JPS62221564A - Information output device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To enable half-breadth characters or double-breadth characters to be output in different colors from those of others by providing an output means which outputs a bit of information in a different color from other bit of information based on the results of a detection means which detects a bit of information of a memory means. CONSTITUTION:The second bit of code information stored in a documentary memory BSM represents a half-breadth bit which is a flag indicating a full- breadth 0 or a half-breadth 1. When information is output in a varying color, a printing point PPOINT is cleared in the step S6.1. In the step S6.2, a single character is retrieved from the documentary memory BSM according to the content of PPOINT, and the code is identified in the step S6.3. In the step S6.3, when the double-breadth bit or the half-breadth bit has been detected, the device proceeds to the step S6.4 to perform color change processing. After this procedure, double-breadth characters or half-breadth characters can be output in different colors from those of other characters.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Technical Field] The present invention relates to an information output device capable of outputting information in multiple colors, and more particularly, to an information output device capable of outputting desired information in a desired color.

[Prior Art] Recently, colorization has been desired for OA equipment, but
Displays in high-class office computers,
This is limited to systemized high-end printers, etc., and it is necessary to store color information in dot units, and a large memory capacity is also required. On the other hand, individuals and general users were only able to make two-color copies by replacing the color toner in a copying machine.

In particular, most word processors and typewriters print in black, and displays, especially for personal use, are only equipped with liquid crystal displays that can display 1 or 2 lines of white and black. It's a black and white world. In addition, printers that print in two or more colors can print in multiple colors by manually replacing the ink ribbon or ink liquid where and when they want to change colors, and repeating the same operation when changing to another color. However, it was very troublesome and difficult to use, and the operability was poor (and the current situation was that "multicolor printing" could not be fully utilized.

[Object] In view of the above points, an object of the present invention is to eliminate the above-mentioned drawbacks and provide an information output device that can output different colors depending on the type of characters such as numbers, symbols, and alphabets.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an information output device that can output desired information in a different color from other information even if code information such as characters and symbols does not include color information.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an information output device that can output the ruby or the document information to which the ruby is attached in a different color from other documents when adding pronunciation (ruby) to document information. be.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an information output device that can output only the ruled line portion in a different color.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an information output device that can output information in different colors depending on fonts such as Mincho and Gothic.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an information output device that can output underlined characters in a different color from other characters.

An object of the present invention is to provide an information output device that can print in color, such as a two-color thermal printer, without complicating the memory configuration, even if the display device is a monochrome display such as a liquid crystal display.

An object of the present invention is to be able to output half-width characters or double-width characters in a different color from other characters.

[Example] Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

It goes without saying that in the present invention, the information output in multiple colors may be any of characters, one symbol, two images, etc., or any combination thereof. Furthermore, it goes without saying that the device referred to in the present invention may be a system, a part of a system, or a single device.

FIG. 1 shows a block diagram of the configuration of an information output device to which the present invention is applicable. In this embodiment, a word processor will be explained as an example.

In Figure 1, the CPU (Central Processing Unit) is connected to the ROM (
Each device connected via the path line BL is controlled by executing the contents of the program memory shown in FIGS. 6 to 10 included in the read-only memory (read-only memory). A keyboard is connected to this pass line BL, and character information input from this keyboard is supplied to and stored in a document memory BSM in a part of RAM (random access memory) via the pass line BL. To display stored character information on a CRT (cathode ray tube), a character generator CG controlled by a CRT controller CRTC is used.
Select the font corresponding to the character code from path line B
This is done by instructions from the CPU via L. In addition to the document memory BSM mentioned above, the RAM contains XPOINT and YPOINT that store the X and Y coordinates of the cursor, an insertion pointer 5KPOINT used when inserting documents, and a start point on the screen that is stored when specifying a range.・End each XY position XS, X
E, YS, YE, text character pointer PP0INT that manages print characters, M that stores the total number of characters in the text
OJISU, flag M to remember whether menu color is specified or not
There is a temporary storage area such as EFLG.

The printer PRT is a device, such as a thermal transfer printer, for printing the text in the document memory BSM described above according to instructions from the CPU. Note that the printer may be an LBP (laser beam printer), an inkjet printer, a bubble jet printer, an impact printer, or the like.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged detailed view of the keyboard KB of FIG. 1. This white character symbol key group MKY is a key group for inputting normal characters and symbols, and the character symbol code corresponding to the key input here is stored in the document memory BSM mentioned above, and the CRT will be displayed.

This group of keys also includes ruby characters and ruled line symbols, which will be described later.

In addition to the above-mentioned character symbol keys, there are also function keys such as a range start key H5KY and a range end key HEKY.

