JPH0499657A - Image supplying device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To eliminate a character solidly printed to be scarcely identified by providing a font of a contracted size of the character scarcely identified with respect to a character formed by contracting an em-font. CONSTITUTION:Before a character code is transmitted, when a command for printing in an em is input (in an em mode), a flat indicating it is stood. When a command for printing in a half em is input (in a half em mode), a flat indicating it is stood. In the case of the half em mode, the em-font is first output, then contracted in its lateral width to half, and stored in a RAM 28. When a print command is received, fonts stored in the RAM 28 are developed in a bit map memory 23. When one page is developed completely, its image is transferred to a recorder, and printed.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention] [Industrial application field]

The present invention relates to an image supply device that can print characters of reduced size (eg, half-width, quarter-width, etc.) beautifully without significantly increasing the memory capacity for storing fonts.

[Conventional technology]

Some printers are equipped with an image supply device that constructs an image for one page in a bitmap memory using character images (fonts) and supplies the image to a recording section that executes printing. An example of such a printer is a laser beam printer. FIG. 5 shows a block diagram of a laser beam printer including the image supply device as described above. In FIG. 5, 1 is a laser beam printer, 2 is a panel, 3 is a host computer terminal, 4 is a LAN terminal,
5 is tIf! Terminal, 6 is image supply device, 7 is recording unit, 8
9 is a power supply circuit, 9 is paper (10 to 14 are signal lines. Print data is transmitted from a host computer (not shown) to which host computer terminal 3 is connected to signal line 10.
The image is sent to the image supply device 6 through the image feeder 6. The laser beam printer 1 is not a host computer, but a LAN
(local area network), in which case it is sent through the LAN terminal 4. An operator can give various instructions to the laser beam printer 1 by operating the panel 2. One of the instructions includes an instruction for enlargement processing and an instruction for reduction processing. Instructions and responses between the panel 2 and the image supply device 6 are
This is done through the signal line 11. The detailed configuration of the image supply device 6 will be explained with reference to FIG. 6, and the image for one page created here is sent to the recording section 7 through the signal line 12. In the U section 7, the laser beam is modulated according to the image signal sent from the image supply device 6, and a latent image is formed on the photosensitive drum irradiated with the modulated laser beam. When the recording unit 7 operates, signals exchanged with the image supply device 6 (for example, a synchronization pulse signal from the recording unit 7 to the image supply device f6, an operation command from the image supply device 6 to the recording unit 7) signals) are sent through signal lines 13 and 14. Finally, the latent image on the photosensitive drum is transferred to paper 9, and printing is completed. FIG. 6 is a block diagram of the image supply device 6 described above. The symbols correspond to those in FIG. 5, and 20 is the host I/
F (T/F...interface), 21 is panel I/F, 22 is CPU bus, 23 is focus map memory, 24 is bit map controller, 25 is recording unit T/F
F, 26 is CPU (central processing unit), 27 is PT
C (programmer full timer counter), 28 is RA
M (random access memory), 29 is a program memory, 30 is a character pattern memory, 31 is a removable memory section, 31-1 is a program memory, and 31-2 is a character pattern memory. The program memory 29 stores programs for operating the CPU 26, and the character pattern memory 30 stores font data. Only one font size is stored! (For example, 7.
In some cases, only 2 points), but in some cases, multiple types (for example,
There are also four types (7.2, 9.6, 10, 8, and 12 points). Program memory 31-1. Character pattern memory 31-
The removable memory unit 31 consisting of the program memory 29
It is connected when the capacity of the character pattern memory 30 is insufficient. The RAM 28 provides a working memory area, and is used, for example, to store various data required during the operation of the CPU 26, and to store various data necessary for the operation of the CPU 26, host I/F 20, panel I/F 21, etc.
