JP2009220385A - Tape printer - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a tape printer permitting change of screens to be displayed by operation of a power source. <P>SOLUTION: An opening screen 5a and a closing screen have an editable area 55 which a user can edit and an uneditable area 56 to which prescribed images are allocated and the user cannot edit. The printer has a screen information storage means 51 to store at least either one or more bitmap images as bitmap type images or text data used in the opening screen 5a and the closing screen, a screen generation means to allocate at least either one or more stored bitmap images or the text data to the editable area 55 and generate at least either the opening screen 5a or the closing screen, and a display means 5 to display at least either the opening screen 5a or the closing screen by operation of the power source. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a tape printer that displays a predetermined screen in accordance with a power operation.

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a tape printer (tape writer) that prints one or more character strings (including characters, graphics, and symbols) input by a user's key input or the like on a tape is known. The tape printer is subjected to a minimum necessary system initialization process when the user turns on the power. Thereafter, a screen for the user to input a character string is displayed on the display unit (liquid crystal panel) (see, for example, Patent Document 1).
JP-A-8-108602

  By the way, in a general tape printing apparatus, an opening screen is displayed for a predetermined time in accordance with a power-on operation. On this opening screen, a manufacturer-specific brand name, copyright information (copyright), and the like are displayed, and system initialization processing and the like are performed while the opening screen is displayed. The display content of the opening screen (brand name, copyright information, etc.) is meaningful when viewed from the manufacturer. In particular, copyright information is considered necessary to clarify the rights of the product. However, when viewed from the user side, the content displayed on the opening screen is often meaningless information, and there are few users who care about this display content. Nevertheless, in the conventional tape printing apparatus, the user cannot change the opening screen so as to display contents meaningful to the user.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems, and an object thereof is to provide a tape printer that can change a screen displayed in accordance with a power operation.

  The tape printer of the present invention is a tape printer that displays at least one of an opening screen when the device is turned on and a closing screen when the device is turned off. The opening screen and the closing screen are editable by the user. One or more bitmap images, which are bitmap-format images used for the opening screen and the closing screen, each having a possible region and a non-editable region to which a predetermined image is assigned and cannot be edited by the user; Screen information storage means for storing at least one of text data, and screen generation means for assigning one of the stored one or more bitmap images and text data to an editable area and generating at least one of an opening screen and a closing screen With the power operation, Characterized by comprising display means for displaying at least one of the training screen and the closing screen, the.

  According to this configuration, the opening screen or the closing screen displayed in response to the power operation of the tape printer is assigned an editable area editable by the user and a predetermined image, and cannot be edited by the user. It consists of possible areas. Then, one or more bitmap images or text data stored in the screen information storage means are allocated to the editable area, and an opening screen or a closing screen is generated. And at least one of these screens is displayed on a display part (display means) with power supply operation. That is, various opening screens and closing screens can be generated and displayed by changing the bitmap image or text data assigned to the editable region. Thereby, for example, by storing the bitmap image and text data desired by the user in the screen information storage means, the (user original) opening screen and the closing screen according to the user's preference are generated and displayed. (The user can change the opening screen and the closing screen). In addition, the predetermined image assigned to the non-editable area of the opening screen and the closing screen is an image including information important to the manufacturer, for example, an image showing copyright information (copyright). It is possible to display a user-desired screen while protecting the screen. The setting method of the editable area and the non-editable area is arbitrary, the editable area may be set on the upper side of the screen, and the non-editable area may be set on the lower side of the screen, or vice versa. . Further, an editable area and an uneditable area may be set on the left and right sides of the screen. The size of the editable area and the non-editable area may be the same or different. It is also possible to download and store a bitmap image from an external device such as a PC (personal computer) and display it as an opening screen.

  The tape printer of the present invention further comprises screen information creating means for creating at least one of a bitmap image and text data, and the screen information storage means stores at least one of the created bitmap image and text data. It is preferable to memorize.

  According to this configuration, a bitmap image or text data desired by the user can be created and stored in the screen information storage unit. As a result, the bitmap image and text data created by the user can be displayed on the opening screen.

  The tape printer of the present invention further includes time setting means for setting the display time of each of the opening screen and the closing screen, and the display means can display the opening screen and the closing screen according to the setting by the time setting means. preferable.

  According to this configuration, the display time of the opening screen and the closing screen can be set. Thereby, the display time of an opening screen and a closing screen can be changed according to a user preference.

  The tape printing apparatus of the present invention further includes display state switching means for switching between “display” for displaying the editable area and “non-display” for not displaying the editable area. When switched to “non-display”, it is preferable to display only a predetermined image in the non-editable area.

  According to this configuration, it is possible to switch whether to display the bitmap image or text data assigned to the editable area on the screen. As a result, the user can switch the display / non-display of the image in the editable area of the opening screen and the closing screen according to his / her preference, for example, when the user does not want to display the screen created by the user to others. Can be turned off.

  In the tape printer of the present invention, one set of one or more bitmap images constituting the editable area of either the opening screen or the closing screen is set as one set, and the screen information storage means stores a plurality of sets of bitmap images. The screen generation means generates a moving picture format opening screen or a closing screen by assigning multiple sets of bitmap images one by one to the editable area at predetermined time intervals, and the display means generates It is preferable to display one of the opened screen and the closing screen.

  According to this configuration, one or more bitmap images constituting the editable area of the opening screen or the closing screen are stored as one set, and these are assigned to the editable area one set at a predetermined time interval, so that the video format Opening screen and closing screen can be generated and displayed. Thus, for example, by storing a plurality of sets of bitmap images with storylines, it is possible to create opening screens and closing screens such as animation (moving images), and inorganic materials in electronic devices such as tape printers. You can soften the atmosphere.

  Hereinafter, a tape printer according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. In addition, since the closing screen can be created and displayed in the same procedure as the opening screen creation and display procedures, only the opening screen will be described in this embodiment.

  FIG. 1 is an external perspective view of the tape printer 1 according to the present embodiment with the opening / closing lid 4 opened. As shown in FIG. 1, the tape printer 1 has an exterior formed by a device case 2, and a keyboard 3 having various input keys is disposed on the front upper surface of the device case 2. An opening / closing lid 4 is attached to the left part, and a display screen 5 (display means) is arranged on the right part thereof. A cartridge mounting portion 6 for mounting a tape cartridge C is recessed inside the opening / closing lid 4, and the tape cartridge C is detachably mounted on the cartridge mounting portion 6 with the opening / closing lid 4 opened. The The open / close lid 4 is formed with a viewing window 7 for visually confirming mounting / non-mounting of the tape cartridge C in the closed state.

  On the keyboard 3, a character key group 3a and a function key group 3b for designating various operation modes are arranged. The character key group 3a has a full key configuration based on the JIS layout, and is similar to a general word processor or the like, including a shift key for suppressing an increase in the number of keys to be operated. The function key group 3b includes a [print] key 11 for instructing execution of printing, a [power] key 12 for operating power on / off (power on / off), and a cursor movement and scroll operation. Cursor keys ([↓], [↑], [←], [→]) 13, [Environmental setting] key 14 for setting the environment of the apparatus, and selection candidates (options) for selecting and confirming operations [Select] key 15 and the like are included.

  The display screen 5 is formed of a liquid crystal display. The display screen 5 can display image data of 96 dots (X direction) × 64 dots (Y direction), and the editing result based on the input information input by the user using the keyboard 3 and the editing result are displayed. It is used when confirming print data generated based on this. Further, it is used for displaying an opening screen 5a (see FIG. 2) accompanying a user power-on operation (details will be described later).

  A tape discharge port 21 is formed on the left side of the apparatus case 2 to communicate the cartridge mounting portion 6 with the outside. The tape discharge port 21 is exposed to a tape cutter 22 for cutting the printing tape T that has been sent out. It is out. Then, the printed printing tape T is fed out from the tape discharge port 21 by a predetermined length, and the printed printing tape T is cut by the tape cutter 22 in a state where the feeding is temporarily stopped. Create a label. As for the cutting process, the driving of the cutter motor 23 (see FIG. 2) can be set depending on whether automatic cutting is performed or not.

  On the other hand, the cartridge mounting unit 6 has a head unit 24 in which a thermal type print head 26 is built in a head cover 25, a platen drive shaft 27 facing the print head 26, and a winding for winding an ink ribbon R described later. A drive shaft 28 and a positioning projection 29 of a tape reel 32 described later are provided. In addition, a tape feed motor 30 (see FIG. 2) for rotating the platen drive shaft 27 and the take-up drive shaft 28 is incorporated below the cartridge mounting portion 6.

