JPH0220364A - Printing apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To perform printing output in a system easy to judge the generation position of an unjust control code when said code is received by mounting the second image forming means for adding the image relating to predetermined data to the position of an output image corresponding to the receiving position of the unjust control code when the reception of said unjust control code is detected by a detection means to form an image. CONSTITUTION:When the first parameter incapable of being judged by a printer itself receives an error control code of '150', the character pattern group corresponding to the character code of a character row 'ABC' is successively generated from a character pattern generator 5 to be developed on a frame memory 6a but, with respect to an error control code continuing thereafter, the corresponding character pattern is developed on a frame memory 6b. Thereafter, the character pattern corresponding to a character row 'DEF' is continuously developed on a frame memory 6a. By this method, the state of Fig 4(b) can be obtained and the output image of Fig 4(c) is obtained and an operator can easily judge the point of time outputting a control code having an error.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to a printing device, and more particularly to a printing device that receives character symbol codes and various control codes from the outside to form an image.

[Prior Art] Conventional devices of this type receive a character symbol code (hereinafter simply referred to as character code) and a control code for setting the character code or print format, and form a corresponding output image. .

Normally, the control code consists of several bytes, and in order to distinguish it from the character code, the first byte of the control code is assigned a code that is not used in the character code. The several bytes following the differentiated code indicate the instruction content of the control code.

Now, the printing device needs to judge not only whether the received content is a character code but also what kind of instruction (command) the control code relates to.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] Normally, when a received control code is a code other than a code that instructs a function provided by the printing device itself, printing devices do not take steps such as ignoring the control code. It is being processed.

Therefore, it becomes difficult for the data output side to grasp where in the output data the control code that caused the error is located. Particularly, when it is assumed that an application program is being developed on a data source, that is, a host computer, debugging is not only difficult, but also hinders the work.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problem, and it is an object of the present invention to provide a printing device that is capable of printing out an illegal control code in a format that makes it easy to determine the location of its occurrence when it is received. .

[Means for Solving the Problem] In order to solve this problem, the present invention includes the following configuration.

That is, an input means for inputting print information including at least a control code in chronological order, and a first image forming means for forming an output image based on the print information input by the input means in accordance with the control code in the print information. , a detection means for detecting whether or not a control code inputted by the input means is valid; and, when the detection means detects reception of an unauthorized control code, the output image corresponding to the receiving position of the unauthorized control code. and a second image forming means that adds and forms an image according to predetermined information at the position.

[Operation] In the configuration of the present invention, print information including a control code is inputted by the input means, and an output image is formed by the first image forming means. When the detection means detects the input of an illegal control code, the second image forming means adds and forms an image according to predetermined information at the position of the output image corresponding to the receiving position of the illegal control code. do.

[Embodiments] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

1. Description of Device Configuration (FIG. 1)> FIG. 1 shows the relationship and configuration of the host computer 1, which is a data generation source, and the printing device 2 of the embodiment.

In the figure, 3 is a CPU that controls the entire printing apparatus 2, and includes a ROM 3a that stores processing procedures of the CPU 3 and a RAM 3b that is used as its work area. Incidentally, a program related to a flowchart shown in FIG. 5, which will be described later, is stored in the ROM 3a. 4 is an input interface circuit that receives data from the host computer 1; 5 is a character pattern generator (consisting of a ROM) that generates character patterns corresponding to character codes; Reference numerals 6a and 6b each represent a frame memory for expanding image data that becomes an output image for one page,
Image data related to a first color (for example, black) is developed in the frame memory 6a, and image data related to a second color (for example, red) is developed in the frame memory 6b. Reference numeral 7 denotes a printer unit that synthesizes and outputs images of each output color based on the image data developed in the frame memories 6a and 6b, and the image data is output to this printer unit 7 via a printer interface unit 8. be done. 9 is a switch panel section equipped with various switch groups, part 1
The printer is equipped with a device for switching between a normal print mode and a print mode (referred to as an error notification mode) that notifies you when a control code cannot be identified.

<Description of Printing Mechanism (FIGS. 2 and 3)> FIG. 2 shows the main structure of the printer section 7 of the embodiment, and the principle of its operation will be explained below.

In the following description, the signal output to the printer unit 7 based on the image data stored in the frame memory 6a will be referred to as a first color video signal, and that in the frame memory 6b will be referred to as a second color video signal.

