JPH03155268A - Picture output controller - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To output the picture data of continuous pages at high speed by executing control so that the bit map picture data of the following page can be stored in the outputted bit map picture data area of a memory. CONSTITUTION:A line address comparator 161 latches line address data to be outputted from a CPU. The line address comparator 161 outputs an RDY signal. During a period to output the bit map picture data in a page memory to a line memory at the time of printing, this RDY signal shows that the printing source data of the next page stored in an input buffer can be developed to the bit map picture data and stored in the page memory.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Industrial Application Field] The present invention stores output data from an external device such as a host computer in a -H memory, and outputs it as bitmap image data to a printer, display device, etc. The present invention relates to an image output control device for outputting to a device.

[Prior Art] A conventional recording control device such as a laser beam printer is shown in FIG. Here, print data output from an external device such as a host computer or word processor is sent to the host interface.
/F is input from the (interface) unit 105 and temporarily stored in the work memory 104b. Thereafter, the code data stored in the work memory 104b is developed into bitmap image data by the arithmetic processing unit (usually composed of a CPU) 101, which is executed according to the control program stored in the program memory 103a. and stored in the page memory 104a. In this case, if the data to be developed into a bitmap is a text character, the CPU 101 reads font data matching the character code stored in the font memory l03b and creates bitmap image data.

Further, the auxiliary arithmetic processing section 102 is composed of a floating point arithmetic section, a bit block transfer section, etc., and speeds up the generation of bitmap image data.

After one page of bitmap image data is generated,
The bitmap image data stored in the page memory 104a is sequentially read out in synchronization with the synchronization signal output from the printer, especially the horizontal synchronization signal, and is output to the printer from the printer I/F unit 106 to output a page image. be done.

In this way, after one page of bitmap image data is output from the printer I/F unit 106 and an image is formed, the CPU 101 checks whether the print data for the next page is stored in the work memory 104b and determines whether the print data for the next page is stored. If so, clear the bitmap image data of the previous page in page memory 1゜4a, generate the bitmap image data of the next page in the same way as above, and store it in page memory 10.
Store in 4a. Then, it is output to a printer through the printer interface unit 106.

Here, as a method for speeding up image recording of consecutive pages, when the page memory 104a has a storage capacity of one page, while outputting bitmap image data to the printer, the recording data of the next page is complicated. If it consists of a program that performs some kind of drawing, the intermediate code is generated. Furthermore, by relocating bitmap image data to the font cache located in the work memory 104b for text characters that appear frequently on the page being printed, the bitmap image of the current page is This speeds up the generation of bitmap image data for the next page, which is performed after data is output to the printer.

On the other hand, if the page memory 104a has a capacity for multiple pages, while outputting the bitmap image data of the current page, bitmap image data of the next page is generated and stored in another page memory area. This speeds up printing of consecutive pages.

[Problem to be solved by the invention] However, in the above conventional example, first the page memory l
Consider the case where 04b has a storage capacity of only one page. In this case, in order to increase the printing speed, when outputting bitmap image data to the printer,
It generates an intermediate code from the print data (code) of the next page and rearranges the font cache located in the work memory 104b. However, this requires extra working memory and the working memory is 10
4b becomes thick (becomes thick).Furthermore, even if bitmap image data is generated from the generated intermediate code, the development time is too long to ignore. The larger the memory size for storage, the smaller the memory size used as a font cache, which has the disadvantage of lowering throughput when outputting text data, etc.

Next, consider a case where the page memory 104a has a memory size of multiple pages. When printing consecutive pages, the throughput of image recording processing is dramatically improved compared to the case where the page memory for one page is provided as described above. However, since a memory capacity is required to record multiple pages of image data, there is a problem in that the cost of memory such as DRAM is high, and the cost of the entire printer becomes high.

The present invention has been made in view of the above conventional example, and an object of the present invention is to provide an image output control device that can reduce memory costs and output continuous pages of image data at high speed.

[Means for Solving the Problems] In order to achieve the above object, the image output control device of the present invention has the following configuration. That is, it is an image output control device that inputs output data from an external device, temporarily stores it in a memory, and outputs it to an image output device as bitmap image data. output means for storing and reading the bitmap image data from the memory and outputting the bitmap image data, and storing the bitmap image data of the subsequent page in the outputted bitmap image data area in the memory when the output means outputs the bitmap image data. and control means for controlling.

