JPH0469261A - Printer - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To make it possible to select a desired font correctly even if a host computer does not know a font provided in a printer by setting previously a name to be used by the host computer under a different name for the font in the printer. CONSTITUTION:When a different name 'NORMAL' with respect to a font (courier 10) shown at (ro) is inputted, a CPU 10 copies a header of the font in a vacant area of a RAM 12. Thereafter, the name is rewritten by changing from 'COURIER 10' to 'NORMAL' shown at (ho), and an address of its image data is changed so as to indicate an image data of the courier 10 shown at (ro) so that a new font file constituted of only a font header is made. Also, an address of that font file is registered as an address of a font N shown at (i). Accordingly, a printer controller 3 handles two fonts as different fonts having names different from each other even though they are substantially the same.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to various printers such as laser printers.

[Conventional technology]

When a printer has a plurality of fonts, one way to select a font is to specify the font name and font attributes from a host computer or a built-in operation unit.

By the way, when selecting a font on the host computer, the name and attributes of the font cannot be changed, so in order to select the correct font, for example, the host computer must have information about the fonts in the printer, or the host A computer operator must enter instructions to select a font for the printer.

[Problem to be solved by the invention]

However, since the fonts in the printer change when an option (font cartridge) is inserted or the printer itself is replaced, it is difficult for the host computer to know the fonts inside the printer in advance.

Another problem is that the method by which an operator inputs a command for selecting a font into a host computer becomes very complicated because a special code is used for printer commands.

Furthermore, when specified from the printer's control panel,
Since only one font can be selected to be used at that time, there is an inconvenience in that it is not possible to print using multiple fonts on one page.

Furthermore, printers with variable printing density have a problem in that the characters of the selected font become larger or smaller depending on the setting of the printing density.

For example, on a 300 dpi printer, if the print density setting is switched to 400 dpi and a 12 point font is selected, the page-by-page video data created using the 12 point font will be 4 in order to achieve a print density of 400 dpi
Since the font is printed out after being reduced to 3/3, there was a problem in that the 12 point font was reduced to 9 points.

Note that in order to make the font after scaling 12 points, it is necessary to select a 16 point font.

This invention has been made in view of the above points, and aims to solve the above-mentioned problems and to enable easy selection of fonts.

[Means to solve the problem]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a means for setting aliases for each of the plurality of fonts in a printer that has a plurality of fonts and selects and prints a font specified from the outside, and a means for setting an alias for each of the plurality of fonts, and thereby When one of the aliases set is input from the outside, the font to which the alias is set is selected as the font to be used for printing.

In addition, there is a method for setting different attributes for multiple fonts, and when any of the set attributes is input from an external source, the font with that attribute is used as the font to be used for printing. A selection means may also be provided.

[For production]

In the printer according to the present invention, by setting an alias or another attribute for each font, when either the set alias or another attribute is input from the outside, the alias or another attribute is set. Since the font is selected as the font to be used for printing, by setting the name used by the host computer as an alias for the font in the printer in advance, it can be used even if the host computer does not know the font that the printer has. , you can choose exactly the font you want to use.

Furthermore, even if another font is added using a font cartridge that stores optional fonts, the font can be used simply by changing the way the alias is assigned.

Furthermore, since it is now possible to set different attributes for each font, even if the print density of the printer changes, the font size to be used does not need to be changed accordingly, allowing optimal printing. be able to.

〔Example〕

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

FIG. 2 is a system configuration diagram of an embodiment in which the present invention is applied to a laser printer, where l denotes external devices such as a personal computer, a word processor, and a data processing device 9.
A host computer such as an image processing device, and 2 a laser printer which is a page printer.

The laser printer 2 includes a printer controller 3 (print control unit) that inputs print information such as character codes and images (graphics) from the host computer 1 and creates bitmap information (video data) on a page-by-page basis.
Printer engine 4, which consists of an image forming unit and its sequence controller, etc., modulates laser light according to the bitmap information and prints characters and images on paper.
It is composed of.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the internal configuration of the printer controller 3. As shown in FIG.

