JPH0255161A - Information output device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To flexibly cope with a practical request by judging whether the bit pattern of a character code should be of a direct object of reference or not by referring to a detachable memory, converting the code into a bit pattern in case to be of the object to store it in a predetermined area, and using the stored bit pattern by directly referring it from next time. CONSTITUTION:The bit map pattern of a character is formed, and stored in a vacant area of a memory area 252. The bit map existing flag 2512 of the developed character is set to '1', and a pattern pointer 2512 is so updated as to similarly designate the address of the memory area. The bit map pattern developed in the memory area 252 is copied to an output buffer 26. Thus, only the bit map pattern to be preserved is stored in the area 252 according to the information of a detachable ROM cartridge 24, and a high speed printing is conducted while effectively using a RAM 25.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to an information output device, and particularly to an information output device that converts a font other than a bit pattern into a bit pattern.

[Prior Art] Some devices of this type convert a vector font into a bit pattern, store it in a predetermined area, and use the stored bit pattern by directly referring to it from the next time onwards. In this way, the same character can be directly copied from the storage area to the frame memory, allowing rapid conversion. However, the storage area is generally limited, and if it is filled with multiple character patterns, subsequent conversion will be hindered. Therefore, in the past, a program within the device stored only relatively frequently used character patterns that met certain conditions, and character patterns that did not meet the conditions were converted into bit patterns each time they were used.

The conditions are, for example: ■ The character must be 6.8 or 10 points; ■ The character must be upright; and ■ The character must be standard or bold.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] However, if the conditions are fixed to simple conditions as described above, practical demands cannot be flexibly met.

The present invention eliminates the above-mentioned drawbacks of the prior art, and its purpose is to provide an information output device that can flexibly meet practical demands.

[Means for Solving the Problems] In order to achieve the above object, the information output device of the present invention has the following features:
a determination means that refers to a character code in a removable memory and determines whether or not the bit pattern of the character code should be directly referenced; The outline thereof is to include an output control means that converts the bit pattern and stores it in a predetermined area, and directly refers to and uses the stored bit pattern from the next time onwards.

[Operation] In this configuration, the determining means refers to the character code in the removable memory and determines whether or not the bit pattern of the character conid should be directly referenced. The output control means converts the character code into a bit pattern and stores it in a predetermined area when the character code should be targeted based on the above discrimination, and directly refers to and uses the stored bit pattern from next time onwards.

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

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a printing apparatus according to an embodiment. In the figure, 1 is an external host computer, which sends print data (character, symbol data, control data, etc.) and command data to the printing apparatus of the embodiment. 2 is the printing apparatus main body of the embodiment. 21 is an input buffer, which temporarily stores data received from the host computer.

22 is a CPU, which performs main control of the printing device 2; 23;
is a ROM, which stores the print control programs shown in FIGS. 4(A) and 4(B) of the embodiment executed by the CPU 22.

25 is a RAM, which the CPU 22 uses as a work area.

In addition, the RAM 25 is the pattern pointer table 2 shown in FIG.
51 and a bitmap pattern storage area 252. 26 is an output buffer, which is developed by the CPU 22 into one page worth of pattern data for printing and stored therein. Reference numeral 27 denotes an output unit, which forms a visible image on the paper of the pattern data in the output buffer 26.

24 is a ROM cartridge, which can be attached to and detached from the printing apparatus main body 2 from the outside. The ROM cartridge 24 includes a plurality of character sets 1-n, each character set 1-n.
n stores a font in a format other than bitmap format (for example, vector format). Bitmap storage flag tables 241 to 24n store information as to whether character patterns converted into bit pattern format should be stored and used directly for each character.

Figure 2 shows the bitmap storage flag table 24 of the embodiment.
FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the storage structure of n. Note that the bitmap save flag table 241. The same applies to... For example, for character code 20H (H is hex), the bit “O” indicates that it should not be saved in bitmap format.
The character code 21H is stored as a bit "1" indicating that it should be saved in bitmap format.

By doing this, it can be determined whether or not each character should be saved in bitmap format, so that pattern conversion processing that meets practical requirements can be performed.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the storage structure of the pattern pointer table 251 of the embodiment. In the figure, 2511 is a bitmap save flag column, and character hoods 20H, 21H, .
The contents of the bitmap storage flag for . . . (code order), etc. are read from the bitmap storage flag table 24n and stored. Reference numeral 2512 is a bitmap ready flag field, which is 1" when the bitmap character pattern has already been saved, and 0 when it has not been saved yet. Reference numeral 2513 is a pattern pointer column, which points to the address of the vector font, etc. of the character in the ROM cartridge 24 when the bitmap ready-made flag is "O". Also, the bitmap ready-made flag is “
1'', it points to the address of the bitmap character pattern in the bitmap pattern storage area 252.

