Memory subsystem for bitmap printer data controller

A DRAM memory controller for a printer, the printer having a single host CPU connected to a DRAM memory via a CPU bus, the host CPU providing a system clock and a state signal representing a CPU internal state, the CPU initiating memory data transfers on the bus synchronously to the system clock, the printer also having a DMA controller for initiating memory data transfers on the CPU bus asynchronously to the system clock, the DRAM memory controller comprising:

• a memory data bus for coupling the DRAM memory controller to the DRAM memory;
• a print fifo data latch coupled to the memory data bus;
• a pattern register coupled to the memory data bus;
• memory data transceivers for coupling the memory data bus to the CPU bus;
• a first sequencer for providing first timing signals in response to memory data transfers initiated by the host CPU, the first sequencer comprising a synchronous state machine using the system clock and responsive to the state signal;
• a second sequencer for providing second timing signals in response to memory data transfers initiated by the DMA controller, the second sequencer comprising a synchronous state machine using the system clock;
• a refresh request generator for generating a refresh request signal which is asynchronous to the system clock;
• a third sequencer for providing third timing signals in response to the refresh request signal, the third sequencer comprising a synchronous state machine using the system clock and responsive to the state signal, the third sequencer also providing arbitration between the first, second, and third sequencers so that the first timing signals, second timing signals, and third timing signals are not activated simultaneously;
• a signal generator for providing DRAM control signals in response to the first timing signals, second timing signals, and third timing signals;
• and
• means for controlling the memory data transceivers such that when the host CPU or the DMA controller executes a write to a location in the DRAM memory, the DRAM memory controller may execute a read from the DRAM memory location to the print fifo data latch followed by a write from the pattern register to the DRAM memory location without bus contention between the memory controller and the host CPU or the DMA controller.

A printer comprising:

• a DRAM memory;
• a host CPU for providing a system clock and a state signal representing a CPU internal state, the CPU initiating data transfers to the memory for filling the memory with a bitmap image to be printed, the CPU initiated data transfers being initiated synchronously to the system clock;
• a print engine for receiving bitmap data and producing therefrom a printed page line by line, the print engine generating a line sync signal at the start of each line to be printed on the page;
• a print fifo for providing the bitmap data to the print engine in response to the line sync signal;
• a DMA controller for initiating data transfers between the memory and the print fifo when the print fifo has emptied beyond a certain predetermined point, the DMA controller initiated transfers being initiated asynchronously to the system clock;
• a memory controller comprising:
• a first sequencer for providing first timing signals in response to data transfers initiated by the CPU, the first sequencer comprising a synchronous state machine using the system clock;
• a second sequencer for providing second timing signals in response to data transfers initiated by the DMA controller, the second sequencer comprising a synchronous state machine using the system clock;
• a refresh request generator for generating a refresh request signal which is asynchronous to the system clock;
• a third sequencer for providing third timing signals in response to the refresh request signal, the third sequencer comprising a synchronous state machine using the system clock, the third sequencer also providing arbitration between the first, second, and third sequencers;
• and
• a signal generator for providing DRAM control signals in response to the first timing signals, second timing signals, and third timing signals.

A printer comprising:

• a DRAM memory;
• a host CPU for providing a system clock and a state signal representing a CPU internal state, the CPU initiating data transfers to the memory for filling the memory with a bitmap image to be printed, the CPU initiated data transfers being initiated synchronously to the system clock;
• a print engine for receiving bitmap data and producing therefrom a printed page line by line, the print engine generating a line sync signal at the start of each line to be printed on the page;
• a print fifo for providing the bitmap data to the print engine in response to the line sync signal;
• a DMA controller for initiating data transfers between the memory and the print fifo when the print fifo has emptied beyond a certain predetermined point, the DMA controller initiated transfers being initiated asynchronously to the system clock;
• a DRAM memory controller comprising:
• a memory data bus for coupling the DRAM memory controller to a DRAM memory;
• memory data transceivers for coupling the memory data bus to the host CPU and to the DMA controller;
• a print fifo data latch coupled to the memory data bus and to the print fifo;
• a pattern register coupled to the memory data bus;
• a first sequencer for providing first timing signals in response to data transfers initiated by the CPU, the first sequencer comprising a synchronous state machine using the system clock;
• a second sequencer for providing second timing signals in response to data transfers initiated by the DMA controller, the second sequencer comprising a synchronous state machine using the system clock;
• a refresh request generator for generating a refresh request signal which is asynchronous to the system clock;
• a third sequencer for providing third timing signals in response to the refresh request signal, the third sequencer comprising a synchronous state machine using the system clock, the third sequencer also providing arbitration between the first, second, and third sequencers;
• a signal generator for providing DRAM control signals in response to the first timing signals, second timing signals, and third timing signals;
• and
• means for controlling the memory data transceivers such that when the host CPU or the DMA controller initiates a write data transfer to a location in the DRAM memory, the DRAM memory controller executes a read data transfer from the DRAM memory location to the print fifo data latch followed by a write data transfer from the pattern register to the DRAM memory location without bus contention between the memory controller and the host CPU or the DMA controller.

A method of transferring data between a bitmap memory and a print fifo in a printer comprising the steps of:

• providing a DMA controller;
• providing a memory data bus coupled to a memory;
• providing tristateable bus transceivers for coupling the DMA controller to the memory data bus;
• providing a fifo data latch coupled to the memory data bus;
• providing a pattern register coupled to the memory data bus;
• initiating a single data write transfer to a location in the memory from the DMA controller;
• tristating the bus transceivers;
• reading a word of data from the location in the memory to the fifo data latch via the memory data bus using a first page-mode DRAM access;
• and
• writing data from the pattern register to the same location in the memory via the memory data bus using a second page-mode DRAM access.