JPH02220864A - Printer - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To effectively use memory areas by judging whether a bit map area corresponding to a selected sheet supply unit can be allocated or not, and sequentially selecting other sheet supply unit when the bit map area cannot be allocated. CONSTITUTION:Memory control means 14 allocates a font load area FL for storing font data in memory areas and a bit map area BM for storing image data. Thus, the memory areas are used as the area FL for storing the font data and the area BM for storing the image data. Designating means diamagnet size of the image. Judging means 11 judges whether bit map area BM corresponding to the size of a sheet selected by sheet supply unit selecting means 35 according to the using state of the memory areas. If the allocation of the area BM is not possible, other sheet supply units 51a, 52a, 53a are sequentially selected.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to a bitmap type printer device that forms an image on paper based on font data and image data.

[Conventional technology]

2. Description of the Related Art In a printer device such as a laser printer that uses a laser optical system and an electrophotographic system, bitmap image formation is performed. In the bitmap method, an image memory (bitmap memory) having a capacity corresponding to pixel data (image data) for one page is usually provided. Image data sent from an external device such as a host computer or word processor is drawn in the bitmap memory first. If the image data is a character code, it is drawn by referring to the font memory provided in the printer device. be done.

Although the bitmap method requires an expensive and large-capacity bitmap, it allows fine-grained control over the position, direction, shape, and size of characters in an image.
Any image information other than text can be drawn.

By the way, font memory usually contains standard fonts (
For example, font data for Mincho and Gothic fonts are stored in advance. When forming an image that includes characters in other fonts, such as external characters created by the user, calligraphy fonts, and other fonts that are not standard, the necessary font data is downloaded from the external device and stored in the font load area of the font memory. Stored.

[Problem to be solved by the invention]

Conventionally, the bitmap area and font load area as the above-mentioned bitmap memory were independent from each other. In other words, a memory area of a certain capacity is provided as the bitmap area as described above, and a memory area of a certain capacity that is accessed by an address system different from the address system for accessing the bitmap area is the font load area. A memory area with a capacity that can accommodate a predetermined amount of data is secured for each of the bitmap area and font load area.

As a result, the overall capacity of the memory area has increased, necessitating the provision of a large-sized memory device. In other words, in many cases of image formation, there are areas (blank areas) in which no data is stored, resulting in a problem that the memory area is inefficiently used.

For example, in a case where a font load area is provided that can store several types of font data so that an image consisting of characters of several types of fonts can be formed, when forming an image of only standard fonts, the font load area There is no need to store font data from an external device in
The font load area is not used. Conversely, when forming a small image, that is, when printing on small-sized paper, the amount of image data is small, so a blank area will occur in the bitmap area.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In view of the above-mentioned problems, it is an object of the present invention to provide a printer device that makes effective use of a memory area and can downsize the memory device.

[Means to solve the problem]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention provides a printer device that forms an image on paper based on image data. a paper feed unit selection means for selecting one paper feed unit from among the paper feed units; a memory unit having a memory area of a certain capacity; a font load area for storing font data in the memory area; and a font load area for storing the image data. a memory control means for allocating a bitmap area for storage;
determination means for determining whether or not it is possible to allocate a bitmap area corresponding to the selected paper feed unit based on the usage state of the memory area; The present invention is characterized in that the paper feed units are selected in sequence.

[For production]

Paper is loaded in each of the plurality of paper feed units.

The paper feed unit selection means selects one paper feed unit from the plurality of paper feed units.

The memory means has a memory area of fixed capacity.

The memory control means allocates a font load area for storing font data and a bitmap area for storing the image data in the memory area. Thereby, the memory area is shared as a font load area for storing font data and a bitmap area for storing image data.

The specifying means specifies the size of the image.

The determining means determines whether or not it is possible to allocate a bitmap area corresponding to the size of the sheet selected by the paper feed section selecting means, based on the usage state of the memory area.

If it is not possible to allocate a bitmap area, other paper feed units are sequentially selected.

