JPH10151813A - Apparatus and method for printing bit image data - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To shorten a printing operation thereby improving a printing speed and effectively use a memory resource. SOLUTION: An upper end (HPP) and a lower end (LP = HPP + standard data height BDH) of bit image data are controlled by a printing control part. A data-judging part judges whether or not the upper end and lower end of the bit image data are accommodated in a band height range. An upper end of the band height range is a logical set position rYPOS related to a data- selecting process, and a lower end of the band height range is a position of rYPOS + head height HEADHT. When the upper and lower ends are judged to be in the band height range, the bit image data are selected as an object to be developed and printed by the band and, developed to an output buffer. Accordingly, a plurality of lines can be printed at the same time by one band, so that a memory resource can be effectively utilized.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a bit image data printing apparatus and a bit image data printing method suitable for a serial printer such as an ink jet printer or an impact dot printer.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art For example, a serial printer such as an ink jet printer, a thermal transfer printer and an impact dot printer includes a printer controller and a print engine, and performs printing based on print data transmitted from a printer driver on a host computer. By operating the engine, a desired print result is obtained. That is, based on the interpretation result of the print data, a dot is formed while the print head is relatively moved (main scanning) with respect to a print recording medium such as recording paper,
By performing a predetermined paper feed (sub-scan), the print content created by the application program on the host computer is realized.

Here, print data transmitted from the printer driver on the host computer to the printer controller includes one or more of a character code, a control code, and image data.
Here, as shown in FIG. 9, there are two types of image data, a raster graphic image (hereinafter, referred to as a raster image) and a bit image. The printer driver determines which mode to use depending on the printer model and the like.

[0004] The printer driver usually stores 1 in RAM.
Create image data for each page. When transmitting the image data created in page units to the printer as a raster image, as shown in the upper part of FIG. 9, one image data is sent along the raster direction (the main scanning direction, which is the direction in which the print head moves). 8-bit byte data B
R1, BR2, BR3,... Are sequentially cut out in address units and transferred to the printer controller.

On the other hand, when a bit image is transmitted to the printer, a direction perpendicular to the raster direction (sub-scanning direction, which is a paper feed direction), as shown in the lower part of FIG.
Along with the byte data BB1, B
B2, BB3,... Need to be cut out. For this reason, when transmitting image data in the bit image mode, the printer driver uses the RAM of the host computer.
The above raster image data is converted into bit image data (raster / bit image conversion) and then transferred to the printer.

Here, in the case of the bit image mode,
Data transfer to the printer is performed so as to have a predetermined standard data height. For example, the standard data height of the bit image data is 48 bits. Therefore, the bit image data is sent from the host computer in units of 6 bytes. The bit image data of one dot string cut out with a data length of 6 bytes in the sub-scanning direction is stored in an input buffer memory (hereinafter, “buffer memory” is abbreviated as “buffer”) on the printer side, and a control command is stored in the buffer memory. Interpreted and printed.

FIG. 10 schematically shows a conventional bit image data print processing method. The print head 100 is provided with, for example, about 64 dot forming elements 101 including nozzles and the like in the sub-scanning direction. The height HEADHT of the print head 100 (hereinafter referred to as “head height”) is the dot forming element 101.
Based on the number of That is, the print head 100
The number of dot lines that can be formed by one main scan is the head height HEADHT. This head height HEAD
A print band (hereinafter, referred to as “band”) is set according to the HT. The data height BDH of the bit image data 102, 103 is 48 bits, which is the standard data height.

As shown in FIG. 10, the bit image data 102 has its upper end position HPP coincident with the upper end of the band indicated by the two-dot chain line, and its entirety in the height direction falls within the band. I have. Therefore, the bit image data 102 is developed in the output buffer as a print target of the first band indicated by the two-dot chain line, and the first main scan P
1 is printed. On the other hand, the other bit image data 103 has only the upper 1/5 in the first band, and the lower end of the bit image data 103 protrudes out of the first band. In this case, only the part included in the first band is stored in the bit image data 10.
2, it is also possible to print in the first main scan P1, and to print the remaining part in the next main scan P2. However, if one bit image data 103 is divided into two bands and printed, the band boundaries are conspicuous and the print quality is deteriorated, which is not preferable. Therefore, the next band (indicated by the dotted line in FIG. 10) is set in accordance with the upper end position of the bit image data 103, the necessary paper feed LF1 is performed, and the entire bit image data 103 is processed by the next main scan P2. Is printed once.

[0009]

In the prior art, the entirety of one bit image data is printed in one main scan in order to ensure print quality. Therefore, the head height HEADHT of the print head 100 is set according to the standard data height BDH. That is, the band height is set according to the standard data height BDH of the bit image data.

However, in recent years, there has been a demand for an improvement in the speed of print output. For this reason, the print head 100 is formed to be long in the sub-scanning direction, that is, a plurality of dot forming elements 101 are arranged in the sub-scanning direction, and the number of dot lines that can be printed simultaneously is doubled. It is conceivable to employ a print head.

Even if such a multi-line print type print head is simply applied to a printer according to the prior art, there is a problem that the printing speed cannot be improved and the efficiency of memory use is reduced.

In the prior art, as shown in FIG. 10, the vertical development start position HPP of the bit image data is set at the band setting position rYPOS (the upper end of the print head 100 should be located when the bit image data is printed). Only when the position matches the position, the bit image data is expanded to the band of the output buffer. Head height HEA according to the standard height BDH of bit image data
This is because DHT is set and one bit image data is printed by one main scan.

Therefore, even if a print head of a multi-line printing type having a large number of dot forming elements is simply applied, only the bit image data in which the band setting position rYPOS matches the development start position HPP is set in the output buffer. Since the print operation is performed in a different band, the number of print operations (print passes) cannot be reduced. In the example shown in FIG. 10, the head height HEADHT (band height) of the print head 100 is shown.
However, even if it covers the whole from the expansion start position HPP of the upper bit image data 102 to the expansion end position LP of the lower bit image data 103, two printing operations are performed.

As shown in FIG. 11, the bit image data stored in the input buffer 104 is cut out in a one-dot row with a standard data height BDH of 48 bits as described above, and is formed in the RAM. The work area 105 is expanded. After performing necessary data operations such as density conversion in the work area 105, the bit image data is developed into the band set in the output buffer 106. Note that the output buffer 106 generally has a plurality of bands, and a printing operation is performed by sequentially reading out the bands for which bit image data development has been completed and transmitting them to the head drive circuit.

When a multi-line print head is used as it is in the prior art, the memory height (band height) of the work area 105 and the output buffer 106 is set corresponding to the multi-line print head. Only the bit image data whose development start position HPP matches the band upper end position rYPOS is developed. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 11, there is a problem that a useless blank area is formed in both the work area 105 and the output buffer 106, and the memory use efficiency is reduced.

On the other hand, in order to solve such a problem, for example, it is conceivable to increase the standard height BDH of the bit image data in accordance with the head height HEADHT (band height) of a multi-line print type print head. Can be However, in this case, unless the host computer has a printer driver whose data height is set to be long in advance corresponding to multi-line printing, a multi-line printing compatible printer cannot be used, The usability of the user decreases.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above-described various problems, and has as its object to develop a bit image data which falls within a band height range to reduce a printing operation and reduce a printing speed. The present invention provides a bit image data printing apparatus and a bit image data printing method which can improve memory efficiency and efficiently use memory resources. Further, another object of the present invention is to provide a bit image data printing apparatus and a bit image data printing method capable of printing efficiently without changing the data height of input bit image data. Is to do.

[0018]

In order to achieve the above object, a bit image data printing apparatus and a bit image data printing method according to the present invention use bit image data whose upper end and lower end fall within a band height range. Expand and print.

That is, according to the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a data receiving means for receiving input bit image data,
Data determination means for determining whether the upper end and the lower end of the received bit image data fall within the band height range, and when it is determined that the bit image data falls within the band height range, Data selecting means for selecting the bit image data as an object to be developed in the band, and data developing means for developing the selected bit image data in the band.

