JP2842009B2 - Image data generation device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To make an image with a large size, high precision, and high image quality by converting graphic picture data into raster image data to be outputted on the basis of the first line segment information data at the time of output. CONSTITUTION:Picture data 1 is discriminated into graphic picture data 3 and image picture data 4 by a picture data discrimination means 2. A graphic development means 5 develops the graphic picture data 3 to the first line segment information data 7a which is image control information. An image development means 6 develops the image picture data 4 to the second line segment information data 7b, which is image control information consisting of image ID etc., and image information data 8, which is image control information consisting of two dimensional (length and breadth) image picture elements etc. A raster data making means 9 makes raster data 10 on the basis of the first and second line segment information data 7a, 7b and the image information data 8.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image data generating apparatus, and more particularly to an improvement of an image data generating apparatus which generates raster image data based on drawing data created by a computer or the like and generates image data.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in an image data generating apparatus of this kind, for example, two to be printed are stored on a semiconductor memory device in the apparatus.
A storage area of one page capacity of the dimensional raster image data is allocated, and based on data such as character codes transmitted from a computer, raster image data is developed in the storage area to generate image data.
Here, the raster image data refers to data created by associating one line of data for printing with each pixel.

However, when generating large-size image data, one of two-dimensional raster image data to be secured is required.
The semiconductor storage device for a page has a large capacity. In view of this, the present applicant has proposed an invention that focuses on the fact that data can be compressed by holding continuous image data of the same color in the same raster as one line segment data (Japanese Patent Application No. 4-9511). issue).

That is, according to the invention, line data including the length, position, color, etc. of a line to be printed in the same raster is generated from print data, and raster image data is created based on the line data. The image data is generated by a small amount of semiconductor storage device. An advantage of the invention is that, since raster image data of adjacent same colors in the same raster are combined as one piece of line segment information, in the case of graphic drawing data such as a circle or a rectangle, dots having the same color value are assigned to the same raster. Continuous, 1
Since the information can be collected as pieces of line segment information, a long range of dot strings can be expressed by one piece of line segment data, and the amount of use of the semiconductor memory device can be reduced.

[0005]

However, in the case of bit image data (image drawing data) such as a natural image or a landscape photograph, there is a low possibility that dots having the same color value in the same raster will be continuous. There are many segments, and the number of line segment data increases. as a result,
When the two-dimensional raster image data is generated from the bit image data, the amount of use of the semiconductor storage device is increased, which causes problems such as an increase in the cost of the semiconductor storage device and a reduction in the processing speed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problem, and has been made in view of the above circumstances. The present invention uses a small amount of a semiconductor memory device and can generate large-size, high-resolution, high-quality image data at high speed. It is an object to provide a generating device.

[0007]

In order to achieve the above object, an image data generating apparatus according to the present invention converts drawing data created by a computer or the like into line segment data having a position and a length in a raster direction. The line data is grouped into a line data group composed of line data of the same raster and stored in an external storage device. At the time of output, the line data is read from the external storage device, and the line data is read. Image data generating apparatus for converting the image data into printable raster image data and outputting the raster image data to an output device, wherein the image data is a graphic image data or an image image data. An image indicating that the line segment data is graphic drawing data based on the graphic drawing data identified by A graphics expansion means for generating a first line segment information data added with the lug, on the basis of the image drawing data identified by the drawing data identifying means,
Generating second line segment information data in which an image flag indicating image drawing data and an image ID for managing the image drawing data are added to the line segment data;
And image developing means for generating image information data including two-dimensional image pixel data in the vertical and horizontal directions of the output image, and at the time of output, the graphic drawing data based on the first line segment information data. Is converted to raster image data to be output,
The image drawing data is converted into raster image data to be output based on the second line segment information data and output.

[0008]

In the image data generating apparatus, the drawing data identification means identifies the drawing data as graphic drawing data or image drawing data. The graphic drawing data is first line segment information data, which is image management information composed of {length, position, color, "off" image flag, etc., of a line segment to be printed] in one raster by the graphic developing means. Generate. In addition, the image developing means uses the image drawing data to:
Separately generates second line segment information data, which is image management information composed of color, “ON” image flag, image ID, etc., which manages image drawing data, and image information data composed of image pixel data, etc. I do. Then, when outputting, raster image data corresponding to the graphic drawing data is generated based on the first line segment information data, and is converted into image drawing data based on the second line segment information data and the image information data. The corresponding raster image data is generated, these raster image data are combined, output to, for example, a printing device, and printed on a print medium.

