JPH0583384B2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Industrial Application Field] The present invention provides a built-in character pattern storage means for storing standard character patterns or a removable character pattern storing means for storing character patterns in a form different from standard character patterns. The present invention relates to an output method in an output device that uses a storage means to output a character pattern in a form different from a standard character pattern.

[Prior Art] Conventionally, among output devices that can generate character patterns in a plurality of different formats, output devices such as printing devices and display devices that output many patterns in the form of dot patterns have been used to generate characters given from a host computer, etc. A character dot pattern corresponding to the code data is generated by a character generator. Specifically, character pattern storage means that stores character dot patterns corresponding to character code data in advance is used to output character dot patterns corresponding to character code data given from a host computer or the like. For example, non-impact printers such as thermal printers, wire dot printers, and laser beam printers, and output devices in CRT display devices fall under this category.

These output devices can also print character patterns in different fonts by having character generators for different fonts (character patterns of different forms), especially English characters with a small number of characters. There is a strong tendency for it to be implemented in output devices intended for printing such as. Furthermore, recently, character pattern storage means (consisting of RAM or ROM) that stores character dot patterns corresponding to character code data in advance has been converted into a cartridge, a socket is provided in the output device, and a removable character pattern storage means has been developed. By making the font removable, the user can now freely select the font, increasing its usability.

Changing to another font is usually accomplished by issuing a font change instruction to the output device and switching to the address of the character generator (memory means for storing character patterns) of the specified font accordingly. . For example, from the standard typeface (standard character pattern) in Figure 1a to the bold typeface (character pattern in a form different from the standard character pattern) in Figure 1b, or the italic typeface (character pattern in a form different from the standard character pattern) in Figure 1c, To change the font to (character pattern),
This is achieved by switching to the address of the character generator (storage means for storing character patterns) of the designated font in response to the designated font change instruction.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] However, in the conventional output device described above, if the designated font is not stored in the removable character pattern storage means attached to the device main body, or If the removable character pattern storage means is not installed, the character pattern in the specified font cannot be output, and the conventional output device will notify that the character pattern in the specified font cannot be output and print processing will start. Otherwise, the font change instruction was ignored and the printing process continued with the current font.

Therefore, there has been a problem in that the user cannot output a character pattern in a desired font, and can only obtain an output result without an emphasizing effect or the like. In addition, in order to meet user demands, manufacturers have to store character patterns of multiple types of fonts in character storage means, which poses a problem of increased costs.

[Means for Solving the Invention] The present invention has been made for the purpose of solving the above-mentioned problems, and includes the following configuration as one means for solving the above-mentioned problems.

That is, by using a built-in character pattern storage means for storing standard character patterns or a removable character pattern storage means for storing character patterns in a form different from the standard character patterns, a character pattern in a form different from the standard character pattern can be created. In the apparatus for outputting a character pattern, a determination means for determining whether or not a character pattern in a form different from the standard character pattern specified from the outside can be output using the removable character pattern storage means; , if it is determined that the specified character pattern cannot be output using the removable character pattern storage means, the specified character pattern is stored in the built-in character pattern storage means in order to output the specified character pattern. and output means for pseudo-generating and outputting the designated character pattern from the standard character pattern.

[Operation] In the above configuration, even if it is determined that a character pattern in a form different from the standard character pattern specified from the outside cannot be output using the removable character pattern storage means, the specified character pattern In order to output the specified character pattern, the specified character pattern can be generated and output in a pseudo manner from the standard character pattern stored in the built-in character pattern storage means.

[Embodiment] As in the case of the conventional example, an embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

Figures 1 a to c are explanatory diagrams of the above-mentioned printing font, and Figure 2 is a block diagram of a control mechanism of an output device according to an embodiment of the present invention, showing character code data and control sent from a host computer, etc. 201 shows a control mechanism of a device that inputs commands and prints with a page printer such as a laser beam printer;
202 is an input buffer for temporarily storing data and control commands, and 203 is a general-purpose microprocessor.
CPU 204 is a built-in character generator that generates a character dot pattern according to character code data;
5 is a cartridge-style removable character generator; 2
06 is a socket for connecting the character generator 205, 207 is an output page buffer consisting of a RAM capable of storing one page's worth of dot patterns, and 208 is a video signal in accordance with the dot pattern information from the output page buffer 207. 209 is a page printer that receives a video signal from the printer interface unit 208 and prints image information based on this video signal; 210 is a row address of the output page buffer 207; 211 is a digit counter that stores the digit address of the output page buffer 207, 212 is an emphasis start register that instructs whether or not to generate a pseudo pattern from the pattern from the built-in character generator 204, and 213 is a main This is a CPU board with a control mechanism installed.

The operation of the embodiment shown in FIG. 2 will be explained below.

In the configuration shown in FIG. 2, character code data and font designation instructions sent from the computer 201 are stored in an input buffer 202.

FIG. 3 shows a format for specifying a typeface in the apparatus of this embodiment.

Normally, a character code is sent to the built-in character generator 204, the built-in character generator 204 generates a basic character pattern {the font shown in FIG.
7 and sends it to the page printer 2 as a dot image via the printer interface section 208.
It is output on 09. At this time, when the font change format shown in Figure 3 comes, a character string (TEXT) 402 requesting a font change is inserted between a font change start command 401 and a font change end command 403, and a removable character is generated. The specified font character pattern generated by the device 205 is printed on the page printer 209.
The font change start command 401 outputted to includes content specifying what type of font to change to, and the font change end command 403 means to return to the original font before the font change, that is, the basic character pattern. do.

The character code data and font change command stored in the input buffer 202 are divided into one unit code at a time.
The data are taken out by the CPU 203 and sequentially processed according to the flowchart shown in FIG.

The operation of converting the character code data stored in the input buffer 202 into character pattern data, storing it in the output page buffer 207, and printing it by the page printer 209 will be described below according to the flowchart shown in FIG.

In the figure, first, the CPU 203 performs step S1,
Digit counter 21 indicating the horizontal printing position in S2
1, and a line counter 21 indicating the vertical printing position.
0, and furthermore, in step S3, the emphasis start register 212 is initialized to instruct generation of a specified pseudo pattern from the basic character pattern.

After the above initialization is completed, the CPU 203 reads one unit of code from the input buffer 202 in step S4, and in step S5 it is determined whether or not the data has ended. If the data has not ended, the process proceeds to steps S6 and S7. It is determined whether the read code is a command regarding a font change. If it is determined that it is not the above-mentioned command, step S8
Proceeding to , the emphasis start register is examined. Since it is normally "0", the process advances to step S9, and a character dot pattern corresponding to that character code is generated in the output page buffer 207. Here, the character code data is sent to a designated character generator to generate a corresponding dot pattern. This causes the removable character generator 205 to generate the dot pattern during the font change shown in FIG. 3, and the built-in character generator 204 to generate the dot pattern in other cases. Since there is little difference between the two controls, an example in which a dot pattern is generated by the built-in character generator 204 will be described below.

Character code data is standard font (first pattern)
built-in character generator 2 consisting of RAM or ROM containing dot patterns for each character;
The character dot pattern thus generated is properly positioned by the CPU 203 as will be described later, and one character is formed as an image on the output page buffer 207 by dots. Here, the typeface stored in the built-in character generator 204 is not particularly limited as long as it is a standard typeface.

Next, the position of the generated character will be explained using FIG. 4.

FIG. 5 shows the page printer 2 in this embodiment.
This is an explanatory diagram of the page layout for printing in 09. In the figure, 301 is the number of left margin digits (lm), 302 is the number of body digits (n), 303 is the number of right margin digits (rm), and 304 is the number of top margin lines ( tm), 305 is the number of text lines (l), 306
is the number of bottom margin lines (bm), 307 is the number of line pitch dots (yp), 308 is the number of character pitch dots (xp)
It is. The upper left corner of the page is the origin (0,0),
The value of the digit counter 211 is Xc, and the value of the row counter is
When Yc is set, the position (xo, yo) of the lower right edge of the character dot pattern of the generated character is calculated using the formula xo = (lm + Xc) x xp yo = (tm + Yc) x yp, and as Xc and Yc change, The position of the occurring character is thus determined.

After characters are generated in step S9 using the method described above, the digit counter 211 is generated in step S11.
Increase the value by 1 and check for overflow in step S12. If there is no overflow, that is, if the value of the digit counter 211 is smaller than the number of body digits (n) 302, return to step S4 and proceed to the next step. Read the 1 unit code.

