JPH11254777A - Character information processing device - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] [PROBLEMS] To increase the variety of number printing and to obtain an output that does not give a sense of incongruity even for a multi-digit number such as a month, a day, or an address. The present invention relates to a character information processing apparatus that prints out or displays an input character string. (1) M
(M is an integer of 2 or more) M-digit full-width numeric input input means for inputting an M-digit full-width numeric input consisting of a set of M consecutive numbers to be output in the same size as one other character And (2)
When the character string to be printed or displayed includes M-digit full-width numbers, the M numbers constituting the M-digit full-width numbers are printed out or printed in the size of one other character. Output means for displaying and outputting.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a character information processing apparatus, and can be applied to, for example, a tape printing apparatus and a seal making apparatus.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a conventional tape printing apparatus, keys for character input and the like are arranged on an operation panel, and these character input keys are operated to operate a desired character string. And the concept including). Further, the tape printing apparatus is formed so as to be able to send out a tape from a tape discharge port by driving a tape feeding mechanism.
A printing mechanism and a tape cutting mechanism, each of which is a thermal head, are sequentially arranged.

When the print key is operated, the control means of the tape printing apparatus controls the tape feeding mechanism to feed the tape at a predetermined speed, and controls the printing mechanism to input the tape in advance to the fed tape. Print the character string. Further, the control means of the tape printing apparatus continuously controls the tape feed mechanism even when the printing of the character string is completed, so that the tape is fed out until the printed tape portion comes out of the apparatus (blank feeding), Thereafter, the running of the tape is stopped.

[0004] For example, after the user stops the tape running,
By operating the tape cutting mechanism, a user original label formed by printing a desired character string can be obtained.

[0005] By the way, the printed matter of the tape printing apparatus is a label, and the user often demands that the characters of various character sizes be mixed and printed more than the printed matter by the other character information processing apparatus. In the printing apparatus, various character sizes are prepared, and the character size can be easily changed partially. Such various character sizes include not only a character size having the same number of dots vertically and horizontally but also a character size reduced in the horizontal direction. As described above, since there are many types of full-size characters and switching between them is easy, half-width characters are not prepared in the conventional tape printer, and the user can print characters of about half-size characters. When asking for it, the user is required to use a smaller full-size character size.

[0006]

A label which is a printed matter of a tape printer is often used for application to a spine of a file or a cassette tape for AV equipment. In such an application, a label is used. Dates often exist in character strings printed in. In addition, files and cassette tapes are often placed vertically, and therefore, labels that are printed vertically are often attached.

[0007] When the date such as "October 23" is present in the character string, when printing vertically, as shown in FIG. 10, "1", "0", "month", "2" , "3",
As a result, a label is obtained in which the characters of the "day" are individually printed side by side in the vertical direction (stacked printing), resulting in a character string that is quite uncomfortable to read. As described above, even if the numeric character in the date is smaller than the character size of the other characters, or if the reduced character size is selected, "1", "0", "month", "2""," 3 ",
It is still the case that each character of "day" is printed independently side by side in the vertical direction, and the character string becomes quite uncomfortable to read.

[0008] Not only in the case of vertical writing but also in the case of horizontal writing, the user may feel uncomfortable when a plurality of numbers are arranged. For example, "12" in the character string of the address
In the case of "3rd address" or the like, when printed, it may appear that the numeral portion is elongated.

By the way, a seal making apparatus for making a seal having irregularities corresponding to an input character string has already been proposed.
The input function and the character size selection function of the seal making device are almost the same as those of the tape printing device. There is an address stamp as a use of the seal created by the seal creation device, and the address string on the seal such as "123 address" is prolonged, and the above-mentioned user may feel uncomfortable with the address string number. Also occurs in the stamp making device.

In order to solve this problem, the applicant of the present application has already proposed a character information processing apparatus in which the variety of output modes of the number part is enhanced (WO 96/168).
No. 12). In the method described in this publication, when a half-width numeral output in the size of another character is input with two numbers, it is necessary to perform an independent symbol selection operation for each half-width number, The operation and processing were complicated.

According to the present invention, a variety of output modes of a numeral portion can be enhanced, and a print label or a seal which does not give a sense of incongruity to a plurality of digits such as a month, a day, and an address can be obtained. It is an object of the present invention to provide a character information processing apparatus having higher quality and the like.

