JPS6045861A - Status output system - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To obtain easily plural types of status information and at the same time to cope satisfactorily with a status change by outputting successively those status information in every group at prescribed intervals when they are requested. CONSTITUTION:A printer B sets a BUSY signal 5 at L level when the internal conditions are satisfied and the reception is made possible for the data fed from an external controller A. Then the controller A sends data to the printer B via signal lines 1-11-1-n. In this case, it is previously informed to the printer by a discriminating signal 4 whether the data is equal to a dot image signal to be printed or a control instruction for the printer B. When the controller A wants to know the internal status of the printer B, a control signal 2 is set at L level. Thus the printer B is switched to a transmission mode from a reception mode to transmit the status within an RAM to the lines 1-11-1-n. When the printer status changes, another status information is transmitted automatically.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Technical Field The present invention relates to a method for outputting status information indicating the status of a device such as a printer.

PRIOR ART Conventionally, in this type of equipment, for example, a printer that prints based on an image signal from an external output device, when sending the printer's internal status to the external output device, the desired output from the controller of the external output device is Status information was sent in response to each status request signal. Therefore, when there are many internal statuses of the printer, the external output device has to output the status request command many times, which is cumbersome.

Also, even if the printer's internal status changes over time, the external output device does not know the change status.
In order to respond to this change, it was necessary to issue a status request command at certain intervals and sense the status.

Purpose The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned points, and an object of the present invention is to propose a status output method that can easily obtain a plurality of status information and can sufficiently cope with changes in status.

EXAMPLES The present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. In this description, an example will be taken of a printer that performs a printing operation based on an image signal output from an external output device.

The printer used is a laser beam printer that scans a photoreceptor with a laser beam and forms an image using an electrophotographic process.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a control circuit that controls each part of the printer and detects the status of each part.

41 is a microprocessor, 42-1 to 42-m are units for sensing various states of the printer, 43 is a motor drive circuit, 44 is a paper feed drive circuit, 45 is a lamp lighting circuit, and 46 is an external output. This is an interface unit that exchanges data with the device.

An example of the status detection contents of the sensors 42-1 to 42-m is shown below. That is, sensor 42-1 indicates the presence or absence of recording paper, sensor 42-2 indicates the presence or absence of toner, sensor 42-3 indicates the jam of the recording paper, sensor 42-4 indicates the oven status of the printer maintenance inspection door, and sensor 42-2 indicates the presence or absence of toner. -5 is a failure of the scanner for deflecting the laser beam; sensor 42-6 is a failure of the fixing device for fixing the toner on the recording paper; sensor 42-7 is failure;
indicates the emission state of the laser beam, sensor 42-8 indicates a malfunction of the motor for driving each part, sensor 42-9 indicates double feeding of recording paper, sensor 4
Reference numeral 2-10 is a recording paper skew sensor, 42-11 is a sensor for detecting the shading of a recorded image, and sensor 42-12 is for detecting the recording paper size.

The microprocessor 41 controls the entire printer in addition to the above-mentioned status detection, and controls the entire printing process, such as operating the motor, turning on a laser beam, and feeding paper.

FIG. 2 is an example of a microprocessor 410 control program related to each status detection by each sensor 42-1 to 42-m. This program is written in the built-in memory ROM of the microprocessor 41 in advance.

It is called from the main routine of the microprocessor 41 to perform the following operations. First, the sensor 42-1 senses the presence or absence of paper, and if the sensor output is ``1'', flag -1 is set in a predetermined area of the memory RAM built in the microprocessor, and if it is 0'', the flag is set in the memory RAM. Set that flag to ``g'' and proceed to the next step. Next is sensor 42
-2 to sense the presence or absence of toner, and the sensing result is stored in a predetermined area on the memory RAM as before.

In this way, the sensors 42-1 to 42-ml are sequentially processed and their states are stored in the memo IJRAM.

Then return to the main routine. By repeating this kind of operation, new status information is always stored in memories R and A.
I'm updating my memory to M.

FIG. 31 shows an interface circuit related to data exchange between the printer and an external output device.

In Fig. 3, A is the controller of the external output device, and B is the controller of the external output device.
is an interface section on the printer side. 1-1~l
-n is also a directional data signal line. 2 to 6 are control lines, and 2 selects and controls whether the data signal lines 1-1 to 1-n transmit data including image signals from external controller A or status data from printer B. 3 is a strobe signal for data signals sent from lA section controller A, 4 is a discrimination signal for distinguishing whether data sent from external controller A is a dot image signal or a control command, 5 is a signal when printer B is external A jBUSY signal indicates whether data can be accepted from the controller. 6 is a synchronization signal of printer B in the main scanning direction. 7-1 to 7-n is a driver, 8-
1~8-n is the receiver, 9~1 is the driver, 12~
13 is a receiver, 14-1 to 14-n are receivers, 15
-1 to 15-n are drivers, 16 to 18 are receivers, 1
9 to 20 are drivers.

