A communication system, a communication chip, a communication method, and an image forming apparatus
By setting parameter configuration and channel selection modules within the image forming equipment, the problems of wiring difficulties and increased costs caused by PCIe clock chips are solved, achieving more efficient PCB wiring and lower production costs, and improving system reliability and data transmission stability.
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- CN · China
- Patent Type
- Patents(China)
- Current Assignee / Owner
- ZHUHAI PANTUM ELECTRONICS CO LTD
- Filing Date
- 2024-11-21
- Publication Date
- 2026-06-09
AI Technical Summary
In the prior art, PCIe clock chips in image forming equipment cause problems such as difficult PCB routing and increased production costs.
By setting up a parameter configuration module and a channel selection module within the image forming device, and by internally adjusting the clock signal and switching channels, the external PCIe clock chip and its peripheral devices are removed, thus achieving independent clock signal output and channel selection.
It reduces PCB wiring area and cost, simplifies wiring design, improves system reliability and data transmission stability, and reduces electromagnetic interference.
Smart Images
Figure CN119690875B_ABST
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] This invention relates to the field of communication technology, and more specifically, to a communication system, a communication chip, a communication method, and an image forming apparatus. Background Technology
[0002] With the development of imaging technology, image forming devices such as laser printers and inkjet printers have been widely used. During the imaging process, the image forming device typically needs to act as a slave device to transmit data with the host device, receiving printing information from the host device or transferring scanned information to the host device. To enable the image forming device to obtain information about consumable usage and send control commands to the consumable to execute printing actions, it also needs to act as a host device and communicate with the consumable to obtain information such as toner levels for laser printers and ink levels for inkjet printers. Whether exchanging data with the consumable as a host device or with the host device as a slave device, image forming devices mostly use the PCIe communication protocol for communication.
[0003] The PCIe technical specification requires that the master device and slave device clocks be synchronized, typically using a common clock architecture or a separate reference clock architecture. For example... Figure 1 As shown, in a synchronous clock architecture, the RC (Root Complex) and EP (End Point) share the same 100MHz clock signal. To ensure timing consistency, a common approach is to place a PCIe clock chip between the master and slave devices to generate two differential clocks of the same frequency, each at 100MHz, to supply the master and slave devices respectively. To maintain signal quality and phase matching, the clock signals are typically a pair of differential signals. The routing requirements on the PCB are very strict during design, and to simplify the internal layout design and signal quality control of the chip, such as... Figure 2 As shown, the two differential clocks (CLK+ and CLK-) from the clock chip typically run in the same direction. When designing the PCB, routing is necessary to ensure that the communication distance between the PCIe clock chip and the host device is equal to the communication distance between the PCIe clock chip and the slave device.
[0004] Additionally, when the image forming device acts as a slave device, such as Figure 3 As shown, the conduction state of the circuit needs to be switched by a physical switch so that the communication data from the host device can bypass the PCIe clock chip mentioned above and communicate with the image forming device.
[0005] The aforementioned wiring requirements will increase the difficulty of PCB routing for PCIe devices, and the winding design will also increase the area required for PCIe device routing. Summary of the Invention
[0006] In view of the shortcomings of the existing technology, the purpose of this invention is to provide a communication system, communication chip, communication method and image forming device to overcome the disadvantages of the existing technology, such as the difficulty of PCB wiring and the increase of production costs caused by external PCIe clock chips.
[0007] In a first aspect, embodiments of this application provide a communication system embedded within an image forming apparatus, the communication system comprising:
[0008] The parameter configuration module is used to output a first clock signal to the communication control module and a second clock signal to external devices when the communication system is configured in host mode.
[0009] The channel selection module is used to, when the communication system is configured in host mode, shut down the first channel for receiving the third clock signal and open a second channel different from the first channel, so that the second clock signal information is transmitted to the external device.
[0010] The communication control module is used to establish a first communication connection with an external device when it receives a first clock signal sent by the parameter configuration module, and to establish a second communication connection with the external device when it receives a third clock signal sent by the external device.
[0011] In one possible implementation, the parameter configuration module is configured to output a first clock signal to the communication control module and a second clock signal to an external device when the communication system is configured in host mode, specifically including:
[0012] The parameter configuration module is used to respond to the input of the enable signal, output a first clock signal to the communication control module, and output a second clock signal to external devices.
