JPH09174958A - Output apparatus and method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To reduce the quantity of intermediate data and continue intermediate memory processing by replacing the intermediate data of a graphic of which the area is smaller than a specified value area among the intermediate data stored in a recording means when a memory full state is produced with the rectangular intermediate data circumscribed about this graphic. SOLUTION: When the quantity of the intermediate data based on a page description code exceeds the memory residual quantity of a band, the so-called memory full state is generated. A CPU transfers to memory ensuring processing when the memory full state is produced. One intermediate data of which the rectangular area is a specified size or less contained in the intermediate data stored in the respective bands of an RAM and circumscribed about the graphic shown by those intermediate data is searched. The rectangular intermediate data circumscribed about the graphic is formed and, after the original intermediate data is erased at first, the rectangular intermediate data is writted to be substituted (S10).

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention converts a received page description code into intermediate data, stores the converted page intermediate code, and then expands the stored intermediate data into a bit map so as to convert the page description code. TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to an output device and an output method for outputting a graphic described by a code.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a host computer such as a personal computer, an operator draws a screen using a page description language (that is, inputs codes or data defining the screen). This page description language is devised so that it is easy for the operator to recognize and the number of input data is small, and an example thereof is illustrated in FIG. In the figure, for example, the page description code 201 has a center coordinate of (1000, 18
75) shows an example of a page description code for drawing a circle with a radius of 500 in black. Hereinafter, the page description code refers to data defining a figure or character input according to the page description language.

In order to control a mechanism for finally outputting a print pattern, such as a print head, a left and right driving mechanism of the print head and a paper feeding mechanism, or a laser, a laser scanning mechanism and a drum, each pixel in a printing device is controlled. Requires the corresponding bitmap. This bitmap has 1-bit data indicating the presence / absence of printing for each pixel. For example, 2481 × 3508 for a screen of 1 page composed of 2481 × 3508 pixels illustrated in FIG. Has a data length of bits.

In the case of a low-function printing device, the page description code is expanded into a bit map on the host computer side and the expanded bit map is sent to the printing device side so that the necessary output is performed. However, according to this method, the load on the host computer increases. Therefore, in the case of a high function printing device, the process of expanding the page description code into a bitmap is performed on the printing device side.

In developing the page description code into a bit map, a method of once converting it into intermediate data is widely used. For example, when the page description code is a code "drawing a circle", it is converted into data indicating a regular polygon having many vertices. If converted to intermediate data of this format, it can be expanded into a bitmap faster than the process of expanding directly into a bitmap from the definition of "drawing a circle". Various formats have been proposed for this intermediate data. As in the example described above, an example of converting a curved figure into an approximate linear figure (hereinafter referred to as apex format), pixel forming means (for example, in the case of a laser printer) (Laser) scanning line conversion data for each print start position and print end position (hereinafter referred to as run length format), if a bitmap corresponding to the page description code is already stored, that bitmap There is an example of converting to a storage address of, or an example of finally processing it as a bitmap after expanding it to a bit map, like other intermediate data. In the case of the last example, the intermediate data that has already been converted into a bitmap is copied as it is to be expanded into a bitmap. Moreover, the same printing device may have intermediate data in a plurality of formats. For example, a specific page description code may be converted into a run length format, and another specific description code may be converted into a vertex format.

Furthermore, a method called band processing has become widespread in order to develop a page description code for one page into a bitmap. In this method, one page is composed of a plurality of areas (each area is called a band), and each area is developed into a bitmap. In this case, at least two band buffers that temporarily store the developed bitmap are used, and printing to one area is performed based on the bitmap stored in one of the band buffers. The band expansion processing is advanced for the band of, and the expanded bitmap is stored in the other band buffer. When the output to one area and the expansion of the bitmap to the next area are completed, the bitmap expanded to the other band buffer continues to output to the next area (band), and at the same time parallel to it. Then, the process of expanding to a bitmap in another band is continued. According to this method, it suffices to use two band buffers having a storage capacity capable of covering a partial area in one page. Therefore, it is developed by dividing one page into three or more bands. It is possible to reduce the total storage capacity of the band buffer that stores the bitmap.

