JP2503435B2 - Image editing equipment - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION "Industrial Application Field" The present invention uses pattern data by performing some processing on the recording device side in an image editing processing system for writing image information in a page memory prepared on the recording device side. The present invention relates to an image editing device.

“Prior Art” Document-creating devices such as word processors have recently become more sophisticated in their functions. That is, such a device, which was initially capable of editing only characters, has been able to draw an image inside a page by setting a frame within the page. In this specification, the expression format created by characters and images is referred to as text. For text, characters and symbols are created using a character code and a character generator, and other than that, an image is created using a bit pattern.

Recently, an expression format in which a circle, a curve or the like is generated using a predetermined calculation formula is also used. This will be referred to as a graphic in this specification. By using both text and graphics to edit images, complex image representation can be performed more easily. As a device for expressing an image, there is a recording device such as a laser printer.

By the way, in image editing processing systems, text editing and graphic editing are often performed under different concepts. For example, assume that there is a square graphic as shown in FIG. Fig. 7 shows the editing area in which this graphic exists in part, with the text "Ai ..." added in the landscape horizontal writing state, and Fig. 8 shows the same sentence written vertically in the landscape. It was added in the state. In addition, Fig. 9 shows the same text portrait added vertically.
Figure 10 shows the portrait added horizontally.

In this way, while the text is edited differently depending on the layout of the paper to be printed out and the directionality of the characters, the graphic is always edited the same on the paper.

 However, one problem occurs here.

Now, as shown in FIG. 11, it is assumed that a predetermined area 1 is filled with a pattern (filling pattern) 2 which is formed by repeating a chain line. In this figure, an arrow indicates a bitmap memory 3 in which this image information is written as a bit pattern.
Represents the direction in which is read. At this time,
The origin of the coordinates of the bitmap memory 3 is at the position of the black circle (●) 4 shown in the lower left as shown in the figure, which is the horizontal writing state in the landscape.

On the other hand, FIG. 12 shows a vertical writing state in the landscape, and the origin of the coordinates of the bitmap memory 3 is the position of the black circle 5 in the lower right of this figure. Since the coordinates change in the bitmap memory 3 in this way, when the area 1 is filled with the same filling pattern 2 as in FIG. 11, the pattern directions are different by 90 degrees as a result.

Since it is necessary to prevent such an inconvenience and to express an identical image in terms of graphics, conventionally, the same filling pattern is prepared in two different ways at different angles. Therefore, if the number of types of fill patterns increases,
There is a problem that the memory required for these storages requires a large capacity and the image editing method becomes expensive and large.

Therefore, the present inventors have devised to rotate the pattern by 90 degrees on the recording device side when changing from vertical writing to horizontal writing, for example. In this method, when the recording apparatus prepares only a vertical writing pattern, the pattern is rotated each time to create a horizontal writing pattern.

[Problem to be Solved by the Invention] However, according to the present invention, when the area that is the pattern for horizontal writing is filled and then the other areas are also instructed to be filled with the same pattern, the pattern is rotated again. There is a problem in that it is necessary to perform an operation, and a relatively long time is spent in a preparation operation for recording.

The above is a case where the recording device side does not prepare two types of patterns for vertical writing and horizontal writing, but the same problem occurs when the host side creates and prints an entirely new pattern. . That is, even when a new pattern is used a plurality of times, transferring the bit pattern each time has a problem of prolonging the processing time.

Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide an image editing apparatus capable of efficiently processing a pattern used multiple times.

"Means for Solving Problems" In the present invention, a pattern storing means for registering pattern data representing an image and a pattern number associated with the pattern data, and an instruction to use the pattern data after predetermined processing are received. When the processed pattern data corresponding to the pattern number sent from the host side later is not registered in the pattern storage means, the unprocessed pattern data corresponding to the pattern number is read from the pattern storage means Pattern data processing means for processing,
When there is a required amount of free space in the pattern storage means, the processed pattern data processed by this pattern data processing means is registered in that area, and when there is no required amount of free area, the old one is erased. Registration means for registering the processed pattern data, and processed pattern data corresponding to the pattern number sent from the host side after receiving an instruction to perform predetermined processing on the pattern data and use it are registered in the pattern storage means. In this case, the processed pattern data reading means for reading the processed pattern data of the pattern number from the pattern storage means and the unprocessed pattern data to be subjected to the predetermined processing by the pattern processing means are registered in the pattern storage means. If there is not, the transfer request means for requesting the transfer of the pattern data to the host side is provided with the image editing It is not provided in the. That is, the processed pattern data is stored in advance, and the processed pattern data stored when the same pattern number is received is read and used. When the area for storing the processed pattern is insufficient, the old areas are erased to create a free area. Further, when the original pattern data is not present in the registration area due to deletion or the like, a transfer request for the pattern data is made to the host side.

[Examples] The present invention will be described in detail below with reference to Examples.

