JPH10114127A - Printer - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To improve an operability in the changing of an emulation mode in a printer capable of operating the data received from a host computer by a plurality of emulation programs. SOLUTION: A plurality of emulation programs are stored in a memory means 15 or 20. When an emulation selection command is received from a host 2 by receiving means 11, 12, one of the stored emulation programs is selected in response to the emulation selection command to be moved to an emulation area 17. An operation means such as a CPU 111 operates (prints) only the received data from the host 2 by the selected emulation program after the emulation selection command is received.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a printer having a plurality of emulation modes.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In general, some printers such as laser printers have a plurality of emulation modes such as a dot printer, a daisy-wheel printer and other page printers.

In such a printer, a required emulation mode is selected by providing a DIP switch on the printer body.

[0004]

However, when the mode is selected by the DIP switch as described above,
When the mode is changed, the switch must be operated one by one, and when the mode is changed, the end of the data processing of the mode before the change must be confirmed. The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and has as its object to improve operability.

[0005]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention has a function of setting an emulation mode by a command from a host.

[0006]

Embodiments of the present invention will be specifically described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a laser printer embodying the present invention. The printer controller 1 includes a central processing unit, a ROM, a RAM,
Microcomputer (CPU) 11 composed of / O etc.
, A host interface (I / F) 12, a font ROM 14, a program ROM 15, and a RAM 16
, An emulation area 17, an engine interface (I / F) 18, a video buffer 19, and an auxiliary storage device 20.
Is connected to the host 2, the front panel 3, and the printer engine 4.

[0007] The CPU 11 is a processing device that performs overall control of the printer controller 1, and uses a general-purpose 16-bit or 32-bit microcomputer. The internal ROM of the CPU 11 stores a program for receiving an emulation selection command from the host 2 for specifying an emulation mode.

A host interface 12 is an interface for transmitting and receiving data to and from a host 2 such as an office computer, a personal computer, a word processor, and an image editing processing device. Select

The font ROM 14 stores the minimum necessary font data for a printer. The program ROM 15 stores various processing programs of the CPU 11 for operating the printer controller 1, and also stores therein a program for setting an emulation mode specified by an emulation selection command received from the host 2.

The RAM 16 is a large-capacity random access memory, and is mainly used as an input buffer, a page buffer, a font file, and a system memory. It is to be noted that a necessary amount of a RAM area other than an area used as a system memory is reserved and used for each buffer and file in advance.

The buffers and files will be described in detail. The input buffer is a buffer for temporarily holding data received from the host 2 through the host interface 12, and the data is sequentially taken out by the print software. The page data is generated in the page buffer by adding a source address where the data is actually stored, a destination address designating where in the video buffer 19 the video data is created, size information, and the like.

Video data is generated on the video buffer 19 using the page data, the font data of the font file, and the font data (source data) in the font ROM 14.

In the font file, font data from the host 2 is downloaded through the host interface 12, or font data from a font cartridge mounted as the auxiliary storage device 20 is loaded.

In the RAM 16, in order to manage the downloaded font data from the host 2 and the loaded font data from the font cartridge, the address of the font file storing the font data, the font size, the font name, and the like are stored. Also stores font management information.

The emulation area 17 is an area into which the emulation program and its work area (emulation work area) are transferred when the emulation mode is executed.

The engine I / F 18 is an interface for transmitting and receiving necessary control data and the like to and from the printer engine 4. The video buffer 19 stores the video data created as described above and is read out by the printer engine 4.

The auxiliary storage device 20 is an IC card, a font cartridge, a download file, and the like. An emulation program for executing the emulation mode is stored in the auxiliary storage device 20 or the program ROM 15.
Store above. Next, the operation of this embodiment thus configured will be described with reference to FIGS.

First, the processing in the emulation mode will be described with reference to FIG. 2. Each emulation program for executing a plurality of emulation modes, for example, emulation 1 to emulation n,
As described above, the auxiliary storage device 20 or the program ROM
15, the emulation program and its work area are moved to the emulation area 17 when the program is executed. Therefore, when the emulation selection command is received from the host 2, the emulation selection command is received before the command. After processing the stored data, the emulation program for executing the emulation indicated by the command and the emulation work area are moved to the emulation area 17 to execute the processing.

Next, as shown in FIG. 3, when data is received from the host 2, the data processing of the printer controller 1 first recognizes and executes a command that needs to be executed immediately after the reception, and then executes a normal command. After the recognition and execution, a page buffer is created, the bit image is sent to the printer engine 4, and the process proceeds to the sheet discharging process.

Therefore, the emulation selection command as a command that needs to be executed immediately after reception in the first processing can be recognized, so that the emulation mode is changed immediately after recognizing a normal command by software and confirming the end of execution. Can be performed.

Since there is no need to consider a time lag, the host 2 can continuously send files. On the other hand, when the emulation mode is selected by the switch, the end of the processing by the command must be confirmed. However, in order to confirm the completion of the transmission of the bit image to the It takes time because you have to confirm the execution of the process.

