JPH09237253A - Electronic equipment provided with printer - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To execute printing at a printing speed corresponding to user's key operation to attain high speed printing operation even when key operation for the printing of plural lines is continuously executed by controlling the printing speed of the printer in accordance with the number of printing lines detected from stored key code information. SOLUTION: An electronic desk calculator e.g. is constituted of a keyboard part 1, a central processing part 2, a display device 3 for displaying a calculated result or the like, and a printer 4 capable of printing out the calculated result or the like at a variable printing speed. A RAM 23 in the central processing part 2 is provided with a buffer memory 23a or the like for storing key code information respectively corresponding to keys inputted from the keyboard 1 in the key operation order. The number of printing lines is detected from the key code information stored in the memory 23a and the rotational speed of a motor 42 is changed through a voltage control part 45 in the printer 4 in accordance with the detected number of printing lines to control the printing speed.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an electronic device with a printing device such as an electronic desk calculator.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art An electronic desk calculator (hereinafter referred to as "calculator") will be described as an example of a conventional electronic device with a printing device. This calculator is provided with a printing device of a predetermined printing speed according to the model, and this printing device performs key operation, particularly addition “+”, subtraction “−”, multiplication “×”, division “÷”, and equal sign “ Printing is performed in accordance with operation of a function key such as "=". And, for example, a full-fledged office calculator used in a bank, a company, an office, etc. is equipped with a relatively high-speed printing device with a printing speed of 4 l / s or 5 l / s, while it is a popular calculator. Print speed is 2 l /
s or 3 l / s, which is a relatively low speed printer, is installed. Therefore, a user who desires high-speed printing processing, such as bank affairs, purchases a model equipped with a high-speed printing device with a printing speed of, for example, 5 l / s, and a general user who does not need high-speed printing processing can print it. However, for example, it is common to purchase a model equipped with a low-speed printing device of 2 l / s.

[0003]

Since the conventional electronic device with a printing device is equipped with a printing device having a different printing speed for each model, there are the following problems.

Generally, the printing speed of a printing apparatus and the noise generated during printing are in a proportional relationship, and the higher the printing speed, the greater the noise generated during printing.

Similarly, the printing speed and the power consumption are in a proportional relationship, and the higher the printing speed, the larger the power consumption.

Therefore, if a printing device having a different printing speed for each model is mounted and the printing speed is fixed at a constant speed, a full-scale office work used in banks, companies, offices, etc. In the case of a calculator, since high-speed printing is always performed even when a user operates a key late, there is a problem that noise generated during printing is large and power consumption is large. On the other hand, in the case of a popular type of calculator, if the user becomes accustomed to the key operation and the key operation speed becomes faster, there is a problem that the low speed printing device cannot follow the key operation by the user.

In order to solve these problems, it has already been proposed to change the print speed (print mode) according to the key operation speed of the user. For example, a method in which the printing speed is changed according to the key input speed (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 5-18 / 1993)
1805), and a method in which the printing speed is changed according to the amount of the key buffer (Japanese Patent Application No. 5-139992). These increase the printing speed when high speed printing is required.

However, the conventional electronic device with a printing device described above basically performs high-speed printing for fast key operations and low-speed printing for slow key operations. For this reason,
Key operation that involves printing multiple lines with one key operation (for example,
However, there is a problem in that the printing speed is not necessarily increased in spite of the large number of print lines to be printed when the calculation results such as the extra print and the discount print are continuously printed.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems of the electronic apparatus with a printing device of the conventional example, and an object of the present invention is to:
Provided is an electronic device with a printing device that performs printing at a printing speed according to a user's key operation and that can perform high-speed printing operation even when key operations involving printing of a plurality of lines are continuously performed. Especially.

