JP2001060196A - Image processor - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To improve memory efficiency without uselessly expanding data on an IC card by processing the download and following access of language data on the card to a main body at high speed in simple configuration. SOLUTION: A leading address (leading address of a header itself at the time of compile) 72 of language data on the IC card is added to a header 71 of the language data. When referring to data after download, the language data is designated with a number, the address of the language data is acquired while referring to a pointer table, the added leading address 72 of the language data is subtracted from the acquired address and the leading address of a display language selected at present is added so that the address of data on a flash memory after download can be provided.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus, and more particularly, to an image processing apparatus having a full dot or character display, and displaying a different language by selecting and specifying one from a plurality of display languages. The present invention also relates to an image processing apparatus (for example, a copying machine, a multifunction machine based on the copying machine, a printer, etc.) equipped with a display unit capable of freely changing the language type.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, image processing apparatuses such as copying machines have
Since image information is processed, it is widely used across languages all over the world.However, when using the device, the language displayed on the operation panel for setting copy conditions etc. Depending on the language used,
Sometimes I don't understand. For this purpose, a proposal has been made in which a plurality of languages are prepared, and a display language selected by a user is used from the prepared languages. However, if all the languages to be used are prepared, the equipment such as a memory for that purpose becomes heavy. In order to avoid this point, a method of exchanging information to be used from the outside is generally adopted (for example, a necessary program is downloaded from a memory card loaded with an application program to a main body in accordance with an application and used). , Etc.).

[0003]

The combination of a plurality of languages can be freely changed by applying a method of exchanging information to be used from the outside to language data displayed on an operation panel of an image processing apparatus such as a copying machine. However, for that purpose, a mechanism for downloading (installing) language data stored in an external storage medium to a flash ROM of the apparatus main body is required. When using a memory card as an external storage medium, it is conceivable to separately prepare a memory card in which language data is recorded for each language, but it is better to record a plurality of language data on a single card. It is thought that it is convenient without having to replace the card when downloading. When writing the language data of the memory card to the language data area of the flash ROM, it is sufficient to write the read value as it is for the data body such as character arrangement, icon, font pattern, etc. Is different from the data address in the flash ROM at the download destination, it is necessary to derive the correct address. In addition, when downloading language data, writing to the language data portion of the ROM is performed, so that fonts currently recorded in the ROM cannot be used for display on the operation unit used for the download instruction operation. As a countermeasure,
The character strings and fonts necessary for displaying the download (install) program can be stored in the memory card for each language together with the download program, but the number of languages that can be stored on one language card decreases because the capacity of the language card is used. .

[0004] The present invention relates to the above-mentioned prior art when rewriting (downloading) language data stored in a memory of an image processing apparatus main body such as a copying machine with data stored in an external storage medium such as a memory card. The purpose of the present invention is to rewrite language data with a simple configuration and at a high speed, to use language memory without wasting language data to be stored in an external storage medium. An object of the present invention is to provide a high-performance image processing apparatus which can be realized by means capable of improving efficiency.

[0005]

