JP2000094763A - Printer device and memory protection method - Google Patents

Abstract

An object of the present invention is to provide a printer device and a memory protection method that can prevent the non-volatile memory from being destroyed before the mechanical life of the printer device. SOLUTION: The contents of an EEPROM 1708 are temporarily copied and held in a work area (WORK) of a DRAM 1703. However, as the recording operation proceeds, the contents of the WORK are referred to or updated, and the useful life of the printer device expires. The content stored in the DRAM 1703 is compared with the content stored in the EEPROM 1708 at a timing determined so that the number of times of updating the information in the EEPROM 1708 does not exceed a predetermined number of times, for example, at the time of a power-off instruction of the printer device. , According to the comparison result, EEPR
The information stored in the OM 1708 is updated.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to a printer device and a memory protection method.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a printer device stores in a non-volatile manner an operation mode for defining its operation, an adjustment value for using the printer in an optimum state, and information for maintaining the printer. Write to memory, read this information when necessary, and perform recording operation,
The maintenance work was performed. As the nonvolatile memory, an electrically writable and erasable memory such as an EEPROM has been adopted because of its easy handling. Usually, such a non-volatile memory has a limit on the number of times of writing, and if a data writing operation is performed beyond that number of times, the written data is not guaranteed and becomes indefinite data.

[0003]

However, the conventional printer does not consider the limitation of the number of times of writing data to the non-volatile memory. Therefore, the write limit value of the non-volatile memory is required before the mechanical life of the printer. And the non-volatile memory is destroyed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above conventional example, and has as its object to provide a printer device and a memory protection method which can prevent the non-volatile memory from being destroyed before the mechanical life of the printer device. The purpose is.

[0005]

To achieve the above object, a printer according to the present invention has the following arrangement.

That is, a printer having a non-volatile memory capable of updating information within a predetermined number of times, and when the power to the printer is turned on, the contents of the non-volatile memory are temporarily copied and held. A storage unit, a processing unit that refers to or updates the content of the storage unit as the recording operation proceeds, and that the number of updates of the information in the nonvolatile memory exceeds the predetermined number before the useful life of the printer device expires. Comparing means for comparing the content stored in the storage means with the content stored in the non-volatile memory at a timing determined not to be present, and the non-volatile memory according to a comparison result by the comparing means. And updating means for updating the information stored in the printer device.

Here, EEP is used as the nonvolatile memory.
It is preferable to use a ROM and a DRAM as the storage means.

As the timing, a timing when power supply to the printer is cut off, a timing when a recording operation for one page of a recording medium is completed, or a service life of the recording device is determined. The point in time when the average writable cycle to the nonvolatile memory obtained from the limited number of updates to the nonvolatile memory during that period has elapsed can be adopted.

In order to perform recording on a recording medium,
In order to eject ink using thermal energy, it is desirable to have an ink jet recording head provided with a thermal energy converter for generating thermal energy given to the ink.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a nonvolatile memory capable of updating information within a predetermined number of times and a rewritable memory for temporarily copying and holding the contents of the nonvolatile memory when power is turned on. A memory protection method used in a printer device, wherein a processing step of referring to or updating the contents of the memory as the printing operation progresses, and a process of retrieving information of the nonvolatile memory before the useful life of the printer device expires. At a timing determined so that the number of updates does not exceed the predetermined number of times, the content stored in the memory;
A comparing step of comparing the content stored in the nonvolatile memory, and according to the comparison result in the comparing step,
An update step of updating information stored in the non-volatile memory.

With the above arrangement, the present invention refers to the contents of a rewritable memory that temporarily copies and holds the contents of a nonvolatile memory whose information can be updated within a predetermined number of times as the recording operation proceeds. Alternatively, before the end of the useful life of the printer device, the contents stored in the above-mentioned memory and the non-volatile memory may be updated at a timing determined so that the number of updates of the information in the nonvolatile memory does not exceed a predetermined number. It operates to compare the stored contents and update the information stored in the nonvolatile memory according to the comparison result.

