JPH05173733A - Information processing method and device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To save power in an entire system by turning respective parts in a system equipment to a power saving state in the case of non-operation by providing a power save control part in a printing part. CONSTITUTION:An initialization processing is executed (S51), and when a printer OFF is set from a control panel SW, the processing is turned to END (S56). When the printer OFF is not set, a power save control processing (S52) is started. Similarly in the power save control processing (S52), when the printer OFF is set, the END (S56) is established and when the printer OFF is not set, next three parallel processings are started. Namely, a dot data development processing (S53) to develop character code data in a line buffer to real dot data for one line, a series of printing processings (S54) in the case of successively executing commands, and command fetch and analysis processing (S55) to prepare the line buffer are started. Then, the operation is returned to the power save control processing (S52).

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an information processing method and apparatus for putting each unit in a system device into a power-saving state when not in operation to save power in the entire system and controlling initialization by an external operation. Is.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, when an information processing section which is a main control section and a printing section are provided and power saving control of the printing section is performed, the power saving control section in the information processing section performs the power supply to the printing section. The power-off by the command is judged by looking at the status information such as the operating state of the printing unit, and either is executed by the information processing unit by the power-off command, and the initialization of the printing unit is performed by the power supply to the printing unit. It was done with the supply order of.

[0003]

However, in the above-described conventional example, the main control unit side outputs the status information of the printing unit even when the power is turned off or when the printing unit initialization command and the return command are sent after the power is turned on. It had to be watched one after another, and there was a disadvantage that time and power were wasted during that time.

[0004]

According to the present invention, by providing the printing unit with the power saving control unit, the printing unit power cutoff command is sent before the main control unit transitions to the power saving state. If you do so, the printing unit power saving control unit will receive the command even if it shifts to the power saving state after that, and it will judge the status of each unit of the printing unit independently and if it is operating, wait for that time and then turn on the power supply of the printing unit. The control for shutting off is performed, and the printing unit power saving control unit including the information storage unit of the printing unit enters the power saving mode.

Further, when there is a request for initialization of the printing unit from the operation unit in the main control unit, the printing power saving control unit to which the printing unit initialization command is sent from the main control unit receives the command and the power saving is performed. The control unit holds the temporary command and controls the initialization of the printing unit when the return command is sent from the main control unit.

[0006]

【Example】

(Embodiment 1) FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a personal computer (hereinafter abbreviated as a personal computer) as an information processing apparatus as one embodiment of the present invention. PC 1 is the device body 1
01, a keyboard 102, an upper cover 104 including a display unit 103, a printer 2, and the like. The upper cover 104 is rotatably attached to the apparatus main body 101 via hinges 104a provided at both ends of its rear edge. As a result, when the apparatus is used, the upper cover 104 is rotated to rotate the display unit 103.
Can be opened to a position where it is easy to see, and can be closed when not in use to function as a cover. Display unit 10
As the display element of No. 3, a liquid crystal display element is used because the display section can be made thin.

The printer unit 2 using an ink jet type recording head (BJ head) is arranged in front of the display section 103 and is housed in the apparatus main body 101. Further, the printer unit 2 has an opening (not shown) that can be opened and closed by the operator so that the recording head can be replaced.

The recording paper 3 is inserted from a paper feed port 101a provided in the lower part of the keyboard 102, conveyed in a conveyance path penetrating the inside of the apparatus main body 101, and ejected from a paper ejection port (not shown) at the rear of the apparatus. It The keyboard 102 is the device body 1
01 is rotatably attached via hinges 102a provided at both ends. Thus, even when a relatively short length of recording paper such as an envelope or a postcard is used, the keyboard 102 can be opened at the upper part and the recording paper 3 can be inserted deep inside the transport path. Since the conveyance path for the recording paper 3 is provided below the keyboard 102 as described above, the keyboard 102 and the display unit 103 are set even when the recording paper is set.
And various operations using the operation panel 105 are possible.

[Schematic Block Diagram of Host-Printer] FIG. 2 shows a schematic block diagram of a host computer and a printer.

