JP2004148699A - Tape print controller, tape printer, and program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To decorate a character being printed on a tape-like print medium with impact. <P>SOLUTION: An arrangement region 150 becoming a reference for arranging the characters 100 in a character string being printed is provided, and the width of a frame 120 being arranged on the outside of the arrangement region 150 is determined. An arrangement marginal region 100, i.e. the arrangement region 150 from which the regions of the characters 100 being arranged therein are removed, is used as a background 130 along with the frame 120. The characters 100 are reversed to a nonprint part and the background 130 is reversed to a print part. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

【００３１】
文字列記憶部６３１には、印刷テープに印刷されるべき文字列のデータが記憶される。文字列のデータはユーザによるキーボード３からの入力によって作成される場合と、テーププリンタ１と接続されたパーソナルコンピュータなどの外部機器から転送される場合とがある。
【００３２】
選択部６１１は、文字列記憶部６３１に記憶されている文字列から書式設定（図３ Ｓ１６０、図４参照）の対象となる文字を選択する手段である。書式設定とは、文字修飾、文字サイズ等を設定する作業である。
【００３３】
指示部６１２は、選択部６１１により選択された文字に対して書式設定をする際に、文字修飾として反転修飾を指示する手段である。反転修飾とは、印刷部分（陰）と非印刷部分（陽）を反転して、印刷部分（陰）を非印刷部分（陽）に、非印刷部分（陽）を印刷部分（陰）として印刷される修飾方法である。具体的には、文字を印刷部分から非印刷部分に、文字の背景である配置余白領域を非印刷部分から印刷部分に反転して印刷する。
【００３４】
文字イメージ生成部６１３は、文字列を印刷する際に、文字列記憶部６３１に記憶されている文字列データの各文字データから文字イメージを生成する手段である。ここで文字イメージの生成とは、文字のテキストデータと、設定された文字サイズとからＲＯＭ６２に記憶されているフォントデータを読み出し、このデータを基にして、ＲＡＭ６３の作業エリア上に実際の印刷文字に即したドットパターンデータを展開する作業である。
【００３５】
反転部６１４Ａは、文字イメージ生成部６１３により生成された、指示部６１２により反転修飾の指示を受けている文字の文字イメージに対して反転修飾（図５ Ｓ４７０、図６、図７参照）を行う手段である。生成された文字イメージに対して直接反転修飾を行うと、文字と配置領域のさらに外側にある陽の領域とが部分的に繋がる可能性がある。そのため文字の背景である配置領域の外周に配置領域外枠を配置し、配置領域に配置領域外枠を加えた領域をあらたな文字の背景として反転修飾する。具体的には、配置領域外枠対応テーブル記憶部６２１Ａに記憶されている配置領域外枠対応テーブルから反転修飾対象となる文字サイズ（具体的には配置領域の高さ）に適した配置領域外枠の枠の幅を決定する。決定した幅で配置領域外枠を発生させる。そして配置領域に配置領域外枠を加えて印刷部分と非印刷部分を反転する。
【００３６】
次に、本実施の形態に係るテーププリンタ１の処理手順について、図３を参照しつつ説明する。図３はテーププリンタ１の全体の処理手順を表したフローチャートである。テーププリンタ１に対する電源投入により制御装置が動作開始となる。まず、ステップＳ１１０（以下、Ｓ１１０と略す。以下のステップも同様）に移行してテーププリンタ１全体の初期化を行う。具体的には、ＣＰＵ６１、ＲＡＭ６３及びインターフェース６６の動作チェックや初期化を行い、更にインターフェース６６に接続されているディスプレイ２や印刷ヘッド４の動作チェックやハードウェアの初期化を行う、これらが完了すればディスプレイ２に操作画面を表示させる。その後Ｓ１２０に移行する。
【００３７】
Ｓ１２０では、ユーザのキー入力を待つ。ユーザはディスプレイ２に表示された表示画面を見ながらキーボード３によりキー入力を行うことで文字列記憶部６３１に記憶される文字列の入力や、テーププリンタ１の操作が可能となる。テーププリンタ１は初期化完了時には文字列の入力が可能な状態で待機しており、ユーザは印刷対象となる文字列をキーボード３に配置されるテキストキーで入力することができる。また、入力待機状態においても印刷キー等の各種機能を呼び出す機能割付けキーを入力することで機能を呼び出すことができる。ユーザによりキーが入力されると、入力されたキーのキーコードをＲＡＭ６３の作業エリアに記憶してＳ１３０に移行する。
【００３８】
Ｓ１３０では、Ｓ１２０において入力されたキーのキーコードから、入力されたキーがテキストキーか否か判断する。テキストキーであれば（Ｓ１３０：ＹＥＳ）、Ｓ１４０に移行し、テキスト入力の処理を行う。テキスト入力の処理とは、Ｓ１２０において、記憶されているキーコードからキーコードに対応しているテキストコードを導出し、そのテキストコードを文字データとして文字列記憶部６３１に格納する作業である。テキスト入力の処理が完了すると再びＳ１２０に移行してユーザによるキー入力を待つ。
【００３９】
Ｓ１３０において、Ｓ１２０で入力されたキーがテキストキーでない場合は（Ｓ１３０：ＮＯ）、Ｓ１５０に移行し、Ｓ１２０において入力されたキーが書式設定キーか否か判断する。書式設定キーであれば（Ｓ１５０：ＹＥＳ）、Ｓ１６０に移行し、図４のフローチャートに示す書式設定を行う。書式設定とは、文字列記憶部６３１に記憶されている印刷されるべき文字列の任意の文字に対して文字修飾、文字サイズ等を設定する作業である。書式設定が完了すると再びＳ１２０に移行してユーザによるキー入力を待つ。
【００４０】
Ｓ１５０において、Ｓ１２０で入力されたキーが印刷範囲設定キーでない場合は（Ｓ１５０：ＮＯ）、Ｓ１７０に移行し、入力されたキーが印刷キーか否か判断する。印刷キーであれば（Ｓ１７０：ＹＥＳ）、Ｓ１８０に移行し、図５のフローチャートに示す印刷の処理を実行する。印刷が完了すると再びＳ１２０に移行してユーザによるキー入力を待つ。
【００４１】
Ｓ１７０において、Ｓ１２０で入力されたキーが印刷キーでない場合は（Ｓ１７０：ＮＯ）、Ｓ１９０に移行し、その他の処理を実行する。その他の処理には印刷キー以外の機能呼び出しキーに対する各処理やカーソルキーの処理等が含まれる。その他の処理が完了すると再びＳ１２０に移行してユーザによるキー入力を待つ。テーププリンタ１の終了は、テーププリンタ１の電源スイッチを「ＯＦＦ」にすることで実現される。
【００４２】
次に、図３のＳ１６０である書式設定の処理手順について、図４を参照しつつ説明する。図４は書式設定の処理手順についてのフローチャートである。まず、Ｓ３１０に移行し、ユーザのキー入力を待つ。ユーザはディスプレイ２に表示された表示画面を見ながらキーボード３を操作して書式設定の対象となる文字を選択する。文字の選択はカーソルキーによるカーソルの移動と決定キーで行う。ユーザによりキーが入力されると、入力されたキーのキーコードをＲＡＭ６３の作業エリアに記憶してＳ３２０に移行する。
【００４３】
Ｓ３２０では、Ｓ３１０において入力されたキーのキーコードがカーソルキーか否か判断する。カーソルキーであれば（Ｓ３２０：ＹＥＳ）、Ｓ３３０に移行し、カーソルキーにより指示された方向にカーソルが移動可能か否か判断する。カーソルが移動可能であれば（Ｓ３３０：ＹＥＳ）、Ｓ３４０に移行し、カーソルキーの指示された方向にカーソルを移動させた後、再びＳ３１０に移行してユーザにキー入力を待つ。カーソルが移動可能でなければ（３３０：ＮＯ）、なにも処理せずに再びＳ３１０に移行してユーザによるキー入力を待つ。
【００４４】
Ｓ３２０において、Ｓ３１０で入力されたキーがカーソルキーでなければ（Ｓ３２０：ＮＯ）、Ｓ３５０に移行し、入力されたキーが決定キーか否か判断する。入力されたキーが決定キーであれば（Ｓ３５０：ＹＥＳ）、Ｓ３６０に移行し、選択部６１１によりカーソル上の文字が選択される、その後Ｓ３７０に移行し、書式選択を行う。書式選択は、修飾の場合は、指示部６１２により反転、アンダーライン、ボールド書体（太文字）、アウトライン、シャドー（影）、フレーミングからユーザの希望する修飾方法を選択する。文字サイズの場合はユーザの希望する文字サイズを入力する。書式選択が終了すれば、選択された書式のデータを作業エリアに展開して設定する。その後、再びＳ３１０に移行してユーザにキー入力を待つ。
【００４５】
Ｓ３８０において、Ｓ３１０で入力されたキーが決定キーでなければ（Ｓ３５０：ＮＯ）、Ｓ３８０に移行し、入力されたキーが終了キーか否か判断する。入力されたキーが終了キーでなければ（Ｓ３８０：ＮＯ）、なにも処理せずに再びＳ３１０に移行してユーザにキー入力を待つ。入力されたキーが終了キーであれば（Ｓ３８０：ＹＥＳ）、書式設定の処理手順である図４のフローチャートを終了して、図３のフローチャートに戻り、Ｓ１２０に移行する。
【００４６】
