JP2615757B2 - Input chart creation device for image output device simulation - Google Patents

Description

Description: BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a simulation apparatus for simulating an image output apparatus such as an analog or digital copying machine, a laser or LED (light emitting diode) printer, a facsimile, etc. The present invention relates to a device for creating an input chart showing changes in various signals generated by various components arranged in an image output device.

[Conventional technology]

FIG. 47 is a schematic sectional view of a general copying machine provided with an automatic document feeder and a sorter as an example of an image output apparatus.

In the figure, reference numeral 100 denotes a copying machine main body, and on the upper surface of the copying machine main body 100, an automatic document feeder 20 for automatically loading a document onto a platen glass of the copying machine main body 100.
0 is placed on the side of the copier main body 100, and a sorter 300 for sorting the copied paper and discharging it to the bin 301.
Is installed.

A photoconductor drum 101 rotating in the direction of the arrow is arranged in the copying machine main body 100, and a charger 102, a developing device 103, a copying machine 104, a peeling device 105, a cleaner 106, and the like are sequentially arranged around the photoconductor drum 101. Are located.

In addition, a manuscript (not shown)
The light source 111 illuminates the light, and the reflected light from the original is
A mirror 112 and a lens 113 for focusing on 1 are provided, and these constitute a scanning optical system. The scanning optical system forms an electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive drum 101 charged by the charger 102 in advance. This electrostatic latent image is visualized as a toner image by the developing device 103.

At the same time, the paper is conveyed from one of the first, second and third trays 121, 122, 123 containing papers of different sizes in the direction of the photosensitive drum 101 by the paper feeding device 124, and is exposed by the transfer device 104. The toner image on the body drum 101 is transferred to a sheet. At this time, a registration gate (not shown) is provided in the paper transport path so that the paper is fed at a predetermined timing synchronized with the rotation of the photosensitive drum 101. Paper after transfer is peeled off 105
Then, the toner image is separated from the photosensitive drum 101, is sent to the fixing device 126 by the conveyor belt 125, and the toner image is fixed on the sheet.

In the case of normal copying, as shown by the solid line, the sheet after fixing passes through the inverter 127 as it is and is discharged to a predetermined bin 301 by the sorter 300. In the case of screen copying, as shown by the dashed line, the front and back of the sheet after one side has been copied is inverted by the inverter 127, and then temporarily set on the double-sided tray 1.
After being stored in 28, the sheet is conveyed again toward the photosensitive drum 101 via the circulating device 129 and the sheet feeding device 124, and this time, the other surface is copied.

In the copying machine as described above, the automatic document feeder 200
And copying using the sorter 300,
A document is placed on the document tray 201, and a copy start button (not shown) provided on the console panel of the copier main body 100
Is pressed, first, the automatic document feeder 20 shown in FIG.
By 0, the document is conveyed to a specified position on the platen glass 204. That is, the original on the original tray 201 is
The document is sent out onto the platen glass 204 by 2,203, and the document is conveyed to a specified position on the platen glass 204 by the conveyance belt 205.

Next, the photosensitive drum 101 is rotated, and in synchronization with this rotation, a scanning optical system including a light source 111, a mirror 112, a lens 113, and the like moves below the platen glass 204 in the left-right direction in FIG.

As a result, as described above, an electrostatic latent image is formed on the photosensitive drum 101, and thereafter, each step of development, transfer, peeling, fixing, discharging, sorting, and the like is performed as is well known.

The original after copying is removed from the platen glass 204 by the transport belt 205, scooped up by the gate claw 207, and discharged by the original transport roll 208 to the original receiver 206 above the automatic original transport device 200.

When the copying operation is performed as described above, each process is performed while detecting the operation state of each apparatus and the sheet passing state.

In a copying machine equipped with such peripheral devices as the automatic document feeder 200 and the sorter 300, the operation of each device must be controlled in relation to other devices and the state. The devices are connected by a communication path.

Control of each device is performed by a microcomputer. Each microcomputer sends and receives data via the interface and the communication path. Further, a plurality of microcomputers may be provided for each function in the same device.

The devices controlled by this microcomputer are:
It is basically divided into three parts. For example, as shown in FIG. 49, the copying machine main body 100 includes a copying machine mechanism 131, a CPU (central processing unit) 132, and an electric circuit board 133 for interfacing between them.

The copying machine mechanism 131 is provided with sensors, switches, and the like for detecting a copying operation state. Inputs from these sensors, switches, and the like are temporarily supplied to the electric circuit board 133, where predetermined CPU 132 after signal processing
Is supplied as input data. Some of the inputs are supplied to the CPU 13 as interrupt signals. Output data subjected to predetermined processing by the CPU 132 is output to the electric circuit board 133.
The electric circuit board 133 outputs a signal for controlling driving components such as a motor and a solenoid provided in the copier mechanism 131.

An operation console panel 134 is connected to the electric circuit board 133. A signal from a key for starting a copying machine or the like is supplied to the electric circuit board 133, and data such as the number of copies and a message are transmitted to the console panel 134. Supplied to
It is displayed by a lamp, a light emitting diode matrix or the like.

Further, peripheral devices for the copier main body 100, that is,
The above-described automatic document feeder 200 and sorter 300 have the same configuration. For example, an automatic document feeder
In the case of 200, signals and data are transmitted and received by an electric circuit board 233 provided between the automatic document feeder mechanism 231 and the CPU 232. The operation between the devices is controlled by, for example, serial communication data.

For example, when copying is performed using the automatic document feeder 200, when the sensor detects that the document has been conveyed to the specified position on the platen glass 204 by the conveyance belt 205, information from this sensor is output. The data is supplied as communication data from the electric circuit board 233 of the automatic document feeder 200 to the electric circuit board 133 of the copying machine main body 100 via the communication path CL. Then, the copying machine body 100 starts a copying operation based on the communication data.

In a copying machine using a microcomputer as described above, for example, when developing a program to be executed by the CPU 132 of the copying machine body 100, a simulator kit as shown in FIG. 50 is used as a development tool for debugging. A device called is used.

The simulator kit 40 includes the actual copier mechanism 13
1 and the input system and the output system of the console panel 134 are replaced with a switch panel section 41, a display panel section 42 and a pseudo console panel section 43, and the CPU socket on the electric circuit board 133 is replaced with a target CPU 132 to replace the in-circuit emulator. 44 (shown as ICE in the figure).

The switch panel section 41 is provided with a plurality of switches 41a for externally setting the state of each component. By operating the switch 41a of the switch panel section 41, the output from the switch 41a is supplied as an input signal to the electric circuit board 133. At this time, the blue lamp 42a provided on the display panel unit 42 is turned on to display the state of the corresponding input component.

The output signal from the electric circuit board 133 is supplied to the red lamp 42b corresponding to each output component, and the state is displayed.

Although a plurality of switches 41a, blue lamps 42a and red lamps 42b are provided, only one each is shown in the figure for simplicity.

The electric circuit board 133 is connected to a personal computer via a level converter 45 and an input / output interface 46.
47 is connected.

FIG. 51 shows a schematic arrangement of the simulator kit 40 and peripheral devices.

In the left rack 400a, a display panel section 42 in which the layout of the copying machine is schematically drawn, a pseudo console panel section 43 having the same function as the console panel 134 of the copying machine body 100, and manually inputting a signal. Switch panel part 4 for
1 and a stabilizing power supply 48 for supplying an operating voltage to each unit. In the right rack 400b, a personal computer 47, an input / output interface 46, and a level converter 45 are arranged. The personal computer 47 and its related devices will be described later.

As shown in FIG. 52, the layout of a copier to be developed is schematically depicted on the display panel section 42 so that the flow of paper during copying can be visually grasped. For example, in the drawing, reference numeral 401 denotes a photosensitive drum, 402 denotes a fixing device, 403 denotes a conveyance roller, and 404 denotes a paper feed tray. In addition, at a location corresponding to the document conveying device 200, a conveying belt 2 is provided.
There is a display 405 or the like corresponding to 05 and a display 406 or the like corresponding to the bin 301 at a location corresponding to the sorter 300.

Moreover The display panel unit 42, a plurality of blue lamps 42a ₁ ~42a ₃ to display the output of the input parts such as various sensors (shown by a circle with hatching) with is provided, the motor , (shown in single open circles) a plurality of red lamps 42b ₁ ~42b ₃ for displaying the status of the output components, such as a solenoid being disposed at positions corresponding to each of these components, names respectively Is attached.

For example, fee 404 on the top paper tray
a red lamp 42b ₁ indicating the operation of a feeding solenoid named d-sol, and a feed indicating whether or not paper is being fed;
blue lamp 42a ₁ is provided named out snr (1). Also, on the input side of the display 401 of the photosensitive drum,
A red lamp 42b ₂ indicating the operation of a solenoid named reg-sol that controls a registration gate that determines the timing of starting conveyance of the sheet, and a reg-snr indicating whether the sheet is being fed to the registration gate. named blue lamp 42a ₂ are provided, further, the blue lamp 42a ₃ named fusin-snr indicating whether the paper to the fixing unit to the input side of the vicinity of the fixing device of the display 402 is fed Is provided. Further, the red lamp 42b ₃ showing the operation of the roll named fsrout-roll on the output side of the fixing unit of the display 402 is provided. In addition, a blue lamp indicating the arrival state of the paper and a red lamp indicating the operating state of the motor, solenoid, and the like are displayed on each path. Omitted.

Each lamp is similarly provided at a location corresponding to the automatic document feeder 200 and the sorter 300.

As described above, the personal computer 47 is connected to the electric circuit board 133 via the input / output interface 46 and the level converter 45 (see FIG. 50). Then, timing data and communication data from the personal computer 47 are branched into a predetermined number of signal paths by the input / output interface 46, and the levels are adjusted by the level converter 45 and supplied to the electric circuit board 133. The above-mentioned timing data and communication data simulate signals from sensors and other peripheral devices. In addition, the state of the signal output from the electric circuit board 133 is displayed on the console of the personal computer 47.

A simulation using a simulator system including such a simulation kit 40 and a personal computer 47 will be described.

This simulator system has a manual control mode and a personal computer control mode.

In the manual control mode, transmission / reception simulation, sensor signal simulation, and the like are performed. The transmission / reception simulation transmits data input from the keyboard of the personal computer 47 or initially loaded data to the electric circuit board 133, and displays data received from the circuit board 133 on the console of the personal computer 47. It is. Simulating the sensor signal, as described above,
A signal to the electric circuit board 133 is set by turning on and off the switch 41a of the switch panel section 41, and the state is displayed by a blue lamp 42a. The state of the output signal from the circuit board 133 is indicated by a red lamp 42b.

