JPS6361709B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to a form overlay pattern in an information processing device and a pattern expansion device for data into an image memory.

[Prior art]

The pattern development device for the image memory in the information processing device reads out a form overlay pattern registered in advance, develops (allocates) it in the image memory (memory to which addresses are added two-dimensionally), and then expands (assigns) it to the image memory (memory to which addresses are added two-dimensionally). numerical value,
This is done by reading out characters (such as characters) and overwriting them on the previously developed form overlay pattern.

In FIG. 1, a form overlay and data developed in an image memory and a data stream corresponding thereto from a central processing unit (CPU) are shown side by side. FIG. 1 illustrates a completed pattern. In the figure, the text for the item and product name and the solid line frame are the expanded form overlays.
Numbers and alphanumeric characters are data. FIG. 12 illustrates the development of a form overlay. As shown on the left, the signal (data stream) sent from the CPU consists of a part 31 that displays the byte length, an ID number (identity number) part 32 that instructs form overlay, and a vector data part 33. The vector data portion 33 stores coordinate data such as X10, Y10-X50, and Y10. The data stream described above is expanded as shown on the right. FIG. 13 shows the development of data (characters, numerical values). As shown on the left side of the figure, the data stream regarding data has a byte length display section 34, a data display section 35, a section 36 for specifying the base address of the data, and a data stream in place of the base address specification section 36. Table storage part 3
There are two ways of having 7. Data from these data streams is expanded into the image memory to fill in the blanks within the solid line box shown on the right side.

FIG. 2 shows the form overlay and data development described above from another perspective. FOV is an abbreviation for form overlay. As mentioned above, first select the FOV from the CPU's FOV registration area.
receives the data and develops it in the image memory 41.
Obtain FOV pattern 42. Data is then received from the data storage area and overwritten on the FOV pattern 42. The overwritten FOV pattern 42 and data are sent to the output buffer, and the image memory is completely cleared.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart summarizing the conventional steps of form overlay and data expansion described above. In other words, "FOV registration", "data registration", "FOV reading", "FOV expansion", "data reading", "overwriting data to FOV expanded memory", "sending to output buffer", "sending line ``clear'' and ``print end'' steps are performed. In this case, when printing is completed, the entire image memory is erased in a process called ``clearing sending lines'' and the process returns to the process of ``reading FOV'' to perform the next development.
Generally, printing by form overlay is performed on a plurality of sheets, and it is thought that only the data is changed and developed each time.

[Problem that the invention seeks to solve]

As mentioned above, the process of erasing the form overlay pattern from the image memory each time it is printed is a problem in reducing development time as the form overlay must be developed each time data is updated. It is becoming.

The purpose of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problems in the conventional device, and to develop data based on the idea that a form overlay pattern once developed remains developed in the image memory until the next instruction for a different form overlay is received. To avoid erasing a form overlay pattern, which has been done every time a form overlay is developed, thereby shortening the pattern development time of form overlay and data to an image memory.

[Means for solving problems]

In the present invention, a form overlay data storage section stores a plurality of types of form overlay data, a character pattern storage section stores a plurality of types of character patterns, and a predetermined type of form overlay data from the form overlay data storage section. a first developing section that reads and develops the character pattern into a form overlay pattern and stores it in the image memory; a second developing section that reads out the character pattern from the character pattern storage section and develops it in a specific storage position of the image memory; , a control unit that receives form overlay data selection information and character pattern selection information from a host device, and instructs the first and second expansion units to develop the pattern in the image memory according to the selection information; The control unit includes a determination unit that determines whether or not the form overlay data selection information from the host device matches the form overlay data selection information at the time of previous deployment, and a determination unit that determines whether the form overlay data selection information from the host device matches the form overlay data selection information at the time of previous deployment. a processing section that causes the second development section to execute only the character pattern development operation without erasing the image memory when it is determined; is provided.

