JPH0516440A - Image processor - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To shorten a recording time by converting a color component data for an output in response to the color component data of first color image information in a device outputting second color image information composed of the color component data for the output on the basis of first color image information. CONSTITUTION:The image processor has a command analyzing section 3 preparing information corresponding to one page extensible to an extension memory, a band information storage section 5 with a band-height information table 6, in which the height of a band and the information of the extension memory corresponding to one color of a coloring material corresponding to the height of the band are stored, a color reproducing information storage section 7, a color reproducing processing section 8, etc. Command data and printing data in a page unit are received, and printing is controlled at every page unit by using printing heads for every coloring material, but color assigning information is converted and processed so as to be changed into the data type of the coloring material regardless of the kind of color assigned command data when color assigning information employed when the command of color assignment is analyzed and extended to the memory is obtained at that time.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus, and more particularly to an image processing apparatus capable of color recording characters, figures, raster images, etc. based on print data, commands, etc. sent from a host computer. is there.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 1 shows a PDL (Page Description L
Anguage, page description language) and page description commands are used as an example of a coordinate system that serves as a reference for coordinate points that are specified when drawing figures and characters (hereinafter this coordinate system is called the user coordinate system). Shows. The shaded rectangle indicates the effective print area (the area that can be drawn on the paper). As shown in the figure, the vertical length of the effective print area is the effective print area height and the horizontal width is the effective print area width. To do. The coordinate system in this figure is
It is a two-dimensional xy orthogonal coordinate system, and the lower left corner of the effective printing area is the origin, as shown in the figure. Also, the coordinate units of this coordinate system can be set freely (for example, 0.01 mm or 1/72 in
ch etc.). PDL description elements such as graphic drawing and page description commands set based on the user coordinate system described above are analyzed in the image processing apparatus in the order received by the image processing apparatus, and are used as information to be expanded in the memory. To be converted.

FIG. 2 shows an example of a coordinate system (hereinafter, this coordinate system is referred to as a printer coordinate system) which serves as a reference for creating the above-mentioned memory development information. Further, the coordinate unit of this coordinate system is determined by the resolution of the image processing apparatus. (For example, when the resolution is 300 dpi, the coordinate unit is 1/300 inch.) The hatched rectangular portion is the same as the effective print area in FIG. This coordinate system is a two-dimensional xy Cartesian coordinate system,
The upper left corner of the effective print area is the origin.

FIG. 3 shows an example of a memory map of an internal RAM area in a conventional image processing apparatus for performing color recording based on a PDL or page description command. R
The AM area is a memory for system work, an empty area, and Y (Yellow) and M (Magent) which are color materials (toner and ink).
a), C (Cyan), and Bk (Black) page expansion memories (memory equivalent to the size of the effective print area in FIG. 2). The system work memory is used as a storage area for information (variables and the like) used for control inside the image processing apparatus, a fixed work area, and the like. The empty area is used for storing memory expansion information, a character cache memory, and the like.

FIG. 4 shows an example of a line color designation command of the drawing attribute designation commands. This command
It is used to specify the color of the outline of lines and figures. Command No. Depends on the drawing attribute designation and is used to identify each command function. The content of the data number parameter indicates the number of data items that come after the data number parameter. Here, the content of the data number parameter of the line color designation command is 4. The Y value, M value, C value, and Bk value are Y (Yellow), M (Magenta), C (Cyan), which are the primary colors of the color material,
The density data value of Bk (Black) is shown.

FIG. 5 shows an example of a circle drawing command among drawing commands. Command No. Is different for each drawing function and is used to identify each command function. The content of the data number parameter indicates the number of data items following the data number parameter. Here, the content of the data number parameter of the circle drawing command is 3. The center x and y coordinates are coordinates on the user coordinate system. The size of the radius is a value obtained by multiplying the coordinate unit of the user coordinate system by the value.

FIG. 6 shows an example of memory development information created by analyzing the line color designation command of FIG. Here, the command table No. Is used to identify each memory expansion information. The contents of the other parameters are the same as in FIG.

FIG. 7 shows an example of the memory expansion information created by analyzing the circle drawing command of FIG. Here, the command table No. Is used to identify each memory expansion information. xc and yc are the center coordinates of the circle on the printer coordinate system. The value of r is a radius value converted so that the resolution of the image processing apparatus becomes a unit.

FIG. 8 shows the user coordinate system of FIG.
FIG. 6 is a diagram when a coordinate unit is set to 1 mm and a circle having a center coordinate (150, 150) and a radius of 50 is set.

FIG. 9 shows an example of a command issued when setting the circle drawing of FIG.

FIG. 10 shows a case where the circle drawing on the user coordinate system of FIG. 8 is converted into the circle drawing on the printer coordinate system having a coordinate unit of 1/300 inch (about 1 / 11.8 mm).
As shown in the figure, here the effective print area height is 400 mm.
I am trying. The center x coordinate is 1770 (150 x 11.8), the y coordinate is 2950 (250 x 11.8), and the radius is 590 (50 x 11.8).

FIG. 11 shows an example of memory development information of the circle drawing of FIG. 10 created by analyzing the circle drawing command of FIG.

FIG. 12 shows the circle drawing of FIG. 8 in yellow (color material Yell
An example of a line color designation command issued when drawing with a ow density of 100%) is shown. Here, Y value, M value, C
Values and Bk values are in the range of 0 to 255, and the Y value is 25.
5 and other values are 0.

As described above, in the conventional control of the image processing apparatus for performing color recording based on the PDL or page description command, Y (Yell, which is a color material of toner or ink) is controlled.
ow), M (Magenta), C (Cyan), and Bk (Black) are used as expansion memories corresponding to the size of the effective print area of the paper.

[0015]

However, the above-mentioned conventional example has the following drawbacks. (1) In a printer such as an inkjet system that can stop recording during recording of paper and restart recording from there,
In order to perform color recording control based on the page description command or Y, M, C, Bk, it is not always necessary to have a memory corresponding to the size of the effective print area of the paper, and the memory can be used effectively. could not. (2) It takes a lot of time to draw the data in order to analyze all the page description elements and page description commands for one page recording and start recording after completing the memory expansion of figures and characters. (3) To control color recording using PDL or page description commands in an inkjet printer or the like in which the print head can be moved up, down, left, and right, the head is moved only in the drawing range, or the drawing range is used. Of Y,
Since it was not controlled to print only the contents of the memory in which the drawing pattern exists among the M, C, and Bk memories, drawing took time.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned drawbacks of the conventional example, and an object of the present invention is to provide a Y, M, C, B printer in an ink jet system or the like.
An image processing apparatus capable of reducing the recording time by controlling the movement of the head and the like while eliminating the waste of the memory that occurs when using a memory having a size corresponding to the effective print area of each sheet. It is in the point of providing.

[0017]

In order to solve the above problems, the present invention forms and outputs second color image information consisting of output color component data based on the first color image information. In the image processing device, a determination unit that determines the color component data included in the first color image information, and the output color component data is converted by a conversion method corresponding to the color component data according to the result of the determination unit. There is provided an image processing device having a converting unit for

In order to solve the above problems, in the present invention, the color component data includes YMCK, RGB, and L ^* a ^* b ^* .

[0019]

The preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 13 is a block diagram showing the circuit configuration of the image processing apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.
As shown in FIG. 13, the image processing apparatus according to this embodiment includes a host computer 1 and an image processing apparatus main body 2.

The host computer 1 sends print data, print commands, etc. to the image processing apparatus and causes the image processing apparatus to perform recording processing, as in the processing shown in the flow chart described later. The image processing device is a CPU,
It has a microprocessor system including ROM, RAM. That is, the image processing apparatus main body has an interface 2 for transmitting and receiving data to and from the host computer 1,
Command No. of the command sent from the host computer 1. Is provided with a command analysis table 4 in which a jump address to an analysis program corresponding to is stored, and the print data and commands sent from the host computer 1 are analyzed to create one page of expandable information in the expansion memory. The band information in which the command analysis unit 3 and the band height information table 6 storing the band height and the information (memory capacity) of the expansion memory for one color material corresponding to the band height are stored, and the band height information and the like are stored. A storage unit 5, a color reproduction information storage unit 7 in which information necessary for color reproduction processing is stored,
A color reproduction processing unit 8 that performs color reproduction processing, a character information storage unit 9 that stores information for drawing characters, a control unit 10 that controls the apparatus, an attribute information storage area 12 that stores attribute information, and a memory. Memory expansion information storage unit 11 having a memory expansion information storage area 13 for storing information to be expanded, command execution jump table 1 (15) and command execution jump table 2 (16), and the memory expansion information is analyzed. Memory expansion information analysis unit 14, a pattern expansion unit 17 that expands the analyzed memory expansion information in expansion memory 18, a path control table 20 that controls movement control of the print head, and an output buffer 21, and the expanded data Output unit 19 that outputs a permanent visible image on paper, operation panel 2 that can change and set parameters of the printing environment
2. The data bus 23 is provided.

FIG. 14 is a diagram showing in detail the head portion of the ink jet type image processing apparatus. Reference numeral 101 denotes a head unit in which a large number of inkjet heads for one type of coloring material are arranged in the sub-scanning direction.
It has C and Bk units. Reference numeral 102 is an ink tank for each head unit, 103 is a signal line, and 104 is a carriage drive motor that cooperates with a conveyor belt to move a carriage on which the head unit is mounted along a rail. 107 is a recording paper, 108 is a platen, 109,
110 is a recording paper conveying roller, 111 is a recording paper roll, 1
Reference numerals 12 respectively indicate guide rollers. The head unit 101 is composed of a plurality of inkjet heads using the heating elements shown in FIG. 15, but an inkjet head using electromechanical conversion means such as a piezo element can of course be used. FIG. 15 shows the head unit 101 of FIG.
It is the figure which showed in detail. In the figure, the head unit has Y, M, C, and Bk nozzles each having a number corresponding to the head height. That is, the head unit 101 has a yellow ink ejection nozzle, a magenta ink ejection nozzle, a cyan ink ejection nozzle, and a black ink ejection nozzle.

FIG. 16 shows an example of the band structure. As shown in the figure, a rectangular area whose horizontal length is the effective print area width of the paper and whose vertical length is the head height is defined as a segment. One band is a region in which the above segments are arranged vertically as shown in the figure, and has a size that is an integral multiple of the segment. Therefore, band height (band height)
Is an integral multiple of the head height. In this example, one band is composed of four segments.

FIG. 17 shows an example in which the effective print area of the paper is divided into eight bands each having a band height of 512 scan lines. As shown in the figure, each of the eight bands has a band No. 0 to 7. Is attached.
When the number of bands is n, the band No. Is 0- (n-
1). The point on the printer coordinates such as (0,512) in the figure indicates the point in the upper left corner of the area of each band,
Calculated as (0, (n-1) × 512). The effective print area height does not always become an integral multiple of the band height as shown in the figure, and the height of the final band (7 bands in the figure) may be less than or equal to the band height.

FIG. 18 shows the RA inside the color image processing apparatus.
An example of a memory map of the M area is shown. The RAM area is a memory for system work, an empty area, and Y (Yellow), M (Magenta), and C (Cya) that are color materials (toner and ink).
n) and Bk (Black) each have a memory for one band (see FIG. 17).
Of memory for one band area). The system work memory is used as a storage area for information (variables and the like) used for control inside the image processing apparatus, a fixed work area, and the like. The empty area is used for storing memory expansion information, a character cache memory, and the like. The dotted line portion shows the size of the RAM area in FIG. In this way, the development memory can be reduced to 1/8 of that in FIG. 3, so that color recording can be performed in a smaller RAM area than in the conventional case.

FIG. 19 shows that Y (Yello
An example of a memory map in the case where a memory for w), M (Magenta), C (Cyan), and Bk (Black) for each one band is further added is shown. Also in this case, since the development memory can be reduced to 1/4 of FIG. 2, color recording can be performed in a RAM area smaller than in the conventional case.

FIG. 20 shows the attribute information storage area (RAM) shown at 12 in FIG. The attribute information storage area is composed of an area for temporarily saving drawing attribute information used when data is expanded in the memory and a variable area in which the drawing attribute information is set. As shown in the figure, a save area is determined for each drawing attribute, and it is possible to save m pieces of information. lwidth, lymck, etc. indicate variables in which each drawing attribute information is set.