[0009]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of an image data generating apparatus according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. First, FIG. 1 shows a functional block diagram of the image data generation device of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 1, a drawing data 1 is identified by a drawing data identification means 2 into graphic drawing data 3 and image drawing data 4. The graphic developing means 5 is a first line segment information information data 7 which is image management information comprising the graphic drawing data 3 {length, position, color, "off" image flag, etc. of a line segment to be printed}.
Expand to a. The image expanding means 6 converts the image drawing data 4 into {the length, position, color, "on" image flag of the line segment, and the image I for managing the image drawing data.
The second line segment information information data 7b, which is image management information composed of D and the like, and the image information data 8 that is image management information composed of two-dimensional image pixel data. The raster data generating means 9 includes the first and second line segment information data 7a and 7b and the image information data 8
The raster data 10 is generated based on.

Next, an embodiment in which an image data generating apparatus embodying the present invention is incorporated in a print control apparatus will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of an external connection of the embodiment of the print control apparatus.

As shown in FIG. 2, an external connector 101 of the computer 100 and a first interface connector 3 of the print control device 300 are provided so that a print command can be transmitted and received between the computer 100 and the print control device 300.
01 are connected by a first cable 401. In addition, the print control device 300 transmits the
A second cable 402 connects the second interface connector 302 of the print control device 300 and the interface connector 201 of the inkjet printer 200 so that the raster image data, which is one line of data, can be sent to 00.

Next, referring to FIG.
00 will be described in more detail. As shown in FIG. 3, a first interface connector 301 for receiving data from the computer 100 is connected to a first interface circuit 303 for receiving the data. Similarly, a second interface circuit 350 is connected to the second interface connector 302 so that data can be transmitted. A first bus 313 is connected to the other ends of both interface circuits so that data can be exchanged with the first CPU 305. Also, the first bus 313 has a first dynamic memory 306 for storing data, a hard disk drive 30.
A third interface circuit 307 for interfacing with the second CPU 310, and a dual-port memory 3 having two ports for communicating with a second CPU 310 to be described later and capable of accessing the same memory cell from both ports.
A first port 08 is connected to a DMAC 314 for performing direct memory transfer between these devices.

On the other hand, the second bus 312 of the second CPU 310
Is connected to a second port of the dual port memory 308 and a second dynamic memory 311 for storing data. In FIG. 3, illustration of various control signals such as an address bus and a chip select signal is omitted.

The structure of the second interface circuit 350 will be described in detail with reference to FIG. As shown in FIG. 4, a data input terminal of a first-in first-out memory device (hereinafter, referred to as FIFO) 351 is connected to the first bus 313 so that data can be written from the first CPU 305 or the like. A driver 352 for outputting data to the second interface connector 302 is connected to a data output terminal of the FIFO 351. A receiver 353 is provided for receiving a ready signal from the second interface connector 302 and inputting the signal to the control circuit 354. The FI
A control circuit 354 is provided to generate a read signal 359 of the FO 351 and a data clock signal 356 output to the second interface connector 302 via the driver 352.
A clock generation circuit 355 for generating a clock signal 360 for controlling the timing of the clock 54 is provided.
The empty flag 357 of the FIFO 351 is input to the control circuit 354.

Next, the ink jet printer 200
Will be described in detail with reference to FIG. As shown in FIG. 5, input data and a data clock signal 221 are connected to the interface connector 201 by FIFO2.
A data input terminal 05 and a receiver 202 for inputting to the interface control circuit 204 are connected. The interface connector 201 is connected to a driver 203 for outputting a ready signal 220 and an offline signal 231 generated by the interface control circuit 204. FIFO2
This FIFO is used to prevent the
The full flag signal 223 of 205 is connected to the interface control circuit 204. FIF data
A write signal 222 from the interface control circuit 204 is connected to write to O205.