[0012]

According to the present invention, there is provided a character information processing apparatus for printing out or displaying an input character string, wherein (1) M (M is an integer of 2 or more) M-digit full-width numeric input capture means for capturing the input of M-digit full-width numbers consisting of a series of M numbers, which is output in the same size as one other character, and (2) printing or displaying When a character string to be processed includes an M-digit full-width number, the M numbers constituting the M-digit full-width number are printed out or displayed in the size of one other character. Output means.

[0013]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment in which a character information processing apparatus according to the present invention is applied to a tape printing apparatus will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings.

(A) Overall Electrical Configuration of Embodiment First, the overall electrical configuration of the tape printing apparatus of this embodiment will be described with reference to the functional block diagram of FIG.

Referring to FIG. 2, this tape printer also has an input unit 10,
The control unit 20 includes a control unit 20 and an output unit 30. The control unit 20 executes a process according to information from the input unit 10, a processing stage at that time, and the like. Or, it is made to print out.

The input unit 10 includes a key input unit 11 having a press key, a dial key, and the like, although not described in detail, and a tape width detection sensor 12. The key input unit 11 controls the control unit 20 according to a key operation by the user.
And various control codes. The tape width detection sensor 12 detects the width of the loaded tape and supplies tape width information to the control unit 20. In practice, the tape is housed in a tape cartridge, and the tape cartridge is provided with a physical identification element such as a hole for defining the tape width, and the tape width detection sensor 12 reads this physical identification element. To output tape width information.

The output unit 30 has a printing configuration and a display configuration. For example, the tape / ribbon feed motor 31 which is a stepping motor feeds a loaded tape or ink ribbon (not shown) to a predetermined printing position or outside the apparatus. The thermal head 32 is fixed and prints on a running tape by thermal transfer. For example, a maximum of 96 dots can be simultaneously printed. The tape / ribbon feed motor 31 and the thermal head 32 are driven by a motor drive circuit 33 and a head drive circuit 34 under the control of the control unit 20, respectively. Cutting of the printed tape is performed by, for example, an external force from a user or a cutter (not shown) driven by a motor (not shown).

In the case of the tape printing apparatus according to this embodiment, a liquid crystal display 35 is provided as a display unit, and the liquid crystal display 35 is driven by a display driving circuit 36 under the control of the control unit 20, and receives an input character string. And various types of attribute information are directly displayed, and an indicator indicating on / off of an attribute corresponding to a character string indicating an attribute described around the display 35 of the apparatus main body is turned on, blinking, and turned off.

The control unit 20 is constituted by, for example, a microcomputer, and includes a CPU 21, a ROM 22,
RAM 23, character generator ROM (CG-R
OM) 24, an input interface 25, and an output interface 26 are connected via a system bus 27.

The ROM 22 stores various processing programs and fixed data such as dictionary data for kana-kanji conversion. The RAM 23 is used as a working memory, and stores fixed data relating to user input. The RAM 23 is backed up even when the power is turned off.

The processing programs and fixed data stored in the ROM 22, the data stored in the RAM 23, and the like will be described later in detail. Note that the ROM 22
Contains a processing program 2 for capturing input symbols described later.
2a and a development program 22b for printing are stored. When these programs 22a and 22b are executed, a work area for the program is appropriately formed in the RAM 23. For example, the print buffer 23a and the display buffer 23b
Is formed.

The CG-ROM 24 stores font information of characters prepared in the tape printer, and outputs corresponding font information when code data for specifying the characters is given. It is. Here, the font information stored in the CG-ROM 24 may be an outline font or a bitmap font. Also, different font information may be stored for display and print.

In the case of this embodiment, the CG-ROM 24 stores font information 24a for two-digit full-width numbers (see FIG. 5) described later and font information 2 for three-digit full-width numbers described later.
4b (see FIG. 6) is also stored.

The input interface 25 performs an interface between the input unit 10 and the control unit 20.
The output interface 26 includes an output unit 30 and a control unit 20.
Interface between the two.

The CPU 21 uses a processing program in the ROM 22 determined according to an input signal from the input unit 10 and a processing stage at that time, while using the RAM 23 as a working area.
The processing is performed by appropriately using the fixed data stored in the storage unit 3, and the processing status, the processing result, and the like are displayed on the liquid crystal display 35 or printed on a tape (not shown).

(B) Processing for inputting two-digit full-width numbers or three-digit full-width numbers In this embodiment, two digits are printed with the same size (full-width character size) as two other digits. Full-width numbers (to be distinguished from the two-digit full-width numbers)
It is characterized by introducing the concept of a three-digit full-width number that is printed in the same size as another character with three numbers (this is called to distinguish it from three digits of a full-width number). is there. In this embodiment, two-byte full-width numbers are:
Since these two digits are always processed as a group of input characters, this is different from the concept of half-width numbers. In addition, a three-digit full-width number is different from the concept of a 1/3 reduced number, because these three digits are always processed as a group of input characters.

First, a process of inputting 2-digit full-width numbers or 3-digit full-width numbers will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

In the case of this embodiment, a two-digit full-width number or three
The full-width digits can be input as one type of symbol, and when a key for instructing symbol input (for example, a key for exclusive use of symbol input) is operated, the CPU 21 reads the ROM.
The processing program 22a for input symbol capture shown in FIG.

In this embodiment, any of "00" to "99" can be input as a two-digit full-width number, and any of "000" to "999" can be input as a three-digit full-width number. It is.

First, the CPU 21 proceeds to step 10
In FIG. 1, an initial candidate for the symbol type is
5 is displayed. For example, the type of symbol is VTR
Various kinds of symbols such as symbols for cassettes, unit symbols, symbols for description, creature symbols, vehicle symbols, and mathematical symbols are prepared. In this embodiment, as described above, two-digit full-width numbers and three-digit full-width numbers are used. Are also prepared as one symbol type. As the initial candidates, the most frequently used symbol type or the symbol type selected immediately before by the learning function is displayed. In the case of a device that displays a plurality of symbol types at a time, for example, the cursor is positioned at the current candidate and blinked.

Thereafter, the CPU 21 determines in step 102 whether a select key or a change key (for example, a cursor movement key corresponds) has been operated, and when the change key has been operated, in step 103, the symbol type is changed. The current candidate (the type of symbol blinking) is changed, and the process returns to step 102 described above.

FIG. 3A is a flow chart showing steps 101 and 103.
FIG. The term "symbol" indicating the symbol input mode and the term specifying the symbol type, in this case, "two-digit number" are displayed. The term specifying the symbol type is basically displayed blinking to indicate that it is a candidate. The display of the initial candidates may be lit.

When the selection key is operated in a situation where a certain symbol type is currently a candidate, the process proceeds from step 102 to step 104, where the CPU 21 determines the selected symbol type.

When a symbol type which is neither a two-digit full-width numeral nor a three-digit full-width numeral is selected, the CPU 21
The process proceeds to the processing routine shown in step 105 to perform a symbol selection process within the symbol type.

When a two-digit full-width number is selected as the symbol type, the CPU 21 first takes in the tens of digits of the two-digit number (step 106). FIG. 3B shows an example of the capture display surface in this case. In this display example, the term "two-digit number" indicating that the symbol type is a two-digit full-width number is displayed, and "10" indicating that the current candidate is in the tens. Is blinking. Furthermore, “00” or 2 representing the 0s meaning that it can be a candidate when the candidate is changed from the current candidate “10”
“20” representing the 0th series is also displayed. In this capture, in response to the operation of a candidate change key (e.g., a cursor movement key), the two-digit number indicating the tens of digits of the display position of the current candidate is changed, and 10 and A number that is smaller by 20 and a number that is larger by 10 behind the candidate are also displayed, and when the select key is operated, a number that indicates the number of tens of digits of the two-digit number currently blinking at the display position of the candidate Take in as. In the case of FIG. 3B, since there is no 0 or a positive number smaller than the current candidate by 20, the display is not performed.

After fetching the tens of digits of the two-digit number, the CPU 21 then fetches which two-digit number (step 107). FIG. 3C shows an example of the capture display surface in this case. This display example is “10s” indicating that the number selected as the tens is the tens.
Is displayed, and "12" indicating that the current candidate is 12 is blinking. Further, “10”, “11”, and “1” mean that the candidate can be changed when the candidate is changed from the current candidate “12”.
3 "is also displayed. In this capture, the two-digit number of the display position of the current candidate is changed according to the operation of the candidate change key (for example, a cursor movement key corresponds thereto), and a number smaller by 1 and 2 than the candidate in front of the display position.
A number larger than the candidate by one is also displayed at the rear, and when the selection key is operated, the two-digit number blinking and displayed at the display position of the candidate is taken in as a designated number.

If it is determined in step 104 that the selected symbol type has been selected as a symbol type, a three-digit full-width numeral is selected, the CPU 21 first fetches hundreds of three-digit numbers (step 108). Next, hundreds or tens are read (step 109), and then a three-digit number is read (step 110). The method of capturing three-digit numbers is the same as the method of capturing two-digit numbers described above, and a detailed description of the processing will be omitted. Note that FIG.
FIG. 3D shows an example of the capture display surface at step 108, FIG. 3E shows an example of the capture display surface at step 109, and FIG. An example of the capture display surface at 110 is shown.

As described above, the full-size character size of 1
When the capture of the two-digit full-width numbers or three-digit full-width numbers to be printed for the characters is completed, the CPU 21 sets the area corresponding to the position of the cursor when the symbol key is operated in the buffer area of the input character string in the RAM 23. To store the captured 2-digit full-width number or 3-digit full-width number code (may be a plurality of code strings), and also operate the display buffer area to display the characters at the stage when the symbol key is operated. Return to the screen and display the dot pattern that defines the selected 2-digit full-width number or 3-digit full-width number at the character input position indicated by the cursor when the symbol key is operated, and complete the series of processing. I do.

Although the description has been omitted above, when the user presses the cancel key during the symbol selection process,
The symbol selection operation can be canceled halfway.

By the way, as a method of designating a two-digit full-width number or a three-digit full-width number, a key for designating a two-digit full-width number input mode and / or a three-digit full-width number input mode is provided, and the mode key is pressed twice. It is also effective to take in a number entered in between as a two-digit full-width number or a three-digit full-width number (which itself constitutes another embodiment). Also, when the two-digit full-width numeric designation key or the three-digit full-width numeric designation key is operated twice, the cursor is positioned at the first operation when the first operation is performed. The method of taking in the numbers up to the number as a 2-digit full-width number or a 3-digit full-width number (which itself constitutes another embodiment) is also effective.

However, in this embodiment, as described above, selection is made from symbols. Hereinafter, the reason will be described.

In the above-mentioned other input method of two-digit full-width numbers or three-digit full-width numbers, a new input processing routine which does not exist in the conventional tape printing apparatus must be provided. Providing a new input processing routine for a two-digit or three-digit full-width number that will not increase is not efficient in terms of effective use of the memory capacity of the ROM 22. On the other hand, in the method of selecting from symbols, there is no need to provide a new input processing program,
This can be handled by changing a part of the symbol selection processing program. In addition, even if a symbol is selected, it is not necessary to prepare many symbols (this will be described later), and the configuration of the apparatus (such as the CG-ROM 24) is hardly complicated. Furthermore, as described above, by introducing a hierarchical concept for designation such as hundreds or tens, it is possible to easily and quickly select from symbols.

(C) Printing process of 2-digit full-width numbers and 3-digit full-width numbers Next, expansion processing of each character during printing (naturally, expansion processing of 2-digit full-width numbers and 3-digit full-width numbers) is included. This will be described with reference to FIG.

In this embodiment, the CG-ROM
As shown in FIG. 5, the font information 24 includes font information having a double-byte size for the second digit and font information having a double-byte size for the first digit. I have. The font information for the second digit is
As shown in the example of the number “3” in FIG. 5 (A), “0” to “0” having the second digit in the left half of the full-width character size (shown in FIG. 5 is an example of 24 × 24 dots) 1 about "9"
Zero items are prepared. As shown in FIG. 5B, the font information for the first digit includes “0” to “0” having a digit for the first digit in the right half of the full-width character size.
Ten items for "9" are prepared.

In this embodiment, the CG-ROM
As shown in FIG. 6, the font information 24 includes font information having a full-width size for the third digit, font information having a full-width size for the second digit, and Font information having a full-width size for eyes is stored. The font information for the third digit is shown in FIG.
As shown in the example of the number “1” in (A), the full-size character size (shown in the example of 24 × 24 dots) is equally divided into three in the left-right direction (they need not be completely divided into three). "0" to 3rd digit in the left area
Ten items for "9" are prepared. As shown in the example of the number “2” in FIG. 6B, the font information for the second digit includes the number for the second digit in the central area when the full-width character size is equally divided into three in the horizontal direction. Have "0"
There are prepared 10 items for "~". 1
As shown in the example of the number “3” in FIG. 6C, the font information for the first digit includes the first digit in the right area when the full-width character size is equally divided into three in the horizontal direction. Ten items of “0” to “9” are prepared.

In character expansion at the time of printing, such font information 24a and 24b
Removed from OM24.

Character expansion at the time of printing is performed by repeatedly executing expansion of a character string for each character. FIG.
Is a flowchart showing the character expansion processing repeatedly executed in this manner. In the case of vertical writing, a method of rotating a font (dot pattern) from the CG-ROM 24 at the time of development and a method of responding by developing a CG-RO
There is a method of storing the font (dot pattern) from M24 as it is and rotating and reading it when driving the thermal head 32. The following description will be made on the assumption that the latter is the latter. In other words, the description will be made on the assumption that the expansion processing itself is the same for both horizontal writing and vertical writing.

