JP2005262482A - Recording device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To improve the operability of a recording apparatus for recording data sent from a digital camera and recording data sent from a host apparatus connected to a network.
An interface that connects to a host device, an interface that connects to an imaging device, a detection unit that detects that the imaging device is connected, a timing unit that times the time after the imaging device is connected, and a detection When the means detects the connection of the imaging device, the recording device is shifted from the standby state to the connected state, and when the time measured by the time measuring means exceeds a predetermined time, the control is performed to shift from the connected state to the standby state. .
[Selection] Figure 3

Description

  The present invention relates to a recording apparatus.

  In recent years, digital cameras (imaging devices), so-called digital cameras, that can take an image with a simple operation and convert it into digital image data have been widely used. When printing an image taken with such a camera and using it as a photograph, the taken digital image data is usually once taken into a PC (computer) from the digital camera, and image processing is performed on the PC. After that, it is common to output to a color printer from the PC for printing.

  On the other hand, recently, a standard called PictBridge has appeared, and digital image data is directly transferred (transmitted) from a digital camera to a color inkjet printer without using a PC, and direct recording (printing) is performed. A recording apparatus (printer) that can perform the above has also appeared (see Patent Document 1).

  In addition, printers used by companies and SOHO (Small Office Home Office) are often network-compatible printers that allow one printer to be shared and used, and has the direct printing function described above. Some network printers are also available. In such a network-compatible printer, A4 size plain paper is often used as a recording medium so that a plurality of people can use it.

On the other hand, when direct printing is performed by connecting a digital camera to a printer, photographic printing is mainly used, and glossy recording paper of L or 2L size is often used. Therefore, when the user uses the direct printing function on a network compatible printer, the recording paper loaded in the printer is replaced from plain paper to glossy paper, the photo to be printed from the digital camera is selected, and the digital camera prints to the printer. I am giving instructions.
JP 2003-14351 A

  However, in the recording apparatus described above, after receiving a print request from a PC or digital camera, the printer occupies (maintains) a state for printing.

  For this reason, for example, in order to perform direct printing by connecting a digital camera to a printer, a user switches the printer's recording paper from inexpensive plain paper to expensive glossy paper, and selects a photo to be printed from the digital camera. In the meantime, when a print request for a 50-page document is received from a host device (used by another user) connected to the network, the 50-page document is printed.

  For this reason, expensive glossy paper is wasted, and it takes time to output a 50-page document again. In addition, a user who tries to print from the digital camera has to wait until the output of the document is finished, which causes a problem that both the resources and time are wasted.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, prevents waste of resources, time, etc. without complicating the handling of the recording apparatus, and is compatible with the network to improve user operability and capable of direct printing. An object is to provide a recording apparatus.

  In order to achieve the above object, the recording apparatus of the present invention comprises the following arrangement. A recording device having an interface connected to a host device and an interface connected to an imaging device, the detecting means detecting that the imaging device is connected, and the elapsed time after the connection of the imaging device When the timing unit and the detection unit detect the connection of the imaging device, the recording device is shifted from the standby state to the imaging device connection state, and when the elapsed time exceeds a predetermined time, Control means for shifting to the standby state.

  As described above, according to the present invention, in a recording apparatus capable of direct printing in correspondence with a network, ink or paper due to erroneous printing or the like without complicating control and without increasing the cost due to addition of hardware resources. This has the effect of preventing waste of resources and time and improving user operability.

  Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of a recording apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, the case of an inkjet printer capable of direct printing on a network will be described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and a multifunction printer capable of direct printing on a network or a network. A device such as a copying machine capable of direct printing (recording) may be used.

  In FIG. 1, 10 is a CPU that controls the entire inkjet printer, and 11 is a ROM, which stores programs and various data for causing the CPU 10 to execute control operations. A DRAM 12 is used as a work area during the control operation by the CPU 10 and is used for storing various variables and data. A printer status management area 301 described later is also stored here.

  A head cartridge 15 is integrally formed with a recording head (inkjet head) and an ink tank, and is driven to scan in the main scanning direction by the rotation of a carriage motor. Reference numeral 16 denotes a head I / F circuit, which performs recording by driving the head cartridge 15 in accordance with recording data sent via the CPU bus. Reference numeral 17 denotes a drive system of a mechanism unit including a carriage motor (not shown), a conveyance motor for the recording medium, a conveyance roller, and the like. The drive system 17 is driven based on a signal sent via the CPU bus.

  A network I / F circuit 20 provides a communication interface for connecting to a host PC 19 on the network. An operation panel 21 includes an LED for displaying the printer status, a buzzer, various keys, a switch, and the like, and also includes a switch for instructing an operator to turn on, turn off, and perform a maintenance operation. A panel I / F circuit 22 controls the interface between the operation panel 21 and the CPU bus.