[0012]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

<Schematic Description of Apparatus Main Body> FIG. 1 shows an ink jet printer IJ which is a typical embodiment of the present invention.
It is an external appearance perspective view showing the outline of composition of RA. In FIG. 1, a carriage HC that engages with a spiral groove 5004 of a lead screw 5005 that rotates via driving force transmission gears 5009 to 5011 in conjunction with forward / reverse rotation of a drive motor 5013 has pins (not shown). Guide rail 50
03 reciprocates in the directions of arrows a and b. The carriage HC includes a recording head IJH and an ink tank IT.
Integrated inkjet cartridge IJC
Is installed. Reference numeral 5002 denotes a paper pressing plate, which feeds the recording paper P to the platen 50 over the moving direction of the carriage HC.
Press against 00. Reference numerals 5007 and 5008 denote photocouplers, which are home position detectors for confirming the presence of the carriage lever 5006 in this region and switching the rotation direction of the motor 5013. Reference numeral 5016 denotes a cap member 50 for capping the front surface of the recording head IJH.
Reference numeral 5015 denotes a suction device that suctions the inside of the cap, and performs suction recovery of the recording head through an opening 5023 in the cap. Reference numeral 5017 denotes a cleaning blade. Reference numeral 5019 denotes a member which allows the blade to move in the front-rear direction. These members are supported by a main body support plate 5018. It goes without saying that the blade is not limited to this form and a known cleaning blade can be applied to this example. Reference numeral 5021 denotes a lever for starting suction for recovery of suction. The lever 5021 moves with the movement of the cam 5020 that engages with the carriage, and the driving force from the driving motor is controlled by a known transmission mechanism such as clutch switching. Is done.

The capping, cleaning, and suction recovery are configured so that desired operations can be performed at the corresponding positions by the action of the lead screw 5005 when the carriage comes to the area on the home position side. If a desired operation is performed at the timing, any of the embodiments can be applied.

<Description of Control Structure> Next, control synthesis for executing the recording control of the above-described apparatus will be described.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a control circuit of the printer IJRA. In FIG. 1 showing a control circuit, reference numeral 100 denotes a print control command and print data for a printer IJ.
A host computer (hereinafter referred to as a host) 101 having a function of transmitting a response signal or error information from the printer IJRA and displaying it to a user;
, A connection cable for connecting the host 100 and the printer IJRA; 1700, an interface for inputting print data; 1701, a microprocessor (MPU) for controlling the entire printer; 1702, a ROM for storing a control program executed by the MPU 1701; Is a DRAM for storing various data (such as the print data and print signals supplied to the print head IJH).

Reference numeral 1704 denotes a gate array (GA) for controlling supply of a recording signal to the recording head IJH.
Interface 1700, MPU 1701, R
Data transfer control between the AMs 1703 is also performed. Reference numeral 1710 denotes a carriage motor for transporting the printhead IJH, and 1
Reference numeral 709 denotes a transport motor for transporting the recording paper. 170
5 is a head driver for driving the recording head IJH, 17
Reference numerals 06 and 1707 denote motor drivers for driving the transport motor 1709 and the carrier motor 1710, respectively.

Reference numeral 1708 denotes an operation mode for defining the operation of the printer IJRA, an adjustment value for using the printer IJRA in an optimum state, and a printer IJRA.
Is an EEPROM for storing information for maintenance. Various control signals such as chip select, read, write, and clock signals are transmitted and received between the EEPROM 1708 and the MPU 1701 in addition to the above information. Note that a nonvolatile memory other than the EEPROM may be used.

A timer 1711 generates an interrupt to the MPU 1701 at a predetermined cycle. The MPU 1701 can measure various times by counting the number of interrupts.

