JPH0816934B2 - Image editing equipment - Google Patents

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image editing apparatus that writes image information in a bitmap memory, and more particularly to an image editing apparatus that fills a specified area using a filling pattern. .

“Prior Art” Document-creating devices such as word processors have recently become more sophisticated in their functions. That is, such a device, which was initially capable of editing only characters, has been able to draw an image inside a page by setting a frame within the page. In this specification, the expression format created by characters and images is referred to as text. For text, characters and symbols are created using a character code and a character generator, and other than that, an image is created using a bit pattern.

Recently, an expression format in which a circle, a curve or the like is generated using a predetermined calculation formula is also used. This will be referred to as a graphic in this specification. By using both text and graphics to edit images, complex image representation can be performed more easily. As a device for expressing an image, there is a recording device such as a laser printer.

By the way, in an image editing apparatus, text editing and graphic editing are often performed under different concepts. For example, assume that there is a square graphic as shown in FIG. Figure 8 shows the text "Ai ..." in the editing area where this graphic exists.
Is added in the landscape horizontal writing state, and FIG. 9 is the same sentence added in the landscape vertical writing state. In addition, Fig. 10 shows a similar sentence added in portrait portrait mode.
The figure shows the portrait added horizontally.

In this way, while the text is edited differently depending on the layout of the paper to be printed out and the directionality of the characters, the graphic is always edited the same on the paper.

"Problem to be solved by the invention" However, one problem occurs here.

Now, as shown in FIG. 12, it is assumed that a predetermined area 1 is filled with a pattern (filling pattern) 2 which is formed by repeating a chain line. In this figure, an arrow indicates a bitmap memory 3 in which this image information is written as a bit pattern.
Represents the direction in which is read. At this time,
The origin of the coordinates of the bitmap memory 3 is at the position of the black circle (●) 4 shown in the lower left as shown in the figure, which is the horizontal writing state in the landscape.

On the other hand, FIG. 13 shows a vertical writing state in the landscape, and the origin of the coordinates of the bitmap memory 3 is the position of the black circle 5 in the lower right of this figure. Since the origin of the coordinates changes in the bitmap memory 3 in this way,
Filling with the same fill pattern 2 as in Fig. 12 results in a pattern orientation difference of 90 degrees.

Since it is necessary to prevent such an inconvenience and to express an identical image in terms of graphics, conventionally, the same filling pattern is prepared in two different ways at different angles. Therefore, if the number of types of fill patterns increases,
There is a problem in that the memory required for these storages requires a large capacity and the image editing apparatus becomes expensive and large.

Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide an image editing apparatus in which it is sufficient to prepare one filling pattern each when changing from vertical writing to horizontal writing.

“Means for Solving Problems” In the present invention, a fill pattern storage means for storing a fill pattern used as a basic pattern for filling a designated area and a fill pattern read from the fill pattern storage means are provided. A pattern rotating unit that rotates a specified angle, a rotation pattern storage unit that stores the fill pattern rotated by the pattern rotating unit, a register that registers information that indicates whether or not the fill pattern needs to rotate, and a fill unit. A bitmap memory that writes image information such as a pattern in a bit pattern, and a register that instructs rotation of the fill pattern, and if the rotated fill pattern is not registered in the rotation pattern storage unit, is rotated by the pattern rotation unit. Rotate the filled pattern When the registering pattern is registered in the pattern storage means and the rotated fill pattern is written in the bitmap memory, and the register instructs rotation of the paint pattern, and the rotated paint pattern is registered in the rotated pattern storage means, The image editing apparatus is provided with a writing control means for writing the rotated painting pattern in the bitmap memory.

According to the present invention, a plurality of filling patterns can be created from one pattern by rotating the filling pattern, and the above-mentioned object can be achieved. If a rotated fill pattern is already registered, the rotated fill pattern is written in the bitmap memory without rotating it again.
The processing time for rotation is shortened and high-speed printing can be supported.

[Examples] The present invention will be described in detail below with reference to Examples.

FIG. 2 shows a laser printer as an image editing apparatus in one embodiment of the present invention. The laser printer 11 can be roughly divided into an image supply unit 12 and a recording unit 13. The image supply unit 12 and the recording unit 13 are both the power supply unit 14
Power is supplied from the device to perform a predetermined operation. this house,
The image supply unit 12 receives the code information 15 etc. sent from the Japanese word processor or personal computer,
Create a video signal. Then, while receiving the supply of the video clock 16 and the synchronization signal 17 from the recording unit 13, the video signal 18 is transmitted and the recording unit 13 performs the recording operation. With the recording operation, the image supply unit 12 sends a command 21 to the recording unit 13.
And the recording unit 13 returns the status 22. In this way, the recording image is created by the recording unit 13, and the recorded paper 23
Will be discharged to the outside of the device.

