JPS6349437A - Printing data control system - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To control printing data in any mode quickly under a simple structure by providing a system designed so that a prearranged volume of printing data is accessed from an image information memory at high speed, and then is transferred to a small-capacity memory and changing a scan direction from vertical to horizontal or vice versa. CONSTITUTION:A printing data control system is provided with an image information memory 6, a character pattern storage memory 80 which stores a character pattern in prearranged printing mode and a page printer readout control 70. The character pattern storage memory 80 stored with a single printing mode (e.g. vertically long printing mode) develops the character pattern to the image information memory 6 as printing data filling a single page. Out of the printing data filling a single page, each prearranged volume can be accessed from the image information memory 6 at high speed, and transferred to a small-capacity memory 73. Besides the scan direction in which this memory 73 is read can be changed from vertical to horizontal or vice versa. Under this simple constitution, printing data can be controlled quickly in any mode.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention [Summary] A print data control method for a printer device equipped with an image information memory that stores data for at least one page of paper, in which printing is performed by rotating the paper by 90'' with respect to the paper feeding direction. In order to solve the problem that when printing, it has at least two character patterns rotated by 90 degrees, which increases the cost, it is necessary to have one character pattern and print that character pattern for at least one page. Transfers a predetermined amount of print data from an image information memory that can be expanded as data to a memory that can be accessed faster than the image information memory and has a smaller capacity, and converts the reading scanning direction of this memory to portrait/horizontal. By configuring it to do so, it becomes possible to control print data in any mode more quickly with a simple configuration.

[Industrial application field]

The present invention relates to a print data control method for a printer device including an image information memory that stores data for at least one page of paper.

In general, paper on which characters and figures are printed may be used either vertically or vertically, or horizontally and vertically.

On the other hand, currently used printers W that print characters and figures on a page-by-page basis (hereinafter referred to as page printers) are equipped with a printing mechanism for a shorter paper width and feed paper in the longitudinal direction of the paper. It is configured to print using

As the scope of use of such page printers expands,
There is an increasing demand for quickly processing printing in the horizontal direction with a simple configuration.

[Conventional technology]

FIG. 4 is a block diagram explaining a conventional example, FIG. 5 is a block diagram explaining a conventional configuration example, FIG. 6 is a diagram explaining the character pattern storage situation, and FIG. 7 is a diagram explaining the printing direction of paper. Figures are shown respectively.

An example of the configuration of a conventional page printer is shown in FIG.

This consists of a microprocessor (hereinafter referred to as MPU) 1 that controls various processing operations within the page printer based on built-in microprograms, an interface unit 2 that interfaces with a host device (not shown), and an MPUI used in the page printer. A program storage memory 3 for storing programs, and character patterns for printing as shown in Fig. 6 (B) (1) and (
2) A vertical character Bakun storage memory 4 and a horizontal character pattern storage memory 5 that store vertical character patterns and horizontal character patterns, and at least a sheet of paper 1.
It has a capacity for a page, and the contents of the portrait character pattern storage memory 4 or the landscape character pattern storage memory 5 are stored in the MPU.
The image information memory section 6 develops it as print data under the control of the image information memory section 6, and the print data developed in the image information memory section 6 is read out, organized, and sent as a video signal to the printing mechanism section (not shown). It is configured to include a continuous output control section 7.

As shown in FIG. 4, the image information memory section 6 shown in FIG. If and when
A memory access arbitration circuit 62 arbitrates memory access when reading a character pattern developed into the image information memory 61;
Switching circuit 63 that switches the shared bus with PUI to the writing side
It is configured with the following.

The readout control unit 7 also includes an address counter 71a that sequentially generates readout addresses for the image information memory 61 and sends them to the memory access arbitration circuit 62, and an access control circuit 71 that controls access for reading out the image information memory 61.
c, and a register 71e that stores the data read from the image information memory 61 and sends out the video signal (2).

The scan synchronization signal ■ is a synchronization signal that indicates that scanning on a recording medium (not shown) has started based on the video signal ■, and the page synchronization signal ■ indicates the end of each page of paper. This is a synchronization signal.

As mentioned above, this page printer normally prints in the direction (portrait direction) shown in FIG. 7 (A) on paper (C) of the same size, as shown in FIG. Diagram (B)
It is also possible to print in the direction shown in (horizontal direction).

However, the paper (C) is fed in the vertical direction as shown in FIG. 6(A) and printed.

When printing in the horizontal direction in this state, it is necessary to develop the horizontal character pattern as shown in FIG. 6(B) (21) from the horizontal character pattern storage memory 5 to the image information memory 6 under the control of the MPUI. There is.

The image information memory 6 in which this horizontal character pattern has been developed is successively read out by access by the control section 7, and the data is printed in the horizontal direction as shown in FIG. 7(B).

[Problem that the invention seeks to solve]

Conventional page printers such as those mentioned above are capable of printing in portrait and landscape directions, but this requires a large amount of storage space. Landscape character pattern storage memory 4
, 5 had to be prepared.

[Means for solving problems]

FIG. 1 shows a detailed diagram of the invention.

The principle block diagram shown in FIG. 1 includes the image information memory section 6 explained in FIG. 5, a character pattern storage memory section 80 for storing character patterns in a predetermined print mode, and readout control of a page printer equipped with the following means. Part 70
It is configured with the following.

