JP2805642B2 - Printer device - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a printer device having a plurality of emulation software means.

(Prior Art) Conventionally, print format information required for a printer device to perform printing, such as font, number of copies, paper size, and double-sided designation, is registered in a nonvolatile memory in a printer controller, and the print format information is stored. A printer device having means for initializing each print in accordance with the print format information stored in the non-volatile memory when the printer device is powered on or performs a predetermined setting such as a reset operation is well known. ing.

(Problems to be Solved by the Invention) By the way, many recent printer apparatuses have a plurality of emulation functions. in this case,
Since each emulation has various different functions, it is clear that it is better to have an independent mode set and associate the emulation software and print format information in order to take advantage of these emulation features. .

(Object of the Invention) The present invention enables setting, saving, and execution for each of a plurality of emulation software for each print,
It is an object of the present invention to provide a printer device which automatically changes each time the emulation software is changed, that is, changes the mode set.

(Structure and operation) In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a nonvolatile storage unit for storing a plurality of print format information, and a unit for changing the print format information and setting a state according to the print format information. A printer device having a plurality of emulation software means, a means for recording print format information corresponding to each emulation software means in the non-volatile storage means, and a method for changing the emulation software. Means for automatically setting a print format corresponding to the emulation software;
It is characterized by having.

The present invention has a print format information stored in nonvolatile storage means corresponding to a plurality of emulations, thereby realizing a mode set taking advantage of the features of the emulation software, and enabling the emulation software to be operated by an operation unit. CPU when changed
Automatically sets the corresponding print format.

(Embodiment) FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing an internal configuration of a printer controller in a laser printer to which the present invention is applied.

In the figure, reference numeral 1 denotes a host machine which is an external device of a laser printer, for example, a personal computer,
Examples include a word processor, a data processing device, and an image processing device. Reference numeral 2 denotes a printer controller, which inputs print information such as character codes and images (graphics) from a host machine and creates bitmap information (video data) in page units. Reference numeral 3 denotes a printer engine including an image forming unit for printing characters and images on paper based on the bitmap information from the printer controller and a sequence controller thereof.

In the printer controller 2 to which the present invention is applied, as the interface (I / F), a host interface 4 for connecting to the host machine 1, an engine interface 5 for connecting to the printer engine 3, various displays, A panel interface 6 for connecting to an operation unit (control panel) 7 having switches and the like, and optional interfaces 10 and 11 for connecting to a plurality of memory cartridges 8 and 9 are provided.

The CPU 12 is a microcomputer that controls the entire laser printer device. A program memory (ROM) 13 stores a program for controlling the CPU 12. Reference numeral 14 denotes a font ROM, and reference numeral 15 denotes a nonvolatile memory (RAM), which stores a print mode of a plurality of emulation software as described later with reference to FIG. Reference numeral 16 denotes a buffer memory, reference numeral 17 denotes a video buffer, reference numeral 18 denotes a bus buffer, and reference numeral 19 denotes a bus connecting each unit in the printer controller 2 described above.

FIG. 2 shows one embodiment of the present invention of the nonvolatile memory 15 described in FIG. Reference numeral 15a denotes a file location table (FAT) area, which stores the use status of all data blocks (n), and the contents of the data block are composed of n tables. Is stored. Reference numeral 15b denotes a file directory (FILE / DIRECTORY) area in which information such as file attributes and data block locations indicated by the identification label ID is waited for each file. 15c of blocks 1 and 2 is a common area for storing information not related to emulation, and 15b of blocks 3 to 5 and 15e of blocks 6 to 9 are memory areas for emulation A and B, respectively.
Block 1 to Block n constitute the data area 15A,
This is an area in which the contents of data actually used are stored.

Next, the operation of the present embodiment will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. 1 and the mode set example shown in FIG.

First, the print format information stored in the non-volatile memory 15 in FIG. 2 is in the form of a file, and the ID of the file differs depending on each emulation.