The bit image data whose upper and lower ends are determined to fall within the band height range by the data determining means are selected as data to be expanded by the data selecting means, and are expanded to the band by the data expanding means.
Therefore, since all the bit image data that falls within the printable range (range in the height direction) in one main scan of the print head is developed and printed, the printing operation is shortened, and the band is set. Can be used efficiently.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a print management unit for managing at least an upper end position and a lower end position of the input bit image data, and a band management unit for managing a set position of the band. The data determination unit compares the upper end position and the lower end position of the bit image data stored in the print management unit with the set position of the band stored in the band management unit,
It may be determined whether an upper end and a lower end of the bit image data fall within the band height range.

By providing a print management unit for storing the upper end position and the lower end position of the bit image data and a head management unit for storing the set position of the band, the upper end and the lower end of the bit image data fall within the band height range. It can be easily determined whether or not it is within.

More specifically, as in the invention according to claim 3, a print management unit for managing at least an upper end position (HPP) and a lower end position (LP) of the input bit image data, and setting of the band. A band management unit that manages a position (rYPOS);
When the height of the print head is HEADHT, rYPOS ≦ HPP and LP ≦ rYPOS + HEA
When DHT is established, it can be determined that the upper and lower ends of the bit image data fall within the band height range.

Here, the coordinates are set such that the value of the position information increases from the band upper end position (band setting position) to the band lower end position. Therefore, r
If YPOS ≦ HPP is satisfied, it indicates that the upper end (development start position) of the bit image data is located below the upper end of the band. Similarly, LP ≦ rYPOS
When + HEADHT is established, it indicates that the lower end (development end position) of the bit image data is located above the lower end of the band.

In the invention according to claim 4, at least the upper end position (HPP) of the input bit image data
A print management unit for managing a designated movement amount from a lower end position (LP) and a reference position, and a band management unit for managing a set position (rYPOS) of the band. HEA height
When DHT, rYPOS ≦ HPP and LP ≦ r
When YPOS + HEADHT is established, it is determined that the upper end and the lower end of the bit image data fall within the band height range, and the data expanding unit moves the selected bit image data by the designated movement amount. It is characterized in that it is deployed on the band in a state.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, the print management unit stores the designated movement amount from the reference position, and the data expanding means stores the selected bit image data by the designated movement amount. Since it is moved and developed into a band, the bit image data can be developed at a predetermined printing position.

Here, the "designated movement amount from the reference position" is an offset amount between the printing position of the bit image data and the printing reference position. For example, there is an offset amount in the sub-scanning direction from the upper end of the band (upper end of the head) to the bit image data printing position, and an offset amount in the main scanning direction from the left end of the band (main scanning start position) to the bit image data printing position. The upper end of the band and the left end of the band are “reference positions”.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, a work area for performing a predetermined operation on the bit image data to be developed into the band is provided, and the data developing means stores the selected bit image data in the band. The bit image data developed in the work area may be stored in the band by performing the predetermined operation by developing the bit image data in the work area while moving by the specified movement amount.

Thus, after performing necessary data operations in the work area, bit image data can be written to the band. Here, the “predetermined operation” means data processing required for final printing, and corresponds to, for example, a print density conversion operation.

[0030] As in the invention according to claim 6, it is preferable that the band has a height at least twice as large as the standard data height of the bit image data.

When the standard data height of the bit image data is 48 bits, the band height (print head height) is, for example, at least 96 bits (96 dot forming elements) or more, preferably 128 bits (dot forming elements). If it is set to (Equation 128), a plurality of lines of bit image data can be printed in one printing operation without changing the standard data height, and the use efficiency of memory resources can be improved.

The upper limit of the band height is determined by the height of the print area and the print density. For example, when printing using A4 size recording paper in the vertical direction, if the print density in the vertical direction is 360 DPI, the print head height is 420
Preferably, it is shorter than 0 bits.

[0033]

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

1. Functional Configuration of Printer System FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram showing a main part of a printer system to which the present embodiment is applied. For example, a printer 1 such as an ink jet printer includes a printer controller 2 for controlling a printing operation and a print engine 3 for actually performing printing on a print storage medium such as recording paper.

