Edward C Sharp

US Patent:

6614545, Sep 2, 2003

Filed:

May 9, 1997

Appl. No.:

08/853767

Inventors:

David Brian Langer - Lexington KY
Steven Wayne Parish - Lexington KY
Edward Carlton Sharp - Wilmore KY

Assignee:

Lexmark International, Inc - Lexington KY

International Classification:

G06F 1300

US Classification:

358 115, 358 114

Abstract:

A print system comprises a printer including a printer controller. One or more optional support devices are associated with the printer, wherein each optional support device includes a device controller. The system further includes a bi-directional serial communications path, including one or more trunklines, which provides serial electrical interconnection between the printer controller and each device controller of each optional support device of the system. The printer controller automatically assigns a unique device address to each optional support device. Each optional support device further includes logic circuitry which, based upon a command of the printer controller, enables passage of information generated by the printer controller through a first optional support device to a next electrically serially connected optional support device following an assignment of a first device address to the first optional support device.