JPS6035073B2 - Image forming method - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to an image forming method for forming characters, numbers, symbols, etc. using a pixel matrix.

For example, in a printer that prints letters, numbers, symbols, etc. using a dot matrix, 5 x 7 matrices, 9
There are methods for forming patterns called x7 matrix and so-called pseudo 9x7 matrix.

Among these methods, methods for enlarging printed characters and the like using 5x7 and 9x7 matrices have already been established, but enlarging at an arbitrary magnification using a pseudo 9x7 matrix has been difficult for the following reasons. The pseudo 9×7 matrix is composed of nine columns and seven rows of pixels as shown in FIG. 1, but there is a condition that pixels adjacent to each other in the same row are not continuously formed.

For example, if a pixel in the first row and first column is printed, the adjacent pixel in the first row and second column is not printed. This is to avoid a decrease in printing speed, and there is almost no difference in print quality compared to the case where adjacent pixels are printed continuously. Due to the above constraints, it has been difficult to enlarge the pseudo 9x7 matrix at any magnification.

Therefore, the present invention provides an image form that allows an original pattern consisting of letters, numbers, symbols, etc. to be enlarged very easily at any magnification, provided that pixels adjacent to each other in the same row (or column) are not continuous. This provides a Z-forming method.

An embodiment of the present invention will be described below based on the drawings.

Figure 2 shows only one row of the original pattern based on the pseudo 9x7 matrix in Figure 1, 1, 3, 5,
Pixels a, c, e, g, i in odd numbered columns in 7th and 9th columns and pixels b, d, f, h in even numbered columns in 2nd, 4th, 6th and 8th columns between each pixel indicate pixels for printing. ing. First, we will discuss the case where the above line is enlarged twice.

As shown in Figure 3A, pixels a, c, e, g, and i are each set to 2
Each odd column pixel group is expanded to c', e', g', and j. Pixels b, d, f, and h are also enlarged into two even-column pixel groups b', f', and h', as shown in FIG. 3B.
The pixel groups b', d', f', and h' are respectively the pixel groups (a', c'), (c', e'), (e', g), and (g
', i'). In other words, pixel groups a', c', e', g', j' and pixel group b' are f'
, h' are overlapped as shown in FIG. 3C to form an enlarged pattern twice the size of the original pattern shown in FIG. Next 3
Let's discuss the case of doubling the size.

In this case, the pixels in the odd and even columns in the original pattern are divided into three groups of odd columns a'', c'', e'', 〆, i'' and even column pixels as shown in Figure 4A and B. Group b'',
d″, f″, h″, and each pixel group b″, d″, r,
h″ are pixel groups (a″, c″) and (c″, e″), respectively.
, (e″, g″), and (g′, j″) as shown in FIG. Pixels constituting the even-column pixel group are formed in the 4th and 7th rows to form an enlarged pattern three times as large as the original pattern.An enlarged pattern of four times or more is also formed in the same manner as described above.

In other words, when the magnification is i (i: 1, 2, 3...), the pixels in the odd and even columns in the original pattern are expanded into i odd column miscellaneous pixel groups and i even column pixel groups, respectively. Each even-column pixel group is arranged between two adjacent odd-column pixel groups. Next, the operation of forming the enlarged pattern using the dot printer will be explained based on the flowchart of FIG.

In addition to the dot print used in this example, the print head consisting of seven print pins arranged in the paper feed direction is set to be fed at a constant speed, and a print command is generated each time the print head faces each column. There is. First, the symbols used in the figure will be explained. CG is a character generator that constitutes the main memory circuit, A is an address counter, and L and L2 are each a second character generator.
A latch circuit that stores print data of pixels in odd-numbered columns and even-numbered columns in the figure is shown. M is a magnification latch that stores the magnification, and constitutes a storage circuit. C is a magnification counter constituting a counting circuit, and F is a state storage circuit. P
D indicates a pin data buffer, and P indicates an output latch. First, the operation of double printing will be explained.