The data output terminal of the FIFO 205 has a CP
A bus 230 is connected so that the U 206 can read data, and a dynamic memory 20 for storing data is connected to the bus 230 so that data can be exchanged with each other.
7. First data memory 2 for storing print data to be described later
09, the second data memory 210, the third data memory 21
The first and fourth data memories 212 are connected to each other. The data output terminal of the first data memory 209 is connected to the first head control circuit 213 so that the print data 224 can be sent out, and the read signal 228 of the data read control circuit 208 is controlled by the first signal to control the reading. It is connected to the data memory 209.

On the other hand, the first head control circuit 213 has a head control signal 229 connected to the inkjet head 251 so that the amount of ink ejected from the nozzle 256 can be controlled, and the inkjet head 251 has an ink pump (not shown). So that ink is supplied from pipe 2
60 are connected. Second to fourth data memory 21
0, 211, 212, the first data memory 2
The connection is made in the same manner as in the case from 09. Each of the ink jet heads 251 to 254 has a pipe 260 to 26
For example, inks of four colors, black, yellow, magenta, and cyan, are supplied through 3.

The four ink-jet heads 251 to 251
Drum 269 around which paper 264 is wound
Are arranged rotatably around a shaft 265, and an encoder 266 capable of sending a rotation timing signal to the data read control circuit 208 is attached to the shaft 265. A belt 268 for transmitting the rotation of the motor 267 is stretched around the shaft 265. The four inkjet heads 251 to 254 are arranged on a single bed (not shown), and are configured to be integrally movable in the axial direction of the drum 269.

Next, a series of printing operations of the printing control device 300 having the above configuration will be described with reference to FIGS.
The first CPU 305 (see FIG. 2)
When a command group to be printed is received from, the command group is stored in the hard disk drive 309 first. At this time, since the command group is received without interpretation, the computer 100 can be released from the communication quickly, and since the command group is stored in the hard disk drive 309, the capacity of the dynamic memory 306 for storing the command group can be reduced. When all the command groups are input from the computer 100 (see FIG. 3), the first CPU 305 writes a command instructing the second CPU 310 to interpret the command group in the dual port memory 308.

On the other hand, when the second CPU 310 receives the command, the second CPU 310
9 is written to the dual port memory 308 so as to instruct the first CPU 305 to read from the memory 9 and write to the dual port memory 308. When the command group is written to the dual port memory 308, the second CPU 310
Starts its interpretation and stores the result in the second dynamic memory 311.

The procedure of the interpretation will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. FIG. 6 is a functional block diagram showing the function of the procedure from sequentially interpreting the command group to developing it into print data.

The procedure of this interpretation is stored in the hard disk 309 (see FIG. 3) like the command group. The first CPU 305 is started based on a command from the external host computer 100 (see FIG. 2), the development procedure stored on the hard disk 309 is read by the third interface circuit 307, and the dual port memory 308 is read.
Is written to. This expansion procedure is written in the second dynamic memory 311 and the second CPU
The program is sequentially executed by 310 and waits for the arrival of a command. Commands to be interpreted are "graphic data (graphic drawing data)" represented by figures such as straight lines and circles and their coordinate values, and "bit image data" obtained by scanning photographs and the like with an image scanner or the like and digitizing them. (Image drawing data). "

The command group written in the dual port memory 308 is decomposed into individual commands by the command interpreter 401, and the command dictionary 403 checks whether or not the command is valid. Command execution unit 4
02 is the work area 40 on the second dynamic memory 311
4 is used as a temporary buffer, the graphic data is converted into “line segment data” having the length, position, and color of the line segment, and stored in the line segment data storage unit 405. As the bit image data, “position information” of the bit image data is stored in the line segment data storage unit 405, and “pixel data of an image” and the like are stored in the image information data storage unit 406. Each stored data is developed into print data by the print data developing unit 407.

FIGS. 7A and 7B show how the command group is interpreted in order to create "line segment data". As shown in FIGS. 7A and 7B, bit image data 601, a rectangle 602, and a circle 603 are generated in the order of command generation. A new figure is overwritten on an old figure, and the lower figure is seen through. There is no. Reference numeral 604 denotes “line segment data” of the figures 601.602 and 603 in an arbitrary raster i.

In the case of graphic data, the dots having the same color value C _c of the start point C _s Taking a circular 603 Examples to the end point C _e is continuous, data holding by the "line data" storage capacity This is advantageous because it can reduce
On the other hand, in the bit image data, it is unlikely that dots having the same color value will be continuous, and if the line image data is used, the data amount increases.

