JPH0491564A - Printer device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To edit an output image on a screen by adding a storing means for edition only which can store one screen quantity of bit map data, display controller, mouth, and mouth interface to a printer device. CONSTITUTION:When bit map data expanded in a video RAM 7 are edited, a central processing unit 1 instructs a CRT controller 8 to display the bit map data in the RAM 7 on a CRT 9 in an expanded or contracted state. When the button of a mouth 4 is pressed under such condition, the unit 1 segments a rectangular area having diagonal points being coincident with two coordinates given through a mouth interface 5 from the RAM 7 and copies the rectangular area in an editing RAM 6. The central processing unit 1 expands or contracts the data in the editing RAM 6, draws edited data at another location in the video RAM 7, or paints out the segmented rectangular area on the RAM 7 by meshing.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to a printer device, and particularly to a printer device using an electrophotographic method or the like and having bitmap storage for one screen.

[Prior Art] Conventionally, in this type of printer device, a central processing unit operating on a microprogram receives encoded data from a host device, decodes it into bitmap data according to data attributes such as characters, figures, images, etc. The data is stored in the bitmap storage unit, and then when a print start is received from the host device,
The configuration was such that bitmap data was transferred to the printer section and printed.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] In the conventional printer device described above, the result cannot be confirmed until the bitmap data is printed on paper, so if incorrect data is sent or information that should be printed is If the data is not lost, the data transfer will be repeated several times while checking the print result, and from a long-term perspective, this has the disadvantage of increasing running costs due to wasted paper.

[Means for Solving the Problems] The printer device of the present invention includes a temporary storage means for editing bitmap data, a bitmap storage section for storing the bitmap, and a display for displaying the contents of the bitmap storage section on a screen. means, display control means for controlling the bitmap storage section and the display means, cursor means serving as a user interface for providing coordinates on the display means, and communication between the cursor means and a central processing unit. The apparatus is characterized by comprising a communication means, a microcomputer, a storage means for storing a program of the microcomputer, and a transfer control means for controlling transfer of bitmap data to a printer section.

[Example code] Next, the present invention will be explained with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a circuit block diagram of an embodiment of the present invention. Normally, encoded data received from the host interface 2 is decoded by the central processing unit 1, developed into a bitmap, and written into the video RAM 7. Thereafter, upon activation from the host device, the bitmap data developed in the video RAM 7 is transferred to the printer unit 11 via the DMA controller 10. When it is desired to perform some kind of editing on the bitmap data developed in the video RAM 7, the central processing unit 1 instructs the CRT controller 8 to enlarge or reduce the bitmap data in the video RAM 7 and display it on the CRTe. At this time, when the operator presses the button on the mouse 4, the central processing unit 1 creates a rectangular area whose diagonal points are the two coordinates given via the mouse interface 5.
It is extracted from AM7 and copied to edit RAM6. The central processing unit 1 (edit) enlarges or reduces the data on RAMe, and sends the edited data to the video R.
The image is drawn at a different location on the AM 7, or the cut out rectangular area on the video RAM 7 is filled with shading.

[Effects of the Invention] As explained above, the present invention has the following advantages over conventional printers:
By adding a storage means exclusively for editing capable of storing bitmap data for at least one page, a display control device, a mouse, and a mouse interface, the output image can be edited on the screen.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a circuit block diagram of an embodiment of the present invention. 1... Central processing unit, 2... Host interface, 3... FW read-only memory, 4... Mouse,
5...Mouse interface, 6...Editor R
AM17...Video RAM, 8...CRT controller, 9...CRT, 10...DMA controller, 11...Printer section.

Claims (1)

[Claims] temporary storage means for editing bitmap data;
a bitmap storage unit that stores the bitmap; a display unit that displays the contents of the bitmap storage unit on a screen;
Display control means for controlling the bitmap storage unit and the display means; cursor means serving as a user interface for providing coordinates on the display means; and communication means for communicating between the cursor means and a central processing unit. A printer device comprising: a microcomputer; storage means for storing a program of the microcomputer; and transfer control means for controlling transfer of bitmap data to a printer unit.