[0013] In one possible implementation, the channel selection module is configured to, when the communication system is configured in host mode, shut down the first channel for receiving a third clock signal and open a second channel different from the first channel, so that the second clock signal is transmitted to the external device, specifically including:
[0014] The channel selection module is used to respond to the input of an enable signal, turn off the first channel that receives the third clock signal, and turn on a second channel that is different from the first channel, so that the second clock signal is transmitted to the external device.
[0015] Alternatively, the channel selection module is configured to respond to the input of the second clock signal by shutting down the first channel receiving the third clock signal and opening a second channel different from the first channel, so that the second clock signal can be transmitted to the external device.
[0016] In one possible implementation, when the communication system is configured in slave mode, neither the parameter configuration module nor the channel selection module receives an enable signal.
[0017] In one possible implementation, when the communication system is configured in slave mode, the parameter configuration module is configured to be disabled.
[0018] In one possible implementation, when the communication system is configured in slave mode, the channel selection module enables the first channel and disables the second channel, so that the communication control module receives a third clock signal sent by an external device through the first channel.
[0019] In one possible implementation, the difference between the frequency of the first clock signal and the frequency of the second clock signal is less than a difference threshold, and the difference between the phase of the first clock signal and the phase of the second clock signal is less than a phase difference threshold.
[0020] In one possible implementation, the parameter configuration module is specifically a phase-locked loop.
[0021] In one possible implementation, the channel selection module is specifically a multiplexer.
[0022] Secondly, embodiments of this application provide a communication chip, including a controller, the communication chip further including a communication system as described in any one of the first aspects, the controller being communicatively connected to the communication system.
[0023] In one possible implementation, when the communication chip configures the communication system to host mode, the controller sends an enable signal to the communication system.
[0024] In one possible implementation, when the communication chip configures the communication system to slave mode, the controller stops sending enable signals to the communication system.
[0025] Thirdly, embodiments of this application provide a communication method, applied to a communication system as described in any of the first aspects, or applied to a communication chip as described in any of the second aspects, the communication method comprising:
[0026] When the communication system is configured in host mode, in response to the input of the enable signal, the parameter configuration module is configured to output a first clock signal to the communication control module and a second clock signal to the external device; the channel selection module is configured to shut down the first channel and open the second channel so that the second clock signal is transmitted to the external device; and the communication control module is configured to establish a first communication connection with the external device.
[0027] When the communication system is configured in slave mode, the parameter configuration module is configured to be disabled; the channel selection module is configured to shut down the second channel and open the first channel; the communication control module is configured to receive the third clock signal sent by the external device; and the communication control module is configured to establish a second communication connection with the external device.
[0028] Fourthly, embodiments of this application provide an image forming apparatus, including a communication system as described in any one of the first aspects, or including a communication chip as described in any one of the second aspects.
[0029] The technical solution provided by the embodiments of this application has the following advantages:
[0030] A parameter configuration module is set up inside the communication system. When the communication system is configured in master mode, the clock signal is output by the parameter configuration module, eliminating the need for PCIe clock chips, crystal oscillators, and their peripheral components, saving PCB wiring area and reducing PCB manufacturing costs. It also solves the problem of traditional PCIe clock chip interfaces being located on the same side, requiring PCB wiring design with multiple loops. When switching between master and slave modes, the communication system only needs to adjust the working state of the parameter configuration module internally, switching the channel selected by the module, eliminating the need for additional resistors and jumpers, further saving PCB wiring area. The reduction in components and PCB wiring area helps save costs and improve board reliability; shorter PCB traces also help reduce EMI radiation. Attached Figure Description
[0031] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions of the embodiments of this application, the drawings used in the embodiments will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of this application. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort.
[0032] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the communication structure of PCIe devices in the prior art;
[0033] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the packaging structure of a PCIe clock chip in the prior art;
[0034] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the communication system structure in an embodiment of the present invention;
[0035] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the circuit of the first parameter configuration module in an embodiment of the present invention;
[0036] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the circuit for the second parameter configuration module in this embodiment of the invention;
[0037] Figure 6 This is a flowchart of the communication method in an embodiment of the present invention;
[0038] Figure 7 A flowchart illustrating the communication system setup in this embodiment of the invention;
[0039] Figure 8 This is a schematic diagram of the communication chip structure in an embodiment of the present invention;
[0040] In the diagram: 1. Parameter configuration module; 2. Channel selection module; 3. Communication control module. Detailed Implementation
[0041] To make the objectives, features, and advantages of the present invention more apparent and understandable, specific embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Several embodiments of the present invention are shown in the drawings. However, the present invention can be implemented in many different forms and is not limited to the embodiments described herein.