次に、図３のＳ１８０である印刷の処理手順について、図５を参照しつつ説明する。図５は印刷の処理手順についてのフローチャートである。まず、Ｓ４１０に移行し、文字列記憶部６３１に記憶されている、印刷されるべき文字列のデータを全て印刷用の作業エリアに読み出す。文字列のデータには、各文字のテキストコードの他、書式設定で設定された文字修飾や文字サイズのデータを含む（図３ Ｓ１６０、図４参照）。その後、Ｓ４２０に移行し、印刷時における各文字の配置情報を作成する。その後、Ｓ４３０に移行する。
【００４７】
Ｓ４３０では、Ｓ４１０で読み出した文字列のデータとＳ４２０で作成した全体配置情報を合わせた文字データを文字列の先頭から順に１文字分読み出す。その後、Ｓ４４０に移行し、文字イメージ生成部６１３により読み出した文字の文字イメージを生成させる。文字イメージの生成が完了した後に、Ｓ４５０に移行し、文字イメージを生成した文字に対して文字修飾が設定されているか否か判断する。文字修飾が設定されていない場合は（Ｓ４５０：ＮＯ）、Ｓ４９０に移行する。文字修飾が設定されている場合は（Ｓ４５０：ＹＥＳ）、Ｓ４６０に移行し、設定されている文字修飾が反転修飾か否か判断する。設定されている文字修飾が反転修飾の場合は（Ｓ４６０：ＹＥＳ）、Ｓ４７０に移行し、Ｓ４４０において生成した文字イメージに対して図６のフローチャートに示す反転修飾を行う。反転修飾後は、Ｓ４９０に移行する。設定されている文字修飾が反転修飾でない場合は（Ｓ４６０：ＮＯ）、Ｓ４８０に移行し、Ｓ４４０において生成した文字イメージに対してその他の修飾処理を行った後にＳ４９０に移行する。
【００４８】
Ｓ４９０では、Ｓ４２０で作成した全体配置情報を基に文字イメージを印刷イメージに配置する。ここで印刷イメージとは、印刷テープに印刷される状態に即したドットパターンデータであり、その内容はプリントバッファ上に展開される。文字イメージを印刷イメージに配置後は、Ｓ５００に移行し、文字列が終了したか否か判断する。文字列が終了しない場合は（Ｓ５００：ＮＯ）、再びＳ４３０に移行し、文字列から次の文字を読み出す。文字列が終了した場合は（Ｓ５００：ＹＥＳ）、Ｓ５１０に移行し、印刷を実行する。その後印刷の処理手順である図５のフローチャートを終了して図３のフローチャートに戻り、Ｓ１２０に移行する。
【００４９】
次に、図５のＳ４７０である反転部６１４Ａによる反転修飾の処理手順について、図６と図７を参照しつつ説明する。図６は、第１の実施の形態に係る反転処理の処理手順を示すフローチャートである。図７は第１の実施の形態に係る反転処理の経過を示した具体例である。まず、Ｓ５１０に移行し、文字イメージ生成部６１３により生成された文字イメージの配置領域の外周を取り巻くように配置される配置領域外枠の枠の幅を決定する。配置領域外枠の枠の幅は、配置領域外枠対応テーブル記憶部６２１Ａに記憶されている配置領域外枠対応テーブル（表１）により、配置領域の高さから決定される。具体的には図７（ａ）に示すように配置領域１５０の高さが２４ドットの場合は、図７（ｂ）のに示す配置領域外枠１２０の枠の幅は１ドットになる。配置領域外枠の枠の幅が決定した後にＳ５２０に移行する。
【００５０】
Ｓ５２０では、Ｓ５１０で決定した配置領域外枠を配置領域の外周に配置した場合に印刷可能か否か判断する。印刷可能か否かは、配置領域外枠を含めた文字イメージが印刷テープの幅方向における印刷範囲内に収まっているか否かで判断する。印刷が可能であれば（Ｓ５２０：ＹＥＳ）、Ｓ５３０に移行し、配置領域に配置領域外枠を加えて反転処理を行う。反転処理とは、印刷される部分と印刷されない部分を反転させる処理である。具体的には、図７（ｂ）に示すように配置余白領域１１０に配置領域外枠１２０を加えて新たな背景１３０とする。この場合背景の高さは配置領域１５０の高さ２４ドットに配置領域外枠１２０の枠の幅の上下２ドットを加えた２６ドットになる。そして非印刷部分である背景１３０が白、印刷部分である文字１００が黒である場合に、図７（ｃ）のように背景１３０を印刷部分である黒、文字１００を非印刷部分である白に印刷されるように処理する。その後、反転処理の処理手順である図６のフローチャートを終了し、図５のフローチャートに戻る。Ｓ５２０において印刷が可能でなければ（Ｓ５２０：ＮＯ）、Ｓ５４０に移行し、エラーとしてディスプレイ２にその旨を表示し、処理を行わず反転処理の処理手順である図６のフローチャートを終了し、図５のフローチャートに戻る。
【００５１】
以上、説明したように、本発明の第１の実施の形態によると、ドットパターンで文字を印刷するテーププリンタ１において印刷部分と非印刷部分とを反転させる反転修飾を実現することができ、よりインパクトの強い印刷物を作成することができる。
【００５２】
また、反転修飾に際して配置領域の外周に配置領域外枠を配置することで反転修飾により文字と配置領域のさらに外側にある陽の領域とが繋がることが無くなり、視認性が向上する。さらに、配置領域外枠の枠の幅は文字サイズにより適した幅を決定するので文字列全体のバランスを維持しつつ見栄えをよくすることができる。さらに、印刷される文字の文字サイズが変わらないため、ユーザの意思に沿った文字サイズを維持することができる。
【００５３】
＜第２の実施の形態＞
次に、本発明の第２の実施の形態について説明する。第１の実施の形態との相違は反転修飾の処理手順とそれに対応する機能のみであるので、その相違点のみ説明する。まず、テーププリンタ１の機能について図８を参照しつつ説明する。図８は、第２の実施の形態に係るテーププリンタ１の内部構成を示すブロック図である。テーププリンタ１は、ＲＯＭ６２によって構成される縮小文字サイズ対応テーブル記憶部（記憶手段）６２１Ｂと、ＲＡＭ６３によって構成される文字列記憶部６３１と、ＣＰＵ６１によって構成される選択部６１１と、指示部（指示手段）６１２と、文字イメージ生成部６１３と、反転部（反転手段）６１４Ｂとを有している。
【００５４】
縮小文字サイズ対応テーブル記憶部６２１Ｂは、配置領域の高さと、縮小文字サイズとの対応テーブルである縮小文字サイズ対応テーブルを記憶している。縮小文字サイズ対応テーブルの具体例を表２に示す（表２においては便宜上、配置領域の高さをＮとして表す）。例えば、図１０（ａ）に示すように、配置領域１５０の高さＮが２４ドットである場合は、縮小文字サイズは配置領域の高さＮから２を減じた２２ドットとなる。表２が示すように、配置領域１５０の高さ、つまり文字サイズが大きくなるに従い、縮小文字サイズも大きくなる。
【００５５】
【表２】

【００５６】
反転部６１４Ｂは、文字イメージ生成部６１３により生成された、指示部６１２により反転修飾の指示を受けている文字の文字イメージに対して反転修飾（図５ Ｓ４７０、図９、図１０参照）を行う手段である。生成された文字イメージに対して直接反転修飾を行うと、文字と配置領域のさらに外側にある陽の領域とが部分的に繋がる可能性がある。そのため文字の背景である配置領域はそのまま維持しつつ、文字部分の文字サイズのみを縮小して反転修飾する。具体的には、縮小文字サイズ対応テーブル記憶部６２１Ｂに記憶されている縮小文字サイズ対応テーブルから反転修飾対象となる文字サイズ（具体的には配置領域の高さ）に適した縮小後の文字サイズを決定する。決定した文字サイズの文字を配置領域に配置して印刷部分と非印刷部分を反転する。
【００５７】
次に、図５のＳ４７０である反転部６１４Ｂによる反転修飾の処理手順について、図９と図１０を参照しつつ説明する。図９は、第２の実施の形態に係る反転処理の処理手順を示すフローチャートである。図１０は第２の実施の形態に係る反転処理の経過を示した具体例である。まず、Ｓ６１０に移行し、図５のフローチャートのＳ４４０で生成された文字イメージの配置領域の高さから縮小後の文字サイズを決定する。文字サイズの決定は、文字縮小サイズ対応テーブル記憶部６２１Ｂに記憶されている縮小文字サイズ対応テーブルにより、配置領域の高さから決定される。例えば図１０（ａ）に示すように、配置領域１５０の高さが２４ドットである場合は、縮小文字サイズは２２ドットとなる。縮小文字サイズの決定した後にＳ６２０に移行する。
【００５８】
Ｓ６２０では、Ｓ６１０で決定した縮小文字サイズに文字の縮小を行う。具体的には図５のフローチャートのＳ４４０で生成された文字イメージの文字部分をＳ６１０で決定した縮小文字サイズの文字に置き換える。例えば図１０（ａ）で表示されている２４ドットの文字１００を、図１０（ｂ）のように配置領域は維持しつつ２４ドットの文字部分のみを２２ドットの文字１４０に置き換える。これによって配置領域１５０の端部（図１０（ｂ）に便宜上描かれた破線の外側）に、見かけ上の枠であって、後の処理によって陰となる領域が生じる。その後、Ｓ６３０に移行し、反転処理を行う。例えば、図１０の（ａ）、（ｂ）に示すように非印刷部分である背景１１０が白、印刷部分である文字１４０が黒である場合に、図１０（ｃ）のように背景１１０を印刷部分である黒、文字１４０を非印刷部分である白に印刷されるように処理する。その後、反転処理の処理手順である図９のフローチャートを終了し、図５のフローチャートに戻る。
【００５９】
以上、説明したように、本発明の第２の実施の形態によると、反転修飾に際して文字サイズのみを小さくすることで反転修飾により文字と配置領域のさらに外側にある陽の領域とが繋がることが無くなり、文字列全体の見易さを損なわない。
【００６０】
さらに、元の文字サイズにより適した縮小文字サイズを決定するので文字列全体のバランスを維持しつつ見栄えをよくすることができる。さらに、配置領域の大きさが変化しないので印刷時の文字列全体の位置が崩れることがない。
【００６１】
以上、本発明の好適な実施の形態について説明したが、本発明は上述の実施の形態に限られるものではなく、特許請求の範囲に記載した限りにおいて様々な設計変更が可能なものである。例えば、上述の第１、第２の実施の形態では、配置領域は矩形状であるがこのような形状に限定されるものではなく、例えば配置領域の四隅が円弧状でもよい。また、上述の第１、第２の実施の形態では、印刷対象となる文字を文字単位で選択、編集、修飾しているが複数文字に対して一括処理するような構成でもよい。例えば、印刷対象となる文字を行単位やブロック単位（印刷テープ長手方向において区切られた単位）で処理するような構成である。
