JPH0630900B2 - Output device - Google Patents

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to an output device capable of high-quality recording and characterized by the generation of thermal energy.

[Prior Art] Conventionally, in an output device using thermal energy, for example, a thermal transfer printer, there is dot information to be recorded based on ON / OFF of a dot pattern obtained from CG as a method of correcting thermal energy during recording. A method is considered in which one pulse or two pulses having different widths are output in one heat cycle to change the applied energy, and as a result, heat energy is made uniform.
However, there is a problem that high-quality recording cannot always be obtained by the method of making the thermal energy to the dots uniform within one heat cycle of the dots to be recorded.

[Objective] In view of the above points, according to the present invention, preliminary heat is applied even outside one recording cycle (one heat cycle) of dot information to be recorded, and heat in consideration of heat storage of the recording head is applied, whereby extremely high quality is achieved. It is an object of the present invention to provide an output device capable of recording.

〔Example〕

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

<Description of Typewriter Body> FIG. 1 shows a thermal transfer printer to which the present invention can be applied.
It is a figure which shows the external appearance of the electronic typewriter which is one.

By operating the keys arranged on the keyboard unit 1, the thermal head 6 mounted on the carriage 5 of the printer unit 3 is pressed against the platen through an ink ribbon (not shown) to apply heat, and the ink held by the ribbon is removed by the platen. Print on the guided printing paper.
Further, an LCD liquid crystal display unit 2 for displaying the contents to be printed and a platen knob 4 for manually feeding the printing paper are provided.

In the electronic typewriter (thermal transfer printer) of the present embodiment, a plurality of types of ribbons can be mounted, and one color can be printed at the same ribbon position (normal) ink ribbon I.
R, collectable ribbon (self-collection ribbon) that can be printed and erased with the same ribbon CR, the ribbon consists of multiple layers, and multicolor printing can be performed selectively at the same ribbon position depending on which layer is used for printing Dual color ribbon DR
(Japanese Patent Application No. 59-260403, Japanese Patent Application No. 60-2988)
The main body can be identified by a sensor (not shown) or an instruction from a key that the device (see No. 31) is mounted.

A block diagram of the structure of the electronic typewriter is shown in FIG.

Printer unit 3 An electronic typewriter printer with a thermal head 6 and a carriage 5 with a built-in drive motor.

Keyboard unit 1 input unit, which has a key matrix LCD unit 2 for displaying information for printing or storing,
An LCD liquid crystal display is used as the display surface. CP
It has a controller and driver for displaying the data from U9 on the LCD2.

The CPU Yunitsuto 7 input supply 8, there is an AC adapter, Nitsu Kell Cadmium Yu beam cell and batteries, etc., from now (hereinafter referred to as Vcc) power supply for operating the Rojitsuku include CPU 9, (hereinafter referred to as V _M) the motor power of the printer , making 3 power of the thermal head applied power (hereinafter referred to as V _H).

The control system includes a CPU 9, a ROM 10 containing a system program and a CG described later, a storage element such as a work or text RAM 11, and a custom IC as an expansion input / output terminal of the CPU 9 or an address decoder.
(Gate array: hereinafter referred to as GA12) is a main constituent element. The RAM 11 has a character counting unit 23 that stores the width of characters from the CG necessary for control described later. By this, the temperature information from the temperature measuring circuit 13 is obtained, and then the thermal head 6 of the printer is obtained.
Data to be sent to A. And transfer to the thermal head driver. In addition, the stepping motor, which is a printer motor, includes a motor driver 14 from the CPU.
A drive signal is sent to each phase of the motor 22 through the.

Next, this typewriter has a built-in interface connector 15 inside the main body. This typewriter receives data from an external host through, for example, the Centronics interface 16 or RS-232C17. It is only possible to receive so that you can launch as a printer. Furthermore, a CG cartridge 18 having a character style of type as data and an R for storing registered data.
It also has a cartridge connector 20 into which the AM cartridge 19 can be inserted.

<Structure of Thermal Head Driver> Next, FIG. 3 shows the structure of the TH driver IC 21 for heating the thermal head shown in FIG.

Vcc1, Vcc2: Terminals for inputting power supply for logic VD1, VD2: Power supply for driver for driving thermal head GND1 to 7: GND OUT1 to 25: Open collector output terminal corresponding to each dot of head, CK: Data latch Timing clock (from G.A12) D _IN : Heat data input terminal (G.A1)
2) CRX: C with a CR charging circuit outside the IC
When the EN terminal is High at the charging voltage level of 1, the output of the thermal head for printing cannot be output regardless of the software.

EN: When the CRX terminal is Low,
When High is input to this terminal, a print enable signal is output, and when it is Low, a print disable signal is output.

In the above configuration, first, in order to send the heating data to the D flip-flop inside the IC, the parallel data from the CPU 9 is transferred to the G. At A12, it is converted into serial data and transferred to the DIN terminal. Black is also G. A1
2 to T. H. Send to the CK terminal of the driver 21. By repeating this 24 times, the heat data for one time is taken in the IC and completed. Next, in the work of sending heat data to the driver, the EN terminal is set to Low in advance by a software command to remove the charge on the capacitor outside the CRX terminal, drop the CRX terminal to Low, and set the time length to be heated in the CPU 9. After setting, a high signal is sent to the EN terminal. From this time, as shown in the latched data, heat starts, the time set in the CPU is reached, and the EN terminal is set to Low,
The thermal head continues to heat until the capacitor level at the CRX terminal exceeds the set value.

As is clear from FIG. 3, the thermal head in this example has 25 heads out1 to 25 arranged in a vertical column. When recording the pattern of FIG. 5, for example, the left side of FIG. Recording is performed by heating at the recording timing corresponding to each dot while the head moves from to right. The shape of the head need not be limited to this.

FIG. 4 shows the configuration of the motor driver 14 for driving the motor of the printer.

The signal line of the CPU 9 is directly connected to the input of the driver IC, the output of which is directly connected to each phase of the motor 22, and the two-phase excitation is performed by the command of the software. As a result, the carriage 5 carrying the head 6 moves. Along with this movement, a reference interval "heat cycle (one recording timing)" shown in FIG. 6 and the like is defined in accordance with switching of each excitation so as to heat at a predetermined timing.

Next, based on the above configuration, a detailed description of the present invention will be given with reference to the drawings.

<Explanation of character font> FIG. 5 shows an example of the character font stored in the ROM 10 or the CG cartridge 18 of FIG. 2, in which the character “A” is represented by vertical 24 × horizontal 32 dots (◯). It is a thing. Basically, the character "A" is applied by heating the head (one of out1 to out25 in FIG. 3) of the portion corresponding to ◯ temporally or positionally once within one heat pulse. . In the present example, as shown in FIG. 3, the head can print 25 dots vertically from out1 to out25, and characters are printed by moving the head. The head configuration is not limited to this. A to F are part of a pattern used to explain the driving of the thermal head below. Also, the horizontal direction in FIG. 5 represents the heat cycle, and the vertical direction represents the dot rows (1 to 25 rows) corresponding to the head in one column.

Next, the heat of the thermal head of the present invention will be described in detail.

<AMA Control> FIG. 6 is a diagram showing the printing state of the portion A of FIG. 5 by heat pulses and heat data. One grid shows one heat cycle in the horizontal direction and one grid shows in the vertical direction. The dot distance (size) is shown. O marks are heat data (corresponding to CG). In the AMA control in this embodiment, the main dot data is heated later in one heat cycle in terms of position after data (hereinafter referred to as A) and two data of Main data called M data and its pulse width. Is used to control printing. The pulse width and pulse position of M data and A data are the same for any M data or any A data. For convenience of explanation, the pulse position and the pulse timing are used in the same meaning. There is a one-to-one correspondence between the heat data and the M data marked with ◯. By the way, the thermal head ribbon is hard to warm up rapidly, and when only M data is heated, uneven printing occurs. That is, M
If the heat pulse of the data is long, in the case of continuous dots,
The energy is higher when the heat is stored and the heat is applied later. Also, if the heat pulse is short, the energy of the dots at the beginning of heating is low.

Therefore, in order to make the printing energy uniform, that is, to make the printing uniform, it is necessary to perform control with different A data and M data, different heat positions, and different heat pulses. Since this AMA control has a short interval between A and the next M, the heat generated by A is unlikely to decrease, and is particularly effective at normal temperature and low temperature (for example, 30 ° C. or lower), and high-quality printing is achieved. can get.

In the AMA control, which will be described later in detail, the CG data is prefetched one dot before the start of heating, and if the data exists, only the A data is heated before the M data. The thermal head warmed by this A data (first A data in AMA) is printed by the next M data (next recording timing), and the head is surely warmed by the subsequent A data, and the printing is also firm. Become.
It is also a spare for the next M. However, the dots following that can be printed with only M data as shown in FIG.

<PPM Control> FIG. 7 is a view showing the explanation of PPM control by using heat pulses and heat data in the case of printing the pattern A in FIG. 5, similarly to FIG. The circles are heat data. In PPM control, Pre data is given in position before M data called P data. PP
In the M control, printing is controlled by two P data (one is a spare and one is a supplement of the M data in one heat cycle) and the M data. The pulse width and pulse position of M data and P data are the same for any M data or any P data. There is a one-to-one correspondence between the heat data and the M data marked with ◯. Especially at the high temperature, if the first dot is corrected too much, the printing energy tends to be high, but in order to compensate for this, an interval between the first P (preliminary) and the next P (auxiliary) is set, By dispersing the heat energy during that time, the printing energy can be made uniform.

<P'PM Control> FIG. 8 shows the manner in which the pattern A in FIG. 5 is printed by P'PM control using heat pulses and heat data. The circles are heat data. In P'PM control, Pre data called P'data having a pulse width different from that of P data is used.
It is composed of dash data, P data and M data.
It may be called APM control from the above control, but it is called P'PM for convenience. This P'P
The M control is composed of three types of pulse widths and positions within one heat cycle. The P'PM control is used for printing with a relatively long heat cycle. That is, when the heat cycle is long, when the A data and the M data are printed in the heat cycle before the M data, the interval between A and M becomes too long, and the warmed head is trapped. Therefore, in the vicinity of the end of the heat cycle before M data, a heat pulse of P is inserted before M in the same heat cycle as P'data M is P'PM control. As a result, the head heated with P'data can be printed with P data and M data. Furthermore, after the second dot, M
Only data can be printed.

This P'PM control is particularly effective at normal temperature and high temperature.

<P'PM (3,2,1) Control> FIG. 9 shows the pattern A of FIG. 5 as P'PM (3,2,1).
The heat pulse and heat data when printing by control are shown. The circles are heat data. P'PM
(3,2,1) control is Pre d called P ′ data
Pre data called ash data and P data
It is composed of three data of main data called a data and M data, and three kinds of heat pulse widths and positions. The P'PM (3,2,1) control is used for printing with a relatively long heat cycle.

For example, if P'PM control effective at high temperature and normal temperature is used at low temperature, the printing energy of the first and second dots may be exhausted, and P'PM (3,3 2, 1) Perform control. This makes it possible to make the printing energy uniform. That is, in the first dot, the head heated by the first P'data one heat cycle before is printed with P data, M data and the next P'data within one heat cycle of M data (3 pulses in total). The second dot is 1 of the second M data
In the heat cycle, P data and second M data are printed (total 2 pulses), and after the third dot, only M data can be printed (total 1 pulse). This P'PM
The (3,2,1) control measures the concentration of the applied energy at the first dot and the second dot.

<P'MP Control> FIG. 10 shows the manner of printing the pattern A of FIG. 5 by P'MP control by heat pulses and heat data. The P'MP control is an application example of the P'PM control that is effective at normal temperature and high temperature. In this example, P and M of P'PM
The position of was exchanged.

<Control of AMA ³ > FIG. 11 shows the pattern B in FIG. 5 by heat pulses and heat data. The circles are heat data. When there is no upper and lower heat data, heat easily escapes in the vertical direction at the first dot (see FIG. 11 (b)), and printing is difficult to settle. Therefore, as shown in the pattern B of FIG. 5, for the first dot on the horizontal line where there is no other dot in the vertical direction,
This can be prevented by slightly heating the upper and lower positions where heat escapes with A data. By doing so, the first dot can be reliably heated and high-quality printing can be obtained.

This AMA ³ control is particularly suitable for high speed printing. Further, it is particularly effective when the above-mentioned AMA control is performed at room temperature.

<A ³ MA Control> As an application example of the AMA ³ control, FIG. 12 shows the A ³ MA control for the pattern B of FIG. 5 similarly. A ³ MA control is a method of warming the ambient temperature of the dots to be printed in advance.

<A ² AMA Control> Further, similarly to FIG. 13, A for the pattern B in FIG.
² shows AMA control. The A ² AMA control warms the head slowly from two dots before the dot to be printed.

<A ³ MA ³ Seigyo_> Fig. 14 shows how the printed pattern B of FIG. 5 at ^A 3 MA ³ controlled by heat pulse and the heat data. The circles are heat data. At low temperature, the above-mentioned 11th
Diffusion of heat is also recognized in the AMA ³ control described in the figure. Therefore, it is necessary to apply more applied energy than AMA ³ control. So in A ³ MA ³ control,
By raising the peripheral temperature of the dot to be printed in advance and heating the position where the heat can escape with A data, the first dot at low temperature can be reliably heated.

<AA ³ MA Control> As an application example of the A ³ MA ³ control, FIG. 15 shows AA ³ MA control for the pattern B of FIG. 5 similarly. AA ³ M
In the A control, the applied energy is increased by warming the center and the periphery of the head print dot two dots before the dot to be printed in advance.

<A ² AMA ³ Seigyo_> Further, similarly to FIG. 16 A to FIG. 5 of the pattern B
² shows AMA ³ control. In the A ² AMA ³ control, the applied energy is increased by warming the periphery of the print dot of the head from two dots before the dot to be applied in advance.

<AM Underline Control> The underline is continuously heated in two dots vertically.
At this time, if the AMA control shown in FIG. 6 is used, heat is accumulated in the head. In order to improve this, it is necessary to reduce the average energy applied. However, A data,
Since the M data width also serves as the character heat, the heat pulse width cannot be reduced. For this reason, the M data is heated every other dot, and the applied data is reduced by deleting the A data behind the AMA control,
The heat is suppressed.

FIG. 17 (b) shows the above-mentioned AM control.

<A'M Underline Control> In the AM underline control, the applied energy at the first dot of the underline from which heat is removed is low. For this reason, there is a possibility that print defects may occur in the first dot at low temperatures. A to correct this
A pulse width of A under M underline control was changed to A ', which was used as a preliminary heat for the first dot. As a result, the printing of the first dot of the underline becomes more reliable.

A'M control is shown in FIG.

<Control of Continuous 1-dot Horizontal Line in AMA Control> FIG. 18 shows the state of continuous 1-dot horizontal line printing by AMA control by means of heat data and heat pulses. The circles are heat data. In the case of continuous heat data, usually only M data is heated. Therefore, when the temperature is low, there is a possibility that the heat escapes in the direction of the arrow as shown in FIG. 18 (b), and the print becomes thin or cut.

Therefore, FIG. 18 (a) shows that data A is added so that sufficient heat energy can be obtained even if heat escapes.

Figures 19-1 to 19-3 are examples of this application.

In FIG. 19-1, data A is added at one-dot intervals.

In FIG. 19-2, A data is added to the lines above and below the line containing the dot information to be printed, that is, the vertical direction in which heat escapes.

FIG. 19-3 is a combination of the A data of FIGS. 18a and 19-2 at one-dot intervals.

<Shaped dot control> FIG. 20 shows how the pattern D shown in FIG. 5 is printed with high quality using heat data and heat pulses. In the heating method by AMA control shown in FIG. 6, A data is heated before the actual CG data to warm the head, but in the case of FIG. 20, heat moves in the direction of the arrow, There is no need for this. Therefore, when there is M data in the vertical direction, the first middle A data (broken line portion) does not heat.

<Mold Dot Control> FIG. 21 shows how the pattern E of FIG. 5 is printed. Also in this case, since the heat is transferred to the arrow method, it is not necessary to heat the A data (broken line portion).

In addition, although there is dot control of the same type, or the square type (the inside is white), the drawing is omitted.

<Enclosure Control> FIG. 22 shows how the pattern F of FIG. 5 is printed. In the figure, the center is a dot to be printed, unlike the square shape. The heat in the middle moves in the three directions of the upper and lower sides. Therefore, when the M data is heated, the heat energy is concentrated and print unevenness may occur. However, since printing cannot be performed without heating, the heat energy is reduced to the extent that blank areas cannot be generated, that is, by heating the A data, and the overall energy is made uniform.

<P'P ³ M Control> FIG. 23 shows the printing of the pattern B of FIG. 5 by heat pulses and heat data. The circles are heat data. When there is no upper and lower heat data, heat spreads in the vertical direction at the first dot, and it is difficult to determine the printing. Therefore, by heating the position where the heat escapes with P data, the diffusion of the heat can be prevented, and the first dot can be surely heated. In this case, P and P'have different pulse widths.

This P'P ³ M control is suitable for low speed printing P'PM
Effective at high temperature and room temperature of control.

Shows the ^{P '3} PM control in FIG. 24 as an application of <P'P ³ M control>P'P ³ M control. P '3 ^PM control is a method to warm the ambient temperature of the dots to be printed in advance.

<P'PMP 'Control> FIG. 25 shows P'PMP' control. This is because the printing energy of the first dot of the P'PM control described in FIG. 8 is increased by the amount of the second P'data to cope with the diffusion of the applied energy of the first dot, and thus high quality printing is achieved. Can be obtained.

<P'PMP ' ² Control> FIG. 26 shows P'PMP' ² control. This protects P'PM by preventing the diffusion of heat with two pieces of P'data above and below the first M data of the P'PM control described in FIG.

<P ² P'PM Control> FIG. 27 shows P ² P'PM control. This has the effect of suppressing the thermal diffusion at the beginning of P'PM control by preheating the head by adding two P data immediately before performing P'PM control.

<P'P ³ MP ' ³ Control> FIG. 28 shows how the pattern B shown in FIG. 5 is printed by P'P ³ MP' ³ control using heat pulses and heat data. The circles are heat data. P'shown in FIG.
In the PM (3,2,1) control, when there is no upper and lower heat data, heat may be diffused in the vertical direction in the first dot, and it may be difficult to determine the printing. Therefore, by heating the position where heat diffuses with P data and P'data,
The diffusion of heat can be prevented, and the first dot heats up more reliably.

This P'P ₃ MP ' ₃ control is particularly suitable for low speed printing.

<P ³ P′MP ′ ³ Control> FIG. 29 shows P ′ ³ as an application example of P ³ P′MP ′ ³ control.
7 shows PMP ' ³ control. P'PM (3, shown in FIG.
2, 1) When heating P'data twice in control,
Above or below, the first time warms the head, and the second time prevents the diffusion of heat of the M data, thereby increasing the heat efficiency.

<P ² P′PM ′ ³ Control> FIG. 30 shows P ² P′PMP ′ ³ control. This is the ninth
Before the first P'data heat in the P'PM (3,2,1) control shown in the figure, P data is preheated above and below to make the head temperature suitable, and immediately after M data. In P ', the printing energy is made uniform by heating P'up and down in order to prevent heat diffusion in the vertical direction.

<PP ′ ³ PMP ′ Control> FIG. 31 shows PP ′ ₃ PMP ′ control. This is P'P
The heat of P'data, which is a preliminary heat in M (3,2,1) control, reduces the efficiency due to thermal diffusion at the first dot at low temperature, so in order to recover this efficiency, The P data and the P'data above and below are heated to prevent heat diffusion.

<Continuous lateral 1-dot control in P'PM control> FIG. 32 shows a state of printing the pattern C of FIG.
It is shown by heat data and heat pulse. The circles are heat data. In the case of continuous heat data, usually only M data is heated. Therefore, there is a possibility that the heat particularly escapes in the vertical direction at low temperature during low-speed printing, and the printing becomes thin or cut.

Therefore, in order to obtain sufficient heat energy even if heat escapes, P data and P'data are added in the same heat cycle as M as shown in FIG. 32.

33-1 to 33-5 are examples of this application.

In Fig. 33-1, P data and P'data are added to one dot interval (within one heat cycle) in the vertical direction in which heat escapes.

Fig. 33-2 shows 1 at the center of the dot where P data should be printed.
It is added at dot intervals, and P'data is added at one dot intervals in the vertical direction in which heat escapes.

In FIG. 33-3, P data is added to the center of the dot to be printed and P'data is added at one dot intervals.

In FIG. 33-4, control is switched at 3-dot intervals. First, P data, M data, and P'data are heated, then P data and M data are heated, and at the third dot, only M data is heated, and this is repeated.

In FIG. 33-5, P data and P'data are alternately added to the center of the dot to be printed.

Next, refer to the flow chart for each control detailed above,
explain.

In the following flow chart, data heat means that a drive pulse is given, and whether or not printing is actually performed depends on whether or not the data is turned on when the pulse is given. .

<AMA Control Flow Chart> FIG. 34 is a control flow chart of the AMA control shown in FIG. When the printing is instructed by the key 1 shown in FIG. 1 or the like, the printing is started, and the AMA control routine is entered in S1. The character width of the character to be printed in S2 (that is, the lateral length shown in FIG. 5, 32 dots in this case) is determined by CG (RO
RAM from M10 or CG cartridge 18)
The character counting unit 23 in 11 is set. The character width can be changed depending on the typeface or the like. Motor 3 in S3
2, the carriage 5 carrying the thermal head 6 is moved by one heat cycle, which is the width of one frame shown in FIGS. 6 to 33-5, so that the excitation phase of the motor is switched. That is, one heat cycle carriage advances with one switching from S3 to S9. Next, in S4, the substantial print data, that is, the M data corresponding to the ∘ mark shown in FIG. 5, is obtained from the CG.

Next, by the routine S5 for acquiring A data described later, A
Data is obtained. In S6, the M data actually obtained in S4 is heated, and in A, the A data is heated. However, since there is no M data at the beginning, M data heat (S6) occurs in control, but the actual printing is at S6 of the next cycle first. Next, in S8, the count data of the character count unit 23 is decremented by 1, and in S9, it is determined whether or not the character count is 0. If it is 0, the printing of the character to be printed is completed.

<PPM Control Flow Chart> FIG. 35 is a PPM control flow chart shown in FIG. Printing is started in S1, the character width to be printed is acquired from CG in S2, and the character count on the RAM is set. In step S3, the excitation phase of the stepping motor is switched. In S4, M data is acquired from CG. So far,
The same as FIG. 34. In S5, A (P) data is created from the previous M data, the current M data, and the next M data. This routine will be described later. However, P is A for convenience of explanation. In S6, the A (P) data obtained in S5 is heated. In S7, the M data acquired in S4 is heated. S8
Then, the character count is decremented by one. The character count is checked in S9, and if it is not zero, the process proceeds to S3. 1 if zero
Since the printing of the characters has been completed, the processing ends in S10.

<P'PM Control Flowchart> FIG. 36 shows the P'PM control flowchart shown in FIG. Since S1 to S4 are the same as those in FIGS. 34 to 36, description thereof will be omitted. In S5, P data is created from the previous M data and the current M data. This routine will be described later. In S6, the P data created in S5 is heated. S
In 7, the M data obtained in S4 is heated. In S8, P'data is created from the current M data and M data. This routine will be described later. In S9, the P'data obtained in S8 is heated. In S10, the character count is decremented by one. Actually, P'is printed in the first cycle, and P and M are printed in the next cycle. In S11, check the character count,
If it is not zero, the process proceeds to S3. If it is zero, it means that the printing of one character is completed, and the process is ended in S12.

<P'PM (3,2,1) control flow chart> FIG. 37 shows the P'PM (3,2,1) control flow chart shown in FIG. Since S1 to S4 are the same as those described above, they are omitted. In S5, it is checked whether or not the previous P'data exists. If the previous P'data exists, the P data is turned on in S7. That is, it is indicated that printing is performed when P data heats up next. Then go to S8. If it does not exist, P data is created from the previous M data and the current M data in S6 (described later). In S8, the P data created in S6 and S7 is heated. In S9, the M data acquired in S4 is heated. In S10, P'data is created from the previous M data, the current M data, and the next M data (described later). In S11, the P'data obtained in S10 is heated. In S12, the character count is decremented by one. In S13, the character count is checked, and if it is not zero, the process proceeds to S3. If it is zero, it means the end of one character, and the process is ended in S14.

[A data acquisition control flow chart]

FIG. 38 is a flow chart of the AMA control A data acquisition portion (FIG. 34, S5). When the acquisition of A data is started in S1, M data (abbreviated as M data at present) is present at the print position of the print head in the current excitation phase switched by the excitation phase switching in S3 of FIG. 34 in S2. Check whether to do. If it exists, the process proceeds to S3, and it is checked whether the previous M data (one dot before the current print position) exists. If it does not exist, the A data is turned on in S4. The meaning of this ON is that it is actually printed by heat control of A data in S7 of FIG. Here, the later A data of AMA is created. Also,
If the previous M data is present in S3, it means that the M data is continuous, and the process proceeds to S7.

Here, returning to the previous step, if there is no current M data in S2, the process proceeds to S5. In S5, the CG of the next dot is prefetched.
This pre-read data is the next M data. In S6, the presence or absence of the next M data is checked. If the next M data exists, the A data is turned on in S4. The A data created here is the first A data of AMA. If there is no next M data in S6, the process proceeds to S7.

In step S7, the first dot is controlled (described in FIG. 39).

Further, in S8, continuous horizontal 1 dot continuous control is performed (described in FIG. 42).

In S9, the character dot control is performed (described in FIG. 43).

In step S10, mold dot control is performed (described in FIG. 44).

S11 controls the enclosure (described in FIG. 45).

Then, the process ends in S12.

[Control Flow Chart of First Dot in AMA Control] FIG. 39 is a flow chart showing control of the first dot in AMA control. Control is started in S1. S
The ambient temperature of the equipment is sensed by the temperature sensing circuit (Fig. 2-13) in 2. In S3, it is checked whether the temperature is low. At low temperatures goes to S6 to perform the ^A 3 MA ³ control S5. When the temperature is not low, the AMA ³ control is performed in S4, and the control ends in S6.

[AMA ³ Control Flow Chart] FIG. 40 is a flow chart showing AMA ³ control. Here, FIG. 11 is cited as an example.

Control is started in S1. In S2, the existence of M data is checked. If it does not exist, go to S6. If it exists, it is checked in S3 whether upper and lower M data exist. If either one or both exist, go to S6. If neither exists, the presence of A data is checked in S4. If not, go to S6. If it exists, the upper and lower A data are turned on in S5, and the process ends in S6.

[A ³ MA ³ Control Flow Chart] FIG. 41 is a flow chart showing A ³ MA ³ control. Here, FIG. 14 is cited as an example.

Control is started in S1. The presence of M data is checked in S2. If it does not exist, go to S6. If not, it is checked in S3 whether upper and lower M data are present. If either one or both exist, go to S7. If neither exists, the presence of A data is checked in S4. If it does not exist, go to S7. If it exists, the upper and lower A data are turned on in S5 and the process goes to S7.

By the way, in S6, the presence or absence of the upper and lower A data is checked. If it exists, the process goes to S7 to end the control.

[Control Flowchart for Horizontal 1-Dot Continuous in AMA Control] FIG. 42 is a flow chart showing control for horizontal 1-dot continuous in AMA control. Here, FIG. 18 is cited as an example.

Control is started in S1. In S2, it is checked whether M data exists. If it does not exist, move to S5. If it exists,
The presence of upper and lower M data is checked in S3. If either or both of the upper and lower M data exist, S
Go to 5. If neither coexists, go up and down in S4 (19th
-1 to 19-3)), turn on the A data, and S
The process ends at 5.

[Flow Chart for Controlling Dot-shaped Dots] FIG. 43 is a flow chart for controlling the dot-like dots. Although the example has been described with reference to FIG. 20, the control is started in S1 and the presence of A data is checked in S2. S when not existing
Go to 6. When it exists, the existence of M data is checked in S3. If it exists, go to S6. If it does not exist, the existence of upper and lower M data is checked in S4. If it does not exist, go to S6. If it exists, the A data is turned off in S5, and the control ends in S6. As a result, the dotted line A shown in FIG.
The data is not printed, and the character shape is printed reliably.

[Mold Dot Control Flow Chart] FIG. 44 is a mold dot control flow chart. An example is illustrated in FIG. Control is started in S1. The presence of the current A data is checked in S2. If it does not exist, go to S11. If it exists, the existence of the current M data is checked in S3. If there is, go to S11. When not present, S4
Check for the presence of previous M data. If it does not exist, go to S11. When it exists, the existence of the above M data is checked in S5. If it does not exist, go to S10. When it exists, the existence of the lower M data is checked in S6. If it exists, go to S11. If it does not exist, the next CG is prefetched in S7. In S8, the presence of M data of the next dot is checked, and if it does not exist, the process proceeds to S11. When it exists, the A data is turned off in S9 and the process goes to S11.

By the way, in S10, the lower M data is checked, but when it exists, the process goes to S7. If it does not exist, the control ends in S11.

[Enclosure control flow chart]

FIG. 45 is a flow chart for controlling the enclosure. An example is illustrated in FIG.

The control is started in S1, and the existence of the current M data is checked in S2. If it does not exist, go to S9. If it exists, go to S3. In S3, the existence of upper and lower M data is checked. If either one or neither is present, go to S9. When both are present, the presence of the previous M data is checked in S4. If it does not exist, go to S9. If it exists, the CG of the next dot is prefetched in S5. The presence of the next dot is checked in S6. If it does not exist, go to S9. If it exists, the M data is turned off in S7, the A data is turned on in S8, and the control ends in S9.
That is, if there is M data in the area surrounding the current M data checked in S2, that M data is turned off. However, as it is, it will be blank, so only the A data is turned on so that the concentration of thermal energy can be avoided.

[AM, A'M underline control]

FIG. 46 is a flow chart of AM underline control and A'M underline control.

Needless to say, an instruction such as an underline is made by designating an underlined mode with a key or inputting data of an underlined character, but control is started in S1 based on these instructions. In S2, it is checked whether or not it is the 0th dot.

That is, it is checked whether or not it is the preliminary heat of the first dot of the underline. If it is not a preliminary heat, go to S4. If it is preliminary heating, S'is heated at A '(meaning that the pulse width and position are different from A), and the process goes to S7. In S4, it is checked whether or not it is an even dot. If it is an even dot, S5
Then heat A and go to S7. If it is an odd dot, S
The M is heated at 6 and the control ends at S7.

[P data acquisition flow chart]

FIG. 47 shows S5 in the P'PM control shown in FIG.
It is a flow chart of the part for acquiring P data of. S
When the acquisition of P data is started at 1, it is checked at S2 whether the current M data exists. If it does not exist, move to S5. If it exists, the existence of the previous M data is checked in S3. If it exists, move to S5. If it does not exist, P data is turned on at P4.

In S5, the first dot is controlled (described in FIG. 50).

At S6, the control is performed continuously for one horizontal dot (explained in FIG. 51).

The process ends in S7.

[P 'data acquisition flow chart]

FIG. 48 is a flow chart of the P'data acquisition portion of the P'PM control described in S8 of FIG.
When the acquisition of P'data is started in S1, it is checked in S2 whether the current M data exists. If it exists, move to S6. If it does not exist, the next dot CG is prefetched in S3. This becomes the next M data. In S4, the existence of the next dot (M data) is checked. If it does not exist, move to S6. If it exists, the P'data is turned on in S5, and the process ends in S6.

[P'PM (3,2,1) control flow chart] Fig. 49 shows P'PM explained in Fig. 37, S10.
This is a flow chart of P '(3,2,1) data acquisition in (3,2,1) control.

When the acquisition of P '(3,2,1) data is started in S1,
The presence of the current M data is checked in S2. If it exists, move to S6. When it does not exist, the next dot CG is prefetched in S3. In S4, the existence of the next dot (M data) is checked. If it does not exist, go to S7. If it exists, P'in S5
Turn on (3,2,1) data and go to S7.

By the way, in S6, the existence of the previous M data is checked. If it does not exist, go to S5. If it exists, the process ends in S7.

[Control of First Dot in P'PM Control] FIG. 50 is a flow chart showing control of the first dot in P'PM control.

The control is started in S1, and the temperature sensing circuit (second 2-1) is started in S2.
The ambient temperature of the equipment is sensed by (Fig. 3). In S3, it is checked whether the temperature is low. If the temperature is not low, P'P ₃ M control is performed in S5 (described in FIG. 51), and the process proceeds to S6.
If a low temperature (described in 52 view) _{P'P 3} MP _'3 controls performed in S4 the process ends at S6.

^[P'P 3 MP ^'3 control flow chart] FIG. 51 is ^P'P 3 MP shown in S4 in the FIG. ^50' is a flow chart of the ^third control.

Control is started in S1, and the presence of M data is checked in S2. If it does not exist, go to S7. If it exists, the existence of upper and lower M data is checked in S3. If there is M data in one or both of the upper and lower sides, go to S7. If neither exists, the presence of P data is checked in S4. If it does not exist, go to S7. If it exists, the upper and lower P data are turned on in S5, the upper and lower P'data are turned on in S6, and the control is ended in S7.

[P'P ³ M control flow chart] FIG. 52 shows the P'P ³ M control flow chart shown in FIG. 50, S5.

The control is started in S1, and the presence of M data is checked in S2. If it does not exist, go to S6. If it exists, the existence of upper and lower M data is checked in S3. If it exists in one or both of the top and bottom, go to S6. If neither exists, the presence of P data is checked in S4. S when not existing
Go to 6. If it exists, the upper and lower P data are turned on in S5, and the control ends in S6.

[Horizontal 1-dot control flow chart in P'PM control] Fig. 53 shows P'P described in Figs. 36 and 47.
5 is a flow chart showing continuous lateral 1-dot control in M control.

The control is started in S1, and the existence of the current M data is checked in S2. If it does not exist, go to S6. If it exists, the existence of upper and lower M data is checked in S3. If either one or both of them exist, go to S6. S when neither exists
4 turns on P data, S5 turns on P'data, S
The control ends at 6.

[System flow chart]

The method of heat control of the thermal head has been described above along with the patterns, but the system flow chart of the entire equipment when switching these control methods appropriately and always performing high quality printing is shown in FIG. 54. And explain.

First, when the power of the device is turned on in S1, the RAM1 is
Initial processing of the entire device such as various data in 1 is performed. In this example, a thermal printer is taken as an example.
In this printer, various ribbons such as a normal ink ribbon IR, a collectable ribbon CR capable of printing and erasing with the same ribbon, and a plurality of ribbon layers (though not limited to this) are used, and two or more colors are used. The dual color ribbon DR capable of being printed in the above color can be selectively mounted on the carriage 5.

In S3, an input from the keyboard 1 or an input of data from the I / F connector 15 is detected. If there is data to be printed, the flow advances to S4 to determine whether the mounted ribbon is a CR ribbon. This determination is made based on data from a ribbon sensor (not shown) or data such as a ribbon type and color indicated by a signal from a keyboard or the like, that is, a signal from a signal generating means for generating a signal representing the ribbon. If the determination in S4 is negative, the process proceeds to S17, and it is determined whether the loaded ribbon is a DR ribbon. When the ribbon is determined to be CR in S4, the process proceeds to S5. S5
It is determined whether or not the key input in is the delete key.
If the erase key is input, the process proceeds to S29 to perform the erase operation. If not, proceed to S6. In S6, the data from the temperature measuring circuit 13 provided in the device is used to
If it is determined that the temperature is higher than or equal to ℃, the PPM control described with reference to FIGS. 7 and 35 is selected in S7, and printing is performed in S28.

Returning to S6, if the temperature is not high, the process proceeds to S8, and the AMA control described in FIGS. 6 and 34 is selected. Whether or not the temperature is low in S9 (for example, 14 ° C or lower)
To judge. Note that this S9 is the same as S3 in FIG. When the temperature is not low, that is, at room temperature (for example, 14 ° C to 30 ° C)
(° C.), the process proceeds to S10, the AMA ³ control described in FIGS. 11 and 40 is performed, and the process proceeds to S13. When it is determined that the temperature is low in S9, the process proceeds to S11, and the A ³ MA ³ control described in FIGS. 14 and 41 is performed.
Proceed to S12. In S12, the horizontal 1 in the AMA control shown in FIG. 18, FIG. 19-1 to FIG. 19-3, and FIG.
Dot continuous control. 17th in S13 and S14
The AM and A'M underline control shown in FIGS. Next, in S15 and S16, the control of the surrounding of the mouth shown in FIGS. 20 to 22 and 43 to 45 is performed.

Returning to S4, the process proceeds to S17 instead of the CR ribbon. If it is determined that the DR ribbon is mounted, the process proceeds to S18, and in S18, it is determined whether or not there is a color designation by key input or color designation command data. . If the color is designated (for example, blue), that is, if the ink on the recording paper side of the ink layer is designated, the process proceeds to S25. When the color is not designated, that is, when the ink (black) on the thermal head side of the ink layer is designated, the process proceeds to S19. This S19 is the same as S3 in FIG. In S19, according to the data from the temperature measuring circuit 13 in FIG. 2, if the temperature is low, the process proceeds to S22. If the temperature is not low, the process proceeds to S20, and the P'PM control described in FIGS. 8 and 36 is selected. In S21, the P'P ³ M control described in FIGS. 23 and 52 is performed, and printing is performed in S28.

When it is determined that the temperature is low in S19, the process proceeds to S22 and the ninth
P'PM (3,2,1) explained in Fig. 37.
Select control, Figure 28 in S23, the ^P'P 3 MP ^'3 control shown in FIG. 50 performs. Further, in S24, continuous horizontal 1 dot control in the P'PM control shown in FIGS. 32 and 53 is performed, and printing is performed in S28.

Next, returning to S18, if the DR ribbon is mounted and the designated print color is blue, the process proceeds to S25. S25
If the temperature is high and the temperature is high,
The PPM control described with reference to FIGS. And 35 is selected.
If the temperature is not high, the AMA control described in FIGS. 6 and 34 is selected in S26, and printing is performed in S28. Then, after S28 ends, the process returns from S31 to S3.

[Erase control]

Next, the erasure of S29 in FIG. 54 will be described. 55 (a) and 55 (b) are examples of erasing photo patterns stored in (ROM 10). Actually 24 × 8
Dot pattern is used repeatedly. If all the patterns to be erased are heated with M data and the recorded ink is peeled off, thermal energy is accumulated, and the ribbon may stick to the paper or stain.

[MN control]

Therefore, N having a reduced heat pulse width of M is heated at a horizontal one-dot interval. Furthermore, since the erasing energy of the first dot is low, the erasing energy is increased by increasing the erasing energy of the first dot by starting the heating from two dots before. This can be achieved by using the pattern of FIG. 55 (a) or the pattern of (b).

[Erasing twice with staggered staggered pattern] FIGS. 55 (a) and 55 (b) are the fonts of the staggered box used for erasing. There are missing teeth at 1-dot intervals both vertically and horizontally. In the present example, the first erasing operation is performed in FIG. 55 (a), but it is necessary to erase the character again, that is, the second erasing in order to surely erase the characters. At the time of the second erasing, the font shown in FIG. 55 (b) is used. The font of FIG. 55 (b) is staggered from that of FIG. 55 (a),
Erase by shifting from the first time. It goes without saying that either order is acceptable.

As described above, the characters can be surely erased by using the alternate fonts and erasing twice.

[Elimination of Manual]

In automatic erasing, the erasing width is determined by the character width of the character stored on the buffer. When the characters are full in this buffer, the characters are sequentially deleted from the buffer.
When trying to erase a deleted character from this buffer, there is no width data to be erased and it enters the manual erase mode. In manual erasing, it is necessary to inform the operator that this mode is in effect and key in the character width of the character to be erased.

The keyed-in character acquires the erase width by the font and pitch (full width, double width) currently displayed. Characters can be erased by the erase width thus obtained.
That is, the operator can freely select the erase width and erase.

[Erase (staggered pattern) flow chart]

FIG. 56 is a flowchart for erasing in S29 of FIG.

The process is started in S1, and the dot pattern 1 of the MN is set in S2. Here, it means the dot and heat pattern of FIG. 55 (a). In S3, MN control (FIG. 57) is performed to erase the first time. In step S4, the thermal head (carriage) 6 moved with the erase operation is returned to the first erase start position. Dot pattern 2 of MN in S5
To set. Here, it means the dot and heat pattern of FIG. 55 (b). MN control in S6 (Fig. 57)
Then, the second erasure is performed, and the process is ended in S7.

In the present embodiment, it is possible to further change the thermal energy in the above-described plural erasing operations in erasing. If the heat pulse width is sequentially reduced in consideration of the heat storage of the head each time the heat energy is accumulated, the heat energy can be maintained at a constant appropriate value in each time. This is particularly useful with the CR ribbons described above.

[MN control flow chart]

 FIG. 57 is a flow chart of MN control.

The control is started in S1, the character width of the character to be erased is acquired from CG in S2, and is set in the character counting unit 23 on the RAM. In S3, the character count obtained in S2 is incremented by 2. As a result, it becomes possible to erase the character two dots before. In step S4, the excitation phase of the stepping motor is switched. At S5 the character counts obtained at S2 and S3 are examined. If it is an odd number, go to S9. If even, S
The M data is acquired at 6, the heat pulse width of the M data is acquired at S7, the M data obtained at S6 and S7 is heated at S8, and the process goes to S12.

In S9, N data is obtained, in S10, the heat pulse width of N data is obtained, and in S11, N obtained in S9 and S10 is obtained.
Then heat up the data and go to S12.

In S12, the character count is decremented by one. The character count is checked in S13, and if it is not zero, the process proceeds to S4. If it is zero, the control ends in S14.

[Manual erasure flow chart]

 FIG. 58 is a flow chart for manual erasure.

The process starts in S1. In S2, a message is displayed on the LCD to inform the operator that the manual erasing mode has been entered. In S3, it is checked whether or not the key is input. When not input, S3 is repeated again. If the key is input, it is checked in S4 whether it is the end key. If the end key, move to S8. If it is not the end key, it is checked in S5 whether it is a character key. If it is not a character key, the key input is waited again in S3. If it is a character key, the character width corresponding to the character input in S6 is obtained from CG, and the erase width is obtained.
In S7, the erase operation is performed by the erase width obtained in S6, and the process proceeds to S3.