FIG. 21 shows an example of the path control table shown at 20 in FIG. Here, the path is shown in FIG.
As shown in, the width is the effective print area width and the height is the head height, which is the area where the print head actually moves horizontally. In the figure, n of pass n corresponds to a value of (the number of passes) -1 in the effective print area of the paper. This path control table stores information for controlling the horizontal movement of the print head and information for grasping the presence or absence of the contents of the expansion memory to be recorded. In the figure, the minimum value and the maximum value respectively indicate the minimum value and the maximum value of the drawing range in the pass, and are the values in the + x direction on the printer coordinates. The minimum value corresponds to the horizontal movement amount (unit is determined by the resolution of the image processing apparatus) in which the print head can perform idle movement without recording the contents of the expansion memory. The maximum value indicates the maximum value in the horizontal direction in which the print head moves from the minimum value while recording the contents of the expansion memory. In the figure, the drawing memory information flag is a flag indicating whether or not the pattern is expanded in the expansion memories of Y, M, C, and Bk corresponding to the paths, and Y, M, C, and
Each Bk is composed of 4 bits, one bit each. If the bit is ON, it means that the pattern is expanded in the expansion memory, and if it is OFF, it means that the pattern is not expanded.

22, 23, and 24 show Y (Yellow), in a color image processing apparatus that receives page description command data in page units and performs recording control in page units.
M (Magenta), C (Cyan), Bk (Black) 1 each
The flow chart at the time of performing color recording only with the memory for bands is shown. In step S1, the path control table shown in FIG. 21 is initialized (initial value setting), and the process proceeds to step S2. In step S2, the attribute information storage area shown in FIG. 20 is secured in the RAM and the process proceeds to step S3.
In step S3, a set of command data (drawing command, drawing attribute command, or the like) is read in, and step S3
Go to 4. In step S4, the command analysis unit 3 analyzes the command data, and the process proceeds to step S5. In step S5, if the command data for one page remains, the process returns to step S3, and if not, the process proceeds to step S6. In step S6, the drawing attribute information required for the data development of the memory at this time is temporarily saved in the save area of the attribute information storage area 12 secured in step S2, and the process proceeds to step S10. In step S10, the constant i is set to 0, and the process proceeds to step S11. In step S11, the first memory development information (one set) stored in the memory development information area 13
A pointer is set at the beginning of the and the process proceeds to step S12.
In step S12, the memory expansion information analysis unit 14 analyzes the memory expansion information read in step S11, and the expansion memory (Y, M, C,
(Bk memory for each band) and proceeds to step S13. If there is remaining memory expansion information in step S13,
The process proceeds to step S14, the pointer is set at the head of the next memory development information (one set), and the process returns to step S12. If not, the process proceeds to step S15. In step S15, the contents of the memory expanded in step S12 are color-recorded by the output unit 19, and the process proceeds to step S16. In step S16, i is incremented by 1, and the process proceeds to step S17. In step S17, the Y, M, C, and Bk band memories are cleared, and the flow advances to step S18. In step S18, the number of bands i is compared, and if they match, the process ends. If they do not match, the process proceeds to step S19 and step S19.
In step 6, the drawing attribute temporarily saved in the save area of the attribute information storage area 12 is loaded, set in the variable area of the attribute information storage area 12, and the process returns to step S11. By the above processing, the page description command data for each page is received, and Y (Yellow), M (Magenta), C (Cyan),
It is possible to perform color recording by using only one Bk (Black) memory for each band.

FIG. 25 shows a flowchart when the path control table is initialized in step S1 of FIG. In step S20, the pointer is set at the head of the path control table of FIG. 21, and the process proceeds to step S21.
In step S21, 0 is set to the constant m and step S
Proceed to 22. In step S22, a value larger than the effective print area width (unit is the printer coordinate unit) is set in the constant k, and the flow proceeds to step S23. In step S23, the value of k is set to the minimum value of the path pointed by the pointer
Proceed to 24. In step S24, 0 is set to the maximum value of the path pointed by the pointer, and the process proceeds to step S25. In step S25, the drawing memory information flag pointed to by the pointer is set to 0.
After clearing, the process proceeds to step S26. In step S26,
The values of m and n are compared, and if m is equal to or larger than n, the processing is ended. If not, the process proceeds to step S27 to advance the pointer by one, and further proceeds to step 28 to add 1 to m and returns to step S23. The path control table can be initialized by the above processing.

FIG. 26 shows the contents of the path control table initialized by the flow chart of FIG.

FIG. 27 shows a drawing attribute designating command.
An example of a color designation command (line color designation, fill color designation, character color designation) is shown. The line color designation command is used to designate the color of a straight line or the outline of a figure. The fill color designation command is used to designate the color of the internal fill of the closed figure. The character color specification command is used to specify the character color. Command No. Is used to identify the command, which differs depending on the color designation. The content of the data number parameter indicates the number of data items that come after the data number parameter. The content of the type flag parameter indicates the type of color designation data. here,
(A) shows that when the type flag value is 0, the color designation data is the luminance data value of R (Red), G (Green), and B (Blue) which are the three primary colors of light. (B) is a case where the type flag value is 1, and the color designation data is L ^* , which is the uniform perceptual color space defined by the CIE (International Commission on Illumination) in 1976.
It indicates that the data values are a ^* and b ^* . (C)
Indicates that the type flag value is 2 and the color designation data is Y (Yellow) and M (Magen) that are the primary colors of the color material (toner / ink).
ta), C (Cyan), and Bk (Black).

FIG. 28 shows a drawing attribute designation command.
An example of a line width designation command, a clip area designation command, and a fill definition designation command is shown. Command N
o. Depends on the drawing attribute designation and is used to identify the command. The content of the data number parameter indicates the number of data items that come after the data number parameter. (A)
Is used to specify the line width of the contour line of a straight line or a figure. Here, the line width value is based on the coordinate unit of the user coordinate system. The clip area designation command (b) is used to designate the drawable range of figures, characters, and the like. Here, the minimum and maximum values of x and y are based on the coordinate unit of the user coordinate system.
The fill definition designation command of (c) is used to designate the filling pattern inside the contour of the closed figure and the presence or absence of the contour. Here, the fill pattern N
o. Is used to identify the fill pattern, and the pattern number. When is 0, it indicates that there is no fill pattern (blank), and when it is not 0, it indicates a fill pattern such as a hatch pattern. When the contour flag is 0, there is no contour line, and when it is 1, there is a contour line.

FIG. 29 shows an example of the line drawing command / polygon drawing command of the drawing commands. Command No. Is used for command identification, depending on the drawing function. The content of the data number parameter indicates the number of data items that come after the data number parameter. The straight line drawing command is used to draw a straight line. The draw polygon command is used to draw a polygon. Here, the x and y coordinate values of the coordinates 1 to n are coordinate values on the user coordinate system.

FIG. 30 shows an example of the circle drawing command / character drawing command of the drawing commands. Command No. Is used for command identification, depending on the drawing function. The content of the data number parameter indicates the number of data items that come after the data number parameter. (A)
The circle drawing command is used to draw a circle. Here, the center x and y coordinates are coordinates on the user coordinate system. The size of the radius is a value obtained by multiplying the coordinate unit of the user coordinate system by the value. The character drawing command in (b) is
Used to draw characters. Here, the x and y coordinates of the drawing position are coordinates on the user coordinate system indicating the start reference position of character drawing. The character data indicates a character string to be printed (eg ABC).

FIG. 31 is a command analysis jump table (ROM) in which jump addresses to the functions for analyzing each drawing command and drawing attribute command shown in 4 of FIG. 13 are stored. Command No. The jump address to each command analysis function is stored corresponding to (0 to n).

FIG. 32 is a flow chart showing in detail the command data analysis processing of step S4 of FIG. In step S30, from the command data (one set) to the command No. Is taken out and the process proceeds to step S31. In step S31, the pointer is set at the head of the command analysis jump table of FIG. 31, and the process proceeds to step S32.
In step S32, the command No. The pointer is advanced by an amount corresponding to, and the process proceeds to step S33. Step S33
Then, the content (jump address) pointed to by the pointer is taken out and the process proceeds to step S34. In step S34, the function pointed to by the jump address is executed, and the process ends.

33 to 35 correspond to step S34 of FIG.
3 is a flowchart showing in detail the processing when the color designation command analysis function is executed. Step S4
0, min band No. , Max band No. Is set in the memory development information area 13 and the process proceeds to step S41. In step S41, from the command to the command No. Is read, set in the memory development information storage area 13, the pointer is advanced, and the process proceeds to step S42. Step S4
In 2, the number of data is read from the command, (the number of data-1) is set to the constant n, and the process proceeds to step S43. In step S43, 4 is set as the number of data in the memory development information area 13, the pointer is advanced, and the process proceeds to step S44. In step S44, the type parameter is read from the command, set in the type flag Csmflg, and then set in step S44.
Proceed to 45. In step S45, color designation data for a constant number n is read, and the process proceeds to step S46. Step S4
In step 6, the value of the type flag Csmflg is compared with 0. If it is equal to 0, the color designation data read in step S45 is the brightness data of R, G, B, and the procedure proceeds to step S49, in which the brightness data of R, G, B is density data of Y, M, C, Bk. And the process proceeds to step S53. If it is not equal to 0, the process directly proceeds to step S47. Step S4
In step 7, the value of the type flag Csmflg is compared with 1. If the value of the type flag Csmflg is equal to 1, the color designation data read in step S45 is the data of L ^* , a ^* , b ^* of the uniform perceptual color space defined by CIE (International Commission on Illumination) in 1976. Then, the process proceeds to step S50 and CIE L ^* ,
Converting the a ^* and b ^* data into CIE XYZ (XYZ color system defined by CIE in 1931) data and step S5
Go to 1. In step S51, the CIE XYZ data is converted into R, G, B luminance data, and the process proceeds to step S52. In step S52, the brightness data of R, G, and B is set to Y,
The density data of M, C and Bk are converted and the process proceeds to step S53. If the value of the type flag Csmflg is not equal to 1 in step S47, the process directly proceeds to step S48. In step S48, the value of the type flag Csmflg is compared with 2. If it is equal to 2, the color designation data read in step S45 is the density data of Y, M, C, Bk,
In step S53, the density data of Y, M, C, and Bk are set to internal variables (Lymck, Fymck, Tymck), and in step S54, the density data of Y, M, C, and Bk are stored in the memory expansion information storage area. It is set to 13, the pointer is advanced, and the process is ended. If it is not equal to 2, the process is terminated. In this way, the color designation command is analyzed and the memory development information for the color designation is created.

FIG. 36 is a flow chart showing in detail the processing when the line width designation command analysis function is executed in step S34 of FIG. Step S60
Then, the min band No. , Max band No. Is set in the memory development information area 13 and the process proceeds to step S61.
In step S61, the command No. Is read, set in the memory development information area 13, the pointer is advanced, and the process proceeds to step S62. In step S62, the number of data is read from the command, set as the number of data in the memory development information area 13, the pointer is advanced, and the process proceeds to step S63. In step S63, the line width value parameter is read from the command, and the process proceeds to step S64. In step S64, the read line width value is converted into a pixel (dot) value based on the resolution of the image processing apparatus, and the process proceeds to step S65. In step S65, the converted line width value is set in the internal variable Lwidth, and the flow advances to step S66. In step S66, the converted line width value is set in the memory development information storage area 13, the pointer is advanced, and the process ends. In this way, the line width designation command is analyzed and the memory development information for the line width designation is created.

FIG. 37 is a flow chart showing in detail the processing when the clip area designation command analysis function is executed in step S34 of FIG. In step S70, the min band No. , Max band No. Is set in the memory development information area 13 and the process proceeds to step S71. In step S71, the command No.
Is read, set in the memory development information area 13, the pointer is advanced, and the process proceeds to step S72. Step S72
Then, the number of data is read from the command, set as the number of data in the memory development information area 13, the pointer is advanced, and the process proceeds to step S73. In step S73, the minimum and maximum parameters of x and y of the clip area are read from the command, and the process proceeds to step S74. Step S74
Then, based on the resolution of the image processing apparatus, the read minimum and maximum values of x and y are values xmin, ymin, x on the printer coordinates.
After converting into max and ymax, the process proceeds to step S75. In step S75, the values of xmin, ymin, xmax, ymax are set to cxmin, cymin, cxamx, cymax, respectively, and the process proceeds to step S76. In step S76, the above xmin, ym
The values of in, xmax, ymax are set in the memory development information area 13, the pointer is advanced, and the processing is ended. In this way, the clip area designation command is analyzed and the memory expansion information for designating the clip area is created.