The personal computer control mode is an electric circuit board
When debugging the control software of 133, it is used when performing a paper running test or the like according to a timing chart. Here, communication data, sensor signals, and the like are created based on a timing chart described later.

 Here, the paper running test will be described.

In developing a copying machine control program, it is necessary to confirm how the program is executed in accordance with the paper transport position when the paper is sequentially transported inside the copying machine. At this time, since the actual mechanism is generally not completed yet, for example, timing data for simulating the output of the sensor is prepared, and the program is executed based on the timing data.

That is, in the in-circuit emulator 44,
While various sensor signals are supplied from the switch panel section 41 or the personal computer 47, the target CPU 132
The same program as described above is executed, and it is checked whether the program is operating normally by observing the operation status of the copying machine represented by the flashing of the lamps 42a and 42b on the display panel unit 42. If the operation is abnormal, the defective portion of the program is estimated from the blinking states of the lamps 42a and 42b, the program error is detected using the in-circuit emulator 44, and this is corrected.

In addition, a logic analyzer is used to inspect timing data, and an oscilloscope is used to inspect an actual waveform of each part. These tests may be performed in combination.

An example of the above simulation will be described with reference to a simple program example.

The following program turns on a switch named fsrout-roll and turns off a switch named reg-sol when a sensor named fusin-snr is turned on. Is described in the PL / M language. All programs are written in uppercase. For example, FUSIN-SNR in the program
It means sin-snr. The same applies to other notations. Fusin-snr is a sensor for detecting the arrival of paper at the entrance of the fixing device, fsrout-roll is a roller operation switch at the exit of the fixing device, and reg-sol is for opening and closing the registration gate. Operation switch to perform.

IF INP ＄ 8255 ＄ CHK (FUSIN-SNR) = ON THEN DO; FSROUT-ROLL-ON; REG-SOL-OFF; END; FIG. 53 shows a flowchart of this processing.

In other words, this routine executes INP ＄ 8255
下 位 Invokes a subroutine named CHK to fus
The output of in-snr is checked, and when the paper reaches the entrance of the fixing device, a roller at the exit of the fixing device is operated, and the registration gate is turned off to stop the passage of the paper.

When checking the operation of this routine, the sensor f is sent from the personal computer 47 of the simulator system to the electric circuit board 133 while the program is running.
Supply a sensor signal corresponding to usin-snr.

If the routine is programmed correctly, fu
Red lamp of fsrout-roll immediately after sin-snr turns on
42b ₃ lights up, and the reg-sol red lamp 42b ₂ turns off. In addition, blue lamp 42a ₃ of this time fusin-snr lights.

However, if there is a bug in the routine, for example, if REG-SOL-OFF; is mistakenly programmed as REG-SOL-ON ;, even if fusin-snr is turned on, it will be turned off. since the red lamp 42b ₂ of should do reg-sol will remain lit, it can be seen that the abnormal behavior.

When the software is debugged in this way, it is necessary to prepare data indicating the operation state of the copying machine, that is, sensor signals corresponding to the sensor fusin-snr in the above example.

For this reason, conventionally, the change state of the sensor output is obtained on the graph paper from the positions of various sensors of the actual copying machine and the paper conveyance speed, etc., and an input chart is created. Further, timing data is obtained from the input chart. Had been created. In addition, the input chart is a chart in which time is taken on the horizontal axis and the level of sensor output is taken on the vertical axis.
For example, how the output of the sensor changes as the sheet progresses is represented in a time-series manner. The timing data corresponds to the input chart, but represents the time and the change state of the change point in raw data, for example, ASCII code so that it can be used for an actual simulation.

First, when creating an input chart, prepare graph paper with time on the horizontal axis and the movement distance of the paper on the vertical axis, and as shown in Fig. 54, the leading edge of the paper moving with time. And the position of the trailing end are plotted according to the size of the sheet, and a straight line representing the moving state of the sheet is drawn by hand. In the drawing, LE1 is a line segment indicating the moving state of the front end of the first sheet, and TE1 is a line segment indicating the moving state of the rear end of the first sheet. Similarly, line segments LE2 and TE2 indicating the front end and the rear end of the next sheet are drawn.

Next, a horizontal line SL1 is drawn from the vertical axis position corresponding to the installation position of the sensor named fusin-snr. Then, a point at which the line segments LE1, TE1, LE2, and TE2 cross the horizontal line SL1 is found, and change points t ₂ , t ₃ , t ₆ , and t ₇ of the sensor output are obtained. Next, from these points of change, changes in the output of the sensor fusin-snr are entered by handwriting in two values of a high level and a low level to create an input chart IC1. Also the sensor fusin
Sensor reg upstream of -snr with respect to paper transport direction
Similarly, when obtaining the output of −sol, a horizontal line SL2 is drawn from the vertical axis position corresponding to the sensor installation position, and the line segment LE1, T
E1, LE2, changes from the intersection of the TE2 points t _1, t _2, to create the input chart IC2 seeking t _4, t _5.

Next, when creating timing data from the input charts IC1 and IC2,
The change direction of the IC 2 and the duration from the immediately preceding change time are visually confirmed, and a data sentence usable in the program of the personal computer 47 is created. That is, at each change point, a data sentence as shown below is created in chronological order, and this data sentence is entered from the keyboard of the personal computer 47 and stored as a file of the personal computer 47.

DATA duration, "signal type", signal number, "signal status",
“Message” For example, in the case of input chart IC2 in Fig. 54,
Data at time _{t 1, DATA t 1, "} I", n 2, "H", the data in the "REG-SNR" time t _{2 is, DATA t 2 -t 1, "} I", n 2 "L" , “REG-SNR” DATA t ₂ −t ₁ , “I”, n ₁ , “H”, “FUSIN-SNR” Data at time t ₃ is DATA t ₃ −t ₂ , “I”, n ₁ , It is represented as "L", "FUSIN-SNR". It should be noted that the signal type I is an input signal, the signal numbers n ₁ and n ₂ are numbers assigned to the sensors fusin-snr and reg-sol in advance, the signal state H is high level, and L is low level. .

As described above, at each change point, a required number of data sentences are created and input to the personal computer 47.

At the time of the simulation, a signal of a predetermined level is generated at a predetermined time based on the data sentence stored in the personal computer 47, the level is adjusted by a level converter 45, and then a high level or a low level is set to a predetermined communication path. Electric circuit board 133 as a signal of
And a simulation is performed.

[Problems to be solved by the invention]

However, since the work of creating the input chart is all performed manually, there is a problem that it takes a lot of time and effort to create the input chart. In addition, since the work is performed by visual observation, reading errors and entry errors are likely to occur, and it has been difficult to create an accurate input chart. For this reason, it is not possible to prepare timing data for a simulation in a short time.
There was a problem that the whole debugging work was delayed.

Also, the copier has a copy magnification, paper size, number of copies,
Since there are various combinations of operations depending on the paper path, the document input method, the paper output method, etc., there are several hundred types of test modes for inspecting the operation in these combinations, for example. Therefore, it is practically impossible to create input charts corresponding to all modes, and in reality, only simulations in a limited number of modes were possible.

Furthermore, when a very large number of copies, such as about 1000 sheets, is set, it is impossible to create an input chart corresponding to all sheets.

The present invention has been devised to solve the above problems, and has as its object to create an input chart for simulation accurately and easily in a short time.

[Means for solving the problem]

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an input chart creating apparatus for simulating an image output device, wherein a sheet state data indicating a state of a sheet conveyed in the image output device and a sheet sensing component disposed in the image output device are provided. Data input means for inputting part position data indicating the position of
Arithmetic means for obtaining timing data indicating a change time point and a level change state of an input signal output from the sheet sensing component when the sheet passes through the sheet sensing component portion based on the sheet state data and the component position data. When,
An image output means for generating an input chart corresponding to the waveform of the input signal from the timing data and outputting the input chart as an image is provided.

It is desirable to provide a file unit for storing the timing data obtained by the arithmetic unit from the viewpoint of improving the efficiency of the editing operation.

[Action]

The operation of the present invention will be specifically described with reference to the principle block diagram of FIG. 1, the flowchart of FIG. 2, and the explanatory diagram of FIG.

In the present invention, for example, a keyboard shown in Figure 1, from the data input means A, such as a mouse, a change point of the transport speed of the leading end of the sheet conveyed by the image output apparatus P _1, P _2,
The data of the XY coordinates of P ₃ and P ₄ (see FIG. 3) is input to the arithmetic means B as paper state data (step S101). In the arithmetic means B, a line segment LE connecting each change point is calculated from the data of the XY coordinates. Then, the line segment LE representing the front end of the sheet is displayed on the image output means C such as a graphic display (step S102).
Here, by entering the paper size from the data input means A (step S103), the arithmetic means changing point P ₁ of the line segment LE that by the operation on the B represents the front _{end, P 2, P 3, P} 4 of the Y-coordinate Is reduced according to the size of the paper, and the rear end transition points Q ₁ , Q ₂ ,
The coordinates of Q ₃ and Q ₄ are obtained. Then, a line segment TE representing the moving state of the rear end of the sheet is displayed based on these coordinates (step S104). Furthermore, the component position data from the data input means A shows the position of the sheet sensing device of the sensor or the like is input (step S105), determines the Y coordinate Y ₁ on the basis of the part position data, the image output unit on the C Input signal line in horizontal direction
SL is displayed (step S106). Then, the X-coordinates X ₁ and X _{2 of} the point where the input signal line SL intersects the line segments LE and TE are obtained by the calculation of the calculating means B (step S107). The period X ₂ from the coordinate X ₁ is represents the sensor output, since here is the initial state of the sensor output at a low level, from the time the low level of the input signal line SL crosses the line LE to the high level At the time of intersecting with the line segment LE from the high level to the low level again (step S1).
08). Here, the information of each change point is stored in the disk device or the like and the film means D as data of the elapsed time from the immediately preceding change and data of the change state (step S109).

Based on these data, the calculation of the calculation means B gives
An input chart IC indicating the level change of the level change state of the signal output from the sheet sensing component when the sheet passes through the sheet sensing component is displayed on the generated image output means C (step S110).

If the data stored in the file means D is read and edited, and then stored again as a new file, the efficiency of data creation can be improved.

〔Example〕

Hereinafter, the features of the present invention will be specifically described based on embodiments with reference to the drawings. In this embodiment,
A copying machine will be described as an example of an image output device.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a hardware configuration example of a simulation device functioning as an input chart creation device of the present invention.