The printer controller 2 receives print data from a print data generating device such as a host computer, interprets the print data, and executes print control. The print data transmitted from the host computer is stored in an input buffer 5 set on a RAM via an interface (hereinafter abbreviated as “I / F”) 4. Then, the analysis unit 6 interprets the received print data, such as the print content. Details of the analysis unit 6 will be described later. The data obtained as a result of the interpretation is developed in the work area 7 and undergoes necessary operations such as a print density conversion process. As a result, dot pattern data necessary for final printing is generated, and this data is output to the output buffer 8.
Will be expanded to. The work area 7 and the output buffer 8 are set on the RAM similarly to the input buffer 5.

The print engine 3 includes a paper feed mechanism 9 and
It includes a carriage mechanism 10 and a print head 11. The paper feed mechanism 9 includes, for example, a paper feed motor and a paper feed roller, and moves the recording paper in the sub-scanning direction. The carriage mechanism 10 includes, for example,
It comprises a carriage on which the print head 11 is mounted, and a carriage motor for moving the carriage in the main scanning direction via a driving force transmitting member such as a driving belt.

As shown in FIG. 2, the print head 11 is configured as, for example, an ink jet type multi-line print type print head in which 128 nozzles 12 are formed in the sub-scanning direction. Here, the multi-line print head is a head that can print two or more lines in one main scan. The “line” here is a line having a character or an image. Specifically, each nozzle 1
Each of the piezoelectric elements 2 is provided with a piezoelectric element as a pressure generating element, and an ink droplet is ejected from each nozzle 12 by individually driving each piezoelectric element with a predetermined drive pulse. In addition, as a pressure generating element,
In addition to the piezoelectric body, for example, a configuration may be used in which minute bubbles are generated by heat and ink is pushed out by the bubbles.

2. Next, a functional configuration of the analyzing unit 6 will be described. Analysis unit 6
Are a band setting unit 21, a data determining unit (abbreviated as "determining unit" in the figure) 22, a data selecting unit (abbreviated as "selecting unit" in the figure) 23, and a data expanding unit (" (Development unit) 24).

2-1 Configuration of Band Setting Unit As shown in FIG. 2, the band setting unit 21 sets a band to be printed in a print area. As will be described later, after a line to be developed (a line having a character or image to be printed) in the band is printed, paper feeding is performed according to the next band. The height of the band is equal to the head height HEADHT of the print head 11. The setting position of the band is managed by the band management unit 25. That is, the band management unit 25 stores the band setting position rYPOS. Band management unit 2
Reference numeral 5 denotes a BIOS (Ba) which is an interface between the paper feed mechanism 9 and a control program of the printer controller 6.
Information about the current position of the print head 11 and the like is obtained from a sic input output system (SIC) to manage the band.

Here, the band setting and the like will be described in detail with reference to FIG. FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing the relationship between the band and printing by the print head 11. Usually, a plurality of bands are set in the output buffer 8. FIG. 3 shows a case where a total of three bands, band 1 to band 3, are set.

In band 1, bit image data relating to the current printing is developed, in band 2 bit image data relating to the next printing is developed and waiting, and in band 3, Processing such as selection of bit image data to be expanded is performed. That is, as shown on the left side of FIG. 3, the bit image data printed by the current main scan P1 is read from the band 1. The position of the band related to the current printing (the current physical position of the print head 11) is iYPOS. The bit image data to be printed by the next main scan P2 is developed in band 2 and is in a state of waiting for printing.

Then, the print head 11 moves to the main scanning P3.
The bit image data to be printed when the print position according to (1) is reached is being generated in band 3 of output buffer 8. That is, in the band 3, the print head 1
Bit image data at the band setting position rYPOS, which is a logical position of 1, is selected, and the selected data is expanded. In this way, when the bit image data developed in the band 1 is printed, a predetermined paper feed is performed, and the bit image data developed in the band 2 is read and printed. At this time, the development of the bit image data is completed in the band 3, and the next main scan P4 is performed in the vacant band 1.
Bit image data selection processing according to (not shown),
Expansion processing is being performed. Therefore, the band setting position iYPOS for the current printing and the logical setting position rYPOS for the future printing are different. In the following description, the relationship between the logical setting position rYPOS and the upper end position and the lower end position of the bit image data will be described. It becomes a problem.

