Multi-Core Controller for Printing Apparatus
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
The increasing complexity and data volume of print jobs in printing apparatuses lead to a higher processing load on controllers, necessitating a solution to enhance processing efficiency and reduce time required for printing processes.
Innovation Solution
A printing apparatus with a multi-core CPU controller, featuring a first core for analyzing job control commands and a second core with a higher clock frequency for performing the RIP process, allowing for distributed processing and power management to reduce the overall processing load.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the controller uses a single processor core to handle both job control command analysis and RIP process, then the device complexity is reduced, but the processing speed and productivity deteriorate due to increased processing load
Solution Approach 1:
The controller is divided into multiple processor cores, with the first core dedicated to analyzing job control commands and the second core dedicated to performing the RIP process. This segmentation allows parallel processing of different tasks, thereby improving processing speed and productivity while maintaining manageable device complexity through functional separation.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the print job contains more data to support diverse functions, then the adaptability and versatility are improved, but the processing load on the controller increases, causing loss of time
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the processing tasks across multiple cores, the system can handle larger and more complex print jobs with diverse functions simultaneously. The first core processes job control commands while the second core performs RIP operations, enabling the system to manage increased data volumes without proportionally increasing total processing time.
Solution Approach 2:
The first core performs preliminary analysis of job control commands before the second core begins the RIP process. This preliminary action allows the system to prepare and organize processing tasks in advance, reducing waiting time and enabling more efficient handling of complex print jobs with diverse functions.
3Productivity
If the controller processes all print job data sequentially, then the device complexity remains low, but the productivity decreases due to the increased processing load from diverse print job functions
Solution Approach 1:
The processing workload is segmented across multiple processor cores, with each core handling specific tasks concurrently. The first core manages job control command analysis while the second core handles RIP operations, transforming sequential processing into parallel execution and thereby improving printing throughput without excessive increases in device complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
A printing apparatus includes a print engine and a first controller configured to generate a raster data from a print job and cause the print engine to perform a print process based on the raster data. The first controller includes a first core and a second core. The first core is configured perform an analyzing process of analyze a job control command included in the print job and the second core is configured to perform an RIP process of generating the raster data from a PDL command.