[0042] To better understand the technical solution of this application, the embodiments of this application will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.
[0043] It should be understood that the described embodiments are merely some, not all, of the embodiments in this application. All other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art based on the embodiments in this application without inventive effort are within the scope of protection of this application.
[0044] The terminology used in the embodiments of this application is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of this application. The singular forms “a,” “the,” and “the” used in the embodiments of this application and the appended claims are also intended to include the plural forms unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.
[0045] It should be understood that the term "and / or" used in this article is merely a description of the relationship between related objects, indicating that three relationships can exist. For example, A and / or B can represent: A existing alone, A and B existing simultaneously, or B existing alone. Additionally, the character " / " in this article generally indicates that the preceding and following related objects have an "or" relationship.
[0046] The present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings and embodiments.
[0047] Example 1
[0048] To address the aforementioned problems, the present invention provides a communication system integrated within an image forming device, such as... Figure 3 As shown, the communication system includes:
[0049] The parameter configuration module 1 is used to output a first clock signal to the communication control module 3 and a second clock signal to external devices when the communication system is configured in host mode.
[0050] Channel selection module 2 is used to shut down the first channel for receiving the third clock signal and open a second channel that is different from the first channel when the communication system is configured in host mode, so that the second clock signal information can be transmitted to external devices.
[0051] The communication control module 3 is used to establish a first communication connection with an external device when it receives a first clock signal sent by the parameter configuration module 1, and to establish a second communication connection with an external device when it receives a third clock signal sent by the external device.
[0052] In practical applications, PCIe (Peripheral Component Interconnect Express) is a high-speed serial communication protocol widely used in computer systems, such as data transmission between the host (RC, Root Complex) and peripherals (EP, Endpoint). PCIe communication requires the host and device clocks to be synchronized. Specifically, the host mode operation is illustrated as follows: Figure 3 As shown in (A), when the communication system is configured in host mode, in order to enable the communication system to synchronize with the external device, a parameter configuration module 1 (PLL) is set up inside the communication system to simultaneously output a first clock signal and a second clock signal. The first clock signal and the second clock signal can be provided to the communication control module 3 (PCIe CTL) and the external device, respectively. When both the communication control module and the external device receive the clock signal, the communication control module 3 and the external device can establish a communication connection to realize PCIe communication.
[0053] Since this communication system will also be used as a slave device, when used as a slave device, such as Figure 3As shown in (B), the parameter configuration module 1 is not working. In order to enable the third clock signal sent by the external device to be transmitted to the communication control module 3 and thus establish a communication connection with the communication control module 3, a channel selection module 2 is also required. When the communication system is configured in host mode, the channel selection module 2 can receive the second clock signal output by the parameter configuration module 1 and transmit the second clock signal to the external device. When the communication system is configured in slave mode, the channel selection module 2 can receive the third clock signal transmitted by the external device and transmit the third clock signal to the communication control module 3.
[0054] In summary, this application places the parameter configuration module 1 in the communication system, enabling the communication system to output clock signals with an independent clock scheme when used as a master, eliminating the PCIe clock chip, crystal oscillator, and their peripheral devices in the synchronous clock architecture, saving PCB wiring area and reducing PCB manufacturing costs. To enable the communication system to receive clock signals from the master device when used as a slave, the parameter configuration module 1 is inactive when the communication system is operating as a slave, and the channel selection module 2 switches channels to change the clock signal transmission direction. This switching mode eliminates the need for additional resistor jumpers; it only requires disabling the enable signal input to the phase-locked loop internally within the communication system, and configuring the chip pins as inputs, which helps save PCB wiring area.
[0055] In one possible implementation, the parameter configuration module 1 is used to output a first clock signal to the communication control module 3 and a second clock signal to an external device when the communication system is configured in host mode. Specifically, the parameter configuration module 1 outputs the first clock signal to the communication control module 3 and the second clock signal to the external device in response to the input of the enable signal.
[0056] In practical applications, the signal used to control the parameter configuration module 1 is specifically an enable signal. This enable signal can originate from a controller outside the communication system. When the controller configures the communication system to host mode, it outputs an enable signal to the parameter configuration module 1, enabling it to operate. The parameter configuration module 1 outputs a first clock signal to the communication control module 3 and a second clock signal to external devices. Using an enable signal to control the activation of the parameter configuration module 1 simplifies circuit design and implementation, making the design more flexible. An enable signal input port can be reserved in the system design to facilitate future adjustments to the operating state of the parameter configuration module 1 as needed, reducing complex timing control design.
