JPH082665B2 - Character expansion control circuit - Google Patents

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a print control method, and in particular, in a print control device for alphanumeric characters or kanji, characters that can reduce the depth of a pattern buffer for temporarily storing a character pattern to be printed. It is related to the deployment method.

[Conventional technology]

The pattern buffer in the conventional print control device is, for example, as described in JP-A-59-121432.
All the character patterns to be printed are temporarily stored in the pattern buffer, and only the necessary portions are transferred to the paper image memory which is the output device. That is, after the character code to be printed is stored in the page buffer, the character code read from the page buffer is converted into the address of the character generator, and the character generator is accessed at the converted address to obtain the desired character code. Read a character pattern. After the character expansion control circuit 3 expands the character pattern to be printed in the pattern buffer, the contents of the pattern buffer are output to the paper image memory.

[Problems to be solved by the invention]

However, in the conventional technique, since it is necessary to provide a pattern buffer having a depth equal to the height of a character to be printed, the amount of hardware is large. That is, in the pattern buffer, the amount of characters to be printed at one time, for example, the character font pattern for one line is temporarily stored and then transferred to the output device. In that case, the font data of "1" and "0" is stored. Since the columns must be stored in the shape of the character font pattern, the minimum depth of the buffer memory is the height of the character font pattern.

Further, since the height of characters that can be printed is limited by the depth of the pattern buffer, it is impossible to print characters of any size, and as a result, there is a problem that the expandability is small. For example, character patterns of 5 x 8 dots for alphanumeric characters, 10 x 12 dots for Chinese characters, or 20 x 24 dots are used. In that case, the depth of the pattern buffer is 8, 12, 24 dots, respectively. Has become.

An object of the present invention is to improve such a conventional problem and to provide a print control method capable of reducing the depth of the pattern buffer and reducing the amount of metal in the pattern buffer when storing a character pattern in the pattern buffer. To provide.

[Means for solving problems]

In order to achieve the above object, the print control method of the present invention is
When the pattern buffer is equipped with a storage address pointer that performs a circular operation, and the actual size of the height that spans multiple lines, or the enlarged or reduced characters are stored in the pattern buffer and the character expansion processing is performed, the characters overlap from the final address. The storage starts from the previous address only, the storage address pointer circulates, returns to the first address, stores the character pattern up to the last address, and overwrites the previously stored character pattern in the overlapping area. There are features.

[Action]

In the present invention, when storing a character pattern in the pattern buffer, only the character pattern relating to the line in which the character is being developed is stored in the pattern buffer. That is, when a full-scale character font pattern is stored in the pattern buffer, the depth of the pattern buffer can be made equal to the height of the line by storing only the character pattern for the line under character expansion in the pattern buffer. . Further, when storing an enlarged or reduced character pattern in the pattern buffer, it is used that the storage address pointer of the pattern buffer circulates. Enlarged or reduced characters cannot obtain an enlarged or reduced character pattern unless all dots of the full-scale character pattern are enlarged or reduced, but if all of these are stored in the pattern buffer, the pattern buffer Only the height of the character pattern with the expanded or reduced depth is required. Therefore, starting to store the upper character pattern that does not occupy the line being expanded of the expanded or contracted character pattern in the middle of the pattern buffer, and after the storage address pointer returns from the last address of the pattern buffer to the start address, the pattern If you store the character pattern that extends from the first address of the buffer to the line that is being expanded or reduced to the last address of the pattern buffer,
The upper character pattern that does not cover the line under character expansion stored in the pattern buffer is deleted, and only the character pattern related to the line under character expansion can be left in the pattern buffer. This allows the depth of the pattern buffer to be the same as the row height.