2-2 Configuration of Data Determination Unit The data determination unit 22 determines whether or not the upper and lower ends of the bit image data stored in the input buffer 5 are within the band height range. This is embodied by a CPU or the like that physically configures the printer controller 6. The data determination unit 22 refers to a later-described print management unit 26 so that the entire bit image data in the height direction is within the logical band height range (range between the set positions rYPOS and rYPOS + 128). It is determined whether it is within.

As shown in FIG. 2, the data determination section 22
By determining whether or not rYPOS ≦ HPP is established, it is determined whether or not the upper end HPP of the bit image data is located below the band setting position rYPOS, and whether or not LP ≦ rYPOS + HEADHT is established. To determine the lower end L of the bit image data.
It is determined whether or not P is located above the lower end of the print head 11. Here, the band setting position rYPOS is a reference, and the coordinates are set such that the value of the position information increases toward the lower side in the figure. Therefore, the above 2
If the condition is satisfied at the same time, the bit image data falls within the band height range.

For example, FIG. 2 shows three pieces of bit image data 31, 32, and 33. The entire bit image data 31 and 32 in the height direction are within the band height range. Accordingly, each of the bit image data 31 and 32 is selected as a development target printable in one band, and is printed by the same main scan P1. The remaining bit image data 33 is the lower end LP
Is located below the lower end of the band, so that printing is performed by the next main scan. Note that the lower end position of the bit image data can be obtained by adding the standard data height BDH to the upper end position HPP (LP = HPP + BD).
H).

2-3 Configuration of Print Management Unit FIG. 4 shows an example of a specific structure of the print management unit 26 referred to by the data determination unit 22. The print management unit 26 is formed, for example, on a RAM, and the print management unit units 26A to 26A to 26B which are respectively set for each bit image.
26N (in the figure, 26A to 26C
Only shown).

Line buffer pointer (LBP) 40
Indicates a data address for the line buffer 50 which stores data such as font size and character height. With this LBP, the line buffer 5
The corresponding data in 0 is called.

The character upper end position (CHP) 41 indicates the upper end position of the character data, and the character lower end position (CLP) 42 indicates the lower end position of the character data.

Bit image data upper end position (HPP)
Reference numeral 43 denotes a bit image data development start position (upper end position). As described above, the lower end position LP
Is obtained by adding the standard data height BDH to the HPP. Therefore, the lower end position LP of the bit image data is not stored in the print management unit 26.

Bit image data left end position (LPP)
Reference numeral 44 denotes a separation distance from the left end reference point to the left end of the image data. That is, it indicates the offset in the main scanning direction from the main scanning start position. The bit image data right end position (RPP) 45 indicates the right end of the bit image data, that is, the end position of the bit image data in the main scanning direction.

The line attribute information flag (LIF) 46
It indicates various types of attribute information of a line to be printed (a line including a character or an image). Line attribute information flag 46
Consists of, for example, 1-bit flags LIF0 to LIFn, and is composed of 16 bits as a whole. The line attribute information flag 46 includes, for example, designation of a printing direction (unidirectional printing or bidirectional printing), whether or not the data is to be developed in the designated band, and whether or not the printing management unit currently being accessed. Whether or not is indicated by a 1-bit flag. When the data determining unit 22 determines that the bit image data is included in the band height range, and the data selecting unit 23 described later selects the bit image data, the result of the selection is the print management unit corresponding to the bit image data. Are stored in the line attribute information flag.

The line density (LDS) 47 is, for example, 1
The print density is designated such as 80 DPI, 360 DPI, 720 DPI, or the like. The image data buffer number (IDN) 48 is the number (data address) of the image data buffer 51 storing the corresponding image data.
It shows.

