JPH01314176A - Image output device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To enable an execution to be instructed with a simple loading/ unloading processing by providing a loading member identifying and executing an arbitrary emulation program stored in a cartridge-type memory medium. CONSTITUTION:A program package 29 consisting of emulation program ROMs 29a, 29b and a socket 29c is so constructed as to be detachable to connectors 2a, 2b. With a power source throw-in to a printer control unit 2, a CPU 23 conducts an initialization, thereafter reading an address 200000H allocated to the connector 2a to judge whether or not the read value is 'PPPP'. If the judgement is NO, an address 500000H of the connector 2b is read to judge whether or not it is 'PPPP'. If the judgement is NO, an instruction stored in a control program ROM 25 is continued, and a printing processing from a host is executed; if the judgement is YES, the step is jumped to an address 500004H, and an instruction according to the emulation program in the ROM 29b is executed. Therefore, an information output processing according to a plurality of command systems can be performed.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention] (Industrial application field) This invention applies to printing information input from a host.

The present invention relates to an image output device that outputs an image based on the print information input from a host in accordance with a command system stored in a storage medium such as a cartridge.

[Conventional technology]

Conventionally, in this type of device, character codes and control commands (
send and receive commands), analyze input character codes and control commands, and generate character patterns to be printed.
The generated character pattern is developed into a frame buffer for one page, for example, and outputted to the print drive circuit of the printer.
It is configured so that desired characters, images, etc. can be output.

(Problem to be Solved by the Invention) However, since the control command (command) system output from the data supply source such as the host computer is a command system specific to each printer manufacturer, printers of the same manufacturer are usually It was not possible to function as a printer for other users, and the compatibility was low, so improvements were awaited.

For this reason, this type of device is equipped with an emulation program that processes commands in a command system different from the native commands when the command system unique to the printer is used as a native command. Emulation compatible printers configured to be able to execute processing have been put into practical use.

However, in an image output device that normally executes print processing using this type of emulation mode, an emulator program for executing the above emulation mode is stored in a cartridge-type storage medium, and according to the user's request, that is, the user is configured so that image output in emulation mode can be executed by inserting a cartridge into the mounting opening of the image output means, but the cartridge-type storage medium usually stores an emulator program in emulation mode. In order to improve printing compatibility in the image output device itself, it is necessary to purchase multiple cartridge-type storage media and install a cartridge-type storage medium that corresponds to each emulation mode each time. In addition, it is necessary to constantly recognize the attached cartridge-type storage medium, and there are problems in that it takes a considerable amount of time to start printing processing.

The present invention was made to solve the above problems, and it allows a cartridge-type storage medium to store an emulation program corresponding to a plurality of emulation modes, and also stores an emulation program corresponding to a plurality of emulation modes in a cartridge-type storage medium. An object of the present invention is to provide an image output device that can instruct the execution of any emulation program stored in a single cartridge type storage medium with a simple attachment/detachment process by providing a mounting member for identifying and executing an emulation program. do.

(Means for Solving the Problems) An image output device according to the present invention includes an external program supply means that accommodates a storage medium that stores in advance a plurality of emulation programs for processing print information according to a command system; A plurality of attachment/detachment mechanisms for individually supplying a plurality of emulation programs stored in the storage medium of the program supply means, and an attachment state of the external program supply means attached to each attachment/detachment mechanism, are recognized, and the emulation program is emulation program startup control means for controlling startup of one of the emulation programs.

Note that the emulation program start control means may be configured to monitor whether the external program supply means is attached to each attachment/detachment mechanism and automatically set native mode image output or emulation mode image output by the image output means. .

(Function) In the present invention, when the program supply means for processing print information according to a command system is attached to a storage medium in one of the plurality of attachment/detachment mechanisms, the emulation program start control means starts each emulation. Read the program individually and read the program 1 for the installed attachment/detachment mechanism.
Start two emulation programs. The emulation program starting control means monitors whether or not the external program supply child stage is attached to each attachment/detachment mechanism, and automatically sets native mode image output or emulation mode image output by the image output means.

[Embodiment] FIG. 1 is a sectional view illustrating the configuration of an image output device showing an embodiment of the present invention. The laser beam printer shown in FIG. 1 can also register character patterns and form patterns from a data source (not shown).

