JP2661224B2 - Memory expansion method - Google Patents

Description

Description: BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a method for expanding a memory of a digital image processing apparatus, and more particularly to a method of expanding an image memory suitable for a control device of an output device such as a laser printer.

[Conventional technology]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there is a method of securing two or more page memories for storing image data, simultaneously developing and outputting data, and printing at high speed by using separate page contents. No. 2314). That is, in the above method, while printing the image information of one image memory, the received data is stored in another image memory,
By performing a printing operation even during data reception, the waiting time is eliminated, and the number of prints per unit time is increased.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a conventional method of using a page memory having two pages.

As described above, by using the method of storing the image data received on the first page of the second page and simultaneously outputting the image data stored on the second page to the printer, and performing this operation alternately, High-speed printing operation is possible.

In this case, when one memory is divided and used, for example, for two pages, as shown in FIG.
Divide address 80000H from address 0H into two and divide page 1 into 00000H
Use from address and use the second page from address 40000H. Here, for example, in the case of a high-resolution printer of A3 size and 400 dpi, one page requires 3.2 Mbytes, and
1 page is 1M for 240 dpi low resolution printer with A3
Requires bytes. Therefore, the memory of FIG. 4 is not fully implemented, and only the lower resolution printer is implemented for two printers having different resolutions.
The printer with the higher resolution is not implemented. Since this memory has an unmounted area, it can be expanded when used for a high-resolution printer.

When securing two pages of page memory of a low-resolution printer, 1 Mbyte from address 00000H and 1 Mbyte from address 40000H are usually mounted as shown in FIG.

By the way, in order for the mounting memory as shown in FIG. 4 to be compatible with a high-resolution printer as it is, furthermore,
Since it is necessary to add 3 MB each, from address 00000H
4M bytes from address 3FFFFH and 4M bytes from address 40000H to address 7FFFFH will be implemented.

In this case, since one memory is used and two pages are used, two storage controls cannot be performed at the same time. Therefore, simultaneous processing such as performing output processing on one side and output processing on the other side is of course impossible. is there. Further, since the mounting area is discontinuous at the address of 40,000H, very complicated control is required at the time of development and output. That is,
At the time of development, the memory control must be frequently moved to the high address side and the low address side near the mounting boundary (addresses 0FFFFH to 40000H). Also, when outputting, usually DM
Data is sent to the laser printer by A transfer, but an address determination condition is required when setting a transfer start address. Such a conditional expression is not usually necessary.

On the other hand, another method for adding memory to a minicomputer has been proposed (for example, see Japanese Patent Publication No. 56-52347). In this method, the minicomputer incorporates a small-capacity memory, but can be connected to a memory module having an arbitrary capacity by connecting a plurality of plug-ins.
This allows memory expansion.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of a conventional memory expansion method by plug-in connection.

When a memory is added by a minicomputer, for example, as shown in FIG. 5 (a), when connecting memory modules 53, 54 and 55 having different capacities to the built-in memory by plug-in connection, first, A start address for one memory module 53 is set, and then the number of memory cells in each memory module 53, 54, 55, the end address of each memory module 53, 54, 55, and the next memory module in the series By setting 54 and 55 start addresses, continuous addressing is performed. In this way, the computer can automatically and continuously assign addresses irrespective of the memory capacity of the added memory module. After the CPU 51 performs the initial setting, as shown in FIG.
Assign consecutive addresses in the order of 3,54,55.

According to this method, when memory expansion is performed by the minicomputer, the computer can automatically and continuously assign the memory regardless of the memory capacity of the board to be expanded. However, this method is effective only when it is used as one page of the page memory, and is not considered until it is used as divided into two pages.

[Problems to be solved by the invention]

As described above, conventionally, when the controller stores image data to be output to the laser printer in the page memory,
RA over the entire address area allocated as page memory
When M is not mounted, two pages are secured in one memory, and data development and output to a printer are performed. When used as a page memory of a high-resolution printer, it is necessary to add each page memory. However, when the page memory is used by dividing it into two pages, when it is used for one page, and when the mounted memory is further expanded, the addresses of the memory become discontinuous. The address had to be largely moved, and complicated control was required at the time of development and output.

An object of the present invention is to solve such a conventional problem. Even when the page memory is divided into two pages, used as one page, or when the mounted memory is added, the address of the memory is increased. It is an object of the present invention to provide a memory expansion method which is effective in image data expansion processing and can be easily added or changed.

[Means for solving the problem]

To achieve the above object, a memory expansion method of the present invention is connected to a digital output device including a laser beam printer, and controls the digital output device. When the maximum address is M, it is smaller than M,
On the basis of a predetermined memory address larger than the minimum address 0, a set of memory blocks is mounted on both upper and lower sides of the memory address. One set each for the direction in which the address becomes smaller and the direction in which the address becomes larger,
It is characterized in that memory blocks are sequentially added so that the overall addresses of the mounted memory at the time of completion of addition are continuous.