〔Example〕

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a print control apparatus showing an embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 3, reference numeral 1 is a page buffer for storing character information to be printed for one page in a line unit, 2 is a character generator that stores a character font pattern to be printed, 3 is a page buffer 1 and a character generator 2. A character expansion control circuit for performing character expansion processing on a line-by-line basis, 4 is a pattern buffer used as temporary storage when the character expansion control circuit 3 performs character expansion processing, and 5 is 1 bit corresponding to 1 dot of paper. Paper image memory

When one page of character information of a character to be printed is stored in the page buffer 1, the stored character information is sequentially read to the character expansion control circuit 3 and, at the same time, converted to the character information or the address of the character generator 2. The character generator 2 is accessed by the information, and the corresponding character font information is read out to the character expansion control circuit 3.
Then, when the character expansion processing of the character expansion control circuit 3 for the pattern buffer 4 is completed, the contents of the pattern buffer 4 are transferred to the paper image memory 5.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of the pattern buffer in FIG. In FIG. 4, 41 is a buffer memory,
The depth is the same as the height of the line where characters are expanded. Memory 41
The width may be such that it can be easily processed. Reference numeral 42 is a storage address pointer, and 43 is a retrieval address pointer. The character pattern stored in the memory 41 is stored at the address indicated by the storage address pointer 42. When the final address of the memory 41 is reached during the storage, the process returns to the start address of the memory 41 and the storage of the character pattern is continued. The character pattern extracted from the memory 41 is extracted from the address indicated by the extraction address pointer 43. The process of transferring the character pattern from the pattern buffer 4 to the paper image memory 5 is started from the start address of the memory 41 by initializing the start address of the memory 41 to the extraction address pointer 43, finish.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of character expansion processing for the paper image memory in FIG. Character expansion control circuit 3
However, an example of the paper image memory 5 after the character expansion processing will be described. When the character expansion control circuit 3 expands all the characters on the Mth line, then the M + 1th line, the M + 2th line, ...
・ The character is expanded in the order of. In FIG. 5, the character expansion control circuit 3 first displays the upper part of the character "A" on the Mth line, and then the character "C".
Character expansion processing in the order of the upper part of the following, the middle part of the character "A" on the M + 1th line, the character "B", the middle part of the character "C", the lower part of the character "A" on the M + 2th line, and the lower part of the character "C". And stores the character pattern in the pattern buffer 4, which is transferred to the paper image memory 5. Here, the character "C" is a full-scale character pattern, the character "A" is a character pattern enlarged from the original size, and the character "B" is a character pattern reduced from the original size. Hereinafter, a process of storing characters in a plurality of lines in the pattern buffer 4 will be described.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing how the character “C” is stored in the pattern buffer. Here, the character expansion control circuit 3
The manner in which the full size pattern of the character "C" is stored in the pattern buffer 4 will be described. In the character expansion processing on the upper part of the character "C" on the M-th line, a white pattern is stored from the start address of the pattern buffer 4, and the character "C" is read from the start position of the pattern of the character "C" on the M-th line. Is stored up to the final address of the pattern buffer 4 (see FIG. 7 (a)). In the character expansion processing of the middle part of the character “C” on the M + 1th line, from the start address of the pattern buffer 4,
The pattern of the character "C" on the M + 1th line is stored up to the final address (see FIG. 7 (b)). In the character expansion processing below the character “C” on the M + 2th line, the character “C” on the M + 2th line from the start address of the pattern buffer 4
After storing the pattern of No. 1 to the final position of the pattern of the character "C", the white pattern is stored to the final address in the pattern buffer 4 (see FIG. 7 (c)).

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of the character pattern enlargement processing of the present invention. In general, enlargement of a character pattern is
Although it is performed in each of the horizontal directions, since dot interpolation is performed, it is not possible to obtain an enlarged character pattern without actually enlarging it. However, since the character patterns are similar before and after the enlargement, the enlarged character pattern can be obtained halfway by enlarging the full-scale pattern from a position convenient for the enlargement method.

In FIG. 6, the full-scale pattern of the letter “A” is 3
By dividing and expanding, it is expanded to l ₀ → L ₀ , l ₁ → L ₁ , l ₂ → L ₂ , respectively.

On the other hand, if the character pattern is divided and expanded, that is, the l ₀ part is independently L ₀ , the l ₁ part is individually L ₁ , and
When individually expanding the part of l ₂ to L ₂ ,
Overlapping portions such as ₀ , Δ ₁ , Δ ₂ , and Δ ₃ occur. Also,
As shown in FIG. 6, when the enlarged character pattern extends from the Mth line to the M + 2th line, the character expansion on the M + 1th line is in the range of Δ ₁ , and the character expansion on the M + 2th line is in the range of Δ ₃ . Since the character patterns have been transferred to the paper image memory 5 at the time of the character expansion processing on the Mth line and the M + 1th line, respectively, they are redundant and unnecessary. Even if these unnecessary character patterns are stored in the pattern buffer 4, it is not necessary to transfer them to the paper image memory 5. Therefore, the unnecessary character pattern is erased in the pattern buffer 4 by utilizing the circulating function of the storage address pointer 42 of the pattern buffer 4.

