JPS63282868A - Method for converting signal - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To attain operation based upon optional inter-group or intra-group connection of a computer group and a terminal equipment group having respectively different I/O signal transmitting conditions, codes and transmitting procedures by connecting between computers or between a computer and a terminal equipment through a signal converter. CONSTITUTION:The titled method is formed of a converting storage B for storing a program for deciding the meaning of standard codes and various transmitting procedures previously prepared in each standard code and each transmitting procedure sort and a program for converting codes between different standards and a signal converter 1 consisting of adjusting controllers A, C for adjusting and controlling transmission conditions such as the voltage level of an I/O signal, a transmission system and reading timing. Both the computers or between the computer 2 and the terminal equipment 3 are connected to each other through the signal converter 1. Consequently, the generality of connection between the computers or between the computer and the terminal equipment can be improved and connection work for hardware coupling can be omitted.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention is applicable to any type of computer (business computer, personal computer, process computer, etc. applied to office automation, factory automation, laboratory automation, home automation, etc.). This invention relates to a signal conversion method for connecting between general-purpose computers (computers, etc.) or between each of the computers and terminal equipment (output devices such as printers, displays, input devices such as card readers, scanners, etc., or process equipment interfaces). .

[Conventional technology]

Transmission and reception signals of computers and terminal equipment are composed of transmission conditions, codes, transmission procedures, and the like.

The transmission conditions include the signal voltage level, reading timing (either the method of reading the rising edge of the signal or the method of reading the falling edge of the signal, etc.), the signal transmission method (parallel method/serial method, and AC (multi-level)). /DC method (
There is a control code (J
Control codes such as backward codes, return codes, line feed codes among standard codes such as IS, ASCII, and ISO), character codes (JIS.

ANK code within standard code such as ASCII, ISO etc.), the transmission procedure is BC5, HDLC, PIO.
There are various procedures such as communication. As a method for connecting, for example, a computer and a printer having such different input/output signals, there is a proposal, for example, in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 158484/1984.

This Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 158484/1984 stores printer software for adapting any model of computer to a specific printer equipped with an I10 interface and a CPU (center processing unit; microprocessor; microcomputer). A memory is built into a printer connector, the memory is connected to an empty pin of the connector, and the memory is connected to the printer via the empty pin of the connector and the empty pin socket of the printer.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] This printer software only stores codes such as the control code and character code described above, and a conversion program for the transmission procedure, and does not include the voltage level and transmission method described above. Since it does not contain a conversion program for transmission conditions such as reading timing, it cannot operate with printers with different transmission conditions or printers that do not have an I10 interface or built-in CPU, and the range of connection is greatly reduced. It is limited to.

Furthermore, in order to connect the memory to the printer via the empty pins of the connector, there are problems such as the need to connect the empty pin sockets on the printer side and the CPU built into the printer.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to increase the versatility of connections between various computers or between a computer and a terminal device, and to substantially eliminate connection work for hardware combination.

[Means for solving problems]

The present invention has been made to advantageously solve these problems, and provides an input/output signal code.

A program that determines the meaning of standard codes and various transmission procedures prepared in advance for each signal standard code and transmission procedure type when connecting various computers with different transmission procedures, transmission conditions, etc. or between computers and terminal equipment;
A signal converter is provided, which consists of a conversion memory that stores a program for converting codes between different standards, and an adjustment controller that adjusts and controls transmission conditions such as input and output signal voltage levels, transmission methods, and reading timing. , connects computers or a computer and a terminal device via the signal converter.

[Effect]

In order to carry out the signal conversion method of the present invention, as shown in FIG. Furthermore, a level converter 10, a signal selection circuit 11, which converts the signal inputted from the conversion memory B into the signal transmission conditions of the connected computer 2. Each of the timing adjustment circuits 12 is provided with a plurality of circuits for different transmission conditions of a plurality of computers having different specifications to be connected, and selection switches 103W, 11SW and 1 are provided.
2SW selects a circuit according to the transmission condition of the output signal of the connected computer 2, converts the transmission condition of the signal input from the computer 2 into a predetermined transmission condition, and outputs it to the conversion memory B. . Conversely, the signal transmission conditions inputted from the conversion memory B are converted into the transmission conditions of the connected computer 2 and output to the computer 2.

The conversion memory B stores in advance a discrimination program that discriminates the meaning of the code or transmission procedure of a signal input from various computers 2 or terminal devices 3 to be connected, by code standard and by type of transmission procedure. , a conversion program prepared in advance for each code standard is stored, and the code of the signal input from the computer 2 or terminal device 3 is determined by a program selected according to the code and transmission procedure of the computer 2 or terminal device 3 to be connected. and determine the transmission procedure and its meaning (decipher). The determined code is converted into a code for an input signal of an output side computer or terminal device according to a code conversion program, and the converted code is output according to a pre-stored transmission procedure program.

