Image processing device and image recording apparatus having the same

• US 8,797,587 B2
• Filed: 10/27/2011
• Issued: 08/05/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 10/29/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
• Original Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
• Inventors: Takeichi, Kengo
• Primary Examiner(s): Backer, Firmin
• Assistant Examiner(s): BECKLEY, JONATHAN R
• Application Number:
  US13/282,907
• Publication Number:
  US 20120105913A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,013 Days
• Field of Search: 358/1.16, 358/1.6, 358/1.13, 358/1.14, 358/1.15
• US Class Current: 358/1.16
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 15/408 Handling exceptions, e.g. faults computer driven error handling and recovery for a printer G06F3/1234

Abstract

An image processing device is provided, which includes a first processor, a second processor configured to perform communication with the first processor, and a memory connector that is connected with the second processor, configured such that an external memory is detachably attached thereto, and provided with a terminal that is connected with the first processor and connectable with a memory area of the external memory which area stores specification information of the external memory. The first processor is configured to, prior to the second processor being booted, determine whether an error relating to the external memory is caused, via the terminal.

Claims

1. An image processing device comprising:

a first processor;

a second processor configured to perform communication with the first processor; and

a memory connector configured such that an external memory is detachably attached thereto, the external memory comprising a main memory area and a specification memory area for storing specification information of the external memory, the memory connector comprising a first terminal connected with the first processor, the first terminal configured to connect with the specification memory area of the external memory when the external memory is attached to the memory connector and a second terminal connected with the second processor, the second terminal configured to connect with the main memory area of the external memory when the external memory is attached to the memory connector,

wherein the first processor is configured to, prior to the second processor being booted, determine whether an error relating to the external memory is caused, via the first terminal.

2. The image processing device according to claim 1, further comprising an informing unit that is connected with the first processor and configured to output information,

wherein the first processor is configured to, when determining that an error relating to the external memory is caused, control the informing unit to output information that the error relating to the external memory is detected.

3. The image processing device according to claim 1, further comprising a power supply unit configured to supply an electric power to the second processor,

wherein the first processor is configured to, when determining that an error relating to the external memory is caused, restrict electric power supply to the second processor from the power supply unit.

4. The image processing device according to claim 1,

wherein the second processor is configured to be normally booted when the external memory attached to the memory connector has a predetermined specification information,

wherein the first processor is configured to determine whether the external memory attached to the memory connector has the predetermined specification information in the specification memory area,

wherein the first processor is further configured to, when determining that the external memory attached to the memory connector has the predetermined specification information, send to the second processor an instruction for booting the second processor, and

wherein the second processor is further configured to, when receiving the instruction from the first processor, attempt to boot the second processor based on the predetermined specification information.

5. The image processing device according to claim 1,

wherein the second processor is configured to, when the first processor determines that an error relating to the external memory is not caused, read out the specification information via the second terminal and attempt to boot the second processor based on the specification information.

6. An image recording apparatus comprising:

a print engine configured to form an image on a recording medium; and

an image processing device connected with the print engine, the image processing device comprising;

a first processor;

a second processor configured to perform communication with the first processor; and

a memory connector configured such that an external memory is detachably attached thereto, the external memory comprising a main memory area and a specification memory area for storing specification information of the external memory, the memory connector comprising a first terminal connected with the first processor, the first terminal configured to connect with the specification memory area of the external memory when the external memory is attached to the memory connector and a second terminal connected with the second processor, the second terminal configured to connect with the main memory area of the external memory when the external memory is attached to the memory connector,

wherein the first processor is configured to, prior to the second processor being booted, determine whether an error relating to the external memory is caused, via the first terminal, and

wherein one of the first processor and the second processor is configured to control the print engine to form the image on the recording medium based on image data stored on the external memory.

7. The image recording apparatus according to claim 6, further comprising an informing unit that is connected with the first processor and configured to output information,

wherein the first processor is configured to, when determining that an error relating to the external memory is caused, control the informing unit to output information that the error relating to the external memory is detected.

8. The image recording apparatus according to claim 6, further comprising a power supply unit configured to supply an electric power to the second processor,

wherein the first processor is configured to, when determining that an error relating to the external memory is caused, restrict electric power supply to the second processor from the power supply unit.

9. The image recording apparatus according to claim 6,

wherein the second processor is configured to be normally booted when the external memory attached to the memory connector has a predetermined specification information,

wherein the first processor is configured to determine whether the external memory attached to the memory connector has the predetermined specification information in the specification memory area,

wherein the first processor is further configured to, when determining that the external memory attached to the memory connector has the predetermined specification information, send to the second processor an instruction for booting the second processor, and

wherein the second processor is further configured to, when receiving the instruction from the first processor, attempt to boot the second processor based on the predetermined specification information.

10. The image recording apparatus according to claim 6,

wherein the second processor is configured to, when the first processor determines that an error relating to the external memory is not caused, read out the specification information via the second terminal and attempt to boot the second processor based on the specification information.

11. The image recording apparatus according to claim 6,

wherein the second processor receives print data via the communication with the first processor, and processes the received print data to create the image data.

12. An image processing device comprising:

a first processor;

a second processor configured to perform communication with the first processor; and

a memory connector configured such that an external memory is detachably attached thereto, the external memory comprising a specification memory area for storing specification information of the external memory, the memory connector comprising a terminal connected with the first processor, the terminal configured to connect with the specification memory area of the external memory when the external memory is attached to the memory connector, wherein when the external memory is attached to the memory connector, the first processor is configured to attempt to access the specification memory area, and wherein when the first processor fails in the attempt to access the specification memory area, the first processor determines that an error has occurred.