JPH04319467A - Printing device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To make it possible to print by wire communication without being interrupted by wireless communication and simplify operation for selecting the communications, by providing a wire communication means and a wireless communication means, selecting the communication means dependent on the presence of a connection of a wire communicating cable. CONSTITUTION:An input interface 4 comprises a wire communication device 4a and a wireless communication device 4b. Sending/receiving of data between a host computer 2 and a printing device 1 is performed with a wire communication cable by the wire communication device 4a or a wireless communication by the wireless communication device 4b. A receive buffer 5 stores data received at the input interface 4. Also, a connection detecting device 7 for wire communication cable detects whether the wire communication cable is connected to the printing device 1 or not. The detected information is transmitted to a CPU 3. At the printing device 1, the CPU 3 controls selection of the communication means dependent on the presence of the connection of the wire communication cable to be detected by the detecting device 7.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

0001

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a printing apparatus that has two types of communication means, wireless and wired, and transfers print data using either of the communication means when printing.

0002

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, printing apparatuses have been provided which receive print data from the outside and perform printing by connecting communication cables. Further, in addition to such a wired communication, there is also known a printing apparatus that has a function of receiving print data by wireless communication, and prints using the print data received wirelessly. By the way, in such a printing device having two types of communication means, wired and wireless, the cable connection for wired communication and the selection of the communication means are unrelated.
Further, depending on the device, the communication means may be selected by operating a switch or by an external command.

0003

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] However, in the above-mentioned conventional example, if there is no communication means selection function and if you want to connect a wired communication cable to the printing device and perform printing by wired communication, it is difficult to connect other host computers. When there is a print request via wireless communication from the printer, priority is given to printing via wireless communication, and printing via wired communication may have to wait until this request is completed.

On the other hand, even if the device is capable of preferentially performing wired communication using an external switch or command, it is necessary to adjust these settings in order to perform wired communication without being hindered by wireless communication. The disadvantage is that the work is complicated.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a printing device that can select wired communication with a simple operation and can execute printing using wired communication without being hindered by wireless communication.

[0006]

[Means for Solving the Problems] The present invention provides a means for detecting whether or not a cable for wired communication is connected to a printing device, and determines a communication means based on the detection result, thereby enabling wired communication. In this case, printing can be performed without being hindered by wireless communication by simply connecting a cable for wired communication to the printing device.

[0007]

[Embodiment] FIG. 1 shows a printing apparatus 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG.

[0008] This printing device 1 has a host computer 2.
It receives print data from the CP and prints it.
U3 centrally controls each device based on a control program stored in program ROM6.

The input interface 4 has two types: a wired communication section 4a and a wireless communication section 4b. Transmission and reception of data between the host computer 2 and the printing apparatus 1 is performed by a wired communication cable by the wired communication section 4a of the input interface 4 or by wireless communication by the wireless communication section 4b of the input interface 4.

[0010] The reception buffer 5 is connected to the input interface 4
This is to store the data received.

The wired communication cable connection detection device 7 detects whether or not a wired communication cable is connected to the printing device 1, and the information detected here is transmitted to the CPU 3.

The RAM 8 serves as a main memory and stores various data, and the output section 9 outputs the image data accumulated in the reception buffer 5 onto recording paper based on a print command from the CPU 3. be.

In the printing apparatus 1 configured as described above, the CPU 3 controls the selection of communication means depending on whether or not a wired communication cable is connected, which is detected by the detection device 7.

FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram showing the cable connection detection device 7 for wired communication.

In the figure, a wired communication jack 20 is provided on the printing device 1 side, and this wired communication jack 20 connects a wired communication cable connection detection switch SW1 and a signal line suitable for a predetermined communication method. connection pins (not shown).

On the other hand, the plug 21 of the wired communication cable is composed of pins of a signal line suitable for a predetermined communication method. Then, by attaching the plug 21 to the jack 20, the switch SW1 is turned on. Therefore, when the wired communication cable is connected to the printing apparatus 1, SW1 is turned on, and when it is not connected, SW1 is turned off, and this wired communication cable connection information is transmitted to the CPU 3.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating an example of communication means selection processing in the printing apparatus 1.

First, when the printer 1 is powered on,
The CPU 3 determines whether a wired communication cable is connected to the printing device 1 by the wired communication cable connection detection device 7 (S1).

If a wired communication cable is connected to the printing device 1, the input interface 4 is set for wired communication (S2). Therefore, in this case, no wireless communication is performed.

[0020] Furthermore, if a wired communication cable is not connected to the printing device 1, the input interface 4 is set for wireless communication (S3). Therefore, in this case, wireless communication will be performed.

After the setting of the communication means is completed as described above, the input interface 4 receives the data transmitted from the host computer 2 (S4), stores the received data in the reception buffer 5, and stores the received data in the reception buffer 5. Print processing is performed while reading the data (S5).

[0022] When the reception buffer 5 becomes empty, it is determined that the printing apparatus 1 is in a data reception waiting state (S6).
), return to S1 and set the input interface 4.

In the above embodiment, the presence or absence of a wired communication cable connection in the printing device 1 was detected by providing the physical switch SW1 in the printing device 1. Detection may also be performed using a signal line of a connected wired communication cable. For example, one signal line is always set to level "H" on the host computer 2, and on the printing device 1 side,
The presence or absence of a wired communication cable connection is determined depending on whether the signal line is "H" or not.

[0024]

[Effects of the Invention] As explained above, since the communication means is selected depending on whether or not a wired communication cable is connected,
This has the advantage that printing can be performed using wired communication without being hindered by wireless communication, and the operation for selecting communication can be simplified.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram showing a cable connection detection device for wired communication in the above embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a communication means selection operation in the above embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

1...Printing device, 2...Host computer, 3...CPU, 4...Input interface, 4a...Wired communication department, 4b...Wireless communication department, 5...Reception buffer, 6...ROM, 7... Cable connection detection device for wired communication, 8... RAM, 20...Jack, 21...Plug, SW1...Wired communication cable connection detection switch.

Claims (1)

[Claims] Claim 1: A device comprising two types of communication means, wired and wireless, and a detection means for detecting the presence or absence of a connection of a wired communication cable, and selects a communication means based on the presence or absence of a connection of a wired communication cable. A printing device characterized by: