JPH05147317A - Printer - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To realize manual operation for selecting a mode (fixedly set) which invalidates an instruction code (freely set) from a host machine by a method, which is easily understood and is easily operated, by utilizing only proper operat ing key and display unit required for setting an original printer without installing an exclusive operating key and a display unit for invalidating the instruction code. CONSTITUTION:When an operating key is depressed 301 and a set register takes 0, fixedly set 2, 305 is used when fixedly set 1, 303, 1 is employed. When the set register takes 2, the presence of a first cartridge is decided 307, and fixedly set 3, 309 is used when there is the first cartridge and processes are transferred to the processing of a second cartridge when there is no first cartridge. Freely set 312 is employed when there is no first cartridge, and the instruction code of a host machine is validated.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a method of selecting and displaying an operation mode on an operation panel of a printer.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art The importance of presentations has increased the complexity of the format of sentences created by word processors and the like, and in many cases, it has become necessary to use multiple typefaces in the same document to carry out word division. Such document data using a plurality of typefaces in the same document is composed of two types of data, that is, a character code and a typeface designation data, and a plurality of typeface resources provided in the printer are automatically supplied from the host device. You can choose to.

On the other hand, even a document using a plurality of typefaces is printed with a single typeface when it is desired to check the content rather than the typeface specified in the document data, such as proof printing. There are many cases where the work efficiency is higher, and it is often necessary to print on a printer that is not equipped with a typeface font.

In order to respond to such a request, the printer selects a mode for printing in a typeface corresponding to a plurality of typeface data specified in the document data and the printer side regardless of the typeface data included in the document data. A printer that enables selection of two types of modes, that is, a mode for forcibly printing with a unified typeface, has been put into practical use.

[0005]

By the way, in order to invalidate a plurality of typeface data used in such document data and select the print mode with the unified typeface set on the printer side, A two-step key operation of performing a first key operation for setting a mode in which font data from the host device is ignored, and then performing a second key operation for selecting a specific font to be printed in the unified font. There is a problem that operation is required and it is easy to make an operation mistake.

The present invention has been made in view of such a problem, and an object thereof is to print in a uniform typeface set on the printer side regardless of the typeface data used in the document data. An object of the present invention is to provide a new printer whose mode can be set by a single key operation.

[0007]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, in the present invention, when k and n are positive integers satisfying k≤n, the symbols are listed for all n choices, A setting state display means in which each symbol is combined with a highlighting means, and a manual setting switching means for sequentially switching from the 0th to the nth states by operating keys and outputting the n + 1 state to the setting state display means,
A manual setting status register for storing the status selected by the manual setting switching means, a host command valid signal output means for enabling or disabling an instruction from the host machine, and a setting and key operation by an instruction from the host machine. A selection result register for storing the setting and the setting confirmed to be used for printing,
When the manual setting status register is in the 0th status, n
The highlighting means is turned on for all the individual options, the contents of the predetermined options are stored in the selection result register, and the host instruction is validated. In other kth states, the kth option is selected. Only the highlight means of No. 1 is turned on, the contents of the manual setting state register are stored in the selection result register, and the host instruction is invalidated.

[0008]

With the above structure, the states of "instruction code valid" and "fixed options" are sequentially selected according to the operation of the keys. Of these, in the “instruction code valid” state, all selectable options are highlighted and the instruction code from the host machine becomes valid. Further, in the state of “fixing each option”, one option is highlighted, the instruction code for the setting item is ignored, and the operation of the printer is fixed to the content of the option.

[0009]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

The target setting item is the setting of a character typeface, and four typefaces "Mincho typeface", "Gothic typeface", "external typeface 1" and "external typeface 2" can be printed.
Of these, the ones with built-in fonts in the printer body are "Mincho type" and "Gothic type".
2 "is supplied by removable font cartridges respectively through two slots. Also, the default typeface in the mode in which the typeface can be changed by the instruction code of the host machine is "Mincho typeface" which is the most commonly used typeface built in the printer body.

FIG. 1 is an external view of a typeface selection portion of the operation panel of the printer of this embodiment. Each typeface name is printed on the operation panel, and the corresponding LE
D # 1 to # 4 (101 to 104) are provided. These four typefaces are selected by operating the operation key 105.

FIG. 2 shows a block configuration of this embodiment. The constituent elements are a first font cartridge 201 and a second font cartridge 20 installed in two slots.
2, first cartridge detecting means 203 and second cartridge detecting means 204 for detecting whether or not the font cartridges 201 and 202 are mounted and their font numbers, and a first cartridge font register 2 for storing the detection results.
05, second cartridge type register 206, and instruction code processing means 2 for analyzing an instruction code from the host machine.
07, a typeface control flag register 208 for storing a flag indicating invalidity of the host instruction, and a typeface number register 20 for storing a typeface number finally decided to be used for printing.
9, a setting state register 210 for storing the state of the typeface selection made by the user from the operation keys 105, a typeface setting control means 211 including a CPU and a memory, and an operation key detection means for detecting that the operation keys 105 have been pressed. 212, LE
LED control means 2 for controlling turning on / off of D # 1 to # 4
It consists of 13.

