JPH09156166A - Print controller and control method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To simplify the processing by containing information indicative of the availability of individual corresponding one of variable number of band butters, information indicative of the existing position of band butter, and information indicative of longitudinal shift of output position after outputting a dot pattern thereby controlling the band buffers through identical processing. SOLUTION: A setting section 4a sets control information 2b of a band buffer 2a based on the state of system, while a control section 4b controls each of variable number of band buffers 2a based on a set control information 2b and delivers the content of band butter 2a to a printer unit 3. The control information 2b prepared for each of variable number of band buffers 2a contains information 2b1 indicative the availability of individual corresponding band buffer, existing position information 2b2, and longitudinal shift information of output position 2b3. Consequently, the band butters can be controlled through identical processing regardless of the number thereof depending on the state of system and the printing operation is simplified.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a print control apparatus and method for controlling a band buffer.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, the number of band buffers prepared for temporarily storing a dot pattern to be output to a printing device is often a fixed number.

[0003]

In order to improve the printing speed, it is useful to acquire more band buffers, but it is possible to acquire more band buffers depending on the state of the storage area. It may be possible. According to the conventional technique, the number of band buffers cannot be increased or decreased while the storage area is such that a band buffer can be secured further.

The present invention has been made in order to solve the above-mentioned problems. The number of band buffers is made variable according to the system state to improve the printing speed, and the control processing of these band buffers is performed according to the number. It is an object of the present invention to provide a print control apparatus and method that can control the same process without performing the process and simplify the process.

[0005]

In order to achieve the above object, the printing apparatus of the present invention is provided with a variable number of dot patterns to be output to a printing section provided with a print head capable of printing dot patterns. A band buffer, storage means for storing control information for controlling each of the variable number of band buffers, setting means for setting the control information,
A control unit for controlling each of the variable number of band buffers based on the control information set by the setting unit, and using a band buffer corresponding to at least each of the variable number of band buffers as the control information. Including information indicating availability, information indicating the position of the band buffer, and information indicating the amount of vertical movement of the output position after the dot pattern temporarily stored in the band buffer,
It is characterized by the following.

Further, the printing control method of the present invention includes a variable number of band buffers for storing dot patterns to be output to a printing section having a print head capable of printing dot patterns, and the variable number of band buffers. And a control unit for controlling each of the variable number of band buffers based on the control information set by the setting step and the control information set by the setting step. And a control step, wherein the control information is information indicating whether or not the band buffer corresponding to each of the variable number of band buffers is usable, information indicating the existence position of the band buffer, and temporarily stored in the band buffer. And the information indicating the amount of vertical movement of the output position after the dot pattern is output.

The printing apparatus according to the present invention has a variable number of band buffers and, as control information for controlling each of the band buffers, at least availability information, presence position information, output position vertical movement of the band buffer corresponding to each band buffer. And a means for holding the quantity information and setting the control information, and a means for controlling each of the band buffers based on the control information.

(Operation) According to the present invention, the number of band buffers is variable according to the system state to improve the printing speed, and the control process of these band buffers is performed by the same process regardless of the number. Enables print processing with control and simplification of processing.

[0009]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIG. 1 is a block diagram for explaining the configuration of a printing apparatus showing an embodiment of the present invention.

In the figure, the setting unit 4a sets the control information 2b of the band buffer 2a based on the system status, and the control unit 4b sets each of the variable number of band buffers 2a based on the set control information 2b. To output the contents of the band buffer 2a to the printer unit 3.
The control information 2b prepared for each variable number of band buffers 2a stores availability information 2b1, presence position information 2b2, and output position vertical direction movement amount information 2b3 of the corresponding band buffer.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an example of the system configuration of the printing apparatus shown in FIG. 1. The same parts as those in FIG. 1 are designated by the same reference numerals.

In the figure, reference numeral 1 is a read only memory (ROM), which holds a control procedure of a central processing unit (CPU) 4 which controls the entire system. Here, the processing procedure of the setting unit 4a, the control unit 4b, etc. is held. A random access memory (RAM) 2 temporarily holds information necessary for the processing of this system. A band buffer 2a, control information 2b, a work area, and the like are held here. 3 is a printer unit (PrinterU) which is a serial printer such as an inkjet printer.
nit), the information stored in the band buffer 2a is printed out. Reference numeral 5 is a gate array (GA) that controls the supply of print data to the PrinterUnit 3.
Therefore, data transfer control between the CPU 4 and the RAM 2 is also performed. 6 is a timer (RTC) for measuring the timing of each processing
It is.

