Line printer panel and control system
First Claim
1. A printer system providing a wide ranging menu of control functions while enabling simple control of most used control functions comprising the combination of:
- control panel means including a number of individually operable control element means designated for parameter selection;
manually operable control means bidirectionally changeable in position, the manually operable control means permitting sequential access of each control function listed in the menu,means including memory means for accessibly storing the entire menu of control functions in the form of parameters, and options within the parameters; and
function control means including microprocessor means coupled to the memory means and control panel means and responsive to actuation of the control element means and the manually operable control means for (1) selecting parameters and (2) selecting options within the parameters, said function control means including means for shifting functions in response to (1) repeated application of an individually operable control element means and (2) movement of the manually operable control means.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A system for controlling and displaying the printing format of dot matrix printers includes a microprocessor, a memory which is loaded with programs from replaceable software cards, and a control panel having a plurality of control buttons, an aligned display, and a rotary control coupled to the microprocessor. In a first mode, depression of a selected control button accesses the corresponding one of the parameters of the most commonly used print parameters and repeated actuation of the selected control button cycles through the options contained within the parameter, the parameter and current option being sequentially presented on the display. In a second mode under microprocessor control, each one of the parameters in a printing parameter menu is sequentially accessed and rotation of the rotary dial provides scrolling through each option contained within the parameter. Sets of selected parameter options can be saved under specified designations for later retrieval and use. The rotary control is also independently used to move paper and printhead to starting positions. Thus a great number of parameters, with a number of options for each parameter can be selectively set by an operator in an exceptionally easy to understand and use manner.
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Citations
16 Claims
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1. A printer system providing a wide ranging menu of control functions while enabling simple control of most used control functions comprising the combination of:
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control panel means including a number of individually operable control element means designated for parameter selection; manually operable control means bidirectionally changeable in position, the manually operable control means permitting sequential access of each control function listed in the menu, means including memory means for accessibly storing the entire menu of control functions in the form of parameters, and options within the parameters; and function control means including microprocessor means coupled to the memory means and control panel means and responsive to actuation of the control element means and the manually operable control means for (1) selecting parameters and (2) selecting options within the parameters, said function control means including means for shifting functions in response to (1) repeated application of an individually operable control element means and (2) movement of the manually operable control means. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A control panel for a serial dot matrix character printer comprising:
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a single line display having characters for displaying at least several parameters; a number of control buttons, at least some of the control buttons being associated with an individual group of character positions on the display wherein the control buttons are arranged in two groups, one of which comprises matrix of buttons in alignment with the display and the other of which comprises a separate spaced apart group devoted substantially to paper control function, and wherein the panel further includes an alternate setting button and a setup button adjacent the matrix; and a bidirectional rotary dial for scrolling control, the rotary dial permitting sequential display of each parameter.
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11. A system for selecting and setting a multiplicity of parameters for a printer system having mechanical and electronically controlled functions, comprising:
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a microprocessor system including display means and dynamic random access memory means; control panel means including an array of individually operable control elements and a rotary manual control; means responsive to the position of the rotary manual control for providing position signals to the microprocessor system; means coupled to the memory means for providing a plurality of different individual parameter categories and settings and optional variations therefor; means including the rotary manual control and the microprocessor system for displaying parameter categories and settings sequentially on the display means; means including the control elements and the microprocessor system for directly displaying parameters on the display means; means for changing the settings of individual parameters in response to repeated actuation of individual control elements; and means for alternatively changing the settings in response to operation of both the control elements and rotary control. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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Specification