JPH06301511A - Method for hard copying display image - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Abstract] [Purpose] To enable execution of hard copy at the original resolution of the hard copy device without re-expanding image information to the frame buffer. [Structure] The image information supplied from the host computer 20 is temporarily stored in the SB 28. When displaying an image on the screen of the CRT 18, the image information on the SB 28 is subjected to predetermined processing and then expanded on the FB 14. When making a hard copy, it is developed on the IM 30. When the image information is expanded on the IM 30, it can be expanded at an enlargement ratio according to the resolution of the copy device 24 and the size of the copy sheet.
A hard copy can be taken at the original resolution of the copying apparatus 24 without re-expansion of the image information on the FB 14.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a method of making a hard copy of an image displayed on a screen using a hard copy device, that is, a display image hard copy method.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, various graphic display devices have been used. The graphic display device has a structure as shown in FIG. 2, for example.

The graphic display device shown in this figure comprises a coordinate operation device 10, a digital differential analyzer (DDA) 12, a frame buffer (FB) 14, a video signal converter 16 and a CRT 18. The coordinate calculation device 10 converts the image information supplied from the host computer 20 into a coordinate system inside the graphic display device. The DDA 12 subjects the image information obtained by the coordinate calculation device 10 to processing such as enlargement, reduction, rotation, etc., and bit-expands it on the FB 14. FB14 is a CRT
The image information is stored in a format corresponding to the 18 screens. The video signal converter 16 generates a video signal based on the image information on the FB 14, and supplies this to the CRT 18.
As a result, the display based on the image information supplied from the host computer 20 is performed.

The graphic display device shown in this figure has a hard copy function. That is, an interface circuit (I / F circuit) 26 for outputting image information to the copy device 24 is provided. Therefore, according to the apparatus shown in this figure, it is possible to make a hard copy of the image displayed on the screen of the CRT 18.

[0005]

However, in the conventional graphic display device having such a configuration, the resolution of the hard copy output is the display device (C).
(RT, etc.) screen resolution is the same. The resolution of the CRT screen is usually about 0.25 mm / 1 dot, and the resolution of the copying machine is 0.04 to 0.1 mm / 1 dot. Therefore, in order to make a hard copy on the entire copy paper in the copying apparatus, it is necessary to enlarge one dot on the FB. For example, if the copy paper size is A4,
1 dot of FB becomes 2 dots vertically and horizontally (that is, 4 times),
In case of A3, 3 dots in each length and width (that is, 9 times)
It is necessary to enlarge and copy each. When such enlargement processing is executed, for example, diagonal straight lines and curves
It stands out like a staircase.

In order to avoid such a problem, F
The image information on B may be rewritten. That is, the image information may be enlarged and redrawn according to the resolution of the copying apparatus and the size of the copy sheet, and one dot of FB may be associated with one dot of the copying apparatus. However, since the image corresponding to the image information on the FB is displayed on the screen of the display device,
The display content of the screen of the display device changes while the copy process is being executed. Therefore, it is necessary to redraw the image information on the FB after the copying is completed.

The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and makes it possible to execute a hard copy at the original resolution of the copying apparatus without redistributing the image information in the FB. With the goal.

[0008]

In order to achieve such an object, the display image hard copy method of the present invention temporarily stores image information supplied from the outside and stores it in the stored image information. After performing a predetermined process, the image is displayed on the screen by expanding it on the FB, and in response to a hard copy request, the stored image information is subjected to a predetermined process and then on an image memory (IM). The image information on the IM is output to a hard copy device.

Further, the hard copy method of the present invention is
Has a storage area corresponding to the resolution of the hard copy device and the size of the medium used for the hard copy.

[0010]

In the display image hard copy method of the present invention, image information supplied from the outside is temporarily stored. When displaying an image on the screen, the stored image information is subjected to a predetermined process and then the image information is expanded on the FB. When a hard copy request is made, the stored image information is subjected to predetermined processing, and then the image information is expanded on the IM. The image information on the IM is output to the hard copy device. Therefore, when executing a hard copy, it is possible to perform a hard copy on the entire medium at the original resolution of the hard copy device without enlarging and expanding the image information on the FB.

