JPS62271774A - Printer - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To enable the total storage capacity in a printer to be regulated as required, by equipping the main body of the printer with a detachable second storage means for registration of external characters and registration of forms. CONSTITUTION:A main body 1 of a printer is equipped with a detachable external RAM 11 as a second storage means, which is used for registering data of characters not registered in a CG ROM 6 or data of formats of tables or the like. Writing into and reading from the RAM 11 are controlled by an R/W controlling part 12 according to specifications by a CPU 4. A synthesis controlling part 13 synthesizes the character data and the form data registered in the external RAM 11, and writes the synthetic data into a band memory 8, whereby a form overlay processing is performed in which the characters and the format of a table or the like are printed in an overlaid condition. By the form overlay processing, it is possible to synthesize character data transmitted as code data from an external apparatus 2 and the form data registered in the external RAM 11, and to synthesize the character data registered as external characters in the RAM 11 and the form data.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention 3. Detailed Description of the Invention [Technical Field of the Invention] The present invention relates to a printing device that prints print data transmitted from an external device such as a host computer or a word processor.

[Traditional technique]

Generally, when print data is transmitted from an external device such as a host computer to a printing device, it is transmitted as code data obtained by encoding character data in order to shorten the transmission time. The printing device has numbers, alpha vents, kana, and
It is equipped with a CG (character generator) cartridge that stores character patterns such as kanji characters, and code data sent from an external device is converted into character pattern data by reading the corresponding character pattern from the CG cartridge. Also, when you want to print characters that are not stored in the CG cartridge, you can store the code data and character pattern in the storage device inside the printing device.
External characters are registered.

After performing the external character registration process, just by transmitting the code data, the characters corresponding to the code data are printed in the same way as described above.

A RAM is generally used as a storage device for registering external characters, and is used not only for registering external characters as described above but also for form overlay processing. The form overlay process prints characters and a format such as a table, for example, and the format data is registered in advance in the storage device as described above.

[Problems with conventional technology]

However, in the above-mentioned printing device, since the storage device for registering external characters has a limited storage capacity, the number of registered external characters or format data is also limited. In particular, when registering a format, the amount of data is large, so the number of format data to be registered is limited. In such a case, you can increase the storage capacity of the storage device, but
There was a problem that not only was the cost high, but it was also wasted if external characters or format/7t registration was not required.

[Purpose of the invention]

In view of the above-mentioned problems, an object of the present invention is to provide a printing device in which the storage capacity of the storage device can be adjusted by freely providing a storage device for external character registration and former/node registration in the main body of the printing device. do.

[Key points of the invention]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention includes a converting means for converting code data transmitted from an external device into a character pattern, a first storage means for storing the character pattern data converted by the converting means, A printing device having a printing means for printing data read from the first storage means, storing code data not registered in the conversion means, character patterns and format data corresponding to the code data, a second storage means for registering external characters and formants, which is removably provided in the main body of the printing device; a character pattern converted by the conversion means or a character Bakun read from the second storage means; The data combining means is provided for combining the format data read from the storage means, and the output of the data combining means is stored in the first storage means.

[Embodiments of the invention]

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a circuit block diagram showing one embodiment of the present invention.

In FIG. 1, ``■'' is the main body of a printing device that uses a printing head such as a liquid crystal optical shutter, a light emitting diode, and a laser. The main body 1 has an I/F (interface) section 3,
The print data transmitted from the external device 2 is received by the I/F section 3. Print data is recorded information that is a mixture of code data that encodes character data and control data such as line feed codes and page feed codes, and data for one page or multiple pages is printed serially or in parallel.
/F section 3. The external device 2 is typically a host computer, but other devices include a word processor, a personal computer, and the like.

4 is a CPU (processor circuit) that controls each circuit in the main body 1, and controls the operation of the main body 1 according to a program stored in the system ROM 5. Said 1/F section 3
When the CPU 4 receives the print data, the CPU 4 temporarily stores the address of the character pattern stored in the CG (character generator) ROM 6 in the system RAM 7. That is, the CGROM 6 is composed of a ROM, and character patterns such as alpha bent, numbers, kana, kanji, etc. are stored in advance. The CPU 4 then controls the system RAM 7 to write the address of the character pattern corresponding to the code data included in the print data. After this, CPU4
reads the character pattern at the address written in the system RAM 7 from the CGROM 6 and converts the code data into character pattern data for one character. Then, the converted character pattern data is written into the band memory 8 provided as a first storage means according to the control data by the control operation of the CPU 4. Band memory 8 is R
This is a storage device that uses AM or the like and has a capacity that is less than the storage capacity for one page, and the data written in the bunt memory 8 is sequentially sent line by line by the print control unit 9 via the video I/F unit 10. is read out. When the data is read to the print control unit 9, the next data is written to the band memory 8 by the above-mentioned operation, and by repeatedly writing and reading data, one page of data is written to the print control unit 9. Read out.

