Image forming apparatus and a communication method with trays thereof

摘要

An image forming apparatus having a main body and optional trays and a communication method between the main body and the optional trays, the apparatus including: the main body having a main controller; at least one optional tray detachably set up in the main body and having a tray controller for communicating with the main controller to transmit and receive data; and communication lines forming a communication channel connecting the main controller and the tray controllers, for data exchange, and for informing the main controller that the data is provided from tray controllers to the main controller. Since the main body and the optional trays communicate through a single UART communication channel, the number of communication channels is decreased thereby saving time and simplifying protocol as well as reducing costs and simplify circuits. Also, it is possible to assign IDs rapidly and simply, prevent generation of errors in ID assignment, and make use of the image forming apparatus convenient.

主权项

1. An image forming apparatus that communicates with a plurality of tray controllers each configured to control an operation of at least one of optional tray, the apparatus comprising:
a main controller controlling the image forming apparatus to output an image; and communication lines connecting the main controller and each tray controller, the communication lines providing for an exchange of data between the main controller and each tray controller, wherein the communication lines include a busy line to indicate that at least one other line for data transmission is occupied by one of the plurality of tray controllers, and wherein the busy line is separate from the other communication lines.