First, in the host computer, it is the central processing unit (CPU) that controls the main control, and it is the BIOS ROM that directs the basic control.
(Basic Input Output System
m ROM). From floppy disk (FDD) or hard disk (HDD) to floppy disk controller (FDC) or hard disk controller (H
The application program is read via DC) and the program is executed using the system memory (RAM). At this time, as a screen display method, an LCD controller (LCDC) is used to display characters and the like on the liquid crystal (LCD), and key input from the keyboard (KB) is performed via the keyboard controller (KBC). Here, the numerical processor (FPU) is a CPU
To support arithmetic processing. Further, the real time clock (RTC) indicates the elapsed time at the present time, and the operation is performed by the dedicated battery even when the power of the entire system is turned off. The DMA controller (DMAC) includes memory-memory, memory-I
Since data is transferred at high speed between I / O and between I / O and I / O, data is transferred without intervention of the CPU. The interrupt controller (IRQC) accepts interrupts from each I / O and performs processing according to the priority order. The timer (TIMER) has a free-running timer of several channels and manages various times. In addition, a serial interface (SIO), diffusion port (PORT), and an LED that informs the operating status to the user
There is.

In addition to the above-mentioned controls of a general personal computer, in a notebook personal computer (personal computer), at least two AC adapters / batteries are used.
It needs to be compatible with a power source, and particularly requires power saving when using a battery, and has the following configuration. FL inverter circuit on-off / power supply to FDD / power supply to HDD / power supply to devices other than RAM and VRAM, CLOCK control of CPU, etc., power control during suspend / resume A host power management unit (host PM unit) that controls procedures and the like, and a RAM and VRAM are switched between suspend and cpu-clock operation by a command signal from the host PM unit to perform ref.
It includes a refresh controller for reshuffling and a charge controller capable of driving the host side while charging the secondary battery.

The printer unit has a general-purpose parallel interface register PIO / I for the host computer.
O and printer control & status register PST
/ IO is used to connect and receive data at the register level of the I / O port, and the connection image is the same as when an external printer is exchanged.

FIG. 14 is a printer unit 2 using an ink jet recording system to which the present invention is applied or applied.
FIG. 3 is a perspective view for explaining the internal configuration of FIG. In FIG. 1, 5001 is an ink tank, and 5012 is a recording head coupled thereto. The ink tank 5001 and the recording head 5012 form an integral type replaceable cartridge. Reference numeral 5014 is a carriage for attaching the cartridge to the printer main body, and reference numeral 5003 is a guide for scanning the carriage in the sub-scanning direction.

Reference numeral 5000 is a platen roller for scanning the recording paper 3 in the main scanning direction. Reference numeral 5024 is a paper feed motor for rotating the platen roller. The carriage 5014 is provided with a flexible cable (not shown) for supplying a signal pulse current for driving and a current for head temperature control to the recording head 5012, and a print circuit provided with an electric circuit for controlling the printer. It is connected to a plate (not shown).

Further, the printer unit 2 having the above configuration will be described in detail. The carriage 5014 that engages with the spiral groove 5004 of the lead screw 5005 that rotates via the driving force transmission gears 5011 and 5009 in conjunction with the forward / reverse rotation of the drive motor 5013 has a pin (not shown),
It is reciprocated in the directions of arrows a and b. Reference numeral 5002 denotes a paper pressing plate which holds the paper in the platen 5 in the carriage movement direction.
Press against 000. Reference numerals 5007 and 5008 denote home position detecting means for confirming the presence of the lever 5006 of the carriage 5014 in this area by a photocoupler and switching the rotation direction of the motor 5013. 5016
Is a cap member 502 that caps the front surface of the recording head.
Reference numeral 5015 is a member for supporting the inside of the cap, and 5015 is a suction means for sucking the inside of the cap, and performs suction recovery of the recording head 5012 via the opening 5023 in the cap.

Reference numeral 5017 is a cleaning blade.
Reference numeral 019 is a member that allows the blade 5017 to move in the front-rear direction, and these members are supported by the main body support plate 5018. Needless to say, a known cleaning blade can be applied to the main body instead of this form. Reference numeral 5021 is a lever for starting suction for suction recovery, and a cam 502 that engages with the carriage 5014.
It moves along with the movement of 0, and the driving force from the driving motor is movement-controlled by a known transmission means such as clutch switching.

That is, by rotating the drive motor 5013 in the reverse direction from the home position of the carriage 5014, the power transmission gear 5011 is switched to 5010 (not shown), and the drive force from the drive motor 5013 is applied to the cam 5020.
Is transmitted to the lever 5021 via the recording head 5012.
Capping, cleaning, and suction recovery can be performed.

[Block Diagram of Printer] FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the control system of the printer unit. The main configuration is as follows.