In order to solve such inconvenience, in this embodiment, the line management data 514 is added to the line segment data 604.
(Refer to FIG. 9), only the position information where the image is arranged, the image flag, and the image ID are recorded in the “line segment data”, and as shown in FIG. Symbol P ₁ ) 521, image pixel width and height 522, two-dimensional pixel data 524, and the like are stored as “image information data”. In this way, it is possible to efficiently hold "graphic data (graphic drawing data)" and "bit image data (image drawing data)", and special handling of bit image data is required until the development of print data described later. And contributes to simplification of processing. Further, when the figure to be interpreted becomes n times in length and width, a method using a storage device for one page requires a capacity twice as large as n, but in this method, the capacity can be reduced to n times.

FIG. 8 shows an example of a command group. As shown in FIG. 8, a drawing command instructing drawing includes a command ID identifying section 501 for identifying a command ID indicating the order of appearance of the command, and a command data section 502 for the content of the command.
Consists of Graphic drawing command 50 for drawing a rectangle
Reference numeral 3 includes a rectangle drawing command ID, the upper left coordinates of the rectangle, the width and height of the rectangle, and the color of the rectangle. The graphic drawing command 504 for drawing a circle includes a circle drawing command ID, the center coordinates of the circle, and the color of the circle.

An image drawing command 505 for drawing an image such as a photograph is composed of an image command ID, upper left coordinates of the image, pixel width and height of the image, and pixel information of the image. Drawing data identification means 2 (see FIG. 1)
Identifies the graphic drawing data 3 and the image drawing data 4 by checking various command IDs of the drawing command.

FIG. 9 shows the line segment information data 7 (see FIG. 1).
Shows the data structure of. The data structure of one piece of line segment data includes image management information 514 such as a start point position 511, an end point position 512, a color 513, an image flag, and an image ID.
And the data structure is common to "first line information" corresponding to graphic drawing data and "second line information data" corresponding to image drawing data. doing. The line segment information data is stored in the line segment data buffer 515 divided into several minutes of all rasters in the drawing area in order of interpretation and stored for each corresponding raster. Also, buffer management information 516
Is provided with a line segment data counter for counting the number of registered line segment information data.

FIG. 10 shows the structure of the image information data 8 (see FIG. 1). The image information data 8 includes the upper left coordinates 521 of the image and the number of pixels 52 of the width and height of the image for one image included in the input command group.
2. Two-dimensional pixel data 524 in which color values 523 of pixels are arranged in order. If a plurality of images are included in the command group, an image ID 525 added as image management information so that each of them can be distinguished. Consists of

FIG. 11 is a view for explaining a method of storing “line segment information data” as a result of interpreting the “graphic drawing command”. As shown in FIG. 11, the command group to be interpreted is composed of two commands, a first command 710 and a second command 711. The first command 710 is
This is a concrete example of the rectangle drawing command 503 shown in FIG. 8, and is a command for drawing a rectangle with upper left coordinate values of A _x and A _y and widths and heights of A _w and A _h by oblique lines. It is. The second command 711 is the circle drawing command 50 of FIG.
4 is an embodiment of the center coordinates of B _x, B _y, a command for radius draw a circle B _r by grid lines.

These first and second drawing commands 710, 7
The print image 11 is represented by reference numeral 712, and the first command 710 draws a hatched rectangle with the coordinates A _x , A _y as the upper left coordinates, and centers the coordinates B _x , B _y on it. A circle of grid lines as coordinates is drawn. The result of storing the line segment data by the first and second drawing commands 710 and 711 is a line segment data buffer 714 and a line segment data counter 713 which is one of the line segment data buffer management information. The line segment data to be stored is one image flag of the line segment start point, line segment end point, line segment color, and image management information in the line segment data buffer 714 (ON only for line segment data by an image command). It is. That is, the image flag is set to “ON” for image drawing data, and the image flag is set to “OFF” for graphic drawing data.

The first line L ₁ indicates a storage result of line segment data that does not need to be drawn. The line data counter 713 of the first line L ₁ is “0”, and no line data is stored in the line data buffer 714.

