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AssigneeSeiko Epson Corporation
InventorsKenichi Wakabayashi, Kaoru Hatakoshi, Kiyotaka Nishimura, Tsuyoshi Morikawa, Tadashi Shiozaki, Akira Nakajima, Hajime Nishizawa, Chitoshi Takayama
Estimating the term…
The image processing performance of a present day or existing page printer, e.g., electrophotographic printer, is improved and accelerated with the use of a detachable intelligent cartridge which contains a CPU and necessary memory to process print data into image dated for the electronic control unit of the printer to which the cartridge is attached. Depending upon the page description language (PDL) to be employed, a cartridge can be selected for use with the printer and accelerate its PDL conversion and printing output. The intelligent cartridge CPU, which is different from the printer CPU, receives print data from the printer and, since the data bus connecting the intelligent cartridge and the electronic control unit of the printer has only a read only capability from the electronic control unit, data transfer to the cartridge is made possible by utilizing the print data as an index for the read address accomplished by the printer CPU. The bit image data is accomplished by the cartridge CPU from print data received via the printer CPU and after data development, the bit image data is transferred to the printer for hardcopy printout.
An intelligent cartridge for releasable attachment to a printer wherein the printer has a printer controller capable of receiving print data from an external source and developing the print data into printer controller developed bit image data for printout, the cartridge including logic means and memory means for receiving the print data from the printer controller when connected thereto, developing the print data into logic means and memory means developed bit image data, and transferring said logic means and memory means developed bit image data to the printer controller for printout in lieu of said printer controller developed bit image data.
An intelligent cartridge connected via a connector portion to a printer having a printer control unit with a CPU and address and data buses, the printer control unit developing a controller developed bit image based on print data received from an external source, such as a computer host, the cartridge comprising:
A printer having a printer control unit for developing printer control unit bit image data based on print data received from an external source and printing an image based upon said printer control unit developed bit image data, a cartridge attached to the printer and electrically connected to address and data buses in said control unit via a cartridge/control unit connector, said cartridge comprising storing means for a page description language interpreter, an image development means including a CPU for interpreting said print data through said interpreter and developing image development means developed bit image data, data transfer means for transferring said image development means developed bit image data to said printer control unit via said data bus of the printer, said printer data bus being utilized as a signal line for reading said image development means developed bit image data from said cartridge, and data output means in the printer for providing said print data via a read-only process of data in a memory of said cartridge.
A method of image processing carried out, in part, via a separate intelligent cartridge having its own CPU processing unit and releasably connected to a printer having a CPU operated printer control unit, the cartridge being electrically connected to the printer control unit to provide a read-only address capability to the cartridge and a read-only data capability to the printer control unit, said printer control unit being capable of developing a printer control unit developed bit image based on print data received from an external source and printing the printer control unit developed bit image, and comprising the steps of:
A method of image processing carried out, in part, via a separate intelligent cartridge having its own CPU processing unit and releasably connected to a printer having a CPU operated control unit, the cartridge being electrically connected to the printer control unit to provide a read-only address capability to the cartridge and a read-only data capability to the printer control unit, said printer control unit being capable of developing a printer control unit developed bit image based on print data received from an external source and printing the printer control unit developed bit image, and comprising the steps of:
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.