JPH08202882A - Outputting device and outputting method - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To provide an output device and an output method capable of reducing a manufacturing cost. CONSTITUTION: In a first processing, data corresponding to the segment AD of left X data 22 within run length object data generated from a rectangle 21 is compressed so as to be data corresponding to the segment AD of left data in compression run length object data 24 and data corresponding to the segment DC of left X data 22 is compressed so as to be data corresponding to the segment DC of left data in compression run length object data 24. In the second processing, data corresponding to the segment AB of right X data within run length object data generated from the rectangle 21 is compressed so as to be data corresponding to the segment AB of right data in compression run length object data 24 and data corresponding to the segment BC of right X data 23 is compressed so as to be data corresponding to the segment BC of right data in compression run length object data 24.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an output device and an output method, and more particularly to multimedia processing such as CAD (Computer Assisted Design), CG (Computer Graphics), Design, DTP (Desktop Publishing) in business. The present invention relates to an output device and an output method for printing / recording data used in a high definition.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, an output device for drawing image data has a page description language (Page Discription Language) which is a character code sent from a host computer.
age: hereinafter, abbreviated as "PDL") was analyzed, and lines and polygons were held in a data structure called run length object data capable of high-speed drawing.

Here, the run-length object data is a straight line parallel to the X-axis passing through a point and a contour line of the figure area when a point in the figure area is determined as shown by a rectangle 101 in FIG. X for the above-mentioned determined point
It is assumed that the figure can be created only with a figure in which the intersection points on the right and left in the axial direction are uniquely determined, that is, a convex figure, and the structure of the run length object data and a drawing method using it will be briefly described below.

Four coordinate points A, B, C, D of the rectangle 101
Among these, the X coordinate of the contour line of the rectangle 101 on the left and right with respect to the vertical line passing through the point A starting from the point A having the smallest Y coordinate and up to the point C having the maximum Y coordinate is obtained. , Generate run length object data. When this run length object data is expressed in a table format, it becomes like a table 102.

The left and right components of the table 102 are the obtained left and right X coordinates, respectively.
That is, in the illustrated example, the left component has a Y coordinate of 1 to 1.
Between 0, calculation is performed using the slope of the line segment AD, and the Y coordinate is 1
The calculation is performed using the slope of the line segment CD between 0 and 12. The right component is the line segment A when the Y coordinate is between 1 and 3.
The slope of B is used for the calculation, and the slope of the line segment BD is used for the Y coordinate of 3 to 12.

The run-length object data obtained as described above can of course be rendered by software, but since it has a simple structure, it can be easily read directly by hardware and drawn at high speed as in print example 103. realizable.

[0007]

However, the run-length object data requires X coordinates of the left and right contour points of the figure (for example, the rectangle 101) for the height. As the number of scan lines increases due to the higher resolution of printers and the expansion of paper size, the amount of data increases, and a large-capacity memory is required at the time of drawing processing, which causes an increase in manufacturing cost.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and reduces the amount of run-length object data to reduce the memory capacity of the memory for storing run-length object data. An object of the present invention is to provide an output device and an output method capable of reducing the cost.

[0009]

To achieve the above object, an output device of the present invention analyzes input control information to generate an intermediate language, and temporarily stores the generated intermediate language in a storage means. In an output device that stores and draws based on the stored intermediate language, a figure having a closed region is converted into run length object data in which coordinate data of the contour of the figure is collected, and the converted An intermediate language generating means for compressing the run length object data by a reversible compression method to generate the compressed run length object data as the intermediate language, and a drawing means for drawing the compressed run length object data while decompressing the run length object data. It is characterized by

Preferably, the apparatus further comprises output means for outputting what is drawn by the drawing means.

Further preferably, the output means is a printer or a display.

In the output method of the present invention, the input control information is analyzed to generate an intermediate language, the generated intermediate language is temporarily stored in the storage means, and the stored intermediate language is stored in the stored intermediate language. In the output method of drawing based on the above, a graphic having a closed region is converted into run length object data in which coordinate data of the contour of the graphic is collected, and the converted run length object data is losslessly compressed. It is characterized in that compressed run length object data is generated as the intermediate language, and the compressed run length object data is drawn while being expanded.

[0013] Preferably, it is characterized by having a host computer for generating and outputting the control information.

