JPH0125073B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a central processing unit (hereinafter referred to as a central processing unit) of an electronic computer.
It is called CPU. ) The present invention relates to a data modification visual output method in which code data is sent to an output device from the output device, and visible data output of the code data can be achieved in an arbitrarily specified expression format within the output device.

Conventionally, in data processing systems, code data is sent from the CPU to an output device and only visible data in a unique representation format can be obtained from arbitrary code data, or the code data and the representation format at the time of output are specified. A pair of output data combined with data is sent from the CPU to the output device, and by specifying and outputting the expression format on the CPU side in advance, visible output of multiple expression formats for arbitrary code data is achieved. .

FIG. 1 shows a conventional example in which visible data in a unique representation format is output from a printing device from arbitrary code data. To explain the diagram, 1 is a CPU, 2 is an interface circuit (hereinafter referred to as IF), 3 is a microprocessor (hereinafter referred to as MPU), 4 is a data buffer, 5 is a character pattern generator, 6 is a 7 is a print drive circuit, 7 is a print head, and 8 is a print sheet.

Now, when code data is sent from CPU1 to data buffer 4 via IF2, MPU3
Under the control of the data buffer 4, the data buffer 4 receives the code data until its storage area is full or the transfer is completed, and then the MPU 3 returns a signal to the CPU 1 to interrupt the sending of the code data. next,
The MPU 3 sequentially extracts code data from the data buffer 4 and controls the character pattern generator 5 to receive the code data. As a result, the character pattern generator 5 converts each input code data into pattern data, and sequentially transmits this converted data to the MPU.
3 is divided into unit dot patterns for forming a character pattern and applied multiple times to a print drive circuit. The print head sequentially prints characters in accordance with the unit dot pattern signal from the print drive circuit 6. In this way, conventionally, only one character pattern corresponding to arbitrary code data is selected and the visible data is finally output and printed. In this case, the code data sent from the CPU is simply printed on the printing paper, and the output is limited to the content of the data. However, in recent years, if the data output by computer processing is simply output as described above, the amount of data output on one sheet of printing paper is enormous, and the amount of data that exists between multiple pieces of output data is increasing. In a group of output data with different weights of existence, there was a problem in that it was difficult to distinguish the output data of interest from other output data, and the visibility for data analysis and judgment was lacking. To solve this problem, the output data from computer processing and the data specifying the expression format when outputting and printing the output data as visible data are output as a pair of data, and the same data based on multiple types of expression formats are output as a pair of data. Visual output is possible, but the CPU processing program must be programmed to specify the expression format, and consideration must be given to configuring the hardware to suit the problem.
Therefore, an operator who requests visual data from an output device can specify the desired representation format.
In practice, operators are forced to intervene in programs or hardware on the CPU side, which places an extremely heavy burden on them, or they are faced with problems that cannot be easily realized, such as changing the hardware.

The present invention has been made in order to improve the various problems mentioned above, and its purpose is to allow the CPU to read code containing character patterns excluding data specifying the representation format of output visible data. When transmitting data and visually outputting the code data sent from the CPU side by giving selectivity that can be specified in advance by the operator on the output device side in the desired expression format, the desired expression format By outputting the data, it is possible to output visible data that is relatively more distinguishable than other data from output data on the same print medium or screen, which has not been possible in the past.

For this reason, the present invention stores code data from a data processing device in a data buffer, inputs the code data from the data buffer to a plurality of types of character pattern generators, and generates character patterns output from the plurality of types of character pattern generators. An output device that selects a character pattern and sends the selected character pattern to a visible data output unit such as display or printing, and that can create pattern data in multiple types of expression formats in correspondence with arbitrary code data. a character pattern generator; a pattern storage section storing modification data specifying an expression format of code data; a data registration operation section for inputting address information and modification data; and address information input from the data registration operation section. to the address of the pattern storage section specified by
a modification data storage means for storing input modification data; a selector for extracting pattern data read from the character pattern generator based on the modification data read from the pattern storage section; Corresponding to the input to the character pattern generator, modification data is read from the address of the pattern storage section corresponding to the position on the data buffer of the unit code data, the read modification data is input to the selector, and the character The present invention is characterized by comprising a modification control unit that controls the pattern generator to generate pattern data.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Circuit blocks and their operations in the print output device, output print formats for various types of visible data, etc. will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings showing one embodiment of the present invention.

