JPH02121859A - Information processor - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To suitably control a printout by finishing the recording operation of data to a corresponding line when a line feed signal indicating a line feed or an end signal for ending data of lines is obtained. CONSTITUTION:After third image data L3A, L3B are read from a line buffer 12, end means having a flip-flop 24 and NOT gate 28 is, when a line end signal LINEND is fallen from 'H level' to 'L level', sets a data register 16 to an output disable state. Thus, after the register 16 outputs the data L3A, L3B, it outputs white data. Accordingly, after a printer records the data L3A, L3B as visible information, it finishes the recording operation of data to the corresponding line. When next horizontal synchronizing signal HSYNC is output in this state, the printer records the information corresponding to the image data from the head of the next line.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Object of the Invention] (Industrial Application Field) The present invention stores image information read from a manuscript in a storage means, and retrieves the image data stored in the storage means as necessary. The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus that performs printout from a printer, and particularly to an information processing apparatus that appropriately controls printout.

(Prior Art) In recent years, a large number of printed materials such as multiple manuscripts are sequentially read by an image scanner device and stored as image information in a storage device such as an optical disk device, and such stored image information is 2. Description of the Related Art Various information processing apparatuses have been developed that perform search and output as needed.

Such conventional information processing devices print out image information read by an image scanner device or retrieved from a storage device based on a command from a control device when outputting the image information from a printer. . That is, the control device has a line buffer that stores data to be recorded for each line, which is a line on which printing is performed, and outputs an end signal indicating the end of the data stored in this line buffer for each line. That's what I do. In response to this end signal, the printer ends the recording operation of the corresponding line, that is, the row.

(Problem to be Solved by the Invention) However, if the number of data stored in the line buffer for each line does not match the number of data that can be recorded by the printer, the beginnings of the printed data will be uneven. For example, 1 stored in the line buffer
If the number of data per line is greater than the number of data per line that the printer can record, the printer will break a line in the middle of one line of data stored in the line buffer, and the printer will start from the beginning of the next line. The remaining data stored in the line buffer is recorded.

In order to solve these inconveniences, adding a new control program related to printout places a new burden on the control device, leaving room for improvement.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide an information processing apparatus that appropriately controls printout with a simple configuration.

[Structure 1 of the Invention (Means for Solving the Problems) In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a recording means for recording data on a recording medium line by line, and recording by this recording means at the end of each line. line feed signal output means for outputting a line feed signal indicating a line feed when positioned; end signal output means for outputting an end signal indicating the end of data to be recorded for each line; and a line feed signal from the line feed signal output means. Alternatively, the apparatus further comprises a termination means for terminating the data recording operation on the corresponding row when the termination signal is obtained from the termination signal outputting means.

(Function) In the present invention, when the recording means for recording data on a recording medium line by line is located at the end of each line, the line feed signal output means outputs a line feed signal indicating a line feed. Further, the end signal output means outputs an end signal when the data to be recorded for each row ends. When this end signal or the line feed signal is obtained, the recording operation of the corresponding line is ended. Therefore,
Even if the number of data to be recorded for each line does not match the number of data that can be recorded, the beginnings of each line of recorded data can be aligned.

(Example) Hereinafter, an example according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

First, the overall configuration of an image information storage and retrieval device as an information processing device to which the present invention is applied will be explained with reference to FIG.

The image scanner device 1 has a reading section configured with a COD image sensor or the like, and reads the contents written on a manuscript such as a photograph or a document as image data.

This image scanner device @1 includes an operation section 3 for setting parameters such as the original size of the original to be read, original density, and reading density, a memory (not shown) for storing these set parameters, and the like. A CP (not shown) for controlling the entire image scanner device 1
U, a display unit 5 for displaying input information such as setting conditions and processing time, and a display unit 5 for continuously conveying originals placed on an unillustrated original table to a reading unit for reading the originals. It is equipped with an automatic paper feed mechanism (ADF) 7.

The control unit (CPU) 11 has a DMA 13, a main memory 51, and a buffer memory 53a via a system bus 20.
1 page memory 53b1 code/image converter 71,
A display memory 73, an IPU 90, a CODEC 95, and the like are connected to each other.

The control unit 11 also includes an image bus 4 for transmitting image information.
0 through buffer memory 5381 page memory 53b
1 code/image converter 71, display memory 73, IP
U90, CODEC95, etc. are connected to each other.