〔Example〕

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing the appearance of the laser printer 1. FIG.

A laser printer l includes a photoreceptor, a developing device, a laser optical system for exposure, and
It also includes a print engine 4 including an image data processing section 10 (described later), an automatic paper feeding unit 5, and a sorter 6.

In the automatic paper feed unit 5, an upper paper feed cassette 5I, a middle paper feed cassette 52, and a lower paper feed cassette 53 are installed in an upper paper feed port 51a, a middle paper feed port 52a, and a lower paper feed port 53a, respectively. A portion of the paper feed cassette is fitted into the paper feed cassette, and paper for forming an image is supplied to the print engine 4 from one of the paper feed cassettes. The upper and middle paper feed cassettes 51 and 52 are removable, and
The lower paper feed cassette 53 is semi-fixedly attached so that one of several sizes of paper can be selected and stored. It has become. Each of these paper feed cassettes 51.5
2.53 are each equipped with a sensor (not shown) consisting of a reed switch or the like. When each paper feed cassette is attached to the automatic paper feed unit 5, the size of the stored paper is detected, and a ninth A size table ST shown in Figure (b) is provided.

An operation panel 44 is provided on the upper front surface of the print engine 4.

FIG. 6 is a front view of the operation panel 44.

The 7-segment LED 31 displays the operating status of the laser printer 1 as a code. The size specification key 35 is used to select one of the paper feed ports 51a to 53a that serves as a paper feed port, and is used to select one of the paper feed ports 51a to 53a that serves as a paper feed port. Size display LED 36 a
~36e lights up. In the initial setting when the power is turned on, the lower paper feed port 53a is selected, and when the size designation key 35 is pressed manually, the paper feed slot 53a is selected according to the pre-programmed priority order as shown in the priority table YT shown in FIG. 9(a). Each paper feed port 51a to 53a is designated in the order of lower stage → upper stage → middle stage → lower stage, and so on. 37 is a reset key for initialization, 38
39 is a test key for test printing, and 39 is a form feed key for discharging internal image data. The online key 40 is used to temporarily stop the processing of each section, and when the processing is stopped, it is displayed and the light D40a is turned off.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an image data processing section 10 of a laser printer I. As shown in FIG.

The image data processing section 10 includes a CPU consisting of a microcomputer that controls the overall operation of the image data processing section 10.
(Central processing unit) 11, program ROM 12 that stores a processing program including the above-mentioned priority table YT;
An operation panel interface 13 connected to the operation panel 44, a RAM 17 used as a bitmap memory and in which various data are stored as described later, and a font ROM 18 in which predetermined font data is written in advance.
, a memory controller 14 that controls the RAM 17 and the font ROM 18, an external interface 15 connected to a host computer (hereinafter referred to as "host") as an external device, and a print engine connected to a print engine control unit that controls the electrophotographic process. It is composed of an interface 16.

When image data is input from the host via the external interface 15, the memory controller 14 performs image data drawing in a bitmap area BM in the RAM 1T, which will be described later, based on this image data. There are graphic drawings such as lines and circles, and font drawings performed by reading font data from the phono ROM 1B or RAM 17.

In addition, during a print operation, the memory controller 14 transfers image data from the bitmap area BM into a pixel arrangement in accordance with a print start code sent from the host and a synchronization signal from the print engine control section. They are read out in order and output to the print engine control section.

The print engine control unit uses a well-known electrophotographic process to form a latent image on a photoreceptor by flashing a laser light source according to image data. Is there a system to form an image of a predetermined image size with a margin? n is done.

The font data in the font ROM 18 includes pattern font data that represents the shapes of characters and symbols as dot patterns as you imagine them, outline font (vector font) data that represents only the outlines of characters, and compressed data that aims to shorten the data length. There is code font data (internal primary data) consisting of font data and the like. When outline font data is used for printing, images including high-quality deformed characters, enlarged characters, etc. can be easily formed.