The operation of each element in the figure will be described.

The first cartridge detecting means 203 and the second cartridge detecting means 204 read the first font cartridge 201 and the second font cartridge 202 respectively when the printer is powered on, and if it can be confirmed that the font ROM is the font type number of the font. Is not confirmed, FFhex is written as error information in the first cartridge typeface register 205 and the second cartridge typeface register 206, respectively. First cartridge detecting means 203 and second cartridge detecting means 20
The font ROM of No. 4 is detected by collating the ID provided at the head address of the ROM on the cartridge. The typeface number of the cartridge is also stored in the ROM. FIG. 7 shows the contents of the head portion of the font ROM on the cartridge. The outputs of the first cartridge typeface register 205 and the second cartridge typeface register 206 are referred to by the typeface setting control means 211. At the same time, when the power is turned on, "free setting" (described later) shown in FIG. 5 is performed to set the initial state of manual typeface selection to the "instruction code valid" state.

After the printer is started, the operation key detecting means 212
Detects opening / closing of the operation key 105, and the font setting control unit 211 scans the result. The type setting control means 211 refers to the first cartridge type register 205, the second cartridge type register 206, and the setting status register 210 when the key operation is notified by the operation key detecting means 212, and the type control flag register 208 and the type number register 209. The new contents of the setting status register 210 are determined and written respectively, and the LEDs 101 to
The lighting pattern of 104 is determined and the LED control means 213 is instructed. The LED control means 213 uses the LED according to the command.
The lights 101 and 104 are turned on and off again, and the manual setting is completed.

After this, the instruction code processing means 207 refers to the font control flag register 208 to determine the value of the font number register 209 when the font selection instruction code is input from the host machine, and rewrites it if necessary. The contents of the typeface number register 209 are reflected in the actual operation of the printer.

Next, FIG. 3 shows a flow of switching the font setting by the font setting control means 211.

When it is detected that the switch is pressed (step 301), the case is classified according to the contents of the setting state register 210 (steps 302, 304, 306, ...
310).

When the content of the setting status register 210 is 0, "fixed setting 1" (fixed Mincho type) processing is performed (step 303), and the process returns to the key scan.

When the content of the setting state register 210 is 1, "fixed setting 2" (fixed Gothic type) processing is performed (step 305), and the process returns to the key scan.

When the content of the setting status register 210 is 2, the content of the first cartridge typeface register 205 is FF.
Check whether it is hex (step 307), FFh
If it is not ex, the process of "fixed setting 3" (fixed to external font 1) is performed (step 309), and the process returns to the key scan.
If it is FFhex, it means that the first font cartridge 201 is not installed.
Is incremented by 1 to 3 (step 308), and the process for the second font cartridge 202 is started (step 31).
1).

When the content of the setting status register 210 is 3, the content of the second cartridge typeface register 206 is FF.
Check whether it is hex (step 311), FFh
If it is not ex, the process of "fixed setting 4" (fixed to external typeface 2) is performed (step 313), and the process returns to the key scan.
If it is FFhex, it means that the second font cartridge 202 is not installed, so the processing of "free setting" (command code of host machine is valid) is performed (step 31).
2) Return to key scan.

FIG. 4 generalizes the flowchart of "fixed settings 1 to 4" and shows it as "fixed setting n". The contents of the setting status register 210 are set to n (step 401), and LE is set.
D # n is turned on and the other 3 LEDs are turned off (step 402). The font number is written in the font number register 209 (step 403). Specifically, if n = 1, the “Mincho type” number, if n = 2, the “Gothic type” number, n
= 3, the contents of the first cartridge typeface register 205 are written to the typeface number register 209, and the contents of the second cartridge typeface register 206 are written to the typeface number register 209. A flag is set on the font control flag register 208 to instruct "fix font" (step 404), and the process ends. FIG. 5 shows a flowchart of "free setting". Setting status register 21
0 is initialized to 0 (step 501). If the first font cartridge 201 is installed (step 50)
2) The LED 103 is turned on (step 503), and if not attached, the LED 103 is turned off (step 50).
4). Similarly, if the second font cartridge 202 is mounted (step 505), the LED 104 is turned on (step 506), and if not, the LED10 is mounted.
4 is turned off (step 507). LED101
And 102 are turned on (step 508). Set the typeface number register 209 to the number of "Mincho type" (step 50
9), "Fixed font" on the font control flag register 208
The flag for instructing is removed (step 510), and the process ends.

FIG. 6 shows a flow chart of the part related to the typeface selection of the instruction code processing means 207. The typeface number sent from the host machine is read as a parameter of the instruction code (step 601), and if the flag indicating "fixed typeface" on the typeface control flag register 208 is not set (step 602), the typeface number register 209 is set The typeface number is written (step 603), and the process ends. If the "typeface fixed" flag is set, the process ends without doing anything. This flow does not exclude the possibility that the typeface indicated by the input parameter to be written to the typeface number register 209 is a typeface that does not exist in the main body or on the cartridge, but when a nonprintable typeface is specified. The method of selecting the substitute typeface has been solved by the conventional technique. Also,
It is needless to say that the control for actually printing after registering the font number in a register such as the font number register 209 has already been established.