As mentioned above, the print control section 9 includes a print head (not shown) using a liquid crystal optical shutter, etc., and devices necessary for the electrophotographic process such as a photoreceptor, a developer, and a fixing device, and stores information from the band memory 8. Every time one line of data is read, two
The print head performs optical writing on the photoreceptor for each life. Thereafter, printing is performed using an electrophotographic process under the control operation of the printing control section 9.

In addition, the printing device main body 1 is provided with an external R
AMII is provided and configured so that it can be attached and removed as necessary.

The external RAM II is provided as a second storage means and is used to register characters that are not registered in the CGROM 6, so-called external character registration. Also,
The external RAM II is also used to register formant data such as tables.

12 is an R/W (read/write) control unit that controls writing to or reading from the external RAM II;
The writing and reading are controlled by the CPU 4's designation.

Further, reference numeral 13 denotes a synthesis control section which synthesizes character data and form data registered in the external RAM II and writes the synthesized data into the band memory 8.

As a result, characters and formants such as tables are printed in an overlapping state, and form overlay processing is performed. In addition, form overlay processing can combine character data sent as code data from external device 2 with form data registered in external RAMII, and combination of character data registered as external characters in external RAMII and form data. It is.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing a specific example of the data structure of the external RAM 11. As shown in FIG.

Since the external RAM II can be attached to and removed from the main body I, a cartridge type one is used, and the cartridge identifier is the cartridge (external RAM II) installed in the printer main body I.
This is an identifier indicating the type of MII. External RAM II
Since the memory contents are lost when the power is turned off or removed from the main body 1, it is not necessary if there is only one type of external RAM 11, but it is not necessary to use multiple types of external RAM II each with a built-in backup power supply and each with different memory contents. If used, the first name is required. Also, when using an external ROM instead of the external RAM II, the ROM's f! This is necessary to distinguish between different types of RAM and ROM, and it is also necessary to ensure compatibility when both RAM and ROM are used. If the identifier is cleared, it can be determined that the device installed in the main unit is RAM, but to be even more certain, a short bar terminal (
(not shown), and when this terminal notifies a ROM, the type of external ROM may be determined from the identifier.

The private character control header identifier and the form overlay control header identifier identify in which address area the private character registration or form registration is registered, since one or both of the private character registration and form registration is done in the external RAM 11. It is for the purpose of When the CPU 4 reads data from the external RAM, it reads from the cartridge identifier to the external character control header identifier.
Electronic, form overlay control header identifier identifies whether it is a custom character or a form. If it is a private character, the private character font comprehensive management table is designated by the address of the private character data control block written next to the identifier. Also, if it is a form,
The registered form is indicated by the address of the form overlay control block written next to the identifier.

The form data writing area of the external RAMII is registered Nul, 2. It is divided into a plurality of types as indicated by n, and one of them is selected according to a designation from the external device 2. For example, if the selection of external device 2 is Registration 1, the start address of the form control data and the number of form data are written in the registration 1 area, so when you read the start address, the Form control data 1 and form data 1 are read out. Form control data is control information for developing form data into an image pattern, and includes information such as portrait 1, landscape, line pinch, character pitch, and character size. Form data 1 is written into band memory 8 as described above in accordance with this control information.

On the other hand, if it is a custom character, the custom character font comprehensive management table is specified as described above, and this management table contains the number of character sefs, the serial number of existing character cents, the typeface,
Information such as font size is stored. These pieces of information are used to select the character cent of the character type specified by the external device 2. Furthermore, the address of the character set management table for each character set is indicated by the management table pointer. For example, when character management table 1 is specified, information regarding character cents, that is, more detailed information than the information in the general management table, and character information such as the amount of margin up to the body face are stored in this management table 1. Furthermore, the address of the font data corresponding to the designated character in the font data 1 is indicated by the code pointer. The font data 1 is data in which characters are developed into image patterns, and is read out by the CPU 4 and written into the band memory 8 as described above. Each character management table stores character information corresponding to each character.

Next, the operation when registering external characters in the external RAM II will be explained with reference to FIG.

When registering a custom character, the external device 2 sends a custom character registration command signal, code data, font data corresponding thereto, and information regarding the custom character to be registered this time to the printer main body. In response to this, the main unit 1 uses the external RAM as the CPU 4.
5TI), the external character registration data sent from the external device 2 is read out from the external RAMI.
Confirm that it is not registered in 1. External RAMI
If it is not registered in I, the general font management table of the external RAM II is updated in Sr1, and the character set management table is created in Sr3. Next, in Sr1, the font data is registered in the external RAM II, and the registration work is completed.

Next, the operation when registering form data will be explained with reference to FIG.

First, from the external device "J52" to the main body 1, the form command signal, form control data,
Form data is sent. Upon receiving these signals, the CPU 4 of the main body 1 reads the data registered in the external RAM II using the STI (Hend Read), and checks whether the data from the external device 2 has already been registered using the Sr1, that is, whether it is newly registered. Determine whether or not. If it is a new registration, proceed to Sr1, and if it is not a new registration, proceed to Sr3 to rearrange the order of data stored in the external RAM II, or remove unnecessary data from Fill to secure a storage area for data to be registered from now on. I do. Next, CPU4 is Sr1
Then, it is checked whether there is any remaining storage capacity of the external RAM II, that is, whether there is enough capacity to store the form data transmitted from the external device 2. If there is no storage capacity remaining, Sr1 performs error processing, displays an error, and transfers data indicating that there is no storage capacity to the external device 52.If Sr1 has the storage capacity of the external RAMII, Sr6 Update the external RAMII header and
The form control data transmitted from the external device 2 is stored in the system RAM 7 at r7.