Further preferably, the control information is a page description language.

[0015]

According to the structure of the present invention, a figure having a closed region is converted into run-length object data in which the coordinates of the contour of the figure are collected, and the converted run-length object data is reversible. Compressed run length object data is generated by compression using a compression method, the generated compressed run length object data is stored in the storage means as the intermediate language, and the generated and stored compressed run length object data is stored. The data is decompressed and rendered based on the decompressed run length object data.

[0016]

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

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the schematic arrangement of an output device according to an embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 1, the PDL is shown.
Also shown is a host computer 11 that outputs a code.

In FIG. 1, the output device of this embodiment is a printer controller 1 which performs the main control processing of the present invention such as analysis of PDL data (code) output from a host computer 11, and the printer controller 1. A printer engine 2 that performs printing processing according to the output video signal, for example, a laser beam printer (Laser BeamPr)
inter: hereinafter, abbreviated as “LBP”). The printer engine 2 may be an electrophotographic LBP or an inkjet system as long as it prints a video signal sent from the printer controller 1.

The printer controller 1 includes an input buffer 3 for temporarily storing PDL data from the host computer 11, a CPU 4 which is an arithmetic unit for controlling processing inside the printer controller 1, and a control processing program executed by the CPU 4. PD stored in input buffer 3
PD for scanning, reading, and analyzing L data
RO for programs that store L data analysis programs, etc.
M5, a management RAM 6 managed by the control program, having a management area in which the input PDL data is analyzed and converted into an intermediate language (object data), global information and the like are stored; RAM for
The content of the page buffer 7 is synchronized between the page buffer 7 having a memory for one page for storing the image data developed by the object data stored in 6 and the LBP 2 in the horizontal / vertical synchronization on the LBP 2 side. A printer interface (I / F) 8 for synchronizing a signal and transferring a video signal.

Here, the interface 8 also transmits a command to the printer engine 2 and receives a status from the printer engine 2 with the printer engine 2. When the printer engine 2 is an inkjet printer, the printer interface 8 controls the head and transfers the video signal according to the head size of a plurality of lines.

The host computer 11 creates image data such as lines, polygons, characters and images using application software, converts the created image data into a PDL code and creates corresponding PDL data, It is sent to the printer controller 1.

The input PDL data is input buffer 3
CPU 4 scans and reads the PDL data stored in the input buffer 3 according to the PDL data analysis program in the program ROM 4, and reads the PDL data according to the control program in the program ROM 4.
Analyzing DL data, intermediate language (object data)
And stores it in a predetermined area of the management RAM 6.

Based on the stored object data, the CPU 4 develops one page of image data in the page buffer 7 and outputs the image data to the printer engine 2 via the printer interface 8.

The control processing executed by the output device configured as described above will be described below with reference to FIGS.

FIG. 2 shows a compression process of the run length object in the control process executed by the output device of this embodiment.
6 is a flowchart showing a procedure of processing for storing in the management RAM 6, and this processing is executed by the CPU 4. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of a run length object and its compressed run length object for explaining the processing of FIG. Note that FIG. 2 shows only one side of the run length object, that is, FIG.
3 shows the procedure of processing for compressing only one of the run-length objects 22 or 23 of the run-length object of FIG.
4) is obtained by performing the processing of FIG.
You need to do this for objects.

In FIG. 1, first, in step S1, the minimum Y coordinate value (“1” in the rectangle 21) of the figure (for example, the rectangle 21 in FIG. 3) from which the run-length object is generated is managed. Area Mi reserved in the RAM 5 for use
The value of the maximum Y coordinate is stored in nY (“1” in the rectangle 21).
2 ") is stored in the area MaxY reserved in the management RAM 5. At the same time, the coordinates (X, Y) of the first run-length object are also stored in the management RAM 5 and are currently being noted. A region Ls for storing the respective coordinates in the management RAM 5 and storing the coordinates one before the current coordinates Cx.
The value of the coordinate Cx is stored in tCx. Further, areas Dx and Dy (hereinafter, areas Dx and Dy), which are secured in the management RAM 5, are provided for storing the amounts of change in the X and Y directions.
The contents stored in “X direction change amount Dx” and “Y direction change amount Dy” are respectively initialized (“0” is stored), and X is secured in the management RAM 5.
Areas LstDx and LstD for storing the amount of change immediately before the amount of change in direction Dx and the amount of change in direction Yy, respectively.
y is initialized (stores "0"), and the soft counter Cnt secured in the management RAM 5 is initialized (stores "1").

