JP2787095B2 - Font data reading 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 printing apparatus which is connected to a host device such as a host computer and performs a printing operation in accordance with print information sent from the host device. The present invention relates to a font data reading device that searches a font table for font data corresponding to a character code included in print information, reads out the font data, and outputs the font data.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, page printers have become widespread as printing devices connected to document creation devices such as word processors and office computers. Such a page printer includes an image generation control unit (commonly called an interface (I / O) for exchanging data with a host computer.
/ F) controller) and a printing unit having a print head (exposure head) and a photosensitive drum.

[0003] That is, this type of page printer uses an I / F.
In the controller, the character code transmitted from the host computer is converted into font data (image) composed of dots, expanded on a bitmap memory (image memory), and the image data expanded on this image memory. Is printed out on a printing paper by a printing unit. The print information sent from the host computer includes, in addition to the character code data, print operation designation information (hereinafter, referred to as a command) for instructing the printing device to execute a predefined print operation. It is included. Since there is no unified standard for this command, commands uniquely defined by printer manufacturers are used, but most of the above character codes are JIS
Common ones are used according to standards such as (ASCII) codes, and some that are uniquely defined by printer manufacturers are also used.

[0004] Conversion from a character code to a character pattern is as follows.
A font table storing font data corresponding to a character code, such as a CGROM storing font data (image data) corresponding to a character code and a CGRAM storing font data (external character) designed by a user, is stored in a specified font table. This is performed by searching for font data corresponding to the character code, and reading and outputting the font data.

[0005]

However, such page printers sometimes change, correct, and renew (upgrade) font data (design) after sales to customers.

In such a case, it is necessary to exchange the font table (for example, CGROM) itself having the font data (exchange all the font data). Therefore, when the font data is updated by exchanging the memory itself, font data that does not need to be exchanged has to be exchanged, resulting in waste. Further, the replacement operation itself requires labor.

There is also a method of adding updated (or another) font data to a page printer. However, due to control problems, the added font data is allowed only in a fixed place (method). (For example,
Additional data must be an external CGRO including all character sets
M, and the control is fixed such that the font data is always retrieved from the external CGROM). Therefore, the location for storing the font data is fixed, and the degree of freedom in adding the font data is poor.

The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and has as its object to provide a font data reading device capable of efficiently changing, correcting, and renewing font data (design).

[0009]

In order to achieve the above object, a font data reading apparatus according to the present invention provides a font data reading apparatus for searching a font table for font data corresponding to a character code included in designated print information. means, a font data reading device having a reading means for outputting the read font data retrieved by said retrieval means, the font table is the character code
When new font data is registered in units,
A plurality of font tables each having a different registration time, wherein the search means has registration identification information of each font table, and font data corresponding to the character code is obtained based on the registration time identification information. The latest font table is preferentially searched.

The font data is updated in units of character codes, and the plurality of font tables include at least one initially provided font table including font data corresponding to all character codes; At least one additional font table that includes font data updated in units and does not have non-updated font data may be included.

[0011]

According to the font data reading apparatus of the present invention, a font table is newly created for each character code.
A plurality of types of font tables having different registration times , which are registered when new font data is registered, are prepared, and the search means is provided with registration identification information of each of the font tables. Then, when print information is designated from the outside, the search means preferentially searches font data corresponding to the character code included in the print information from the latest font table based on the registration time identification information. Then, the retrieved font data is read out and output by the reading means. Therefore, since new font data can always be used, it is possible to efficiently change, correct, and renew font data (design).

The font data is updated in units of character codes. The plurality of font tables include at least one initially provided font table including font data corresponding to all character codes, and the character code units. And at least one additional font table that includes the updated font data and does not have the non-updated font data. By doing so, it is only necessary to add only necessary font data to be updated, and since there is a degree of freedom in a method (location) of adding data, various methods (for example, an external CGROM or a download method) can be used. ) Can be upgraded.

[0013]

An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a printing apparatus to which a font data reading apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention is applied.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 10 denotes a host computer or the like which sends print information including character code data and print operation designation information (command) for instructing a printing device to execute a print operation defined in advance. Reference numeral 20 denotes a printing apparatus main body.

Reference numeral 21 denotes the external device 10.
A receiving data buffer for temporarily storing data sent from the receiving data buffer 22;
1 is a command analysis unit that analyzes data stored in 1, converts the data into an internal code for control, and stores it in the execution code data buffer 23. Reference numeral 24 denotes a command execution unit that determines the internal code stored in the execution code data buffer 23, retrieves and reads a font pattern (image) corresponding to the character code from a font table, and stores it in the drawing data buffer 25. Reference numeral 26 denotes a drawing unit that develops the font pattern stored in the drawing data buffer 25 on the image memory 27 in accordance with the position information.
Reference numeral 28 denotes a video interface (I) for outputting image data developed in the image memory 27 to a print control unit 29 having a print head (exposure head) and a photosensitive drum.
/ F) section.

