JPH0421148Y2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Technical Field of the Invention] The present invention relates to a printer that prints print data sent from a host computer etc. on paper, and in particular to a printer used to check for errors in the above data. This relates to a control device.

[Prior art]

A page printer, for example, converts print data sent from a host computer into dot pattern data, writes this dot pattern data into a frame memory (buffer memory) that has a storage capacity of at least one page of printing paper, and then converts the print data from the frame memory into a predetermined amount. This is a device that reads dot pattern data for each dot and performs printing.

For such printers, when the operator wants to check whether there are any errors in the data sent from the host computer, or if the host computer is used to create a program, etc., the operator wants to check whether there are any errors in the created program. There is. Conventionally, when you wish to check such data,
Confirm the data by sending the data you want to confirm to the printer, writing it to the frame memory in the printer, printing the dot pattern data written in the frame memory on paper, and visually checking the data printed on the paper. It's on.

[Problems with conventional technology]

According to the conventional printer control as described above,
Data errors can be easily confirmed by visually observing the printed paper, but when data is read from the frame memory and printed, the data in the frame memory is cleared. Furthermore, when the conventional printer control device performs a printout operation of print data in the frame memory, the pointer indicating the writing or reading position of the frame memory is also reset to the initial position.

For this reason, with conventional printers, when creating program data, if you want to print out data that does not fit on one page of paper, and then add and print continuing data to that data, the data written in the frame memory If you print out the data, the data in the frame memory will be cleared, so you will have to send the same data you just output to the printer again from the beginning and write it into the frame memory. That is, after reading and printing the dot pattern data written in the storage area of the frame memory and confirming the data, it is not possible to continue writing new data into the remaining area of the frame memory.

On the other hand, if an unexpected situation occurs in the control device including the host computer and the program goes out of control while the dot pattern data is expanded in the frame memory, do not reset the control device. Therefore, the data previously written to the frame memory was also reset, making it impossible to confirm the data.

[Purpose of invention]

In view of the above-mentioned drawbacks of the conventional technology, the present invention is designed to re-write the same data to the frame memory by performing a printing operation and checking the data without clearing the data in the frame memory and without changing the printing conditions at that time. An object of the present invention is to provide a printer control device which eliminates the process of writing data into a frame memory and which makes it possible to confirm data written in a frame memory even if a program goes out of control.

[Key points of the idea]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention includes a dot pattern generating means that generates dot pattern data to be printed in response to print information transmitted from a host device, and a dot pattern generating means that prints out the dot pattern data on at least one page of paper. A printer having a frame memory capable of storing an amount of data, and a readout control means for outputting dot pattern data of a corresponding page from the frame memory and erasing the already output dot pattern data in response to a print output command for each page of paper. In the control device, an instruction to start printing based on the unfinished dot pattern data in an unfinished state where the dot pattern data stored in the frame memory does not reach the dot pattern data of one page of paper to be printed out. means, confirmation readout control means for outputting the incomplete dot pattern data without erasing it from the frame memory in response to the instruction, and generation of the dot pattern generation means after the output processing of the confirmation readout control means. writing control means for writing the dot pattern data to be printed subsequent to the unfinished dot pattern data remaining in the frame memory; and printing based on the dot pattern data output by the read control means or the confirmation read control means. It is characterized by having a printing means for executing the operation.

[Example of idea]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 2 is a system configuration diagram including a printer control device according to the present invention. In the system shown in the figure, the printer is composed of an interface section 1, an operation/display section 2, and a printing section 3, and the printer control section shown in FIG. 2, a part of the operation/display section 2, and a printing section 3. The host computer 4 is a device that sends data to be printed by a printer, and is connected to the interface section 1 via a communication line such as Centronics.

The interface unit 1 includes a host interface (hereinafter referred to as host I/F) 5, a controller 6 that constitutes part of a read control means, a confirmation read control means, and a write control means, a character processing circuit 7, and a character generator. (shown in CG below)
8, a bus transceiver 9, a printing interface (hereinafter referred to as printing I/F) 10, and a frame memory section 11. The host I/F 5 is an interface for receiving print data (character codes), various commands, and control signals output from the host computer 4 described above. The controller 6 includes a CPU (central processing unit) and ROM, which will be described later.
(read-only memory), RAM (random access memory), etc., and the above-mentioned character codes, various commands, and control signals are input from the host I/F 5, and NMI signals, etc., which will be described later, are input from the operation/display unit 2. . The controller 6 executes programs stored in the ROM and the various commands mentioned above.
The entire interface section 1 is controlled according to the NMI signal.