FIGS. 4(A) and 4(B) are flowcharts of the print control procedure of the embodiment. In step S1, a character set is selected. The character set can be selected, for example, by a command from the host computer 1 (designation of character set name, designation of character set attributes, etc.).

In step S2, a pattern pointer table 251 for the character set is created. In step S3, it is determined whether or not there is input data in the input buffer 21, and if there is no input data, the process ends. If there is input data, the input data is read out in step S4. In step S5, it is determined whether the input data is a paper ejection command, and if it is a paper ejection command, the paper is ejected in step S6. If it is not a paper discharge command, it is determined in step S7 whether or not it is a character code. If it is not a character code, other processing is performed in step S8. If it is a character code, it is determined in step S9 whether the bitmap ready-made flag 2512 of the character code is "1".If the ready-made flag is "1", the character has already been made into a bit pattern, and the bitmap The corresponding bitmap pattern is read from the pattern storage area 252 and expanded to the output buffer 26. Also, if the ready-made flag is set to O“
If so, set bitmap save flag 2511 in step SIO.
It is determined whether or not is "1".

When the save flag is "O", there is no need to save the bitmap pattern, so the output buffer 26 is stored in step Sll.
It simply expands the character pattern directly. When the save flag is 1'', it is determined in step S12 whether or not there is an empty area in the bitmap pattern storage area 252.If there is no empty area, less necessary character patterns are deleted from the storage area 252 in step S13.For example, Erase the least recently used character patterns.

In step S14, the bitmap ready flag of the erased character is set to "0". In step S15, the pattern pointer of the character is changed to point to the address of the original vector font or the like.

When there is a vacant area in step S12, or in step S
From 15 onwards, input is made to step S16. Step S16
Then, a bitmap pattern of the character is formed and stored in an empty area of the storage area 252. In step S17, the bitmap ready-made flag 2512 of the expanded character is
is set to "1", and in step S18, the pattern pointer 2513 is similarly updated to point to the address of the storage area. In step S19, the bitmap pattern developed in the storage area 252 is copied to the output buffer 26. In this way, only the bitmap pattern to be stored is stored in the storage area 252 according to the information in the removable ROM cartridge 24, and high-speed printing processing can be performed while effectively using the RAM 25.

[Other embodiments] In the above embodiment, whether or not bitmap storage is necessary is set to “1”.
or "0" information, but the information is not limited to this. In addition, more efficient control can be achieved by configuring multi-valued information, making the priority order wait, and taking into consideration the availability of memory, etc.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, conversion to a bitmap pattern is performed when printing the character, but the invention is not limited to this. When a free area exists, the free time of other processes may be used to select an appropriate character, convert the bit pattern, and save it, regardless of actual use.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, the entire character set of the ROM cartridge 24 was described as being a font other than a bitmap format (such as a vector font format), but the present invention is not limited to this.

For example, some character sets may be bitmap format fonts from the beginning.

In this case, when the character set is selected, the character set is directly accessed using the character code.

Further, the output section 27 may be a display device.

[Effects of the Invention] As described above, according to the present invention, by replacing the ROM cartridge, it is possible to flexibly support various character sets and perform character caching with high memory efficiency.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of the printing apparatus of the embodiment, FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the storage structure of the bitmap storage flag table 24n of the embodiment, and FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the storage structure of the pattern pointer table 251 of the embodiment. , FIGS. 4(A) and 4(B) are flowcharts of the print control procedure of the embodiment. In the figure, 1... host computer, 2... printer main body, 21... input buffer, 22... CPU. 23...ROM, 24ROM cartridge, 25...
-RAM, 26...output buffer, 27...output section. Patent applicant: Canon Co., Ltd. 4: Lgoi, + Figure 2 Figure 3

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] An information output device that converts a font other than a bit pattern into a bit pattern and stores it, and directly refers to and uses the stored bit pattern, wherein a character code is referred to in a removable memory and the corresponding A determination means for determining whether or not a bit pattern of a character code should be directly referenced; and when the character code is determined to be a target for direct reference, converting the character code into a bit pattern, storing it in a predetermined area, and storing it from the next time. An information output device comprising an output control means that directly refers to and uses the stored bit pattern.