JPH04246579A - Image-supplying device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To shorten processing time and to simplify data transmission routine for an image-supplying device in which images are printed with printing modes being switched over. CONSTITUTION:A memory area that is only for data reception is maintained in a memory of an image-supplying device, and the said memory area is made such that is not initialized by a program that processes individual printing mode. Therefore, initialization of the memory area only for the data reception is not necessary when switching from one mode to another one is made, and the image-supplying device does not need to be off-line to a host computer, resulting in shortening of processing time. As erasion of received contents occurring whenever the switching over of the mode is made can be prevented by arrangements as mentioned above, sending of necessary data (such as command for processing of mode) from the host computer to the image-supplying device can be made without regard to confirmation to be made on completion of the switching over of the mode.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

0001

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image supply device that reduces processing time and simplifies the procedure for transmitting data from a host computer.

0002

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Some printers are equipped with an image supply device that uses character images (fonts) to compose an image for one page in a bitmap memory and supplies the image to a recording unit that executes printing. be. An example of such a printer is a laser beam printer.

FIG. 11 shows a block diagram of a laser beam printer equipped with the above-described image supply device. In FIG. 11, 1 is a laser beam printer, 2 is a panel, 3 is a host computer terminal, 4 is a LAN terminal,
5 is a power terminal, 6 is an image supply device, 7 is a recording section, 8 is a power supply circuit, 9 is paper, and 10 to 14 are signal lines.

[0004] The print data is sent to the host computer terminal 3.
is sent to the image supply device 6 through a signal line 10 from a host computer (not shown) connected to the image supply device 6 . The laser beam printer 1 may be connected to a LAN (local area network) rather than a host computer, and in that case, the information is sent through the LAN terminal 4.

[0005] By operating the panel 2, the operator can give various instructions to the laser beam printer 1. One of the instructions includes an instruction for enlargement processing and an instruction for reduction processing. Instructions and responses between the panel 2 and the image supply device 6 are performed through a signal line 11.

The detailed configuration of the image supply device 6 will be explained with reference to FIG.
2 to the recording section 7. The recording unit 7 modulates the laser beam according to the image signal sent from the image supply device 6, and forms a latent image on the photosensitive drum irradiated with the modulated laser beam.

When the recording section 7 operates, signals exchanged with the image supply device 6 (for example, a synchronization pulse signal from the recording section 7 to the image supply device 6, a synchronization pulse signal from the image supply device 6 to the recording section 7), etc. (operation command signal) is sent through signal lines 13 and 14. Finally, the latent image on the photosensitive drum is transferred to paper 9, and printing is completed.

FIG. 10 is a block diagram of the image supply device 6 described above. The symbols correspond to those in FIG. 11, and 20
is the host I/F (I/F...interface), 21 is the panel I/F, 22 is the CPU bus, 23 is the bitmap memory, 24 is the bitmap controller, 25 is the recording unit I/F, 26 is the CPU (central 27 is a PTC (programmable timer counter), 28 is a RAM (random access memory), 29 is a program memory, 30 is a character pattern memory, 31 is a removable memory section, 31-1 is a program memory, 31 -2 is a character pattern memory.

The program memory 29 stores programs for operating the CPU 26, and the character pattern memory 30 stores font data. The size of the stored font may be only one type (for example, 7.2 points), but it may be multiple types (for example, 7.2 points).
2, 9.6, 10.8, and 12 points).

The removable memory section 31 consisting of a program memory 31-1 and a character pattern memory 31-2 is connected when the capacity of the program memory 29 and the character pattern memory 30 is insufficient.

The RAM 28 provides a working memory area, etc., and stores various data necessary for the operation of the CPU 26, and data input via the host I/F 20 and panel I/F 21, for example. or store it.

The bitmap memory 23 provides a place for configuring a print image in the form of a bit map. Here, a print image for one page is constructed. The image signal is sent to the recording unit 7 in FIG. 11 via the recording unit I/F 25. The bitmap controller 24 controls the timing and address when accessing the bitmap memory 23, or controls the bitmap memory 23.
3 to the recording unit I/F 25. The PTC 27 is used to measure time, generate timing pulses, and the like.

[0013] When printing an image using such an image supply device, sometimes it is sufficient to use only the print mode (for example, a mode for printing characters) executed by a program built in the program memory 29; In some cases, it may not be in time. If it is not possible to do so in time, the program memory 31-1 is further prepared with a program for executing the required print mode (for example, a mode for printing ruled lines). To print one page of images using a plurality of print modes, a transition from one print mode to another is performed in the middle of drawing. Next, a specific example will be shown.

FIG. 12 is an example of an image to be drawn, and this image is a table, consisting of ruled lines and characters. However, it is not possible to print ruled lines and text in the same print mode; there is a print mode that prints ruled lines (hereinafter referred to as "Mode A") and a print mode that prints characters (hereinafter referred to as "Mode B"). ). Therefore, a mode A program is stored in the program memory 29, and a mode B program is prepared in the program memory 31-1.

FIG. 4 shows the conventional structure of such a program. 40 is a data reception only program, 41 is a ruled line drawing program, and 42 is a character drawing program. FIG. 4(a) shows the program configuration of mode A, which includes a data reception dedicated program 40 that receives data sent from the host computer into the RAM 28, and a ruled line drawing program 41 that draws ruled lines using the received data. It is made. Further, FIG. 4B shows the program configuration of mode B, which consists of a data reception only program 40 and a character drawing program 42 that draws characters using the received data.

[0016] By the way, there are two methods for mode transition: an operator instructs on the panel 2 (see FIG. 11), and a mode transition command sent from the host computer. For example, when transitioning from mode A to mode B, the method of instructing on panel 2 is to first operate the host computer to send a command for mode A, and after completing mode A processing, operate panel 2 to change the mode. After instructing migration and confirming the completion of migration, the host computer is operated again to send a mode B command. This requires the operator to go back and forth between the host computer and the image supply device, which is extremely inconvenient when the two are installed far apart. This inconvenience does not occur if a method is adopted in which the host computer sends and instructs the mode transition command. In the following description, it is assumed that mode transition is performed using a mode transition command.

FIG. 2 is a time chart of processing performed by a conventional image supply device. Processing in mode A (processing for drawing ruled lines) is performed while performing data reception processing every time there is an interrupt signal from the host computer to transmit data. When a mode transition command is sent, the mode transitions to mode B, and mode B processing is performed this time. However, before performing mode B processing, it is necessary to perform initialization to prepare an environment for mode B processing, so the host computer is kept offline during that time. Thereafter, mode B processing is executed, and in this case as well, data reception processing is performed every time there is an interrupt signal from the host computer indicating that data is to be transmitted. When a mode change command is sent again, the mode changes to mode A, and initialization for mode A processing is also performed.

[0018] These processes are expressed in a flowchart as follows:
The result will be as shown in FIGS. 15 and 16. Interrupts from the host computer are not shown in the flowchart because they occur at any time except when the computer is in an offline state.

FIG. 15 is a flowchart showing processing in mode A in a conventional image supply device. After performing initialization processing for mode A (step 301), the image supply device is brought online to the host computer (step 302). Data (eg, commands, etc.) is transmitted from the host computer at any time by interruption and is stored in the RAM 28, and is read out (step 303). It is determined whether the read data is a mode transition command (step 304), and if not, a process (process of drawing a predetermined ruled line) corresponding to the command is performed (step 305). If it is a mode transition command, the image supply device is placed offline with respect to the host computer (step 306). In order to go offline, this is a preparation to first execute initialization when moving to mode B.

FIG. 16 is a flowchart showing mode B processing in a conventional image supply device. The process flow is
Since it is the same as that in FIG. 15, the explanation will be omitted.

[0021]

[Problem to be solved by the invention] (Problem)

0022
However, the conventional image supply device described above has the following problems. The first problem is that each time a mode transition is performed, the connection with the host computer must be brought offline for initialization, which increases processing time. The second problem is that data (commands, etc.) for the mode after the transition can only be sent after confirming that the mode transition is complete.
The problem is that the procedure for transmitting data is cumbersome. (Explanation of the problem)

When the mode is changed, the entire RAM 28 is initialized to suit the respective mode. Figure 5 shows
This is a diagram showing how areas are divided in a conventional RAM 28, but instead of dividing the RAM 28 into several areas and initializing a part of them, the entire RAM 28 is initialized. . Therefore, all data previously stored in the RAM 28 is erased during initialization.

Therefore, the data used in the mode after migration (
For example, when switching to mode B, it is useless to send commands used in mode B in advance. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 13, the command 45 for mode B, which is the next mode, must be sent after the mode transition command 44 has been sent and the mode transition has been confirmed, making the transmission procedure cumbersome. Met. Because data must be received after the mode transition, as shown in FIG. 4, the conventional mode A and B programs are each provided with a data reception dedicated program 40, and the data used after the transition is This program is used to receive data from the host computer.

By the way, since reception cannot be performed until the initialization of the RAM 28 is completed, the host computer must be kept offline until the initialization is completed. Since this offline time must be taken every time a mode is changed, the processing time ends up becoming longer.

The object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problems.

[0027]

[Means for Solving the Problems] In order to solve the above problems, the present invention takes the following measures. That is, in an image supply device that prints an image while transitioning between a plurality of print modes, there is a mode execution means for executing each print mode, a mode transition instruction means, and a print mode for receiving data from a host computer. The present invention also includes data receiving means that can perform data reception without interruption even during transition.

[0028]

The means by which the image supply device receives data from the host computer is made to operate independently of the means for executing the individual print modes. That is, a memory area dedicated to data reception is secured in the memory, and this area is treated as not being initialized by the program that processes each print mode.

By doing this, when transitioning from one mode to another, there is no need to initialize the memory area dedicated to data reception, and the image supply device does not go offline with respect to the host computer. It's going to be good. As a result, processing time is shortened.

Furthermore, since the contents of the memory area dedicated to data reception are not erased each time a mode is changed, it is possible to send necessary data (commands for mode processing, etc.) from the host computer to the image supply device. , there is no need to go through the trouble of confirming the completion of mode transition before sending.

[0031]

Embodiments Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a program configuration according to the present invention, and the symbols correspond to those in FIG. 4. The present invention is characterized in that the data reception only program 40 is not made a part of the program for executing each print mode, but is made independent from the ruled line drawing program 41 and the character drawing program 42. Then, as shown in FIG. 6, a data reception buffer 28-1 is secured in the RAM 28 as a data reception memory area used by this data reception dedicated program 40 (other areas are a work area etc. 28-2). ). In the initialization performed at the time of mode transition, a parameter indicating this is added to the mode transition command so that the data reception buffer 28-1 is excluded from the initialization target. By doing this, data can be received from the host computer at any time regardless of mode transition, and there is no need to go offline each time mode transition occurs.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing processing by a data reception dedicated program, in which data sent from the host computer is received by the data reception buffer 28-1 when there is an interrupt signal from the host computer. (step 501).

FIG. 1 is a time chart of processing performed by the image supplying apparatus of the present invention. The data reception process is performed regardless of whether the print mode is mode A or mode B, and is performed without stopping the function even when the mode is changed. Note that the number 501 in the figure corresponds to step 501 in FIG. 7, the numbers 101 to 110 correspond to steps 101 to 110 in FIG. 8, and the numbers 201 to 210 correspond to steps 201 to 210 in FIG. 9, respectively.

FIG. 8 shows a flowchart showing the mode A processing according to the present invention. Step 101...When transitioning to mode A by a mode transition command from the host computer, first, the areas other than the data reception buffer 28-1 (work area etc. 28-2)
etc.). Since this is the initialization of parts other than the data reception buffer 28-1, it has nothing to do with data reception, and data reception continues as usual. Step 102: Next, referring to the parameter information attached to the mode transition command, it is determined whether or not to initialize the data reception buffer 28-1. In the present invention, a parameter indicating that the initialization is not normally specified is added unless otherwise specified, so the process proceeds to step 105. Step 103...In the unlikely event that the mode transition command includes a parameter to initialize the data reception buffer 28-1, the image supply device is placed offline with respect to the host computer at the end of the previous mode. (Step 209 in Figure 9)
, and under this condition, the data reception buffer 28-1 is initialized. Step 104: When the initialization of the data reception buffer 28-1 is completed, it returns to the online state. Step 105: Read data (commands related to mode A, etc.) sent from the host computer at any time by interruption. Step 106: Check whether it is a mode transition command. Step 107: If the command is not a mode transition command, processing according to the command (processing to draw ruled lines) is performed. Step 108...Mode transition command (for example, mode B
), it is determined whether or not to initialize the data reception buffer 28-1 by looking at the parameters attached to it. As described above, since the parameter indicating that it is not normally initialized is attached, the process proceeds to step 110. Step 109: If a parameter indicating initialization is attached, the image supply device is placed offline with respect to the host computer in preparation for initializing the data reception buffer 28-1. Step 110: Storing initialization information of the parameters. This information is referred to in the next mode of processing (step 202 in FIG. 9) and is used as a basis for determining whether or not to initialize the data reception buffer 28-1.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing the processing in mode B according to the present invention, but since the flow of the processing is the same as that in FIG. 8, the explanation will be omitted.

As described above, in the present invention, the data reception memory area is not initialized every time a mode is changed;
Since data reception can be continued regardless of the mode transition, as shown in FIG.
The mode transition command 44 and the mode B command 45 can be transmitted together. Conventionally, as explained in FIG. 13, even if mode B commands 45 were sent to the RAM 28 before transition to mode B, they would all be erased by the initialization process in mode B, so it would be useless. , it was necessary to send it again after initialization. In contrast, in the present invention, even if the data is sent all at once before shifting to mode B, there is no waste. Further, the data reception buffer 28-1 is
Since there is no need to initialize each time a mode is changed, there is no need to go offline and temporarily stop data transmission from the host computer, reducing processing time.

[0037]

As described above, in the present invention, the means for the image supply apparatus to receive data from the host computer is made to operate independently of the means for executing each print mode. That is, a memory area dedicated to data reception is secured in the memory, and this area is treated as not being initialized by the program that processes each print mode. By doing so, the following effects can be achieved.

First, when transitioning from one mode to another, there is no need to initialize the memory area dedicated to data reception, so there is no need to take the image supply device offline to the host computer each time. Good, processing time is shortened.

Second, since the contents of the memory area dedicated to data reception are not erased every time the mode is changed,
When sending necessary data (commands for mode processing, etc.) from the host computer to the image supply device, there is no need to go through the trouble of confirming the completion of mode transition before sending the data.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1: Time chart of processing by the image supply device of the present invention

[Figure 2] Time chart of processing by a conventional image supply device

[Figure 3] Program configuration in the present invention

[Figure 4] Conventional program configuration

[Figure 5] How to divide areas in conventional RAM

[Figure 6] How to divide areas in the RAM of the present invention

[Figure 7] Flowchart showing processing by a program dedicated to data reception

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing mode A processing in the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing mode B processing in the present invention.

[Figure 10] Block configuration diagram of image supply device

[Fig. 11] Block configuration diagram of a laser beam printer equipped with an image supply device

[Figure 12] Image you are trying to draw

[Figure 13] Diagram explaining the conventional method of sending commands

[Figure 1
4] Diagram explaining how to send commands according to the present invention

[Figure 15
] Flowchart showing mode A processing in a conventional image supply device

FIG. 16 is a flowchart showing mode B processing in a conventional image supply device.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Laser beam printer 2 Panel 3 Host computer terminal 4 LAN terminal 5 Power terminal 6 Image supply device 7 Recording Department 8 Power supply circuit 10-14 Signal line 20 Host I/F 21 Panel I/F 22 CPU bus 23 Bitmap memory 24 Bitmap controller 25 Recording section I/F 26 CPU 27 PTC 28 RAM 28-1 Data reception buffer 28-2 Work area etc. 29 Program memory 30 Character pattern memory 31 Removable memory section 30-1 Program memory 31-2 Character pattern memory 40 Data reception only program 41 Ruled line drawing program 42 Character drawing program 43 Mode A commands 44 Mode transition command 45 Mode B commands

Claims (1)

[Claims] Claims: 1. An image supply device that prints an image while transitioning between a plurality of print modes, comprising mode execution means for executing each print mode, mode transition instruction means, and data reception from a host computer. 1. An image supplying apparatus comprising: data receiving means capable of performing the following without interruption even when changing a print mode.