When the processing shown in FIG. 4 is started, the CPU 21 first determines whether or not the current character to be expanded is a three-digit full-width numeral (step 201). If not, the CPU 21 further determines whether or not the current character to be expanded is a two-digit full-width numeral (step 202). If it is neither a three-digit full-width number nor a two-digit full-width number, the same expansion processing is performed on the character to be expanded this time as before, and RA
The font information (dot pattern) for the current character to be expanded is stored in a font expansion area determined by the print pointer, character size, and the like in the print buffer 23a prepared in M23 (step 203).

On the other hand, if the character to be expanded this time is a two-digit full-width number, the CPU 21 stores the second digit of the two-digit full-width number in the font expansion area defined by the print pointer, character size, and the like. Is read out from the CG-ROM 24 and stored (step 204). After that, CP
U21 reads the first digit font information that matches the first digit of the current two-digit full-width number from the CG-ROM 24 and overwrites it in the same font development area (step 205). This completes the expansion of the two-digit full-width number.

For example, if the character to be expanded this time is a two-digit full-width numeral "32", then in step 204
The second digit font information shown in FIG. 5A for the numeral “3” related to the two-digit full-width numeral is read from the CG-ROM 24 and stored in the font development area as shown in FIG. 7A. Then, in step 205, the first digit font information shown in FIG. 5B for the numeral "2" related to the two-digit full-width numeral is read from the CG-ROM 24 and overwritten in the font development area. ,as a result,
The contents stored in the font development area are as shown in FIG.

The font information for the second digit is CG-R
Process of reading from OM 24 and storing (step 204)
May be performed based on the upper left end of the storage destination, and the process of reading the font information for the first digit from the CG-ROM 24 and storing (step 205) may be performed based on the upper right end of the storage destination. In this case, the process of storing the font information for the second digit and the process of storing the font information for the first digit can be performed almost in parallel.

Thereafter, the CPU 21 stores, in the same font development area, font information for the first digit that matches the first digit of the current two-digit full-width numeral in the CG-ROM 2.
4 and overwritten (step 205). This completes the expansion of the two-digit full-width number.

If the character to be expanded this time is a three-digit full-width numeral, the CPU 21 places the character in the font development area defined by the print pointer, character size, and the like in the third digit of the current three-digit full-width numeral. The matching third digit font information is read from the CG-ROM 24 and stored (step 206). Thereafter, the CPU 21 stores, in the same font development area, font information for the second digit that matches the second digit of the current three-digit full-width number in the CG-ROM 2.
4 and overwritten (step 207). Further, the CPU 21 reads the first digit font information that matches the first digit of the current three-digit full-width number from the CG-ROM 24 and overwrites it in the same font development area (step 208). This completes the expansion of the three-digit full-width number.

For example, the character to be expanded this time is "123".
In step 206, the figure “1” related to the three-digit full-width number
The font information for the third digit shown in FIG.
4 and stored in the font development area as shown in FIG. After that, in step 207, FIG.
The font information for the second digit shown in FIG.
4 and overwritten on the font development area. As a result, the contents stored in the font development area are as shown in FIG.
(D) is obtained. Further, in step 208, FIG.
The font information for the first digit shown in FIG.
4 and overwritten on the font development area. As a result, the contents stored in the font development area are as shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG.

As described above, when the development of the font development area of the print buffer 23a defined by the print pointer and the character size is completed, the CPU 21
The print pointer is incremented by one, and a series of expansion processing for the current expansion target character is completed (step 20).
9).

The character size required at the time of development is
The size of the font information read from the CG-ROM 24 varies depending on the character size, as determined by the attribute of the character string to be printed.

In the case where the font information expanded by such expansion processing is printed, if the print target character string includes two-digit full-width numerals, FIG. 8A or 8B
As shown in (1), a label in which two numbers are printed in the size of one character of other characters (full-width character size) is obtained.
FIG. 8A shows the case of horizontal writing, and FIG. 8B shows the case of vertical writing. In addition, when the font information expanded by the expansion processing described above is printed, if the print target character string includes three-digit full-width numbers, FIG.
As shown in (C) or (D), a label in which three numbers are printed in the size of one character of other characters (full-width character size) is obtained. FIG. 8C shows the case of horizontal writing, and FIG. 8D shows the case of vertical writing.

In the above description, the expansion processing which is different from the conventional processing by introducing two-digit full-width numbers and three-digit full-width numbers has been described. However, by introducing two-digit full-width numbers and three-digit full-width numbers, As processing at the time of printing, which is different from the conventional processing, a flowchart is omitted, but there are other processing depending on the number of characters, such as a tape length determining processing and a character size determining processing. A two-digit full-width number or a three-digit full-width number includes two or three numbers. The whole number may be regarded as one character to determine the number of characters and determine the tape length, character size, and the like.

The processing for accessing the CG-ROM 24 to extract font information and develop a character string is as follows.
It is executed not only in the printing process but also in the display process. In the case of this embodiment, the development of the two-digit full-width number and the three-digit full-width number in the font development area of the display buffer 23b formed on the RAM 23 is also performed on the RAM 23 for the two-digit full-width number and the three-digit full-width number. In the font development area of the print buffer 23a formed in the same manner as described above.
That is, if the expansion target character is a two-digit full-width numeral, FIG.
The same processing as in steps 204 and 205 of FIG. 4 is executed. If the character to be expanded is a three-digit full-width numeral, step 2 in FIG.
The same processing as in steps 06 to 208 is executed. As a result, in the case of the present embodiment, two or three digits are displayed in the size of one character of other characters (full-width character size) for two-digit full-width numbers and three-digit full-width numbers.

The process of displaying two-digit full-width numbers and three-digit full-width numbers is performed not only when a character string input / edit screen is displayed, but also when the above-described two-digit full-width numbers or three-digit full-width numbers are read as symbols. Screen (see FIG. 3) is displayed, and in any case, the above-described font development method is applied.

Next, as shown in FIG. 7B and FIG.
In this embodiment, in order to obtain expanded font information for a digit full-width number or a 3-digit full-width number, the CG-ROM 2
4 explains the reason why font information for each digit of a full-width character size as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 is prepared and developed.

As a method for obtaining expanded font information for two-digit full-width numbers or three-digit full-width numbers as shown in FIGS. 7B and 7E, in addition to this embodiment, the following three types are available. Methods are also applicable (each of which constitutes another embodiment of the present invention).

The first method is to prepare the font information itself for two-digit full-width numbers and three-digit full-width numbers as shown in FIGS. 7B and 7E in the CG-ROM 24, and In this method, the font information on the two-digit and three-digit numbers to be expanded this time is read from the CG-ROM 24 and stored in the print buffer 23a or the display buffer 23b. This method has an advantage that reading from the CG-ROM 24 only needs to be performed once.

However, the dedicated font information prepared for the two-digit full-width number and the three-digit full-width number prepared in the CG-ROM 24 includes 100 pieces of "00" to "99" and "00".
There is a drawback that a total of 1100 pieces are required, including 1000 pieces related to "0" to "999", and the capacity of the CG-ROM 24 which is increased for the output function of 2-digit full-width numbers or 3-digit full-width numbers is enormous. .

On the other hand, in this embodiment, the dedicated font information for two-digit full-width numbers and three-digit full-width numbers is a total of “0” to “9” for each digit of two-digit full-width numbers and three-digit full-width numbers. The number of the CG-ROMs 24 is 50, and the capacity of the CG-ROM 24 which is increased for the output function of 2-digit full-width numbers or 3-digit full-width numbers is very small.
Although the processing time for development is slightly longer than that of the first method, it is equivalent to one or two times of reading from the CG-ROM 24, and there is no problem.

The second method is to prepare CG-ROM 24 without special font information for two-digit full-width numbers or three-digit full-width numbers, and to develop CG- The font information of full-width numbers prepared in the ROM 24 is reduced in the left-right direction, and the reduced characters are combined, and the font information of two-digit full-width numbers or three-digit full-width numbers of full-width character size is printed in the print buffer 23a.
Or in the display buffer 23b. This method has an advantage that it can respond to the development of 2-digit full-width numbers or 3-digit full-width numbers without increasing the capacity of the CG-ROM 24.

However, this method has a drawback in that a process of reducing full-width numbers and a process of synthesizing them are required, and the processing time for developing 2-digit full-width numbers and 3-digit full-width numbers becomes large. For example, in the case of print processing, the expansion of a two-digit full-width number or a three-digit full-width number is performed only once, so the degree of this defect is small. However, at the time of inputting a character or designating a candidate two-digit or three-digit full-width number, it is necessary to scroll the characters displayed on the liquid crystal display 35 in accordance with the input of the character one after another or the operation of the candidate change key. However, the drawback of increasing the expansion processing time causes slow scrolling and the like, and the drawback becomes large.