In the figure, reference numeral 1 denotes a 32-bit CPU that controls the entire simulation apparatus and performs data processing. The CPU 1 is connected to a 4-Mbyte main memory 2. Furthermore,
The CPU 1 has a keyboard 4 and a mouse 4 for inputting various data and instructions through the bus 3 and the serial data line 3a.
a, a graphic display 5 as image output means for displaying processing results and the like, a 456 Mbyte disk device 6 as a film device for storing programs and data, and the like are connected. In addition, the graphic display 5
For example, there is a four-color 14-inch cathode ray tube display in which drawing is performed by a graphic command called an ACM code. An emulation system 7 is connected to the serial data line 3a.

In FIG. 4, a portion surrounded by a broken line constitutes the minicomputer system 8. In this embodiment, VAX-11 / 750 manufactured by DEC (DEC) using UNIX (registered trademark) as an operating system is used. doing.

The disk device 6 stores, as files, software resources such as the program itself and data necessary for the execution of all the processes being executed by the minicomputer system 8. The programs and data in the device 6 are loaded into the main memory 2, and the CPU 1 performs necessary processing using these software resources.

FIG. 5 shows a software configuration in the input chart creation device of the present embodiment.

VAX-11 / 750 UNIX operating system SYS
Below is a data creation block DGB, which is used by the hardware information file HIF, diagram file DF, input chart file ICF,
Each file such as the serial chart file SCF, the timing chart file TCF, the synthesis timing chart file STCF, the timing data file TDF, and the timing data format file TDFF is referred to.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing the relationship between each of the above-described files for storing data and each table to be referred to in the storage operation.

At the time of model designation (step S201) and module designation (step S202), the work directory path table WDPT and model selection table PST
Are referred to.

When setting hardware information (step S203), the hardware information file HIF and the hardware information table HIT are referred to.

Also, diagram creation (Step S204), input chart creation (S205), serial chart creation (S204)
S206), timing chart creation (S207), timing chart synthesis (S208), and timing data creation (S209), basically, the diagram table DT and diagram file DF, the input chart table ICT and the input, respectively. Chart file IC
F, serial chart table SCT and serial chart file SCF, timing chart table TCT and timing chart file TCF, timing chart synthesis table TCST and synthesis timing chart file STCF,
The timing data table TDT and the timing data file TDF are respectively referenced. However, each file is also referred to from processes other than the corresponding creation process as indicated by arrows. Also, the hardware information table HI
T is commonly referenced.

Furthermore, the timing data format conversion (step
At the time of S210), the hardware information table HIT, the timing data file TDF, and the timing data format file TDFF are referred to.

The flow of the processing of the main program in the simulation apparatus of this embodiment will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

The data creation program stored in the disk device 6 (see FIG. 4) is loaded into the main memory 2 via the CPU 1, and the program is started. This data creation program is designed to operate on a directory having a tree structure. In this embodiment, a plurality of model-level directories are located below a directory named sim. A plurality of module-level directories are located under the directory.
Further, each file described below is located below the directory of each module level. To operate on these files, each file is given a working directory path name.

The work directory path name is a parameter that determines which file is to be operated in the UNIX file system. For example, if the current working directory path name is / a / b / c and you specify a file named x, the actual file will be named / a / b / c / x and / a / b / j is determined to be below c.

When the data creation program is started, a directory lower than sim is read (step MP1), and a target model name is displayed in a menu format on the screen of the graphic display 5 (step MP2). That is, the registered model name is model number “1”,
Displayed together with “2”, “3”,... In the case of a new model, when "0" is input, the process proceeds to module configuration registration (steps MP3, MP4, MP5).

This module configuration registration (step MP5) is for registering the model name and the module configuration for a new model. The module number is automatically displayed when the development model name is entered. Then, the module name is sequentially input to register the module configuration. In this way, a new model-level directory is created, and a module-level directory is created below it.

In this embodiment, the copying machine is divided into several modules, and a module name is registered in each of these modules. Note that a module here means one functional part of a copying machine controlled by one CPU.
For example, the copier body, the automatic document feeder, the sorter, etc. are each one module.

The division into a plurality of modules in this way is intended to reduce the load on the CPU per unit, eliminate waste, and further increase the efficiency in program development.

For example, if control of peripheral devices is to be performed by one CPU, a control program for all peripheral devices that may be used must be created. However, since the automatic document feeder, the sorter, and the like may not be mounted, a useless portion is generated in the control program, and the operation speed is reduced. Further, since a control program for controlling all the peripheral devices must be created in common, the program becomes complicated and huge, and debugging becomes extremely difficult. Furthermore, when the specification of the peripheral device is changed, it is necessary to correct the control program. However, it is difficult to make consistency with other parts at the time of this correction, and the In some cases, new bugs may occur in other parts.

Therefore, in this embodiment, the function is divided into a plurality of modules for each function, so that each module can be controlled by an independent CPU. By doing so, the program can be created and debugged independently, so that the development efficiency is improved. That is, when the operation of the module is abnormal, the inspection may be basically performed in the module, so that it is easy to find the cause of the abnormal operation.

Also, even when the specification of the peripheral device is changed, it is only necessary to modify the program of the device,
It is easy to modify and does not affect other modules. Furthermore, the load per CPU becomes lighter, so that the operation becomes faster.

Here, for example, the main body of the copying machine is named MAIN, the automatic document feeder is named ADF, the sorter is named SORT, and the paper transport device is named CHM. When inputting a module name, the input is required twice, and the module name is registered only when the same module name is input twice. This is because when an incorrect module name is registered, the incorrect module name is added to all data in the subsequent processing.

After the completion of the module configuration registration (step MP5), the work directory path table WD shown in FIG.
Add working directory path name to PT (Step MP
6).

If the target model is a registered model, the process directly proceeds to adding a work directory path name (steps MP3, MP4, MP6). Here, the model name is added, and the working directory path name is sim / model name.

Next, the module name is displayed in the form of a menu (step MP7), and the desired module is selected from this module menu by number.

Next, a working directory path name, that is, a module name is added here (step MP8), and the working directory path name has a structure of sim / model name / module name. The addition of the module name allows the user to specify which module to create test data for.

Next, a session block menu is displayed (step MP9), and a desired session block is designated (step MP10). Here, when "1" is input from the keyboard 4, the hardware information setting (step
MP12) is selected, inputting "2" selects timing data creation (step MP13), and inputting "3" converts timing data format (step MP14)
Is selected, and the selected session is started. When "4" is input, the process returns to the UNIX system.

As shown in FIG. 8, the processing in the input chart creation apparatus of this embodiment is performed by setting hardware information (step MP12) for setting each condition corresponding to the hardware of the development model, and moving paper in the copying machine. Timing data generation (Step MP13) for virtually generating timing data sequentially generated in accordance with the timing and the like, and timing data format conversion (Step MP13) for converting this timing data into a format usable by other devices, for example, a simulator kit. MP14) divided into three sessions.

The reason why the sessions are divided into three sessions is that the operability is improved by grouping related operations, and the creation of software for the simulator itself is facilitated.

Hereinafter, each session will be described in detail. In order to clarify the overall relationship, the session is divided into three sessions as described below, and each session is further divided into a plurality of sub-sessions (see FIG. 8). ).

(I) Hardware information setting session ・ Input signal name setting ・ Output signal name setting ・ Reference clock setting ・ Receive data definition ・ Transmission data definition (II) Timing data creation session ・ Diagram creation ・ Input chart creation ・ Serial chart creation ・ Timing Chart creation ・ Timing chart synthesis ・ Timing data creation (III) Timing data format conversion session Each process in the timing data creation session is shown in FIG. 8 as being processed in series. After the end of the process, when an instruction to exit the process is given, the process returns to the main menu of the timing data creation session, and each process can be arbitrarily selected.

 Hereinafter, each session will be described in detail.

(I) Hardware information setting Here, the hardware information table HI shown in FIG.
Referring to T, various hardware information necessary for creating timing data, for example, input / output signal names of switches, sensors, motors, etc. used in the copying machine shown in FIG. 47, reference clock, communication Define the data. This processing flow is shown in FIG.

This hardware information setting session is further divided into the following five sub-sessions as shown in the figure.

That is, input signal name setting for registering input signal names of sensors, switches, etc., output signal name setting for registering output signal names of solenoids, motors, etc., and for converting real time to a clock value during timing data format conversion described later. , Reference data setting for defining the received data from the external module, and transmission data definition for defining the transmission data to the external module.

When entering the hardware information setting session, each of the above sub-sessions is displayed in a menu format (step HI).
1) So, the subsession to be started is "1" to "5"
(Step HI2). As a result, the specified subsession is started (steps HI4 to HI8).

First, the input and output signal name setting subsession (steps HI4 and HI5) will be described. Here, the input signal name and the output signal name are input from the keyboard 4 corresponding to the input signal number and the output signal number. For example, in the example of FIG. 52, a sensor for detecting that a sheet has arrived at the entrance of the fixing device is named fusin-snr, an operation switch of the roller at the exit of the fixing device is named fsrout-roll, and a registration gate is provided. The operation switch that opens and closes is named reg-sol.

Next, the reference clock setting subsession (step HI
6) will be described.

This is to set the cycle of a clock used in the copying machine, and is used to convert time into a clock value when format conversion of timing data is performed as described later. Here, the clock cycle is input from the keyboard 4 in units of μs, for example.

Next, receive data definition sub-session (step HI
7) will be described in detail.

As shown in FIG. 8, the reception data definition sub-session includes a serial base data definition (step S30).
1), serial data relational expression definition (step S302), serial data table definition (step S303), and serial data repetition definition (step S304).

 Hereinafter, each function will be described.

The serial base data definition function defines the correspondence between data and its raw data value (in hexadecimal).

As a procedure, a serial communication data name and data are input from the keyboard 4. For example, data "8301100000" is defined for a serial communication data name of START, and data "82" is defined for a serial communication data name of STOP. As a result, these data are supplied to the minicomputer system 8 and stored in the hardware information file HIF shown in FIG. 5 and FIG.

In this way, by defining the serial communication data used in the timing data, communication data from another module can be created. Note that a variable n depending on the number of feeds can be introduced into the communication data as a variable in order to make the communication data versatile. For example, for a serial data name of INTRUPT, data including a variable n of “030010n100” can be defined.

The serial data relational expression definition function uses the signal INTRUP described above.
If there is a variable n in the serial data as in T,
The variable is defined by the number of feeds F, for example, n = 3 + F. The number of variables is not limited to n, and a plurality of variables can be set.

