JP4594003B2 - Printing apparatus and control method of printing apparatus - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a printing apparatus having an interface and capable of controlling power supply to the interface, and a method for controlling the printing apparatus.

  In recent years, digital cameras that can take an image with a simple operation and convert the taken image into digital image data have been widely used. To print an image taken with such a digital camera and use it as a hard copy, the digital image data is once taken into a PC (Personal Computer), subjected to image processing, and then output to a printing apparatus such as an inkjet printer. It is common to print.

Recently, a memory card that is mounted on a digital camera and stores a captured image is directly attached to an inkjet printer without using an image processing device such as a PC, and the image stored in the memory card is stored. A printing apparatus called a so-called photo direct (PD) printing apparatus has been developed (for example, Patent Document 1 below).
JP 2004-171193 A

  The above-described digital camera and memory card function as a print data supply device that supplies print data to a PC or printing apparatus. In many cases, these print data supply devices are USB (Universal Serial Bus). It is connected to a PC or a photo direct printing apparatus via a general-purpose interface such as

  In the case of an interface such as USB, power can be supplied to a device connected to a USB input / output port.

  In a conventional apparatus, particularly a printing apparatus provided with a card slot for reading a recording medium such as a compact flash (trade name (hereinafter abbreviated)) as a print data supply device, power supply control of a general-purpose interface such as USB is provided. There were the following problems.

  That is, in this type of apparatus, for example, when an excessive power supply is required for the device, or when a device that requires a power supply exceeding the predetermined rated range of the apparatus is connected to the port, When an error occurs, it may be necessary to stop the power supply to protect the circuit. In this case, conventionally, control is performed to shut down the power supplied to the card slot. It was.

  However, if the power supply is turned off while the PC or printing device caches image data (for example, JPEG data) stored in the memory card inserted in the card slot in the memory, the file is opened. Since the normal close process is not performed, the file may be abnormal.

  In view of the above problems, an object of the present invention is to prevent an accident such as data destruction of a print data supply device in a printing apparatus to which the print data supply device can be connected.

  In order to solve the above problems, the printing apparatus of the present invention connects the first interface for connecting a device via an external cable and the memory card slot for setting a memory card without using an external cable. And a power supply control unit capable of supplying power to the first and second interfaces, the power supply control unit having a predetermined relationship with respect to the first interface. When a current supply request exceeding a value is made, control is performed not to supply power to the first interface, and when a current supply request exceeding a predetermined value is made to the second interface, the first interface is controlled. Control to supply power to the second interface.

  Alternatively, in a printing apparatus having an interface to which an arbitrary device can be connected and a power control unit capable of supplying power to the interface, a determination unit that determines a type of a device connected through the interface, and the power source When a current supply exceeding a predetermined value is requested to the interface, the control means supplies power to the interface if the determination result of the determination means is a storage, and the determination result of the determination means If it is other than storage, control is performed so that power is not supplied to the interface.

  According to the configuration of claim 1 or 5, even when a current supply request exceeding a predetermined value is made to the interface connected to the memory card slot, power is supplied to the interface. Accidents such as data destruction in the memory card can be prevented in advance.

  According to the configuration of claim 2 or 6, if the device connected through the interface is a storage, even if a current supply request exceeding a predetermined value is made to the interface, the interface Since power is supplied to the storage device, accidents such as data destruction in the storage can be prevented.

  Hereinafter, embodiments relating to a photo direct printing apparatus capable of connecting a digital camera or a memory card such as a compact flash storing image data taken by the digital camera via a general-purpose port such as a USB will be described.

  First, referring to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, a usage pattern of the photo direct printing apparatus 100 adopting the present invention will be described.

  In the photo direct printing apparatus 100 of FIG. 1, when a user inserts a memory card (compact flash or the like) storing captured images into the memory card slot 101, the memory is stored if the power of the photo direct printing apparatus 100 is turned on. The insertion of the card is detected, and a message indicating that the memory card has been inserted into the memory card slot 101 is displayed on the viewer 102. By operating the operation unit 103 from this state, the image data recorded on the memory card is displayed on the color LCD panel. The image is displayed on the viewer 102 for image display configured using the above.