FIG. 1 shows a control system diagram of a printing apparatus for executing both conversion processing into intermediate data and band processing. The printer 1 includes a host computer 2 and a signal line 3.
It is used by connecting with a processor CPU (hereinafter CPU
4) is built-in. That is, the CPU 4, the interface 5,
ROM ROM (hereinafter referred to as ROM) 6, RAM RAM
7 (hereinafter referred to as RAM) is connected by a bus 8 to form a computer system, and the printing means 9 is controlled by this computer system. The interface 5 sends and receives data to and from the host computer 2.

In the ROM 6, a program for receiving the page description code 10 sent from the host computer 2 and storing it in the reception buffer 11, a program for converting the page description code 10 stored in the reception buffer 11 into intermediate data, A program that expands the converted intermediate data into a bitmap, a program that controls the printing unit 9 based on the expanded bitmap, and the like are stored.
In addition, in case the page description code 10 is a character code, a bit map forming a character specified by the character code is stored. The bitmap for this character is stored in the font ROM 12.

In the RAM 7, in addition to the reception buffer 11, areas (16, 17), (18, 19), (20, 21) for storing intermediate data for each band 13, 14, 15 are provided.
Two band buffers 23 and 24 and work memory 22
And have The sizes of the bands 13 to 15 and the work memory 22 are not fixed, but can be resized (changed in size) as needed.

The work memory 22 is used for various print data processes such as a process of converting the page description code 10 into intermediate data, a process of expanding the intermediate data into a bitmap, a process of controlling the printing means 9 by the bitmap, and the like. Used to store data temporarily.

Area (16, 1) for storing intermediate data
7), (18, 19), (20, 21) exist by the number n of bands that divide one page, and store intermediate data for each band. The intermediate data is composed of a packet and shape intermediate data or a packet and character intermediate data. Each packet is provided for each page description code, and includes an identifier 25, a color 26, a position 27, and a pointer 28. The color 26 indicates the color of the figure or character described by the page description code, and the position 27 indicates the position on the page of the figure or character described by the page description code, which is the page description code itself or the page description code. Determined from the order in which they are sent. Pointer 28
Indicates, by an address, a storage location of intermediate data corresponding to the shape of a figure or a character. For example, when a circle is approximated by a polygon, it indicates the stored address of vertex coordinates that define the shape of the polygon. . When the description code is a character code, it indicates the address in the font ROM 12 in which the bitmap for the character corresponding to the character code is stored. Shape intermediate data other than a predetermined pattern such as characters, for example, intermediate data defining a polygon, is stored in the shape intermediate data group storage area 1 in the RAM 7.
Stored in 7, 19, 21 and pointer 28 points to the address. The identifier 25 indicates in what format the intermediate data is stored, for example, whether an address in the font ROM 12 is designated, polygon shape data in the shape intermediate data group is designated, or in the shape intermediate data group. This indicates the format of the intermediate data such as whether the address of the data indicating the run length data or the bit mat is designated.

In the case of this printing apparatus 1, the reception buffer 11
After the page description code is stored in, the page description code is converted into intermediate data of a format suitable for the type of the page description code, and the converted intermediate data is stored in the intermediate data storage area corresponding to the area (band). After the conversion processing of the intermediate data for one page is completed, the two band buffers 23 and 24 are
The band processing is executed while alternately using the, and printing for one page is executed.

The above band processing will be described in detail with reference to FIG. That is, after the print engine is activated, the intermediate data of the band B1 is bit map expanded in the band buffer 23. The bitmap data of the band buffer 23 is transferred to the print engine, and the area 1 of the paper P is printed. At the same time, the intermediate data of band B2 is expanded in the band buffer 24 as a bitmap. The bitmap data of the band buffer 24 is transferred to the print engine, and the area 2 of the paper P is printed. At the same time, the intermediate data of band B3 is bit-mapped in the band buffer 23. The bitmap data of the band buffer 23 is transferred to the print engine, and the area 3 of the paper P is printed. At the same time, the intermediate data of band B4 is bit map expanded in the band buffer 24. The bitmap data of the band buffer 24 is transferred to the print engine, and the area 4 of the paper P is printed. The bands B1 to B4 are the band 1 in FIG.
It corresponds to 3, 14 and 15 and corresponds to four bands of n = 4.

