JPS58160159A - Generating method of character data - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To prevent the missing of a small line in case of the high speed printing of a dot type printer by compensating data of the thinning section of the character pattern of a dot matrix when thinning the data of the character pattern. CONSTITUTION:A character data generator 6 giving a printer proper 7 data of the character pattern by the dot matrix in response to commands from a CPU2 is provided. Data of the character pattern logically summing adjacent dots are generated in the main scan direction or sub-scan direction of the dot matrix when data are printed at twice speed by the printer. Data of the character pattern logically summing adjacent dots are each generated in the main scan direction or sub-scan direction of the dot matrix when data are printed at quadruple speed by the printer.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a character data generation method for generating character pattern data that enables high-speed printing by a dot printer.

One of the performance features of general Km printers is printing speed, and increasing the printing speed is considered an important issue. For printers that perform
When I try to do this, the printing speed becomes slow (normally when printing with a printer).

Formal documents such as letters require high print quality, but for simple correspondence, high speed is often required even if the print quality is sacrificed to some extent.

For this reason, in conventional dot-type printers, the main scanning lines of the dot matrix are thinned out with odd or even numbers, and the print head is run at twice the normal speed to speed up printing. ing. but,
If such means are taken, the size, shape, etc. of the printed characters are ensured, but there is a disadvantage that there is a considerable risk that particularly fine lines and the like may be lost.

The present invention has been made in consideration of the above points, and does not require any additional processing to compensate for the data that has been thinned out when the data of the dot matrix is thinned out.

For dot-type printers, [5K] can effectively speed up printing, and also print relatively high-quality printing without missing thin lines.
The present invention provides a method for generating character data.

FIG. 1 shows an example of a character pattern based on a dot matrix given to a dot printer, and it is assumed that the character data is stored in a pattern memory (ROM) that can be accessed in units of 8 bits (1 byte). The dot matrix consists of 32 x 32 dots, and in the figure, 32 dots in the main scanning direction are missing one main scanning line.1 In normal times, the data output of the first main scanning line is performed by scanning 4 bytes. When finished, 4 bytes of the next second main scanning line are
The data for one character is read out from the pattern memory by 32 main scans in the same manner.

Now, in order to increase the printing speed, if the printing head movement speed in the printer is twice the normal speed and the dot matrix character pattern data t is fed to the printer as is, the dimensions of the actually printed character will change in the sub-scanning direction ( (Printing direction) tc2 times (The printing speed will not be increased because it will be expanded. Therefore, as a method of I!1 to keep the character size as it is, 32 times the main scanning line It is conceivable to thin out the data of odd or even main scanning lines by 51C.The printing state at this time is as shown in FIG.

In addition, as a second method, 3
2 It is possible to select half of the 16 dots and double the repetition rate of the main scanning line. In this case, the printing condition will be 5 as shown in Figure 5. However, in charge-controlled inkjet printers, the V
It is necessary to C. However, if the character pattern is simply thinned out in the direction of the block scale in the dot-to-tomato matrix configuration as in the first and second methods, the first thin line in the character pattern will be missing, and in the case of extremely thin lines, the printed character I ended up with a lot of data that I couldn't write.5.Furthermore, 1. In order to increase the printing speed [V, the printing head movement speed [V] is four times the normal speed, and the above ill method (or second method) is used to increase the printing speed [V] to ensure the actual size of the printed character. If the data in the vertical and horizontal directions of the character pattern is thinned out and printed using violet in both directions, the character pattern will have 1/4 the number of dots as a whole, as shown in Figure 2, and it will be difficult to distinguish the characters. However, in the character data generation method according to the present invention, the main 7I! Thin out data in the direction and/or sub-scanning direction (
At this time, the data of the line to be thinned out is compensated for by calculating the logical sum of five dots adjacent to each other in the main scanning direction and the sub-scanning direction, or in either direction.

