The base engine (Machine Code: A292/A293 and A294/A295) contains an
interface for the multi-function controller. The multi-function controller adds printer
functions. The printer functions can operate independently and simultaneously with
other functions in the background, and their output can be interleaved with the
copy mode output.
The printer supports PCL6 and PostScript 3. The PostScript language is an
optional function.
Print data from the host is transmitted through the standard parallel port or an
optional Network Interface Board (NIB). The parallel port supports bi-directional
Command and Status feed back communication with the base engine.
An optional IDE hard disk drive provides font download and macro download.
An additional SDRAM can be installed to boost the printer performance.
Print data is rasterized at 600 dpi in the controller.
The A294 and A295 engines can print 85 and 105 pages per minute respectively at
600 dpi. The A292 and A293 engines can print 55 and 70 pages per minu te
respectively at 600 dpi.
The printer controller handles the following functions:
•
Printer host interface
•
Printing functions
•
Interface and control of controller options (Hard disk, PostScript kit, Network
interface board and SDRAM)
2. Hard Disk (option)
This stores additional soft fonts and macros (both PCL and PostScript fonts).
3. PostScript Kit (option)
This is to add the PostScript 3 feature.
Overall
Information
4. Network Interface Board (option)
The network interface board is an additional printer interface to allow the printer
to be used on a network.
5. SDRAM (option)
There are two SDRAM slots. One slot is for the standard 32 MB SDRAM
module. The other is used for additi onal pr i nter pr ocessi ng me mor y, and a 32,
64, or 128 MB SDRAM module (168 pin PC100) can be installed here. As a
result, up to 160 MB of RAM are installable (32 MB plus 128 MB).
6. Mother Boar d (MB)
This connects the controller to the SICU (A294/A295)/BICU (A292/A293) board
in the printer controller bo x.
1-5
1 March, 2000HARDWARE OVERVIEW
2. DETAILED SECTION DESCRIPTIONS
2.1 HARDWARE OVERVIEW
Flash
ROM
DIMM
Flash
ROM
CPU
DRAM Bus
NVRAM
CPU Bus
Flash Memory
Card I/F
ROM & I/O Bus
Co-
Processor
EIDE Disk
Interface
NIB
Interface
Printer Controller
HDD
Network
Interface
Board
Detailed
Descriptions
Mother Board
Opt.
SDRAM
Std.
SDRAM
PC/AT Compatible
via Parallel Port
SICU (A294/A295)/BICU (A292/A293)
Interface
Board
B335D500.WMF
The above block diagram shows the major components of the printer controller.
The main features of the controller are as follows.
1. CPU
A Motorola Power PC 740 processor is used. A 66-MHz oscillator is used as the
clock source for both this CPU and the coprocessor.
The processor has a bus clock of 66 MHz and an internal clock of 266 MHz.
2. Co-processor (Peerless QP1910)
This performs the following functions:
•
ROM control
•
I/O control
•
DRAM control
•
Printer video interface
•
Printer communication interface
•
IEEE 1284 compliant bi-directional parallel por t in terface
•
Interrupt control
2-1
HARDWARE OVERVIEW1 March, 2000
3. ROM memory
1) Flash ROM (4 MB)
This flash ROM includes boot code, operation system code, PCL5e codes,
PCL6 code, and font data for PCL languages (resident fonts).
2) Flash ROM DIMM (4 MB for the PostScript option)
This ROM DIMM includes the PostScript code and PostScript font data.
3) SDRAM DIMM (32 MB and an option slot)
This SDRAM DIMM provides page memory and work area.
4. NVRAM (8 KB)
The NVRAM contains the system parameters, printer settings, job record data,
and error record data.
5. Network Interface Board Interface
This controls the optional network interface board provided to support the
network operations.
6. Hard Disk Drive Interface (Enhanced IDE: 6 GB)
The HDD interface is provided to support storage of fonts and macros
downloaded from a PC.
7. Flash Memory Card Interface (PCMCIA Card Slot)
The flash memory card for updating the controller and PostScript firmware is
connected to the flash memory card slot.