The first color video signal is taken into the semiconductor laser 2o, and the generation of the laser beam 21 is controlled on/off by the input signal. The generated laser beam 21 is reflected by one reflecting surface of a polygon mirror that is rotated at a constant speed by a motor (not shown), and scans in the horizontal direction (referred to as the main scanning direction) on a photosensitive drum 26 that is rotating in the direction shown in the figure. be done. On the other hand, the second
Based on the color video signal, a laser beam 23 generated from a semiconductor laser 22 is scanned in the main scanning direction on a photosensitive drum 26 via a mirror 24 and a polygon mirror 25.

Beam detectors 27 and 28 for detecting each laser beam are disposed outside the photosensitive drum 26, and at least these beam detectors 27 and 28 have signals related to the first and second color video signals. It is designed so that the laser beam is irradiated without any problem. The signals detected by these beam detectors 27 and 28 are used as horizontal synchronization signals based on each video signal. Specifically, when the beam detector 27 detects a laser beam, a corresponding pulse signal is generated, but after a predetermined period of time has elapsed since the detection of this pulse signal, the image data in the frame memory 6a is actually updated. Based on this, driving of the semiconductor laser 20 is controlled. This allows the first
This means that the image forming area on the photosensitive drum 26 based on the color video signal can always be between points A and B. Similarly, the image forming area based on the second color video signal is point C.
, D.

Thereafter, the electrostatic latent image generated by each laser beam irradiation is visualized with toner of each output color in a developing device (not shown), and after being transferred to printing paper, it is sent through a fixing device to a composite output. This will form an image.

FIG. 3 shows a timing chart of each signal related to image formation and an example of its output image. 30 and 31 in the figure are beam detection signals from the beam detectors 27 and 28 described above.

When these beam detection signals are generated, a counter (not shown) starts counting the reference clocks. When the counting of times t and t2 shown in the figure is completed, the image is read out from each frame memory in synchronization with the first and second color video clocks, and each video signal is generated (the semiconductor laser is turned on). Therefore, for the illustrated video signal, the result shown in output image 32 would be obtained.

Explanation of Processing Contents (FIGS. 4 and 5)> Specific processing contents of the printing apparatus of the embodiment based on the above-described configuration and principle will be described below.

In the embodiment, when the error notification mode is selected and the printer receives a control code that it cannot distinguish (hereinafter referred to as an error control code), it generates the character pattern of the error control code and stores it in the frame memory. It will be expanded to 6b. That is, the character pattern corresponding to the error control code is printed out in the second color.

- As an example, a control code for an enlargement instruction will be explained.

It is assumed that the enlargement instruction control code is composed of the data group shown below.

C3i code (9BH) child 1 parameter; 2nd parameter + sp code (20o) + "B" (42o) (however, "H" indicates hexadecimal.) In this data format, the first parameter is the vertical magnification, The two parameters indicate the horizontal magnification, and each uses "100" as the standard magnification (=
1), a total of three parameters can be set: "200°" and "400°". In other words, when data other than these numerical values is received, it becomes an error control code.

Now, as shown in Figure 4(a), the first parameter is °°1
A case will be described in which an error control code of "50" is received. To simplify the explanation, it is assumed that no control code has been received before that.

Now, at this time, a group of character patterns corresponding to the character code of the character string "'ABC" are sequentially generated by the character pattern generator 5, and the character patterns are developed in the frame memory 6a, but the subsequent error control For the code, a corresponding character pattern is developed in the frame memory 6b. After this, the character pattern corresponding to the character string "D E F" is continuously developed in the frame memory 6a.This makes it possible to obtain the state shown in FIG. 4(b), and the character pattern shown in FIG. 4(C) It becomes possible to obtain the output image shown in .In other words, by looking at this output result, the operator can easily determine at what point there is an error in the output control code.

FIG. 5(a) shows the operation processing procedure of the error notification mode of the printing apparatus of the embodiment with the above-described configuration.

This will be explained with reference to (b). Also, although the explanation is mixed,
It is assumed that a flag indicating the development light of the character pattern is secured in the RAM 3b.

First, initialization processing is performed in step S1. At this time, the flag is cleared to 0°°. Then, in step S2, data is received, and in the next step S3, it is determined whether or not the received data is a character code. If it is determined, proceed to step S4,
A corresponding character pattern is generated by a character pattern generator 5. Note that if a control code related to enlargement designation has been received before this, interpolation processing is performed to generate a character pattern of the corresponding magnification.