On the other hand, the development processing time in this embodiment is:
It is much shorter than that of this second method and does not suffer from such disadvantages.

Therefore, in the development of 2-digit full-width numbers and 3-digit full-width numbers at the time of printing, even if the second method is adopted, each digit is displayed as shown in FIGS. 9A and 9B. Each number is displayed as a full-width character (prepared in the CG-ROM 24) partially including a symbol (H or 1/3) S1 indicating that it is related to a 2-digit full-width number or a 3-digit full-width number. (This also constitutes another embodiment of the present invention). However, in the tape printing apparatus, the number of characters displayed on the liquid crystal display 35 is small. In this case, the number of characters that are effectively displayed is reduced. Is treated as one character, the meaning of the display is weakened, and is not an effective display method.

The second method is centered on software processing of reduction processing and synthesis of reduced characters. However, when various processing such as whiteout and italics is further performed, arithmetic processing by software processing is performed. Is added, and a dot exceeding the size of one character may be instructed by calculation, which may lower print quality and display quality. On the other hand, in the method according to the above-described embodiment centering on the transfer of full-size font information, the method does not protrude from the frame even if it overlaps with various processes such as whiteout and italic.

In the third method, font information of half-width numbers and 1/3 reduced numbers is prepared (the difference from FIGS. 5 and 6 is that the number of dots in the horizontal direction is different;
There is no blank portion dot in FIGS. 5 and 6), and this is a method of reading and developing. In this method, the number of font information prepared in the CG-ROM 24 is smaller than in the method of the embodiment.

However, the double-byte character size reading method cannot be applied to these reading methods, and there are three types of reading methods, which also slows down processing at the time of development and leads to an increase in programs. Inferior to form method.

In the case of 2-digit full-width numbers as an example, the same half-width numbers are applied to the 10s and 1s.
"1" in the 10's range is slightly more right than the center of the left half of the full-width character size, so there is no sense of incompatibility.
If the number "1" in the first digit is slightly to the left of the center of the right half of the double-byte character size, it is more comfortable to feel it, and unlike the method of the embodiment, such a thing cannot be achieved. That is, it is better to change the font of half-width numbers between the case of applying to the tenth and the case of applying to the first. In this case, new font information is required by the same number as in the embodiment.

For the reasons described above, in the case of this embodiment, the above-described expansion method is applied instead of the first to third methods.

When the third method is applied, it is needless to say that the same half-width numeral may be applied without distinguishing between the tenth and first half-width numerals. Also,
Similarly, in the case of the embodiment, the left half dot pattern in the font information for the tenth series as shown in FIG. 5A and the right half of the dot pattern in the font information for the first series as shown in FIG. If the half dot pattern is related to the same number, it may be the same.
The same applies to the font information of the embodiment for three-digit full-width numerals.

When the third method is applied to the development of two-digit full-width numbers, the font information for the tenth is stored based on the upper left corner of the storage area at the time of development, and
The font information for the series may be stored based on the upper right end of the storage area at the time of development.

(D) Effects of the Embodiment According to the above embodiment, the concept of a two-digit full-width number or a three-digit full-width number, which is a group of two-digit numbers and three-digit numbers handled in full-width size, is introduced. It is possible to realize a tape printer capable of increasing the variety of output modes of the portions and obtaining a print label or display that does not give a sense of incongruity even with a plurality of digits such as a date and an address.

Here, since a two-digit full-width number or a three-digit full-width number is input by a symbol input adopting a hierarchical selection method in which the number is determined from the one with the larger digit, the operability is good. It is.

As the font information for developing 2-digit full-width numbers or 3-digit full-width numbers, a font having full-width character sizes as shown in FIGS.
Since expansion is performed by reading from the CG-ROM 24 three to three times, the output quality is good, the expansion processing time is short, and the required capacity of the CG-ROM 24 is hardly increased. it can.

(E) Other Embodiments In the above, other embodiments of the present invention have been described.
Further, the following other embodiments can be cited.

In the above-described embodiment, the one capable of supporting two-digit full-width numbers and the three-digit full-width numbers has been described. However, it is also possible to support four-digit or more full-width numbers.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, the two-digit full-width number and the three-digit full-width number indicate that all digits are numbers. However, as a part of digits, “′” and “-” (hyphen ), "/", "" (Blank), and other characters that may be mixed in the numeric string. By doing so, for example, the abbreviated notation “98” (1998)
It is possible to provide a three-digit full-width number that can correspond to (e.g., the year) and the like, a two-digit full-width number, and a three-digit full-width number that can correspond to an address number notation using a hyphen. The term "M-digit full-width number" in the claims is a term including this case, and the term "number" in the claims is a term including characters that may be mixed in a number sequence. .

