Formatter System
The Formatter PCA is responsible for the following:
∙Receiving and processing print data from the printer interface.
∙Monitoring Front Panel Button and relaying printer status information.
∙Developing and coordinating data placement and timing with the print engine.
∙Storing font information.
∙Communicating with the host computer through the
The Formatter PCA receives print data from the
The Formatter PCA also provides mounting locations for additional memory.
CPU
The Formatter PCA incorporates a Motorola 68030
Read Only Memory (ROM)
Besides storing microprocessor control programs, the ROM stores dot patterns of internal character sets (fonts).
Random Access Memory (RAM)
The RAM stores printing and downloaded font information received from the host system and temporarily stores a full page of print image data before the data is sent to the print engine. (See “Page Protect” later in this chapter.) Memory capacity can be increased by adding a DRAM memory card to the Formatter PCA. Note that adding memory may also increase print speed when printing complex graphics.
Parallel Interface
The Formatter PCA receives incoming data through its
