The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Dec. 18, 1979
Filed:
Jun. 10, 1977
Sultan W Khan, West Lake, CA (US);
John K Ham, Simi, CA (US);
Richard A Strissel, Simi Valley, CA (US);
DataProducts Corporation, Woodland Hills, CA (US);
Abstract
A self-diagnostic printer system divides tasks of the printer system into separate modules using a plurality of buses on a mother board. A central processing unit module performs the required operations in the system. An interface module interfaces the central processing module with a digital system user, a tape input, and an operator through a control panel. A timing and status module monitors a plurality of printer device fault conditions, generates a plurality of enable signals and drive signals and interfaces timing signals from a printer to the central processor unit. A power module generates driving currents for a clamping solenoid and a stepper motor so as to move the paper through the printer. A hammer driver module selectively fires hammer driver circuits to generate hard copy printout of digital information. An internal vertical format unit in which paper instructions are stored and selectively retrieved is used to direct the operation of the other modules according to a selected format. A detailed error, status and diagnostic scheme may be selectively executed at any point within the printer operation during any of the printer system's modes of operation, to provide visual output to the operator indicating an error or a status, and the nature and location of the error or type of status which has occurred so that any error within data or printer operation can be instantly analyzed and isolated to permit convenient rectification.