  A receiving buffer 23 is used to store print data sent from the host computer 19. A print buffer 24 stores print data to be printed by the head cartridge 15. A timer 25 measures the time in accordance with an instruction from the CPU 10, and when the predetermined time instructed by the CPU 10 is counted, notifies the CPU 10 of the fact by an interrupt or the like. Reference numeral 14 denotes a USB I / F (interface) circuit which provides a USB interface for connecting to a digital still camera (digital camera) 13 capable of direct printing (recording).

  The host computer 19 can send print data (record data) to the ink jet printer to instruct printing, and can display the status of the printer.

  FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing a configuration of the entire system according to the embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, a host PC and printer connected by a wired LAN and a digital still camera (DSC) connected by a USB cable will be described. However, the present invention is not limited to this. Instead of a wired LAN, a wireless LAN may be used, and any digital device that supports direct printing, such as a digital video camera or a digital camera phone, may be used instead of a digital still camera. Also, the interface for connecting to these digital devices is not limited to USB, but may be an interface compliant with standards such as IEEE 1394, IrDA, and BlueTooth.

  In FIG. 2, reference numeral 103 denotes a wired LAN, and 101 and 102 denote a host computer PC1 and a host computer PC2 connected on the wired LAN 103, which correspond to the above-described host PC (host device) 19 on the network. . Reference numeral 104 denotes an ink jet printer capable of direct printing connected to the wired LAN 103. Reference numeral 106 denotes a digital still camera which is a digital device compatible with direct printing, and corresponds to the digital still camera 13 described above. A USB cable 105 connects the inkjet printer 104 and a digital still camera (DSC) 106.

  In the following, the digital camera direct printing control according to the present embodiment in the network-compatible recording apparatus configured as described above will be described with reference to FIG. 3, FIG. 4, and FIG.

  FIG. 3 is a transition diagram for explaining the transition of the operation mode in the recording apparatus according to the present embodiment. FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing a printer status management area on the DRAM according to the present embodiment. FIG. 5 is a flowchart for explaining a DSC direct printing operation in the recording apparatus according to the present embodiment.

  First, when AC power is turned on to the printer 104, the CPU 10 performs various initial settings in the DRAM 12 and the like according to the program in the ROM 11. At this time, the printer state management area 301 arranged on the DRAM 12 is initialized to a state called “00” idle state.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the printer status management area 301 includes “00” idle state (idle), “01” printer operation state (printer operation), and “02” DSC connection state (DSC connection). I manage one state. Each of the three states corresponds to the idle state 202, the printer operation state 203, and the DSC connection state 201 shown in FIG.

  Next, when the operator gives an instruction to turn on the power from the operation panel 21, the state of the printer management state area 301 is shifted to the printer operation 203 and initialization operations of various mechanical mechanisms of the printer 104 are performed. When the initialization operation of the printer 104 is completed, the state of the printer state management area 301 is changed from the printer operation state 203 to the idle state 202, and the DSC connection can be detected.

  When the DSC connection is detected in the USB I / F 14 by the normal USB interface protocol or the like, it is determined in step S400 based on the device ID or the like whether the DSC is a device that supports direct printing. If the digital still camera (DSC) supports direct printing, the process proceeds to step S401. This determination has an effect of preventing the printer 104 from being used unnecessarily due to connection of an unsupported device or the like.

  Next, in step S401, it is determined whether the printer status management area 301 is in the idle 202 state. If it is in the idle 202 state, the process proceeds to step S402. By this determination, exclusion of the DSC direct printing state and the printer operation state can prevent malfunctions by a plurality of users (a plurality of recording requests).

  In step S402, the state of the printer state management area 301 is changed from the idle 202 to the DSC connected 201.

  Next, in step S403, time measurement by the timer 25 is started. The timer 25 measures the time from when the DSC 106 is connected to the printer 104 until a print request is received, and when a print request is not received after a predetermined time has elapsed, a timeout is generated.

  In step S404 and step S405, control is performed to wait until a print request from the DSC or a timeout occurs.

  If a timeout has occurred, the process proceeds to step S412. If a print request is received from the DSC 106, the process proceeds to step S406. By determining the timeout, even when the DSC 106 is connected to the printer 104, it is possible to print by receiving the recording data from the host PC 19 on the network.

  In step S406, the timer 25 is stopped, OK is returned in response to the print request, and the process proceeds to step S407. In step S407, data from the DSC 106 is received, and printing is performed until the job end. When the print job is completed, the timer 25 starts measuring in step S408 and waits for a predetermined time.

  If there is a print request from the DSC 106 while waiting (step S409), the process returns to step S406, and the processes of steps S406 to S408 are performed. If disconnection of the DSC 106 is detected (step S410), or if a predetermined time has elapsed and it is determined that a timeout has occurred (step S411), the process proceeds to step S412.