Next, in step S2, the current Y coordinate Cy
And the Y direction change amount Dy are each incremented by "1", the X coordinate when the Y coordinate is the Y coordinate Cy is calculated, and the result is stored in the current X coordinate Cx and updated.
Then, Cx-LstCx is calculated, the calculation result is stored in the area Dx and updated, and the current X coordinate Cx is stored in the previous X coordinate LstCx and updated.

Next, in step S3, the X-direction change amount Dx
Is “0” and (&&) the current Y coordinate Cy is the maximum Y value Ma.
It is judged whether it is smaller than xY, and the result is "YE
If "S", the process returns to step S2, while "NO"
If, then the process proceeds to step S4.

In step S4, the change amounts Dx and Dy are compared with the previous change amounts LstDx and LstDy, respectively, and when both are equal, the process proceeds to step S5, and the counter Cnt for counting the equal number of times.
Is incremented by "1", and when they are not equal, the process proceeds to step S6, where the counter Cnt and the variation D
A set of x and Dy is registered in a predetermined position of an area secured in the management RAM 5 (hereinafter referred to as “compressed object table”). Further, in step S6, the counter Cnt is set to the initial state (“1” is stored), and the immediately preceding change amounts LstDx and LstDy are changed amounts Dx and Dy, respectively.
After being updated by, the change amounts Dx and Dy are respectively set to the initial state (“0” is stored).

In the following step S7, it is determined whether or not the Y coordinate Cy is smaller than the maximum Y value MaxY. If it is smaller, the process returns to step S2. On the other hand, if the Y coordinate Cy matches the maximum Y value MaxY, in step S8. , Counter Cn
Whether or not the value of t is "1", that is, the final change amount D
It is determined whether x and Dy have been registered. If this registration has not been performed, in step S9, the counter Cnt and the change amount Dx,
Register Dy as a set in the compressed object table.

Next, referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, the rectangle 2
The process of encoding 1 into a compressed run-length object will be specifically described.

In FIG. 3, a rectangle 21 having four points A, B, C and D as vertices has a minimum Y value of "1" at the point A and a maximum Y value of "12" at the point C. . The run-length object is to obtain the left and right X-coordinates from 1 to 12, and is as shown in tables 22 and 23. In this embodiment, it is not necessary to create and store a run length object when creating data, but it is shown for the sake of clarity.

The line segment AD will be described in detail below as an example.

First, in step S1, MinY = Cy =
1, MaxY = 12, Cx = LstCx = 12, Dx =
Each value is stored in each area such as Dy = LstDx = LstDy = 0, Cnt = 1, and in step S2, the Y coordinate Cy and the Y direction change amount Dy are each incremented by “1”, and Cy = 2. When Dy = 1 and the Y coordinate Cy = 2, the X coordinate of the run length object is "11", so Cx = 11 is set,
Since Dx = Cx−LstCx, Dx = −1 and LstCx = 11.

Next, the process proceeds to step S3, at which time Dx
= -1, so the result of the determination in step S3 is "NO".
Then, the process proceeds to step S4.

Since "0" and "0" are set as the initial change amounts LstDx and LstDy, respectively, by default, the result of the determination in step S4 is "NO", and the process proceeds to step S6 to Cnt. = 1, Dx = -1, Dy = 1
Is registered in the compression run length table (see table 24 in FIG. 3), and Dx = −1, Dy = 1, so Cnt = 1, LstDx = −1, LstDy =
The value of each area is updated as 1, Dx = 0, Dy = 0.

Next, Cy (= 2) <MaxY (= 12)
Therefore, the determination result of step S7 is "YES" and the process returns to step S2.

In step S2, Cy = 3, Cx = 1
1, Dx = 0, Dy = 1, and in step S3, D
Since x = 0 and Cy (= 3) <MaxY (= 12), the determination result of step S3 is “YES” and the process returns to step S2. At step S2, Cy = 4 and Cx =
10, Dx = −1, Dy = 2, and since the X-direction variation Dx is not equal to “0” at this time, the determination result of step S3 is “NO” and the process proceeds to step S4.

