JPH07125331A - Printer - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To perform printing output at a high speed while contracting a plurality of pages to one page. CONSTITUTION:A developing part 12 developing received printing data as bit map data and storing the same in a drawing memory 13 and a printing part 14 outputting the bat map data for the purpose of printing are provided and a temporary printing memory 15 divided into a plurality of memory regions is provided to the developing part 12. By this constitution, the developing part 12 has a temporary printing function contracting the size of printing data to develop the contracted data as bit map data and successively storing the bit map data corresponding to a plurality of pages in the temporary printing memory 15 and a resolving power selecting function developing bit map data on the temporary printing memory in low resolving power and a synthesizing part 16 synthesizing the bit map data stored in the temporary printing memory 15 into one page to output the same is provided to the drawing memory 13.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a printer device,
In particular, it relates to a printer device that prints out print data from a host device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A conventional printer device performs a development process and controls the entire device, a main memory directly used by the CPU, a host interface for controlling data communication with a host, and bitmap data. It has a frame buffer for storing the bitmap data expanded in the above, and a printing unit for calling out from the frame buffer in units of bitmap data pages and printing out on a medium. In the operation, the CPU reads the print data read from the host interface into the main memory, develops the bitmap data, and then draws the bitmap data in the frame buffer. When the print data for one page is drawn in the drawing memory, it is transferred to the printing unit and printed out.

[0003]

As described above, the conventional printer device is designed to output the print data for one page onto the paper for one page. However, even if the user of the higher-level device does not have all the text data and graphic data completed, he / she wants to print out on a single sheet by reducing multiple pages if, for example, he / she wants to print it for a test. There is a demand, and the conventional printer device cannot meet this demand. Conventionally, there has been a problem that the same processing time and paper as those for normal print output are required even when performing test printing. In addition, if you want to reduce the size of the completed printed matter in order to create an abstract, etc. for the convenience of later retrieval, you must print one page normally and then use the reduction function of the copier. I had to do it. However, this has a disadvantage that the preparation work is complicated and that a printed matter including gradation expression cannot be neatly prepared. Further, even when performing test printing, a complicated operation is required to set the resolution low, and it takes a long time to expand the print data at the high resolution.

As a proposal of such an apparatus for printing and outputting a plurality of pages into one page, there is Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 03-068972 which is realized by using mapping. This proposal differs from the present invention in that the configuration is significantly different, and the purpose thereof is not to require high speed. Further, this proposal does not disclose a concrete realizing means for outputting reduced print data in one page by appropriate mapping, and the problem is unsolved and left unattended.

[0005]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to improve the inconvenience of the conventional example, and in particular, to provide a printer device capable of reducing a plurality of pages to one page for print output and performing this print output at high speed. That is the purpose.

[0006]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to the present invention, there is provided an interface unit for receiving print data from a host device and storing it in a receive buffer, reading the print data from the receive buffer, expanding the print data into bitmap data, and drawing memory. And a printing unit that prints out the bitmap data stored in the drawing memory. In this printer device,
A temporary printing memory that is divided into multiple memory areas and allocated is also provided, and the expansion unit reduces the size of the print data and expands it into bitmap data, and also the bitmap for multiple pages in the temporary print memory. It has a temporary printing function for sequentially storing data and a resolution selection function for developing a bitmap in the temporary printing memory at a low resolution, and draws bitmap data sequentially stored in the temporary printing memory into one page in the drawing memory. A synthesis unit for synthesizing and outputting was added,
Etc. are adopted. This aims to achieve the above-mentioned object.

[0007]

When the print data is received from the host device, first,
The interface unit stores this print data in the reception buffer. Next, the expansion unit reads the print data from the reception buffer and expands it into bitmap data. When the temporary print mode is set by an external signal, for example, a signal from the temporary print mode ON / OFF switch on the operator panel or a command from the host device, the temporary print function is executed.

Normally, the expansion unit draws directly in the drawing memory as the bitmap expansion process progresses. On the other hand, when the temporary print mode is set, the expansion unit performs expansion processing with a size of 1/4 of the normal size, for example, when temporarily printing print data for four pages on one page, Draw in print memory. The bitmap expansion processing to the temporary print memory is performed at a low resolution. When the page end command is read from the print data or when the first temporary print memory is full (full), the expansion process of the next page is started and the second temporary print memory is drawn.

