JPH07125335A - Printer mechanism - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To favorably perform the editing of a document containing a character layout by an external device. CONSTITUTION:A character generator 3 is provided to a printer 1 in a detachable manner and, when there is the transmission request of metric data from an external device 8, the metric data of all of characters are read from the presently mounted character generators 3 to be transmitted to the external device 8. The external device 8 uses the metric data transmitted from the printer 1 to perform the editing of a document. Therefore, the document according to the screen of the monitor of the external device 8 can be printed by the printer 1.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a printer system.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, some printers can be equipped with a character generator including a ROM cartridge or IC card in which font pattern data and associated data are stored. By mounting the desired character generator on the printer, the user can print with characters of desired typeface and size.

By the way, when printing is performed by using a printer to which such a character generator can be attached, it is necessary to equip the printer with a character generator that matches the purpose of use. For example, in the case of a business that wants to print in Mincho type, the printer needs to be equipped with a Mincho type character generator. However, in the past, an external device such as a host computer or a word processor that uses the printer could not detect what kind of character generator is currently installed in the printer.
In some cases, it was printed in a typeface different from the typeface required for business.

In view of this, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 60-236764 proposes that the font and character size of the character generator mounted on the printer can be read from the external device side. This makes it possible to prevent the inconvenience of erroneously printing with an undesired typeface or size.

[0005]

However, as disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 60-236764, it is not possible to sufficiently perform the layout regarding the arrangement of characters by only detecting the typeface and size of the character generator. This is remarkable when using a font (hereinafter, referred to as proportional font) in which the character width, the height, the space between adjacent characters and the like differ for each character.

That is, the layout of characters in a document or the like is usually performed by an operator in accordance with a screen in an external device. Now, considering the case of creating an English sentence, the font of a conventional character generator is as follows. There are various types of fonts and sizes, but when attention is paid to one size of one type of font, for example, as shown in FIG. 2, all characters are composed of a dot matrix of the same size.
The layout of characters in the external device is easy because it can be shifted by a fixed interval for each character.

On the other hand, in the case of proportional fonts, the character width, the character height, the distance to the next character and the like are different for each character mainly for the purpose of good appearance. For example, as shown in FIG. 3, for each character, the number of pixels a from the baseline BL to the upper effective pixel of the character, the number of pixels b from the baseline BL to the lower effective pixel, and the character are set. A pixel number c from the reference point O to the leftmost effective pixel of the character and a pixel number d from the reference point O of the character to the reference point O ′ of the next character are set. In the present specification, these a, b, c, d
Is collectively referred to as metric information. In addition, the effective pixel here means a pixel printed in black by the printer.

Therefore, the number of characters printed on one line or the line spacing varies depending on the characters used.
As disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 60-236764, it is not possible to sufficiently perform the layout regarding the arrangement of characters by only detecting the typeface and size of the character generator.

Although there is no problem if the image does not have to be printed as edited on the screen of the external device, the operator generally considers the appearance when editing the document. Therefore, if it is not printed exactly as edited on the screen, a document contrary to the operator's intention may be printed, so print it as edited on the screen of the external device. ,
That is, it is clear that it is appropriate that one line on the screen is printed on one line on the printer and one page on the screen is printed on one page on the printer.

From the above, when the character generator of the proportional font is mounted on the printer side,
It will be understood that when editing a document in an external device, the metric information of the proportional font is required.

On the other hand, it is conceivable to store the metric information of all the characters for all the fonts that may be mounted on the printer in the storage medium of the external device, such as the hard disk. According to this, it is possible to edit the document by detecting what kind of font character generator is currently installed in the printer, but if there are many types of character generators, a huge storage capacity is required. As a result, not only will the cost increase, but if the metric information of the character generator is changed due to version upgrade, etc., the metric information on the storage medium of the external device must be changed accordingly, The maintenance is complicated and places a heavy burden on the user.

Although the alphabet has been described above, it goes without saying that the same applies to other characters.

The present invention is to solve the above problems, and when using a printer to which a character generator storing a proportional font can be attached, edit a document including a character layout in an external device. It is an object of the present invention to provide a printer system capable of satisfactorily performing the above.

[0014]

In order to achieve the above object, the printer system of the present invention is a printer system comprising an external device and a printer for printing print data transferred from the external device. The printer has a character generator in which pattern data of characters and metric information of each character are written, and the metric information from the character generator currently set according to a request from the external device. It is characterized in that it comprises means for reading out and transferring to the external device, and the external device lays out characters using the metric information transferred from the printer.

