JPH0229784A - Raster plotter - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To enable monitoring during the operation of the raster plotter and to easily move a coordinate point by connecting a graphic display device to the signal processing circuit of the raster plotter. CONSTITUTION:The host CPU 1 of the raster plotter outputs vector data, whose X-axial component data and Y-axial component data are inputted to a controller 4 through the input terminal 2 and interface 3 of the raster plotter. The vector data are stored temporarily in a memory 5 for vector data. Then data processing is carried out by the vector raster converter 4a and graphic display controller 4b of this controller 4. Then the vector data are converted into raster data, which are written in a raster data memory 6; and a video signal matching a graphic display is generated by using the data in the memory 6 and outputted to and displayed on the graphic display device 8 while printed on a coordinate output device 7.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention converts vector data provided from a host CPU etc. into raster data, provides the raster data to a print engine, and prints images (characters, characters, etc.) based on raster scanning. The present invention relates to a raster plotter (raster drawing device) configured to print graphics.

[Prior art] Vector data (Vec
tur data), that is, data including the y@ information and X-axis information of the vector diagram, is converted into raster data (Raster
In other words, a raster plotter method is already known in which data is converted into data for obtaining a print image (characters, graphics) by raster scanning, and a hard copy corresponding to this raster data is obtained.

[Problem to be solved by the invention] By the way, images (characters,
In order to know the graphics in advance, it is necessary to supply vector data to a graphic display device, which is an external device, and check it there, or to perform test drawing (test printing). In order to change the drawing range, enlargement, reduction, etc., it is necessary to change the vector data by looking at the display or test drawing. Therefore, it has been difficult to monitor and change drawings easily and quickly.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a raster plotter that allows monitoring and plotting changes to be performed easily and quickly.

[Means for Solving the Problems] To achieve the above object, the present invention provides a vector data input terminal into which vector data is input, and a vector data input terminal for temporarily accumulating the vector data input from the vector data input terminal. a vector raster converter that converts vector data to raster data, a raster data memory that temporarily stores raster data, and a display graphics controller, and signal processing that outputs raster data for printing as well as data for graphic display. a print engine that executes printing in response to the raster data output from the signal processing circuit; and a graphic display device that performs display corresponding to the graphic display data output from the signal processing circuit. This relates to a raster plotter.

Note that the graphic display device is preferably provided with a coordinate input device using a touch panel and/or a cursor function.

[Operation] Since the graphic display device in the above invention is connected to the signal processing circuit of the raster plotter,
It becomes possible to monitor the raster plotter while it is operating.

Further, by providing a coordinate input device, movement of the drawing range, etc. can be performed easily and quickly.

[Embodiment] Next, a raster plotter according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2.

In FIG. 1, 1 is a host CPU that outputs vector data. The vector data consists of X-axis component data and X-axis component data in a vector diagram.

CPtJl is connected to a controller 4 via an input terminal 2 and an interface 3 of the raster plotter.

A vector data memory 5 is connected to the controller 4, and vector data supplied from the CPUI is temporarily stored in the memory 5. Also connected to the controller 4 is a raster data memory 6 consisting of a frame memory.

Controller 4 is vector raster converter (■RC) 4
a and graphic display controller (G
DC) 4b, which converts vector data into raster data and writes it to the raster data memory 6, and reads the raster data from the memory 6 to form graphic display data (video signal) suitable for the graphic display. . Note that the raster data memory 6 is a dual-port memory, which allows raster data to be written and read simultaneously.

A print engine (Pri
nt Engine) 7 is an output device that creates a hard copy corresponding to raster data, and displays images (characters, figures) on a CRT screen with a graphic display.
It is configured to print images (characters, figures) on paper instead of forming images.

The graphic display device 8 includes a display 9 and a coordinate input device W10, and is connected to the controller 4. Display 9 is, for example, LCD or CR.
T peripheral circuitry and, for example, an LCD or CRT,
For example, the display corresponding to the raster data read from the raster data memory 6 by the controller 4 is
It is obtained on a CD or CRT tube. The coordinate input device 10 provides coordinate input using a light bend function and a cursor function.

In order to check the plotting range etc. with a conventional raster plotter that does not have the built-in graphic display device 8 according to the present invention, you can either perform test plotting or connect the graphic display device as an external device to the host CPUI and monitor it. I had to.

In contrast, in the raster plotter according to the invention shown in FIG.
), a graphic display device 8 is connected to the controller 4 including a vector raster converter (VRC) 4a, and a dual port type memory 6 is provided.
Convert vector data to raster data and store it in memory 6.
While writing, it can be immediately read out and displayed on the display 9. Since the display screen of the display 9 and the paper in the print engine 7 correspond, the image position on the paper can be determined on the display 9. Further, the necessity of enlarging or reducing the drawn image, display errors, etc. can be known in advance through the display 9.

Since the graphic display device 8 includes a touch panel, a signal instructing coordinate movement can be given to the controller 4 from the coordinate input device 10 using the light bench. Furthermore, since the graphic display device 8 includes a cursor, it is also possible to move the cursor on the LCD or CRT screen, for example, and enter coordinate points manually using keys on the operation panel. Figure 2 shows the movement of the coordinate position. If there is a discrepancy between the paper drawing range shown in (A) and the monitor display position shown in (B), the desired range can be changed as shown in (C). Move to and draw.

Further, this raster plotter can easily enlarge, reduce, mask, etc. characters and figures using a touch panel or a cursor.

In addition, editing, correction, etc. can be performed quickly, and the various operations described above are possible even while vector data is being converted to raster data by the vector raster converter 4a and written to the memory 6. This can be done faster (almost in real time) than when an external graphic display device is connected for monitoring.

[Modifications] The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, but may be modified. For example, vector raster converters (V
RC) 4a and a graphic display controller (GDC) 4b may be provided outside the controller 4.

Further, as the print engine 7, various types such as an electrostatic plotter, a laser plotter, an LED plotter, a liquid crystal plotter, a thermal plotter, a thermal transfer plotter (electrostatic type, optical type, thermal type, etc.) can be used.

[Effects of the Invention] As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide a raster plotter that can be easily and quickly monitored. Further, coordinate point movement can be easily achieved.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a raster plotter according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining a plotting method. 2... Vector data input terminal, 4... Controller, 4a... Vector raster converter, 4b... Graphic display controller, 6... Memory for raster data, 7... Print engine, 8...・
- Graphic display device, 9...Display 10...Coordinate input device.

Claims (1)

[Claims] [1] A vector data input terminal into which vector data is input, a vector data memory for temporarily storing the vector data input from the vector data input terminal, and a vector data memory for converting the vector data into raster data. a signal processing circuit that includes a vector raster converter, a raster data memory that temporarily stores raster data, and a display graphics controller, and outputs raster data for printing as well as data for graphic display; A raster plotter comprising a print engine that executes printing in response to raster data, and a graphic display device that displays data corresponding to graphic display data output from the signal processing circuit. [2] The raster plotter according to claim 1, wherein the graphic display device includes a coordinate input device.