  The tape cartridge C has a tape reel 32 in which a printing tape T having a certain width (about 4.5 mm to 48 mm) is wound at the upper center portion inside the cartridge case 31, and a ribbon in which an ink ribbon R is wound in the lower right portion. The reel 33 is accommodated, and the printing tape T and the ink ribbon R are configured with the same width. A through-hole 34 is formed in the lower left part of the tape reel 32 to be inserted into the head cover 25 that covers the head unit 24. Further, the head unit 24 inserted into the through-hole 34 is provided with a platen roller 35 that is fitted to the platen drive shaft 27 and rotated to correspond to a portion where the printing tape T and the ink ribbon R overlap. . On the other hand, a ribbon take-up reel 36 is arranged in the vicinity of the ribbon reel 33, and the ink ribbon R fed out from the ribbon reel 33 is arranged so as to go around the head cover 25 and is taken up by the ribbon take-up reel 36. It is like that.

  When the tape cartridge C is mounted on the cartridge mounting portion 6, the through hole 34 is formed in the head cover 25, the center hole of the tape reel 32 is formed in the positioning protrusion 29, and the center hole of the ribbon take-up reel 36 is formed in the winding drive shaft 28. Then, the print head 26 is brought into contact with the platen roller 35 with the print tape T and the ink ribbon R interposed therebetween, and printing becomes possible. Thereafter, when the user inputs desired text (characters such as letters, numbers, symbols, and simple figures) and an image with the keyboard 3 while confirming the editing result of the display screen 5 and instructs printing, the tape printer 1 The print tape T is fed from the tape cartridge C by the tape feed motor 30 and the heat generating elements of the print head 26 are selectively heated to perform desired printing on the print tape T. The printed portion of the printing tape T is sent to the outside from the tape discharge port 21 as needed, and when printing is completed, the tape feeding motor 30 feeds the printing tape T to the position of the tape length including the margin, The feeding is stopped (then, the process proceeds to the cutting process).

  On the other hand, the printing tape T is composed of a recording tape Ta having an adhesive layer formed on the back surface, and a release tape Tb attached to the recording tape Ta by the adhesive layer. The printing tape T is wound in a roll shape with the recording tape Ta on the outside and the release tape Tb on the inside, and is accommodated in the cartridge case 31. In addition, a plurality of types of printing tape T having different tape types (tape width, tape ground color, ground pattern, material (texture), etc.) are prepared, and each of the cartridge cases 31 has one type. The printing tape T and the ink ribbon R are accommodated. A plurality of holes (not shown) for specifying the type of the tape cartridge C are provided on the back surface of the cartridge case 31. A plurality of tape identification sensors (such as microswitches) 37 (see FIG. 2) for detecting these are provided in the cartridge mounting portion 6 corresponding to the plurality of holes. By detecting the state of the hole, the tape type can be determined.

  Next, the control configuration of the tape printer 1 will be described with reference to the control block diagram of FIG. The tape printer 1 includes a central processing unit (CPU) 41, a random access memory (RAM) 42, a read only memory (ROM) 43, a flash ROM 44, a display screen 5, a keyboard 3, a cutter motor 23, and a tape. A cutter 22, a tape feed motor 30, a print head 26, and a tape identification sensor 37 are provided. The CPU 41 is connected to the ROM 43, the flash ROM 44, the display screen 5, the keyboard 3, the cutter motor 23, the tape feed motor 30, the print head 26, and the tape identification sensor 37 via the bus 45.

  The RAM 42 is directly connected to the CPU 41 and is used as a work area when the CPU 41 performs various controls.

  The flash ROM 44 has a screen information storage area 51 (screen information storage means), and stores one or more bitmap images (32 dot × 32 dot bitmap images) and text data created by the user. This bitmap image and text data are used for display (assignment) in an editable area 55 (see FIG. 3) of the opening screen 5a described later. The bitmap image and text data created by the user may be stored in the RAM 42.

  The ROM 43 stores a control program and control data for the CPU 41 to perform various controls. The ROM 43 has a first image storage area 52 and a second image storage area 53. The first image storage area 52 stores one or more bitmap images that are created by the manufacturer and displayed (assigned) in the editable area 55 of the opening screen 5a. On the other hand, the second image storage area 53 stores one or more bitmap images that are created by the manufacturer and displayed (assigned) in the non-editable area 56 (see FIG. 3) of the opening screen 5a. For example, the former bitmap image is an image showing a brand name or logo unique to the manufacturer, and the latter bitmap image is an image showing copyright information (copyright).