[0015]

The printer system of the present invention comprises a printer and an external device. The character generator of the printer is detachable, and when a transfer request for metric information is issued from an external device, the metric information of all characters is read from the currently installed character generator and transferred to the external device.

The external device is composed of a personal computer, a word processor, etc., and can edit a document.
Then, the external device edits the document using the metric information transferred from the printer. As a result, the document on the screen of the external device is printed by the printer.

[0017]

Embodiments will be described below with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of an embodiment of a printer system according to the present invention, in which 1 is a printer, 2 is a control unit, and 3 is a printer.
Is a character generator, 4 is a printing unit, 5 is an input / output interface (hereinafter simply referred to as I / F), 6 is a metric information transfer unit, 7 is a transfer request command detection unit, and 8 is an external device.

The printer 1 includes a control unit 2, a character generator 3,
A printing unit 4, an I / F 5, a metric information transfer unit 6, and a transfer request command detection unit 7 are provided.

The control unit 2 centrally manages the operation of the printer 1, and is composed of an appropriate processor and its peripheral circuits.

The character generator 3 is a ROM cartridge, I
It stores pattern data of fonts such as C cards and metric information of each character, and is detachable from the printer 1. The printing unit 4 prints the print data transferred from the external device 8 on a predetermined paper, and the I / F 5 is for exchanging data with the external device 8.

The metric information transfer unit 6 includes a character generator 3
The metric information read from the external device 8 is transferred to the external device 8 via the I / F 5, and the transfer request command detection unit 7 selects the character generator from the various data sent from the external device 8. The command for requesting transfer of the metric information 3 is detected.

The external device 8 edits a document, and is composed of a personal computer, a word processor and the like. Although not shown in FIG. 1, the external device 8
Needless to say, is equipped with a keyboard and monitor.

Next, the operation of the printer system shown in FIG. 1 will be described. Prior to editing the document, the external device 8 requests the printer 1 to transfer the metric information of the currently installed character generator 3 by a predetermined command. This command may be issued by an operator operating the external device 8 by selecting a menu, or when the document editing is instructed, the external device 8 is automatically issued. Is also good.

The command requesting the transfer of the metric information is fetched by the printer 1 via the I / F 5.
When the transfer request command detection unit 7 detects that the command has been received, it notifies the metric information transfer unit 6 to that effect. As a result, the metric information transfer unit 6
Reads the metric information of all characters from the character generator 3 and transfers it to the external device 8 via the I / F 5.

Upon receiving the metric information, the external device 8 stores it in a predetermined memory area and uses it for document editing. For example, each time a character is input, the metric information of the input character is referred to, and the total number of pixels used from the line end of the line is calculated using the values of a, b, c, and d shown in FIG. When the input character is found in the line, it is arranged in that line, and when it is out of the line, it is sent to the next line. The same applies to the calculation between lines or the determination as to whether the line fits on the page.

When printing of the edited document is requested, print data is transferred from the external device 8 to the printer 1. When the control unit 2 receives the print data from the external device 8, the control unit 2 reads the pattern data of the character to be printed and the metric information from the character generator 3 and gives the read data to the printing unit 4. As a result, printing is performed in the printing unit 4 as it is displayed on the screen of the monitor of the external device 8.

Although one embodiment of the present invention has been described above, it is obvious to those skilled in the art that the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment and various modifications can be made.

[0028]

As is apparent from the above description, according to the present invention, the external device can use the metric information of the character generator currently installed in the printer at the time of editing the document, so that the document can be edited well. As a result, the document on the screen of the monitor of the external device can be printed.

Further, the storage capacity for the metric information in the external device is sufficient to store the metric information of one character generator, so that the storage area can be saved.

Further, even if the pattern data and metric information of each character of the character generator is changed due to version upgrade or the like, it is not necessary to perform any operation in the external device.

[Brief description of drawings]

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

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of a conventional character pattern.

FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining metric information.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 ... Printer, 2 ... Control part, 3 ... Character generator, 4 ... Printing part, 5 ... Input / output interface, 6 ... Metric information transfer part, 7 ... Transfer request command detection part, 8 ... External device.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A printer system comprising an external device and a printer for printing the print data transferred from the external device, wherein the printer is a character in which pattern data of characters and metric information of these characters are written. The generator is detachable, and further comprises means for reading out metric information from the character generator currently set in response to a request from the external device and transferring the metric information to the external device. A printer system characterized in that characters are laid out using the obtained metric information.