That is, as shown in FIG. 4, the host 2 sends an emulation selection command before sending a file, and then sends the file. On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 5, if there is received data from the host 2 in the input buffer, the printer controller 1 reads the received data and determines whether it is a command or data.

If the received data is a command,
It is determined whether the command is an emulation selection command. If the command is an emulation selection command, the emulation mode specified by the emulation selection command is set. If the command is not an emulation selection command, other command processing is performed. Is data, data processing for printing out the data is performed.

Thus, when the printer recognizes the emulation selection command from the host 2,
After processing (printing) all the data received before this emulation selection command in the emulation mode before the change, the data received after the emulation mode specified by the emulation selection command is processed (printing).

For example, in emulation 1, file 1
When printing a file 2 by emulation 2, the host 2 sends an emulation selection command specifying the emulation 1, sends the data of the file 1, and then specifies the emulation 2, as shown in FIG. After transmitting the emulation selection command, the data of file 2 is transmitted.

As a result, as shown in FIG. 7, the printer prints out all the data of the file 1 received after setting the emulation 1 and then prints all the data of the file 2 received after setting the emulation 2. Out.

As described above, this printer is provided with a function of setting the emulation mode in response to a command from the host side. Therefore, when changing the emulation mode, one switch must be operated. There is no need to confirm the end of the data processing in the mode before the change, and the operability is improved.

[0028]

As described above, according to the present invention, the emulation mode can be selected without directly operating the printer, so that the operability is improved, and the host can continuously transmit data, so that printing is necessary. You can save time.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a laser printer embodying the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram for explaining a method of executing the processing in the emulation mode.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a process when the printer receives data.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing processing on the host side.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a process on the printer side.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a specific example of processing on the host side.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a specific example of processing on the printer side.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1: Printer controller 2: Host 4: Printer engine 11: Microcomputer (CPU) 16: RAM 17: Emulation area 19: Video buffer 20: Auxiliary storage device

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[Procedure amendment]

[Submission date] July 14, 1997

[Procedure amendment 1]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] Full text

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

[Document Name] Statement

[Title of the Invention] Printer

[Claims]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention is connected to a host,
Receive data from the host by multiple emulation programs
It relates to a printer that can be processed by a program . In addition, each Emi
Emulation of the processing mode by the simulation program
This mode is called an application mode.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, in a printer such as a laser printer, data received from a host is transmitted to a dot printer,
A plurality of emulation programs corresponding to the daisy wheel printer or other page printer or the like,
Is processed (printed) also <br/>'s possible in emulation mode by.

In such a printer, a required emulation mode is selected by providing a DIP switch on the printer body.

[0004]

However [0007], of selecting an emulation mode by this way DIP switch, you do not have to operate the switch each time when changing the emulation mode and Emi
When changing the emulation mode , the emulation before the change
However , there is a problem that the operability is poor , for example, it is necessary to confirm the end of the data processing in the operation mode . The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and has been developed by a host.
Receive data can be processed in multiple emulation modes
Aims to make improve the operability of the printer.

[0005]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention is connected to a host and receives data from the host.
Data can be processed by multiple emulation programs
Printer and multiple emulation programs
Storage means for storing the
Receiving means for receiving an option selection command;
To the emulation selection command received by the
Accordingly, a plurality of emulations stored in the storage means may be used.
One emulation program from the
Program, and receive an emulation selection command.
Only the data received from the host after transmission is selected.
Processing by the emulation program
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object to provide a printer including a step .

[0006]

Embodiments of the present invention will be specifically described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a laser printer embodying the present invention. The printer controller 1 includes a central processing unit, a ROM, a RAM,
Microcomputer (CPU) 11 composed of / O etc.
, A host interface (I / F) 12, a font ROM 14, a program ROM 15, and a RAM 16
, An emulation area 17, an engine interface (I / F) 18, a video buffer 19, and an auxiliary storage device 20.
Is connected to the host 2, the front panel 3, and the printer engine 4.

[0007] The CPU 11 is a processing device that performs overall control of the printer controller 1, and uses a general-purpose 16-bit or 32-bit microcomputer. The internal ROM of the CPU 11 stores a program for receiving an emulation selection command from the host 2 for specifying an emulation mode.

A host interface 12 is an interface for transmitting and receiving data to and from a host 2 such as an office computer, a personal computer, a word processor, and an image editing processing device. Select

The font ROM 14 stores the minimum necessary font data for a printer. The program ROM 15 stores various processing programs of the CPU 11 for operating the printer controller 1, and selects according to an emulation selection command received from the host 2.
A plurality of emulation programs to be selected are also stored here.

The RAM 16 is a large-capacity random access memory, and is mainly used as an input buffer, a page buffer, a font file, and a system memory. It is to be noted that a necessary amount of a RAM area other than an area used as a system memory is reserved and used for each buffer and file in advance.

The buffers and files will be described in detail. The input buffer is a buffer for temporarily holding data received from the host 2 through the host interface 12, and the data is sequentially taken out by the print software. The page data is generated in the page buffer by adding a source address where the data is actually stored, a destination address designating where in the video buffer 19 the video data is created, size information, and the like.