[0014]

In the case of the printing apparatus 1 described above, the bands 13, 14 and 15 are the page description codes from the host computer 2, for example, flowers and stems as shown in FIG. When the page description code for printing the figure F consisting of leaves is converted into intermediate data and stored, the amount of the intermediate data increases because the petal portion is composed of a large number of curves. When the amount of intermediate data in the petal portion increases and the remaining memory capacity of the band runs out, the CPU 4 confirms that the memory is full. When this memory full occurs, conventionally, the intermediate data stored in each band until then is discarded and the page is not printed (blank page).
Or, based on the intermediate data until the memory full occurs,
As shown in 2, printing is performed halfway. Therefore, it is difficult to grasp the print image of the entire page.

Therefore, in the present invention, when the above memory full occurs, the intermediate data stored in the storage means is stored.
Among the data, the intermediate data of a figure whose area is smaller than a predetermined value is replaced by the rectangular intermediate data circumscribing this figure, thereby reducing the amount of the intermediate data and remaining memory capacity of the storage means. It is an object of the present invention to continue the intermediate data storage processing by increasing the number of bits and output so that the output image of the entire page can be grasped.

[0016]

The first means for solving the above problems is a converting means for converting input output data into intermediate data corresponding to an output graphic, and the intermediate data.
Bitmap expansion means for expanding the data into a bitmap,
Output device including output means for outputting based on the bit map, various data temporarily generated when each means performs processing, and storage means for storing intermediate data obtained by the converting means When it is determined that there is more data to be stored than the storage capacity of the storage means,
Retrieving means for retrieving intermediate data having a smaller area than the predetermined value among the stored intermediate data, and circumscribing the figure represented by the intermediate data retrieved by the retrieving means. Rectangle generating means for generating rectangular intermediate data, the rectangular intermediate data, and the intermediate data retrieved by the retrieval means.
And a replacement means for performing a replacement process for replacing

In the first means, when it is determined that more data will be stored than the storage capacity of the storage means, the searching means causes the area of the stored intermediate data to be smaller than a predetermined value. When searching for intermediate data that is a figure,
The rectangle generating means generates rectangular intermediate data circumscribing the figure represented by the intermediate data searched by the searching means, and the replacing means uses the rectangular intermediate data and the searching means. Since the retrieved intermediate data is replaced, the amount of intermediate data to be stored is reduced and the remaining amount of memory in the storage means has a margin, so that it becomes possible to continue the intermediate data storage processing. When output, a part of the target output figure is deformed, but the output image of the entire page can be grasped.

A second means for solving the above problem is a converting means for converting input output data into intermediate data corresponding to an output graphic, and the intermediate data as a bit map. A bit map expanding means for expanding the data into an image, output means for outputting based on the bit map, various data temporarily generated when the respective means perform processing, and intermediate data obtained by the converting means. In an output device having a storage means for storing, when it is determined that the amount of data to be stored exceeds the storage capacity of the storage means, an intermediate figure which has the smallest area among the stored intermediate data is obtained. Retrieval means for retrieving data, and rectangular intermediate data circumscribing the figure represented by the intermediate data retrieved by the retrieval means.
If the area of the rectangle circumscribing the graphic representing the intermediate data retrieved by the retrieving means is less than a predetermined value, the rectangle produced by the rectangle producing means. When the area of the rectangle exceeds a predetermined value, the replacement is performed when the aspect ratio of the rectangle is equal to or larger than a predetermined ratio. And a replacement means for performing processing.

In the second means, when it is determined that the amount of data to be stored exceeds the storage capacity of the storage means, the searching means causes the area of the stored intermediate data to be smaller than a predetermined value. When searching for intermediate data that is a figure,
The rectangle generating means generates rectangular intermediate data circumscribing the figure represented by the intermediate data searched by the searching means, and the replacing means uses the intermediate data searched by the searching means. When the area of the rectangle circumscribing the figure represented is equal to or smaller than a predetermined value, the replacement process for replacing the intermediate data of the rectangle generated by the rectangle generating means with the retrieved intermediate data is performed. When the area of the rectangle exceeds a predetermined value, the replacement process is performed when the aspect ratio of the rectangle is equal to or more than the predetermined ratio, so that the amount of intermediate data to be stored is reduced and the memory of the storage means is reduced. Since there is a margin in the remaining amount, it becomes possible to continue the intermediate data storage processing, and when output, part of the target output figure is deformed, but the output image of the entire page is grasped. be able to.