The serial data table definition function defines variables that are difficult to define in the form of an expression such as n = 3 + F depending on the number of feeds F in a table form. That is, data at a predetermined position can be set by inputting data by designating the variable P to be set and the number of feeds F.

For example, when the serial data table is defined, a display as shown in FIG. 10A is performed on the graphic display 5, and the first serial data is "02 0
c 03 01 d2 d3 ”. In addition,
“02” in the display indicates that the number of feeds is 1, and “0c” and “03” similarly indicate that the number of feeds is 2,3. Here, "P = 1, F = 7,3
c "," P = 1, F, = 8, 2c "and" P = 1, F = 9, 5a ", as shown in FIG. 10 (b), the first serial data becomes It is newly defined as "02 0c 03 01 d2 d3 3c 2c 5a". The variable P defined here is used like “030010P _n 3100” in the serial base data definition. Here, _Pn is P1, P2,.

The last serial data repetition definition function defines a rule of data repetition in the serial data table definition, and is additionally used for defining a variable that changes periodically every certain number of feeds.

In this serial data repetition definition, the same display as that in the serial data table definition is performed. However, since the input of the variable P containing the data to be repeated and the feed value F is required, the repetition Specify the start position and end position of the data section to be executed.

The above is the description of the reception data definition function, but the transmission data definition function has a similar function.

The data set or defined in the input signal name setting, output signal name setting, reference clock setting, reception data definition, and transmission data definition sub-sessions is stored in the hardware information table HIT in the format shown in FIG. Will be expanded to.

The hardware information table HIT, as shown in FIG. 3A, is broadly configured from input signal names, output signal names, reference clocks, reception data, and transmission data areas. The name is composed of a plurality of input signal names as shown in FIG. 4B, and the output signal name is composed of a plurality of output signal names as shown in FIG. 4C.
As shown in FIG. 3D, the respective areas of the reception data and the transmission data respectively include the serial base data and the transmission base data.
It comprises a serial relational expression, a serial data table, and serial data repetition areas. And
These data are stored in the disk device 6 as a hardware information file HIF in the format shown in FIG.

The hardware information file HIF roughly corresponds to the hardware information table HIT. As shown in FIG. 7A, the hardware information file HIF is broadly viewed and includes management information, input signal names, output signal names, reference clocks, and received data. The management information includes the number of input signal names, the number of output signal names, the number of reception data, and the number of transmission data, as shown in FIG.

Note that the hardware information setting session is divided into five sub-sessions as described above, because each sub-session can be set independently without dependency.
This is because it is convenient for operation and programming.

(II) Timing Data Creation This is to actually create timing data using the information set in the hardware information setting session described above (step MP13).

In this session, as shown in FIGS. 6, 8 and 13, (i) diagram creation, (ii) input chart creation, (iii) serial chart creation, (i)
It consists of six sub-sessions: v) timing chart creation, (v) timing chart synthesis, and (vi) timing data creation.

 Hereinafter, each sub-session will be described.

(I) Diagram creation This is to create a timing diagram as a base for creating input data using the mouse 4a or the keyboard 4. An outline of the main flow of the process is shown in FIG.

When entering a diagram creation session, the registered diagram list is displayed in a menu format on the graphic display 5, and the editing or new creation of the registered diagram is selected by the number (steps DG1, DG1).
2). In the case of new creation, "0" is input instead of the diagram number.

When the new creation is selected, the horizontal axis is time (unit is ms) and the vertical axis is the paper movement position (unit is m) as shown in FIG. 15 on the screen of the graphic display 5 in FIG.
m) is displayed (Step D)
After G7), the diagram table DT is initialized (step DG8).

The diagram table DT has the configuration shown in FIG. 16, and includes a designated or selected diagram name, file creation date, X-axis direction, that is, X-magnification indicating the magnification for time reduction / enlargement, and Y-magnification. An input signal having a Y magnification indicating a magnification for reduction / enlargement of an axial direction, that is, a position, a number of front ends registered in this table, a front end table address, a number indicating the number of input data, and a line information table address of the input data. It has an area for storing name table addresses and the like. Also, the front end table LET and the input signal name table ISNT referenced by the diagram data DT
(See FIGS. 17 and 18). The front end table LET is a front end information table LEIT corresponding to the starting point of the front end.
And a change position table CPT. The front end information table LEIT has a forward address, a reverse address,
There is an area for storing the rear end number, the rear end table address, the front end number, the front end table next address, and the like. Also,
The change position table CPT has an area for storing forward addresses, reverse addresses, XY coordinates, and the like. Note that X
The coordinates indicate time information, and the Y coordinates indicate position information.

FIG. 19 is an explanatory diagram schematically showing how these tables are referred to.

Diagram table DT is the first front end information table
The first leading edge information table LEIT refers to the change position table CPT in which the coordinates of the leading edge or the trailing edge of the first sheet are stored. Further, when a plurality of sheets are made to correspond, the next front end information table LEIT in which information on the front end and the rear end of the next sheet is recorded is referred to. In FIG. 19, LEI indicates a front end information section, and TEI indicates a rear end information section. Details of this reference operation will be described later.

Diagram table DT shown in Fig. 14 mentioned earlier
Is initialized, a region for the diagram table is secured in the main memory 2, a predetermined initial value is set in the numerical value region, and a blank is set in the character region.

When editing an existing diagram, the standard template is displayed and the diagram table is initialized as shown in FIG. 14 (step DG).
3, DG4). Next, data is read from the diagram file DF described later, and the data is displayed (step
DG5, DG6).

In either case of creating a new diagram or editing an existing diagram, the process proceeds to diagram editing (step DG10) described below.
When the editing is completed, the process proceeds to directly updating the file (steps DG9 and DG11). These diagram editing and file updating will be described in detail below.

In the diagram editing (step DG10), a diagram is created by combining line segments on the above-described standard template. The template and the program for forming each line segment are executed in the mini computer system 8 shown in FIG. 4, and a graphic command called, for example, an ACM code from the mini computer system 8 is transmitted to the serial data line.
It is supplied to the graphic display 5 via 3a.
The graphic command is interpreted on the graphic display 5 to draw a predetermined graphic.

The general procedure for editing a new diagram will be described below with reference to the flowchart in FIG.

In the present embodiment, commands to be executed are displayed on the screen of the graphic display 5 in order to enhance operability at the time of editing work, and each command is executed by selecting the command with the mouse 4a. .

That is, the CPU 1 always knows the current position of the mouse 4a (step DG101), and obtains the position of the mouse 4a when the operator presses the button of the mouse 4a, that is, the mouse input position ( Step DG102). Then, a command is determined from the mouse input position (step DG103), and each command is executed (step DG104) to create a line segment. During the execution of each of these commands,
As will be described later, the information of each change point at the front end is recorded in the main memory 2 in the form of the above-described diagram table DT and displayed on the screen of the graphic display 5.

 Details of each command will be described later.

In step DG105, it is determined whether or not there is an instruction to end the creation of the front end, and the above steps DG101 to DG105 are repeated until the creation of the necessary front end line segment is completed.

When the input of the front end or the end of the creation is instructed, the step
Proceeding to DG106, a paper size input is requested, and the paper size is input from the keyboard 4 in units of mm. For example, if the paper size is A4, "210" is input.

Thus, the mini-computer system 8 subtracts the sheet size from the Y coordinate of each change point at the front end, and obtains the coordinates of the rear end and each change point (step DG107).

The coordinates of each point at the rear end obtained in this manner are recorded in the main memory 2 in the form of the above-described diagram table DT. Then, based on the information on the rear end, the rear end line segment is automatically displayed (step
DG108).

Next, an input signal name of an input signal line necessary for obtaining timing data is input, and a position of the input signal on a paper path, that is, a Y-axis coordinate is input (step DG109). Thereby, the input signal line is displayed at the designated position together with its name (step DG110). Repeat this operation as many times as necessary (steps DG111, DG109, DG11
0) Input all input signal lines.

When the input of the input signal line is completed, the editing of the diagram ends.

After editing the diagram, the diagram table
Update the diagram file DF with the contents of DT. The updated file is stored in the disk device 6 (the
(See step DG11 in Fig. 14).

FIG. 21 shows an example of the diagram file DF and its structure.

The diagram file DF substantially corresponds to each table in FIGS. 16 to 18, and as shown in FIG.
Broadly speaking, it is composed of management information, a plurality of front end / rear end information, and a plurality of input signal name information.

Then, the management information is, as shown in FIG.
It consists of a file creation date, number of front / rear end information, number of input signal name information, plural front / rear end management information.
Each front end / rear end management information is composed of the number of front end information and the number of rear end information, as shown in FIG. Also, each of the front end / rear end information shown in FIG. 7A is composed of front end information and rear end information, respectively, as shown in FIG. Is
As shown in (f) of the figure, it is composed of an X coordinate in mm units, a mm unit, and a Y coordinate. Further, each input signal name information is composed of an input signal name and a length in mm indicating the position of the input signal line, as shown in FIG.

These file data are transferred from the diagram table DT stored in the main memory 2 to the disk device 6.

Therefore, as shown in the flowchart of FIG. 14, the diagram file DF can be called from the disk device 6 (step DG5), and a diagram can be created based on these data. It can be edited (step DG10) and stored again in the disk device 6 (step DG11).

This editing work can be similarly performed for each of the files described below.

Next, each command for forming the front end line segment will be described with reference to FIGS. 15 and 22 (a) to (o). In this embodiment, various commands are provided in order to increase the efficiency of creating and editing a diagram.

As shown in FIG. 15, command parts for editing are displayed in the peripheral part of the screen of the graphic display 5, and a predetermined command is executed by selecting these command parts with the mouse 4a.

When the mouse command section C1 (shown as "Mouse" in the figure) at the top of the screen is selected, the input is made with the mouse 4a,
When the keyboard command part C2 (displayed as “Key-board” in the figure) is selected, the input is made by the keyboard 4. In the initial state, the input is made with the mouse 4a,
In the following description of the editing work,
The selection means that the command part displayed on the screen is selected by the mouse 4a. When the cancel command section C0 is selected, the input command is canceled.

The creation of a line segment representing a diagram is basically performed by a two-point designation method or an angle designation method described below.

In the two-point designation method, after selecting a two-point designation command part C3 (displayed as Draw point in the figure) displayed on the screen, the keyboard 4 is used to select the starting point P1 shown in FIG.
And the coordinates of the end point P2, or specify the start point P1 and the end point P2 on the screen using the mouse 4a. Origin entered
The data of P1 and the end point P2 are supplied to the CPU 1 via the bus 3 together with data indicating that the two-point designation method has been designated, and are stored in the main memory 2 as front end information.

