Information processing device in an electronic apparatus utilizing an accessory control device and methods of application

• US 5,537,517 A
• Filed: 06/05/1995
• Issued: 07/16/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 10/23/1991
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Original Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Inventors: Wakabayashi, Kenichi, Takayama, Chitoshi, Shiozaki, Tadashi
• Primary Examiner(s): Evans, Arthur G.
• Application Number:
  US08/461,224
• Time in Patent Office: 407 Days
• Field of Search: 395/110, 395/115, 395/116, 395/112, 395/163, 395/164, 395/165, 395/166, 358/404, 358/444, 400/61-69
• US Class Current: 358/1.16
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 21/1889 for auto-setting of process parameters, lifetime, usage
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 2221/1823 Cartridges having electronically readable memory
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 15/00 Arrangements for producing a permanent visual presentation of the output data , e.g. computer output printersprinting or plotting combined with another operation, e.g. with conveying, G06K17/00

Abstract

Electronic apparatus, e.g., a printer, can transfer data or information to a releaseably connected accessory control device, e.g., a removable cartridge, installed in an input connector of the electronic apparatus wherein the accessory control device has no existing or designed input data line or data bus connect through which to receive data. The transferred data can then be processed by a microprocessor in the accessory control device. The data to be transferred to the accessory control device is accomplished as part of the address signal utilizing the lower 8 bits of the address signal provided as output on an address signal line (CAB). The data corresponding to the address specified by this address is read from a ROM (617) and thereafter held in latches (651, 652), and the holding of the read data is announced by a signal, EWRDY. When cartridge microprocessor reads the data held in latches (651, 652) via an internal data bus (DB29), the transfer of data from the electronic apparatus is complete. This arrangement makes it possible to transfer data to an accessory control device, which has no existing or designed data bus and is adapted as a read only device by the electronic apparatus, so that data can be readily processed by accessory control device microprocessor and either returned to the electronic processor, such as, for printing in the case of a printer, or held at the accessory control device for utilitarian purposes, e.g., display of data.

Claims

1. An intelligent cartridge for releasable attachment to a printer, said printer having a printer controller capable of receiving print data from an external source and developing the print data into printer controller developed bit image data for printout, the cartridge including logic means and memory means for receiving the print data from the printer controller when connected thereto, developing the print data into logic means and memory means developed bit image data, and transferring said logic means and memory means developed bit image data to the printer controller for printout in lieu of said printer controller developed bit image data;

wherein the logic means and memory means receive said print data in the form of address data transferred to the cartridge from the printer controller, the cartridge further including transfer means for processing said address data to reproduce said print data, and forwarding said reproduced print data to the logic means for developing into said logic means and memory means developed bit image data.

2. The intelligent cartridge of claim 1, wherein said address data comprises an address portion and a print data portion, and the transfer means comprises a decoder for decoding only said print data portion.

3. The intelligent cartridge of claim 1, wherein said print data is transferred serially as a bit of said address data, and the transfer means comprises a serial-to-parallel converter for receiving said bit of said address data and reproducing said print data in parallel form in response thereto.

4. The intelligent cartridge of claim 3, wherein the printer controller generates a clock signal for clocking the serial-to-parallel converter in synchronism with serially transferring said print data to the cartridge.

5. The intelligent cartridge of claim 1, wherein said print data is transferred serially as a first bit of said address data corresponding to a high order portion of said print data, and a second bit of said address data corresponding to a low order portion of said print data, and the transfer means comprises a first serial-to-parallel converter for receiving said first bit of said address data and reproducing said high order portion of said print data in parallel form in response thereto, and a second serial-to-parallel converter for receiving said second bit of said address data and reproducing said low order portion of said print data in parallel form in response thereto.

6. The intelligent cartridge of claim 5, wherein the printer controller generates a clock signal for simultaneously clocking the first and second serial-to-parallel converters in synchronism with serially transferring said print data to the cartridge.

7. The intelligent cartridge of claim 1, wherein said print data is transferred serially as a bit of said address data, and the transfer means comprises a shift register for receiving said bit of said address data at a serial input and reproducing said print data at a parallel output.

8. The intelligent cartridge of claim 7, wherein the printer controller generates a clock signal for clocking the shift register as another bit of said address data.

9. The intelligent cartridge of claim 1, wherein said address data comprises an address portion and a print data portion, and the transfer means comprises a decoder for decoding only said print data portion, and a plurality of flip-flops connected to outputs of the decoder respectively.

10. The intelligent cartridge of claim 1, wherein the printer controller applies said address data to the cartridge a number of times corresponding to said print data, and the transfer means comprises a counter for reproducing said print data by counting said number of times.

11. The intelligent cartridge of claim 1, wherein the printer controller applies said address data to the cartridge to select said cartridge and applies a strobe signal to the cartridge a number of times corresponding to said print data, and the transfer means comprises a counter for reproducing said print data by receiving said strobe signal and counting said number of times.

12. The intelligent cartridge of claim 1, in which the printer controller applies said address data to the cartridge in parallel, and the transfer means comprises a latch for latching said address data.