Note that the print management unit 26 can be configured in a file structure as shown in FIG. That is, each data to be printed (image data, character data)
And various kinds of information corresponding to the data can be stored in one file. However, in this case, since the file may become heavy and the processing efficiency may be reduced, it is advantageous to classify the data and various types of information as shown in FIG.

The print management unit 26 (print management unit) can be understood as an “intermediate code” obtained by converting each bit image data.

2-4 Configuration of Data Selection Unit The data selection unit 23 selects the bit image data determined by the data determination unit 22 to be within the band height range as a development target to be printed. As described above, this selection result is stored in the corresponding flag in the line attribute information flag 46 of the print management unit 26.

2-5 Configuration of Data Expansion Unit The data expansion unit 24 expands the bit image data selected as the expansion target in the work area 7 and performs predetermined operations (print density conversion, print position , Etc.) and then writing to a predetermined band in the output buffer 8. Thus, the finally developed bit image data is transmitted to the head drive circuit of the print head 11 and is visualized and recorded on recording paper.

Referring back to FIG. The bit image data 31 and 32 are determined by the data determination unit 22 to be within the band height range. Based on this determination result,
The data selection unit 23 includes bit image data 31 and 32
Is selected as a development target, and the selection is stored in the line attribute information flag 46. The data developing unit 24 checks the line attribute information flag 46 to detect the bit image data 31 and 32 to be expanded, and sets the data contents of the bit image data 31 and 32 to the line buffer data number 48. It is called by referring to and expanded in the work area 7. The bit image data 31 and 32 that have undergone necessary operations in the work area 7 are developed into a predetermined band in the output buffer 8 and printed by the main scan P1. As described above, when the bit image data 31 and 32 are actually printed, the band setting position rYPOS shown in FIG.
It becomes S. The bit image data 33 is within the height range of the band related to the data selection processing, that is, the logical position rYP
It does not fall within the height range of the print head 11 in the OS. Therefore, this bit image data 33 is
The band is not to be expanded, and the presence / absence of expansion is again determined in the data selection process for a new other band. It should be noted that LF1 in FIG.
This is a paper feed executed after printing Nos. 1 and 32.

3. Data Expansion FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing how data is expanded.
Bit image data BD stored in input buffer 5
Is for each dot line, that is, one dot width and one height BD
H (48 bits) vertical dot line data BD1, B
.., BDn (only BD1 is shown).

The read vertical dot line data BD1 is developed in the work area 7 by the data developing section 24. Here, the vertical dot line data BD1
Is the vertical offset amount (HPP-rYPO
After being moved by S), it is developed in the work area 7. That is, the data is developed at the position where the bit image data BD is to be printed. In FIG. 6, only the vertical alignment is illustrated. However, when the printing position of the bit image data BD is shifted from the main scanning start position in the main scanning direction, this horizontal offset amount (printing (It can be detected by the left end position 44 of the bit image data of the management unit 26). The movement in the main scanning direction may be performed when the data is expanded to a predetermined band in the output buffer 8. In the work area 7, conversion of print density and the like are also executed.

4. Specific Processing Flow Next, a description will be given of bit image data expansion processing and the like based on the flowcharts shown in FIGS. 7 and 8.

First, FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a main part of a development target selection process for selecting bit image data to be printed in one band. This expansion target selection processing is continued until it is determined whether or not selection is possible for all the bit image data input to the input buffer 5 (S1).

More specifically, all print management units 26A created corresponding to the respective bit image data
A determination is made as to whether selection is possible for .about.26N. next,
Based on the logical set position rYPOS of the band managed by the band management unit 25 and the head height HEADHT, the band height range of the band is calculated. That is, the band height range is from rYPOS to rYPOS + HEADHT. Then, it is determined whether or not the upper and lower ends of the bit image data fall within the band height range (S2). Specifically, based on the data stored in the print management unit 26, the upper end HPP and the lower end HPP + BDH of the bit image data are calculated, and it is determined whether the bit image data is within the band height range.