The character processing circuit 7 is a circuit that reads out corresponding dot pattern data from the CG 8 according to a character code input via the controller 6, and performs processing such as rotation and enlargement. The bus transceiver 9 is a circuit that directly writes or reads dot pattern data output from the controller 6 into or from the frame memory 11 under the control of the controller 6.

The frame memory section 11 is composed of a frame memory control circuit and a frame memory, which will be described later, and has a storage area corresponding to the paper to be printed on. The printing I/F 10 is an interface that outputs data read from the frame memory section 11 to the printing section 3, and is controlled by the controller 6.

The operation/display section 2 includes switches for setting various operation modes of the printer, a display for informing the operator of the status of the printer, and the like. This operation/display section 2 has a controller 6.
A key 2a is provided as an instruction means for shifting the (CPU) to a data confirmation mode to be described later.

The printer control circuit shown in FIG. 1 is included in the circuit shown in the system block diagram as described above. In FIG. 1, the key 2a is provided on the operation/display section 2 as described above, and as described below.
This is a key operated by the operator when shifting the CPU 12 to data confirmation mode. In addition, CPU12,
A DMA (direct memory access) controller 13 is disposed within the controller 6 described above, and the CPU 12 plays a central role in controlling the overall processing of the printer in the controller 6 described above. When an NMI signal (hereinafter referred to as an operation signal) is input to the NMI (non-maskable interrupt) terminal of the CPU 12, the process shifts to an interrupt program that executes a data confirmation mode. Furthermore, the CPU 12 is transferred to the data confirmation mode no matter what processing state the CPU 12 is in. For example, this is possible even when the control of the CPU 12 is out of control due to a defective program or noise.

When the CPU 12 receives the operation signal from the key 2a, it saves all the control data up to that point to the save register, and outputs predetermined data to the DMA controller 13. This predetermined data is the address of the area of the frame memory 11b constituting the frame memory section 11 to be transferred and output.

The DMA controller 13 is a circuit that constitutes part of a read control means and a confirmation read control means that reads data in the frame memory 11 according to an area specified by the CPU 12 and outputs it to the print I/F 10. Further, the frame memory control circuit 11a, which is part of the write control means constituting the frame memory section, receives a control signal d from the CPU 12 when reading data from the DMA controller 13.
After reading the data in the frame memory 11 in accordance with the data, the setting control of the data read operation is performed to determine whether the data is held in the frame memory 11 or cleared.

Moreover, three control lines are provided between the printing I/F 10 and the printing section 3 in addition to the data output line.
Data is output to the printing unit 3 using a start signal a from the printing I/F 10 to the printing unit 3, an HSYNC (horizontal synchronization) signal b from the printing unit 3 to the printing I/F 10,
Controlled by VSYNC (vertical synchronization) signal c.

The operation of the printer including the printer control circuit configured as described above will be described below.

Normally, character codes and various commands for printing are sent from the host computer 4 to the host I/F 5.
When sent to controller 6 via
12, a ROM (not shown) connected to the CPU 12
According to the program in the character processing circuit 7, CG
8, the dot pattern data corresponding to the character code is read out, and the dot pattern data is sequentially written to a predetermined address in the frame memory 11b designated by the CPU 12. Also, data is written to a predetermined area of the frame memory 11b, and the CPU 1
2 determines a printing operation command, the CPU 12 reads out the dot pattern data in the frame memory 11b to the printing unit 3 via the printing I/F 10, and prints the dot pattern data on paper or the like. When data is output from the frame memory 11b to the print 3, the frame memory control circuit is set to a read operation in which the data is cleared at the same time as the data is read by the control signal d from the CPU 12. The data is cleared and the address of the pointer in the CPU 12 is also moved to its initial value. In this way, host computer 4
The dot pattern data corresponding to the character code sent from is printed on paper.

On the other hand, if the operator wants to check the data that is not enough for one page of paper sent out from the host computer 4, or if the operator wants to check the data that is not enough for one page of paper sent out from the host computer 4, or if the operator wants to check the data that is not enough for one page of printing paper, There may be times when you want to check the status while it is still in progress. In such a case, this can be done by writing the data to be checked from the host computer 4 to the frame memory 11 and operating the key 2a. That is, by shifting the operation of the CPU 12 to the data confirmation mode, printing is thereafter controlled in accordance with the flowchart shown in FIG.

For example, if data is being written from the host computer 4 to the frame memory 11b when the key 2a is operated, all the contents of the registers in which control data etc. in the CPU 12 have been written up to that point are saved to the save register. Furthermore, if all the data has been written to the frame memory 11b, all the contents of registers containing data such as pointers indicating the next page are saved to the save register (step ST1).

Next, the CPU 12 sends instruction data to read all data from the frame memory 3 to the DMA controller 13 (step ST2). According to this instruction data, the DMA controller 13 performs control to sequentially read out the dot pattern data stored in the frame memory 11b from the initial address to the end point address and output it to the printing section 3 via the printing I/F 10.