8. Power-on Self Diagnostics
When the main power switch is turned on, the controller performs a selfdiagnostic test.
2-2
1 March, 2000IMAGE PRINTING
2.2 IMAGE PRINTING
Parallel Interface, from PC
Printer Controller
NIB
Parallel
Buffer
CPU
Std. SDRAM
DIMM
LD Unit
GAVD
FCI
Co-processor
Intelligent
Personality
Selection
Co-processor
SICU/BICU
PCL-5e
PCL-6
Post
script
IPU
MSU
Image Data
Generation
NIB
Opt. SDRAM
DIMM
HDD
B335D502.WMF
Base EnginePrinter Controller
SICU/BICU
IPULD
Detailed
Descriptions
Std.
SDRAM
DIMM
Opt.
SDRAM
DIMM
HDD
B335D503.WMF
CD-R/
RW
The printer controller receives print data from a PC through the parallel or network
interface port. The co-processor handles the print data but it only makes raster
image. All image processing, such as edge smoothing and toner saving, are done
in the base engine.
The print data from the PC goes to the buffer in the SDRAM DIMM and then goes
to the co-processor. The co-processor automatically selects the appropriate printer
language and creates the print data to match the selected printer language. Then,
the co-processor sends the print data to the LD unit through the IPU on the SICU
or BICU board. At the same time, the data is also sent to the hard disk for multiple
printing, as well as for backup in case of a paper jam.
2-3
IMAGE DATA PROCESSING1 March, 2000
2.3 IMAGE DATA PROCESSING
The FCI in the LD unit is responsible for edge smoothing and toner saving
functions.
The edge smoothing and toner saving modes can be switched on or off using the
printer user tools or the printer driver.
2.3.1 EDGE SMOOTHING
A850D504.WMF
Usually, binary picture processing generates jagged edge on characters (Fig. A).
The FCI reduces the edges of characters using edge smoothing.
Whether a pixel undergoes smoothing depends on the surrounding image data.
Changing the laser pulse position for certain pixels does the smoothing.
2.3.2 TONER SAVING MODE
Toner saving is done by reducing the number of black dots printed, not by varying
the development bias. In toner saving mode, the image data is filtered through a
matrix.
As a result of passing through the filter, less toner is used to create the latent
image on the drum and black areas are printed as gray.
2-4
1 March, 2000FEATURES
2.4 FEATURES
2.4.1 SORT
If “Collate” is turned on when a multi-set job is printed, the first set of the job is
directly printed. At the same time, the print data for the copy job is stored in the
hard disk of the base engine. The remaining sets are printed using the data in the
engine hard disk.
If the finisher is not installed, the rotate sort feature can be used. The SICU or
BICU rotates the image in the same way as the copy mode.
2.4.2 DUPLEX
Duplex printing is available with all output options such as finisher or mailbox but
not with all paper sizes (refer to the specifications section of the base engine
manual). If the selected paper size is not usable in the duplex mode, the job is
printed simplex.
Two types of duplex binding can be selected. Those are short-edge binding and
long-edge binding.
In short-edge binding, the image may be rotated when printing on the second side
of a sheet of paper. The co-processor in the printer controller does the rotation.
The co-processor corrects the page order for duplex printing as follows:
The staple function is only available when a finisher is installed.
The finisher has the following stapling positions:
1) Top left slant
2) Top left horizontal
3) Top left vertical
4) Top two staples
5) Left two staples
Depending on the paper orientation, the image may have to be rotated. The coprocessor in the printer controller does this image rotation.
There is a limit for the number of sheets that can be stapled by the finisher. If the
number of sheets for stapling is more than the limit, the set is not stapled.
2.4.4 PUNCH
The punch function is only available when a punch unit is installed on the finisher.
There are several types of punch unit, each having different numbers of holes. The
punching position in relation to the printed image depends on the paper feeding
orientation and imaging. The punching positions are as follows:
1) Left
2) Top
2-6
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