JPH0540585A - Printer - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Abstract] [Purpose] To provide a printer capable of connecting a host computer regardless of its signal arrangement. [Structure] Connector 104a and signal layout conversion board 10
The signal conversion board with connector 104 integrally formed with 4b is prepared in one or two types for each manufacturer of the host computer 102, and is selected and mounted according to the host computer 102. The signal input from the host computer 102 via the cable 103 having the genuine signal arrangement is rearranged by the signal arrangement conversion board 104 with a connector so as to match the signal arrangement of the host I / F unit 105. Similarly, the signal from the host I / F unit 105 to the host computer 102 is also rearranged by the signal arrangement conversion board 104 with a connector so as to match the signal arrangement of the host computer 102.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a printer for printing an image according to print information from a host computer.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, a printer of this type is connected to a host computer via, for example, a Centronics standard interface (I / F) cable, and is transferred from the host computer via this I / F cable. An image is printed according to the print information. Conventionally, when a printer and a host computer having different Centronics I / F signal arrangements are connected to each other, a dedicated I / F cable is used to convert the arrangement to the signal arrangement for the printer.

[0003]

However, the above-mentioned conventional connection method has the following problems because the shape (pin assignment) of the Centronics I / F connector differs depending on the type of host computer. . That is, it is necessary to prepare a dedicated connector for each of a plurality of types of host computers. Since a dedicated connector is prepared, it cannot be mass-produced and becomes expensive. The user may be confused because there is a genuine cable for the host computer and a cable dedicated to the printing device. Since a dedicated cable is generally designed after the launch of the host computer, it is not possible to connect the host computer and the printing device until the dedicated cable becomes available.
Despite the existence of many types of host computers, a dedicated cable cannot be prepared, so that the printing device can be connected only to some host computers.

In view of the above conventional problems, it is an object of the present invention to provide a printer which can connect a host computer regardless of its signal arrangement.

[0005]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention is a printer for printing an image according to print information from a host computer, which is connected to a genuine cable connector of the host computer. A printer having a possible connector is characterized in that it has a substrate which is formed integrally with the connector and on which a pattern is formed so that the signal arrangement of the pins of the connector matches the signal arrangement of the printer.

[0006]

According to the present invention, with the above configuration, a board for each signal arrangement of the host computer is prepared, and a board on which a pattern is formed so as to match the signal arrangement of the printing device is selected and mounted, whereby the host computer is Connection is possible regardless of the signal arrangement.

[0007]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of an embodiment of a printing apparatus according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is an external view showing the signal arrangement conversion board with a connector of FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 is FIG. 1 and FIG.
FIG. 3 is a plan view showing a detailed configuration of a signal arrangement conversion board with a connector of FIG.

Referring to FIG. 1, the printing apparatus 101 according to the present embodiment.
Is connected to the host computer 102 via the cable 103.
It is connected to the. As the cable 103, a genuine Centronics standard of the host computer 102 is used, and connectors 104a (FIG. 2) are connected to both ends thereof. The connector 104a is the signal layout conversion board 104.
A signal arrangement conversion board 104 with a connector is formed integrally with the printer b, and is detachably attached to the printer 101 by a screw 115 as shown in FIG. The cable 103 is a signal arrangement conversion board 1 with this connector.
It is connected to the host I / F unit 105 via 04.
The signal arrangement of the host I / F unit 105 is designed exclusively for the printing apparatus 101 and differs from the arrangement of the host computer 102.

That is, a signal input from the host computer 102 via the cable 103 having a genuine signal arrangement is arranged and converted by the signal arrangement conversion board 104 with a connector so as to match the signal arrangement of the host I / F unit 105. To be done. Similarly, the signal from the host I / F unit 105 to the host computer 102 is also rearranged by the signal arrangement conversion board 104 with a connector so as to match the signal arrangement of the host computer 102.

The printing device 101 includes a host I / F unit 1
05, a page buffer memory 106 for temporarily storing the image information input through the page, a CPU (central processing unit) 107 for controlling printing, and a RAM (random access memory) 108 having a work area for the CPU 107. And a ROM (Read Only Memory) 109 for storing the programs of the CPU 107 in advance. The printing apparatus 101 also includes a font ROM 110 in which printing font data is stored in advance, and a bitmap memory 111 for storing a bitmap for each pixel.
And a printer I / F for connecting to the printing unit 113.
It has a unit 112 and a system bus 114.

Next, the detailed configuration of the signal arrangement conversion board 104 with a connector will be described with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3.
Here, since the connector on the printer 101 side of the genuine I / F cable 103 of the host computer 102 is a 36-pin amphenol type male common to each manufacturer,
Connector 10 of signal arrangement conversion board 104 with connector
As shown in FIG. 2, 4a is a 36-pin amphenol type female type.

Further, the signal arrangement of the host computer 102 is not usually different for each model but differs between manufacturers, and the signal arrangement of the host computer 102 of one manufacturer is usually unified into one or two types. Therefore,
As shown in FIG. 3, a signal arrangement conversion board 1 with a connector
By preparing one or two types of the signal arrangement conversion board 104b of No. 04 for each manufacturer of the host computer 102, and selecting and mounting it according to the host computer 102,
The host computer 102 can be connected regardless of its type. As shown in FIG. 3A, on the surface of the board 104b, the 15th and 17th pins on the host computer 102 side are converted into the 16th and 15th pins on the printer 101 side, respectively. 3 (b)
As shown in FIG. 3, on the back surface of the board 104b, the 3rd, 19th and 20th pins on the host computer 102 side are the 21st and 20th pins on the printer 101 side, respectively.
It has been converted to pin 19.

In the above embodiment, the signal arrangement conversion board 104 with a connector as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 is detachably attached to the printing apparatus 101.
Since 4a is the same regardless of the type of the host computer 102, it may be fixed to the printing apparatus 101 and only the signal arrangement conversion board 104b may be detachably attached to the printing apparatus 101.

[0014]

As described above, a printer for printing an image in accordance with print information from a host computer, the printer having a connector connectable to a genuine cable connector of the host computer,
Since there is a board that is formed integrally with the connector and has a pattern formed so that the signal arrangement of the pins of the connector matches the signal arrangement of the printing device, prepare a board for each signal arrangement of the host computer. By selecting and mounting a board on which a pattern is formed so as to match the signal arrangement of, the host computer can be connected regardless of its type.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of an embodiment of a printing apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an external view showing a signal arrangement conversion board with a connector shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a plan view showing a detailed configuration of a signal arrangement conversion board with a connector shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

[Explanation of symbols]

 101 printer 102 host computer 103 cable 104 signal arrangement conversion board with connector 104a connector 104b signal arrangement conversion board

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A printer for printing an image according to print information from a host computer, the printer having a connector connectable to a connector of a genuine cable of the host computer, wherein the connector is integrally formed with the connector. A printing apparatus comprising a substrate on which a pattern is formed so that the signal arrangement of the pins of the connector matches the signal arrangement of the printing apparatus.