Reference numeral 30 denotes a font table (CGROM) built in the printing apparatus main body 20 in which font data (image data) corresponding to the character code is stored. Reference numeral 31 denotes (external character) font data designed by the user. This is a font table (CGRAM) built in the printing apparatus main body 20 in which information is stored. Reference numeral 32 denotes font data (image data) corresponding to the character code.
Is stored in an external font table (CGRO)
M), and 33 is according to the user's design (external character)
This is an external font table (CGRAM) in which font data and the like are stored. The command execution unit 24 retrieves and reads out font data from the latest font table among the plurality of font tables 30 to 33 based on the retrieval table 24A formed therein.

Here, each of the font tables 30 to 33
Has a data configuration as shown in FIG. 2A, and the search table 24A has a data configuration as shown in FIG. 2B. In these figures, reference symbols TblNum are table numbers, VerDat is version data, ChrQty is the number of characters, ChrCo
d [n] indicates a character code, ChrDat [n] indicates character pattern (font) data, TblQty indicates the number of tables, and TblNum [n] indicates a table number. Actually, it is as shown in FIGS. However, the four font tables shown in FIG.
The font table is not limited to the one-to-one correspondence, and any one font table may include these four tables. The update date is used as the version data VerDat.

Next, the operation in such a configuration will be described. First, as shown in FIG. 4A, at the beginning of the character control program, the command execution unit 24 creates a search table 24A (step S11). In this process, the number of existing font tables is counted and stored in the table number TblQty, and the table numbers TblNum of all the font tables are sorted and stored in the order of the version data VerDat. Thereby, for example, when there are four font tables as shown in FIG. 3A, as shown in FIG. 3B, the number of tables TblQty “4” and the table number TblNum
A search table 24A in which "2", "3", "1", and "0" are arranged in order is created.

When searching for font data, the command execution unit 24 performs a process as shown in FIG. 4B for each character code. First, a character code InpCod to be searched is input (step S21).
The table search counter SrcCnt and the character search counter ChrCnt are initialized (steps S22 and S22).
23).

Thereafter, a font table indicating the latest is selected from the search table 24A, and for the selected font table, is there data in the font table indicating the same character code as the input character code? Determine if there is any.

That is, first, the table search counter Sr
The character code ChrCod at the value of the character search counter ChrCnt in the font table of the table number TblNum at the value of cCnt is compared with the input character code InpCod (step S24). For example, FIGS. 2A and 3B and FIGS.
In the example of (B), assuming that "41 _H " indicating the character "A" has been input as the input character code InpCod, here, the character code of the table number TblNum [2] and the character code of ChrCod [0] That is, "42
_H ". If they do not match, the value of the character search counter ChrCnt is updated (step S25), and the above-described step S24 is performed until the updated value reaches the number of characters ChrQty of the font table currently targeted (step S26). Is repeated. That is, this time, the table number TblNu
The character code of m [2] is compared with the character code of ChrCod [1], that is, “45 _H ”. As a result, the value of the character search counter ChrCnt is updated as a mismatch, but the updated value is now Since the number of characters ChrQty of the target font table reaches “2”, there is no data indicating the same character code as the input character code in the font table currently being processed.

When there is no data indicating the same character code as the input character code, the search table 24
A, a new font table is selected next, and a font table search is performed in the same procedure.

That is, the table search counter SrcCn
The value of t is updated (step S27), and until the updated value reaches the number of tables TblQty (step S2).
8) The process from step S23 is repeated. For example, in the above example, the table search counter SrcCn
Although the value of t is updated to "1", but does not reach the number of tables, that is, "4", the process returns to step S23, and the character search counter ChrCnt is initialized. Is compared with the input character code. That is, this time, the table number TblN
The character code of um [3] is compared with the character code of ChrCod [0], that is, “41 _H ”. And
In this case, since they match, the font data corresponding to the character code in the font table, that is, the font data C of the table number TblNum [3]
The font data of hrDat [0] is determined as the font data to be read (step S29).

As described above, if there is no corresponding font data, the font table is continuously updated, and if there is a corresponding character code somewhere, the search process is terminated.

On the other hand, for example, the input character code InpCod
If “47 _H ” indicating the character “G” has been input, the same character code ChrC is obtained even if the processing of steps S23 to S28 is repeated.
There is no odd [n]. In this case, the table number Tb
A mismatch with the last character code ChrCod [4] of the font table of 1Num [0] is determined, and the value of the updated table search counter SrcCnt reaches the table number TblQty. (Step S30), the process ends with an error.

As described above, the font data has information that allows the discrimination between new font data and old font data, and the font data is always controlled to use the new font data. It can be improved by adding only font data. In addition, since there is a degree of freedom in a method (location) of adding font data, it is possible to upgrade the version by various methods (external or download).