FIG. 2 shows the configuration of the image editing apparatus in one embodiment of the present invention. Here, the image editing apparatus will be described by taking a laser printer as an example. This laser printer 11
Can be roughly divided into an image supply unit 12 and a recording unit 13. The image supply unit 12 and the recording unit 13 both receive power from the power supply unit 14 and perform predetermined operations. Of these, the image supply unit
12 receives code information 15 etc. sent from a Japanese word processor or a personal computer and creates a video signal. Then, while receiving the supply of the video clock 16 and the synchronization signal 17 from the recording unit 13, the video signal 18 is transmitted and the recording unit 13 performs the recording operation. With the recording operation,
The image supply unit 12 sends a command 21 to the recording unit 13,
The recording unit 13 returns the status 22. In this way, a recording image is created by the recording unit 13, and the recorded paper 23 is discharged outside the apparatus.

This laser printer 11 is equipped with an operation panel 25,
When the operator operates various switches on this panel, the switch operation information 26 is supplied to the image supply unit 12, and desired control is performed. Further, information to be transmitted necessary for recording of the laser printer 11 is supplied from the image supply unit 12 to the operation panel 25 and displayed on the display unit thereof.

FIG. 3 shows the details of the image supply unit of such a laser printer. Image supply unit 12 is a controller
Equipped with 31. A CPU (central processing unit) 32 is arranged in the controller 31, and image editing work is performed by a program written in a program ROM (read only memory) 33. A RAM (random access memory) 34, a PIO (parallel input output) 35, and a DMAC (DMA controller) 36 are prepared for this control. The controller 31 is connected to the CPU bus 37 together with other devices of the image supply unit 12, and performs data transfer and address control.

Other devices connected to the CPU bus 37 include an interface unit 41 for communicating with a host or the like, an interface unit 42 with the operation panel 25, and synchronization for transferring a video signal to the recording unit 13. There are respective interface units of the interface unit 43 for. In addition, a character pattern ROM4 that generates a character pattern corresponding to the character code
4, a bitmap memory 46 that writes image information by a bit pattern, an image handler 47 that generates an image to be written in the bitmap memory 46, and a memory controller 48 that controls the access timing to the bitmap memory 46. Is also connected to the CPU bus 37.

FIG. 4 shows the main part of the recording section of this laser printer. The recording unit 13 uses a photosensitive drum 51, which is irradiated with a laser beam to form an electrostatic latent image and create a recorded image. This process will be described below.

First, the laser beam 53 emitted from the laser oscillator 52
Is polarized by the polarizer 54, and the laser beam modulator
It is incident on 55. The laser beam modulator 55 has its input terminal
A bit serial video signal is supplied to 56, and the plane of polarization of the laser beam rotates in response to the electro-optical effect, for example. A polarizer 57 is arranged in the optical path on the exit side of the laser beam modulator 55, and the passage of the laser beam 53 is controlled as a so-called electric shutter.

The laser beam 58 that selectively passes according to the state of the video signal is incident on a polygon mirror (rotating polygonal mirror) 61 that rotates at a high speed by a motor 59, and the reflection direction of the polygon mirror (rotating polygonal mirror) 61 changes with a predetermined period as the mirror surface rotates. Change with. The reflected laser beam 62 passes through a condenser lens 63 and passes through the photosensitive drum.
Reach 51 above. At this time, the laser beam 62 is indicated by an arrow in the figure.
The image is exposed line by line by scanning in 64 directions.

Like the electrostatic copying machine, the photosensitive drum 51 has a developing device 66, a transfer corotron (transfer device) 67, and the like arranged around it. When the rotation shaft 68 of the photosensitive drum 51 is rotated at a constant speed in the direction of an arrow 69 by a drive motor (not shown), the drum surface is uniformly charged by a charge corotron (charger) (not shown), and the laser beam scans this surface. To do. As a result, the charge on the surface of the drum disappears in the area irradiated with light, and an electrostatic latent image is formed. The formed electrostatic latent image is developed by the developing device 66 to form a toner image. This toner image is transferred to the recording paper 71 passing between the transfer corotron 67 and the photosensitive drum 51, and fixed by a fixing device (not shown).

In the vicinity of the photosensitive drum 51 shown in FIG. 4, sensors 74 and 75 are arranged at positions substantially corresponding to both ends of the area scanned by the laser beam 62. One sensor 74 is a detector for determining the scanning start position of the image information on the photosensitive drum 51, and the other sensor 75 is a detector for detecting the end of scanning. These sensors 74 and 75 control the transfer timing of the video signal applied to the laser beam modulator 55.

By the way, FIG. 1 schematically shows an interface between the laser printer and the host computer in this embodiment.

When the host 81 such as a Japanese word processor instructs the laser printer 11 as a recording device to record a new pattern, (i) pattern data as a bit pattern of the pattern and a pattern number for specifying the pattern. And transfer. Laser printer 11 is the third
As shown in the figure, the RAM 34 is provided, and an area (hereinafter referred to as a registration area) for writing a new pattern and pattern data corresponding to the new pattern is provided therein. The pattern data and the pattern number will be written in this registration area.

The host 81 stores which pattern data has been transferred to the laser printer 11, and (ii) when the same pattern is to be used again, only the pattern number is transmitted. The laser printer reads desired pattern data from the registration area based on the pattern number.