In step S4, the previous Y-direction change amount LstDy (= 1) is the current Y-direction change amount Dy (=
Since it is not equal to 2), the determination result of step S4 is "N.
It becomes "O" and the process proceeds to step S6, where Cnt = 1, Dx =
-1, Dy = 2 are registered (see the table 24 in FIG. 3), and Cnt = 1, LstDx = -1, Lst.
The value of each area is updated as in Dy = 2, Dx = 0, Dy = 0.

Next, Cy (= 4) <MaxY (= 12)
Therefore, the determination result of step S7 is “YES” and the process returns to step S2. At step S2, Cy =
5, Cx = 10, Dx = 0, Dy = 1, and at this time Dx = 0 and Cy (= 5) <MaxY (= 12), the determination result of step S3 is “YES” and step S2 Return to.

At step S2, Cy = 6, Cx = 9,
Dx = −1, Dy = 2, and at this time, the change amount D in the X direction
Since x (= -1) is not equal to "0", step S3
Becomes NO and the process proceeds to step S4. At this time, the previous X-direction change amount LstDx (= -1) is equal to the current X-direction change amount Dx (= -1), and 1 Since the previous Y-direction change amount LstDy (= 2) is equal to the current Y-direction change amount Dy (= 2), the determination result of step S4 is "YES" and the process proceeds to step S5.

In step S5, Cnt = 2 is set, and the flow advances to step S7.

Thereafter, the same processing is performed, and the Y coordinate Cy is the maximum Y.
Repeat until equal to the value MaxY.

By performing the above processing on the left and right constituent elements of the run length object, they are encoded as shown in the compressed run length object table 24 of FIG.

FIG. 4 is a flow chart showing a procedure of a process of creating (decoding) a run length object from a compressed run length object in the control process executed by the output device of this embodiment.

In the figure, first, in step S11, start X and Y are acquired from the compressed run-length object table to be decoded (for example, the table 24 in FIG. 5), and the start X is set to the X coordinate Cx.

Next, in step S12, the number of consecutive constituents to be decoded first, the amount of change in the X direction and the amount of change in the Y direction are read from the compressed run-length object table into the regions Cnt, Dx, Dy, respectively. In step S13, the counter Cnt is decremented by "1".

Next, in step S14, the change amount D in the Y direction is calculated.
It is determined whether y is "1". If it is not "1", the process proceeds to step S15. On the other hand, if "1", the process skips step S15 and proceeds to step S16.

In step S15, the X direction change amount Dx is added to the X coordinate Cx, and the process proceeds to step S16. In step S16, the X coordinate Cx is set in the run length object table for registering the run length object. After that, the Y-direction change amount Dy is decremented by "1", and the process proceeds to step S17.

In step S17, it is determined whether or not the Y-direction variation Dy is "0", and if it is other than "0", step S17.
14. If it is "0", the process proceeds to step S18.

In step S18, it is determined whether or not the counter Cnt is "0". If it is not "0", step S18 is performed.
13. On the other hand, when the value is "0", the process proceeds to step S19.

In step S19, it is determined whether or not all the processes for the constituent elements of the compressed run-length object have been completed. If not completed, the process returns to step S12 to repeat the above-described process, while ending the process. If so, this control process ends.

Next, referring to FIG. 5, the above-mentioned processing, for example,
The process of decoding the left X data of the compressed run length object table 24 will be described in detail.

First, in step S11, start X = 1
2. Start Y = 1, and set Cx = 12.

In step S12, Cnt = 1, Dx =
-1, Dy = 1 is read, and in step S13, Cn
t = 0. At this time, since Dy = 1, the determination result of step S14 is "NO" and step S16
Then, Cx = 12 is set in the run length object table 31, that is, the first line of the left X data is set, and Dy = 0. At this time, since Dy = 0, the determination result of step S17 is “YES” and the process proceeds to step S18. Since Cnt = 0, the determination result of step S18 is “YES” and step S19.
Go to.

In step S19, since the data to be decoded still remains, the determination result in step S19 becomes "NO" and the process returns to step S12, and the data in the next line of the compressed run length object table, that is,
Cnt = 4, Dx = -1, and Dy = 2 are read, and the process proceeds to step S13.

