JPH01289373A - Image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To facilitate the checking of an image memory without using a special tester and applying a burden to an operator by providing a switching means of an action mode, a rectangular area reading means, a coordinates designating means, a buffer memory means and a graphic displaying means. CONSTITUTION:An ordinary action mode and test displaying mode are switched by a switching means 2. At the test displaying mode, the coordinates position of the rectangular area to be read from an image memory 1 is designated by a coordinates designating means 4 and the contents of the rectangular area are read by a rectangular area reading means 3. The data read by the rectangular area reading means 3 are stored into a buffer memory means 5 and the graphic is displayed by a graphic displaying means 6. Thus, without using a special tester and applying the burden to the operator, the image memory can be easily checked.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Summary] An image forming apparatus having a bitmap type image memory;
For example, an object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus that can easily check the image memory of a graphic printer, image printer, facsimile, etc., without using a special testing machine and without putting a burden on the operator. , an image forming apparatus having a bitmap type image memory, comprising: switching means for switching an operation mode to a test display mode; rectangular area reading means for reading out contents of a certain rectangular area from the image memory; Coordinate specifying means for specifying the coordinate position of a rectangular area to be read by the means, buffer memory means for storing the contents read by the rectangular area reading means, and graphic display means capable of graphically displaying the contents of the buffer memory means. It is composed of:

[Industrial application field]

The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus having a bitmap type image memory, such as a graphic blink, an image printer, or a facsimile.

An image forming device having a bitmap type image memory,
For example, in Graphic Blink, image data or print data is received from a host computer or other host device, the received data is processed and written to a bitmap image memory, and the contents of the image memory are printed on a medium such as paper. .

When developing or maintaining a graphic printer, certain rectangles in the image memory are Checking the contents of a region is often done.

It is desirable that such a check can be performed without using a special testing machine and without placing a burden on the operator.

Additionally, Graphic Blink has traditionally been equipped with multiple key switches to control the normal printing operations of the printer itself, and in recent years, it has also been used to display various messages and figures related to printing operations. Many graphic printers are equipped with an LCD (liquid crystal display) for this purpose.

[Conventional technology]

Conventionally, the contents of the image memory of a graphic printer or the like have been checked in the following manner.

In other words, after outputting the contents of the image memory to a dump list expressed in hexadecimal numbers, the operator calculates the memory address from the XY address (coordinate position) in the image memory, and then converts the hexadecimal numerical data to dot data. and check it as a figure.

In addition, as another method, a communication control device with the printer or a C
There is a method in which a special test machine equipped with an RT display device is prepared, and the contents of a certain rectangular area of the image memory are graphically displayed and checked using this test machine.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] However, according to the conventional check method described above, the former method requires a lot of time to calculate the memory address for each rask and to convert numerical data to dot data. This is not practical as it requires a lot of effort and puts too much of a burden on the operator.

In addition, in the latter method, it is necessary to prepare such a special test machine, which requires a lot of time and effort to manufacture, and also requires a special connector to connect to the test machine. This has to be implemented in all mass-produced printers, which poses a problem in that the cost of the product (printer) increases.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In view of the above-mentioned problems, an object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus that can easily check the image memory without using a special testing machine and without placing a burden on the operator. There is.

[Means to solve the problem]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention provides an image forming apparatus having a bitmap type image memory 1, as shown in FIG. rectangular area reading means 3 for reading the contents of a certain rectangular area from the image memory 1;
Coordinate specifying means 4 for specifying the coordinate position of the rectangular area to be read by the rectangular area reading means 3; buffer memory means 5 for storing the contents read by the rectangular area reading means 3; The device is characterized in that it has a graphic display means 6 capable of displaying graphics.

The switching means 2 and the coordinate specifying means 4 include, for example, a switch provided for controlling the normal operation of the image forming apparatus, and also a buffer memory means 5 and a graphic display means 6.
For example, LCD, CRT, FDP, etc. for displaying various messages and figures related to normal operation.
Alternatively, a flat display panel such as a mirror can be used.

The rectangular area reading means 3 is realized by executing a program by, for example, a microprocessor that controls the entire image forming apparatus.

[Function] The switching means 2 switches between the normal operation mode and the test display mode.

In the test display mode, the coordinate specifying means 4 specifies the coordinate position of a rectangular area that should not be read out from the image memory l, and the contents of the rectangular area are read out by the rectangular area reading means 3.

