JP3597357B2 - Printer device - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a printer for printing an image formed by a host device, and more particularly to clarification of the switched image processing method when the required memory capacity is reduced by switching the image processing method according to the remaining capacity of the memory. .
[0002]
[Prior art]
Even if you try to print image data in the high gradation mode sent from the host device, when a large amount of data or complicated data is received, if the capacity of the image memory is insufficient, the printer device that switches to the standard mode and prints It is used. In this printer device, when the image processing method is switched, the switching of the image processing method is displayed on the display unit of the printer device, and the user is allowed to select whether to continue or stop the processing with the switched image processing method. Like that.
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, when switching the image processing method, if the user is allowed to select whether to continue or stop the processing by the switched image processing method, the user of the host device must go to the installation location of the printer device. It was not possible to select whether to continue or stop the processing with the switched image processing method, which was very inconvenient.
[0004]
If the printer device selects and sets to continue processing with the image processing method switched in advance, and if the capacity of the image memory is insufficient, the mode is automatically switched to the standard mode and printing is performed. The user of the apparatus does not know whether or not the image memory has run out of capacity with the output method specified by the user, and also does not know which image processing method was used to output the image.
[0005]
The present invention solves such a disadvantage, and when the capacity of an image memory is insufficient, a printer capable of automatically switching the image processing method to print out and clearly indicating the switched image processing method for the convenience of the user. It is intended to obtain a device.
[0006]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
A printer device for developing received image data in an image memory by a designated image processing method and printing the image data , comprising a memory remaining amount detection unit, a processing mode changing unit, a symbol generation unit, and a central processing unit, parts detects the remaining capacity of the image memory, processing mode changing unit, when the remaining capacity of the image memory is detected by the memory remaining amount detection unit is equal to or less than a predetermined amount, the image processing method of the image data to be developed in the image memory Is switched to an image processing method that requires less image memory , the symbol generation unit generates a symbol indicating the image processing method switched by the processing mode change unit, and the central processing unit uses the processing mode change unit. processing the image data in the switched image processing method, for synthesis of a symbol indicating the image processing method generated by the symbol generating unit for processing image data.
[0007]
It is desirable to switch whether or not to generate a symbol indicating the processing method in the symbol generation unit according to an instruction from the host device.
[0008]
Further, it is preferable to select a combination position of the symbol generated by the symbol generation unit in accordance with an instruction from the host device.
[0009]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
The printer device of the present invention is connected to a host device via a network or the like. The printer device has a printer controller, an operation display unit, and a printer engine. The printer controller has a host interface for transmitting and receiving various information to and from the host device, a CPU for performing various processes when printing image data, a ROM, a RAM, a memory remaining amount detecting unit, a processing mode changing unit, a symbol generating unit, and a printer engine. And an engine interface for exchanging various information.
[0010]
When the image data created by the host device is sent to the printer device, the sent image data is stored in the RAM. The CPU develops the image data stored in the RAM by the image processing method designated by the host device and stores the image data in the image memory. While the image data is being developed, the memory remaining amount detection unit detects the remaining amount of the memory capacity of the image memory, compares the detected remaining amount with a predetermined threshold, and determines whether the remaining amount of the image memory is We check if it is below a certain amount. As a result of this confirmation, when the remaining capacity of the image memory becomes equal to or less than a certain amount, the processing mode changing unit switches the image processing method that develops the image data to the image processing method that requires less image memory. When the image processing method is switched, the symbol generation unit generates a symbol indicating the switched image processing method and stores the symbol in the RAM. The CPU develops the image data again by the switched image processing method, combines the symbol indicating the switched image processing method stored in the RAM at a predetermined position, and stores the resultant in the image memory. When the CPU develops one page of the image data by the switched image processing method, the CPU sends the developed image data to the printer engine through the engine interface to execute printing.
[0011]
When the image processing method is switched when the remaining capacity of the image memory becomes a certain amount or less in this way, a symbol indicating the image processing method that has been switched to a predetermined position on the printing paper that has been printed after printing is printed. Therefore, the person who created the image in the host device can immediately recognize that the image was not printed by the specified processing method by checking the output result of the image.
[0012]
Whether or not the symbol indicating the switched image processing method is combined with the image data may be switched according to an instruction from the user of the host device that has formed the image. In this way, by determining whether or not the symbol indicating the image processing method switched by the user of the host device is to be combined with the image data, it is not necessary to combine the symbols when unnecessary.