FIG. 38 is a flow chart showing in detail the processing when the filling definition designation command analysis function is executed in step S34 of FIG. In step S80, the min band No. , Max band No.
Is set in the memory development information storage area 13 and step S
Proceed to 81. In step S81, the command No. Is read, set in the memory development information storage area 13, the pointer is advanced, and the process proceeds to step S82. In step S82, the number of data is read from the command, set as the number of data in the memory development information storage area 13, the pointer is advanced, and the process proceeds to step S83. Step S8
3 in the command, fill pattern No. Is read, set in the memory development information storage area 13, the pointer is advanced, and the process proceeds to step S84. In step S84,
The contour flag is read from the command, set in the memory development information storage area 13, the pointer is advanced, and step S
Proceed to 85. In step S85, the fill pattern N
o. Is set to the internal variable Fpat and the process proceeds to step S86. In step S86, the contents of the contour flag are set to the internal variable Fp.
Set it to ermt and finish the process. In this way, the fill definition designation command is analyzed and the memory expansion information for the fill definition designation is created.

FIG. 39 shows FIG. 33, FIG. 36, FIG. 37, FIG.
In steps S40, S60, S70, and S80 of 8, the min band No. , Max band No. 5 is a flowchart showing in detail a process of setting a to the memory development information area. In step S90, the min band No.
Is set to 0 and the process proceeds to step S91. In step S91, the min band No. Is set in the memory development information storage area 13, the pointer is advanced, and step S92 is performed.
Proceed to. In step S92, information on the current number of bands is retrieved from the band information storage unit 5, and the process proceeds to step S93. In step S93, the value of (number of bands-1) is max
Band No. And set to step S94. In step S94, the max band No. Is set in the memory development information storage area 13, the pointer is advanced, and the process is terminated. As described above, in the memory development information of the drawing attribute, the min band No. so that the memory development information is analyzed for each processing of each band. 0, max band No. The value of (number of bands-1) is set to.

FIG. 40 shows steps S49 and 52 of FIG.
An example of the color reproduction processing shown in is shown. In process 1, density conversion processing is performed in which the R, G, and B values that are luminance information are subjected to LOG conversion to be C, M, and Y density information. In process 2, undercolor removal processing is performed to extract the value of Bk from the values of C, M, and Y. In process 3,
Masking processing is performed to correct unnecessary absorption characteristics of C, M, and Y toners or inks and perform appropriate color reproduction. In process 4, γ conversion processing is performed to adjust the contrast and brightness according to the image. The above processing is performed in the color reproduction processing unit 8 using the information in the color reproduction processing information storage unit 7. In addition, the above R, G,
It is assumed that the B data has a clear mutual conversion procedure with the CIE XYZ data.

FIG. 41 shows an example of the color conversion process shown in step S50 of FIG. The CIE L ^* , a ^* , and b ^* data are CIE L ^* , a ^* , and b ^* data according to the equations shown in (a) to (d).
It is possible to convert to XYZ data. Where X
n, Yn, and Zn are values determined by which CIE standard light source is used.

FIG. 42 shows an example of the color conversion process shown in step S51 of FIG. It is possible to convert CIE XYZ data into R, G, B luminance data by the matrix conversion formula shown in the figure. Here, the parameter value of the matrix is determined depending on which CIE standard light source is followed, and this example is a value when the CIE standard light source is D65.

43 to 45 are steps S34 in FIG.
3 shows the processing when the straight line drawing command analysis function is executed. In step S600, data set in the work area and xmin, ymin, xmax, ym
After setting ax, the process proceeds to step S601. Step S
At 601, the drawing range is calculated (straight line and polygon),
It proceeds to step S602. In step S602, clip checking of the drawing range is performed, and the flow advances to step S603. In step S603, the drawing range flag set in the drawing range clip check is checked. If the drawing range flag is ERROR, the process ends. If the drawing range flag is not ERROR, the flow advances to step S604 to set color designation information (straight line), and then to step S605. In step S605, information is set in the path control table 20 used in the output unit 19, and step S606 is performed.
Go to. In step S606, the min band No. , M
ax band No. Is calculated and the process proceeds to step S607. In step S607, memory development information storage area 1
The pointer 1 is set to 3, and the process proceeds to step S608.
In step S608, the min band No. , Max band No. Is set in the memory development information storage area 13, the pointer 1 is advanced, and the process proceeds to step S609. In step S609, the pointer 2 is set at the beginning of the work area, and the flow advances to step S610. In step S610, the command No. is changed from the work area. Is extracted, set in the memory development information storage area 13, and the process proceeds to step S611. In step S611, pointer 1 and pointer 2 are advanced, and the flow advances to step S612. In step S612, the number of data is extracted from the work area, set in the memory development information storage area 13, and the process proceeds to step S613. In step S613, m is set to 1 and step S61
Go to 4. In step S614, x from the work area
m and ym are taken out, set in the memory development information storage area 13, and the process proceeds to step S615. Step S615
Then, m and n (the number of coordinates) are compared. If m is equal to or larger than n, the process ends. If n is larger than m, the process proceeds to step S616, 1 is added to m, and the process proceeds to step S617. In step S617, pointer 1 and pointer 2 are advanced, and the process returns to step S614.
In this way, the line drawing command is analyzed and the memory development information for the line drawing is created.

46 to 48 show step S34 in FIG.
3 shows the processing when the polygon drawing command analysis function is executed. In step S120, data set in the work area and xmin, ymin, xmax,
After setting ymax, the process proceeds to step S121. In step S121, the drawing range is calculated (straight line and polygon), and the process proceeds to step S122. In step S122, clip checking of the drawing range is performed, and the flow advances to step S123. In step S123, the drawing range flag set by the clip check of the drawing range is checked. If the drawing range flag is ERROR, the process ends. If the drawing range flag is not ERROR, the process proceeds to step S124, the color designation information is set (closed figure), and the process proceeds to step S125. In step S125, information is set in the path control table 20 used in the output unit 19, and in step S12
Go to 6. In step S126, the min band No. ,
max band No. Is calculated and the process proceeds to step S127. In step S127, the pointer 1 is set in the memory development information storage area 13, and the process proceeds to step S128. In step S128, the min band No. , Max
Band No. Is set in the memory development information storage area 13, the pointer 1 is advanced, and the process proceeds to step S129. In step S129, the pointer 2 is set at the beginning of the work area, and the process proceeds to step S130. Step S130
Command from the work area. Is taken out and set in the memory development information storage area 13, and step S13
Go to 1. In step S131, the pointer 1 and the pointer 2 are advanced, and the process proceeds to step S132. Step S132
Then, the number of data is extracted from the work area, (the number of data + 2) is set in the memory development information storage area 13, and the process proceeds to step S133. In step S133, m is set to 1, and the process proceeds to step S134. Step S134
Then, xm and ym are taken out from the work area, set in the memory development information storage area 13, and the process proceeds to step S135. In step S135, m and n (the number of coordinates) are compared. If n is larger than m, the process proceeds to step S136, 1 is added to m, and the process proceeds to step S137. . In step S137, the pointer 1 and the pointer 2 are advanced, and the process returns to step S134. If m is equal to or larger than n, the process proceeds to step S138. Step S138
Then, the pointer 2 is set at the head of the work area and the process proceeds to step S139. In step S139, the pointer 2
By two, set to x1, and proceed to step S140. In step S140, x1 and y1 are taken out from the work area, set in the memory development information storage area 13, and the process is terminated. In this way, the polygon drawing command is analyzed and the memory development information for polygon drawing is created.

49 to 51 show step 600 of FIG.
And, in step 120 of FIG. 46, the process of setting data in the work area and setting xmin, ymin, xmax, ymax is shown in detail. Step S150
Then, the pointer is set at the head of the work area and the process proceeds to step S151. In step S151, the command N
o. Is read, set in the work area, the pointer is advanced, and the process proceeds to step S152. In step S152,
The number of data is read, set in the work area, the pointer is advanced, and the process proceeds to step S153. Step S153
Then, 1/2 of the number of data (the number of linear coordinate points) is set to the constant n, and the process proceeds to step S154. In step S154,
The x coordinate and the y coordinate of the coordinate 1 are read, and step S155
Go to. In step S155, the x coordinate and the y coordinate of the coordinate 1 are converted into printer coordinates and set in x1 and y1, and the process proceeds to step S156. In step S156, x1 is set to xmi
The values are set to n and xmax, y1 is set to ymin and ymax, and the process proceeds to step S157. In step S157, x
1, 1 is set in the work area, the pointer is advanced, and the process proceeds to step S158. In step S158, m is set to 1, and the process proceeds to step S159. Step S159
Then, m and n (the number of coordinates) are compared. If m is equal to or larger than n, the process ends. If n is larger than m, the process proceeds to step S160, 1 is added to m, and the process proceeds to step S161. In step S161, the x coordinate and the y coordinate of the coordinate m are read, and the process proceeds to step S162. In step S162, the x coordinate and the y coordinate of the coordinate m are converted into printer coordinates and set in xm and ym, and the process proceeds to step S163. In step S163, the values of xm and xmin are compared. If xm is equal to or larger than xmin, the process proceeds to step S165. If xmin is larger than xm, the process proceeds to step S164, the value of xm is set to xmin, and the process proceeds to step S165. Step S165
Then, the values of xm and xmax are compared. If xmax is equal to or larger than xm, the process proceeds to step S167. xm
Is larger than xmax, the process proceeds to step S166, the value of xm is set to xmax, and the process proceeds to step S167. In step S167, the values of ym and ymin are compared.
If ym is equal to or greater than ymin, the process proceeds to step S169. If ymin is larger than ym, the process proceeds to step S168, the value of ym is set to ymin, and the process proceeds to step S169. In step S169, ym and ymax
Compare the values of. If ymax is equal to or larger than ym, the process proceeds to step S171. If ym is larger than ymax, the process proceeds to step S170 and the value of ym is set to ymax.
And set to step S171. Step S17
In step 1, xm and ym are set in the work area, the pointer is advanced, and the process returns to step S159. In this way, data set in the work area and xmin, ymin, xmax, ym
You can set ax.

52 to 55 correspond to step S34 of FIG.
3 shows the processing when the circle drawing command analysis function is executed. In step S175, the pointer is set at the beginning of the work area, and the flow advances to step S176. In step S176, the command number. Read
Set it in the work area and move the pointer forward, step S
Proceed to 177. In step S177, the number of data is read, set in the work area, the pointer is advanced, and the process proceeds to step S178. In step S178, the x-coordinate and y-coordinate of the center are read, and the flow proceeds to step S179. In step S179, the center x-coordinate and y-coordinate are converted into printer coordinates, which are set in xc and yc, and the flow advances to step S180. In step S180, xc and yc are set in the work area, the pointer is advanced, and the process proceeds to step S181. In step S181, the radius value is read from the command and the process proceeds to step S182. In step S182, the radius value is converted into a pixel (dot) value based on the resolution of the image processing apparatus, set to r, and the process proceeds to step S183. In step S183, r is set in the work area and the process proceeds to step S184. In step S184, the drawing range of the circle is calculated, and the flow advances to step S185. Step S1
At 85, a clip check of the drawing range is performed, and the process proceeds to step S186. In step S186, the drawing range flag set in the drawing range clip check is checked. If the drawing range flag is ERROR, the process ends.
If the drawing range flag is not ERROR, step S18
7, the color designation information is set (closed figure), and the process proceeds to step S188. In step S188, information is set in the path control table 20 used in the output unit 19, and the process proceeds to step S189. In step S189, the min band No. , Max band No. Is calculated and the process proceeds to step S190. In step S190, the pointer 1 is set in the memory development information storage area 13 and step S1
Proceed to 91. In step S191, the min band N
o. , Max band No. Is set in the memory development information storage area 13 and the pointer 1 is advanced to step S192.
Go to. In step S192, the pointer 2 is set at the head of the work area, and the process proceeds to step S193. In step S193, the command No. is input from the work area. Is taken out, set in the memory development information storage area 13, and the process proceeds to step S194. In step S194, pointer 1 and pointer 2 are advanced, and the flow advances to step S195. In step S195, the number of data is extracted from the work area, set in the memory development information storage area 13, and the process proceeds to step S196. In step S196, the pointer 1,
The pointer 2 is advanced and the process proceeds to step S197. In step S197, xc and yc are extracted from the work area, set in the memory development information storage area 13, and then set in step S1.
Proceed to 98. In step S198, pointer 1 and pointer 2 are advanced, and the flow advances to step S199. Step S19
At 9, the r is extracted from the work area, set in the memory development information storage area 13, and the process is terminated. In this way, the circle drawing command is analyzed and the memory development information for circle drawing is created.