Specifically, when doubling the moving speed of the print head, the main scanning direction of the character pattern by dot matrix or III! Each two adjacent ones in the scanning direction
By calculating the logical sum t of the dot data, it is determined whether the effective dots are black or white, which is reduced to 172, thereby obtaining the data of the character pattern whose lives have been thinned out in one direction - W&6. The figure shows a character pattern obtained by calculating the logical sum of two dots in the sub-scanning direction at tC in the case of double speed printing. According to the results, it can be seen that a character pattern with good print quality can be obtained. Similarly, %@8■ shows a character pattern obtained by taking the logical sum of two dots in the main scanning direction in the case of double speed printing. Note that when performing double speed printing, a character pattern with good print quality can be obtained by appropriately selecting the direction in which the logical sum t of two dots is taken depending on the type of character pattern, ie, English characters, Japanese characters, etc. It will be 5tc.

Also, when increasing the print head movement speed by four times (
The effective dots are reduced to 174 by calculating the logical sum t of the data for each two dots that resonate in both the main scanning and sub-scanning directions of the character pattern based on the dot matrix, and determining whether the dots are black or white; As a result, we get the character pattern Day 9'4 in which the lines in both directions are essentially thinned out. 51CL? There is. i! Figure 4 shows the character pattern at that time.

No 4x speed printing [It can be seen that the shape of the original character pattern is maintained to a sufficient degree for discrimination. The character pattern t'li3 when the logical sum of two dots is taken only in the main scanning direction during quadruple speed printing is shown for reference.

FIG. 9 shows an example of a specific configuration of a T-dot type printer according to the present invention.
Inter 7 blades 1゜CPU 2 that controls the drive of
．． Program memory 3. It is composed of a null printer control system from a work memory 4 and a control register 5, and a character data generating device 6 which supplies character pattern data in a dot matrix to the printer body 7tC in response to commands from the CPU 2. Note that the printer body 7 The maximum number of prints per line is predetermined.

tt='y-y The memory 4 includes a buffer memory for storing character code signals.

In this way, when a character code signal is sent from the outside, an interrupt signal lNTl is sent from the interface l to the CPU 2, and in response, the CPU 2 receives the sent character code signal t.
The buffer memory section in the work memory 4 (accumulates the character code signal for one line).

The CPU 2 issues a print command 'ea$L to the printer body 7 through the control register 51, and at the same time issues a start t to the character data generator 6. 99if''-evening generator 6 is l
Character pattern data is generated by dot matrix processing corresponding to each character, and the data is serially outputted in synchronization with the black rotation of the printer main body 1. The character data generator 6 sends an interrupt signal INT2 to the CPU 2 as soon as it finishes outputting data for %1 character.
V is output and data 'Ik of the next character pattern is calculated. In addition, the program memory 3 is provided with a storage start address table for character pattern data corresponding to character codes and a table for converting character pattern size (printing width). The data set in the device becomes the leading address and print width data after conversion.

The character data generating device 6 is configured as shown in FIG. The size of the dot matrix of the character pattern corresponding to the character code is set to 5 in the register part 81 &C of the Lujisugu 8, and the print width, that is, the size of the dot matrix of the character pattern corresponding to the character code, is set in the register part 91 of the second register 9, respectively.
Also, 1! The register gate section 82 &c of the register 8 indicates that the recent address of the next character to be printed is in the second register 9.
The register section 92 K: is the second register 9. The print width is set respectively. Both $2 registers 9 are output registers for CPt12K, and ClO2 and 4DATA V are each 10W.
RI-1゜l0WRI-2, l0WR2-1, l0WR
It will be set with each command signal in 2-2.
The reason why two sets of register portions g are provided in each of the second register B and the second register 9 is when a cyan electric control type inkjet printer is used as the printer main body 7.

In order to make the print head run continuously in a fixed direction, the character pattern data given to the pulling body 7 must be serial and continuous data.
The operation of setting the start address and print width in the second register 49 and the second register 49 is performed by a program (because the time required for setting differs depending on the type of character, printing conditions, etc., It is a K to make it absorb.・Also, pattern, memory 10
Character pattern data extracted in parallel in the main scanning direction from the dot matrix is converted from the shift register 11 into serial data and sent to the printer body 7 in synchronization with the clock applied from the puller body 7. It has become. Also, when the data in the shift register gate 11 has been outputted and is cleared.