In addition, if a font other than the font data in the font ROM1B is required for printing, the necessary font data (external primary data) consisting of pattern font data or code font data is transferred from the host to the RAM17.
will be downloaded to.

When drawing in the focus map area MB based on the code font data, arithmetic processing such as filling and calculating the number of dots is required, which reduces the drawing speed. Therefore, in order to increase the drawing speed, the CPU II performs font conversion processing using the waiting time before the start of the print operation, converting code font data (internal or external primary data) to pattern font data in advance. , this may be stored in the RAM 17 as secondary data.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart of font conversion processing.

This process is started when specific font data from internal or external primary data is designated by the host.

First, in step #51, coded mounting font information managed by the memory controller 14 is searched.

The installed font information includes the font and character size, attribute information indicating whether it is code font data or pattern font data, and storage location information (distinguishing between RAM 17 or font ROM 1B and the starting address of the data storage area). ), data length (total size) information,
Is it downloaded data? Font ROM1B
It consists of source information indicating whether the data is primary data or secondary data.

In step #52, a check is made to see if there is font data specified from the attribute information, and if there is no corresponding font data, the process is terminated.

If YES in step #52, in step #53,
Determine whether or not it has already been converted from the source information.

If no in step #53, RA in step #54
The optimal unused area of M17 is searched, and in step #55, it is determined whether there is an unused area that can accommodate the data length after conversion, and if there is no unused area, the process is terminated.

If YES in step #55, the primary data is converted into secondary data and the secondary data is stored in an unused area.

Thereafter, in step #57, the installed font information is updated. At this time, a code indicating that the data is secondary data is registered as source information.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the configuration of the memory area MA of the RAM 17.

The memory area MA is a memory space that is made up of one or more RAM chips and that can be accessed by one address system.
System area SA for controlling each part performed by PUII
and a user area UA related to image data.

The system area SA includes a parameter area SAa that stores parameters for arithmetic processing by CPLJII and the size table mentioned above, and a parameter area P- that stores intermediate codes corresponding to instruction codes for various controls input from the host. A buffer area SAb and an R-buffer area SAc for communication with the host are provided.

On the other hand, the user area UA contains font data (external primary data), which is pattern font data or code font data downloaded from the host as required for printing, code font data of the external primary data, and internal font data. A font load area FL for storing font data including secondary data obtained by converting primary data into pattern font data, and a bitmap area BM as a virtual screen for drawing image data are allocated.

Font load area FL and bitmap area BM
is appropriately expanded or reduced according to the amount of font data and image data to be stored, and the memory area MA having a certain capacity is effectively utilized.

That is, during initialization such as when the power is turned on, the bitmap area BM has a capacity corresponding to a standard paper size, for example, A4 size, and as shown in the figure, the continuous addresses in the latter half of the user area UA are The specified area (lower half of the figure) is allocated, and the remaining area (upper half of the figure) is allocated as the font load area FL. When the amount of image data is smaller than at initialization, such as when printing on paper smaller than A4 size or when printing a reduced image, the bitmap area BM is reduced and the font load area FL is expanded. be done. On the other hand, when printing on large paper or when printing an enlarged image, when the amount of stored font data is small and there is an unused area, or when there is an area where data can be erased as described later, The bitmap area BM is expanded.

When storing font data, that is, when using user area UA as font load area FL, font data is stored sequentially from the start address area AO side of user area UA. Note that the area of the user area UA can be expanded by adding a RAM chip.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart of font data download processing.

In step #41, the attributes of the font data to be downloaded are registered as the implemented font information, and in the following step #
In step 42, find the optimal area. Here, the optimal area is:
This is an unused area with a minimum capacity that is greater than or equal to the font data capacity for all characters of the font.

In step #43, it is determined whether there is an unused area (optimal area), and if there is no unused area, the font data (data of all characters) sequentially input from the host is skipped and discarded (step #43). #46) L, End the process.

If there is an unused area in step #43, the font data is stored in step #44, the installed font information is updated (step #45), and the process ends.

