# US 5,700,098 A · Printing device > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 5,700,098 A - Document ID: US5700098A - Status: Granted - Kind: A - Application number: 08/545,446 - Filed: 1995-10-24 - Granted: 1997-12-23 - Earliest claimed: 1992-07-24 - Assignees: Esselte N.V. - Inventors: Michael Andrew Beadman; Ian Thompson-Bell - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US5700098A ## CPC - B41J 3/36: for portability {, i.e. hand-held printers or laptop printers (B41J3/4075 takes precedence)} - G06K 15/00: Arrangements for producing a permanent visual presentation of the output data {, e.g. computer output printers}(printing or plotting combined with another operation, e.g. with conveying, G06K17/00) - G06K 15/02: using printers - G06K 2215/0005: Accepting output data; Preparing data for the controlling system - G06K 2215/0025: Removable memories, e.g. cartridges - G06K 2215/0082: Architecture adapted for a particular function - G06K 2215/0097: Printing on special media, e.g. labels, envelopes - B41J: TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS - G06K: GRAPHICAL DATA READING (image or video recognition or understanding G06V); PRESENTATION OF DATA; RECORD CARRIERS; HANDLING RECORD CARRIERS ## Abstract A printing device is described which can provide extended functions while nevertheless remaining portable and inexpensive. This is achieved by providing an interface which is connected to a controller of the printing device and which is adapted to be connected to one of a selection of external cartridges to support a wider variety of functions of the printing device. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A printing device comprising: a printing mechanism for printing characters onto an image receiving tape; an input device for inputting information for controlling operations of the printing device; a controller coupled to the input device to receive control signals therefrom and operable to utilize the control signals to provide address signals for accessing data items for defining said characters to be printed and control data for controlling operations of the printing mechanism; an address bus coupled to said controller; a data bus for supplying said data items to the printing mechanism; a control bus for supplying the control data to the printing mechanism; and an interface connected to the address bus, the data bus and the control bus and having an address connection port, a data connection port and a control connection port adapted for connection to the respective corresponding ports of an external cartridge, whereby said external cartridge can supplement the operations of the controller, said data bus and said control bus being additionally coupled to said controller, with said input device and said external cartridge being contemporaneously usable with said controller, whereby said controller selectively supplies said data items and said control data to said printing mechanism. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) A printing device according to claim 1 in combination with a plurality of external cartridges having respective different functions and from which an external cartridge for connection to the interface can be selected. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) A printing device according to claim 1, wherein the external cartridge comprises memory accessible under the control of addresses converted from the input control signals by the controller and supplied to the external cartridge by the address bus and address connection port. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) A printing device according to claim 3, wherein the memory is RAM. ### Claim 5 (depends on 3) A printing device according to claim 3, wherein the memory is ROM. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) A printing device according to claim 1 wherein the interface has a serial communications port which is coupled to a serial communications port of the controller to permit serial communcations with an external terminal. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) A printing device according to claim 1 wherein a plurality of external cartridges having respective different functions are provided. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) A printing device according to claim 1, wherein the external cartridge contains additional programs for the printing device. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) A printing device according to claim 1, wherein the external cartridge can store information entered into the printing device through the input device. ### Claim 10 A printing device comprising: a printing mechanism for printing characters onto an image receiving tape; an input device for inputting information for controlling operations of the printing device; a controller coupled to the input device to receive control signals therefrom and operable to utilize the control signals to provide address signals for accessing data items for defining said characters to be printed and control data for controlling operations of the printing mechanism; an address bus coupled to said controller; a data bus for supplying said data items to the printing mechanism; a control bus for supplying the control data to the printing mechanism; an interface connected to the address bus, the data bus and the control bus and having an address connection port, a data connection port and a control connection port; an external cartridge comprising an address connection port, a data connection port and a control connection port connected respectively to the address connection port, data connection port and control connection port of said interface, said external cartridge comprising memory accessible under the control of addresses converted from the input control signals by the controller and supplied to the external cartridge by the address bus and address connection port, wherein said data bus and said control bus are additionally coupled to said controller, with said input device and said external cartridge being contemporaneously usable with said controller, whereby said data items are supplied to said printing mechanism via said data bus from said external cartridge and said control data is supplied to said printing mechanism from said controller. ### Claim 11 A printing device comprising: a printing mechanism for printing characters onto an image receiving tape; an input device for inputting information for controlling operations of the printing device; a controller coupled to the input device to receive control signals therefrom and operable to utilize the control signals to provide address signals for accessing data items for defining said characters to be printed and control data for controlling operations of the printing mechanism; an address bus coupled to said controller; a data bus for supplying said data items to the printing mechanism; a control bus for supplying the control data to the printing mechanism; an interface connected to the address bus, the data bus and the control bus and having an address connection port, a data connection port, a control connection port and a serial communications port; said data bus and said control bus being additionally coupled to said controller; an external cartridge having an address connection port, a data connection port and a control connection port connected respectively to the address connection port, data connection port and control connection port of the interface, wherein the serial communications port of the interface is connected to a serial communications port of the controller to permit serial communications with an external terminal of a host computer and wherein said external cartridge contains ROM holding program providing software support for serial communications between the controller and the host computer. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) A printing device according to claim 11 which comprises a latch for the storage of address bits in addresses supplied by the controller responsive to the input control signals, which bits exceed the capacity of the address bus, wherein the interface is coupled to the latch to receive these extra address bits along auxiliary address lines so that an external cartridge can be accessed with addresses which have more bits than are available on the address bus linking the controller and the interface. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) A printing device according to claim 11 wherein the input device is connected to said controller via said address bus. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) A printing device according to claim 11 wherein the input device comprises a keyboard. ### Claim 15 (depends on 11) A printing device according to claim 11, wherein the input device is coupled to the address bus. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) A printing device according to claim 15, wherein the input device is a keyboard. ### Claim 17 A printing device comprising: a printing mechanism for printing characters onto an image receiving tape; an input device for inputting information for controlling operations of the printing device; a controller coupled to the input device to receive control signals therefrom and operable to utilize the control signals to provide address signals for accessing data items for defining said characters to be printed and control data for controlling operations of the printing mechanism; an address bus coupled to said controller; a data bus for supplying said data items to the printing mechanism; a control bus for supplying the control data to the printing mechanism; an interface connected to the address bus, the data bus and the control bus and having an address connection port, a data connection port and a control connection port adapted for connection to respective corresponding ports of an external cartridge whereby said external cartridge can supplement the operations of the controller; and said data bus and said control bus being additionally coupled to said controller; a latch for the storage of address bits in addresses supplied by the controller responsive to the input control signals, which bits exceed the capacity of the address bus, wherein the interface is coupled to the latch to receive these extra address bits along auxiliary address lines so that an external cartridge can be accessed with addresses which have more bits than are available on the address bus linking the controller and the interface, said input device and said external cartridge being contemporaneously usable with said controller. ### Claim 18 A printing device comprising: a printing mechanism for printing characters onto an image receiving tape, said printing mechanism including a motor for feeding said image receiving tape, a print head for printing an image on said image receiving tape and a cutting mechanism; an input device for inputting information for controlling operations of the printing device; a controller coupled to the input device to receive control signals therefrom and operable to utilize the control signals to provide address signals for accessing data items for defining said characters to be printed and control data for controlling operations of the printing mechanism; an address bus coupled to said controller; a data bus for supplying the data items to the printing mechanism; a control bus for supplying the control data to the printing mechanism for controlling operations thereof; and an interface connected to the address bus, the data bus and the control bus and having an address connection port, a data connection port, a control connection port and a serial communications port to permit serial communications with an external terminal of a host computer and wherein said device includes memory holding program providing software support for serial communications between the device and the host computer, whereby the host computer can control operation of the printing device. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The printing device of claim 18 which further comprises a latch for the storage of address bits in addresses supplied by the controller responsive to the input control signals, which bits exceed the capacity of the address bus, wherein the interface is coupled to the latch to receive these extra address bits along auxiliary address lines so that an external cartridge can be accessed with addresses which have more bits than are available on the address bus linking the controller and the interface. ### Claim 20 a printing device comprising: a printing mechanism for printing characters onto an image receiving tape; an input device for inputting information for controlling operations of the printing device; a controller coupled to the input device to receive control signals therefrom and operable to utilize the control signals to provide address signals for accessing data items for defining said characters to be printed and control data for controlling operations of the printing mechanism; an address bus coupled to said controller; a data bus for supplying said data items to the printing mechanism; a control bus for supplying the control data to the printing mechanism; and an external cartridge for supplementing the operation of the controller and having an address connection port, a data connection port and a control connection port; an interface connected to the address bus, the data bus and the control bus and having an address connection port, a data connection port and a control connection port for connection to the respective corresponding ports of said external cartridge, whereby said external cartridge can supplement the operations of the controller, said data bus and said control bus being additionally coupled to said controller, with said input device and said external cartridge being contemporaneously usable with said controller, whereby said controller selectively supplies said data items and said control data to said printing mechanism.