JP2005078521A - Plotting method and recording device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a PCL printer which is adaptive to objects (sources) of all plotting objects assuming various shapes bya unified processing and the processing time is shortened. <P>SOLUTION: In the PCL printer, a rectangular area surrounding an object (source) of a designated plotting object included in PCL transmitted from an external PC 11 through a communication line 10 is handled as a new object (source), and a logical operation resulting from properly converting a designated logical operation mode so as to obtain the same result as execution of the designated logical operation mode is executed for this new object (source), and the operation result is written in a plotting memory 7, and an image expanded in the plotting memory 7, which is represented by the operation result, is printed out to a paper by a recording part 2. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention interprets a printer control language (PCL) of a page description language (PDL) and draws an image specified by the PCL in a memory, and an instruction by the PCL In particular, the present invention relates to a recording apparatus (PCL printer) for recording an image to be executed, and in particular, a method for executing a logical operation in image development on the PCL printer.

  In addition to the original copy function and facsimile function, a transmission function connected to a personal computer (PC) via a communication network and transmitting data sent from the PC to other facsimile machines, and the data A function composite type facsimile apparatus (facsimile composite apparatus) having a printer function for printing out images has been developed. There is also known a network printing system in which a PC and a network printer are connected via an interface device, and data created and edited by the PC is sent to the network printer via the interface device and printed out. . In such an apparatus for printing out data from a PC, a printer language (PJL (Printer Job Language), PDL, etc.) sent from the PC is interpreted, and an image is recorded based on the interpretation result. (For example, refer to Patent Documents 1 and 2).

  When printing is instructed from an application on a PC such as document creation software or spreadsheet software, the selected printer driver converts the print data into data interpretable by the printer. Data generated by the printer driver of the PCL printer is composed of a PJL portion and a PCL portion. FIG. 9 shows these data. In FIG. 9, the part with the large character size is PJL, and the part with the small character size is PCL-XL. PJL is originally represented by a text data string, and PCL is usually represented by a binary data string. However, in the lower part of FIG. 9, binary data strings including PJL are displayed.

  PJL mainly includes a job control command (for example, a double-sided print instruction command) for the printer, and PCL-XL describes contents to be mainly drawn on a page. In XL, a plurality of pages are included in a unit called a session. FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of the PCL-XL command. Each page includes a page setting command for designating size and orientation, a coordinate setting command for designating the origin and coordinate system, a line and fill pattern, a drawing mode setting command for designating a logical operation mode to be described later, and an object to be drawn A drawing command for instructing is included. The PCL printer interprets such PJL and PCL commands, expands the page in the drawing memory, and executes print processing.

  In the PCL, an object to be drawn (hereinafter also referred to as “Source”), an object fill pattern (hereinafter also referred to as “Paint”), and a logical operation mode are described according to a predetermined grammar rule. When (drawing) is instructed from the PC by the PCL command, these three types of information are designated. The PCL printer executes the logical operation using the specified Source and Paint and the already drawn object (hereinafter also called Destination) as the operand and the specified logical operation mode as the operator, and draws the operation result. Write to memory. An example of this drawing technique is shown in FIG.

  FIG. 12 is a diagram for explaining the logical operation mode. The logical operation mode is specified by three types of ROP code, Paint Tx mode, and Source Tx mode. ROP codes are 256 kinds of logical operation codes, and are represented in reverse Polish notation, in which Paint is abbreviated as P, Source is as S, and Destination is as D. For example, SDPxo indicates a logical operation in which a logical sum is calculated from the calculation result of the exclusive OR of Paint and Destination and Source (see FIG. 12A). The Paint Tx mode and the Source Tx mode take two values, Opaque and Transparency. Opaque indicates that the white portion is opaque (not transmissive) (see FIG. 12B), and Transparency indicates that the white portion is transparent (transmissive) (see FIG. 12C). For example, when Opaque is specified in Paint Tx mode, the white part of Paint is opaque.