  Further, printing is started when the user operates the operation unit 103 while viewing an image displayed on the viewer 102, selects image data desired to be printed, and presses a print button of the operation unit 103.

  The above is the operation when direct printing is performed from a memory card (compact flash or the like). However, when image data is transmitted from the digital camera 200 to the photo direct printing apparatus 100 for printing, the usage pattern as shown in FIG. It becomes.

  In FIG. 2, the user uses a USB cable 201 to connect the connection connector 202 of the digital camera 200 and the connection connector 203 of the photo direct printing apparatus 100. At this time, if the power of both the digital camera 200 and the photo direct printing apparatus 100 is turned on, the state of the USB port is constantly monitored, so an icon representing the connection of the digital camera 200 is displayed on the viewer 102.

  Next, when desired image data is selected on the display unit provided in the digital camera 200 and a print button provided in the digital camera 200 is pressed, a print command defined in a predetermined format is transmitted via the USB cable 201. The image data transmitted to the photo direct printing apparatus 100 and designated is printed.

  FIG. 3 shows a configuration of a main part of the photo direct printing apparatus 100 shown in FIGS.

  In FIG. 3, reference numeral 300 denotes a control unit, and the control unit 300 is configured using an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit) 301. In addition to the ASIC 301, the control unit 300 includes the following units.

  The motor driver 302 is supplied with power from a power source 313 via a power connector 312 and supplies power to the printer engine 305 and the ASIC 301 via a regulator.

  A DSP (digital signal processor) 303 has a CPU therein and executes various controls and image processing. Reference numeral 304 denotes a memory having a program memory for storing a CPU program of the DSP 303, a RAM area for storing a program at the time of execution, and a memory area functioning as a work buffer for storing image data.

  Reference numeral 305 denotes a printer engine. Here, a printer engine of an ink jet printer that prints a color image using a plurality of color inks (or a printer engine of another recording method) is mounted.

  Reference numeral 306 denotes a USB host module (UHOST), which includes a register unit 306a, an input / output port A (306b), an input / output port B (306c), and a power supply control unit 306d (see FIG. 4).

  Reference numeral 308 is a connector for connecting the viewer 102, and 309 is a USB hub (USB HUB), which directly passes data from the PC 310 and outputs it to the printer engine 305 via the USB 311.

  In addition, the exchange of signals between the control unit 300 and the printer engine 305 is performed via the USB 311 or the IEEE 1284 bus 314 described above.

  FIG. 4 shows the configuration of the USB host module (UHOST) 306. The USB host module (UHOST) 306 includes the following units.

  The register unit 306a includes a register group compliant with OHCI (Open Host Controller Interface) and a register group indicating the status of each port. In this embodiment, an area for setting an internal connection flag for each port is provided in the register unit 306a. This internal connection flag expresses whether or not the USB port corresponding to the flag is a main body internal connection.

  The input / output port A (306b) is a port for connecting the digital camera 200, and is connected to the connector 203 for connecting the USB cable 201. The input / output port B (306 c) is connected to the memory card slot 101. Since the memory card slot 101 is connected to the control circuit of the apparatus inside the photo direct printing apparatus 100 without going through the USB cable 201, the user cannot detach it (of course, it is inserted into the memory card slot 101). The memory card 307 to be inserted can be inserted / removed at the user's will).

  Therefore, in such a configuration, the internal connection flag corresponding to the input / output port A (306b) of the register unit 306a is “0”, and the internal connection flag corresponding to the input / output port B (306c) is “1”. Will be set to.

  The power supply control unit 306d is supplied with 5V power among power supplied from the motor driver 302 and supplied to the ASIC 301. Further, on / off of power supply to the input / output port A (306b) and the input / output port B (306c) is controlled by the register operation of the register unit 306a.

  In this embodiment, when there is a power supply request (overcurrent) exceeding the rated range for the input / output port A (306b) and the input / output port B (306c), the overcurrent occurrence information is stored in the register unit 306a. The power control unit 306d refers to the register unit 306a and performs control to stop power supply to the port.

  In this embodiment, as described later, even when an excessive power supply request is made from the input / output port, control for permitting power supply to the port is performed according to a predetermined condition. The “rated range” is set to a predetermined range considerably smaller than the actual hardware power supply capability.

