JPH05282135A - Image output device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide a printer capable of selecting and executing a required program out of prepared character pattern forming programs of plural kinds. CONSTITUTION:A program package 29 storing a character pattern forming program is connected to a connector, and when a copy switch 32 is turned on, a program in the package 29 is copied to a hard disk. When a power supply for a printer is turned on again after storing the program in the hard disk 2b, the program specified by a selection switch 33 is copied from the hard disk 2b to a program executing area 31. A CPU 23 executes the program copied to an execution area 31 and forms a character pattern. A self-diagnostic program can also be used as a program to be stored in the package 29.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image output device for outputting an image based on input information, and more particularly to an image output device having a removable ROM cartridge or the like.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art This type of device has been controlled by executing a built-in control program by a processor. When a character code is input from a host computer or the like by executing a control program, pattern data corresponding to the character code is generated, developed as image information in a frame memory or the like, and output as an image. Also,
Self-diagnosis was also realized by a self-diagnosis program in order to detect an abnormality in the device.

As described above, the control program for controlling the apparatus has various variations in terms of function even if they are used for the same purpose. For example, a so-called outline font in which the outline of a character is represented by a coordinate point with respect to the origin of the character is one of those generally used recently for pattern generation.

There are various outline font processing methods, including those using so-called Bezien curves and those interpolating with straight lines and arcs. In addition, when converting from an outline font to a bitmap font, it often includes a device (HINT information) for increasing the character quality peculiar to each processing method. In addition, there are various self-diagnosis programs for general users, for maintenance by service personnel, for checking in factories, and so on.

[0005]

In the conventional image output apparatus, when there are various functional variations as the control program for a specific purpose as described above, one of them is selected and fixedly mounted. I used to do it all the time, and I couldn't use it properly according to the purpose of use.

A font rasterizer program for converting an outline font into a bitmap font and a self-diagnosis program are fixedly installed in each printer.

The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and by selecting and executing a desired control program from among variations of the control program,
An object is to provide an image output device having a range of functions.

[0008]

[Means for Solving the Problems] and

In order to achieve the above object, the image output apparatus of the present invention has the following structure.

An image output device for outputting an image based on input information, wherein a removable program storage means for storing in advance a program for generating character pattern data based on the input information, a storage means, and the program storage Registration means for copying and registering the program stored in the storage means by the means, selecting means for selecting one of the programs copied and registered in the storage means by the registration means, and program selected by the selecting means And means for executing.

An image output device for outputting an image based on input information, comprising a removable program storage means for storing a self-diagnosis program in advance, a storage means, and a program stored by the program storage means. The storage unit includes a registration unit that performs copy registration in the storage unit, a selection unit that selects one of the programs copied and registered in the storage unit by the registration unit, and a unit that executes the program selected by the selection unit. It is characterized by

[0011]

【Example】

[Embodiment 1] As an embodiment of the present invention, a laser beam method capable of selectively executing a font rasterizer program for converting an outline font into a bitmap font is selected from among various kinds of font rasterizer programs. The printer will be described. FIG. 1 is a sectional view showing the configuration of a printer showing an embodiment of the present invention. The laser beam printer shown in FIG. 1 can also perform registration of a character pattern or a fixed form (form pattern) from a data supply source (not shown).

In FIG. 1, the printer main body 1 converts a character pattern (character code) supplied from an external host computer (to be described later), a character pattern corresponding to form information (form code), a form pattern, etc., and records them. An image is formed on a sheet of paper which is a medium. The printer control unit 2 analyzes the control of the entire main body 1 and character information supplied from the host computer, converts it into a video signal having a corresponding character pattern, and outputs the converted video signal to the laser driver 3. The laser driver 3 is a circuit for driving and controlling the semiconductor laser 4, and switches ON / OFF of the laser light 5 emitted from the semiconductor laser 4 according to the input video signal. The laser beam 5 is deflected in the left-right direction by the rotary polygon mirror 6 and irradiated on the electrostatic drum (photosensitive drum) 7, and a latent image of a character pattern is formed on the electrostatic drum 7 by laser irradiation. This latent image is developed by the developing unit 8 around the electrostatic drum 7 and then transferred to a sheet. Cut sheets are used for the paper. The cut sheet is accommodated in a paper cassette 9 mounted on the main body 1, and the paper feed roller 10 and the transport roller 1
The image is transferred to the electrostatic drum 7 by being taken in by the apparatus 1 and 12 and transferred. The operation panel 13 includes an operation switch and an LED display.
The state of the main body 1 is notified.

The connector 2a, which serves as a mounting mechanism, includes
A program package (cartridge) serving as a program supply means described later is mounted.

The hard disk 2b, which is a large-capacity auxiliary storage device, reserves an area for copying and registering the font rasterizer program in the program package.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram for explaining the configuration of the printer control unit 2 shown in FIG. 1. The same parts as those in FIG. 1 are designated by the same reference numerals.

In FIG. 2, the input interface unit 21
Receives a control code and a character code from the host computer 28, which is an external device, and temporarily stores them in the input buffer memory 22 composed of a random access memory RAM, for example. The CPU 23 also serves as a font rasterizer program start-up control, and the control program ROM 2
The print information processing is executed based on the control program stored in 5. The character pattern generator 24 stores the character font pattern corresponding to the character code in the outline font format. The frame buffer memory 26 composed of RAM stores a character pattern corresponding to a predetermined character code obtained from the character pattern generator 24 for one page at an appropriate position according to a print position command input from the host computer 28. Image expansion is stored.

