JPH03107997A - Image output device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To always display and output an image in a pattern of uniform shape by making access the font information of a storage means based on code information inputted from a data source and an output condition to an image output part and outputting pattern information pattern-developed based on the font information to the image output part. CONSTITUTION:A control part 101 converts the code information received from a host computer 100 and outputs it to a printer 102 by reading out font data from a dot font memory 103. Also, the color of a recording sheet detected with a sensor 104 to detect the color of the recording sheet of the printer 102 is outputted to the control part 101. The control part 101 is equipped with a CPU 111, a control program for the CPU, a ROM 112 to store a various kinds of data and a RAM 113 to preserve the various kinds of data transiently. Thereby, it is possible to always display and output the image in the pattern of uniform shape.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Industrial Field of Application] The present invention relates to an image output device that inputs code information and generates and displays/outputs corresponding pattern information.

[Prior Art] - There is an image processing device that receives character code data sent from a host computer, converts it into pattern information, and displays/outputs the image data on a CRT or printer. Image processing devices are usually built into host computers or peripheral devices such as CRTs and printers. Further, some of such host computers and peripheral devices can process color image data and halftone image data.

For example, in order to convert code data into pattern data in a peripheral device, for example, the corresponding font information is read from the font memory based on the character code sent from the host computer, and the image data on, for example, a CRT or printer is read out. It is necessary to convert and output image data suitable for the output device. Similarly, for color images, font information is recalled from font memory based on the character code sent from the host computer and the color code added to it, and image processing is performed in the same way as for monochrome image data. After that, a color code was added and sent to the image output device.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] When code data is developed into pattern information and displayed/outputted in this way, even if the same character pattern is output, it may appear visually larger or thicker depending on the color. For example, if you output yellow characters and blue characters on a CRT with a black background, the yellow characters may appear thick (thick), and the blue characters appears small and thin.Also, when printing on white paper with a printer, yellow text appears small and thin, and blue text appears large and thick.

For this reason, even if characters are displayed and output based on the same character pattern, the displayed and output characters may not appear to be of the same size depending on the device that outputs them. this is,
As networking progresses today, and there is a possibility that a wide variety of peripheral devices may be connected to one host computer, the characters displayed and output by those peripheral devices are formed based on the same pattern information. Even though they are written in different languages, they look different.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned conventional example, and is not affected by the output conditions such as the state of the image output device or the output method of the device, etc. An object of the present invention is to provide an image output device that can display and output images.

[Means for Solving the Problems] In order to achieve the above object, an image output device of the present invention has the following configuration. That is, it is interposed between a data source and an image output section, and inputs code information from the data source, develops it into pattern information, and displays/displays it.
An image output device for outputting an image, comprising: a storage means for storing font information corresponding to image output conditions in the image output unit in correspondence with each code information; and code information input from the data source and to the image output unit. and an output means for outputting pattern information obtained by developing a pattern based on the font information to the image output section.

[Operation] In the above configuration, font information corresponding to the image output conditions in the image output section is stored in the storage means in correspondence with each piece of code information. Then, based on the code information input from the data source and the output conditions to the image output section, the font information in the storage means is accessed, and the pattern information that is developed as a pattern based on the accessed font information is output to the image output section. It operates to output to .

[Example] Hereinafter, a first example of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

[Description of Image Output Device (FIG. 1)] FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the image output device of this embodiment. Note that this embodiment will be described using a printer as an example of an output device.

In the figure, 100 is a host computer that outputs output data in the form of a code to the image output device of the embodiment. 10
1 is a control unit that performs main control of this image output device;
When code data from the host computer 100 is input, it is expanded into pattern information with reference to the dot font memory 103, output to the printer 102, and recorded and reproduced on a recording medium. 102 is a printer such as a laser beam printer or an inkjet printer. 1
03 is a dot font memory that stores various font information, which will be described later, in correspondence with character codes; for example, RO
It consists of M, disks, etc. By reading font data from this dot font memory 103, the control unit 101 converts the code information received from the host computer 100 into pattern information and sends it to the printer 102.
can be output to. 104 is a sensor for detecting the color of the recording sheet of the printer 102;
The color of the recording sheet detected by 04 is output to the control section 100.

The control unit 101 is a CPU such as a microprocessor, for example.
ROMI 12 and CPUI 1 that store control programs and various data for UIII and CPUI 11
It is used as a work area and includes a RAM 113 for temporarily storing various data.

[Explanation of Font Data (FIGS. 2 and 3)] FIG. 2 shows the contents of the font data system in the dot font memory 103. Further, FIG. 3 shows a specific example of data contents according to the data system shown in FIG.