According to the present invention, language data is stored in a data rewritable storage means,
In an image processing apparatus comprising means for displaying information on the operation of the apparatus using the language data extracted from the storage means, the language data stored in the storage means can be rewritten with data stored in an external storage medium, When rewriting the data, the start address of the language data on the external storage medium side when the main body of the external storage medium is attached is added to a part of the language data, and when writing and accessing the written language data, Accessing the language data when the external storage medium is attached to the main body by using an address obtained by correcting the address of the language data on the external storage medium side with the difference between the start address of the language data and the storage means side. An image processing apparatus is constructed.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image processing method comprising the steps of: storing language data in a data rewritable storage means; and displaying information relating to the operation of the apparatus using the language data extracted from the storage means. In the device, the language data stored in the storage means is rewritable by data stored in an external storage medium, and when rewriting data,
An image processing apparatus is characterized in that an address of pointer data for language data on the external storage medium when the main body of the external storage medium is mounted is rewritten with data converted into an address in the storage unit after writing.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image processing method comprising the steps of storing language data in a data rewritable storage means, and displaying information relating to the operation of the apparatus using the language data extracted from the storage means. In the apparatus, the language data stored in the storage means can be rewritten by data stored in an external storage medium, and a language used for an input operation when rewriting data is displayed as an image pattern at the beginning of the rewriting process. An image processing apparatus characterized in that the processing is performed in a language.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the image processing apparatus according to the third aspect, the default language uses character string data prepared in the external storage medium and font data stored in the storage means. The image data is developed into an image pattern and used for displaying a character string.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the image processing apparatus according to any one of the first to fourth aspects, the information relating to the operation of the apparatus is information relating to an input operation, and the input performed in response to the display of the information. The image processing is performed according to the conditions set by the operation.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the image processing apparatus according to any one of the first to fifth aspects, a plurality of language data is stored in the storage means, and language data selected from the plurality of language data is displayed. It is characterized by being used for.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in the image processing apparatus according to any one of the first to sixth aspects, a plurality of language data stored in the external storage medium are provided, and the language data is selected from the plurality of language data. It is characterized in that the language data in the storage means is rewritten.

[0012]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will be described based on the following embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an outline of a circuit configuration of a control unit in a digital copying machine as an embodiment of the present invention. With reference to FIG. 1, an outline of the configuration and operation of the image data processing unit of the copying machine of the present embodiment up to generation of image forming data for making a copy from an image signal read from a document will be described. In FIG. 1, the flow of image data is represented by thick arrows. The paper original set on the contact glass (not shown) is CCD1
The read image is read by the reading control unit 2
Sent to The reading control unit 2 performs AD conversion and the like, and inputs the digital image data to the image processing unit 3. In the image processing unit 3, the image data is subjected to various types of correction / conversion processing usually performed in a digital copying machine, and sent to the writing control unit 4. In the writing control unit 4,
A drive control signal for an LD (laser diode) 5 that performs optical writing based on image data is generated and input to the LD 5 to control the laser light output. Laser writing is performed by exposing a photosensitive drum (not shown) by scanning with a laser beam, and an electrostatic latent image is formed together with a charging process (not shown), and an image is formed on transfer paper by a so-called electrophotographic process. . In this example, a print RAM 7 and a print control unit 6 are provided to generate write image data other than the document image.

As an element constituting an operation section for setting operation conditions and giving operation commands to the control section of the copying machine, V
A display unit including a RAM 11, an LCD control unit 12, and an LCD (liquid crystal display device) 13, a key 15, and an input port 1.
4 is provided. FIG. 2 shows the operation panel 21 of the operation unit.
The bit map developed in the VRAM 11 is
A display screen 22 for transferring and displaying the data on the module of the CD 13 is provided. Each key such as a language switching key 23 and a print key 28 whose keys are shown in FIG. 2 and keys formed on the display screen 22 corresponds to the key 15 in FIG. Input to input port 14
Is read by the CPU 10 via. The CPU 10 controls the above operation as a whole. The CPU 10 and the read control unit 2, the image processing unit 3, the write control unit 4, the print control unit 6, the input port 14, and the LCD control unit 12 include an address bus, a data bus. The RAM 9 is used as a work memory by a program stored in a flash ROM (not limited to a flash ROM, but may be a commonly used ROM) 8 to execute a control operation.

One of the operations executed under the control of CPU 10
Finally, as described above, there is an operation of the operation unit that sets an operation condition and gives an operation command to the copying machine, and necessary programs and data are prepared in the memory. Specifically, the flash ROM 8 has an operation program of the operation unit as one of the stored programs, and further holds language data (character font, text, bitmap data for icons) used for screen display of the operation unit. The flash ROM 8 also stores stamp print image bitmap data. Panel of operation unit (see Fig. 2)
The operation of the language switching key 23 shown in FIG.
2 can be switched, the switching data is selected from the data stored in the flash ROM 8. Also, the flash R built into the device
In addition to the OM 8, an external storage medium, in this example, the IC card 1
6 can be used.

