KR20000066083A - Method for managing memory in printer - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: A method for managing memory of a printer is provided to variably apply the size of memory storing print data for reprinting according to the residual level of ink or toner. CONSTITUTION: A method for managing a memory of a printer storing print data received from the outside in a predetermined area of a memory, wherein the method for managing the memory of the printer includes the steps of checking the remaining amount of the toner recording the print data to a paper with printing the print data(S242), detecting the assignment size of preliminary set memory corresponding to the checked remaining amount of the toner, and assigning the detected size of the memory to the area in which the print data stored for printing again if the assignment size of the memory is detected(S244).

Description

Memory management method of printer {METHOD FOR MANAGING MEMORY IN PRINTER}

The present invention relates to a memory management method of a printer. More particularly, in a printer that receives and prints data from the outside, when the remaining level of toner or ink is low, print data for reprinting a predetermined area of the memory is stored. It relates to a memory management method of a printer to allocate to the area.

Generally, a printer is an office device connected to a computer and outputs a result on paper. The printer receives a document or image data created or edited on the computer, converts it into a printing language suitable for the printing conditions, and prints ink or toner. It is a device that outputs to paper using colored dyes.

Such a printer is roughly classified into a toner method using a toner and an inkjet method using ink. An inkjet method is a method of recording using ink droplets discharged through a thin tube, and an inkjet printer is a typical method. Laser beam printers are typical in the manner of recording using toner.

When the inkjet or laser beam printer performs a printing process in which ink or toner is sprayed onto the paper according to data received from the outside, the remaining level is low → empty because the ink or toner has a limited usage amount. It gradually decreases to the (EMPTY) state.

When the remaining level of the ink or toner becomes low, the output image quality of the print data gradually decreases, and when the remaining level becomes empty, the print data is not recorded on the paper.

Therefore, when the remaining level of the ink or toner is low, the output image quality of the print data cannot be guaranteed. Therefore, a certain area is allocated to the area where the print data for reprinting is stored among all areas of the printer memory. When the remaining level of the toner is low, a method of storing print data in the allocated area has been developed.

As described above, when the remaining level of the ink or toner becomes low and the print data is stored in the buffer, the user may reprint the print data stored in the buffer after newly replacing the toner or ink.

However, according to the memory management method of the printer, regardless of the presence or the size of the print data to be reprinted, the memory of a certain area is always allocated to the area where the print data for reprinting is stored among all areas of the printer memory. This results in a waste of memory and makes the system unusable efficiently.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to solve such a problem, and an object of the present invention is to determine the size of a memory allocated to an area where print data for reprinting is stored among all areas of the printer memory according to the remaining level of ink or toner. It is to provide a memory management method of a printer that uses the system efficiently by variable operation.

1 is a schematic block diagram of a printer according to the present invention;

2 is an operation flowchart of storing data for reprinting in a memory according to a method of managing a memory according to the present invention;

3 is an operation flowchart of setting a function of allocating a predetermined area of a memory to a buffer according to the present invention;

4 is a state diagram showing an operation panel of the printer according to the present invention;

5 is an exemplary diagram showing the size of a memory allocated to a buffer according to the level of toner;

<Description of the code | symbol about the principal part of drawing>

10: central processing unit 20: operation panel 30: memory

40: memory manager 50: buffer 60: engine controller

70: printer engine 80: number of print detection unit 90: input / output port

A feature of the present invention for achieving the above object is a memory management method of a printer for storing the print data received from the outside in a predetermined area of the memory: recording the print data on the paper while performing a print job of the print data; Checking the remaining amount of toner; detecting an allocated size of the preset memory corresponding to the checked remaining amount of toner; and if the allocated size of the memory is detected, the print data is stored for reprinting the memory of the detected size. And allocating to an area to be made.

Preferably, the method further comprises the step of checking whether the remaining amount of the toner checked in the toner remaining amount checking step is low; If the remaining amount of toner is low, the predetermined memory allocation size is detected corresponding to the low level of the remaining amount of toner in the memory allocation size detection step.

Preferably, when the print data is received, checking whether a memory allocation key for setting a function of storing print data for reprinting in a predetermined area of the memory is selected; and checking the memory allocation method when the memory allocation key is selected. Further comprises; If the checked memory allocation method is fixed, the predetermined size of memory is allocated to the area where print data for reprinting is stored. If the checked memory allocation method is variable, the allocation step is performed from the toner remaining amount checking step.