This printer controller 3 has an interface (I/
F) for connection to a host interface 5 for connection to the host computer 1, an engine interface 6 for connection to the printer engine 4, and an operation panel (operation unit) 8 equipped with various displays, switches, etc. panel interface 7, and a floppy disk device 13. Readable/writable RAM cartridge 14. It is provided with an option interface 9 for connecting with options such as a read-only ROM cartridge 15 and the like.

The printer controller 3 also includes a microcomputer (hereinafter referred to as rCPUJ) 10 and a ROMII
and RAM12.

Note that the RAM cartridge 14 or R as an external device
The OM cartridge 15 is, for example, a font cartridge, and can store different font data.

CPU10 is a general-purpose 16 or 32-bit microcomputer, and centrally controls the entire printer controller.

ROMI 1 is a program memory that stores programs for operating the CPU 10 as well as resident fonts and the like.

The RAM 12 is composed of, for example, a normal RAM and a nonvolatile RAM, of which the normal RAM is a large-capacity random access memory and is mainly used for the following purposes.

(a) 1 input buffer (b) Page buffer (
C) Video buffer (d) Work memory (e) Font file (f) Image file These buffers and files are used by securing in advance the necessary capacity of RAM areas other than those used for system software. In this case, if the memory capacity is insufficient, a message to that effect is displayed and the function is abandoned.

In that case, it is necessary to erase some data and restore it to a usable state. That is, instead of allocating and using the entire memory area in a fixed manner, a dynamic management method is adopted in which an area is secured and used each time it is needed.

Non-volatile RAM contains information on the set mode,
It stores logging information, etc. that records changes in the operating state of the printer controller, etc. according to temporal changes.

Here, the functions of each buffer and file in the RAM 12 will be explained.

[Input buffer]

The host computer 1 connected to the host interface 5 sends data irregularly, regardless of the operation within the printer controller 3. Therefore, data from the host interface 5 is temporarily held in an input buffer, and the printer software sequentially compares and processes the data.

[Page buffer]

Information such as the source address where the data is actually stored, the destination address that specifies where in the video buffer to create the video data, and the size are added to the data sent from the post computer 1. Create page data in this page buffer.

[Work memory]

This is an area for storing variables and the like used by CPU10, and a table for managing a plurality of fonts (hereinafter referred to as a "font management table") is also provided here.

In this font management table, the location (address) of each font is registered, for example, as shown in FIG. 4(a).

[Video buffer]

Video data, which is bitmap information, is created in the video buffer by using page data in the page buffer, font data in a font file (described later), and possibly image data in an image file.

This video buffer has full bitmap mode and partial bitmap mode, and can be used in either mode.

Full bitmap mode is a mode in which a memory area corresponding to the entire paper size is allocated and used as a video buffer, and partial bitmap mode is a mode in which a memory area corresponding to the entire paper size is allocated and used as a video buffer, while partial bitmap mode is a mode in which a memory area corresponding to the entire paper size is allocated and used as a video buffer. This mode allocates a memory area as a video buffer and uses each half of it alternately.

[Font file]

All fonts are treated as files and serve as source data when expanding video data into a video buffer.

The structure of this font file includes the font name, attributes (character size, etc.) as shown in Figure 4 (b).

It is divided into a ``font header section'' that shows the location of the image data (style, font, thickness, etc.) and each character, and an ``image data section'' that shows the image data (dot pattern) of each character.

Here, if the printer has multiple fonts, a font file is created for each font by CPUl0, for example, as shown in (B) to (D) in the same figure, and each font file is created as shown in (B) in the same figure. It is managed by the font management table shown below.

Note that the font file can be stored internally as a ROM, externally as a font cartridge, or downloaded from the host through the host interface 5.

[Image file]

Firstly stores the image data sent from the host and creates an image file. If the video buffer is in full bitmap mode, image data can be stored directly in the video buffer without creating this image file.