It stores the data input through the . The bitmap memory 23 provides a place for configuring a print image in the form of a bit map (sap). Here, a print image for one page is constructed. The image signal is sent to the recording section 7 in FIG. 5 via the recording section 1/F25. The bitmap controller 24 controls the timing and address when accessing the bitmap memory 23, or controls data transfer from the map memory 23 to the recording unit 1/F 25. Note that the PTC 27 is used to measure time, generate timing pulses, and the like. The font size for printing characters of print data (character code) sent from a host computer or the like is designated by the host computer or the like. When there is no designation, printing is performed using a font size of a value (default value) predetermined by the image supply device to be applied when no designation is made. Even if the font size is decided, you may be instructed to print some characters in the text in a reduced size (for example, half-width, quarter-width, etc.). The instructions are included in print data from a host computer or the like. That is, before the character hood is sent, a signal is sent to the effect that the characters to be sent should be printed in a reduced size (for example, half-width). Conventionally, two types of processing have been performed as described below.The first processing method is to provide only full-width fonts in the image supply device and reduce the full-width fonts. Obtain characters of reduced size and store them in bitmap memory 2
This will be expanded to 3. The second processing method is to provide the image supply device with a reduced size font (for example, a half-width font) in addition to the full-width font, and to extract and develop the reduced-sized font. These will be explained in detail below. [First Conventional Example of Character Processing] This is an example in which an image supply device is equipped with only full-width fonts and character processing is performed. FIG. 7 shows a flowchart illustrating a first conventional example of character processing in an image supply device. Item numbers ``■'' to ``■'' in the following description correspond to steps ``■'' to ``■'' in FIG. Note that although half-width is taken as an example of the reduced size here, similar processing is performed for other reduced sizes. ■ Receive print data from a post computer, etc. The received print data is temporarily stored in the RAM 28. ■ Determine the type of print data. The print data includes character codes that specify the type of character, print commands that print the previously sent character code, and other signals such as signals that instruct whether to print in full-width or half-width. There are signals. Distinguish these. ■ Prior to sending character codes, a signal is sent that instructs whether to print them in full-width or half-width. If such a signal is received, processing is performed in this step. This processing means that when an instruction to print in full-width characters (full-width mode) is received, a flag is set to indicate that, and when an instruction to be printed in half-width characters (half-width mode) is received, a flag is set to indicate that. This is a process of setting up a . ■ If the next received print data is character code -,
sent to this step. Then, according to the flag set in step ■, proceed to progressive ■ or ■. (2) When in full-width mode, a font (only full-width) corresponding to the character code is retrieved from the character pattern memory 30 or the like. ■ The extracted font (temporarily save it to RAM2B. ■ Even when in half-width mode, extract the font (full-width) that corresponds to the character code. ■ Then, process the width of the extracted full-width font to be reduced to half. .It can be reduced in half by thinning out the dots of the font in half.The half-width characters obtained in this way are temporarily stored in RAM2B.In addition, to process the font in half, it is necessary to use a font that has been created in advance. It takes a long time compared to retrieving the font. ■ When a print command comes after the character code, the font that was once stored in the RAM 28 is expanded to the bitmap memory 23. To the bitmap memory 23 When the development of one page is completed, the image of the one page is supplied to the recording unit 7 and printing is executed. [Second conventional example of character processing] In the following description, item numbers ■ to ■ are as follows: This corresponds to steps ■ to ■ in Figure 8. Here, too, half-width is taken as an example of the reduced size, but