When the drawing for four pages is completed or when the print data end command is read, the expansion unit activates the combining unit via the temporary print memory. The combining unit combines the bitmap data drawn in the fourth temporary print memory from the first temporary print memory and outputs the combined bitmap data to the drawing memory as one page of data.

With both the normal expansion process and the provisional printing function, one page of bitmap data stored in the drawing memory is delivered to the printing unit and output to the actual printing medium.

[0011]

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram showing the configuration of a printer device according to the present invention. The printer device 10 receives the print data from the higher-level device 20 and stores the print data in the receive buffer 11E, and reads the print data from the receive buffer 11 and expands the print data into bitmap data and the expanded bitmap data. Is provided in the drawing memory 13 and a printing unit 14 for printing out the bitmap data stored in the drawing memory 13.

Further, the expansion section 12 is provided with first to fourth temporary printing memories 15A, 15B, 15C and 15D which are divided and assigned to four memory areas. Also,
The expansion unit 12 expands the print data into a bitmap with a size of 1/4 of one page, and stores the bitmap data for four pages in order from the first temporary printing memory 15A to the fourth temporary printing memory 15D. It has a temporary printing function 12F. Further, the drawing memory 13 is provided with a synthesizing section 16 for synthesizing the bitmap data sequentially stored in the first to fourth temporary printing memories 15A, 15B, 15C and 15D into one page and outputting the page. Further, the expansion unit 12 is configured to operate the first to fourth temporary printing memories 15A, 15B, 1 with low resolution.
It has a resolution selection function for expanding bitmaps in 5C and 15D. Here, the configuration is described by taking as an example the case where the print data for four pages is temporarily printed on one page, but the present invention is not limited to this.
To temporarily print 2 pages of print data on 1 page,
The temporary print memory is divided into two areas and allocated.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of hardware resources. Reference numeral 1 is a CPU, and the main memory 3A directly used by the CPU 1 is secured in the RAM 3. In the RAM 3, areas are secured in the reception buffer 11E, the drawing memory 13, and the temporary printing memory 15 in addition to the main memory 3A. In addition, the ROM 5 stores firmware data (not shown) in the printer device 1.
0 is stored at the time of manufacture, and when the printer device is powered on, this firmware data is read into the main memory 3 by the CPU 1, and thereafter, the CPU 1 that has read this firmware data is transferred to the printer device 10.
Control various operations of.

The CPU 1 secures an area of the RAM 3 and transmits / receives data based on the data (program) stored in the ROM 5. Also, CPU1 is a ROM
By performing data processing based on the operation procedure of the expansion unit stored in 5, the expansion unit 12 and the combining unit 16 function.

Further, the printer device 10 is provided with an operator panel for receiving input of various setting information for controlling the operation of the printer device. The CPU 1 operates based on the information from this operator panel.
This operator panel has a temporary print mode on / off.
A switch is provided, and when this switch is on, the developing unit 12F executes the temporary printing function.

Next, the operation of the printer device 10 will be described.

When the print data is received from the host device 20, the interface section 11 first stores the print data in the reception buffer 11E. Next, the expansion unit 12
The print data is read from the reception buffer 11E and expanded into bitmap data. For example, a temporary print mode ON / OFF on the operator panel 4 is generated by an external signal.
When the temporary print mode is set by the signal from the switch 7 or the command from the host device, the temporary print function is executed.

Usually, the expansion unit 12 draws directly in the drawing memory 13 as the bitmap expansion process progresses. On the other hand, when the temporary print mode is set, the expansion unit 12
Performs expansion processing with a size of 1/4 of the normal size and draws in the first temporary printing memory 15A. When the page end command is read from the print data, or when the first temporary print memory 15A becomes full, the expansion process of the next page is started and drawing is performed in the second temporary print memory 15B. When drawing of four pages is completed or when a print data end command is read, the expansion unit 12 causes the temporary print memory 15
The synthesizing unit 16 is activated via. The combining unit 16 combines the bitmap data drawn in the fourth temporary print memory from the first temporary print memory, and outputs it to the drawing memory as one page of data. Here, the case where the print data for four pages is tentatively printed on one page has been described as an example. However, for example, when the print data for two pages is tentatively printed on one page, the expansion unit 12 is half The print data is expanded in the size of, and the combining unit 16 rotates the bitmap data stored in the temporary printing memory by 90 degrees and combines the bitmap data.
Therefore, reduction is performed with the same aspect ratio regardless of whether it is ¼ or ½.