Next, a method of allocating the memory area MA of the RAM 17 when an instruction to change the image size is given will be described.

FIGS. 2(a) to 2(C) are diagrams showing allocation of memory area MA, and FIG. 3 is a flowchart of size change processing.

The resizing process is started when the operator manually presses the size designation key 35 on the operation panel 44 or when the host inputs an instruction code to instruct the image size to be changed.

In FIG. 3, if there is manual power for the size designation key 35, in step #11, the above-mentioned priority table Y
Find the next paper feed port from T.

Next, in step #12, a signal for switching the paper feed port for supplying paper is output to the print engine control section via the print engine interface 16. This signal controls the automatic paper feed unit 5 and switches the paper feed port.

Subsequently, in step #21, size table ST
Find the paper size that corresponds to the new paper source by referring to
In step #22, one of the size display LEDs 36a to 36e is turned on depending on the determined paper size. The process of step #22 is the command process of step #100, which is the process of inputting an instruction code from the host.
This is also done when a new paper size is specified.

Next, in step #23, the capacity of the font load area FL in use is determined. That is, from the installed font information, it is determined how far font data is stored in the font load area FL.

In the example shown in Figure 2 (a), font data A and font data B are downloaded from the top address as external primary data, and after the storage area of font data B is left unused due to data deletion, etc. There is an area EA that is in a state of unused area EA, but font data C and D are stored in an area behind this unused area EA.

Therefore, in this example, the area from the first address to the last address of font data D, ie, the area with capacity m1 in the figure, is the area in use.

In step #24, the capacity m2 (see FIG. 2(C)) of the bitmap area BM necessary for drawing the newly designated image size is determined.

In the following step #25, it is determined whether the image size can be changed. In other words, the capacity m3 is the value obtained by subtracting the capacity m1 of the font load area FL in use from the capacity mO of the memory area MA (m3=mO-ml).
is larger than the capacity m2 of the bitmap area BM necessary for drawing an image size corresponding to the newly specified paper size.

If YES in step #25, allocate the unused area to bitmap area BM and
This is a case in which the image size can be changed by expanding M, and the process advances to step #29 where processing to be described later is performed.

In the case of No in step #25, that is, in the case of step #25 (a
), if the area bm designated to be newly allocated as the bitmap area BM and the font load area FL are the same, the process proceeds to step #26 and the bitmap area BM including the overlapping area WA is
Find the amount of erasable font data among the font data stored in the area adjacent to .

Assuming that font data C is secondary data obtained by converting the internal primary data as described above, and font data D is secondary data obtained by converting font data A, these font data C and D can be changed as necessary. internal or external 1
Since the data can be restored by being damaged again from the next data, even if it is erased once, there will be no problem in the subsequent printing operation.

Therefore, an area with a capacity of m4, which is the sum of the storage area for font data C and D and the unused area EA, is
This is an area that can be allocated as a bitmap area BM.

In step #27, it is determined again whether the image size can be changed. That is, the capacity m3 and the capacity m
4 is larger than the capacity m2 of the bitmap area BM necessary for drawing the specified image size, that is, whether the following equation (1) is satisfied.

m3+m4≧m2 ・・・・・・(1) Step #
If YES in step #27, in step #28, erase the erasable font data in the order of font data D and font data C from the rear until an area of capacity m2 is secured, that is, register the above-mentioned installed font information. In the example shown in FIG. 2, the phono. Data D
As shown in Figure 2 (b), when the registration of
Therefore, since the capacity m6 of the area that can be allocated as the bitmap area BM is larger than the capacity m2, the registration of the font data C is not deleted.

In the following step #29, the start address of the bitmap area BM is updated, and an area with a capacity m2 in the latter half of the memory area MA is allocated as a new bitmap area BM (see FIG. 2(C)).