This laser printer 11 is equipped with an operation panel 25,
When the operator operates various switches on this panel, the switch operation information 26 is supplied to the image supply unit 12, and desired control is performed. Further, information to be transmitted necessary for recording of the laser printer 11 is supplied from the image supply unit 12 to the operation panel 25 and displayed on the display unit thereof.

FIG. 3 shows the details of the image supply unit of such a laser printer. Image supply unit 12 is a controller
Equipped with 31. A CPU (central processing unit) 32 is arranged in the controller 31, and image editing work is performed by a program written in a program ROM (read only memory) 33. A RAM (random access memory) 34, a PIO (parallel input output) 35, and a DMAC (DMA controller) 36 are prepared for this control. The controller 31 is connected to the CPU bus 37 together with other devices of the image supply unit 12, and performs data transfer and address control.

Other devices connected to the CPU bus 37 include an interface unit 41 for communicating with a host or the like, an interface unit 42 with the operation panel 25, and synchronization for transferring a video signal to the recording unit 13. There are respective interface units of the interface unit 43 for. In addition, a character pattern ROM4 that generates a character pattern corresponding to the character code
4, a bitmap memory 46 that writes image information by a bit pattern, an image handler 47 that generates an image to be written in the bitmap memory 46, and a memory controller 48 that controls the access timing to the bitmap memory 46. Is also connected to the CPU bus 37.

FIG. 4 shows the main part of the recording section of this laser printer. The recording unit 13 uses a photosensitive drum 51, which is irradiated with a laser beam to form an electrostatic latent image and create a recorded image. This process will be described below.

First, the laser beam 53 emitted from the laser oscillator 52
Is polarized by the polarizer 54, and the laser beam modulator
It is incident on 55. The laser beam modulator 55 has its input terminal
A bit serial video signal is supplied to 56, and the plane of polarization of the laser beam rotates in response to the electro-optical effect, for example. A polarizer 57 is arranged in the optical path on the exit side of the laser beam modulator 55, and the passage of the laser beam 53 is controlled as a so-called electric shutter.

The laser beam 58 that selectively passes according to the state of the video signal is incident on a polygon mirror (rotating polygonal mirror) 61 that rotates at a high speed by a motor 59, and the reflection direction of the polygon mirror (rotating polygonal mirror) 61 changes with a predetermined period as the mirror surface rotates. Change with. The reflected laser beam 62 passes through a condenser lens 63 and passes through the photosensitive drum.
Reach 51 above. At this time, the laser beam 62 is indicated by an arrow in the figure.
The image is exposed line by line by scanning in 64 directions.

Like the electrostatic copying machine, the photosensitive drum 51 has a developing device 66, a transfer corotron (transfer device) 67, and the like arranged around it. When the rotation shaft 68 of the photosensitive drum 51 is rotated at a constant speed in the direction of an arrow 69 by a drive motor (not shown), the drum surface is uniformly charged by a charge corotron (charger) (not shown), and the laser beam scans this surface. To do. As a result, the charge on the surface of the drum disappears in the area irradiated with light, and an electrostatic latent image is formed. The formed electrostatic latent image is developed by the developing device 66 to form a toner image. This toner image is transferred to the recording paper 71 passing between the transfer corotron 67 and the photosensitive drum 51, and fixed by a fixing device (not shown).

In the vicinity of the photosensitive drum 51 shown in FIG. 4, sensors 74 and 75 are arranged at positions substantially corresponding to both ends of the area scanned by the laser beam 62. One sensor 74 is a detector for determining the scanning start position of the image information on the photosensitive drum 51, and the other sensor 75 is a detector for detecting the end of scanning. These sensors 74 and 75 control the transfer timing of the video signal applied to the laser beam modulator 55.

By the way, FIG. 1 shows a main part of the image editing apparatus of the present embodiment. As described above, the image editing apparatus generates an image in the image handler 47 and writes it in the bitmap memory 46. The above-mentioned memory controller 48 (FIG. 3) has a register 81 built-in, and the image handler 47 refers to this to determine whether or not it is necessary to rotate the fill pattern. Then, when rotation is necessary, the rotated paint pattern is registered in the RAM 34, and the pattern is used to write to the bitmap memory 46.

The fill pattern once registered in the RAM 34 can be used repeatedly as long as it is not erased. That is, the image handler 47 can directly read the filling pattern of the RAM 34 and fill a predetermined area.

As a method for creating a fill pattern rotated in the RAM 34 by 90 degrees, a method that is generally used for rotating a pattern can be used. For example, if the fill pattern consists of 16 × 16 dots, the character pattern ROM44
From this pattern, the data for one row of this pattern is read in parallel, and this is stored as the data for one column of the fill pattern storage area of 16 × 16 dots allocated to RAM34. You can run up to.