The bit image data determined to be within the band height range is selected as a development target to be printed (S3). The presence or absence of this selection is determined by the print management unit 2
6 is stored by a predetermined flag of the line attribute information flag 46. That is, by setting a predetermined flag to “1”, it is stored that it is a selection target, and by resetting the flag to “0”, it is stored that it is a non-selection target.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing band expansion processing for a predetermined band in the output buffer 8. First, the selected bit image data is called, and the bit image data is moved by a specified moving amount to thereby set the work area 7.
Expand to Specifically, a position to be developed is calculated based on the image upper end position HPP and the image left end position LPP, and the bit image data is developed at the calculated position (S11). Next, the bit image data developed in the work area 7 is developed in a predetermined band in the output buffer (S12). Since the bit image data alignment processing has already been performed, the contents stored in the work area 7 are copied to the band in the output buffer 8 as they are, so that the development to the band is performed.

According to the present embodiment configured as described above, all the bit image data whose upper end and lower end are within the band height range are selected as expansion targets to be printed in the band, and the output buffer is selected. 8, the maximum bit image data can be printed in one main scan without deteriorating the print quality, and the printing speed can be improved. Further, since a useless blank area can be prevented from being formed in the work area 7 and the output buffer 8, memory resources can be used efficiently.

In particular, when a multi-print type print head 11 having a large number of nozzles and capable of simultaneously printing a plurality of rows is used, the printing path can be shortened and the memory resources can be used effectively. it can. Further, since printing of a plurality of lines can be performed without changing the standard data height BDH of the bit image data, it can be suitably used for a network printer used by various host computers. That is, when the standard data height BDH of the bit image data is changed according to the specification of the print head 11 of the multi-line printing type, only the host computer corresponding to the change can be used. However, in the present embodiment, the standard data height BD
Since it is possible to determine whether printing can be performed simultaneously in one band without changing H, the usability of the user is also improved.

It should be noted that those skilled in the art can make various additions and changes within the scope of the present invention described in the above embodiment.

For example, for one or both of the development target selection processing and the band development processing, all or a part of the processing is stored in the storage medium MM in FIG. 1, and the storage contents of the storage medium MM are stored. Is transferred to the printer controller 2 so that the processing according to the present invention can be executed. For example, as the storage medium MM, RO
In addition to various tangible storage media such as M, FD, CD-ROM, and IC card, it also includes a communication medium to be downloaded via a communication network.

[0069]

As described above, according to the bit image data printing apparatus and the bit image data printing method according to the present invention, all the bit image data falling within the band height range are expanded as expansion targets in the band. Therefore, the printing speed can be improved by reducing the number of printing operations, and the memory resources can be used efficiently.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram of a printer applied to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing a method of selecting bit image data to be expanded.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing a relationship between each band in an output buffer and a printing operation.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a configuration of a print management unit.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram illustrating another configuration of the print management unit.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing a process up to development into an output buffer.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a development target selection process.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing band expansion processing.

FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram showing the structure of a raster image and a bit image.

FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram showing a process of selecting a bit image data development target according to the related art.

FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram showing a process until the data is expanded in an output buffer.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Printer 2 Printer controller 3 Print engine 5 Input buffer 6 Analysis part 7 Work area 8 Output buffer 11 Print head 21 Band setting part 22 Data judgment part 23 Data selection part 24 Data development part 25 Band management part 26 Print management part rYPOS band setting Position Top end position of HPP bit image data HEADHT Print head height BDH Standard data height of bit image data

Claims (12)