  FIG. 5 shows an internal connection flag register of the register unit 306a. In this embodiment, the internal connection flag register corresponding to the input / output port A (306b) is bit 0 of the register unit 306a, and the internal connection flag register corresponding to the input / output port B (306c) is bit 1 of the register unit 306a. Assigned to each. As described above, when the port corresponding to the internal connection flag register is internally connected, “1” is set to bit 0. Therefore, in this embodiment, only the memory card slot 101 is internally connected to the input / output port B (306c). Therefore, “1” is set to bit 1.

  Next, the operation in the above configuration will be described with reference to FIGS. The control procedure shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 can be implemented as a CPU program in the DSP 303 or ASIC 301, and can be stored in a program memory area of the memory 304, for example. In the following description of the flowcharts of FIGS. 6 and 7, step numbers beginning with S in the drawings are appropriately cited (the same applies to other flowcharts thereafter).

  Here, the control executed by the USB host module 306 when the photo direct printing apparatus 100 is powered on will be described with reference to FIG. In the following description, the processing is mainly described for the input / output port B (306c) of the USB port, but the same processing is also performed on the input / output port A (306b) side.

  When the power of the photo direct printing apparatus 100 is turned on, a constant power supply is performed from the USB host module 306 to each port. Whether or not a device is connected to each port can be determined by detecting a change in the differential signal (D +, D-) of the port (S601). Then, using the change of the differential signal as a trigger, the register unit 306a sets an address to the port, and the connection process is started (S602).

  Further, according to the internal connection state of the port, next, a value is set in the internal connection flag register prepared in the register unit 306a (S603).

  Since the memory card slot 101 is internally connected to the input / output port B (306c) as described above, the internal connection flag register of this port is set to 1 by the above processing, and the input / output port A (306b) side Of course, the internal connection flag register is 0 because it is not an internal connection.

  Next, a certain amount of current is requested from the memory card slot 101 connected to the input / output port B (306c). If it is within the rated range, the request is permitted (S604), and the required power is supplied to the device. (S605). After that, the device can transfer data between the Bulk, Interrupt, and Control endpoints (normal initialization end).

  If the amount of current requested in step S604 is outside the rated range, the internal connection flag is referred to (S606). If the internal connection flag is not set, power supply to the input / output port B (306c) is stopped (S607). If the internal connection flag is set, power supply to the input / output port B (306c) is stopped. Notifies the error indicating that the required power is out of the rated range without stopping (S608). In this case, data transfer cannot be performed because the connection with the device connected to the input / output port B (306c) has not been terminated normally (initialization abnormal termination).

  Of course, different error messages may be used in the error notification in S608 depending on whether the power supply is stopped or not.

  Here, the power supply control when an overcurrent occurs at the time of device connection will be described with reference to FIG. A typical case where this overcurrent supply is required is, for example, a case where an overcurrent device that requires power exceeding the rated range is connected to a port. FIG. 7 describes how the processing of FIG. 6 works when a digital camera is connected as an example of such an overcurrent device on the input / output port A (306b) side, for example.

  For example, when an overcurrent device such as a digital camera is connected to the input / output port A (306b), the device changes the differential signal (D +, D−) (S701), and the register unit 306a displays the differential signal. Using the change as a trigger, an address is set to the port and connection processing is started (S702). Here, power outside the rated range is requested, and the internal connection flag prepared for each port is referred to (S703).

  As described above, since the internal connection flag is not set for the input / output port A (306b), the power supply controller 306d is operated to stop the power supplied to the input / output port A (306b) (S704). An error indicating that the required power is out of the rated range is notified (S705). Also in this case, data transfer cannot be performed because the connection with the device connected to the input / output port A (306b) has not been terminated normally.

  As described above, when overcurrent supply is requested at a USB port, error notification is performed at any USB port, but power supply to the port is not stopped at the USB port in which the internal connection flag is set. The power supply to the port is stopped only for the USB port for which the internal connection flag is not set.

  In this embodiment, as described above, since power supply is continued even when an overcurrent supply is requested for an internal connection port, recording of a device connected to the port, such as a compact flash, is performed. Even if the image file on the medium is in an open state, file data cache inconsistency does not occur, and an accident such as file destruction can be prevented beforehand.

