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Introduction
How the Print Controller X4(AR-PE1) operates
The Print Controller X4(AR-PE1) enables the customer to use a color copier as a printer
and scanner. Users can print to the Print Controller X4(AR-PE1) from networked PCs
running Microsoft Windows, from networked Mac OS computers, and from networked
UNIX workstations running TCP/IP.
The Print Controller X4(AR-PE1) custom-designed boards and system software are
responsible for efficient image processing and printing controls. The main functions of
Print Controller X4(AR-PE1) components and software are described below.
The Print Controller X4(AR-PE1) uses specialized circuit boards, the motherboard and
the copier interface board, to process image data for printing and scanning images.
The motherboard includes a 433MHz CPU chip which controls the image data transfer
to and from the copier interface board and runs the interpreter. The interpreter rasterizes
the page description file and then compresses the image pattern into memory using
compression technology.
The interpreter outputs compressed raster data through the image frame buffer memory
to the Print Controller X4(AR-PE1) copier interface board. The copier interface board
decompresses the image data and sends it to the copier through the copier interface cable
shipped with the copier. The raster data supplied to the laser in the copier charges the
drum and renders the final image on paper at full copier engine speed.
High-speed DIMMs (dual in-line memory modules) on the motherboard hold the image
data during printing. The Print Controller X4(AR-PE1) is configured with 192MB of
memory.
When Fiery Scan
™
uses the copier as a scanner, the Print Controller X4(AR-PE1)
acquires RGB (red, green, and blue) image data from the copier, stores it in memory, and
transmits it to the computer that requested the scan.