FIG. 8, FIG. 9 and FIG. 10 are diagrams showing a state in which character patterns are stored in the pattern buffer of the present invention.

FIG. 8 shows a state in which the character expansion control circuit 3 enlarges the upper portion of the full-scale pattern of the character “A” and stores it in the pattern buffer 4. The white pattern is stored from the start address of the pattern buffer 4, and the expanded pattern of the character “A” is stored from the start position of the expanded pattern of the character “A” in the M line to the final address of the pattern buffer 4.

In FIG. 9, the character expansion control circuit 3 expands the middle part of the full-scale pattern of the character “A” and stores it in the pattern buffer 4 in the character expansion state of the (M + 1) th line. Sixth
As shown in the figure, when the range of l ₁ of the full-scale pattern of the character “A” is expanded, the range of L ₁ of the expanded character pattern is obtained, but the range of Δ ₁ has already been expanded. , Is unnecessary. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 9A, an enlarged pattern of the character "A" is stored from the address (final address-Δ ₁ ) of the pattern buffer 4.
Since the storage address pointer 42 has a circulation function, the pattern buffer 4 returns to the head address after the last address. When the enlarged pattern of the character "A" is stored in the pattern buffer 4 as it is up to the final address, it becomes as shown in FIG. 9 (b). That is, since the storage processing of the M + 1th row is started from the address returned by Δ ₁ from the final address of the pattern buffer 4, the Δ ₁ portion is overwritten and erased. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 9 (b), at the first address of the M + 1th row, the data is stored from the portion following Δ ₁ . As a result, the enlarged pattern of the character “A” on the M + 1th line is stored in the pattern buffer 4, and at the same time, the unnecessary character pattern in the range Δ ₁ is erased. This is the paper image memory 5
, The development of the character pattern on the (M + 1) th line of the character “A” is completed.

FIG. 10 shows the character expansion state of the M + 2th line in which the character expansion control circuit 3 enlarges the lower part of the full-scale pattern of the character “A” and stores it in the pattern buffer 4. M + 1
As in the case of the line, since the range of Δ ₃ has already been expanded into characters, it is unnecessary. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 10 (a), an enlarged pattern of the character "A" is stored from the (final address- [Delta] ₃ ) address of the pattern buffer 4.
When the storage address pointer 42 returns from the final address of the pattern buffer 4 to the first address, stores it up to the final position of the enlarged pattern of the character "A", and then stores the white pattern up to the final address of the pattern buffer 4,
It becomes like FIG. That is, the range of Δ ₃ is overwritten, and as shown in FIG. 10B, the data is stored from the address next to Δ ₃ in the M + 2th row.
As a result, the pattern buffer 4 stores the enlarged character pattern of the character “A” on the M + 2th line, and at the same time erases the unnecessary character pattern in the range Δ ₃ . If this is transferred to the paper image memory 5, M of the character "A"
The expansion of the character pattern on the + 2nd line ends.

FIG. 1 is a detailed block diagram of an expansion control circuit showing an embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 1, 31 is a general-purpose register for storing the character information transferred from the page buffer 1, 32 is an arithmetic unit for calculating a storage or read address, and 33 is a micro-instruction for decoding, for example, the general-purpose register 31. An instruction execution control unit for executing processing such as reading and writing of data and performing operations in the arithmetic unit 32, 34 is an M memory for storing address information sent from the page buffer 1 or the character generator 2 via the M bus. Similarly, a bus address register 35 is an M bus data register for storing data sent via the M bus, and the character expansion control circuit 3 reads a memory connected to the M bus via the M bus. Sometimes used. An enlarging / reducing circuit 36 enlarges / reduces the character pattern read by the character expansion control circuit 3 from the character generator 2. A shift / merge circuit 37 shifts the enlarged / reduced character pattern by the enlargement / reduction circuit 36 and merges the enlarged / reduced character pattern with the character pattern stored in the pattern buffer 4. To do. 38 is F
A bus address register 39 is an F bus data register, which is used when the character expansion control circuit 3 transfers the contents of the pattern buffer 4 to the paper image memory 5 via the F bus. Reference numeral 41 is a pattern buffer for expanding the character pattern read from the character generator 2, and 42 is a storage address pointer for storing data in the pattern buffer 41. The read address pointer 43 shown in FIG. 4 is omitted.