  In the above, an example of changing the USB port control (whether power supply is stopped) at the time of overcurrent according to the state of the internal connection flag has been shown, but in the following, the type of device connected to the USB port (specifically Specifically, an example is shown in which USB port control is performed in the event of overcurrent in accordance with the device class or the class driver ID of the driver.

  FIG. 8 shows the control executed by the USB host module 306 when the photo direct printing apparatus 100 is powered on, as in FIG. In FIG. 8, the step number of the step having the step number of the S600 series in FIG. 6 is replaced with the S800 series. Although FIG. 8 mainly describes the processing on the input / output port B (306c) side of the USB port, the same processing is also performed on the input / output port A (306b) side.

  When the power of the photo direct printing apparatus 100 is turned on, a constant power supply is performed from the USB host module 306 to each port. Whether or not a device is connected to each port can be determined by detecting a change in the differential signal (D +, D−) of the port (S801). Then, using the change in the differential signal as a trigger, the register unit 306a sets an address in the port, and connection processing is started (S802).

  Then, the class ID (storage class: 3) of the memory card inserted from the memory card slot 101 connected to the input / output port B (306c) is obtained (S803). This class ID (class driver ID) is determined in accordance with the USB standard, and is used when referring to the class driver table of FIG. 9 as will be described later. Port control is performed.

  Next, a certain amount of current is requested from the memory card slot 101 connected to the input / output port B (306c). If it is within the rated range, the request is permitted (S804), and the requested power is supplied to the device. (S805). After that, the device can transfer data between the Bulk, Interrupt, and Control endpoints (normal initialization end).

  On the other hand, if the amount of current requested in step S804 is outside the rated range, in this embodiment, the class driver table is referenced based on the class ID (class driver ID) obtained from the USB device of the port (S806a), It is determined whether or not to stop power supply (S806b).

  This class driver table is configured as shown in FIG. 9, for example. As shown in FIG. 9, the class driver table describes a class ID that permits power supply stop and a class ID that does not permit power supply stop. In the case of FIG. 9, the class driver table indicates that “mass storage” type device (driver) with class ID 3 is “not allowed” for power shutdown (power supply stop), and power supply shutdown (power supply stop) for other devices (drivers). Is configured to “allow”. That is, the power supply to the port connected to the “Mass Storage” type device (driver) whose class ID is 3, which is used as an image data storage device, is not stopped. Note that this class driver table may be stored fixedly in the program memory area of the memory 304, or may be created at any timing during initialization.

  When the class driver table as shown in FIG. 9 is used, if the class ID of the device connected to the input / output port B (306c) is 3, the class ID in the class driver table that does not allow the power stop is used. = 3, in this case, the power supply is not stopped and only an error indicating that the required power is out of the rated range is notified (S808 in FIG. 8). If the ID permits the power supply stop, the power supply is stopped (S807), and an error is notified (initialization abnormal end: S808 in FIG. 8).

  Also in this embodiment, different error messages may be used in the error notification in S808 depending on whether the power supply is stopped or not.

  FIG. 10 shows power supply control when an overcurrent occurs when a device is connected in this embodiment. FIG. 10 describes how the processing of FIG. 8 works when a digital camera is connected to the input / output port A (306b) side as an example of an overcurrent device, as in FIG. In FIG. 10, the step number of the S700 series in FIG. 7 is replaced with the S1000 series.

  When a device that requires power exceeding the rated range (overcurrent) is connected to the input / output port A (306b), the device changes the differential signal (D +, D−) (S1001), and the register unit 306a Using a change in the differential signal as a trigger, an address is set in the port and connection processing is started (S1002). Next, a class ID (storage class: 1) is acquired from the device connected to the input / output port A (306b) (S1003a).

  Then, the class ID connected to the input / output port A (306b) is compared with the class driver table of FIG. 9 (S1003b), and it is determined whether to stop the power supply (S1003c).

  Normally, in the case of a device such as a digital camera, it is a Still Image device with class ID = 1, and according to the class driver table of FIG. 9, power is stopped for class ID = 1 connected to the input / output port A (306b). Since it matches the permitted ID, the power supply control unit 306d is operated to stop power supply to the input / output port A (306b) (S1004), and an error notification (S1005) is made.