The data read by the rectangular area reading means 3 is stored in the panzer memory means 5 and graphically displayed by the graphic display means 6.

As a result, the contents of the rectangular area designated as I in the image memory I are graphically displayed, and by checking this, it is checked whether or not the operation of the image forming apparatus is normal.

[Example of practical care]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the hardware configuration of the graphic printer 10.

The graphic printer 10 includes a microprocessor 11 that controls the entire device, and a RAM that stores a control program.
Or a program memory 12 consisting of a ROM, a bitmap memory 13 consisting of a readable/writable storage element and having a two-dimensional virtual screen, a data memory 14 storing data, calculation results, etc., key switches SW1 to SW3, and an LCD.
16, an operation panel 15 with key switches SWi~3
a detection circuit 17 that detects the on/off state of the LCD 16, an LCD drive circuit 18 that drives the LCD 16, a data reception circuit 19 that receives print data, control data, etc. from a host computer (not shown) or other host equipment, a bus 20, and a printing section 21.
, a clock generation and supply circuit 23 that supplies a clock to the microprocessor/nocer 11, and a power supply circuit 24 that supplies power.

The key switches SW1 to SW3 are the graphic printer 10
At the same time, in the test display mode, bitmap memory 1 is switched to the test display mode.
3, the coordinate position of a rectangular area E (see FIG. 6) to be displayed is specified, and a signal is given to actually display the contents of the rectangular area E on the LCD 16.

These key switches SWI to SWI3 are, for example, a select switch for switching on/off the data receiving operation by the data receiving circuit 19, a line feet switch for line feed, or a top-of-form switch for sending paper to the top position of printing. A switch provided for controlling the normal operation of the graphic printer 10, such as a switch, is also used.

In other words, these key switches SW1 to SW3 are used for control according to the original functions of the switches in the normal operation mode, but the key switches SW1 and SW3 are used for control according to their original functions.
2 are pressed at the same time (turned on), the operation mode is switched to test display mode, and then, by pressing the key switch SW1 or SW2 individually, the coordinate position of the rectangular area E is changed, and the key switch SW1 or SW2 is pressed individually. switch SW
When 3 is pressed, the contents of rectangular area E are displayed on the LCD.
16 is actually displayed.

FIG. 3 is a front view showing an example of the screen of the LCD 16.

The LCD 16 is composed of display segments SG of 5 dots in the horizontal direction (X direction) and 7 dots in one direction (Y direction), arranged in 16 display segments SG in the horizontal direction and 2 in the vertical direction. The content displayed by the LCD 16 can be specified for each display segment SG by an LCD display code.

The LCD drive circuit 18 has an LCD display table TB that stores LCD display codes set for each display segment SG, and a specific LCD display code 00° to 0.
Buffer memory area CGRAM (0) specified by 7° (X indicates hexadecimal number) and whose contents are displayed
-(7).

The contents of the rectangular area E in the pit map memory 13 are written into the 99-page area CGRAM (0) to (7) of the puffer fish memo. This will be discussed later.

Figure 4 shows the L for display in test display mode.
A diagram showing the configuration of the CD display table TB, FIG. 5 is an LCD
It is a figure which shows an example of the content of display table TB.

In FIG. 4, the 3rd to 6th upper and lower eight segment storage units SM, SM, etc. in the X direction have coordinates 1. α part 31
The 12th to 15th upper and lower eight segment storage units SM, SM, . . . in the X direction are used as a pattern code storage unit 32.

The coordinate storage unit 31 stores the rectangle to be read from the focus map memory 13. ■The data of the origin position, which is the starting point of area E, is stored in the LCD display code.
0th direction) XP 4-digit X by (0) to (3)
YP (0) to (3) whose coordinates are lower (first in the Y direction)
The four-digit Y coordinate is displayed on the LCD'S.

Therefore, XP (0) ~ (3) and YP (0) ~
By rewriting the contents of (3), XF! The i mark and Y coordinate can be specified and displayed. At the time of this rewriting, as shown in the flowchart described later, by pressing the key switch SW2, the pointer AP is moved and the Q
After specifying the segment SM, press the key switch SWI to increment the contents by one, thereby writing "0" into each segment memory SM of the coordinate memory 31.
- Set an LCD display code corresponding to any numerical value between "9" and "9".