Here, the CPU-P is a microprocessor type CPU which performs the main control of the printer unit, and the PST / of the printer control & status port unit described later.
Printer status information and emulation setting information are exchanged with the host side via the IO register, and printer commands obtained from the host side via the PIO / IO register of the parallel IF adapter section described later based on this state setting. The desired state process and the printing process according to the data and the data are performed according to the program and the data stored in the ROM-P, which will be described later, in the form of microcode.
The ROM-P is a ROM (read only memory) for storing fixed data such as programs corresponding to recording control procedures and print control procedures executed by the CPU-P, a character generator (CG), other tables and default values. .. TIMER1-P is a paper feed motor (F
M) / TIMER is a TIMER for obtaining the drive phase time of the heater and other time timings, and RTC-P is an RTC (real time clock) for knowing the elapsed time of the recovery operation.
Is. The composite control unit is composed of IF transfer control / power saving control / RAM access control / printer control & status control / printer port control, among which RAM access control / printer control & status control / power saving control etc. Independent control is possible even when the clock of the CPU-P is stopped and during a fault, regardless of the control of the CPU-P. The above configuration is CPU-
It is connected to P's BUS. The RAM-P is a RAM having a work area used as a register, a line buffer for storing print data for one line, a dot development buffer re-developed into dots, an INPUT buffer from a parallel IF, and an area for recording emulation information.
(Random access memory) is connected to the composite control unit by a RAM bus,
The RAM control unit of the IT allows the RAM-P to be accessed from a plurality of control units including the CPU-P.
Each printer drive control signal is output from the composite control unit, and FM / CM / BJ-Head / in the FM drive circuit / CM drive circuit / head driver / heater driver.
Converted to drive level of heater, etc., and printer FM (feed motor) / CM (carrier motor) / BJ-H
Each part of the ead is driven. Vcc1P-off / Vcc2P-of from composite control unit as a power saving control signal
f / Vp-off power control signal, and Printer-off / from the operation panel SW as an input signal.
Printer sensor, LE of operation panel as output signal
It has a D drive signal and the like. Of these, Printer-off
Only when the signal changes from active to inactive, the power of Vcc1-P is supplied, and the composite control UNI
Power can be supplied only to T / CPU-P / RAM-P, and Vcc1P-off is Printer-of.
The OF signal changed according to the driving status of the printer
It is possible to turn off the power supply of Vcc1P at the F timing.

FIG. 6 shows a block diagram of the composite control unit.

As the functional block, a parallel IF adapter mainly functioning as an IF adapter from the host side, and an inp of the RAM-P via the parallel IF adapter are used.
I for storing parallel data on ut-buffer
F data acquisition control unit, printer control & status port unit mainly for confirming and controlling the printer state directly from the host side, refresh control unit for generating refresh timing of RAM-P, RAM-
BJ-head / CM control unit that reads out 1-line dot development data on P, drives and prints the BJ head, and also controls phase excitation of the carrier, and FM / heater / LED
Printer port control unit for driving etc., IF data acquisition control unit, refresh control unit, BJ-head / CM
The control unit and the RAM access control unit that has access rights for each of the four access requests of the CPU-P by priority, and the printer PM unit that performs power saving control. The power saving control will be described later, but the return from the low power consumption mode in which the supply clock is stopped in the fault state to the CPU-P to the normal processing state is also performed by various interrupts or resets centrally managed by the PM control unit. Falcon, CPU
After the condition for returning -P is reached, INT or P-RES is output and the CPU-P restarts and performs processing.

FIG. 5 is an input / output configuration diagram of the mode control unit in the printer PM unit. Printer operation availability SW (P
For the input of "printer on / off SW", both the latch signal via the printer operation disable signal latch circuit and the direct printer enable / disable SW signal are sent to the mode controller. The write signal to the PST / IO register is PST /
A latch signal that has passed through the IO write latch circuit is sent to the mode control unit. The remaining inputs to the mode control unit are signals that are directly input from the host, namely HRESET, which is a hardware reset signal when the system power is turned on, and a suspend signal that indicates whether the host is in the suspend state. PPM / controlled by these signals and CPU-P
The mode transition system, which will be described later, is P-RES / clock2 / Sleep / c depending on the SLEEP / STOP setting condition of IO.
It is realized by output control such as lock-stop. P
The -RES output is for resetting the CPU-P. The clock2 output is used to save power by stopping or delaying the clock when the CPU-P is in a fault state or unnecessary. The sleep output is intended to save power by stopping circuits such as the refresh control system in the printer PM unit. clock-
The stop output is intended to save power. This is for stopping the oscillation of the clock itself supplied to the printer PM section, and is for further power saving. Vcc1P-off / Vcc2P-off is described in order to obtain more effect by matching the power saving with the mode state, and is to cut off unnecessary circuit power at the same time. The operation / non-operation of the latch circuit is valid by the mode control unit when the CPU-P is in the fault state or the clock stop state and is in the suspend state, and the latched signal is P-RE when the suspend is released by the resume.
This signal is used as a determination signal as to whether the reset of the printer CPU-P by S is valid.