  On the other hand, since the power stop of the input / output port B (306c) is not permitted, the power supply control unit 306d is controlled to maintain the power supply of the port. Also in this case, data transfer cannot be performed because the connection with the device connected to the input / output port A (306b) has not been terminated normally.

  In this embodiment, even when an overcurrent supply is requested, power supply is continued without shutting down the power supply to a device of a specific device type. Even if an image file on a recording device such as a compact flash device is in an open state, file data cache inconsistency does not occur, thereby preventing accidents such as file destruction. be able to.

  The present invention can be applied to various printing apparatuses in which a print data supply device that supplies print data is connected via a general-purpose interface that supplies power to the print data supply device.

  Distribution of software for realizing the method and program of the present invention is not only stored in the program memory from the time of shipment, but also a floppy (trade name) disk, CDROM, hard disk, memory card, magneto-optical disk, etc. Of course, it is possible to use other storage media, or of course to adopt a distribution method such as introducing into a printing apparatus via a network and updating.

1 is a perspective view showing an external appearance of a photo direct printing apparatus employing the present invention. 1 is a perspective view showing an external appearance of a photo direct printing apparatus employing the present invention. FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a control system of a photo direct printing apparatus employing the present invention. FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a USB host module (UHOST) in FIG. 3. FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing an internal connection flag register of the register unit of FIG. 4. FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing power control in the photo direct printing apparatus employing the present invention. FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing power control in the photo direct printing apparatus employing the present invention. It is the flowchart figure which showed the power supply control in other embodiment of this invention. It is explanatory drawing which showed the structural example of the class driver table used by control of FIG. It is the flowchart figure which showed the power supply control in other embodiment of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 Photodirect printing apparatus 101 Memory card slot 102 Viewer 103 Operation part 200 Digital camera 201 USB cable 202, 203 Connector for connection 300 Control part 301 ASIC
302 Motor driver 303 DSP
305 Printer engine 306a Register unit 310 PC
311 USB
312 Power connector 313 Power supply

Claims (6)

A first interface for connecting a device via an external cable; a second interface for connecting a memory card slot for setting a memory card without an external cable; and the first and second interfaces A printing apparatus having power control means capable of supplying power to the interface of
The power control means controls the power supply to the first interface not to supply power to the first interface when a current supply request exceeding a predetermined value is made to the first interface. A printing apparatus that controls to supply power to the second interface when a current supply request exceeding a predetermined value is made. In a printing apparatus having an interface to which an arbitrary device can be connected, and power control means capable of supplying power to the interface,
Determining means for determining a type of a device connected via the interface;
Said power supply control means, when the current supply exceeds a predetermined value with respect to the interface is requested, if the determination result is storage of the determination means, rows that have the power supply to the interface, said discrimination means the determination if the result is non storage, printing apparatus characterized by controlling the supply of power to the interface to not adversely rows.   3. The interface according to claim 2, wherein the interface is a USB interface, and the determination unit determines a device type by acquiring a class ID according to a USB standard of a device connected via the interface. The printing apparatus as described in.   4. A printing operation for reading out image data from a memory card set in a memory card slot and performing printing and a printing operation for performing printing in accordance with a print command from a device are executed. The printing apparatus according to claim 1. A first interface for connecting a device via an external cable; a second interface for connecting a memory card slot for setting a memory card without an external cable; and the first and second interfaces A control method of a printing apparatus having power control means capable of supplying power to the interface of
When a current supply request exceeding a predetermined value is made to the first interface, control is performed so that power supply to the first interface by the power supply control means is not performed.
A control method for a printing apparatus, characterized in that, when a current supply request exceeding a predetermined value is made to the second interface, the power control means controls to supply power to the second interface. In a method for controlling a printing apparatus, comprising: an interface to which an arbitrary device can be connected; and power supply control means capable of supplying power to the interface.
A determination step of determining a type of a device connected via the interface;
If the current supply exceeds a predetermined value with respect to the interface is required, the long determination result of the determination step is a storage, rows that have a supply of power to the interface by the power control means, said determination step When the determined result is other than storage, method for controlling the printing apparatus characterized by a control step of controlling so not adversely rows supply of power to the interface.

Images