  The cutter motor 23 is connected to the tape cutter 22 and functions as a cutting means. The tape feed motor 30 and the print head 26 function as printing means for performing printing on the printing tape T. As described above, the print head 26 and the tape identification sensor 37 are provided in the cartridge mounting unit 6, and the tape identification sensor 37 detects the type of the print tape T accommodated in the tape cartridge C.

  Here, the screen configuration of the opening screen 5a displayed on the display screen 5 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 3A is an example of the opening screen 5a. The opening screen 5 a is formed of a screen of 96 dots (X direction) × 64 dots (Y direction), and has an editable area 55 and an uneditable area 56. 3 is a dotted line indicating the boundary between the editable area 55 and the non-editable area 56, and is not actually displayed.

  The editable area 55 is composed of an area of 32 dots × 96 dots on the upper side of the opening screen 5a. The editable area 55 is an area that can be edited by the user, and can display an image or text created by the user. When an image created by the user is displayed in the editable area 55, as shown in FIG. 3B, the editable area 55 is divided into three areas of 32 dots × 32 dots (area 55a, area 55b, area 55c). ). Then, the 32 dots × 32 dots bitmap images stored in the screen information storage area 51 are allocated to the areas 55a, 55b, and 55c (a total of three bitmap images are allocated) to generate the opening screen 5a. When displaying text data in the editable area 55, the text data is displayed in the editable area 55 in the same way as when displaying normal text data on the display screen 5.

  On the other hand, the non-editable area 56 is an area that cannot be edited by the user, and consists of a 32-dot × 96-dot area on the lower side of the opening screen 5a. A bitmap image (bitmap image in the second image storage area 53) created in advance by the manufacturer of the tape printer 1 is assigned to the non-editable area 56. As display contents displayed in the non-editable area 56, for example, information important for the manufacturer such as information on the copyright of the manufacturer is displayed. As shown in FIG. 3C, the upper and lower relationship between the editable area 55 and the non-editable area 56 may be reversed.

  Next, the procedure for displaying the opening screen 5a will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. First, when the [power] key 12 is pressed by the user, the tape printer 1 turns on the power (S01). At this time, the tape printer 1 determines whether or not a bitmap image or text data created by the user exists in the screen information storage area 51 (flash ROM 44) (S02).

  When the bitmap image or text data created by the user exists (S03; Yes), the tape printer 1 assigns the bitmap image or text data to the editable area 55 of the opening screen 5a (S04), and The bitmap image stored in the two-image storage area 53 (ROM 43) is assigned to the non-editable area 56 of the opening screen 5a (S05), and the opening screen 5a is generated (S06, screen generation means). Then, the tape printer 1 displays the opening screen 5a for a predetermined time (S07). During the display of the opening screen 5a, the tape printing apparatus 1 performs various checks such as initialization and setting of the apparatus main body.

  On the other hand, when there is no bitmap image or text data created by the user (S03; No), the tape printer 1 edits the bitmap image stored in the first image storage area 52 (ROM 43) on the opening screen 5a. While assigning to the possible area 55 (S08), the bitmap image stored in the second image storage area 53 is assigned to the non-editable area 56 (S05), and the opening screen 5a is generated (S06). Then, the tape printer 1 displays the opening screen 5a for a predetermined time (S07).

  Next, the procedure for creating a bitmap image and displaying the bitmap image on the opening screen 5a will be described with reference to the screen transition diagrams of FIGS. A screen D01 shown in FIG. 5 is a text editing screen (display screen 5) in a state where nothing is input, and a line head mark (number “1”) indicating that the input is the first line is enclosed by a square. Mark) M and a cursor K indicating the editing position are displayed.

  When the user presses the [environment setting] key 14 in the state of the screen D01, the tape printer 1 displays the environment setting screen (D02). Next, when the [↓] key 13 is pressed three times in the state of the screen D02, “change start screen” is highlighted (D03), and when the [select] key 15 is further pressed from the state of the screen D03, A start screen change screen is displayed (D04).

  Next, as shown in the screen D04, when the [Select] key 15 is pressed in a state where “screen editing” is highlighted, a startup screen editing screen is displayed (D05). In this screen D05, a new bitmap image is created, and the bitmap image is registered as an image to be displayed on the opening screen 5a, “registration (screen information creation means)”, and already registered as an image to be displayed on the opening screen 5a. A “correct” option for correcting the bitmap image being displayed is displayed. Here, a case where “registration” is selected will be described.

