Data processing: generic control systems or specific application – Generic control system – apparatus or process – Sequential or selective
Reexamination Certificate
2000-12-22
2004-02-24
Voeltz, Emanuel Todd (Department: 2121)
Data processing: generic control systems or specific application
Generic control system, apparatus or process
Sequential or selective
C700S226000, C271S008100, C358S001150, C399S393000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06697679
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an option-identifying system that identifies the locations of optional devices such as paper trays used in an electrophotographic printer, the optional devices being in a stacked configuration, inserted into the printer. The present invention also relates to a method where a host apparatus identifies the locations of one or more low optional devices electrically connected to the host apparatus and the low individual low optional devices can also identify their locations. The present invention also relates to a system in which the host apparatus individually communicates control signals with the respective low optional devices.
2. Description of the Related Art
Printers and copying machines are provided with option paper trays that hold paper of different sizes and orientation are detachable from and attachable to the main body.
{Operation for Assigning Locations to Option Trays}
FIG. 17
illustrates conventional option trays when they are inserted into a printer.
Referring to
FIG. 17
, a printer
100
incorporates a printer controller
101
and an option tray interface connector
102
. Optional trays
200
A and
200
B have an upper interface connector
201
A and
201
B and lower interface connectors
202
A and
202
B, projections
203
A and
203
B, detection switches
204
A and
204
B, and tray controllers
205
A and
205
B.
The printer controller
101
controls the overall operation of the printer
100
including the option trays
200
A and
200
B. The printer controller
101
communicates various signals with the option tray
200
A over a serial signal transmit/receive line
400
. The serial signal transmit/receive line is connected to the option tray controller
205
A of the upper option tray
200
A via the option interface connector
102
of the printer
100
and the upper interface connector
201
A of the upper option tray
200
A.
The transmit/receive line
300
is further connected through the lower interface connector
202
A of the option tray
200
A with the upper option tray
200
B. The stacked option trays
200
A and
200
B are of the same configuration. The printer
100
usually incorporates a standard tray, not shown, therein. Thus, a tray (i.e.,
200
A) located immediately under the standard tray is usually referred to as the 2nd tray and a tray (i.e.,
200
B) next to the 2nd tray is referred to as the 3rd tray.
The option trays
200
A-
200
B have upright projections
203
A-
203
B such that when the option trays
200
A-
200
B are stacked, the projection
203
B fits to the immediately upper option tray
200
A to push a detection switch
204
A provided on the immediately upper option tray
200
A. The detection switches
204
A-
204
B are connected to the option tray controllers
205
A-
205
B.
The option tray controller recognizes that a corresponding option tray is at the location of the 2nd option tray if the detection switch is pushed. The option tray controller recognizes that a corresponding option tray is at the location of the 3rd option tray if the detection switch is not pushed.
In this manner, the option tray controller
205
of an option tray determines where the option tray is located. Then, when the printer controller
101
receives a print command from a host computer, not shown, the printer controller
101
sends a paper-feed command over the transmit/receive line
300
to the option trays
200
A and
200
B simultaneously under a predetermined protocol.
The paper-feed command include, for example, information on the location of a corresponding option tray that holds print medium of the size, type, and orientation specified by the print command. The option tray controller makes a check to determine whether the received location information matches the one assigned to the option tray. If they do not coincide with each other, then the option tray controller will simply ignore the location information. If they coincide with each other, then the option tray controller causes a feed motor and a paper sensor, not shown, to operate in order to feed print paper to the printer
100
, thereby initiating a printing operation.
However, the conventional printer
100
of the aforementioned construction suffers from the problem that only up to two stacked option trays can be identified. When three or more of the option trays are stacked, all of the detection switches
204
A-
204
B of the stacked option trays except for the detection switch
204
B of the bottom option tray will be pushed. As a result, only the bottom option tray can be identified. One way of solving this drawback is to employ a DIP switch in each option tray and set the DIP switch in accordance with the location of the option tray. However, this requires the user to remember the setting of the DIP switch and the location to which the DIP switch is set.
This conventional configuration also suffers from the problem that if the user does not remember the setting of the DIP switch or the user makes a mistake when setting the DIP switch, the paper is not fed from the right option tray.
{Operation of the Printer Controller}
FIG. 18
is a flowchart showing the operation of the printer controller in which a check is made to determine whether option trays are present or absent.
At step S
501
, the printer controller
101
sends a SW-OFF inquiring command to the option trays over the serial transmit/receive line
300
. The SW-OFF inquiring command is a command that inquires the option trays whether their detection switches are in the off-state.
At step S
502
, shortly after the transmission of the command, the printer controller
101
starts to count an elapsed time. If the printer controller
101
does not receive a reply from any one of the option trays over the transmit/receive line
300
before the printer controller
101
has counted time up to a predetermined time length, then the printer controller
101
stores data “2ND=ABSENT” and “3RD=ABSENT” at step S
508
.
At step S
503
, if the printer controller
101
receives a SW-OFF reply from one of the option trays over the transmit/receive line
300
, then the printer controller
101
sends at step S
504
a SW-ON inquiring command to the option tray over the transmit/receive line
300
. The SW-OFF reply indicates that the detection switch is in the off-state. The SW-ON inquiring command is a command that inquires whether the detection switches of the option trays are in the on-state. If the printer controller
101
does not receive at step S
505
a SW-OFF reply from the option trays over the transmit/receive line
300
before the printer controller
101
has counted up to a predetermined time length, then the printer controller
101
stores at step S
509
data “2ND=OFF” and “3RD=ABSENT” at step S
510
.
If the printer controller
101
receives a SW-ON reply from one of the option trays over the transmit/receive line
300
at step S
506
, the printer controller
101
stores at step S
507
“2ND=ON” and “3RD=OFF” at step S
510
.
{Operation for Determining Whether Option Trays are Present or Absent}
FIG. 19
illustrates the operation for determining whether option trays are present or absent.
At step
511
, the option trays receive the presence/absence polling command over the transmit/receive line
300
. The presence/absence polling command is a command to inquire whether a specified option tray is present.
At step S
512
, the respective option trays determine whether the received command is the presence/absence polling command. If the answer at step S
512
is YES, then the option trays read the state of their own detection switches at step S
513
. If the answer at step S
512
is NO, then the program proceeds to step S
516
where other command is executed.
At step S
514
, if the state of the switch of one of the option trays matches the presence/absence polling command, then the option tray reads the state of its own detection switch.
At step S
515
, the option tray sends at step a PRESENCE reply to the pr
Oki Data Corporation
Rabin & Berdo P.C.
Todd Voeltz Emanuel
LandOfFree
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