[0013]
Also, the position at which the symbol indicating the switched image processing method is synthesized can be selected and changed by the host device, and the symbol indicating the switched image processing method is printed at a position that does not affect the output image.
[0014]
【Example】
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of one embodiment of the present invention. As shown in the drawing, a printer device 2 is connected to a host device 1 for forming an image via a network or the like. The host device 1 includes a CPU 11 that executes various processes such as an image forming process, a memory 12 that stores a program such as an image forming process, an image memory 13 that temporarily stores formed image data, and an operation unit 14. It has a unit 15, a printer driver 16, and a printer interface 17. The printer driver 16 sets functions unique to the connected printer device 2. The printer interface 17 exchanges various commands with the printer device 2 and sends image data to the printer device 3. The printer device 2 includes a printer controller 3, an operation display unit 4, and a printer engine 5. The printer controller 3 is used as a work interface, a host interface 21 for transmitting and receiving various information to and from the host device 1, a CPU 22 for performing various processes when printing image data, a ROM 23 storing control programs and processing programs, and the like. It has a RAM 24, an image memory 25, a memory remaining amount detecting unit 26, a processing mode changing unit 27, a symbol generating unit 28, and an engine interface 29 which exchanges various information with the printer engine 5. The memory remaining amount detection unit 26 detects the remaining capacity of the image memory 25 when developing the received data sent from the host device 1 and temporarily stored in the RAM 24 into the image memory 25. When the remaining capacity of the image memory 25 detected by the memory remaining amount detection unit 26 becomes equal to or less than a certain amount, the processing mode change unit 27 switches the processing method of the image data to be developed in the image memory 25. The symbol generation unit 28 generates a symbol indicating the processing method switched by the processing mode changing unit 27 and combines the generated symbol with the image data.
[0015]
The operation of printing and outputting the image data sent from the host device 1 by the printer device 2 configured as described above will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.
[0016]
First, the host device 1 creates an image to be printed by the user, and temporarily stores the created image data in the image memory 13. The printer driver 16 of the host device 1 converts the data into a data format that can be interpreted by the printer controller 3 of the printer device 2 and sends the image data to the host interface 21 in order to absorb the difference in the configuration of the connected printer device 2. If the image data to be printed is color image data, the density of each color component RGB or CMYK is specified for characters, graphics, images, and the like to be printed, and sent to the printer device 2.
[0017]
When the image data is sent from the host device 1, the host interface 21 of the printer device 2 notifies the CPU 22 that the reception of the image data has started (step S1). At the same time, the host interface 21 stores the received image data in the RAM 24. On the other hand, the CPU 22 executes processing according to a program stored in the ROM 23, develops the image data stored in the RAM 24 in an image processing method designated by the host device 1, for example, in a high gradation mode, and prints the image data in the image memory 25. The image data is stored as image data similar to the subsequent output result (step S2). When the transmitted image data is color image data, the normal printer engine 5 needs to develop the image data for four colors in order to form a full-color image by superimposing the four colors of CMYK. The memory 25 stores the density values of the respective color components for developing the image data of four colors. When the image data is being developed, the remaining memory detecting unit 26 detects the remaining capacity of the memory capacity of the image memory 25, compares the detected remaining capacity with a predetermined threshold value, and It is confirmed whether or not the remaining capacity is equal to or less than a certain amount (step S3). When the remaining capacity of the image memory 25 does not become less than the certain amount, the CPU 22 continuously develops image data by the image processing method designated by the host device 1 (step S4), and develops one page (step S5). The CPU 22 communicates with the printer engine 5 through the engine interface 29, notifies the printer engine 5 that the image development has been completed, and issues an activation command to the printer engine 5. When the printer engine 5 is started, the engine interface 29 sends the image data developed in the image memory 25 to the printer engine 5 to execute printing (step S10).
[0018]
Further, when the remaining capacity of the image memory 25 becomes equal to or less than a certain amount (step S3), the processing mode changing unit 27 determines that the image processing method for developing the image data requires less use of the image memory 25, for example, the standard mode. (Step S6). When the image processing method is switched, the symbol generation unit 28 generates a symbol indicating the switched image processing method and stores it in the RAM 24 (step S7). The CPU 22 develops the image data again by the switched image processing method, combines the symbol indicating the switched image processing method stored in the RAM 24 at a predetermined position, and stores the symbol in the image memory 25 (step S8). When one page of image data is developed by the switched image processing method (step S9), the CPU 22 sends the developed image data to the printer engine 5 through the engine interface 29 to execute printing (step S10).