The operation of the above-described control structure will be described. When recording data enters the interface 1700, the gate array 1
The recording data is converted into a recording signal for printing between the 704 and the MPU 1701. And the motor driver 1
706 and 1707 are driven, and the print head I is driven according to the print data sent to the head driver 1705.
JH is driven and recording is performed.

As described above, the ink tank IT and the recording head IJH may be integrally formed to constitute a replaceable ink cartridge IJC. However, the ink tank IT and the recording head IJH are separated. It may be configured so that only the ink tank IT can be replaced when the ink runs out.

FIG. 3 is an external perspective view showing the configuration of an ink cartridge IJC in which the ink tank and the head can be separated. As shown in FIG. 3, the ink cartridge IJC holds the ink tank IT and the recording head I at the position of the boundary line K.
JH can be separated. When the ink cartridge IJC is mounted on the carriage HC, the ink cartridge IJC is provided with an electrode (not shown) for receiving an electric signal supplied from the carriage HC side. Is driven to eject ink.

In FIG. 3, reference numeral 500 denotes an ink ejection port array. The ink tank IT is provided with a fibrous or porous ink absorber for holding ink, and the ink is held by the ink absorber.

Next, control of how the contents of the EEPROM 1708 are input and output in the printer having the above configuration will be described.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the relationship between the information storage area of the EEPROM 1708 and the related information storage area of the DRAM 1703.

As shown in FIG. 4, in the DRAM 1703, a work area (WORK) is set as a temporary save area for information in the EEPROM 1708.

Here, control of reading from the EEPROM 1708 will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. This control is performed by the MPU 1701 using the ROM.
This is realized by executing the control program stored in 1702.

First, when the power of the printer IJRA is turned on, in step S400, the data in the EEPROM 1708 is read out, and this is read out from the WORK of the DRAM 1703.
Copy to Thereafter, until the power is turned off, M
The PU 1701 refers to or updates this WORK information as needed.

Next, the write control to the EEPROM 1708 will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. This control is performed by the MPU 1701 by the ROM 17.
02 is executed by executing the control program stored in the control program 02.

First, this writing control is performed by the printer IJ.
Since it is executed when there is an instruction to cut off the power supply to the RA, in step S200, detection of a power-off instruction is awaited. When the power-off instruction is detected, the process proceeds to step S201, where the EEPROM 17
08 and the contents of the WORK.

If the contents do not match, the process proceeds to step S202, and the contents of the WORK are changed to the EEP.
The contents are written to the ROM 1708 and the contents of the EEPROM 1708 are updated. On the other hand, if the two contents match, the process ends without writing to the EEPROM 1708.

Usually, it is considered that the number of power-on / off operations involving the recording operation is sufficiently smaller than the number of times of writing in the EEPROM. Even if only power-on / off without recording operation is repeated, the contents of the WORK are not updated, so that writing to the EEPROM is not performed.

Therefore, according to the embodiment described above, E
By setting the timing of writing to the EPROM at the maximum at the time of the power-off instruction, the number of times of writing to the EEPROM does not exceed the upper limit of the number of times of writing before the life of the printer device. Therefore, the information stored in the EEPROM is always guaranteed, and the device does not operate abnormally.

The writing control to the EEPROM is controlled by the E
As long as the number of times of writing to the EPROM does not exceed the upper limit of the number of times that writing can be performed before the life of the printer device, it may not be executed at the time of instructing the power off of the printer, but at another timing.

For example, as shown in the flowchart of FIG. 7, write control may be performed based on the relationship between the useful life that defines the life of the recording apparatus and the number of times that the EEPROM can be written during that period. This control is also performed by the MPU
1701 is realized by executing a control program stored in the ROM 1702. In the flowchart of FIG. 7, the same process steps as those already described in the flowchart of FIG.

According to the flowchart shown in FIG. 7, in step S200a, it is checked whether or not the timer for monitoring the write cycle (WPRD) of the EEPROM 1708 has timed out. The cycle used to detect the timeout in this timer is the service life of the recording device (DT
IME) to the EEPROM write limit (WRT)
The value (TOUT) obtained by dividing by (M) is set sufficiently long.