Characters are generated one after another in the same way, and if digit overflow occurs in step S12, that is, if the value of the digit counter 211 reaches the number of body digits (n) 302, the process advances to step S13. row counter 2
After the value of 10 is incremented by 1 and the digit counter is initialized in step S14, a page overflow is determined in step S15. If it is determined that the page is not overflowing, that is, if the value of the line counter 210 is equal to or smaller than the number of text lines (l) 305,
Assuming that there is still room for the output page buffer, return to step S4 and save the output page buffer 207.
Continue the creation process. Conversely, if it is determined in step S15 that the page is overflowing, that is, if the value of the line counter 210 is larger than the number of text lines (l) 305, the creation of the output page buffer 207 for one page is completed. As a result, the dot images for each scan line are passed to the printer interface section 207, where they are converted into video signals, and then printed by the page printer 209, which is an output device.

Similarly, pages are created one after another by repeating steps S4 to S17.

Next, a description will be given of processing when a font change is commanded.

If the character code read from the input buffer in step S6 is the font change start command 401, the process advances to step S20, and the removable character generator 205 is a character generator of the font specified by the command, and the font is changed. It is determined whether or not it can be used.
Specifically, this is done by reading a certain predetermined area within the removable character generator 205.
That is, a unique code indicating the content of the font is stored in the area, and by reading this code, it is determined whether the font matches the font specified by the font change start command 401. Furthermore, even if the removable character generator 205 is not connected to the socket 206, even if you try to read that area, the code indicating the font mentioned above cannot be read, and the determination will be hindered. It doesn't hurt. As a result of this determination, if the designated font can be used, the built-in character generator 2 is activated in step S21.
After switching the value of the base register in the CPU 203, which was addressing 04, to point to the removable character generator 205, the process returns to step S4 and begins processing of the next unit code. Thereafter, printing is performed using the changed font, that is, the font of the character dot pattern generated by the removable character generator 205, until the font change end command 403 is read.

Next, when the font change end command 403 is read, it is recognized in step S7 and
Proceed to step S23 from S7, and emphasize start register 2
12, it is determined whether the designated font is set. When a font change command is issued and the specified font is usable, the emphasis start register 212
No operations have been performed on . Therefore, no font has been set in the emphasis start register 212 and the initial value is maintained. For this reason, step S23
The process then proceeds to step S24, where the operation opposite to that of step S21 described above is performed. That is, after switching the value of the base register in the CPU 203, which used to address the removable character generator, to address the built-in character generator 204, the process returns to step S4.
Processing begins for the next 1 unit code. By doing this, from then on, printing is performed again in the previous font, that is, in the font of the built-in character generator 204.

Next, a method of processing when a font change command is issued and the designated font is not included in the fonts of the removable character generator of the apparatus of this embodiment will be described below.

In this case, the specified font has been set in the emphasis start register 212 in step S22, and the
Proceed to step S30 from S8. In step S30, it is checked whether the designated font is an italic font, and if it is an italic font, the process advances to step S31, where the line counter 21 is
A character pattern is generated at the position (xo, yo) specified by the 0 and digit counter 211, and at this time, the storage position of the character pattern generated by the built-in character generator 204 in the output page buffer 207 is controlled. Then, dot expansion is performed while tilting the generated character pattern. In other words, based on the lower edge line of the character pattern, the lower edge - 1 line is 1
Dots are generated shifted to the right, and n dots are generated shifted to the right at the lower end -n line. As a result, so-called pseudo-italic fonts having an inclination as shown in FIG. 6B can be developed in the output page buffer 207.

In this way, even if the font designation in the emphasis start register 212 is italic and a character generator that generates italic fonts is not installed, a pseudo-italic font pattern is developed in the output page buffer 207 and displayed as a dot image in the printer interface. It will be output to the ace section 208.
After that, the process advances to steps S11 and S12.

If italics are not specified in step S30,
Proceed to S32 and check whether bold font is specified.
In the case of a bold font, the process advances to step S33, where the built-in character generator 204 generates a character pattern at the position (xo, yo) specified by the line counter 210 and digit counter 211, and stores it in the output page buffer 207. Further, the same character pattern is generated and stored at a position shifted by one dot to the right in the output page buffer 207, that is, at a position (xo+1, yo). As a result, the character pattern generated by the built-in character generator 204 as shown in FIG. 6a can have thick characters as shown in FIG. 6c, so to speak, a pseudo-ball shape can be realized.