Preferably, the toner-low checking step includes counting the number of sheets of print paper on which print data is recorded, and comparing the counted sheets of paper with a preset value; If the counted number of sheets is greater than or equal to the preset value, the remaining amount of the toner is checked in a low state.

Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. First, in adding reference numerals to the elements of each drawing, it should be noted that the same elements are denoted by the same reference numerals as much as possible even if they are displayed on different drawings. In addition, in the following description there are shown a number of specific details, such as components of the specific circuit, which are provided only to help a more general understanding of the present invention that the present invention may be practiced without these specific details. It is self-evident to those of ordinary knowledge in Esau. In describing the present invention, when it is determined that a detailed description of a related known function or configuration may unnecessarily obscure the subject matter of the present invention, the detailed description thereof will be omitted.

1 is a schematic block diagram of a printer according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of storing data for reprinting in a memory according to a method of managing a memory according to the present invention. FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating an operation for setting a function of allocating a predetermined area of a memory to a buffer according to the present invention. FIG. 4 is a state diagram showing an operation panel of a printer according to the present invention, and FIG. An example diagram showing the size of memory allocated to a buffer is shown.

Although the present invention can be applied to both an inkjet printer and a laser beam printer, the following description will be given by taking a laser beam printer as an example.

Referring to FIG. 1, the central processing unit 10 controls the system as a whole, and in particular, the remaining level of the toner detected by the print quantity detection unit 80 is low according to the memory management method selected by the user panel 20. In this state, the memory manager 40 controls the memory manager 40 to allocate a predetermined area from the entire area of the memory 30 to the buffer 50.

The operating panel (OPE) 20 has a plurality of keys and, in particular, a memory allocation key for setting a function of allocating a predetermined area from the entire area of the memory 30 to the buffer 50, and pressing a predetermined key. Key data according to the control unit 10 is input to the central processing unit 10, and the display unit of the central processing unit 10 displays the operation state of the system.

The memory 30 stores various programs necessary for implementing the functions of a printer, various data according to program execution, and print data transmitted from a computer. In particular, according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a program capable of varying the size of the memory allocated to the buffer 50 in the entire area of the memory 30 according to the remaining amount of toner is stored.

The memory manager 40 is a buffer that is an area in which print data is stored for reprinting from the entire area of the memory 30 according to the number of prints input from the print quantity detector 80 under the control of the central processing unit 10 ( Detects the size of the memory to be allocated to 50 and inputs it to the CPU 10.

The buffer 50 is a predetermined area allocated from the entire area of the memory 30 under the control of the memory management unit 40, and the predetermined amount cannot guarantee the output image quality from the print data transmitted to the printer engine 70. Print data is stored for reprint.

The engine controller 60 drives the printer engine 70 under the control of the central processing unit 10, transmits data stored in the memory 30 and the buffer 50 to the printer engine 70, and prints the printer engine ( 70) performs a print job using the transmitted data.

The number of print detection unit 80 detects the number of prints in order to check the amount of toner sprayed on the recording paper according to the print data in the printer engine 70. The method of detecting the number of prints is as follows.

First, since the number of prints that the toner can print is preset, the number of sheets of print data recorded and output by the printer engine 70 is counted, and the number of sheets counted from the total number of printable sheets of toner is counted. When the number of sheets is reduced, the number of sheets of printable paper in the future is calculated. The print quantity detector 80 counts the number of sheets of paper printed so far and inputs the number of sheets to the central processing unit 10.

Second, the number of prints is detected by counting pulses generated by a sensor (not shown) in accordance with the rotation of a rotating stirrer to stir the toner in the hopper containing the toner. That is, since the rotation period of the hopper containing the toner is constant, and the number of rotation blades of the stirrer for stirring the toner is set, the number of prints is detected by checking the pulse outputted in response to the rotation of the stirrer. The print quantity detector 80 counts the number of sheets of paper printed so far and inputs the number of sheets to the central processing unit 10.

In this way, the means for detecting the number of prints does not exist in any one specific way, but may be replaced by any conventional method capable of detecting the number of prints.

