Image Forming Controller Switching and Combining Data Flow
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional image forming apparatuses face performance limitations due to closed interfaces of RISC-type general-purpose CPUs, requiring chip-set connections that reduce performance, especially in multi-function machines handling copying, printing, and facsimile processes, and struggle with high-speed data transfer and image combination.
Innovation Solution
An image forming apparatus with a controller that includes an integrated circuit for image processing, a scanner, a plotter, and a central processing unit, featuring a switching controller to manage data flow between the engine unit and chip-set, enabling high-speed image formation by combining scanner image data without storing it in local memory, thus optimizing memory bandwidth and reducing processing delays.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a RISC-type general-purpose CPU is used for the controller, then processing versatility is improved, but data transfer performance deteriorates due to closed interfaces requiring chip-set connections
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a PCI bridge as an intermediary device between the RISC-type CPU and the engine section. This bridge enables high-speed data transfer by providing a dedicated PCI bus connection that bypasses the limitations of chip-set interfaces, thus resolving the contradiction between using versatile RISC CPUs and maintaining high data transfer performance.
2Adaptability or versatility
If scanner image data is combined and stored in local memory before processing, then image combination functionality is achieved, but memory bandwidth is consumed and processing delays increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a combining controller that performs image combination operations in advance before the data needs to be processed by the plotter. By pre-combining multiple scanner image data into a single composite image, the system reduces the amount of data that needs to be transferred and processed later, thereby improving overall processing speed and reducing memory bandwidth consumption.
3Adaptability or versatility
If a chip-set interface is used to connect the CPU with external devices, then device compatibility is improved, but data transfer speed deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the system into two distinct communication paths: a high-speed PCI bus path for data-intensive operations between the CPU and engine section, and a chip-set interface path for control and configuration operations. This segmentation allows the system to maintain device compatibility through the chip-set while achieving high data transfer speeds through the dedicated PCI bus connection.
Data Source
AI summary
An image forming apparatus includes a controller having an integrated circuit for image processing. The controller is connected to an engine via a peripheral component interconnect (PCI). The engine includes a plotter and a scanner. The controller includes a central processing unit (CPU) to which a chip-set is connected via an accelerated graphics port (AGP). The controller also includes an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC) that controls whether to output scanner image data, which is data acquired by the scanner, to the PCI as plotter data for the plotter, or to output the scanner image data to the AGP, or to output image data input through the AGP to the PCI as plotter data for the plotter. The ASIC includes a combiner that combines a plurality of image data.