A carry signal is output from the dot counter 12 that counts clockwise, and in response, the next parallel data is loaded into the shift register 11, and at the same time the address counter 1 is loaded with the next parallel data.
3 will be counted up and the address will be updated.
It has become. Furthermore, the content of the address counter 13 and the print width set in the second register g are determined by the comparator 1.
4, a match signal is obtained when l characters of data are output from the shift register 11,
The match signal is the end of data output for one character yc
It also serves as an interrupt signal INT2 to notify the sum of PU2.

The match signal resets the address counter 13 and inverts the flip-flop 15 for register switching, so that the I/O, the second register 9, and the second register 9 each have a 3-state output structure. Since each register gate section 81, 82 and 91, 92 are wired-OR connected, the register section 81 is connected by the q or Q output of the flip-flop 15.
, 91 or 82 , 92 . Also, Address Karan 413
The contents of the adder 16IIc are added to the start address from the second register 9, and each time the address counter 13 counts up, the contents of the pattern memory 10 are added.
% - The start address to be accessed is updated in the order in which the dot matrix is output.

It's in this 5*a! According to the present invention, data for one line in the foot f direction read from the pattern memory 10 is stored in the dot register 17. Similarly, 5 adjacent bits of data for one line read from the pattern memory 10! OR circuit 18. A selector 19 for selecting and switching the OR-processed data. Before the address converter, which converts the output of the address counter 13 so that the main scanning lines are thinned out, there is a selector 21, which selects and switches the address conversion output. A constant generator n generates a constant 7 to access the address after one main scanning line, and an adder n adds the generated constant to the output of the selector 21 by t.

The dot register 17 and the constant generator n are set according to the carry signal output from the dot counter 12! Mono multivibrator 24. When an enable signal is given to the mono-multivibrator 24, the sum is generated.

The first doubling request register section gives a switching command to the selector 21, and gives a counter mode switching command to the dot counter 12.

A second double speed request register 26v for giving a switching command to the selector 19 is provided, and the first and 202nd double speed request registers 25. 4 each set 111II (accordingly, the data of the cow Yarakuda pattern that matches the double speed part character or the quadruple speed part character in the printer main body 7 is summed so that it is sent to the printer main body 7vc.Note 1 Normal printing In the case of 1
21 of 111 and 112! Both the speed request registers 5 and 2s are in the reset state 11, the selectors io and m have their input side selected, and the dot counter 12
is set to the octal counter mode, and the mono multivibrator does not operate and the dot register 1
7 is in the clear state 1lIVC, and the output of constant generation 1i) 22 is zero. First, when performing processing in the main scanning direction in response to a doubling request, A flag is set in register 3 in response to a repeat request.As a result, mono multivibrator U is enabled and dot counter 7 is set.
41 Pattern memory lO by carry signal from snow
It is turned on while the access time of vigA is given, and during that on period, a constant (4 in @ill's example) for accessing the address after one main scanning line is sent from the constant generator n.
occurs. Furthermore, the input side B of the selector 210 is selected by the flag set.

The address converted by the address converter 20 is applied to an adder 23, where it is added to the generated constant from the constant generator n, and further added to the start address in the adder 16, and then added to the pattern memory 109.

Then, the data read from the pattern memory 10 during the access time is set in the dot register 17. Thereafter, when the mono-multivibrator sae is turned off, the pattern memory 10 is accessed a second time, but at that time, the output of the constant generator n becomes zero, so the l specified at that time is Intra-character main scanning line attribution data v! ! ! The input side of the 1 selector 19 is supplied with data obtained by ORing the data in the current main scanning line and the data in the main scanning line delayed by l lines, The data resulting from the logical sum of the 52 adjacent dots in the main scanning direction is converted into serial data by the shift register IIK and sent to the printer main body 7. Note that the address conversion 64 is the main It functions so that the scan line jumps 19 inches.

