KR20040056659A - Image forming apparatus and updating method of function thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: An image forming system and its function upgrading method are provided to read a program and image data processing codes from a memory installed at a consumption unit, and upgrade the program and the image data processing codes. CONSTITUTION: The method comprises several steps. An image forming system and a host computer is operated(S100). A controller of the image forming system reads an image data processing code and an operating system from a memory installed at a consumption unit(S101). The controller checks whether the image data processing code and the operating system are appropriate(S102). If they are appropriate, the controller asks a user to want an upgrade(S103, S104). If the user wants an upgrade, the image data processing code and the operating system are downloaded(S105), accordingly the image forming system is initialized(S106) and an image forming arrangement is finished(S107). If the user does not want an upgrade, an image forming arrangement is finished according to a conventional program.

Description

Image forming apparatus and updating method of function

The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus and a method of updating a function thereof, and more particularly, to a program and an image from a memory mounted on a consumable unit used in an image forming apparatus when a general user wants to update a function of the image forming apparatus. An image forming apparatus and a method for updating a function thereof are used to read a data processing code to update a program of the image forming apparatus and an image data processing code to upgrade a function.

In general, an image forming apparatus receives data (image data) to be image-formed from a user's computer or similar data processing apparatus in an image forming apparatus, and the controller of the image forming apparatus displays the data to form the received image. Processing is performed according to the data processing code. After the data is processed, an image forming engine is used to form an image. For example, an electrophotographic processor type image forming apparatus is used as a developer on a paper to print an image through photosensitive charging, laser exposure, development and transfer. The developed image is developed, and the image of the developer is placed on the paper, so that the developer is melted by applying heat and pressure, and fixed on the paper so that the developer is stably attached to the paper.

1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a control unit inside a general image forming apparatus.

Referring to FIG. 1, the controller 150 in the image forming apparatus includes a central processing unit (CPU) 100, an I / O interface unit 120, a RAM 130, and a ROM 140. The program and data 160 such as the image data processing code and the operating system (O / S) embedded in the RAM are stored in the RAM or the ROM. That is, the control code (image data processing code and operating system (O)) is stored in the nonvolatile memory area, and the volatile memory area is mainly used as a work area. In addition, during data processing, control codes (image data processing codes and operating systems) stored in ROM are transferred to RAM and executed to increase execution speed. However, the image data processing code of such an image forming apparatus is already stored in the ROM at the time of shipment from the manufacturing factory and released.

In addition, an image can be formed only by sending the data to be imaged in a user's computer or similar data processing apparatus in a form that can be processed by a controller of the image forming apparatus, and in a user's computer or similar data processing apparatus. Storing all image data processing codes corresponding to various application programs in the ROM during the manufacture of the image forming apparatus increases the economic cost and processes any form of data in a user's computer or similar data processing apparatus that will be released later. This is not possible because you don't know in advance whether to request the feature.

Therefore, in the related art, in order to compensate for some functions of the image processing apparatus, the control unit of the image forming apparatus assigns control codes (image data processing codes and operating systems) to a nonvolatile memory region such as a read / write flash ROM. The following method was used to update the control-related program by downloading the software.

First, the memory for storing a program on the control unit of the image processing apparatus is replaced with a memory in which a new program is embedded.

Second, after downloading the latest version of the program through computer communication, or receiving a storage device (floppy disk, CD-ROM, removable memory) corresponding to the host computer, the user sends the program to the image forming apparatus from the host computer. How to download and upgrade

Thirdly, a program used for the operation of an image forming apparatus such as a printer having a network card is automatically connected to the web site of the image forming apparatus manufacturer, downloaded, and updated.

According to the first method, since a process of disassembling the image processing apparatus is required, a request is made to a service expert for the image processing apparatus, and thus it is difficult for a general user to do it directly.

According to the second method, after the user directly downloads a new program from a host such as a computer, it is inconvenient to upgrade by transmitting a new program to the printer by executing an update program on the host.

In addition, according to the third method, it is difficult for an image forming apparatus to be used without being connected to a network to utilize such a function, and furthermore, there is a problem that an image forming apparatus having a network function is quite expensive.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and when a general user wants to update the function of an image forming apparatus, a program and image data processing code are read from a memory mounted in a consumable unit used in the image forming apparatus. The present invention provides a method of updating a function of an image forming apparatus to update a program and an image data processing code of an image forming apparatus to upgrade a function.

1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a control unit inside a general image forming apparatus including a storage unit.

2 is a block diagram showing an image forming apparatus including a consumable replaceable according to the present invention.