FIG. 6 shows the structure of the parallel IF adapter section and the IO register (PIO / IO) seen from the host side. IF send data / IF receive
data / IF status / Buffer SP
/ IF control registers for controlling parallel IF transfer from the host to the printer unit.

FIG. 7 shows the configuration of the IO register (PIF / IO) that can be seen from the printer side in the IF data fetching control unit. IB start / IB end / IB P
OINT / IB status / IB control information / IB
It is composed of each register of send data, and the function of each register will be described later.

FIG. 8 shows the configuration of the IO register (PFM / IO) that can be seen from the printer side in the printer port control unit, which is composed of FM phase excitation / SH heater signal / LED control registers.

FIG. 9 shows the configuration of the IO register (PBJ / IO) that can be seen from the printer side in the BJ-head / CM control unit. PB start / PB end / PBP
It consists of each register of OINT / PB status / PB control information / CM phase excitation information.

FIG. 10 shows the configuration of the IO register (PPM / IO) that can be seen from the printer side in the printer PM section, which is configured by each register of PPM status / PPM control information.

FIG. 11 shows an IO register (PS) which can be seen from the host side in the printer control & status port section.
(T / IO), it is composed of PS status / EM control / EM status registers.

FIG. 12 shows the configuration of the IO register (HWR / IO) seen from the CPU-P side in the printer control & status port section.
It is composed of IEM control / IEM condition registers. The above-mentioned PST / IO register and HWR
The relationship with the / IO register is processed as follows by the control of the printer control & status port section.

HWR indicating printer status and emulation handshake status written by CPU-P
/ IO IPS status register is PST /
It can be confirmed by the host CPU in the IO PS status register. The EM control register and EM condition register of the PST / IO are used for the purpose of the host CPU changing emulation mode setting of the printer unit and various setting conditions relating to each emulation. That is, from the host CPU to EM
When the emulation mode is written in the control register, an interrupt occurs in the CPU-P of the printer, the emulation mode set by this interrupt processing is read from the IEM control register, and the command transferred from the parallel IF of the printer is analyzed. While switching to the set emulation mode,
Various printer setting information in the newly set emulation mode and change mode is written in the IEM control register and the IEM condition register. Since this information is visible in the EM control register and the EM condition register, the host CPU can confirm various printer setting information for the changed emulation mode. Similarly, when it is desired to change the printer setting information this time, the host CPU writes the various printer setting information to be changed into the EM condition register, and the change is completed. The EM set ready and EM acknowledge bits of the PS status register are prepared for the above handshake. Writing to the EM control register and EM condition register is possible, and the EM control register and EM condition register have been changed. Indicates that the status information after change to is confirmed. These bits correspond to the IEM set ready of the IPS status register of the HWR / IO register and the writing of the IEM acknowledge bit from the CPU-P, respectively.

FIG. 13 shows the BJ-head / on RAM-P.
A storage data buffer (PB) controlled by the CM control unit and I
The reception buffer (I
The area arrangement of addresses in B) is shown.

The print buffer area is for setting a data area required for printing, and has a start address (PB STAR
By setting T) and the end address (PB END), the BJ-head / CM control unit reads the stored data in order from the start address within the range, and reads the stored data from the RAM-P until the end address. ,
Sends a control signal to the head driver. At this time, the print data address pointer (PB point) indicates the data address currently being sent out.

Similarly, the reception data buffer area is also used to set a data area required for reception, and the start address (I
B START) and end address (IB END) are set, the stored data is sequentially read from the start address by the IF data import control unit within the range, and the stored data is read from the RAM-P until the end address, Sends a control signal to the head driver.
At this time, receive data address pointer (IB point)
Indicates a data address for which data has been received.

FIG. 15 shows the detailed layout of the memory map on the RAM on the host side in FIG. The RAM has addresses 0000h to A0000h as standard areas and 100000h to FE0000h as extended areas, each having 6 areas.
The area has a size of 40 KB and 15 MB. RAM
Are memory-mapped to be placed in these areas.