【００６２】
また、上述の第１の実施の形態では、配置領域の外周に枠を配置する構成であるが枠に限定されるものではなく、配置領域の上下左右の少なくとも１方向に接する領域を配置してもよい。また、上述の第１の実施の形態では、配置領域の高さにより配置領域外枠の枠の幅を決定するように構成されているが、前記枠の幅はテーブルを参照することなく、計算によって求めるような構成でもよい。例えば、配置領域の高さに対して、所定の比率を掛け合わせることによって配置領域外枠の枠の幅を決定する構成である。
【００６３】
さらに、上述の第１の実施の形態では配置領域の高さに合わせた幅を有する配置領域外枠を付加しているが、これに限る必要はなく、配置領域の高さに関係ない任意の幅を有する配置領域外枠を付加する構成にしてもよい。例えば、付加される配置領域外枠の幅を予め所定のドットに設定しておき、常にそのドット数の枠が配置領域の外側に付加される構成である。
【００６４】
また、上述の第２の実施の形態では、配置領域の高さにより縮小文字サイズを決定するように構成されているが、前記縮小文字サイズは、テーブルを参照することなく、計算によって求めるような構成でもよい。例えば、配置領域の高さに対して、所定の比率を掛け合わせることによって縮小文字サイズを決定する構成である。
【００６５】
さらに、上述の第２の実施の形態では配置領域に配置される文字を、配置領域の高さに合わせた縮小文字サイズに縮小しているが、これに限る必要はなく、配置領域の高さに関係ない任意の縮小文字サイズに縮小するように構成にしてもよい。例えば、配置される文字の縮小文字サイズを予め所定ドット数からなるサイズに設定しておき、常にそのサイズの縮小文字サイズに縮小する構成である。
【００６６】
また、上述の第１、第２実施形態では、制御部がテーププリンタと一体となったスタンドアロンのタイプであるが、このようなタイプに限定されるものではなく、制御部の全部または一部をテーププリンタと接続されたパーソナルコンピュータ上で実現させるような構成でも良い。
【図面の簡単な説明】
【図１】本発明の一実施の形態によるテーププリンタ１の外観図である。
【図２】第１の実施の形態に係る、図１に示すテーププリンタ１の内部構成を示すブロック図である。
【図３】図１に示すテーププリンタ１における全体の処理手順を表したフローチャートである。
【図４】図１に示すテーププリンタ１における書式設定の処理手順についてのフローチャートである。
【図５】図１に示すテーププリンタ１における印刷の処理手順を表したフローチャートである。
【図６】第１の実施の形態に係る、図１に示すテーププリンタ１における反転処理の処理手順を表したフローチャートである。
【図７】第１の実施の形態に係る、図１に示すテーププリンタ１における反転処理の処理経過の具体例である。
【図８】第２の実施の形態に係る、図１に示すテーププリンタ１の内部構成を示すブロック図である。
【図９】第２の実施の形態に係る、図１に示すテーププリンタ１における反転処理の処理手順を表したフローチャートである。
【図１０】第２の実施の形態に係る、図１に示すテーププリンタ１における反転処理の処理経過の具体例である。
【符号の説明】
１ テーププリンタ
２ ディスプレイ
３ キーボード
４ 印刷ヘッド
６ 制御部
６１ ＣＰＵ
６２ ＲＯＭ
６３ ＲＡＭ
６１１ 選択部
６１２ 指示部
６１３ 文字イメージ生成部
６１４ 反転部
６３１ 文字列記憶部
６２１Ａ 配置領域外枠対応テーブル記憶部
６２１Ｂ 縮小文字サイズ対応テーブル記憶部[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a tape printing control device that prints a character string using a tape as a printing medium, a tape printing device, and a program.
[0002]
[Prior art]
2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there has been known a tape printer capable of printing a character string on a printing tape in which an adhesive print-receiving sheet having an adhesive applied thereto in advance and a release sheet are releasably overlapped. This type of tape printer can print titles and title names easily and neatly on the surface of the printed sheet, then peels the printed sheet from the release sheet and attaches it to the back of a document file or the back of a video tape It is widely used for office or home use because of its ease of use. In such a tape printer, characters to be printed such as underline, bold, outline character, shadow character, and framing can be modified (see Patent Document 1).
[0003]
[Patent Document 1]
Japanese Patent No. 2621726
[0004]
Problems to be Solved by the Invention and Effects of the Invention
By the way, in recent years, the use of tape printers has been expanded and printing tapes have been used as commercial advertisements. Strong things are required.
[0005]
An object of the present invention is to provide a tape printing control device, a tape printing device, and a program that can perform a new character modification that enhances the impact of characters printed on a tape-shaped printing medium.
[0006]
Means for Solving the Problems and Effects of the Invention
To achieve the above object, a tape print control device according to claim 1 is a tape print control device that generates character print data in a dot pattern in order to print characters on a tape-shaped print medium, Instructing means for instructing an inversion modification for inverting the arrangement area in which the characters are arranged and the characters arranged in the arrangement area, which are predetermined areas according to the font size of the characters to be printed And inverting means for generating, in a dot pattern, print data in which the arrangement area is shaded and characters arranged in the area are positive when the inversion modification is instructed by the instruction means. It is characterized by the following.
[0007]
7. A tape printer according to claim 6, wherein the print data of the character is generated in a dot pattern, and the character is printed on a tape-shaped print medium in accordance with the print data. Is an area that is predetermined according to the following, an arrangement area in which characters are arranged, and instructing means for instructing inversion modification for inverting the yin and yang of the characters arranged in the arrangement area, and inverting by the instructing means. In the case where the modification is instructed, the arrangement area is shaded, and the inversion means for generating print data in which the characters arranged in the area are positive in a dot pattern and a dot pattern generated by the inversion means in a dot pattern. Printing means for printing on the tape-shaped print medium in accordance with print data.
