JPH07108577B2 - output method - Google Patents

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an output method for controlling output processing when output information is generated and output from document information input from an information processing apparatus.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, an output device such as a laser beam printer generates output information from document information (character code, control code) input from an information processing device such as a host computer. Was being output. FIG. 1 shows an example of control codes (control parameters) necessary to control the generation process of output information (for example, a recorded image), and the output form of the output information is determined by this parameter. It FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining the meaning of each of the above parameters, and the reference numerals in FIGS. 1 and 2 correspond to each other. Reference numeral 101 indicates a character interval, and when this is determined, the number of characters that can be printed in one line is determined. Again 1
02 is a line interval, which determines the number of lines that can be printed on one page. Reference numeral 103 denotes a margin, which is used to determine how much left, right, up, and down margins are to be taken from an output medium such as paper. Reference numeral 104 is a character set (for example, a group of characters / symbols of different typefaces such as italic type and bold type), and which character set is used for printing in an apparatus in which a plurality of character sets can be selected. Is to be specified. These control codes (control parameters)
Is necessary for proper printing and is determined for each command system of each application program on the host computer.

Therefore, a control command (control program) for interpreting the document information input from the host computer and controlling the output information generation processing in the output device is built in the output device, and various kinds of data are input from the host computer. The output information was generated and output based on the document information.

A new control command (control program)
It is conceivable to store the data in an external storage means such as a memory cartridge and use it by connecting it to the device, but when there are a plurality of types of cartridges, a setting switch (for example, a dip switch) provided in the output device is provided. The setting of the control command (control program) was switched using.

[0005]

However, in the above-mentioned conventional output device, when the setting of the control command (control program) is changed by using the setting switch (for example, the DIP switch, etc.), the operator may make a mistake. However, there is a problem in that there is a problem that the operator is troublesome.

The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and is a control used when output information is generated from document information input from the outside according to power supply control or reset control of an output device. It is determined whether or not the external storage means for storing information is connected to the output device, and if the external storage means is connected to the output device, the control information stored in the external storage means is selectively set, An object of the present invention is to provide an output method for generating and outputting output information from document information input from the outside using the control information that is selectively set.

[0007]

In order to achieve the above object, the output method of the present invention comprises the following steps. That is,
Using external storage means for storing control information used when generating output information from document information input from the outside,
An output method in an output device for generating output information from document information input from the outside and outputting the output information, wherein the external storage means is connected to the output device according to power supply control or reset control of the output device. If the external storage means is connected to the output device, a selection step of selectively setting the control information stored in the external storage means, and the selection step selected in the selection step And an output control step of generating and outputting output information from document information input from the outside using the control information.

[0008]

In this structure, the control information stored in the external storage means connected to the device is automatically selected according to the power control or the reset control of the output device, and the selected control information is used to externally control the control information. The output information is generated and output from the document information input from.

[0009]

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 2 shows a control circuit diagram for generating a character pattern in this embodiment, in which character code data and control code sent from the host computer are input. Then, a case where a character pattern is recorded by a laser beam printer or the like is shown. In the figure, 201 is a character code code.
Input buffer for temporarily accumulating data and control code, 20
Reference numeral 3 is a CPU including a general-purpose microprocessor, 204 is a built-in character generator that generates a character dot pattern (symbols are also referred to as characters in this embodiment) according to character code data, and 205 is a cartridge-type removable control command. The generator is a ROM (read-only memory) and the like. Further, 206 is a socket for connecting the control command generating device 205, 207 is an output page buffer composed of a RAM having a dot number for one page, and 208 is an interface with the printer for maintaining the output page buffer 207. A printer interface unit for generating a video signal from dot information, 209 is a page printer which is an output device for actually recording an image upon receiving the video signal, and 210 is a table for setting print control parameters as shown in FIG. Therefore, a RAM is used in this embodiment. 211 is a control command generator 2
An attachment / detachment signal indicating whether 05 is connected to the socket 206, 212 is a RAM for generating a form, and 214 is a CP.
It is a U board.

The control command generator 205 is a cartridge type removable type, and the CPU 203 can directly access it from the bus 206b. FIG. 4 shows the control command generator 2
5 is a structural diagram of data stored in 05. FIG. In the figure, reference numeral 301 denotes an identifier, which is used for identifying the cartridge currently mounted because the control command generator (cartridge) 205 is used for multiple purposes. Here, the identifier 1 indicating that the control command sequence is included is written. Reference numeral 302 denotes a control command sequence number indicating the number of control commands, 303 denotes a control command sequence, 30
3a-303h show each control command.

Next, the operation of the circuit shown in FIG. 3 will be described in detail with reference to the flowchart of FIG. The flowchart of FIG. 5 is executed by the CPU 203. The flowchart of FIG. 5 is executed when the power of the apparatus is turned on or when a reset switch (not shown) attached to the apparatus is pressed. Also, an initialization command is sent from the host,
It is executed even after the current print operation is completed.

First, in step 401, initial values of the apparatus are set in the print control parameter table 210. Next, at step 402, the cartridge attachment / detachment signal 211 is sensed to confirm whether or not the cartridge 205 is connected.

If the cartridge is not connected here, the process ends. If it is connected, the process proceeds to step 403, and the identifier of 301 is read and confirmed whether or not there is a control command sequence. In case of another identifier, the corresponding program is executed. When the identifier 1 is recognized, the number of control command sequences in 302 is read in step 404 and the number is set in the counter. Next, one control command is read in step 405, and it is confirmed in step 406 whether or not the control command is correct. If not correct, skip and proceed to step 409. If it is correct, the control command is analyzed in step 407. Then, in step 408, the analysis result is written in the corresponding portion of the print control parameter table 210. Then, in step 409, the counter is decremented by 1, and in step 410
Then, it is judged whether or not the counter is "0", that is, whether or not the reading of all the control commands is completed.