In FIG. 2, the same reference numerals as those shown in FIG. 1 indicate the same parts. The following will be explained in order: 5b is a character pattern generator, 5c is a character pattern C, and 5n is a character pattern generator in which a character pattern n is written. 9 is a character modification registration operation panel, 9a is a display, 9b is a data input key, 9c is a clear key, 9d is an entry clear key, 9e is a store key, 9f is an address key, 9g is a continuous key, and 9h is an operation lock switch. . Next, the operation of the system shown in FIG. 2 will be explained. First, from CPU1 via IF2,
It is assumed that code data is being sent to the data buffer 4. Under the control of the MPU 3, code data continues to be continuously sent out from the CPU 1 into the data buffer until the code data is stored in the entire storage area of the data buffer 4. When the entire storage area of the data buffer 4 is full or the transfer has ended, the MPU 3 completes storing the code data.
A command signal is generated to the CPU 1 to interrupt data transmission. Thereafter, the MPU 3 sequentially extracts the unit code data from the storage area of the data buffer 4 so as to input it to each of the character pattern generators 5...5n, and at the same time instructs the address register (not shown) of the pattern storage section 10. Reads the modification data at address 0 and sends the modification data to selector 1.
1 as selection instruction data.

Assuming that the modification data registered at address 0 indicates character pattern B, dot pattern data is output from the selector 11 from the character pattern generator 5b. When this output is given to the next connected print drive circuit 6, the character pattern is subdivided into a plurality of column elements, and these column elements are sequentially given from the print drive circuit 6 to the print head 7, forming a dot matrix. Visible output in configuration. Thereafter, the MPU 3 increments the value of the address register by 1, reads the modification data at address 1 indicated by the resulting address register, and controls the read data to be sent to the selector 11 as selection instruction data. Then, as described above, the output of the specified character pattern generator is selected based on the modification data, and visible data is printed out in accordance with the pattern data from the character pattern generator. Thereafter, similar operations are repeated until the address data indicated by the address register described above reaches a value corresponding to the last character printing position in the predetermined section of the printing paper. During this time, the contents of the storage area of the data buffer 4 are updated at least once. In other words, when the data buffer 4 has a storage area equivalent to one print line, if you want to obtain multiple lines of print output, the CPU 1 will send the data multiple times under the control of the MPU 3, which is the modification control unit. The code data and data are received multiple times in units that fill the entire storage area on the data buffer 4. As described above, the modified output of code data is executed.