Drivers 7-1 to 7-n and 9 to 11, receiver 8-
1-8n and 12. I3 is a circuit on the side to j/toler A, receivers 14-1 to 14-n and 16 to 18
, drivers 15-1 to 15-n and 19.degree. 20 are circuits on the printer B side.

Data transmission and reception is performed as follows. When printer B is able to receive data from external controller A with its internal conditions set, it sets the BUS'Y signal 5 to a low level. Controller A senses the BUSY signal 5, and when it becomes low level, transfers the data to signal lines 1-1 to 1.
-n to printer B. At this time, in order to distinguish whether the data is a dot image signal (image signal) corresponding to image information to be printed or a control command for controlling the printer 13, printer B is notified in advance by 7P separate signal 4.

Further, when the controller L A wants to know the internal status of the printer B, it notifies the printer B by setting the control signal 2 to a low level. When the printer 15.l receives it, it switches from receiving mode to sending mode.
The internal status of the printer 13 stored in the memory RAM is transmitted through the signal lines 1-1 to l-n, and if the printer status changes during the period when the control signal 2 is at a low level, the internal status of the printer 13 is automatically transmitted. Next, details will be explained. Control codes and dot image signals to be sent from the external controller A to the controller 3 are sent from the drivers 7-1 to 7-n to the data lines 1-1 to 1-.
nf, and is sent to the receiver 14-1 of printer B.
~14-n. On the other hand, the status information of the printer B is sent by the drivers 15-1 to 15-n and received by the receivers 8, -1 to 3-n in the external controller A through the data lines 1-1 to 1-n w +fG. The control signal 2 is a signal that determines whether the data 1-1 to ln lines transmit data from an external controller or receive a status signal from the printer.

In other words, it is a signal that determines the direction of the bidirectional signal line, and when it is at a high level, the drivers 7-1 to 7-n and the receiver 14-1
-14-n are selected for operation, and the printer status can be output from the external controller A. On the other hand, when the level is low, the lower drivers 15-1 to 15-n and the receiver 8-1
~3-n is selected for operation, and the internal status information of printer B can be sent from printer B to controller A.

A strobe signal 3 provides strobe timing for data on the printer B side when transmitting a dot image signal or a control command from the controller A.

The discrimination signal 4 indicates whether the data sent from the controller is a dot image signal or a control command; when it is at a high level, it is a dot image signal, and when it is at a low level, it is a control command.

The BUSY signal 5 indicates whether the printer is in a BUSY state or not. When it is at a low level, it indicates that data from the controller A or U can be received.

The rotation 1υ1 signal 0 is a signal indicating synchronization timing of printer B in the main scanning direction. Therefore, controller A receives this signal 6, synchronizes with it, and sends a dot image signal to printer B.

'A) - Figure 1 is a timing chart showing how the horoscope is exchanged between the external controller A and the printer B. In the figure, (a) shows the control signal 2. (1)) is the discrimination signal 4. (c) is the synchronization signal 6. (d) Mouth tl S
The Y signal, s, (e) is sent from the controller A to the printer B via data lines 1-1 to 1-+1;
t: This is a status signal sent from printer B to controller A at t-/''-ri 1-1 to 1''.-■.

(a) When the tlC7JK acceptance signal 2 is at a high level and the discrimination signal 4 is at a high level, the data lines 1-1 to 1-n are in the control mode for transmitting a dot image signal from Cola A. Controller A is the port 11 from printer B.
When the S Y 5 signal becomes low I/PEL, it is synchronized with the synchronization signal 6 that controls the output timing of the dot image signal in the main scanning direction, as shown in (e) (data lines 1-1~).
- Outputs a dot image signal on n. Furthermore, a strobe signal 3 is outputted to cause printer B to strobe data at a timing when the sending data becomes stable. The printer 13 uses this strobe signal 3 to connect the signal lines 1-1 to 1-1.
]-Incorporate the data being sent on n.

Next, in order to prohibit the next take input in order to process the captured data, the 13 U S Y signal 5 is set to the high level. Once the signal processing is completed) l U S Y signal 5
Set it to low level and wait for the next take input. Controller A transmits the next data when BUS Y signal 5 becomes low level. When the sending of the dot image signal to be sent is completed, controller A sends the BUS
After confirming that the Y signal 5 becomes low level, the control signal 2 is made low level, and a mode is entered in which the status from the green/grip B is sensed.