Here, the language switching mechanism in the present embodiment and the manner of language-dependent data that can be switched will be described.
explain. Here, the case of switching between two languages of Japanese and English will be described, but it is possible to use three languages or four languages. The language-dependent data is stored in the block configuration shown in FIG. Each block of the first language data (Japanese) and the second language data (English) in FIG. 3 is data for one language. The language data block configuration has a header portion 31 at the beginning and a language end 40 at the end of the language data.
In the meantime, pointer tables 32, 34, and 36 for storing addresses of respective data divided into a character string array, an icon, a font, and proportional information.
38 and data bodies 33, 35, 37, and 39. The header part 31 includes a language ID, a character code ID used in the language, a character string array, an icon, and a head address of a pointer table 32, 34, 36 for each font.
The head address 38 of the pointer table to the proportional information used in the proportional font is stored.

The arrangement order of character strings, icons, and fonts in the pointer table is defined in advance. In other words, as shown in FIG. 3, the contents of the pointer tables 32, 34, and 36 are expanded and illustrated (in Japanese and English), "can be copied", "please wait", ”
The arrangement order of the character strings in the table is determined. When specifying the character string to be used, the order is used, and the address of the data body of the character string is acquired by referring to the table in the specified order. In the data body, the character string is an array of character codes, and the icons and fonts are binary data. For font data,
Empty data for font types not supported by the language. The same applies to proportional information used in the case of a proportional font. In the example shown in FIG. 3, no Japanese language data is provided with a proportional font, so the data is left empty. By dividing language data into a pointer table and a data body in this way, for example, when a program is described in C language, language switching can be performed by switching a pointer table for referring to data addresses for each language. In addition, the first language or the second language can be set as a default language, and when the power is turned on, the display is performed in the default language.

Next, a description will be given of an embodiment in which the language data stored in the flash ROM 8 is rewritten in units of blocks by the language data recorded on the external recording medium with the block configuration shown in FIG. In this example, an IC card (memory card) 16 is used as an external storage medium, an IC card 16 in which language data is stored for a plurality of languages is mounted, and data for one language is read from the IC card 16.
A language data download program that rewrites only language data for displaying an operation unit while leaving the program portion of the flash ROM 8 as it is, to download language data selected from languages stored in an IC card (language card) 16 It is. FIG. 4 shows an IC
5 shows an example of a memory map when a card is mounted. FIG.
As shown in the figure, the upper half is allocated to a flash memory (flash ROM 8) and the lower half is allocated to an IC card. The language data download program is provided in the flash memory, the first language start address and the second language start address of the flash memory are fixed addresses, and the size of the language data in the flash memory is fixed. IC
The card stores data in each language. Access to each language data in the IC card is performed using the start address and end address of each language in the language list.

FIG. 5 shows the flow of processing by a language data download program that reads data for one language from an IC card and rewrites only language data for display on the operation unit of the flash ROM. In this processing flow, first,
It is determined whether the language data is downloaded to the first language or the second language (S51). Next, after confirming the selection (S52), the user selects which language stored in the IC card is to be downloaded (S53), checks that the execution key is pressed (S54), and downloads. Is started. Data transfer is performed from the IC card to the flash memory (S55). When the transfer is completed, the written value and the read value are verified (S55).
56). The result is checked (S57). If OK, a message of "Transfer completed" is displayed on the display screen of the operation unit (S58). If NG, a message of "abnormal termination" is displayed (S59). . Here, the flow of processing for transferring language data from the IC card to the flash memory will be described in more detail with reference to FIG. 6. When the data to be processed is the end of the language data having the block configuration shown in FIG. It is checked whether the instruction is the "language end" (S61), and if it is not the "language end", the language data to be transferred is read from the IC card (S6).
2) The data is transferred to the flash memory and the data is written (S63), and this procedure is repeated until the end of the language data is reached.

When performing data transfer as described above, since the address of the data stored in the pointer table is on the memory card, it differs from the address of the data actually downloaded to the flash memory. The problem that occurs. Therefore, the head address of each language data in the IC card in the header of the language data, that is, a pointer of the header itself at the time of compilation (the head address of each language data on the IC card in FIG. 4)
Add. FIG. 7 shows an example of the added start address. In FIG. 7, data indicating the pointer 72 of the header itself at the time of compilation is inserted at the head of the header 71.
When reading language data, access is made using an offset from the start address calculated based on the added start address.

