Printer system and method of controlling operation of the same

A printer controller used in a printer system comprising said printer controller and a printer connected by a bus, wherein said printer controller supplies said printer with image data via the bus and said printer prints an image, which is represented by the image data supplied from said printer controller, at a constant speed,

• said printer having a buffer memory possessing a fixed image-data storage capacity smaller than a quantity of image data representing one frame of the image and temporarily storing the image data supplied from said printer controller,
• either of said printer or said printer controller generating a start signal which indicates start of supply of the image data, said printer controller comprising:
• an image-data transmission start controller for starting transmission of image data to said printer in packet units upon elapse of a predetermined period of time from generation of the start signal;
• and
• an image-data transmission controller for repeating, in packet units, the transmission of image data to said printer in such a manner that the image data that has been stored in said buffer memory is not emptied from said buffer memory.

A printer comprising:

• a buffer memory possessing a fixed image-data storage capacity smaller than a quantity of image data representing one frame of an image, said buffer memory temporarily storing the image data;
• a printing controller for reading out the image data that has been stored in said buffer memory and printing an image, which is represented by the image data read out, at a constant speed;
• and
• a storage controller for storing applied image data in said buffer memory, the image data being stored in said buffer memory so that said buffer memory is not emptied, irrespective of being read out for printing at the constant speed.

A method of controlling operation of a printer system comprising a printer controller and a printer connected by a bus, wherein said printer controller supplies said printer with image data via the bus and said printer prints an image, which is represented by the image data supplied from said printer controller, at a constant speed, comprising the steps of:

• providing said printer with a buffer memory possessing a fixed image-data storage capacity smaller than a quantity of image data representing one frame of the image, said buffer memory temporarily storing the image data supplied;
• generating a start signal from said printer or said printer controller;
• starting transmission of image data from said printer controller upon elapse of a predetermined period of time from generation of the start signal, and repeating, in packet units, the transmission of image data from said printer controller in such a manner that the image data that has been stored in said buffer memory is not emptied from said buffer memory;
• and
• receiving in said printer image data transmitted from said printer controller, storing the received image data in said buffer memory, reading out image data that has been stored in said buffer memory and printing the image, which is represented by the image data read out, at the constant speed.

A method of controlling operation of a printer controller used in a printer system comprising said printer controller and a printer connected by a bus, wherein said printer controller supplies said printer with image data via the bus and said printer prints an image, which is represented by the image data supplied from said printer controller, at a constant speed,

• said printer having a buffer memory possessing a fixed image-data storage capacity smaller than a quantity of image data representing one frame of the image and temporarily storing the image data supplied from said printer controller,
• either said printer or said printer controller generating a start signal which indicates start of supply of the image data, the method comprising the steps of:
• starting transmission of image data to said printer in packet units upon elapse of a predetermined period of time from generation of the start signal;
• and
• repeating, in packet units, the transmission of image data to said printer in such a manner that the image data that has been stored in said buffer memory is not emptied from said buffer memory.

A method of controlling operation of a printer, comprising the steps of:

• temporarily storing applied image data in a buffer memory possessing a fixed image-data storage capacity smaller than a quantity of image data representing one frame of an image;
• and
• reading out the image data that has been stored in the buffer memory and printing an image, which is represented by the image data read out, at a constant speed,
• the image data being stored in the buffer memory so that the buffer memory is not emptied, irrespective of being read out for printing at the constant speed.

A printer system comprising a printer controller and a printer connected by a bus, wherein said printer controller supplies said printer with image data via the bus and said printer prints an image, which is represented by the image data supplied from said printer controller, at a constant speed;

• said printer having a buffer memory possessing a fixed image-data storage capacity smaller than a quantity of image data representing one frame of the image, said buffer memory temporarily storing the image data supplied from said printer controller,
• either said printer or said printer controller being provided with means for generating a start signal which indicates start of supply of the image data,
• said printer controller comprising:
• image-data transmission start control means for starting transmission of image data to said printer in packet units upon elapse of a predetermined period of time from generation of the start signal;
• and
• image-data transmission control means for repeating, in packet units, the transmission of image data to said printer in such a manner that the image data that has been stored in said buffer memory is not emptied from said buffer memory,
• said printer comprising
• storage control means for receiving image data transmitted from said printer controller and storing the received image data in said buffer memory;
• and
• printing control means for reading out the image data that has been stored in said buffer memory and printing the image, which is represented by the image data read out, at the constant speed.

A printer controller used in a printer system comprising said printer controller and a printer connected by a bus, wherein said printer controller supplies said printer with image data via the bus and said printer prints an image, which is represented by the image data supplied from said printer controller, at a constant speed,

• said printer having a buffer memory possessing a fixed image-data storage capacity smaller than a quantity of image data representing one frame of the image and temporarily storing the image data supplied from said printer controller,
• either of said printer or said printer controller generating a start signal which indicates start of supply of the image data, said printer controller comprising:
• image-data transmission start control means for starting transmission of image data to said printer in packet units upon elapse of a predetermined period of time from generation of the start signal;
• and
• image-data transmission control means for repeating, in packet units, the transmission of image data to said printer in such a manner that the image data that has been stored in said buffer memory is not emptied from said buffer memory.

A printer comprising:

• a buffer memory possessing a fixed image-data storage capacity smaller than a quantity of image data representing one frame of an image, said buffer memory temporarily storing the image data;
• printing control means for reading out the image data that has been stored in said buffer memory and printing an image, which is represented by the image data read out, at a constant speed;
• and
• storage control means for storing applied image data in said buffer memory, the image data being stored in said buffer memory so that said buffer memory is not emptied, irrespective of being read out for printing at the constant speed.