Here, if WPRD ≧ TOUT and a timeout of the timer is detected, the processing performs steps S201 to S202 as described above. Then, in step S203, the EEPROM 170
The measured value of the timer monitoring the write cycle of 8 is reset.

By such processing, the writing cycle (WP) of the EEPROM 1708 measured by the timer
Only when RD) is larger than the average writable period (TOUT) to the EEPROM 1708, the contents of the EEPROM and the contents of the WORK of the DRAM are compared, and the contents of the EEPROM are updated according to the comparison result. Is done. Therefore, the number of times of writing to the EEPROM does not exceed the upper limit of the number of times that writing is possible before the life of the printer device.

Of course, it goes without saying that the power-off time may be added to the above update timing as a further update timing.

As still another modification, an EEPROM 1
If the number of times of writing to the 708 is sufficiently larger than the number of recordings that defines the life of the recording apparatus, the EEPRO
As shown in the flowchart of FIG. 8, the writing control to M may be executed every time the recording operation for one page of the recording paper is completed. This control is also performed by the MPU 1701 by the RO.
This is realized by executing the control program stored in M1702.

According to the flowchart shown in FIG. 8, in step S200b, it is checked whether or not the recording operation for one page of the recording paper has been completed. If the operation has been completed, the processing in steps S201 and S202 as described above has been completed. Execute

In the above description, the EEPROM is used as a representative of the nonvolatile memory. However, it goes without saying that another nonvolatile memory such as a flash memory having a limited number of times of writing may be used.

In the above embodiment, the description has been made assuming that the droplets ejected from the recording head are ink, and that the liquid stored in the ink tank is ink. It is not limited. For example, an ink tank may contain a processing liquid discharged to a recording medium in order to improve the fixability and water resistance of the recorded image or to improve the image quality.

The above-described embodiment is particularly provided with a means (for example, an electrothermal converter or a laser beam) for generating thermal energy as energy used for performing ink ejection even in an ink jet recording system. By using a method in which a change in the state of the ink is caused by energy, it is possible to achieve higher density and higher definition of recording.

The typical structure and principle are described in, for example, US Pat. Nos. 4,723,129 and 4,740.
It is preferable to use the basic principle disclosed in the specification of Japanese Patent No. 796. This method can be applied to both the so-called on-demand type and the continuous type.
By applying at least one drive signal corresponding to the recorded information and providing a rapid temperature rise exceeding the film boiling to the electrothermal transducer arranged corresponding to the sheet or the liquid path holding the Since thermal energy is generated in the electrothermal transducer and film boiling occurs on the heat-acting surface of the recording head, bubbles in the liquid (ink) corresponding to this drive signal on a one-to-one basis can be formed. It is valid. By discharging the liquid (ink) through the discharge opening by the growth and contraction of the bubble, at least one droplet is formed. When the drive signal is formed into a pulse shape, the growth and shrinkage of the bubble are performed immediately and appropriately, so that the ejection of the liquid (ink) having particularly excellent responsiveness can be achieved, which is more preferable.

As the pulse-shaped drive signal, those described in US Pat. Nos. 4,463,359 and 4,345,262 are suitable. Further, if the conditions described in US Pat. No. 4,313,124 relating to the temperature rise rate of the heat acting surface are adopted, more excellent recording can be performed.

As the configuration of the recording head, in addition to the combination of the discharge port, the liquid path, and the electrothermal converter (linear liquid flow path or right-angle liquid flow path) as disclosed in the above-mentioned respective specifications, A configuration using U.S. Pat. No. 4,558,333 or U.S. Pat. No. 4,459,600, which discloses a configuration in which a heat acting surface is arranged in a bent region, is also included in the present invention. In addition, for multiple electrothermal transducers,
JP-A-59-123670 which discloses a configuration in which a common slot is used as a discharge part of an electrothermal transducer, and JP-A-59-123670 which discloses a configuration in which an opening for absorbing a pressure wave of thermal energy corresponds to a discharge part. A configuration based on 138461 may be adopted.