[0008]
A program according to claim 7 controls a computer that generates print data of a character in a dot pattern to print the character on a tape-shaped print medium in an area that is predetermined according to the font size of the character to be printed. Where, the arrangement area in which the characters are arranged, the instructing means for instructing the inversion modification to invert the yin and yang of the characters arranged in the arrangement area, and when the inversion modification is instructed by the instruction means, The program is characterized in that it functions as an inversion unit that generates print data in a dot pattern with the arrangement area being shaded and characters arranged in the area being explicit.
[0009]
According to the first, sixth, and seventh aspects of the present invention, the area where characters to be printed are arranged, where the area where the characters are arranged is shaded, and the characters arranged in that area are inverted. Since the modification is performed, the characters printed on the tape-shaped print medium can be made more impactful.
[0010]
The tape printing control device according to claim 2, wherein the reversing means is a frame having a width corresponding to a height of the placement region in a width direction of the tape-shaped print medium, wherein It is characterized in that print data in which a frame added outside the area and the arrangement area are shaded is generated.
[0011]
The program according to claim 8, wherein the reversing means is a frame having a width corresponding to a height of the arrangement area in a width direction of the tape-shaped print medium, the frame being outside the arrangement area. And generating print data that shades the frame added to and the arrangement area.
[0012]
According to the second and eighth aspects of the present invention, since a shadow frame is added to the outside of the arrangement area, the inverted character becomes positive and the non-inverted area outside the arrangement area is connected. Therefore, the outer shape of the character can be recognized, and the visibility is improved. In addition, since a frame having a width corresponding to the height of the arrangement area is added to the outside of the arrangement area, the character size and the frame width can be balanced, and the appearance after inversion modification can be improved.
[0013]
4. The tape printing control device according to claim 3, wherein the reversing unit further includes a storage unit configured to store a width corresponding to a height of the placement area of the frame, and the placement area of the frame. The width of the frame added to the outside of the arrangement area is determined by extracting a width corresponding to the height of the frame from the storage unit.
A program according to a ninth aspect of the present invention is the program according to the eighth aspect, wherein the reversing means functions to include a storage means for storing a width corresponding to a height of the placement area of the frame, and By extracting a width corresponding to the height of the arrangement area from the storage unit, the width of the frame added outside the arrangement area is determined.
[0014]
According to the third and ninth aspects of the present invention, the frame width corresponding to the height of the arrangement area is stored in the storage means in advance, and the frame width is added to the outside of the arrangement area in accordance with the height of the arrangement area. Since the width of the frame can be obtained, a frame having an optimum width can be added to the character size.
[0015]
The tape printing control device according to claim 4, wherein the positive characters arranged in the arrangement region are reduced according to the height of the arrangement region in the width direction of the tape-shaped print medium. Print data generated in a dot pattern.