These data are stored in the diagram table D in FIG.
T, front end information table LEIT and change position table in FIG. 17
It is stored at a predetermined location in the CPT. That is, each time a coordinate is designated, the number of changes in the front end of the front end information table LEIT is increased, an area for the change position table CPT is secured, and the coordinate data is sequentially stored in the change position table CPT.
Also, the head address of this newly secured table is used as the next address of the front end table as the front end information table LE.
Remember it in IT. Further, a forward address for specifying the next change position table CPT and a backward address for specifying the previous change position table CPT or the front end information table LEIT are stored in the mutation position table CPT.

Therefore, by referring to these tables sequentially in the direction of the arrow as shown in FIGS. 17 and 19, it is possible to sequentially specify the coordinates of the changing point.

Based on these data, CPU1 starts and ends P1 and P2
Is a graphic command that connects between
A straight line command is generated, and the straight line command is supplied to the graphic display 5 via the serial data line 3a, and a line segment is drawn between the start point P1 and the end point P2 as shown in FIG. .

In addition, the angle specification method is the keyboard command part with the mouse 4a
After selecting C2, the angle designation command section C4 (indicated as Draw rad in the figure), the coordinates and angle θ of the starting point P1 are inputted from the keyboard 4.
Is input, data is exchanged with the mini-computer system 8 in the same manner as in the two-point designation method as shown in FIG. 22 (b), and the point P1 and the starting point are shaded. Here, the paper transport speed is input as the angle θ in units of mm / ms. When inputting from the mouse 4a, after selecting the mouse command part C1 and the angle designation command part C4, and inputting the coordinates P1 and P2 of two points, as shown in FIG. A straight line passing through P2 is drawn.

When this angle designation method is selected, since the end point is not designated, it is necessary to delete an unnecessary portion by a deletion command described below.

This delete command deletes an arbitrary portion of a specified line segment. The delete command is displayed on the screen and in a selection command section C5 (Se in the figure).
lect), the desired line segment, and the deletion command section C6 (in the figure,
Delete) and then input the coordinates of two points P1 and P2 from the mouse 4a or keyboard 4
The line segment between the two points is deleted as shown in FIG. In this case, the coordinates of the newly formed start point P2 and end point P1 are calculated by the minicomputer system 8 and stored as front end information. In each editing described below, the coordinate information is updated by the editing, and the mini-computer system 8 is updated.
Is stored.

Instead of inputting the coordinates of two points, a point was designated by selecting one of the positive direction delete command part C7 (displayed as + Delete in the figure) or the negative direction delete command part C8 (displayed as -Delete in the figure). In this case, all the line segments in the positive direction or the negative direction are deleted, starting from one point. If negative direction deletion is specified on the starting point side and positive direction deletion is specified on the end point side, all the line segments are deleted.

The X-direction copy command section C9 (shown as Copy x in the figure)
A line segment is copied in the X direction. After the selection command section C5 on the screen, the target line segment, and the X direction copy command section C9 are sequentially selected, the mouse 4a is used as shown in FIG. 22 (e). By designating an arbitrary point P1 on the line segment and a point P2 of the copy destination, the line segment is copied as shown in FIG. 8 (f). That is,
The coordinates of a new front end corresponding to the designated point are calculated by the minicomputer system 8, and are additionally stored as new front end information.

Y direction copy command part C10 (in the figure, indicated as Copy y)
Performs copying of a line segment in the Y direction in the same manner as in the X direction copying command section C9 (see FIGS. 22 (g) and 22 (h)).

X direction movement command part C11 (in the figure, displayed as Shift x), Y
The direction movement command section C12 (displayed as Shift y) moves a line segment in the X direction and the Y direction, and performs the same designation as the X direction copy and the Y direction copy (FIG. 22 (i), (J) and FIGS. (K) and (l).

The offset copy command section C13 (indicated as Copy off in the figure) copies a line segment in the X or Y direction. In this case, the position of the copy destination is specified by the offset amount. The operation procedure includes the selection command section C5 on the screen, the target line segment,
After sequentially selecting the offset copy command section C13, an offset amount is input from the keyboard 4. As a result,
22 The line segment is copied at a position offset by a certain amount as shown in FIG.

The offset movement command section C14 (indicated as Shift off in the figure) moves a line segment in the X or Y direction, and the operation procedure is the same as that of the offset copy.

The shaping command section C15 (indicated as Shape up in the figure) combines fragments of discontinuous line segments and shapes them as one line segment.

For example, when there is a discontinuous line segment as shown in FIG. 22 (n), when the selection command part C5, the target line segment fragment, and the shaping command part C15 on the screen are sequentially selected, FIG. It becomes a continuous single line segment as shown in o).

The panning command section C16 (indicated as Pan in the figure) moves the designated point to the center position on the XY coordinate space. After selecting the panning command section C16 on the screen,
Performed by specifying a point. For example, the whole
The XY coordinates have a size corresponding to 0 ms to 2 ³² ms, -5000 mm to +5000 mm, and in the standard state, 0 ms to 4000 ms, 0 mm to 2
Although the range of 000 mm is displayed, it is possible to display around an arbitrary point by coordinate transformation.

Input setting command section C17 (Displayed as Input set in the figure)
Is for inputting an input signal line indicating the position of the input signal on the paper path. The input setting command section C17 is selected, and the input signal name and the Y coordinate value are input from the keyboard 4. The input signal name thus input is the 18th
As shown in the figure, it is stored in the input signal name table together with the forward address, reverse address and length. Then, an input signal line is drawn at a predetermined position on the screen based on these data.

Input deletion command part C18 (in the figure, displayed as Input del)
Deletes the input signal line indicating the position of the input signal on the paper path. When the input deletion command section C18 and the target input signal line are sequentially selected, the input signal line is deleted.

Also, “× 1/2, × 1/5, × 2, × 5” at the bottom and left in the figure
Indicates scale factor portions C19 and C20. When one of the magnifications is selected with the mouse 4a, 2 is set in the X or Y direction.
The image is enlarged / reduced to 2x, 5x, 1 / 2x, 1 / 5x and displayed. The magnification set here is the diagram table DT in Fig. 16.
Is stored in

Next, for a simple example of creating the front end of the diagram using the above commands, refer to the flowcharts of FIGS. 23 (a) and (b) and the display examples of FIGS. 24 (a) to (e). I will explain. The numerical value at the lower right corner of the screen indicates the coordinate position of the mouse 4a.

First, a two-point designation command part C3
To start the 2-point designation command (Step DG30
1) Enter the coordinates of both ends of the front end line segment element (Step D)
G302). As a result, the coordinates are stored in a table of the memory (step DG303), and then a line segment connecting the two points is displayed (step DG304). This operation is repeated to sequentially draw a line segment LE1 indicating the position of the front end of the sheet on the screen as shown in FIG. 24 (a) (step DG3).
05, DG301, DG302, DG303, DG304).

When the drawing of the front end is completed, next, a shaping command is activated (step DG306), and the points at the front end are rearranged in the order of the X coordinate (step DG307). Then, the points are displayed in the rearranged order, and the points are connected by line segments (step DG308). Thus, the discontinuous portion of the line segment LE1 is shaped as shown in FIG. 24 (b), and the line segment representing the front end becomes continuous. Thus, in this embodiment, by using the shaping command,
When forming a line segment, it is not necessary to form a completely continuous line segment from the beginning. That is, it is only necessary to form every other line segment, so that the line segment creation operation is simplified.

Next, a front end line segment corresponding to the second sheet is formed. Therefore, here, the offset copy command is started (step DG309), and the offset amount is input (step DG310). As a result, the offset amount is subtracted from each point and coordinates at the front end, and the coordinates of each point at the front end of the copy destination are obtained (step DG311). That is, it is not necessary to input the points and coordinates of the front end for each sheet, and a diagram corresponding to the second sheet can be easily created by copying the data of the first sheet. It should be noted that the offset amount may be added instead of being subtracted by the user's designation. The coordinate data corresponding to the second sheet is sequentially stored in the vertical direction in the front end information table LEIT and the change position table CPT arranged in the second column of the diagram table DT shown in FIG. The same applies to the coordinate data corresponding to the third and subsequent sheets.

Then, by connecting the coordinates of these points, a line segment LE2, which is a copy of the line segment LE1 indicating the position of the front end of the sheet, is generated and displayed as shown in FIG. 24 (c) (step DG312). Repeat this operation as many times as necessary (steps DG303, DG309, DG310,
DG311, DG312), and generates a predetermined number of line segments representing the position of the front end of the sheet.

This concludes the description of the usage example of the command for forming the line segment indicating the position of the front end of the sheet.

Up to this point, the process of creating the front end (Fig. 20 step
As described above, the size of the paper is input (step DG104), and a line segment indicating the position of the rear end is displayed (step DG108).

Next, an input signal name of an input signal line necessary for obtaining timing data is input, and a position of the input signal on a paper path, that is, a Y-axis coordinate is input (step DG109). As a result, the input signal name table I shown in FIG.
The SNT stores the input signal name and the data of the length (position on the paper path) together with the forward and backward addresses, and based on these data, the designated data is designated as shown in FIG. The input signal line SL is displayed at the position along with its name. This operation is repeated as many times as necessary to input all the input line numbers SL. In the example of the figure, fdo-snr, reg-snr, fu
Input signal lines SL named sin-snr, fusext-snr, and exit-snr are drawn.

Each data obtained by the above-described operation is stored in a virtual array shown in FIG. That is, the front end information section LE
1 stores the coordinate data of the front end, the rear end information part TEI stores the coordinate data of the rear end, and the input signal name table ISNT stores the input signal name and the position data on the paper path.

In the drawing, the vertical array shows data for representing the front end and the rear end corresponding to one sheet, and the horizontal array shows the front and rear data corresponding to each sheet. .

The data thus created is first stored in the disk device 6 as described above.

(Ii) Creation of an input chart This is for creating a chart representing the ON / OFF of input signals of various sensors, switches, and the like provided in the copying machine in a time-series manner. The diagram creation step (step S204 in FIG. 6) It is automatically generated from the diagram created in. FIG. 25 shows a flowchart for creating an input chart.

When the diagram creation is completed and the user instructs to create an input chart, the data of the diagram generated earlier is read (steps ICG1 to ICG3). Next, the change of the sensor input is calculated, converted into an input chart (step ICG4), and displayed on the screen. For example, if the diagram is as shown in FIG. 26, in the input chart, as shown in FIG. 27, after the line segment LE1 at the front end of the sheet reaches the position of the sensor fdo-snr, the rear end of the sheet The output of the sensor fdo-snr becomes high level until the line segment TE1 reaches the sensor fdo-snr. The same applies to the next sheet and other sensors.