A color change instruction key CHK Y, a print key PKY, an insert print key S PKY, and a group of four keys CKY for moving the cursor up, down, left and right.

Double width key FWKY, underline key U L K Y
, color command key CM K Y , menu key M E
KY, page break key KPKY, etc.

Note that the input code may represent characters and symbols, and may also include input information from a league or the like in which figures, images, etc. are compressed using run length or MH codes.

Other function keys include command 1st registration COMTIKY, command 2nd registration C
There are OM T 2 K Y, etc.

Next, with reference to FIGS. 3-1 to 3-4, the printer PI in FIG. 1? An example of color change of T will be explained.

3-1 to 3-4 are diagrams showing the principle when a thermal head selectively prints two colors on paper via a two-color printing ribbon. In the figure, 19 is a thermal transfer material, 2
0 is an ink layer having a heat-melting ink, and 22 is a first layer.
The ink layer 23 is a second ink layer, and 21 is a support supporting the ink. Further, 4 is a platen, 2 is a recording paper, 17 is a thermal head, and 17a is a heater section (heating element) of the thermal head. Note that a release layer 25 is also provided between the first and second ink layers.

3-1 and 3-2 are schematic cross-sectional views in the thickness direction of the thermal transfer material showing the case where the second ink layer 23 is transferred to the paper 2,
FIG. 3-1 shows the state before recording.

FIG. 3-2 shows a state in which the thermal transfer material 19 is immediately peeled off from the recording paper 2 after being heated by the heater 17a. Due to the adhesive force of the peeling layer 25, only the second ink layer is removed from the second ink layer. The information is recorded on the recording paper 2 as shown at 23a in FIG.

3-3 and 3-4, after being heated by the heater 17a, the transfer material 19 is peeled off from the recording paper by the lever 24 after a predetermined period of time has elapsed. In this case, the release layer 25
Since the adhesive force is strong, both the second ink layer 23a and the first ink layer 22a are recorded on the recording paper 2 as shown in FIGS. 3-4. In other words, the relative difference between the first adhesive force between the support and the first ink layer and the second adhesive force between the first layer and the second layer (3-2
In the figure, the first adhesive force>second adhesive force, and in Figures 3-4, the first adhesive force <second adhesive force> are controlled by changing the peeling time. For details on the thermal transfer method or the ribbon structure, see, for example, Japanese Patent Application No. 60-29883.
1 or, as described in the specification of Japanese Patent Application No. 59-260403, two heat generating parts may be provided. Furthermore, the lever 24 may also be provided within the ink ribbon cassette, on the carriage, or at the home position of the carriage. Furthermore, it goes without saying that the printer to which the present invention is applied may be any type of printer, such as an inkjet printer or a bubble jet printer.

FIG. 4 is a structural diagram of the document memory BSM described above. The document memory DSM has a matrix structure of 10XIO, and from the top left (x+, y+) (x+, yz)...
・・・・・・・・・(xm, ym)・・・・・・・・・
...It can be expressed as (x to , y to ).

An example of code information stored in the document memory will be explained in FIG. 5-1.

The first (0) bit is an underline bit and is a flag indicating whether there is an underline (1) or not (0). The second bit is a font bit and is a flag indicating Mincho (0) or Gothic (1). is a half-width bit and is gold mine (0).

This is a flag indicating half width (1). The third bit is a ruby bit and is a flag indicating a normal character (0) or ruby (1). Note that the code system does not need to be limited to this (for example, the font bits do not need to be included with the character code. For example, it may be determined automatically when a font cartridge is inserted. Also, in the case of half-width, 6 Data for two characters is stored in bits + 6 bits (Figure 5-2 (2).
)). Note that the same applies to the ruled line code.

Figure 5-2 (1) is an example of the output of the character "Co., Ltd." with ruby (pronunciation) added, and Figure 5-2 (2) is a half-width character.

It shows the code representing the character string "kabu" with the ruby flag set to 1, and Figure 5-2 (3) shows the character string "kabu".
It shows a code representing "stock".

Note that a double-width bit may be provided instead of the half-width bit. In that case, the right 12 bits (representing a character) in FIG. 5-1 may be read out, and the character may be controlled to be double-width at the time of output.

Note that the above-mentioned bits do not need to be included with the character information; for example, characters below this bit may be made double-width by using a double-width mark or the like.

Under the above configuration, the operation of the embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIGS. 6 and 7.
This will be explained with reference to the flowchart shown in the figure.

When the device is powered on, it proceeds to step Sl in FIG. In step Sl, the document memo 983M in the RAM is deleted,
Initializes the cursor position coordinates XPOINT and YPOINT, and clears the total number of characters in the text MOJISU.

