JPH02240721A - Record controller - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To prevent a program execution unable state or an inaccurate recording due to the difference of recording dot densities by changing automatically the recording dot density in accordance with the recording dot density optimum to a control program. CONSTITUTION:The external or internal emulation programs 123, 122, etc., are recognized and the print dot density is automatically switched to those designated by these programs. Thus the optimum print dot density can be set to the programs 123, 122, etc., and the control programs corresponding to other command systems with no intervention of an operator. Thus it is possible to apply all programs including the programs 123, 122, etc., which are so far unavailable owing to the difference of dot densities of a print part 104.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to a recording control device that records on a recording medium by changing the dot density.

[Prior Art] Conventionally, printers equipped with various font pattern data are equipped with multiple types of font patterns in order to correspond to various character types, and when a character code to be printed is input, the printer prints the data corresponding to the specified character. The font pattern is read out from the corresponding font memory and printed. In such printers, the density of printed dots is usually fixed and set.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] There are various application programs that perform printing using such printers, and these programs generate specific printer control codes through a host computer to perform printing.

In this type of printing device, printing using another control code is realized by a control program, that is, an emulation program, for printing using a control code of another printing device that is different from the unique printer control code. This emulation program is usually created to correspond to the recording dot density specific to the printing device, so the size and position of the output image may differ from the intended one on the application program due to the difference in the recording dot density of the printing device. There was a problem that the printing was different from the original, and normal printing was not possible.

The present invention has been made in view of the above conventional example, and an object of the present invention is to provide a recording control device that can automatically change the recording dot density to correspond to a print control program such as an emulation program.

[Means for Solving the Problems] In order to achieve the above object, a recording control device of the present invention has the following configuration. That is, it is a recording control device for inputting code information, developing it into a bit map, and recording it, comprising a developing means for developing the code information into image information in a bit pattern format, and a recording medium for inputting the image information. a recording means capable of recording an image by changing the recording dot density of an image formed on the recording medium, and recording dots by the recording means in accordance with a control program that executes recording processing using the recording means. and changing means for changing the density.

[Operation] In the above configuration, the code information is developed into image information in bit pattern format, the image information is input and recorded on the recording medium, and the recording dot density of the image formed on the recording medium is changed. Can be recorded. The recording dot density recorded on the recording medium can be changed in accordance with the control program that executes this recording process.

[Embodiments] Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[Description of Printer (FIGS. 1 and 2)] FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a printer 100 according to an embodiment.

101 is a host computer, which is the printer 10 of the embodiment;
Character codes and various control codes are output to 0 to instruct printing. The code output from the host computer 101 includes code information such as characters, information indicating the size (for example, number of points), font, etc.

The configuration of printer 100 will be described below.

103 is a control unit of the printer 100, and 104 is a printing unit that actually performs the printing operation.The dot density to be printed can be changed according to a command from the control unit 103, and printing can be performed at a different dot density. 111 is a CPU for controlling the entire printer 100, and transmits various control signals to bus 1 according to control programs and various data stored in ROM 112.
20, and controls each section described later. l
A program ROM 12 stores the CPU 11 (7) control program and various data. l13 is RAM used as a work area for CPUI 11
In addition to temporarily saving various data, DDS
(Dot Density) stores the current printing dot density in the printing unit 104, for example, in dpi (dots per inch).

A host interface unit 114 performs input/output control of various data between the host computer 101 and the printer 100. 115 is a page buffer,
In addition to storing input print data, it is also used for page editing, which will be described later. A font ROM 116 stores dot pattern information corresponding to character codes and the like.

117 is a bitmap memory, and a page buffer 115
Based on the character codes stored in the font ROM1
At least one page worth of image information developed into a bitmap pattern with reference to 16 is stored.

A printer interface unit 118 controls the interface between the printing unit 104 and the control unit 103. A clock generator 119 generates an image clock corresponding to the dot density in the printing section 104, and the printer interface section 118 serially outputs print data to the printing section 104 in synchronization with this clock. A printing unit 104 indicates a recording unit in the printer 100 that actually performs recording, and includes a recording system mechanical unit and the like, and can print by setting several types of dot densities according to instructions from the control unit 103. I can do it.

Reference numeral 121 denotes an input section through which the operator can instruct whether to execute the program in the ROM 112 or select and execute either emulation program A or B. 122
123 is an internal ROM containing emulation program B, and 123 is a removable external connection memory that contains emulation program A and is connected to control unit 103 by a connector or the like. Reference numeral 120 denotes a system bus, which connects the above-mentioned parts as shown in the figure, and transmits address signals, data signals, and various control signals.

To explain the operation of the above configuration, when print data is sent from the host computer 101, it is input via the host interface unit 114 and is sent to the CPU 1.
1 is notified that data has been input. Accordingly, each time the CPUI 11 receives data, it transfers the data to the page buffer 115 and stores the data. In parallel with this processing, the commands or data stored in the page buffer 115 are sequentially read out, and according to the commands, the type of characters, the font to be selected, the number of characters, the size of the characters, the spacing, etc. are interpreted, and the page buffer 115 is Area 11
5a, the page is edited in a predetermined format.

The code data thus stored in the area 115a is expanded into a bitmap by referring to the pattern data of the font ROM 116 based on information such as printing position, pitch, font, size, etc., and is expanded into a pattern in the bitmap memory l17. . When a predetermined amount of print data, for example, one page, is developed into a bit pattern in this way, the clock generator 1 generates a bit pattern based on the current dot density stored in the DDS.
19 is set, a print dot density is specified to the printing unit 104, and a printing start instruction and a vertical synchronization signal are output to the printing unit 104.