 The above exchange procedure will be generalized and described.

That is, based on the coordinate data (x ₁ , y ₁ ) and (x ₂ , y ₂ ) between two adjacent points among the coordinate data of each change point stored in the change point table CPT of FIG. An equation representing a straight line between points y = ax + b where x ₁ ≦ x ≦ x ₂ , y ₁ ≦ y ≦ y ₂ a, b: coefficient is obtained, and an equation representing this straight line represents the position of the sensor y = c where c: The X coordinate at the time when it crosses the Y coordinate of the sensor position is the changing point of the input chart. That is, ax + b = c Where x is the X coordinate of the change point.

 These calculations are performed by the CPU 1.

As described above, in the input chart creating step, signals generated from the respective sensors when a sheet passes can be virtually created without using the signal in a real machine.

The input chart created in this way can be edited, and an input chart can be created and edited directly without creating a diagram in advance.

No. 25 when creating a direct input chart
This will be described with reference to the drawings. After entering the input chart creation process, if you enter that no diagram has been created, a list of registered input charts is displayed (Steps ICG1 and ICG7). Enter the desired input chart number (Step ICG1). ICG8). If the registered input chart number is not specified, the process exits this subsession after confirming the end of the input chart creation process (steps ICG9, ICG13, ICG14). If not, the display returns to the input chart list display again (steps ICG4 and ICG7). If the registered input chart number is specified, after the input chart data is read (steps ICG10 and ICG12),
Proceed to input chart editing (step ICG5). If a new input chart is to be created, the input chart name is input (step ICG11), and the process proceeds to input chart editing (step ICG5).

 Here, the input chart editing will be described.

When entering the process of editing the input chart, each command for editing is displayed on the screen for creating an input chart, as shown in FIG. 27, as in the screen for creating a diagram. A predetermined editing operation is performed by selecting the item.

In the figure, an up command section C31 (shown as Up in the figure) and a down command section C32 (shown as Down) rewrite the display of the signal lines one by one. For example, if the input chart is as shown in FIG. 27, when the up command section C31 is selected, the uppermost sensor f is selected.
The signal line corresponding to do-snr disappears, and the other three signal lines are sequentially carried up. This command is effective, for example, when all types of signal lines cannot be displayed on one screen because of many types of signal lines.

The name change command section C33 (indicated as Rename in the figure) changes the signal name. The name change command section C33 and the target signal line are sequentially selected, and a new signal name is input. The signal name is changed.

The high-level command section C34 (indicated as High in the figure) sets the designated range to a high level, and the selected command section
After sequentially selecting C36, the target signal line, and the high-level command section C34, when two points are designated, the designated range is set to a high level.

The low-level command section C35 (indicated as Low in the figure) lowers the designated range to the low level, contrary to the high-level command section C34.

The copy command section C37 (denoted as Copy in the figure), for example, copies the upper signal line A in FIG. 28 (a), and changes the lower signal line B to the same pattern as shown in FIG. 28 (b). And
However, at this time, the signal name is not copied.

The movement command part C38 (indicated as Shift in the figure)
Move an arbitrary point on a certain signal line. For example, the 28th
When two points P1 and P2 of the signal line shown in FIG.
When the two points P1 and P2 of the signal line shown in FIG. 7E are designated as shown in FIG. 7D, the result becomes as shown in FIG.

Further, the insert command section C39 (indicated as Ins in the figure) adds one signal line to the designated position, selects the insert command section C39, and indicates it with * 1 in FIG. 28 (g). If you select the location to be used with the mouse 4a, the signal line as shown in FIG.
A new signal line C is inserted between A and B.

After the editing of the input chart is completed using the above-described editing function, when the end command section C40 is selected, the input chart created in the input chart editing step is filed and registered in the disk device 6, and then described later. Proceed to create a serial chart.

The data created in the input chart process is temporarily expanded on the input chart table ICT (see FIG. 6) and stored in the input chart file ICF shown in FIG. 29 at the last part.

This input chart file ICF is shown in Fig.
As shown in FIG. 2, the information is broadly composed of management information and a plurality of pieces of input chart information. The management information is composed of a file creation date, the number of input charts, and a plurality of pieces of input chart management information, as shown in FIG. As shown in the parentheses, it is composed of an input signal name, a signal number corresponding to hardware, and the number of change points. Each input chart information is composed of height information and time information, respectively, as shown in FIG.

(Iii) Creation of a serial chart This is to create or edit a chart defining transmission and reception timings of serial communication data given at the start or stop of copying. This serial chart creation will be described with reference to the flowchart in FIG.

In the serial chart creation process, a list of registered serial charts is displayed in a menu format (step SCG1), and a desired serial chart number is input (step SCG2). If the number of the registered serial chart is not specified, the process exits this subsession after confirming the end of the serial chart creation process (steps SCG3, SCG4, SCG5). If not, the display returns to the serial chart list display again (steps SCG5 and SCG1).

If the number of the registered serial chart is specified, after the data of the serial chart is read (steps SCG2, SCG3, SCG6, SCG7), the process proceeds to serial chart editing (step SCG9). To create a new serial chart, enter the serial chart name and proceed to serial chart editing (steps SCG6, SCG8, SC
G9).

 Hereinafter, the serial chart editing will be described.

When entering the serial chart editing process, as shown in FIG. 31, the horizontal axis is time, and a template in which a plurality of serial lines SRL with a certain interval in the vertical axis direction are drawn in the horizontal axis direction is displayed on the screen. Displayed above. FIG. 31 shows a case where the already registered serial chart is called and editing is performed.
SRL does not exist.

Here also, various commands for editing are prepared. Specific to serial chart creation are the serial insertion command part C51 (indicated as "Serial ins" in the figure) that adds a serial line SRL at a specified position, the setting of serial communication data on the serial line SRL and communication data Serial name command part C52 for inputting name
(Indicated as Serial name in the figure).

For example, when displaying the symbol of serial communication data named inp-strt at the position of 12,000 μs of the upper serial line SRL, the mouse 4a is used to select the command section C55, the target serial line SRL, and the serial name command section. When C52 and a target position on the serial line SRL are sequentially selected, input of a communication data name is requested. Therefore, "inp-strt" is input from the keyboard 4. By repeating such operations, the generation time and communication data name of the required number of serial communication data are set. In the example of the figure, the communication data name is inp-stit, e in the upper serial line SRL.
xchang, reg, expel are input, and start, stop are input to the lower serial line SRL.

In addition, the serial parameter command section C53 (in the figure, Ser
ial para) defines the repetition of the serial communication data on the chart. Procedures include keyboard command C56, serial parameter command section C53,
When the target Y-axis position is sequentially selected with the mouse 4a, the position and name of the timing of the target communication data are requested, so the time and name are input. This operation is repeated as many times as necessary. FIG. 32 schematically shows this setting state.
In this example, four communication data items a, b, c, and d are set. Next, the repetition start position u ₁ and the repetition stop position u ₂
And enter a repeat end position u _3. Thus, at the time of actual data generation, a existing between the stop position u ₂ repeat repetition start position u _1, b, c, 4 pieces of communication data d are repeatedly generated until the repeat end position u ₃ Will do.

After the editing of the serial chart is completed using the above-described editing function, when the end command section C54 is selected, the edited contents are filed and the serial chart and the file SC are edited.
It is stored in the disk device 6 as F, that is, the serial chart is registered (step SCG10), and thereafter, the process proceeds to the creation of a timing chart described later.

An example of the structure of this serial chart file SCF is
See Figure 3.

The serial chart file SCF is composed of management information and a plurality of pieces of serial chart information, as shown in FIG. The management information is composed of the file creation date and the number of serial chart information as shown in FIG. Each serial chart information is composed of a serial data name and coordinate data (time information and position information) as shown in FIG.

(Iv) Creation of timing chart This is to create a chart defining on / off of all input signals to be input to the module and input timing by automatically synthesizing the input chart and the serial chart. The creation of this timing chart will be described with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS. 34 (a) and (b).

In the timing chart creation step, a list of registered timing charts is displayed in a menu format (step TCG1), and a desired timing chart number is input (step TCG2). If the number of the registered timing chart is not specified, the process exits this subsession after confirming the end of the timing chart creation process (steps TCG3, TCG4, TCG5). If not,
Return to the timing chart list display again (Step
TCG5, TCG1).

When the number of the registered timing chart is designated (steps TCG2, TCG3, TCG6), after the data of the timing chart is read (step TCG7), the process proceeds to timing chart editing (step TCG21). When a new timing chart is created, a list of registered serial charts is displayed in a menu format (steps TCG6 and TCG8), and a desired serial chart number is input (step TCG9). When the number of the registered serial chart is specified, the process proceeds to the display of the input chart list. Step (TCG13). If no serial chart is specified, it is confirmed that the serial chart is unnecessary (step TCG11). If the serial chart is not required, the process proceeds to the display of the input chart list (steps TCG12, TCG1).
3) If a serial chart is required, return to the serial chart list display (steps TCG12, TCG8).

Display the input chart list (Step TCG13)
Followed by the number of the desired input chart (step TCG14). If the registered input chart number is designated here, the input of the timing chart name is requested, so the desired timing chart name is input from the keyboard 4 (steps TCG15 and TCG18).

In this way, a timing chart as shown in FIG. 35 in which the input chart and the serial chart are combined can be created.

Also in the timing chart editing step, editing can be performed using the same editing function as the above-described serial chart or input chart editing.

When creating this timing chart, as described above, when editing an existing timing chart, when creating a new timing chart using at least one of an input chart and a serial chart, and depending on the input chart and the serial chart, There are three possible ways to create a completely new timing chart without doing so.

It is also possible to define the timing of the output signal on / off in this chart. For example, it is possible to form an output timing waveform which becomes a high level within a specified section designated by using the above-mentioned editing function, and give an output name to this waveform.

Here, in the present embodiment, a repetition section can be defined in the timing chart creation step. That is, when a basic repetition pattern is specified by specifying a section on a certain time axis, the pattern is repeated for the number of repetitions given later. This is effective when creating data for a large number of traveling modes. That is, when simulating the operation of an actual copier, a test may be performed by running a large number of sheets, for example, several tens of sheets continuously, but it is extremely difficult to create data for each sheet. It is complicated. Here, in the present embodiment, by enabling data of the same pattern to be repeatedly generated, necessary data can be easily created even when a running test is performed on a large number of sheets.

The procedure of this repetition definition will be described with reference to FIGS. 34 (b) and 36.