Further, in the temporary printing function for outputting a plurality of pages as one page, it is most desirable to output four pages as one page because the aspect ratio can be made the same and the paper orientation can be made the same. Further, even when 16 pages are output to one page, it is preferable as in the case where four pages are output to one page except that the output size is reduced. Further, by expanding the function of the synthesizing unit, it is possible to output two pages into one page. In this case, although the aspect ratio remains the same, it is necessary to rotate the bitmap data by 90 degrees. Therefore, the expansion process will take time accordingly. In addition, in the case of print output using a highly abstracted printer description language, high-quality print output can be performed without using the same aspect ratio. In this case, therefore, the temporary print memory should be used effectively. And, any reduction printing is possible.

[0021]

Since the present invention is constructed and functions as described above, according to this, after the expansion unit reduces and expands the print data in the temporary printing memory, the combining unit temporarily reduces and expands the print data. Since the bitmap data accumulated in the print memory is combined and stored in the drawing memory, print data for a plurality of pages can be reduced and printed out on one page. Further, since the expansion unit expands the bitmap at a low resolution when reducing and expanding, it is possible to execute the expansion processing by the temporary printing function at a very high speed. Further, for example, since data for four pages can be reduced and printed out as one sheet, waste of paper can be reduced and the printed matter can be used as an abstract. As described above, it is possible to provide an excellent printer device which has not been available in the related art, which is capable of outputting the print data for a plurality of pages on one sheet and executing the output at high speed.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram showing the configuration of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of hardware resources according to an embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 CPU 3 RAM 3A Main memory 4 Operator panel 4A Temporary printing mode on / off switch 5 ROM 10 Printer device 11 Interface section 11E Receive buffer 12 Development section 13 Drawing memory 14 Printing section 15A First temporary printing memory 15B Second Temporary printing memory 15C Third temporary printing memory 15D Fourth temporary printing memory 12F Temporary printing function 16 Compositing unit 12G Resolution selection function 20 Higher-level device

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. An interface unit that receives print data from a higher-level device and stores the print data in a receive buffer; a developing unit that reads the print data from the receive buffer, expands it into bitmap data, and stores it in a drawing memory. In a printer device including a printing unit that prints out bitmap data stored in the drawing memory, the expansion unit is provided with a temporary printing memory that is divided and assigned to a plurality of memory areas, and The expansion unit reduces the size of the print data and expands it into bitmap data, and a temporary print function of sequentially storing bitmap data for a plurality of pages in the temporary print memory, and a low resolution in the temporary print memory. It has a resolution selection function for developing a bitmap, and is sequentially stored in the drawing memory and the temporary printing memory. A printer device having a combining unit for combining and outputting bitmap data into one page. 2. An interface unit for receiving print data from a higher-level device and storing the print data in a reception buffer; a development unit for reading the print data from the reception buffer, developing the print data into bitmap data, and storing the bitmap data in a drawing memory. In a printer device including a printing unit that prints out bitmap data stored in a drawing memory and a drawing memory in which a memory area that can store bitmap data for one page defined by the printing unit is secured, The expansion unit is provided with the predetermined number of temporary printing memories that are divided and allocated to a predetermined number of memory areas that are 4 or a multiple of 4, and the expansion unit determines one page according to the predetermined number. A temporary printing machine that expands print data into bitmaps in a size and sequentially stores the predetermined number of pages in the predetermined number of temporary printing memories And a resolution selection function of developing a bitmap at a low resolution in the predetermined number of temporary printing memories, and one page of bitmap data sequentially stored in the predetermined number of temporary printing memories in the drawing memory. A printer device comprising a synthesizing unit for synthesizing and storing in the drawing memory.