56 to 59 are steps S34 in FIG.
3 shows the processing when the character drawing command analysis function is executed. In step S210, the pointer is set at the beginning of the work area, and the process proceeds to step S211. In step S211, the command No. Is read, set in the work area, the pointer is advanced, and the process proceeds to step S212. In step S212, the number of data is read, and the process proceeds to step S213. Step S213
Then, read the x and y coordinates of the drawing position, and step S
Proceed to 214. In step S214, the x and y coordinates of the drawing position are converted into printer coordinates, set in xr and yr, and the process proceeds to step S215. In step S215, the character data is read from the command, converted into an internal code, and the process proceeds to step S216. In step S216, (the number of data of the internal code) +2 is set as the number of data in the work area, the pointer is advanced, and the process proceeds to step S217. In step S217, xr and yr are set in the work area, the pointer is advanced, and the process proceeds to step S218. In step S218, the internal code is set in the work area, and the flow advances to step S219. In step S219, the drawing range of the character is calculated, and the process proceeds to step S220.
In step S220, clip checking of the drawing range is performed, and the flow advances to step S221. In step S221, the drawing range flag set in the drawing range clip check is checked. If the drawing range flag is ERROR, the process ends. If the drawing range flag is not ERROR, the flow advances to step S222 to set color designation information (characters), and then to step S223. In step S223, information is set in the path control table 20 used by the output unit 19, and the process proceeds to step S224. In step S224,
min band No. , Max band No. Is calculated and the process proceeds to step S225. In step S225, the pointer 1 is set in the memory development information storage area 13, and the process proceeds to step S226. In step S226, min
Band No. , Max band No. Is set in the memory development information storage area 13, the pointer 1 is advanced, and the process proceeds to step S227. In step S227, the pointer 2 is set at the beginning of the work area, and the process proceeds to step S228. In step S228, command N from the work area
o. Is taken out, set in the memory development information storage area 13, and the process proceeds to step S229. In step S229,
The pointer 1 and the pointer 2 are advanced and the process proceeds to step S230. In step S230, the number of data is extracted from the work area, set in the memory development information storage area 13, and the process proceeds to step S231. In step S231, the pointer 1 and the pointer 2 are advanced, and the process proceeds to step S232. In step S232, xr and yr are taken out from the work area, set in the memory development information storage area 13, and the process proceeds to step S233. In step S233, the pointer 1,
The pointer 2 is advanced and the process proceeds to step S234. In step S234, retrieve the internal code from the work area,
It is set in the memory development information storage area 13 and the process ends. In this way, the character drawing command is analyzed and the memory development information for character drawing is created.

FIG. 60 shows in detail the process of calculating the drawing range in step 601 of FIG. 43 and step 121 of FIG. 46. In step S240, xmi
Set n to pxmin and xmax to pxmax, and step S2
Proceed to 41. In step S241, ymin is set to pymin, y
Max is set to pymax, and the process proceeds to step S242. In step S242, α (a constant of 0 or more) is added to Lwidth / 2 to set to β, and the flow proceeds to step S243. In step S243, pxmin-β is set to pxmin and pxmax + β is set to pxmax
, And the process proceeds to step S244. Step S2
At 44, pymin-β is set to pymin and pymax + β is set to pymax, and the process is terminated. In this way, the drawing range of straight lines and polygons can be calculated.

FIG. 61 shows a drawing range of a polygon designated by four points (x1, y1) to (x4, y4). This range is (pxmin, pymin) and (pxmax, pymax)
This is a rectangular area surrounded by, and is the calculation result when the value of α is set to 0 in the processing of FIG.

FIG. 62 shows in detail the process of calculating the drawing range of the circle in step 184 of FIG. In step S250, xc-r is changed to pxmin, xc + r
Is set to pxmax and the process proceeds to step S251. In step S251, yc-r is set to pymin and yc + r is set to pymax, and the process proceeds to step S252. Step S25
In step 2, α (a constant of 0 or more) is added to Lwidth / 2 and set to β, and the flow advances to step S253. Step S253
Then, pxmin-β is set to pxmin and pxmax + β is set to pxmax, and the process proceeds to step S254. In step S254, py
Set min-β to pymin and pymax + β to pymax, and finish the process. In this way, the drawing range of the circle can be calculated.

FIG. 63 shows the drawing range of a circle. This range is (pxmin, pymin) and (pxmax, pymax)
This is a rectangular area surrounded by, and is the calculation result when the value of α is set to 0 in the process of FIG.

FIG. 64 shows in detail the process of calculating the drawing range of the character in step 219 of FIG. In step S260, the character information storage unit 9 (see FIG.
The left offset value and the upper offset value are extracted from 3) and the process proceeds to step S261. In step S261, the left offset value is set to α1 and the upper offset value is set to α2,
It proceeds to step S262. In step S262, xr +
Set α1 to pxmin and yr−α2 to pymin, and then proceed to step S263. In step S263, the pattern width and pattern height are retrieved from the character information storage unit 9 and the process proceeds to step S264. In step S264, the pattern width is set to β
1, set the pattern height to β2, and proceed to step S265. In step S265, pxmin + β1 is set to pxmax and pym
Set in + β2 to pymax and finish the process. In this way, the drawing range of the character can be calculated.

FIG. 65 shows the drawing range of characters. This range is (pxmin, pymin) and (pxmax, pyma
It is a rectangular area surrounded by x).

66 and 67 show step S60 of FIG.
2, step S122 in FIG. 46, step S1 in FIG.
Fig. 58 is a diagram showing in detail the clip check processing of the drawing range in step S85 of Fig. 85 and Fig. 57.
In step S270, the values of pxmax and cxmin are compared. cx
If min is larger than the value of pxmax, step S274
Then, the process advances to step ERROR in the drawing range flag and the process ends. If not, the process proceeds to step S271. In step S271, the values of pxmin and cxmax are compared. If pxmin is larger than the value of cxmax, step S
Proceeding to 274, ERROR is set in the drawing range flag, and the processing is ended. Otherwise, step S272.
Proceed to. In step S272, the values of pymax and cymin are compared. If cymin is larger than the value of pymax, the process proceeds to step S274, ERROR is set in the drawing range flag, and the process ends. Otherwise, step S27
Go to 3. In step S273, the values of pymin and cymax are compared. If pymin is larger than the value of cymax, the process advances to step S274, ERROR is set in the drawing range flag, and the process ends. Otherwise, step S2
Proceed to 75. In step S275, the values of pxmin and cxmin are compared. If cxmin is larger than the value of pxmin, the process proceeds to step S276, the value of cxmin is set to pxmin, and the process proceeds to step S277. If not, the process proceeds to step S277. In step S277, the values of pymin and cymin are compared. If cymin is greater than the value of pymin,
The process proceeds to step S278, the value of cymin is set to pymin, and the process proceeds to step S279. If not, the process proceeds to step S279. In step S279, pxmax and cxm
Compare the values of ax. If pxmax is larger than the value of cxmax, the process proceeds to step S280, the value of cxmax is set to pxmax, and the process proceeds to step S281. If not,
It proceeds to step S281. In step S281, pymax
And compare the value of cymax. If pymax is larger than the value of cymax, the process proceeds to step S282, and the value of cymax is set to pymax.
, And the process proceeds to step S283. If not, the process proceeds to step S283. In step S283, the drawing range flag is set to OK and the process ends. In this way, the common range of the drawing range and the clip area can be obtained.

FIG. 68 shows (pxmin, pymin) and (pxmax, p
(cxmi for the drawing range of the rectangular area surrounded by ymax)
(n, cymin) and (cxmax, cymax) is an example of a case where a rectangular clip region is set.
By the processing of FIGS. 66 and 67, the drawing range of FIG. 68 is (cxmi
It is a rectangular area surrounded by (n, cxmin) and (cxmax, cymax).

FIG. 69 shows the details of the setting (straight line) of the color designation information in step S604 of FIG. In step S290, the Y value of Lymck is set to P_Y.
, And the process proceeds to step S291. Step S2
At 91, the value of M of Lymck is set to P_M, and step S
Proceed to 292. In step S292, the C value of Lymck is set to P.
_C, and the process proceeds to step S293. Step S
At 293, the value of Bk of Lymck is set in P_Bk, and the process ends. In this way, the straight line color specification information is set to P_Y, P_M,
It can be set to P_C and P_BK.

FIG. 70 shows in detail the process of setting color designation information (closed figure) in step S124 of FIG. 46 and step S187 of FIG. In step S300, the result of multiplication of the values of Fpat and Fpermt is compared with 0. In the case of 0, the process proceeds to step S301, the color designation information is set (sub-process 1), and the process ends. If it is not 0, the process proceeds to step S302, the color designation information is set (sub-process 2), and the process ends.

FIG. 71 shows the details of the process of step S301 of FIG. In step S310, Fp
Compare the value of at with 0. If not 0, step S
In step 311, the Y value of Fymck is set in P_Y, and the flow advances to step S312. In step S312, M of Fymck
Is set to P_M and the process proceeds to step S313. In step S313, the C value of Fymck is set in P_C,
It proceeds to step S314. In step S314, Fymck
The value of Bk is set to P_Bk, and the process is terminated. If it is 0, the process proceeds to step S315, and the value of Fpermt is compared with 0. If the value of Fpermt is 0, the process ends.
If the value of Fpermt is not 0, in step S316,
The Y value of Lymck is set in P_Y, and the process proceeds to step S317. In step S317, the value of M of Lymck is set in P_M, and the process proceeds to step S318. Step S318
Then, the C value of Lymck is set in P_C, and step S31 is performed.
Proceed to 9. In step S319, the Bm value of Lymck is set to P_B.
Set to k and end processing. In this way, the color designation information of the closed figure can be set to P_Y, P_M, P_C, and P_BK.

FIG. 72 shows the details of the process of step S302 of FIG. In step S320, Fy
The Y value of mck and the Y value of Lymck are compared. If the Y value of Fymck is larger than the Y value of Lymck, step S3
In step 21, the Y value of Fymck is set in P_Y, and the flow advances to step S323. Otherwise, step S3
In step 22, the Y value of Lymck is set in P_Y, and the flow advances to step S323. In step S323, the M value of Fymck and the M value of Lymck are compared. The value of M of Fymck is Lymck
If it is larger than the M value of M, the process proceeds to step S324, the M value of Fymck is set to P_M, and the step S32 is performed.
Go to 6. If not, the process proceeds to step S325, the M value of Lymck is set in P_M, and step S32 is performed.
Go to 6. In step S326, the C value of Fymck and Lymck
Compare the C values of. If the C value of Fymck is larger than the C value of Lymck, the process proceeds to step S327, the C value of Fymck is set in P_C, and the process proceeds to step S329.
Otherwise, proceed to step S328, Lymck
The value of C is set to P_C, and the process proceeds to step S329. In step S329, the Bk value of Fymck and the Bk value of Lymck
Compare the values of k. If the Bk value of Fymck is larger than the Bk value of Lymck, the process proceeds to step S330, and Fymck
The value of Bk is set to P_Bk, and the process is terminated. Otherwise, the process proceeds to step S331, B of Lymck.
The value of k is set in P_Bk, and the process ends. In this way, the color designation information of the closed figure can be set to P_Y, P_M, P_C, and P_BK.

FIG. 73 shows details of the color designation information setting (character) processing in step S222 of FIG. In step S340, the Y value of Tymck is set to P_Y.
, And the process proceeds to step S341. Step S3
In step 41, the value of M of Tymck is set in P_M, and step S
Proceed to 342. In step S342, the C value of Tymck is set to P.
_C, and the process proceeds to step S343. Step S
At 343, the value of Bk of Tymck is set in P_Bk, and the process is terminated. In this way, the character color designation information is set to P_Y, P_M,
It can be set to P_C and P_BK.