Further, a third means for solving the above-mentioned problem is that the searching means repeats the series of processes in the above-mentioned first means and second means, so that the searching means causes the intermediate data which has been searched for. -Excluding means for excluding the data or the rectangular intermediate data replaced by the replacing means from the target of the subsequent search.

According to the third means, the excluding means excludes the searched intermediate data or the rectangular intermediate data replaced by the replacing means from the object of the subsequent search. To prevent further deformation of the same part of the output graphic.

A fourth means for solving the above-mentioned problems is a mode setting for setting whether or not to perform a series of processing in the first means, the second means, or the third means. It is to have means.

According to the above-mentioned fourth means, when the remaining amount of memory in the storage means is insufficient, it is only necessary to obtain the entire output even if a part of the figure is deformed by the mode setting means. ,
The replacement process of the intermediate data can be performed.

A fifth means for solving the above-mentioned problems is to convert the output data into intermediate data corresponding to the output graphic and store it, and expand the intermediate data into a bit map. In the output method for outputting based on the bitmap, when processing the output data, when it is determined that more data will be stored than the storage capacity, among the stored intermediate data, After searching for intermediate data whose area is smaller than a predetermined value and generating rectangular intermediate data circumscribing the figure represented by the searched intermediate data,
The replacement processing is to replace the rectangular intermediate data with the retrieved intermediate data.

According to the fifth means, when it is judged that the amount of data to be stored exceeds the storage capacity, it is determined that the intermediate data of the stored intermediate data is a graphic whose area is smaller than the predetermined value. -Searching data, generating rectangular intermediate data circumscribing the figure represented by the searched intermediate data, and generating the rectangular intermediate data and the searched intermediate data. Since the intermediate data amount to be stored is reduced and the remaining memory capacity of the storage means has a margin, it becomes possible to continue the intermediate data storage process. Although a part of the output figure is deformed, the output image of the entire page can be grasped.

A sixth means for solving the above-mentioned problem is to convert the output data into intermediate data corresponding to the output graphic, store the converted data, and convert the intermediate data into a bit map. In the output method of expanding and outputting based on the bit map, when it is determined that a large amount of data will be stored in excess of the storage capacity when the output data is processed, the intermediate data to be stored is stored. Among them, the intermediate data which becomes the figure having the smallest area is searched, and the rectangular intermediate data circumscribing the figure represented by the searched intermediate data is generated.
When the area of a rectangle circumscribing the figure represented by the retrieved intermediate data is less than a predetermined value, the generated intermediate data of the rectangle is replaced with the retrieved intermediate data. On the other hand, when the area of the rectangle exceeds a predetermined value while the replacement processing is performed, the replacement processing is performed when the aspect ratio of the rectangle is equal to or larger than a predetermined ratio.

According to the sixth means, when it is determined that the amount of data to be stored is larger than the storage capacity, the intermediate data which becomes the figure having the smallest area among the stored intermediate data. Area of the rectangle circumscribing the figure represented by the retrieved intermediate data, after generating the intermediate data of the rectangle circumscribing the figure represented by the retrieved intermediate data. Is less than or equal to a predetermined value, a replacement process for replacing the generated intermediate data of the rectangle with the searched intermediate data is performed, while if the area of the rectangle exceeds the predetermined value, Since the replacement process is performed when the aspect ratio of the rectangle is equal to or larger than a predetermined ratio, the intermediate data amount to be stored is reduced, and the remaining memory capacity of the storage means has a margin. Therefore, the intermediate data storage process is performed. Will be able to continue,
When output, part of the target output figure is deformed, but the output image of the entire page can be grasped.

A seventh means for solving the above-mentioned problem is to repeat the series of processing in the fifth means or the sixth means, so that the searched intermediate data is searched.
This is to exclude the data or the intermediate data of the replaced rectangle from the target of the subsequent search.

According to the seventh means, since the searched intermediate data or the rectangular intermediate data replaced by the replacing means is excluded from the object of the subsequent search, the target output graphic Prevents further deformation of the same part.

