KR200151201Y1 - Panel controller of printer - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a control panel control device for a printer, and more particularly, to a control panel control device for a printer to reduce the load of the host computer by controlling the LED indicator using a separate controller to improve the printing speed And a key switch including an LCD display, a ready key (READY) and an error key (ERROR) for displaying a predetermined function required for printing of the printer, and an LED for indicating a state of the key switch. An operating panel control apparatus for a printer having a status indicator for use as an element and a printer controller for controlling the light emitting elements, the apparatus comprising: an LCD controller for controlling the LCD indicator by a signal of the printer controller, and the printer is printed When the LED indicating the status of the ready key blinks while the work and data are being received. Is characterized by comprising a LED controller includes a flash circuit group.

Description

Control panel control unit of the printer

The present invention relates to an operation panel control device of a printer, and more particularly, to control the LED (Light-Emitting Diode) indicator using a separate controller to reduce the load of the host computer to improve the printing speed An operating panel control apparatus of a printer.

In addition to office supplies such as printers, copiers, electronic cash registers, multifunction devices, and the like, most systems that require an interface with a user provide the operation contents, actions and menus to the outside through an operation panel equipped with an image forming apparatus. It allows for a visual interface with the user.

A typical computer output device includes a monitor and a printer, but a monitor output device can only be seen by the person using the computer and is not suitable for informing other people of the result.

A printer is a device that outputs the results processed by a computer in the form of a document for the purpose of not only checking and storing it but also delivering it to others. Until now, a daisy wheel printer, a pin printer, an inkjet printer and a laser printer Developed.

Unlike a computer body, a printer is very closely related to electronic and mechanical structures, and the operation of the mechanical structure can be very slow compared to a computer because the operation of the mechanical structure cannot keep up with the electrical flow, which is why the printer Many studies and patent applications have been conducted to improve the operation speed of the.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a general laser printer and a computer driving the same.

The computer 10 includes a program related to control for controlling various components in the computer, an application program operated according to a user's specific purpose, and a printer driving program for driving a printer that may be assumed as one of the control programs. In addition, a communication port capable of physically realizing handshaking for mutual signal transmission with the controller 21 of the printer 20 is provided.

On the other hand, the controller 21 of the printer 20 is connected to the operation panel 22 for receiving a signal from the user and outputting a predetermined signal to the user, and printing under the control of the controller 21. A printer engine 23 for performing the work.

FIG. 2 is a layout view in which the respective functions of the operation panel showing the operation panel shown in FIG. 1 are arranged in more detail.

The operation panel 22 is provided with a key switch 26 for inputting various functions, and a character indicator for displaying specific characters and symbols from the controller 21 by the input of the key switch 26 is provided. have. In this case, the character display is generally referred to as an LCD display 24 because it is composed of a liquid crystal device (LCD) device with low power consumption. In addition, an LED indicator 25 is provided which is operated by a signal from the controller 21 to indicate the operation of each key switch 26.

3 is a block diagram showing a configuration for controlling the LCD indicator and the LED indicator, Figure 4 is a block diagram showing a configuration for controlling a separate LCD indicator and LED indicator different from that shown in Figure 3, Figure 5 A circuit diagram showing a conventional LED driving method.

In the manner shown in FIG. 3, the LCD indicator is controlled by the LCD controller, and the LED indicator sends data from the printer controller to the software program without operating a separate controller, thereby operating the LED by the circuit configuration shown in FIG. . That is, a ready 29 indicating the completion state of the printing preparation work, a paper 30 indicating whether or not printing paper is loaded, a manual key 31 to correct the manual, and a system error. Output buffer 33 of printer controller 21 to turn on, off, or flash each LED D9, D10, D11, D12 for indicating the status of the error key (ERROR) 32 for indicating the status. All signals must be supplied. However, when the LED should be blinking, the printer controller 21 is generally receiving data or performing a printing operation. Therefore, it takes a lot of time to control the LED blinking data in software due to the speed performance of the printer. There was a problem.

In particular, when the function of the laser controller's video controller is at the level of so-called HBP (Host Based Printing), the LED control must be performed at the host computer. This can interfere with the operation of the part that needs to receive or print data, resulting in a slow operation.

In order to cure such a problem, as shown in FIG. 4, the LCD and the LED indicators may all be controlled using separate operation panel controllers 28.

This type of control has the advantage that the speed performance of the printer is not influenced by the main function processing program for displaying or controlling the operation panel by incorporating a microcomputer, etc., but the manufacturing cost of the printer is required because the microcomputer must be used. It causes the problem of the rise, and also requires the development and production of a separate microcomputer, it will be accompanied by problems such as cost requirements and prolonged development period.

In addition, a connection program for communication between the microprocessor for main function control on the main function board and the microcomputer on the operation panel controller requires a considerable amount of effort and time.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and is intended to provide an apparatus for controlling the LED indicator by separately designing the LED controller for blinking the LED as the LCD controller is installed for the control of the LCD indicator.

1 is a block diagram for explaining the operation of a general laser printer and a computer that drives it;

FIG. 2 is a layout view in which respective functions of the operation panel showing the operation panel shown in FIG. 1 are arranged in detail; FIG.

3 is a configuration diagram showing a configuration for controlling the LCD indicator and the LED indicator,

4 is a configuration diagram showing a configuration for controlling a separate LCD indicator and LED indicator different from that shown in FIG.