〔Example〕

FIG. 4 shows a block circuit diagram of an apparatus for developing a pattern in an image memory as an embodiment of the present invention.
A flowchart for performing this expansion is shown in FIG. In FIG. 4, data signals from the CPU are applied to a serial interface control attachment (Sifc ATT) 11 via a standard serial interface (not shown),
is serial interface (Sifc) control circuit 1
2. Read buffer 13, work buffer 14,
It is connected to a graphic page buffer 15, an image buffer 16, an FOV buffer 17, and a character page buffer 18. The read buffer 13 responds to the CPU side with a signal indicating the status of the device. Work buffer 14 analyzes data from the CPU and converts it to graphic page buffer 1.
5. Image buffer 16, FOV buffer 17,
Or allocate it to either the character page buffer 18. The data assigned to any one of the buffers 15 to 18 is transferred to the common control circuit 19 via one of the respective control circuits, that is, the graphics control circuit 20, the image control circuit 21, the overlay control circuit 22, and the character control circuit 22. Under control from.

Data controlled by any one of the control circuits 20 to 23 is stored in the image memory 24. The data stored in the image memory 24 is
Print control attachment (PRC ATT) 2 controlled by print (PRC) control circuit 25
6 and is printed by a printing mechanism (PM) 27.

The development procedure in this embodiment will be explained with reference to FIG. First, FOV data is registered in the FOV registration area. Next, data to be overwritten on the FOV pattern (for example, graphic character data) is registered in the data storage area (for example, the graphic page buffer 15). Next, the registered FOV data is read out and developed into the image memory 24. Next, data (for example, graphic character data) is read out and overwritten in the FOV expanded memory. FOV expanded to image memory 24
The pattern and overwritten graphic character data are sent to an output buffer and printed. Even after printing is completed, if there is no new order (FOV change), the image memory 24 is not cleared, and the process returns to the process of reading data (for example, graphic character data) to process the next data. When the FOV is changed, the image memory 24 is completely cleared and processing starts from the FOV registration step. In this way, if there is no change in the FOV pattern, the FOV will be lower than that of the conventional device.
The steps of reading and FOV development can be omitted, making it possible to shorten the time required for development. Furthermore, since the FOV pattern does not actually change and only the graphic character data is frequently updated, this device has a significant time-saving effect.

FIG. 6 illustrates the comparison of the development times described above. FIG. 6 1 shows an example of the time required using the conventional apparatus, and FIG. 6 2 shows an example of the time required using the apparatus of the present invention. Both are the same
A case is illustrated in which graphic character data is developed twice for the FOV pattern.

In this way, according to this embodiment, as shown in FIG. They are recorded in positions that do not overlap with each other. Therefore, each time the character pattern is changed, the next recording pattern can be created without destroying the form overlay pattern by simply sending the variable character data so as to change the entire variable area on the image memory. Can be deployed quickly.

〔Effect of the invention〕

According to the present invention, the form overlay pattern developed on the image memory is not erased until the form overlay pattern is updated, which is done every time data is developed.
As a result, it is possible to shorten the pattern development time for form overlay and data to image memory.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

1 and 2 are explanatory diagrams of form overlay and data expansion for explaining the background of the technology of the present invention, FIG. 3 is a flowchart of a conventional device for performing form overlay and data expansion, and FIG. The figure is a block circuit diagram of an apparatus for developing a pattern in an image memory as an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG.
and FIG. 6 is a diagram comparing the deployment times of the conventional device and the device according to this embodiment. 11...Serial interface control attachment, 12...Serial interface control circuit, 13...Read buffer, 14...
Work buffer, 15... Graphic page buffer, 16... Image buffer, 17... Form overlay buffer, 18... Character page buffer, 19... Common control circuit, 20
...Graphics control circuit, 21...Image control circuit, 22...Overlay control circuit, 23...
Character control circuit, 24...image memory,
25... Print control circuit, 26... Print control attachment, 27... Printing mechanism,
41... Image memory, 42... Form overlay pattern.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. A form overlay data storage unit that stores a plurality of types of form overlay data; a character pattern storage unit that stores many types of character patterns; and a form overlay data storage unit that stores a predetermined type of form from the form overlay data storage unit. a first developing section that reads overlay data and develops it into a form overlay pattern and stores it in an image memory; and a second developing section that reads out a character pattern from the character pattern storage section and develops it in a specific storage position of the image memory. a control unit that receives form overlay data selection information and character pattern selection information from a host device and instructs the first and second expansion units to develop the pattern in the image memory according to the selection information; , the control unit includes: a determination unit that determines whether or not the form overlay data selection information from the host device matches the form overlay data selection information at the time of previous deployment; a processing section that causes the second development section to execute only the character pattern development operation without erasing the image memory when it is determined that the image memory is present. Device.