Similar processing is performed for other reduced sizes. The processing in these step numbers is the same as the processing in the steps with corresponding numbers in FIG. Therefore, the explanation will be omitted. (1)-1 This step is a process performed in the half-width mode, and a font corresponding to the transmitted character code is extracted from half-width fonts prepared in advance in the character pattern memory 30 or the like. Then, in the next step ■, RA
Store it in M2B once. (2) This is also the same as the process in step (2) in FIG.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] However, the above-mentioned conventional image supply bag! had the following problems: When character processing was performed in the first conventional example, there were problems in that it took a long time to process the characters, and depending on the type of characters, they were crushed in the horizontal direction, making them difficult to see. When character processing is performed using the second conventional example, the problem is that the memory capacity must be increased to accommodate reduced-sized fonts (e.g., half-width fonts), which increases costs. there were. (Explanation of the problem) In the first conventional example, half-width mode (reduced size mode)
In this case, it is necessary to reduce the width of the full-width font to half in step (3) in FIG. 7, but this takes a long time. Furthermore, some characters such as punctuation marks such as a circle "," or a dot "," or parentheses may collapse and become difficult to see if the width is reduced to half. FIG. 3 shows punctuation marks reduced to half-width size. The figure is greatly enlarged. FIG. 3(A) shows a circle in a full-width font, and D is its diameter. Figure 3 (B) is a half-width character by reducing the width of Figure 3 (A) to half. The shape is an ellipse, the major axis is D, and the minor axis is D/2. Since the shape is crushed in the horizontal direction in this way, when printed, the squares will not be visible. FIG. 4 shows the brackets reduced to half-width size. Figure 4 (a) is a parenthesis in a full-width font, and Figure 4 (Roff) is a half-width character whose width is reduced to half.The height H is the same and the thickness T is halved. Therefore, the result is a smeared shape, and depending on the size of one dot or the width of the white line in the parentheses, the white line disappears.In the second conventional example, the half-width mode (reduced size mode) is used.
When printing in , a half-width font that has been created in advance is used, so the font will not be hard to read due to the shape being distorted. This is because the font is created from the beginning so that even half-width characters can be clearly recognized. be. Figure 2 is a diagram showing the full-width font and half-width font of the punctuation marks, and the half-width font circles in Figure 2 (B) are clearly defined as well as the full-width font circles in Figure 2 (A). It is made to look round. However, in the second conventional example, it is necessary to store half-width fonts in addition to full-width fonts in the character pattern memory 30 or character pattern memory 312 shown in FIG. good first
This requires a larger memory capacity than the conventional example. Therefore, the cost increases. An object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problems. [v! [Means for Solving IB] In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, in the present invention, in an image supply device that can specify the reduction of characters forming an image, characters that are crushed and difficult to see when reduced are reduced to full-width characters. In addition to fonts, it also includes reduced size fonts, and for other characters it includes only full-width fonts, and it includes a determination means for determining whether the received character code has only full-width fonts, and only full-width fonts. The present invention is designed to include means for obtaining reduced characters of characters having a size by reduction processing, and means for obtaining reduced characters of characters having a reduced size font in addition to full-width fonts from a reduced size font.