FIG. 2 is an operation flowchart of the character expansion control circuit shown in FIG. 1, and shows an operation in which the character expansion control circuit 3 enlarges a character pattern and transfers it to the paper image memory 5. First, the character expansion control circuit 3 reads character information from the page buffer 1 via the M bus and saves it in the general-purpose register 31 (101). The character size and the position of the character pattern in the line are calculated from the character information. At this time, if the character is an expanded character and the character is expanded into the line from the middle of the expanded character, the overlapping areas Δ ₁ and Δ ₃ are calculated at the same time as shown in FIGS. 9 and 10. (102). Expansion / reduction circuit 36 according to the character size
Are initialized, and the shift / merge circuit 37 is initialized according to the position of the character pattern in the line (103). When expanding characters from the beginning, the starting address of the memory 41 is set in the storage address pointer 42. When expanding characters from the middle of an enlarged character, an address considering Δ ₁ and Δ ₃ is used as a storage address pointer.
Set it to 42 (104). A character pattern is read from the character generator 2 via the M bus, enlarged by the enlargement / reduction circuit 36 (105), shifted by the shift / merge circuit 37, and merged with the contents of the pattern buffer 4 (10).
6) It is stored in the pattern buffer 4 (107). Next, it is determined whether or not the pattern buffer 4 is full of character patterns (108), and when full, the contents of the pattern buffer 4 are transferred to the paper image memory 5 (110). This operation is repeated until the character pattern for one line is transferred to the paper image memory 5 (111).
When the pattern buffer 4 is not full of character patterns, character patterns are repeatedly stored in the pattern buffer 4 until it is full (109). 1 even when the pattern buffer 4 is not full of character patterns
At the end of the line, the contents of the pattern buffer 4 are transferred to the paper image memory 5 (112).

In FIG. 2, the case where the character pattern is enlarged is described, but the case where the character pattern is contracted can be processed in exactly the same manner.

〔The invention's effect〕

As described above, according to the present invention, when a character pattern having a size of a plurality of lines is developed in the paper image memory, only the character pattern of the line being developed is stored in the pattern buffer. Can be equal to the row height, and as a result, the amount of metal in the pattern buffer can be reduced.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a character expansion control circuit showing an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is an operation flowchart of the circuit of FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 is a block of a print control apparatus showing an embodiment of the present invention. Configuration diagram, FIG. 4 is a detailed configuration diagram of the pattern buffer in FIG. 3, FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of a character expansion process for a paper image memory, and FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of a character pattern enlargement process in the present invention. FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a state in which a full-size character pattern is stored in the pattern buffer, and FIG.
FIG. 9, FIG. 9 and FIG. 10 are explanatory diagrams of storage in the pattern buffers of the M-th row, the M + 1-th row and the M + 2-th row in the present invention, respectively. 1: Page buffer, 2: Character generator, 3: Character expansion control circuit, 4: Pattern buffer, 5: Paper image memory, 41: Memory, 42: Storage address pointer, 43: Extraction address pointer.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A character generator for storing a character pattern, and 1 for temporarily storing the character pattern.
A pattern buffer having a width for a line and a storage address pointer for indicating a storage position in a circular operation with respect to the pattern buffer are provided, and a full-sized or enlarged or reduced character pattern having a height of a plurality of lines is divided. In the character expansion control circuit for sequentially storing in the pattern buffer and outputting to the outside, in the case of enlarging and storing in the pattern buffer in each of the divided areas of the full-size character pattern that spans a plurality of lines, The storage starts from an address that is before the last address of the buffer by the overlap area generated by the enlargement process, the storage address pointer circulates and returns to the first address, and the character pattern is stored as it is until the last address. A character expansion control circuit characterized by overwriting a character pattern in an overlapping area stored previously.