Head portion 00000h of the standard area of RAM
At ˜000400h, there is an area for storing the vector for interrupt, and the entry address of each processing for the interrupt is stored in this area.

Video RAM area of FIG. 15 and video B
The IOS ROM area is arranged in the LCDC of FIG. 2, a video control program is stored in the video BIOS ROM area, and video display data is held in the video RAM area.

The area from C8000h to E0000h is an expansion ROM area, which is a ROM area used by an expansion port or the like.

Areas from F0000h to 10000h are arranged in the ROM BIOS and hold a BIOS program for performing various I / O processing.

FIG. 16 shows an address map of each I / O. Data is exchanged with each piece of hardware by reading and writing data to the address port set in each piece of hardware. Taking a keyboard as an example, data is exchanged with a keyboard controller via a port arranged at an address of 60h to 64h, and data can be received from the keyboard by reading the data receiving port. ..

The same applies to other addresses.

Here, the parallel centronics 1 to 3 indicate the interface area, which is an I / O space common to the interface area of the printer.

Hereinafter, each processing after the main body side power is turned on will be described.

FIG. 17 is a flowchart when the power is turned on.
First, the process proceeds to step S1. The soft reset process by the keyboard also comes to step S1 similarly to when the power is turned on. POST processing is performed in step S1
The process is poweron self-test, and tests and initializes each hardware. Next, in step S2, a boot program for loading the system program is loaded. The boot program is FD
(Floppy disk) or HD (hard disk)
And is stored in, for example, track 0 and sector 0. The boot program is loaded by reading track 0 and sector 0 in the memory. Step S
1 to step S2 exist in the ROM BIOS. Next, in step S3, the loaded boot program is executed. The boot program is a program for loading a program for loading an OS program from the FD or HD, and then proceeds to step S4 to load the OS loading program. Next, in step S5, the OS load program is executed. The OS load program is a program for loading the OS into the memory, and first loads the I / O driver in step S6. The I / O driver is a program for controlling I / O, and the OS is
Exchanges data with various I / Os. Next, in step S7, I / O test and initialization are performed. Next, in step S8, the OS is loaded into the memory. When the OS is ready to be executed in the steps so far, the process proceeds to step S9, and the OS is executed. The OS processes the input from the keyboard, displays various messages on the display, and interacts with the operator. The OS executes various command processes according to the input of various commands by the operator.

FIG. 18 is a flow chart for explaining the POST of S1 of FIG. 17 in detail, and the FPU (numerical operation processor) of FIG. 2 is tested (step S10). Then, the ROM is tested (step S11). Then power
The battery is checked (step S12). LCD to test and initialize LCD and LCD adapter
The adapter includes RAM and ROM and also checks them (step S13). Next, the interrupt controller is tested and initialized (step S14). Next, the timer is tested (step S15). Next, the DMA controller is tested. (Step S16). Next, the keyboard and keyboard controller are tested (step S17). Next, the serial / parallel port is tested and initialized (step S18). Next, it is checked whether it is a soft reset (step S19). If it is a soft reset, the RAM test and the initialization process in step S20 are skipped and the process proceeds to step S21. If not soft reset, the process proceeds to step S20 to test and initialize the RAM. Next, the FD test is performed (step S21). Next, an HD test is performed (step S2
2). Next, the real time clock is tested (step S23). Then test the printer. In the printer test, various printer ports and printer connections are checked (step S24). Next, the LED test is performed (step S25). Then return. With the above processing, the POST processing shown in S1 of FIG. 17 is performed, and when there is an error or the like in each device, those are notified.

FIG. 19 is a schematic diagram of the software control flow on the printer side.

Initialization processing is performed in S51, and if Printer-off is set from the operation panel SW, S is set.
The process moves to 56 and becomes END, and if the Printer-off setting is not made, the process proceeds to S52. Similarly, in the power saving control process of S52, if the Printer-off setting is made, the process proceeds to S56 and becomes END.
If r-off is not set, S53, S54,
The process moves to the three parallel processes of S55. S53 is a dot data development process for developing the character code data in the line buffer into actual one-line dot data, S54
Is a series of printing processes when the dot data of the next line is aligned and the print start command of that line is executed or the sequential execution command is executed. S55 interprets the command and data fetched in the reception buffer and This is a command fetch analysis process for creating a buffer. S53, S
When each process of S54 and S55 is completed, the process returns to the power saving control process of S52 again.

FIG. 20 is a detailed flow of the initialization process of FIG.