[For production]

In the image supply device of the present invention, as a font prepared in the character pattern memory, characters that are made by reducing a full-width font (for example, a half-width character made by reducing it to half) are difficult to read. Prepare reduced-size fonts (for example, half-width font), and use only full-width fonts for other characters. By doing so, when printed in reduced-size mode (for example, half-width mode), they will be crushed and difficult to read. In addition, since reduced-sized fonts are not prepared for all characters, the memory capacity is reduced compared to the conventional method, which prepared reduced-sized fonts for all characters. This makes it possible to reduce the cost.

【Example】

Embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. The hardware configuration of the present invention is similar to that shown in Figure 6. In the present invention, the image supply device reduces the full-width font to a reduced size (e.g.
/4-width) For characters that would be difficult to read, in addition to full-width fonts, reduced-size fonts are also prepared, and for other characters, only full-width fonts are provided. Such fonts are stored in character pattern memory 30 or character pattern memory 31-2. The feature lies in the fact that the method of realizing reduced size (e.g., half-width, quarter-width) characters is different depending on the type of characters separated as described above. . FIG. 1 is a flowchart illustrating character processing operations in the image supply device of the present invention. Item numbers ① to ＠ in the following explanation correspond to steps ① to ① in FIG. Note that although the case of half-width as the reduced size will be explained as an example, the same applies to cases of other reduced sizes. ■ Receive print data from a host computer, etc. The received print data is temporarily stored in the RAM 2B. ■ Determine the type of print data. The print data includes character codes that specify the type of character, print commands that print the previously sent character code, and other signals such as signals that instruct whether to print in full-width or half-width. There are signals. Distinguish these. ■ Prior to sending character codes, a signal is sent that instructs whether to print them in full-width or half-width. If such a signal is received, processing is performed in this step. This processing means that when an instruction to print in full-width characters (full-width mode) is received, a flag is set to indicate that, and when an instruction to be printed in half-width characters (half-width mode) is received, a flag is set to indicate that. This process involves setting up a . ■ If it is a character code, determine whether the character is available only in full-width fonts or if it is also available in half-width fonts. It is determined as appropriate for which characters half-width fonts are to be prepared, and these fonts are stored in the character pattern memory 30 or the like. ■ For characters that only have full-width fonts, come to this step. Look at the flag that is set as a result of the process in step (2) and check whether the character should be printed in full-width mode or in half-width mode. ■ If in full-width mode, extract full-width fonts. ■ Temporarily save the retrieved full-width font in the RAM28. ■ In half-width mode, first extract the full-width font. ■ Next, process the width to reduce it by half. Characters for which only full-width fonts are available are limited to those that do not become difficult to see even if the width is reduced to half, so even if you reduce the width to half, it will not become difficult to see. The created half-width characters are also saved in RAM2B (■). [Phase] After checking step (■), if the characters are available in half-width fonts in addition to full-width fonts, this step is reached. Look at the flag set as a result of the processing in step (3) and determine whether it is full-width mode or half-width mode. ■ In the case of full-width mote, extract the full-width font that corresponds to the character code. It is temporarily stored in the RAM 28 (■). ■ In half-width mode, extract half-width fonts,
Although half-width fonts are half-width in size, they are created from the beginning so that the characters can be clearly recognized, so they are not crushed and difficult to read. The extracted half-width fonts are also temporarily stored in the RAM 28 (■). (■) When a print command is received, each font that has been stored in the RAM 2B up to that point is expanded into the bitmap memory 23. When the development for one page is completed, the image is transferred to the recording section 7 in FIG. 5 through the recording section I/F 25 in FIG.
Printing is executed.

【Effect of the invention】

As described above, in the image supply device of the present invention, reduced-sized characters are created by reducing the full-width font as the font prepared in the character pattern memory (for example, reducing the width of the full-width font to half). For characters that are difficult to read (by creating half-width characters), reduced-size fonts are also available, and for other characters, only full-width fonts are available. As a result, there are no characters that are difficult to read even when printed in reduced size (for example, half-width). In addition, since reduced-sized fonts are not prepared for all characters, it requires less memory capacity than conventional systems that prepare reduced-sized fonts for all characters, which reduces costs. I can do it.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

Fig. 1: A flowchart explaining the character processing operation in the image supply device of the present invention Fig. 2: A diagram showing full-width font and half-width font of punctuation marks Fig. 3: Punctuation marks reduced to half-width size Figure 4: A diagram showing the brackets reduced to half-width size Figure 5: Block configuration diagram of a laser beam printer equipped with an image supply device Figure 6: Block of the image supply device Configuration diagram Figure 7...
・Flowchart illustrating a first conventional example of character processing in an image supply device FIG. panel, 3 is a host computer terminal, 4 is a LAN terminal, 5 is a power supply terminal, 6 is an image supply device, 7 is a recording section, 8 is a power supply circuit, 9 is paper, 10 to 14 are signal lines, 20 is a host I/O
F, 21 is panel 1/F, 22 is CPU bus, 23 is bitmap memory, 24 is focus map controller,
25 is the recording unit 1/F, 26 is the CPU, 27 is the PTC 22
8 is a RAM, 29 is a program memory, 30 is a character pattern memory, 31 is a removable memory section, 301 is a program memory, 31-2 is a character pattern memory, D is the diameter of the circle, and H is the height of the parentheses. Patent Applicant: Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd. Representative Patent Attorney Tomi Honjo Tomi D Den 2I Figure 5

Claims (1)

[Claims] In an image supply device that can specify the reduction of characters that form an image, for characters that are considered to be crushed and difficult to see when reduced, in addition to full-width fonts, reduced-sized fonts are also provided, and for other characters, only full-width fonts are provided. a determination means for determining whether the received character code has only full-width fonts; a means for obtaining reduced characters of characters having only full-width fonts through reduction processing; An image supplying apparatus comprising: means for obtaining reduced characters of characters that also have a font size from a font of a reduced size.