Further, the form data transmitted from the external device 2 is similarly stored in the external RAM 7 at Sr8, and the process waits until all form data is stored at Sr9.

When the transmission of all data is completed in Sr9 and the storage of the data in the system RAM 7 is completed, in 5T10 the system RAM 7 transfers the temporarily stored form control data and form data to the external RAMII and forms the data. Registration ends.

Next, the operation for printing will be explained with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

First, in the STI, the CPU 4 determines whether or not form data is to be generated, that is, whether or not a command signal for printing form data has been transmitted from the external device 2. If a command signal to print only character data is sent from the external device 2 (STI is N), the form data corresponding to the code data sent from the external device 2 is read out from the CGROM 6 or the external RAMII in Sr1, The data is written to the band memory 8 as described above, and the hand memory 8
The data written in is sequentially printed line by line. Then, in Sr1, all the font data corresponding to the code data transmitted from the external device 2 are written into the band memory 8 and waits for printing, and the paper ejection is finished in Sr4.

On the other hand, when a command signal to print form data is sent from the external device 2 (STI is Y), the CPU 4 reads the header of the external RAMII in Sr5, and the form commanded from the external device 2 is printed in the external RAMII in Sr6. 1 is registered. Here, external RAM
If the form data specified by the external device 2 is not registered in II, the form data specified by the external device 2 is registered in Sr1 as described above.
The font data corresponding to the transmitted code data is read from the external RAM II or CG ROM 6, written into the band memory 8, and the data is printed. If the form data is registered in the external RAM II in Sr6, the CPU 4 detects the control data area of the form data from the external RAM II in Sr1, and detects the amount of form data in Sr8. Then, CPU4 uses Sr1 to transfer the form data to system R.
The form data is transferred to AM7, and at 5TIO, the synthesis control unit 13 writes the transferred form data into the band memory 8 based on the form control data. At the same time, the composition control unit 13 transfers the font data corresponding to the code data transmitted from the external device 2 to the CGROM 6 or external RAM II.
This font data is also combined with the form data and written to the band memory 8 (STI 1).
For example, when form data as shown in FIG. 6(a) is read from the external RAM II and font data as shown in FIG. 4(b) is read from the CGROM 6, the composition control unit 13 The fourth data is synthesized by combining the data of
The composite data shown in Figure (C1) is written to the band memo IJ 8, and the data written to the band memory 8 is sequentially printed line by line.In the 5T12, all of these data are written to the band memory 8 and printed. Wait for Sr4
Then, paper ejection is finished in the same way as above.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As explained above, according to the present invention, in the printing device main body,
Since the second storage means for registering external characters and forms is detachably provided, the storage capacity of the entire printing device can be adjusted as necessary. Therefore, the second storage means can be attached to the main body only when external character registration or form registration is necessary, and can be omitted when unnecessary, so that the cost of the storage device can be reduced. Also,
Since the second storage means is configured to perform form registration and external character registration, both data can be stored in one storage device, and the configuration can be simplified. Moreover, since the form data registered in the second storage means and the character data stored in the internal storage device or the character data stored in the second storage means are combined, internal registration and external character registration are possible. Regardless, both character data and form data can be combined, and form overlay processing can be performed effectively.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a circuit block diagram of an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing the data structure of an external RAM, FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the operation when registering a custom character in the external RAM, and FIG. The figure is a flowchart showing the operation when registering form data in the external RAM, Figure 5 is a flowchart 1 showing the operation when printing, and Figure 6 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of form data. Figure 6 (bl is an explanatory diagram showing an example of character data, Figure 6 (
C) is an explanatory diagram showing data obtained by combining the data in FIG. 6 (al and (b)). 1...Printing device main body, 2...External device, 3...I/F section, 4・・・CPU. 5... System ROM. 6... CGROM. 7... System RAM. 8... Band memory, 9... Print control section, 11... External RAM, 13. ...Synthesis control section. Patent applicant Casio Computer Co., Ltd. Same as above Casio Electronics Co., Ltd. Figure 3 Figure 4 Figure 5

Claims (1)

[Claims] A conversion means for converting code data transmitted from an external device into a character pattern, a first storage means for storing the character pattern data converted by the conversion means, and a first storage means for storing the data read from the first storage means. In a printing device having a printing means for printing, code data not registered in the conversion means and character patterns and format data corresponding to the code data are stored, and external characters and formats are provided removably on the main body of the printing device. A second storage means for registration, and data for synthesizing the character pattern converted by the conversion means or the character pattern read from the second storage means and the format data read from the second storage means. 1. A printing device comprising: a combining means; and an output of the data combining means is stored in the first storage means.