3 is a diagram illustrating an interface between a controller of an image forming apparatus and consumables.

4 is a flowchart for updating a function of the image forming apparatus according to the present invention.

<Explanation of symbols for the main parts of the drawings>

200: host computer 210, 320: control unit

211: RAM 212: Roman

220: image forming engine mechatronics 230: electrophotographic image forming unit

240, 280, 330: consumable unit 250: panel portion

260: image forming engine 270: image forming apparatus

290, 340: memory in the consumable unit 300: central processing unit

310: I / O interface unit

In order to achieve the above object, the image forming apparatus according to the present invention

A consumable unit detachably attached to an image forming apparatus so as to update a predetermined program, an image forming engine unit for mounting the consumable unit under the control of a control unit, and forming an image, and various states of the image shape engine. And a control unit for controlling the display unit, a panel unit for inputting whether to upgrade, a memory for storing programs and data, and a control unit for controlling the consumable unit, the image forming engine unit, the memory, and the panel unit. In

The controller may include updating means for determining suitability of the update program and the image data processing code transmitted from the consumable unit through an I / O interface unit, and for updating the memory in the image forming apparatus.

Preferably, the consumable unit is a component for use in the image forming apparatus, and includes a memory therein that stores an updated program and image data processing code for the image forming apparatus.

Preferably, the memory is used as an auxiliary memory means for replenishing the memory of the image forming apparatus.

Preferably, the memory is characterized in that RAM (RAM).

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a function updating method of an image forming apparatus, wherein the updating method includes an image forming apparatus having a consumable unit detachably attached to the image forming apparatus so as to update a predetermined program or the like. In the function updating method of the image forming apparatus to be applied to,

Confirming whether a memory included in the consumable is present;

Determining whether the update program and the image data processing code in the memory are compatible;

Obtaining the user's approval to confirm whether or not the update program and the image data processing code are updated; And

Downloading the update program and the image data processing code, deleting the existing program and the image data processing code in the image forming apparatus, and recording the update program and the image data processing code if the user's approval is obtained. It is characterized by including.

Hereinafter, with reference to the accompanying drawings, a preferred embodiment of the function updating method of the image forming apparatus according to the present invention will be described in detail. In the description of the gist of the present invention, if it is determined that the detailed description of the related well-known technology or configuration may unnecessarily obscure the gist of the present invention, the detailed description thereof will be omitted.

2 is a block diagram showing an image forming apparatus including a replaceable consumable with a memory according to the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 2, an image forming apparatus 270 to which the present invention is applied includes an electrophotographic image forming unit 230 including a controller 210, an image forming engine mechatronic unit 220, and a consumable unit 240, 280. Including a panel unit 250, the image forming engine mechatronic unit 220 and the electrophotographic image forming unit 230 constitutes an image forming engine 260.

The controller 210 of the image forming apparatus receives data (image data) to form an image from the host computer 200, performs data processing according to the image data processing code, and transmits the image data to the image forming engine 260. In addition, an image data processing code and an operating system program (O / S program) are received from the consumable unit 280 and recorded in the memory and stored therein, thereby enabling an upgrade of the function of the image forming apparatus 270. In addition, in order to obtain the user's approval for the upgrade, the panel unit 250 performs a function of indicating whether or not the image data processing code and the operating system program (O / S program) stored in the consumable unit 280 are compatible.

The image forming engine 260 includes an image forming engine mechatronic unit 220 and an electrophotographic image forming unit 230, and performs an image forming process with the data processed from the controller 210. Since a detailed description of the image forming process is beyond the scope of the present invention, it will be omitted here.

The electrophotographic image forming unit 230 includes consumable units 240 and 280 therein, and the consumable units 240 and 280 are parts that are regularly or irregularly replaced. In addition, the consumable units 240 and 280 may include a memory 290. The memory 290 may include an image data processing code and an operating system program (O / S program). 280 is replaced and configured to be upgraded automatically according to the user's intention. In addition, the memory is preferably used as an auxiliary memory means for replenishing the insufficient memory when the memory of the image forming apparatus 270 is insufficient. In this case, the memory is a RAM capable of reading and writing the memory. It is done.

The panel unit 250 is composed of a liquid crystal display and various keys for displaying the performance state of the printer to the user. In the present invention, the panel unit 250 is used to ask whether the user upgrades the program.

3 is a block diagram showing an interface between a control unit of the image forming apparatus and the consumables.

3, the controller 210 of FIG. 2 is described in more detail. The controller 330 includes a central processing unit 300 and an I / O interface 310. The consumable unit 330 has a memory 340 that records image data processing codes and operating system programs (O / S programs).