For example, when the mode set is executed in a state where the A emulation software (program) is selected on the operation unit 7 (FIG. 4), the contents set in the mode set are changed to the A emulation software. (File) corresponding to the file (program) is assigned to the memory area 15d of the nonvolatile memory 15 (blocks 3 to 5).
Stored in 5). The file with the file ID is A emulation software (program)
Is running, the CPU 12 can be referred to at any time. When the A emulation software (program) is initialized or the A emulation software (program) is selected when the power is turned on, it is enabled. Becomes

Now, an image signal is input from the host machine 1 via the host interface (I / F) 4, and the CPU 12 starts the control operation of each unit in the printer controller 2 based on the program in the program ROM 13.

When the system including the host machine 1, the printer controller 2 and the printer engine 3 starts up, the CPU 12
, The print format information is automatically initialized ((S1) in FIG. 1 ( ₁ )).

Nonvolatile initialization data to the memory 15 whether the CPU12 is (ID print format information corresponding to the emulation) determines (first diagram (1) (S _2)).

If there is initialization data in the nonvolatile memory 15 (YES in (S ₂ ) in FIG. 1A), this nonvolatile memory 1
5 loads the print format information (first diagram _{(1) (S 3))} .

If there is no initialization data in the nonvolatile memory 15 (NO in (S ₂ ) in FIG. 1A), the print format information at the time of factory shipment is loaded ((1) in FIG. 1A). S ₄ )).

When the mode set operation is started, the menu and the currently set print format information are displayed on the display (LCD) panel of the operation unit 7, and the operator operates a switch of the operation unit to display the contents of the mode set. Is changed and stored in the nonvolatile memory 15. For example,
FIG. 3 shows an example in which the contents of the mode set are changed by a switch of the operation unit 7.

That is, the vertical direction V _1, V ₂ by the switch of the operation unit 7 in the schematic view of FIG. 3, ... V _n, the horizontal direction H _1, H _2, ... is the mode set configuration in a matrix of the hierarchical structure of H _n For example, in the case of A emulation 30, the printer name (D630) 31, the font 32, and the font type (Mincho type) 34 are selected.

When the emulation is changed from the command or the operation unit 7, the emulation selected previously is stored in the file (data area 15 in FIG. 2).
A) is closed, and the newly selected emulation fetches its own print format information in the non-volatile memory 15 and initializes the print format.

Also, the operation relating to FIG. 3 is performed by the operation unit 7 as shown in FIG.
As shown in ( ₁ ), the mode set is displayed (S ₁ ), and it is determined whether or not the mode set is completed (S ₂ ). If YES, the ID is added and saved in the nonvolatile memory 15 (S ₃ ).

(Effects of the Invention) As described above, the present invention sets, saves, and saves a plurality of emulation software for each print.
This makes it possible to obtain a printer device which can be executed and which automatically changes each time the emulation software is changed, that is, changes the mode set.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an operation flowchart of one embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a configuration example of a nonvolatile memory in a printer controller, FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a typical example of a mode set by an operation unit, and FIG. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an internal configuration of a controller of a laser printer to which the present invention is applied. 1 ... host machine, 2 ... printer controller,
3… Printer engine, 4,5,6… Interface (I / F), 7… Operation unit, 8,9… Memory cartridge, 10,11… Option interface (I / F), 12
…… Microcomputer (CPU), 13… Program ROM, 14… Font ROM, 15… Non-volatile memory, 15
a ... file allocation table, 15b ... file directory, 15c ... common area, 15d ... emulation A memory area, 15e ... emulation B memory area, 15A ... data area, 16 ... buffer memory, 17 … Video buffer, 18 Bus buffer, 19 Bus.

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] A non-volatile storage means for storing a plurality of print format information, a means for changing the print format information and setting a state according to the print format information, and a plurality of emulation software means. Means for recording print format information corresponding to each emulation software means in the non-volatile storage means, and automatically providing the emulation software software when the emulation software is changed. Means for setting a corresponding print format.