JPH11348391A - Printer controller - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To shorten self-diagnosis time at the time of turn on of power while ensuring reliability of an apparatus by grasping the state of each device on the apparatus in view point of self-diagnosis thereby performing necessary and sufficient self-diagnosis at all times. SOLUTION: When a device error occurs, or the software version is different from that at the time of previous turn-on power, or an optical device is different from that at the time of previous turn-on power, a printer controller 100 performs self-diagnosis different from normal one in detail every time when power is turned on. Consequently, reliability of self-diagnosis function can be ensured while shortening self-diagnosis time.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a printer control apparatus having a self-diagnosis function for diagnosing whether or not each device on the apparatus operates normally, and more particularly to startup at power-on according to an efficient self-diagnosis schedule. The present invention relates to a technique for shortening a standby event and improving reliability of the entire apparatus.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art CPU, program ROM, NVRA
M, font ROM, RAM, engine I / F, panel (operation panel) I / F, host I / F, etc.
A printer control device having a function of converting coded print data into video data from a host device and outputting the video data to a printer engine, wherein a self-diagnosis for diagnosing whether each device on the device operates normally. A printer control device having a function is widely known. By the way, it can be said that the probability of failure of each device on the apparatus has been considerably reduced due to the recent improvement in the reliability of hardware devices. On the other hand, the waiting time due to the self-diagnosis at the time of turning on the power is a problem in promptly responding to a user request.

For this reason, several techniques have been proposed so far as described below in order to make a printer apparatus ready for printing as soon as possible.

(A) Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. Hei 5-88931 The self-diagnosis is simplified for the purpose of shortening the startup standby time at power-on. On the other hand, reliability is improved by performing a detailed self-diagnosis every fixed number of prints. In addition, it has been proposed to perform a detailed self-diagnosis according to an instruction from a host.

(B) JP-A-7-299942 SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to reduce the start-up standby time at power-on. After the self-diagnosis at the time of turning on the power is completed, a virtual print ready is sent to the host and data is received without waiting for the fixing of the engine, thereby effectively utilizing the warm-up waiting time of the engine.

(C) Japanese Patent Publication No. 7-80311 An object of the present invention is to effectively utilize the preheating time of the fixing section of the engine for self-diagnosis. The reliability is improved by performing a read / write check with a plurality of data patterns in the buffer memory according to a change in the preheating time.

[0007]

However, there are some problems with the above-mentioned prior art. The above (a) describes the simplification of the self-diagnosis at the time of turning on the power. However, when performing the detailed self-diagnosis to supplement the reliability of the apparatus, the state of the apparatus to be subjected to the detailed self-diagnosis is described. Is not considered much. FIG. 1B is characterized in that a ready signal is sent to a host early, and the shortening of the self-diagnosis time and the reliability of the apparatus are not mentioned. In (c), a method of diagnosing a buffer memory for the purpose of shortening the self-diagnosis time and improving the reliability is proposed.
Since no other devices are considered, it can be said that either self-diagnosis time or device reliability is sacrificed.

[0008] In view of the above-mentioned conventional problems, the present invention grasps the state of each device on the apparatus from the viewpoint of self-diagnosis,
It is an object of the present invention to provide a printer control device capable of always performing a necessary and sufficient self-diagnosis so as to shorten the self-diagnosis time at power-on and to ensure the reliability of the apparatus.

[0009]

According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a printer having a self-diagnosis function for diagnosing whether or not each device on an apparatus operates normally when power is turned on. The control device includes storage means for storing whether a device error has occurred during operation. If a device error occurs, a normal self-diagnosis is performed on the device in which the error occurred at the next power-on. It has a function of performing a detailed self-diagnosis different from that described above.

[0010] In order to achieve the above object, a second aspect is provided.
The described invention is directed to a printer control apparatus having a self-diagnosis function for diagnosing whether each device on the apparatus operates normally when the power is turned on. The software has a function of performing a detailed self-diagnosis different from a normal self-diagnosis when the software version is different from the previous power-on. Is what you do.

[0011] In order to achieve the above object, a third aspect of the present invention is provided.
The described invention is directed to a printer control device having a self-diagnosis function for diagnosing whether or not each device on the apparatus operates normally when the power is turned on. A discriminating means for discriminating a difference, wherein when the optional device is different from the previous power-on, the optional device has a function of performing a detailed self-diagnosis different from a normal self-diagnosis. is there.

[0012]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 1 is an overall block diagram of a laser printer controller as a printer control device. The printer controller 100 is connected to a host device 113 as a host device. The printer controller 100 is a general term for a control mechanism that converts print data from the host device 113 into video data and outputs the video data to the engine (printer engine) 111 according to the control mode set at that time and the control code from the host device 113. CPU 101, NVRAM 102, program ROM 103, font ROM 104, RAM 10
5, an engine I / F 106, a panel I / F 107, a host I / F 108, and a disk I / F 109. Further, it has an IC card 110 as needed.

The engine I / F 106 is connected to the engine 111. The panel I / F 107 is a panel device 11
2 are connected. The host I / F 108 is connected to the host device 113. Further disk I / F1
Reference numeral 09 is connected to a disk device 114 such as a floppy disk or a hard disk.

Hereinafter, each module will be described. C
PU 101 is a program in program ROM 103,
Mode instruction from panel device 112, host device 113
The whole controller is controlled by the command from the controller. The NVRAM 102 is a non-volatile storage device that stores the content of a mode instruction from the panel device 112 and the like. The program ROM 103 stores a control program for the controller. Font ROM 104
It stores font pattern data and the like.

The RAM 105 is used as a work memory of the CPU 101, an input buffer for input data, a page buffer for print data, a memory for download fonts, and the like. The engine I / F 106 is an engine 11
1 is an interface for communicating commands, statuses, and print data. The panel I / F 107 is an interface for communicating commands and status with the panel device 112.

The host I / F 108 is connected to the host device 113
Interface that communicates with the
/ F and RS232C. The disk I / F 109 is
An interface for communicating with the disk device 114. The disk device 114 stores various data such as font data, programs, and print data, and is a floppy disk device, a hard disk device, or the like.

In such a configuration, the host I / F 1
Data transmitted from the host device 113 through the print data 08 is divided into print data and print control data (SP, CR, LF, HT, VT,..., Etc.) and others by the CPU 101. RAM1
05 is stored in the buffer. When the print command from the host device 113 or the data received from the host device 113 exceeds one page, the printer controller 100 sends the data to the engine 11 through the engine I / F 106.
1 to issue a print start command. In a series of flows as described above, print data from the host device 113 is printed on transfer paper via the engine 111. The printer controller 100 has a self-diagnosis function for diagnosing whether each device on the apparatus operates normally.

Next, the operation of the first to third embodiments of the self-diagnosis function of the present invention will be described. FIG. 2 is a flowchart of the self-diagnosis control according to the first embodiment. During the operation of the printer controller 100, if a device that is determined not to be operating properly occurs, the device is stored on the NVRAM 102 as a defective device. After the power is turned on (S1), a self-diagnosis of each device is performed in a predetermined order. Before performing a self-diagnosis on each device, it is checked whether or not the device is determined to be defective during the previous operation of the pudding controller 100 (S2, S3).

If it is determined to be defective (Y in S3), a detailed self-diagnosis is performed, and its contents and causes are analyzed (S3).
4). If an error is detected as a result of the analysis (Y in S5), the error is reported to the user using the panel device 112 (S5).
6). For the report to the user, a means of printing the report content is also conceivable. If there is no error (N in S5), the process proceeds to diagnosis of the next device (S7). If the device to be diagnosed is not determined to be defective (N in S3), a normal self-diagnosis is performed (S8). Then, the process proceeds to S5 to S7. After performing the above processing for all the devices (Y in S9), the system is started (S10).

FIG. 3 is a flowchart of the self-diagnosis control according to the second embodiment. After turning on the power (S11),
The self-diagnosis of each device is performed according to the determined order.
When performing self-diagnosis of software in the memory device, first, version information is read from the header of each software (Y in S12 and S13, S14), and the current NVR is read.
A comparison is made with the version information written in the AM 102 (S15). If the version information is different from the previous one due to version upgrade and the introduction of new software is confirmed (Y in S15), a detailed self-diagnosis is performed on the software (S16).

As a result of the detailed self-diagnosis, when it is determined that the software is normal (N in S17), the version information of the new software is written to the NVRAM 102. Then, the process proceeds to diagnosis of the next device (S18). If an error is found (Y in S17), the error is reported to the user using the panel device 112 (S19). For the report to the user, a means of printing the report content is also conceivable. If no new software is detected, a minimal self-diagnosis is performed as usual (S2).
0). Then, the process proceeds to S17 to S19. After performing the above processing for all devices (Y in S21), the system is started (S22).

FIG. 4 is a flowchart of the self-diagnosis control according to the third embodiment. After turning on the power (S31),
The self-diagnosis of each device is performed according to the determined order.
When performing self-diagnosis of an optional device, first, ID information of each option is read (Y in S32 and S33,
(S34), it is compared with the option ID information currently written in the NVRAM 102 (S35). Option I
If D is different from the previous one and it is determined that a new optional device is mounted (Y in S35), a detailed self-diagnosis is performed on the optional device (S3).
6).

As a result of the detailed self-diagnosis, if it is determined that the device is normal (N in S37), the new optional device I
D information is written to the NVRAM 102. Then, the process proceeds to diagnosis of the next device (S38). If an error is found (Y in S37), the error is reported to the user using the panel device 112 (S39). For the report to the user, a means of printing the report content is also conceivable. If a new optional device is not detected, a minimal self-diagnosis is performed as usual (S40). Then, the flow shifts to S37 to S39. After performing the above processing for all devices (S4
In step S42, the system is started (S42).

As described above, the printer controller 100 according to the present embodiment operates when a device error occurs, when the software version is different from the last power-on, and when the optional device is turned on at the last power-on. When the power is turned on, a detailed self-diagnosis different from the normal case is performed when the power is turned on, so that the reliability of the self-diagnosis function can be ensured and the self-diagnosis time can be shortened.

[0025]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, a detailed self-diagnosis is performed at the next power-on only when it is determined that a certain device does not operate normally. Thus, the device itself can be put into a usable state, and even when a device failure occurs, its content and cause can be immediately analyzed and the user can be notified.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, a detailed self-diagnosis is performed at the next power-on only when a certain software is rewritten or a new software is introduced. Thus, the device itself can be made usable, and even when new software is introduced, its operation can be verified immediately and the result can be notified to the user.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, a detailed self-diagnosis is performed at the next power-on only when the installation of a new optional device is confirmed. The device itself can be made usable, and even when a new optional device is mounted, its operation can be verified immediately and the result can be notified to the user.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a laser printer controller as a printer control device.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart of self-diagnosis control according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart of self-diagnosis control according to a second embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart of self-diagnosis control according to a third embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 100 Printer controller 101 CPU 102 NVRAM 103 Program ROM 104 Font ROM 105 RAM 106 Engine I / F 107 Panel I / F 108 Host I / F 109 Disk I / F 110 IC card 111 Engine 112 Panel device 113 Host device 114 Disk device

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A printer control device having a self-diagnosis function for diagnosing whether each device on a device operates normally when the power is turned on, and stores whether a device error has occurred during operation. Means for performing a self-diagnosis, which is different from a normal self-diagnosis, on a device in which an error occurs at the next power-on when a device error occurs. . 2. A printer control device having a self-diagnosis function for diagnosing whether each device on the apparatus operates normally when the power is turned on. The software has a function of performing a detailed self-diagnosis different from a normal self-diagnosis when the software version is different from the previous power-on. Printer control device. 3. A printer control device having a self-diagnosis function for diagnosing whether or not each device on the apparatus operates normally when the power is turned on. Printer control means for determining a difference, and having a function of performing a detailed self-diagnosis different from a normal self-diagnosis for the optional device when the optional device is different from the last power-on. apparatus.