[0030]

Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The printing apparatus 1 in the present embodiment is configured as shown in the control system diagram of FIG. 1 described in the section of the related art. Therefore, since this basic control configuration has been described in the section of the related art, duplicate description will be omitted. Printing device 1 according to the present embodiment
When a page description code (which is described as output data in the claims) 10 is input from the host computer 2, the page description code 10 is converted into, for example, a curved line figure into an approximate straight line figure. Converted to intermediate data in the form of vertices and stored in bands (described as storage means in claims) 13 to 15, and the procedure as shown in FIG. The description is omitted in this section), and the band buffers (described in the claims as bit map expansion means) 23, 2
The bitmap is expanded to 4, and the printing means 9 performs printing.

In the above control process, when the amount of the intermediate data exceeds the remaining memory capacity of the bands 13 to 15, the area of the figure of the intermediate data already stored in the band has a predetermined value. Hereinafter, for example, by searching for a figure having the smallest area, a rectangle circumscribing the figure is generated, and the intermediate data of the rectangle is replaced with the intermediate data of the figure having the smallest area. By allowing the remaining memory capacity of 15 to 15 to continue the band processing as shown in FIG. 10, it is possible to easily grasp the image of the figure of the entire page printed by the printing means 9. To do.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the basic printing process of the printing apparatus 1. Steps S1 and S of FIG.
2 and S3, when the page description code 10 from the host computer 2 is input to the reception buffer 11, C
The PU 4 converts this page description code 10 into, for example, the intermediate data of the above-mentioned vertex format, and each band 13 to 15 of the RAM 7 is converted.
To memorize. As shown in step S4, conversion into intermediate data corresponding to the page description code 10 and each band 13 to
When it is determined that the storage for 15 is completed for one page, the print engine is started as shown in step S5.

However, in the process of steps S1 to S4, the amount of intermediate data based on the page description code 10 becomes
When the remaining memory capacity of the bands 13 to 15 is exceeded, a so-called memory full state occurs. Further, in the process of converting the page description code 10 into the intermediate data, when the amount of temporarily storing various data exceeds the memory remaining amount of the work memory 22, the memory full state occurs. The CPU 4 monitors the occurrence of this memory full, and when a memory full state occurs in which the remaining amount of memory is below a predetermined level, the flow chart of FIG.
The process proceeds to the memory allocation process shown in FIG.

In step S10 of FIG. 3, among the intermediate data stored in each of the bands 13 to 15 of the RAM 7, the area of the rectangle circumscribing the figure represented by the intermediate data is equal to or smaller than a predetermined size. Search for one. Then, the intermediate data of the rectangle circumscribing the figure is created, the original intermediate data is first erased, and then the intermediate data of the rectangle is written to replace it. At this time, if necessary, another intermediate data
For the data, change the arrangement in the band memory,
It also performs processing to collect the vacant memory areas. The rectangle circumscribing the figure is, for example, a rectangle MB circumscribing the decagonal figure M as shown in FIG. 5, and the size of the area is in the X direction in the intermediate data representing one figure. Minimum point Xmin
And the maximum point Xmax, and the minimum point Ymin and maximum point Ymax in the Y direction can be determined by a known method. Further, rectangular intermediate data can be created based on the Xmin, Xmax, Ymin, and Ymax. If the vertex coordinate value of the above-described decagonal figure M is expressed by 4 bytes, it is 10 × 4.
= 40 bytes of memory capacity is required, while rectangle MB has only one vertex coordinate value and width and height values.
If each value is 4 bytes, then 4 + 4 + 4 = 12 bytes. Therefore, generally, if polygonal intermediate data or curved graphic intermediate data is replaced with rectangular intermediate data, the amount of intermediate data is significantly reduced, and the remaining memory capacity of the RAM 7 is reduced. Will increase. Thus, by generating the intermediate data of the rectangle circumscribing the figure having the smallest area, and replacing the intermediate data of the rectangle with the intermediate data of the above figure, the amount of the intermediate data is reduced. It is significantly reduced, and the remaining memory capacity of the RAM 7 is increased.