A specific method for doing this is 1. For example, store in advance a value addressed to 5 that will skip the main scanning line in the BOM, and then use Yl! A method of performing address conversion by counting the number of pixels, or a method of shifting address bits (counting to #) so that the main scanning line is skipped, or a method of performing skip counting using an address counter. When performing processing in the sub-scanning direction in response to a double speed request, the CPU 2K sets a flag in the second double speed request register 2s. . As a result, the dot counter 12 is switched to the quaternary counter mode and the input side B of the vc1 selector 19 is selected so that the dot counter 12 outputs a carry signal in 4 bits, which is half of the 8 bits that are the access unit of the pattern memory 10. be done. Thus, the 8-bit data read out from the pattern memory 1G in the main scanning line direction is converted into 4-bit data by performing the logical sum of two adjacent bits in the OR circuit 18. The OR-processed data in the sub-scanning direction is converted into serial data by the shift register 41Hc and sent to the printer main body 7. In addition, at that time.

The dot counter 12 outputs a carry signal every 4-bit count. Also, when performing processing in the main and sub-scanning directions in response to a quadruple speed request, the %CPU 2 outputs 1[1 and each of the second double speed requests. Set the flags in registers 25 and 26, respectively. As a result, as described above (the data set in the dot register 17 and the data read from the pattern memory 10 are ORed in the main scanning direction), the data is given to the OR circuit 18, where the data is further In the sub-scanning direction (OR processing is performed and the data is given to the shift register IIK, it becomes 5.1 or more). When giving the printer 2
During double-speed printing, a method is adopted to generate character pattern data by taking the logical sum t of 5 dots in the main scanning direction or sub-scanning direction of the dot matrix. We will use a method to generate data in a 5-dot pattern that is the logical sum of 5 dots adjacent to each other in the scanning direction. It has the excellent advantage of being able to print with relatively high quality without any damage.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Figure 1 is a diagram showing an example of one character pattern based on a dot matrix structure, and Figure 112 is a diagram showing a character pattern when lines are thinned out in both the main scanning and IQ scanning directions of the character pattern in Figure 1.
Figure Ia is a diagram showing the character pattern when performing the logical sum of adjacent dots in the main scanning direction in the case of 4x speed printing, and Figure -4 is a diagram showing the character pattern when performing the logical sum of adjacent dots in the main scanning direction in the case of 4x printing. , a diagram showing a character pattern when taking the logical sum of five adjacent dots, and Figure 5 is a diagram showing a character pattern when lines are thinned out in the main scanning direction and the repetition period of the main scanning lines is doubled and summed. , Figure 6 is a diagram showing the yaraku pattern obtained by taking the logical sum of 5 adjacent dots in the sub-scanning direction in the case of double-speed printing, and Figure 7 is a diagram showing line thinning in the main scanning direction. Figure 8 shows the character pattern when printing at double speed (the logical sum of 5 dots in the main and scanning directions); Figure 9 shows the character pattern when the dots are Figure I!10 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of a printing system using a printer of the present invention. 8.9...Register 1G--Pattern memory 11 River shift register 12--Dot counter 13...
Address counter 14-Comparator 15--Flip-flop 16.23-Adder 17--Dot register is--OR circuit 19.21--Selector Addition
...Address converter n ---Constant generator 飄...Mono multivibrator Ang, 26...2x speed request register Applicant's agent Kiyoshi Torii Figure 1 Figure 3 Figure 2 Figure 5 Figure 6 Figure 9

Claims (1)

[Claims] When giving a character pattern data based on a dot matrix structure to a one-door printer, the dot matrix (dot matrix) is applied to the main scanning direction of the IJ bus or 1 when the printer prints at double speed.
iIlA means is adopted to generate character pattern data Ipv obtained by logical sum of dots adjacent to each other in the scanning direction,
To provide a character data generation method which employs means for generating character pattern data by taking the logical sum t of dots adjacent to each other in the main scanning direction and the @scanning direction of a dot matrix during quadruple speed printing of a printer.