[Action]

In the present invention, when a control device that outputs image data to a laser beam printer or the like is used to expand and expand a memory mounted on a page memory for storing image data, or when a page memory is used as two pages, Based on an arbitrary address in the middle of the final address from the address, the mounting memory is sequentially increased in the direction in which the address becomes smaller and in the direction in which the address becomes larger, and in the direction in which the address becomes smaller and the direction in which the address becomes larger. Used for 2 pages.

Thereby, when the memory is not mounted in the entire address area allocated as the page memory, this page memory can be divided into two pages and used, or
Even when used as pages, the addresses are arranged so that the mounted memory is continuous. In addition, even when an additional memory is added, an additional memory arranged so that addresses of the memory are continuous can be added.

〔Example〕

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an address arrangement of a page memory and a method of adding a page memory according to the present invention, and FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of a memory use method according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 shows a case where the page memory area is 8 Mbytes in total. This is because a memory capacity of about 3.2 Mbytes is required at a resolution of 400 bpi with the size of A3, so that a memory capacity equivalent to two pages is required with one page being 4 Mbytes.

A case will be described in which a control device having this page memory is compatible with three types of printers (240, 300, and 400 dpi) having different resolutions. First, FIG. 3A shows a case where two pages of image memory are mounted for a printer of A3 and a resolution of 240 dpi. 3FFFFH from address 00000H
4M bytes to address 1st page, 70000 from address 40000H
It is assumed that 4 MB up to the address FH is the second page. Now, since the capacity of the image memory of a printer with a resolution of 240 dpi in A3 is sufficient for one page of 1 Mbyte, in FIG. 3A, the memory of 1 Mbyte is mounted on each of the first page and the second page. ing. In that case, the first page is 30
1M bytes from address 000H to address 3FFFFH, 2nd page
Each is implemented in a 1Mbyte memory area from address 40000H to address 4FFFFH. By doing so, there is no discontinuity between the mounted memories of the first page and the second page, so that 2 Mbytes of mounted memory from addresses 30000H to 4FFFFH can be used continuously. For example, FIG.
When this device is connected to a printer with a resolution of 300 dpi in the memory mounting state shown in
A3, a page memory for one page can be secured. Also at this time, since there is no discontinuity in the memory as it is, the image development control can be performed in a continuous page memory area starting from the address 30000H.

FIGS. 6 (a) and 6 (b) show the above-mentioned method of using the memory. (A) shows a case where the memory is divided into two banks, and while image data from the CPU is stored in one bank, image data is read from the other bank and output to the printer. At present, the memory B is printed, and the image data is stored in the memory A. (B) shows a case where the memory is treated as one bank in the state of (a), and the memory is continuously read and output to a laser beam printer (LBP).

As described above, in the case where the memory for printing on the laser beam printer (LBP) has two banks, if the boundaries of each bank are continuous, it can be treated as one bank.

Next, consider the case of memory expansion. In this example, when the 8-Mbyte memory is divided into two, and one page of A3, 240 dpi is mounted on each, and a total of two pages are mounted, and then each is expanded and expanded to two pages of A3, 300 dpi State.

For the memory mounted in FIG.
If the memory of each page is further increased by 1 Mbyte, both pages become 2 Mbytes, and a memory area for two pages can be secured at A3,300 dpi. In this embodiment, in this case, as shown in FIG. 3 (b), a method of extending the original mounting state on both sides is adopted. That is, the extension of the first page is 1 byte from the address 20,000H to 2FFFFH, and the extension of the second page is 5FFFFH from the address 50,000H.
The address is 1 MB. By this addition, on the first page, a memory area corresponding to A3,300 dpi can be secured starting from the address 20000H.
Starting from address 000H, a memory area of the same plate type and density can be secured.

6 (c) and (d) when adding a memory boat
Shown in As shown in FIG. 6 (c), an additional memory board
In the case where memory expansion is performed by adding C and D to the original memories A and B, as shown in FIG. 6 (d), the additional memory D is added in the direction of a larger address than the memory B. ,
The additional memory C is added in the direction where the address is smaller than the memory A. As a result, the addresses of the additional memories C and D are
It becomes continuous with memories A and B, respectively. As a result, even when the memory boards C, A, B and D are continuously printed as shown in FIG. 6 (b), since the boundaries are continuous, the operation is continuously performed without stopping. Is very convenient.

That is, if the apparatus is connected to a printer of 400 dpi in the state of the mounting memory shown in FIG. 3B, a page memory of A3, 1 page can be secured with a mounting memory of 4 Mbytes. At this time, since there is no discontinuity in the memory, the image development control can be performed in a continuous page memory area starting from the address 20000H.

FIG. 1 is a connection diagram of a memory expansion address decoder and a memory block according to an embodiment of the present invention.

