1. Field of the Invention:
The present invention relates to a control system using a plurality of computers and, more particulary, to a control system using a plurality of microcomputers for controlling a copying machine main body and its peripherals.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Recently, tremendous advances have been made in electronic techniques. In particular, with the recent trend toward higher integration of electronic circuits, high-performance one-chip microcomputers are used for a variety of equipment. Microcomputer-aided control of a copying machine is becoming popular. With requirements for higher performance, higher operation speed and multipurpose operability, a plurality of microcomputers are used in place of a single microcomputer so as to control the copying machine main body and its peripherals (sorter, ADF and the like) separately in accordance with different functions. For this purpose, parallel or serial data transfer through intelligent terminals using I/O ports of the microcomputers is being developed.
In a system wherein control power supplies for the respective microcomputers are separately provided, problems due to the rise of the control power supply voltage at the initial power ON, that is, problems of operation timing of the respective microcomputers, or problems of data transfer error due to the states of the I/O ports during the initial reset (initialization) of the respective microcomputers, are encountered during data transfer. The copying machine main body or any one of its peripherals may as a consequence operate erratically.