JPH07195761A - Printer - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To perform output without expanding memory resources of a system nor deteriorating printing information. CONSTITUTION:One page amount of a bit map memory where addresses of an image memory 10 and host data memory 9 are continued is secured based on a decision result of a CPU 1 deciding whether or not printing information becomes incapable of expansion of bands at a fixed intervals by analyzing printing information.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a printing apparatus having an image printing memory for analyzing input print information and executing banding expansion processing.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a printer having a memory for image printing, such as a laser beam printer, a bubble jet printer, a thermal printer, etc., has been proposed.

When partial printing is performed on a printing object (hereinafter referred to as banding), original data (data from the host or an intermediate code thereof) is banded to a memory. There is a case where it is in a memory on the same bus as the above and a case where it is in a memory on another bus.

The difference in the configuration as described above occurs because the former gives priority to the memory saving, and in the latter, the creation and reading of the original data and the reading of the print data are performed independently without interfering with each other. This is because they are aiming for performance.

In particular, in the case of multi-value or multi-color printing, a high bus bandwidth is required in order to write and read data from the host and print data with one bus. Therefore, when such printing is intended, it is prioritized to use separate buses.

Further, in the print data read control, the data read sequencer is connected only to the banding memory bus having the image data, and the image data creating circuit reads the data from another bus and has the image data. The data processing was executed so as to write the data to the banding memory bus.

[0007]

However, in the above-mentioned embodiment, when the banding process cannot be done in time or in memory, it is necessary to switch to a format in which one page of data is prepared in advance. , There is no choice but to convert so that it will fit in the memory for image data,
When such a situation occurs, the resolution or gradation of the image must be greatly reduced in order to print the data originally in a plurality of memory areas and have a relatively small capacity. There was a point.

The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and by expanding the memory area for storing the input print information as a bit map memory for one page at the time of the band unfolding process. It is an object of the present invention to provide a printing apparatus that can output without expanding the memory resources of the system and without deteriorating print information.

[0009]

A printing apparatus according to the present invention comprises a first storage means for storing input print information,
Developing means for analyzing the print information stored in the first storing means and developing the bitmap in band units, second storing means for storing the bitmap-developed print data in the developing means, and the second storing means. Transfer means for reading the print data stored in the second storage means at a predetermined interval and transferring it to the engine; and band expansion determination means for analyzing the print information and determining whether or not band expansion becomes impossible at the predetermined interval. And a page memory securing unit that secures a bit map memory for one page where addresses of the second storage unit and the first storage unit are continuous based on the determination result of the band expansion determination unit.

[0010]

In the present invention, the page memory securing means is the second storage means and the second storage means based on the judgment result of the band expansion judgment means for analyzing the print information and judging whether the band expansion cannot be performed at the predetermined intervals. A bitmap memory for one page in which addresses of one storage unit are continuous is secured, and output is performed without expanding the memory resource of the system and without deteriorating print information.

[0011]

【Example】

[First Embodiment] FIG. 1 is a block diagram for explaining the control arrangement of a printing apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

In the figure, reference numeral 1 is a CP for controlling the whole.
U, 2 are ROMs that store programs for controlling the entire printing sequence, 3 is an interface circuit (I / F) for receiving print data, 4 is a bus from the CPU 1 and 5 is an image generation of font data etc. A circuit, 6 is a print sequencer circuit for reading out print image data, 7 is a memory controller for a host data memory 9 for storing print command data from the host and a print intermediate code, and 8 is an image memory 10 for storing print images.
The memory controller 11 for printing is an engine for printing, and is composed of a laser printer engine, which will be described later. The engine 11 is not limited to the laser printer engine, and may be a thermal transfer type engine or an inkjet type engine, which does not hinder the application of the present invention.

Reference numeral 12 is a data output bus of the image generating circuit 5, and 13 is a data output bus of the print sequencer circuit 6.

In the printing apparatus thus configured, the band expansion determination is performed by analyzing the print information and determining whether the band expansion cannot be performed at a predetermined interval (determined at a predetermined time in time for band printing of the engine). Means (CPU1)
Page memory securing means (CPU
1) does not expand the memory resource of the system by securing the bitmap memory for one page where the addresses of the second storage means (image memory 10) and the first storage means (image memory 9) are continuous. In addition, the print information is output without deterioration.

The outline of the banding printing processing operation in this embodiment will be described below. When printing is performed by banding, print data from the host is written from the interface circuit 3 to the host data memory 9 via the memory controller 7, read by the CPU 1 via the memory controller 7, and analyzed. After that, the intermediate data is written in the re-host data memory 9.