  By the determination step of step S409, it is possible to continuously send print request for recording data from the DSC 106, and it can be received with priority over the print request from the network. With this configuration, there is no interruption due to reception of a print request from the host PC 19 connected to the network, and the operability is improved.

  Further, since the state where the printer 104 is occupied by the DSC 106 can be released by the determination in step S410, the convenience of the host PC 19 connected to another network can be maintained. Further, there is an effect of preventing useless use of the printer 104 resources due to forgetting the connection release processing (connection disconnection) of the DSC 106 based on the determination in step S411.

  In step S412, the timer 25 is stopped, and in step S413, the state of the printer state management area 301 is changed to the idle 202 state, and the process ends.

  Next, normal printing (recording) processing according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

  First, in step S500, a print request is received from the PC 1101, which is one of the host PCs 19 on the network, via the LAN 103 and the network I / F 20.

  Next, in step S501, it is determined whether or not the state of the printer state management area 301 is the idle 202 state. If the idle state is not the 202 state, a print request rejection is notified to the PC 1101 in step S507 and the process ends. According to the determination in step S501, there is an effect of preventing malfunction by performing exclusion of DSC direct printing or printer operation and normal printing operation.

  If it is determined in step S501 that the state is the idle 202 state, the process proceeds to step S502, and the state of the printer state management area 301 is shifted to the printer operating state 203.

  Next, the normal printing operation is realized by executing the job requested to be printed from the PC 1101 up to the job end in step S503.

  In step S504, the state of the printer state management area 301 is shifted from the printer operating state 203 to the idle 202 state. Next, in step S505, it is determined whether or not the DSC 106 is connected. If it is connected, the process proceeds to the above-described DSC direct printing operation, and if not connected, the process is terminated. According to the determination in step S505, even if the DSC 106 is connected during the normal printing operation, the direct printing operation can be performed immediately after the normal printing operation is completed, and the operability related to the direct printing operation can be improved.

  Next, processing during the maintenance operation according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

  First, in step S600, a maintenance request for a recovery operation (for example, a print head cleaning operation) is received from the PC 2101 which is one of the host PCs 19 on the network via the LAN 103 and the network I / F 20.

  Next, in step S601, it is determined whether or not the printer state management area 301 is in the idle 202 state. If not in the idle 202 state, a maintenance request rejection is notified to the PC 19 in step S607 and the process ends. By performing the exclusive process between the DSC direct printing or the normal printing operation and the maintenance operation based on the determination in step S601, the malfunction can be prevented.

  If it is determined in step S601 that the state is the idle 202 state, the process proceeds to step S602, and the state of the printer state management area 301 is shifted to the printer operating state 203. In step S603, the maintenance process requested from the PC 2101 is executed. Then, after the maintenance process is completed, in step S604, the state of the printer state management area 301 is shifted from the printer operating state 203 to the idle 202 state.

  In step S605, it is determined whether the DSC 106 is connected. If the DSC 106 is connected, the process proceeds to the DSC direct printing operation described above. If not connected, the process ends. By the determination in step S605, even if the DSC 106 is connected during the maintenance operation, the direct printing operation can be performed immediately after the maintenance operation is completed, and the operability related to the direct printing operation can be improved.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, in a recording apparatus capable of direct printing in correspondence with a network, resources such as ink and paper and waste of time due to erroneous printing or the like are prevented, and the operability of the operator is improved. effective.

It is a block diagram which shows the hardware constitutions of the recording device which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a schematic diagram which shows the structure of the whole system which concerns on this Embodiment. FIG. 6 is a transition diagram for explaining transition of operation modes in the recording apparatus according to the present embodiment. It is a schematic diagram which shows the printer status management area on DRAM which concerns on this Embodiment. 6 is a flowchart for explaining a DSC direct printing operation in the recording apparatus according to the embodiment. 6 is a flowchart for explaining a normal printing operation in the recording apparatus according to the embodiment. 6 is a flowchart for explaining a maintenance operation in the recording apparatus according to the present embodiment.

Claims (2)

A recording apparatus having an interface connected to a host device and an interface connected to an imaging device,
Detecting means for detecting that the imaging device is connected;
Clocking means for clocking the elapsed time after connection of the imaging device;
When the detection unit detects the connection of the imaging device, the recording device is shifted from the standby state to the imaging device connection state, and when the elapsed time exceeds a predetermined time, the imaging device connection state is changed to the standby state. A recording apparatus comprising: control means for shifting. The recording device further includes a determination unit that determines whether or not the imaging device can be connected to the recording device. When the determination unit determines that the connection is not possible, the control unit connects the imaging device from the standby state. The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein transition to a state is prohibited.

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