With the above construction, even if the user does not send the control command from the host, or even if the control command cannot be sent, the cartridge 205 is mounted and the power is turned on or the reset switch is pressed. The desired print control parameters are set in the table. Therefore, the desired printing is performed by sending only the print data (character code) from the host.

Even when a control command (control command) is sent from the host side, this device operates normally.

FIG. 6 is a schematic sectional view of a laser beam printer to which the present invention can be applied.

In FIG. 6, reference numeral 21 is an exposure apparatus having a scanner and a laser unit. Reference numeral 22 is a developing unit that visualizes the latent image formed on the photosensitive drum 23. Reference numeral 23 is a photosensitive drum, 24 is a paper feed cassette, and 5 is a paper feed roller that feeds paper one by one from the paper feed cassette 24 to the transport roller 6. Reference numeral 7 denotes a registration shutter, which temporarily stops the sheet conveyed through the conveyance roller 6 by the registration shutter 7 so that the projection of laser light, the rotation operation of the photosensitive drum 23, and the sheet feeding are synchronized. Be taken. Reference numeral 8 denotes a feeding roller for feeding the sheet to the transfer section 9. Reference numeral 10 is a fixing unit that fixes the toner image transferred onto the paper, and 11 is a stacker unit that receives the discharged paper. Also, as mentioned above, 20
5 is a removable character generator, 206 is a socket, 214
Is a CPU board to which the CPU 203, the output buffer 207, etc. are attached.

In the laser beam printer thus constructed, the sequence controller 13 controls a series of operation timing control such as paper conveyance and development. Further, this laser beam printer forms a visible image on the photosensitive drum 23 by turning on / off a laser beam in accordance with a video signal output from the printer interface unit 208.

In this embodiment, the control command for setting the print control parameter is stored in the cartridge 205 and read out and used. However, another control command or the like should be stored in the cartridge 205. The function of the device can be expanded by. An example is shown below.

(1) When a form creation control command sequence is stored.

For example, a control command for generating a ruled line, a character representing an item, a pattern representing a company mark (logo), a pattern representing a signature, etc. are stored in the cartridge 205, and these are stored as described above. A desired form (hereinafter referred to as a form) can be obtained by reading the data and registering it in the form generating RAM 212 as a dot pattern, for example. That is, a character pattern is generated from the character generator 204 in accordance with the character code sent out, and a form pattern is generated from the form generating RAM 212. Therefore, both patterns are superposed on the output page buffer 207 and the character is inserted. A foam is formed. Therefore, the user can use the cartridge 2
By changing 05, a desired form can be output together with the print data.

(2) When a character code (including control command) string is stored.

Normally, the output device cannot print unless a character code (print data) is sent from the host, except for a test print for self-diagnosis. Therefore, the print data is stored in the cartridge 205 together with the control command, these data are read out as described above, and the processing is performed as if the print data was sent from the host computer, and printing is performed. Therefore, printing can be performed only by this apparatus without a host computer, which is very useful when demonstrating the product. Especially cartridge 20
If a character generator for generating a character pattern of a desired typeface is placed in 5, a character pattern suitable for the demonstration can be generated.

Further, in this embodiment, the cartridge 20 is used.
Although 5 is used as a read-only memory, a non-volatile memory or the like that can be written as the memory of the cartridge and whose contents are saved is used, and the control command sent from the host is written and saved in the same format. It may be configured as follows.

The present invention may be applied to a system composed of a plurality of devices, an apparatus composed of one device, or by supplying a program to the system or the device. It goes without saying that it can also be applied when achieved.

[0027]

As described above, according to the present invention, the control information stored in the external storage means connected to the device is automatically selected according to the power control or the reset control of the output device. This has an excellent effect that the output information can be generated and output from the document information input from the outside using the selected control information.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of parameters that require print control.

FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining each parameter shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a block configuration diagram of a control system in the present embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a data configuration diagram of a removable control command generator.

5 is a flow chart for explaining the operation of the control system shown in FIG.

FIG. 6 is a laser as an embodiment to which the present invention can be applied.
It is a schematic block diagram of a beam printer.

[Explanation of symbols]

 201 calculator 202 input buffer 203 CPU 204 built-in character generator 205 removable control command generator 206 socket 207 output page buffer 208 printer interface section 209 page buffer 210 print control parameter table for use RAM 211 Attachment / detachment signal 212 Form generating RAM

Front page continuation (72) Inventor Satoshi Nagata 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Canon Inc. (72) Inventor Kenya Sato 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Canon Inc. (72) Inventor Yoshiaki Kawamura 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Canon Inc. (72) Inventor Soichi Shibuya 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Canon Inc. (72) Inventor Yu Murakami 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo, Canon Inc. (56) References JP-A-60-70461 (JP, A)

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. An output for generating and outputting output information from externally input document information by using an external storage means for storing control information used when generating output information from externally input document information. An output method in a device, according to power supply control or reset control of the output device,
It is determined whether or not the external storage means is connected to the output device, and when the external storage means is connected to the output device, the control information stored in the external storage means is selectively set. An output method comprising: a selection step; and an output control step of generating and outputting output information from document information input from the outside using the control information selected in the selection step. 2. The output method according to claim 1, wherein the control information is a program used when the output information is generated from the document information.