In partial bitmap mode, it is created in a memory area that can be used as an image file. and,
Each image file is given an identification code and incorporated into the page buffer.

The operation panel 8 is configured as shown in FIG. 5, for example, and includes a character display (LCD display) 21,
keys 22 to 29.

The character display device 21 displays characters at the positions indicated by broken lines.
A 6 character x 2 line character display can display mode settings and other message information.

Among the keys 22 to 29, 22 is an on/offline key for switching the printer between online and offline states, which prohibits communication with the host computer 1 and enables input of various information from the operation panel 8. , is used when restarting communication with the host computer 1 after completing input from the operation panel 8.

Further, 23 is a form feed key for forcibly printing the video data in the printer, and 24 is a form feed key that activates the printer's self-diagnosis test function, etc., and prints information such as the printer's status and the fonts that the printer has. A test key 25 is a reset key for returning the printer to an initial state, and 26 to 29 are operation keys for setting a mode.

Note that keys other than the on/offline key 22 cannot be used unless the printer is placed offline and communication with the host computer 1 is stopped.

Now, the procedure for setting a different name for a font related to this invention will be explained using the operation panel 8 of FIG.

First, assume that you are online.

At this time, the display on the character display 21 in FIG.
1ineJ. From this state, perform the following key operations.

■ By pressing the on/offline key 22.

Goes offline.

■ By pressing the mode key 26, the mode set state (mode setting possible) is entered, and the first item
is displayed on the character display 21.

■ Continue to press the arrow key 27 or 28 until the font alias setting item is displayed on the character display 21.

In addition, by using the arrow keys 27 or 28, the character display 21 can be used to set a different name for the font, set another attribute (described later), etc.
Various setting items, such as the communication method with the host computer and the paper size to be used, are cycled through and displayed. however,
The display order is reversed for arrow keys 27 and 28.

(2) By pressing the enter key 29 while the font alias setting item is displayed, the name of one of the fonts existing in the printer will be displayed on the character display 21.

■ Click until you see the name of the font you want to alias.
Continue pressing arrow key 27 or 28.

■ By pressing the enter key 29 while the name of the font you want to give a different name is displayed, the character display 21 will display any of the various characters (including numbers) (for example, "A
”) is displayed.

(2) Display the desired name on the character display 21 by operating the arrow keys 27, 28 or the mode key 26.

Note that the arrow keys 27 or 28 are used to select a character, and the mode key 26 is used to move to character selection in the next column (for example, from the first column to the second column).

■ By pressing the enter key 29 with the alias displayed, the alias is set and registered.

Figure 1 is an explanatory diagram showing the relationship between the font management table and font files when a font is given a different name. The process will be explained.

By the above operation, for example, the font (Fourier 10) shown in FIG.
rmal)J is input, CPU10 copies the header part of the font to the empty area of RAM12, and then
The name was changed from "Fourier 10" to "Normal" as shown in Figure 1 (E), and the location of the image data was changed to point to the Fourier 10 image data shown in Figure 1 (B). , create a new font file consisting only of the font header part.

Furthermore, the location of the font file created in this way is registered as the location of font N, as shown in FIG.

When an alias is set and registered in this way, in the printer controller 3, two aliases that have the same entity but different names
It is managed as if one font exists.

In this embodiment, as described above, a character is selected using the arrow keys 27 and 28 in FIG.
Although it has been described that a desired character string can be set as an alias by repeating the operation of 6 to move on to setting characters in the next column, it is of course possible to set a number as an alias.

Alternatively, a plurality of aliases may be registered in advance from the host computer 1 side, and each of the aliases may be sequentially displayed on the character display 21 using the arrow keys 27, 28, and one of the aliases may be selected.

When a font is given an alias in this way, the host computer 1 can select the font using the alias.