FIG. 8 shows the first font cartridge 201.
For example, the LEDs 101 to 104 are installed when the second font cartridge 202 is not installed.
The transition of the lighting pattern of is shown. In the figure, pattern (1) indicates that the three fonts from the top can be selected by the instruction code of the host machine, and patterns (2) to (4)
Indicates that the fonts whose LEDs are lit are fixedly selected. The pattern is switched in the direction of the arrow by operating the operation key 105. In (1), the typefaces that are currently available can be seen at a glance, and in (2) to (3), only the fixedly selected typeface name is highlighted, and there is no discrepancy between the actual operation and the print result.

As described above, in the present embodiment, the built-in typeface of the printer main body is two typefaces. However, when this typeface is one typeface, the printable typeface is only one typeface if the cartridge is not installed. When this typeface is referred to as “typeface A”, in such a case, the operation keys are fixed in a mode in which “typeface A” is fixed and the instruction code of the host machine is ignored, and a mode in which “typeface A” is the default and accepts the instruction code. Although they are alternately selected by the operation of 105, the font A is eventually printed even in the latter mode, and the lighting state of the LED is the same. Therefore, apparently, the difference between the two modes does not appear, and it is the same as always being fixed to "type A".

Further, in this embodiment, when the power is turned on, the "free setting" routine is started to set the "host instruction code valid" state to the initial state. The fixed mode may be used, or the setting state register 210 may be a non-volatile memory,
When the power is turned on, fixed setting 1 to 4 or free setting may be performed according to the contents stored in the setting state register 210. Further, in the present embodiment, the case of selecting the typeface has been described, but the same effect can be obtained even if the operation selection items are items such as character pitch selection, selection of paper feed bin of cut sheet feeder, and printing color.

First cartridge detecting means 20 of this embodiment
If there is no optional component detecting means such as the third / second cartridge detecting means 204, it is assumed that all the parts are attached, and the key operation is processed, as shown in FIG.
Although the secondary effects such as the display of only the currently executable options and the skip processing of the inexecutable options in the transition from (4) to (1) in FIG. There is no change in the effect.

[0029]

As described above, according to the present invention,
We made it possible to easily operate and recognize the free setting state that enables the typeface designation code from the host device and the fixed setting state that invalidates it by using only the switching operation keys and display unit originally required for typeface setting. Printing using multiple types of typeface data by simply highlighting the display part of the target typeface, without making the user particularly aware of utilizing or ignoring the typeface data included in the document data, Printing in a uniform typeface is possible, which simplifies the selection operation and eliminates operation mistakes.

Further, by simply using the typeface setting button or display unit originally provided in the printer, the mode for printing with the typeface corresponding to the typeface data in the document data and the printing with the single typeface set on the printer side The mode to be used can be switched, and the key for selecting these two modes can be eliminated.

Even if the operation selection items are items such as character pitch selection, paper feed bin selection of the cut sheet feeder, and printing color, the same effect can be obtained.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an external view of an operation panel of a printer according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart of a font setting control unit 211 according to the embodiment of this invention.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart of “fixed setting” in FIG.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart of “free setting” in FIG.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart of an instruction code processing unit 207 according to the embodiment of this invention.

FIG. 7 is a diagram of the contents of the ROM on the font cartridge of the printer of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of a lighting pattern transition of a font LED of the printer of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 101 ... LED # 1 102 ... LED # 2 103 ... LED # 3 104 ... LED # 4 105 ... Operation key 201 ... First font cartridge 202 ... Second font cartridge 203 ... First cartridge detection means 204 ... Second cartridge detection means 205 ... 1st cartridge typeface register 206 ... 2nd cartridge typeface register 207 ... Instruction code processing means 208 ... Typeface control flag register 209 ... Typeface number register 210 ... Setting state register 211 ... Typeface setting control means 212 ... Operation key detecting means 213 ... LED control means

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. When k and n are positive integers satisfying k ≦ n, there are n choices for one operation setting item,
In a printer in which one of the n options can be selected by a command from a host machine and an operation key, the symbols are listed for all of the n options, and a highlight means is combined with each symbol. The setting state display means and the operation keys are sequentially switched from the 0th state to the nth state,
Manual setting switching means for outputting the status of n + 1 to the setting status display means, a manual setting status register for storing the status selected by the manual setting switching means, and a host for enabling or disabling an instruction from the host machine. Command manual signal output means, and a selection result register for storing the setting determined to be used for printing among the setting by the command from the host machine and the setting by the key operation. N in the state of 0
The highlighting means is turned on for all the individual options, the contents of the predetermined options are stored in the selection result register, and the host instruction is validated. In other kth states, the kth option is selected. The printer is characterized in that only the highlight means of (1) is turned on, the contents of the manual setting state register are stored in the selection result register, and the host instruction is invalidated. 2. One or a plurality of detachable option components for increasing the choices in the operation setting items, an option detecting means for detecting attachment / non-attachment of the option components, and when the option components are not attached, 2. The printer according to claim 1, further comprising: the manual setting switching unit configured to skip the option in charge of the optional component and select the next option.