AR-PE1 (serv.man9). AR-PE1 EFI Service Manual. - Sharp Copying Equipment Service Manual (repair manual). Page 18

 

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.