When control signal 2 becomes low level, printer B transfers the status of printer B stored in the built-in memory RAM M-K of the microprocessor to the data lines ]-1 to 1-n.
Start sending. When the control signal 2 is at a low level, the printer B sequentially outputs status information of several types at a constant period "T". For example, as shown in (g), if there are three groups of statuses, they are sequentially M, N, L,
M/, N7. . . 5 in a predetermined order and at predetermined time intervals.

Therefore, by sequentially recognizing multiple types of continuously output status information in a predetermined order, controller A can know multiple statuses of printer B without outputting a status request command to printer B. I can do it. Further, in (g), M and M' indicate that the contents of a certain status have changed from M to M' over time. This allows controller A to know the latest status of printer B. The contents of groups L, M, and H are, for example, group L indicates the presence or absence of recording paper, presence or absence of toner, jam, and door status, and group M indicates the scanner, fixing device, and laser light in printer B. , a signal indicating the failure status of the motor, and group N is a signal indicating double feeding, skew feeding, size, and image density of the recording paper.

The printing period T for sending out the cycle status can be set as follows. For example, the period Ti is determined according to the convenience of the printer by a timer built in the microprocessor in the printer B. This period 'r is , may be transmitted to an external controller as one of the status signals, and controller A may recognize the status information based on this.

Another method is to set the timer cycle T using a control cooling command from the external controller A. In this case, the optimum value can be selected because the settings can be made taking into consideration the control circuit, firmware, etc. on the controller side.

It is also possible to set the period T to a different value for each status depending on the characteristics of that status.

FIG. 5 is an example of a program of the microprocessor sensor 41 for sending the status data signal shown in FIG. 4(g). This program is also my. It is stored in advance in the memory IJROM built into the 7-0 setter.

During execution of the main routine, the microprocessor 41
The output of the receiver 16 based on the control signal 2 shown in the figure is sensed, and when it becomes low level, the routine shown in FIG. 5 is called and the following operations are performed.

The detection results of sensors 42-1 to 42-m are flags 1 to m.
-t6 is stored on the memo IJRAM as mentioned above.
It is also being updated one by one. Flags -1 to m are grouped into groups L, such as flags -1 to 4, 5 to 8, and 9 to 12.
, M, and H, and first output the contents of flags 1 to 4 as group L to drivers 15-1 to 15-4. Next, after waiting for time T, the contents of flags 5 to 8 are output as group M to drivers 15-1 to 15-4. Thereafter, after waiting time T again, the contents of flags 9 to 12 are output as group N to drivers 15-1 to 15-4. After outputting all the flags in this way, the process returns to the main routine.

In the main routine, the receiver 16 is sensed again, and if it is at a low level, the output operation shown in FIG. 5 is repeated from the beginning.

Here, the '' time T is managed by the microprocessor 41 as described above, and the length of T may be set externally or may be determined in advance.

Also, during time T, the microprocessor 41 activates the sensor 42.
-1 to 42-ml: sense or receiver 16
senses the output of the receiver 16, and if it is at a low level, interrupts the status transmission, performs another task, and after that is finished, senses the receiver 16, and if it is low level, returns the previous status transmission. Continue.

Note that in this embodiment, the control signal 2 is the data 1-1 to 1-
n is a signal that switches between data from external controller A and status data from printer B from the controller side, but this control line is a bidirectional signal line so that this switching can also be done arbitrarily from printer B side, and the status information If it is possible to send this to the controller A side, the printer can proactively notify the controller of abnormal conditions.

Also, 3. If there are many groups of stenitas, if codes that distinguish the status types can be sent at the same time, it will be easier to get the status wrong on the control side.

Furthermore, if you set up a separate dedicated line to send status information,
There is no need to control switching between data and status, making the circuit configuration simple.

Furthermore, in this embodiment, a printer that prints based on an image signal from an external output device has been described, but various devices such as an electronic file device that magnetically or optically stores the fine image, printers other than laser beam printers, etc. This can be applied to the status output method of

Effects According to the present invention, by setting the status output mode, multiple pieces of status information from input/output devices are output one after another at a certain period, so the external device outputs a status request command for each of the multiple statuses. You can know all the statuses of the input/output device without having to do anything.Also, even if the status contents change, the external device outputs status information that is changed and updated accordingly. It is not necessary to issue a status request command each time, and it is possible to respond to changes in the status very easily.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the printer control circuit.
Figure 2 is a flowchart showing a control program related to status detection, Figure 3 is a diagram showing an interface circuit, Figure 4 is a timing chart showing how signals are exchanged, and Figure 5 is a program related to status signal output. 41 is a microprocessor, 42-1 to 42-m are sensors, 46 is an interface section, and 1-1 to ln are data lines. Mark Strophy Portrait '53 L

Claims (1)

[Claims] A status output method characterized by dividing a plurality of pieces of status information into a plurality of groups, and sequentially outputting the plurality of pieces of status information for each group at predetermined intervals when requesting status information.