When the preparation for outputting one page of data is completed, the image generating circuit 5 causes the host data memory 9
After the intermediate data is read out through the memory controller 7 and interpreted, a print image (bitmap) is generated according to the intermediate data and written into the image memory 10 through the memory controller 8.

When the creation of the image data for one band is completed, the print sequencer circuit 6 reads the image data through the memory controller 8 and transfers it to the engine 11 to execute the printing process. These operations are repeated to print one page.

The image memory 10 is divided into two or more parts, that is, a part where image data is written and a part where the image data is read out and sent to the engine 11.

At this time, it is a condition for normal printing that the writing of the image of the next band is completed within the time when one band is read out.

The CPU 1, the memory controller 7,
An address circuit is configured in the memory controller 7 and the memory controller 8 so that the host data memory 9 and the image memory 10 can be accessed as continuous addresses from the memory controller 8 through the buses 4, 13 and 12.

FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining the first address map in the memory resources of the printing apparatus shown in FIG.

When printing is performed after generating a print image for one page at a time, the image generating circuit 5 sets "1000".
If "H" to "38FFFFH" correspond to one page, data is written in this.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating the configuration of the memory controller image memory 8 shown in FIG.

In the figure, reference numerals 20 to 22 are address comparators, and the address from each block is set to "100000H to 1F".
Check if it is in the range of "FFFFH", and if so, activate the output. Flip-flops 23 to 25 store which block has the access right. G1, / G1
~ G3, / G3 are enable signals indicating that the access right is obtained.

26 is a RAM sequencer, and RAM 32
And a signal for controlling the RAM access cycle are generated. A flip-flop 27 holds the states of the flip-flops 23 to 25 while the access to the RAM 32 is started once. 28 is a selector in the data direction of the data buffer, and 29 to 31 are buffers of the data bus.

According to the access request generated in each block, it is checked whether the comparators 20 to 22 are accessing themselves, and after arbitration with other circuits, enable signals G1 to G3 are fixed. According to it, RAM32
Is accessed and the data is RA through the selected bus.
Exchange with M32 completes one access.

The enable signals G1 to G3 are output to each block for data acknowledgement. Further, in FIG. 3, circuit portions not related to this embodiment are omitted. [Second Embodiment] FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining a second address map of memory resources in the printing apparatus of the present invention.

In the first embodiment, the case where the memory for the print image and the memory for storing the data or the intermediate code from the host are continuous has been described, but as shown in FIG. 4, the image generating circuit 5 and the print sequence circuit 6 are provided. It is also possible to configure so that discrete addresses can be managed and to control each memory to be allocated to a non-contiguous memory space. [Third Embodiment] FIG. 5 is a block diagram for explaining the control arrangement of a printing apparatus according to the third embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an address map of memory resources of the printing apparatus shown in FIG.

In FIG. 5, reference numeral 14 is a memory controller added to the memory controller 8 shown in FIG. 1, and controls band drawing of the other image memory 15.

In the above-mentioned first and second embodiments, there are two buses, one for the memory of the print image, the other for the memory for storing the data or the intermediate code from the host, and the bus for the CPU. Although the configuration has been described, the number of buses is not limited to this, as shown in FIG.
It is also possible to apply a circuit configuration constituted by a plurality of memories and buses more than this.

Further, as shown in FIG. 6, the image generating circuit 5 and the print sequence circuit 6 can be arranged to manage consecutive addresses so that the image memory can be expanded. Good.

The image data page expansion processing operation in the printing apparatus according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing an example of an image data page expansion processing procedure in the printing apparatus according to the present invention. Note that (1) to (12) indicate each step.

First, in step (1), the extended memory flag (a flag set when it is determined that band processing cannot be performed as a result of the determination) is set to "0". Next, it is judged whether or not the received print data can be expanded into a band within a predetermined time under a printing condition such as a specified resolution (2). If NO, a normal band expansion is executed (9), and the band expansion is completed. Then, band printing is performed (10) and (11). Then
If it is determined that the one-page expansion is completed (12), and if it is determined that the one-page expansion is completed, the process returns to step (8), and if NO is determined, the process returns to step (9).

On the other hand, if the determination in step (2) is YES, the memory reservation flag is set to "1" (3). Next, an image memory space for one page is secured (4), and bitmap expansion processing is executed (5) and (6) until page expansion is completed. Next, when the page expansion is completed, page printing is executed (7), the end of print data is determined (8), the process returns to step (1) if NO, and the process ends if YES.

In all the embodiments, when one page of memory space is secured, the data may be changed to a data having a lower resolution than that in banding depending on the memory configuration.