According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the program according to the seventh aspect, wherein positive characters arranged in the arrangement area are reduced according to a height of the arrangement area in a width direction of the tape-shaped print medium. Data is generated in a dot pattern.
[0016]
According to the fourth and tenth aspects of the present invention, the characters arranged in the arrangement area are reduced, so that the characters that have been inverted and turned positive and the non-inverted areas outside the arrangement area are not connected. . Therefore, the outline of the character can be recognized, and the visibility is improved. In addition, since the character is reduced according to the height of the arrangement area, the size of the character and the width of the shaded area generated at the end of the arrangement area by reducing the character are balanced, and the appearance after inversion modification is improved. can do.
[0017]
The tape printing control device according to claim 5, wherein the reversing unit further includes a storage unit that stores a reduced character size corresponding to a height of the arrangement area of the character to be reduced, By extracting a reduced character size according to the height of the arrangement area of the character to be reduced from the storage unit, a reduced character size of a positive character arranged in the arrangement area is determined. And
[0018]
The program according to claim 11, wherein the reversing means is configured to include a storage means for storing a reduced character size according to a height of the arrangement area of the character to be reduced, Extracting a reduced character size according to the height of the arrangement area of the character to be reduced from the storage unit, thereby determining a reduced character size of a positive character arranged in the arrangement area. I do.
[0019]
According to the fifth and eleventh aspects of the present invention, the reduced character size corresponding to the height of the arrangement area is stored in the storage means in advance, and the character to be reduced according to the height of the arrangement area is reduced therefrom. Since the subsequent character size can be obtained, a shadow region having an optimum width with respect to the character size can be generated at the end of the arrangement region.
[0020]
The program described in claims 7 to 11 can be recorded on a removable recording medium such as a CD-ROM, an FD, an MO, or a fixed recording medium such as a hard disk, and can be distributed. It can be distributed by a telecommunication means via a communication network such as the Internet.
[0021]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
[0022]
<First embodiment>
FIG. 1 is an external view of a tape printer 1 according to a first embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, a display 2 and a keyboard 3 are arranged on the front surface of the tape printer 1. Inside the door at the rear of the tape printer 1, a print head 4 (see FIG. 2) and a cassette mounting section (not shown) are arranged. A print tape as a print medium of the tape printer 1 is detachably mounted in a cassette mounting portion while being stored in a tape cassette.
[0023]
Next, the internal configuration of the tape printer 1 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an internal configuration of the tape printer 1 according to the first embodiment. The tape printer 1 has a display 2, a keyboard 3, a print head 4, a control unit 6, and a cassette mounting unit (not shown). The display 2 includes a graphic liquid crystal panel 21 and a liquid crystal panel controller 22. The graphic liquid crystal panel 21 is capable of graphic display, and can freely display various designs and font shapes and sizes of characters. The liquid crystal panel controller 22 is an IC that controls the graphic liquid crystal panel 21. The CPU 61 provided in the control unit 6 inputs a prescribed command to the liquid crystal panel controller 22 via the interface unit 66, and The display contents can be controlled.
[0024]
The keyboard 3 is arranged on the surface of the tape printer 1, and calls a text key for inputting a character to be printed, a cursor key for moving a cursor, a decision key for deciding a selection by a user, and various functions of the tape printer 1. It consists of function assignment keys (format setting keys, print keys, etc.).
[0025]
The print head 4 is arranged at a position corresponding to a head accommodating section provided inside a tape cassette accommodating a print tape in the cassette mounting section. In the print head 4, a large number of heating elements electrically controlled by the control unit 6 are arranged perpendicularly to the longitudinal direction of the print tape along the width direction of the print tape. Thereby, a character string can be printed in a dot pattern on a printing tape.
[0026]
The control unit 6 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 61, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 62, a RAM (Random-Access Memory) 63, an interface unit 66, and a data bus 65. The CPU 61 performs arithmetic processing according to various commands. The ROM 62 allows the CPU 61 to realize the functional units shown in FIG. 2 and operate the flowcharts shown in FIGS. 3 to 6 and graphic data such as font data of characters and design data of a frame for modifying print characters. And various data necessary for executing the program. The RAM 63 is a volatile memory having a temporary storage area for data used when the CPU 61 executes a program, such as a work area and a print buffer.
[0027]
The interface unit 66 is a connection unit that directly and indirectly electrically connects the device separated as a module and the control unit. The data bus 65 is a data transfer line group that electrically connects the CPU 61, the ROM 62, the RAM 63, and the interface unit 66, respectively. All the transfer data in the control unit is transferred via the data bus 65.
[0028]
Next, functions of the tape printer 1 will be described. The tape printer 1 includes an arrangement area outer frame correspondence table storage unit (storage unit) 621A configured by the ROM 62, a character string storage unit 631 configured by the RAM 63, a selection unit 611 configured by the CPU 61, and an instruction unit ( (Instruction unit) 612, a character image generation unit 613, and an inversion unit (inversion unit) 614A.
[0029]
The arrangement area outer frame correspondence table storage unit 621A stores an arrangement area outer frame correspondence table which is a correspondence table between the height of the arrangement area and the width of the frame of the arrangement area outer frame. Here, the arrangement area is an area partitioned into a rectangular shape surrounding the outer periphery of a character serving as a reference for character arrangement, and the height of the arrangement area is set by format setting (see S160 and FIG. 4 in FIG. 3) described later. It is determined for each character size. The width of the arrangement area is determined differently for each character in consideration of designability. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 7A, a rectangular area surrounding the character “A” 100 is the arrangement area 150. The height of the arrangement area 150 of "a" in FIG. 7A is 24 dots, but this height is common to the arrangement area of characters of the same size. At this time, the width of the arrangement area 150 is also 24 dots, but this width is a width unique to “A”. In addition, an area excluding the characters arranged therefrom from the arrangement area, and a portion serving as a background of the character is an arrangement margin area. Specifically, a portion obtained by removing the character 100 from the arrangement region 150 shown in FIG. In the portion where the shadow with the character arranged in the arrangement area is inverted, this area is actually targeted. The arrangement area outer frame is a frame arranged so as to surround the outer periphery of the arrangement area. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 7B, a frame surrounding the outer periphery of the arrangement region 150 further outside the arrangement region 150 of “A” is the arrangement region outer frame 120. Table 1 shows a specific example of the arrangement area outer frame correspondence table. For example, as shown in FIG. 7A, when the height of the arrangement area is 24 dots, the width of the frame of the arrangement area outer frame is 1 dot. As shown in Table 1, as the height of the arrangement area, that is, the character size increases, the width of the arrangement area outer frame also increases.
[0030]
[Table 1]

[0031]
The character string storage 631 stores character string data to be printed on a print tape. The character string data may be created by an input from the keyboard 3 by the user, or may be transferred from an external device such as a personal computer connected to the tape printer 1.
[0032]
The selection unit 611 is a unit that selects a character to be formatted (see S160 in FIG. 3, FIG. 4) from the character string stored in the character string storage unit 631. Format setting is an operation of setting character modification, character size, and the like.