The output interface unit 27 generates a video signal according to the dot pattern information expanded and stored in the frame buffer memory 26, and the page printer printing unit 3
The video signal is output to 0 in synchronization with the print control signal. The page printer printing unit 30 prints image information according to the video signal by the mechanism shown in FIG.

Program package 29 also shown in FIG.
Is composed of a font rasterizer program ROM 29a for processing print information according to an arbitrary outline font format and a socket 29b, and is configured to be attachable to and detachable from the connector 2a.

A font rasterizer program is stored in the program ROM 29a, and when the "copy" switch 32 on the operation panel is pressed while the program package 29 is attached to the connector 2a, the CP
U23 is a program ROM 29a through the connector 2a
The font rasterizer P1 stored in is read and registered in the hard disk device for copying.

It is possible to store a plurality of font rasterizer programs on the hard disk 2b by performing the same operation using a program package in which a font rasterizer program different from the font rasterizer program is stored.

When a plurality of font rasterizer programs are stored on the hard disk 2b, which font rasterizer program is to be executed is determined by the rotary switch type font rasterizer program "selection" switch 33 on the operation panel, and the power source is selected. The specification by the switch at the time of startup shall be followed. Specifically, since the hard disk device is generally slow in fetching the font rasterizer, only one font rasterizer program is copied from the hard disk 2b to the font rasterizer program execution area 31 composed of RAM when the power is turned on, according to the switch. Do it again. When executing the font rasterizer program, the CPU 23 controls the control program RO.
The program stored in M25 is moved to the execution area 31, that is, the instruction fetch is performed from the area 31 and the font rasterizer program loaded therein is executed.

As described above, the printer of this embodiment can register various kinds of font rasterizer programs for copying, so that a plurality of font rasterizer programs can be switched by a simple switch operation, which is desirable. An image can be output using the font of.

[0023]

[Other Examples]

[Second Embodiment] In the first embodiment, the printer control unit 2 processes image information for the page printer printing unit 30 according to various font rasterizer programs. However, the printer medium is used as an output medium. The present invention can be applied not only to a CRT device that can display a bitmap.

Further, the secondary storage device for storing the program read from the program package 29 is not limited to the hard disk, but may be a nonvolatile RAM or a flash P.
The same can be applied by using a ROM or the like.

Further, the selection of the program is performed by the selection switch 3
It is also possible to use a command from the host computer instead of 3. [Third Embodiment] FIG. 4 is a block diagram of the printer control unit 2 when a self-diagnosis program is used as a program read from the program package 29 in the printer having the same configuration as that of the first embodiment. The constituent elements and operation of the control unit 2 are the same as those in the first embodiment, but they are different in that the read program is a self-diagnosis program.

If the program read into the execution area 31 is a self-diagnosis program that is executed immediately after the power is turned on, the font rasterizing program is executed from the disk 2b immediately after the execution of the self-diagnosis program. The area 31 can be read again. In that case, one selection switch may be provided, or two selection switches may be provided for self-diagnosis and rasterization.

In this way, a plurality of self-diagnosis programs are prepared in the program package 29, and the switch 3
It is possible to make a copy in 2 and selectively load it in the printer with the switch 33, and to use various types such as for users and for factory shipment.

Further, it is needless to say that the present embodiment can be applied not only to print output but also to a display output device for displaying a bitmap.

The present invention may be applied to a system composed of a plurality of devices or an apparatus composed of a single device. Further, it goes without saying that the present invention can be applied to the case where it is achieved by supplying a program to a system or an apparatus.

[0030]

As described above, the image output apparatus according to the present invention can select a desired program from the variations of the control program and execute it.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a printer according to an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a printer control unit of the printers according to the first and second embodiments.

FIG. 3 is a bird's eye view of the program package of the embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a printer control unit of a printer according to a third embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Printer main body, 2 ... Printer control unit, 2a ... Connector, 2b ... Hard disk, 21 ... Input interface, 22 ... Input buffer memory, 23 ... CPU, 24 ... Character pattern generator, 25 ... Control program ROM, 26 ... Frame A buffer memory, 27 ... Output interface, 28 ... Host computer, 29 ... Program package, 30 ... Page printer printing unit.

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. An image output device for outputting an image based on input information, comprising: a detachable program storage means for storing in advance a program for generating character pattern data based on input information; a storage means; Registration means for copying and registering the program stored in the program storing means in the storage means, selection means for selecting one of the programs copied and registered in the storage means by the registration means, and selection by the selection means And a means for executing the program, the image output device. 2. An image output device for outputting an image based on input information, comprising: a removable program storage means for storing a self-diagnosis program in advance; a storage means; and a program stored by the program storage means. Registration means for making a copy registration in the storage means; selection means for selecting one of the programs copy-registered in the storage means by the registration means; and means for executing the program selected by the selection means. An image output device comprising. 3. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image output apparatus prints out an image. 4. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the selection unit selects a program instructed by a switch. 5. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the storage unit is a disk memory.