JP2752816B2 - Printer device - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a printer device, and more particularly to a method of storing a character pattern when using characters of several types and character sizes.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as shown in FIG. 5, when a computer system including a printer device 8 is started up, a character typeface, a character size, a character code and a character pattern are transferred to a host device prior to a printing operation, as shown in FIG. It is received from a host computer (not shown) via the interface 7.

In the printer device 8, the character pattern storage units 10 to 13 and the character pattern storage table 1 corresponding to the character font and character size received from the host computer are used.
4 to 17 are selected. Character patterns are stored in the selected character pattern storage units 10 to 13, and the selected character pattern storage tables 14 to 17 are stored in the selected character pattern storage tables 14 to 17 based on the character codes.
The character pattern storage table created to obtain the storage address in No. 3 is stored.

During operation of the system, corresponding character pattern storage units 10 to 13 and character pattern storage tables 14 to 17 are selected from character types (character typefaces) transmitted from the host computer. After that, the storage addresses of the character patterns corresponding to the character codes transmitted from the host computer are stored in the character pattern storage tables 14 to 14.
17, the character pattern corresponding to the character code is read from the character pattern storage units 10 to 13 according to the storage address. The character patterns read from the character pattern storage units 10 to 13 are printed by the printing mechanism unit 6 under the control of the printing mechanism control unit 5.

The above control is performed by the main control unit 9, and the printing mechanism control unit 5, the host device interface 7, and the character pattern storage units 10 to 1 are connected via the main bus 100.
3 and character pattern storage tables 14 to 17 are connected to the main controller 9 respectively. Here, the printer device 8 is a device capable of printing two types of character sizes for a Mincho 8K character and a Gothic 8K character.

In such a conventional printer, the character pattern storage units 10 to 13 and the character pattern storage tables 14 to 17 are prepared in advance for Mincho 8K characters and Gothic 8K characters. There is a drawback that a character pattern cannot be registered by changing the number or the combination of the number of characters.

When it is necessary to print a character font or a character of a character size not stored in the character pattern storage units 10 to 13 after the computer system is started up, the printer device 8 prints the characters necessary for print output. Since the pattern is not registered, there is a drawback that printing cannot be performed.

[0008]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to eliminate the above-mentioned drawbacks of the prior art, and can freely set the character type, the number of characters, and the character size without changing the hardware configuration. It is intended to provide a printer device.

[0009]

The printer apparatus according to the present invention SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION] comprises a character pattern storage means for storing the dot image of the character pattern to be printed, necessary to register the character pattern et
When the rear cannot be secured in the character pattern storage means,
Notification to that effect,
Request font type information, character size information and number of characters
Means for dividing a storage area of the character pattern storage means in accordance with character information from the higher-level device including at least the typeface information, character size information, and the number of characters; and Storage control means for controlling to store a dot image of the character pattern in a storage area corresponding to character information attached to the character pattern sent from the higher-level device in the divided storage areas; and and having a read control means for controlling so that the storage area corresponding to the character information associated with the print data sent reading dot image of the character pattern.

[0010]

Next, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of one embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, when starting up a computer system including its own device, a printer device 1 transmits a character type, a character size, the number of characters, a character code and a character pattern via a host device interface 7 (shown in FIG. 1) prior to a printing operation. Zu).

The printer device 1 secures a necessary memory amount in the character pattern storage unit 3 and the character pattern storage table 4 based on the character typeface, character size, and number of characters received from the host computer. In the reserved area of the character pattern storage unit 3, the dot image of the character pattern is stored, and in the reserved area of the character pattern storage table 4, the character pattern storage unit 3 of the corresponding character pattern is reserved from the character code. A character pattern storage table created to obtain a storage address in the area is stored.

