UNIVERSAL CONTROLLER INTERFACE FOR BARCODE PRINTERS

摘要

A universal controller interface for use in a number of different barcode pr inters (10) is disposed between the printer's microproce ssor (14) and a number of the printer's input and output devices including the pr inthead. The controller (12) includes a microprocessor i nterface (34) that allows the controller (12) to be used with various types of printe r microprocessors. The controller (12) also includes a p rinthead control circuit (48) that allows the controller to be used with various type s of printheads such as an intelligent thermal printhead (20) or a non-intelligent thermal printhead (20). The controller (2) also includes a p rogrammable serial intput/output port (44) and a program mable baud rate generator (58) so as to further increase its flexibility and use w ith various types of barcode printer intput and output d evices. A memory protection circuit (36) of the controller (12) allows various portion s of the printer's random access memory (16) to be prote cted if desired.