Patent ID: 7296864
Filing Date: 2007-11-20
Classification: B41J,G06K

Abstract:
1. A method of controlling a printing apparatus which performs printing by using a printhead having a printing element and a storage unit, the printing apparatus including a first control unit which controls operation of the printing apparatus, and a second control unit which can operate independently of the first control unit, the method comprising: an instruction generation step of causing the first control unit to generate an instruction for acquiring specific information from information held by the storage unit of the printhead, the instruction including information designating an identification name of the specific information, that is independent from an address of the storage unit to be accessed; an acquisition step of causing the second control unit to receive the instruction generated by the first control unit in the instruction generation step, generate an address for accessing the storage unit of the printhead based on the instruction, access the storage unit at the address, and acquire the specific information corresponding to the instruction; and a control step of causing the second control unit to drive and control the printhead on the basis of information which is generated on the basis of the specific information acquired in the acquisition step in order to drive the printhead, wherein the acquisition step includes a generation step of generating an access signal containing the address corresponding to the identification name designated by the instruction generated in the instruction generation step from the storage unit, and a read step of accessing the storage unit in accordance with the access signal generated in the generation step and reading out the specific information, wherein said generation step generates the access signal by looking up a table corresponding to the printhead mounted on the printing apparatus among a plurality of tables which are provided in correspondence with a plurality of types of printheads and makes identification names designated by the instruction and storage addresses of the storage unit correspond to each other.