JPH0226767A - Printer - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To shorten the processing time by selecting the draft mode of a vector raster conversion means and forming a raster image under the state of thinning by discontinuous dots at regular intervals. CONSTITUTION:An input buffer 21 receives a printing data input from a host computer 1. A command analyzing section 22 analyzes the code of the printing data as vector information, and converts the code of the printing data into a pattern data as raster image information. An output buffer 23 transfers the pattern data to a printing section 24. The printing section 24 outputs the pattern data as a permanent visible image onto a blank form. In the printer, a graphic printing mode forming a raster image by continuous dots and a draft mode shaping a raster image by discontinuous dots at regular intervals are selected from vector information by the indication of the host computer 1, and drawing by the printing section 24 is conducted. Accordingly, the calculation of coordinates, printing operation, etc., are simplified, thus shortening the processing time as a whole.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to a printing device that converts vector information into a raster image and prints by using vector rask conversion.

[Prior Art] This type of printing apparatus generates a bitmap raster image by analyzing vector information sent from a host computer, etc., and draws it on output paper.

For example, when drawing a vertical straight line, request the coordinate data of the starting point of this straight line from the above vector information, turn on the dot at the bitmap address corresponding to this coordinate, and then calculate the coordinates based on this first dot. , calculate the address of the next dot, and turn on this dot. The above operation is repeated until the address of the last dot turned on matches the coordinate data of the end point of the straight line, and all dots forming this straight line are turned on.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] Incidentally, in the above-mentioned conventional technology, raster images are generated by continuously turning on dots for all images, regardless of the type of image to be drawn. That is, in the case of the above-mentioned vertical straight line, dots that are continuous above and below are turned on. As another example, in the case of diagonal lines, consecutive dots in the diagonal direction are turned on.

However, for all images like this]! In a device that generates a raster image by continuously turning on dots, the burden of the coordinate calculations and printing operations described above becomes large, and in the case of complex algorithms such as drawing figures, the processing The problem was that it took a long time.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a printing apparatus that can generate a simplified raster image according to an image to be drawn, and can reduce processing time.

[Means for Solving the Problems] The present invention provides a printing device that prints images based on vector information, including a first conversion mode that generates a raster image using continuous dots from the vector information;
A vector rask conversion means having a second conversion mode for generating a raster image using discontinuous dots at predetermined intervals, and a mode specifying means for selecting each of the above modes of the vector rask conversion means. shall be.

[Operation] In the present invention, by selecting the second conversion mode of the vector rask conversion means, a raster image is generated in a thinned state with discontinuous dots at predetermined intervals. Therefore, coordinate calculations, printing operations, etc. are simplified, and the overall processing time can be shortened.

[Embodiment] FIG. 1 is a blow diagram showing the circuit configuration of a printing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

This printing device is composed of a host computer 1 and a printing device main body 2.

The host computer 1 sends print data, print commands, etc. to the printer main body 2 and causes the printer main body 2 to perform printing processing.

The printing apparatus main body 2 has a microprocessor system including ROM and RAM, and includes an input hacker 7a 21, a command analysis section 22, an output buffer 23, and a printing section 24.

The power buffer 21 receives print data input from the host computer 1. The command analysis unit 22
The code of the print data as vector information is analyzed and converted into pattern data as raster image information. The output buffer 23 transfers the pattern data converted by the command analysis section 22 to the printing section 24. The printing unit 24 outputs the pattern data sent from the output buffer 23 on paper as a permanent visible image.

In accordance with instructions from the host computer, this printing device uses a normal graphic printing mode that generates a raster image using continuous dots based on vector information, and a raster image that generates a raster image using discontinuous dots at predetermined intervals. Draft mode is selected and drawing is performed by the printing section 24.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the operation when drawing a vertical straight line by selecting such a mode.

First, a mode is selected by the host computer (
SL), if the normal graphic printing mode is selected (32, S3), move the pointer to the position of the first point to start drawing a vertical line (S4), then after drawing one dot (S5
), move the pointer down one dot (
S6).

Then, repeat the operations of S5 and S6 until the pointer reaches the final point of the vertical line (S7), draw one dot at the final point of the vertical line (S8), and execute the process. finish. As a result, as shown in FIG. 3, a vertical line A made up of continuous dots from the first dot ()al to the last dot (at) is printed.

In addition, in S2, if the draft mode is not selected (S9), move the pointer to the position of the first point to start drawing a vertical line (510), and after drawing one dot (S l 1
), move the pointer down two dots (S
12) Then, the operations of Sll and 512 are repeated, and when the pointer position reaches below the position of the final point of the vertical line (S13), the process ends. As a result, as shown in FIG. 3, a vertical line B is printed by discontinuous dots every other dot from the first dot b+ to the last dot b[.

In the above embodiment, the case of drawing a straight line in the vertical direction has been described, but it is also applicable to the drawing of other figures and algorithms that are complex and require a long processing time.

Furthermore, instead of calculating the coordinates of each dot as described above, the printing process may be simplified by thinning out the dots by enlarging the image data.

[Effects of the Invention] According to the present invention, by selecting the second conversion mode of the vector rask conversion means, a raster image is generated in a thinned state with discontinuous dots at predetermined intervals. Therefore, coordinate calculations, printing operations, etc. are simplified, and the overall processing time can be shortened.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the circuit configuration of a printing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the operation when drawing a vertical straight line in the printing apparatus of the same embodiment. FIG. 3 is an enlarged plan view showing the state of vertical straight lines drawn by the printing apparatus of the same embodiment as dots. 1...Host computer, 2...Printing device main body. 21... Input buffer, 22... Command analysis section, 23... Output buffer, 24... Printing section.

Claims (1)

[Claims] In a printing device that prints an image based on vector information, a first conversion mode that generates a raster image using continuous dots based on the vector information; A printing apparatus comprising: a vector raster converting means having a second conversion mode for generating a raster image by; mode specifying means for selecting each of the modes of the vector raster converting means;