The second line L ₂ shows the storage result of line segment data drawn by the rectangular command. The line data counter 713 of this second line L ₂ is “1”,
The line segment data buffer 714 stores line data in which the start y coordinate is Ay, the end y coordinate is Ay + Aw-1, the color value is oblique, and the image flag is “off”.

The third line L ₃ shows the result of storing the line segment data at the center position of the circle where the drawing is performed by the rectangular command and the circle command. The third line L ₃ is a line segment data counter 713 is "2", the line segment data buffer 714, starting y coordinate Ay, termination y coordinate AY + Aw-1,
The start y-coordinate is By-Br and the end y-coordinate is By + B together with line segment data in which the color value is oblique and the image flag is “off”
r, line segment data in which the color value is a grid line and the image flag is “off” are stored.

FIG. 12 is a view for explaining a method of storing “line information data” and a method of storing “image information data” as a result of interpreting the image drawing command 505 (see FIG. 8).

As shown in FIG. 12, the command group to be interpreted is composed of two commands, a first command 721 and a second command 721. The first command 721 is
This is an example of the image drawing command 505 shown in FIG. 8, which is command data for drawing a vertically striped image in which the coordinates at the upper left are Cx and Cy, and the width and height of the image pixel are Cw and Ch. The second command 722 is another example of the image drawing command 505 shown in FIG.
In x and Dy, the width and height of the image pixel are [6] and "5"
Is command data for drawing an image of a check pattern. The print image by these drawing commands 721 and 722 is denoted by reference numeral 723, and the first command 721 draws a vertical striped image with Cx and Cy as the upper left coordinates, on which the image of the check by the second command 722 is displayed. It is drawn.

A line data buffer 724 and a line data counter 725 which is one of the line data buffer management information.
Is the interpretation result of the command. Image information data 7
26 is created based on the first command 721, in which the image ID is “1” and the upper left coordinates Cx, Cx
y, image pixel width and height Cw, Ch, and image pixel data are stored. The image information data 727 is created by the second command, in which the image ID is “2”, the upper left coordinates are Dx and Dy, the pixel width and height of the image are 6.5, and the image pixel data is stored. . “Line segment data” to be stored is stored in the line segment data buffer 724.
Are the start point of the line segment, the end point of the line segment, the color of the line segment, the image flag in the image management information ("ON" only for line segment data by the image command), and the image ID (the appearance number of the image drawing command). .

The first line L ₁₁ shows the storage results of no drawing the line segment data. The line data counter 725 of the first line L ₁₁ is “0”, and no line data is stored in the line data buffer 724.

The second line L ₁₂ shows the storage result of the line segment data image drawing is performed by the first command 721. The second line L ₁₂ is a line segment data counter 725 is "1", start the line segment data buffer 724 y-coordinate Cy, termination y coordinates Cy + Cw-1, the color value image flag is 0 "on" , The line segment data having the image ID “1” is stored.

The third line L ₁₃ shows the storage result of line segment data drawn by the first command 721 and the second command 722. The third line L ₁₃ is the line segment data counter 725 is "1", start the line segment data buffer 724 y-coordinate Cy, termination y coordinates Cy + Cw-1, the color value image flag is 0 "on", Line data with an image ID of 1 and a line with a start y coordinate of Dy, an end y coordinate of Dy + 6-1, a color value of 0, an image flag of “on”, and an image ID of “2” in the line data buffer 724 Minute data is stored.

FIG. 13 is a schematic flowchart of a method for storing line segment data. As shown in FIG. 13, first, the buffer management information 516 that holds the usage rate of the line segment data buffer 515 (see FIG. 9) and the position of the empty area is referred to (step S701), and the line segment data buffer 515 stores the line segment data in the line segment data buffer 515. It is determined whether data can be written (step S7).
02). If writing is not possible due to the buffer full, the line segment data buffer is referred to by referring to the auxiliary buffer management information 518 holding the usage rate of the line segment data auxiliary buffer 517 and the connection information with the line segment data buffer 515 (step S703). A part of the contents of 515 is transferred to the line segment data auxiliary buffer 517 (step S704), and the auxiliary buffer management information 518 is updated (step S705).
Next, the line segment data is written into the line segment data buffer 515 (step S706), and the buffer management information 516 is updated (step S707). The line segment data auxiliary buffer 517 is formed on the hard disk drive 309. In step S705, the data transfer rate can be maximized by setting the data transfer unit to an integral multiple of the sector length of the hard disk drive 309. Also, the cost per bit of the normal storage capacity is about 1/100 that of a hard disk for a hard disk,
By using a semiconductor memory and a hard disk together and optimizing the data transfer unit, a large-capacity and low-priced buffer can be realized without a significant reduction in speed.