This control unit 11 controls the overall operation and data flow of the information processing device via the system bus 20 or the image bus 40.

Further, a keyboard 101 and a mouse 103 are connected to the control unit 11 via an interface circuit 11a. The keyboard 101 and mouse 103 constitute a data input device @ioo, and the display device 7 is used, for example, when inputting character information when creating a document using a word processing function, or when performing a search or image processing.
Search information, various commanded information, array formats, etc. for moving the cursor displayed on the display screen 7 and switching various functions are input.

DMA (DIRECT MEMORY ACCESS)
S) 13 is a device composed of a magnetic disk device 31 and an optical disk device 33 via an interface circuit 13a, and is used to transfer data between, for example, the buffer 7 memory 53a and the storage device 30 regardless of the operation of the control section 11. Transfer is performed via the interface circuit 13a.

The magnetic disk device 31 stores search information such as information for specifying desired image information from among a large amount of image information.

The optical disk device 33 stores the above-mentioned large number of image information and search information corresponding to each image information.

The main memory 51 stores the operation program of the control section 11 described above.

The buffer 1 memory 53a has a storage capacity of, for example, 128 kilobytes, and sequentially stores code data whose redundancy has been compressed by the CODEC95. Further, the buffer memory 53a is provided with a counter for counting the amount of stored data, and when the stored data amount reaches, for example, more than half of the storage capacity based on the count value of this counter, that is, 64 kilobytes or more. When storing the code data, this 64 kilobyte data is sent to the optical disk [133] via the system bus 20 and the interface circuit 13a in word units.

For example, the page memory 53b stores a number of pages for an A4 size document.
It has a storage capacity that can accommodate 0 pages, and temporarily stores image information input from the image scanner device 1 or image information retrieved from the optical disk device 33.

For example, the code/image converter 71 converts the keyboard 10
The character code data inputted from 1 is converted into image data and output to the display memory 73. Further, the code/image converter 71 performs reverse conversion, that is, converts image data into character code data, as necessary, to correct characters converted into image data on the display screen.

The display memory 73 is a memory for temporarily storing image information, and temporarily stores this image information when the display TAfif 77 displays an image based on the image information from the page memory 53b.

The display control unit 75 controls the drive of the display device 77 and the like, and controls the display of image information stored in the display memory 73.

The CODEC 95 is an encoding/decoding circuit unit, and can reduce the storage area of a storage medium such as an optical disk used at the time of registration by compressing image information, that is, by reducing redundancy. Also CODEC95
The compressed image information is decompressed, that is, the reduced redundancy is restored to its original value, and the image information is output as the original image information.

This CODEC95 has an IPU (IMAGEPROC
ESSING UNIT) 90 is connected. This IPU 90 includes an enlargement/reduction section 91 that enlarges and reduces image information, and an aspect/horizontal conversion section 9 that rotates image information.
It has built-in 3.

Further, the image scanner device 1 is connected to the interface circuit 95a, and the interface circuit 9a
A printer 9 is connected via.

This printer 9 has a recording means for recording image information line by line as visible information such as characters on a recording medium such as paper. The printer 9 also has a line feed signal output means, which outputs a line feed signal indicating a line feed when the recording means is located at the end of each line.

The interface circuit 9a also has a line buffer for storing four lines of data on the recording medium, and outputs data for each line to the printer 9. At this time, an end signal indicating the end of data is output at the timing when the final data for each row is output.

Further, the interface circuit 9a has a termination means, which terminates the recording operation of the recording means in the corresponding line when the line feed signal or termination signal is input.

Next, the internal configuration of the interface circuit 9a will be explained with reference to FIG.

The line buffer 12 is connected to the CODEC 95 via an interface circuit 95a, and receives image data PDAT formed of 16 bits.

The end data buffer 14 is an interface circuit 95a.
It is connected to C0DEC95 via the line end signal LINEEND, which indicates the end of one line of data, and the Bejet No. 13 PGE, which indicates the end of data of all lines.
Enter ND.

The data register 16 is connected to the line buffer 12 and also to the printer 9, and receives 16-bit image data PI) from the line buffer 12.
When T is input, this image data PDAT is output to the printer 9 in 8-bit units.

The resistor R1 connected to the output terminal of the data register 16 is a so-called pull-up resistor.

