JPS6349824A - Printer control system - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To perform continuous printing with a picture information memory equivalent to the share of a single page by dividing such a memory into plural areas and outputted evolving the data corresponding to an area where its data is already outputted concurrently with the output of data. CONSTITUTION:A picture information memory 11 having capacity to store data equivalent to a single page is divided into plural areas. An access is shared to an area of a character pattern store memory 4 corresponding to the code data supplied from a host device and this data is developed to the memory 11. In such a case, an MPU1 decides a specific area of the memory 11 where the code data belongs and the code data is stored in a code data store memory 10. Then the information on said decision, the head address of the code data and the size of this address are stored in a table memory 12. Then the CPU1 evolves the corresponding code data to an area having already its output within the memory 11, if detected, from the memory 12. Thus it is possible to perform continuous printing with the memory 11 equivalent to the share of a single page, therefore the cost can be reduced.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Summary] This is a control method for a printer that prints data on a page-by-page basis. In order to solve the problem of the need for image information memory to store image information, which was a cost increase factor, we divided the image information memory for one page into multiple areas and managed data expansion to the image information memory in units of areas. However, by configuring the printer to develop data corresponding to an area for which data has been outputted simultaneously with data output, continuous printing becomes possible using one page's worth of image information memory.

[Industrial application field]

The present invention relates to a control method for a printer that prints data on one page of paper.

In general, printers that print characters and figures on a page-by-page basis (hereinafter referred to as page printers)
It is equipped with a memory having a capacity of more than one page of paper.

There is a strong demand for realizing continuous printing using such a page printer with a simple configuration.

[Conventional technology]

FIG. 6 is a block diagram for explaining the conventional example, FIG. 7 is a diagram for explaining the configuration of the read system '<I'd section in the conventional example, and FIG. 8 is a diagram for explaining the data development order in the conventional example. show.

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 programs, an ink face section 2 that interfaces with a host device (not shown), and a program used in MPIJI. A program storage memory 3 for storing code data, a character pattern storage memory 4 for storing character patterns corresponding to code data transferred from a host device (not shown), and a character pattern storage memory 4 having a capacity for at least two pages of paper, An image information memory 5 that expands and stores the contents of the pattern storage memory 4 under the control of the MPLII; and reads out and sings the data expanded in the image information memory 5;
It is configured to include a readout control section 6 that sends out a video signal (2) to the printing mechanism section 7, and a printing mechanism section 7 that executes data printing processing.

Further, the read control section 6 shown in FIG. 6 has functional blocks shown in FIG. 7.

That is, it arbitrates whether the access to the image information memory 5 is an access for data development (access using the address sent to the address bus (a)) or an access for data reading (access from the access control circuit 63). a memory access arbitration circuit 61; an address counter 62 that sequentially generates read addresses for the image information memory 5 and sends them to the memory access arbitration circuit 6i; and an access control circuit 63 that controls access for reading the image information memory 5. , When expanding the character pattern to the image information memory 5, ? I
Switching circuits 65 and 66 that switch the shared bus with the PU 1 to the writing side or the reading side, a register 67 that stores data read from the image information memory 5, and organizes the data as a video signal and sends it to the printing mechanism section 7. The shift register 68 is configured to include a shift register 68.

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.

In the page printer configured as described above, when data is developed from the character pattern storage memory 4 to the image information memory 5, the data is developed in the order shown in FIG.

That is, when a print command and code data are received from a host device (not shown) via the interface section 2, the MPU
I reads the character pattern corresponding to the code data,
Expand to the image information memory 5.

At this time, there is an address for accessing the image information memory 5 on the address bus fa) for the readout control unit 6, and this address is converted by the address decoder 64, and the data development side of the image information memory 5 is transferred to the address bus (a), The data bus (bl) is arbitrated by the memory access arbitration circuit 61.

Next, according to the address from the address bus (al), the memory access arbitration circuit 61 specifies the development location on the image information memory 5, and transfers the data from the character pattern storage memory 4 to the data bus (al).
b) The data transferred via the switching circuit 65 is developed and stored in the memory area 5a or 5b of the image information memory 5.

The image information memory 5 has a capacity equivalent to two pages of paper, and when the data development to the memory area 5a or 5b having the capacity for one page is completed, the image information memory 5 is transferred to the other memory area 5b.
Or expand the data to 5a.

Next, when reading data from the image information memory 5,
Depending on the contents of the address bus (al) and the data bus (bl), the output of the address decoder 64 is sent to the memory access arbitration circuit 61 via the switching circuit 66, and the memory access arbitration circuit 61 is converted to the access side from the access control circuit 63. Ru.