  When the [Select] key 15 is pressed in a state where “Register” is highlighted on the screen D05, an image registration screen is displayed (D06). In this screen D06, an image display area 61 for previewing the bitmap image is displayed on the left side of the screen, and the registration number N of the bitmap image is displayed on the lower right side of the screen (“1” here). The registration number N is a number associated with the regions 55a, 55b, and 55c obtained by dividing the editable region 55 into three. In this embodiment, the bitmap image with the registration number N of “1” is A bitmap image having a registration number N of “2” is assigned to an area 55a of the editable area 55, and a bitmap image having a registration number N of “3” is assigned to an editable area 55. Is assigned to the area 55c.

  When the [Select] key 15 is pressed in the state of this screen D06, an image creation screen is displayed (D07). The image creation screen is the same as a general external character creation screen, and a drawing area 63 for creating (drawing) a bitmap image is displayed on the left side of the screen. The edit cursor K2 is displayed at the dot at the upper right vertex of the drawing area 63, and the bitmap image is created using the edit cursor K2.

  On the other hand, a cursor position 64 (32 (X direction) × 32 (Y direction)) and an edit menu 65 are displayed on the right side of the image creation screen. The cursor position 64 indicates the position of the editing cursor K2 when the dot position of the lower left vertex of the drawing area 63 is “0 × 0”, and the value changes as the cursor key 13 is operated.

  The edit menu 65 has three types of “1 normal”, “2 black paint”, and “3 white paint”, and any one is selected by the user. Here, when “1 normal” is selected, the target dot information can be inverted in units of one dot. In this case, it is possible to invert black to white (or white to black) by moving the editing cursor K2 to a predetermined dot using the cursor key 13 and pressing a shift key (not shown).

  When “2 black paint” is selected, all the dot information of the dot group included in the quadrangular range having the two dots designated by the editing cursor K2 as diagonal lines can be set to black. In this case, when the shift key is pressed after the first dot is designated using the cursor key 13, one position of the diagonal line is determined. Further, when the second key is designated using the cursor key 13 and then the shift key is pressed, the other position of the diagonal line is determined, and a rectangle having the line connecting the two dots as a diagonal line is determined. All the dot groups included in the range are set to black.

  In addition, when “3 white paint” is selected, as in the case where “2 black paint” is selected, the dot group included in the rectangular range having the two dots designated by the edit cursor K2 as diagonal lines. The dot information of all can be set to white.

  On this screen D07, the user selects one of the edit menu 65 and operates the cursor key 13 or the shift key to create a bitmap image (32 dots × 32 dots) with the registration number N being “1” ( draw. After the bitmap image is created (drawn), when the [Select] key 15 is pressed, the registration of the bitmap image having the registration number N of “1” is completed, and the next bitmap image. A screen for notifying the start of creation of (a bitmap image with registration number N “2”) is displayed (D08).

  When the [Select] key 15 is pressed in the state of the screen D08, an image registration screen with the registration number N being “2” is displayed (D09). Thereafter, a bitmap image having a registration number N of “2” and a bitmap image having a registration number N of “3” are created in the same procedure as described above (D10 to D14). Then, the display of the screen D14 completes the creation of three bitmap images (bitmap images having registration numbers N of “1”, “2”, and “3”).

  Next, when the [Select] key 15 is pressed in the state of the screen D14, a message such as changing the setting of the startup screen is displayed and the screen returns to the text editing screen (D15). Here, when the power of the tape printer 1 is turned off and the power is turned on again, the bitmap images created on the screens D07, D10 and D13 are displayed in the editable area 55 of the opening screen 5a, and the non-editable area. A bitmap image (in this case, copyright information) stored in the ROM 43 (second image storage area 53) is displayed in 56 (D16). Thereby, the bitmap image uniquely created by the user can be displayed on the opening screen 5a.

  Next, a procedure for creating text data and displaying the text data on the opening screen 5a will be described with reference to the screen transition diagram of FIG. First, in the state of the screen 04 in FIG. 5, when the [↓] key 13 is pressed once, the tape printer 1 highlights “character editing” (D21). When the [Select] key 15 is pressed from the state of the screen D21, the tape printer 1 displays a character editing screen (D22). This character editing screen allows text input for two lines. In this screen D22, the tape printer 1 inputs text in accordance with the user's input operation (D23). Next, when the [Select] key 15 is pressed in the state of the screen D23, the tape printer 1 displays a message indicating that the setting of the startup screen is changed, and transitions to the text editing screen (D24). . When the tape printer 1 is turned off and then turned on again, the text created on the screen D23 is displayed in the editable area 55 on the opening screen 5a (D25). Thereby, the text data originally created by the user can be displayed on the opening screen 5a.

