JPH0939339A - How to control the printer - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) Abstract: [PROBLEMS] To control a front panel (especially a key switch) during data processing of a printer without wasteful processing. First, it is confirmed whether or not switches SW1 to SW4 are turned on. If there is an ON operation, it is determined whether the printer is processing data. If data is being processed, it is determined whether the pressed switch is a specific switch. When the switch is not the specific switch, the ON operation of the switch is ignored, and when the switch is the specific switch, the CPU 4 performs an operation process corresponding to the switch.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a printer,
In particular, it relates to a printer control method when a switch on the operation panel is turned on during data processing.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, when a printer is processing data, one of a plurality of switches on an operation panel is turned on.
When the operation is performed, that is, when the key switch is pressed from the outside, the control is performed by performing one of the following two processes.

(1) All switches are composed of a matrix circuit, and it is checked (scanned) whether or not the switches are turned on at regular intervals.

(2) Interrupt control is performed to cause the CPU to issue an interrupt request regardless of which switch is turned on.

[0005]

However, the conventional control method has the following problems.

In the case of (1), since the switch is scanned at regular intervals, it must be scanned, especially when the printer is busy processing print data, and the data processing becomes slow. . Also, if you increase the scan interval to help that, the switch turns on.
The response of the operation of the printer due to the operation becomes slow, or the ON operation of the switch cannot be accepted.

In the case of (2), since an interrupt request is generated for the ON operation of all the switches, an interrupt request is generated even in the case of a switch that is not particularly urgent during data processing, resulting in a waste of time. It is spent, and wastes time during data processing.

[0008]

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and has a plurality of switches on an operation panel, and controls the printer to perform a specific operation by turning on the switches. In the method, the presence / absence of a switch ON operation is detected during data processing, and if there is an ON operation from a specific switch, an interrupt request signal is generated to operate the printer, and an ON operation from other switches is performed. When there is an operation, the printer control method is to ignore the ON operation.

[0009]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a printer of the present invention, which includes a front panel unit 1, an interrupt request circuit 2, a key switch control circuit 3, a CPU 4, a ROM 5, and an R.
It consists of AM6.

The front panel unit 1 includes a plurality of switches S.
It has W1 to SW4. These switches SW1 to SW4
Is turned on when it is pressed from the outside, and a specific operation of the printer can be performed.

The interrupt request circuit 2 is a circuit for recognizing that a specific switch has been pressed, and generates an interrupt request to the CPU 4 only when the specific switch is pressed. It should be noted that the specific switch is a switch for performing an operation that needs to be dealt with immediately even during data processing, and examples thereof include an online key and a print cancel key.

The key switch control circuit 3 is a circuit for recognizing that a switch not corresponding to the interrupt request circuit 2 has been pressed. The request from the key switch control circuit 3 to the CPU 4 is the above-mentioned conventional (1). Alternatively, the method (2) may be used.

The CPU 4 controls the entire printer,
In this embodiment, at least the signals from the interrupt request circuit 2 and the key switch control circuit 3 are dealt with,
It is a part that controls to perform a specific operation.

A program for operating the printer is recorded in the ROM 5.

Data and the like for printing are recorded in the RAM 6.

The operation of this embodiment will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

First, it is confirmed whether or not the switches SW1 to SW4 are turned on (STEP1). If there is no ON operation, STEP 1 is repeated, and if there is an ON operation, it is determined whether or not the printer is performing data processing (STE).
P2). If the data is not being processed, the CPU 4 performs the operation process corresponding to the pressed switch (STEP
6) If data is being processed, it is determined whether the pressed switch is a specific switch (STEP 3). If it is not a specific switch, the key switch control circuit 3 operates, but the CPU 4 ignores the ON operation of the switch (STEP 4), and in the case of a specific switch, the interrupt request circuit 2 operates and the CPU 4 To issue an interrupt request (STEP 5), and the CPU 4 performs an operation process corresponding to the switch (STEP 6).

[0019]

As described above, according to the printer control method of the present invention, only when a switch that requires urgency even during data processing or a switch related to data processing is pressed, the switch is handled. In order to perform the operation processing, the printer has the following effects.

(1) While the printer is processing data, the CPU
Since it can concentrate on data processing until there is an interrupt request, the printed picture is less likely to be cut off in the middle.

(2) When a switch other than a specific switch is pressed, it is ignored, so that no time is wasted during data processing.

(3) Response to a specific switch during data processing is improved.

(4) When the switch is pressed from the outside, it is not necessary to judge whether the switch can be pressed during data processing.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram showing a printer of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing a printer control method of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1: Front panel section 2: Interrupt request circuit 3: Key switch control circuit 4: CPU 5: ROM 6: RAM

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. An operation panel having a plurality of switches,
In a control method for causing a printer to perform a specific operation by turning on the switch, the presence or absence of the turning on operation of the switch is detected during data processing to turn on from the specific switch.
When there is an operation, an interrupt request signal is generated to operate the printer, and when there is an ON operation from another switch, the ON operation is ignored. .