On the other hand, the CPU 12 outputs a start signal a to the printing unit 3 via the printing I/F 10, and the DMA controller 13 reads data from the frame memory 11b according to the above address specification (step
ST3, ST4). Through this process, the printing unit 3 prints, for example, according to the dot pattern data sent from the interface unit (printing I/F) 10.
Activate the LCS head and start printing operation (image forming process). While the dot pattern data is being output from the printing I/F 10 to the printing unit 3, the HSYNC signal b is output from the printing unit 3 every time one line is printed. Also, during printing operation, the interface unit 1 indicates that the printing unit 3 is in the printing operation state.
It outputs VSYNC signal c for confirmation. The printing I/F 10 constantly monitors these signals b and c, and the VSYNC from the printing unit 3
When it is detected that the output of signal c has ended,
The CPU 12 determines that the data that the operator desires to confirm has been output to the printing unit 3 (Y in step ST5). During this period, even if data is read from the frame memory 11b in response to the control signal d from the CPU 12 in the frame memory control circuit 11a, the frame memory 11b is not erased.
The read operation that remains within the memory is controlled. For example, this control can leave data in the frame memory 11b by controlling not to write clear data when reading data from the frame memory 11b.

Furthermore, in CPU12, VSYNC is sent to print I/F10.
When it is confirmed that the signal c has been input, the data saved as described above is restored to the original register, and all control data is returned to the state immediately before the key 2a was operated (step ST6). Through this process, the position data of the pointer immediately before the key 2a was operated is restored in the controller 6, and
Based on this data, the continuation of the data that has just been printed out is stored in the frame memory 11 again.
It can be expanded to b.

Further, by checking the data printed on the paper from the printing unit 3 in the manner described above, the operator can easily determine whether there is an error in the data or the like.

As described above, in this embodiment, even after desired data is read from the frame memory 11, the data remains in the frame memory 11, and furthermore, the CPU 1
2 can be returned to the state immediately before shifting to the data confirmation mode.

The above-mentioned process can be performed by operating the key 2b even when the program control of the CPU 12 becomes impossible (when the program runs out of control).
When an interrupt signal is input to the NMI terminal of the machine and the runaway state is canceled, the data written in the frame memory by the interrupt routine program can be printed on paper, thereby preventing data loss due to runaway.

Furthermore, in the above embodiment, an example has been shown in which the transition to the data confirmation mode is performed by operating the key 2a, but it is also possible to configure the transition to the data confirmation mode by a command signal input from the host computer.

Furthermore, the memory that maintains print data even when a print output operation is performed is not limited to the frame memory, but may be other storage means (for example, a reception buffer memory).

[Effect of idea]

As explained in detail above, according to the present invention, when checking the print data, the printing operation can be performed without erasing the data in the frame memory and without changing the previous printing operation conditions. For,
Re-writing data processing can be omitted, printing processing can be performed at high speed, and data loss in the event of runaway can be prevented.

Furthermore, when a printer is used to create a program, confirmation of the created data can be printed and displayed during the program creation, making it possible to improve the efficiency of debugging work.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a system block diagram including the printer control device of this embodiment, FIG. 2 is a circuit block diagram of the printer control device of this embodiment, and FIG. 3 is a flowchart of the printer control device of this embodiment. 1...Interface section, 2...Operation/display section, 2a...Key, 3...Printing section, 4...Host computer, 5...Host I/F, 6...Controller, 7...Character processing Circuit, 8...CG, 9
...Bus transceiver, 10...Printing I/F, 1
1...Frame memory, 12...CPU, 13...
...DMA controller.

Claims (1)

[Claims for Utility Model Registration] A dot pattern generating means for generating dot pattern data to be printed in response to print information transmitted from a host device, and a quantity storage for printing out the dot pattern data on at least one page of paper. A printer control device having a frame memory capable of printing, and a readout control means for outputting dot pattern data of a corresponding page from the frame memory and erasing the already output dot pattern data in accordance with a print output command for each page of paper. Instructing means for instructing the start of printing based on the unfinished dot pattern data when the dot pattern data stored in the frame memory does not reach the dot pattern data of one page of paper to be printed out. , a confirmation readout control means for outputting the unfinished dot pattern data without erasing it from the frame memory in response to the instruction, and a dot generated by the dot pattern generation means after output processing by the confirmation readout control means. a write control means for writing pattern data following the unfinished dot pattern data remaining in the frame memory; and a print operation based on the dot pattern data output by the read control means or the confirmation read control means. What is claimed is: 1. A printer control device comprising a printing means for executing printing.