Printer and computer system with detachable built-in printer

• US 5,559,932 A
• Filed: 01/27/1995
• Issued: 09/24/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 01/31/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
• Inventors: Matsuda, deceased, Toshihiko, Machida, Tetsuo, Kawaoka, Akihiro, Kajiura, Toshinori
• Primary Examiner(s): Powell, Mark R.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Popovici, Dov
• Application Number:
  US08/379,767
• Time in Patent Office: 606 Days
• Field of Search: 395/112, 395/114, 395/117, 395/101, 395/106, 395/107, 395/108, 395/113, 361/683, 361/686, 400/691, 400/680, 364/708.1, 364/707, 364/710.13
• US Class Current: 358/1.15
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 15/0233 with printing provisions
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1203 Improving or facilitating administration, e.g. print management
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1236 Connection management
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1279 Controller construction, e.g. aspects of the interface hardware

Abstract

A detachable built-in printer for printing print data supplied from a computer has at least an interface controller for interfacing with the computer, a print pattern generator, a printing unit, and a printer controller for controlling the whole operation of the printer, respectively assembled on a PC card in conformity with PCMCIA/JEIDA. A computer system with a detachable built-in printer is configured by a computer with a PC card slot and the detachable built-in printer inserted into the PC card slot. It is therefore possible to realize a printer capable of being detachably connected to and built in a computer, and a computer system with such a built-in and removable printer.

Claims

1. A printer, connectable to a computer with a PC card slot, for printing print data supplied from the computer, said computer having a housing with a portion circumscribing said PC card slot, said printer comprising:

interfacing means for interfacing with said computer;

print pattern generating means for converting print data supplied from said computer via said interfacing means into print image data;

printing means for receiving said print image data generated by said print pattern generating means, synchronously with print timing, and printing said print image data on a recording sheet fed synchronously with said print timing; and

printer controlling means for controlling all of said interfacing means, said print pattern generating means, and said printing means,

wherein said interfacing means, said print pattern generating means, said printing means, and said printer controlling means are assembled in a PC card insertable into said PC card slot.

2. A printer according to claim 1, wherein said PC card is a card of one of the types II and III of the Japan Electronic Industry Development Association version 4.1 standards.

3. A printer according to claim 1, wherein said printing means including one of a thermosensitive type print head and a thermal transfer type print head.

4. A computer system with a detachable built-in printer, comprising:

a computer with a PC card slot, said computer having a housing with a portion circumscribing said PC card slot;

a printer connectable to said computer for printing print data supplied from said computer,

said printer including;

interfacing means for interfacing with said computer;

print pattern generating means for converting print data supplied from said computer via said interfacing means into print image data;

printing means for receiving said print image data generated by said print pattern generating means synchronously with print timing, and printing said print image data on a recording sheet fed synchronously with said print timing; and

printer controlling means for controlling all of said interfacing means, said print pattern generating means, and said printing means,

wherein said interfacing means, said print pattern generating means, said printing means, and said printer controlling means are assembled in a PC card insertable into said PC card slot.

5. A computer system with a detachable built-in printer, comprising:

a computer with a PC card slot; and

a printer connectable to said computer for printing print data supplied from said computer, said printer including;

interfacing means for interfacing with said computer;

print pattern generating means for converting print data supplied from said computer via said interfacing means into print image data;

printing means for receiving said print image data generated by said print pattern generating means synchronously with print timing, and printing said print image data on a recording sheet fed synchronously with said print timing; and

printer controlling means for controlling all of said interfacing means, said print pattern generating means, and said printing means;

wherein said interfacing means, said print pattern generating means, said printing means, and said printer controlling means are assembled in a PC card insertable into said PC card slot, and said computer includes power conserving means for partially limiting operations of said computer for reserving a necessary power of driving said printer when said printer connected to said computer is used.

6. A computer system with a detachable built-in printer according to claim 5, wherein said computer includes a display device, and said power conserving means extinguishing or darkening said display device.

7. A computer system with a detachable built-in printer according to claim 5, wherein said computer includes a disk drive, and said power conserving means stops the rotation of a disk of said disk drive.

8. A computer system with detachable built-in printer, comprising:

a computer with a PC card slot into which a PC card in conformity with PCMCIA/JEIDA is inserted; and

a printer connectable to said computer for printing print data supplied from said computer, said printer being formed in the shape of a PC card in conformity with PCMCIA/JEIDA to be insertable into said PC card slot, said printer including;

interface means for interfacing with said computer, said interface means being in conformity with PCMCIA/JEIDA;

print pattern generating means for converting print data supplied from said computer via said interfaceing means into print image data;

printing means for receiving said print image data generated by said print pattern generating means synchronously with print timing, and printing said print image data on a recording sheet fed synchronously with said print timing; and

printer controlling means for controlling all of said interfacing means, said print pattern generating means, and said printing means.

9. A computer system with a detachable built-in printer, comprising:

a computer with a PC card slot for receiving a PC card of one of type II and type III of the JEIDA version 4.1 standards;

a printer connectable to said computer, including print means for printing data supplied from said computer, said printer including an interface in conformity with one of the type II and type III of the JEIDA version 4.1 standards for interfacing with said computer; and

said printer being formed in the shape of a PC card of one of the type II and type III of the JEIDA version 4.1 standards to be insertable into said PC card slot.

10. A computer system with a detachable built-in printer, comprising:

a computer with a PC card slot for receiving a PC card having a length, width and thickness greater than 86.5 mm, substantially equal to 54.0 mm and 10.5 mm, respectively;

a printer connectable to said computer, including print means for printing data supplied from said computer, said printer being formed in the shape of the PC card having a length, width and thickness greater than 86.5 mm, substantially equal to 54.0 mm and 10.5 mm, respectively, to be insertable into said PC card slot.