In the case of No in step #27, for example, if the font data D is non-erasable font data such as external primary data (data that cannot be restored from the font data inside the laser printer 1), In step #30, it is checked whether the host has instructed to change the paper size. In the case of YES in step #30, the size change 1 indication from the host is essentially ignored, and the process ends. In this case, image formation will be performed using the original image size based on the print start code or the like.

If the answer is NO in step #30, that is, if the process is started manually by pressing the size designation key 35, in step #31, the size display LED turned on in step #22 is turned on for a predetermined period of time. After this, the operator is notified that it is impossible to change the image size to the image size determined in step #21 above by blinking, and then the process returns to step #11 and selects the paper feed slot with the next priority. Processing takes place. Therefore, in this case, steps #11 to #31 are repeated until a changeable paper size, that is, an image size is selected.

As a result, even if it is not possible to print on the paper size specified by the operator, a printable paper size is automatically selected, and the operator does not have to specify the paper size again. By blinking the display LED, it is possible to know that printing will be performed in a paper size different from the specified paper size.

In the above-mentioned embodiment, if the answer is NO in step #30 of step 7 in FIG. The operator may be warned that the image size cannot be changed, or the host may be notified that the image size cannot be changed.

In the above embodiment, it is determined whether the font data stored in the font load area FL is erasable data, and if it is erasable secondary data, it is erased. Although the font load area FL was reduced, these processes were not performed and the user area U
Depending on the usage status of A, a new font load area F
A warning may be issued to the effect that allocation of L and bitmap area BM or change of image size is impossible. That is, steps #26 and #27 in FIG. 3 may be omitted, and if the answer is NO in step #25, the process may proceed to step #30.

In the above-described embodiment, there are two methods that can restore the final pattern font data that directly corresponds to the image data.
Although explained as the next data, when intermediate font data that is being converted from code font data, which is primary data stored inside the laser printer, to pattern font data is stored in the font load area FL, this Intermediate font data may also be treated as restorable secondary data.

In the above-mentioned embodiment, a case has been described in which the font ROM 18 in which predetermined font data is written is provided.
The font data necessary for the font load area FL may be downloaded from the host.

〔Effect of the invention〕

According to the present invention, the bitmap area and the font load area are expanded or reduced as appropriate and allocated within the memory area. Therefore, it is possible to effectively utilize the memory area, and it is possible to downsize the memory device.

Furthermore, destruction of font data and image data can be prevented.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

The drawings show embodiments of the present invention, and FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an image data processing section of a laser printer, and FIG.
a) to (c) are diagrams showing memory area allocation, Figure 3 is a flowchart of the resizing process, Figure 4 is a diagram showing the configuration of the RAM memory area in Figure 1, and Figure 5 is a diagram showing the configuration of the RAM memory area in Figure 1. A perspective view showing the external appearance, Figure 6 is a front view of the operation panel, Figure 7 is a flowchart of font data download processing, Figure 8 is a flowchart of font conversion processing, and Figures 9 (a) and (b) are priority diagrams. It is a figure which shows a table and a size table. l...Laser printer (printer device), 11...
CPU (determination means), 14... memory controller (memory control means), 17... RAM (memory means)
, 35...Size setting key (paper source selection means), 51
a, 52a, 53a--paper feed port (paper feed section), BM...
・Bitmap area (bitmap page area), FL
...Font load area (font load area),
MA...Memory area (memory area). Applicant Minolta Camera Co., Ltd. Agent Patent Attorney Yuki Kubo

Claims (1)

[Claims] (1) In a printer device that forms an image on paper based on image data, a plurality of paper feed units are each loaded with the paper, and one paper feed unit is selected from among the plurality of paper feed units. a memory means having a memory area of a certain capacity; and a memory control means for allocating a font load area for storing font data and a bitmap area for storing the image data in the memory area. , determining means for determining whether or not it is possible to allocate a bitmap area corresponding to the selected paper feed section, based on the usage state of the memory area, and if it is not possible to allocate the bitmap area, another 1. A printer device characterized in that paper feed sections are selected sequentially.