Further, in the above embodiment, the present invention is applied to a tape printing apparatus. However, the present invention can be applied to other apparatuses, for example, a stamp making apparatus without a half-width character or 1 / M reduction function. It is. Further, the present invention can be applied to a character information processing apparatus such as a general word processor having a half-width character and a 1 / M reduction function.

[0084]

As described above, according to the present invention, (1)
M-digit full-width numeric input capture means for taking in M-digit full-width numeric input consisting of a set of M consecutive M-numbers where M (M is an integer of 2 or more) is output in the same size as other characters And (2)
When a character string to be printed includes an M-digit full-width number, the M numbers constituting the M-digit full-width number are printed out or displayed in the size of one other character. Output means for increasing the variety of the output mode of the number portion, a print output or a display output without a sense of incongruity can be obtained even for a plurality of digits such as month, day, and address, and operability for that, It is possible to realize a character information processing apparatus with further improved output quality and the like.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a flowchart showing a process for inputting a two-digit full-width number and a three-digit full-width number according to an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an overall configuration of the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of a process of inputting two-digit full-width numbers and three-digit full-width numbers according to the embodiment;

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a printing process for printing two-digit full-width numbers and three-digit full-width numbers according to the embodiment.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing two-byte full-width numeral expansion font information according to the embodiment;

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing expansion font information of three-digit full-width numbers according to the embodiment;

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram of a two-digit full-width numeral and a three-digit full-width numeral during printing according to the embodiment;

FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an example of a print result according to the embodiment.

FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram showing font information for developing two-digit full-width numbers and three-digit full-width numbers during display according to another embodiment.

FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram of a conventional problem.

[Explanation of symbols]

10 input unit, 11 key input unit, 20 control unit, 21
.. CPU, 22 ROM, 22a processing program for capturing symbols, 22b processing program for developing at printing, 2
3 RAM, 23a print buffer, 23b display buffer, 24 CG-ROM, 24a font information for 2-digit full-width numbers, 24b font information for 2-digit full-width numbers, 3
0 ... output unit, 31 ... tape / ribbon feed motor, 32 ...
Thermal head, 35 ... Liquid crystal display.

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor Takayoshi Ogawa 2-10-18 Higashikanda, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo Inside King Gym Co., Ltd. (72) Miwa Kanda Inventor 2- 10-18 Higashikanda, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo Inside King Jim Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Tsutomu Yamada 3-5-3 Yamato, Suwa-shi, Nagano Seiko Epson Corporation (72) Inventor Go Go Hosokawa 3-5-2-5, Yamato, Suwa-shi, Nagano Seiko-Epson Corporation Inside

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A character information processing apparatus for printing out or displaying an input character string, wherein M (M is an integer of 2 or more) continuous M characters are output in the same size as another character. An M-digit full-width numeral input inputting means for inputting an M-digit full-width number consisting of a set of numbers, and if the character string to be printed or displayed includes an M-digit full-width numeral, the M A character information processing apparatus, comprising: output means for printing out or displaying M numbers constituting a full-width numeral in the size of one character of another character. 2. The character information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said M-digit full-width numeric character input capture means captures the M-digit full-width numeric character by a symbol input and capture method according to a menu selection method. . 3. The method according to claim 2, wherein said M digit full-width numeral input / acquisition means takes in the digits of each digit constituting the M digit full-width number by hierarchical selection from the upper digit. Character information processing device. 4. The output means includes: a font pattern for N (N is 1 to M) digits of an M-digit full-width number; A font information storage unit that stores font information of one character size of other characters including a blank dot pattern in other areas, and according to each number constituting an M-digit full-width number to be output Then, from the font information storage section, the corresponding font information for each of the M digits is sequentially output, and the font information for each of the M digits is overwritten and synthesized, and the font of the M-digit full-width numeric characters related to the output is output. The character information processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising an M-digit full-width numeral developing unit for forming information. 5. A dot pattern representing a number X for an i-th area divided into M in font information for i (i is 1 to M) digits stored in the font information storage unit; (j is different from 1 to M; i) The dot pattern representing the number X for the j-th area divided into M in the font information for the digit represents the same number X but different. The character information processing apparatus according to claim 4, wherein