[0057] In one possible implementation, the channel selection module 2 is used to shut down the first channel receiving the third clock signal and open a second channel different from the first channel when the communication system is configured in host mode, so that the second clock signal can be transmitted to an external device. Specifically, the channel selection module 2 shuts down the first channel receiving the third clock signal and opens the second channel different from the first channel in response to the input of the enable signal, so that the second clock signal can be transmitted to an external device; or, in response to the input of the second clock signal, shuts down the first channel receiving the third clock signal and opens the second channel different from the first channel, so that the second clock signal can be transmitted to an external device.
[0058] In practical applications, the channel selection module 2 can be controlled in two ways: one is to perform channel switching in conjunction with the control parameter configuration module 1 under the control of an enable signal; the other is to perform channel switching upon receiving a second clock signal output from the parameter configuration module 1. By responding to the input of the enable signal or the second clock signal, the system can switch different channels at different times to ensure correct information transmission. Closing unnecessary channels, especially when only one channel needs to be active in a communication system, can reduce power consumption. The dynamic channel switching function can be implemented through simple enable signal control or clock signal input, simplifying circuit design and system architecture. Especially in complex communication systems, the design of the channel selection module 2 can reduce circuit complexity and lower design difficulty.
[0059] In one possible implementation, when the communication system is configured as a slave, neither the parameter configuration module 1 nor the channel selection module 2 receives an enable signal.
[0060] When the communication system is configured in slave mode, not sending an enable signal to the system ensures that the system remains unchanged and prevents malfunctions. In slave mode, without an enable signal, the system's hardware and software resources (such as channels and parameter configuration module 1) remain idle. Inactive resources avoid unnecessary processing, further optimizing resource utilization and energy efficiency. This design effectively prevents devices from actively configuring and communicating when not needed, ensuring that device responses are activated only when required.
[0061] In one possible implementation, when the communication system is configured in slave mode, parameter configuration module 1 is configured to be disabled.
[0062] Specifically, disabling parameter configuration module 1 helps reduce overall power consumption; disabling inactive modules reduces system complexity and avoids instability or errors that may result from excessive activity. Disabling inactive modules makes system behavior more predictable, simplifying troubleshooting and debugging. If parameter configuration module 1 is enabled, unauthorized access or configuration modifications may occur; disabling it prevents unauthorized configuration operations, improving system security and stability.
[0063] In one possible implementation, when the communication system is configured in slave mode, the channel selection module 2 opens the first channel and closes the second channel, so that the communication control module 3 can receive the third clock signal sent by the external device through the first channel.
[0064] Specifically, in this embodiment, selectively activating either the first or second channel improves data transmission stability and prevents the channel selection module 2 from receiving irrelevant or redundant information. Disabling the second channel and concentrating resources on the first channel helps reduce unnecessary hardware resource consumption and power consumption. By focusing on a single channel, signal transmission within that channel is less susceptible to interference or loss, thereby improving data transmission quality and reliability, which is crucial for high-standard communication mechanisms like PCIe. By ensuring that the third clock signal is transmitted only through a specific channel, the system can better control the flow of clock signals.
[0065] In this application, the clock signal is used for clock synchronization when the parameter configuration module 1 or external devices communicate with the communication system. When the clock signal is transmitted as a clock signal, it allows the system to precisely control the operating timing of each module. In this embodiment, the clock frequency needs to be precisely limited to 100MHz. To reduce peak interference, energy needs to be spread spectrum, causing the clock frequency to fluctuate within a small range, such as ±0.5% of the center frequency. This disperses the energy of the spectrum into a wider frequency band. Spread spectrum reduces the energy density at sharp frequencies, thus reducing radiated interference and complying with more electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) standards. Furthermore, in high-speed transmission buses such as PCIe, spread spectrum can effectively reduce the impact of signal integrity issues on transmission quality.
[0066] In one possible implementation, the difference between the frequency of the first clock signal and the frequency of the second clock signal is less than a difference threshold, and the difference between the phase of the first clock signal and the phase of the second clock signal is less than a phase difference threshold.