[0010]

In order to achieve the above object, the invention according to claim 1 is an electronic device with a printer having a keyboard including a print key and a printer, and the input is made from the keyboard. Key input buffer means for temporarily storing key code information corresponding to a key, detection means for detecting the number of print lines from the key code information stored in the key input buffer means, and detection means for detecting the number of print lines. And a control means for controlling the printing speed of the printing device according to the number of printing lines.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect, there is an arithmetic unit that performs an arithmetic operation based on the data input through the keyboard, and the printing device prints the arithmetic result by the arithmetic unit. It is characterized by

Furthermore, the invention of claim 3 is characterized in that, in claim 1 or 2, the control means increases the printing speed as the number of print lines detected by the detection means increases.

Furthermore, the invention according to claim 4 is characterized in that, in claim 2, the control means controls the printing speed of the printing device to the maximum speed when an arithmetic error occurs in the arithmetic part. And

Further, in the invention according to claim 5, in claim 1 or 2, when the control means performs a key input for initializing a paper feed or an operation state from the keyboard, printing by the printing device is performed. The feature is that the speed is controlled to the highest speed.

Furthermore, the invention according to claim 6 is characterized in that, in claim 1 or 2, the printing device is a bubble jet type printing device.

Still further, in the invention described in claim 7, in claim 1 or 2, the key input buffer means is R.
It is characterized by being composed of AM.

Further, the invention according to claim 8 is characterized in that, in claim 2, the arithmetic unit includes a CPU.

[0018]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION In the present invention, the number of print lines is detected from the key code information stored in the key input buffer means, and the print speed of the printer is controlled according to the detected number of print lines.

Further, in the present invention, the printing speed is increased as the number of detected printing lines is increased.

Furthermore, in the present invention, when a calculation error occurs, the printing speed is controlled to the highest speed regardless of the key code information stored in the key input buffer means.

Further, according to the present invention, when the paper is fed and the key input for initializing the operation state is performed, the printing speed is controlled to the highest speed regardless of the key code information stored in the key input buffer means. It

[0022]

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

(First Embodiment) FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a control circuit of an electronic device with a printing apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention. This embodiment is applied to a calculator. is there.

As shown in the figure, the calculator has a keyboard unit 1, a central processing unit (microprocessor) 2, a display device 3 for displaying calculation results and the like, and calculation results and the like at variable printing speeds. The printer 4 is capable of printing.

The keyboard unit 1 is provided with numerical keys for the user to input numerical data, addition "+", subtraction "-", multiplication "x", division "÷", and equal sign "=". It includes the four arithmetic operation keys including, and the function keys set to print such as the clear key “C” and the memory key “M +”.

The central processing unit 2 has a ROM 22 in which a control program for executing a calculation mainly corresponding to a key input from the keyboard unit 1 is stored in advance, and a memory for storing input data, calculation results, various flags and the like. (RAM
23), a timer section 24 for generating a pulse every 5 ms, for example, and causing the calculation section (CPU) 21 to perform interrupt processing, and an input for outputting a key signal to the keyboard section 1 to detect a key operation signal. Control unit 25 and calculation unit 21
It has an output control unit 26 for outputting the calculation result by the control unit 21 to the display device 3 and the printing device 4.

The RAM 23 is a key buffer memory 23 for storing the key code information corresponding to each key input from the keyboard section 1 in the order in which the keys are operated.
a, an AR memory 23b for storing the input numerical data and operation data, and a flag (F
It has an F1 memory 23c for storing 1) and an SP memory 23d for storing numerical values for controlling the printing speed of the motor.

Here, various types of printers are known. For example, a parallel printing method that has a printing ribbon for two colors and drives the printing hammers all at once, or a thermal head in which heating elements for several dots are arranged in a vertical line is moved left and right by a motor drive. There are known a thermal printing method for performing thermal paper printing by using the above method, a bubble jet method printing apparatus for ejecting ink particles by bubbles when a heating element is heated.

In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1, a bubble jet type printing is performed in which a bubble jet head in which heat generating elements 41 for several dots are arranged in a vertical line is moved left and right by a DC motor 42 for printing. Device 4 is used.