In the initial state, it is assumed that the magnification counter C and the state storage circuit F are reset, and the counter A counts 1 and specifies the first column. Then, a start command arrives, and it is determined whether the contents of counter A are an even number or an odd number, and based on the output, the print data of the first column is transferred from the character generator CG, that is, the second
The print data of the main pixel a in the figure is successively output to the latch circuit L.
will be written to. Since the magnification is an even number and the contents of the state storage circuit F are 0, the contents of the latch circuits L, L, are read out. However, since nothing is written in the latch circuit L2 at this time, the latch circuit L. Only the contents of will be read. This content is written to the output latch P via the pin data buffer PD, and printing is performed. That is, the first pixel D of the pixel group a' in FIG. 3C is formed. When this printing is completed, the contents of the state storage circuit F are set to 1, and the contents of the magnification counter C are set to 1. Then, the contents of the magnification counter C and the magnification latch MO are compared, and since they do not match, the process returns to determining whether the magnification is an even number or not, and the same routine as above is executed, but at this time the status memory circuit Since F is 1, the output of the latch circuit L is cut off. Therefore, even if a print command occurs next at the intermediate position of pixel group a' in FIG. 3, no printing will be performed. In the following operations as well, at the intermediate position of each pixel, the content of the state storage circuit F is 1 and no printing is performed. Next, the contents of the state storage circuit F become 0, and the magnification counter C is further incremented by one, and its contents become 2. Therefore, the contents of the magnification latch M and the magnification counter C match, and the magnification counter C is reset, and the contents of the counter A are incremented by one to 2, and the second column is designated. Then, the process returns to the first routine, and the print data of pixel group b', that is, the print data of pixel b in FIG. 2, is read out from the character generator CG and written into the latch circuit L. Then, the sum of the outputs of the latch circuits L, , - is taken, and the output latch P
is written and printed. In other words, pixel D2 in FIG. 3C is formed by the print data of the second pixel of pixel group b' in FIG. 3A and the first pixel in pixel group b' in FIG. 3B. Then, the contents of the state storage circuit F become 1 and the contents of the magnification counter C become 1. Since the content of the state storage circuit F is 1, the outputs of the latch circuits L and L are blocked and no printing is performed. Next, when the contents of the state storage circuit F become 0, the magnification counter C counts 2, which matches the contents of the magnification latch M. Therefore, the magnification counter C is reset and the content of the counter A becomes 3, and the print data of the third column, that is, the print data of the pixel C in FIG. 2, is read out from the character generator CG and sent to the latch circuit L. written. Therefore, the print data of pixel b and pixel c are summed, thereby forming pixel D3 in FIG. 3C. Thereafter, in the same manner as described above, the print data of pixels in the same column in FIGS. 3A and 3B are summed to form pixels as shown in FIG. 3C.

Then, before printing the last pixel of pixel group i', the counter A counts 10, and the print data of the 10th column is specified to the character generator CG, but since this does not exist, the contents of the latch circuit L2 is cleared. Therefore, the print data of pixel i is generated from the latch circuit L, and it is determined whether the difference between the contents of the magnification latch M and the contents of the magnification counter C is 1 or not. Since the magnification counter C has now been reset and its content is 0, the last pixel in FIG. 3C is formed by the above print data from the latch circuit L. Then, the content of the magnification counter C becomes 1, the difference between the contents of the magnification latch M and the magnification counter C becomes 1, and printing ends. Next, when magnifying by 4 times,
The contents of the magnification latch M are set to 4 and a routine similar to that described above is executed, but in this case, the counter A is incremented every time the magnification counter C counts 4.

In other words, each time a print command is issued four times and two pixels are formed, the next print data is alternately latched in the latch circuits L and L, and printing is performed by the sum of both outputs, forming a pixel group a consisting of four pixels. A river, b-river... is formed as shown in Fig. 5, and is expanded four times. Regarding the enlargement by an even number, as described above, the odd number column pixel group and the even number column pixel group are formed at the same location and the enlargement is performed.

Next, a case in which enlargement is performed by an odd number of times will be explained.

In this case, since the content of the magnification latch M is an odd number, when the content of the state memory circuit F is 1, printing is performed by the output of the latch circuits, and when the content of the state memory circuit F is 0, the latch circuit L, Printing is performed by the output of . In other words, the pixel groups b'', d'', r, h of FIG.
'' is formed and enlarged three times as shown in FIG. 4C. To explain in more detail, first, the first pixel in FIG. is formed, the magnification counter C counts the magnification 3, the counter A is incremented, and the print data of pixel b is written into the latch circuit L2. At this time, since the content of the state storage circuit F is 1, the first pixel of the pixel group b'' is formed at the intermediate position between the second and third pixel group a''. Next, the third pixel of pixel group a'' is formed, and then pixel group b''
When the second pixel is formed, the magnification counter C counts the magnification 3 again and the counter A is incremented. Therefore, the print data for pixel C is then written into the rutter circuit L, forming the first pixel. Thereafter, pixels are sequentially formed in the same manner as above, and when the second pixel of pixel group i'' is formed, counter A counts 10.