In S8, the message on the LCD is cleared and the operator is informed that the manual erase mode has ended.
Ends the process.

[Effect] As described above in detail, according to the present invention, even if the heat cycle (recording timing) of the dot, which is the data to be recorded, is performed, preliminary heating for recording the dot is performed, so that an extremely high quality is obtained. Recording is now possible.

[Brief description of drawings]

1 is an external view of the electronic typewriter, FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the electronic typewriter, FIG. 3 is a thermal head driver configuration diagram, FIG. 4 is a motor driver configuration diagram, and FIG. 5 is a character font. 6 is an explanatory view of AMA control for heating the pattern A portion in FIG. 5, and FIG. 7 is an explanatory view of PPM control for heating the pattern A portion in FIG. FIG. 8 is an explanatory view of P'PM control for heating the pattern A portion in FIG. 5, and FIG. 9 is P'PM (3, 2, 1 for heating the pattern A portion in FIG. ) An explanatory diagram of control, FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram of P'MP control for heating the pattern A portion in FIG. 5, and FIG. 11 is an AMA ³ control for heating the pattern B portion in FIG. Explanatory drawing, first Figure is an explanatory view of A ³ MA control for heating the pattern B portion in FIG. 5, FIG. 13 is a schematic view for illustrating a A ² AMA control for heating the pattern B portion in FIG. 5, Fig. 14 FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of A ³ MA ³ control for heating the pattern B portion in FIG. 5, FIG. 15 is an explanatory diagram of AA ³ MA control for heating the pattern B portion in FIG. 5, and FIG. 5 is an explanatory view of A ² AMA ³ control for heating the pattern B portion in FIG. 5, FIG. 17 is an explanatory view of AM, A′M underline control, and FIG. 18 is a pattern C portion shown in FIG. FIG. 19-1 to FIG. 19-3 are explanatory views of the application example of FIG. 18, FIG. 20 is a pattern D of FIG. 5, and FIG. 19 is a pattern D of continuous horizontal 1-dot control in AMA control for heating. To heat the part 21 is an explanatory view of the U-shaped dot control for heating the pattern E portion of FIG. 5, FIG. 21 is an explanatory view of the U-shaped dot control for heating the pattern E portion of FIG. 5, and FIG. 22 is for heating the pattern F portion of FIG. 23 is an explanatory view of P'P ³ M control for heating the pattern B portion of FIG. 5, and FIG. 24 is for heating the pattern B portion of FIG. 'illustration of 3 ^PM control, FIG. 25 is P'PMP for heating the pattern portion B of FIG. 5' P of illustration of the control, for Figure 26 to heat the pattern portion B of FIG. 5 FIG. 27 is an explanatory view of P'PMP ' ² control of FIG. 5, FIG. 27 is an explanatory view of P ² P'PM control for heating the pattern B portion of FIG. 5, and FIG. 28 is heating pattern B portion of FIG. For explaining the P'P ³ MP ' ³ control for Illustration of ^{P '3} PMP' 3 control to heat the turn portion B, FIG. 30 ^P 2 P'PMP ^'3 Control of illustration for heating the pattern portion B of FIG. 5, FIG. 31 5 is an explanatory view of PP ' ³ PMP' control for heating the pattern B portion in FIG. 5, and FIG. 32 is a continuous horizontal 1-dot control in P'PM control for heating the pattern C portion in FIG. 33-1 to 33-5 are diagrams showing an application example of FIG. 32, FIG. 34 is an AMA control flow chart shown in FIG. 6, and FIG. 35 is a PPM shown in FIG. Control flow chart, FIG. 36 is a P'PM control flow chart shown in FIG. 8, and FIG. 37 is a P'PM (3,2,1) control flow chart shown in FIG. The figure shows the control flow chart for the A data acquisition part of AMA control. DOO, first dots th control flow chart in FIG. 39 AMA control, FIG. 40 AMA ³ control flow chart shown in FIG. 11, FIG. 41 ^A 3 MA ³ control shown in FIG. 14 42, FIG. 42 is a control flow chart of horizontal 1 dot continuous in the AMA control shown in FIG. 18, FIG. 43 is a control flow chart of a V-shaped dot, and FIG. 44 is a control flow of a V-shaped dot. Chart, FIG. 45 is an enclosure control flow chart, FIG. 46 is an AM, A′M underline control float chart, FIG. 47 is a P data acquisition flow chart in P′PM control, and FIG. 48 is P′PM control. P'data acquisition flow chart in Fig. 49, P'in P'PM (3,2,1) control
(3,2,1) Data acquisition flow chart, FIG. 50 is a flow chart showing the control of the first dot in P'PM control, FIG. 51 is a P'P ³ MP ' ³ control flow chart, and FIG. Is a P'P ³ M control flow chart, FIG. 53 is a control flow chart of one horizontal dot in P'PM control, FIG. 54 is a system flow chart, FIG. 55 is an explanatory diagram of an erasing pattern, and FIG. Is an erase (staggered pattern) flow chart, FIG. 57 is an MN control flow chart, FIG. 58 is a manual erase flow chart, 9 ... CPU, 11 ... RAM, 10 ... ROM, 21
...... Thermal head driver, 6 ...... Thermal head,
32 ... Motor, 5 ... Carriage

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. An apparatus for recording dot information using thermal energy, comprising: storage means for storing dot information representing a pattern to be recorded; and a plurality of thermal energy generation means for generating thermal energy, A control means for controlling the generation of the heat energy by the heat energy generation means, wherein the control means has no dot information in the ON state stored in the storage means to be recorded in the first recording cycle, When there is on-state dot information to be recorded in the next second recording cycle, prior to the dot information to be recorded, auxiliary heat energy is generated at a rear timing in the first recording cycle. And heat energy for recording is generated at a timing ahead of the second recording cycle. When the same thermal energy as the auxiliary generated thermal energy is generated at a timing later in the cycle, and in the subsequent third recording cycle, there is on-state dot information stored in the storage means to be recorded. Of the thermal energy generating means so as to generate thermal energy for recording at a front timing in the third recording cycle and not generate thermal energy at a rear timing in the third recording cycle. An output device characterized by controlling generation timing. 2. The recording cycle is based on excitation switching of a motor for controlling movement of a carriage carrying the thermal energy generating means.
The output device according to the item.