The pattern code storage section 32 includes a buffer memory area C.
LCD display m1- corresponding to GRAM (0) to (7)
FX '00° to x'07° are stored as fixed values in each segment storage unit SM.

In the LCD display table TB shown in FIG.
The D display code is expressed in hexadecimal. According to these LCD display codes, the following displays are performed, respectively.

LCD display code Display content 20 Blank 58
”, a blank is displayed in the corresponding display segment SG of the LCD 16 (that is, nothing is displayed).
, if the LCD display code is "58", "x"
is displayed, and the LCD display code is "00" to "0".
7”, the buffer memory area CGRAM
The contents stored in (0) to (7) are displayed graphically.

As mentioned above, in the test display mode, the LCD
The only LCD display code that can be changed in the display table TB is the coordinate storage section 31.

FIG. 6 shows the coordinate position (
1000, 1000).

The rectangular area E is an area of 20 dots in the X direction and 14 dots in the Y direction, and its position in the bitmap memory 13 is determined by the coordinates of the origin position, which is the starting point of the rectangular area E.

Therefore, for example, as shown in FIG. 6, when the origin position is at the coordinates (1000, 1000), the upper half of the graphic data of alpha head [A] will be included in the rectangular area.

The contents of the rectangular area E in the focus map memory 13 are read out by command from the microprocessor 11 by pressing the key switch SW3, and written as image data in the buffer memory areas CGRAM (0) to (7). It will be done.

At this time, each segment area EO within the rectangular area E
- Each content of E7 is stored in buffer memory area CC5.
They are written in RAMs (0) to (7) in correspondence with each other.

The LCD 16 shown in FIG. 3 described above is the L shown in FIG.
The rectangular area E of the bitmap memory 13 shown in FIG. 6 is displayed based on the contents of the CD display table TB.

Next, the display operation in the test display mode will be explained with reference to the flowcharts shown in FIGS. 7 and 8.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing processing operations by key switches SWI-3.

In step #1, it is determined whether key switches SWI and SW2 are pressed simultaneously.

When these are pressed at the same time, the mode is switched to the test display mode, the pointer AP and the LCD display table TB are reset to the initial state (step #2), and the key switches SWI to 3 wait for human power (step #3).

When the key switch SWI-3 is pressed, it is determined which key switch SWI-3 was pressed, and processing is performed in accordance with each key switch (Steps #4-6).

If the key switch SW2 is pressed at the same time as the key switch SWI is pressed (YES in steps #4 and #9), the normal operation mode is returned to.

That is, by pressing the key switches SWI and 2 at the same time, the normal operation mode and the test display mode are alternately switched.

If only the key switch SW1 is pressed, the contents of the segment storage SM specified by the pointer AP are incremented by one (step #10).

If the content of the segment storage SM specified by the pointer AP is larger than "9" (YES in step #ll), the LC corresponding to "0" is stored in the segment storage SM.
Store the D display code (step #12).

The contents of the LCD display table TB are displayed on the LCD 16 (step #13).

If key switch SW2 is pressed (step #
5), the pointer AP is incremented by one (step #14).

If the pointer AP exceeds the address of XP (3) (Yes in step #15), pointer AP
Enter the address (0) (step #16).

If the pointer AP exceeds the address of YP (3) (Yes in step #17), then the XP
Enter the address (0) (step #18).

If key switch SW3 is pressed (step #
6), execute the readout routine described later. Step #7), display the contents of the LCD display table TB on the LCD.
16 (step #8).

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing the read routine.

First, from the contents of the coordinate storage section 31 of the LCD display table TB, find the origin position (X coordinate and Y coordinate) of the rectangular area E (Step #21L) Store this in an appropriate area of the data memory 14 (Step #22 ).

The coordinates of the origin position (X and Y coordinates) are the coordinates (x, y)
(Step #23).

The numbers N of buffer memory areas CGRAM (0) to (7) are initialized to "0" (step #24).

The coordinate (X) in the bitmap memory 13.

The pattern data for 5×7 dots is read from the coordinate position indicated by
M (N) (step #25).

If the number N is not "7" (No in step #26),
The number N is incremented by one (step #27).

Determine whether number N is “4” (step #2
B).

If the number N is not "4", the coordinate X is incremented by 5 and steps #29) and steps #25 and subsequent steps are repeated.

If the number N is "4", the coordinate X is the origin position
Return to coordinates step #30), za+! Increment y by 7 (step #31) and repeat step #25 and subsequent steps.