At the same time, a predetermined value is sent to the address counter 62 from a portion not shown, and the address information of the image information memory 5 is sent out by access from the access control circuit 63.
7 (having a capacity of one page) and stored.

At this time, the switching circuit 65 is in an off state, so that even if data is developed from the character pattern storage memory 4 via the data bus (b), it is not stored in the image information memory 5.

Furthermore, when accessing the image information memory 5, time share processing is performed in which data is expanded to the image information memory 5 in half of the access cycle and read from the image information memory 5 in the remaining half of the access cycle. do.

Therefore, data reading from the memory area 5a and data expansion to the memory area 5b are processed substantially simultaneously, and printing processing in the printing mechanism section 7 is performed continuously.

The video signal (2) is outputted from a shift register 68 (which processes data for one page) after shifting the data stored in the register 67 in a predetermined direction under the control of the access control circuit 63.

Further, the scan synchronization signal (2) is sent out when the scanning by the video signal (2) performed by the printing mechanism section 7 reaches a predetermined position, and the page synchronization signal (2) is sent out at the end of data printing processing for one page.

The access control circuit 63 controls the address counter 62 based on these scan synchronization signals (■) and page synchronization signals (■).
is advanced, and a read address for the image information memory 5 is generated.

[Problem that the invention seeks to solve]

When performing continuous printing with the conventional page printer as described above, there is a problem in that the image information memory 5 requires a memory capacity equivalent to at least two pages, which increases costs.

[Means for solving problems]

FIG. 1 shows a block diagram illustrating the invention in detail.

The principle Zorock diagram shown in Fig. 1 is based on the MP explained in Fig. 6.
UI, interface section 2. Program storage memory 3
A single character pattern storage memory 4 and a code data storage means (code data storage memory) that stores code data that specifies the contents of the character pattern storage memory 4 transferred from a host device (not shown) that issues a data print command. )1
0 and an image information storage means (image information memory) 1 having a capacity to store output data corresponding to one page of printing paper.
1, the image information storage means (image information memory) 11 is divided into a plurality of areas, and the start address of each area, the size of each area, and code data are stored on the image information storage means (image information memory) 11.
A table memory 12 that stores a table for managing data indicating which area it belongs to, etc., and a table memory 12 that stores a table for managing data indicating which area it belongs to; The apparatus is comprised of a report output control means (readout control section) 13 that reads out the data and sends it to the printing mechanism section 7 that performs printing processing.

[Effect]

An image information storage means (image information memory) 11 having a capacity to store data equivalent to one page is divided into a plurality of areas, and a character pattern storage memory 4 corresponding to code data from a host device (not shown) is provided. Share access to the area and store the data in the image information storage means (image information memory) 11
Expand to.

At this time, to which area of the image information storage means (image information memory) 11 does the code data belong? '1Ptll is determined and stored in the code data storage means (code data storage memory) 10, and the determination information, the start address of the code data, and its size are stored in the table memory 12.

After that, the hpui uses the image information storage means (image information memory) 1
Check the output method area in 1, and if there is an output method area, from table memo January 2, by expanding the corresponding code data to that area as a bit image, one page of image information storage means ( Continuous printing is possible using the image information memory (image information memory) 11, and costs can be reduced accordingly.

〔Example〕

The gist of the present invention will be specifically explained below with reference to embodiments shown in FIGS. 2 to 5.

FIG. 2 is a detailed diagram explaining the present invention, FIG. 3 is a diagram explaining the state of data expansion to the image information memory in the embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 4 is a diagram explaining the image information memory in the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a procedure for developing data into a page, and FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a procedure for receiving a page in an embodiment of the present invention. Note that the same reference numerals indicate the same objects throughout the figures.

The readout control unit 13 of this embodiment shown in FIG. 2 divides the functional blocks 61 to 66 described in FIG. A register 131 having an area equal to or larger than the capacity of each division (in the case of four divisions a to d), and data corresponding to one area output from the same register 131 are shifted in a predetermined direction and organized into a video signal ■. and a shift register 132 for transmitting the data.

The image information memory 11, which has a capacity of one page, is logically divided in advance according to a predetermined method, and when code data transferred from a host device (not shown) is stored in the code data storage memory 10. , MPUI refers to the table memory 12 and selects the divided area a of the image information memory 11.
-Determine and store the attribute of d.