After the command interpretation is completed as described above,
When “line information data” and “image information data” are generated, the print data expanding unit 407 shown in FIG. 6 is activated as follows. That is, the second CPU 310 issues a command to the dual port memory 308 to notify the start of printing.
When the first CPU 305 receives the instruction, the first CPU 305 sends the instruction to the second interface circuit 350 to the inkjet printer 200.
Write the start command of If the ready signal 358 is true, the second interface control circuit 350
The command is read from the FIFO 351 one byte at a time,
The data clock signal is transmitted one pulse at a time. The interface control circuit 204 in the inkjet printer 200 fetches the command into the FIFO 205 in synchronization with the data clock signal. The above operation is performed when the FIFO 351 in the print control apparatus 300 becomes empty or when the FIFO
There is no interruption until 5 is full. Further, the interface control circuit 204 includes a FIFO 205
To the CPU 206 that data has been input to the CPU 206. The CPU 206 sequentially reads out the data, and when recognizing that the data is a start command, starts the motor 267 and rotates the drum 269 by a mechanism control circuit (not shown).

Subsequently, the second CPU 310
At step 05, the first print data is read.
The “print data” is created by reconstructing “graphic data” stored in the line data buffer 505 and the line data auxiliary buffer 507 and “bit image data” stored in the hard disk drive 309. The reconfiguration procedure has previously been transferred to the second dynamic memory 311 to interpret the command group, and is executed by the second CPU 310.

Next, a method of forming the print data will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 14 is a data configuration diagram for developing and configuring print data. A buffer for developing the print data is formed on the second dynamic memory 311 and a line buffer 80 for storing the print data.
1, a dot flag row 802 and a dot counter 803. The dot flag row 802 exists by the number corresponding to all the dots in one raster, and is set to ON when writing is performed on the corresponding dot. The dot counter 803 is a counter for counting the number of dots written in the raster.

FIG. 15 is a flowchart showing a method for forming one raster into "print data". First, the line buffer 801 and the dot flag train 802
And the dot counter 803 is initialized (step S9).
01). Next, it is determined whether or not there is line segment data in the corresponding raster (step S902). If there is no line segment data, the process ends. If there is no line data, one data is read (step S90).
3). Reading of line segment data is performed from the latest data to the oldest data. That is, reading is performed in reverse order. Next, the start point position of the read line segment data is set in the dot position pointer (step S904). Here, it is determined whether or not the dot width is equal to the print width (step S90).
5) If equal, end. Next, a dot flag corresponding to the current dot pointer is determined (step S90).
6) If on, the process jumps to step S912. The image flag of the line segment data is determined (S907), and if it is on, the bit image data is expanded (step S907).
908), and write the bit image data into the corresponding dots of the line buffer (step S910). If it is not an image, the color value of the current line segment data is written to the line buffer (step S909). The dot counter is updated, and the dot flag is set to ON (step S911). Next, the dot position pointer is updated (step S912). If the dot position counter is equal to the end point position of the line segment data, the process returns to step S902; otherwise, the process returns to step S905 (step S91).
3).

As described above, there are two termination conditions, ie, step S902 and step 905, for developing the print data of the line segment data. However, step S902 is a case where the corresponding raster has no line segment data. Is the termination condition. Step S905 is a state in which the dot counter has become equal to the print width, that is, a state in which writing has been completed for all dots in the line buffer but line segment data remains. In this state, the remaining line segment data is a rectangle 602
It hides under the new line data as shown in the figure, eliminating the need for expansion. Therefore, unnecessary processing is not performed, and this contributes to speeding up the expansion processing. still,
Although not described in detail, data is read from the hard disk drive 309 in steps S902 and S908. In step S902, the necessary line segment data is read from the line segment data auxiliary buffer.
At 902, the bit image data separated from the line segment data is read.

Next, with reference to FIGS. 16 and 17, a more detailed description will be given of a method of developing a line buffer in the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 16 is a diagram for explaining a procedure for developing and constructing line segment data from the line segment data created in FIG. 11 into a line buffer.

