JP3187262B2 - Character data processing method, character data processing apparatus, and image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a character data processing method,
The present invention relates to a character data processing device and an image forming device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, when character modification is performed on character data using an enlargement processing unit and a plurality of modification processing units, the character modification is performed in an order uniquely determined by the modification control unit. Further, when the enlargement processing means is used, it is applied first by the plural modification processing means in consideration of the character quality.

[0003]

However, in the above-mentioned conventional example, when the enlargement processing means and the multiple modification processing means are present, the enlargement processing is performed prior to the other modification, and the storage means for enlargement and multiple modification processing is performed. Capacity became insufficient, and a special process was sometimes required.

An object of the present invention is to provide a character data processing method and apparatus capable of solving the above problems and improving the efficiency and reduction of storage means.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus using the character data processing device.

[0006]

In order to achieve the above object, an object of the present invention is to determine whether or not the size of character data after enlargement processing and modification processing exceeds the size of a character data modification work area. A discriminating step of discriminating, and, if it is determined that the character data is not exceeded, a first character for enlarging the character data at a specified enlarging ratio and performing a designated modification process on the enlarged character data If it is determined in the modification processing step and the determination step that the data is to be exceeded, the designated enlargement ratio is divided into a pre-drawing enlargement ratio and a drawing enlargement ratio, and the character data is enlarged by the pre-drawing enlargement ratio. A character data processing method having a second character modification processing step of performing a designated modification process on the modified character data and enlarging the modified character data at a drawing enlargement ratio. To.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a discriminating means for discriminating whether or not the size of the character data after the enlargement processing and the modification processing exceeds the size of the character data modification work area; If it is determined, the first character modification processing means for enlarging the character data at the designated enlargement ratio and performing the designated modification processing on the enlarged character data is determined to be larger than the first character modification processing means. If the specified enlargement ratio is divided into the enlargement ratio before drawing and the enlargement ratio before drawing, the character data is enlarged at the enlargement ratio before drawing, and the specified modification process is performed on the enlarged character data. And a second character modification processing means for enlarging the character data subjected to the modification processing at a drawing enlargement ratio.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a determining means for determining whether or not the size of the character data after the enlargement processing and the modification processing exceeds the size of the character data modification work area; If it is determined, the first character modification processing means for enlarging the character data at the designated enlargement ratio and performing the designated modification processing on the enlarged character data is determined to be larger than the first character modification processing means. If the specified enlargement ratio is divided into the enlargement ratio before drawing and the enlargement ratio before drawing, the character data is enlarged at the enlargement ratio before drawing, and the specified modification process is performed on the enlarged character data. Second character modification processing means for enlarging the modified character data at a drawing enlargement ratio, and character data processed by the first sentence modification processing means and processed by the second character modification processing means Wherein the image forming apparatus and a forming means for forming an image on recording paper based on the character data.

[0009]

FIG. 1 is a sectional view showing an internal structure of a laser beam printer (hereinafter abbreviated as LBP) to which the present embodiment is applied. (Form data) can be registered. In the figure, reference numeral 1000 denotes an LBP main body, which inputs and stores character information (character code), form information, microinstructions, and the like supplied from an externally connected host computer, and responds according to the information. A character pattern, a form pattern, and the like are created, and an image is formed on recording paper, which is a recording medium. 10
Reference numeral 12 denotes an operation panel on which switches for operation and an LED display are arranged. Reference numeral 1001 denotes a printer control unit that controls the entire LBP 1000 and analyzes character information supplied from a host computer. The control unit 1001 mainly converts character information into a video signal of a corresponding character pattern,
Output to 2. The laser driver 1002 is a circuit for driving the semiconductor laser 1003, and switches on and off a laser beam 1004 emitted from the semiconductor laser 1003 according to an input video signal. Laser 100
Reference numeral 4 denotes a rotating polygon mirror 1005 which is swung right and left to scan on an electrostatic drum 1006. Thereby, the electrostatic drum 100
An electrostatic latent image of a character pattern is formed on 6. This latent image is stored in a developing unit 1007 around the electrostatic drum 1006.
And then transferred to recording paper. This recording paper uses a cut sheet, and the cut sheet recording paper is LBP
1000 stored in a paper cassette 1008
Paper feed roller 1009 and transport rollers 1010 and 101
1 and the electrostatic drum 1006
Supplied to

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of the printer control unit.

Reference numeral 2001 denotes an external device such as a host computer, 2002 denotes a printer control unit,
2011 denotes a printer engine. The printer control unit 2002 has the following configuration. 2003, an address / data bus; 2004, a host I / F including a buffer unit; 2005, a CPU;
RO storing the control procedure and the like as shown in FIG.
M and 2007 are DMA units controlled by the CPU, 20
08 is a panel unit, and 2009 is an I / O including an output buffer unit for storing data for sending the engine 2011.
A / F circuit unit 2010 denotes a RAM.

The processing flow will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 2 and FIG.

First, it is checked in step 1 whether character data (or character code: hereinafter collectively treated as character data) is received from the external device 2001. If the character data has not been received, the process ends. If character data is received, step2
To check whether the character data is valid data. If the character data is invalid, the process returns to step 1 to receive the next character data. If valid character data, ste
At p3, the presence / absence of modification processing of the character data is checked. If the character data is not modified, step 11
, And the next character data is received in step 1. The normal processing in this case is simply to render the character data. If there is modification, step4
Investigate whether the modification process includes extended modification. If there is no enlargement modification, normal processing is performed in step 11. The normal processing in this case is to perform character modification according to the modification control means stored in the ROM of 2006 before rendering. The modification control means is a program for controlling the order of performing character modification.