  Next, a procedure for changing the display time of the opening screen 5a will be described with reference to the screen transition diagram of FIG. First, when the [↓] key 13 is pressed twice in the state of the screen 04 in FIG. 5, the tape printing apparatus 1 reversely displays “display time setting (time setting means)” (D31). When the [Select] key 15 is pressed in the state of the screen D31, the tape printer 1 displays a display time setting screen (D32). On this display time setting screen, it is possible to select how many seconds the display time of the opening screen 5a is to be set. In this embodiment, the selection is made from three candidates of “1 second”, “2 seconds”, and “5 seconds”, but this is only an example, and the present invention is not limited to this.

  When the [↓] key 13 is pressed twice in the state of the screen D32, the tape printer 1 reversely displays “5 seconds” (D33). Here, when the [Select] key 15 is pressed, the tape printer 1 sets the display time of the opening screen 5a to “5 seconds” and displays that fact on the screen (D34). After the setting, when the tape printer 1 is turned on, the opening screen 5a is displayed for 5 seconds. With this display time setting, the display time of the opening screen 5a can be changed according to the user's preference.

  Next, a procedure for switching between “display” and “non-display” of the opening screen 5a will be described with reference to the screen transition diagram of FIG. The switching between “display” and “non-display” on the opening screen 5a is effective only in the editable area 55, and the bitmap image in the non-editable area 56 is set to “display” / “non-display”. Regardless, it is assumed that only the display time set above is displayed.

  First, in the state of the screen 04 in FIG. 5, when the [↓] key 13 is pressed three times, the tape printer 1 reversely displays “display state setting (display state switching means)” (D41). When the [Select] key 15 is pressed in the state of the screen D41, the tape printer 1 displays a display state setting screen (D42). On this display state setting screen, “display” for displaying the bitmap image (or text data) in the editable area 55 of the opening screen 5 a and “non-display” for not displaying can be selected.

  When the [↓] key 13 is pressed once in the state of the screen D42, the tape printing apparatus 1 displays “non-display” in reverse (D43). Here, when the [Select] key 15 is pressed, the tape printer 1 sets the editable area 55 of the opening screen 5a to be hidden and only the uneditable area 56 to be displayed. Then, that effect is displayed on the screen (D44). After this setting, when the power of the tape printer 1 is turned off and the power is turned on again, the bitmap image (or text data) displayed in the editable area 55 in the screen information storage area 51 or the first image storage area 52. Even if there is, this is not displayed, and the opening screen 5a in which the bitmap image (bitmap image in the second image storage area 53) is displayed only in the uneditable area 56 is displayed (D45). With this display state setting, the user can switch the display / non-display of the editable area 55 of the opening screen 5a according to his / her preference, for example, when the user does not want to display a screen created by the user to others. Can be turned off.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, the opening screen 5a displayed in response to the power operation of the tape printer 1 is assigned the editable area 55 that can be edited by the user and the predetermined image, and can be edited by the user. And an uneditable area 56 that cannot be edited. Then, one or more bitmap images or text data stored in the screen information storage area 51 are assigned to the editable area 55, and the opening screen 5a is generated. And this opening screen 5a is displayed with power supply operation. That is, by changing the bitmap image or text data assigned to the editable area 55, various opening screens 5a can be generated and displayed. Thereby, for example, by storing the bitmap image and text data desired by the user in the screen information storage area 51, the (user original) opening screen 5a according to the user's preference is generated and displayed. (The user can change the opening screen 5a). In addition, the predetermined image assigned to the non-editable area 56 of the opening screen 5a is an image including information important to the manufacturer, for example, an image showing copyright information (copyright), so that the copyright of the manufacturer can be increased. The user-desired opening screen 5a can be displayed while protecting.

  In the present embodiment, the size of the editable area 55 and the non-editable area 56 on the opening screen 5a is the same size (32 dots × 96 dots, respectively). The impossible area 56 may be set in a different size.