[0067] In this embodiment, a clock signal is used to synchronize data transmission and reception. If the frequencies and phases of the two clock signals are inconsistent, the data receiver may be unable to decode the data correctly, or data loss and errors may occur. Synchronized clock signals ensure that the data from the master and slave devices can be precisely matched in timing, avoiding data synchronization problems caused by clock deviations.
[0068] In one possible implementation, parameter configuration module 1 is specifically a phase-locked loop.
[0069] In this application, a phase-locked loop (PLL) is used as the parameter configuration module 1, which helps the communication system achieve frequency modulation of the signal and reduce electromagnetic interference (EMI). Since one of the purposes of PCIe spread spectrum is to reduce electromagnetic radiation, the PLL can help to precisely control the frequency range and variation characteristics of the spread spectrum signal. The spread spectrum signal modulated by the PLL can effectively reduce the peak energy of the signal, thereby reducing electromagnetic interference.
[0070] In one possible implementation, the phase-locked loop can be adopted as follows: Figure 4 The phase-locked loop (PLL) module shown is the CDCE913, a modular programmable clock synthesizer based on a PLL. This module can generate up to three output clocks from a single input frequency. Thanks to the configurable PLL, each output can be programmed within the system for any clock frequency (up to 230MHz).
[0071] In one possible implementation, the phase-locked loop can be adopted as follows: Figure 5 The phase-locked loop module shown is model AD9576. This module has a multi-output clock generator function and two built-in phase-locked loops (PLLs). By monitoring the redundant crystal (XTAL) input and realizing automatic switching between these inputs, it ensures high network performance. The integer N-division PLL provides a general-purpose clock that can be used as a reference clock for CPUs and field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs).
[0072] In one possible implementation, the channel selection module 2 is specifically a multiplexer.
[0073] In this embodiment, the multiplexer can turn signal channels on or off according to control signals (such as an enable signal or a second clock signal). By switching different channels (such as the first channel and the second channel), the multiplexer ensures that different clock signals (such as the third clock signal or the second clock signal) can be accurately transmitted to external devices or communication control module 3. The multiplexer enables the system to quickly switch between multiple signal sources, thereby ensuring that different clock signals can be transmitted in a timely and accurate manner. The channel selection module 2 is specifically composed of two signal channel modules capable of unidirectional signal transmission connected in series, and the connection position of the two signal channel modules is set as two pins connected to external devices. During signal transmission, it can ensure that the signal is transmitted in the direction specified by the channel.
[0074] Example 2
[0075] This application provides a communication chip, such as... Figure 8 As shown, the device includes a controller, and the communication chip also includes a communication system as described in any of the embodiments in Example 1. The controller is communicatively connected to the communication system.
[0076] By integrating the communication system into a communication chip, modular design of the communication system can be achieved, improving system reusability. The communication chip can be used in multiple different application scenarios without needing to be redesigned each time, thus reducing development costs and time. Furthermore, the chip can also inherit and encapsulate modules outside the communication system, working together to enhance chip functionality. Integrating multiple functional modules into a communication chip can achieve higher performance and faster data processing speeds. Tight integration between different modules helps reduce latency, improve data transmission efficiency, and reduce signal interference.
[0077] In one possible implementation, such as Figure 8 As shown in (A), when the communication chip is configured to use the communication system in host mode, the controller sends an enable signal to the communication system.
[0078] Similar to Embodiment 1, when the communication chip is configured to use the communication system in host mode, the controller in the communication chip can forward the received enable signal to the communication system so that the communication system can select the appropriate operating mode for the internal parameter configuration module 1 and channel selection module 2. Alternatively, when the communication system is configured to use host mode, the controller in the communication chip directly generates an enable signal and sends it to the communication system so that the internal parameter configuration module 1 and channel selection module 2 of the communication system can select the appropriate operating mode.
[0079] In one possible implementation, such as Figure 8As shown in (B), when the communication chip is configured to use the communication system as a slave, the controller stops sending enable signals to the communication system.
[0080] When the communication chip is configured in slave mode, the communication system does not require an enable signal. In this mode, some unnecessary functions or modules can be disabled, thereby reducing power consumption and optimizing system energy efficiency. However, continuing to send enable signals in slave mode may lead to signal conflicts or malfunctions between the master and slave devices. Stopping the transmission of enable signals prevents such conflicts and malfunctions, ensuring normal system operation.
[0081] In one possible implementation, the communication chip also includes two pins; external devices communicate with the channel selection module 2 through these two pins.