[Claims] 1. A bit image data printing apparatus for printing a bit image data on a print recording medium by controlling the drive of a print head having a plurality of dot forming elements based on the bit image data developed in a band. Data receiving means for receiving input bit image data; data determining means for determining whether an upper end and a lower end of the received bit image data fall within the band height range; When it is determined that the bit image data falls within the band height range, data selection means for selecting the bit image data as a target to be expanded to the band, and data for expanding the selected bit image data to the band. A bit image data stamp, comprising: a developing means. Apparatus. 2. A print management unit for managing at least an upper end position and a lower end position of the input bit image data, and a band management unit for managing a set position of the band, wherein the data determination unit is configured to execute the print management. By comparing the upper end position and the lower end position of the bit image data stored in the band with the set position of the band stored in the band management unit, the upper end and the lower end of the bit image data are within the band height range. 2. The bit image data printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein it is determined whether the bit image data is within the range. 3. A print management unit for managing at least an upper end position (HPP) and a lower end position (LP) of the input bit image data, and a band setting position (rYPO).
S) for managing a height of the print head by H.
When EADHT, rYPOS ≦ HPP and LP
2. The bit image data printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein when ≦ rYPOS + HEADHT is satisfied, it is determined that an upper end and a lower end of the bit image data fall within the band height range. 3. 4. A print management unit for managing at least an upper end position (HPP) and a lower end position (LP) of the input bit image data and a designated movement amount from a reference position, and a set position (rYPOS) of the band. And a band management unit for managing the height of the print head by H.
When EADHT, rYPOS ≦ HPP and LP
When ≦ rYPOS + HEADHT is satisfied, it is determined that the upper end and the lower end of the bit image data fall within the band height range, and the data expanding unit moves the selected bit image data by the designated movement amount. 2. The bit image data printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the bit image data is developed on the band in a state where the bit image data is expanded. 5. A work area for performing a predetermined operation on the bit image data to be developed into the band, wherein the data developing means has moved the selected bit image data by the designated movement amount. 5. The bit image data printing apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the bit image data expanded in the work area is expanded in the band in the state, and the predetermined operation is performed in the state. 6. The bit image data printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the band has a height that is at least twice the standard data height of the bit image data. . 7. A bit image data printing method for printing a bit image data on a print recording medium by controlling the drive of a print head having a plurality of dot forming elements based on the bit image data developed in a band. Storing the input bit image data in an input buffer; a data determining step of determining whether an upper end and a lower end of the bit image data fall within the band height range; and A data selection step of selecting the bit image data as an expansion target in the band when it is determined that the bit image data falls within the band height range; and a data expansion for expanding the selected bit image data in the band. And a step. Jideta printing method. 8. The method according to claim 8, further comprising: managing at least an upper end position and a lower end position of the input bit image data; and managing a set position of the band, wherein the data determining step includes an upper end position of the bit image data. 8. The method according to claim 7, further comprising: determining whether an upper end and a lower end of the bit image data fall within the band height range by comparing a lower end position and a set position of the band. 9. Bit image data printing method. 9. A step of managing at least an upper end position (HPP) and a lower end position (LP) of the input bit image data, and setting a band setting position (rYPO).
And S) managing the data. In the data determining step, when rYPOS ≦ HPP and LP ≦ rYPOS + HEADHT are satisfied when the height of the print head is HEADHT,
The method according to claim 7, wherein it is determined that an upper end and a lower end of the bit image data fall within the band height range. 10. At least an upper end position (HPP) and a lower end position (LP) of the input bit image data.
And a step of managing the designated movement amount from the reference position, and a step of managing the set position (rYPOS) of the band. The data determination step is performed when the height of the print head is set to HEADHT and rYPOS is set. If ≦ HPP and LP ≦ rYPOS + HEADHT hold, it is determined that the upper and lower ends of the bit image data fall within the band height range, and the data expanding step moves the selected bit image data to the designated position. The method of printing bit image data according to claim 7, wherein the bit image data is developed in the band while being moved by an amount. 11. The data developing step includes performing a predetermined operation by developing the selected bit image data in a work area while moving the selected bit image data by the specified movement amount,
The bit image data printing method according to claim 10, wherein the bit image data developed in the work area is developed in the band. 12. A program storage medium for executing, on a computer, a processing step of controlling printing of bit image data by realizing a program which is read by a computer and executed by the computer, wherein the processing step includes: A data determining step of determining whether an upper end and a lower end of the input bit image data fall within a band height range based on a dot forming element of a print head; and the bit image data falls within the band height range. When it is determined that, the data selection step of selecting the bit image data as a development target to the band set in the output buffer, and a data development step of developing the selected bit image data in the band A professional characterized by including Lamb storage medium.