Next, in step S11, the RAM 7
It is determined whether or not the remaining memory capacity of is larger than the memory request amount. In that determination, if the memory remaining amount of the RAM 7 is less than the memory required amount (NO in S11), step S
Returning to step 10, the same processing as described above is performed. Then, steps S10 and S11 are repeated until it is determined that the remaining memory capacity of the band becomes larger than the required memory capacity.

When the memory full state is resolved in this way and the intermediate data for one page is stored in bands 13 to 15, the print engine is started as shown in step S5 of FIG. It As shown in steps S6 and S7, the intermediate data stored in each band is sequentially developed in the band buffers 23 and 24 and printed by the printing means 9. Then, as shown in step S8, when the printing for one page is completed, the paper is fed out in step S9.

When the memory full state occurs and the intermediate data of the graphic having the smallest area is replaced with the rectangular intermediate data as described above, for example, the target printed graphic is as shown in FIG. In the case of the figure F, as shown in FIG. 7, the figure F1 is such that the shape of the petals becomes a square, so that the entire image is secured when printed.

Next, another embodiment will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. Similar to the above-described embodiment, when a so-called memory full state occurs, among the intermediate data stored in each band 13 to 15 of the RAM 7 in step S12, the rectangle circumscribing the figure is the same as the one described above. Search for the smallest figure based on the area of. Then, in step S13, it is determined whether or not the area of the rectangle circumscribing the figure is less than or equal to a predetermined value, and if it is less than or equal to the predetermined value, intermediate data of the rectangle is generated in step S14. It replaces with the intermediate data of. Then, in step S15, processing is performed to prevent the replaced rectangular intermediate data from being included in the target of the next search, and the remaining memory amount is checked in step S11. If the memory request is satisfied (YES in step S11), the memory securing process is ended, and if not satisfied (NO in step S11), the process of step S12 is repeated. If the value exceeds the predetermined value in step S13, the aspect ratio of the rectangle is inspected in step S16. X as shown in FIG.
The ratio is calculated based on the maximum value and the minimum value in the direction and the Y direction. First, (Xmax-Xmin) / (Ymax-Ym
in) is inspected, and it is inspected whether it is less than or equal to a predetermined ratio. If it is less than or equal to the predetermined ratio, it is determined that the figure is a flat figure (YES in step S16), and the process of step S14 is performed. Also, if the above ratio is greater than the predetermined ratio,
(Ymax-Ymin) / (Xmax-Xmin) is obtained and inspected in the same manner as above. If this ratio is also larger than the predetermined ratio, it is determined that the figure is not a flat figure (NO in step S16), and the process ends. In this case, the replacement of the intermediate data to obtain the required memory capacity is not performed, and the memory full state is not resolved. Therefore, the host computer 2 is connected via the interface 5.
Performs error processing such as sending an error message to. still,
The process of step S15 is performed as follows, for example. An address pointer indicating the search range is prepared and first initialized to indicate the beginning of the band memory. afterwards,
Each time the replacement process is performed, the replaced intermediate data is rearranged including other intermediate data so as to replace it with the position indicated by the address pointer, and the next intermediate data with the replaced address pointer is shown. To allow the next search from this position. Alternatively, a flag indicating that the replacement has been performed at a specific position of the intermediate data is added to the rectangular intermediate data that has been replaced with the original intermediate data. Is also good. In this case, when performing a search, the intermediate data having this flag performs a search process so as to omit the process of inspecting the area (step S1).
2) will be performed. Even when the memory is full as described above, the memory remaining amount of the band is increased by replacing the intermediate data as described above, and as a result,
By rearranging or resizing the memory as needed, the remaining amount of the work memory 22 can be increased, and the processing of print data can be continued.
As a result, when printing is performed, it is possible to obtain an output in which the entire image is almost secured, to the extent that a part of the target printed figure is deformed.

The memory securing process as described above may be executed only when specified. That is,
When it is detected by the monitoring process of the CPU 4 that the memory full state as described above is detected, the RAM 7 is set as shown in the flow chart of FIG.
It is checked whether or not a mode setting flag (not shown) is ON (step S17), and if it is ON (step S1).
(YES in 7) The above-mentioned memory allocation processing is performed, and if not ON, memory full error processing is performed. This mode setting flag is turned on / off by the user by a panel switch (not shown) provided in the printer 1.
It is possible to do
It can also be set by a mode setting command sent from the computer 2. By setting this mode, the user can set the intermediate data only when he wants to obtain the whole output even if a part of the figure is deformed when the memory becomes insufficient. Can be replaced.