The flip-flop circuit 18 is connected to the printer 9 and receives an 8-bit data request signal DO from the printer 9.
3, this signal period is divided into 1/2 and outputted to each of the line buffer 12, end data buffer 14, data register 16, line address counter 22, and flip-flop circuits 24 and 26.

The line address counter 22 is connected to the printer 9,
The water weight 1'l is a line feed signal from the printer 9 indicating a line feed.
lj signal H8YNC is input, and 8-pit address information is generated. This address information is provided to line buffer 12 and end data buffer 14.

The flip-flop circuit 24 is the end data buffer 14
The line end signal LINEEND is input from the printer 9 to the input terminal, and the horizontal synchronization signal H8YNC is input from the printer 9.
is input to the set terminal S.

The flip-flop circuit 26 is the end data buffer 14
A page end signal PGEND is input from the input terminal to the input terminal. The resistor R2 connected to the flip-flop circuit 26 is a so-called pull-up resistor.

The NAND circuit 28 is a flip-flop circuit 24.26
It is also connected to the data register 16. The NAND circuit 28 and the flip-flop circuit 24 constitute a termination means, and when the horizontal synchronization signal H3YNC, which is a line feed signal, or the line end signal LINEEND, which is an termination signal, is input, the data register 16
is set to an output disabled state, and the recording operation of the data on the corresponding line by the recording means of the printer 9 is terminated. Specifically, when the data register 16 is set to the output disabled state, the output terminal of the data register 16 becomes high impedance, and the pull-up resistor R1 indicates a predetermined voltage level, for example, white data. set to the voltage level. As a result, the recording means of the printer 9 finishes recording data on the corresponding line.

Next, an explanation will be given of the operating procedure using an example in which an image information storage and retrieval device to which the present invention is applied reads a large number of manuscripts, registers the image information written in the manuscripts, and further searches and prints them out. .

First, when registering the read image information, follow the instructions on the initial information processing screen displayed on the display screen of the display device 77 to read the document and transfer the read image information to the predetermined optical disk device 33. The image information storage and retrieval device is set to the "read/registration" mode by inputting a command or the like for continuous registration from the keyboard 101.

Next, a large number of originals are stacked and placed on a predetermined position such as the original table of the image scanner device 1 constituting this image information storage and retrieval device, and an "automatic paper feeder" is installed to continuously read the originals. ” mode, information related to initial settings such as the document size, document density, and reading density of this document is input from the keyboard 101 or the operation unit 3 of the image scanner device 1.

Further, after the image information from the image scanner device 1 is temporarily stored in the page memory 53b, the buffer memory 53
The data is transferred to the optical disc device 33 via the optical disc 33a and the interface circuit 13a, so that it can be recorded in σ on an optical disc (not shown) that is a storage medium of the optical disc 33.

Next, use the keyboard 101 to register the title of the manuscript,
Search information such as information amount and arrangement format is input according to the format displayed on the screen of display device 77.

This format is used to input and set search key items to identify the document to be registered and facilitate the search process, and includes information such as the remaining capacity of the storage device 30 when the image scanner device i11 reads the document. A table for inputting various information, key items for the search, etc., and a keyboard 1
The function of the function key when inputting using the function key configured as 01 is displayed.

When reading the document starts, the image information read from the image scanner device 1 is sent to the interface circuit 95a.
-H page memory 53b via -H page memory 53b.

Subsequently, after the image information is compressed by the CODEC 95, the search information is registered in the magnetic disk device 31 via the buffer 7 memory 53a and the interface circuit 13a, and the search information and image information are transferred to the optical disk device 33. be registered.

When searching for specific image information from a large amount of image information registered in the optical disk device 33 and printing out or displaying the searched image information on the display unit F, the above-mentioned reading and registration process is performed. Similarly, a search command is input using the keyboard 101 to set the "search" mode.

Next, use the keyboard 101 to input search information for specifying desired image information, select the desired search information from among the large number of search information stored in the magnetic disk device 31, and select the search information for the selected image information. The desired image information registered in the optical disk device 33 is searched based on the information.

The image information retrieved in this way is stored on the optical disc
It is applied from ff33 to CODEC95 via interface circuit 13a and buffer memory 53a.

The CODEC 95 restores the searched image information by processing such as decompression, and displays it on the display H 77 via the display memory 73 or the like.