The adjustment controller C converts the transmission conditions of the signal output from the conversion memory B into various transmission conditions used by the computer or terminal device 3 connected to the other side, and further converts the input signal from the computer or terminal device 3. A plurality of circuits are provided for converting the transmission conditions into the predetermined transmission conditions of the conversion memory B for each code standard or transmission condition of the computer or terminal device 3 to be connected.
The circuit is selected according to the signal transmission conditions of the conversion memory B.
convert the predetermined transmission conditions input from the computer or terminal device 3 into signal transmission conditions for the computer or terminal device 3, or convert the signal transmission conditions input from the computer or terminal device 3 into the predetermined transmission conditions of the conversion memory B. do.

In this way, it is possible to transmit information between computers or between a computer and a terminal device that have completely different signal transmission conditions, codes, and transmission procedures.

〔Example〕

An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIG.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a signal conversion device 1 that implements the present invention in one embodiment when a computer 2 and a printer 3 are connected. ) 2A to printer 3
The signal to be transmitted to the printer 3, transmission conditions, code,
The signal to be converted into a transmission procedure and vice versa is transferred to an I/
Convert to F2A transmission conditions, codes, and transmission procedures.

The adjustment controller A, which adjusts the voltage level, transmission method, reading timing, etc. of the transmission signal, converts the signal transmission conditions given from the I/F 2A into predetermined transmission conditions to the conversion memory B, and further This is an adjustment controller that converts the transmission condition of the signal given from the memory B to the same transmission condition as the transmission condition of the I/F 2A, and the level converter 10. Signal selection circuit 11
．． It is composed of a timing adjustment circuit 12.

It performs conversion to match the input/output signal voltage level of various I/F 2A to the level converter 10 and the predetermined input/output voltage level of the conversion memory B (the microcomputer 14 which is the read/write controller of the conversion memory B). (2) It is configured to be switchable by a selection switch 103W according to the output signal voltage level of /F2A.

The signal selection circuit 11 is configured such that a transmission circuit can be selected by a selection switch 115W depending on the transmission method of input/output signals of the I/F 2A.

The timing adjustment circuit 12 performs conversion to match the data reading timing and transmission speed of the input/output signal of the I/F 2 A and a predetermined input/output signal of the conversion memory B (microcomputer 14). , is configured to be switchable by a selection switch 12SW according to the output signal data reading timing and transmission speed of the I/F 2A.

The conversion storage device B stores programs for determining control codes, character codes, and transmission procedures for each standard used in various computers and terminal devices, which have been created and prepared in advance, as well as programs for determining transmission procedures for each standard. The timing adjustment circuit 12 stores code conversion programs for control codes and character codes.
Then, the control code, character code, and transmission procedure of the signal input from the input/output control circuit 13 are classified by the above discrimination program, and the output side printer 3 or I/F 2A is Convert to control code and character code. Then, the converted control code and character code are outputted according to a transmission procedure program of the output side puller 3 which is stored in advance, and is stored in the storage unit ROM 1 .

ROM 2, microcomputer 14 and switch R3W1~
It is composed of R3W. Note that the microcomputer 14 here is a microcomputer system consisting of a CPU, RAM, and other LSIs.

The storage unit ROM 1 stores various transmission procedure programs for output signals of the I/F 2A of various computers, standard-specific control codes, and character codes, and also stores code conversion programs and discrimination programs, and stores the transmission procedure programs, For control code and character code, select switch R3W,
~R3W3 so that it can be read into the microcomputer 14.

The storage unit ROM2 stores various signal transmission procedure programs and standard codes used in various printers 3.

In addition to memorizing character codes, a code conversion program,
and a discrimination program, and similarly to the above, the transmission procedure program, control code, and character code are stored in the selection switch RS.
The microcomputer 14, which is configured to be readable by the microcomputer 14 via W a to R3W6, has a control code stored in ROMI and ROM2.

Reads the character code and transmission procedure program, their discrimination program, and code conversion program, distinguishes whether the input signal is a control code or character code, determines (deciphers) its meaning, and converts the determined control code. Output side (printer 3) where codes and character codes are stored in advance
) output according to the transmission procedure program. 13 sends the input signal to the microcomputer 14 in the subsequent process according to instructions from the microcomputer 14.
Alternatively, it is an input/output control circuit that outputs to the timing adjustment circuit 12 in the previous process.

The adjustment controller C changes the signal transmission conditions given from the conversion storage unit B (ROM 2) to those for the printer 3, and also changes the signal transmission conditions given from the printer 3 to those for the conversion storage unit B. It is an adjustment controller that converts signal transmission conditions, and includes a timing adjustment circuit 16.signal selection circuit 17. It is composed of a level converter 18 and switches 16SW, 17SW, and 18SW.

The timing adjustment circuit 16 outputs the input signal to the printer 3.
It performs conversion to match the data reading timing and transmission speed of the printer 3 or the microcomputer 14, and is configured to be selectable by a selection switch 16SW according to the data reading timing and transmission speed of the printer 3.

The signal selection circuit 17 is configured such that a transmission circuit corresponding to the transmission method of the connected printer 3 can be selected by a selection switch 17SW.