To explain the operation of the embodiment of the present invention, the dot pattern data held in the band buffer 2a of the RAM 2 is also controlled by the ROM 1 based on the control information 2b set in the RAM 2 by the setting section 4a. While being controlled by the unit 4b, the data is converted into recording data for printing between the GA 5 and the CPU 4, and the Printer 5
Output to Unit3.

3, 4 and 5 are RAMs shown in FIG.
It is a schematic diagram explaining the area arrangement | positioning inside 2.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram for explaining the area arrangement of the band buffer 2a in the RAM 2 shown in FIG.

In the figure, the band buffers 2a have a possibility of acquiring a variable number of 1 to 3 areas in the present embodiment, and each band buffer 2a has a band.
buf02a1, Bandbuf12a2, and Bandbuf22a3, and the head position and tail position of each band buffer 2a are BandBuf0Head, BandBuf0Tail, and BandBu, respectively.
It is indicated by f1Head / BandBuf1Tail and BandBuf2Head / BandBuf2Tail.

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram for explaining the area arrangement of the control information 2b in the RAM 2 shown in FIG.

In the figure, the control information 2b is indicated by BandBufCntlInfHead at the head position of the whole, and the head position of the control information 2b corresponding to each band buffer 2a is the area width BandBufCntlInfWidth and the number of each band buffer 2a. Offset value multiplied by BandBufNo “BandBuf
"BandBufCntlInfWidth" is set to the start position BandBufCntlInfHead of the entire control information 2b, and "BandBufCnt
lInfHead + BandBufNo * BandBufCntlInfWidth ”. Further, when the contents of the control information 2b corresponding to each band buffer 2a are listed, the availability information 2b1 of each corresponding band buffer is used as bit information of the band buffer availability information BandBufEnableBit. , The used information BandBufUsedBit indicating whether or not information or data has already been written in the band buffer, the existing position information 2b2 of each corresponding band buffer holds the existing address BandBufNHead of the band buffer, Output position vertical movement amount information 2b of each band buffer
3 holds the amount of vertical movement of the band buffer after data output.

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram for explaining the area arrangement of the work areas used in the embodiment of the present invention in the RAM 2 shown in FIG.

In the figure, 2c is an area NoofBandBuf for holding the number of acquired band buffers. 2d
Is an area BandBufHead that holds the existing address BandBufNHead of the band buffer that is selected at the time of processing operation described later. Reference numeral 2e is an area CurrentBandBufNo that holds the number of the band buffer selected at the time of processing work described later.

Next, the processing in the printing apparatus according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIGS.

FIG. 6 is a flow chart showing an example of a band buffer initial setting process which is activated when the power is turned on or when the state of the band buffer is changed (for example, when the head is replaced). Note that S1 to S13 indicate each step.

First, in S1, a storage area initialization process is performed, and based on the result, it is determined how many band buffers can be obtained (S2, S4). This determination is made by the head of the apparatus. Type (monochrome, color), and
This is performed based on the capacity of RAM. In the present embodiment, basically, in the case of a color head, one band, in the case of a monochrome head, two bands (since the head width of the monochrome head is larger than the head width of the color head), R
It is assumed that three bands are acquired according to the capacity of AM. In the present embodiment, it is possible to acquire the band buffers in the order of band buffer numbers 0, 1, and 2, that is, BandBuf0, BandBuf1, BandBuf2, and it is guaranteed that BandBuf0 with the number 0 will be acquired. ing.
Band buffers BandBuf0, BandBuf1, BandBuf2 at S2
If it is possible to obtain 3 of the above, NoofBandBu in S3
Set "3" to f and go to S7, and if not, then if it is possible to obtain two band buffers BandBuf0 and BandBuf1 at S4, set "2" to NoofBandBuf at S5. And S9, and if not, BandBuf0 is promised to be acquired, so S6 returns NoofBandBuf.
"1" is set to, and the process proceeds to S11. Returning to S7, the head position BandBuf2Head is set to BandBufHead, and the band buffer number 2 is set in the register AREG of the CPU as an input parameter of S8. Next, a setting process of the control information 2b and the like (S8) is performed as a band buffer setting process corresponding to the set band buffer number. In S9, the head position BandBuf1Head is set in BandBufHead, and the band buffer number 1 is set in the register AREG as an input parameter in S10. Next, a setting process of the control information 2b and the like (S10) is performed as a band buffer setting process corresponding to the set band buffer number. In S11, the head position BandBuf0Head is set in BandBufHead, and the band buffer number 0 is set in the register AREG as an input parameter in S12. Next, the control information 2 is set as a band buffer setting process corresponding to the set band buffer number.
A setting process (S12) such as b is performed. Finally CurrentBan
The band buffer number 0 of the register AREG is set in dBufNo (S13), and the process is terminated.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing an example of the band buffer setting process SetUpBandBuf shown in FIG. Note that S14 to S15 indicate each step.