The central processing unit 300 reads the image data processing code and the operating system program (O / S program) from the memory of the consumable unit 330 via the I / O interface unit 310, and the existing image data of the image forming apparatus. Update the processing code and operating system program (O / S program). If necessary, various data such as data processing results performed by the controller 320 are recorded and stored in the memory 340 through the I / O interface 310. Through this, the memory in the consumable unit can be utilized as an auxiliary memory means for replenishing the insufficient memory of the image forming apparatus.

Although shown in the drawing to include a memory (RAM, ROM) in the control unit, which is included for convenience, the memory may be a component of the image forming apparatus separately from the control unit.

4 is a flowchart for updating the function of the image forming apparatus according to the present invention. Accordingly, a procedure for updating the function of the image forming apparatus will be described in order.

When the image forming apparatus and / or the host computer are operated (S100), the control unit in the image forming apparatus reads the image data processing code and the operating system program (O / S program) recorded in the memory in the consumable unit (S101). The control unit determines the suitability of the image data processing code and the operating system program (O / S program) (S102). Here, determining the suitability has a unique operating system program (O / S program) and image data processing code for each product of the image forming apparatus, and the image data processing code and operating system program (O / S program) previously stored in the control unit. This means that it is determined whether it is suitable for the current image forming apparatus.

If the image data processing code and operating system program (O / S program) are suitable (S103, S104), the control unit displays whether or not an upgrade is desired in the panel unit. If the user wants to upgrade (S104), the operating system program (O / S program) and the image data processing code are downloaded from the memory of the consumable unit to the memory of the image forming apparatus (S105), and the system of the image forming apparatus is initialized accordingly. (S106), preparation for image formation is completed (S107). However, if the user does not want to upgrade the image forming apparatus, the operating system program (O / S program) and the image data processing code are not downloaded, and only the image preparation preparation is completed according to the existing program (S107). If the operating system program (O / S program) and the image data processing code are not suitable according to the manufacturer and the model of the image forming apparatus in step 103, the controller of the image forming apparatus displays an inappropriate message in the panel unit (S108). Accordingly, preparation for image formation is completed according to an existing operating system program (O / S program) and image data processing code (S107).

As described above, when an additional function desired by a general user or a provider of an image forming apparatus wants to provide additional functions or to supplement some functions and performances, an upgrade program memory is simply provided to a consumable unit of the image forming apparatus. When the consumable unit is installed and replaced, the program of the image forming apparatus is automatically upgraded under the user's approval, thereby making it possible to conveniently upgrade the program without cumbersome download procedures.

In addition, in order to form an image of a user's computer or a similar data processing device, which is released to the market later than the image forming apparatus, data processing codes available in the image forming apparatus may be embedded as an upgrade program in a memory device built into the consumable unit used. By providing the controller, the controller of the image processing apparatus reads and stores the program code to update the program code, thereby processing data of various computers or similar data processing apparatuses.

Although the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail above, those of ordinary skill in the art to which the present invention pertains may make various changes without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined in the appended claims. It will be appreciated that modifications or variations may be made. Therefore, changes in the future embodiments of the present invention will not be able to escape the technology of the present invention.

Claims (5)

A consumable unit detachably attached to an image forming apparatus so as to update a predetermined program, an image forming engine unit for mounting the consumable unit under the control of a control unit, and forming an image, and various states of the image shape engine. And a control unit for controlling the display unit, a panel unit for inputting whether to upgrade, a memory for storing programs and data, and a control unit for controlling the consumable unit, the image forming engine unit, the memory, and the panel unit. In And the control unit includes updating means for determining suitability of the update program and the image data processing code transmitted from the consumable unit through an I / O interface unit, and for updating the memory in the image forming apparatus. . The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the consumable unit is a component used in the image forming apparatus, and includes a memory in which an updated program and image data processing code for the image forming apparatus are recorded. . 3. An image forming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said memory is used as an auxiliary storage means for replenishing said memory of said image forming apparatus. 4. An image forming apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said memory is a RAM. A function updating method of an image forming apparatus applied to an image forming apparatus having a consumable unit detachably attached to the image forming apparatus so as to enable updating of a predetermined program or the like. Confirming whether a memory included in the consumable is present; Determining whether the update program and the image data processing code in the memory are compatible; Obtaining the user's approval to confirm whether or not the update program and the image data processing code are updated; And Downloading the update program and the image data processing code, deleting the existing program and the image data processing code in the image forming apparatus, and recording the update program and the image data processing code if the user's approval is obtained. And updating the function of the image forming apparatus.