When the printing section 104 receives this vertical synchronization signal, a printing mechanism inside the printing section 104 generates a horizontal synchronization signal and outputs it to the printer interface section 118 . The printer interface section 118 reads bit image data from the bitmap memory 117 in synchronization with this horizontal synchronizing signal, converts it into a serial signal, and outputs it to the printing section 104 as a video signal. The printing unit 104 inputs this video signal and performs printing by scanning with a laser beam, for example.
When the control program stored in 12 or either emulation program A or B is selected, control is performed by the selected emulation program.

Further, when the printing unit 104 receives a dot density designation command, the internal conditions of the printing unit 104 are set so as to change the printing dot density to the specified density, and thereafter printing is performed at that printing dot density.

The above explanation is about the basic printing operation, but the dot density changing process, which is a feature of this embodiment, will be explained below.

Here, it is assumed that emulation programs A and B are connected, and that both of these emulation programs are different from the command system stored in the ROM 112.

When the power is turned on or a reset command is input from the input unit 121, the CPU III initializes the system based on the program in the ROM 112. At this time, it refers to the ID written to a specific address of emulation program A (when external memory is connected) via the system bus 120 and recognizes that it is the emulation program that is connected. do.

In this way, when execution of the emulation program A 123 is instructed from the input unit 121, the print dot density is read based on the ID of the emulation program A, and changed to the specified dot density through the printer interface unit 118. As shown in the print section 104
Outputs the dot density change command to . At the same time, change the clock rate of the clock generator 119,
It is possible to output an image clock corresponding to the print dot density in the printing section 104. And from now on, R
Control is transferred from the program of OM 112 to emulation program A 123 to execute printing processing.

Note that if the emulation program does not have information that instructs the printing dot density, please set the emulation program in advance.
A table storing printing dot densities corresponding to the printer may be stored in the ROM 112, and the printing dot density may be specified by referring to the table.

Similarly, when the emulation program A 123 is not connected externally or when the emulation program B 122 is instructed to be executed from the input section 121, the print dot density corresponding to that emulation program can be changed. will be carried out.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the printing process in this embodiment, and the control program that executes this control is stored in the ROM 11.
It is stored in 2.

This process is started by turning on the power of the device or inputting a reset from the input section 121. First, in step S1, it is determined whether execution of the emulation program is instructed by the input section 121. Emulation/
Step S when program execution is not instructed
2, the control program stored in the ROM 112 is executed.

If execution of the emulation program is instructed, the process advances to step S3, and it is checked whether execution of the external memory 123 (emulation program A) is instructed from the input section 121.

When the emulation program B122 is instructed to be executed, the process advances to step S4, and the ID of the emulation program B (internal ROM) is read.

In step S3, emulation of the external memory 123 is performed.
When the program A is instructed to be executed, the process advances to step S5 to check whether an external memory is connected. If this external memory is not connected, the process advances to step S2, and control is transferred to the control program in the ROM 112.

Then, under the control of the control program, processing such as displaying that there is no external memory is executed.

If the external memory is connected in step S5, the process advances to step S6, where the ID of the external memory emulation program AI 23 is input.Next, step S7
The process then proceeds to determine whether the print dot density of emulation program A or B is specified based on the ID information read in step S4 or step S5. If the printing dot density is specified, step S
8, the dot density is read and stored in the DDS of the RAM 113. If there is no information indicative of dot density in the emulation program, the process advances to step S9, and a table (not shown) stored in the ROM 112 is referred to to determine the print dot density.

Once the printing dot density is determined in this way, step sio
Based on the dot density information stored in the DDS of the RAM 113, the dot density information is output to the printing unit 104 via the printer interface unit 118. As a result, the printing dot density of the printing unit 104 is changed to the specified value.The process then proceeds to step Sll, where an instruction signal for changing the clock rate is output to the clock generator 119. As a result, an image clock matching the print dot density set by the printing unit 104 is supplied to the printer interface unit 118, and subsequent printing processing is executed in synchronization with this image clock. and,
Control is transferred to the emulation program instructed in step S12, and the process ends.

In this way, since printing is performed at a print dot density corresponding to the emulation program being executed, there is an effect that printing can be performed even when emulation programs having different print dot densities are used.

In addition, in the embodiment described above, the emulation
Although all programs are executed through the input unit 121, it is also possible to give priority to the external memory and execute the emulation program when the external memory is connected.

Further, although this embodiment has been explained using an emulation program, the present invention is not limited to this, and it goes without saying that control programs compatible with other command systems can be executed in the same manner.

As explained above, according to this embodiment, various emulation programs and other The optimum printing dot density can be set and printed without operator intervention for a control program compatible with the command system.

This makes it possible to use all emulation programs that could not be executed due to the difference in dot density in the printing section.

[Effects of the Invention] As explained above, according to the present invention, the recording dot density can be automatically changed in accordance with the recording dot density that is optimal for a control program such as an emulation program, so that the difference in recording dot density can be changed. This has the effect of preventing programs from becoming unexecutable and inaccurate recording.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of the printer of this embodiment, and FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing printing processing in the printer of this embodiment. In the figure, 100...Printer, 101...Host computer, 103...Printing control section, 104...Printing section, 111...-CPU, 112...ROM, 113
...RAM, 114...host interface section,
115...Page buffer, 116...Font R
OM. 117--Bitmap memory, 118--Printer interface unit, 119--Clock generator, 120--System bus, 121--Input section, 122--Emulation program B512
3... Emulation program A (external memory).

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] A recording control device for inputting code information, developing it into a bitmap, and recording it, comprising: a developing means for developing the code information into image information in a bit pattern format; Input and record on recording medium,
A recording means capable of recording by changing the recording dot density of an image formed on the recording medium, and a change that changes the recording dot density by the recording means in response to a control program that executes recording processing using the recording means. A recording control device comprising: means;