In the printer 4, the head driver 43
Are connected to the output control unit 26 via the output register 27, and the motor driver 44 and the voltage control unit 45 are connected to each other.
Are connected to the output control 26 via a motor register 28. The sensor unit 46 outputs a signal indicating the position of the bubble jet head to the central processing unit 2.

The heating element 41 of the printer 4 is selectively energized by the head driver 43 according to the print data to generate heat, and the DC motor 42 has a voltage control circuit 45.
A voltage proportional to the voltage applied by is applied by the motor driver 44 and rotates to move the bubble jet head left and right. The voltage control unit 45 changes the voltage according to the signal instructed by the motor register 28, and, for example,
When the output of the voltage controller 45 is 2V and the DC motor 42 is driven, it is possible to print at a speed of about 1 l / s, it is possible to print at a speed of about 3 l / s at 4V, and about 5l at 6V.
Printing can be performed at a speed of / s.

The DC motor 42 is used in the central processing unit 2
The output control section 26 outputs a drive signal to the motor drive motor register 28 based on the control command of FIG.

Further, the heating element 41 is provided in the central processing unit 2
Based on the control command, the output control unit 26 outputs a current-carrying signal to the output register 27 in response to the position detection signal from the sensor unit 46 to selectively generate heat.

Next, the operation of this embodiment, particularly the operation of the CPU 21, will be described with reference to FIGS.

FIG. 2 is a flow chart showing the control procedure of interrupt processing. This interrupt control is executed by a signal periodically generated by the timer unit 24 every 5 ms.

First, when an interrupt signal is generated, the process jumps to the timer interrupt (T.INT) routine in step S1 and in the next step S2, a process for determining whether or not a key is operated is executed. This is for making a determination by outputting a key scanning signal from the input control unit 25 to the keyboard unit 1 and receiving a key signal from the keyboard unit 1. If the key is operated, the process proceeds to step S3, and it is determined whether the flag F1 (23c) is "0". If the flag F1 is "0", it means the key operation for the first time, and the key information acquisition process is performed. That is, the key code corresponding to the key operated in step S4 is stored in the key buffer memory 23a in the RAM 23. Next, the key information fetching process is completed, the flag F1 is set to "1" (step S5), the return process is executed (step S9), and the interrupt process is ended.

If the key is operated in step S2 and the flag F1 is set to "1" in step S3, the process proceeds to step S6 and it is determined whether or not the pressing operation of the key is continued. If it is determined that the key is continuously pressed, the process directly proceeds to the return process of step S9, and this process is terminated.

However, if the pressing operation is not continued (OFF state) in step S6, it is determined in step S7 whether or not this OFF state is continued for 30 ms or more, and 30 ms is set.
When the off state continues, the flag F1 is reset to "0" in the next step S8 to make the next operation key information fetching process possible, and the process proceeds to step S9 to end the process.

If the off state has not continued for 30 ms or more in step S7, this process is terminated without resetting the flag F1 to "0".

If no key is pressed in step S2, it is determined in step S7 whether or not the off state has continued for 30 ms or longer. If the off state continues for 30 ms or longer, the flag F1 is set to " The value is reset to "0" (step S8), and if the off state is continued for 30 ms or less, the process is terminated as it is. In this way, the key code information corresponding to the operated key is sequentially stored in the key buffer memory 23a.

The key buffer memory 23a for storing the key code information usually has a capacity capable of storing the key code information corresponding to 20 keys.

Next, the printing speed control procedure of this embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

FIG. 3 is a flow chart showing the printing speed control procedure of the calculator according to this embodiment.

