JP2716038B2 - Printing device - Google Patents

Description

Description: BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a printing apparatus used in combination with an information processing apparatus such as a computer. 2. Description of the Related Art In a conventional information processing apparatus such as a computer, a printing apparatus is housed in the same case or is housed in another case and connected to each other by a cable. [0003] However, the above-mentioned technology is poor in portability and cannot be used in any place. In a set with a printing device in the same case, it is too large and too heavy to be portable, and in a set with a printing device in a separate case,
In order to function as a system, it is necessary for the user to connect with a cable, and accidents due to inexperience in wiring and reliability of the connector (in normal technology, contact failure may occur if the number of times of insertion and removal exceeds about 1000 times) As a result, the reliability of the system itself was deteriorated. [0004] In order to solve the above problems, the printing apparatus of the present invention has the following configuration. That is, this printing apparatus is a printing apparatus used in combination with an information processing apparatus, and a receiving means for receiving data output by the information processing apparatus by wireless communication, and a receiving means for receiving the data received by the receiving means. It is characterized by comprising storage means for storing, printing means for printing data read from the storage means, and control means for controlling the receiving means, the storage means and the printing means. The printing apparatus receives data output from the information processing apparatus by wireless communication and prints the data. FIG. 1 is an external view of a printing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. An information processing apparatus 101 includes a keyboard 102, a display unit 103, and an optical communication unit 104 as input devices. The information processing apparatus 101 includes a processor having an information processing function, a memory for display, a modem for optical communication, a memory for storing data, and the like. A printing device 105 includes a printer mechanism 106 and an optical communication unit 1.
04 is visible from the outside. The control circuit and power supply of the printer are turned on inside. A mass memory such as a floppy disk may be provided inside the printing device 105. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the internal configuration of the printing apparatus. Information processing device 2
Reference numeral 15 denotes a printing device. Processor C of information processing device
The PU 201 scans the keyboard 207 according to the program in the ROM 202 and executes the keyboard interface 2
04 to read the input character string. The CPU 201 decodes a command or data according to the pressed key, and stores
Store in 203. The RAM 203 is also used for storing data and as a temporary buffer for commands and the like. Display device 21
Reference numeral 3 displays data necessary for data creation work and control information. The user of the information processing apparatus operates the keyboard 207 in response to the display data to create necessary data. When printing the created data, the information processing device 214 is placed in the vicinity of the printing device 215, and is connected and used by optical communication. The operation at the time of printing is performed according to the input from the keyboard 207 of the information processing apparatus.
The data is read from the AM 203 and the optical communication modem 205
Send to The optical communication modem optically modulates data and communicates with the printing device through the light emitting / receiving device 206. The optical information emitted from the light emitting / receiving element 206 corresponds to the light emitting /
The light is received by the light receiving device 208, demodulated by the optical modem 209, and sent to the CPU 210 as control means. The CPU 210 drives the printer 212 according to the received data. 216
Is a ROM for storing programs for controlling the printer and character fonts, and 217 is a RAM used as a buffer or a work area of the CPU 210. Numeral 211 denotes a floppy disk drive which is used for storing data and which is used when the information processing apparatus 101 needs data.
Data is read from the floppy disk by the PU 210, optically modulated by the optical communication modem 209, and transmitted by the light emitting / receiving device 208. Light emission of information processing device /
The light receiving device 206 receives the light, demodulated by the optical modem 205, and transmitted to the CPU 201. In FIG. 2, the optical modems 205 and 209 and the light emitting / receiving devices 206 and 208 may be changed to an ultrasonic modem and an ultrasonic generating / microphone device, or another non-contact communication system such as using a magnetic coupling. . [0012] Considering the normal usage of an information processing apparatus such as a computer, the time for operating the input unit while looking at the display unit for inputting and editing is longer than the time for operating the printing apparatus. Is also very long. This is because frequently used data can be stored in the information processing device if the storage means of the information processing device has a certain capacity or more, and printing need only be performed once after the data creation. Therefore, if the printing apparatus receives data stored in the storage means of the information processing apparatus by wireless communication as in the printing apparatus according to the present invention, operations such as data creation and editing can be performed only by the information processing apparatus. When the printing operation is required, the data may be transferred by wireless communication, so that the portability of the information processing apparatus is greatly improved. In other words, the tasks that occupy a large part in terms of frequency can be performed only by the information processing device, and can be used anywhere. Further, when the printing apparatus is used, it is not necessary to attach and detach the connector each time, and the operability is extremely improved. The printing apparatus has virtually no restrictions on power consumption, size, weight, etc. due to portability, so that any function can be used.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is an external view of a printing apparatus as one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an internal configuration of a printing apparatus as an embodiment. [Explanation of symbols]. 101, 214 ... information processing devices 105, 215 printing devices 102, 207 keyboards 103, 213 display unit 201 CPUs 104, 206, 208 ... light emitting / receiving devices 205, 209 for optical communication ..Optical communication modems

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁶ Identification code Agency reference number FI Technical display location G06F 15/20 596A

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] A printing device used in combination with an information processing device, comprising: a receiving unit that receives data output by the information processing device by wireless communication; a storage unit that stores data received by the receiving unit; A printing apparatus comprising: printing means for printing read data; and control means for controlling the receiving means, the storage means, and the printing means.