The logical operation mode specified by the three types of ROP code, Paint Tx mode, and Source Tx mode ultimately results in one of 256 types of logical operations. For example, ROP = SDPxo, Paint Tx mode = Opaque, Source Tx mode = Transparency is equivalent to executing a logical operation of DPSnax. Based on the ROP code, Paint Tx mode, and Source Tx mode sent from the PC, the PCL printer integrates these instructions to create one logical operation expression, and the logical operation expression thus created. The calculation result according to is written in the drawing memory.
JP-A-10-329371 JP 2002-268847 A

  On the PCL printer side, the outer peripheral area of the drawing target object (Source) specified by the PCL is managed, and the specified logical operation is executed on the inner area. It is necessary to determine whether or not the pixel exists in the internal region and perform a logical operation only on the pixel determined to be present. The drawing target object (Source) often has various complicated shapes. In such a case, there is a problem that the above-described processing becomes complicated.

  The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and can deal with all drawing target objects (Sources) having various shapes by a unified process, and can be a simple process. An object is to provide a drawing method and a recording apparatus.

  A drawing method according to claim 1 analyzes a printer control language including shape information of an object to be drawn and logical operation information related to drawing of the object, and draws an image designated by the printer control language in a memory. In the method, a rectangular region surrounding the drawing target object is set, and a logical operation based on the logical operation information is executed on the set rectangular region.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, a rectangular area surrounding the designated drawing target object (Source) included in the printer control language (PCL) is treated as a new object (Source), and the new object (Source) is handled. Thus, a logical operation obtained by appropriately converting the designated logical operation mode so as to obtain the same result as when the designated logical operation mode is executed is executed, and the operation result is drawn in the memory. Therefore, even if the designated object has any shape, it can be handled in a unified and simple process, and the processing time can be shortened.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a drawing method according to the first aspect, wherein a table that compares the logical operation information with a logical operation expression is prepared, and the logical operation expression to be executed on the rectangular area is defined as the logical operation expression. It is set from a table.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, an expression for a logical operation performed on the rectangular area is set from the table based on the designated logical operation mode. Therefore, an appropriate logical operation expression is easily set.

  A recording apparatus according to claim 3, which analyzes a printer control language including shape information of an object to be recorded and logical operation information regarding recording of the object, and records an image instructed in the printer control language Means for setting a rectangular area surrounding the object to be recorded, arithmetic means for executing a logical operation on the set rectangular area based on the logical operation information, and means for writing a calculation result by the calculation means into a memory And means for recording an image according to the written contents of the memory.

  According to the third aspect, the designated image is recorded in accordance with the calculation result drawn in the memory as in the first aspect. Therefore, complicated processing is unnecessary, and the recording time can be shortened.

  In the present invention, the rectangle surrounding the figure specified by Source is treated as a new Source, and the specified logical operation mode is changed according to the new Source. Even so, it is possible to perform the processing in a unified manner, simplify the processing, reduce the time required for drawing, and shorten the recording processing.

  Further, in the present invention, since the formula of the logical operation to be performed on the rectangular area is set from the table based on the designated logical operation mode, it is possible to easily set an appropriate logical operation formula. And the processing time can be further shortened.

  Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings showing embodiments thereof. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a PCL printer 20 as a recording apparatus of the present invention.

  The PCL printer 20 includes a control unit 1, a recording unit 2, a display unit 3, an operation unit 4, a ROM 5, a RAM 6, a drawing memory 7, a PC interface unit 8, and the like. Specifically, the control unit 1 is constituted by a CPU, and is connected to the above-described hardware units of the PCL printer 20 via the bus 9 to control them and control stored in the ROM 5. Various software functions are executed according to the program.

  The recording unit 2 is, for example, an electrophotographic printer device, and prints out an image developed in the drawing memory 7 on a sheet. The display unit 3 is a display device such as a liquid crystal display device or a CRT display, and displays an operating state of the PCL printer 20, a message for prompting a user to input an operation, and the like. The operation unit 4 includes various function keys necessary for operating the PCL printer 20. In addition, it is also possible to substitute a part or all of the various keys of the operation unit 4 by using the display unit 3 as a touch panel system.