First, the register AREG is used as an input parameter.
The start position of the control information 2b corresponding to the designated band buffer is set in the register XI based on the band buffer number set in
Set to XREG (S14) and find the required register XIXREG
Using each offset value based on the above, the availability information area 2b1 ((XIX) REG + _BandBufStatu) is set as the setting of each area of the control information 2b corresponding to the designated band buffer (S15).
Set the available bit information setBandBufEnableBit to (s), and set the BandBufHead set in S7, S9, and S11 of FIG. 6 to the band buffer existence position information 2b2.
((XIX) REG + _BandBufHead) is set, output position vertical direction movement amount information 2b3 ((XIX) REG + _BandBufFeedAmount) is set to "0" as an initial setting value, and the process ends.

FIG. 8 is a band buffer transfer process Transt for transferring data to a designated band buffer, which is activated from a data set process to a buffer (not shown).
It is a flowchart figure which shows an example of oDefineBandBuf.
Note that S16 to S18 indicate each step.

First, it was set as an input parameter
The start position of the control information 2b corresponding to the current band buffer is set in the register XIXREG based on the CurrentBandBufNo (S16), and each offset value is used based on the obtained register XIXREG to input the current band as an input parameter of S18. Location information of buffer ((XIX) REG + _BandBufHe
Set the contents of ad) to BandBufHead, and use bit information s to the availability information area 2b1 ((XIX) REG + _BandBufStatus)
etBandBufUsedBit is set (S17), a band buffer transfer process TranstoBandBuf (S18) is performed, and the process ends.

FIG. 9 is a flow chart showing an example of virtual line feed VirtualLineFeed which is activated instead of the actual line feed process (not shown). Note that S19 to S21 indicate each step.

First, the head position of the control information 2b corresponding to the current band buffer is set in the register XIXREG based on the currently selected band buffer number CurrentBandBufNo (S19), and based on the obtained value of the register XIXREG. Using each offset value, set the line feed amount set in the register HLREG as an input parameter to ((XIX) REG + _BandBufFeedA
mount), availability information area 2b1 ((XIX) REG +
To _BandBufStatus) Used bit information setBandBufUsedBit
Is set (S20), a temporary printing process (S21) described later is performed, and the process ends.

FIG. 10 shows the temporary printing process Virtua shown in FIG.
It is a flowchart figure which shows an example of lPrintBandBuf.
Note that S22 to S29 indicate each step.

First, the band buffer number CurrentBandBufNo currently selected as the input parameter in S23 is set in the register AREG (S22), and the next band buffer number acquisition process getNextBandNufNo described later is performed in S23.
Cu the next band buffer number set in the register AREG
Set to rrentBandBufNo (S24). Based on the obtained next band buffer number, the start position of the control information 2b corresponding to the band buffer is set in the register XIXREG (S2
5) Then, using each offset value based on the value of the obtained register XIXREG, the availability information area 2b1 ((XIX) REG + _B
andBufStatus) used bit information BandBufUsedBit is ON
It is checked whether or not (S26), and if it is ON, since there is no empty band buffer, all band buffer printing processing PrintAllBandBuf (S27) described later is performed, and the process proceeds to S28.
On the other hand, if the result in S26 is NO, the next band buffer is not used, and the next band buffer number obtained without printing is set as the current band buffer number, and the start position of the control information 2b corresponding to the band buffer is set. Register XIXREG
(S28), and using each offset value based on the obtained register XIXREG, ((XIX) REG + _BandBufHead)
The content of is set in BandBufHead (S29), and the process ends.