In FIGS. 2 and 3, 201 indicates color data (1 bit) of a recording sheet (recording paper) in the printer 102, where "0" indicates white and "1" indicates black. 20
2 specifies the type of image data output device, such as a printer or CRT, which displays and outputs the processed image data, and is composed of 2-bit data. here,
"OO" is a wire tod printer, '01' is a laser beam printer, etc.

This makes it possible to generate font data that conforms to the characteristics of a wide variety of image data output devices used under data networks and the like.

203 is resolution data (2 bits) of the image data output device; in the case of dot fonts, the structure of character data differs depending on the resolution of the image output device. Here, “00” is 240dpi, “
01” is defined as 300dpi.2
04 is color data (3 bits), OOO" is black, '
110'' is set as red. This allows character data to be specified that corrects visual differences in fonts caused by each color.

For example, Fig. 4 shows a blue font and a yellow font when the color of the recording sheet is white, and Fig. 4(B) shows a yellow font, and when compared with the blue font in Fig. 4(A), The character pattern is thick. For example, when printing on white recording paper with the printer 102, blue appears to expand more than yellow. Therefore, when printing in advance, the letters (turns) in yellow font are printed in blue so that they appear to be the same size. This means that the text should be thicker than the font's character pattern.

Reference numeral 205 indicates line number data consisting of 2 bits, which determines how many dither pattern cells for halftone output are present per inch, and is displayed and output in accordance with this line number data. Here, "00"' is 30 lines, "01" is 60 lines, and so on. 206 is screen angle data (
2 bits) determines the angle of the screen when outputting halftones, and character patterns are displayed and output in accordance with this screen angle. Here, "00" is O.

01 is 45°...etc. 207 determines the type of dither pattern to be used when outputting halftones, and pattern data using this pattern is displayed and output. Here, "OO" is set as a centralized pattern, and "01" is set as a distributed pattern.

Density data (3 bits) 208 determines the density level at the time of halftone output, and is displayed and output in accordance with this density level. Here, "000" is set to 100% (full fill), "001" is set to 85%, and "010" is set to 75%. 209 is typeface data (2 bits) that represents the typeface of the output character. “00” is set to Time Slowman, “01” is set to Fourier, etc.21
0 is point number data (2 bits) and determines the size of the font characters. Here, "00" is set as 10 points, . . . "11" is set as 40 points, and so on.

211 is a character code, for example 8-bit ASCI
The I code is made up of 8 bits, and the JIS code is made up of 16 bits. 212 is character data representing dot pattern data, and the dot pattern data specified in the above-mentioned 201 to 211 is stored. As a result, as explained in FIG. 4, for example, character pattern data whose thickness has been changed depending on the relationship between the color of the recording paper and the color of the characters, and the density data corresponding to 208 are displayed and output. You can specify a dot font that is compensated so that the characters appear to have the same density level.

Therefore, in the case of FIG. 3, the color 201 of the recording paper in the printer 102 is white, the image output model 202 is a laser beam printer, the resolution 203 is 300 dpi, the color 204 is red, the number of lines 205 is 60 lines, and the screen angle is 206 is 45 degrees,
The dither pattern 207 is concentrated, the density 208 is 75%,
The font 209 is Time Roman, and the number of points 210 is 40.
That's the point. Therefore, host computer 1
By assigning the code data (character code) received from 00 to the character code 211, creating an address with a total of 29 bits (when the character code is 8 bits), and accessing the dot font memory 103,
Character data (dot font data) that meets the above-mentioned conditions can be read from the dot font memory 103.

In this way, the read font information is transferred to the printer 102.
(Here, a laser beam printer) By outputting, it is possible to record characters of a fairly constant size, which is not affected by the color of the recording paper or its recording color.

In addition, in this example, the elements 201 to 209 described above (
Conditions) are adopted as one font data, but it goes without saying that elements other than these may be added.

[Operation Description (FIG. 5)] FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the recording operation in the control section 101 of the embodiment, and a control program for executing this operation processing is stored in the ROM 112.

This operation is started by turning on the power of the apparatus or by receiving a print start instruction command from the host computer 100. First, in step S1, printer 1
The color of the recording paper detected by the sensor 104 of No. 02 is input. Next, in step S2, information regarding the printer 102 is input. Examples of this information include printer model, resolution, and the like. In step S3, various information regarding printing is input from the host computer 100. This information includes, for example, the number of lines, typeface, density information, number of points, etc. as shown in FIG. Therefore, when multiple printers, displays, etc. are connected to the control unit 101, the control unit 101 selects the corresponding image output device for display/output based on information from the host computer 100. You can.

In this way, address data is created based on these various pieces of information, as shown in FIG. 3, for example. In this way, when a character code (including color, font, etc.) is input from the host computer 100 in step S4, the character code is stored in the corresponding address data area (for example, 211 in FIG. 3).
The address data of the dot font memory 103 corresponding to the code is created.