Further, when making a hard copy of the displayed image information, the user uses the keyboard 101 to designate the image information for which a hard copy is desired, sets the number of copies to be output, etc., and prints out from the printer 9.

Next, the operation will be explained with reference to FIG.

The busy signal BSY shown in FIG. 3(B) is a signal indicating that the printer 9 is capturing data to be recorded. Further, the standby signal STB shown in FIG.
is output only when BSY is at L level, and busy signal BSY is at H level.
When the standby signal STB is at the H level, the standby signal STB is also held at the H level.

The buffer read signal BRD shown in FIG. 3(E) is a negative pulse of a predetermined pulse width when the horizontal synchronizing signal H8YNC falls from the H level to the L level and when the busy signal BSY is at the H level. is output.

Next, as shown in FIG. 3(H), a case will be described in which image data read from an original PA is printed out onto a printing paper PB having a larger size than the original PA.

First, at time t1, when the horizontal synchronizing signal H8YNC and the buffer read signal BRD are output, the interface circuit 9a reads first image data LIA and LIB consisting of the first 16 bits from the line buffer 12.

At time t2, when the busy signal B S Y h < falls from the H level to the L level, the second image data L 2 A consisting of the next 16 bits is transferred from the line buffer 12.
and 12B are read out.

Next, after time C2 has elapsed, image data L1A is sent to printer 9 within a period when standby signal STB is at L level.

Similarly, after time t4, the standby signal TSBIfi
The image data LIB is sent to the printer 9 within the L level period.
Send to.

Next, at time t6, when the busy signal BSY falls from the H level to the L level, the third image data L3A and 13B consisting of 16 bits are read out from the line buffer 12.

Similarly to the above, after time t6 has elapsed, image data L 2 A is sent to printer 9 within the period when standby signal STB is at L level.

Further, after time t8 has elapsed, the standby signal STB is activated, and the image data L2B is sent to the printer 9 within the period of the level.

Similarly, the image data L3A and 13B are sequentially sent to the printer 9. As a result, the printer 9 receives the input image data L1A, 11B, L2A, 12B, L3.
A and 13B are sequentially recorded on a recording medium as visible information.

Now, when the line end signal LINENDIfiH level falls to the L level after the third image data L3A and L3B are read out from the line buffer 12, the termination means consisting of the flip-flop circuit 24 and the NAND circuit 28 is activated. Set the data register 16 to the output disabled state. As a result, the data register 16 outputs so-called white data after outputting the third image data L3A and 13B. Therefore printer 9
After recording the third image data L3A and 13B as visible information, the operation of recording data on the corresponding line is completed.

When the next horizontal synchronizing signal H8YNC is output in this state, the image data corresponding to the next line is output from the data data register 16, so the print 9 transfers the visible information corresponding to this image data to the next line. Record from the beginning of the line.

Note that FIG. 3 shows a case where the size of the printer paper PB is larger than the size of the original PA, that is, a case where the number of data stored in the line buffer per line is smaller than the number of data per line that can be recorded by the printer. However,
In the opposite case, if the number of data stored in the line buffer per line is greater than the number of data per line that can be recorded by the printer, this large amount will be truncated, so each line of data will be You can align the beginning.

[Effects of the Invention] As explained above, according to the present invention, when a line feed signal indicating a line feed or an end signal indicating the end of data for each line is obtained, the operation of recording data in the corresponding line is terminated. As a result, the printing process 1 can be appropriately controlled with a simple configuration.

Furthermore, even if the number of data stored in the line buffer per line does not match the number of data per line that can be recorded by the printer, control related to printout can be appropriately executed.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 shows the overall configuration of an information processing device to which the present invention is applied.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the main parts of FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing the operation of the embodiment according to the present invention. 9...Printer 9a...Interface circuit 12...Line buffer 14...End data buffer 16...Data register to...Flip-flop circuit 28...NAND circuit

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] Recording means for recording data on a recording medium line by line; Line feed signal output means for outputting a line feed signal indicating a line feed when the recording by the recording means is located at the end of each line; and each of the lines. end signal output means for outputting an end signal indicating the end of the data to be recorded; and when a line feed signal from the line feed signal output means or an end signal from the end signal output means is obtained, the line is moved to the corresponding line. An information processing device comprising: terminating means for terminating a data recording operation.