JPH0434495A - Character output device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To develop print information without any omission by deciding the possibility of the convergence and development of a deformed character pattern into a character output area set on a storage medium and performing control so that the deformed character pattern deviating from the character output area is converged into the area according to the result. CONSTITUTION:When the development of the deformed character pattern by a deforming means (CPU 2 serves as well) into the character output area set on the storage medium (frame memory 4) is started, a decision means (CPU 2 serves as well) decides the possibility of the convergence and development of the deformed character pattern into the character output area set on the frame memory 4. According to the decision result, a development control means (CPU 2 serves as well) control the redeformation expansion of deformed character pattern deviating from the character output area on the storage medium 4 so that the deformed character pattern is converged into the character output area. Consequently, the print information can be developed without any omission.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to a character output device that generates a modified character pattern from an original character pattern.

[Prior Art] Conventionally, in this type of character output device, especially in a character output device that generates a modified character pattern from an original character pattern, dot data of the basic character pattern is stored in a storage means such as a font ROM. In many cases, the character generating device is configured to generate and develop a character dot pattern on a storage medium by reading out the character code as appropriate in accordance with the input character code.

6 and 7 are schematic diagrams for explaining character pattern generation processing in a conventional character output device. In FIG. 6, the deformation type corresponds to deformation to italic, and in FIG. 7, the deformation type corresponds to gothic. Corresponds to transformations to the body.

[Problem to be solved by the invention]

However, in conventional character output devices, the size of the constituent dots of a character pattern may change simultaneously due to the deformation. For example, characters printed at the border of the character output area deviate from the set printing area, and as shown in FIGS. As shown in Figure 8 (b), since the output area was outside the output area, the output position had to be slightly changed when outputting the modified characters, resulting in missing or partially missing modified characters. , there was a problem that the printing quality was impaired.

This invention was made in order to solve the above problems, and when outputting a character pattern after transformation, it is determined whether the character pattern converges in an outputtable area, and the character to be outputted is determined. It is an object of the present invention to provide a character output device that can output a transformed character pattern to a set printing area without any omission by controlling pattern transformation processing.

[Means for Solving the Problems] A character output device according to the present invention includes a determination means for determining the possibility of convergence and expansion of a modified character pattern into a character output area set in a storage medium, and a determination result of the determination means. A development control means is provided for controlling re-transformation and development on the storage medium so that the modified character pattern that deviates from the character output area is converged within the character output area based on the above.

Further, the expansion control means is configured to replace and expand the modified character pattern that falls outside the character output area onto the storage medium with the character pattern read from the character pattern storage means.

Furthermore, the expansion control means is configured to replace and expand the modified character pattern that falls outside the character output area onto the storage medium while changing the degree of deformation of the modified character pattern.

Further, a notification means is provided to notify the outside of the judgment result of the judgment means.

[Operation] In the present invention, when the deformation means starts developing the deformed character pattern into the character output area set on the storage medium, the determination means starts deforming the deformed character pattern into the character output area set on the storage medium. Determine the possibility of convergent expansion of the character pattern,
Based on this determination result, the expansion control means controls the re-transformation expansion on the storage medium so that the deformed character pattern that falls out of the character output area converges within the character output area, so that the printed information can be expanded without missing. do.

Further, the development control means replaces and develops the deformed character pattern that falls outside the character output area on the storage medium with the character pattern read from the character pattern storage means, and develops the undeformed character pattern to develop the printed information without any omission. is possible.

Furthermore, the development control means replaces and develops the deformed character pattern that falls outside the character output area onto the storage medium while changing the degree of deformation of the deformed character pattern, and develops the character pattern while adjusting the degree of deformation so that no printed information is lost. Allows for expansion.

In addition, when it is determined that the deformed character pattern cannot be converged and expanded into the character output area set in the storage medium as a result of the determination by the determination means, the notification means notifies the outside that the character pattern set in the set character pattern cannot be converged and expanded. To make it possible to notify the existence of character information that is not printed.

[Embodiment 1] FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating the configuration of a character output device showing an embodiment of the present invention. Reference numeral 1 denotes a control section of the output device, and a host computer (described later) which is a source of output data. ) is received via an interface circuit (described later), and is output to the printer unit 9 via a printer interface unit (described later).

Reference numeral 2 denotes a CPU, which includes a ROM 2a in which control programs and font patterns are stored, and a RAM 2b in which control information (paper dot size, character position information) is stored. Reference numeral 3 denotes a font memory consisting of a RAM that stores transformed character patterns, 4 a frame memory that stores dot patterns for one page, and 5 a font memory that stores dot patterns for one page. 6 is a panel unit that displays various instructions and information to the output device; 7 is a panel unit that performs connection with various computers. interface unit, for example R3-23
It consists of a 2C interface.