In step S2, the state of waiting for key input is maintained, and if any key is input, step S4. S5. The process branches to either S6.

When the character symbol key CKY is input, the process advances to step S4, and the character code corresponding to the key is input at the cursor coordinates XPOI.
Store it in the document memory BSM corresponding to NT and YPOINT, advance the cursor, and calculate the total number of text characters MOJISU
Add 1 to After displaying the document memory BSM, the process returns to step S2, where it waits for key input.

When it is determined in step S3 that a function key other than the print key has been input, the process advances to step S5 to perform function key processing such as underlining and range specification.

For example, if it is determined that the underline key ULKY has been pressed, an underline is placed in the character code (see Figure 5-1) on the document memory BSM indicated by the cursor position coordinates XPOINT, YI'01NT in step S5. Set up the bit.

Further, when the double width key WKY is pressed, the double width (stroke) bit shown in FIG. 5-1 is controlled in step S5.

Also, when it is determined in step S3 that it is a print key, step S
Proceed to step 6.

Details of step S6 will be explained with reference to FIG.

(Output with different colors depending on the font) In FIG. 7, in step 36.1, the printer pointer PP0INT is cleared to 0.

In step 86.2, one character is extracted from the document memory BSM according to the contents of the printer pointer PP0INT (see Figures 5-1 and 5-2), and in step 36.3, the Gothic code is determined, and it is determined that the character is not a Gothic code. Time,
The process branches to step S6.5, and if it is a Gothic code, the process branches to step 86.4.

In step 86.4, a color change instruction signal is sent to the printer PRT, and the process proceeds to step 86.5.

In step 86.5, one character is printed. Further, proceed to step 86.6 and set the printer pointer PP0INT.
Take one step forward. - In step 86.7, the total number of text characters MOJISU is compared with the Britapointer PP0INT. If all characters have not been printed, proceed to step 86.2; if all characters have been printed, return to step S2 in Fig. 6 and wait for the key. keep it.

In the embodiments of the present invention, the standard font is Mincho, and the colors are changed when Gothic is selected, but of course the multicolor printing character processing of the present invention can be applied to other fonts as well. It does not detract from the purpose of the device.

Note that, as described above, it is not necessary to have the font information together with the character code. Further, it may have a table that associates the typeface information from the font cart rerun or the typeface information from the character code with the color information to be output.

(Changing the color depending on the character type) Next, a case will be explained in which the color is changed depending on the character type, such as numbers, uppercase letters, lowercase letters, symbols, etc., and the output is changed. In steps S6 and 3 in FIG. 7, for example, by determining whether the number is a number or not based on a character code, if it is a number, the process may proceed to 86.4.

(Double width, half [color changes depending on 11 characters) Step 8
In step 6.3, if a double-width bit or a half-width bit is detected, proceed to step 86.4, perform a color change process, and thereafter output the double-width character or half-width character in a different color from the others. I can do it.

(Output the ruled lines with different colors) Also, in the same way, the ruled line code is output in step 86 of FIG.
3, and only the ruled lines may be changed in color (86°4) and output.

(Change the color of the underlined characters and output 1) Also, if the underline bit is set in step S6.3 in Figure 7 ("Character code determination" in step 86.3 is shown in Figure 5-1) (meaning the entire code information), the process may proceed to step 86.4 and send a color change instruction signal to the printer PRT to output the underlined characters in a different color from the others.

[Effects] As described in detail above, according to the present invention, different colors can be output depending on the type of characters such as numbers and alphabets.

Also, different colors can be output depending on ruby, ruled lines, or font. Alternatively, double-width capital letters and stroke capital letters can be output in a different color from the others.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

Fig. 1 is a block diagram of the configuration of an information output device to which the present invention can be applied. Fig. 2 is a detailed explanatory diagram of the keyboard KB. Figs. 3-1 to 3-4 are explanations of the operation of a two-color thermal printer. Figure 4 shows the structure of the document memory BSM. Figure 5-1 shows an example of the structure of code information. Figure 5-2 shows an example of the output of ruby characters and an explanation of the code information. Figure 6 is a general flowchart of the apparatus. Figure 7 is a control flowchart for multicolor printing.

Claims (2)

[Claims] (1) Storage means for storing at least information to be output. Detection means for detecting information indicating double width or half width from the information stored in the storage means. Information output characterized by comprising a control means for controlling the output means to output the double width information or the half width information in a different color from other information based on the detection result from the detection means. Device. (2) The information output device according to item 1, wherein the information indicating the double width is a double width mark.