Facsimile and static presentation processing – Static presentation processing – Communication
Reexamination Certificate
1998-03-16
2001-01-09
Coles, Edward L. (Department: 2722)
Facsimile and static presentation processing
Static presentation processing
Communication
C358S001100, C358S001130, C358S001140
Reexamination Certificate
active
06172764
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to ink jet printers. More particularly, this invention is concerned with an ink jet printer, wherein a host computer supplies, through device drivers, print commands and print data to an ink jet printer so that they are processed by an MPU (Microprocessor Unit) and an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit) to thereby control ink jet nozzles, a carrier and a feed motor.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Printers connected to a host machine generally require transmission of various data (reverse data) to the host machine through bi-directional communications according to IEEE1284. Particularly ink jet printers require transmission of reverse data to the host machine at least in a nibble mode.
There proposed is a technology disclosed, for example, in Japanese Patent Laying-open No. H1-142924 (Jun. 5, 1989), etc. in order to meet these requirements due to a standard. In this technology, status signals are sent back to a host machine, under the control of an MPU, through a Centronics (commodity name) of an 8-bit parallel signal line.
In the prior art, however, the MPU suffers from a heavy burden because the reverse data is sent back to the host under the control of the MPU provided in the printer. Accordingly, there has been a necessity of mounting on a printer a high-speed, expensive MPU in order to achieve high-speed processing.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Therefore, it is a primary object of this invention to provide a novel ink jet printer.
It is another object of this invention to provide an ink jet printer that is inexpensive but capable of performing high-speed processing.
This invention is an ink jet printer, connected to a host machine through a parallel signal line of a predetermined number of bits, and including a microprocessor, wherein reverse data is sent in a nibble mode from the microprocessor to the host machine through the parallel signal line, comprising: a reverse data register for receiving reverse data having the number of bits greater than the predetermined number of bits from the microprocessor; a state-transitional signal creating means for creating a state transitional signal based on a particular signal from the host machine; and a data switch for receiving to send onto the bus signal line, a first portion and a second portion of the reverse data respectively having the number of bits smaller than the predetermined number of bits at different timings in response to the state transitional signal.
The reverse data is, for example, 8 bits and the reverse data register is also 8 bits so that the reverse data can be loaded onto the reverse data register at one time. On the other hand, the number of the parallel signal lines is, for example, 4 bits. Accordingly, the first portion and the second portion of the reverse data, each having 4 bits, are supplied to the data switch at different timings depending upon the state transitional signals from the state transitional signal creating means. Therefore, the data switch can send totally 8 bits of the reverse data, 4-bits by 4-bits, back to the host machine by rendering each parallel signal line active or inactive.
According to this invention, by merely setting reverse data to the reverse data register by the microprocessor of the printer, the data switch can transmit the reverse data to the host machine. There is no necessity of involvement by the microprocessor each time reverse data is sent back, thus reducing the burden on the microprocessor as compared to the prior art. High speed processing is possible even when an inexpensive microprocessor is employed.
Further, according to this invention, even if the parallel signal lines are less in number, the total bits of the reverse data can be sent back to the host machine only by once setting the reverse data to the register.
The above described objects and other objects, features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description of the present invention when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5680596 (1997-10-01), Iizuka et al.
patent: 5694618 (1997-12-01), Hibino
patent: 5710939 (1998-01-01), Ballachino et al.
Coles Edward L.
Funai Electric Co. Ltd.
Lackenbach Siegel Marzullo Aronson & Greenspan
Wallerson Mark
LandOfFree
Ink jet printer does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Ink jet printer, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Ink jet printer will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2441273