In step S13, Cnt = 3.
At this time, since Dy = 2, the determination result of step S14 becomes "NO", the process proceeds to step S15, and Cx =
After setting Cx (= 12) + Dx (= − 1) = 11, the process proceeds to step S16, Cx = 11 is set in the second row of the left X data of the run length table 31, and the Y direction change amount Dy is set to “1”. Decrement only "and set Dy = 1. At this time, since the Y-direction change amount Dy is not "0", the determination result of step S17 is "NO" and step S1.
4. Since Dy = 1 at this time, step S1
The determination result of 4 is "YES", and the process proceeds to step S16.

In step S16, Cx = 11 is set in the third line of the run length object table 31, and the Y direction variation Dy is decremented by "1" to obtain D.
Let y = 0. At this time, since Dy = 0, the determination result of step S17 is "YES" and step S1.
8. Since the counter Cnt is not "0" at this time, the determination result of step S18 is "NO", and the process proceeds to step S13.

Thereafter, the same processing is performed by the compression run length /
Repeat until there is no left X data in the object table 24.

The run length object table 31 is obtained by performing the above processing on the left and right data, and the image 32 is drawn by using this table 31.

As described above, according to this embodiment,
When the run length object is encoded into a compressed run length object, the data amount is reduced and stored in the management RAM 6, and when the image data is expanded in the page buffer 7, the stored compressed run length object is run. Since the length object is decoded and the decoded data is used to develop the image data, the memory capacity of the management RAM 6 can be reduced, and the manufacturing cost can be reduced. Since a run-length object having a simple structure is used when expanding the image data, many lines and closed areas can be filled at high speed.

In the present embodiment, the printer has been described as an example, but it can be applied to a display such as a CRT device.

[0063]

As described above, according to the present invention,
A figure having a closed area is converted into run-length object data in which the coordinates of the contour of the figure are collected, and the converted run-length object data is compressed by a reversible compression method to obtain compressed run-length object data. Is generated, the generated compressed run-length object data is stored in the storage means as the intermediate language, the generated and stored compressed run-length object data is decompressed, and the decompressed run-length object data is decompressed. Since it is drawn based on the object data, the amount of run-length object data is reduced, the memory capacity of the memory for storing the run-length object data is reduced, and thus the manufacturing cost is reduced. Fast fill many lines and closed areas It is an effect which can be achieved.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of an output device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing a procedure of a process of compressing a run-length object and saving the run-length object in the management RAM of FIG. 1 among the control processes executed by the output device of the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a diagram for specifically explaining the process of FIG.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a procedure of a process of decoding a run-length object from a compressed run-length object in the control process executed by the output device of this embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a diagram for specifically explaining the process of FIG.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of run-length object data generated by a conventional output device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 4 CPU (intermediate language generation means, drawing means) 6 Management RAM (storage means) 2 Printer engine (output means)

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Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. An output device for analyzing input control information to generate an intermediate language, temporarily storing the generated intermediate language in a storage means, and drawing based on the stored intermediate language. , For a figure having a closed region, the coordinate data of the contour of the figure is set to 1
An intermediate language generating means for converting the run length object data into a cohesive form, compressing the converted run length object data by a lossless compression method, and generating compressed run length object data as the intermediate language; An output device comprising: drawing means for drawing the run length object data while decompressing the run length object data. 2. The output device according to claim 1, further comprising an output unit that outputs the image drawn by the drawing unit. 3. The output device according to claim 2, wherein the output unit is a printer. 4. The output device according to claim 2, wherein the output means is a display. 5. The host computer according to claim 1, further comprising a host computer that generates and outputs the control information.
The output device according to any one of 1. 6. The output device according to claim 1, wherein the control information is a page description language. 7. An output method in which input control information is analyzed to generate an intermediate language, the generated intermediate language is temporarily stored in a storage means, and drawing is performed based on the stored intermediate language. , For a figure having a closed region, the coordinate data of the contour of the figure is set to 1
Converted into run-length object data, compressed the converted run-length object data by a reversible compression method to generate compressed run-length object data as the intermediate language, and compressing the run-length object data. An output method characterized by drawing while expanding.