8 is a host computer that is the source of output data; 9
is the printer section.

In the character output device configured in this way, the storage medium (in this embodiment, the CPU 2 also serves)
When the development of the modified character pattern into the character output area set in the frame memory 4 is started, the determining means (in this embodiment, the CPU 2 also serves) starts developing the modified character pattern into the character output area set in the frame memory 4. The possibility of convergence and expansion of the deformed character pattern is determined, and based on the result of this determination, the deformation control means (in this embodiment, the CPU 2 also serves) stores the deformed character pattern that falls outside the character output area so that it converges within the character output area. To control re-transformation and development on a medium and make it possible to develop printed information without missing it.

Further, the expansion control means (in this embodiment, the CPU 2 also functions as the CPU 2) replaces and expands the deformed character pattern that falls outside the character output area in the frame memory 4 with the character pattern read from the character pattern storage means (ROM 2a), so that the undeformed character To enable printing information to be developed without missing by developing a pattern.

Further, the expansion control means (in this embodiment, the CPU 2 also functions as the CPU 2) replaces and expands the deformed character pattern that falls outside the character output area into the frame memory 4 while changing the degree of deformation of the deformed character pattern (deployed in the font memory 3). It is possible to expand the character pattern while adjusting the degree of deformation and to expand the printed information without missing any part.

Further, if the determination result of the determination means (in this embodiment, the CPU 2 also serves as In the example, the CPU 2 also serves as the CPU 2) to notify the outside, for example, the panel unit 6, of the existence of character information that is not printed in the set character pattern.

Specifically, print data and control instructions from the host computer 8 are sent to the CPU 2 via the interface section 7.
The CPU 2 stores information in the font memory 3 such as the code for each print data, the position on the paper for output, a flag indicating whether or not the character to be output can be transformed, the type of transformation, and the width and height of the pattern. Find the address of the character set information and store it in a record format called a page buffer. Further, CPtJ2 sets a variant type of internal processing by a control command not particularly shown. CPU2
completes the process of creating a page buffer for one page by receiving a page break code and receiving data equivalent to the number of lines for one page.

Thereafter, a dot pattern for one page is formed on the frame memory 4 based on the information in the page buffer. At that time, if the flag indicating whether or not the transformation is on the page buffer is off (no transformation), the CPU 2 reads the corresponding font pattern from the font memory 3 according to the address of the code and character set information, and sets it to the position on the paper. The data is stored in the corresponding memory on the frame memory 4. When the pattern development for one page is completed, the CPU 2 feeds paper from the paper cassette via the printer interface section 5 in response to a paper feeding instruction.

The printer interface section 5 converts the dot-pattern laser ON10FF serial signal in the frame memory 4 according to the timing of paper conveyance, and forms a toner image using known electrophotographic technology in accordance with the serial signal. Fixation takes place. This yields the final output on paper. If the flag indicating whether the transformation is on the page buffer is ON (transformation exists), the cPU 2 reads the corresponding font pattern from the font memory 3 according to the address of the code and character set information, and transforms it according to the type of transformation. The processed font pattern is transferred to font memory 3, and then transferred to font memory 3 again.
The pattern is then read out and stored in the memory on the frame memory 4 corresponding to the position on the paper. However, at this time, if the entire pattern after deformation does not converge within the paper plane as shown in FIG. Instead, the font pattern before transformation is stored in the frame memory 4 as shown in FIG. 2(b).

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating the relationship between the character output area set in the frame memory 4 shown in FIG. 1 and the development pattern. Note that the solid line in the figure indicates the set output boundary (which varies depending on the set output size).

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram explaining the structure of the page buffer set in the RAM 2b shown in FIG. Stores the position on one page (2 x 2 bytes), a flag indicating whether it is a transformation, and the type of transformation (1 byte).

For example, among the types of deformation, XrlOJ represents italic deformation, and Xr20J represents bold deformation. However, XrJ indicates hexadecimal notation. Note that when the address of the character set information is rOJO, it is regarded as the end of one page.

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing an example of the data structure of the character set information section in the character output device according to the present invention, which is composed of the width of the character pattern, the height of the character pattern, the address of the pattern corresponding to each code, etc. has been done. however,
An example using a 1-byte character set is shown below.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a modified character pattern development processing procedure in the character output device according to the present invention. Note that (1) to (9) indicate each step.

First, set the character processing pointer to the beginning of the page buffer1), and check whether the address of the character set information field is "0"21.If YES, end the process, and NO
If so, it is determined whether the content of the transformation flag is XrOJ33. If No, a transformation pattern is generated in the font memory 34), and it is determined whether the generated transformation pattern is within the print area boundary set in the frame memory 4. Shiku 5
) If YES, set the width and height after transformation, and set the address of the deformed pattern in the output cover turn address (6) Next, store the pattern in the frame memory 4 based on the width, height, and output cover turn address. 7) Set the character processing pointer to the next position 8) and return to step (2).