Next, in step S5, the dot font memory 103 is accessed based on this address data and the corresponding pattern data is read out. Then, in step S6, the read pattern data is output to the printer 102, and the process ends.

[Other Embodiments (FIGS. 6 to 9)] A second embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing an image output device according to a second embodiment of the present invention. In this example, as in the previous case,
This will be explained using the printer 102 as an example of an output device.

In FIG. 6, a host computer 100 and a printer 10
2 is similar to the previous embodiment. 301 is a control unit, C
It includes a PU 311, a ROM 312 that stores control programs and various data for the CPU 311, a RAM 313 used as a work area for the CPU 311, and the like. Reference numeral 300 denotes an outline font memory that stores outline fonts that are font data used by this control unit 301.

FIG. 7 shows the contents of the data system of font data in the outline font memory 300.

Further, FIG. 8 shows a specific example of data contents according to the data system of FIG. 7.

In FIGS. 7 and 8, 401 to 405 and 407
is the same as described in the first embodiment, so the explanation will be omitted.

406 is 2-bit data indicating the outline approximation method, which is used to determine the approximation method for the curved portion of the outline font and display/output it.

Here, "00" indicates the Belair curve approximation, and "01" indicates the short-long line approximation. The former, the Belair curve approximation, uses a complicated calculation formula, so it takes time to output the font, but the quality of the displayed and output characters is good. On the other hand, short-long line approximation takes less time to output the font, but the character quality deteriorates.

Note that the color data 403 is used to eliminate visual differences as in the first embodiment, and as shown in FIG. An outline font is formed. Figure 9, similar to Figure 4, shows the fonts used when recording in blue (Figure 9 (A)) and yellow (Figure 9 (B)) when the color of the recording paper is white. There is.

408 is character data, and 401 to 40 described above
This is character data of an outline font that has undergone various adjustments according to the conditions of each element of No. 7, for example, as explained in FIG. In this embodiment, elements 401 to 408 are taken up as one font data, but it goes without saying that elements other than these may be added.

Further, the operation of the control unit 301 in this case is performed in the same manner as in the flowchart of FIG. However, in the process corresponding to step S4 in FIG. 5, 401 to 40 shown in FIG.
It is necessary to create an address based on the data system No. 7, and in the process corresponding to step S5, create pattern data from the outline font corresponding to the address.

As explained above, according to this embodiment, in addition to character shape data, attribute information such as paper color information, image display/output device model information, etc., is provided as font data, and each of these is supported. By storing the font data as font data, it is possible to display and output characters with visually uniform shapes without being affected by the color, density, background, etc. of the output characters.

Also, since the font has a lot of attribute information,
This has the effect of reducing the burden on the image processing device that handles fonts.

[Effects of the Invention] As explained above, according to the present invention, a uniform shape can always be obtained without being affected by the image output condition of the output device, the output method of the device, etc. It has the effect of displaying and outputting images in patterns.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the schematic configuration of the image output device of the first embodiment, FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the data system of the dot font memory of the first embodiment, and FIG. 3 is the data of the dot font memory. A diagram showing a specific example of the system; FIGS. 4(A) and 4(B) are diagrams showing examples of dot fonts for explaining the first embodiment; FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing display/output operations in the control unit; FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing the schematic configuration of the image output device of the second embodiment, FIG. 7 is a diagram showing the data system of the outline font memory, and FIG. 8 is a diagram showing the outline font memory of the first and second embodiments. A diagram showing a specific example of a data system, and FIGS. 9(A) and 9(B) are diagrams showing an example of an outline font for explaining the second embodiment. In the figure, 100... host computer, 101°30
1... Control unit, 102... Printer, 103-...
Dot font memory, 104--recording paper color sensor,
111.311-CPU, 112.312-ROM, 1
13,313...-RAM, 201...Paper color, 2
02... Image output model, 203... Resolution, 204
...color, 205...number of lines, 206...screen angle, 207...dither pattern, 208...density,
209... Font, 210... Number of points, 211-
...Character code, 212--Character data, 300...Outline font memory. Figure 1 5th factor 1ki fora ← Light 9th <B)

Claims (2)

[Claims] (1) An image output device that is interposed between a data source and an image output unit, and inputs code information from the data source, develops it into pattern information, and displays and outputs it, wherein the image output unit outputs an image. storage means for storing font information corresponding to conditions in correspondence with each piece of code information; and accessing the font information in the storage means based on the code information input from the data source and the output conditions to the image output unit. An image output device comprising: access means for performing pattern development based on the font information; and output means for outputting pattern information obtained by developing a pattern based on the font information to the image output section. (2) The image according to claim 1, wherein the image output unit includes a detection means for detecting background color information of the pattern information, and the image output condition also includes the background color information. Output device.