  Further, three sets of 32 × 32 dot bitmap images to be assigned to the editable area 55 are stored as a set in the screen information storage area 51, and the plurality of sets of bitmap images are stored at a predetermined time interval. By assigning each set to the editable area 55, the moving image format opening screen 5a may be generated and displayed. Thereby, for example, an opening screen 5a such as an animation (moving image) can be created by storing a plurality of sets of bitmap images having story characteristics, and an inorganic material in an electronic device such as the tape printer 1 can be created. The atmosphere can be eased.

  In this embodiment, the editable area 55 is divided into three areas 55a, 55b, and 55c of 32 dots × 32 dots, and a bitmap image of 32 dots × 32 dots is assigned to each area. For example, the opening screen 5a is created by dividing the editable area 55 into 12 areas of 16 dots × 16 dots and assigning a bitmap image of 16 dots × 16 dots to each area. May be.

  Also, a bitmap image created by an external device such as a PC (personal computer) is downloaded and stored in the flash ROM 44 (screen information storage area 51), and this is assigned to the editable area 55 to generate the opening screen 5a. Is also possible. In this case, it is preferable to provide a download-only menu so that the downloaded bitmap image is automatically assigned to each of the regions 55a, 55b, and 55c of the editable region 55.

  In the present embodiment, only the procedure for creating and displaying the opening screen 5a is described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the creation and display can be performed in the same manner on the closing screen. In this case, “change end screen” may be selected on the screen D03 in FIG.

  In the present embodiment, when the opening screen 5a is set to “hidden”, only the editable area 55 is hidden and the uneditable area 56 is always displayed regardless of the setting. On the closing screen, when “hidden” is set, the non-editable area 56 may be hidden.

  Further, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, but includes the device configuration of the tape printer 1, the screen configuration of the opening screen 5a and the closing screen, and the processing steps including the creation method and display method of the opening screen 5a and the closing screen. Changes can be made as appropriate without departing from the gist of the invention.

1 is an external perspective view of a tape printer according to an embodiment of the present invention in an open state. It is a control block diagram of the tape printer concerning one embodiment of the present invention. It is a figure explaining the screen structure of an opening screen. It is a flowchart explaining the procedure which displays an opening screen. It is a screen transition diagram explaining the procedure for displaying the created bitmap image on the opening screen. It is a screen transition diagram explaining the procedure for displaying the created bitmap image on the opening screen. It is a screen transition diagram explaining the procedure for displaying the created text on the opening screen. It is a screen transition diagram explaining the procedure for changing the display time of the opening screen. It is a screen transition diagram explaining the procedure for switching between “display” and “non-display” on the opening screen.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Tape printer 5 ... Display screen 5a ... Opening screen 51 ... Screen information storage area 52 ... 1st image storage area 53 ... 2nd image storage area 55 ... Editable area 56 ... Uneditable area

Claims (5)

A tape printer that displays at least one of an opening screen when the device is turned on and a closing screen when the device is turned off.
The opening screen and the closing screen are:
An editable area editable by the user, and a non-editable area to which a predetermined image is assigned and cannot be edited by the user,
Screen information storage means for storing at least one of one or more bitmap images, which are images in a bitmap format used for the opening screen and the closing screen, and text data;
Screen generation means for assigning any one of the stored one or more bitmap images and the text data to the editable region and generating at least one of the opening screen and the closing screen;
A tape printing apparatus comprising: display means for displaying at least one of the opening screen and the closing screen in accordance with power operation. Screen information creating means for creating at least one of the bitmap image and the text data;
The screen information storage means includes
The tape printer according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the created bitmap image and the text data is stored. A time setting means for setting a display time of each of the opening screen and the closing screen;
The display means includes
3. The tape printer according to claim 1, wherein the opening screen and the closing screen are displayed according to the setting by the time setting means. A display state switching means for switching between “display” for displaying the editable area and “non-display” for not displaying the editable area;
The display means includes
4. The tape printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein when the display state switching unit switches to “non-display”, only the predetermined image in the non-editable area is displayed. 5. . The one or more bitmap images constituting the editable area of one of the opening screen and the closing screen are set as one set,
The screen information storage means includes
Storing a plurality of sets of the one set of bitmap images;
The screen generation means includes
By assigning the plurality of sets of bitmap images one by one to the editable area at a predetermined time interval, one of the opening screen and the closing screen in a moving image format is generated,
The display means includes
5. The tape printer according to claim 1, wherein one of the generated opening screen and the closing screen is displayed. 6.

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