The level converter 18 converts the voltage level of the input signal to match the voltage level of the input signal of the printer 3 or the microcomputer 14. The level converter 18 converts the voltage level of the input signal to match the voltage level of the input signal of the printer 3 or the microcomputer 14. It is configured to be selectively switchable.

Next, the preliminary work required to make this device function and the operation of the device will be explained.

First, the format of the input/output signals of this I/F 2A and the input/output signals of the printer 3, that is, (1) signal voltage level.

Investigate and analyze ■transmission method, ■data reading timing, ■transmission speed, ■transmission procedure, ■control code, and ■character code.

This investigation and analysis of I/F 2 A input/
Level converter 10° signal selection circuit 11. to match the form of the output signal. Timing adjustment circuit 12. Storage section RO
Selection switches l03W to 13SW provided in each of M1
, R5W1 to R3W3 are selected and input.

Furthermore, in printer 3, which was investigated in the same way as above, the input/output
The storage unit ROM2 and the timing adjustment circuit 16. Signal selection circuit 17. Level circuit 1
Selection switches R3W4 to R3Ws provided in each of 8,
Select and input 16SW to 18SW. As a result, the signal output from the I/F 2A is converted to the operating voltage level of the microcomputer 14 by the level converter 10 and input to the signal selection circuit 11. The signal input to the signal selection circuit 11 is converted into a predetermined signal readable by the microcomputer 14 (for example, by the circuit selected by the selection switch 115W) depending on the signal transmission method (for example, parallel system, AC signal: 3 levels). The signal is serially converted into a DC signal (2 levels) and input to the timing adjustment circuit 12 as it is. In the timing adjustment circuit 12, the circuit selected by the selection switch 12SW adjusts the input signal to the readable timing and transmission speed of the microcomputer 14 so that the microcomputer 14 can read the input signal, and sends the input signal to the input/output control device 13. input.

When a part of the signal input to the input/output control device 13 is input to the microcomputer 14, the microcomputer 14 starts operating and controls the storage of the storage units ROML and ROM2 selected by the selection switches R3V and ~RS. Load the code, character code, and transmission procedure program. According to the control code, character code, and transmission procedure program read from the ROM 1 and the discrimination program read in advance, the output signals of the I/F 2A that have arrived at the input/output control device 13 are sequentially read and discriminated. The control code, character code, and transmission procedure of the determined signal are converted into those for the conversion storage section B according to various control code and character code conversion programs read in advance. Then, the converted signal is R
According to the conversion program input from OM2, it is converted into the 8-power side (for printer 3 operation) control code and character code.

The converted signal is output to the input/output control device 15 according to the transmission procedure program inputted from the ROM 2, and the timing adjustment circuit 16. Signal selection circuit 17. The signal passes sequentially through the level converter 18 and is output as an operating signal to the connected printer 3.

Based on this signal, the printer 3 starts operating.

Further, regarding a signal output from the printer 3, for example, a printer failure signal, contrary to the above, the format of the output signal of the printer 3 is changed by the adjustment controller C9, the conversion memory B, and the adjustment controller A into the computer 2. Convert to signal format and connect to I/F
2A to the computer 2 to inform the computer 2 that the printer 3 is out of order.

Note that in this embodiment, the computer 2 and the printer 3
Although the present invention is not limited to this, the present invention is not limited to the case where computers are connected to each other, or between a computer and a card reader as a terminal device.

The present invention can be similarly applied when connecting an input device such as a scanner or a keyboard.

In addition, a buffer memory is provided in the microcomputer 14, and the signals from the computer 2 are sent to the crowd control device 13 in blocks.
The microcomputer 14 may convert the captured signal into a code and transmission procedure for the printer 3.

Further, an operator may adjust and analyze the input/output signal transmission conditions and code transmission procedures of the connected computer 2 and terminal equipment 3, or an automatic analyzer may be used.

〔Effect of the invention〕

According to the present invention described above, it is possible to operate a group of computers with different input/output signal transmission conditions, codes, and transmission procedures by a simple operation, and to arbitrarily connect a group of terminal devices within or between groups. It does not require any modification of the group equipment, and has a great economic effect in this field where standardization and compatibility have not yet been sufficiently improved.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a signal conversion device 1 that implements one aspect of the present invention. 1: Signal conversion device 2: Computer 2A
:Interface 3:Printer 14:Microcomputer

Claims (1)

[Claims] When connecting various computers with different input/output signal codes, transmission procedures, and transmission conditions, or between computers and terminal equipment, we will explain the meanings of the standard codes and various transmission procedures prepared in advance for each signal standard code and transmission procedure type. Consists of a conversion memory that stores a program for discrimination and a program for converting codes between different standards, and an adjustment controller that adjusts and controls transmission conditions such as input/output signal voltage level, transmission method, and reading timing. A signal conversion method comprising: providing a signal converter; and connecting computers or a computer and a terminal device via the signal converter.