Cordless printer control device
US5774637A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Nov 12, 1993 |
| Grant date | Jun 30, 1998 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Nov 12, 2013 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG06K2215/0005
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A printer control device which operates via a cordless link to control a dedicated printer in a shared access mode, allowing access by an alternate computer. In the preferred embodiment, the cordless printer control device operates in an environment in which a host computer is directly connected to a dedicated printer which operates in a normal printing mode. The device is provided as a pair of compact add-on units, a transmitter unit connected to a portable computer and a receiver/switch unit connected to the dedicated printer. The pair of units operate to provide an infrared transmission link by which an alternate/portable computer can detect a break in the normal printing mode and temporarily access the dedicated printer for printing tasks. The receiver/switch unit is provided with a time-out switch which operates to allow the alternate computer to gain access to the printer only if during a predetermined interval, the dedicated printer is not busy with a printing task already assigned to it. Once the portable computer has gained temporary access, the time-out switch protects its continued use of the dedicated printer without allowing the host computer to regain control until th…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.