As a result, the contents of the rectangular area E of the bitmap memory 13 are sequentially written into the buffer memory areas CGRAM (0) to (7) for each segment [1 area EO-E7].

If the number N becomes "7", it means that all the buffer memory areas CGRAM (0) to (7) have been filled in, so after returning, repeat step # above.
At 8, the contents are graphically displayed on the LCD 16.

According to the above embodiment, the contents of the rectangular area E of the bitmap memory 13 are written as image data to the buffer memory areas CGRAM (0) to (7), and the contents are graphically displayed on the LCD 16, so that the bitmap memory 13 is The contents of the memory 13 can be easily checked.

Furthermore, the position of the rectangular area E in the bitmap memory 13 can be easily specified using the key switches SWI and 2, and the contents of any coordinate position in the bitmap memory 13 can be easily checked.

LCD for displaying the contents of the focus map memory 13
l 6 is also used to display various messages and figures related to the normal operation of the graphic printer IO, and is also a key switch for switching to test display mode, specifying the position of rectangular area E, etc. SWI~
3 also uses a switch provided for controlling normal operations, so that an increase in the cost of the graphic printer 10 can be suppressed.

A special testing machine for checking the contents of the bitmap memory 13 is not required, and therefore a connector for connecting such a testing machine to the graphic printer 10 is not required, so that an increase in cost can be suppressed. Space for connectors is also not required. Furthermore, since no testing machine is required, maintenance of the graphic printer 10 at a remote location is easy.

In the above embodiment, the pattern code storage section 32 was composed of eight segment storage sections SM;
The number may be less than or equal to 9 or more than 9. Although the starting point position of the rectangular area E is specified by the coordinates in the coordinate storage section 31, the center position of the rectangular area E may be specified.

In the above embodiment, key switches SWI to 3 are used to switch to the test display mode and specify the coordinate position.
However, instead of this, a numeric keypad, a rotary switch, a combination of a rotary switch and a key switch, and other various switches may be used.

In the above embodiment, the LCD 16 is used to graphically display the contents of the bitmap memory 13, but instead of this, a flat display panel such as a CRT, PDP, or EL may be used.

In the embodiments described above, the bronc configuration of the graphic printer 10 or the procedure for displaying the contents of the bitmap memory 13 may be different from those described above.

〔Effect of the invention〕

According to the present invention, it is possible to easily check the image memory without using a special testing machine and without placing a burden on the operator.

It is also easy to check the image memory at a remote location.

For example, a switch provided to control the normal operation of the image forming apparatus can be used as a switching means or a coordinate specifying means, and various messages and figures related to the normal operation can be used as a buffer memory means or a graphic display means. By using a flat display panel such as LCD, CRT, PDP, or EL for displaying images, the increase in parts due to the addition of an image memory check function can be minimized, making it possible to increase costs. can be suppressed in an effective manner.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the hardware configuration of a graphic printer according to the present invention, FIG. 3 is a front view showing an example of the LCD screen in test display mode, Figure 4 shows the configuration of the LCD display table in test display mode, Figure 5 shows an example of the contents of the LCD display table, Figure 6 shows the contents of a part of the bitmap memory, and Figure 7 shows the contents of a part of the bitmap memory. The figure is a flowchart showing the processing operation by the key switch, and FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing the read routine. In the figure, 1 is an image memory, 2 is a switching means, 3 is a rectangular area reading means, 4 is a coordinate specifying means, 5 is a buffer memory means, 6 is a graphic display means, 10 is a graphic printer (image forming device), If is the microprocessor-1, 12 is the program memory, 13 is the bitmap memory (image memory), and 16 is the LC.
D (graphic display means), 18 is an LCD drive circuit (buffer memory means), SWI
-3 are key switches (switching means, coordinate specifying means), and E is a rectangular area.

Claims (1)

[Claims] (1) An image forming apparatus having a bitmap image memory (1), comprising a switching means (2) for switching an operation mode to a test display mode, and a content of a certain rectangular area from the image memory (1). rectangular area reading means (3) for reading out the rectangular area; and coordinate specifying means (4) for specifying the coordinate position of the rectangular area to be read by the rectangular area reading means (3).
), buffer memory means (5) for storing the contents read by the rectangular area reading means (3), and graphic display means (6) capable of graphically displaying the contents of the buffer memory means (5). An image forming apparatus characterized by: