JPH0293A - Font controller - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To facilitate the recognition of a free font RAM at the time of control information update by identifying whether or not font data is downloaded in a font cartridge. CONSTITUTION:A data processor 1 specifies a font to be used for character generation to a printer system 10 through a file buffer 2. The system 10 uses one specific byte of a font part 33 as identification information indicating whether or the font data is already downloaded to decide its storage contents. Then control information in the font cartridge loaded in the font part 33 is stored in the RAM 32. When the control information is updated, information showing that the data is not loaded in the one specific byte is written in the font cartridge by the control information in the RAM 32 or an operation part 44.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION (Field of Industrial Application) The present invention relates to a font management device for a character generator to which a font cartridge can be installed.

(Prior Art) Some character generation devices are capable of mounting a font cartridge storing font data in order to enable generation of characters using a variety of fonts. The user selects a font cartridge containing the necessary fonts and inserts it into the slot.

When the user finishes creating or editing a document on the host terminal, the data (code) of the document is sent to the character generator. The character generator converts this data into a bit image by referring to the font data in the font cartridge. The bit image data is sent to a printer and the document is printed.

In addition to the font ROM, the memory for storing font data in the font cartridge includes a rewritable font RAM. Further, some font RAMs are equipped with a backup power source and are capable of holding data. This type of RAM is provided with an external manual switch, and when the external manual switch is turned on, it can be determined that the font data has been loaded. If this type of RAM does not have an external input switch turned on, or if the font RAM does not have a backup power supply, fonts can be downloaded from a host computer or the like.

(Problem to be Solved by the Invention) In a character generator in which a plurality of font cartridges can be installed and the font cartridges can be replaced during editing, the currently selected font cartridge may be replaced by another font cartridge during character image editing. There is a risk of it being moved to the slot or removed.

In that case, reselection processing (management information update) based on some criteria is required.

In the case of font RAM, fonts may or may not have already been downloaded.

Furthermore, some font RAMs are equipped with a backup power supply and others are not. Therefore, the character generating device needs to recognize whether the font RAM is empty or not when updating the management information.

An object of the present invention is to save free font RAM when updating management information.
An object of the present invention is to provide a font management device that can easily recognize fonts.

(Means for Solving the Problems) A font management device according to the present invention includes a font storage means (removable and rewritable font storage means with an external manual switch) that stores pattern data of one or more types of fonts. In a font management device for a character generation device that can be equipped with one or more font cartridges having a font cartridge including: an input means for specifying a font to be used for character generation, and a specification storage means for storing font specification information from the input means. a determining means that uses a specific byte of the font storage means as identification information to determine whether the font storage means has been downloaded or not, and uses the byte to determine whether the rewritable font storage means has been downloaded; and an attached font cartridge. A management information storage means for registering management information including the result of the above judgment regarding the storage means possessed by the management information storage means, and when updating of the management information is necessary, the management information stored in the management information storage means or the information that has not been downloaded by an external input switch. and update control means for writing information indicating that the font has not been loaded into the specific one byte of the font storage means when it is determined that the font cartridge is equipped with a rewritable font storage means. shall be.

(Function) Recognizes whether font data has already been downloaded to the installed rewritable font storage means from the external manual switch of the rewritable font storage means or the management information of the management information storage means. . This makes it easy to manage the font storage means in the font cartridge.

(Example) Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail in the following order with reference to the accompanying drawings.

a. Configuration of 791 child photo printer, font cartridge and font C, font selection d1 Character image editing and initial setting e, font selection control Parts of the embodiment particularly relevant to the present invention are Sections (b) and (c)
In addition to section (d), steps #71 and #72 and steps #81 to #85 (FIG. 1) are included.

Margin below (a) Structure of electrophotographic printer FIG. 2 shows the structure of a processing system using a printer system 10 capable of drawing graphics, which is an embodiment of the present invention.

Data from a data processing device l such as a general-purpose computer is temporarily stored in an external file buffer 2 and then output to a printer system 1o in order to improve the throughput of the data processing device l.

The printer system 10 includes a bitmap type data processing unit (BMU) 3, a print engine 4 using an electrophotographic process and a laser, and accessory devices such as an external paper feed unit 5 and a sorter 6.

FIG. 3 is a schematic block diagram of printer system 10.

The bitmap type data processing device 3 includes a bitmap control unit (BMC) 30 (see FIG. 4), a bitmap RAM (BM-RA, M) 321 for bitmaps,
Bitmap writing section (BM
W) 31 and a font section 33. Connection with the print engine 4 is made through a bus B3 for control data (number of sheets, accessory control, etc.) and a bus B4 for image data.

The print engine 4 is mainly composed of three controllers. First, the interface control unit (IFC) 4
0 is processing of control data from the bitmap control unit 30;
It controls the operation panel 44 and the overall timing of the printer 4 via the internal bus B5. The electrophotographic control section 41 controls the electrophotographic processing section 45 in accordance with data sent from the interface control section 40 through the internal bus B5.

The print head control unit (PHC) 42 uses an internal bus B4.
In order to write the image data sent from the bitmap writing section 3I through the internal bus B5 to the photoreceptor of the electrophotographic processing section, the interface control section 40
The light emission of the semiconductor laser of the print head section 43 and the rotation of the polygon motor are controlled according to the information sent from the print head section 43.

In addition, the external paper feed unit 5 and the sorter 6 are also connected to the internal bus B5.
It is controlled by the interface control unit 40 through the interface control unit 40.

The printer system 10 described above is a bitmap type laser printer. The print data (mostly represented by a code) sent from the data processing device 1 is stored in the BM-RAM 3 of the bitmap processing device 3.
2 as an actual print image and output to the print engine 4. The print engine 4 modulates the laser beam according to the data from the bitmap data processing device 3, records the data on the photoreceptor, and further transfers it onto recording paper.

The data sent from the data processing device 1 includes not only print data but also codes for format control and engine mode settings.

The bitmap type data processing device 3 analyzes these protocols in addition to the print data, controls the format, and issues instructions to the print engine 4 to feed paper, change optional modes, etc. as necessary.

In addition to the recording control described above, the print engine 4 performs associated electrophotographic control, recording paper timing control,
Furthermore, processing is performed in synchronization with paper passing to other options. Control of the print engine 4 is similar to that of an electrophotographic copying machine except for the scanning system.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of the bitmap control section 30. The bitmap control section 30 is composed of several blocks connected by an internal bus B501. BM-CP
U301 is a central control unit of the bitmap data processing device 3, and communicates with the data processing device 1 and external file buffer 2 through the data processing device interface 308, converts print data,
Through the Biwa Toranob writing unit interface 306,
It controls the bitmap writing section 31 and controls the print engine 4 through the print engine interface 307. SYS-ROM302 is BM-CPU301
memorize the program. SYS-RAM3'03 is
This is a working storage area of the BM-CPU 301, and is used to store stacks and basic flags.

The R-buffer 304 is a buffer for communication with the outside (data processing device 1 and file buffer 2).
The purpose is to enable communication between the processing program of the PU 301 and the data processing device 1 to be processed even asynchronously.

Bucket buffer (hereinafter abbreviated as P-buffer) 3
05 stores data from the data processing device 1 as an intermediate code (hereinafter referred to as a packet) that is converted from the font attributes and is easily drawn on the BM-RAM 32.

The font unit 33 can accommodate eight font cartridges, and each font cartridge stores pattern data for eight types of fonts at most, as will be explained later. The data processing device 1 selects a font from among these multiple types of fonts, as will be explained later.

Additionally, fonts can be exchanged during text image editing.

The actual drawing of the font is performed by the bitmap writing section 31, but the information sent to the bitmap writing section 31 includes the built-in address of the pattern of the font selected by the data processing device 1, the drawing address to the BM-RAM 32, etc. It is necessary to calculate the parameters of This takes a certain amount of time. Therefore, while the data in the BM-RAM 32 is being printed, the data for the next page is pre-processed and the data in the P-buffer 32 is printed.
5, the processing speed is increased. Therefore, the movement of data in the P-buffer 1305 is FIFO (first in, first out).
It becomes.

The print engine interface 307 is an interface with the print engine 4, and exchanges job information such as the number of prints and job control commands such as print commands with the interface of the print engine 4 through the bus B3.

(b) Font cartridges and font management (font management information (PCB), directory registration area (D
-BANK), Font Registration Information (VFCB)) Font Cartridge Configuration FIG. 5 shows the font configuration in the font cartridge. The area of memory occupied by one cartridge is called slot 5 LOT, and each slot.

The memory card is divided into eight small sections of ROM or RAM called banks F-BANKφ to F-BANK7. Each font is stored across one or more banks. Multiple banks are used for large fonts such as kanji. However, 2
A font cannot contain more than one type of font, and a font cannot span multiple slots.

For example, in slot No. l, there are four fonts FO
NTI, FONT2. FONT3. FQNT4 is connected to banks F-BANKφ, F-BANK1 and F-B, respectively.
ANK2. F-BANK3゜F-BANK4 to F-B
It is stored in ANK6. Bank F-BANK7 is empty. For each fore +- FONT 1 to FONT 4,
Internal logic codes φ, I, corresponding to 7 onts, respectively.
2.3 and F-BANK N indicating the first F-BANK
o, φ.

1.3.4 corresponds.

The same applies to other slots.

This slot No. (slot number) and F-BANK
No. (F-BANK number) can be used to select a font, as will be explained later.

The memory inside the font cartridge contains the font ROM.
and rewritable and removable phono RAM.

The font RAM is used as a memory for downloading fonts from the data processing device 1, and may or may not have already downloaded font data.

Furthermore, some font RAMs are equipped with a backup power supply and an external input switch (capable of retaining font data), and others are not. As explained later, the first byte of the font RAM is used as identification information. External input switch or management information (PCB
), the phono 1-RAM determined to have font data written is registered as 1-loaded RAM (see FIG. 16).

For each font, font global data (see FIG. 8), directory, and dot pattern are stored at predetermined locations.

The font global data includes an ASCI I6-byte font name. This font name is
Can be used for font selection, as explained later.

FIG. 6(a) shows the structure of the character type code in the font glow/XL data. The upper 3 bits and nodes indicate major classification, and the lower 5 bits indicate minor classification. The major classification is the highest level of identification information for font management, and examples are shown in the table.

The following margin FIG. 6(b) shows the structure of the small classification of the JIS Kanji code type font (major classification code-4) as an example of the small classification. It consists of the upper 3 bits of the font code and the lower 2 bits of the combination information. Here, ANK indicates alphabets and kana characters.

The minor classification structure has a format unique to each major classification.

As will be explained later, the font global data is read when the power is turned on or when the font cartridge/nozzle is replaced (#3 in Figure 15, #73 in Figure 1), and the font information is registered (
#77 in FIG. 1), the font management information is stored in the SYS-RAM 303.

(2) Font management information (hereinafter also referred to as FCB) The pit map control unit 30 performs basic management using an internal logic code that is the registration serial number of the PCB, as will be explained later.

FIG. 7(a) shows the structure of font management information (PCB). As shown in Figure 7(b), the FCB is SYS-R
One set is stored in the AM 303 for each font installed in the font section 33 at that time. Each set includes PCB status, PCB information, physical location information,
Consists of cartridge information and logical font attributes. The logical font attribute is an attribute registered in the font management information of the font installed in the slot (or built-in font), and is an attribute registered in the font management information of the font installed in the slot (or the built-in font), and is
This is the same as the global information stored in the virtual font attribute shown in Figure 1 (a).

FIG. 8 shows the structure of the font management information (PCB) in more detail. PCB includes PCB status, PCB information,
Consists of physical location information, cartridge information, and logical font attributes. The data of addresses φ to IFH regarding the previous three are created at the time of font selection. Slot number (address 2) and bank number in the slot F-BAN
K No. (addresses 18H to 198) are respectively used for font selection. Note that the data below address 20H is font global data (cartridge information) read from the font cartridge.

First, the PCB status indicates the states of various flags.

The flags include the PCB registered flag B (JrLD), the font flag FONT indicating the font style, and the flag ROM/ROM indicating whether the font cartridge is ROM or RAM.
RAM, kanji flag KANZ I, download flag DOWNLOAD indicating that it is a font cartridge for downloading system programs, etc., flags READY, RA indicating font selection enabled state.
The M font has a flag LOADED indicating whether the font has been loaded, a directory registration flag FDIR, and 5PECIAL indicating that it is a special font.

The PCB information includes the slot number, the font address set as a linear address within the slot, the font directory registration top bank number, the number of D-BANKs which is the number of banks registered in the font directory, the F-BANK size which indicates the number of font banks, and the slot. There is a kanji font pattern start address that shows the start address of the kanji font pattern in the font, a font size that shows the number of bytes that make up the font pattern, a maximum character code that shows the maximum character code that exists in the directory, and a font total number of bytes that shows the total capacity of the font. .

Physical position information includes a bank offset indicating a bank offset value when generating a font access address, and an F-BANK number indicating a bank number within a slot.

Cartridge information (font global data) includes font style indicating font usage type, font type indicating font character type, font name used when selecting font by nickname, font maximum character code, font cell width indicating maximum character width. ,
Indicates maximum character height, font cell height, baseline position, product arrangement number, font revision number, font capacity information, combination information, and bank size information.
, there is font capacity information ■ indicating the bank size coefficient.

In addition, the logical font attribute area (see FIG. 7(a)) is located next to the cartridge information in the font management information (PCB), and is not shown in FIG. As shown in the VFCB diagram in the figure, the usage code, character type, character type, character pitch,
There are text height, text style, and text weight.

■ Directory registration area (D-BANK) The font directory is management information that corresponds to each character on the font ROM, and is stored in each font R○M, but it is not possible to access the font ROM for each character. Since parallel processing with character drawing is not possible, throughput decreases. Therefore, for the selected font, SY
By loading the font directory into the S-RAM 303, processing time can be shortened. SYS-RA
In M303, the directory registration area is the PCB
provided after the area, as shown in Figure 9(a),
D-BANK size of ring buffer configuration-BANK7
8 banks (1 bank = 2 bytes) are prepared. D
- BANK refers to a subdivision of the directory registration area.

When registering, multiple banks are used depending on the directory size, similar to F-BANK (see FIG. 5). 9th
FIG. 9(b) shows a state in which directories for four types of fonts have been registered from the state of FIG. 9(a) in which there are eight valid free banks (the shaded areas indicate the banks used for registration).

For each directory, the top bank number and directory size (number of banks) are determined. The directory bank number and directory bank size are registered at addresses 7 and 8 of the corresponding PCB (8th
(see figure). Further, the PCB status (address 0) includes a directory registration flag indicating that the directory is registered in the D-BANK and a status valid flag indicating the validity of font management information on the FCB.

Note that each D-BANK is provided with a D-BANK flag indicating the presence or absence of directory information.

FIGS. 10(a), (b), and (c) show the operation of the BANK pointer when updating the font directory.

The empty bank in Fig. 10(a) is 1 bank, but when font F5 (capacity of 3 banks) is selected next, font F5 is not registered in the directory and it takes 3 banks to download. D-BANK No. because it requires the capacity of a bank.

The D-BANK flag of φ~2 is turned off (Fig. 10(b)
)), download the directory from D-BANK No. 7 (Figure 10 (C)).

■Font Registration Area (VFCB) When a user specifies a font using an ID number, information about the font is stored in a font registration area (hereinafter referred to as VFCB) on the SYS-RAM 303.

Note that when selecting a font by ID number, even if a font corresponding to the ID number after registration is extracted, if there is a font with similar attributes, it will be selected and the logical font code in the VFCB will be updated. VFCB like this
is also called a virtual font because it may not correspond to a specific font like a logical font code. In addition, ID
The number may be called a VFCB code or virtual font code.

FIG. 11(a) shows the font (VFCB) registration area configuration. V F CB If, SYS-RAM30
(See Figure 3). Considering scalability,
Takes a 32-byte area. As shown in FIG. 11(b), the VFCB stores one cent for each font currently installed. The VFCB has a VFCB status, a logical font code, and a virtual font attribute that correspond to the ID number setting. The VFCB status includes a flag indicating that the VFCB is registered and valid. The logical font code is a registration number for font management in internal processing, and represents the PCB area in which each font is registered. The virtual font attribute is a font attribute of the VFCB that is set by the user according to the protocol of the data processing device l, and
As shown in detail in Figure 2, the usage code,
There are character type, character type, character pitch, character height, character style, and character weight, each of which corresponds to the font global data shown. Note that the virtual font attributes have the same configuration as the logical font attributes of the PCB (FIG. 7(a)).

Margin below (c) Image editing process (Figure 15) as explained in detail after font selection
There are three stages in which font selection processing is performed. These are the initial font selection when the power is turned on, the font selection based on the protocol from the data processing device, and the font selection processing after replacing the font cartridge.

When the printer is powered on, no selection is made from the data processing device 1. Therefore, printers have default values for initial settings, one of which is font selection, and font selection processing is performed according to the default values for font selection.

As shown in FIG. 13, there are three methods for selecting a font according to a protocol from the data processing device 1 after the power is turned on.

■ Slot and bank selection As shown in Figure 5, the slot number and FBANK number are assigned to the installed font cartridge when reading the font attributes (see Figure 25, Figure 1). , registered with FCB. Therefore, a font can be directly selected by specifying the slot in which the refont cartridge is installed and the bank number in each slot from the data processing device 1 (see FIG. 25).

■ Font name selection The font global information (FIG. 8) of the PCB includes the font name. Therefore, the data processing device
You can indirectly select a font by specifying the font name (see Figure 26).

■ ID Select The user can freely set an ID number for each font (see Figure 27). Therefore, by specifying a linear number unrelated to the slot or bank from the data processing device 1, font selection becomes possible (second
(See Figure 8).

When a font is selected using either method, the internal logical code (logical font code, slot number, bank number,
) t name, ID number, etc.) are selected. S
The selection information stored in the YS-RAM 303 is
As shown in FIG. 4, it is composed of each selection value and the last selection mode. Then, the select mode for each mode is set in the area corresponding to the code of the last select mode. When updating the selection information when selecting a font, this last selection mode and the corresponding selection value are changed.

To reselect a font after replacing a font cartridge, downloading a font, or selecting a font using various emulators, read the font attributes again, and then read the last selection mode (see Figure 14) before replacing the font cartridge. , select the font according to the corresponding selection value (#15 to #1 in Figure 15)
7). If this selection is not possible, select the default font as in the case of power supply official (Figure 15 #18)
~ #19).

The font RAM is handled as follows. In the case of a font RAM without a backup power supply, if the font is not registered on the PCB, it is assumed that the font has not been downloaded or has been inserted or removed, and is registered as RAM at the time of update.

In the case of phono 1-RAM with a backup power supply, like the font ROM, it may be added when replacing the font, and in that case, it is not registered on the PCB, so the information set from the external input switch of the font RAM determines whether it has been downloaded. judge whether

(d) Image editing and initial setting Regarding image editing by the bitmap type character generator according to the embodiment of the present invention, the BM-CPU 30 in FIG.
This will be explained using flow No. 1.

When the power is turned on, internal initialization is performed in Step #1 and the following "steps" are omitted. ), clear the RAM 303 #2), read font attributes such as cell size from the font section 33 (#3, see Figure 1), initialize settings using switches, and internal default values (including default values for font selection) ) and initial font selection processing (Figures 19 and 20).
#4). Initial settings by switch settings include resolution < tta collection), protocol conversion table (compatible with various protocols), interface switching (Centronics,
R3232C) etc. Initial settings based on internal default values include initial font, margin, etc.

Then, a processing loop for the received data from the data processing device 1 is entered.

When replacing a font cartridge (YES in R11) or downloading a font (YES in R12), the font installation status has changed, so the font attributes are first read in the same way as when the power is turned on (R1
5, see Figure 1). The last selection mode before exchange (see FIG. 14) is read (R16), and font selection is performed using the corresponding selection value (R17). If selection is possible (R18), the process ends; however, if selection is not possible, the font (default font) of the lowest numbered bank in the lowest numbered slot is selected (R19, (See Figure 19).

Next, check whether there is free space in the P-RAM 305 and data in the R-buffer 304 (#21, #22). If both are present, read data from the R-buffer 304. R2
3) Performs protocol analysis such as format control and font selection and associated processing (R24). Font selection is performed according to the protocol from the data processing device 1 according to the processing procedure shown in FIGS. 25, 26, and 28. If there is no free space in the P-RAM 305 or if no data is received in the R-buffer 304, no processing is performed.

Next, the BM-RAM 32 is accessible while printing is not in progress (No in R31), and multi-printing is not in progress, that is, the JOBACT flag is not set or set (R3
2 (NO), the previous character is not being written to BM-RAM (
If R33 is No), if there is data in P-RAM305 (R34 is YES), read that data.R35
), performs analysis and processing (R36).

As a result of the analysis, if the data is a control code that means PAGE EJECT (YES in #37), JOB
ACT7 Set the lag #41) Start printing operation. If it is not PAGE EJECT (#37), the process returns to step #11 and searches for the next data.

Even if it is not printing (No in #32), the BM-R
AM writing in progress (YES in #33) or PRAM30
If there is no data in 5 (NO in #34), the above processing is not performed.

When the JOBACT flag is set and print operation starts (#41), the paper feed command PFCMD should be output #4
2) The interface of the print head control section 42 is set to a printable state (#43), and a print command is output to the interface control section 40 (#44), thereby entering the printing operation and returning to #11.

The interface control unit 40 issues an exposure end command (E
XPEND) (YES in #45),
Manage the number of sheets. J indicates the end of printing the set number of sheets.
When OBEND is detected (YES in #46), JOB
Reset the ACT flag, cancel the printing state, and release the BM
- Clear RAM32 (#47). When JOBEND is not detected (#46-?'NO), proceed to #43,
Start printing.

FIG. 1 shows the flow of reading font attributes from a font cartridge. This process is performed when the power is turned on (#3
) and when replacing fonts in cartridge format (#1
Step 5) is performed to generate font management information for font selection.

First, preprocessing for the RAM cartridge (#61 1st
(See Figure 6).

Next, check each font cartridge.

First, a read/write check of the first byte of the first bank F-BANKφ of the first slot is performed (#71).

If it is not the font RAM (No in #72), the font global data is immediately read (#73). The font style in the font global data is φF
If it is FH (YES in #74), it is determined that there is no font cartridge. Otherwise (No in #74)
, set the ROM flag for the PCB status of the PCB #75), set the style status FONT flag (flag indicating the font style) #76), and register the font information in the font management information (PCB) (
#77).

If it is determined that it is the font RAM in step #72,
Next, set the RAM flag in the PCB status of the FCB (#81), and set the style status in the PCB status to special specifications (#82). Next, please re-check the font style at the beginning of F-BANK (Figure 8) in the font global data #83)
, Status initialization processing (#61. Figure 16 #10
4) If it is not cleared (#104, Figure 16), the LO in the FCB status is considered a valid font.
Set the ADED flag (#84), read the font global data (#85), and register the font information in the PCB (#77).

As described above, font attributes are analyzed for all F-BANKs (#91) and all slots (#92).

FIG. 16 shows the flow of font status initial setting for the font RAM (#61 in FIG. 1). When replacing the phono ROM, the currently selected font may be removed or moved to another slot.
Furthermore, in the font RAM, font data is destroyed by insertion/removal operations. Therefore, this flow performs the process of updating the font management information that is necessary in such a case. The first byte of F-BANK is used as identification information.

First, a PCB pointer indicating the starting address of the PCB is initialized (#101). If it is determined that it is not a RAM font based on the PCB status in the FCB (NO in #102), it is a RAM font (YES in #102)
, if it is judged that it is not registered as 1oaded by FCB (No in #103), clear the first byte of F-BANK (X#10 to write φFFH)
4). If the RAM font is registered as 1oaded (YES in #103), all slots and all F-
Comparing with BANK's font global information #105
), if no identical RAM cartridge is found (#
106), it is determined that the font has been removed, and the first byte of the F-BANK is similarly cleared (#104). The slot and bank locations are determined by the PCB. Note that in the case of the font ROM, there is no problem since it cannot be cleared. If the same RAM cartridge is found (YES in #106), no processing is performed. The above process is performed for the number of fonts that can be registered on the PCB (#107).

Next, in order to initialize the font RAM with external input switch, pointers representing the start addresses of banks and slots are initialized (#111).

Next, it is determined whether or not it is registered as 1-loaded RAM in the PCB status (#112). If it is not registered, next read the external input switch of the font cartridge (#113) and press 10aded.
If it is not a RAM font (NO in #114),
Clear the first byte of the font (#115). Perform the above processing for all slots and all banks (#
116). After that, clear all the PCB areas (
#117).

With the above processing, φFF is placed at the beginning of all F-BANKs other than 1loaded RAM and font ROM.
H will be stored (including empty slots),
The identification information required during the font attribute reading process (see FIG. 1) is updated.