According to the above embodiment of the present invention, the following configuration can be obtained. (1) Font data readout having search means for searching a font table for font data corresponding to a character code included in designated print information, and readout means for reading and outputting the font data searched by the search means In the device, the font table is
Each of the font tables includes a plurality of types of font tables having different registration times. The search means has registration time identification information of each font table, and font data corresponding to the character code is updated based on the registration time identification information. A font data reading device which preferentially searches a font table.

(2) The font data is updated in units of character codes, and the plurality of font tables are updated in at least one font table including font data corresponding to all character codes and in units of the character codes. The font data reading device according to (1), further including at least one font table including font data and not having non-updated font data.

(3) The font data reading device according to (1), wherein the registration time identification information is a search table created by referring to each font table at the beginning of the character control program. .

(4) Each font table includes a table number for identifying the font table and version data indicating the registration time of the font table. The search table stores the table numbers in the order of the version data. The font data reading device according to (3), which is created by sorting.

(5) The plurality of font tables are:
The font data reading device according to (1), wherein the font data reading device includes a plurality of built-in font tables.

(6) The plurality of font tables are:
The font data reading device according to (1), including a plurality of font tables external to the font data reading device.

(7) The plurality of font tables are:
The font data reading device according to (1), including at least one font table built in the font data reading device and at least one font table external to the font data reading device.

(8) A plurality of types of font tables having different registration times are prepared, registration time identification information of each font table is created, and font data corresponding to the character code included in the specified print information is converted to a font. A font data reading method, wherein when searching from a table, the latest font table is preferentially searched based on the registration time identification information.

(9) The font data is updated in units of character codes, and the plurality of font tables are updated in units of at least one font table including font data corresponding to all character codes. The font data reading method according to (8), further including at least one font table including font data and not having non-updated font data.

(10) The font data reading method according to (8), wherein the registration time identification information is a search table created by referring to each font table at the beginning of the character control program. .

(11) Each font table includes a table number for identifying the font table and version data indicating the registration time of the font table. The search table stores the table numbers in the order of the version data. The font data reading method according to (10), wherein the font data is created by sorting.

(12) The font data reading method according to (8), wherein the plurality of font tables include a plurality of font tables built in a font data reading device to which the font data reading method is applied. .

(13) The font data according to (8), wherein the plurality of font tables include a plurality of font tables external to a font data reading device to which the font data reading method is applied. Read method.

(14) The plurality of font tables include at least one font table built in the font data reading device to which the font data reading method is applied, and at least one font externally attached to the font data reading device. The font data reading method according to (8), further comprising a table.

[0041]

As described in detail above, according to the present invention,
A font data reading device capable of efficiently changing, modifying, and renewing font data (design) can be provided.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a printing apparatus to which a font data reading device according to an embodiment of the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2A is a diagram illustrating a data configuration of a font table, and FIG. 2B is a diagram illustrating a data configuration of a search table;

FIG. 3A is a diagram illustrating a specific example of a font table, and FIG. 3B is a diagram illustrating a specific example of a search table;

FIG. 4A is a flowchart of an initialization program, and FIG. 4B is a flowchart of a font table search program.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... External equipment, 20 ... Printing apparatus main body, 21 ... Reception data buffer, 22 ... Command analysis part, 23 ... Execution code data buffer, 24 ... Command execution part, 24A ... Search table, 25 ... Drawing data buffer, 26 ... Drawing unit, 27: Image memory, 28: Video interface (I / F) unit, 29: Print control unit, 30: Built-in font table (CGROM), 31: Built-in font table (CGRAM), 32: External font table (CG)
ROM), 33 ... external font table (CGRA)
M), TblNum ... Table number, VerDat ...
Version data, ChrQty ... number of characters, ChrCo
d [n]: character code, ChrDat [n]: character pattern (font) data, TblQty: number of tables, TblNum [n]: table number.

Continued on the front page (58) Fields surveyed (Int.Cl. ⁶ , DB name) B41J 5/30 B41J 2/485 G06F 3/12 G06F 17/21

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] 1. A font comprising: a search unit for searching a font table for font data corresponding to a character code included in designated print information; and a reading unit for reading and outputting the font data searched by the search unit. In the data reading device, the font table stores a new font for each character code.
A plurality of types of font tables registered at different times when registration data was registered, each having a different registration time, wherein the search means has registration identification information of each font table and stores font data corresponding to the character code. A font data reading device for preferentially searching the latest font table based on the registration time identification information. 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the font data is updated in units of character codes, and the plurality of font tables include at least one initially provided font table including font data corresponding to all character codes; 2. The font data reading device according to claim 1, further comprising at least one additional font table including font data updated in units and not having non-updated font data.