At the time of system operation, based on the character font and character size transmitted from the host computer,
A required table is selected from the character pattern storage unit 3 and the character pattern storage table 4. Thereafter, the storage address of the character pattern corresponding to the character code transmitted from the host computer is obtained from the character pattern storage table 4, and the dot address of the character pattern corresponding to the character code is stored in the character pattern storage unit 3 by the storage address. Under the control of the printing mechanism control unit 5 to print a dot image of the character pattern.
Do with.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of division of the character pattern storage unit 3 of FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of division of the character pattern storage table 4 of FIG. In these figures,
When two types of character sizes are to be stored for the Mincho 8K character and the Gothic 8K character, respectively, the character pattern storage unit 3 stores the character pattern storage area 3 for Mincho 1
1, a character pattern storage area 32 for Mincho style 2, a character pattern storage area 33 for Gothic style 1, and a character pattern storage area 34 for Gothic style 2.
The character pattern storage table 4 corresponds to each area of the character pattern storage unit 3 and includes a character pattern storage table 41 for Mincho 1, a character pattern storage table 42 for Mincho 2, and a Gothic 1. Character pattern storage table 4
3 and a character pattern storage table 44 for Gothic body 2 are each secured.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a character pattern registration process according to one embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, the character type is Mincho, the character size is "1", and the character code is "xxx".
When the character pattern is registered, the storage address of the character pattern in the character pattern storage unit 3 is stored in the character pattern storage table 41 for Mincho 1 in the character pattern storage table 4, and the character pattern is stored in the character pattern storage unit 3. Is stored in the character pattern storage area 31 for Mincho style.

The operation of the embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. When the computer system is started up, the printer device 1 performs a character pattern storage process prior to a printing operation.

When the printer device 1 becomes communicable with the host computer after completion of the self-diagnosis, the host computer issues a character registration command including information such as the number of fonts, the character size, and the number of characters of the character pattern to be transmitted from the host computer. It is received via the device interface 7.
When the printer device 1 receives the character registration command, the main control unit 2 secures necessary memory amounts in the character pattern storage unit 3 and the character pattern storage table 4 based on the character registration command, The pattern storage table 4 is initialized.

For example, in the case where two types of character sizes are to be stored for Mincho-style 8K characters and Gothic-type 8K characters, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3,
The character pattern storage unit 3 and the character pattern storage table 4 are divided. That is, the main control unit 2 stores the character pattern storage area 31 for Mincho style 1, the character pattern storage area 32 for Mincho style 2 and the Gothic style 1
And a character pattern storage area for Gothic body 2 are secured. Similarly, the main control unit 2 stores a character pattern storage table 41 for Mincho style 1 and a character pattern storage table 42 for Mincho style 2 in the character pattern storage table 4 corresponding to each area of the character pattern storage unit 3. Gothic type 1 character pattern storage table 4
3 and a Gothic 2 character pattern storage table 44 are secured.

At this time, if a necessary area cannot be ensured by registering a character pattern exceeding the storage capacity of the character pattern storage unit 3 or the character pattern storage table 4, the main control unit 2 sends the host computer via the host device interface 7 to the host computer. To the host computer, and the host computer again transmits information such as the number of fonts, the character size, and the number of characters of the character pattern to be transmitted.

Next, the main control unit 2 stores a character pattern storage unit 3
When the division processing and the initialization processing of the character pattern storage table 4 are completed, the registration processing of the character pattern in the printer 1 is performed. In order to register a character pattern in the printer device 1, it is necessary to receive a character pattern, a character size, and character type information for at least one character of the character pattern from the host computer.

The main control unit 2 selects a table to be used from the character pattern storage unit 3 and the character pattern storage table 4 based on the character type and character size received from the host computer. After that, the main control unit 2 determines in the table of the selected character pattern storage table 4 that
The storage address of the character pattern is stored at a position corresponding to the character code received from the host computer. Finally, the main control unit 2 stores the character pattern in the character pattern storage unit 3 based on the storage address of the character pattern. By performing this process a required number of times, the character pattern storage process ends (see FIG. 4).

When the printer 1 prints out during system operation, when the print data transmitted from the host computer is received via the host device interface 7, the main control unit 2 executes the character font in the print data from the host computer. Then, a required table is selected from the character pattern storage unit 3 and the character pattern storage table 4 based on the character size. Thereafter, the main control unit 2 obtains the storage address of the character pattern from the selected character pattern storage table 4, retrieves the character pattern corresponding to the character code from the character pattern storage unit 3, and specifies the designated printing position. Then, the dot image of the character pattern is developed and the printing mechanism unit 6 prints out the character pattern.

On the other hand, after the end of a certain printing operation, it is necessary to use a character font not currently registered in the printer 1 or a character size not registered in the printer 1 for the next print output. In this case, the printer 1 adds or re-registers the character pattern.

When adding a character pattern, the main control unit 2 receives the character pattern addition information from the host computer, and determines whether or not there is an empty area in the character pattern storage unit 3 and the character pattern storage table 4. When determining that there is a free area, the main control unit 2 secures a character pattern storage area and a character pattern storage table of a character pattern to be added to each of the free areas of the character pattern storage unit 3 and the character pattern storage table 4. Thereafter, the main control unit 2 stores the character pattern to be added and the storage address of the character pattern in the character pattern storage area and the character pattern storage table, respectively, in a manner similar to the above-described processing.

On the other hand, if the main control unit 2 determines that there is no free area, the character pattern stored in the character pattern storage unit 3 and the character pattern stored in the character pattern storage table 4 and the storage address thereof are used to determine the unnecessary character pattern and its storage address. Is deleted, and the character pattern to be added and the storage address thereof are stored in the areas of the deleted character pattern storage unit 3 and character pattern storage table 4, respectively.
Note that the re-registration of the character pattern is performed in the same manner as the above-described processing.

As described above, when starting up the computer system, the amount of memory required for the character pattern storage unit 3 and the character pattern storage table 4 is determined based on information such as the character type, character size, and number of characters received from the host computer. The table to be used is selected from the character pattern storage unit 3 and the character pattern storage table 4 based on the character type and character size received from the host computer, and is located at a position corresponding to the character code received from the host computer. By storing the storage address of the character pattern and storing the character pattern in the character pattern storage unit 3 based on the storage address of the character pattern, the character font and the number of characters can be changed without changing the hardware configuration. And font size can be set freely Door can be.

In addition, when adding or re-registering a character pattern, it is determined whether or not there is an empty area in the character pattern storage unit 3 and the character pattern storage table 4. If there is no area, the character pattern stored in the character pattern storage unit 3 and the character pattern storage table 4 and the character pattern to be added or re-registered in the area where the unnecessary character pattern and the storage address are deleted from the storage address are deleted. And by storing its storage address,
Even if it is necessary to use a character type that is not currently registered in the printer 1 or a character size that is not registered in the printer 1 for the next print output, it is possible to cope with such a case. Memory resources can be used effectively.

[0028]

As described above, according to the present invention, the storage area of the character pattern is divided according to the character information transmitted from the higher-level device, and the divided storage area is transmitted from the higher-level device. In addition to controlling to store the dot image of the character pattern in the storage area corresponding to the character information attached to the received character pattern, the characters are stored in the storage area corresponding to the character information associated with the print data sent from the host device. By controlling to read the dot image of the pattern, there is an effect that the character typeface, the number of characters, and the character size can be set freely without changing the hardware configuration.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of division of a character pattern storage unit in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of division of the character pattern storage table of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a character pattern registration process according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a conventional example.

[Explanation of symbols]

 REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 printer device 2 main control unit 3 character pattern storage unit 4 character pattern storage table 31 character pattern storage area for Mincho 1 character pattern storage area 32 for Mincho 2 character pattern storage area for Gothic 1 character 34 gothic 2 Character pattern storage area 41 Mincho 1 character pattern storage table 42 Mincho 2 character pattern storage table 43 Gothic 1 character pattern storage table 44 Gothic 2 character pattern storage table

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuation of the front page (56) References JP-A-2-130168 (JP, A) JP-A 64-58014 (JP, A) JP-A-57-174765 (JP, A) JP-A 4- 173272 (JP, A) JP-A-2-729743 (JP, A) JP-A-2-301146 (JP, A)

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] 1. A character pattern storage means for storing the dot image of the character pattern to be printed, the character pattern
The area required to register
When it is not possible to secure the level, notify the higher-level device and register
At least typeface information and character size of the character pattern to be
Means for requesting information and the number of characters, storage area dividing means for dividing the storage area of the character pattern storage means according to the character information from the upper device including at least the typeface information, character size information and the number of characters, Storage control means for controlling to store a dot image of the character pattern in a storage area of the storage area divided by the storage area division means, the storage area corresponding to character information attached to the character pattern sent from the host device When the printer apparatus characterized by comprising a reading control means for controlling so as to read the dot image of the character pattern from the storage area corresponding to the character information associated with the print data sent from the host device. Wherein a determination unit configured to determine whether there is free space in the character pattern storage means when the additional information of the character pattern into the character pattern storage means is received from the host system, free by the determining means If there is an area
A storage area securing means to secure a storage area of the dot image of the character pattern in the character pattern storage means in the free space when they are constant, free space by said determining means
When it is determined that there is no unnecessary character pattern area
Means for deleting and additionally registering a character pattern in the area.
The printer device according to claim 1, further comprising: