JPH07102719B2 - Printer - Google Patents

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a printing apparatus that analyzes input print information and prints a font pattern corresponding to a character code on a landscape or portrait.

[Conventional technology]

Conventionally, in this type of printing apparatus, portrait printing for printing the input document information in a direction opposite to the longitudinal direction of the recording medium and for inputting the document information parallel to the longitudinal direction of the recording medium. The one configured so that the landscape printing process for printing can be executed has been put into practical use.

When a font pattern to be printed is supplied from an external storage device such as a font cartridge in this type of printing device, a font pattern for portrait printing and a font pattern for landscape printing are provided to the external storage device. Either the font pattern is stored in advance and either one of the font patterns is supplied according to the print control information to perform the printing process, or the font pattern for portrait printing is stored in the printer device from the external storage device during the landscape printing process. The landscape print font is generated through software or hardware such as an expensive developing circuit.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention]

Therefore, in the former case, a large-capacity storage medium for storing all the font patterns for portrait printing and the font patterns for landscape printing is required, and both of them can generate a desired font pattern at high speed. There was a problem that the cost of the font cartridge was significantly increased.

On the other hand, in the latter, it is sufficient to store the font pattern for portrait printing in the font cartridge, so the cost of the font cartridge can be reduced, while the font pattern for portrait printing is changed to the font pattern for landscape printing. There has been a problem that a considerable amount of time is required for the software processing for conversion, the printing processing efficiency is reduced, and the total throughput in the printer is significantly reduced.

The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and stores portrait font information with high printing frequency in a non-volatile memory, and portrait font information with high printing frequency stored in the non-volatile memory. The landscape font cache status is controlled so that the current and the currently cached landscape font information match, and the portrait font information, which is frequently printed, is written to the non-volatile memory at specified print intervals, so that the An object of the present invention is to provide a printing device that can cache a landscape font pattern of a portrait font pattern that is frequently used by a font cache.

[Means for solving problems]

A printing apparatus according to the present invention includes a pattern conversion unit that converts a portrait font pattern read from a font pattern storage unit into a landscape font pattern, and the landscape font pattern converted by the pattern conversion unit together with a character code for a predetermined number of characters. A font cache, updating means for updating the printing frequency of the character code for each printed portrait font pattern in accordance with the printing processing of the portrait font pattern and storing it in the non-volatile memory, and storing it in the non-volatile memory. Of the selected character codes, a selection means for selecting a character code for a predetermined number of high-ranking characters having a high printing frequency, a character code for the predetermined number of characters selected by the selection means, and a character code stored for the predetermined number of characters in the font cache. Matches Determining means for determining whether or not there is a mismatch, and when this determining means determines that they do not match, a landscape font pattern of a portrait font pattern corresponding to a character code that does not match is generated using the pattern conversion means, and the font cache is generated. And a cache control means for sequentially writing to

[Action]

According to the present invention, the portrait font pattern updated and stored in the non-volatile memory selected by the selection means has a character code for a predetermined number of high-ranked characters having a high printing frequency and a landscape font pattern stored for a predetermined number of characters in the font cache. If the determination means determines that the character code does not match, the cache control means sequentially writes the landscape font pattern of the portrait font pattern corresponding to the character code that does not match to the font cache, and based on the printing up to immediately before. The landscape font pattern is generated in the font cache so that it matches the character code corresponding to the portrait font pattern that is frequently printed, and the landscape of the portrait font pattern that the user frequently uses It makes it possible to cache the Ontopatan in the font cache.

〔Example〕

FIG. 1 is a block diagram for explaining an example of a printing apparatus showing an embodiment of the present invention, and 1 is a host computer,
The character code serving as print information and print control information (including landscape print designation, portrait print designation, etc.) are output to the printer unit 2 serving as a printing unit.

The printer unit 2 includes a control unit 21, a vertical / horizontal conversion unit 22, a font cache 23, a management table 24, a frame buffer 25, a dot printer unit 26, a font pattern storage unit 27, a non-volatile memory 28, and the like. Control unit 21 is CPU21a, ROM21
b, RAM 21c, etc., and CPU 21a executes print information processing based on a control program (control procedure including a flowchart described later) stored in ROM 21b.

The vertical / horizontal conversion unit 22 converts the vertical / horizontal direction of the portrait font pattern corresponding to the character code input from the host computer 1 or the character code in the printing frequency information stored in the non-volatile memory 28 to generate a landscape pattern. Let The font cache 23 constitutes the landscape memory of the present invention, and the CPU 21a which serves as the management means thereof.
The landscape font pattern converted by the vertical / horizontal conversion unit 22 based on the print frequency information updated and managed by the above is stored so that the predetermined number can be updated. The CPU 21a updates and manages the print frequency information stored in the non-volatile memory 28 in parallel with the print processing, and the print frequency information is stored in the management table 24 when the power is turned on.
The management table 24 is updated and managed during execution of the printing process thereafter, and the contents of the management table 24 are stored in the non-volatile memory 28 each time the printing process is executed, for example, every time a predetermined page printing process ends or a predetermined time elapses. Remember.

The frame buffer 25 stores the dot pattern output from the control unit 21, for example, for one page, and the dot printer unit 26
The dot pattern of the developed portrait or landscape dot pattern is synchronized with the dot printer section 26.
And print it. The font pattern storage unit 27, which is the font pattern storage means of the present invention, stores portrait font patterns in a one-to-one correspondence with character codes. The non-volatile memory 28 is the frequency information memory of the present invention, and stores the printing frequency information (described later) of each portrait font pattern so that it can be updated by the management means described below. The control unit 21 also serves as the landscape font pattern generation control means of the present invention, and preferentially generates the corresponding landscape font pattern from the font cache 23 while comparing the input print information and the print frequency information.

FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining an example of print data input from the host computer 1 shown in FIG.
Is print data, and the carriage return code CR and line feed code LF, which are print control commands, are added to each print data L1 to L4, and in particular, the form feed code FF is added to the print data L4. .

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram for explaining the configuration of the font cache 23 shown in FIG. 1, and C31 to C35 are code areas,
The code area C31 stores the character code “244E _H ” corresponding to the landscape font pattern of the character “NO” stored in the font area P31. The code area C32 contains the character code "4240" corresponding to the landscape font pattern of the character "thick" stored in the font area P32.
_H "is stored.

The code area C33 stores the character code “4F3A _H ” corresponding to the landscape font pattern of the character “ro” stored in the font area P33.

Character code corresponding to the landscape font pattern of the character "flower" stored in the font area P34 "3256 _H" is stored in the code area C34.

Character code corresponding to the landscape font patterns of characters "child" stored in the font area P35 "3B52 _H" is stored in the code area C35.

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram for explaining the data structure of the management table 24 and the non-volatile memory 28 shown in FIG. 1, 41 is a character code, and each portrait font pattern stored in the font pattern storage unit 27. Corresponding to this character code
Reference numeral 41 indicates a state in which the printing frequency information 42 corresponding to one to one is stored and managed by, for example, 2 bits. Especially character code 41
The portrait font pattern with "P244E" corresponds to the character "no", and the printing frequency is 3, that is, "1" in binary.
The case of "1" is shown.

As can be seen from this figure, each print data shown in Figure 2
When L1 to L4 are processed, the print frequency information 42 corresponding to each character code 41 is sequentially updated, and the character code 41 not used for printing is printed.
The printing frequency information 42 of the area corresponding to is set to "00". In particular, since each print data L1 to L4 has three characters "no", the print frequency information 42 is "11".

Next, the landscape font pattern print processing operation according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIGS.

FIG. 5 is a flow chart for explaining an example of the printing frequency information loading processing procedure according to the present invention. In addition, (1) ~
(3) shows each step. Further, this processing is executed when the power is turned on or when the dot printer unit 26 is in the idle state.

First, the CPU 21a accesses the non-volatile memory 28 and prints the print frequency information 42 corresponding to each portrait font pattern.
Is loaded into the management table 24 (1).

Next, the printing frequency information 42 of the characters in the management table 24 is checked, and the character code 41 of the upper 5 characters with the highest frequency ranking is checked.
Select and compare the five characters registered in the font cache 23 to determine whether their contents match (2). If YES, end the process, and if NO, do not match. The portrait font pattern corresponding to the code 41 is read from the font pattern storage unit 27, the landscape / horizontal conversion unit 22 is used to generate a landscape pattern corresponding to the mismatched character code 41, and the font cache 23 is generated together with the character code 41. Update (update process) registered in (3) is performed, and the process ends.

In particular, since "NULL" is set in the font cache 23 when the power is turned on, all the landscape patterns of the upper 5 characters are stored.

In the printing device configured as described above, among the portrait font patterns updated and stored in the non-volatile memory 28, characters of the portrait font pattern for the predetermined number of high-ranking characters with high printing frequency selected by the selection unit (CPU 21a) are selected. When the determining means (CPU 21a) determines that the code and the character code of the landscape font pattern stored in the font cache 23 for a predetermined number of characters do not match, the cache control means (the CPU 21a performs the control procedure of FIG. 5) Landscape of portrait font pattern corresponding to the character code that does not match is sequentially written to the font cache 23, and the landscape is matched so as to match the character code corresponding to the portrait font pattern that is frequently printed based on the previous printing. The font pattern is Generated O cement cache always allows the landscape font pattern of high portrait font patterns frequently used by the user in the font cache to cache 23.

FIG. 6 is a flow chart for explaining an example of the landscape printing processing procedure according to the present invention. In addition, (1) ~
(5) shows each step.