In this figure, 1 is the main body, which converts character information (character code), form information (form code), etc. supplied from an external host computer (to be described later) into corresponding character patterns, form patterns, etc., and stores it on a recording medium. Form an image on a sheet of paper. 2 is the printer control unit, main body 1
The printer control unit 2 analyzes the overall control and character information supplied from the host computer, mainly converts the character information into a video signal of a corresponding character pattern, and sends the converted video signal to the laser driver 3. Output. The laser driver 3 is a circuit for driving and controlling the semiconductor laser 4, and switches on/off the laser light 5 emitted from the semiconductor laser 4 according to the input video signal. The laser beam 5 is a rotating polygon lt6
The light is deflected in the left-right direction and irradiated onto the electrostatic drum (photosensitive drum) 7, forming a latent image of a character pattern on the electrostatic drum 7. This latent image is developed by a developing unit 8 around the electrostatic drum 7, and then transferred onto a sheet of paper. Cut sheets are used as paper, and the cut sheets are stored in a paper cassette 9 attached to the main body 1, taken into a lid by a paper feed roller 10 and conveyance rollers 11 and 12, and supplied to an electrostatic drum 7. be done. Reference numeral 13 denotes an operation panel, which is composed of an operation switch and a display consisting of an LED, and informs the state of the main body 1.

Note that 2a and 2b are connectors serving as a mounting mechanism, into which a program cartridge serving as a program supply means to be described later is mounted.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating the configuration of the printer control unit 2 shown in FIG. 1, and the same parts as in FIG. 1 are given the same reference numerals.

In this figure, 21 is an input interface unit that receives control codes and character codes from a host computer 28 serving as an external device, and receives, for example, a random access memory RA.
It is temporarily stored in the input buffer memory 22 composed of M. 23 is a CPU which also serves as emulation program start control means of the present invention, and a control program ROM 2.
Print information processing is executed based on a control program stored in 5. In particular, the control program ROM 25 stores a print processing sequence in the native mode. A character pattern generator 24 stores character font patterns corresponding to character codes in a dot matrix format. Reference numeral 26 denotes a frame buffer memory composed of, for example, a RAM, which stores a character pattern corresponding to a predetermined character code obtained from the character pattern generator 24 at an appropriate position according to a print position command input from the host computer 28. The image is expanded and stored for one page.

An output interface section 27 generates a video signal according to the dot pattern information expanded and stored in the frame buffer memory 26, and outputs the video signal to the page printer printing section 3o in synchronization with the print control signal. The page printer printing unit 3° prints image information based on a video signal using the mechanism shown in FIG.

29 is a program package serving as a program supply means, and includes a first emulation program ROM 29a for processing print information according to an arbitrary command system.
, a second emulation program ROM 29b, and a socket 29c, and is configured to be detachable from the connectors 2a and 2b.

In addition, the first emulation program ROM29a,
The 742 emulation program ROM 29b has a first emulation mode different from the native mode.
and a second emulation program Pi, P2
(The parser and execution procedure for analyzing the combination of commands (command system) from the host computer 28 are stored as a program) (However, P1 ≠
P2), this program package 29 is the connector 2a
, 2b, the CPU 23 serving as an emulation program start control means reads each emulation program Pi, P2 corresponding to each connector 2a, 2b individually, and emulation program P1 corresponding to the attached connector 2a, 2b. Alternatively, start the emulation program P2. And CPU23
monitors whether the program package 29 is attached to each connector 2a, 2b and automatically sets native mode image output or emulation mode image output by the page printer printing section 30 serving as an image output means.

3(a) and 3(b) are memory map schematic diagrams explaining the memory space of each device processed by the CPU 23 shown in FIG. The address allocation of the device is shown, and the control program ROM 25 is allocated to addresses OH to 0FFFFFH, and the character pattern generator 24 is allocated to addresses 1000 and 1000.
00 to IFFFFFH, connector 2a is assigned to addresses 200000 to 3FFFFFH, and connector 2b is assigned to addresses 400000 to 5FFFFF.
) I is allocated to the input memory 22. RAM such as the frame buffer memory 26 has address 600000.
It is assigned to ~9FFFFFFH.

FIG. 2(b) shows the address assignment on the program package 29, and shows the address assignment on the first emulation program ROM.
29a is assigned addresses OH to 0FFFF, and
Emulation program ROM29b is at address 1
00000) 1 to 13FFFF are assigned.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view illustrating the external appearance of the program package 29 shown in FIG. 2, and the same parts as in FIG. 1 are given the same reference numerals.

As can be seen from this figure, by attaching the program package 29 to the connector 2a or 2b, the socket 29c is directly connected to the path line of the CPU 23.

Next, the image output processing operation according to the present invention will be explained with reference to FIG.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating an example of image output processing according to the present invention. Note that (1) to (7) indicate each step.

When power is turned on to the printer control unit 2,
The CPU 23 of the printer control unit 2 executes initialization processing to initialize information regarding each device (1). In other words, a timer maintained in a work area (not shown),
register, accumulator, flip-flop, I10
Executes clear self-test of registers, panel interface circuits, RAM, etc.

