JPH0243067A - Interface device of printer - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To use a page printer in place of a wire dot printer, to perform high speed recording and to set the size of an image by reading the dummy font data corresponding to image data from a dummy font memory and indicating the writing position of the read data corresponding to an image to write the same in a bit map memory. CONSTITUTION:A dummy font memory 4H stores a large number of dummy font data constituted corresponding to the images of various image data. A dummy font reading means 21 reads the dummy font data corresponding to the image data of a bite unit outputted, for example, from a host computer 1 from the dummy font memory 4H in the same way as reads the font data corresponding to a character code. A dummy font data writing means 22 indicates the writing position corresponding to an image to write the dummy font data read by the dummy font reading means 21 in a bit map memory 4A.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to a printer interface device, and is used, for example, when printing by connecting a page printer to a host computer that outputs image data for a dot printer.

[Conventional technology]

Laser printers that utilize laser beams and electrophotographic processes are capable of high-speed, high-density printing or image recording, and are therefore widely used as output devices for various data processing systems and image creation systems that use computers. .

A laser printer develops and writes a large amount of image data including image data consisting of multiple bits into a bitmap memory, which is a two-dimensional virtual screen, according to the image, and then scans the bitmap memory to write the data. Readout image formation is performed. It is also called a page printer because it writes an image for one page in the bi-sitomap memory, reads it out, and prints one page at a time. However, it is called a page printer even if it prints not only one page but two pages, half a page, or other pages.

Recording information from a host computer to a page printer is normally sent as serial data using one signal line. When the recorded information from the host computer is developed and written to the bitmap memory, if the recorded information is a character code as character information corresponding to the characters constituting the image to be recorded, each character code is If the recorded information is image data as image information corresponding to the image itself to be recorded, the image data is read out from the font memory and written to a predetermined position on the bitmap. The device is configured to scan and write to a predetermined area of the image.

By the way, in addition to the above-mentioned page printers, there are other printers for recording record information such as image information and character information.
Impact-type wire dot printers are known, which are more popular.

Wire dot printers may have 8, 16, or 2 wire dot printers, for example.
It has a recording head with a plurality of wire pins arranged vertically, such as four wire pins, and while moving the recording head in the horizontal direction, the plurality of wire pins are selectively hit with a hammer according to the recording information, and the ink is injected. It is designed to record on paper via a ribbon. Therefore, when the recorded information from the host computer when using a wire dot printer as an output terminal is image data corresponding to the image itself to be recorded, the image data is data with a number of bits corresponding to the number of wire pins. It is configured to sequentially and serially output data in response to the horizontal movement of the recording head.

Conventionally, a recording system consisting of a host computer and a printer as its output end device has a dedicated It was made up of combinations.

(Problem to be Solved by the Invention) However, as the price of laser printers has decreased, there has been a desire to connect and use laser printers even in recording systems consisting of wire dot printers and compatible host computers. Therefore, there is a need for an interface device to connect between a host computer and a laser printer, or an interface device to be built into a laser printer so that the laser printer can be directly connected to the host computer. be.

It is conceivable that the entire configuration of such an interface device could be realized by hardware, but in that case, there is a risk that adding hardware to support a single protocol would increase costs, and ,
In order to support multiple types of protocols, dedicated hardware for each protocol is required, which may lead to a complicated configuration and a significant cost increase.

Therefore, in order to be cost-effective and easily compatible with a wide variety of protocols, it is necessary to create a software interface using a protocol conversion emulator that can handle them simply by changing the data processing process. It is necessary to realize the device.

In addition, since the dot density (pixel density) of page printers is higher than that of wire dot printers, simply converting the data for wire dot printers so that they correspond bit by bit will not allow the data formed by the page printer to be processed. A problem also arises in that only images of a smaller size than the required image size can be obtained.

Therefore, even if an emulator for protocol conversion is prepared, if there is a problem with the difference in dot density as described above, post-processing such as further enlargement of the converted data will be required, which will slow down the processing speed. There is also a risk that it will decline significantly.

In view of the above-mentioned problems, the present invention provides an interface device that allows a page printer to be used instead of a wire dot printer, allows high-speed recording, and allows various image sizes to be set. It is intended to.

[Means to solve the problem]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention develops and writes a large amount of image data including image data consisting of multiple bits into a bitmap memory according to the image image, and writes the data written into the bitmap memory. In a printer interface device that scans and reads out various image data, there is a pseudo font memory that stores a large amount of pseudo font data configured corresponding to the image of each image data, and a pseudo font memory that stores a large number of pseudo font data configured corresponding to the image of each image data. (Please input the font data between the above (
The present invention includes pseudo font reading means for reading from the font memory, and pseudo font data writing means for specifying a writing position of the pseudo font data read by the pseudo font reading means according to the image image and writing it into the bitmap memory. It is composed of the following characteristics:

[For production]

The pseudo font memory stores a large number of pseudo font data configured to correspond to images of various image data.

The pseudo font reading means handles byte unit image data output from a host computer, for example, as if it were a character code,
Similar to reading the font data corresponding to the character code, the pseudo font data corresponding to the image data is read from the pseudo font memory.

The pseudo font data writing means specifies a writing position of the pseudo font data read by the pseudo font reading means in accordance with the image, and writes the pseudo font data into the bitmap memory.

The writing position specified by the pseudo font data writing means depends on the bit configuration of the image data, how the image data is extracted from the original image, the number of pixels in the bitmap memory, the magnification of the image, or the size and structure of the pseudo font data. Determined accordingly.

As an example, a page printer having an interface device of the present invention is used as a terminal of a host computer that serially outputs image data for each byte corresponding to a wire dot printer having a recording head equipped with 24 wire pins. We will explain its function.

In this case, the original image is vertically divided into 1 byte units, and every 3 bytes are scanned and cut out in the horizontal direction.

When image data for each byte is input to the interface device, pseudo font data corresponding to the image data is read out from the pseudo font memory by the pseudo font reading means and written into the bitmap memory by the pseudo font data writing means.

For example, when the resolution (dot density) of a page printer is twice that of a wire dot printer,
If 1-byte image data constitutes a row vector, the pseudo font data is 16 rows and 2 columns, which is obtained by doubling the column vector in the row and column directions, which has a transposed matrix relationship with respect to the row vector. It includes 32 pieces of don't data that constitute a virtual matrix.

For example, the pseudo font data writing means writes the first pseudo font data from the 1st row, 1st column to 2nd column of the bitmap memory.
The second pseudo font data is 17 between the 16th row and column.
The third pseudo font data is between the 33rd row and 1st column to the 2nd column and the 48th row, and the fourth pseudo font data is between the 1st row and 3rd column. , between the 4th column and 16th row, and so on, each pseudo font data is arranged vertically, and in order from top to bottom so that there are three columns vertically, and from left to right in the row direction. Expand them so that they are lined up without any gaps along the lines.

As a result, pseudo font data is written onto the virtual matrix of bitmap memory with the same image layout as that printed by a wire dot printer that receives image data one byte at a time from the host computer, but with twice the resolution. It will be done.

The data written in the bitmap memory is read out by being scanned line by line in the row direction, and the read data is output to modulation means for modulating the laser beam in the case of a laser printer, for example. By doing this, an image similar to that printed by a wire dot printer can be obtained.

In other words, according to the printer interface device according to the present invention, by adding a suspicious font memory to a conventional page printer and changing the software, an output terminal of a host computer that outputs recorded information using a protocol compatible with a wire dot printer can be used. This makes it possible to use the page printer as a page printer.

Since each pseudo font data can be prepared in advance as an enlarged version based on the ratio of the resolution of the input recorded information and the resolution of the page printer that prints it, the data can be Enlargement processing can be omitted or simplified, and processing can be performed at high speed.

If the recorded information output from the host combinator includes not only image data but also character codes, distinguish them using an appropriate discrimination means,
Each can be written to the bitmap memory.

〔Example〕

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

First, an overview of the entire recording system including the printer interface device according to the present invention until actual recording is performed based on recording information from the host computer 1 will be explained.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a recording system using an interface device according to the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 1, recording information from a host computer 1 is input to a laser printer LP via a cable 2. As shown in FIG.

The laser printer LP includes a recording section 3 that develops a latent image formed on a photoreceptor with a laser beam, and then transfers and fixes it onto recording paper to form an image, and a recording section 3 that receives recording information and controls recording operations in the recording section 3. A print controller 4 serves as an interface device for communicating with the printer.

Recording information is transmitted from the print controller 4 to the recording unit 3 via a data bus 5, and recording control information is mutually transmitted between the two via a command bus 6. has been done.

The print controller 4 writes and reads recording data to and from a bitmap memory 4A having a two-dimensional virtual space with a capacity equivalent to one page, a font memory 4B storing font data, and the bitmap memory 4A. It has a bitmap reading section 4C and a bitmap control section 4D that controls data writing and recording operations to the bitmap memory 4A.

These bitmap reading section 4C and bitmap control section 4D are connected to a central processing unit such as a microcomputer, memories such as ROM and RAM, programs stored therein, peripheral devices thereof, and hardware such as other logic elements. Consists of clothing. Further, although not shown, operation switches, indicator lights, and various control devices are connected as necessary.

Recorded information from the host computer 1 is input to the bitmap control section 4D. A text buffer 4E with a capacity equivalent to one page of recording is attached to the bitmap control unit 4D, and the bitmap control unit 4D temporarily edits one page of input recording information using the text buffer 4E. do.

The bitmap reading section 4C writes the temporarily edited recorded information sent from the bitmap control section 4D into the bitmap memory 4A. Further, after the writing of recorded information to the bitmap memory 4A is completed, the bitmap reading unit 4C receives a print start command from the bitmap control unit 4D, and scans the bitmap memory 4A to sequentially read the recorded information and data. It is output to the recording section 3 via the bus 5.

The bitmap reading section 4C includes a bitmap control section interface 11, a data writing section 12, and a print head 81.
It is composed of a 7m part interface 13, a font memory interface 14, and the like.

The bitmap control unit interface 11 separates the input data from the bitmap control unit 4D into recording data and printer control data, and sends the recording data to the data writing unit 12 and the printer control data to the print head control unit interface. 13 to the print head control section 3a.

The print head control unit interface 13 reads recorded information from the bitmap memory 4A and outputs it to the print head control unit 3a in response to a print start command sent as print control data.

The data writing section 12 writes data to a predetermined position on the virtual matrix of the bitmap memory 4A according to the recording information.

By the way, there are two types of recording information sent from the host computer l. One of them is character information that is sent as a set of characters that make up an image, and is usually sent as a character code called AS (11 code) in 1-byte units.

The other type is image information that is sent as a set of pixels obtained by decomposing the image itself.

If the input recorded information is image information, it is determined by the bitmap control section 4D, and the image information is written into a bitmap by the data writing section 12 via the bitmap control section interface 11 of the bitmap reading section 4C. The information is sequentially written starting from a predetermined position in the memory 4A.

On the other hand, if the input record information is character information,
Normally, a command code is sent before the character code, which is the character information, so it is determined by the bitmap control section 4D, and based on the determination result, the data writing section 12 writes the command code via the font memory interface 14. font memory 4B, reads out font data corresponding to the character information, and writes it into bitmap memory 4A.

The configuration of the font memory 4B described above and the operation of reading font data from the font memory 4B and writing it to the bitmap memory 4A by the data writing section 12 are disclosed in, for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 113089/1989. Since it is well known, detailed explanation will be omitted and only an outline will be explained.

The font data in font memory 4B is 24 lines x 2.
It is constructed by arranging binarized data according to the brightness and darkness of the image on a four-column virtual matrix.

In the data writing section 12, based on the input character code, the address of the font memory 4B corresponding to the character code is specified, the font data is read out, and a bit map is written based on the input character code arrangement. Indicates the start address of the font data write area on memory 4A with a pointer,
The read font data is written into the bitmap memory 4A.

The multiple character codes as character information from the host computer 1 are arranged in the order in which each line of a record consisting of multiple lines is arranged from top to bottom, and the order in which each character in each line consisting of multiple characters is arranged from left to right. It will be sent to you. Therefore, the data writing unit 12 creates a set in which font data corresponding to each character code is arranged from left to right on the virtual matrix of the bitmap memory 4A.
The configuration is such that a pointer indicating the writing position of each font data is controlled so that the font data are arranged in order from the top to the bottom.

Specifically, the pointer controlled by the data writing unit 12 only indicates the write position of the dot data in the first row and first column of a certain font data (hereinafter referred to as the start address position), and The remaining dot data is configured to be written automatically.

When storing a plurality of font data in the bitmap memory 4A in the above-mentioned order, the pointer is moved for a length corresponding to the size of the font data (24 bits).
This is done by increasing the number by (moving in the positive row direction).

As described above, the data written in the bitmap memory 4A by the print controller 4 is read out by scanning the virtual matrix of the bitmap memory 4A by the print head control unit interface 13, and the data is read out by the print head control unit interface 13, and the data is read out by scanning the virtual matrix of the bitmap memory 4A. It is output to the head control section 3a. The print head control section 3a is configured to modulate the laser beam scanned on the photoreceptor based on the read data in the same manner as scanning for reading out the bitmap memory 4A.

The above-mentioned recording system includes a laser printer LP,
It is combined with a dedicated host computer l. However, some recording systems combine a conventionally widely used wire dot link with a dedicated host computer. If the recorded information from the host computer dedicated to the wire dot printer is image data, the data with the number of bits corresponding to the number of wire bins is sequentially output serially to correspond to the horizontal movement of the recording head. It is configured as follows.

Therefore, if the laser beam pre-set is left as it is,
It cannot be used as an output terminal for a host computer dedicated to wire dot printers.

This embodiment makes it possible to use the laser printer LP as an output terminal for a host computer dedicated to wire dot printers, and also effectively utilizes the functions inherent in this type of page printer to reduce costs. The structure is such that it can be realized advantageously. This will be explained below.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing the structure of recorded information for a wire dot printer.

As shown in FIG. 7, the dot host computer 1a
Continuous 3&[I serial data B10 to IT, B20 in one-byte units transmitted via cable 2a from B10 to IT, B20
.about.27,830-37 are wire bins WO-7, W8-15., which have a total of 24 wire bins, 8 each of the recording head HD, in the wire dot printer. It is configured to correspond to W16 to W23.

On the other hand, in the laser printer LP mentioned above, since the above-mentioned 1-byte serial data BIO to B37 correspond to the 24 wire bins WO to W23 arranged in the vertical direction, the serial data can be used as image information. If it is image data, the image data is stored in bitmap memory 4 in the same manner as character information.
In order to develop the image data on A, the bitmap control unit 4D converts the image data into a pseudo character code having the same structure as the character code described above and sends it to the print controller 4.
The bitmap reading section 4C is configured to output the data to the bitmap reading section 4C.

The bitmap control section 4D temporarily edits the image data from the dot host computer la using the text buffer 4E, similar to the case where the character code is input from the host computer l described above. Further, the bitmap reading section 4C also uses the image data after temporary editing from the bitmap control section 4D.
Dot data for recording is written into the bitmap memory 4A.

In other words, since the image data that has passed through the bitmap control unit 4D is grouped into 1-byte units, the set of 1-byte image data is treated as if it were a character code, and its pseudo-character By preparing pseudo font data corresponding to the code, when writing image data, which is image information from the dot host computer 1a, to the bitmap memory 4A, the same processing as when a character code is input is performed. In particular, this type of printer is designed to be advantageous in terms of cost by effectively utilizing its inherent functions.

Therefore, a pseudo font memory 4H having almost the same configuration as the font memory 4B described above is provided, and the data writing section 12 includes a pseudo font reading section 21 for reading pseudo font data from the pseudo font memory 4H.
and a pseudo font data writing section 22 for writing pseudo font data into the bitmap memory 4A.

Next, the configuration of the pseudo font memory 4H will be explained.

As is clear from FIG. 7, the structure of the data from the dot host computer 1a is such that 1 byte of image data corresponds to eight wire pins arranged vertically in recording.

Therefore, each pseudo font data FD stored in the pseudo font memory 4H has 1-byte image data D as shown in FIG.
7, the column vector b shown in FIG. 3(b) has the relationship of a transposed matrix to the row vector.
The 40 dot data shown in Fig. 3(c) constitutes a virtual matrix in which o~7 is doubled in the row direction (horizontal direction) and 2.5 times in the column direction (vertical direction). .

To further explain the pseudo font data FD, the image data from the dot host computer la is intended for a wire dot printer with a resolution (dot density) of 120 dpi. On the other hand, the resolution of the laser printer LP of this embodiment is 300 dpt. Therefore, when pseudo font data is constructed from eight dot data forming the column vector shown in FIG. 3(b), which has a transposed matrix relationship with the row vector forming the image data D for wire dot printer The image obtained using this pseudo font data is 2 times larger in both the horizontal and vertical directions relative to the required image size.
．． It becomes one-fifth the size.

Therefore, as pseudo font data, we prepared the above column vector expanded in the row direction (horizontal direction) and column direction (vertical direction) using a multiple of "2.5", which is the ratio of the resolutions of both printers. By doing so, you can obtain images of approximately the same size.

However, specifically, since it is not possible to approximate the fraction in the row direction, it is doubled, and in the column direction, including the fraction, it is 2.5.
It's double.

In other words, the structure of the font data FD in the column direction is as shown in parentheses in FIG. 3(C). By multiplying by 3 in the column direction, the pseudo font data FD as a whole approximates the column vector multiplied by 2.5 in the column direction.

In addition, in the row direction, since the pseudo font data FD is the column vector doubled as described above, when writing to the bitmap memory 4A, which will be described later, the pseudo font data FD shown in FIG.
As shown in c), by rewriting the pseudo font data FD written in the even numbered position in the row direction in the third column, an image with an overall resolution 2.5 times that of the original image can be obtained. It's Nishide. This will be explained in detail later.

FIGS. 4(a) to 4(d) are diagrams showing specific examples of correspondence between image data D and pseudo font data FD.

Image data D of "3CH" shown in FIG. 4(b) is sent corresponding to wire pins WO to 7 in the focused state shown in FIG. 4(a).
”, pseudo font data FD3C shown in FIG. 4(c) is prepared.

However, in reality, the pseudo font memory 4H is often configured to provide a 1-byte memory area in the row direction for each pseudo font data FD, so in that case, the pseudo font memory 4H The data read out is 8×20 dot data, as shown in FIG. 4(d). Therefore, based on this data, the above suspicion (
In order to obtain the following font data FD3C, for example, the third column (three dots from the left) and below are masked and written into the bitmap memory 4A.

Now, the bitmap control section 4D receives and receives the recording information sent from the dot host computer 1a.
Based on the command data attached to the head portion before the serial data, it is determined that the subsequent serial data is image data D of the protocol for wired dot printers.

If the bitmap control section 4D determines that the subsequent serial data is image data D of the wire dot printer protocol, the data writing section 12 selects the pseudo font memory 4H as the readout target. Specifically, the pseudo font reading unit 21 of the data writing unit 12
The address to be accessed is stored in the pseudo font memory 4H.
This is done by setting the address determined by the pseudo character code corresponding to the image data D in .

Furthermore, in order to write the read pseudo font data FD into the bitmap memory 4A, the pseudo font data writing section 22 indicates the write position (address) using a pointer.

Specifically, each time writing of one pseudo font data FD is completed, the pointer indicating the writing position is moved in the positive direction (from top to bottom) of the pseudo font data FD in the vertical direction (column direction). 20 dots, which is the number of dots in the column direction (hereinafter, this number of dots may be referred to as one font), are added to the dots in the row direction of the pseudo font data FD in the negative direction (right to left) in the horizontal direction (row direction). Each time writing of three pseudo font data FD is completed, the number is moved by minus 40 dots (2 fonts) in the vertical direction.

In addition, for the pseudo font data FD that is written in the even numbered position in the horizontal direction, after the first writing is completed, the pointer is moved horizontally by minus one dot and the second writing is performed, and as a result, the pseudo font data F
D is written across three columns. By this rewriting, dot data can be obtained that is 2.5 times larger in the horizontal direction on the virtual matrix of the focus map memory 4A.

That is, as each byte of image data is input from the bitmap control unit 4D, the data writing unit 12 of the bitmap reading unit 4C converts each image data D into a pseudo character code and writes the corresponding pseudo font data FD. is read from pseudo font memory 4H,
The read pseudo font data FD is arranged on the virtual matrix of the bitmap memory 4A so that there are three columns in the vertical direction from top to bottom and from left to right along the row direction without any gaps. Expand and write.

It should be noted that, as described above, the positive and negative directions of the pointer movement are positive in the direction in which the bitmap memory 4A is scanned for normal reading and writing, and negative in the opposite direction. In this embodiment, the direction from right to left and the direction from top to bottom are positive.

In addition, in making the 1-byte image data D correspond to a pseudo character code, from "OOH" to "IF"
Since the codes up to “H” are used as printer control codes, “
20H'' is added to treat it as a pseudo character code.

Table 1 shown on the next page shows pseudo character codes corresponding to image data D consisting of upper 4 bits and lower 4 bits.

(Left below) Table 1 Note that “EOH” to “FFH” of image data D is written as “O” as a pseudo character code as mentioned above.
Since ``OH'' to ``IFH'' cannot be used, a single pseudo font data FD cannot be used, so the solution is to write two pseudo font data FDs overlappingly at the same location in the bitmap memory 4A. It has become.

For example, to obtain the pseudo font data FDFF for the image data D of "FFH", as shown in FIG. 7F
After writing the pseudo font data FD80, move the pointer horizontally by -2 dots, and then write the pseudo font data. FD
7F, thereby writing these two pseudo font data FD80. FD7F is written overlapping and F
Pseudo font data FDFF for image data D of "FH" is obtained.

As described above, the bitmap memory 4A stores image data (dots) so that they are arranged in the same way as the original image on the virtual matrix and have a resolution 2.5 times that of the original image. data) will be written. The operation of the print head control section 3a after writing is the same as in the case of the character code described above.

Next, the bitmap memory 4A by the data writing section 12
writing operation, especially pseudo font data writing section 2
Regarding pointer control according to 2, FIGS. 2(a) to (c)
) will be explained more specifically.

FIG. 2(a) is a diagram showing the original image, that is, the image FM to be reproduced.

The image FM is composed of 8 x 24 bit pixels, and is divided horizontally into 8 parts for each 1 bit, vertically into 3 parts for each 8 bits, and each divided part is the image data D. It is sent from the dot host computer 1a as a.

FIG. 2(b) shows image data D1 to D24 of image FM.
FIG.

The image data D1 to D24 each consist of one byte, and are input to the data writing section 12 in the order of D1, D2, D3, . . . .

In the data writing section 12, the pseudo font reading section 21
Pseudo font data FD1-24 is generated from the pseudo font memory 4H according to the input image data D1-24.
Read out.

The pseudo font data writing section 22 of the data writing section 12 specifies and writes the writing position of the pseudo font data FD1 to FD24 into the bitmap memory 4A using a pointer.

FIG. 2(C) is a diagram showing pseudo font data FD1-FD24 written in the bitmap memory 4A.

As explained above, each pseudo font data FD is twice as large as the image data D in the row direction and 2.5 times as large in the column direction.
It is composed of 2×20 dots.

The pseudo font data FD is written by executing the data writing routine described in the flowchart below while pointing the pointer to the position where the first dot (the dot in the 20th row and 1st column) of each pseudo font data FD is to be written. It will be done. When this data writing routine is executed, all the dot data of the pseudo font data FD is written to a predetermined position, and when the writing is completed, the pointer is automatically moved two dots in the row direction.

Therefore, when writing the first pseudo font data FDl, the pointer is used to point to the starting address IP.
Indicate I. When the first pseudo font data FDI is written, the pointer is in a state pointing to position P2, which is moved two dots in the row direction from position PI.

Second suspicion (hereinafter, when writing font data FD2, set the position P so that the pointer points to position P3.
From 2, move minus 2 dots in the row direction and 1 font in the column direction. Third pseudo font data F
The same applies to writing D3.

To write the fourth pseudo font data FD4, move the pointer by -2 fonts in the column direction from the pointer position P6 when writing of the third pseudo font data FD3 is completed, point to position P2 with the pointer, and then press 1. To perform the second writing and further write the same fourth pseudo font data FD4 in the third column,
Pointer position P7 when the first write is completed
From there, it is moved by minus one dot in the row direction, and the second writing is performed by specifying position P8.

When writing the fifth pseudo font data FD5, the pointer is moved by minus three dots in the row direction and by one font in the column direction from the pointer position P9 when writing of the fourth pseudo font data FD4 is completed. The same goes for writing the sixth pseudo font data FD6.

To write the seventh pseudo font data FD7, move the pointer by -2 fonts in the column direction from the pointer position P15 when writing of the sixth pseudo font data FD6 is completed, point to fiP9 with the pointer, and then move the pointer to position P15. Perform the first write. From then on, as described above, the writing position is indicated by the pointer and writing is performed sequentially.

As a result, pseudo phono) data FD can be created with the same image arrangement as the original image FM and with 2.5 times the resolution.
1 to 24 are developed on a virtual matrix in the bitmap memory 4A.

The print head control unit interface 13 scans and reads the virtual matrix of the bitmap memory 4A line by line starting from the first line, and based on the data, the recording unit 3 forms an image on the recording paper.

The resolution of the image developed in the bitmap memory 4A is 2.5 times that of the original image FM, and the resolution of the laser printer LP is 2.5 times that of the wire dot printer targeted by the dot host computer 1a. have the same magnification, the image formed on the recording paper by the laser printer LP has the same size as the image formed by the wire dot printer described above.

Next, the operation of developing image data input to the laser printer LP onto the bitmap memory 4A will be explained based on the flowcharts shown in FIGS. 6(a) and 6(b).

The image information from the dot host computer 1a is usually a focus image specification command in which the first byte indicates the type of data, the next byte is image size data indicating the number of image data, and then multiple The image data is sent in the following format.

In the flowchart of FIG. 6, explanations of operations not directly related to the present invention, such as character code development, are simplified or omitted.

First, there is a processing flag G-MODE that is set when image data D is being processed, a data counter G-COUNT that counts the number of image data D, and the number of columns in which pseudo font data FD has been written. Various flags and counters are reset, such as resetting the data counter G-MAR that indicates the Initial settings are performed (step #10), and then data is input in byte units (step #12).

Next, it is determined whether the processing flag G-MODE is set (step #14).

When the processing flag G-MODE is not set, that is, when the image data D is not being processed, it is determined whether the input data is a bit image designation command (step #84).

If it is determined that the human input data is not a bit image designation command, processing according to the command is performed (step #92). For example, if it is a character code specification command, the font data is stored in the bitmap memory 4A.
Expand on top. After that, the process returns to step #12 and the next data is input.

If it is determined in step #84 that the input data is a bit image specification command, first the processing flag G
- Set MODE (step #86), then save the currently selected font name (step #88)
.

This font name is an identification name given to each font when the font memory 4B stores font data corresponding to multiple fonts with different fonts. If only font data corresponding to a single font is stored, this is a name for identifying the font memo U 4 B itself.

Next, data counter G-HOL is set to 1" (step #89). This means that every time a bit image designation command is received, that is, every time image data D is being processed, - This is for HOL to count from the initial value.

Then select pseudo font memory 4H in step #
90), return to step #12 and input the next data.

If it is determined in step #14 that the processing flag G-MODE is set, that is, if image data D is being processed, first, the data counter G-COUNT is checked (step #16).

If the data counter G-COUNT is ° “0”,
For example, if the data input has just started, the image size data as input data is stored in the data counter G-COUNT (step #80), and the process returns to step #12 to input the next data.

At step #16, the data counter G-COUNT is “0”.
If it is determined not to be ``, it is determined whether the data counter G-HOL that counts the number of data in the row direction is an even number (step #18).

If the data counter G-HOL is an even number, a rewrite flag C-BACK is set to perform rewriting (step #20).

Next, in step #22, it is determined whether the input 1-byte data is larger than "EOH". As explained earlier, this ranges from “00H” to “IFH”.
” is used as the printer control code,
This is for determining whether overwriting of pseudo font data FD is necessary.

If the input data is smaller than "EOH", there is no need to overwrite the pseudo font data FD, so "20H" is added to the input data to create a pseudo character code (step #34), and the pseudo character code is A data write routine is called to write data based on (step #36).

Although not shown, in the data writing routine, the pseudo font data FD corresponding to the pseudo character code is read from the pseudo font data 4H, and the read pseudo font data FD is written at the position indicated by the pointer.
Then, move the pointer two dots in the plus direction (to the right) of the line.

If the input data is larger than °'EOH'', it is necessary to overwrite the pseudo font data FD, so in order to create the first pseudo character code for overwriting,
From input data “60H” (“80H”-“20H”
Step #24) and call the same data write routine as above (Step #26).
.

Then, the pointer is moved two dots in the negative direction (to the left) of the line (step 42B), and the second
"AOH" is set as the pseudo character code of step #30), and the same data write routine as described above is called again (step #32).

Next, in step #38, the rewrite flag C-BACK
Check.

If the rewrite flag C-BACK is set (No in step #38), the pointer is moved by minus one dot in the row direction (step #70), and the rewrite flag C-B is set.
Reset ACK Step #72), Step #2
Perform the processing from 2 onwards.

As a result, the same pseudo font data F[) is rewritten in the third column of the even-numbered pseudo font data FD in the row direction, and the overall image is 2.5 times larger in the row direction than the original image. resolution.

If the rewrite flag C-BACK is not set,
The data counter G-COUNT is decremented (step #40), and then the data counter G-VAR is
It is determined whether or not it is "2" (step #42), thereby determining whether or not the pseudo font data FD has been written in the third row in the column direction.

When the data counter G-VAR is not "2" (No in step #42), it is determined whether the data counter G-HOL is an even number (step #50), and if it is an even number, the pointer is moved backward in the row direction. Move the pointer 3 dots and 1 font in the column direction (step #51), and if the number is not even, move the pointer minus 2 dots in the row direction,
Move each font one font in the column direction (Step #5
2) Prepare for writing the next pseudo font data FD. Thereafter, the data counter G-VAR is incremented (step #53).

When data counter G-VAR is 2'' (YES in step #42), move the pointer minus two fonts in the column direction (step #44), data counter G-V
To reset the AR (step #46), increment the data counter l:, -HoL (step #4B)
).

Next, it is determined whether the data counter G-COUNT has reached 0'', that is, whether all data have been input (step #54).

If it is determined that the data counter G-COUNT is not "0", the process returns to step #12 and the next image data D
Enter.

When it is determined that the data counters C and -COUNT have become "0", that is, the processing of all image data D has been completed, the font name saved in step #8B is selected again (step #56), and the processing flag G -Reset the MODE (step #58), and return to step #12 to prepare for inputting the next data.

Next, modifications to the above-described embodiment will be listed.

(1) In the above embodiment, the pseudo font data F
Although D is composed of 40 dot data arranged in 20 rows and 2 columns, as mentioned earlier, the size of the storage area of the pseudo font memory 4H that stores this pseudo font data FD can be arbitrarily set. .

For example, the pseudo font data FD may be stored in the first and second columns of a virtual matrix of 20 rows and 20 columns, and the third and subsequent columns may be masked when writing to the bitmap memory 4A. Alternatively, write all data in 20 rows and 20 columns to the bitmap memory 4A without masking,
The next pseudo font data FD may be written overlapping the previous pseudo font data FD from the third column.

By doing this, when the font data of the font memory 4B is composed of 20x20 dots, the configuration of the pseudo font memory 4H is changed to the font memory 4B.
can be made exactly the same. In addition, the font memory 4B in which the first and second columns of font data are all blank can be used as the pseudo font memory 4H, reducing the memory area for font data and pseudo font data FD. Is possible.

(2) In the above embodiment, the resolution is 120 dpi.
An example has been described in which recorded information suitable for a wire dot printer is applied to a laser printer LP with a resolution of 300 dpi. However, if the ratio of resolutions is an integral multiple, column vector bo is used as pseudo font data FD. ~
7 in the row and column directions by integral multiples (including equal magnification)
All you need to do is prepare a
Rewriting to A becomes unnecessary.

In addition, regardless of whether the resolution ratio is an integral multiple or not, the size of the pseudo font data FD in the row direction and column direction should be set appropriately, and the data should be rewritten to the bitmap memory 4A as appropriate. by Laser Printer LP
The size of the image formed can be made arbitrary with respect to the original image. Therefore, it is possible to enlarge or reduce the size of the original image to an arbitrary magnification.

(3) In the above embodiment, the image data D is 1
Although an example in which the focus is configured in byte units has been described, other focus configurations may be used, and the pseudo font memory 4H may be configured accordingly.

Furthermore, it is also possible to prepare a plurality of types of pseudo font memories 4H with different bit configurations and to select and use them as appropriate.
The selection can be made manually or automatically by determining the command data included in the recorded information.

(4) In the above embodiment, the write operation by the pseudo font data writing unit 22 to the bitmap memory 4A is based on the configuration of the image data D and the pseudo font data FD, and the resolution of the wire dot printer targeted by the dot host computer 1a. Or depending on the configuration, resolution or configuration of the laser printer LP, or image magnification, etc.
Various changes can be made, and the above-described flowchart can also be changed as appropriate.

(5) In the above embodiment, a laser printer LP incorporating the interface device of the present invention has been described, but instead of this, the interface device may be provided in the output section of the dot host computer 1a, or the dot It may be configured as a single device independent from both the host computer 1a and the laser printer LP.
The form and installation state of the device are arbitrary.

(6) In the above embodiment, the bitmap memory 4A
The capacity may be half a page, one-third of a page, or conversely, two
It may be multiple pages, such as one page or three pages.

(7) Pseudo font memory 4H and font memory 4B
may be constructed in the form of a ROM cartridge and made removable from the interface device, so that various pseudo font data FD or font data can be used without increasing the memory capacity of the interface device.

(8) In the above-described embodiment, the text buffer 4E for temporary editing is provided to facilitate recording layout and editing, but it is also possible to omit the text buffer 4E. be.

(9) In the above embodiment, the laser printer LP was explained as an example of a page printer, but instead, it can be applied to various printers such as an LED printer, a liquid crystal printer, a thermal printer, or an inkjet printer. is possible.

(Effects of the Invention) According to the present invention, it is possible to easily use a page printer instead of a wire dot printer, and high-speed recording is possible by taking advantage of the high-speed performance of a page printer. It is possible to set various sizes of images.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

1 to 6 show embodiments of the present invention, FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a recording system using an interface device according to the present invention, and FIG. 2(a) shows an original image. times,
FIG. 2(b) is a diagram showing the image data of the original image shown in FIG. 2(a), and FIG. 2(C) is a diagram showing the image data of the original image shown in FIG. 2(b). Figures showing font data, Figures 3(a) to 3(c) are diagrams showing the correspondence between image data and pseudo font data, and Figures 4(a) to (d) are diagrams showing the correspondence between image data and pseudo font data. FIG. 5 is a diagram showing pseudo font data synthesized by overwriting, FIG. 6 (a) and (b) are flowcharts showing image data processing operations, and FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a specific example of correspondence. The figure shows the structure of recorded information for a wired printer. 4...Print controller (interface device)
, 4A... Focus map memory, 4H... Pseudo font memory, 21... Pseudo font reading section (pseudo font reading means), 22... Pseudo font data writing section (pseudo font data writing means), D ...Image data, FD...Pseudo font data.

Claims (1)

[Claims] (1) A printer that develops and writes a large amount of image data including image data consisting of multiple bits into a bitmap memory according to the image, and scans and reads out the data written in the bitmap memory. In the interface device, for various image data, a pseudo font memory stores a large number of pseudo font data configured corresponding to the image of each image data, and pseudo font data corresponding to the image data is read from the pseudo font memory. A pseudo font reading means; and a pseudo font data writing means for specifying a writing position of the pseudo font data read by the pseudo font reading means according to the image and writing it into the bitmap memory. Features: Printer interface device.