JPS62259130A - Information processor - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To simplify the hardware set at the printer side and to increase the information processing speed by converting the code information, i.e., the gathering of character codes into the image information, i.e., the gathering of character patterns. CONSTITUTION:The code information consisting of the gathering of character codes is produced on a memory 5 by a main CPU1 of the main body 100 of an information processor. Then the CPU1 starts a drawing control part 4. The part 4 uses a font 3 to convert each character code of the code information into a character pattern and writes the image information containing the gathering of character patterns to the memory 5. This image information is written to the memory 5. Then the image information is displayed on a display 15 and also transferred to a printer control part 6 by an indication received from a printer 200 to be transferred to the printer 200. Then the image information is evolved by a sub-CPU7 of the part 6 and transferred to a video I/O control part 10 of the printer 200. In such a constitution, the printer 200 is amplified.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] Industrial Application Field Is this invention applicable to high-speed printers such as laser printers or liquid crystal printers? The present invention relates to an information processing device used in a device that handles document information, such as a word processor or an electronic file system, which is connected to a device body f.

2. Description of the Related Art A typical conventional configuration of this type of information processing apparatus is shown in FIG. 2, which includes an apparatus main body 100 and a printer 200 capable of high-speed printing.

The device main body 100 includes a CPU that performs overall control and main information processing, a font 3 that stores character patterns, a drawing control unit 4 that converts character codes into character patterns using the font 3t, and code information and A memory 5 for temporarily storing image information and other information, and a printer control unit 6
, a display 1S using a CRT or the like, and a system path 2 that connects these as a whole.

The printer 200 includes a printer control section 6 of the device main body 100.
a Centro interface control unit 16 connected to the Centro interface 20, and a data input unit 17;
A code development unit 18 that converts character codes into character patterns using the font 21, and image information' consisting of a set of character patterns! It includes a page memory 19' for storing one page f'', a print control section 11, and a print mechanism section 12.

In the device main body 100, code information consisting of a set of character codes is generated on the memory 5 by the CPU (2
) is converted by the font 3 and the drawing control unit 4 into image information consisting of a set of character patterns, and is temporarily stored in the memory 5. This image information is supplied to the display 15 and displayed. Furthermore, the code information before being developed into image information is transferred to the printer 200 through the entire printer control unit 6@).

In the printer 200, the code information from the device main body 100 is sent to the data input unit 1 through the interface control unit 16.
After that, each character code of the code information is converted into a character pattern by the font 21 and the code development unit 18 (p), and image information consisting of a set of character patterns is written into the page memory 19 (E).

High-speed laser printers and the like are configured to print out one page at a time, and once the image information for one page is stored in the page memory 19, it is sent to the print control unit 11 for further printing. It is sent to the mechanism section 12 (0, and printed out.

゛Problems to be Solved by the Invention As mentioned above, in the conventional device, the device body 100 temporarily stores means for converting a character code into a character pattern and image information consisting of a set of character patterns for display. Further, the printer 200 side is provided with means for converting character codes into character patterns and means for temporarily storing image information consisting of a set of character patterns for printing output. The functions of these two devices are the same, and when the device is viewed as a whole, the functions and configurations overlap, which increases the cost accordingly. Furthermore, since the same process is applied twice, it is disadvantageous in terms of printing time. Also, as a practical problem, for display purposes)
The character patterns of the font 21 and the printing font 21 are different, and when the sentence IIF displayed on the display 15 is printed by the printer 200, there may be a slight difference in the character patterns between the two.

This invention was made in view of the above-mentioned conventional problems, and its purpose is to reduce the hardware on the printer side to reduce costs, and to speed up printing processing by eliminating redundant processing. The object of the present invention is to provide an information processing device that provides the following information.

Means for Solving the Problems According to the present invention, character codes are converted into character patterns in the main body of the apparatus, image information as a set is temporarily stored, and the image information is displayed and transmitted via printer control means. The image information is transferred to the printer, and the image information is directly printed out on the printer side. Further, the printer control means is provided with a dedicated processor, which controls data transfer to the printer.

Function: Since image information is supplied to the above printer and it is directly printed out, there is no need to provide a means for converting character code to character pattern and a means for temporarily storing image information (page memory) on the printer side. .

Since the transfer control of image information from the printer control means to the printer is performed by the dedicated processor, it does not affect other processes of the main body of the apparatus.

Example An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows the configuration of an apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

The device main body 100 includes a main CPU that performs overall control and main information processing, a font 3 that stores character patterns, a drawing control unit 4 that converts character codes into character patterns using the font 3, and a drawing control unit 4 that stores code information. A memory 5 for temporarily storing images, image information, etc., and a sub CPU (
It is provided with a printer control unit 6 including the dedicated processor (described above) 7t, a display 15, a system bus 2 that connects all of these, and an image bus 8 that serves as a transfer path for character patterns and image information.

The printer 200 includes a printer control section 6 of the device main body 100.
The printer includes a video interface control section 10 connected to a video interface 9, a print mechanism section 12 for printing, and a print control section 11 for controlling the print mechanism section 12.

In the apparatus main body 100, after code information consisting of a set of character codes is generated in the memory 5 by the main CPU 1, the drawing control unit 4 is activated from the main CPU (7). Then, the drawing control unit 4 uses the font 3 to convert each character code of the code information into a character pattern,
Image information consisting of a set of character patterns is written into the memory 5 (a).

The image information generated in the memory 5 is displayed on the display 1.
In addition to being supplied to printer 200 and displayed, if there is a print command, it is also transmitted to printer control unit 6), and from this control unit 6 to printer 200). - What should be noted here is that the process of transferring the image information in the memory 5 to the printer 200 is performed by the sub CPU 7 of the control unit 6. Therefore, the main CPUI is not involved in this data transfer and can execute other processes.

Since image information that has already been developed is sent to the printer 200, there is no need to perform any image development processing within the printer 200. The image information received by the interface control section 10 passes through the print control section 11 as it is (4), is sent to the print mechanism section 12 (ψ), and is directly printed out.

Effects of the Invention As explained in detail above, the information processing device according to the present invention includes a means for converting code information, which is a set of character codes, into image information, which is a set of character patterns, and temporarily storing the same. Since it is integrated and provided on the main body side and not on the printer side, the hardware on the printer side is greatly simplified and the cost is lower than in the past. Additionally, redundant processing during printing is eliminated, improving processing speed.

Furthermore, since the display and print fonts are the same, there will be no mismatch between the character pattern on the display and the print pattern.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a device according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a conventional device. 100...Device body, 200...Printer, 7...Sub CPU (dedicated processor)
.

Claims (1)

[Claims] means for generating and processing code information consisting of a set of character codes; means for converting the character code into a character pattern; means for temporarily storing image information consisting of a set of character patterns; and means for displaying the temporarily stored image information. and a printer control means for transferring the temporarily stored image information to the following printer under the control of a dedicated processor, and image information coupled to the printer control means of the apparatus main body and transferred from there. An information processing device equipped with a printer that directly prints out the information.