When editing of the timing chart is completed (Step TC
G21) Since an input as to whether or not to define repeatedly is required, if "N" is input, the process proceeds directly to timing chart registration (steps TCG22, TCG24). When "Y" is input, the process proceeds to the repetition definition (TCG23), and the start point and the end point of the repetition processing are designated for each input / output signal. Here, usually, one basic input signal or output signal line is selected, and other input / output signals and the like are aligned with the timing. Only signals that do not meet this timing are separately designated as exception signals.

In the process of this repetitive definition, input of the signal name, the start position, and the end position is sequentially requested, so in the example of FIG. 36,
After inputting a signal name INPUT1 underlying inputs repetition start position v ₁ and repeat end position v _2. The setting of the repeat start position v ₁ and repeat end position v ₂ is performed by inputting the value of the X coordinate or time from the keyboard 4. This setting, when actual data generation, before or after treatment completion, repeat starts at the position v _1, (v ₂
−v ₁ ) It is repeated every time, and when this repetition is completed n times, the process is shifted to post-processing. Therefore, (v ₂ −v ₁ ) × n of the basic signal is the time for the repetitive processing.
Note that the value of n is specified in a timing data format conversion session described later.

Next, another signal, for example, OUTPUT1, is
If it is different repeat patterns for NPUT1 may be similarly repeated starting position v ₃ and sets the repeat end position v ₄ After inputting the signal name OUTPUT1. In this way, these repetition settings can be set independently for each input / output. The same repetition as that of the basic signal is performed for other signals for which no designation has been made.

Information for these repetitions is stored as management information in a timing chart file TCF described later.

When the repetitive definition work is completed in this manner, the process proceeds to timing chart registration (step TCG24), and the created timing chart is stored in the disk device 6 in a file structure as shown in FIG.

The timing chart file TCF is composed of management information and a plurality of serial information, input chart management information, input chart information, output chart management information, and output chart information as shown in FIG. Have been.

Then, the management information is, as shown in FIG.
File creation date, input chart name, serial chart name, presence / absence of repetition definition, basic signal name,
It consists of a repeat start position, a repeat stop position, the number of serial information, the number of input chart information, and the number of output chart information.

Of these, the presence / absence of repetition definitions, basic signal names,
The data created in the process of the above-described repetition definition is stored in the area of the repetition start position and the repetition stop position.

Each serial information is composed of a serial data name and coordinate data (distance information and time information) as shown in FIG. Each input chart management information is composed of an input data signal name, a repetition start position, a repetition stop position, and the number of line information in the input chart information, that is, the number of change points, as shown in FIG. Have been. Further, each input chart information is composed of a plurality of line information as shown in FIG. 3E, and each line information is composed of high / low information and time information as shown in FIG. It is composed of The output chart management information, the output chart information, and the line system information thereof shown in (g), (h) and (i) of FIG.
And (f) are the same as the input chart management information, the input chart information, and the line information thereof, and thus the description is omitted.

(V) Synthesis of timing chart This is to synthesize timing charts of a plurality of modules into one timing chart. The synthesis timing chart obtained by this is used when debugging a plurality of modules simultaneously.

When the operation is completed in the timing chart creation step, there is an input request as to whether to combine the timing chart with another timing chart (see step S210 in FIG. 13). Here, when the user instructs synthesis, a list of registered modules is displayed in a menu format as shown in the flowchart of FIG. 38 (step TCS1), and a desired module number is input (step TCS2). If there is no registered module number and designation, exit this subsession after confirming the end (steps TCS3, TCS3).
CS4, TCS5). If not, the display returns to the module list display again (steps TCS5 and TCS1). When all the modules to be combined have been designated, inputting "0" proceeds to the input of a combination timing chart name to be described later (steps TCS2, TCS3, TCS6, TCS7).

If the number of a registered module is specified, a list of timing charts created in that module is displayed in a menu format (step TCS8), and the number of the desired timing chart is input (step TC
S9). When the number of the registered timing chart is specified, the display returns to the module list display (step TCS1
0, TCS1). If there is no designation, it is confirmed that the timing chart is unnecessary. If the timing chart is not necessary, the display returns to the module list display (steps TCS10 and TCS1).
1, TCS12, TCS1). If a timing chart is required, specifying the module number returns to the timing chart list display for that module (step TCS1).
2, TCS8).

When the designation of the module to be combined and the timing chart have been completely completed, the input of the name of the combined timing chart is requested (steps TCS6 and TCS7). If no name is entered here, it is confirmed that synthesis is unnecessary. If synthesis is not required, the process exits from this subsession (steps TCS13, TCS14, TCS15). If synthesis is required, the process returns to the input of synthesis timing chart name ( Steps TCS15, TCS7).

When the name is input, the process proceeds to the timing chart synthesizing step (step TCS16), in which data of a plurality of previously specified modules are synthesized with their time axes aligned, similar to the timing chart of FIG. 35. Serial communication data and signal lines related to a plurality of modules are displayed in a simple format.

The synthesized timing chart can be edited similarly to the individual timing charts (step TCS17). Further, the above-described repetition information can be similarly defined (steps TCS18, TCS19). The composite timing chart created in this way is registered in the disk device 6 as a composite timing chart file (step TCS20).

FIGS. 39 (a) to (e) show the composition timing chart file STCF and a configuration example. The composite timing chart file STCF has basically the same configuration as the timing chart file TCF shown in FIG. 37, and includes management information and a plurality of serial information, input chart management information, and input chart information. , Output chart management information, and output chart information.

Then, the management information is, as shown in FIG.
It consists of a file creation date, the presence or absence of a repeat definition, a basic signal name, a repeat start position, a repeat stop position, the number of serial information, the number of input chart information, and the number of output chart information.

Each serial information is composed of a serial data name, a module name, and coordinate data as shown in FIG. Each input chart management information is composed of an input data signal name, a module name, a repetition start position, a repetition stop position, and the number of change points in the input chart information, as shown in FIG. . Each output chart management information includes an output data signal name,
It is composed of a module name, a repetition start position, a repetition stop position, and the number of change points in the output chart information. The input chart information and output chart information are stored in the timing chart file TC.
Since the configuration is the same as that of F, the description is omitted.

(Xi) Timing data creation This is a format conversion of the timing chart into a text file. All the changing points on the timing chart created earlier are extracted and displayed on the screen of the graphic display 5 as a table as shown in FIG. And a file. This timing data creation will be described with reference to the format of FIG.

In the timing data creation step, a list of registered timing data is displayed in a menu format (step TDG1), and a desired timing data number is input (step TDG2). If there is no designation of the registered timing data number, after confirming the end, the process exits from this subsession (steps TDG3, TDG4, TDG5). If the processing is not to be ended, the display returns to the timing data list display again (steps TDG5 and TDG1).

When newly creating timing data, a list of registered timing charts is displayed in a menu format, so input a desired timing chart number and obtain the original timing chart name (steps TDG6, TDG
7, TDG8). If the number of the registered timing chart is specified, proceed to timing data creation (Step TD
G9, TDG12).

In creating this timing data, the data of the designated timing chart is read, the serial communication data and the information arranged for each input / output signal are rearranged in absolute time order, and the disk drive is formatted in a timing data file TDF described later. 6 is stored.

If the number of the registered timing data is designated in step TDG2, the timing data is read out, and this data is stored in the memory in the form of a timing data table described later. Next, a standard template for timing data is displayed on the screen of the graphic display 5 as shown in FIG. 40, and further, change data of each signal in the absolute time order in the standard template is displayed (step TDG2). , TDG6, TDG13).

If there is no designation when inputting the timing chart number, it is confirmed that timing data is not created (steps TDG9 and TDG10). If necessary, return to the timing chart list display (steps TDG11, TDG7).

The created timing data can be edited, and is edited using an editing command described later (steps TDG14 and TDG15). When the editing is completed, the timing data table TDT is converted into a file in the format of a timing data file TDF described later. That is, it is stored in the disk device 6.

42 to 44 show an example of the configuration of the timing data table TDT.

As shown in FIG. 42, the timing data table TDT includes a timing data head table TDHT and a plurality of timing data information tables TDIT which are sequentially referred to in the direction of an arrow from the timing data head table TDHT.
And a plurality of repetition tables RT.

As shown in FIG. 43 (a), the timing data head table TDHT contains a timing data name, a creation date, a timing chart name, the number of repetition information registered in this table, an address of the repetition information table, The area of the number of timing data information registered in this table and the address of the timing data information table is provided. Each timing data information table TDIT contains a forward address, a reverse address, a timing data number, a module name, a type of transmission / reception serial communication data, or a type of input / output signal, as shown in FIG. , Data, and an area of an absolute time and a relative time indicating the time of the change point extracted from the timing chart.

The data area shown in FIG. 43 (b) corresponds to the transmission / reception serial communication data table shown in FIGS. 43 (c) and (d) or the data area shown in FIGS. 43 (e) and (f) according to the type. The input / output signal table shown in FIG.

Then, the timing information table TDIT to be referred next is specified based on the forward address and the backward address, as indicated by an arrow in FIG.

When the data is an input / output signal, the succeeding data is sequentially specified by taking an internal link of the timing data of the same signal.

The same applies to the repetition table RT shown in FIG.

In this way, a timing data table as shown in FIG. 40 can be created.

In FIG. 40, No. indicates a continuous line number and is used as a symbol for line editing in the editor. MODULE indicates a module name in which each input / output signal exists or a module name of a subsystem to be input / output of serial communication data. Here CHM
2 shows an example of a module of a sheet transport device named “A”. RECEIVE and TRANSMIT indicate serial reception and transmission data, and INPUT and OUTPUT indicate input / output signal names and their changes. TIME indicates the relative time from the change state of the previous row to the change of the row.
Shown in units of ms.

In the example of FIG. 40, in the initial state, fdo-snr, reg
-Snr, fusin-snr, fusext-snr, exit-snr all sensor outputs are off and after 11878ms,
A '' data is transmitted, and after another 6143 ms, the sensor fda-sn
This indicates that the output of r is turned on.

Editing can also be performed in the timing data creation step.

 Hereinafter, this editing work will be described.

For example, when the line feed key of the keyboard 4 is pressed while the timing data table as shown in FIG. 40 is displayed, the input of editing is awaited. Here, when the line number of the line to be edited is input, input of a parameter is waited, and the line can be edited. When editing timing data, MODULE, RECEIVE, TRANSMIT, INPUT, OU
After inputting one of the TPUTs from the keyboard 4, the setting value is edited. When "+1 (where l is a line number)" is input, additional editing can be performed after the l line, and "-l"
Is input, additional editing can be performed before l lines.