[0082] In this application, since the transmitted clock signal is a differential clock signal, two wires are required to transmit the signal, and the number of pins corresponding to the two wires is also two. Under the function of the channel selection module 2, the external device can realize data output and data input through these two pins and the internal channel selection module 2, which improves the multiplexing of these two pins. Moreover, the channel selection module 2 can make the two pins work in only one mode, avoiding signal conflict caused by the multiplexing of the two pins.
[0083] In one possible implementation, when the communication chip is configured to use the communication system in master mode, the first pin is configured as an output; when the communication chip is configured to use the communication system in slave mode, the second pin is configured as an input.
[0084] This embodiment enables the same pair of pins to perform different functions in different modes by selecting different pins for communication in different operating modes; in master and slave modes, different pin status configurations enable data exchange to be performed automatically according to system requirements without manual intervention, thereby improving communication efficiency.
[0085] In one possible implementation, the two pins establish a direct communication connection with an external device.
[0086] Specifically, the PCIe clock chip, crystal oscillator, and their peripheral components in the synchronous clock architecture have been removed. The pins of the communication chip can directly establish communication connections with external devices through signal lines, saving PCB wiring area and reducing PCB manufacturing costs.
[0087] Example 3
[0088] This application provides a communication method applicable to a communication system as described in any of Embodiment 1, or to a communication chip as described in any of Embodiment 2. The communication method includes:
[0089] When the communication system is configured in host mode, in response to the input of the enable signal, the configuration parameter configuration module 1 outputs a first clock signal to the communication control module 3 and a second clock signal to the external device; the configuration channel selection module 2 shuts down the first channel and opens the second channel so that the second clock signal can be transmitted to the external device; the configuration communication control module 3 establishes a first communication connection with the external device.
[0090] When the communication system is configured as a slave device, the configuration parameter configuration module 1 is disabled; the configuration channel selection module 2 shuts down the second channel and opens the first channel; the configuration communication control module 3 receives the third clock signal sent by the external device and establishes a second communication connection with the external device.
[0091] By employing this communication method and applying it to the communication system in Embodiment 1 or the communication chip in Embodiment 2, the signal channel can be selected according to the configured mode. Furthermore, the channel selector enables signal multiplexing, ensuring that only one channel is used to receive configuration data. This avoids conflicts when multiple channels receive signals, thereby reducing communication errors and retries, and improving system response speed. By ensuring that the third clock signal is transmitted only through a specific channel, the system can better control the flow of the clock signal. Disabling the second channel allows for better isolation of communication paths for different functions, enhancing system security and protection capabilities.
[0092] Example 4
[0093] This application provides an image forming apparatus, including a communication system as described in any of Embodiment 1, or a communication chip as described in any of Embodiment 2.
[0094] By incorporating the aforementioned communication system or communication chip into the image forming apparatus, the apparatus can interact with the host as a slave device, and can also switch to host mode to exchange data with associated consumables and accessories. Using the communication system and communication chip of this application reduces wiring complexity, solves wiring problems, and enables point-to-point communication between the host and slave devices, thereby reducing equipment production costs.
[0095] In this application embodiment, "at least one" refers to one or more, and "more than one" refers to two or more. "And / or" describes the relationship between related objects, indicating that three relationships can exist. For example, A and / or B can represent the existence of A alone, the simultaneous existence of A and B, or the existence of B alone. A and B can be singular or plural. The character " / " generally indicates that the preceding and following related objects are in an "or" relationship. "At least one of the following" and similar expressions refer to any combination of these items, including any combination of single or plural items. For example, at least one of a, b, and c can represent: a, b, c, ab, ac, bc, or abc, where a, b, and c can be single or multiple.
[0096] Those skilled in the art will recognize that the units and algorithm steps described in the embodiments disclosed herein can be implemented in electronic hardware, computer software, or a combination of electronic hardware and software. Whether these functions are implemented in hardware or software depends on the specific application and design constraints of the technical solution. Those skilled in the art can use different methods to implement the described functions for each specific application, but such implementations should not be considered beyond the scope of this invention.
[0097] Those skilled in the art will understand that, for the sake of convenience and brevity, the specific working processes of the systems, devices, and units described above can be referred to the corresponding processes in the foregoing method embodiments, and will not be repeated here.