Further, as a full-line type recording head having a length corresponding to the width of the maximum recording medium that can be recorded by the recording apparatus, the length is determined by a combination of a plurality of recording heads as disclosed in the above specification. This may be either a configuration satisfying the above requirements or a configuration as a single recording head formed integrally.

In addition to the cartridge-type recording head in which the ink tank is provided integrally with the recording head itself described in the above embodiment, the recording head is electrically connected to the apparatus main body by being mounted on the apparatus main body. A replaceable chip-type recording head, which enables a simple connection and supply of ink from the apparatus main body, may be used.

It is preferable to add recovery means for the printhead, preliminary auxiliary means, and the like to the configuration of the printing apparatus described above, since the printing operation can be further stabilized. Specific examples thereof include capping means for the recording head, cleaning means, pressurizing or suction means, preheating means using an electrothermal transducer or another heating element or a combination thereof. It is also effective to provide a preliminary ejection mode for performing ejection that is different from printing, in order to perform stable printing.

Further, the recording mode of the recording apparatus is not limited to the recording mode of only the mainstream color such as black, but may be a single recording head or a combination of a plurality of recording heads. Alternatively, the apparatus may be provided with at least one of full colors by color mixture.

In the above-described embodiment, the description has been made on the assumption that the ink is a liquid. However, even if the ink solidifies at room temperature or lower, it is possible to use an ink that softens or liquefies at room temperature. Or, in the ink jet method, generally, the temperature of the ink itself is controlled within a range of 30 ° C. or more and 70 ° C. or less to control the temperature so that the viscosity of the ink is in a stable ejection range.
It is sufficient that the ink is in a liquid state when the use recording signal is applied.

In addition, in order to positively prevent the temperature rise due to thermal energy as energy for changing the state of the ink from the solid state to the liquid state, the temperature is positively prevented.
Alternatively, in order to prevent evaporation of the ink, an ink which solidifies in a standing state and liquefies by heating may be used. In any case, the application of heat energy causes the ink to be liquefied by application of the heat energy according to the recording signal and the liquid ink to be ejected, or to start to solidify when reaching the recording medium. The present invention is also applicable to a case where an ink having a property of liquefying for the first time is used. In such a case, as described in JP-A-54-56847 or JP-A-60-71260, the ink is held in a liquid state or a solid state in the concave portion or through hole of the porous sheet. It is good also as a form which opposes an electrothermal transducer. In the present invention, the most effective one for each of the above-mentioned inks is to execute the above-mentioned film boiling method.

In addition to the above, the recording apparatus according to the present invention may be provided not only as an image output terminal of an information processing apparatus such as a computer but also integrally or separately, a copying apparatus combined with a reader, etc. It may take the form of a facsimile machine having functions.

Even if the present invention is applied to a system including a plurality of devices (for example, a host computer, an interface device, a reader, a printer, etc.), an apparatus (for example, a copying machine, a facsimile machine) comprising one device Etc.).

Another object of the present invention is to provide a storage medium storing a program code of software for realizing the functions of the above-described embodiments to a system or apparatus, and to provide a computer (or CPU) of the system or apparatus.
And MPU) read and execute the program code stored in the storage medium.

In this case, the program code itself read from the storage medium implements the functions of the above-described embodiment, and the storage medium storing the program code constitutes the present invention.

As a storage medium for supplying the program code, for example, a floppy disk, hard disk, optical disk, magneto-optical disk, CD-ROM, CD
-R, a magnetic tape, a nonvolatile memory card, a ROM, or the like can be used.

When the computer executes the readout program code, not only the functions of the above-described embodiment are realized, but also the OS (Operating System) running on the computer based on the instruction of the program code. ) May perform some or all of the actual processing, and the processing may realize the functions of the above-described embodiments.

