# US 12,223,292 B2 · Printing apparatus and USB equipment

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- Number: US 12,223,292 B2
- Document ID: US12223292B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 18/048,901
- Filed: 2022-10-24
- Published: 2023-04-27
- Granted: 2025-02-11
- Earliest claimed: 2021-10-26
- Assignees: Seiko Epson Corporation
- Applicants: Seiko Epson Corporation
- Inventors: Takeshi Harada
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12223292B2

## CPC

- B41J 29/13: Cases or covers
- G06F 7/57: Arithmetic logic units [ALU], i.e. arrangements or devices for performing two or more of the operations covered by groups G06F7/483 – G06F7/556 or for performing logical operations {(G06F7/49, G06F7/491 take precedence)}
- B41J 3/44: Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms having dual functions or combined with, or coupled to, apparatus performing other functions
- B41J 29/38: Drives, motors, controls or automatic cut-off devices for the entire printing mechanism
- G06F 3/1202: {specifically adapted to achieve a particular effect}
- Y02D 10/00: Energy efficient computing, e.g. low power processors, power management or thermal management
- B41J: TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
- G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N)
- Y02D: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES IN INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGIES [ICT], I.E. INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGIES AIMING AT THE REDUCTION OF THEIR OWN ENERGY USE

## Abstract

There is provided a printing apparatus including: a first receptacle connector that couples a first external device and an arithmetic section; a second receptacle connector that couples a second external device and the arithmetic section; and a USB controller that causes the arithmetic section to function as the device or the host based on a first electric signal input from the first external device and a second electric signal input from the second external device, in which, when the first external device is coupled, the USB controller causes the arithmetic section to function as the device when the second external device that functions as the device is coupled, causes the arithmetic section to function as the device when the second external device that functions as the host is coupled, and causes the arithmetic section to function as the device when the second external device is not coupled.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A printing apparatus comprising:
a first receptacle connector that couples a first external device that functions as a host and an arithmetic section to communicate with each other;
a second receptacle connector that couples a second external device that functions as the host or a device and the arithmetic section to communicate with each other; and
a USB controller that causes the arithmetic section to function as the device or the host based on a first electric signal input from the first external device via the first receptacle connector and a second electric signal input from the second external device via the second receptacle connector, wherein
when the first external device and the first receptacle connector are coupled, the USB controller
causes the arithmetic section to function not as the host but as the device when the second external device that functions as the device is coupled to the second receptacle connector,
causes the arithmetic section to function as the device when the second external device that functions as the host is coupled to the second receptacle connector, and
causes the arithmetic section to function as the device when the second external device is not coupled to the second receptacle connector.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein
the second receptacle connector has a CC terminal,
when the second external device is not coupled to the second receptacle connector and the first external device is coupled to the first receptacle connector, the USB controller fixes a potential of the CC terminal, and
when the second external device is not coupled to the second receptacle connector and the first external device is not coupled to the first receptacle connector, the USB controller changes the potential of the CC terminal at regular intervals.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein
in a state where the first external device is not coupled to the first receptacle connector, the second external device that functions as the device is coupled to the second receptacle connector, and the arithmetic section functions as the host, when the first external device is coupled to the first receptacle connector, the USB controller stops communication between the second external device that functions as the device and the arithmetic section, and executes communication between the first external device and the arithmetic section.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein
the USB controller has an integrated circuit,
the first electric signal and the second electric signal are input to the integrated circuit,
the integrated circuit outputs a control signal to the arithmetic section, and
the arithmetic section functions as the device or the host based on the control signal.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein
the USB controller has a first integrated circuit and a second integrated circuit,
the first electric signal is input to the first integrated circuit,
the second electric signal is input to the second integrated circuit,
the second integrated circuit outputs a control signal to the arithmetic section via the first integrated circuit, and
the arithmetic section functions as the device or the host based on the control signal.

### Claim 6

USB equipment comprising:
a first receptacle connector that couples a first external device that functions as a host and a USB device to communicate with each other;
a second receptacle connector that couples a second external device that functions as the host or a device and the USB device to communicate with each other; and
a USB controller that causes the USB device to function as the device or the host based on a first electric signal input from the first external device via the first receptacle connector and a second electric signal input from the second external device via the second receptacle connector, wherein
when the first external device and the first receptacle connector are coupled, the USB controller
causes the USB device to function not as the host but as the device when the second external device that functions as the device is coupled to the second receptacle connector,
causes the USB device to function as the device when the second external device that functions as the host is coupled to the second receptacle connector, and
causes the USB device to function as the device when the second external device is not coupled to the second receptacle connector.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The USB equipment according to claim 6, wherein
the second receptacle connector has a CC terminal,
when the second external device is not coupled to the second receptacle connector and the first external device is coupled to the first receptacle connector, the USB controller fixes a potential of the CC terminal, and
when the second external device is not coupled to the second receptacle connector and the first external device is not coupled to the first receptacle connector, the USB controller changes the potential of the CC terminal at regular intervals.

### Claim 8 (depends on 6)

The USB equipment according to claim 6, wherein
in a state where the first external device is not coupled to the first receptacle connector, the second external device that functions as the device is coupled to the second receptacle connector, and the USB device functions as the host, when the first external device is coupled to the first receptacle connector, the USB controller stops communication between the second external device that operates as the device and the USB device, and executes communication between the first external device and the USB device.

### Claim 9 (depends on 6)

The USB equipment according to claim 6, wherein
the USB controller has an integrated circuit,
the first electric signal and the second electric signal are input to the integrated circuit,
the integrated circuit outputs a control signal to the USB device, and
the USB device functions as the device or the host based on the control signal.

### Claim 10 (depends on 6)

The USB equipment according to claim 6, wherein
the USB controller has a first integrated circuit and a second integrated circuit,
the first electric signal is input to the first integrated circuit,
the second electric signal is input to the second integrated circuit,
the second integrated circuit outputs a control signal to the USB device via the first integrated circuit, and
the USB device functions as the device or the host based on the control signal.