On the other hand, if YES in step (3) and No in step (5), set the width and height before transformation (character set information section), and set the character set information section for the code in the output cover turn address. Please set the address of 9),
Return to step (7).

In the above embodiment, the output light of the modified character pattern is assumed to be a printing device such as a laser beam printer.

Similar effects can be expected with other light beam printers (page printers) and the like.

Also, although it is assumed that output processing will be done in a dot pattern,
It can also be easily applied to output processing by approximation using a straight line, one arc, or a free curve in coordinate format.

Furthermore, although the above embodiments have been described using a 1-byte character set as an example, the present invention can be similarly applied to a 2-byte character set.

In addition, in the above embodiment, the transformation to Gothic and Italic was explained as the modification type of the character pattern, but the modification type may also be a modification such as a double-walled character with a shadow, and for italics, the inclination angle can be changed in various ways. Then, the degree of deformation may be set in stages so that the deformation converges within the character output area.

Furthermore, in the above embodiment, when a situation occurs in which the modified character pattern cannot converge within the character output area, the normally stored character pattern is expanded as is and expanded so that it converges within the character output area. Although described above, the configuration may be such that the convergence and expansion into the character output area is controlled by changing the degree of overlap in Gothic.

[Effects of the Invention] As explained above, the present invention includes a determination means for determining the possibility of convergence and expansion of a modified character pattern into a character output area set in a storage medium, and a character output area based on the determination result of this determination means. Since the development control means controls re-transformation development on the storage medium so that the transformed character pattern that falls outside the output area converges within the character output area, it is possible to output the transformed character pattern obtained by transforming the character pattern. In addition, when character development occurs that deviates from the set output area, it can be developed in a pattern with no missing characters.

Furthermore, the expansion control means is configured to replace and expand the modified character pattern that falls outside the character output area onto the storage medium with the character pattern read from the character pattern storage means, so that the modified character pattern can be stored without generating a special correction pattern. The character pattern can be expanded into the character output area using the character pattern.

Furthermore, the expansion control means is configured to replace and expand the modified character pattern that falls outside the character output area onto the storage medium while changing the degree of deformation of the modified character pattern. Can be expanded to the output area.

Further, since a notification means for notifying the outside of the judgment result of the judgment means is provided, it is possible to recognize before printing starts that there are characters that cannot be printed in the modified character pattern.

Therefore, it is possible to grasp the occurrence of printing defects caused by deformed character pattern expansion before printing starts, and replace the corresponding deformed character pattern with a specified character pattern or an automatically set character pattern as necessary. This has the advantage of being able to output information without any omissions.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram explaining the configuration of a character output device showing an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 shows the relationship between the character output area set in the frame memory shown in FIG. 1 and the expansion pattern. The schematic diagram shown in Fig. 3 is the R shown in Fig. 1.
A schematic diagram illustrating the structure of a page buffer set in AM, FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of the data structure of the character set information section in the character output device according to the present invention, and FIG. Flowchart illustrating an example of a modified character pattern development processing procedure in an output device, No. 6
7 are schematic diagrams illustrating character pattern generation processing in a conventional character output device, and FIGS. 8(a) and (b) are schematic diagrams illustrating modified character pattern output processing in a conventional character output device. be. In the figure, 1 is a control unit, 2 is a CPU, 2a is a ROM, 2b is a RAM, 3 is a font memory, 4 is a frame memory, and 5
1 is a printer interface section, 6 is a panel section, 7 is an interface section, 8 is a host computer, and 9 is a printer section. Figure (a) (b) Figure (a) Figure (b)

Claims (4)

[Claims] (1) Character output comprising a character pattern storage means that stores a predetermined character pattern corresponding to a character code, and a transformation means that transforms the character pattern stored in the character pattern storage means and outputs the transformed character pattern on a storage medium. In the apparatus, there is provided a determining means for determining the possibility of convergence and expansion of a modified character pattern into a character output area set in the storage medium, and a determining means for determining a modified character pattern that deviates from the character output area based on a determination result of the determining means. A character output device comprising: expansion control means for controlling re-transformation expansion on the storage medium so as to converge within a character output area. (2) The character output device according to claim 1, wherein the development control means replaces and develops the modified character pattern that falls outside the character output area on the storage medium with a character pattern read from the character pattern storage means. (3) Claim (1) characterized in that the expansion control means replaces and expands the modified character pattern that falls outside the character output area onto the storage medium while changing the degree of deformation of the modified character pattern.
The character output device described. (4) The character output device according to claim (1), further comprising a notification means for notifying the judgment result of the judgment means to the outside.