Here, the flow of processing when language data is referred to in the flash memory will be described with reference to FIG. 8. First, language data is designated by a number (S
81), the address of the language data is obtained by looking at the position of the number in the pointer table (S8).
2). It is checked whether or not the currently selected display language is the first language (S83). If the first language is the first language, the first address 72 (FIG. 7) of the language data is subtracted from the acquired address, and the first address of the first language (FIG. 7) is obtained. By adding FIG. 3), the address of the data on the flash memory can be obtained (S84). The same procedure can be used when the current display language is the second language (S85).

As another means for resolving the difference between the data address on the IC card and the data address on the flash memory, when transferring the data on the IC card to the flash memory, the address on the IC card is converted into the address on the flash memory. Next, what is performed by the transfer method will be described. This is because when transferring language data from IC card to flash memory,
An address in the IC card is read, an offset from the head address of each language data is obtained, and a value obtained by incrementing the value and a start address of a writing position in the flash memory is written in the flash memory. The flow of this transfer processing will be described in more detail with reference to FIG. 9 showing a flowchart of the transfer processing of the pointer table and FIG. 10 showing a flowchart of the transfer processing of the data body.

In the pointer table transfer process, first,
It is checked whether or not the data to be processed is data indicating the end of the pointer table data having the block configuration shown in FIG. 3 (S91). If not, the address on the IC card is read (S92). It is checked whether or not the currently selected download area is an area of the 1st language (S93). If the download area is of the 1st language, the leading address 72 (FIG. 7) of the language data is subtracted from the obtained address, and An address in the flash memory is obtained by adding the start address (FIG. 3) (S94).
Note that the same procedure can be used when the current display language is the second language (S95). According to this method, only the pointer table needs to be converted. Therefore, when transferring the data itself, whether or not the data to be processed is data indicating the end of the character string pointer table as shown in FIG. Is checked (S101), and pointer table data to be transferred is read from the IC card (S10).
2) The data is transferred to the flash memory and data is written (S103), and this procedure is repeated until the end "character string table = END" is reached.

When executing the language download program,
The input operation performed on the display screen of the operation unit will be described below with reference to FIGS. FIG. 11 shows an example of an input screen displayed at the beginning of the input operation. On this screen, first, the key 111 is used to select whether to download to the first language area or to download to the second language area.
Alternatively, the user selects with the key 113. In the case of downloading in the first language, when the key 111 is pressed, a pop-up screen shown in FIG. 12 is opened, and keys 121 to 123 of the language type mounted on the IC card are displayed. Select the language to download from these. For example, when the French button 123 is selected and the OK button 124 is pressed, the pop-up screen is closed, and the display content of the first language type display unit 112 on the screen in FIG. 11 is changed.
Both the currently loaded language and the language to be downloaded are displayed, and the display is as shown in FIG. Here, by pressing the Start key 115, the download of the language data is started. The progress of the download is represented by the number of marker displays 116 in FIG. When the download of the language data is completed, the first language type display unit 1
12 changes to "French" as shown in FIG. In the input operation performed on the display screens illustrated in FIGS. 11 to 14, the first language and the second language can be simultaneously specified to download the language data.

By the way, since the language data download writes the language data, the character string data which is currently mounted and to be rewritten is displayed as language data to be displayed on an input operation screen of an operation unit or the like during operation of the language data download program. Cannot be used. Although a method of preliminarily storing character string data as an icon in an IC card is conceivable, having a display icon may reduce the number of languages that can be stored in one IC card. Therefore, when the language data download program is started, the display character string is font-developed in the workspace of the VRAM. When the display of the character string is designated, the font image is read from the workspace of the VRAM and transferred to the display VRAM. In this case, both the work space and the display space can be implemented using the VRAM 11, but may be implemented in another RAM. The display character string for executing the language data download program expanded into the workspace of the VRAM is shown in FIG.
As shown in Fig. 5, similar to a character string of normal language data,
Message table and message body (string data)
(See FIG. 3). The message table in FIG. 15A includes pointers 151 and 152 to character strings for each language.
And a character area width 153. Note that the arrangement order of each message in the message table is defined in advance, and the arrangement order is MSG1, MSG1 in FIG.
Character strings such as “language download”, “first language”, and ‥‥‥ are arranged in the table as G2, ‥‥ so that the contents are expanded and illustrated (indicated in Japanese and English). Is determined, and when specifying the character string to be used, refer to the table using that order