An example of the engine 11 shown in FIG. 1 will be described below with reference to FIG.

FIG. 8 is a sectional view showing the structure of the engine 11 shown in FIG. 1, which corresponds to, for example, a laser beam printer. The printer type is not limited to the laser beam type, and an inkjet type printer may be used.

The character pattern and the fixed form (form data) can be registered from a data source (not shown).

In the figure, reference numeral 1000 denotes a laser beam printer (LBP) main body (hereinafter simply referred to as a main body),
Input and store character information (character code), form information, macro commands, etc. that are supplied from an external device such as a host computer that is connected to the outside, and the corresponding character pattern or form pattern according to the information. Etc. are created, and an image is formed on a recording sheet which is a recording medium. Reference numeral 1112 denotes an operation panel on which switches for operation and an LED display or an LCD display for displaying the status of the printer are arranged. 1101 denotes an LBP10.
This printer control unit 1101 which is a printer control unit for controlling the entire 00 and analyzing character information supplied from the host computer mainly converts the character information into a video signal of a corresponding character pattern and outputs it to the laser driver 1102. . The laser driver 1102 is a circuit for driving the semiconductor laser 1103, and turns on / off the laser beam 1104 emitted from the semiconductor laser 1103 according to the input video signal. 11
Reference numeral 05 denotes a polygon mirror, which changes the direction of the laser beam 1104 and causes the electrostatic drum 1106 to scan.

As a result, an electrostatic latent image having a character pattern is formed on the electrostatic drum 1106.

This latent image is developed by a phenomenon unit 1107 around the electrostatic drum 1106 and then transferred to a recording sheet. A cut sheet is used as the recording sheet, and the cut sheet is the sheet cassette 11 mounted on the main body 1000.
No. 08, and is taken into the apparatus by the paper feed roller 1109 and the conveyance roller 1111 and is electrostatic drum 11
06.

According to the present embodiment, it is possible to allow the data reading sequencer to connect to both the memory connected to the image data bus and the memory containing the data from the host or the intermediate code. In the case where one page of memory is prepared and printed, a large memory space is secured by continuously accessing the image data memory and the host data memory. As a result, when the print data for one page is created, it is possible to reduce the deterioration of the image quality during banding and when preparing the data for one page as compared with the related art.

The present invention may be applied to a system composed of a plurality of devices or an apparatus composed of a single device. Further, it goes without saying that the present invention can be applied to the case where it is achieved by supplying a program to a system or an apparatus.

[0045]

As described above, according to the present invention,
Based on the determination result of the band expansion determining unit that analyzes the print information and determines whether the band expansion cannot be performed at the predetermined interval, the page memory securing unit continuously addresses the second storage unit and the first storage unit. Since the bitmap memory for one page is secured, it is possible to output without expanding the memory resource of the system and without deteriorating the print information.

Therefore, there is an effect that the output can be performed without expanding the memory resources of the system and without deteriorating the print information.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a control configuration of a printing apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a first address map in a memory resource of the printing apparatus illustrated in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a memory controller image memory shown in FIG.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a second address map of memory resources in the printing apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating a control configuration of a printing apparatus according to a third exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

6 is a diagram illustrating an address map of memory resources of the printing apparatus illustrated in FIG.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing an example of an image data page expansion processing procedure in the printing apparatus according to the present invention.

8 is a cross-sectional view showing the configuration of the engine 11 shown in FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 CPU 2 ROM 3 I / F 4 Bus 5 Image Generation Circuit 6 Print Sequence Circuit 7 Memory Controller 8 Memory Controller 9 Host Data Memory 10 Image Memory 11 Engine

Front page continuation (72) Inventor Ken Onodera 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Canon Inc. (72) Inventor Atsushi Torizaki 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Canon Inc. (72) Inventor Joji Oki 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Canon Inc. (72) Inventor Takashi Ohno 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Canon Inc. (72) Invention Person Toru Wakana 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Canon Inc.

Claims (1)

[Claims] A first storage unit that stores the input print information, an expansion unit that analyzes the print information stored in the first storage unit and expands the bitmap into band units, and a bitmap expansion into the expansion unit. Second storage means for storing the print data, a transfer means for reading the print data stored in the second storage means at a predetermined interval and transferring the print data to the engine, the print information being analyzed, and the predetermined interval. Band expansion determination means for determining whether or not band expansion is impossible, and the second based on the determination result of the band expansion determination means.
And a page memory securing unit that secures a bitmap memory for one page in which addresses of the first storing unit are continuous.