FIG. 5 shows a general flow of work for filling a predetermined closed region with a fill pattern. The image handler 47 looks at the contents of the register 81 and determines whether or not the laser printer fills in the image information (step). When the filling is not performed (N), work other than the filling of the pattern is executed (step).

When the pattern is filled (Y), it is determined whether the recorded paper is output in portrait orientation or landscape orientation (step). As can be understood from FIGS. 6A and 6B, when the landscape is in the horizontal writing state and the portrait is in the vertical writing state, the recorded paper 23 is output in the horizontal orientation. Also, as can be understood from C and D in the figure, in the state of vertical writing in landscape and the state of horizontal writing in portrait,
The recorded paper 23 is output in portrait orientation. Therefore, if a pattern for horizontal writing is prepared as a filling pattern in the character pattern ROM 44 of the laser printer, the filling pattern must be rotated 90 degrees during vertical writing.

Therefore, when printing out horizontally, a non-rotated fill pattern is selected (step),
The specified closed area is filled using this (step). This closed area is not limited to a rectangular area, and naturally an area specified by a graphic is also targeted.

On the other hand, when the recorded paper 23 is output in portrait orientation, it is determined whether or not the corresponding paint pattern is already registered as a rotated pattern (step). If the rotated fill pattern is not registered in the RAM 34 (N), the fill pattern is rotated as described above (step). Then, using this rotated filling pattern, the designated closed region is filled (step). When the rotated filling pattern is already registered in the RAM 34 (step; Y), the designated closed region is filled using this (step).

[Advantages of the Invention] As described above, according to the present invention, by rotating the filling pattern, it is possible to cope with all recording directions without changing the orientation of the paper. That is, the orientation of the paper can be limited to one direction, and the size of the storage device such as the laser printer can be set to the minimum. Further, it is not necessary to prepare a plurality of identical filling patterns corresponding to the rotation angles, and it is possible to reduce the storage area of the character pattern. Furthermore, when the rotation of the fill pattern is instructed, if the rotated fill pattern is already registered, the rotated fill pattern is written in the bitmap memory without rotating it again. The time is shortened and high-speed printing can be supported.

[Brief description of drawings]

1 to 6 are for explaining one embodiment of the present invention, in which FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a main part of a laser printer as an image editing apparatus, and FIG. 2 is an outline of the apparatus. FIG. 3, FIG. 3 is a block diagram of the image supply unit, FIG. 4 is a schematic configuration diagram of the recording unit, FIG. 5 is a flow chart showing the flow of work when the pattern is filled, and FIG.
Is a plan view showing a printout state in landscape landscape writing, FIG. B is a plan view showing a printout state in portrait vertical writing, and FIG. C is a plan view showing a printout state in landscape vertical writing. D is a plan view showing a printout state in portrait horizontal writing, FIG. 7 is an explanatory view showing an editing area in which a graphic exists, and FIG. 8 is an example in which text is added to this editing area in a landscape horizontal writing state. FIG. 9 is a plan view showing an example in which text is added to the editing area shown in FIG. 7 in a portrait vertical writing mode.
FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram showing an example in which text is added to the editing area shown in FIG. 7 in the state of vertical writing of landscape, and FIG. 11 is a drawing of text writing horizontally in the editing area shown in FIG. An explanatory view showing an example added in a state, FIG. 12 is an explanatory view showing an example in which a predetermined filling pattern is filled in a landscape horizontal writing state, and FIG. 13 is a direction of this filling pattern in a landscape vertical writing state It is explanatory drawing which shows the case where it paints, without changing sex. 2 ... fill pattern, 11 ... laser printer, 12 ...
… Image supply unit, 32 …… CPU, 33 …… Program ROM, 34…
… RAM, 44 …… Character pattern ROM, 46 …… Bitmap memory, 47 …… Image handler, 48 …… Memory controller, 81 …… Register.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A fill pattern storing means for storing a fill pattern used as a basic pattern for filling a designated area, and a pattern rotating means for rotating the fill pattern read from the fill pattern storing means by a designated angle. A rotation pattern storage means for storing the fill pattern rotated by the pattern rotating means, a register for registering information indicating whether or not the fill pattern needs to be rotated, and image information such as the fill pattern in a bit pattern. A bitmap memory to be written, and when the register instructs the rotation of the fill pattern, and when the rotated fill pattern is not registered in the rotation pattern storage means, the fill pattern rotated by the pattern rotating means is rotated. Pattern memory When the register indicates the rotation of the fill pattern and the rotated fill pattern is registered in the rotation pattern storage means, An image editing apparatus comprising: a writing control unit that writes a completed filling pattern to a bitmap memory.