If the enlargement modification is included in the character modification, it is checked in step 5 whether the character modification has only the enlargement modification. If the character modification is only the enlargement modification processing, the normal processing is performed in step 11. The normal processing in this case is to perform enlargement modification at the time of rendering. If not only the enlargement modification processing but also the enlargement modification and the multiple modification processing are combined, step 6
Then, the analysis of the size of the character data after the modification is performed by the analysis means stored in the ROM of 2006 when all the modification means designated by using the modification control means stored in the ROM of 2006 are executed. The analysis means determines the size of the character data (the size of the character data 4002 in FIG. 4).
Of the character data storage area or the character data modification work area is determined.

If the character data does not exceed the size of the above-mentioned area, normal character modification processing is performed in step 11. In this case, the character modification processing is performed by using the modification control means stored in the ROM of 2006. An outline of this processing is shown in FIG. First, x-fold enlargement processing is performed on 4000 character data to create character data 4001 after x-fold enlargement. Next, a plurality of modification processes are performed on the character data 4001 after the x-fold magnification, and the character data 4002
make. If the size of the character data after analysis by the analysis means (the size of the character data 4002) exceeds the size of the character data storage area or the character data modification work area in step 6, the enlargement modification in the modification information is performed in step 7. Is divided into a pre-drawing magnification ratio and a drawing magnification ratio.

According to FIG. 5, an enlargement factor of x is set at first, but it is divided into a magnification factor x before drawing and a magnification factor z. x, y, z have a relationship like 5004 (x = y ×
z) holds. The method of dividing the enlargement ratio is set within a range where the character data size of 5002 does not exceed the decoration work area. Before performing the plurality of modification processes in step 9, the pre-rendering enlargement process is performed using the pre-rendering enlargement ratio divided in step 8 to create character data 5001. Next, a plurality of modification processes are performed in step 9 to create character data 5002. In step 10, enlargement processing is performed at the time of drawing using the drawing enlargement ratio, and character data 5003 is created.

Thus, the processing of one character is completed, and step 1
And repeats from the reception of the next character data.

(Other Embodiments) Although the above embodiment deals with the case of character modification of LBP character expansion means, it is also possible to use a device other than LBP which has character expansion means and performs character modification processing.

Further, in the above embodiment, the efficient use of the storage means is performed by dividing the enlargement ratio. However, the order of each of the plurality of modifications may be changed according to the size of the storage means. Further, the division of the enlargement ratio and the replacement of the decoration order may be performed simultaneously.

[0020]

As described above, according to the present invention, when the capacity of the storage means for enlargement and multiple modification processing is insufficient, the enlargement processing is divided before and after the multiple modification processing, and the capacity of the storage means is reduced. By performing the pre-rendering enlargement process before the multiple modification process and performing the remaining enlargement after the multiple modification process at the enlargement rate as permitted, efficiency and reduction in use of the storage unit can be achieved.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view illustrating an internal structure of a printing apparatus.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing a flow of the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a printer control unit of the printing apparatus.

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing a procedure of a normal modification process.

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram showing a procedure in the present embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 2001 External device 2002 Printer control unit 2003 Address / data bus 2004 Host I / F 2005 CPU 2006 ROM 2007 DMA unit 2008 Panel unit 2009 I / F circuit unit 2010 RAM 2011 Engine unit

Claims (3)

(57) [Claims] A determining step of determining whether or not the size of the character data after the enlargement processing and the decoration processing exceeds the size of the character data decoration work area; A first process of enlarging character data at a specified enlargement ratio and performing a specified modification process on the enlarged character data;
Character modification processing step, if determined to exceed the determination step, the designated enlargement ratio is divided into a pre-drawing enlargement ratio and a drawing enlargement ratio,
Enlarging the character data at the enlargement ratio before drawing, performing a designated modification process on the enlarged character data, and enlarging the modified character data at the drawing enlargement ratio.
A character data processing method having a character modification processing step. 2. A determination means for determining whether or not the size of character data after the enlargement processing and the modification processing exceeds the size of the character data modification work area. First character modification processing means for enlarging character data at a designated enlargement ratio and performing designated modification processing on the enlarged character data; and The enlarged magnification ratio is divided into a pre-drawing magnification ratio and a drawing enlargement ratio, the character data is enlarged at the pre-drawing enlargement ratio, the specified modification process is performed on the enlarged character data, and the modification process is performed. A character data processing device having second character modification processing means for enlarging character data at a drawing magnification ratio. 3. A determining means for determining whether or not the size of the character data after the enlargement processing and the modification processing exceeds the size of the character data modification work area. First character modification processing means for enlarging character data at a designated enlargement ratio and performing designated modification processing on the enlarged character data; and The enlarged magnification ratio is divided into a pre-drawing magnification ratio and a drawing enlargement ratio, the character data is enlarged at the pre-drawing enlargement ratio, the specified modification process is performed on the enlarged character data, and the modification process is performed. Second character modification processing means for enlarging character data at a drawing enlargement ratio; character data processed by the first text modification processing means; and character data processed by the second character modification processing means Forming means for forming an image on recording paper based on the image forming apparatus.