The first line L ₂₁ indicates the result stored in the line buffer 913 without drawing. The second line L _22, the line buffer 91 only drawing with rectangle command is performed
4 shows the storage result. This is because Ay + Ay of the y coordinate value is stored in the line buffer 914 from the line segment information data 912.
The data up to w-1 are written with hatched color values.

The third line L ₂₃ shows the storage results of the line buffer 915 at the central position of a circle drawn by the rectangle command and circle command is performed. This is because the line segment information data 912 stores the By
Write from -Br to By + Br with grid line color values,
After that, the y-coordinate values from Ay to Ay + Aw-1 to which the color values have not yet been written are written by the hatched color values from By + Br to Ay + Aw-1.

FIG. 17 is a diagram showing a portion developed from the line segment data created in FIG. 12 into a line buffer. The first line L ₃₁ is no drawing line buffer 9
23 shows the storage result. The second line L _32, the line buffer 9 only image drawing according to the first command is performed
24 shows the storage result. This corresponds to the line buffer 924 from the line information data buffer 922 from Cy in the y-coordinate value to Cy + Cw-1 image ID from the image pixel data 926 of the image information data 726 of "1" to the second line L ₃₂ Pixel information to be written.
The third line L ₃₃ by rectangle command and circle command indicates a first command and storing the result of the line buffer 925 the graphics are drawn by the second command. This is because the line ID information buffer 922 stores the image ID “2” in the line buffer 925 from the y coordinate value Dy to Dy + 6-1.
Pixel data 9 in the image information data 727 of
From 28 writes pixel information corresponding to the third line L _33, then the y-coordinate values not yet written a color value of from Cy in the y-coordinate value to Cy + Cw-1 Dy + 6-
Image pixel data 927 in the image information data 726 having the image ID “1” from 1 to Cy + Cw−1
From writing the pixel information corresponding to the third line L _33.

As described above, the line buffers 923 to 92
5, the first CPU 305 stores the developed data in the dynamic memory 207, and
4 instructs the interface circuit B350 to write the data. At this time, the required capacity of the dynamic memory is a data amount of one raster at a minimum, and may be significantly smaller than a case where one page of expanded data is provided. The DMAC 314 suspends writing when the FIFO 351 becomes full, and starts writing again when the FIFO 351 becomes empty. While the direct memory transfer is suspended, the first CPU 305
Can transfer the next line segment data from the hard disk drive 309 to the second CPU 310 side,
In addition, the developed data is stored in the dynamic memory 207.
Can be stored in another area.

Further, since the second CPU 310 can continue the expansion work regardless of whether or not the bus 230 is in use, high-speed processing is possible. DMA
When data is written to the FIFO 351 by the C 314, the data is sent to the inkjet printer 200 and the C
The PU 206 temporarily stores the data in the dynamic memory 207. Further, the CPU 206 sequentially stores only the cyan data component in the data memory 212 for one raster, and when the storage is completed, the data reading control circuit 2
08 is instructed to print one raster. Upon receiving the command, the data read control circuit 208 synchronizes with the output signal of the encoder 266 and stores the contents of the fourth data memory 212 in the fourth head control circuit 21.
6 The fourth head control circuit 216 determines the drive amount based on the data and drives the head 254. The head 254 supplies the ink amount according to the driving amount to the paper 264.
Spouts. As a result, one raster image of cyan is printed on the paper 264 on the drum 269. CPU206
Then, the head is moved in the axial direction by one raster, and the above operation is repeated for the next one raster image of cyan. Then, when the head 253 reaches the first cyan raster position, the same is repeated from the next on the magenta and cyan data. If the necessary data is not on the dynamic memory 207, the process waits until data is input.

The above is repeated for yellow and black, and at the end of the print data, the printing of raster is stopped in order from cyan in reverse, so that full-color printing on paper 264 can be performed. At this time, the capacity required for the dynamic memory in the ink jet printer 200 is the sum of the memory capacity for storing the interval between the heads, and is extremely smaller than the raster image memory for one page. It is possible to obtain the same print in quantity.

It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and various applications are possible. For example, the output device may be a sublimation type thermal transfer printer or a video display device, or a magneto-optical disk device or a tape drive device may be used instead of the hard disk drive.