FIG. 74 shows the min band N in step S606 of FIG. 44, step S126 of FIG. 47, step S189 of FIG. 54 and step S224 of FIG.
o. , Max band No. 3 shows in detail the calculation process of. In step S350, the band information storage unit 5
Information on the band height (the height of one band) is extracted from
It proceeds to step S351. In step S351, the band height is set to h, and the flow advances to step S352. In step S352, pymin and pymax are extracted from the drawing range information, and the flow advances to step S353. Step S353
And the quotient of (pymin / h) is the min band No. , And the process proceeds to step S354. In step S354,
The quotient of (pymax / h) is the max band No. To end the processing. In this way, from the drawing range information, the min band No. , Max band No. Can be calculated.

75 to 78 are steps S60 in FIG.
5, step S125 of FIG. 46, step S1 of FIG.
58 is a detailed flowchart of the process of setting information in the path control table used by the output unit in step 88 of FIG. In step S360, information about the head height (height of the print head) is retrieved from the band information storage unit 5, and the process proceeds to step S361. Step S361
Then, the head height is set to h and the process proceeds to step S362. In step S362, pxmi in the drawing range information
Extract n, pxmax, pymin, pymax, and step S36
Go to 3. In step S363, the quotient of (pymin / h) is set to the min pass No. , And the process proceeds to step S364. In step S364, the quotient of (pymax / h) is max
Pass No. , And the process proceeds to step S365. In step S365, the color designation information P_Y, P_M, P_C, P
_Bk is taken out and it progresses to step S366. In step S366, the pointer is set at the head of the path control table, and the flow advances to step S367. Step S367
Then, the min pass No. The pointer is advanced by the amount of, and the process proceeds to step S368. In step S368, the min pass No. Is set to α and the process proceeds to step S369. In step S369, the value of pxmin is compared with the minimum value pointed to by the pointer. If the minimum value is larger than the value of pxmin, the process proceeds to step S370, the value of pxmin is set to the minimum value, and the process proceeds to step S371. If not, the process proceeds to step S371. Step S371
Compares the value of pxmax with the maximum value pointed to by the pointer. p
If the value of xmax is larger than the maximum value, step S37.
In step 2, the value of pxmax is set to the maximum value, and the flow advances to step S373. Otherwise, step S37
Go to 3. In step S373, the value of P_Y is compared with 0. If the value of P_Y is not 0, step S374.
Then, the Y bit of the drawing information flag is turned ON, and the process proceeds to step S375. If 0, step S375
Go to. In step S375, the value of P_M is compared with 0. If the value of P_M is not 0, the process proceeds to step S376, the M bit of the drawing information flag is turned on, and the process proceeds to step S377. If it is 0, the process proceeds to step S377. In step S377, the value of P_C is compared with 0. If the value of P_C is not 0, the process proceeds to step S378, the C bit of the drawing information flag is turned on, and the process proceeds to step S379. If it is 0, the process proceeds to step S379. In step S379, the value of P_Bk is compared with 0. If the value of P_Bk is not 0, the process proceeds to step S380, the Bk bit of the drawing information flag is turned on, and the process proceeds to step S381. If 0, step S381
Go to. In step S381, the max path number. The value of and the value of α are compared. max pass No. When the value of is larger than α, the process proceeds to step S382, 1 is added to α, and the process proceeds to step S383. In step S383, the pointer is advanced by 1, and the process returns to step S369. If it is not 0, the process ends. In this way, information can be set in the path control table used in the output unit.

FIG. 79 shows an example of drawing polygons and characters in the areas of paths 0, 1, and 2. x1 and x2 respectively indicate the minimum value and the maximum value of x in the polygonal drawing area. x3 and x4 respectively indicate the minimum value and the maximum value of x in the character drawing area.

FIG. 80 shows the drawing example of FIG.
7 shows a path control table when information is set in the path control table used in the output unit by the processes of 5 to 78. The value of k is a value set by the initialization of the path control table of FIG.

FIG. 81 shows the color designation command of FIG.
It shows an example of memory development information for color designation, which is created by analysis based on the flowcharts of 3 to 35. Here, the command table No. Is different for each color designation memory development information and is used for identifying each command. Here, the content of the data number parameter is 4. Y
The values, M value, C value, and Bk value are Y (Yellow), M (Magenta), C (Cyan), and Bk which are the primary colors of the color material (toner / ink).
It is a density data value of (Black), and even if the type of the color specification data value of the color specification command is different, it is always converted into the density data value of Y, M, C, Bk at the time of creating the memory development information after analysis. Which indicates that.

FIG. 82 shows each memory expansion information created by analyzing the line width designation command, clip area designation command, and fill definition designation command of FIG. 28 based on the flow charts of FIGS. 36, 37, and 38, respectively. Shows an example. Here, the command table No. Is different for each memory development information and is used to identify each command. The content of the data number parameter indicates the number of data items that come after the data number parameter.

FIG. 83 shows the straight line drawing command / polygon drawing command of FIG. 29 in FIGS. 43 to 45 and FIGS.
9 shows an example of each memory development information created by analysis based on the flowchart of FIG. Here, the command table No. Is different for each memory development information and is used to identify each command. The content of the data number parameter indicates the number of data items that come after the data number parameter. Since the final parameter of the memory development information for polygon drawing is the starting point (because it returns to the starting point and closes), it is x1, y1 as shown in the figure.

FIG. 84 shows an example of each memory development information created by analyzing the circle drawing command / character drawing command of FIG. 30 based on the flowcharts of FIGS. 52 to 55 and 56 to 59, respectively. Here, the command table No. Is different for each memory development information and is used to identify each command. The content of the data number parameter indicates the number of data items that come after the data number parameter.

In FIG. 85, one page is divided into four bands and the size of Y, M. 27 to 30 show examples in which the band memories of C and Bk are used to perform drawing using a part of the drawing attribute command / drawing command.
The order of drawing is circle, polygon, and character. The circle has no internal filling, has a contour, and the color of the contour is cyan. The polygon has an internal fill, and the fill color without the outline is magenta. The color of the characters used for the internal filling is yellow. An example is shown in which drawing is performed using parts.

FIGS. 86 and 87 show memory development information used in the drawing of FIG. Here, they are arranged in the order of analysis and are the same as the order in which the commands are received. As shown in the figure, the memory expansion information of the drawing attribute is all min band No. Is 0, max band N
o. Is 3, which means that all bands are analyzed. This is because unless this is done, the drawing attribute information needs to be added to the memory development information of each drawing, resulting in a large amount of data of the memory development information. Regarding the memory expansion information of drawing, the minimum band No. in which the drawing range exists. Is the min band No. , The maximum band number in which the drawing range exists. Is the max band No. Is set to. For example, the min band No. of the memory development information of circle drawing. Is 1, max band No. Is 2.

In FIG. 88, one page is divided into four bands and the size of Y, M. An example in which the drawing is performed by setting the clip area designation for the straight line drawing using the band memories of C and Bk is shown. The color of the straight line is red (M100%, Y100%).

FIG. 89 shows the memory development information used in the drawing of FIG. 88. Here, they are arranged in the order of analysis and are the same as the order in which the commands are received. The drawing range of the straight line drawing is a range extending from 0 band to 3 bands by the processing of FIG. 60 unless the clip area is taken into consideration. Considering the clip area, FIG.
By the process of FIG. 67, the range extends from one band to two bands. Therefore, regarding the memory development information of the straight line drawing, the min band No. Is 1, max band No. Is 2.

FIG. 90 shows a command in which a jump address to a function that actually expands a drawing pattern in a memory and a jump address to a function that specifies a drawing attribute (set to an internal variable) are stored. This is the execution jump table 1 (ROM). Command No. The jump address is stored corresponding to (0 to n).

FIG. 91 shows the command execution jump table 2 (R) in which all the jump addresses to the function for expanding the drawing pattern in the memory in FIG.
OM). Similarly to FIG. 90, the command No. (0 to n)
The jump address is stored corresponding to.

FIG. 92 is a flowchart detailing the process of step S12 of FIG. Step S3
In 90, the drawable range is set in consideration of the clip range (rectangular area in which the drawable range of figures, characters, etc. is set), and the process proceeds to step S391. In step S391,
The start address of each Y, M, C, K virtual page memory is calculated and set, and the flow advances to step S392. Step S
392, the min band No. of the memory expansion information. , Ma
x band No. Value is read, the pointer is advanced to the next data, and the process proceeds to step S393. In step S393, the command No. Is read and the process proceeds to step S394.
In step S394, the min band No. ≦ i (current band No.) ≦ max band No. Check whether the relationship of is established. If true, step S3
95, the pointer is set at the head of the command execution jump table 1 in FIG. 90, and the flow advances to step S397. If not satisfied, the process proceeds to step S396, the pointer is set at the head of the command execution jump table 2 in FIG. 91, and the process proceeds to step S397. Step S3
Command No. 97. The pointer of the table is advanced by an amount corresponding to, and the process proceeds to step 398. Step S398
Then, the content (jump address) pointed to by the pointer is extracted, and the flow advances to step S399. In step S399, the function pointed to by the jump address is executed, and the processing ends.

FIG. 93 is a flowchart detailing the process of step S390 of FIG. Hereinafter, the value of y in the drawing range and the value of the clip area are values in printer coordinates. In step S400, band height information [height of one band (the number of dots or the number of scan lines)] is retrieved from the band information storage unit 5, and the process proceeds to step S401. In step S401, the value of (the above-mentioned band height) × i (current band No.) is set to the minimum value mi of y in the drawable range.
Set to ny and proceed to step S402. Step S4
In 02, the value of (i + 1) is compared with the value of the number of bands. If the value of the number of bands is larger than the value of (i + 1), the process proceeds to step S403 (the above-mentioned band height) × (i + 1).
The value of -1 is set to the maximum value maxy of y in the drawable range, and the process proceeds to step S405. If not, the process proceeds to step S404, the maximum value of y in the effective print area of the paper is set to the maximum value maxy of y in the drawable range, and step S404 is performed.
Proceed to 405. In step S405, the minimum y value dspymi and the maximum y value dspymx are extracted from the information of the clip area (rectangular area in which the drawable range of figures, characters, etc. is set), and the process proceeds to step S406. In step S406,
Compare miny and dspymi. If miny is larger than dspymi, the process proceeds to step S407, the value of miny is set in dspymi, and the process proceeds to step S408. If not, the process proceeds directly to step S408. Step S40
In 8, compare maxy and dspymx. If dspymx is larger than maxy, the process proceeds to step S409, and the value of maxy is set to ds
Set it to pymx and finish the process. If not, the process is terminated as it is. Use the dspymi and dspymx set by this flow for the drawable range of actual figures and characters used when expanding the band memory.

FIG. 94 shows the setting of printer coordinates when the band height is 512 dots. In this case, as shown in the figure, the miny value of 0 band is 0 and the maxy value is 51.
The miny value of 1 and 1 band is 512, and the maxy value is 1023.

FIG. 95 shows band No. For the drawable range of figures and characters when is i, dspymi <miny, ma
An example is shown in which a clip area satisfying xy <dspymx is set. In this case, the band No. The drawable range of the actual figure, character, etc. used when expanding the band memory corresponding to i becomes the shaded portion of this figure according to the processing of the figure. Here, dspxmi and dspxmx represent the minimum value of x and the maximum value of x of the clip area, respectively.

FIG. 96 is a flowchart detailing the processing of step S391 of FIG. Step S
At 410, information X_bandptr (X = y, m, of the start address of each of Y, M, C, and Bk band memories from the band information storage unit 5).
c, k) is taken out, and the process proceeds to step S411. Step S
In 411, information on the capacity (bytes) of the band memory is retrieved from the band information storage unit 5, and the process proceeds to step S412. In step S412, X_topadr (X = y, m, c, k)-
By calculating (band memory capacity) × i (current band No.), the start address of each virtual page memory of Y, M, C, and Bk is obtained, and the process ends.

FIG. 97 shows the fifth band of FIG. 17 (band N
o. 4) indicates the start address of each virtual page memory of Y, M, C, and Bk when the drawing is developed. The address is obtained by the processing of FIG.