The embodiment is not limited to the printing device 1 that prints using a bitmap as described above, but may be a display device that displays graphics using a bitmap.

[0041]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, when it is determined that the amount of data to be stored exceeds the storage capacity of the storage means, the searching means selects one of the stored intermediate data. When the intermediate data whose area is smaller than the predetermined value is searched, the rectangle generation means generates rectangular intermediate data circumscribing the figure represented by the intermediate data searched by the search means. Since the replacing means replaces the rectangular intermediate data with the intermediate data retrieved by the retrieval means, the amount of intermediate data to be stored is reduced and the remaining memory capacity of the storage means has a margin. As a result, it becomes possible to continue the intermediate data storage processing, and when output, a part of the target output figure is deformed, but the output image of the entire page can be grasped. There is.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, when it is determined that the amount of data to be stored exceeds the storage capacity of the storage means, the search means causes the area of the stored intermediate data to be larger than the area. When the intermediate data having a figure smaller than the predetermined value is searched, the rectangle generating means searches the intermediate data searched by the searching means.
The replacing means generates rectangular intermediate data circumscribing the figure represented by the data, and the replacing means determines that the area of the rectangle circumscribing the figure represented by the intermediate data searched by the searching means is equal to or smaller than a predetermined value. In some cases, the intermediate data of the rectangle generated by the rectangle generating means is generated.
Data is replaced with the retrieved intermediate data, and when the area of the rectangle exceeds a predetermined value, the replacement process is performed when the aspect ratio of the rectangle is equal to or larger than a predetermined ratio. Since the amount of intermediate data to be stored decreases and the remaining amount of memory in the storage means can be afforded, it becomes possible to continue the intermediate data storage processing, and when output, the target output figure Although part of the page is deformed, the output image of the entire page can be grasped.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, the searching means excludes the searched intermediate data or the rectangular intermediate data replaced by the replacing means from the objects to be searched thereafter. There is an effect that it is possible to prevent further deformation of the same portion of the target output figure.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, by providing the mode setting means for setting whether or not to perform the series of processes, when the memory capacity of the storage means is insufficient, Even if a part is modified, the intermediate data replacement process can be performed only when it is desired to obtain the entire output.

According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, when it is determined that the amount of data to be stored exceeds the storage capacity, it becomes a graphic whose area is smaller than a predetermined value among the stored intermediate data. The intermediate data is searched and the searched intermediate data is searched.
Since the intermediate data of the rectangle circumscribing the figure represented by the data is generated and the intermediate data of the rectangle is replaced with the retrieved intermediate data, the stored intermediate data amount is Since it decreases and there is a margin in the remaining memory capacity of the storage means,
It becomes possible to continue the intermediate data storing process, and when output, a part of the target output figure is deformed, but there is an effect that the output image of the entire page can be grasped.

According to the sixth aspect of the present invention, when it is determined that the amount of data to be stored exceeds the storage capacity, the intermediate data having the smallest area out of the stored intermediate data is obtained. -A rectangle that circumscribes the figure represented by the retrieved intermediate data, after generating the intermediate data of the rectangle circumscribing the figure represented by the retrieved intermediate data When the area of the rectangle is smaller than a predetermined value, a replacement process for replacing the intermediate data of the generated rectangle with the retrieved intermediate data is performed, while when the area of the rectangle exceeds the predetermined value, Since the replacement process is performed when the aspect ratio of the rectangle is equal to or greater than a predetermined ratio, the intermediate data amount to be stored is reduced, and the remaining memory capacity of the storage means can be afforded. When it becomes possible to continue storage processing and output While some of the output figure the targeted is deformed, the page overall output Ime - there is an effect that it is possible to grab di.

According to the seventh aspect of the present invention, since the searched intermediate data or the rectangular intermediate data replaced by the replacing means is excluded from the object of the subsequent search, the target output is obtained. There is an effect that it is possible to prevent further deformation of the same part of the figure.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a control system diagram showing a control configuration of a printing apparatus.