In FIG. 20, the interrupt MAS is executed in S61.
The K process is performed and the process proceeds to S62. In S62, the above-mentioned registers (PIF / IO, PFM / IO, PBO / IO, PPM)
/ IO) etc. are set to desired settings and the device IO register is initialized, and the process proceeds to S63. In S63, the condition that the CPU-P is reset and started is set in the register PP
Check by reading the PPM status of the M / IO. Printer of operation panel SW
If the on / off switch is turned from off to on, go to S68; if the host writes to the register PST / IO (various settings related to emulation), go to S66; if the host is Hard Reset, go to S64. move on. Otherwise, the process proceeds to S66.
In S64, devices such as ROM-P and RAM-P are checked, and if there is an error, the error status is registered in the register HWR.
The host is notified via / IO (S65). In S66, the setting conditions for the emulation mode setting and each emulation are written in the register HWR / IO and notified to the writing host. In S67, Printer
Determine if the switch is off and
If not ff, the process returns to the process of FIG. If the Printer switch is off, S69, S70 and S7
1 and subsequent series of processes are performed, and these processes are the procedure of the CPU-P when shifting to Stop Mode described later, and PPM / IO is set to Stop Mode and CP is set.
This is a process of changing UP to Halt.

FIG. 21 is a detailed flow of the power saving control process of FIG.

The interrupt MASK processing is performed in S80 and S8 is performed.
Go to 1. In S81, depending on whether or not the printer drive is being controlled, if the printer drive is being controlled, the interrupt MASK is released in S103, and then the process returns to Main. If the printer drive is not being controlled, the process proceeds to S82. In S82, 1
Depending on whether or not the line dot data expansion processing is completed, if the 1-line dot data expansion processing is completed, the printer is currently operating depending on whether or not the printer is currently operating in S83. In this case, the process proceeds to S103 described above. If the printer is not currently operating, the printer driving power source Vp is turned on in S84 and the process similarly proceeds to S103. Returning to the original, if the 1-line dot data development processing is not completed, the process proceeds to S85.
After Vp is turned off in S85, the process proceeds to S86, and if the dot data rasterization process is completed, if the dot data rasterization process is completed, the process proceeds to S88.
If the dot data development processing has not been completed, S8
7. If there is PRINTER-off due to presence / absence of Printer-off in S87, proceed to S71 in FIG. 21 and END in S71 and S72.
Processing is performed, and if PRINTER-off is not present, the process similarly proceeds to S103. In S88, depending on whether or not there is data in the INPUT buffer, if there is no data in the INPUT buffer, the process proceeds to S87 described above, and
If there is data in the T buffer, TIM is performed in S90.
Cancel the setting mode of ER1-P and continue S91, S9
2, S93 is a procedure that is performed after completing the process of getting up again by an external interrupt by the hardware, and after setting sleep, cancels the hard interrupt and sets Halt. S
SA, S100, and S with hard interrupts in state 93
Corresponding to 101 and S102, Halt is released and Sleep
Ready Mode restart processing such as command release corresponding to cancellation and hard interrupt is performed, and the process proceeds to S103.

FIG. 22 is a diagram in which the printer PM section and the mode control section change states depending on conditions. After RESET, the printer PM section is in the state shown in A, but PMM / I
When the sleep of O is set, the state shown in B is returned to P
When the MM / IO stop is set, the states change to those shown in C. The change in state A is CPU-P's
A-> B change due to the leep setting, and CPU-P sto
A → C change by p setting and Vp-off of CPU-P
There are three ways of changing from A to D depending on the setting. Next, the change in the state B changes to the state A, changes to the state C by the Printer-off signal from the panel SW, and changes to the state A after initialization by the P-RES. There are 3 ways. When changing to state A, insert paper / operation SW / data input / PST in non-suspended state
/ When a hard interrupt such as writing to IO occurs, or when transitioning from suspend to non-suspend state,
During RESUME, the printer does not work (Printer-o
ff) In the case of no latch signal. If it changes to C, the printer operation is disabled (Pr
inter-off) SW input occurs.
When the state is changed to the state A after the initialization by the P-RES, the printer operation is disabled (Printer) at the time of transition from the suspend state to the non-suspend state, that is, at the time of RESUME.
-Off) With a latch signal. Next, the change in the state C is the case where the state changes to the state A through the initialization by the P-RES, and the printer is operable in the non-suspended state (P
Rin-on) SW input or PST / IO is written by the host, and transition from suspend to non-suspend state, that is, RESUME. State D
In the case of the change to the state A due to the cancellation of the Vp-off setting of the CPU-P. The states A to D will be described below together with the description of the state of the printer system.