Further, in the present invention, the storage area of the IM is set to the storage area corresponding to the resolution of the hard copy device and the size of the medium (copy paper) used for the hard copy. For example, the resolution of the copying machine is 300 dpi
If the medium size is A4, then 2048 × 204
A storage area having a capacity of about 8, or about 4096 × 4096 for A3. By setting in such an area, in the present invention, hard copy according to the resolution of the hard copy device and the size of the medium can be performed.

[0012]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT A preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. Note that the same components as those of the conventional example shown in FIG.

FIG. 1 shows the configuration of a graphic display device according to an embodiment of the present invention. The device shown in this figure has a structure in which a segment buffer (SB) 28 and an image memory (IM) 30 are further added to the structure of the conventional example shown in FIG.

The SB 28 temporarily stores the image information (segment) transmitted from the host computer 20. When displaying an image on the screen of the CRT 18, the coordinate calculation device 10 accesses the SB 28 and performs coordinate conversion processing on the obtained image information. The image information obtained by the coordinate calculation device 10 is processed by the DDA 12 and then the FB 14
Expanded on. Therefore, the process of displaying an image on the screen of the CRT 18 is executed in the same manner as the conventional example except that the coordinate calculation device 10 obtains the image information from the SB 28 instead of the host computer 20.

When a hard copy request is made in the host computer 20 or the like, the coordinate calculation unit 10
Responds to this request by accessing the SB 28 and executing coordinate conversion processing. The DDA 12 bit-expands the image information output from the coordinate calculation device 10 onto the IM 30 instead of the FB 14. The IM 30 has a capacity of about 2048 × 2048 when the resolution of the copying apparatus 24 is 300 dpi and the size of the copy sheet is A4, and a capacity of about 4096 × 4096 when it is A3. In other words, the IM 30 has a storage area corresponding to the resolution of the copy device 24 and the size of copy paper. When the image information is expanded by the DDA 12 on the IM 30 having such a storage capacity, the image information is supplied to the copy device 24 via the I / F circuit 26. The copy device 24
An image is printed on a copy sheet based on the supplied image information.

Therefore, according to this embodiment, since the hard copy is executed using the image information on the IM 30 instead of the image information on the FB 14, the image information on the FB 14 is not destroyed (expansion to the FB 14). The hard copy can be executed at the original resolution of the copying apparatus 24 without being forced to perform the re-copying. In other words,
Since the image information enlarged according to the resolution of the copy device 24 and the size of the copy sheet is developed on the IM 30, redrawing on the FB 14 and the screen of the CRT 18 are not changed. As a result, for example, an oblique straight line or a curved line can be hard-printed with good appearance.

[0017]

As described above, according to the present invention,
The stored image information is subjected to predetermined processing in response to the generation of a hard copy request, expanded on the IM, and the hard copy is executed using the image information on the IM. It is possible to perform hard copy at the original resolution of the hard copy device without re-expanding.

Further, according to the present invention, since the storage area of the IM is a storage area corresponding to the resolution of the hard copy device and the size of the medium used for the hard copy, the stored image information is stored in the hard copy device. It is possible to expand the image at an appropriate magnification and develop the image in the IM, and the above effect can be suitably realized.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a graphic display device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a graphic display device according to a conventional example.

[Explanation of symbols]

 10 coordinate operation device 12 digital differential analyzer (DDA) 14 frame buffer (FB) 16 video signal converter 18 CRT 20 host computer 24 copy device 26 interface circuit (I / F circuit) 28 segment buffer (SB) 30 image memory ( IM)

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁵ Identification code Office reference number FI technical display location H04N 5/76 E 7916-5C

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A hard copy in which image information supplied from the outside is temporarily stored, and the stored image information is subjected to a predetermined process and then expanded on a frame buffer to display an image on a screen. In response to a request, the stored image information is subjected to predetermined processing, expanded on the image memory, and the image information on the image memory is output to a hard copy device. Method. 2. The display image hard copy method according to claim 1, wherein the image memory has a storage area corresponding to the resolution of the hard copy device and the size of the medium used for the hard copy. Copy method.