The principle block diagram of the readout control unit 70 according to the present invention includes mode setting means 71 and 72 for setting a landscape print mode and a portrait print mode designated by a host device (not shown); A memory 73 which is faster to access and has a smaller capacity than the image information memory section 6 explained in FIG. 5, and a mode setting means 71.7.
Memory access arbitration means (memory access arbitration means) that arbitrates between access when reading out the memory 73 by rotating it horizontally or vertically and access when writing data to the memory 73 depending on the print mode set to 2. 74; and a data output means 75 that organizes the print data read from the memory 73 and outputs it as a video signal.

C Effect] It has a character pattern storage memory 80 stored in one print mode (for example, portrait print mode), and develops the character pattern in the image information memory section 6 as print data for at least one page.

A predetermined amount of print data for one page is transferred to a memory 73 that can be accessed faster than the image information memory section 6 and has a smaller capacity, and the readout scanning direction of this memory 73 is converted to vertical/horizontal. With this configuration, print data in any mode can be controlled more quickly with a simple configuration.

〔Example〕

The gist of the present invention will be specifically explained below with reference to embodiments shown in FIGS. 2 and 3.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram for explaining the present invention in detail, and FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining the general configuration of a page printer in an embodiment of the present invention. Note that the same reference numerals refer to the same objects throughout the plan.

The mode setting means 71 of the read control unit 70 of this embodiment shown in FIG.
, an access control circuit 71c, a switching circuit 71d, and an address counter 71b that generates an address for writing into the memory 73.

Furthermore, the mode setting means 72 includes an address counter that generates an address for reading the contents of the memory 73. 2a, and an access control circuit 72b for controlling the memory access arbitration unit 74 for successive access to the memory 73, and for controlling read access to the memory 73 such as generation of an address for the address counter 72a at the time of successive access. There is.

Further, the data output means 75 includes a register 75a for storing a plurality of data read from the memory 73, and a register 75a.
It is provided with a selector 75b that selects one of the plurality of data stored in a and sends it to a printing mechanism (not shown).

For example, the capacity of the image information memory 6I shown in FIG.
If it is 0 kilobytes, the capacity of the memory 73 is several kilobytes to several tens of kilobytes.

It is also assumed that the memory access time in the access control circuit 72b is faster than that in the access control circuit 71c which accesses the image information memory 61.

The data corresponding to one page of paper developed in the image information memory 61 is transferred to the memory 73 corresponding to a predetermined capacity in the memory 73, and the data is written under the control of the access control circuit 71C.

Note that data development into the image information memory 61 and data development into the memory 73 are processed in the print mode (for example, portrait print mode) when the character pattern storage memory 80 stores the data.

Next, the memory 7 is controlled by the access control circuit 72b.
When reading data from No. 3, depending on the print mode specified by the host device (not shown), the address counter? 2
An initial value is set in a, and the access control circuit 72b controls the address counter 72 according to the designated print mode.
Controls address generation from a.

For example, when the landscape printing mode is specified, the generation of an address from the address counter 72a generates an address for accessing the vertical direction of the memo IJ73, and the data read by the access using that address is sequentially transferred to the register 72.
5a.

Through such processing, data printing in the landscape print mode as shown in FIG. 7(B) is processed.

During this time, the switching circuit 71d is switched to the read side of the memory 73, and the data transfer path from the image information memory 61 to the memory 73 is turned off. Therefore, data expansion from the character pattern storage memory 80 can be processed in parallel.

〔Effect of the invention〕

According to the present invention as described above, print data in any mode can be processed more quickly with a simple configuration.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram explaining the present invention in detail, FIG. 2 is a block diagram explaining the present invention in detail, FIG. 3 is a diagram explaining the general configuration of a page printer in an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating a conventional configuration example; FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating character pattern storage; FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating paper printing direction; are shown respectively. In the figure, 1 is the MPU, 2 is the interface section, and 3 is the MPU.
is a program storage memory, 4 is a vertical character pattern storage memory, 5 is a horizontal character pattern storage memory, 6 is an image information memory section, 7.70 is a readout control section, 61
71 is an image information memory; 62 is a memory access arbitration circuit; 63.71d is a switching circuit; 71.72 is a mode setting means; 71a, 71b, and 72a are address counters;
72b and 72b are access control circuits, 71e and 75a are registers, 73 is a memory, 74 is a memory access arbitration unit, 75 is a data output means, 75b is a selector, and 80 is a character pattern storage memory, respectively. Figure 1: A block diagram explaining the present invention in detail Figure 2: A block diagram explaining the conventional example Figure 4: Figure 5 (A) (B) Explaining the storage status of character patterns Figure 6 Diagram explaining the printing direction of paper Figure 7

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] An image information memory section (6) that expands a character pattern stored in a predetermined print mode and stores data for at least one page of paper, the image information memory section (6)
A printer device that reads out and prints out data for at least one page of paper stored in a printer, comprising: a character pattern storage memory (80) that stores character patterns in a predetermined print mode; and a landscape print mode specified by the host device. and a mode setting means (71, 72) for setting a portrait printing mode; a memory (73) which is faster to access than the image information memory section (6) and has a smaller capacity; and a mode setting means (71, 72) for setting the portrait printing mode. Memory access that arbitrates between access for reading out the memory (73) by rotating it horizontally or vertically and access for writing data to the memory (73) depending on the print mode being selected. A readout control unit (70) comprising an arbitration unit (74) and a data output unit (75) for organizing the print data read from the memory (73) and outputting it as a video signal, A predetermined amount of data is expanded from the memory (80) and stored in the image information memory section (6) which stores data for at least one page of paper. 73), and furthermore, an address at the time of data read operation from the memory (73) is controlled to rotate in the horizontal or vertical direction.