FIG. 23 is a transition diagram of the entire printer system.

As the states, all clocks and STOP MODE without power supply, all power supplies and CL
ActiveMod with a normal OCK and printability
e, Ready Mode, which does not supply power to the printer as compared to Active Mode, CPU-P, and PM
Vcc power is supplied only to the control unit and the RAM-P, and the CPU-P and the RAM-P are basically stopped, and the Sleep Mode in which the contents of the memory and the register are only retained and the four states. Consists of.

The change system of each mode and the control system of the CPU-P and the change system of the mode controller will be described below in association with each other.

A READY Mode is set at the time of RESET, and this is realized by using the change system of RESET → A in FIG.

Next, regarding READY Mode, R
The first of the changes from EADY Mode is READY
In Mode → Active Mode, S in FIG.
Vp-off is set by the CPU-P by 84, and the A → D change of FIG. 22 occurs in the mode control unit. READY
The second change system from -Mode is S81 to S in FIG.
If there is no data that can be processed in the state where printing is completed in the series of processing of CPU-P up to 93, Sleep is set in the mode control unit and becomes Halt, but this Sleep setting causes the mode control unit to change A → in FIG. B change occurs, and the READY mode changes to the sleep mode.

For ACTIVE-Mode, Ac
The change system from the live-Mode is only one mode.
The active mode → READY mode is set to cancel Vp-off by the CPU-P in S85 of FIG. 21, and the mode controller changes D → A in FIG.

In Sleep-Mode, Sl
The first change system from ep-Mode is Sleep-M.
ode → READY Mode is used to derive paper insertion / operation SW / data input in the non-suspended state, and when transition from the suspend → non-suspended state, that is, when the printer operation disable (Printer-off) latch signal is not present during RESUME, As the change from B to A in Fig. 22 occurs, cl
ck2 is set to the normal state, a hard interrupt is generated to the CPU-P, and the CPU-P side starts from S100 of FIG.
It returns by S103. The second change system from Sleep-Mode is the printer operation disable (Printer-o).
ff) Sleep mode depending on the occurrence of SW input
→ In Stop Mode, Fig. 22 in the mode control section
B → C change, and CPU-P control does not intervene. The third change system from Sleep-Mode is RE
Printer operation failure (Printer-of
f) When there is a latch signal, it is a change of B → reset → A in FIG. 22 in the mode control unit due to a state change that changes to Ready-Mode after initialization by P-RES, and is initialized by hardware. To be done.

In the Stop-Mode, there is only one change system, and at the time of RESUME, at the printer operation enabled (Printer-on) SW input in the non-suspended state or at the P-RES at the time of writing to the PST / IO from the host. Ready-M via reset
With the shift to ode, C → in FIG. 22 in the mode control unit
This is a change from reset → A, and is initialized by hardware.

Therefore, even if the CPU-P system of the printer is in a fault or is stopped by the suspend control of the host, that is, the ready-mode is suspended or the stop-mode is suspended, the printer operation enable / disable SW can be operated. → Operation disabled → Enabled is detected, and the status is suspended → RESU goes into non-suspended status
At ME, the CPU-P can be initialized by hardware and the printer can be reliably reset.

Although the present invention has been described with reference to the embodiment of the ink jet printing method, it is obvious that the type of printer and the recording method are not selected.

In addition, although the present invention has been described only with respect to the embodiment in which the personal computer and the printer have an integrated structure, a separate type configuration in which the personal computer and the printer are the same battery drive source can be similarly realized.

In addition, in the case where the printer has a single battery drive source, a READY M by a Printer-off signal given from the Host section is used.
Since ODE → STOP MODE does not exist, it is needless to say that it can be realized in a format excluding this mode.

Further, in the state B in FIGS. 22 and 24, the clock to the CPU-P is slow, but this is the minimum clock speed at which the register inside the CPU-P can maintain the information and can be restored. This means that the clock can be stopped if the CPU-P is capable of static operation. Similarly, RAM-P is
Although a low cost D-RAM, PS-RAM or the like that requires refreshing is assumed, a RAM that does not require refreshing or has a data holding mode and is capable of holding and restoring data can be used. Needless to say, power saving is possible. Also, CPU-P, R
It goes without saying that power saving can be further achieved by switching the supply voltage in the B state in both AM-P to the lowest voltage capable of holding data.