Next, a description will be given of how various types of modification data are registered in the pattern storage section 10. First of all,
The operation lock switch 9h is switched from on to off to release the lock so that input operations from the character modification registration operation panel 9 become valid. The character modification registration operation panel 9 is provided with data input keys 9b that allow data entry of numbers 0 to 9 and alphabetical characters A to J. Each time these keys are pressed, the MPU 3 is controlled. Below, a numerical value is stored in the working area 10a of the pattern storage section 10, and a code is stored in the working area 10b. Further, the clear key 9c is pressed in each working area 10a, 10b before the data input key 9b is pressed and the input data is stored in the storage area of the pattern storage section 10.
It has the function of erasing the data placed in the . Further, the store key 9e is used to instruct the registration of the data in the working area 10b, which has been set respectively, to the normal storage area 10c of the pattern storage section 10. That is, when this store key 9e is pressed, the working area 1 is stored based on the address data stored in the working area 10a.
The modification data stored in 0b is stored. The address key 9f is used to switch the input operation of the address data to the working area 10a and to switch the input operation to the working area 10b for the next input operation data, and is used to switch to the input operation of the modification data. It is something that In addition, the continuous key 9g updates only the address data by +1,
This is for continuously recording the same modification data in the pattern storage unit 10, and is used, for example, in the following key operation procedure. , press key □0. , press the key □#. , press key □A. , press the key STORE. After this,
If you want to register character pattern A continuously from address 0 to address 100, the contents of the address register displayed on the left side of the display 9a and the modification data of the corresponding address are stored on the right side, so
Press the key 9g□〓 continuously until the display area indicated by the contents of the address register reaches 100.
Character pattern selection data A will be registered for all addresses from 0 to 100. All of the above controls are executed under the control of the MPU3. In this way, it is possible to register a desired character pattern at any address in the pattern storage section 10 either individually or consecutively. After all registration operations are completed, in order to avoid inadvertently destroying the contents of the pattern storage unit 10,
Switch the operating switch 9h to the on side.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the process of registering pattern selection data in the pattern storage section. When registering pattern selection data, first turn off the operation lock switch 9h, then press the clear key 9c to clear the entire area of the pattern storage section 10, and set the content of the output counter (not shown) to "0". ”. After the above initialization process is completed, the address key 9f is turned on and the numeric keys of the data input key 9h are operated to input address data. This address data is written into the working area 10a, as mentioned above.
After inputting the address data, turn off the address key 9f to prepare for inputting pattern selection data. Then, the desired pattern selection data is input by operating the alphabetic keys of the data input keys. The input pattern selection data is in working area 10.
written to b. When the store key 9e is pressed after key-inputting the address data and pattern selection data, the pattern selection data of the working area 10b is registered in the entry of the normal storage area 10c corresponding to the address data of the working area 10a. When one pattern selection data is registered, the content of the output counter is incremented by 1, and it is checked whether the value of the output counter is equal to the maximum address of the pattern storage section. If they are not equal, the pattern selection data registration process is repeated. If they are equal, the operation lock switch 9h is turned off because the process of registering the pattern selection data in the pattern storage section 10 has all been completed.

Figures 7A and 7B are flowcharts of the printing process. In the initialization process, a numerical value N is set in the line counter, "0" is set in the area counter, and "0" is set in the output counter. After the initialization process is completed, from the printing device side
A ready signal is sent to the CPU 1, and upon receiving the ready signal, the CPU 1 starts transmitting data. Code data sent from the CPU 1 is stored in a data buffer 4, and each time one piece of code data is stored, the stored number is checked. When the number of code data stored in data buffer 4 is not equal to n (when it is not full)
Or, if it is not equal to m (if the end of data transfer is not notified), the content of the output counter is incremented by 1, and at the same time, the data request signal is sent to the CPU.
1. When the number of stored code data becomes equal to n or when the completion of data transfer is notified, the printing device, that is, the CPU from the I/O side
1, a data sending stop signal is sent. After the data sending stop signal is sent, the contents of the area counter and the contents of the output counter are added, and the addition result is set in the area counter. Next, the contents of the output counter are subtracted from the contents of the area counter, and the result of the subtraction is set in the output counter. Subsequently, the code data at the address specified by the output counter is read from the data buffer 4, and the read code data is sent to the character pattern generators 5a, 5b, . . .
...Sent to each of 5n. After sending the code data to the character pattern generators 5a, 5b, . Pattern selection data is read from the entry in area 10c.
This read pattern selection data is sent to the selector 11.
The selector 11 selectively outputs the character pattern data output from the character pattern generator specified by this pattern selection data. This selectively outputted pattern data is sent to the print head 7 via the print drive circuit 6, and the print head 7 performs printing based on the sent pattern data. When printing of one character is completed, the contents of the output counter are incremented by 1, and then the contents of the output counter and the contents of the area counter are compared. If the two are not equal, the next code data is read from the data buffer 4 and the same processing is performed. If they are equal, the contents of the area counter are decremented by 1, and the contents of the area counter and the contents of the line counter are compared. If the two do not match, the output counter is set to "0" and data transfer is requested to the CPU 1, and when the data is sent from the CPU 1, the above-described processing is performed. If the two match, the printout process ends. The above description has been made regarding an embodiment in which output data is output from a printing device. However, the present invention is not limited to printing devices, but is generally applicable to dot matrix type output devices such as cathode ray tube display devices that input code data. It can be applied to all output devices using this format. Further, the pattern storage section may be a read-only memory formed of a semiconductor element or the like, and the modification data may be registered with a dedicated writing device.

