JPH0316755A - Printer - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To obtain an enlargement output while maintaining a high quality by setting the resolving power of an image memory means for expressing graphics in a control part higher than the resolving power of a printer means for printing graphics. CONSTITUTION:Whether or not reception data is present in a reception part 4 is checked. If it is present, printing data is analyzed. If the printing data is character data, it is converted to a character pattern to be developed on an image memory 3. If the printing data is not character data, whether or not it is dot image data is discriminated. If it is dot image data, it is developed on the image memory 3. If it is not dot image data, whether or not it is page feed data is judged. If it is page feed data, the content in the image memory 3 is printed. The image memory 3 for expressing graphics is composed with a resolving power of 300DPI. A printer 1 for expressing and printing graphics is a laser beam printer with a revolving power of 240DPI. In this manner, an enlargement output can be obtained while an image quality is maintained.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to a printing device that prints data such as characters and graphics input from a host device or the like. [Prior Art] Conventionally, this type of device consists of a printer with a fixed resolution, and a printer with a fixed resolution.
It is separated from the control section that controls this. The control unit includes an input unit that inputs code data from an external device such as a computer, a conversion unit that analyzes the code data and develops it into dot images, and an image memory that temporarily stores dot images at the same resolution as the printer. and an output section that outputs the dot image to a printer. [Problems to be Solved by the Invention] However, in the above conventional example, since the resolution of the printer and the resolution of the image memory are equal, for example, data laid out for A4 size paper is output on B4 size paper. Such enlarged output was not possible. In addition, there are other devices that enlarge the image in a calculation section, but this method has the disadvantage that it is not possible to enlarge dot images particularly neatly. An object of the present invention is to provide a printing device that can obtain enlarged output while maintaining image quality. [Means for Solving the Problems] The present invention provides a printer means for expressing and printing a figure by the presence or absence of dots arranged at a predetermined resolution, and an image expressing a figure by the presence or absence of dots arranged at a resolution higher than the above resolution. The present invention is characterized by comprising a memory means, a conversion means for converting input print data into a dot image and drawing it on the image memory means, and an output means for transferring data from the image memory means to the printer means. [Operation] In the present invention, by making the resolution of the image memory means of the control section higher than the resolution of the printer means, it is possible to obtain a printout at an enlargement ratio corresponding to the ratio of both resolutions. [Embodiment] FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the external appearance of the device of the embodiment. In the figure, external device 5 sends print data (character data, control data) to printer l. Control data includes, for example, paper size specification data that begins with an escape sequence, and rask image data specification data. Well, the print data is configured for a resolution of 300DPI. The receiving unit 4 receives print data transmitted from such an external device 5. This reception method is GP
-IB bit parallel mode, RS-232-C bit serial mode, etc. Microprocessor (C
PU) 8 controls the entire printer device of this embodiment. The ROM 7 stores, for example, a printing control program shown in FIG. 3, which is executed by the CPU 6. Additionally, RAM8 is used by the CPU6 as a work area. In the image memory 3, print data is analyzed by the CPU 6, and image data converted into a bitmap image is stored. This image memory is configured with a resolution of 300DPI. For example, for A4 paper (210 x 297ts), the memory capacity is approximately 2480 dots x 3500 dots. The output unit 2 reads out the contents of the image memory 3, converts it into a video signal, and sends it to the printer 1.
The printer 1 is a laser beam printer with a resolution of 240 DPI, and prints the video signal from the output unit 2. With the above configuration, print data from the external device 5 is stored in the RAM 8 via the receiving section 4. The CPU sequentially analyzes print data and performs character data pattern development processing, or performs processing based on control data. FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the processing procedure of this embodiment. Here, first, it is checked whether there is received data in the receiving section 4, and if there is not, it is received (32), and if there is received data, the print data is analyzed (33). It may also be used as interrupt input processing. Next, it is determined whether the print data is character data (S4).
, If it is character data, convert the character data into a character pattern and develop it on the image memory 3 (SS). Also, if the print data is not character data in S4, it is determined whether it is dot image data or not (S6). ), and if it is dot image data, develop this dot image in the image memory 3 (37). Also, if it is not dot image data in S6, it is determined whether it is a page break or not (Sa), and the page break data is If so, one page has been received and developed, so print the contents of image memory 3 (39). Further, if it is determined in S8 that there is no page break data, other processing is performed (S10). FIGS. 4 and 5 are explanatory diagrams showing examples of printing results. Fig. 4 shows an image developed in the image memory 3 at a resolution of 300 DPI on A4 paper size, and Fig. 5 shows the result actually printed on B4 paper at a resolution of 240 DPI. Dot images are also printed smoothly and enlarged. In addition, in the above example, 300DPI and 24
Although it was a combination of resolutions of 0DPI, it is not limited to this.
It may be a combination of other resolutions. Further, in the above embodiment, the size is expanded from A4 paper to B4 paper, but the size is not limited to this. It does not matter if it is enlarged to another size depending on the resolution ratio. [Effects of the Invention] According to the present invention, by making the resolution of the image memory means of the control section higher than the resolution of the printer means, it is possible to obtain an enlargement ratio corresponding to both resolution ratios, and it is possible to obtain an enlargement ratio corresponding to both resolution ratios. It is possible to obtain enlarged output while maintaining almost the same quality.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the external appearance of the device of the same embodiment. FIG. 3 is a 7-flow chart showing the processing procedure of the same embodiment. FIGS. 4 and 5 are explanatory diagrams showing examples of printing results according to the same embodiment. l...Printer, 2...Output unit, 3...Image memory, 4...Receiving device, 5...External device, 6...CPU, 7...ROM, 8... RAM,

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] Printer means for expressing and printing figures by the presence or absence of dots arranged at a predetermined resolution; Image memory means for expressing figures by the presence or absence of dots arranged at a resolution higher than the above resolution; Input 1. A printing apparatus comprising: a converting means for converting printed print data into a dot image and drawing the dot image on the image memory means; and an output means for transferring data from the image memory means to a printer means.