Further, although the host is mainly described as a personal computer, if the printer unit can be controlled independently, it may have an external communication means such as Japanese WP or a system notebook, or via Bus. Any device can be used as long as all communication is possible.

(Embodiment 2) FIGS. 24 and 25 are obtained by removing the Stop-Mode in which the clock supply system of the printer PM system is completely stopped from the state shown in FIGS. 22 and 23. Since only the conditions are different and they are clearly shown in the conditional system change diagram and no change is given to the configuration itself, the description thereof will be omitted.

As is clear from the above description, at least the printer drive power is supplied and printing is possible in the Acti
ve Mode and Ready Mode in which printer drive power is not supplied and printer controls other than printing can be executed.
Clo that stops the CPU control that controls the printer at all in Mode and supplies it to the CPU that controls the printer
Sleep that changes ck from Ready Mode
It has 3 modes with Mode, Active Mo
de → Ready Mode, Ready Mode →
Active Mode, Ready Mode S
sleep Mode, Sleep Mode → Read
At least change of y Mode is possible and RESET
By using a power-saving control method that transitions to Ready Mode by input, at least in the data transfer part to the printer part, high-speed data transfer is possible without being aware of the printer state, and except when necessary for the printer. Since it is stopped or there is no power supply, significant energy saving is possible.

[0068]

As described above in detail, according to the present invention, an information processing side for performing main control and a print processing side for controlling printing including power saving control are provided, and the information processing side is the print processing side. To the power saving control unit if the command from the information processing side is the printing unit initialization order. It is possible to provide an information processing method and apparatus in which an instruction is held and the power saving control unit is restored if the command is a printing unit restoration command, and the printing unit executes initialization processing.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a personal computer embodying the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic block diagram between host printers.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a printer IF unit.

FIG. 4 is an internal block diagram of a combined control unit.

FIG. 5 is an external configuration diagram of a mode control unit.

FIG. 6 is a PIO / IO register configuration diagram.

FIG. 7 is a PIF / IO register configuration diagram.

FIG. 8 is a PFM / IO register configuration diagram.

FIG. 9 is a PBJ / IO register configuration diagram.

FIG. 10 is a PPM / IO register configuration diagram.

FIG. 11 is a PST / IO register configuration diagram.

FIG. 12 is a block diagram of an HWR / IO register.

FIG. 13 is an address area diagram of PB and IB of printer RAM-P.

FIG. 14 is a perspective view of a printer internal unit.

FIG. 15 is a memory space address map of the host.

FIG. 16 is an IO space address map of the host.

FIG. 17 is a diagram showing a flowchart when the power is turned on.

FIG. 18 is a diagram showing a flowchart of POST.

FIG. 19 is a rough control flow of the CPU-P of the printer.

FIG. 20 is a control flow of initialization processing of the CPU-P of the printer.

FIG. 21 is a control flow of power saving control processing of the CPU-P of the printer.

FIG. 22 is a change diagram of the printer PM controller.

FIG. 23 is a state change diagram of the printer system.

FIG. 24 is a change diagram of the printer PM controller according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 25 is a state change diagram of the printer system according to the second embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

CPU-P Microprocessor that controls the printer section PIO / IO IO register seen from the host side of the parallel IF adapter section HWR / IO IO register seen from the CPU-P side at the printer control & status port section PIF / IO IF data acquisition IO register seen from the printer side in the control section PFM / IO IO register seen from the printer side in the printer port control section PBJ / IO BJ Head / CM IO register seen from the printer side in the control section PPM / IO Printer PM section seen from the printer side IO register PST / IO IO register that can be seen from the host side in the printer control & status port section

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. An information means for performing main control, a printing means for performing printing, a printing control means for controlling printing including power saving control, and a switching operation means for switching the operating state of the printing control means, When the print control means is in the power saving state, the information means receives information of the print means initialization control activation request from the switching operation means, and sends a print means initialization command to the print control means. If the command from the information unit is a print control start command, the print control unit holds the contents in the temporary holding unit, and the print control unit executes the initialization operation when there is a return command. A characteristic information processing device. 2. An information processing side that performs main control, a print processing side that controls printing including power saving control, and a switching operation processing side that switches the operating state of the print processing, wherein the print processing side is power saving. In the state, the information processing side receives information of the print processing side initialization request from the switching operation processing side, and sends a print control initialization command to the print processing side. If the command from the information processing side is the print control initialization command, the contents are held temporarily, and when there is a return command,
An information processing method, wherein the print processing side executes a start command.