FIG. 98 shows the processing when the line width designation function is executed in step S399 of FIG. In step S420, the line width value is read from the memory development information specifying the line width, and the flow advances to step S421. In step S421, the above line width value is set to the variable lwidth as the line width information used when the drawing pattern is expanded in the memory at the time of executing the drawing function, and the process ends.

FIG. 99 shows the processing when the line color designation function is executed in step S399 of FIG. In step S430, the Y, M, C, and Bk values of the line color are read from the memory development information for specifying the line color, and then in step S430.
Proceed to 431. In step S431, the above Y, M, C, and Bk values are set in the variable lymck as the line color information used when the drawing pattern is expanded in the memory when the drawing function is executed, and the process ends.

FIG. 100 shows the processing when the paint color designating function is executed in step S399 of FIG. In step S430, the fill colors Y, M, C, and B are selected from the memory development information for designating the fill color.
The k value is read and the process proceeds to step S431. Step S
In 431, Y, M, C, and B are used as fill color information used when the drawing pattern is expanded in the memory when the drawing function is executed.
The k value is set in the variable fymck, and the process ends.

FIG. 101 shows the processing when the character color designating function is executed in step S399 of FIG. In step S440, the Y, M, C, and Bk values of the character color are read from the memory development information for specifying the character color, and the flow advances to step S441. In step S441, Y, M, C, and Bk values are set in the variable tymck as the character color information used when the character pattern is expanded in the memory when the character print function is executed, and the process ends.

FIG. 102 shows the processing when the clip area specifying function is executed in step S399 of FIG. In step S450, xmin, ymin, xma of the clip area is extracted from the memory expansion information for specifying the clip area.
The values of x and ymax are read and the process proceeds to step S451. In step S451, the above-mentioned values of xmin, ymin, xmax, and ymax are respectively set as variable dspxm as clip area information used when the drawing pattern is expanded in the memory when the drawing function is executed.
Set to i, dspymi, dspxmx, dspymx and proceed to step S452. In step S452, the miny, maxy (on printer coordinates) values of the drawing range of the band with respect to the band number i are retrieved from the band information storage unit 5, and the flow advances to step S453. In step S453, miny and dspymi are compared.
If miny is larger than dspymi, the process proceeds to step S454, the value of miny is set in dspymi, and step S455.
Proceed to. If not, the process proceeds to step S455. In step S455, maxy and dspymx are compared. ds
If pymx is larger than maxy, the flow advances to step S456 to set the value of maxy in dspymx, and the processing ends. If not, the process is terminated as it is.

FIG. 103 shows the processing when the filling definition specifying function is executed in step S399 of FIG. In step S460, the fill pattern number is read from the memory development information for specifying the fill definition, and the flow advances to step S461. Step S461
Then, the above-mentioned filling pattern number is set in the variable fpat as the filling pattern information used when the drawing pattern is expanded in the memory when the drawing function is executed, and step S4 is performed.
Proceed to 62. In step S462, the flag value indicating the presence / absence of a contour line is read from the memory expansion information for which the paint definition is specified, and the flow advances to step S463. In step S463, the contour line presence / absence flag value is set in the variable fpermt as the contour line presence / absence information used when the drawing pattern is expanded in the memory at the time of executing the drawing function, and the process ends.

FIG. 104 and FIG. 105 show the processing when executing the function of line drawing in step S399 of FIG. In step S470, the number of data is read from the memory development information of the straight line drawing, and the step S4
Proceed to 71. In step S471, 1 / the above number of data
Set 2 (the number of coordinate points of the straight line) to the constant n and step S
Proceed to 472. In step S472, the value of the line color information lymck is taken out, and the flow advances to step S473. Step S4
In 73, the information of the clip area dspxmi, dspxmx, dspymi, dsp
The value of ymx is taken out and the process proceeds to step S474. In step S474, the Y, M, C, and Bk virtual page memory start addresses are extracted, and the flow advances to step S475. In step S475, the constant m is set to 1 and step S
Proceed to 476. In step S476, the point (xm, ym) on the printer coordinates is read from the memory development information for straight line drawing, and the flow advances to step S477. In step S477, a point (xm +
1, ym + 1) is read and the process proceeds to step S478. In step S478, two points (xm, ym) on the printer coordinates,
The straight line pattern between (xm + 1, ym + 1) is used as the line color information lym.
ck, clip area information, and Y, M, C, and Bk virtual page memory start addresses are expanded in the Y, M, C, and Bk band memories, and the flow advances to step S479. In step S479, the values of n and (m + 1) are compared. If n is larger than (m + 1), the process proceeds to step 480, m is incremented by 1, and the process returns to step 477.
If not, the process ends. As described above, it is possible to develop a straight line drawing pattern in the band memory by using the memory development information for the line drawing, the line color designation, and the line width designation.

106 to 108 are steps S in FIG.
In 399, processing when executing a polygon drawing function is shown. In step S481, the number of data is read from the memory development information of polygon drawing, and then step S481.
Proceed to 482. In step S482,
1/2 (the number of polygonal coordinate points) is set to the constant n, and the flow advances to step S483. In step S483, the constant m is set to 1, and the process proceeds to step S484. Step S484
Then, the point (xm, ym) on the printer coordinates is read from the memory development information of the polygon drawing, and the process proceeds to step S485.
In step S485, the values of xm and ym are set in the storage area in the system work, and the flow advances to step S486. In step S486, the values of n and m are compared. If n is larger than m, the process proceeds to step S487, m is incremented by 1, and the process returns to step S484. If not, the process proceeds to step S488. Step S4
In 88, information of clip area dspxmi, dspxmx, dspymi, dsp
The value of ymx is extracted and the process proceeds to step S489. In step S489, the Y, M, C, and Bk virtual page memory start addresses are extracted, and the flow advances to step S490. In step S490, the value of the fill pattern information fpat is set.
Compare with 0. In the case of 0, the process proceeds to step S493.
If it is not 0, the process proceeds to step S491, the value of the fill color information fymck is taken out, and the process proceeds to step S492. In step S492, an internal polygonal filling pattern is set in the area surrounded by the polygonal contour points (x1, y1), ..., (xm, ym) set in the storage area in the system work in step S485. , Fill pattern information fpat, fill color information fymck, clip area information, and Y, M, C, Bk virtual page memory start addresses are expanded into Y, M, C, Bk band memories, and step Proceed to S493. In step S493, the value of the information fpermt regarding the presence or absence of the contour line is compared with 0. If it is 0, the process ends. If not 0, step S494
Then, the constant m is set to 1 and the process proceeds to step S495. In step S495, the value of the line color information lymck is extracted, and the flow advances to step S496. In step S496, the coordinates Xm, Ym of the polygonal contour point are extracted from the storage area in the system work, and the flow advances to step S497. In step S497, the coordinates Xm + 1, Ym + 1 of the polygonal contour point are extracted from the storage area in the system work, and step S497 is performed.
Proceed to 498. In step S498, the straight line pattern between the two points (xm, ym) and (xm + 1, ym + 1) on the printer coordinates is set to line color information lymck, clip area information, Y,
Based on the head addresses of the virtual page memories of M, C, and Bk, they are expanded in the band memories of Y, M, C, and Bk, and the process proceeds to step S499. In step S499, n and (m + 1)
Compare the values of. If n is greater than (m + 1),
The process proceeds to step S500, m is incremented by 1, and the process returns to step S497. If not, the process ends. In this way, the polygon drawing pattern can be expanded in the band memory by the memory expansion information of polygon drawing / fill definition definition / line color specification / fill color specification.

FIG. 109 and FIG. 110 show the processing when the circle drawing function is executed in step S399 of FIG. In step S501, the number of data is read from the memory development information for circle drawing, and then in step S502.
Go to. In step S502, the central x, y coordinates xc, yc are read from the memory development information for circle drawing, and the flow advances to step S503. In step S503, the radius r is read from the memory development information for circle drawing, and then step S504.
Go to. In step S504, the clip area information dspx
Extract the values of mi, dspxmx, dspymi, dspymx and step S
Proceed to 505. In step S505, Y, M, C, Bk
The respective virtual page memory start addresses are extracted and the process proceeds to step S506. In step S506, the value of the fill pattern information fpat is compared with 0. In the case of 0, the process proceeds to step S509. If not 0, step S5
In step 07, the value of the fill color information fymck is extracted, and the flow advances to step S508. In step S508, the internal fill pattern of the circle is calculated based on xc, yc, radius r, fill pattern information fpat, fill color information fymck, clip area information, and virtual page memory start addresses of Y, M, C, and Bk. In the Y, M, C, and Bk band memories, and the process proceeds to step S509. Step S50
At 9, the value of the information fpermt regarding the presence or absence of the contour line is compared with 0. If it is 0, the process ends. If it is not 0, the process proceeds to step S510, the value of the line color information lymck is taken out, and the process proceeds to step S511. In step S511, the outline pattern of the circle is set to Y, M based on xc, yc, radius r, line color information lymck, clip area information, and Y, M, C, Bk virtual page memory start addresses. , C, Bk are expanded in each band memory, and the process ends. As described above, the circle drawing pattern can be expanded in the band memory by the memory expansion information of the circle drawing, the fill definition specification, the line color specification, and the fill color specification.

111 and 112 show step S of FIG.
399 shows processing when executing a function of character drawing. In step S520, the number of data is read from the memory development information for character drawing, and then in step S52.
Go to 1. In step S521, the x, y coordinates, xr, yr of the drawing position are read from the memory development information for character drawing, and the flow advances to step S522. In step S522, the internal code of the character is read from the memory development information for character drawing, and the flow advances to step S523. In step S523, the values of the clip area information dspxmi, dspxmx, dspymi, dspymx are extracted, and the flow advances to step S524. In step S524,
The head addresses of the virtual page memories Y, M, C and Bk are fetched and the process proceeds to step S525. Step S525
Then, the value of the character color information tymck is taken out and step S52 is executed.
Go to 6. In step S526, the character pattern is xr,
yr, internal code, character color information tymck, clip area information, Y, M, C, Bk virtual page memory start addresses are expanded into Y, M, C, Bk band memories, and processing is performed. finish. Thus, the character pattern can be expanded in the band memory by the memory expansion information for character drawing / character color designation.

FIG. 112 shows the processing when the read skip function is executed in step S399 of FIG. In step S530, the number of data is read from the memory development information, and the process proceeds to step S531. In step S531, the number of data is set to the constant n, and the process proceeds to step S532. In step S532, the constant j is set to 0, and the flow advances to step S533. Step S533
Then, the pointer is set to the data next to the data number parameter, and the process proceeds to step S534. Step S534
Then, the data pointed by the pointer is read, and step S5
Proceed to 35. In step S535, the constant j is incremented by 1, and the process proceeds to step S536. Step S53
In step 6, the pointer is advanced to the next data and step S53.
Proceed to 7. In step S537, the constant j is compared with the data number n, and if they are not equal, the process returns to step S534. If they are equal, the processing ends. In this way, it is possible to skip the memory expansion information for drawing.

