Microprocessor-controlled meter package for a printer
AssigneeDataproducts Corporation
InventorsYuen W. Wong, Doina Mazilu, Paul O. Amdahl
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
In a line printer, an integrated meter package developing a clock incorporates a microprocessor receiving a line printed signal, power on voltage, and a preset ribbon exhaust count in order to compute in reference to the clock, and selectively display on an alphanumeric display panel, the total the lines printed, total on hours, total print hours, preset ribbon exhaust count, and number of print lines remaining until exhaustion of the ribbon. The microprocessor stores accumulated values to a non-volatile electrically programmable memory upon receipt of a power going down signal warning of incipient power off. The microprogrammed control is adaptable to maintain general maintenance and fault histories and periods.
Claims30
A meter, for use with an electrical printer that produces both a POWER ON signal which indicates when active that a printer operating voltage is on and a LINE PRINTED signal which indicates when active that a line is printed, comprising:
- (a) POWER ON and LINE PRINTED sensing inputs for respectively receiving the POWER ON and LINE PRINTED signals from a printer;
- (b) display means having a display input, for converting signals received at the display input into a corresponding meter display;
- and
- (c) microprocessor means (i) having clock means for generating timing pulses, ROM and RAM memories, a program stored in the ROM memory, and HOURS ON and KILOLINES PRINTED variables stored in the RAM memory, and (ii) coupled to the sensing inputs to receive the POWER ON and LINE PRINTED signals and coupled for transmission to the display input;
- the microprocessor means by executing the program being responsive to (i) the POWER ON signal and the timing pulses for incrementing the HOURS ON variable for each hour the printer operating voltage is on;
- (ii) the LINE PRINTED signal for incrementing the KILOLINES PRINTED variable for each 1000 times a line is printed;
- and (iii) the currently stored HOURS ON and KILOLINES PRINTED variables for transmitting their values to the display input for conversion by the display means to corresponding meter displays of HOURS ON and KILOLINES PRINTED.
A meter, for use with an electrical printer that produces both a POWER ON signal which indicates when active that a printer operating voltage is on a LINE PRINTED signal which indicates when active that a line is printed, said meter comprising:
- (a) POWER ON and LINE PRINTED sensing inputs for respectively receiving the POWER ON and LINE PRINTED signals from a printer;
- (b) display means having a display input, for converting signals received at the display input into a corresponding meter display;
- and
- (c) microprocessor means (i) having clock means for generating timing pulses, ROM and RAM memories, a program stored in the ROM memory, and a PRINT HOURS variables stored in the RAM memory, and (ii) coupled to the sensing inputs to receive the POWER ON and LINE PRINTED signals and coupled for transmission to the display input;
- the microprocessor means by executing the program being responsive to (i) the LINE PRINTED signal for setting a PRINT FLAG each time a line is printed, (ii) the POWER ON signal, the timing pulses, and the PRINT FLAG for clearing the PRINT FLAG once each second if it is set and for incrementing the PRINT HOURS variable for each net hour the printer operating voltage is on after excluding any periods during which the PRINT FLAG remains cleared which are longer than a preselected short interval, and (iii) the currently stored PRINT HOURS variable for transmitting its value to the display input for conversion by the display means to a corresponding meter display of PRINT HOURS.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.