At this time, the table memory 12 stores the start address of the code data (the address when accessing the character pattern storage memory 4) and its size.

The situation is shown in Figure 3. For example, the code data of data "ABC" is determined to belong to area a, the code data of "frame 1" to areas a-d, and the code data of data "XYZ" to area d, and code data storage memo 1 is determined. Store in month 0.

Next, the expansion to the image information memo i month 1 is processed according to the procedure shown in FIG. fffJ When the memory access arbitration circuit 61 switches to the expansion side of the image information memo January 1, the location specified in the code data storage memory 10 of the character pattern storage memory 4 is accessed, and the expansion of that data is started. .

At this point, the MPUI determines whether area a of image information memo January 1 is free or not through a circuit not shown, and if it is empty, it sequentially searches table memo January 2 for data in corresponding area a. For example, it is expanded and it is determined whether or not the data in area a ends.

When the data in area a is completed, the next area is expanded to area A, area C, and one page is sequentially expanded.

At this time, as mentioned above, the access cycle of the image information memory 11 is time-shared, and at the same time data is expanded to the image information memory 11, data is read from the image information memory 11.
Processing operations to empty the areas a to d are performed simultaneously.

Next, page reception processing is performed according to the procedure shown in FIG. That is, at the beginning of the process, the table memory 12 is initialized, code data is received from a host device (not shown), and it is determined by MPLII whether or not the page has ended.

If a predetermined area a - d is being processed at that time, the area a
-d is increased and the code data is stored in the code data storage memory 10.

If the corresponding area a - d is not being processed at this time, the pointer (not shown) specifying the address of the code data storage memory 10 is set to the corresponding area a - d, and
The size of the page areas a to d is increased and the code data is stored in the code data storage memory 10.

This processing operation is repeated, and when the MPIll determines that the page has ended, the page reception processing ends.

By performing such data processing in units of areas a%d, continuous printing is possible even with the image information memory 11 for one page.

〔Effect of the invention〕

According to the present invention as described above, one page's worth of images can be printed continuously using the memory capacity, and costs can be reduced accordingly.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram explaining the present invention in detail, FIG. 2 is a block diagram explaining the present invention in detail, and FIG. 3 is a diagram explaining the state of data development in the image information memory in an embodiment of the present invention. , FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating the procedure for expanding data to the image information memory in the embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating the page reception processing procedure in the embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating the conventional example. FIG. 7 is a block diagram illustrating the configuration of a read control section in the conventional example, and FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating the data expansion order in the conventional example. In the figure, ■ is an MPU, 2 is an interface section, 3 is a program storage memory, 4 is a character pattern storage memory, 5.11 is an image information memory, 5a and 5b are memory areas,
6.13 is a read control unit, 7 is a print mechanism unit, 10 is a code data storage memory, 12 is a table memory, 61 is a memory access arbitration circuit, 62 is an address counter, 63 is an access control circuit, and 6 is an address decoder. , 65.66 is a switching circuit, 67
, 131 are registers, and 68.132 are shift registers, respectively. Figure 1 is a detailed block diagram of the present invention; Figure 2 is a detailed diagram of the present invention; Fig. 4 is a diagram illustrating the procedure for developing data into the image information memory in the embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 5 is a diagram illustrating the page reception processing procedure in the embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 5 is a block diagram illustrating the conventional example; Figure 7: Diagram explaining the data expansion order in the conventional example Block diagram explaining the configuration of the successive output control section in the conventional example

Claims (1)

[Claims] A printer device that prints data on a page-by-page basis, comprising: a program storage memory (3) that stores a program for a processor (1) that controls print processing operations based on a predetermined program; A character pattern storage memory (4) that stores character patterns in print mode, and code data that stores code data that specifies the contents of the character pattern storage memory (4) that is transferred from a host device that issues data print commands, etc. storage means (10); image information storage means (11) having a capacity to store output data corresponding to at least one page of printing paper; and dividing the image information storage means (11) into a plurality of areas; a table memory (12) that stores a table that manages the start address of each area, the size of each area, and data indicating which area on the image information storage means (11) the code data belongs to; The image information storage means (11
), a printing mechanism unit (
7); when the code data transferred from the host device is expanded into the code data storage means (10), the image information to which the code data belongs is provided. The area on the storage means (11) is determined by the processor (1) and expanded into the code data storage means (10), and the start address and size of the code data are stored in the table memory (12). , the image information storage means (1
1) A printer control method characterized in that data development is carried out based on the code data for each region based on the management of the table memory (12).