Now, let's assume that the font used for printing is given an alias like the one below (numbers are used to set aliases as numbers).

small: O: small character small
1talik: 1: small italic sm
all bold: 2: small bold letters normal: 3: normal letter n
normal 1talik: 4: normal bold: 5: normal bold: 6: large 1talik: 7: large italic: 8
:Large bold letters If you want to select normal italic letters, host computer 1 should be set to normal 1t.
All you have to do is send a command to select alik (or 4) to the printer. Which font is actually used by this command is determined by the alias settings.

In this way, by setting an alias for each font and selecting the font using the set alias, the host computer 1 can select the font that the operator wants to print without knowing the fonts that the printer has. can be printed. Furthermore, there is no need for the operator to directly input complicated printer instructions.

Further, if this embodiment is used, even if a font is added by inserting an optional font cartridge, the optional font can be easily used by simply changing the font to be given a different name.

By the way, as methods for selecting a font, there are two methods: selecting by name of the font, as described above, and selecting by specifying the attributes of the font.

To describe the latter method in detail, for example, from the host computer 1 to the printer, the size is 12 points,
Instructs the user to choose a normal-weight, italic, Mincho font.

When the printer receives such an instruction, it selects the font closest to the specified attribute from among the fonts in the printer, and prints using that font.

Here, the operation method for setting another attribute for each font may be performed in the same manner as the operation method when setting the alias name described above.

Then, when another attribute is input for a certain font, the CPU 10 copies the header part of the font to an empty area of the RAM 12, and then rewrites the attribute with the other input attribute, and also updates the image data. Change the location to point to the original font image data,
A new font file consisting only of the font header part is created, and the location of the font file is registered in the font management table.

As a result, one font will have two attributes.

Therefore, assuming that this printer is a 300 dpi printer, for example, by setting another attribute of 12 points for a 16 point font in advance, the print density setting can be switched to 400 dpi and 12 points. If a font of 16 points is selected, if CPU10 selects a 16 point font when instructed to select a 12 point font from the host computer 1, the creation will be created using a 16 point font. The page-by-page video data is sequentially printed at a print density of 400 dpi by three quarters
When the font is reduced to 12 points, it is possible to obtain the same printing result as when printing at 300 dpi.

Note that since the processing within the printer is substantially the same for setting another attribute and setting an alias, these may be performed at the same time.

The embodiments in which the present invention is applied to a laser printer have been described above, but the present invention also includes not only other optical printers such as LED printers and liquid crystal shutter printers, but also dot printers such as wire dot printers, thermal printers, and inkjet printers. Applicable to various printers.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As described above, according to the present invention, a desired font can be easily selected without complicating the process.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing the relationship between the font management table and each font file to explain the processing when an alias is input for a certain font by the CPU of FIG. 3, and FIG. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a system configuration of a laser printer according to an embodiment. FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the printer controller. Figure 4 is an explanatory diagram showing the relationship between the font management table and each font file when no alias is set for any font, and Figure 5 is a layout diagram showing an example of the configuration of the operation panel in Figure 3. It is. 1...Host computer 2...Controller 3
... Printer controller 4 ... Printer engine 8 ... Operation panel 10
...Microcomputer (CPU) 11...RO
M 12...RAM14...RAM cartridge 15...RAM cartridge 21...Character display (LCD display) 22...
・On/Offline key 26...Mode key 27...Left arrow key 28・
...Right arrow key 29...Enter key 1st 4th

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. In a printer that has a plurality of fonts and prints by selecting a font specified from the outside, means for setting an alias for each of the plurality of fonts, and setting by the means. The printer is characterized in that it is provided with means for selecting a font in which the alias is set as a font to be used for printing when any of the aliases set is input from the outside. 2. In a printer that has a plurality of fonts and prints by selecting a corresponding font according to the attributes of an externally specified font, means for setting different attributes for each of the plurality of fonts, and the means A printer characterized in that, when any of the attributes set by the printer is input from the outside, a font for which the attribute is set is selected as a font to be used for printing.