JPH03108568A - Multifunction recorder - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To realize a plurality of functions by a single device by a method wherein data is decoded by a decode part capable of decoding a plurality of functions in accordance with a command, the decoded data is drawn on a page memory as an image, and the image from the page memory is printed by a printing part. CONSTITUTION:With the input of a command instructing a command print function, a decode part 10 and an image drawing part 14 draw a character code or graphic data on a page memory 12 as an image. With the input of a command of a plot function, vector data is converted to raster data to be drawn on the page memory 12. With the input of a command instructing a hard copy function, an image plane of a CRT 6 of a personal computer 4 is hard-copied on the page memory 12. At the completion of the command, the data on the page memory 12 is printed through a printing control part 16 by a mechanism part 18. In this manner, a plurality of functions are realized by a single recorder.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention (Field of Industrial Application) The present invention relates to output devices for computers such as personal computers, and in particular to CG (computer graphics), CAD, business graphs, architectural perspective,
The present invention relates to an output device suitable for outputting measurement/analysis data, medical systems, various designs, etc.

(Prior Art) As a computer output device, there are various recording devices depending on the purpose. For example, a printer (print function) is used to print characters and graphic images, an X-Y plotter (plot function) is used to draw vector data, and a hard copy machine is used to make a hard copy of a CRT screen. (hard copy function) is used,
A recorder (record function) is used to record analog data. These various output devices each have independent functions, and there is no single device that performs multiple functions at the same time. There is an output device that has a print function and a plot function, but it is designed to switch between using it as a printer or plotter, and it is possible to print on both sides of a single sheet with the print function and the plot function. Cannot be mixed.

(Problems to be Solved by the Invention) When recording for various purposes, it is necessary to prepare a plurality of recording devices, and the connection to the computer must be changed every time the output function changes.

Furthermore, outputs from multiple functions cannot be mixed in one report, and if such a report is to be created, data output from multiple recording devices must be pasted together.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a recording device that can perform multiple functions with one recording device, and that can mix outputs of multiple functions in one report. be.

(Means for Solving the Problems) In order to achieve the above object, the writing device of the present invention includes a decoding section that decodes multiple types of data according to a command;
The image forming apparatus includes a page memory, a drawing section that draws data decoded by the decoding section on the page memory, and a printing section that outputs the contents of the page memory.

The present invention will be explained with reference to FIG.

A portion 2 surrounded by a broken line is a recording device related to the present invention. The recording device 2 includes an interface section 8 that sends and receives data and commands to and from a computer such as a personal computer 4, a decoding section 10 that decodes the received data according to each function according to commands, and stores image data for one page to be printed. page memory 12. A drawing unit 1 that draws the data decoded by the decoding unit 10 on the page memory 12
4. A printing control section 16 and a mechanism section 18 are provided as a printing section for outputting the contents of the page memory 12.

Reference numeral 20 denotes an operation unit used to display the status of the recording device 2 and change the operating status. 6 is a CRT of the personal computer 4.

(effect) Figure 2 shows the operation.

Commands for instructing the operation of the decoding section 1o and data to be printed are taken in from a computer such as the personal computer 4 via the interface section 8. Decoding part 1
0 and the drawing unit 14 perform the following functions according to command 1-. When a command indicating a print function is input, character codes and graphic data are drawn on the page memory 12. When a plotting function command is input, vector data is converted to raster data and stored in page memory 12.
to draw. When a command indicating a hard copy function is input, the screen of the CRT 6 of the personal computer 4 is hard copied onto the page memory 12. When a command indicating a record function is input, continuous waveform data and related data such as scale' are drawn on the page memory 12.

When the command is completed, the data on the page memory 12 is printed from the mechanism section 18 by the print control section 16.

An example of a report printed according to the present invention is shown in FIG. Areas a and d are areas drawn by the print function, area b is an area drawn on the CRT screen by the hard copy function, and area C is an area drawn by the plot function.

(Example) FIG. 4 represents one embodiment.

22 is a CPU, and uses 1, for example, 80186. 24
is an interface circuit between computers such as personal computers and Centronics and R8-23.
Data and commands are sent and received using the 2G standard.

26 is a buffer memory. Interface circuit 2
4 and the buffer memory 26 constitute the interface unit 8 in FIG. 28 is a raster memory, which corresponds to the page memory 12 in FIG. 1, and is a RAM having a capacity of 1.5 megabits. 30 is AGDC (Adva
nced Graphic Display Cont
roller), which corresponds to the drawing unit 14 in FIG.
Drawing is performed on the raster memory 28. 32 is a ROM that stores programs such as decoding operations for each function.
, 34 is a RAM. 36 is CG (Character
crGenerator), which converts character codes into character patterns.

16 is a printer control section corresponding to the print control section in FIG. Reference numeral 40 denotes a side portion of the printing machine of the printer, 42 a paper feed mechanism, and 44 an ink ribbon mechanism, which constitute the mechanism 18 in FIG. The printer also has a thermal head temperature sensor 46 and a paper feed sensor 48.
, an ink ribbon color sensor 5o, an ink ribbon conveyance direction/conveyance speed detection sensor 52, and other necessary sensors are provided.

Buffer memory 26. ACDC30, printer control unit 1
6. ROM32, RAM34, CG36, etc. are CPU2
The CPU 22 is connected to the CPU 22 via a bus 54 connected to the CPU 22.

For the hard copy function, the personal computer's O8 (operating system; e.g. M
A part of the program is installed in S-DO3), and when the C0PY key is pressed, the CRT of the personal computer
The data on the memory of this device is to be sent to this recording device. For the recording function, the personal computer is equipped with an A/D conversion board to convert analog signals into digital data and send it to the recording device.

The decoding unit 10 in FIG. 1 is realized by the CPU 22, ROM 32, and RAM 34. The four functions of the decoding section 1o, including a print function, a plotting function, a hard copy function, and a record function, are switched according to commands from the operation panel of the decoding section 1'A or a personal computer.

In the embodiment, if this recording device is equipped with a video interface for the hard copy function, there is no need to install a program for transmitting data on the CRT memory into the personal computer in advance, and any personal・Be able to use computers. Furthermore, if this recording device is equipped with an A/D conversion board for the recording function, there is no need to convert analog signals into digital data on the personal computer side.

FIG. 5 shows a printer equipped with a thermal head as an example of a printer.

A printer control section 16 is provided on the lower side, and a mechanism section 18 is provided on the upper side. In the mechanism section 18, 56 is a thermal head, and an ink sheet 58 and a recording paper 60 are stacked and sent while being pressed against the thermal head 56 by a platen 62 to perform printing. , 64 is an ink sheet supply roll, 66 is an ink sheet take-up roll, and 68 is a recording paper roll.

(Effects of the Invention) The recording device of the present invention includes a decoding section that decodes multiple functions according to commands, and the decoding section decodes data.
After drawing in the page memory, printing is performed from the page memory by the printing section, so that multiple functions can be realized with one device.

Additionally, the output of each function can be printed on a single sheet of paper.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the present invention, FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing an outline of the operation, FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of printed output, FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing one embodiment, and FIG. 5
The figure is a configuration diagram showing a printer used in one embodiment. 2...Recording device, 4...Personal
Computer, 6...CRT, 8...
Interface section, 10...Decoding section, 12.
...Page memory, 14...Drawing section, 16.
...print control section, 18...mechanism section, 20...
...Operation section.

Claims (1)

[Claims] (1) a decoding section that decodes multiple types of data according to a command; a page memory; a drawing section that draws the data decoded by the decoding section on the page memory; and a printing section that outputs the contents of the page memory. A multifunctional recording device equipped with