[0019]
When the image processing method is switched when the remaining capacity of the image memory 25 becomes equal to or less than a certain amount in this way, as shown in FIG. Since the symbol 32 indicating the image processing method switched to the predetermined position is printed, the person who created the image in the host device 1 confirms the output result of the image, and immediately determines that the image was not printed by the specified processing method. Can be recognized. Also, by checking the printed symbols, it is possible to know which image processing method has been used to process the image data, and it can be used as a reference when subsequently printing an image.
[0020]
In the above embodiment, when the image processing method is switched when the remaining capacity of the image memory 25 becomes equal to or less than a certain amount, the symbol indicating the switched image processing method is combined with the image data and printed. A symbol print selection switch for selecting whether or not to print a symbol indicating the switched image processing method is provided on the operation unit 14 of the apparatus 1, and the image processing method switched by an instruction of the user of the host apparatus 1 that has formed the image is shown. It may be possible to select whether to print the symbol. In this way, when the user of the host device 1 is unnecessary, it is not necessary to combine symbols.
[0021]
In the above embodiment, when the image processing method is switched when the remaining capacity of the image memory 25 becomes a certain amount or less, a symbol indicating the switched image processing method is synthesized at a predetermined position that does not affect the image data. However, the position at which the symbols are combined may be arbitrarily selected and changed by the host device 1. There are various types of images created by the host device 1 from complex to simple, and depending on the image to be created, combining a symbol at a predetermined position may affect the image. Therefore, for example, on the image creation screen 33 of the host device 1 shown in FIG. 4, a position 34 for synthesizing the symbol 32 when the image processing is switched is clicked and designated so that the position 33 can be designated by the host device 1. Designate the printer device 2. When the image processing method is switched, the CPU 22 of the printer device 2 synthesizes a symbol indicating the image processing method switched to the designated position. In this way, it is possible to print a symbol indicating the image processing method switched to a position that does not affect the output image 30.
[0022]
【The invention's effect】
According to the present invention, a person who has created the image on the host device, by checking the output of the image, can immediately recognize that was not printed in the specified processing method. Also, by checking the printed symbols, it is possible to know which image processing method has been used to process the image data, and it can be used as a reference when subsequently printing an image.
[0023]
Further, by switching whether or not to combine the symbol indicating the switched image processing method with the image data according to the instruction of the user of the host device that has formed the image, it is not necessary to combine the symbols when unnecessary.
[0024]
Further, by selecting and changing the position at which the symbol indicating the switched image processing method is synthesized by the host device, it is possible to print the symbol indicating the switched image processing method to a position that does not affect the output image. .
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the operation of the embodiment.
FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing an image printed and output.
FIG. 4 is a display diagram showing an image creation screen of the host device.
[Explanation of symbols]
1 Host device 2 Printer device 3 Printer controller 5 Printer engine 22 CPU
25 Image Memory 26 Memory Remaining Detector 27 Processing Mode Changer 28 Symbol Generator 29 Engine Interface

Claims (3)

A printer device for developing and printing received image data in an image memory by a specified image processing method , comprising a memory remaining amount detection unit, a processing mode change unit, a symbol generation unit, and a central processing unit,
The memory remaining amount detecting unit detects the remaining capacity of said image memory,
The processing mode changing unit, when the remaining capacity of the image memory that is detected by the memory remaining amount detecting unit is equal to or less than a predetermined amount, the image processing method of the image data to be developed in the image memory, usage of the image memory It switched to the image processing method requires less,
It said symbol generator generates a symbol indicating the image processing method is switched by the processing mode changing portion,
Said central processing unit, which processes the image data in the switched image processing method in the processing mode change unit, to synthesis a symbol indicating the generated image processing method by the symbol generating unit for processing image data Characteristic printer device. 2. The printer device according to claim 1 , wherein whether or not a symbol indicating a processing method is generated by a symbol generation unit in response to an instruction from the host device. The printer apparatus according to claim 1 for selecting the combination position of the symbol generated by the symbol generating unit an instruction from the host device.

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