Video data is generated on the video buffer 19 using the page data, the font data of the font file, and the font data (source data) in the font ROM 14.

In the font file, font data from the host 2 is downloaded through the host interface 12, or font data from a font cartridge mounted as the auxiliary storage device 20 is loaded.

In the RAM 16, in order to manage the downloaded font data from the host 2 and the loaded font data from the font cartridge, the address of the font file storing the font data, the font size, the font name, and the like are stored. Also stores font management information.

The emulation area 17 is an area into which the emulation program and its work area (emulation work area) are transferred when the emulation mode is executed.

The engine I / F 18 is an interface for transmitting and receiving necessary control data and the like to and from the printer engine 4. The video buffer 19 stores the video data created as described above and is read out by the printer engine 4.

The auxiliary storage device 20 is an IC card, a font cartridge, a download file, and the like. An emulation program for executing the emulation mode is stored in the auxiliary storage device 20 or the program ROM 1.
5 is stored on. Next, the operation of this embodiment thus configured will be described with reference to FIGS.

First, the processing in the emulation mode will be described with reference to FIG. 2. Each emulation program for executing a plurality of emulation modes, for example, emulation 1 to emulation n,
As described above, the auxiliary storage device 20 or the program ROM
While stored in 15, wherein the program execution, since as transfer the emulation program and a work area in the emulation area 17, when receiving <br/> emulation selection commands from the host 2, the command Host 2 before receiving
After finished processing the data being received from and transferred emulation program and its emulation work area to execute the emulation indicated by the command to emulation area 17, the data received from the host 2 after receiving the command Execute the process.

Next, as shown in FIG. 3, when data is received from the host 2, the data processing of the printer controller 1 first recognizes and executes a command that needs to be executed immediately after the reception, and then executes a normal command. After the recognition and execution, a page buffer is created, the bit image is sent to the printer engine 4, and the process proceeds to the sheet discharging process.

Therefore, the emulation selection command as a command that needs to be executed immediately after reception in the first processing can be recognized, so that the emulation mode is changed immediately after recognizing a normal command by software and confirming the end of execution. Can be performed.

Since there is no need to consider a time lag, the host 2 can continuously send files. On the other hand, when the emulation mode is selected by the switch, the end of the processing by the command must be confirmed. However, in order to confirm the completion of the transmission of the bit image to the It takes time because you have to confirm the execution of the process.

That is, as shown in FIG. 4, the host 2 sends an emulation selection command before sending a file, and then sends the file. On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 5, if there is received data from the host 2 in the input buffer, the printer controller 1 reads the received data and determines whether it is a command or data.

If the received data is a command,
It is determined whether or not the command is an emulation selection command. If the command is an emulation selection command , an auxiliary storage device is determined in accordance with the emulation selection command.
20 or a plurality of programs stored in the program ROM 15.
One emulation program from emulation programs
Select the emulation area
Move to step 17 and set to the specified emulation mode
I do. If it is not an emulation selection command, other command processing is performed. If the received data is data, data processing for printing out the data is performed.

Thus, when the printer recognizes the emulation selection command from the host 2,
All the data received before this emulation selection command is processed (printed) in the emulation mode before the change, and then the emulation selection command is received.
Only the data received after that specified by the command
Process (print) in emulation mode .

For example, in emulation 1, file 1
When printing a file 2 by emulation 2, the host 2 sends an emulation selection command specifying the emulation 1, sends the data of the file 1, and then specifies the emulation 2, as shown in FIG. After transmitting the emulation selection command, the data of file 2 is transmitted.

As a result, as shown in FIG. 7, the printer emulates an emulation 1
Receive an application selection command, and
After selecting the emulation program and setting it to emulation 1, all the data of the received file 1 is printed out, and then the emulation
Receive a selection command, and respond to that command.
After the selected emulation program is selected and set to emulation 2, all the data of the received file 2 is printed out.

As described above, in this printer, multiple operations are performed in response to an emulation selection command from the host.
Select one of the emulation programs and set the emulation mode
Received data from the host after receiving the
Only depending on the emulation program of your choice.
Since having the function of processing Te, one by one to manipulate the switch when you change the emulation mode, emulation
Need to or confirm the completion of the data processing of the previous mode change gone operability can be improved at the time of configuration mode change.

[0028]

As described above, according to the present invention, the emulation mode can be changed without directly operating the printer, so that the operability is improved, and the host can continuously send data, so that it is necessary for printing. You can save time.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a laser printer embodying the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram for explaining a method of executing the processing in the emulation mode.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a process when the printer receives data.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing processing on the host side.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a process on the printer side.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a specific example of processing on the host side.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a specific example of processing on the printer side.

[Description of Signs] 1: Printer controller 2: Host 4: Printer engine 11: Microcomputer (CPU) 15: Program ROM 16: RAM 17: Emulation area 19: Video buffer 20: Auxiliary storage device

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A printer having a plurality of emulation modes, comprising a mode setting means for setting the emulation mode in response to a command from a host.