FIG. 11 is a flow chart showing an example of the next band buffer number acquisition process getNextBandBufNo shown in FIG. Note that S30 to S34 indicate each step.

First, the register AREG is used as an input parameter.
The band buffer number set in 1 is set to "1" and set again in the register AREG (S30) to check whether it is smaller than the NoofBandBuf set in FIG. 6 (S
31) If it is not smaller, the number set in the register AREG exceeds the maximum value, so it is set back to "0" (S32), and if it is judged to be small in S31, the process proceeds to S33. In S33, the start position of the control information 2b corresponding to the band buffer is set in the register XIXREG based on the obtained band buffer number, and each offset value is used based on the obtained value of the register XIXREG,
It is checked whether the availability bit information BandBufEnableBit in the availability information area 2b1 ((XIX) REG + _BandBufStatus) is ON (S34), and if it is not, the band buffer is not usable, so the processing returns to S30 and continues. If it is ON, use of the band buffer is permitted, so the processing ends. At this time, the number of the next band buffer to be obtained is set in the register AREG.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing an example of the all band buffer printing process PrintAllBandBuf shown in FIG. Note that S35 to S40 indicate each step.

First, it was set as an input parameter
The head position of the control information 2b corresponding to the current band buffer is set in the register XIXREG based on the CurrentBandBufNo (S35), and the usability information area 2b1 ((( XIX) RE
G + _BandBufStatus) used bit information BandBufUsedBit
Is checked to see if it is ON (S36). On the other hand, if it is ON, it is necessary to print and make an empty buffer, so the band buffer number CurrentBandBufNo currently selected as the input parameter of S38 is set in the register AREG (S3
7) Then, in S38, the designated band buffer printing process Pr described later is performed.
intDefineBandBuf is performed, and the next band buffer number acquisition process getNextBandNufNo is performed in S39, and the register
Set the next band buffer number set in AREG to CurrentBan
It is set to dBufNo (S40), and the process returns to S35 to continue.

FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing an example of the designated band buffer printing process PrintDefineBandBuf shown in FIG. Note that S41 to S46 indicate each step.

First, the register AREG is used as an input parameter.
The start position of the control information 2b corresponding to the current band buffer is registered based on the band buffer number set in
Set it to XIXREG (S41) and find the required register XIXRE
Using the offset value based on the value of G, the content of ((XIX) REG + _BandBufHead) is input to BandBuf as the input parameter of S43.
Set to Head (S42), and in S43, the actual print processing of the band buffer ActualPrintBandBuf causes BandBufH
The contents of the band buffer with ead as the start address are printed and output, and then ((XI
(X) REG + _BandBufFeed-Amount) is set in the register HLREG, and in S45, the actual line feed ActualLineFeed performs vertical position movement with the register HLREGw as the movement amount, and the availability information area 2b2 ((XIX) REG + _BandBufStautu
to s) Reset value of used bit information of band buffer re
SetBandBufUsedBit, output position vertical direction movement amount information 2b
3 ((XIX) REG + _BandBufFeedAmount) is set to "0" as an initial setting value (S46), and the process is terminated.

In the above embodiment, the maximum variable number of band buffers has been described as 3, but the invention is not limited to this and the order of acquisition is not fixed.

In the above embodiment, the minimum variable number of band buffers is set to 1. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and means for controlling the print processing to wait until at least one band buffer is acquired. Due to
It is possible to perform a wider range of control.

[0040]

As described above, according to the present invention,
A variable number of band buffers and, as control information for controlling each of the band buffers, at least availability information of the band buffers corresponding to each, presence position information, output position vertical direction movement amount information are held, and the control information is stored. By providing a means for setting and a means for controlling each of the band buffers based on the control information, the number of band buffers is made variable according to the system state to improve the printing speed, and the band buffers The control process is controlled by the same process regardless of the number of prints, and there is an effect that the printing process that simplifies the process can be performed.