The input / output port 90 is a portion connecting the printer and the computer, and inputs print data received from the computer to the CPU 10.

The operation of the present invention having such a configuration will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 2 and 5.

Referring to FIG. 2, the CPU 10 checks whether print data is received from the outside through the I / O port 90 (S210), and when the print data is received, the CPU 10 reprints the print data. In order to store the print data to be stored, it is checked whether a function of allocating a predetermined area from the entire area of the memory 30 to the buffer 50 is set (S220).

As a result of the check, if a function of allocating a predetermined area from the entire area of the memory 30 to the buffer 50 is set, the CPU 10 checks whether the memory allocation method selected by the user is a variable method (S230).

Here, a method of selecting a memory allocation method by setting a function of allocating a predetermined area from the entire area of the memory 30 to the buffer 50 will be briefly described with reference to FIG. 3. It is checked whether a preset memory allocation key for allocating a predetermined region to the buffer 50 is selected from among the entirety of the plurality of keys provided in 20) (S301).

If the memory allocation key is selected as a result of the check, the CPU 10 displays the memory allocation method on the display device of the operation panel 20 (S302) (see Fig. 4).

The CPU 10 checks whether the user selects a predetermined memory allocation method according to the guidance message displayed on the display device of the operation panel 20 (S303). When the predetermined memory allocation method is selected, the selected memory allocation method is selected. The method is stored in the memory 30 (S304).

If the memory allocation method is a variable method as a result of the check in step 230 (S230), step 240 (S240) is performed. If the memory allocation method is a fixed method, step 250 (S250) is performed.

First, referring to a case in which the memory allocation method selected by the user is a variable method, the CPU 10 may control the engine controller 60 to print the received print data through the printer engine 70 (S241). The number detecting unit 80 detects the number of prints of the paper on which the print data is recorded while performing a print job in the printer engine 70, and inputs the same to the central processing unit 10. The central processing unit 10 includes a print number detecting unit ( The remaining amount of toner is checked according to the number of prints input in step 80) (S242).

The central processing unit 10 checks whether the remaining amount level of the toner for recording the print data on the recording sheet is low in the printer engine 70 (S243), and the number of prints detected by the print quantity detector 80 is preset. If the number is more than the number, the central processing unit 10 determines that the remaining toner level is low.

If the toner remaining level is not low, the printer returns to step 241 (S241) to print the received print data, and if the toner remaining level is low, the central processing unit 10 includes a memory management unit ( 40, a predetermined area of the memory 30 is allocated to the buffer 50 according to the checked toner remaining level (S244).

That is, the memory manager 30 receives the number of prints detected by the number of print detection unit 80 under the control of the central processing unit 10, and detects the remaining level of the toner according to the received number of prints. Then, the memory size allocated to the buffer 50 is determined from the entire area of the memory 30 in correspondence with the detected remaining level of the toner.

In the memory manager 30, a memory size allocated to the buffer 50 is set in one-to-one correspondence with the remaining level of the toner. For example, as shown in FIG. 5, when the total number of prints is 3000 and the toner remaining level is divided into 10 levels, the toner remaining level is determined according to the number of prints received from the print quantity detector 80. If the number is 2555, the remaining toner level is two. Then, the size of the memory allocated to the buffer 50 is determined from the entire area of the memory 30 in correspondence with the remaining amount of toner, and the size of the buffer 50 corresponding to the toner remaining level 2 is two pages.

When a predetermined area is allocated to the buffer 50 from the entire area of the memory 30, the CPU 10 stores the received print data in the buffer 50 while printing the received print data through the printer engine 70 (S245). .

Thereafter, the central processing unit 10 checks whether the printing is completed (S246), terminates when printing is completed, and returns to step 242 (S242) of checking the remaining amount of toner if printing is not completed, and then printing is completed. The remaining amount of toner is checked until it is determined, and the size of the memory allocated to the buffer 50 is variably determined according to the remaining amount of the checked toner.

That is, as the print engine performs the print job, the number of prints detected by the print quantity detector 80 increases, and the toner remaining gradually decreases from the low state to the empty state, thereby improving the output image quality of the print data. It cannot be guaranteed. Therefore, the memory manager 40 variably allocates the size of the memory 30 utilized as the buffer 50 according to the number of prints detected by the print number detector 80. That is, as the number of prints detected by the print quantity detector 80 increases, the size of the memory allocated to the buffer 50 by the memory manager 40 also increases.

Meanwhile, referring to a case in which the memory allocation method selected by the user is a fixed method, the CPU 10 may control the memory manager 40 to buffer a predetermined area of memory among the entire areas of the memory 30. (S251).

When a predetermined area is allocated to the buffer 50 in the entire area of the memory 30, the CPU 10 controls the engine controller 60 to print the received print data through the printer engine 70 (S252). ).

The central processing unit 10 controls the engine controller 60 to perform a print job through the printer engine 70, and the print quantity detector 80 prints the print data while performing the print job in the printer engine 70. The number of sheets of paper to be printed is detected and input to the central processing unit 10, and the central processing unit 10 checks the remaining amount of toner according to the number of prints input from the number of printing sheets detecting unit 80 (S253).

The central processing unit 10 checks whether the remaining level of the toner for recording the print data on the recording sheet is low in the printer engine 70 (S254), and if the remaining level is not low, prints the received print data. In step 252 (S252) to perform a print job, if the check result remaining level is low, the central processing unit 10 prints the received print data in the buffer 50 while printing through the printer engine 70 (S255).

Thereafter, the central processing unit 10 checks whether the printing is completed (S256), and when the printing is completed, ends, and if the printing is not completed, the print data printed through the printer engine 70 is stored in the buffer 5. The process returns to step 255 (S255) and repeats the process.

That is, when the memory allocation method is fixed, the memory 50 is always allocated to the buffer 50 in the entire area of the memory 30 regardless of the toner remaining level.

In addition, the memory allocation function is not set as a result of the check in step 220 (S220) of confirming whether a function of allocating a predetermined area from the entire area of the memory 30 to the buffer 50 is set for storing print data to be reprinted. If not, the central processing unit 10 controls the engine controller 60 to perform a general printing operation for printing the print data received through the printer engine 70 (S260).

That is, when the user does not select the memory allocation key preset in the operation panel 20, the CPU 10 prints the print data received from the outside through the printer engine 70, and the print data is completed. Deletes.

Therefore, when the print data is stored in the buffer 50 for reprinting, the size of the memory allocated to the buffer 50 can be variably operated according to the toner remaining level.

As described above, in the detailed description of the present invention, specific embodiments have been described, but various modifications are possible without departing from the scope of the present invention. Therefore, the scope of the present invention should not be limited to the described embodiments, but should be defined by the claims below and equivalents thereof.

As described above, according to the memory management method of the printer according to the present invention, when the toner remaining level is low, a predetermined area of the entire area of the memory is allocated as a buffer to store print data that cannot guarantee output quality. The user can easily reprint the print data of poor output quality. In addition, since the size of the memory utilized as a buffer for storing the print data to be reprinted is variably allocated according to the remaining level of ink or toner, there is an advantage that the system can be used efficiently.

Claims (4)

In the memory management method of the printer for storing the print data received from the outside in a predetermined area of the memory: Checking the remaining amount of toner for recording the print data on paper while performing the print job of the print data; Detecting an allocation size of a preset memory corresponding to the remaining amount of the checked toner; And if the allocation size of the memory is detected, allocating the memory of the detected size to an area in which the print data is stored for reprinting. The method of claim 1, Checking whether the remaining amount of the toner checked in the toner remaining amount checking step is low; And if the remaining amount of the toner is low, detecting a predetermined memory allocation size corresponding to the low level of the toner remaining amount in the memory allocation size detection step. The method of claim 1, When the print data is received, checking whether a memory allocation key for setting a function of storing print data for reprinting in a predetermined area of the memory is selected; If the memory allocation key is selected, further comprising checking the memory allocation scheme; If the checked memory allocation method is a fixed method, allocates a predetermined size of memory to an area for storing print data for reprinting. If the checked memory allocation method is a variable method, the toner remaining amount checking step is performed from the toner remaining amount checking step. Memory management method of the printer, characterized in that for performing. The method of claim 2, wherein the toner low check step, Counting the number of sheets of print paper on which the print data is recorded; Comparing the counted number of sheets with a preset value; And checking the remaining amount of the toner in a low state if the counted number of sheets is equal to or greater than a preset value.