Figure 3A shows visible data on printing paper printed out in a type of conventional representation format. Also,
In the figure, B and C are patterns A, B, C of multiple types, respectively.
This figure shows visible data on a print sheet on which a plurality of data groups are printed out in an expression format of n.

Figures 4 and 5 each show an example of printed output using the output device of the present invention. Taking the budget vs. actual comparison table as an example, we focus on September 1974 and compare it with other months. In order to increase the identifiability of the information, numbers are printed in bold lines, and this is a suitable printout format when you want to focus the explanation on the most recent month when comparing budget vs. actual results. In addition, on invoice slips, the invoice amount numbers are printed in bold font as above, and the details of the invoice are printed in bold and thin font every other line, thereby improving the service provided to the billed party. It is also possible to eliminate the need for the conventional shading printing for identification in correspondence with the printed lines of the slip, which can be expected to have the effect of preventing misidentification and confusion with other items.

As explained above, conventionally,
The output of code data from the CPU can only take one form of representation and be displayed visually, or
In order to send data from the CPU as a pair of code data indicating the data content and data indicating the representation format, the burden of creating programs on the CPU side and the cost increase due to functional enhancement of the hardware configuration, as well as There have been various problems in data processing systems where the hardware is ready-made and it is impossible to change the program or hardware, but according to the present invention, code data can be changed on the output device side. Since the expression format can be specified arbitrarily in advance, there are advantages such as being able to use a conventionally existing data processing system as is, and easily outputting visible data using a desired expression format.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a system block diagram showing a method in which code data according to the conventional method is realized in a single output expression format. FIG. 2 is a system block diagram illustrating a method for outputting output visible data in multiple types of representation formats to explain an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3A shows an example of printing using the conventional method, and FIGS. 3B and 3C show examples of printing output using the method of the present invention. Fig. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a budget vs. actual comparison table printed out using the method of the present invention, and Fig. 5 is an example of an invoice slip printed out using the method of the present invention. FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the registration process in the pattern storage section, and FIGS. 7A and 7B are a flowchart of the printing process. 1...Central processing unit (CPU), 2...Interface circuit (IF), 3...Microprocessor (MPU), 4...Data buffer, 5, 5a, 5b,
5c, 5n...Character pattern generator, 6...Print drive circuit, 7...Print head, 8...Print paper, 9...Character modification registration operation panel, 9a...Display, 9b...Data input key, 9c...Clear key, 9d... Entry clear key, 9e...Store key, 9f...Address key, 9g...Continuous key, 9h...Operation lock switch, 10...Pattern storage section, 10a, 10
b...Working area, 10c...Modification data storage area, 11...Selector.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. Code data from a data processing device is stored in a data buffer, code data from the data buffer is input to a plurality of character pattern generators, and characters output from the plurality of character pattern generators are processed. An output device that selects a pattern and sends the selected character pattern to a visible data output unit such as display or printing, which creates pattern data in multiple types of expression formats in correspondence with arbitrary code data. a character pattern generator; a pattern storage section storing modification data specifying an expression format of code data; a data registration operation section for inputting address information and modification data; and an address input from the data registration operation section. At the address of the pattern storage unit specified by the information,
a modification data storage means for storing input modification data; a selector for extracting pattern data read from the character pattern generator based on the modification data read from the pattern storage section; Corresponding to the input to the character pattern generator, modification data is read from the address of the pattern storage section corresponding to the position on the data buffer of the unit code data, the read modification data is input to the selector, and the character 1. A data modification visible output method, comprising: a modification control section that controls a pattern generator to generate pattern data.