  The ROM 5 stores various software programs necessary for the operation of the PCL printer 20 in advance. The ROM 5 also has a conversion table 5a for comparing ROP codes used in the logical operation conversion process described later. The RAM 6 is composed of SRAM, flash memory, or the like, and stores temporary data generated when software is executed. The drawing memory 7 draws a calculation result finally obtained by interpreting the printer language sent from the external PC 11. The PC interface unit 8 is connected to an external PC 11 via a communication line 10 such as a LAN, and exchanges data with the PC 11.

  In the PCL printer 20 having such a configuration, when a printer language (PJL, PCL, etc.) is input from the external PC 11 via the communication line 10, the printer language is analyzed, and the designated Source, Paint, and A desired logical operation is executed on Destination, the calculation result is written in the drawing memory 7, the calculation result (drawing pattern) written in the drawing memory 7 is read, and an image corresponding to the calculation result is recorded in the recording unit 2. It is like that.

  Next, the operation of the PCL printer 20 of the present invention will be described. 2A and 2B are diagrams for explaining an example of the operation. FIG. 2A shows a PCL command designated by the PC 11, and FIG. 2B shows an actual drawing process.

  As shown in FIG. 2A, in the PCL command, a gray pattern having a certain density is specified as Paint, an object having a shape obtained by deforming the letter m is specified as Source, and a diagonal line drawn in advance as Destination A pattern object is specified. In the logical operation mode, both the Paint Tx mode and the Source Tx mode are designated as Opaque, and the ROP code is designated as P.

  In response to such a PCL command, as shown in FIG. 2B, a minimum rectangle A surrounding the designated original source (object) is set as a new source. When the logical operation specified by the PCL command is simply applied to the new source rectangle A, the desired operation result, that is, the operation result as shown in FIG. 2A cannot be obtained. . Therefore, the logical operation mode is corrected as follows. First, since it is necessary to take the logical sum of Paint and Source, the ROP code is corrected to PSo. Further, since the white portion of the new source (rectangle A) needs to be transparent, the source Tx mode is corrected to transparency. Further, the logical operation specified by the PC 11 is based on an RGB space in which white is 1 and black is 0 on the basis of the presence / absence of luminance. Since it is treated as a CMY space in which white is 0 and black is 1, correction of the logical operation mode corresponding to this difference is required.

The conversion process of the logical operation as described above is summarized as (C1) to (C3) shown in FIG.
(C1): Replace ROP code Paint (P) with the logical sum (PSo) of Paint and Source (S).
(C2): ROP code in RGB space is converted to ROP code in CMY space.
(C3): Convert to ROP code when Source Tx mode is Transparency.

  A final logical operation expression is obtained by sequentially performing the above correction on the designated logical operation mode. Then, by executing a logical operation on a new source (rectangle A) according to this logical operation expression, the same operation result as the desired operation result (the operation result as shown in FIG. 2A) designated by the PC 11 Can be obtained (see FIG. 2B).

  FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an operation procedure of recording processing in the PCL printer 20 of the present invention. When a command expressed in the printer language is input from the external PC 11 via the communication line 10 and the PC interface unit 8, the control unit 1 analyzes the command (step S1). Based on the command analysis result, the control unit 1 first generates a new rectangular source region (step S2).

  FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing an operation procedure for generating the Source area, that is, a subroutine of S2. The maximum height and maximum width of the designated source (object) are obtained (step S21), and a rectangle specified by the obtained maximum height and maximum width is assigned to the RAM 6 (step S22). The rectangular area allocated to the RAM 6 is initialized with 0 (step S23). This process is equivalent to initializing with white in the CMY space. Next, the designated source (object) is drawn in the allocated rectangular area (step S24). The internal area of the drawn source (object) is converted to 1 (step S25). This process is equivalent to painting black in the CMY space.

  Next, the designated logical operation is converted (step S3). FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the operation procedure of the logical operation conversion, that is, the subroutine of S3. A new ROP code is obtained by replacing P of the designated ROP code with PSo (step S31). This new ROP code premised on white: 1, black: 0 is converted into an ROP code of white: 0, black: 1 (step S32). The ROP code converted in S32 is converted into an ROP code when the Source Tx mode is Transparency (step S33). As a result, a final ROP code is obtained. In S32 and / or S33, if this conversion process is performed with reference to the conversion table 5a stored in the ROM 5, the processing time can be shortened.