In FIG. 1, 21 is an address decoder, 22 is a memory block group, A and A 'are basic memory blocks, B, B', C,
C ', D, D' are additional memory blocks, A20, A21, A
22 is a memory block decoding address line, and SELECT is a memory selection signal.

When A and A 'are used as basic memory blocks and mounted on the boundary of the divided memory,
Each of them is sequentially added in groups of B, B ', C, C', D, D '. In this case, when the size of the memory is 8 Mbytes, the basic memory block allocates addresses 30000H to 4FFFFH to A and A 'centering on address 40000H which is an intermediate portion. And, in the first expansion, addresses 20,000H-2FFFFH and 50,000H-5F
Address FFFH is assigned to B and B '. For the next expansion, 10000H ~ 1
Addresses FFFFH and 60000H to 6FFFFH are assigned to C and C '. In the last extension, addresses 0000H to 0FFFFH and 70000H to 7FFFFH are assigned to D and D '. Then, with the basic blocks A and A 'at the center, the mounting memory blocks are sequentially added to the upper and lower sides on a set-by-set basis in the direction in which the address increases and in the direction in which the address decreases. This allows
There is no discontinuity in the addresses of the mounted memory.

When only the basic memory block is mounted, an 8-bit block head address is input through three address lines A20, A21, and A22, and the data is decoded by the decoder 21.
A and A 'are assigned, and a memory selection signal SELECT is input to make the memory blocks A and A' valid. At the time of expansion, similarly, input the respective top addresses of the expansion blocks B and B 'via the address lines A20, A21 and A22, decode the data at the decoder 21, and simultaneously input the memory selection signal SELECT to the memory block.
Enable B and B '. In this way, blocks are sequentially added on both sides in the direction of larger addresses and in the direction of smaller addresses, and expansion is performed.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a printer control device using the memory expansion method of the present invention.

In FIG. 2, reference numeral 1 denotes a CPU for developing image data in a page memory of a printer control device; 4, a ROM for storing a program to be executed by the CPU 1; RAM for storing the result data, 2 is a host machine that sends print codes to the laser beam printer, 3 is a host machine and CP
A host interface 6 with U1 is a display processor unit (DPU) provided exclusively for the printer control device and for developing image data in a page memory. 7 to 10 are printer control devices, 7 is a control unit which incorporates the address decoder 21 shown in FIG. 1 and performs read / write control of a memory, 8 is a first page memory, 9
Is the second page memory, 10 is the interface with the laser beam printer, 11 is the laser beam printer (LBP)
It is.

When the printer 11 is activated by an input / output command from the CPU 1, the print code sent from the host machine 2 is alternately stored in the first page memory 8 and the second page memory via the memory read / write controller 7. Store. And
Code data stored in page memory 8 or 9 is stored in CP
The U1 or the DPU 6 performs the developing process, and during that time, reads out the data from the other page memory 9 or 8 and transfers it to the printer 11, thereby performing the printing process.

In the first page memory 8 and the second page memory 9, two pages of data are stored at continuous addresses according to the present invention, and the storage and development operation and the printing operation are alternately repeated.
When the page memories 8 and 9 are used, since all the stored data are continuous, the division use is easy and the software control is easy, so that the processing of developing the image data does not become complicated. Even when the memories 8 and 9 are added, it is possible to respond immediately by simply moving the top address of the page memory.

〔The invention's effect〕

As described above, according to the present invention, when memory is stored, in order to prevent discontinuity in the address of the mounted memory, when used as a page memory, the entire use and the divided use can be easily performed. Image data expansion processing can be performed effectively. Also, when expanding the memory, it is only necessary to move the top address of the page memory.
Immediate response is possible, and the change of the address line is easy, so that the effect on utilization is great.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a connection diagram of an address decoder and a memory block when a memory is added, showing one embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a printer control device using the memory adding method of the present invention, and FIG. FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of a memory expansion method according to the present invention, FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of a conventional memory expansion method, FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of a conventional memory expansion method, and FIG. It is a figure showing a method. 1: CPU, 2: Host machine, 3: Host interface, 4: R
OM, 5: RAM, 6: DPU (display processor unit), 7: memory read / write controller, 8: first page memory, 9: second page memory, 10: LBP interface, 1
1: LBP (laser beam printer), 21: memory selector,
22: Memory block group.

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. A method for expanding a memory of a control device which is connected to a digital output device including a laser beam printer and has a built-in page memory for controlling the digital output device, wherein a maximum address of the page memory is set to M. At this time, a set of memory blocks is mounted on both upper and lower sides of the memory address with reference to a predetermined memory address smaller than the M and larger than the minimum address 0,
When the mounting memory is added, memory blocks are sequentially added one by one in the direction in which the address becomes smaller and in the direction in which the address becomes larger than the one set of memory blocks, and the entire mounting memory at the time of completion of the addition is added. Memory expansion method characterized in that general addresses are consecutive.