 according to the VGA control program.

Next, in step 107, an LED display control program is loaded from the ROM 15 to the RAM 17 as a high-priority user interface and activated, and in step 109, an LED display that cannot be copied is executed according to the LED display control program. To be done.

Next, in steps 111 and 113,
A communication program of control information data is loaded from the ROM 15 to the RAM 17 and activated to detect the fixing abnormality with high priority, and the fixing abnormality information is communicated from the printer unit 5 to the SCU unit 7. Then, in step 115, it is determined whether or not there is a fixing abnormality. If there is the fixing abnormality, in step 117, the LED 3
In 3, the abnormal LED display of the serviceman call is executed. Then, in step 119, all other control programs are loaded from the ROM 15 to the RAM 17 and executed. If it is determined in step 115 that the fixing abnormality does not occur, the process proceeds to step 119 and all other control programs execute the RO.
It is loaded from M15 to RAM17 and executed.

Next, with reference to the flow chart of FIG. 6, the starting and executing operations of the control program at the time of power-on or manual reset in the second embodiment of the copying system will be described. In the second embodiment,
When the power is turned on / reset, the control program with high priority (user interface and fixing abnormality detection) is
After executing on the M15, all the control programs are newly loaded from the ROM 15 to the RAM 17 and executed.

First, at the time of power-on or reset, in step 201 of FIG. 6, the VGA control program is started on the ROM 15 as a user interface with high priority, and in step 203, the V control program is started.
The message "Please wait" is displayed on the LCD 31 according to the GA control program.

Next, in step 205, the RO
The LED display control program is started as a high-priority user interface on M15, and step 207
In, the LED display of copy disabled is executed according to the LED display control program. Next, Step 20
9 and 211, the communication program of the control information data is activated to detect the fixing abnormality with high priority on the ROM 15, and the fixing abnormality information is sent from the printer unit 5 to the S unit.
Communication is made to the CU unit 7. Then, in step 213, it is determined whether or not there is a fixing abnormality, and if there is the fixing abnormality, in step 215, an abnormal LED display of a serviceman call is executed in the LED 33. Then, in step 217, the ROM 15
The control program loading program is started up, and in step 219, all the other control programs are loaded from the ROM 15 to the RAM 17 and executed. If it is determined in step 213 that the fixing abnormality is not present, the process proceeds to step 217.

Next, with reference to the flow chart of FIG. 7, the starting and executing operations of the control program at the time of power-on or manual reset in the third embodiment of the copying system will be described. In this third embodiment,
In the method in which the control program is compressed and stored in the ROM 15 and the compressed control program read from the ROM 15 at the time of reset is decompressed and loaded into the RAM 17 to be executed, the control program with high control priority is: Stored in the ROM 15 without compression,
At the time of reset, first, the control program with high priority is read from the ROM 15 and loaded into the RAM 17 and executed, or directly executed on the ROM 15 and then a program for decompressing the compression program is started,
All the compressed control programs are read out, decompressed, loaded into the RAM 17 and executed.

First, at the time of power-on or reset, the load program of the control program is started on the ROM 15 in step 301 of FIG. 7, and step 3
03, the uncompressed VGA control program is the above-mentioned RO
It is loaded from M15 to the RAM 17 and activated. Then, in step 305, the message "Please wait" is displayed on the LCD 31 according to the VGA control program. Next, step 3
In 07, an uncompressed LED display control program is loaded as the high-priority user interface from the ROM 15 to the RAM 17 and activated, and in step 309, the LED display that cannot be copied is executed according to the LED display control program.

Next, in steps 311, 313,
A communication program of uncompressed control information data is loaded from the ROM 15 to the RAM 17 and activated to detect the fixing abnormality with high priority, and the fixing abnormality information is communicated from the printer unit 5 to the SCU unit 7. And
In step 315, it is determined whether or not there is a fixing abnormality. When there is the fixing abnormality, in step 317, the LED 33 of a serviceman call is displayed as an abnormal LED.

Then, in step 319, the decompression program of the compressed program data is stored in the ROM 1 as described above.
5 is loaded into the RAM 17 and activated, and step 32
1, all compressed control programs are read from the ROM 15 and expanded, and then the RA
It is loaded into M17 and activated. Step 3 above
If there is no fixing abnormality in 15, the above step 319
Move to. The operations of steps 301 to 317 in FIG. 7 can be directly activated and executed on the ROM 15 as in the second embodiment.

[0027]

According to the present invention, even in a copying machine system having an NA architecture and an advanced user interface, the user interface and abnormality detection can be started up immediately after power-on without increasing the cost. Is. Further, in the configuration based on the above NA architecture, a general-purpose high-speed MPU is used instead of the built-in MPU, and an OS having a high-performance user interface such as Windows can be installed. It tends to be large, and a large capacity is required for the RAM for execution. On the other hand, if it is started and executed on the ROM as described above, the R
The capacity of AM is small.

[Brief description of drawings]

1A, 1B, and 1C are schematic configuration diagrams of a copying system to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is a schematic system block diagram of NA architecture in the copying system shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a block configuration diagram of an SCU unit (system control) which is a main part of the present invention shown in FIG.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of an operation unit shown in FIG.

FIG. 5 is an operation flowchart of the first embodiment of the copying system according to the present invention.

FIG. 6 is an operation flowchart of the second embodiment of the copying system according to the present invention.

FIG. 7 is an operation flowchart of the third embodiment of the copying system according to the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 ... Scanner part, 3 ... Photoconductor, 5 ... Printer part, 7 ... S
CU section, 9 ... SCSI-2 bus, 1
1 ... System bus, 13 ... MPU,
15 ... ROM, 17 ... RAM,
19 ... NV-RAM, 21 ... L for peripheral circuit
SI, 23 ... VGA control unit, 25 ... Touch panel control unit, 27 ... Operation key LE
D display unit, 29 ... SCSI-2 control unit,
31 ... LCD display section, 33 ... LED display section,
35 ... Operation keys, 37 ... Fixing unit, 101-1
19, 201-219, 301-321 ... Each step,

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁶ Identification code Office reference number FI Technical display location H04N 1/04 107 H04N 1/04 107B

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A copying system for performing a copying operation, comprising a scanner section, a printer section, a system control section, and a communication path having a bus structure for connecting them to communicate image data and control information data. The system control program is stored in the ROM of the system control unit, the control program is loaded into the execution RAM of the system control unit at the time of execution, and the system control unit is reset. A copying system characterized in that a control program having a high control priority is preferentially loaded from the ROM to the RAM and executed. 2. A copying system for carrying out a copying operation, comprising a scanner section, a printer section, a system control section, and a communication path having a bus structure for connecting them to communicate image data and control information data. Means for storing the control program of the system in the ROM of the system control unit, loading the control program into the RAM for execution of the system control unit at the time of execution, and executing the control when the system is reset. And a means for directly executing the control program having a high priority on the above-mentioned ROM. 3. The control program to be stored in the ROM is stored in the ROM without being compressed, when the control program is compressed and stored. The copying system described in 2. 4. The copying system according to claim 1, 2, or 3, wherein the control program having a high priority is a communication program of control information data. 5. The copy according to claim 1, wherein the control program having a high priority is one having a high operation priority among the operation unit programs. system. 6. The copying system according to claim 1, 2, or 3, wherein the control program having a high priority is for detecting and controlling an abnormality of the system.