  Next, a logical operation is performed using the obtained ROP code, and the operation result is written in the drawing memory 7 (step S4). FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing an operation procedure for executing the logical operation and writing the operation result, that is, a subroutine of S4. Based on the ROP code finally obtained in S33, logical operations of Source, Paint, and Destination are performed in units of one pixel (Step S41). An operation result obtained by the logical operation is written in the drawing memory 7 (step S42). Next, the control unit 1 determines whether or not the processing for all the pixels in the allocated memory area has been completed (step S43). If the processing has not been completed (S43: NO), the operation proceeds to S41. Returning, the same processing is performed for the next pixel. When the process for all the pixels is completed (S43: YES), the subroutine of operation S4 is terminated.

  Next, the control unit 1 determines whether or not all the specified sources (objects) have been drawn in the drawing memory 7 (step S5), and when unprocessed sources (objects) remain (S5). : NO), the operation returns to S1, and the same processing is performed on the unprocessed Source (object). On the other hand, when all the designated sources (objects) are drawn in the drawing memory 7 (S5: YES), the recording unit 2 prints out the image developed in the drawing memory 7 on a sheet (step S6). ).

Another example of logical operation conversion processing in the present invention will be described. FIG. 8 is a diagram showing the conversion process of logic operation in this other example, and the procedure is as shown in (D1) to (D3).
(D1): ROP code in RGB space is converted to ROP code in CMY space.
(D2): Replace ROP code Paint (P) with the logical product (PSa) of Paint and Source (S).
(D3): Convert to ROP code when Source Tx mode is Transparency.

  By performing a logical operation on the source (rectangle A) in accordance with the final logical operation expression obtained by sequentially performing the corrections (D1) to (D3) for the specified logical operation mode, The same calculation result as the desired calculation result designated from the PC 11 can be obtained.

  In the above-described example, the case of monochrome display has been described. However, the present invention can be similarly applied to the case of color display. Of course, the present invention can be similarly implemented in a facsimile composite apparatus.

1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a PCL printer as a recording apparatus of the present invention. It is a figure for demonstrating an example of operation | movement of the PCL printer of this invention. It is a figure which shows an example of the conversion process of a logical operation. 3 is a flowchart showing an operation procedure of recording processing in the PCL printer of the present invention. It is a flowchart which shows the operation | movement procedure (subroutine of S2) of Source area | region production | generation. It is a flowchart which shows the operation | movement procedure (subroutine of S3) of logical operation conversion. It is a flowchart which shows the operation | movement procedure (subroutine of S4) of logical operation execution and operation result writing. It is a figure which shows the other example of the conversion process of a logical operation. It is a figure which shows print data. It is a figure which shows the structural example of a PCL-XL command. It is a figure which shows an example of the drawing technique to a drawing memory. It is a figure for demonstrating logic operation mode.

Explanation of symbols

1 Control unit 2 Recording unit 5 ROM
5a Conversion table 6 RAM
7 Drawing memory 8 PC interface unit 10 Communication line 11 PC
20 PCL printer

Claims (3)

  In a method for analyzing a printer control language including shape information of an object to be drawn and logical operation information regarding drawing of the object, and drawing an image instructed in the printer control language in a memory, the object to be drawn is A drawing method characterized in that a surrounding rectangular area is set, and a logical operation based on the logical operation information is executed on the set rectangular area.   The table of the said logical operation information and the formula of a logical operation is prepared, The formula of the said logical operation performed with respect to the said rectangular area is set from the said table. Drawing method.   A printer that analyzes the printer control language including the shape information of the object to be recorded and the logical operation information related to the recording of the object, and surrounds the object to be recorded in a recording apparatus that records an image specified by the printer control language A means for setting a rectangular area, a calculation means for executing a logical operation based on the logical calculation information for the set rectangular area, a means for writing a calculation result by the calculation means into a memory, and depending on a write content of the memory And a recording unit.

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