FIG. 2 is a control flowchart of the printing apparatus.

FIG. 3 is a processing flowchart when a memory full occurs.

FIG. 4 is another processing flowchart when a memory full occurs.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of a control action.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of a target print figure.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of a printed figure when a memory full occurs.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing the contents of a page description code.

FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram of a bitmap.

FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram of band processing.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an example of a target print figure.

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing an example of a printed figure when a memory full is generated by a conventional printing apparatus.

FIG. 13 is a flow chart of mode setting.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Printer 2 Host Computer 4 CPU 6 ROM 7 RAM 9 Printing Means 13, 14, 15 Bands 23, 24 Band Buffer

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. A conversion means for converting input output data into intermediate data corresponding to an output graphic, a bit map expanding means for expanding the intermediate data into a bit map, and the bit map An output device comprising: an output unit for outputting based on the above; a storage unit for storing various data that is temporarily generated when each of the units performs processing; and a storage unit for storing intermediate data obtained by the conversion unit. Searching means for searching for intermediate data having an area smaller than a predetermined value among the stored intermediate data when it is determined that more data will be stored than the storage capacity of the means; Rectangle generating means for generating rectangular intermediate data circumscribing the figure represented by the intermediate data searched by the searching means, the rectangular intermediate data, and the intermediate searched for by the searching means. The device that replaces the data An output device comprising: a replacement unit that performs a replacement process. 2. A conversion means for converting input output data into intermediate data corresponding to an output figure, a bit map expanding means for expanding the intermediate data into a bit map, and the bit map An output device comprising: an output unit for outputting based on the above; a storage unit for storing various data that is temporarily generated when each of the units performs processing; and a storage unit for storing intermediate data obtained by the conversion unit. Retrieval means for retrieving the intermediate data having the smallest area among the stored intermediate data when it is determined that the amount of data to be stored exceeds the storage capacity of the means. Rectangle generating means for generating intermediate data of a rectangle circumscribing the figure represented by the intermediate data retrieved by, and circumscribing the figure represented by the intermediate data retrieved by the searching means. The area of the rectangle When it is below, a replacement process for replacing the intermediate data of the rectangle generated by the rectangle generating means with the retrieved intermediate data is performed, and when the area of the rectangle exceeds a predetermined value, this An output device, comprising: a replacement unit that performs the replacement process when an aspect ratio of a rectangle is equal to or larger than a predetermined ratio. 3. The retrieving means, in order to repeat the series of processes, retrieves the retrieved intermediate data or the rectangular intermediate data replaced by the replacing means.
3. The output device according to claim 1, further comprising an excluding means for excluding the object from the subsequent search. 4. The output device according to claim 1, further comprising mode setting means for setting whether or not to perform the series of processes. 5. An output method for converting output data into intermediate data corresponding to an output graphic, storing the intermediate data, developing the intermediate data into a bit map, and outputting based on the bit map. When processing the output data, if it is determined that more data will be stored than the storage capacity, the intermediate data stored will be a graphic whose area is smaller than a predetermined value. -Searching data, generating rectangular intermediate data circumscribing the figure represented by the searched intermediate data, and generating the rectangular intermediate data and the searched intermediate data. An output method characterized by performing replacement processing for replacing. 6. An output method for converting output data into intermediate data corresponding to an output graphic, storing the intermediate data, developing the intermediate data into a bit map, and outputting based on the bit map. When the output data is processed, if it is determined that the amount of data to be stored exceeds the storage capacity, the intermediate data having the smallest area among the stored intermediate data will be obtained. Area of the rectangle circumscribing the figure represented by the retrieved intermediate data, after generating the intermediate data of the rectangle circumscribing the figure represented by the retrieved intermediate data. Is less than or equal to a predetermined value, the intermediate data of the generated rectangle is
Data is replaced with the retrieved intermediate data, while the area of the rectangle exceeds a predetermined value,
An output method, wherein the replacement process is performed when the aspect ratio of the rectangle is equal to or larger than a predetermined ratio. 7. In order to repeat the above-mentioned series of processing, the searched intermediate data or the replaced rectangular intermediate data is excluded from the subsequent search targets. The output method according to claim 5 or 6.