First, when the power is turned on (S10), the memory contents of the RAM 23 are initialized to "0" in step S11, and the key buffer memory 23 is initialized in step S12.
It is determined whether the key code is stored in a,
If the key code is not stored, the above processing is repeatedly executed until the key code is stored in the key buffer memory 23a. During this time, the interrupt processing of FIG. 2 described above is executed by the interrupt signal from the timer unit 24 every 5 ms, and when the key is operated, the key code information of the operated key is displayed in step S4 of the figure. It is stored in the buffer memory 23a. In this way, when the key code is stored, the process proceeds to the next step S13, and from the key code information stored in the key buffer memory 23a, the first stored key code (key buffer memory 23a The older key code in the above) is called and stored in an accumulator (ACC) (not shown) in the arithmetic unit 21. Then, it is determined whether or not the key code called by the calculation unit 21 is a numerical key (step S14).
After performing 5), the numerical data is displayed on the display device 3 (step S16), and the process returns to step S12 again.

When the numerical keys are operated continuously,
The key code information is sequentially stored in the key buffer memory 23a by the interrupt processing of FIG. 2, and the numeral processing (step S15) is performed.

On the other hand, if the key is not a numerical key in step S14, it is determined in step S17 whether the key is a "print key". This is to determine whether or not the key code in the ACC is a key accompanied by printing, and if it is not a key accompanied by printing, the process proceeds to step S28, the arithmetic processing corresponding to the pressed key is executed, and then the arithmetic result is obtained. Is displayed in step S16, and the process returns to step S12. However, if it is a key accompanied by printing, the process proceeds to step S18, the arithmetic processing corresponding to each key is executed, the SP memory is cleared in the next step S19, and the key buffer memory 2 is processed in step S20.
Among the key codes stored in 3a, the number of key codes involving one-line printing operation is counted, and the number is added to the SP register 23d. In the next step S21, the number of key codes accompanied by a two-line printing operation is counted,
A value twice that number is added to the SP register 23d, and the number of key codes accompanied by a three-line printing operation is also counted in step S22, and a value three times that number is added to the SP register 23d.
It is added to d and the process proceeds to step S23. Step S23
Then, it is determined whether the value of the SP register 23d is 2 or more. That is, the value stored in the SP register 23d at this point represents the number of print lines currently waiting to be printed, and if the number of print lines waiting to be printed is 2 or less, the process proceeds to step S24. After the shift, the DC motor 42 is driven at 2V to print at a speed of about 1 l / s. When the value of the SP register 23d is 2 or more in step S23, it is further determined in step S25 whether the value of the SP register 23d is 6 or less, that is, the number of print lines waiting to print is If it is 6 lines or less, if it is 6 lines or less, in step S26, the DC motor 42 is driven at 4V and printing is performed at a speed of about 3 l / s. Step S
If the value of the SP register 23d is 6 or more at 25, the number of print lines waiting to be printed is 6 or more. Therefore, in order to perform high speed printing, in step S27, DC
The motor 42 is driven at 6 V to perform the printing operation at a speed of about 5 l / s. When the processes of steps S24, S26, S27 are executed, the process proceeds to step S16, the display process is executed, and then the process returns to step S12.

As described above, by performing the processing operations shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, in the present embodiment, the print line waiting to be printed from the key code information stored in the key buffer memory 23a. The number can be counted and stored in the SP memory 23d, and the printing speed can be changed by this count value.

(Second Embodiment) Next, another embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

In the first embodiment, the print line number is fed back to change the print speed, but when a calculation error occurs, the print speed remains low and the user is informed of the calculation error quickly. Key input after a calculation error is wasted. Therefore, in the second embodiment, when a calculation error occurs, the printing speed is increased so that the user can quickly recognize the calculation error. The operation will be described below with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

In FIG. 4, steps S40 to S48 and S
Steps 50 to S59 are the same as steps S10 to S18 and S19 to S28 in FIG. 3, and a description thereof will be omitted.

In step S48, the arithmetic processing corresponding to the operated key is executed, and the process proceeds to step S49. When an arithmetic error occurs, high-speed printing is performed so that the user can quickly recognize the arithmetic error. The process proceeds to step S58, and the printing process is performed at the printing speed of 5 l / s. If no calculation error has occurred in step S49, the process proceeds to step S50, and steps S19 to S19 of the first embodiment are performed.
The same processing as step S27 is performed in steps S50 to S58 to count the key code information in the key buffer memory 23a or the number of print lines waiting to be printed,
The printing speed corresponding to the count value (value in the SP memory 23d) is selected.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, regardless of the key code information in the key buffer memory 23a, high-speed printing processing is performed when a calculation error occurs, and an electronic device that is easier for the user to use is provided. can do.