Further, after the program code read from the storage medium is written into a memory provided in a function expansion board inserted into the computer or a function expansion unit connected to the computer, based on the instruction of the program code, It goes without saying that the CPU included in the function expansion board or the function expansion unit performs part or all of the actual processing, and the processing realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments.

[0061]

As described above, according to the present invention, the contents of a rewritable memory for temporarily copying and holding the contents of a non-volatile memory whose information can be updated within a predetermined number of times are recorded. The content stored in the memory is referred to or updated in accordance with the progress of the printer at a timing determined so that the number of updates of the information in the non-volatile memory does not exceed a predetermined number of times before the useful life of the printer device expires. Is compared with the contents stored in the non-volatile memory, and the information stored in the non-volatile memory is updated according to the comparison result. Therefore, the non-volatile memory may be destroyed before the life of the printer device. There is an effect that it can be prevented.

As a result, the number of updates to the non-volatile memory is less than the limit within the life of the printer, and the contents stored in the memory are guaranteed, so that abnormal operation of the printer is prevented and its reliability is improved. Contribute to the improvement of

[0063]

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an external perspective view showing an outline of a configuration of an ink jet printer IRJA which is a typical embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a control circuit of the printer IJRA.

FIG. 3 is an external perspective view illustrating a configuration of an ink cartridge IJC in which an ink tank and a head are separable.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a relationship between an information storage area of an EEPROM 1708 and an information storage area of a DRAM 1703 related thereto.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing read control of an EEPROM.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing write control of an EEPROM.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a modification of the write control of the EEPROM.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing still another modification of the write control of the EEPROM.

[Explanation of symbols]

 100 Host computer 1700 Interface 1701 MPU 1702 ROM 1703 DRAM 1708 EEPROM 1711 Timer

Claims (9)

[Claims] 1. A printer device having a non-volatile memory capable of updating information within a predetermined number of times, wherein the content of the non-volatile memory is temporarily copied and held when power is supplied to the printer device. A storage unit; a processing unit that refers to or updates the contents of the storage unit as the recording operation proceeds; and the number of updates of the information in the nonvolatile memory exceeds the predetermined number before the useful life of the printer device expires. Comparing means for comparing the content stored in the storage means with the content stored in the non-volatile memory at a timing determined not to be present, and the non-volatile memory according to a comparison result by the comparing means. And updating means for updating information stored in the printer device. 2. The printer device according to claim 1, wherein the nonvolatile memory includes an EEPROM. 3. The printer according to claim 1, wherein said storage means includes a DRAM. 4. The printer device according to claim 1, wherein the timing is when power supply to the printer device is cut off. 5. The printer device according to claim 1, wherein the timing is when a recording operation for one page of the recording medium is completed. 6. The timing is set at a point in time when an average writable cycle to the nonvolatile memory obtained from the useful life of the recording apparatus and the limited number of updates to the nonvolatile memory during the period has elapsed. The printer device according to claim 1, wherein: 7. The printer device according to claim 1, further comprising an ink jet recording head that performs recording by discharging ink in order to perform recording on a recording medium. 8. The ink jet recording head according to claim 7, further comprising a thermal energy converter for generating thermal energy applied to the ink in order to discharge the ink using thermal energy. The printer device according to 1. 9. A printer apparatus having a nonvolatile memory capable of updating information within a predetermined number of times and a rewritable memory for temporarily copying and holding the contents of the nonvolatile memory when power is turned on. A memory protection method, comprising the steps of: referring to or updating the contents of the memory as the recording operation progresses; and updating the information of the nonvolatile memory to the predetermined number of times before the useful life of the printer device expires. A comparison step of comparing the content stored in the memory with the content stored in the non-volatile memory at a timing determined not to exceed the non-volatile memory. An update step of updating information stored in the memory.