Then, in the next step S5, the process branches to step S6 or step S7 according to the contents of the flag, and each process is performed.

If the flag is 0°, that is, it is determined that the output color is the first color, the process advances to step S6, and the generated character pattern is developed in the frame memory 6a, or conversely, if the flag is 1. If so, the process advances to step S7, and this character pattern is developed in the frame memory 6b.

In any case, after the character pattern development process is completed, it is determined in step S8 whether to print or not, that is, whether one page's worth of character patterns has been developed into either frame memory 6a or 6b. to judge. When the development process for one page is completed, the contents of each frame memory 6a, 6b are outputted to the printer section 7 to form an image in step S9.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step S3 that the received data is other than a character code, the process advances to step S10 and the following processing is performed.

First, in step S10, it is determined whether the data is a regular control code. If the control code is a regular control code, the process proceeds to step Sll, where it is determined whether the control code is a first color designation code or whether it is a second color designation code in step S13. If it is the first color specification code, set the flag to “Ooo” in step 51.
2) If it is determined that the color is of the second color, the flag is set to 1°. If it is determined that it is a regular control code and not one of the following, step S15
Perform the corresponding processing.

If it is determined in step SIO that the received data is not a regular control code, the process proceeds to step 316 and the corresponding character pattern is developed in the frame memory 6b regardless of the contents of the flag. The reason for using the frame memory 6b as the developing light for the character pattern related to the error control code is that normal character patterns are often printed in the first color, so the character pattern for the error control code is also printed in the same color. This is because if you output it as , it will not be noticeable. Further, since the processing in the normal print mode can omit the processing in step SIO and step S16, a description of the procedure will be omitted.

As described above, according to this embodiment, when an invalid control code is received, it is possible to clarify the reception position of the control code and output it.

In addition, in the embodiment, when an invalid control code is received,
The character pattern of the data contained in it is printed. That is, for example, when three character codes of °゛150°° were received, a character pattern corresponding to the character codes was printed. However, in this case, the first byte where the control code is determined will not be printed, so the characters of each digit when converted into hexadecimal numbers may be printed. For example, in the previous example, the CSI code is "
9B o”, so in this case, it is 9゛.

A pattern corresponding to the character code of and B°° is generated and expanded. According to this, it becomes possible to print the entire structure of the control code.

In addition, in the embodiment, a two-color laser beam printing device is used as an example, but it is perfectly acceptable to use three or more colors, and the printer may use a normal ink ribbon or the like instead of a laser beam. I don't mind.

Further, in the embodiment, a printing apparatus that generates a pattern corresponding to a character code and forms an image has been described as an example, but it may be a printing apparatus that receives image data and forms an image, for example. The point is that any device can be used as long as it forms an image according to information including a control code.

[Effects of the Invention] As explained above, according to the present invention, when an invalid control code is received, it is possible to clarify the reception position and print it.

Furthermore, if the fact that the invalid control code has been received is printed in a color different from the normal printing color, it becomes possible to find its position extremely easily.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a block configuration diagram of a printing apparatus in an embodiment, FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining a printing system in an embodiment, and FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the relationship between a timing chart related to a video signal and an output image in an embodiment. Figures 4(a)-(
c) is a diagram for explaining the processing content when an invalid control code is received, and FIGS. 5(a) and 5(b) are flowcharts showing the control processing content in the embodiment. In the figure, 1... host computer, 2... printing device, 3 CPU, 3 a ROM, 3 b
...RAM. 4... Input interface, 5... Character pattern generator, 6a and 6b... Frame memory, 7... Printer section, 8... Printer interface circuit, 9...
... Switch panel section, 20 and 22 ... Semiconductor laser, 25 ... Polygon mirror 26 ... Photosensitive drum, 27 and 28 ... Beam detector.

Claims (2)

[Claims] (1) An input means for inputting print information including at least a control code in chronological order; and a first image for forming an output image based on the print information input by the input means in accordance with the control code in the print information. a forming means; a detecting means for detecting whether the control code inputted by the input means is valid; and when the detecting means detects reception of an invalid control code,
a second image forming unit that adds and forms an image related to predetermined information at a position of the output image corresponding to a reception position of the illegal control code. (2) The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the second image forming means adds and forms an image related to predetermined information using a color that is used less frequently.