Next, the CPU 23 reads the address 200000H assigned to the connector 2a, and the value is rpppp.
(Arbitrarily set)"2.
), if No (when the program package 29 is not attached to the connector 2a), then the address 5oooo assigned to the connector 2b.

3), N.

(If the program package 29 is not attached to the connector 2b), it is determined that the mode is native mode, the instructions stored in the control program ROM 25 are continued (4), and the printing process from the host is executed (5). , end the fi.

On the other hand, if the judgment in step (3) is YES, the CP
U23 jumps to address 500004H, executes an instruction according to the second emulation program stored in second emulation program ROM 29b of program package 29 (6), and returns to step (5).

On the other hand, if the judgment in step (2) is YES, the CPU
23 jumps to address 200004)1, executes an instruction according to the first emulation program stored in the first emulation program RoM29a of the program package 297), and returns to step (5).

In the above embodiment, a case has been described in which the printer control unit 2 processes image information processed according to the native mode or various emulation modes to the page printer printing section 3o.
The output medium is not limited to printer devices, but the present invention can also be applied to devices equipped with CRT display devices capable of displaying bitmaps.

In addition, in the above embodiment, program package 2
Although the case where only the first emulation program ROM 29a and the second emulation program ROM 29b are stored in the ROM 9 is explained, other information may be displayed depending on the storage capacity, for example, on the operation panel 13 shown in FIG. The first emulation program ROM 29a and the second emulation program ROM 29b and the first emulation program ROM 29a and the second emulation program It is also possible to simultaneously store corresponding character font patterns in the program ROM 29b.

Furthermore, in the above embodiment, the case where the number of connectors is two is explained, but if the number of connectors is increased according to the storage capacity of the program package 29, that is, according to the number of emulation programs to be stored, it is possible to use various emulation programs. Corresponding image information output processing becomes possible, further increasing versatility.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As explained above, the present invention includes an external program supply means that accommodates a storage medium in which a plurality of emulation programs for processing print information according to a command system are stored in advance, and a storage medium of the external program supply means. A plurality of attachment/detachment mechanisms for individually supplying a plurality of emulation programs to be installed, and an emulation device that recognizes the attachment state of an external program supply means attached to each attachment/detachment mechanism and controls the activation of one of the emulation programs. Program M III) I
Since the IJ control means is provided, just by performing a simple operation such as attaching the external program supply means to the desired attachment/detachment mechanism, the program can be started in accordance with print information processing in native mode and print information processing in emulation mode. The startup of a program can be automated, and a single image output device can perform information output processing according to multiple command systems, greatly increasing the versatility of the image output device.

Further, a plurality of emulation programs can be stored using one external program supply means, and the cost of the external program supply means can be significantly reduced, and the management of the external program supply means can be greatly simplified.

Furthermore, the image output mode can be automatically set to the native mode or the emulation mode based on the attachment state of the external program supply means to each attachment/detachment mechanism, and excellent effects such as being able to reduce the number of mode setting operations are achieved.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a sectional view illustrating the configuration of an image output device showing an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating the configuration of the printer control unit shown in FIG. 1, and FIG.
), (b) are memory map schematic diagrams explaining the memory space of each device processed by the CPU shown in FIG. 2, and FIG. 4 is a perspective view explaining the external appearance of the program package shown in FIG. 2. , FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating an example of image output processing according to the present invention. In the figure, 1 is the main body, 2 is the printer control unit, 2a, 2
b is a connector, 21 is an input interface section, 22 is an input buffer memory, 23 is a CPU 124 is a character pattern generator, 25 is a control program ROM, 26 is a frame buffer memory, 27 is an output interface section, 28 is a host computer, 29 is a Program package, 3
0 is the page printer printing section. Figure 1 Named connector Figure 3 (a) Figure 4 Figure 5

Claims (2)

[Claims] (1) In an image output device that has an image output unit that executes image output based on input printing information, and which is capable of executing image output processing in accordance with native mode or emulation mode, a command External program supply means that accommodates a storage medium that stores in advance a plurality of emulation programs for processing print information according to the system, and a plurality of emulation programs stored in the storage medium of this external program supply means are individually supplied. and an emulation program start control means for controlling the start of one of the emulation programs by recognizing the attachment state of the external program supply means attached to each attachment and detachment mechanism. Characteristic image output device. (2) The emulation program start control means monitors whether the program supply means is attached to each attachment/detachment mechanism and automatically sets native mode image output or emulation mode image output by the image output means. Output device.