[0033]
The instructing unit 612 is a unit that instructs inversion modification as character modification when formatting the character selected by the selection unit 611. Inversion modification reverses the printed part (shade) and the non-printed part (positive) and prints the printed part (shade) as the non-printed part (positive) and the non-printed part (positive) as the printed part (shade). This is the modification method used. Specifically, the character is printed from the printed portion to the non-printed portion, and the arrangement blank area, which is the background of the character, is inverted from the non-printed portion to the printed portion and printed.
[0034]
The character image generation unit 613 is a unit that generates a character image from each character data of the character string data stored in the character string storage unit 631 when printing a character string. Here, the generation of the character image means reading font data stored in the ROM 62 from the text data of the character and the set character size, and, based on this data, storing the actual print character in the work area of the RAM 63. This is the work to develop the dot pattern data according to.
[0035]
The reversing unit 614A performs reversal modification (refer to S470, FIG. 5, and FIG. 7 in FIG. 5) on the character image of the character generated by the character image generation unit 613 and instructed by the instruction unit 612 to perform reversal modification. Means. If the generated character image is subjected to direct inversion modification, there is a possibility that the character is partially connected to the positive region further outside the arrangement region. Therefore, an arrangement area outer frame is arranged on the outer periphery of the arrangement area which is the background of the character, and the area obtained by adding the arrangement area outer frame to the arrangement area is reversely modified as a new character background. Specifically, from the layout area outer frame correspondence table stored in the layout area outer frame correspondence table storage unit 621A, the layout area suitable for the character size (specifically, the height of the layout area) to be inverted and modified Determine the width of the frame. An arrangement area outer frame is generated with the determined width. Then, the print area and the non-print area are inverted by adding the layout area outer frame to the layout area.
[0036]
Next, a processing procedure of the tape printer 1 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the overall processing procedure of the tape printer 1. When the power supply to the tape printer 1 is turned on, the control device starts operating. First, the process proceeds to step S110 (hereinafter abbreviated as S110; the same applies to the following steps) to initialize the entire tape printer 1. Specifically, the operation check and initialization of the CPU 61, the RAM 63, and the interface 66 are performed, and the operation check of the display 2 and the print head 4 connected to the interface 66 and the hardware initialization are performed. For example, an operation screen is displayed on the display 2. Then, the process proceeds to S120.
[0037]
In S120, the process waits for a key input by the user. The user can input a character string stored in the character string storage unit 631 and operate the tape printer 1 by performing key input using the keyboard 3 while viewing the display screen displayed on the display 2. When the initialization is completed, the tape printer 1 is in a standby state in which a character string can be input, and the user can input a character string to be printed using a text key arranged on the keyboard 3. Also, in the input standby state, functions can be called by inputting a function assignment key for calling various functions such as a print key. When a key is input by the user, the key code of the input key is stored in the work area of the RAM 63, and the process proceeds to S130.
[0038]
In S130, it is determined from the key code of the key input in S120 whether the input key is a text key. If the key is a text key (S130: YES), the flow shifts to S140 to perform a text input process. The text input process is a process of deriving a text code corresponding to the key code from the stored key code in S120 and storing the text code in the character string storage unit 631 as character data. When the text input processing is completed, the process returns to S120 to wait for a key input by the user.
[0039]
In S130, if the key input in S120 is not a text key (S130: NO), the process proceeds to S150, and it is determined whether the key input in S120 is a format setting key. If the key is the format setting key (S150: YES), the flow shifts to S160 to perform the format setting shown in the flowchart of FIG. The format setting is an operation of setting character modification, character size, and the like for an arbitrary character of a character string to be printed stored in the character string storage unit 631. When the format setting is completed, the process returns to S120 to wait for a key input by the user.
[0040]
In S150, if the key input in S120 is not the print range setting key (S150: NO), the process proceeds to S170, and it is determined whether the input key is a print key. If it is a print key (S170: YES), the flow shifts to S180 to execute the printing process shown in the flowchart of FIG. When printing is completed, the process returns to S120 to wait for a key input by the user.
[0041]
In S170, if the key input in S120 is not a print key (S170: NO), the flow shifts to S190 to execute other processing. Other processes include processes for function call keys other than the print key, cursor key processes, and the like. When other processes are completed, the process returns to S120 to wait for a key input by the user. The termination of the tape printer 1 is realized by turning off the power switch of the tape printer 1.
[0042]
Next, the format setting process in S160 of FIG. 3 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a format setting procedure. First, the process proceeds to S310 and waits for a key input by the user. The user operates the keyboard 3 while viewing the display screen displayed on the display 2 to select a character to be formatted. Character selection is performed by moving the cursor using the cursor keys and using the enter key. When a key is input by the user, the key code of the input key is stored in the work area of the RAM 63, and the process proceeds to S320.
[0043]
In S320, it is determined whether the key code of the key input in S310 is a cursor key. If it is a cursor key (S320: YES), the process proceeds to S330, and it is determined whether or not the cursor can be moved in the direction designated by the cursor key. If the cursor can be moved (S330: YES), the flow shifts to S340 to move the cursor in the direction indicated by the cursor key, and then shifts to S310 again to wait for a key input by the user. If the cursor is not movable (330: NO), the process returns to S310 without any processing and waits for a key input by the user.
[0044]
In S320, if the key input in S310 is not a cursor key (S320: NO), the flow shifts to S350, and it is determined whether the input key is a decision key. If the input key is the enter key (S350: YES), the flow shifts to S360, where the character on the cursor is selected by the selection section 611, and then shifts to S370 to select a format. In the case of the format selection, in the case of the decoration, the instruction unit 612 selects a decoration method desired by the user from inversion, underline, bold typeface (bold character), outline, shadow (shadow), and framing. In the case of the character size, input the character size desired by the user. When the format selection is completed, the data of the selected format is expanded and set in the work area. Thereafter, the process returns to S310 to wait for a key input by the user.
[0045]
In S380, if the key input in S310 is not the determination key (S350: NO), the flow shifts to S380, and it is determined whether the input key is an end key. If the input key is not the end key (S380: NO), the process returns to S310 without performing any processing and waits for a key input by the user. If the input key is the end key (S380: YES), the flow chart of FIG. 4, which is the processing procedure of the format setting, is ended, and the flow returns to the flow chart of FIG.
[0046]
Next, the printing procedure in S180 of FIG. 3 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 5 is a flowchart of the printing procedure. First, the process proceeds to S410, in which all character string data to be printed, which is stored in the character string storage unit 631, is read out to a work area for printing. The character string data includes character modification data and character size data set in the format setting in addition to the text code of each character (see S160 in FIG. 3 and FIG. 4). Then, the process proceeds to S420, where arrangement information of each character at the time of printing is created. Then, the process proceeds to S430.
[0047]
In S430, character data obtained by combining the character string data read in S410 and the entire arrangement information created in S420 is read one character at a time from the beginning of the character string. Then, the process proceeds to S440, in which the character image generation unit 613 generates a character image of the read character. After the generation of the character image is completed, the process proceeds to S450, and it is determined whether the character modification is set for the character for which the character image has been generated. If the character modification is not set (S450: NO), the process proceeds to S490. If the character modification has been set (S450: YES), the flow shifts to S460 to determine whether or not the set character modification is the reverse modification. If the set character modification is the reverse modification (S460: YES), the process proceeds to S470, and the character image generated in S440 is subjected to the reverse modification shown in the flowchart of FIG. After the reverse modification, the process proceeds to S490. When the set character modification is not the reverse modification (S460: NO), the process proceeds to S480, and after performing other modification processing on the character image generated in S440, the process proceeds to S490.
[0048]
In S490, the character image is arranged on the print image based on the entire arrangement information created in S420. Here, the print image is dot pattern data conforming to a state of being printed on a print tape, and its contents are developed on a print buffer. After arranging the character image on the print image, the process shifts to S500 to determine whether the character string is completed. If the character string does not end (S500: NO), the process returns to S430 to read the next character from the character string. If the character string ends (S500: YES), the process proceeds to S510 and prints. Thereafter, the flow chart of FIG. 5, which is the printing processing procedure, is ended, the flow returns to the flow chart of FIG. 3, and the process proceeds to S120.
[0049]
Next, a processing procedure of inversion modification by the inversion unit 614A in S470 of FIG. 5 will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a processing procedure of the inversion processing according to the first embodiment. FIG. 7 is a specific example showing the progress of the inversion processing according to the first embodiment. First, the process proceeds to S510, where the width of a frame of an arrangement area outer frame arranged so as to surround the outer periphery of the arrangement area of the character image generated by the character image generation unit 613 is determined. The width of the frame of the layout area outer frame is determined from the height of the layout area by the layout area outer frame correspondence table (Table 1) stored in the layout area outer frame correspondence table storage unit 621A. Specifically, when the height of the arrangement area 150 is 24 dots as shown in FIG. 7A, the width of the arrangement area outer frame 120 shown in FIG. 7B is 1 dot. After the width of the frame of the arrangement area outer frame is determined, the process proceeds to S520.
[0050]
In S520, it is determined whether or not printing is possible when the outer frame of the arrangement area determined in S510 is arranged on the outer periphery of the arrangement area. Whether or not printing is possible is determined based on whether or not the character image including the arrangement area outer frame is within the printing range in the width direction of the printing tape. If printing is possible (S520: YES), the flow shifts to S530, and a reversal process is performed by adding a layout area outer frame to the layout area. The reversing process is a process of reversing a printed portion and a non-printed portion. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 7B, a new background 130 is obtained by adding an arrangement area outer frame 120 to the arrangement margin area 110. In this case, the height of the background is 26 dots obtained by adding the upper and lower two dots of the width of the frame of the arrangement area outer frame 120 to the height of 24 dots of the arrangement area 150. When the background 130, which is a non-print portion, is white and the character 100, which is a print portion, is black, as shown in FIG. 7C, the background 130 is black, which is a print portion, and the character 100 is white, which is a non-print portion. Process so that it is printed on. After that, the flowchart of FIG. 6, which is the procedure of the inversion process, ends, and the process returns to the flowchart of FIG. If printing is not possible in S520 (S520: NO), the process proceeds to S540, and the fact is displayed on the display 2 as an error, and the process of the reversing process of FIG. 6 is terminated without performing the process. It returns to the flowchart of 5.
[0051]
As described above, according to the first embodiment of the present invention, in the tape printer 1 that prints a character in a dot pattern, it is possible to realize the inversion modification that inverts a printed portion and a non-printed portion. A high-impact printed matter can be created.
[0052]
In addition, by arranging the arrangement area outer frame around the arrangement area at the time of the inversion modification, the character is not connected to the positive area further outside the arrangement area by the inversion modification, and the visibility is improved. Furthermore, since the width of the frame of the arrangement area outer frame is determined to be more suitable for the character size, the appearance can be improved while maintaining the balance of the entire character string. Further, since the character size of the characters to be printed does not change, the character size according to the user's intention can be maintained.
[0053]
<Second embodiment>
Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. The only difference from the first embodiment is the processing procedure of the inversion modification and the function corresponding thereto. Therefore, only the difference will be described. First, the function of the tape printer 1 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 8 is a block diagram illustrating an internal configuration of the tape printer 1 according to the second embodiment. The tape printer 1 includes a reduced character size correspondence table storage unit (storage unit) 621B configured by the ROM 62, a character string storage unit 631 configured by the RAM 63, a selection unit 611 configured by the CPU 61, and an instruction unit (instruction unit). Means 612, a character image generation unit 613, and an inversion unit (inversion means) 614B.
[0054]
The reduced character size correspondence table storage unit 621B stores a reduced character size correspondence table that is a correspondence table between the height of the arrangement area and the reduced character size. A specific example of the reduced character size correspondence table is shown in Table 2 (in Table 2, the height of the arrangement area is represented as N for convenience). For example, as shown in FIG. 10A, when the height N of the arrangement area 150 is 24 dots, the reduced character size is 22 dots obtained by subtracting 2 from the height N of the arrangement area. As shown in Table 2, as the height of the arrangement area 150, that is, the character size increases, the reduced character size also increases.
[0055]
[Table 2]

[0056]
The reversing unit 614B performs reversal modification (see S470 in FIG. 5, FIG. 9, and FIG. 10) on the character image of the character generated by the character image generation unit 613 and instructed by the instructing unit 612 to perform reversal modification. Means. If the generated character image is subjected to direct inversion modification, there is a possibility that the character is partially connected to the positive region further outside the arrangement region. Therefore, while maintaining the arrangement area that is the background of the character, the character size of only the character portion is reduced to perform the inversion modification. Specifically, the reduced character size suitable for the character size to be inverted and modified (specifically, the height of the arrangement area) is obtained from the reduced character size correspondence table stored in the reduced character size correspondence table storage unit 621B. To determine. A character having the determined character size is arranged in the arrangement area, and the print portion and the non-print portion are reversed.
[0057]
Next, the processing procedure of the inversion modification by the inversion unit 614B in S470 of FIG. 5 will be described with reference to FIGS. 9 and 10. FIG. FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating a processing procedure of the inversion processing according to the second embodiment. FIG. 10 is a specific example showing the progress of the inversion processing according to the second embodiment. First, the process proceeds to S610, where the reduced character size is determined from the height of the arrangement area of the character image generated in S440 of the flowchart of FIG. The character size is determined from the height of the arrangement area by using the reduced character size correspondence table stored in the character reduced size correspondence table storage unit 621B. For example, as shown in FIG. 10A, when the height of the arrangement area 150 is 24 dots, the reduced character size is 22 dots. After determining the reduced character size, the process proceeds to S620.
[0058]
In S620, the character is reduced to the reduced character size determined in S610. Specifically, the character portion of the character image generated in S440 of the flowchart of FIG. 5 is replaced with the character having the reduced character size determined in S610. For example, the 24 dot character 100 displayed in FIG. 10A is replaced with the 22 dot character 140 only in the 24 dot character portion while maintaining the arrangement area as shown in FIG. 10B. As a result, an area which is an apparent frame and is hidden by the subsequent processing is generated at an end of the arrangement area 150 (outside the broken line drawn for convenience in FIG. 10B). Thereafter, the flow shifts to S630, where an inversion process is performed. For example, as shown in FIGS. 10A and 10B, when the background 110 which is a non-print portion is white and the character 140 which is a print portion is black, the background 110 is changed as shown in FIG. Processing is performed so that black as a print portion and character 140 are printed as white as a non-print portion. After that, the flow chart of FIG. 9 as the processing procedure of the inversion processing ends, and the flow returns to the flow chart of FIG.
[0059]
As described above, according to the second embodiment of the present invention, only the character size is reduced at the time of reverse modification, so that the character can be connected to the positive region further outside the arrangement region by the reverse modification. It disappears and does not spoil the legibility of the entire character string.
[0060]
Furthermore, since the reduced character size more suitable for the original character size is determined, the appearance can be improved while maintaining the balance of the entire character string. Furthermore, since the size of the arrangement area does not change, the position of the entire character string at the time of printing does not collapse.
[0061]
The preferred embodiment of the present invention has been described above. However, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various design changes can be made within the scope of the appended claims. For example, in the above-described first and second embodiments, the arrangement region is rectangular, but is not limited to such a shape. For example, four corners of the arrangement region may be arc-shaped. In the first and second embodiments described above, characters to be printed are selected, edited, and modified in character units, but a configuration in which a plurality of characters are collectively processed may be used. For example, the configuration is such that characters to be printed are processed in line units or block units (units divided in the longitudinal direction of the printing tape).
[0062]
Further, in the above-described first embodiment, the configuration is such that the frame is arranged on the outer periphery of the arrangement area. However, the present invention is not limited to the frame. Is also good. In the first embodiment described above, the width of the frame of the placement area outer frame is determined based on the height of the placement area. However, the width of the frame is calculated without referring to the table. May be required. For example, the configuration is such that the width of the outer frame of the arrangement area is determined by multiplying the height of the arrangement area by a predetermined ratio.
[0063]
Further, in the first embodiment described above, the outer frame of the arrangement area having a width corresponding to the height of the arrangement area is added. However, the present invention is not limited to this. A configuration in which an arrangement region outer frame having a width is added may be employed. For example, a configuration is adopted in which the width of the layout frame to be added is set to a predetermined dot in advance, and the frame having the number of dots is always added to the outside of the layout area.
[0064]
In the above-described second embodiment, the reduced character size is determined based on the height of the arrangement area. However, the reduced character size is determined by calculation without referring to a table. A configuration may be used. For example, the configuration is such that the reduced character size is determined by multiplying the height of the arrangement area by a predetermined ratio.
[0065]
Furthermore, in the above-described second embodiment, the characters arranged in the arrangement area are reduced to a reduced character size according to the height of the arrangement area. May be reduced to an arbitrary reduced character size irrespective of. For example, the reduced character size of the characters to be arranged is set in advance to a size consisting of a predetermined number of dots, and the reduced character size is always reduced to that size.
[0066]
In the first and second embodiments described above, the control unit is of a stand-alone type integrated with a tape printer. It may be configured to be realized on a personal computer connected to a tape printer.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is an external view of a tape printer 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an internal configuration of the tape printer 1 shown in FIG. 1 according to the first embodiment.
FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an overall processing procedure in the tape printer 1 shown in FIG.
FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a format setting processing procedure in the tape printer 1 illustrated in FIG. 1;
FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a printing processing procedure in the tape printer 1 shown in FIG.
FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure of a reversing process in the tape printer 1 shown in FIG. 1 according to the first embodiment.
FIG. 7 is a specific example of the progress of a reversing process in the tape printer 1 shown in FIG. 1 according to the first embodiment.
FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing an internal configuration of the tape printer 1 shown in FIG. 1 according to a second embodiment.
FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure of a reversing process in the tape printer 1 shown in FIG. 1 according to the second embodiment.
FIG. 10 is a specific example of the progress of the inversion processing in the tape printer 1 shown in FIG. 1 according to the second embodiment.
[Explanation of symbols]
1 Tape printer
2 Display
3 keyboard
4 Print head
6 control unit
61 CPU
62 ROM
63 RAM
611 Selector
612 Indicator
613 Character Image Generation Unit
614 Inversion unit
631 character string storage
621A Arrangement Area Outer Frame Correspondence Table Storage Unit
621B Reduced character size correspondence table storage unit

Claims (11)

A tape print control device that generates character print data in a dot pattern for printing characters on a tape-shaped print medium,
Instructing means for instructing an inversion modification for inverting the arrangement area in which the characters are arranged and the characters arranged in the arrangement area, which are predetermined areas according to the font size of the characters to be printed When,
And inverting means for generating, in a dot pattern, print data in which the arrangement area is shaded and characters arranged in the area are positive when the inversion modification is instructed by the instruction means. Tape printing control device. The reversing means is a frame having a width corresponding to the height of the placement area in the width direction of the tape-shaped print medium, and the frame added outside the placement area and the placement area are shaded. 2. The tape print control device according to claim 1, wherein the print data is generated. The reversing unit further includes a storage unit that stores a width corresponding to a height of the placement area of the frame,
The tape according to claim 2, wherein the width of the frame added to the outside of the placement area is determined by extracting a width of the frame according to the height of the placement area from the storage unit. Print control device. The inversion means generates a print data in which a positive character arranged in the arrangement area is reduced according to a height of the arrangement area in a width direction of the tape-shaped print medium in a dot pattern. 3. The tape printing control device according to claim 1, wherein The reversing unit further includes a storage unit that stores a reduced character size according to the height of the arrangement area of the character to be reduced,
Extracting a reduced character size according to the height of the arrangement area of the character to be reduced from the storage unit to determine a reduced character size of a character that is arranged in the arrangement area and is positive. The tape printing control device according to claim 4, wherein: A tape printing apparatus that generates print data of characters in a dot pattern and prints characters on a tape-shaped print medium according to the print data,
Instructing means for instructing an inversion modification for inverting the arrangement area in which the characters are arranged and the characters arranged in the arrangement area, which are predetermined areas according to the font size of the characters to be printed When,
When the inversion modification is instructed by the instructing means, the arrangement area is shaded, and inversion means for generating print data in which a character arranged in the area is made positive in a dot pattern,
A printing unit for printing on the tape-shaped print medium in accordance with print data generated in a dot pattern by the inversion unit. To print characters on a tape-shaped print medium, a computer that generates character print data in a dot pattern
Instructing means for instructing an inversion modification for inverting the arrangement area in which the characters are arranged and the characters arranged in the arrangement area, which are predetermined areas according to the font size of the characters to be printed When,
When the inversion modification is instructed by the instructing means, the arrangement area is shaded, and the function is performed as inversion means for generating print data in which a character arranged in the area is positive in a dot pattern. Program to do. The reversing means is a frame having a width corresponding to the height of the placement area in the width direction of the tape-shaped print medium, and the frame added outside the placement area and the placement area are shaded. The program according to claim 7, wherein the program generates print data. The reversing unit includes a storage unit that stores a width corresponding to a height of the placement area of the frame,
9. The program according to claim 8, wherein a width of the frame added to the outside of the arrangement area is determined by extracting a width of the frame according to a height of the arrangement area from the storage unit. . The reversing means generates print data in which a positive character arranged in the arrangement area is reduced according to a height of the arrangement area in a width direction of the tape-shaped print medium, in a dot pattern. The program according to claim 7, wherein The reversing unit includes a storage unit that stores a reduced character size according to the height of the arrangement area of the character to be reduced,
By extracting a reduced character size corresponding to the height of the arrangement area of the character to be reduced from the storage unit, a reduced character size of a character which is arranged in the arrangement area and is positive is determined. The program according to claim 10, wherein

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