(Third Embodiment) Next, a third embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

In the third embodiment, the clear key "C" for initializing the operation state and the paper feed key "P"
When the user such as “F” ends a series of operations and a key operation intended for the next process is performed, the key buffer memory 23a
The high-speed printing is performed irrespective of the key code information stored in to provide a device that is easier to use.

In FIG. 5, steps S60 to S68 and S
Steps 70 to S79 are the same as steps S10 to S18 and S19 to S28 in FIG. 3, and a description thereof will be omitted.

The calculation process corresponding to the key operated in step S68 is executed, and the process proceeds to step S69, where the clear key "C" is stored in the key buffer memory 23a.
It is determined whether or not the key code information of the paper feed key "PF" is stored. If it is stored, the process proceeds to step S78, and the printing process is performed at the printing speed of 5 l / s. In step S68, the key buffer memory 2
Clear key "C" and paper feed key "P" in 3a
If it is determined that the key code information of "F" is not stored, the process proceeds to step S70, and the same processing as steps S19 to S27 of the first embodiment is performed at step S7.
0 to step S78, the key buffer memory 23a
The key code information inside counts the number of print lines waiting for printing, and the count value (value in SP memory 23d)
Select the printing speed according to.

As described above, according to this embodiment, the key code information stored in the key buffer memory 23a when the clear key "C" and the paper feed (paper feed) key "PF" are operated. Regardless of this, it is possible to provide a device that performs high-speed printing and is easier to use.

[0058]

As described above, according to the electronic device with a printer of the present invention, the number of print lines is detected from the key code information stored in the key input buffer means, and the detected number of print lines is obtained. Since the printing speed of the printing device is controlled according to the printing speed, printing can be performed at a printing speed according to the user's key operation speed and the number of print lines associated with the key operation, which reduces printing noise, saves power consumption, and operates. There is an effect that improvement in sex can be achieved.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a control circuit of an electronic device with a printing device according to a first embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing a control procedure of interrupt processing.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a printing control procedure of the calculator according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a printing control procedure of a calculator according to a second embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a printing control procedure of the calculator according to the third embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 keyboard part 2 central processing part 3 display device 4 printing device 21 calculation part (CPU) 22 ROM 23 RAM 23a key buffer memory 23b AR memory 23c F1 memory 23d SP memory

Claims (8)

[Claims] 1. An electronic device with a printer having a keyboard including print keys and a printer, and key input buffer means for temporarily storing key code information corresponding to a key input from the keyboard, Detection means for detecting the number of print lines from the key code information stored in the key input buffer means, and control means for controlling the print speed of the printing device according to the number of print lines detected by the detection means. An electronic device with a printing device, comprising: 2. The printing device according to claim 1, further comprising an arithmetic unit that performs an arithmetic operation based on the data input through the keyboard, and the printing device prints an arithmetic result of the arithmetic unit. Electronics. 3. The electronic device with a printing device according to claim 1, wherein the control unit increases the printing speed as the number of print lines detected by the detection unit increases. 4. The electronic device with a printing device according to claim 2, wherein the control unit controls the printing speed of the printing device to the maximum speed when a calculation error occurs in the calculation unit. 5. The control unit according to claim 1, wherein the control unit controls the printing speed of the printing device to the highest speed when a paper feed or a key input for initializing an operation state is performed from the keyboard. Characteristic electronic device with printing device. 6. The electronic device with a printing device according to claim 1, wherein the printing device is a bubble jet type printing device. 7. The electronic device with a printing device according to claim 1, wherein the key input buffer means is a RAM. 8. The electronic device with a printing device according to claim 2, wherein the arithmetic unit includes a CPU.