[0057]

As is apparent from the above description,
According to the present invention, “graphic drawing data” is converted into “line segment data” that requires a small storage capacity and stored, and “image drawing data” is an image pixel that requires a small storage capacity. By converting the data into data and storing it, and storing the drawing position of the image as “line segment data”, the image data is generated while sequentially developing the line segment data for each raster. Can be smaller. Therefore, it is possible to provide an inexpensive image data generating apparatus capable of generating a large-sized, high-definition, high-quality image.

When the image data generating apparatus of the present invention is incorporated in a printing apparatus, the image data can be developed quickly by simultaneously developing the image data and printing.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a connection between a print control apparatus to which an embodiment of the present invention is applied and the outside.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of the print control apparatus of the embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of an interface control circuit in the embodiment.

FIG. 5 is an internal block diagram of the ink jet printer in the embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a functional block diagram of a procedure for interpreting a command group in the embodiment, storing line segment data and image information, and thereafter developing the data into print data.

FIGS. 7A and 7B are diagrams showing a data structure stored in a line segment data storage unit in the embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a configuration of a drawing command in the embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a configuration of line segment information data in the embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a configuration of image information data in the embodiment.

FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating a method of storing line segment information data as a result of interpreting a graphic drawing command in the embodiment.

FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating a method of storing line segment information data and a method of storing image information data as a result of interpreting an image drawing command in the embodiment.

FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing an outline of a method of storing line segment data in the embodiment.

FIG. 14 is a diagram showing a buffer for configuring print data in the embodiment.

FIG. 15 is a flowchart for forming one raster into print data in the embodiment.

FIG. 16 is a diagram showing a portion developed from line segment data to a line buffer in the embodiment.

FIG. 17 is a diagram of another example showing a portion developed from line segment data to a line buffer in the embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 drawing data 2 drawing data identification means 3 graphic drawing data 4 image drawing data 5 graphic developing means 6 image developing means 7a first line information data 7b second line information data 8 image information Data 9: Raster data generating means 10: Raster data 100: Computer 200: Inkjet printer 300: Print control device 401: Command interpreting unit 402: Command executing unit 403: Command dictionary unit 404: Work area 405: Line segment data storing unit 406 ... Image information storage unit 407 ... Print data development unit

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor Hiroyuki Sasaki 151-1 Naeshiro-cho, Mizuho-ku, Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture Inside Brother Industries, Ltd. (72) Inventor Yoshiyuki Saka 151-1 Naeshiro-cho, Mizuho-ku, Nagoya-shi, Aichi No. Within Brother Industries, Ltd. (72) Inventor Kiseiharu Muramatsu 15-1, Naeshiro-cho, Mizuho-ku, Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture Inside of Brother Industries, Ltd. (72) Ryohei Komiya 15-1, Naeshiro-cho, Mizuho-ku, Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture (56) References JP-A-2-166497 (JP, A) JP-A-61-79674 (JP, A) JP-A-3-216361 (JP, A) JP-A-59-3625 (JP, A) JP-A-63-256450 (JP, A) JP-A-61-61860 (JP, A) JP-A-63-276965 (JP, A) JP-A-4-358475 (JP, A) Kaihei 5-37769 (JP, ) Patent flat 4-88572 (JP, A) JP flat 1-280563 (JP, A) (58 ) investigated the field (Int.Cl. ^6, DB name) B41J 5/30 B41J 3/407 G06T 11 / 00

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. Drawing data created by a computer or the like is converted into line data having a position and a length in a raster direction, and the line data is composed of line data of the same raster. An image data generating device that converts the line segment data into raster image data at the time of output and outputs the raster data to an output device, wherein the drawing data is converted into graphic drawing data or image drawing data. Based on the drawing data identification means to be identified and the graphic drawing data identified by the drawing data identification means, first line segment information data in which an image flag indicating graphic drawing data is added to the line segment data is generated. Graphic rendering means, and image drawing data identified by the drawing data identification means. Image developing means for generating second line segment information data in which an image flag indicating image drawing data and image ID for managing image drawing data are added to the line segment data; and the first line segment information data. While converting the graphic drawing data into raster image data based on
An image data generating apparatus, comprising: a conversion unit configured to convert the image drawing data into raster image data based on the second line segment information data.