5 is a circuit diagram showing a conventional LED driving method,

6 is a circuit diagram showing a circuit of the LED controller of the present invention.

<Description of the symbols used in the main parts of the drawing>

21: printer controller 29: ready key

32: Error key 31: Manual key

32: error key 40: inversion part

50: oscillator 51, 52, 60: inverter

D1, D2, D29, D30, D31, D32: Diode C1: Capacitor

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides an LCD display for displaying a character or a specific figure, an LED display for indicating the state of a printer, an operation panel of a printer including a plurality of key switches, and the operation panel control device. An LED controller comprising: an LCD controller for controlling the LCD indicator; and an LED controller having an oscillation circuit for blinking an LED in the LED indicator.

Features of the present invention described above will be described in detail according to the accompanying drawings.

6 is a circuit diagram showing a circuit of the LED controller of the present invention.

The printer controller 21 is connected with signal lines LED2, LED3, and LED4 for turning on and off the LEDs D30, D31, and D32, respectively. In addition, when the corresponding output port 6 becomes high to turn on LED 32, which is the corresponding LED of the ERROR key 32, to indicate an error state of the system, it is a situation that cannot indicate a ready state. The READY key 29 indicating the printing preparation work completion status should be turned off. Accordingly, a signal line (not shown) from which the inverting portion 40 is drawn out from the output port 6 so that the corresponding LED 29 of the ready key 29 indicating the printing preparation work completion state is always opposite to the LED 32. It is connected between LED4) and LED29.

An oscillator 50 is connected between the inverter 40 and the LED 29 to blink the LED 29. In addition, the signal line LED1 is connected to the LED 29 through the diode D2 so that the LED 29 for the ready key is always on. At this time, the Vcc voltage is applied to each device to supply power.

On the other hand, the output of the oscillator 50 is input to the resistor R4, is input to the inverter 60 together with the output of the diode D2, the output of the inverter 60 is input to the LED 29.

In addition, the inverter 40 has a diode D1 connected in the reverse direction and a resistor R1 connected in series, and their outputs are input to the oscillator 50. The oscillator 50 includes two inverters 51 and 52, and a resistor R2 and a capacitor C1 for determining a time constant are connected to the inverters 51 and 52.

Hereinafter, with reference to the accompanying drawings will be described in detail the operation of the present invention.

When the signal line LED4 connected to the LED 32 for the error key 32 is in the high state, the LED 32 is not turned on. At this time, the diode D1 is turned off and the oscillation is continued, and the LED 29 flashes.

However, when the signal line LED4 is in the low state, the LED 29 is turned on, and at this time, the diode D1 is in a conducting state, and the oscillation unit 50 stops oscillation under the condition of R1 &lt; R2, and the LED 29 is kept off. do.

When the signal of the LED1 is in the low state, the diode D2 is turned off so that the oscillation unit 50 does not affect the oscillation.

However, when the signal of the signal line LED1 is high, the diode D2 is turned on, and regardless of whether the oscillator 50 is oscillated, the high output of the LED1 is inverted to low in the inverter 60 so that the LED 29 is always kept lit. do.

In addition, LED 30, LED 31, and LED 32 are controlled by the direct input of the controller. Table 1 below shows the operating states of the respective LEDs described above.

TABLE 1

division ready manual Paper error Signal of LED1 When power is applied light on * * * Hi Receiving data Flashing * * * low Printing Flashing * * * low Power saving mode light on * * * Hi Manual feeding * light on * * × Out of paper light on * light on * Hi Engine error Lights out * * light on low

In the above table, * means extinguishing under conditions other than the point corresponding to the point, etc., and × means that it does not affect the associated signal level.

According to the apparatus for controlling the operation panel of the printer according to the present invention as described above, it is possible to perform a predetermined operation related to the flashing of the ready key without relying on the direct control command of the controller to reduce the software burden on the controller. This results in a faster printing function, which is the basic function of the printer, and does not require the use of separate control means for operations related to the flashing of ready keys. To lower it.

Claims (5)

An LED display, a key switch including a ready key (READY) and an error key (ERROR) for displaying a predetermined function required for printing of the printer, and an LED for indicating the state of the key switch. A control panel control apparatus for a printer provided with a status indicator for use and a printer controller for controlling the light emitting elements: An LCD controller for controlling the LCD indicator by a signal of the printer controller; And And an LED controller having a flashing circuit for blinking an LED indicating the state of the ready key when the printer prints and receives data. The printer operation according to claim 1, wherein one end of the flashing circuit is connected to a signal line drawn out from the printer controller for turning on the error key, and the other end is connected to an LED for indicating a state of the ready key. Panel control unit. The method of claim 2, wherein the flashing circuit, An inverting unit for outputting a signal opposite to a signal line for turning on the error key; And An operating panel control apparatus for a printer, characterized in that it comprises an oscillator for causing the ready key to flash. 4. The operation panel control apparatus of a printer according to claim 3, wherein an inverter for signal inversion is connected between the blinking circuit and an LED for indicating a state of the ready key. The signal line is drawn out from the printer controller and connected to an input of the inverter and an output of the oscillation unit for a signal for maintaining the LED for indicating the state of the ready key in the lit state. Control panel control unit of the printer.