At the beginning of the language download program, a pointer to a character string is read from the current default language message table. For example, when the default language is English, MSG1 refers to the English pointer table 152,
“LoadLanguages” of the character string data 155 is obtained. If English is downloaded to the 1st language, Lang1 in Fig. 4
The character string is developed in the workspace VRAM 157 by using the font in the area of. Workspaces are numbered with a fixed size, and the address of the workspace to be used is the workspace start position (fixed address)
It is a position advanced from 156 by the workspace size × character string number. Use a workspace with the same number as the message pointer table. This workspace is allocated to the map in the flash memory only when downloading a language. The font type used when developing character strings into fonts is fixed. When the display of the character string is specified, the height is the font height and the width is the image pattern of the character area width of the message table. Workspace VRAM for the selected character string.
And develops it into a display VRAM.

FIG. 16 is a flowchart of the operation when the character string data is expanded into a font, and FIG. 17 is a flowchart of the operation when the expanded data is actually displayed.
Shown in The operation for expanding the character string data into a font is performed by first checking whether the message table data to be processed is data indicating the end of the table data (S161). Character string data for the default language is acquired (S162), and it is checked whether the default language is the first language (S163). As a result, font data is obtained from the first language data area when the default language is the first language, and from the second language data area when the default language is the second language (S164, S165). The address of the workspace for expanding the character string is obtained as a position advanced by the workspace size × character string number from the beginning of the workspace (S156), and the character string is font-expanded in the workspace VRAM of the address (S167). The operation for actually displaying the data expanded in the workspace VRAM as described above firstly obtains the address of the workspace in which the character string is expanded from the character string number instructed to be displayed (S171). The character string height is determined from the font type (S172), and the character string area width is determined from the message table (S173). Based on the obtained values, the reading and writing addresses are advanced by one (S157) until the completion of the data for the character string area width (S175) and the completion of the data for the font height (S174) are confirmed. The transfer of the character string data expanded in the font to the workspace VRAM to the display VRAM is repeated (S176), and the transfer of the entire character string data is completed.

[0027]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, when downloading language data from an external storage medium to the main body ROM, starting the language data on the external storage medium when the external storage medium is mounted on the main body. By writing the address by adding it to a part of the language data, the download is a simple data transfer, so that the language data download program is simplified, the language data can be replaced with a simple configuration, and the download execution can be performed. Higher speed can be achieved. Even after accessing the language data after downloading, it can be handled by a simple access change using the difference between the added start address and the address on the original external storage medium. (2) When downloading language data from an external storage medium to the main body ROM, write the address of pointer data to the language data on the external storage medium when the external storage medium is attached to the main body when downloading the language data from the external storage medium to the main body ROM. By rewriting with the data converted to the address in the storage means later, when accessing the language data by the main program after downloading, it is not necessary to perform the address conversion calculation every time, and the speed can be increased. Can be. (3) Effects corresponding to the third and fourth aspects of the invention All operation screens for executing the program for downloading language data from the external storage medium to the main body ROM are displayed in the default language, and the operation screen is displayed on the external storage medium. Only the character string data to be displayed at the beginning of the download program is used to expand the image into an image pattern using the font data already loaded in the main unit ROM, and when displaying the character string, the pattern is used and the external storage medium is used. Language data to be stored in the IC memory card can be reduced, the number of language data that can be stored per IC memory card can be increased, and the efficiency of memory use can be improved. (4) Advantages Corresponding to Claims 5 to 7 Downloading language data from an external storage medium to the main unit ROM at a high speed, without using a heavy equipment, and with a simple configuration. An image processing apparatus such as a copier that displays information related to an input operation of the apparatus in a selected language and that processes an image in accordance with conditions set by the input operation performed in accordance with the display of the information. , High performance of the device is realized.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an outline of a circuit configuration of a control unit in a digital copying machine as an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 shows an operation panel surface of an operation unit.