In this way, while the font is specified in the emphasis start register 212, the pseudo character pattern is stored in the output page buffer 207.

If it is determined in step S32 that the typeface is not bold, the apparatus of this embodiment does not generate a pseudo pattern and proceeds to step S9 to generate a standard pattern.
However, the standard pattern may not be generated and may be blank.

Through the process flow described above, character patterns are stored in the output buffer 207 according to the font change command and character code data, but finally information indicating the end of the data (for example, the end of a work code indicating the end of the file, code indicating the end of the file, etc.) is recognized in step S5.
Proceeding to steps S18 and S19, only when the content of the output page buffer 207 currently being created is not empty, that is, when the line counter 210 is 2 or more or the digit counter is 1 or more, the content of the output page buffer 207 is transferred to the printer interface section. 208, the page printer 209 prints, and all processing ends.

In addition, in the device of this embodiment, if a character generator for italic or bold fonts is not installed, a pseudo pattern is generated unconditionally and stored in the output page buffer 208. A pseudo pattern may be generated by displaying a message that is not attached to a character generator that generates a message, and waiting for an operator's response.

In this case, the operator is asked to select one of the following: (1) Print with standard pattern, (2) Generate pseudo pattern and print with pseudo pattern, (3) Blank (no printing), or (4) Cancel printing. It is desirable to make it possible.

In addition, the device of this embodiment has an output page buffer 20.
Print the dot image from 7 to the page printer 209
Although the present invention has been described as a printing device for printing, it goes without saying that the output of the output page buffer 207 can be easily applied to any output device such as a CRT display device.

As explained above, according to this embodiment, by simply storing a standard character pattern in the built-in character generator (built-in character pattern storage means), a character pattern of a form different from the standard character pattern specified from the outside can be generated. Outputs the specified character pattern even if it is determined that it cannot be output using a removable character generator (removable character pattern storage means) that stores a character pattern in a form different from the standard character pattern. Therefore, a specified character pattern can be generated and output in a pseudo manner from the standard character pattern stored in the built-in character pattern storage means, saving the memory capacity of the storage means for storing character patterns and emphasizing the character pattern. This provides an excellent effect in that high-quality output results can be obtained without sacrificing the effects or the like.

[Effects of the Invention] As explained above, according to the present invention, there is provided a removable character pattern that stores a character pattern in a form different from a standard character pattern specified from the outside, and a character pattern in a form different from the standard character pattern. Even if it is determined that the specified character pattern cannot be output using the storage means, in order to output the specified character pattern, the specified character pattern is created from the standard character pattern stored in the built-in character pattern storage means. It has the excellent effect of being able to generate and output.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Figures 1 a to c are explanatory diagrams showing examples of common typefaces for English characters, where Figure 1 a shows an example of a standard typeface, Figure 1 b shows an example of a bold typeface, and Figure 1 c shows an example of an italic typeface. 2 is a block configuration diagram of an output device according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the format of an output font change command in this embodiment device, and FIG. 4 is a character pattern development of this embodiment device. Flowchart showing the control, FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of the page layout of the output of the device of this embodiment, FIG.
A diagram showing an example of character pattern generation in a pseudo-italic typeface of the standard character pattern in Figure a, and Figure 6
FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example of character pattern generation in a pseudo-bold font of the standard character pattern in FIG. In the figure, 201...Calculator, 202...Input buffer, 203...CPU, 204...Built-in character generator, 205...Removable character generator, 207...
...Output page buffer, 208...Printer interface section, 209...Page printer, 2
10...Line counter, 211...Digit counter, 2
12... Emphasis start register, 401... Font change start command, 402... TEXT, 403... Font change end command.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. Using a built-in character pattern storage means for storing a standard character pattern or a removable character pattern storage means for storing a character pattern in a form different from the standard character pattern, the standard character pattern is An output method for outputting character patterns in different formats, wherein it is determined whether character patterns in formats different from the standard character pattern specified from the outside can be output using the removable character pattern storage means. , If it is determined in the determination process that the designated character pattern cannot be output using the removable character pattern storage means, the built-in character pattern is used to output the designated character pattern. An output method characterized by generating and outputting the specified character pattern in a pseudo manner from the standard character pattern stored in a storage means.