[Brief description of the drawings]

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

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an example of a system configuration of the printing apparatus shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a band buffer 2a in the RAM 2 shown in FIG.
3 is a schematic diagram for explaining the area arrangement of FIG.

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram illustrating an area arrangement of control information 2a in RAM 2 shown in FIG.

5 is a schematic diagram illustrating an area arrangement of a work area used in the present embodiment in the RAM 2 shown in FIG.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing an example of a band buffer initial setting process which is activated when the power is turned on or when the state of the band buffer is changed.

FIG. 7 is a band buffer setting process SetUpBan shown in FIG.
It is a flowchart figure which shows an example of dBuf.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart diagram showing an example of a band buffer transfer process TranstoDefineBandBuf which is activated from a data set process to a buffer and which transfers a data to a specified band buffer.

FIG. 9: Temporary line feed process Virt activated instead of actual line feed process
It is a flowchart figure which shows an example of ualLineFeed.

FIG. 10 is a temporary print process VirtualPrintBandBu shown in FIG.
It is a flowchart figure which shows an example of f.

11 is a flowchart showing an example of a next band buffer number acquisition process getNextBandBufNo shown in FIG.

FIG. 12 is an all-band buffer printing process Pr shown in FIG.
It is a flowchart figure which shows an example of intAllBandBuf.

FIG. 13 is a designated band buffer printing process shown in FIG.
It is a flowchart figure which shows an example of PrintDefineBandBuf.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 read only memory (ROM) 2 random access memory (RAM) 2a band buffer 2b control information 3 printer unit (PrinterUnit) 4 central processing unit (CPU) 4a setting unit 4b control unit 5 gate array (GA) 6 timer (RTC)

Claims (14)

[Claims] 1. A variable number of band buffers for storing dot patterns to be output to a printing section having a print head capable of printing dot patterns, and control information for controlling each of the variable number of band buffers. Storage means for storing, setting means for setting the control information, and control means for controlling each of the variable number of band buffers based on the control information set by the setting means,
As the control information, at least the information indicating the availability of the band buffer corresponding to each of the variable number of band buffers, the information indicating the existence position of the band buffer, the output position after the dot pattern temporarily stored in the band buffer A print control device comprising: information indicating a vertical movement amount. 2. The print control device according to claim 1, wherein the number of the band buffers is set according to a type of a head mounted on the printing unit. 3. The type of head is a monochrome head,
The print control device according to claim 2, wherein the print control device is a color head. 4. An expansion means for expanding a dot pattern on the band buffer, and a means for printing the expanded dot pattern on the printing unit after the expansion by the expansion means by the number of the band buffers. The print control device according to claim 1, wherein: 5. The print control device according to claim 4, wherein the expansion means does not expand a dot pattern for a band buffer whose information indicating whether the band buffer is usable or not. 6. The print control apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the information indicating availability of the band buffer includes a used bit and an availability bit. 7. The print control device according to claim 1, wherein the print unit is an inkjet printer. 8. A variable number of band buffers for storing a dot pattern to be output to a printing unit having a print head capable of printing a dot pattern, and control information for controlling each of the variable number of band buffers. Using a storage means for storing, a setting step of setting the control information, and a control step of controlling each of the variable number of band buffers based on the control information set by the setting step, As control information, at least information indicating whether or not the band buffer corresponding to each of the variable number of band buffers can be used, information indicating the existence position of the band buffer, output position vertical after outputting the dot pattern temporarily stored in the band buffer. A printing control method, comprising: information indicating a direction movement amount. 9. The print control method according to claim 8, wherein the number of the band buffers is set according to the type of the head mounted on the printing unit. 10. The print control method according to claim 9, wherein the types of the head are a monochrome head and a color head. 11. A developing means for developing a dot pattern in the band buffer, the number of the band buffers,
9. The print control method according to claim 8, further comprising means for printing the expanded dot pattern on the printing unit after the expansion by the expansion unit. 12. The print control method according to claim 11, wherein the expansion means does not expand a dot pattern in a band buffer whose information indicating whether the band buffer is usable or not. 13. The print control method according to claim 12, wherein the information indicating availability of the band buffer includes a used bit and an availability bit. 14. The printing control method according to claim 8, wherein the printing unit is an inkjet printer.