[0098] In the several embodiments provided by this invention, any function, if implemented as a software functional unit and sold or used as an independent product, can be stored in a computer-readable storage medium. Based on this understanding, the technical solution of this invention, essentially, or the part that contributes to the prior art, or a part of the technical solution, can be embodied in the form of a software product. This computer software product is stored in a storage medium and includes several instructions to cause a computer device (which may be a personal computer, server, or network device, etc.) to execute all or part of the steps of the methods of the various embodiments of this invention. The aforementioned storage medium includes various media capable of storing program code, such as USB flash drives, portable hard drives, read-only memory (ROM), random access memory (RAM), magnetic disks, or optical disks.
[0099] The above are merely specific embodiments of the present invention. Any variations or substitutions that can be easily conceived by those skilled in the art within the scope of the technology disclosed in this invention should be included within the protection scope of this invention. The protection scope of this invention should be determined by the scope of the claims.
Claims
1. A communication system, characterized in that, Built into the image forming apparatus, the communication system includes: The parameter configuration module is used to output a first clock signal to the communication control module and a second clock signal to external devices when the communication system is configured in host mode. The channel selection module is used to, when the communication system is configured in host mode, shut down the first channel for receiving the third clock signal and open a second channel different from the first channel, so that the second clock signal information is transmitted to the external device. The communication control module is used to establish a first communication connection with the external device when it receives a first clock signal sent by the parameter configuration module, and to establish a second communication connection with the external device when it receives a third clock signal sent by the external device.
2. The communication system according to claim 1, characterized in that, The parameter configuration module is used to output a first clock signal to the communication control module and a second clock signal to external devices when the communication system is configured in host mode, specifically including: The parameter configuration module is used to respond to the input of the enable signal, output a first clock signal to the communication control module, and output a second clock signal to the external device.
3. The communication system according to claim 1, characterized in that, The channel selection module is used to, when the communication system is configured in host mode, shut down the first channel for receiving the third clock signal and open a second channel different from the first channel, so that the second clock signal can be transmitted to the external device. Specifically, it includes: The channel selection module is used to respond to the input of an enable signal, turn off the first channel that receives the third clock signal, and turn on a second channel that is different from the first channel, so that the second clock signal is transmitted to the external device. Alternatively, the channel selection module is configured to respond to the input of the second clock signal by shutting down the first channel receiving the third clock signal and opening a second channel different from the first channel, so that the second clock signal can be transmitted to the external device.
4. A communication system according to claim 1, characterized in that, When the communication system is configured as a slave device, neither the parameter configuration module nor the channel selection module receives an enable signal.
5. A communication system according to claim 1, characterized in that, When the communication system is configured in slave mode, the parameter configuration module is configured to be disabled.
6. A communication system according to claim 1, characterized in that, When the communication system is configured in slave mode, the channel selection module enables the first channel and disables the second channel, so that the communication control module receives the third clock signal sent by the external device through the first channel.
7. A communication system according to claim 1, characterized in that, The difference between the frequency of the first clock signal and the frequency of the second clock signal is less than a difference threshold, and the difference between the phase of the first clock signal and the phase of the second clock signal is less than a phase difference threshold.
8. A communication system according to claim 1, characterized in that, The parameter configuration module is specifically a phase-locked loop.
9. A communication chip, comprising a controller, characterized in that, The communication chip further includes a communication system as described in any one of claims 1-8, and the controller is communicatively connected to the communication system.
10. A communication chip according to claim 9, characterized in that, When the communication chip is configured to set the communication system to host mode, the controller sends an enable signal to the communication system.
11. A communication chip according to claim 9, characterized in that, When the communication chip is configured to set the communication system to slave mode, the controller stops sending enable signals to the communication system.
12. A communication method, characterized in that, The communication method, applicable to a communication system as described in any one of claims 1-8, or applicable to a communication chip as described in any one of claims 9-11, comprises: When the communication system is configured in host mode, in response to the input of the enable signal, the parameter configuration module is configured to output a first clock signal to the communication control module and a second clock signal to the external device; the channel selection module is configured to turn off the first channel and turn on the second channel so that the second clock signal is transmitted to the external device; and the communication control module is configured to establish a first communication connection with the external device. When the communication system is configured in slave mode, the parameter configuration module is configured to be disabled; the channel selection module is configured to turn off the second channel and turn on the first channel; the communication control module is configured to receive the third clock signal sent by the external device; and the communication control module is configured to establish a second communication connection with the external device.
13. An image forming apparatus, characterized in that, It includes the communication system as described in any one of claims 1-8, or the communication chip as described in any one of claims 9-11.