113 to 115 are steps S in FIG.
15 shows a process at the time of color recording. In step S540, the band information storage unit 5 to 1
The number of segments (number of passes) per band is taken out, and the process proceeds to step S541. In step S541, the number of segments per band is set to a constant α, and the flow advances to step S542. In step S542, the pointer is set at the head of the path control table, and the flow advances to step S543. In step S543, the constant β is set to 1, and the process proceeds to step S544. In step S544, the value of the drawing memory information flag pointed to by the pointer is compared with 0. If it is equal to 0, the process proceeds to step S556. If it is not equal to 0, the process proceeds to step S545. Step S54
In step 5, it is compared whether the Bk bit of the drawing memory information flag is ON. If it is not ON, the process proceeds to step S547. If it is ON, the process proceeds to step S546, the memory contents of the current segment from the minimum value to the maximum value pointed by the pointer in the band memory of Bk is fetched into the output buffer, and the process proceeds to step S547. In step S547, it is compared whether or not the C bit of the drawing memory information flag is ON.
If it is not ON, the process proceeds to step S549. If it is ON, the process proceeds to step S548, and the memory contents of the current segment from the minimum value to the maximum value pointed by the pointer in the band memory of C are taken out to the output buffer and step S5.
Proceed to 49. In step S549, it is compared whether or not the M bit of the drawing memory information flag is ON. If it is not ON, the process proceeds to step S551. If ON, step S
Proceeding to 550, the memory contents of the current segment from the minimum value to the maximum value pointed to by the pointer in the M band memories are fetched into the output buffer, and the flow advances to step S551. In step S551, it is compared whether or not the Y bit of the drawing memory information flag is ON. If not ON, step S
Proceed to 553. If it is ON, the process proceeds to step S552, the memory contents of the current segment from the minimum value to the maximum value pointed by the pointer in the Y band memory are fetched into the output buffer, and the process proceeds to step S553. Step S55
In 3, the print head is horizontally moved to the position of the minimum value pointed by the pointer, and the process proceeds to step S554. Step S554
Then, the contents of the output buffer are recorded on the paper in accordance with the horizontal movement of the print head, the print head is horizontally moved to the position of the maximum value pointed by the pointer, and the process proceeds to step S555. In step S555, the print head is horizontally moved to the left end, and the flow advances to step S556. In step S556, the print head is vertically moved downward by the height of the segment (pass), and the flow advances to step S557. In step S557, the values of α and β are compared. If the values are equal, the process ends. If the values are not equal, the process proceeds to step S558, the pointer is incremented by 1, and the process proceeds to step S559. Step S55
At 9, the value of β is incremented by 1, and the process ends.

FIG. 116 is a band height information table storing the band height and the information (memory capacity) of the expansion memory corresponding to one color material corresponding to the band height. FIG. 117 is a flow chart of changing the band height information and changing and setting the Y, M, C, and K expansion memories based on the information on the capacity of the added RAM. In step S101, information on the memory capacity of the additional RAM is fetched, set to a constant a, and the process proceeds to step S102. In step S102, the reference value of the memory capacity (the memory capacity that serves as the reference for changing the band height) is set to b, and the process proceeds to step S103. In step S103, the value of a is divided (rounded down) by the value of b,
The constant i is set and the process proceeds to step S104. In step S104, the pointer is set at the head of the band height information table of FIG. 116, and the process proceeds to step S105. In step S105, the pointer is advanced by the number of i and step S
Proceed to 106. In step S106, the information about the band height is extracted from the content pointed by the pointer, and the step S10 is performed.
In step S107, which proceeds to step 7, the retrieved band height information is set to the currently used band height information, and the flow advances to step S108. In step S108, the information in the expansion memory is extracted from the contents pointed by the pointer, and the process proceeds to step S109. In step S109, four, Y, M, C, and K expansion memories are secured and set in the RAM based on the extracted expansion memory information, and the process ends.
As described above, depending on the capacity of the added memory, 1
The height of the band can be changed and the expansion memory of the band can be changed.

The processing of FIG. 117 can also be performed by the processing shown in FIG. 118. In step S201, information on the memory capacity of the additional RAM is fetched, set to a constant a, and the process proceeds to step S202. Step S202
Then, the constant b, which is a predetermined reference value of the memory capacity (memory capacity serving as a reference for changing the band height), is compared with the constant a. Here, when b is larger than a, the processing is ended. Therefore, the band height and the expansion memory are not changed.
If a is equal to or larger than b, the process proceeds to step S203. In step S203, a constant c, which is a predetermined reference value of the memory capacity (a memory capacity that serves as a reference for changing the band height, a value larger than b here) is compared with the constant a. Here, if c is larger than a, the process proceeds to step S204. In step S204, the constant d
(The value of the band height information predetermined with respect to the reference value b of the memory capacity) is set to the currently used band height information, and the process proceeds to step S205. Step S20
At 5, the expansion memories for 4 sheets of Y, M, C and K corresponding to the band height information d are secured and set on the RAM, and the process ends. If a is equal to or larger than c in step S203, the process proceeds to step S206. In step S206, a constant e (a value of band height information predetermined with respect to the reference value c of the memory capacity) is set to information of the band height currently used, and the process proceeds to step S207. In step S207, expansion memories for four Y, M, C, and K sheets corresponding to the band height information e are secured in the RAM.
Set and end the process. As described above, the height for one band can be changed and the expansion memory for the band can be changed according to the capacity of the added memory.

119 to 121 are steps S in FIG.
17 shows a process of initializing a replaceable band memory instead of the process of 17. In step S560,
The number of segments (the number of passes) per band is retrieved from the band information storage unit 5 and the process proceeds to step S561. In step S561, the number of segments per band is set to a constant α, and the flow advances to step S562. Step S
In 562, a pointer is set at the head of the path control table, and the flow advances to step S563. In step S563, the constant β is set to 1, and the process proceeds to step S564. In step S564, flg (4 bits) is set to 0, and the flow advances to step S565. In step S565, the drawing memory information flag pointed to by the pointer and the contents of flg are ORed, and the result is set in flg, and the result is set in step S565.
Proceed to 566. In step S566, the values of α and β are compared. If the values are not equal, the process proceeds to step S567, the pointer is incremented by 1, and the process proceeds to step S568. In step S568, 1 is added to the value of β and step S56
Return to 5. If the values are equal, the process proceeds to step S569. In step S569, it is compared whether the Bk bit of flg is equal to 0. If they are equal, step S57
Go to 1. If they are not equal, the process proceeds to step S570, the band memory of Bk is cleared, and step S571.
Go to. In step S571, it is compared whether or not the C bit of flg is equal to 0. If they are equal, step S5
Proceed to 73. If they are not equal, the process proceeds to step S572, the band memory of C is cleared and step S573.
Go to. In step S573, it is compared whether the M bit of flg is equal to 0. If they are equal, step S5
Proceed to 75. If they are not equal, the process proceeds to step S574, the band memory of M is cleared, and step S575 is performed.
Go to. In step S575, it is compared whether the Y bit of flg is equal to 0. If they are equal, the processing ends. If they are not equal, the process proceeds to step S576 and Y
The band memory of is cleared and the process ends.

122 to 125 show processes which can be replaced in place of the color recording process of FIGS. 113 to 115. In step S620, the band information storage unit 5
The number of segments (the number of passes) per band is extracted from and the process proceeds to step S621. In step S621,
The number of segments per band is set to a constant α and the process proceeds to step S622. In step S622, the pointer is set to the head of the path control table, and step S62 is performed.
Go to 3. In step S623, the constant β is set to 1, and the process proceeds to step S624. In step S624, the value of the drawing memory information flag pointed to by the pointer is compared with 0.
If it is equal to 0, the process proceeds to step S641. If it is not equal to 0, the process proceeds to step S625. In step S625, the Bk bit of the drawing memory information flag is turned on.
Compare whether or not. If not ON, step S62
Proceed to 7. If it is ON, the process proceeds to step S626 and B
Of the band memory of k, the memory contents of the current segment from the minimum value to the maximum value pointed by the pointer are fetched into the output buffer, and the process proceeds to step S627. Step S627
Then, it is compared whether or not the C bit of the drawing memory information flag is ON. If it is not ON, the process proceeds to step S629.
If it is ON, the process proceeds to step S628, the memory contents of the current segment from the minimum value to the maximum value pointed by the pointer in the band memory of C is fetched into the output buffer, and the process proceeds to step S629. In step S629, it is compared whether or not the M bit of the drawing memory information flag is ON. If it is not ON, the process proceeds to step S631. If it is ON, the process proceeds to step S630, and the memory contents of the current segment from the minimum value to the maximum value pointed by the pointer in the M band memory are fetched into the output buffer and step S6311.
Go to. In step S631, it is compared whether the Y bit of the drawing memory information flag is ON. If not ON,
It proceeds to step S633. If ON, step S63
In step 2, the memory contents of the current segment from the minimum value to the maximum value pointed by the pointer in the Y band memory are fetched into the output buffer, and the flow advances to step S633. In step S633, the minimum and maximum values indicated by the pointer are set in xmin and xmax, respectively, and the flow advances to step S634. In step S634, move the pointer to the segment immediately below the segment currently pointed to, and proceed to step S63.
Go to 5. In step S635, the minimum value indicated by the pointer is compared with the value of xmax. Where the minimum value is xm
If it is larger than ax, the process proceeds to step S636, the print head is horizontally moved to the position of xmin, and then step S637.
Go to. In step S637, the contents of the output buffer are recorded on the paper in accordance with the horizontal movement of the print head, the print head is horizontally moved to the position of xmax, and the flow proceeds to step S641. If the minimum value is equal to or less than the value of xmax, the process proceeds to step S638, and the print head is moved to xmin.
After moving horizontally to the position of, the process proceeds to step S639. In step S639, the contents of the output buffer are recorded on the paper in accordance with the horizontal movement of the print head, the print head is horizontally moved to the position of xmax, the process proceeds to step S640, the print head is horizontally moved to the left end, and the process proceeds to step S641. move on.
In step S641, the print head is segmented (pass)
The vertical movement is performed by a height corresponding to, and the process proceeds to step S642. In step S642, the values of α and β are compared. If the values are equal, the process ends. If the values are not equal, the process proceeds to step S643, 1 is added to the value of β, and the process proceeds to step S64.
Return to 624.

In this image processing apparatus, in accordance with an instruction from the host computer 1 (FIG. 13) or the operation panel 22 (FIG. 13), color recording is performed using one set of Y, M, C, and Bk band memories and Y mode. , M, C and Bk band memories, it is possible to perform color recording processing by selecting one of the modes for performing color recording.

FIG. 126 is a flow chart showing the processing for selecting the above-mentioned modes by the instruction from the operation panel 22 (FIG. 13) and performing the color recording processing. Step S6
At 50, the recording control mode of the operation panel 22 (FIG. 13) is selected and the process proceeds to step S651. Step S651
Check the selected recording control mode. Y, M,
If the control mode uses two sets of C and Bk band memories, the process proceeds to step S652, selects the recording control mode using two sets of Y, M, C, and Bk band memories, and proceeds to step S653 to perform Y, M, and C, Bk band memory 2
The color recording process is performed using the group, and the process ends. Y,
If the control mode uses one set of M, C, and Bk band memories, the process proceeds to step S654 to select the recording control mode that uses one set of Y, M, C, and Bk band memories, and proceeds to step S655. Color recording processing is performed using one set of band memories of M, C, and Bk, and the processing ends. As described above, the mode for performing color recording using one set of Y, M, C, and Bk band memories from the operation panel and Y, M, and
It is possible to perform color recording processing by selecting one of the modes in which color recording is performed using two sets of C and Bk band memories.

FIG. 127 shows the operation panel 22 shown in FIG. As shown in the figure, it is composed of an LCD display section and switches, and the switch at the right end is used to select the above-mentioned recording control mode.

FIG. 128 is an RA used when performing recording control using one set of the Y, M, C, and Bk band memories described above.
An example of a memory map of the M area is shown. Y, M,
FIG. 19 is an example of a memory map of a RAM area used when performing recording control using two sets of C and Bk band memories.
It can be seen that there is a large free area available for the cache memory of characters, etc.

FIG. 129 is a flow chart showing a process of selecting a recording control mode by analyzing a recording control command and performing a color recording process. Step S660
Then, the recording control command is read and the process proceeds to step S661. In step S661, the read recording control command is analyzed by the command analysis unit 3 and the process proceeds to step S662. In step S662, the selected recording control mode is checked. If the control mode uses two sets of Y, M, C, and Bk band memories, the process proceeds to step S663.
A recording control mode using two sets of band memories of M, C, Bk is selected, and the process proceeds to step S664 and Y, M, C, B is selected.
Color recording processing is performed using two sets of k band memories, and the processing ends. If the control mode uses one set of Y, M, C, and Bk band memories, the process proceeds to step S665, selects the recording control mode that uses one set of Y, M, C, and Bk band memories, and proceeds to step S666. Y, M,
Color recording processing is performed using one set of band memories of C and Bk, and the processing ends. As described above, the mode in which the recording control command is analyzed and the color recording is performed by using one set of the Y, M, C, and Bk band memories, and the color recording is performed by using the two sets of the Y, M, C, and Bk band memories. It is possible to perform color recording processing by selecting one of the modes for performing.

FIG. 127 shows an example of the recording control command shown in FIG. 129. As shown in the figure, the recording control command is the command No. for identifying the command. And a recording control mode selection parameter. When the value of the recording control mode selection parameter is 0, Y, M,
It is a mode in which color recording control is performed using one set of C and Bk band memories. When the value is 1, Y, M,
This indicates that the mode is for performing color recording control using two sets of C and Bk band memories.