FIG. 3 shows a block configuration of language data stored in a memory.

FIG. 4 shows a memory map when an IC card having language data is mounted.

FIG. 5 shows a flowchart of a language data download process.

FIG. 6 shows a flowchart of a language data transfer process.

FIG. 7 shows a language data configuration in which a head address of language data on an IC card is added to a header.

FIG. 8 shows a flowchart of a process when referring to language data in a flash memory.

FIG. 9 shows a flowchart of a character string pointer table transfer process.

FIG. 10 shows a flowchart of a transfer process of a character string data body.

FIG. 11 shows an initial display screen of the operation unit when the language download program is executed.

FIG. 12 shows a language selection display screen of the operation unit when the language download program is executed.

FIG. 13 shows a display screen of the operation unit during execution of the language download program.

FIG. 14 shows a confirmation display screen of the operation unit after execution of the language download program.

FIG. 15 shows a data structure when character string data representing a message is developed into a font on a VRAM.

FIG. 16 shows a flowchart of an operation when character string data is developed into a font on a VRAM.

FIG. 17 shows a flowchart of an operation when displaying data expanded in a VRAM.

[Explanation of symbols]

8: Flash ROM, 9: RAM, 10
... CPU, 11 ... VRAM, 12
... LCD control unit, 13 ... LCD (liquid crystal display), 14 ... input port, 15 ...
Keys, 16: IC card, 21: Operation panel, 22: Display screen, 23: Language switching key, 28: Print key.

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page F term (reference) 2C061 AP04 AP07 AQ06 CQ31 CQ34 2H027 EE08 EJ05 FA35 FA37 GA23 GA47 GB05 GB07 GB19 GB20 HB06 HB11 5B060 AB24 AC14 5B091 AA04 BA04 CD10 5C082 AA00 AA22 DA0489 MM02 MM09

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. An image processing apparatus comprising: a storage unit capable of rewriting data; storing language data; and displaying information relating to an operation of the apparatus using the language data extracted from the storage unit. The language data stored in the means can be rewritten with data stored in an external storage medium, and when rewriting the data, the start address of the language data on the external storage medium when the main body of the external storage medium is mounted is set to the language data. When accessing the written and written language data in addition to the
An access is made by using an address obtained by correcting an address of the language data when the main body of the external storage medium is mounted by a difference between a start address of the language data on the external storage medium side and a start address of the storage means side. Image processing device. 2. An image processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising means for storing language data in a data rewritable storage means and displaying information relating to an operation of the apparatus using the language data taken out of said storage means. The language data stored in the means can be rewritten with the data stored in the external storage medium, and when rewriting the data, the address of the pointer data for the language data on the external storage medium when the main body of the external storage medium is mounted is written. An image processing apparatus characterized by rewriting with data converted to an address in the storage means later. 3. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a storage unit configured to store the language data in a data rewritable storage unit, and displaying information relating to an operation of the apparatus using the language data extracted from the storage unit. The language data stored in the means can be rewritten with data stored in an external storage medium, and the display of the language used for the input operation when rewriting the data is performed in the default language prepared as an image pattern at the beginning of the rewriting process. Characteristic image processing device. 4. The image processing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the default language is developed into an image pattern using character string data prepared in the external storage medium and font data stored in the storage unit. And an image processing apparatus for displaying a character string. 5. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the information on the operation of the apparatus is information on an input operation, and the information is set by the input operation performed in accordance with the display of the information. An image processing apparatus wherein an image is processed according to a condition. 6. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of language data stored in the storage unit are used, and language data selected from the plurality is used for display. Image processing apparatus. 7. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of language data are stored in the external storage medium, and the language of the storage unit is determined by language data selected from the plurality of language data. An image processing apparatus for rewriting data.