13. A method of image processing carried out, in part, via a separate intelligent cartridge having its own CPU processing unit and releasably connected to a printer having a CPU operated printer controller, the cartridge being electrically connected to the printer controller to provide a read-only address capability to the cartridge and a read-only data capability to the printer controller, said printer controller being capable of developing a printer controller developed bit image based on print data received from an external source and printing the printer controller developed bit image, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) transferring said print data submitted as address data from the printer controller to the cartridge;

(b) processing said address data to reproduce said print data;

(c) employing the processing unit to develop a cartridge developed bit image based upon the print data corresponding to said index; and

(d) transferring said cartridge developed bit image to the printer controller to print said cartridge developed bit image.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein step (a) comprises transferring said address data as including an address portion and a print data portion, and step (b) comprises decoding only said print data portion.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein step (a) comprises transferring said print data serially as a bit of said address data, and step (b) comprises using a serial-to-parallel converter to receive said bit of said address data and reproduce said print data in parallel form in response thereto.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein step (a) comprises generating a clock signal for clocking the serial-to-parallel converter in synchronism with serially transferring said print data to the cartridge.

17. The method of claim 13, wherein step (a) comprises transferring said print data serially as a first bit of said address data corresponding to a high order portion of said print data, and a second bit of said address data corresponding to a low order portion of said print data, and step (b) comprises using a first serial-to-parallel converter to receive said first bit of said address data and reproduce said high order portion of said print data in parallel form in response thereto, and a second serial-to-parallel converter to receive said second bit of said address data and reproduce said low order portion of said print data in parallel form in response thereto.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein step (a) comprises generating a clock signal for simultaneously clocking the first and second serial-to-parallel converters in synchronism with serially transferring said print data to the cartridge.

19. The method of claim 13, wherein step (a) comprises transferring said print data serially as a bit of said address data, and step (b) comprises using a shift register to receive said bit of said address data at a serial input and reproduce said print data at a parallel output.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein step (a) comprises generating a clock signal for clocking the shift register as another bit of said address data.

21. The method of claim 13, wherein step (a) comprises transferring said address data as including an address portion and a print data portion, and step (b) comprises using a decoder to decode only said print data portion, and transfer said reproduced print signal from the decoder to a plurality of flip-flops connected to outputs of the decoder respectively.

22. The method of claim 13, wherein step (a) comprises applying said address data to the cartridge a number of times corresponding to said print data, and step (b) comprises using a counter to reproduce said print data by counting said number of times.

23. The method of claim 13, wherein step (a) comprises applying said address data to the cartridge to select said cartridge and applying a strobe signal to the cartridge a number of times corresponding to said print data, and step (b) comprises using a counter to reproduce said print data by receiving said strobe signal and counting said number of times.

24. The method of claim 13, in which step (a) comprises applying said address data to the cartridge in parallel, and step (b) comprises latching said address data.

25. A method of image processing carried out, in part, via a separate intelligent cartridge having its own CPU processing unit and releasably connected to a printer having a CPU operated printer controller, the cartridge being electrically connected to the printer controller to provide a read-only address capability to the cartridge and a read-only data capability to the printer controller, said printer controller being capable of developing a printer controller developed bit image based on print data received from an external source and printing the printer controller developed bit image, and comprising the steps of:

(a) transferring said print data submitted as address data from the printer controller to the cartridge;

(b) processing said address data to reproduce said print data;

(c) interpreting the print data in the cartridge into a cartridge developed bit image employing the processing unit; and

(d) transferring said cartridge developed bit image to the printer controller to print said cartridge developed bit image.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein step (a) comprises transferring said address data as including an address portion and a print data portion, and step (b) comprises decoding only said print data portion.

27. The method of claim 25, wherein step (a) comprises transferring said print data serially as a bit of said address data, and step (b) comprises using a serial-to-parallel converter to receive said bit of said address data and reproduce said print data in parallel form in response thereto.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein step (a) comprises generating a clock signal for clocking the serial-to-parallel converter in synchronism with serially transferring said print data to the cartridge.

29. The method of claim 25, wherein step (a) comprises transferring said print data serially as a first bit of said address data corresponding to a high order portion of said print data, and a second bit of said address data corresponding to a low order portion of said print data, and step (b) comprises using a first serial-to-parallel converter to receive said first bit of said address data and reproduce said high order portion of said print data in parallel form in response thereto, and a second serial-to-parallel converter to receive said second bit of said address data and reproduce said low order portion of said print data in parallel form in response thereto.

30. The method of claim 29, wherein step (a) comprises generating a clock signal for simultaneously clocking the first and second serial-to-parallel converters in synchronism with serially transferring said print data to the cartridge.

31. The method of claim 25, wherein step (a) comprises transferring said print data serially as a bit of said address data, and step (b) comprises using a shift register to receive said bit of said address data at a serial input and reproduce said print data at a parallel output.

32. The method of claim 31, wherein step (a) comprises generating a clock signal for clocking the shift register as another bit of said address data.

33. The method of claim 25, wherein step (a) comprises transferring said address data as including an address portion and a print data portion, and step (b) comprises using a decoder to decode only said print data portion, and transfer said reproduced print signal from the decoder to a plurality of flip-flops connected to outputs of the decoder respectively.

34. The method of claim 25, wherein step (a) comprises applying said address data to the cartridge a number of times corresponding to said print data, and step (b) comprises using a counter to reproduce said print data by counting said number of times.

35. The method of claim 25, wherein step (a) comprises applying said address data to the cartridge to select said cartridge and applying a strobe signal to the cartridge a number of times corresponding to said print data, and step (b) comprises using a counter to reproduce said print data by receiving said strobe signal and counting said number of times.

36. The method of claim 25, in which step (a) comprises applying said address data to the cartridge in parallel, and step (b) comprises latching said address data.