FIG. 5 shows the flow of processing performed by the image editing apparatus of this embodiment. When the data is transferred from the host 81, the CPU 32 on the laser printer 11 side determines whether or not the data includes pattern data (step). If the pattern data exists, it relates to a pattern not prepared on the laser printer 11 side.

Therefore, in this case, the CPU 32 first checks whether the above-mentioned registration area of the RAM 33 is over (step), and if it is not over, selects an empty portion of the registration area and transfers the pattern data and the pattern transferred. Write the number. Then, this pattern data is read (step) and desired editing processing is performed (step).

On the other hand, when the registered area exceeds (step; Y), new pattern data and pattern number are written in the area corresponding to the oldest written pattern data and pattern number pair, and old data is sorted. Is performed (step).

In this way, once the pattern data is transferred, the host skips the transfer of the pattern data and only transfers the pattern number. In this case (step;
N), the CPU 32 determines whether or not the pattern number exists in the registration area. This is because, as described above, there is a possibility that the already registered pattern has been erased due to the memory capacity of the registration area.

If there is a corresponding pattern number in the registration area (Y), the pattern data is read (step) and the editing process is performed (step). On the other hand, if the corresponding pattern number does not exist in the registration area, CPU32
Requests the transfer of the pattern data to the host 81 side (step).

If a recording device having only vertical writing pattern data is used to create horizontal writing pattern data by rotating the pattern, when the host 81 sends out a pattern number, the vertical writing pattern is read and 90
Create a horizontal pattern by rotating it once. Then, this is written in the registration area as pattern data in correspondence with the pattern number, and when the pattern number is next sent, the corresponding pattern data is immediately read.

“Effect of the Invention” As described above, according to the present invention, when a processed pattern is already registered, the processed pattern that is registered without being processed again is used. The processing time can be shortened. If there is not enough free space to store the processed pattern, the old processed pattern is erased and a new processed pattern is registered. Can also register the pattern currently required. Further, when the unprocessed pattern to be processed has been erased, the host is requested to transfer the pattern, so it is not necessary to always store the unprocessed pattern. Therefore, the unprocessed pattern can be erased to create the empty area, and the storage area of the pattern storage means can be effectively used to store the required pattern. Further, since the oldest ones are erased in order, there are cases where both unprocessed and processed ones of the same pattern are stored in the pattern storage means.
For example, even when they are used alternately, there is an advantage that the total processing time can be shortened without having to perform processing and transfer each time.

[Brief description of drawings]

1 to 5 are for explaining one embodiment of the present invention, in which FIG. 1 is an explanatory view schematically showing an interface between a laser printer and a host computer in this embodiment. 2 is a block diagram showing the outline of the image editing apparatus, FIG. 3 is a block diagram of the image supply unit of the apparatus, and FIG. 4 is a schematic configuration diagram of the recording unit of the apparatus.
FIG. 5 is a flow chart showing the flow of processing performed by the image editing apparatus, FIG. 6 is an explanatory view showing an edit area in which a graphic exists, and FIG. 7 shows text added to this edit area in the state of landscape horizontal writing. An explanatory view showing an example, FIG. 8 is a plan view showing an example in which text is added to the edit area shown in FIG. 6 in the landscape horizontal writing state, and FIG. 9 is a view showing text added to the edit area shown in FIG. FIG. 10 is an explanatory view showing an example in which portraits are vertically written, FIG. 10 is an explanatory view showing an example in which text is added to the editing area shown in FIG. 6 in portrait horizontal writings, and FIG. 11 is An explanatory view showing an example in which a predetermined filling pattern is filled in the landscape horizontal writing state, FIG. 12 is an explanatory view showing a case where the filling is performed in the landscape vertical writing state without changing the direction of the filling pattern And . 11 …… Laser printer, 12 …… Image supply unit, 32 …… CP
U, 33 …… Program ROM, 34 …… RAM (Registration area), 46
...... Bitmap memory (page memory), 47 …… Image handler, 81 …… Host.

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] 1. A pattern storage means for registering pattern data representing an image and a pattern number associated with the pattern data, and a pattern sent from the host side after receiving an instruction to apply a predetermined processing to the pattern data and use it. When the processed pattern data corresponding to the number is not registered in the pattern storage means, the unprocessed pattern data corresponding to the pattern number is read from the pattern storage means and the predetermined processing is applied to the pattern data processing means. When there is a required amount of free space in the pattern storage means, the processed pattern data after being processed by the pattern data processing means is registered in that area, and when there is no required amount of free space, the old one is deleted. Registration means for erasing and registering processed pattern data, and the predetermined processing for pattern data When the processed pattern data corresponding to the pattern number sent from the host side after receiving the instruction to be used is registered in the pattern storage means, the processed pattern of the pattern number from the pattern storage means Processed pattern data reading means for reading data, and when unprocessed pattern data to be subjected to the predetermined processing by the pattern processing means is not registered in the pattern storage means, transfer the pattern data to the host side. An image editing apparatus comprising: a transfer requesting unit for requesting. 2. The image editing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined processing is processing for rotating a direction of pattern data.