FIG. 17 shows the flow of font information registration (#77 in FIG. 1). In this embodiment, two types of Western and Kanji fonts and overlay cartridges are prepared for the cart and the cart as shown in the table above. When the global information of a valid font is read, the font information is registered in the PCB using this flow. First, the font style of global information is read (#121). Kanji font (#
122) or special font (#125), set a unique PCB status for each (#123, #126). Regarding kanji fonts,
Along with the registration of normal font management information, management information specific to the kanji font (slot harmonious character font pattern start address in FIG. 8) is registered (#124).

For European fonts (#122. No in #125)
), only other information of the PCB is registered (#127).

Finally, a PCB indicating that the information of the corresponding PCB has been finalized.
Set the registered flag to the PCB status (#
12-8).

As a result of the above processing, the font management information (FCB > is set to SYS-
It is registered on the RAM 303 (#3).

Similar processing is also performed when replacing a font cartridge or downloading a font (#15).

FIG. 18 shows the flow of font directory registration processing in the SYS-RAM 303. When only the default font directory is selected when the power is turned on (#4 in Figure 15), the D-BANK number is read (#141) and the D-BANK is selected as shown in Figure 9(b).
Every time a registered font is selected from K No., φ, a directory is registered in an empty bank in the D-BANK work area (#146). Then, the logical number of the used font is attached (#147), and at the same time, the first bank of the used D-BANK is stored in the PCB (#148), and the corresponding directory is taken out during format control.

Note that D-BANK has a ring buffer structure, and if there is a shortage of free banks (YES in #142),
As shown in Figure 10, except for the bank in use (#
YES at L 43), No again, used from φ. At this time, the selected flag on the FCB status is cleared (#144), and the old font directory becomes invalid (#145).

FIG. 19 shows the flow of initial font selection processing in initial settings (#4 in FIG. 15). The default font is determined to be the font in the slot and bank with the lowest number among the installed font cartridges. First, set the logical font code to 1 (#161)
. Next, font selection processing (#162, see FIG. 20) is performed for the fonts registered in the PCB. If the selection is successful (YES in #163)
S), the default mode is stored as selection information of the current font (#164).

If no selectable font is registered in the PCB (No in #163), the font is not set or for some reason the font data is
Since the M-CPU 301 cannot read the information, printing processing cannot be performed. Therefore, if it is not the last font (
No in #165), increment the logical font code (#166), and select the font again (#162).
)I do. If a font cannot be selected even with the last font, error processing such as error display will be performed (#1
67).

FIG. 20 shows the flow of font selection processing (#162 in FIG. 19, #354 in FIG. 28) using logical font codes. First, load the selected logical font code (
# No at 181). If the font is not already selected (#182), move the PCB pointer using that code (#183) and read the PCB status (#18).
4). And the registered flag is on (Y at 1185)
ES) and is a font (YES in #186)
Next, check whether the directory has been registered (#187),
If the directory is not registered, the directory registration process (18th
) (#188), and then set the font cell (#189, see FIG. 21). Then, the selected flag is turned on (#190). If the font has already been selected (YES in #182), the selected flag indicating that the font registered in that PCB has been selected is immediately turned on (#190).

If the registered flag is not on (NO in #185) or if it is not a font (No in #186), no processing is performed.

Figure 21 shows the font cell settings (Figure 20, #189,
Refer to FIG. 25 #286 and FIG. 20. The processing flow of 16) is shown. This process registers the character space and line space used when moving the cursor character by character (tab process, CR process).

Since the space can be set by the user, it is checked whether it is specified (#200, #205), and if it is specified, the following space registration process is not performed. If not specified, read the maximum character width from the PCB font global data shown in Figure 8 (#201)
, if the double width width is specified by the protocol from the data processing device 1 (YES in #202), double it in #203), and register it as a character space (#2).
04). Next, read the maximum character height from the font global data (#206), and if double height is specified (YES in #207), double it #208)
, and register it as a line space (#209).

FIG. 22 shows the virtual font update processing flow of the SYS-RAM 303 (7) VFCB area. This process is performed to ensure that the most suitable font is always available when the power is turned on or when the font cartridge is replaced.

First, the VFCB pointer is placed at the beginning of the VFCB area (#221). If you have already registered with VFCB (#
222: YES), the logical font code VFCB registration process is performed (#223). The above processing is performed for all VFCBs (#224).

FIG. 23 shows the flow of logical font code registration processing (#223) in the VFCB. Here we are currently using VFC
The font that is closest to the attributes of B is made to correspond.

First, read the status at the beginning of the corresponding VFCB area (
#241). If it is registered (YES in #242),
Find the closest font from the PCB as a valid VFCB.

First, the nearest font code LFNO and its matching depth MAX MATCH are initialized (#243).

Then, the logical font attributes are read from the registered top PCB (#244), and the parameter MATCH representing the matching depth of the virtual font attributes and logical font attributes shown in FIG. 12 is initialized (#245).
).

Comparison with logical attributes is performed sequentially from the usage code to the character weight (see FIG. 12). The virtual font attribute of the VFCB is read (#246), compared with the logical attribute (#247), and if they match, MATCH is incremented by one (#248).

The comparison method is usually valid when the codes are exactly the same, but the closest font in terms of pitch and height is valid.

After completing the comparison for the seven font attributes (#24
9), Ch* (7) LFNO MAX MATCH
If it is closer than that (#250: YES), both parameters are updated (#251).

The logical attributes of the next PCB are also compared in the same way. Compare attributes for all registered fonts (#252),
Register the logical font hood of the PCB with the maximum MATCH as the logical font code of the VFCB (#2
53).

FIG. 24 shows the font download processing flow.

The data structure in the font download process from the data processing device 1 such as a host computer consists of a download slot, font data, and checksum data. 1, 2, and 2 are the results of addition of all transmitted data, and are compared with the addition results of received data in the character generation section, and if they are different, it is processed as a communication error.

First, the slot number (
#291), read the status of the corresponding PCB (#292) and check if it is not a RAM cartridge (RAM
FONT7 lag 0FF) (No in #293), or if it has already been downloaded (LOADED flag ON) (YES in #294), error processing is performed as an error in the specified slot (#295) and the download is not performed.

If it is a RAM cartridge (YES in #293) and has not been loaded (No in #294), sequentially read the font data sent from the data processing device 1 (
#296). Then, when writing to the RAM, the read data is sequentially added to create checksum data.

When the font data download process is completed, read the checksum and compare the internal addition results (#2
97). If different, it will be treated as a communication error (#
300), if it matches, LOADE the PCB status.
The D flag is turned ON (#299), and the process ends.

(e) When font selection is instructed from the font selection control data processing device I,
As explained in section (b), three types of processing are performed.

(2) Font selection by slot and bank FIG. 25 shows the processing flow for font selection by slot and bank. Slot select and bank select are prepared as separate commands from the data processing device 1. For slot selection, the font of the first bank of the corresponding slot is selected, and for bank selection, the font of F BANK No. in the corresponding slot of the currently selected slot is selected.

Font selection based on a command from the data processing device 1 is performed by analyzing received data (#24, FIG. 15).

First, the currently selected slot (bank) number is read (#271). If it is the same as the slot (bank) number specified by the command of data processing device l (
#272: YES), the selection has already been made, so the following search process will not be performed.

If not selected, set the maximum number of font types that can be registered as a loop counter for search processing (#273),
Set the PCB pointer, which is the start address of the PCB, to the initial value (
=φ) (#274). Then, during slot selection processing (YES in #277), the slot number is read (#275), and during bank selection processing (#27
7) is the slot No. (#275) and the F-BANK No. in the slot.

(#278) is read sequentially, and the designated slot number from the data processing device 1 and the F-BANK No. in the designated slot are read.
, (#276, #279).

Search until the appropriate font is found. In the case of a slot select command (YES in #277), all slots are searched, and in the case of a bank select command (No in #277), all banks in one slot are searched.

If the applicable slot and F-BANK do not exist, or the applicable slot and F-BANK h<,
If FCB is not registered, exit (#280)
.

Next, the PCB status of the searched font is read (#281). If the font flag FONT is set, the font is recognized (YES in #282).
S), if the management information has been registered in the PCB (#283
(YES), it is considered a valid font. Next, check the directory registration flag FDIR, and if it is not registered (#284), perform directory registration processing (see Figure 18).
(#285). The directory contains information about each character (such as the size of the character, the address of the corresponding dot pattern, etc.).

Next, perform font cell setting processing (see Figure 21),
Character spaces and line spaces for formatting control should be updated according to the selected font #286
), turns on the selected flag (#287). Finally, the selection information is updated (#288). Here, the last select mode and the slot and/or bank are updated according to the selection method.

If the font is not recognized (#282) and has not been registered in the PCB (#283), the processes from step #284 onwards are not performed.

■Font selection by font name Figure 26 shows the processing flow for font selection by font name.

The processing procedure is similar to the aforementioned font selection using slot and bank numbers (FIG. 25), except that the search conditions and selection information are 6-character font names.

First, load the currently selected font name (
#301). If it is the same as the font name specified by the command of data processing device 1 (YES in #302)
S) has already been selected, so the following search process is skipped.

If it is not selected, P which is the start address of FCB
Set the CB pointer to the initial value (=φ) (#303)
. Then read the font name of the PCB (#30
4) Compare with the font name from data processing device 1 (#305). Search until the appropriate font is found.

If the corresponding font name is not up to the last font,
End (#306).

Next, the PCB status of the searched font is read (#311). If it is already registered on the PCB (#3
12), the font is regarded as a valid font, and if the font flag FONT is set, the font is recognized (#313). Next, the directory registration flag FD
Check the IR and if it is not registered (NO in #314)
, perform directory registration processing (see Figure 18) (#3
15). The directory contains information about each character (such as the size of the character, the address of the corresponding dot pattern, etc.).

Next, perform font cell setting processing (see Figure 21),
Update character spaces and line spaces for formatting control according to the selected font #316
), turns on the selected flag (#317). Finally, the selection information is updated (#318). The selection information is updated here.

If the font has not been registered in the directory (NO in #312) and the font is not recognized (No in #313), the processes from step #314 onwards are not performed.

■Font selection by ID number When the user sets the ID number from the data processing device 1,
It is registered in the analysis and processing of received data (#24 in FIG. 15). Then, the font can be changed depending on the ID number.

FIG. 27 shows the flow of font ID registration processing. First, enter the specified ID number (V F CB code) #331), register the currently selected logical font code in the specified VFCB #332), register the logical font attributes as well #333), Turn on the VFCB registered flag (#334).

FIG. 28 is a processing flow of font selection using the VFCB created by the above ID registration process (FIG. 27). When ID selection is specified by a command from data processing device 1, the ID number for font selection is read (#
351), use that number to search for the presence or absence of a font registered in the VFCB (#352), read the corresponding logical font code (#353), and perform font selection processing using the method shown in Figure 20 (#354). ) and update the selection information (#355). Here, the ID
The mode and ID number are updated.

In this embodiment, the ID number is registered in correspondence with the selected font at the time of ID number registration, but the ID number may be registered in combination with a specific attribute such as a font name. However, since this method requires a complicated protocol, this embodiment allows it to be used in conjunction with other font selection protocols.

Margin below (effects of the invention) One of the functions of the character generator is downloading of fonts from a host computer, etc., and the font RAM is used as its memory. Therefore,
It is necessary to know in which slot (bank) the font RAM is installed. According to the present invention, even when a font RAM with a backup power supply is installed, it is easy to recognize the installation status, and it is also possible to easily deal with update registration.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a flowchart of reading font attributes. FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a printer system according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a block diagram of the pit map type data processing device and print engine. FIG. 4 is a block diagram of the bitmap control section. FIG. 5 is a diagram showing the configuration inside the font cartridge. FIGS. 6(a) and 6(b) are diagrams showing the structure of character type codes of font global data, respectively. FIGS. 7(a) and 7(b) are diagrams showing the configuration of the PCB, respectively. FIG. 8 is a diagram showing the configuration of the PCB in detail. FIGS. 9(a) and 9(b) are diagrams showing directory registration in the directory registration area. FIGS. 10(a), (b), and (c) are diagrams sequentially showing how the font directory is updated. FIGS. 11(a) and 11(b) are diagrams showing the configuration of the VFCB, respectively. FIG. 12 is a diagram showing the configuration of the VFCB in detail. FIG. 13 is a diagram showing the flow of font selection processing from the data processing device. FIG. 14 is a diagram of selection information. FIG. 15 is a flowchart of image editing. FIG. 16 is a flowchart of font status initial setting. FIG. 17 is a flowchart of font information registration. FIG. 18 is a flowchart of font directory registration processing. FIG. 19 is a flowchart of initial font selection processing. FIG. 20 is a flowchart of font selection using logical font codes. FIG. 21 is a flowchart of font cell setting. FIG. 22 is a flowchart of virtual font updating. FIG. 23 is a flowchart of VFCB registration processing. FIG. 24 is a flowchart of font download. FIG. 25 is a flowchart of font selection by slot and bank. FIG. 26 is a flowchart of font selection by font name. FIG. 27 is a flowchart of font ID number registration. FIG. 28 is a flowchart of font selection by ID number. l...Data processing device, 3...Bitmap type character generator, 30...Bitmap control unit, 33... Font unit (font cartridge), 30
1...BM-CPU. 303...SMS-RAM (storage means), 308...
- Data processing device interface. Patent Applicant Minolta Camera Co., Ltd. Agent Patent Attorney Aoyama Aoyama 16 1171 Figure 3 and; μmageb force formula = y' - force β L - 4 print engine Figure 5 5LoT No. 2 SLoT No, 3 Fig. 6 (a) (b) Fig. 11 (0) g7 Fig. (0) Fig. 9 Fig. 10 (a) S#mu c7'I:out +F3 (b) (C) Ss/ eefFoprr + 1:5 (S bank = I) (Nukuzo ζ - 1) Fig. 8 Fig. 12 Fig. 1411 13th (21i Fig. 17 Fig. 18 Fig. 19 Fig. 20 Mouth Figure 21 L2 Ki ω No. 2 Garden Figure 27 Figure 28

Claims (1)

[Claims] (1) Character generation that can be equipped with one or more font cartridges equipped with a font storage means (including a removable and rewritable font storage means with an external input switch) that stores pattern data of one or more fonts. The font management device of the device includes an input means for specifying a font to be used for character generation, a specification storage means for storing font specification information from the input means, and whether a specific 1 byte of the font storage means has been downloaded or not. identification information, a determination means used to determine whether or not the rewritable font storage means has been downloaded by the byte, and management information including the result of the above determination regarding the storage means of the installed font cartridge. The font cartridge is equipped with a management information storage means to be registered and a rewritable font storage means that has not been downloaded using the management information stored in the management information storage means or an external input switch when updating the management information is required. and update control means for writing information indicating that the font has not been loaded into the specific one byte of the font storage means, if the font management device has determined that the font has not been loaded.