[Operation] In the above configuration, the memory stores at least one page of bitmap image data, and reads the bitmap image data from the memory and outputs it. At the time of this output, the bitmap image data of the subsequent page is stored in the outputted bitmap image data area of the memory.

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

[Description of Printer Control Unit (FIGS. 1 and 2)] FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of the printer control unit of this embodiment.

In FIG. 1, 10 is a C that controls the entire control device.
The PU controls the entire device according to a control program stored in the program memory lla. 11 is ROM
In the section, a program memory 11a, a font memory llb
It is made up of. Here, the font memory llb stores font data in the form of bitmap fonts, outline fonts, etc. in correspondence with character codes. The RAM section 12 includes a page memory 121 that stores bitmap image data for one page, and a work memory 122. The work memory 122 includes a large capacity buffer 123 that stores recording data input from the host computer in code. A font cache memory 124 that temporarily stores bitmap-developed character pattern information, a line pointer 125 that indicates which line data in the page memory 121 is to be output, and an input line pointer 126 that indicates up to which line data has been manually input.
Contains such as.

Reference numeral 14 denotes a host interface (I/F) section through which print codes output from a host computer (not shown) and print source data written in a page description language, etc.
It is input via this host I/F section 14. Reference numeral 15 denotes a printer interface (I/F) unit that exchanges various information between a printer device (not shown) and this control device. These various types of information include the PRNT signal that instructs the printer to start printing, the recording data (VDO) output to the printer, the vertical synchronization signal (TOP) input from the printer, the horizontal synchronization signal (beam detect signal BD), etc. There is.

17 is a line memory that stores 1912 minutes of bitmap image data to be output to the printer. The image data stored in this line memory 17 is outputted to the printer interface unit 15 as a VDO 14. 13
is an image data read signal (V D RD) output from the printer interface unit 15 . Reference numeral 16 denotes a page memory control circuit whose details are shown in FIG.
8 and inputs and outputs various control signals to and from the CPU10 to execute read control of the page memory 121. The operation of this control circuit 16 will be described in detail later.

With the above configuration, print data output from the host computer is sequentially stored in the input buffer 123 of the work memory 12. This manual buffer 123 can store multiple pages of code information. Thereafter, the print source data stored in the input buffer 123 is expanded into bitmap image data to be output to the printer and stored in the page memory 121 by the CPU 10 whose execution is controlled by the control program in the program memory lla. Here, if the print data (code) or print program stored in the power buffer 123 includes text characters, the CPU 10 stores the font memory l.
Bitmap image data corresponding to the size, font, and resolution of the text character code is generated using font data in the form of bitmap fonts or outline fonts stored in lb.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the internal configuration of the page memory control circuit 16.

In FIG. 2, 161 is a line address comparator which latches line address data output from the CPU 10 through the data bus using the DSTB1 signal. This line address data indicates a line address read from the page memory 121 and stored in the line memory 17. This line address is compared with the output value of a line counter 163, which will be described later, and if the latched value is smaller than the count value of the counter 163, a ready signal (RDY: image data write enable signal to the page memory 121) is sent to the CPU10. It is outputting. 163 is a line counter, LN output from the line memory 17
The number of recorded lines is counted by counting END. 162 is a page end comparator which converts the page end line address data output from the CPU 10 into DSTB.
If it is equal to the count value of the line counter 163, the page end signal (PEND) is latched by the C2 signal.
It is output to PU10.

Here, R output from the line address comparator 161
As described above, the DY signal is input to the input buffer 123 during the period in which the bitmap image data in the page memory 121 is output to the line memory 17 during printing.
This signal indicates that the print source data for the next page stored in the page memory 121 can be developed into bitmap image data and stored in the page memory 121. The CLR signal is a signal for clearing the line counter 163 after one page of bitmap image data in the page memory 121 is output to the printer (the PEND signal becomes active), and is output under the control of the CPLIIO. be done.

[Operation Description (FIGS. 1 to 6)] FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing print control processing by the printer control section of this embodiment. Here, the generation and printing operation of bitmap image data for only a single page is shown, and in this case, the sequence is when the input buffer 123 does not have print sources for a plurality of pages.

In FIG. 3, the CPU 10 uses the font memory llb based on the print source data (code) of the input buffer 123.
bitmap image data is generated with reference to the font data of , and is stored in the page memory 121. In this way, when the generation of bitmap image data for one page is completed in step S2, the process proceeds to step S3, where the printer I/F section 15 outputs a print signal (PRNT) to the printer to instruct it to start a print operation.

Thereafter, in step S4, when the vertical synchronizing signal (TOP) output from the printer is input, the process proceeds to step S5, where one line of bitmap image data is read out from the page memory 121 and stored in the line memory 17. Next, the process proceeds to step S6, and after counting the horizontal synchronizing signal (B D) from the printer by the top margin, the blink I/F unit 15 synchronizes with the BD double signal and outputs the horizontal synchronizing signal (B D) from the printer to the printer I/F unit 1.
The line memory 17 read signal (
The bitmap image data 14 (VDO) in the line memory 17 is read out by the bitmap image data 14 (VDO) in the line memory 17. Then, the printer I/F unit 15 outputs the image data to the printer as serial data (VDO) in synchronization with the image clock signal VCLK generated in synchronization with the BD double signal.

In step S7, it is checked whether l lines of bitmap image data have been read out from the line memory 17. If they have not been read out, the process returns to step S6, but if l lines of image data have been read out, the process advances to step S8. From memory 17 (line output end signal (LNEND)
It is output to Ul0 and the page memory control circuit 16.

In step S9, the PE from the page memory control circuit 16
When the ND signal is input, check whether one page of bitmap image data has been output to the printer, and repeat steps 85 to S9 until one page of bitmap image data in the page memory 121 is output to the printer. .

4 to 6 are flowcharts showing control sequences for printing the first page and generating bitmap image data for the second page when multiple pages of print source data exist in the input buffer 123. A control program for executing is stored in program memory lla.

First, in step Sll, when one page of bitmap image data is generated in the page memory 121, the printer I/F unit 15 outputs a PRNT signal to instruct the printer to start printing. After that, the CPU IO checks whether or not there is print source data for the next page in the input buffer 123, and if there is no print source data for the next page in the input buffer 123, it performs the print operation shown in FIG. 3 described above. Move.

In step S12, if the next page's print source data exists in the input buffer 123, the process advances to step S13, where generation of the next page's bitmap image data and transfer of the first page's bitmap image data to the line memory 17 are performed in parallel. and do it. That is, first in step S13, C
PU10 generates bitmap image data from the print source data of the next page from the power buffer 123.

At this time, data indicating the line address stored in the page memory 121 is stored in the input line pointer 126, and is output to the line address comparator 161 of the page memory control circuit 16 and latched.

As a result, the line address comparator 161 compares it with the output end line of the bitmap image data in the page memory 121, and depending on whether the RDY signal is output,
The generated bitmap image data is stored in the page memory 121.
Check if it can be stored inside. R.D.
If the Y signal is active, that is, if it can be stored in the page memory 121, the process advances to step S15, and the page memory 12
The data is stored at the memory address indicated by the input line pointer 126 of 1. At this time, the input line pointer 126 is updated to point to the next input line address.

RDY signal is inactive, that is, page memory 12
If the bitmap image data cannot be stored in the work memory 122, the process advances to step S16, and the generated bitmap image data is temporarily stored in the work memory 122. After that, the process advances to step S17, and if the work memory 122 already contains generated bitmap image data, they are transferred to the page memory 122.
1 (whether or not the RDY signal is active), and if it can be stored, the process proceeds to step 818, where the bitmap image data in the work memory 122 is transferred to the bitmap image data indicated by the input line pointer 126. Transfer to the page memory 121 address.

Next, the process proceeds to step S19, and the CPU 10 checks whether there is a free area in the image data storage area of the work memory 122 that can temporarily store the next bitmap image data, and if there is a free area, the work memory 122 If the size of the usable area is sufficiently large, the process returns to step S13 and steps S13 to S1 described above
Repeat step 9. On the other hand, when the size of the usable area of the work memory 122 is small, the process advances from step S19 to step S20, and the bitmap image data in the page memory 121 can be transferred by interrupt processing by the LNEND signal output from the line memory 17. It will be in a waiting state until it is.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing interrupt processing generated by the LNEND signal output from the line memory 17. This LNEND signal is a signal that is output when one line of bitmap image data has been output from the line memory 17 as shown in FIG. 3, that is, a line end signal.

When the interrupt processing routine is entered by the LNEND signal, in step S31, the current printing status is checked by the PEND signal from the page memory control circuit 16 to see if recording of one page of bitmap image data has been completed. If one page of bitmap image data has not been output from the page memory 121, step S32
1912 bit map image data is read out from the address indicated by the output line pointer 125 of the page memory 121 and transferred to the line memory 17. Next, in step S33, the image data in the area where the transfer has been completed is erased from the page memory 121, the output line pointer 126 is updated, and the interrupt processing is ended.

When one page of beat map image data is output to the printer in step S31 of the interrupt process in FIG. 5, the process shifts to the process of generating beat map image data for the next page as shown in FIG.

Here, in step S34, the CPU 10 transfers the bitmap image data of the next page stored in the work memory 122 to the input line pointer 126 of the page memory 121.
, and the value of the input line pointer 126 is updated to point to the next line address. Next, bitmap image data is generated from the remaining print source data of the next page stored in the power buffer 123 and stored at the address indicated by the input pointer 126 of the page memory 121. When the bitmap image data for the next page is thus generated and stored in the page memory 121, the process shifts to the process shown in FIG. 4, as described above, and print processing is executed. Also, at this time, the output line pointer 125
is updated to indicate the start address of page memory 121.

In addition, in the processing of FIGS. 4 and 5, when the value of the input line pointer 126 reaches the final line address of the page memory 121, the next input line address is set as the first line of the page. Updated.

[Other Embodiments (FIG. 7)] FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a printer control device according to another embodiment of the present invention.

In the embodiment described above, when multiple pages of print source data exist in the large capacity buffer 123, the transfer control of the first page's bitmap image data to the line memory 17, the generation of the next page's bitmap image data, and the page memory The page memory control circuit 16 performs parallel processing of storage control to the page memory control circuit 16.
The same operation as in the embodiment described above can be performed by executing the operation in accordance with the control program stored in the program memory llc.

As explained above, according to this embodiment, when bitmap image data is generated and printed from multiple pages of print source data output from the host side, bitmap image data for the next page is generated in parallel. While reading from a page memory with a storage capacity of one page,
The next page of image data can be stored in the page memory. As a result, even if a page memory having a storage capacity of one page is used, throughput can be improved when printing a plurality of pages.

In this embodiment, code data is input from a host computer, etc., and is expanded into pattern data and output. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and bitmap image data may be directly input. Of course, it can also be applied when outputting.

Further, although this embodiment has been described with reference to the case where image data is output to a printer, the present invention is not limited thereto, and can also be applied to output of pattern data to, for example, a display device such as a CRT or a communication device.

[Effects of the Invention] As explained above, according to the present invention, memory costs can be kept low, and continuous pages of image data can be outputted at high speed.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of the printer control device of this embodiment, FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a page memory control circuit, and FIG. 3 is a single page in the printer control device of this embodiment. FIGS. 4 to 6 are flowcharts showing the process of recording multiple pages and generating image data in the printer control device of this embodiment. FIG. 7 is a flowchart of another embodiment. FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing the structure of a conventional printer control device. In the figure, l O...CPU, 11...-ROM, 11
a... Printer memory, llb... Font memory, 12... RAM, 13... Line memory read signal, 14... Image data, 15... Printer interface section, 16... Page memory control circuit, 17
... line memory, 121 ... page memory, 12
2... Work memory, 123... Powerful buffer, 1
24... Font cache, 125... Output line pointer, 126... Input line pointer, 161
. . . line address comparator, 162 . . . page end comparator, 163 . . . line counter.

Claims (2)

[Claims] (1) An image output control device that inputs output data from an external device, temporarily stores it in a memory, and outputs it to an image output device as bitmap image data, wherein the memory contains at least one page worth of bitmap images. output means for storing data and reading and outputting the bitmap image data from the memory; and when outputting by the output means, bitmap image data of a subsequent page is stored in the outputted bitmap image data area of the memory. An image output control device comprising: a control means for controlling the memory so as to store the information; (2) Image output control according to claim 1, wherein the control means counts horizontal synchronization signals from the image output device to determine the bitmap image data area that has been output. Device.