The edited timing data is filed in the format shown in FIG. 45 and stored in the disk device 6.

FIG. 45 shows a configuration example of the timing data file TDF.

The timing data file TDF is composed of management information, a plurality of pieces of repetition information, and a plurality of pieces of timing data information, as shown in FIG. The management information includes a file creation date, a timing chart name, the number of pieces of repetition information, and the number of pieces of timing data information, as shown in FIG. As shown in the figure, the signal name, the repetition start position and the repetition stop position are configured.
Each timing data information includes a module number, a module name, a data type, data itself, the absolute time and the relative time.

As described above, the timing data created by the five sub-sessions of diagram creation, input chart creation, serial chart creation, timing chart creation, and timing chart synthesis described above are stored in the data file as test timing data.

(Vi) Timing data format conversion This converts timing data into a data format for the emulation system 7 (see FIG. 4). This timing data format conversion will be described with reference to the flowchart in FIG.

In the timing data format conversion step, a list of registered timing data is displayed along with a number, and a desired timing data number is input (steps TDF1 and TDF2). When a plurality of files are designated, the timing data numbers are continuously input. If the registered timing chart number is not specified,
After confirming the end, the process exits from this subsession (steps TDF3, TDF4, TDF5). If not, the display returns to the timing data list display again (steps TDF5 and TDF5).
DF1).

When the number of the registered timing data is designated, it is determined whether or not the format conversion of all the files has been completed (step TDF6), and the steps described below are repeated until the format conversion of all the files is completed. .

If the selected file does not have the repetition information set, an input of an output file name is required, so that a new output file name is input (steps TDF7 and TDF7).
DF9). As a result, the format conversion is performed,
The timing data is an ASCII file format data statement shown below.

DATA D1, “D2”, D3, D4, “D5”, “D6” where D1 is the time represented by a maximum of four digits and is the clock converted value of the relative time from the previous signal change It is. D2 is a one-character signal type code, I is an input signal, O is an output signal, C is transmission / reception data, and * is an end code. D3 is a two-digit number indicating a module number, and D4 is a maximum three-digit number indicating an input signal number. D5 is a one-character state type code, H is a high-level signal, L is a low-level signal, S is transmission data, and R is reception data.
The last D6 indicates serial communication data, which is a maximum of 42 characters.

If the selected file has repetition information set, the number of repetitions is requested first, so the required number is input (step TDF8) and the process proceeds to format conversion. Details of this format conversion will be described later.

When the format conversion of the specified timing data is completed, the process returns to the step of checking the end of conversion of all files, checks whether there is any other file requested by the user for conversion (step TDF6), and sets the timing data specified by the developer. , The format conversion operation is repeated. Then, when the conversion of all the timing data files TDF is completed, the display returns to the first timing data list display (steps TDF6 and TDF1).

Here, the correspondence with actual data will be specifically described with reference to the timing chart shown in FIG. 35 as an example. Here, it is assumed that the clock is set to 1000 μs, the module name of the paper transport mechanism is set to CHM, and the module number is set to “4”. In the setting of serial communication data, “45”, “44AB6090012B”, and “2D08A4BB65” are used for transmission data named inp-strt, exchg, expel, and reg, respectively.
It is assumed that data “5C221211” and “44A22BCD000001” are defined. In the input signal name setting, for example, for input signal numbers 1, 2, 4, and 5, fdo-snr, reg-s
It is assumed that input signal names of nr, fusext-snr, and exit-snr are set.

These data are stored in the timing data file TDF shown in FIG. 45, and format conversion is performed based on these data. The procedure of this format conversion will be described.

First, the timing data file TDF (see Fig. 45)
The timing data read from the TDT is developed in a timing data table TDT (see FIGS. 42 to 44), and the timing data information and the repetition information of this table TDT are rearranged in chronological order. And the relative time,
Detects signal type code, module number, input signal number, status type code and serial communication data, and converts them to corresponding ASCII code.

An example of a data sentence obtained by format conversion of data corresponding to the timing chart of FIG. 35 is shown below.

DATA 0, “I”, 04,1, “L”, “” DATA 0, “I”, 04,2, “L”, “” DATA 0, “I”, 04,3, “L”, “ ”DATA 0,“ I ”, 04,4,“ L ”,“ ”DATA 0,“ I ”, 04,5,“ L ”,“ ”DATA 1195,“ C ”, 04,0,“ R ”, “45” DATA 600, “I”, 04,1, “H”, “” DATA 24, “C”, 04,0, “R”, “44AB6090012B” DATA 48, “I”, 04,1, “ L ",""DATA48," I ", 04,1," H ",""DATA12," I ", 04,2," H ",""DATA12," C ", 04,0, “R”, “44A22BCD000001” DATA 48, “I”, 04,1, “L”, “” DATA 12, “I”, 04,2, “L”, “” DATA 36, “I”, 04, 3, “H”, “” DATA 24, “I”, 04,2, “H”, “” ...・ ・ ・ DATA 0, “I”, 04, 2, “H”, “” DATA 0, “C”, 04, 0, “R”, “2D08A4BB655C22121” DATA 72, “I”, 04, 1, “ L ",""For example, the data statement on the first line
The level of the input signal fdo-snr indicated by number 1 is low, indicating that these signals are related to module number 1, that is, the paper transport module. Similarly, the data statements on the second to fifth lines are the signals reg-snr, fusin-snr, fusext-snr, exit-snr
Is set to the initial state.

Next, the data sentence on the sixth line indicates that a transmission / reception signal, that is, reception data of inp-strt is input 1195 clocks after the initial state, and that the content is "45".

Next, the data sentence on the seventh line is the fdo-s
This indicates that nr goes high.

Hereinafter, similarly, the state of the timing chart shown in FIG. 35, that is, the data of the timing chart file TCF shown in FIG. 45 is converted into a data sentence.

As described above, if the format of the timing data is converted and created in accordance with the system for sending various data, the timing data can be given versatility, and can be processed by other software debugging personal computers or the like.

〔The invention's effect〕

As described above, according to the present invention, a change in a signal generated in each paper sensing component is obtained by calculation based on paper status data and component position data input from data input means such as a keyboard and a mouse. ing. Then, an input chart is generated from data indicating this change. Thereby, the generation of the input chart is automated, and the time required for preparing the input chart is extremely reduced. In addition, since no human intervention is required, errors are eliminated.

Further, if the created data is stored in a file means such as a disk device, it is possible to easily create new data by reading and editing the data, thereby improving the efficiency of data creation. .

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the basic configuration of an input chart creation device of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a flowchart for explaining the basic steps of input chart creation by the same device, and FIG. FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a hardware configuration of a simulation apparatus provided with an input chart creation apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention as a part of its functions, and FIG. 5 is a file of the simulation apparatus. FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing the configuration, FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing the relationship between files and tables used in each session, FIG. 7 is a process diagram showing the operation flow of each block of the simulation apparatus, and FIG. 6 is a flowchart of a main program for controlling the overall flow of the device. FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing a process in a hardware information setting session, FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram showing a screen when a serial data table is defined, FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram showing a configuration of a hardware information table, and FIG. Explanatory drawing showing the configuration of the hardware information file, FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing a schematic process in a timing data creation session, FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing a process in a diagram creation session, and FIG. 15 is a screen at the start of diagram creation 16 to 19 are explanatory diagrams showing the configuration of a diagram table, FIG. 20 is a flowchart for explaining an editing operation when creating a diagram, and FIG. 21 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a diagram file configuration Figure, Figure 22 is an explanatory diagram showing the editing work when creating a diagram, Figure 23 is a diagram creation 24 (a) to (e) are explanatory diagrams showing screens during diagram creation, FIG. 25 is a flowchart showing processing in an input chart creation session, and FIG. 26 is a diagram Explanatory diagram showing another example of
FIG. 27 is an explanatory diagram showing an input chart screen corresponding to the diagram of FIG. 26, FIG. 28 is an explanatory diagram showing an editing operation at the time of creating the input chart, and FIG. 29 is an explanatory diagram showing a configuration example of the input chart file FIG. 30, FIG. 30 is a flowchart showing a process in a serial chart creation session, FIG. 31 is an explanatory diagram showing a display example of a serial chart, FIG. 32 is a diagram for explaining repetition designation of communication data, and FIG. FIG. 34 is an explanatory diagram showing a configuration example of a serial chart file, FIG. 34 is a flowchart showing processing in a timing chart creation session, FIG. 35 is an explanatory diagram showing a display example at the time of creating a timing chart, and FIG. FIG. 37 is an explanatory diagram showing a configuration example of a timing chart file, and FIG. 38 is a timing chart synthesizing section. FIG. 39 is an explanatory diagram showing a configuration example of a synthesis timing chart file, FIG. 40 is an explanatory diagram showing a display example at the time of creating timing data, and FIG. 41 is a flowchart showing a process in a timing data creating session. Flowchart shown,
42 is an explanatory diagram showing a configuration example of a timing data table, FIG. 43 is an explanatory diagram showing details of the timing data table, FIG. 44 is an explanatory diagram showing a configuration example of a repetition table, and FIG. 45 is a timing data file FIG. 46 is a flowchart showing processing in a timing data format conversion session. 47 is a sectional view showing a schematic configuration of the copying machine, FIG. 48 is a sectional view showing a schematic configuration of an automatic document feeder used in the copying machine, and FIG. 49 is a control circuit of the copying machine. FIG. 50 is a block diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of the copying machine, FIG. 50 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a configuration for performing a simulation of the copying machine, FIG. 51 is a diagram illustrating a schematic appearance of the simulation kit, and FIG. FIG. 53 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a display panel, FIG. 53 is a flowchart showing an example of a program to be simulated, and FIG. 54 is a diagram for explaining creation of an input chart by a conventional method. A: Data input means, B: Calculation means C: Image output means, D: File means

 ────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor Yasuhito Kaneko 2274 Hongo, Ebina-shi, Kanagawa Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd. Ebina Works (56) References JP-A-64-91250 (JP, A) JP-A-61 -103247 (JP, A) JP-A-62-298782 (JP, A)

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] 1. Data input means for inputting sheet state data indicating a state of a sheet conveyed in an image output device and component position data indicating a position of a sheet sensing component arranged in the image output device; Calculating means for obtaining timing data indicating a change time point and a level change state of an input signal output from the sheet sensing component when the sheet passes through the sheet sensing component portion based on the sheet state data and the component position data; And an image output means for generating an input chart corresponding to the waveform of the input signal from the timing data and outputting the input chart as an image. 2. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a file unit for storing the timing data obtained by said arithmetic unit.