FIG. 131 is a flowchart showing the processing for selecting the recording control mode based on the size of the free space in the RAM area and for performing the color recording processing. In step S670, the amount of free space in the RAM area and the constant M1
Compare (a certain size). If the amount of free space in the RAM area is equal to or larger than the constant M1, the process proceeds to step S671 to select the recording control mode using two sets of Y, M, C, and Bk band memories and then step S67.
Proceeding to step 2, color recording processing is performed using the two sets of Y, M, C and Bk band memories, and the processing is completed. If the constant M1 is larger than the amount of free space in the RAM area, the flow advances to step S673 to select the recording control mode using one set of Y, M, C and Bk band memories and then to step S67.
In step 4, the color recording process is performed using one set of Y, M, C, and Bk band memories, and the process ends. As described above, depending on the amount of free space in the RAM area, Y, M,
Color recording processing is performed by selecting one of a mode in which color recording is performed using one set of C and Bk band memories and a mode in which color recording is performed using two sets of Y, M, C and Bk band memories. Is possible.

EFFECTS OF THE INVENTION By having the color designation information in the data format of the color material, the development into the memory can be facilitated.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an illustration of a user coordinate system.

FIG. 2 is an exemplary diagram of a printer coordinate system.

FIG. 3 is an exemplary diagram of a memory map of a RAM area inside a color image processing apparatus when each of Y, M, C, and Bk has a memory corresponding to the size of an effective print area of a sheet.

FIG. 4 is an exemplary diagram of a line color designation command of drawing attribute commands.

FIG. 5 is an exemplary diagram of a circle drawing command of drawing commands.

FIG. 6 is a view showing an example of memory development information for specifying a line color in the memory development information of the drawing attribute function.

FIG. 7 is a view showing an example of memory development information for circle drawing of memory development information for drawing function.

FIG. 8 is an exemplary diagram of circle drawing on a user coordinate system.

FIG. 9 is an exemplary diagram of a circle drawing command issued when setting the circle drawing of FIG.

FIG. 10 is an exemplary diagram of conversion of the circle drawing of FIG. 8 onto a printer coordinate system.

FIG. 11 is a view showing an example of memory development information of circle drawing in FIGS.

FIG. 12 shows the outline of the circle in FIG. 8 in yellow (color material Yellow100
Example of line color command specified when drawing with (%)

FIG. 13 is a block diagram showing a circuit configuration of an image processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 14 is a diagram showing details around a head portion of an inkjet image processing apparatus.

15 is a diagram showing the head unit 101 of FIG. 14 in detail.

FIG. 16 is an exemplary view of a band structure.

FIG. 17 is an exemplary diagram when the effective print area of the paper is divided into eight bands.

FIG. 18 is an exemplary diagram of a memory map of a RAM area in the case where each color material has a development memory for one band.

FIG. 19 is an exemplary diagram of a memory map of a RAM area in the case where each color material has two expansion memories for one band.

FIG. 20 is a view showing an example of an attribute information storage area for storing drawing attribute information used when data is expanded in a memory.

FIG. 21 is an exemplary diagram of a path control table.

FIG. 22 is a flowchart when color recording is performed using only one band of memory for each color material.

FIG. 23 is a flowchart when color recording is performed using only one band of memory for each color material.

FIG. 24 is a flowchart when color recording is performed using only one band of memory for each color material.

FIG. 25 is a flowchart for initializing the path control table in step S1 of FIG. 22.

FIG. 26 is the contents of the path control table initialized by the flowchart of FIG.

FIG. 27 is a view showing an example of a color designation command of drawing attribute designation commands.

FIG. 28 is a view showing an example of a line width designation command, a clip area designation command, and a fill definition designation command.

FIG. 29 is a view showing an example of a line drawing command / polygon drawing command.

[Fig. 30] Example of circle drawing command / character printing command

FIG. 31 is an exemplary diagram of a command analysis jump table.

FIG. 32 is a flowchart showing details of command data analysis processing.

FIG. 33 is a flowchart showing in detail the process of executing a color designation command analysis function.

FIG. 34 is a flowchart showing in detail the process of executing a color designation command analysis function.

FIG. 35 is a flowchart showing in detail the process of executing a color designation command analysis function.

FIG. 36 is a flowchart showing in detail the processing for executing the line width designation command analysis function.

FIG. 37 is a flowchart showing in detail a process of executing a clip area designation command analysis function.

FIG. 38 is a flowchart showing in detail the processing for executing a fill definition specification command analysis function.

FIG. 39 shows the min band No. , Max band No. Flowchart showing in detail the process of setting a memory expansion information area

FIG. 40 is a view showing an example of color reproduction processing.

FIG. 41 is a view showing an example of color conversion processing.

FIG. 42 is a view showing an example of color conversion processing.

FIG. 43 is a diagram showing processing when executing a line drawing command analysis function.

FIG. 44 is a diagram showing processing when executing a line drawing command analysis function.

FIG. 45 is a diagram showing processing when executing a straight line drawing command analysis function.

FIG. 46 is a diagram showing processing when executing a polygon drawing command analysis function.

FIG. 47 is a diagram showing processing when executing a polygon drawing command analysis function.

FIG. 48 is a diagram showing processing when executing a polygon drawing command analysis function.

FIG. 49 is a diagram showing a process of setting data in the work area.

FIG. 50 is a diagram showing a process of setting data in the work area.

FIG. 51 is a diagram showing a process of setting data in the work area.

FIG. 52 is a diagram showing processing when executing a circle drawing command analysis function.

FIG. 53 is a diagram showing processing when executing a circle drawing command analysis function.

FIG. 54 is a diagram showing processing when executing a circle drawing command analysis function.

FIG. 55 is a diagram showing processing when executing a circle drawing command analysis function.

FIG. 56 is a diagram showing processing when a character drawing command analysis function is executed.

FIG. 57 is a diagram showing processing when a character drawing command analysis function is executed.

FIG. 58 is a diagram showing processing when executing a character drawing command analysis function.

FIG. 59 is a diagram showing processing when executing a character drawing command analysis function.

FIG. 60 is a diagram showing a drawing range calculation process;

FIG. 61 is a diagram showing a drawing range of a polygon.

FIG. 62 is a diagram showing a process of calculating a drawing range of a circle.

FIG. 63 is a diagram showing a drawing range of a circle

FIG. 64 is a diagram showing a process of calculating a drawing range of a character.

FIG. 65 is a diagram showing a drawing range of characters.

[Fig. 66] Fig. 66 is a diagram showing a clip check process of a drawing range.

[Fig. 67] Fig. 67 is a diagram showing a process of clip check of a drawing range.

FIG. 68 is an exemplary diagram when a clip area is set for a drawing range.

FIG. 69 is a diagram showing processing (straight line) of color designation information.

FIG. 70 is a diagram showing a process of setting color specification information (closed figure).

71 is a diagram showing the process of step S301 of FIG. 70. FIG.

72 is a diagram showing the process of step S302 in FIG. 70. FIG.

FIG. 73 is a diagram showing a process of setting (character) color designation information.

FIG. 74 shows the min band No. , Max band No. Figure showing the calculation process of

FIG. 75 is a diagram showing a process of setting information in the path control table used in the output unit.

FIG. 76 is a diagram showing a process of setting information in the path control table used in the output unit.

FIG. 77 is a diagram showing a process of setting information in the path control table used in the output unit.

FIG. 78 is a diagram showing a process of setting information in the path control table used in the output unit.

FIG. 79 is an exemplary view when a polygon and a character are drawn in the areas of paths 0, 1, and 2.

FIG. 80 is a view showing an example of a path control table.

FIG. 81 is a view showing an example of memory development information for color designation.

FIG. 82 is a view showing an example of each memory expansion information.

FIG. 83 is a view showing an example of each memory expansion information.

FIG. 84 is a view showing an example of each memory expansion information.

FIG. 85 is an exemplary diagram when drawing is performed using a band memory for each color material and a drawing attribute command / drawing command.

FIG. 86 is a view showing an example of memory expansion information.

FIG. 87 is a view showing an example of memory expansion information.

[Fig. 88] Fig. 88 is an exemplary diagram of drawing by setting a clip area designation for straight line drawing.

FIG. 89 is a view showing an example of memory expansion information.

FIG. 90 is a diagram showing a command execution jump table 1.

FIG. 91 is a diagram showing a command execution jump table 2;

FIG. 92 is a flowchart describing in detail the process of step S12 of FIG.

93 is a flowchart describing in detail the processing of step S390 of FIG. 92.

FIG. 94 is a diagram showing an example of setting printer coordinates when the band height is 512 dots.

FIG. 95 is a view showing an example of setting a clip area.

96 is a flowchart describing in detail the processing of step S391 of FIG. 92.

FIG. 97 is a diagram showing the start address of each virtual page memory for each color material.

FIG. 98 is a diagram showing processing when executing a line width designation function.

FIG. 99 is a diagram showing processing when executing a line color designation function.

[Fig. 100] Fig. 100 is a diagram showing a process when a fill color specifying function is executed.

FIG. 101 is a diagram showing processing when executing a character color designation function.

FIG. 102 is a diagram showing processing when executing a clip area specifying function.

FIG. 103 is a diagram showing a process when a fill definition specifying function is executed.

FIG. 104 is a diagram showing processing when executing a straight line drawing function.

FIG. 105 is a diagram showing a process when a straight line drawing function is executed.

FIG. 106 is a diagram showing processing when a polygon drawing function is executed.

FIG. 107 is a diagram showing processing when a polygon drawing function is executed.

FIG. 108 is a diagram showing a process when a polygon drawing function is executed.

FIG. 109 is a diagram showing processing when executing a circle drawing function.

FIG. 110 is a diagram showing processing when executing a circle drawing function.

FIG. 111 is a diagram showing processing when a character drawing function is executed.

FIG. 112 is a diagram showing processing when a character drawing function is executed.

FIG. 113 is a diagram showing processing when executing a skipping function.

FIG. 114 is a diagram showing processing when performing color recording.

FIG. 115 is a diagram showing a process when performing color recording.

FIG. 116 is a diagram showing a band height information table in which band heights and memory capacities are stored.

FIG. 117 is a flowchart for changing and setting a development memory for each color material based on RAM capacity information.

118 is another embodiment of FIG. 117.

FIG. 119 is a diagram showing a band memory initialization process;

FIG. 120 is a diagram showing a band memory initialization process;

FIG. 121 is a diagram showing band memory initialization processing.

FIG. 122 is a diagram showing a process that can be replaced with a color recording process.

FIG. 123 is a diagram showing a process that can be replaced with a color recording process.

FIG. 124 is a diagram showing a process that can be replaced with a color recording process.

FIG. 125 is a diagram showing a process that can be replaced with a color recording process.

FIG. 126 is a flowchart showing processing for performing color recording processing by selecting a mode.

127 is an exemplary view of the operation panel 22 of FIG. 13. FIG.

FIG. 128 is an exemplary view of a memory map using one set of band memories for each color material.

FIG. 129 is a flowchart showing a process of performing a color recording process by selecting a mode.

130 is an exemplary diagram of the recording control command shown in FIG. 129. FIG.

FIG. 131 is a diagram showing a recording control mode selection process based on the amount of free space in the RAM area.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Host computer 2 interface 3 Command analysis part 4 Command analysis table 5 Band information storage 6 band height information table 7 color reproduction information storage 8 color reproduction processing section 9 Character information storage 10 Control unit 11 Memory expansion information storage 12 Attribute information storage area 13 Memory development information storage area 14 Memory expansion information analysis unit 15 Command execution jump table 1 16 Command execution jump table 2 17 Pattern development section 18 Expansion memory 19 Output section 20 path control table 21 Output buffer 22 Operation panel

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁵ Identification code Internal reference number FI Technical display location G06F 15/66 310 8420-5L H04N 1/40 D 9068-5C

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. An image processing apparatus for forming and outputting second color image information composed of output color component data based on the first color image information, wherein a color included in the first color image information is provided. An image processing apparatus comprising: a determination unit that determines component data; and a conversion unit that converts the color component data into the output color component data according to a result of the determination unit. 2. The color component data is YMCK, RG.
The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising B and L ^* a ^* b ^* .