JPS61131119A - Page memory managing system - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To improve remarkably real print speed of a printer being image output object by utilizing a page memory effectively to apply parallel processing to a write to the page memory and image output. CONSTITUTION:When the processing all transferred data is finished, a microprocessor 12 writes a head address of an area 1 in a page memory 15 to an address latch 17 and outputs a print start command via a print interface 18. Then the printer executes the printing. When the next data comes during the print, a processor 12 designates a position in the memory 15 corresponding to an area 2 to transfer data to a page memory controller 14. The controller 14 writes data to the area 2. In case of print of the size A4, the data of next page is written during the print time to attain the print of the substantial highest print speed of the printer is attained.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Technical Field of the Invention] The present invention makes it possible to handle images of a plurality of page sizes that differ by at least twice the page size, and has a page memory corresponding to the maximum handleable wave size. The present invention relates to a page memory management method suitable for use in an image output device.

[Technical background of the invention and its problems]

In recent years, printers used as output terminals for information processing devices are often equipped with a page memory that stores one page of images in the printer controller in order to perform image processing. 〇The configuration of a conventional printer controller in this case is, as shown in Figure 3, an interface unit 1 that connects with the central processing unit, interprets and processes instructions from the central processing unit, and controls all operations of the controller. A microprocessor 2 that monitors the page memory 4, a page memory controller 3 that controls writing to the page memory 4, a page memory 4 that corresponds to the paper size to be printed, a ROM that stores FW (firmware) that controls the microprocessor 2, and R
AM 5, address counter 6 that specifies the address of page memory 4 when outputting print data to the printer
, Zorinta interface, etc. 7 that transfers the contents of Eats memory 4 to the printer and reads the printer status.
Consisting of

In the operation of this printer controller, the microprocessor 2 interprets commands, print data, etc. transferred from the central processing unit, and transfers the print data to the page memory controller 3.

The page memory controller 3 writes the print data to the memory 4. After the microprocessor 2 outputs all the print data to the page memory 4, it then outputs a print start command to the printer via the Zorinta interface 7. It was printing.

At this time, the K-touch memory 4 is usually equipped with a capacity corresponding to the maximum paper size that can be printed by the connected printer, and the size is usually equivalent to A3 size. However, in actual use, A4 size printing is common and A3 size printing is rare.

In the case of A4 size, the page memory 4 is normally used as shown in FIG. Further, when receiving a print start instruction, the 4-memory access address counter 6 sets the read address (to the first address of the 4-memory 4).

For this reason, when printing A4 size, 1 of the 4-tem memory capacity is
/2 is only used.

Also, during grifter printing, even if print data for the next page is transferred from the central processing unit, the microprocessor 2
cannot output print data to the 4-T memory controller 3. For this reason, each process cannot be performed in parallel, resulting in a slow printing speed.

[Purpose of the invention]

The present invention has been developed in view of the above-mentioned circumstances, and effectively utilizes the Eats memory to process writing to the Eats memory and image output in parallel, thereby significantly increasing the actual printing speed of, for example, a printer that is the target of image output. The purpose of the present invention is to provide a memory management method that can improve the performance of the memory.

[Summary of the invention]

For example, in the case of A4 size printing, the present invention makes it possible to access the page memory as a double page memory as shown in FIG. possible. As a result, the write operation to the page memory and the glint operation can be processed in parallel, and the actual printing speed of the printer can be greatly improved.

[Embodiments of the invention]

Hereinafter, one embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2.

The IEI diagram is a block diagram showing one embodiment of the present invention.

In the figure, reference numeral 11 is an interface circuit that receives commands and data from a connected central processing unit, etc., and passes them to the microprocessor 12, and also transfers information from the microprocessor 12 to the central processing unit, etc. be.

12 operates by ■ stored in ROM and RAM J3, interprets instructions transferred from the central processing unit,
It is a microprocessor that controls all processing, such as transferring print data and the like to the dateless controller 14, monitoring the operating status of the printer, and transferring the status to a central processing unit or the like as necessary. Reference numeral 13 denotes a ROM for storing the data of the micro 7'o setter 12 and a work RAM.

Reference numeral 14 denotes a page memory controller that executes writing and erasing into and from the page memory 15 based on print data and the like transferred from the microprocessor 12. Reference numeral 15 denotes an R-touch memory having a storage capacity corresponding to the paper size to be printed.

A page memory access address counter 16 designates an address to be read when outputting the contents of the 4-tem memory 15 to the printer. Reference numeral 17 denotes an address latch that holds data for specifying a count start address for the page memory access address counter 16. 1
A printer interface 8 outputs the contents of the page memory 15 to the printer according to instructions from the microprocessor 12, reads out the status of the printer, and transfers it to the microprocessor 12.

Here, the operation of one embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. ta1 and FIG. 2. First, when print data is transferred from the central processing unit, the interface circuit 11 passes the data to the microprocessor 12. The microprocessor 12 interprets and edits this data and sends it to the Eats memory controller 1.
Pass to 4. The page memory controller 14 calculates the address corresponding to the designated location in the page memory 15, and writes the designated data to that location. When the microprocessor 12 has finished processing all the data, it opens the address latch 1.
7, write the start address of the area marked ■ shown in FIG. 2 in the page memory, and print the printer interface 18.
Outputs a print start instruction to. The printer interface 18 checks the status of the printer, and if it is ready to print, the value written in the address rack 17 is sent to the Eats memory access address counter 16Fc.
Write, read data sequentially from this page memory address, and transfer it to the printer. The printer executes a printing operation based on this data.

If the next data comes from the central processing unit during this printing, the microprocessor f12 will store the data in the receive buffer if it is currently printing A3 size paper, but if it is 4 size paper, it will store it in the page memory. The data is transferred to the memory controller 14 by specifying the location corresponding to the area (■) shown in FIG. Write to the area. When the microprocessor 12 has finished processing all the data, it checks whether the previous printing has finished or not. If it has finished, the microprocessor 12 writes the address latch 17 in the Write the start address and issue a print start instruction to the printer interface 18.

Also, if the printer is still printing, wait until the printing is finished. If the next data is transferred from the central processing unit during printing of the second sheet, writing processing is performed on the ■ side of the eats memory 15. That is, in the case of A4 size printing, the page memory 15 is divided into two, and print data is written to the area that is not currently being printed.

As mentioned above, when printing A4 size with a controller that has a page memory with a capacity equivalent to that of an A3 size paper, it is possible to write data for the next page to the page memory during printing time, thereby reducing the amount of data from the central processing unit, etc. Since the data transfer time and the command interpretation time within the controller overlap with the printing time, it is possible to print at a speed close to the printer's original maximum printing speed.

Although the above has described the page memory in a printer controller, it can be applied to any device that has a page memory and performs data processing, such as an image processor.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As detailed above, according to the page memory management method of the present invention, the page size corresponds to the maximum page size that can be handled in an image output device that can handle images with multiple page sizes that are at least twice M or more. A page memory with a storage capacity of and an address latch for setting a transfer start address according to the expanded page size when the size of the image to be developed in the page memory is less than or equal to 1/2 of the maximum page size. By setting the latch and configuring the Eats memory to be used in units of the expanded page size, writing to the Eats memory and image output can be processed in parallel, thereby significantly reducing the image transfer speed. , it is possible to realize efficient image processing functions.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Fig. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention, Fig. 2 is a map for explaining the size of page memory used in the above embodiment, and Fig. 3 shows the configuration of a conventional printer controller. The block diagram, FIG. 4, is a memory map for explaining the usage area of Eats memory. 11... Interface circuit, 12... Microprocessor, 13... ROM and RAM, 14...
R-no controller, 15... page memory, 16.
...(-2 memory access address counter, 17...
・Address latch, 18...Printer ink face.

Claims (1)

[Claims] An image output device that can handle images with multiple page sizes that differ by at least twice the page size has a page memory with a storage capacity equivalent to the maximum page size that can be handled, and an image developed in this page memory. A page memory access address counter that can arbitrarily set a transfer start address when outputting, and an address latch that sets a transfer start address to this page memory access address counter, and a page of an image developed in the page memory. When the size is 1/2 or less of the maximum page size, a transfer start address according to the developed page size is selectively set in the address latch, and the page memory is used properly in units of the developed page size. Page memory management method.