Therefore, similarly to the case of even number expansion, when the difference between the contents of the magnification latch M and the contents of the magnification counter C becomes 1,
That is, printing ends when the third pixel of pixel group i'' is formed.

Expansion of odd numbers by a factor of five or more is also carried out in the same manner as above.

Also, when forming a pattern, the magnification latch M should be
By setting , pixels in odd-numbered columns and even-numbered columns are alternately formed. Note that the expansion of the printing pins in the direction in which they are arranged is already known and will therefore be omitted.

FIG. 7 shows the character x and the number 7 enlarged as described above.

By the way, in the above embodiment, the case where letters, numbers, symbols, etc. are printed by a printer has been described, but the present invention is not limited to this, and may be used for displaying by a CRT (cathode ray tube display).

As described in detail above, according to the present invention, the odd-number column pixel group and the even-number column pixel group are formed by the number of pixels according to the magnification, and the even-number column pixel group is formed at the intermediate position of each odd-number pixel group. Therefore, the original pattern consisting of a so-called pseudo 9x7 matrix can be enlarged at any magnification, and letters, numbers, symbols, etc. formed by the enlarged pattern can be easily readable.

In addition, the intermediate position of one pixel group is detected by comparing the magnification set in the memory circuit with the number of formed pixels, and each pixel group is sequentially formed by reading out the formation data of the next pixel group to be formed. Then, when changing the magnification, it is only necessary to change the numerical value set in the memory circuit, and there is no need to change the circuit configuration, etc., and it is possible to change the magnification to any desired magnification very easily.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Figure 1 is an explanatory diagram showing a pseudo 9x7 dot matrix,
Fig. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing only one line of the original pattern, Fig. 3 is an explanatory diagram of this method when enlarging the original pattern of Fig. 2 by 2 times, and Fig. 4 is an explanatory diagram of this method when enlarging the original pattern by 3 times. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing a part of a pixel group enlarged by 4 times, FIG. 6 is a flowchart for explaining the enlargement method, and FIG. 7 is an illustration of the character "X" and It is an explanatory diagram showing the number "7". a'C'e'g, i...Odd column pixels, b, d, f, h...
・Even number column pixels, a', c', e', g', i'...odd number column pixel group, b', d', f', h'...even number column pixel group, a'', c ″, e″, g″, r...odd column pixel group, b″
, is, r, H... even-numbered column pixel group, a , c 'e 'g
'i river...odd row pixel group, b river, d river, f river, h river...
...Even number column pixel group, CG...main memory circuit, M...magnification storage circuit, C...counting circuit. Figure 1 Figure 2 Figure 3 Figure 4 Figure 5 Figure T Figure 6

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1 Consisting of pixels in m rows and n columns (m=1, 2..., n=1, 2...), and pixels that are adjacent to each other in the same row (or column) are continuous. The original pattern consisting of letters, numbers, symbols, etc. is multiplied by i (i=2,3
), each pixel is expanded into a group of i pixels arranged in the row (or column) direction with twice the spacing between each pixel, and Each odd column (or row) pixel group, which is an enlarged pixel in an odd column (or row), is arranged in parallel in the same row (or column), and an even column (or row) pixel, which is an enlarged pixel in an even column (or row). An image forming method in which a group is formed at an intermediate position between the pixel groups in each of the odd columns (or rows). 2 In claim 1, when enlarged by an even number, the pixels constituting the odd column (or row) pixel group and the even column (
(or row) An image forming method in which pixels forming a pixel group are formed at the same location. 3. An image forming method according to claim 1, in which pixels constituting an even column (or row) pixel group are formed at an intermediate position between each pixel constituting an odd column (or row) pixel group during odd-number magnification. 4 In claim 1, even numbered columns (or rows)
A method of forming a pixel group at the middle position of each odd column (or row) pixel group is to use a memory circuit that stores the output and magnification of a counting circuit whose contents are incremented as pixels constituting one pixel group are formed. The center position of the pixel group is detected by cooperation with the output of An image forming method in which each pixel is formed based on the formation data.