First, the CPU 21a receives print data from the host computer 1 (1), determines whether the received character code 41 exists in the code area C31 to C35 of the font cache 23 (2), and if NO, the received character code 41. The portrait font pattern corresponding to code 41 is stored in the photo pattern storage section.
It is read from 27, a landscape font pattern is generated through the vertical / horizontal conversion unit 22, and is developed in the frame buffer 25 (3). Next, the printing frequency information 42 of the management table 24
Is updated (4) and the process ends.

On the other hand, if the judgment in step (2) is YES, the converted landscape font pattern is read from the font cache 23, expanded in the frame buffer 25 (5), and the process is terminated.

FIG. 7 is a flow chart showing an example of the printing frequency information update processing procedure according to the present invention. Note that (1) to (4)
Indicates each step.

First, the CPU 21a calculates the storage position of the management table 24 corresponding to the received character code 41 (1). Next, the printing frequency information 42 corresponding to the calculated character code 41 is "11 _B ".
Whether it is (2), if NO, the current print frequency information
"1" is added to 42 (3), and the process ends.

On the other hand, if YES in the determination in step (2), the printing frequency information 42 corresponding to the corresponding character code 41 is left as it is, and "1" is subtracted from the printing frequency information 42 corresponding to the other character code ( 4), the process ends. When the other print frequency information 42 is "00 _B ", the subtraction is not executed.

Although the timing of storing the contents of the management table 24 in the non-volatile memory 28 is not particularly mentioned, if it is executed every time a certain period of time elapses or every time the printing of a certain number of sheets is completed, the landscape always follows the latest print frequency information 42. It is possible to efficiently execute font printing processing.

In the above embodiment, the case where the font pattern such as the portrait font pattern is converted into the landscape pattern (vertical / horizontal conversion) is processed according to the print frequency information 42 has been described. It is also possible to execute the enlarged font pattern expansion processing according to the print frequency information 42 at high speed.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, the printing apparatus that prints Japanese as a language has been described as an example, but the present invention can be applied to a Chinese printer that supports a large number of character sets other than Japanese.

〔The invention's effect〕

As described above, according to the present invention, among the portrait font patterns updated and stored in the non-volatile memory, the character code of the portrait font pattern for the predetermined number of high-ranking characters having a high printing frequency selected by the selection unit and When the determining means determines that the character code of the landscape font pattern stored in the font cache for a predetermined number of characters does not match, the cache control means landscape font pattern of the portrait font pattern corresponding to the mismatching character code. Are sequentially written to the font cache, and the landscape font pattern is generated in the font cache so as to match the character code corresponding to the portrait font pattern that is frequently printed based on the previous printing. Before printing process started by the pattern, it can be cached regardless of on-off state of the power supply, the landscape font pattern of high portrait font patterns frequently the user has used so far in the font cache.

Therefore, the character code of the frequently used portrait font pattern used by the user with an inexpensive configuration is managed in the non-volatile memory, and the landscape font pattern of the portrait font pattern used immediately before that has a high hit rate is used. It can be generated in the font cache at any time, and it has the effect of efficiently printing landscape font patterns.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a printing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of print data input from the host computer illustrated in FIG. 1, and FIG. FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram for explaining the configuration of the font cache shown in FIG. 1, FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram for explaining the data structure of the management table and non-volatile memory shown in FIG.
FIG. 5 is a flowchart explaining an example of a printing frequency information loading processing procedure according to the present invention, FIG. 6 is a flowchart explaining an example of a landscape printing processing procedure according to the present invention, and FIG. 7 is a printing frequency information updating processing according to the present invention. It is a flowchart which shows an example of a procedure. In the figure, 1 is a host computer, 2 is a printer unit, 21 is a control unit, 21a is a CPU, 21b is a ROM, 21c is a RAM, 22 is a vertical / horizontal conversion unit, 23 is a font cache, 24 is a management table, 25
Is a frame buffer, 26 is a dot printer unit, 27 is a font pattern storage unit, and 28 is a non-volatile memory.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A pattern conversion means for converting a portrait font pattern read from a font pattern storage means into a landscape font pattern, and a font cache for storing the landscape font pattern converted by the pattern conversion means together with a character code for a predetermined number of characters. Updating means for updating the printing frequency of the character code for each printed portrait font pattern in accordance with the printing process of the portrait font pattern and storing it in the non-volatile memory; and the character stored in the non-volatile memory. Among the codes, the selection means for selecting the character code for the predetermined number of high-ranked characters with high printing frequency, the character code for the predetermined number of characters selected by the selection means, and the character code stored for the predetermined number of characters in the font cache match. Whether to do If the determination means determines whether or not there is a mismatch, the landscape font pattern of the portrait font pattern corresponding to the mismatched character code is generated using the pattern conversion means, and is stored in the font cache. A printing apparatus comprising: a cache control unit for sequentially writing.