JP2842010B2 - Printing control device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To obtain printed matter of high accuracy and high image quality by providing a data size converting means converting a segment data group to the integral multiple of the section size being the min. unit of the reading writing of an external memory device. CONSTITUTION:A data size conversion part 407 is stored in a hard disk and transmitted to a second dynamic memory at the time of the starting of an apparatus and a command interpretation part 401, a command execution part 402, a command dictionary part 403, a printing data developing part 406 and the data size conversion part 407 are successively executed by a second CPU. The command interpretation part 401 resolves an arriving command group into individual commands and the command dictionary part 403 inspects whether the arriving command group is a just one and resolves the arriving command group in a work area 404 under the control of the command execution part 402 to form segment data. The data size conversion part 407 converts the data size of the segment data group to the integral multiple of the sector size of the reading.writing of the hard disk.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a printing control device,
In particular, the present invention relates to an improvement in a print control device that prints data created by a computer or the like and expands the data into raster image data.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in this type of printer device (printing device), a capacity of one page of two-dimensional raster image data to be printed is allocated to a semiconductor memory device in a print control device and transmitted from a computer. The raster image data is developed in the storage area based on data such as character codes. Here, the raster image data refers to image data created to correspond to individual pixels included in a print width of one line. Then, after the completion of the development, the printing mechanism of the printer device is started, and the developed raster image data is output to the printing mechanism to print one page.

However, in recent years, the amount of raster image data for one page has been extremely increased due to the increase in resolution and image quality of a printer device, which has only led to an increase in device price due to an increase in semiconductor memory device cost. However, due to restrictions such as power consumption, electrical driving capability of semiconductors, and the upper limit of the amount of data that can be handled by the CPU, it has even been impossible to actually manufacture a printer device. Further, when it is desired to print a large print output, the capacity of the semiconductor memory device has been increased.

[0004] Further, it takes a very long time to develop raster image data in such a huge amount of semiconductor storage devices (memory). For example, when printing an A4-size print output, 1-bit data per pixel is required as in a conventional black-and-white laser printer. If the resolution is about 12 pixels / mm, one semiconductor memory device is required. It was about a megabyte. However, an output size of A0, a resolution of 12 pixels / mm, and 16.7 million colors per pixel (24 bits / pixel) require at least 500 megabytes of memory, dramatically increase the cost and development time of the device, and make it practical. An available device could not be manufactured.

In order to solve such a problem, the applicant of the present application has proposed a print control device capable of reducing the amount of semiconductor memory devices and performing large-size, high-resolution, high-quality printing at a high speed ( Japanese Patent Application No. 4-9511).

In the printing control apparatus of Japanese Patent Application No. Hei 4-9511, graphic information data transmitted from a computer or the like is first converted into line segment data having a position, length, density, etc. in the raster direction. And a line segment data group, which is a set of line segment data for each raster, is configured on a storage device (semiconductor storage device). When the storage capacity of the storage device is exceeded, the line data group exceeds Are sequentially stored in an external storage device (fixed magnetic disk device) which is a secondary storage device.

After the development of the transmitted graphic information data into the line segment data group is completed, the line segment data group necessary for sequentially developing the raster image data into the raster image data is printed as the printing progresses. The data is read from the storage device and developed into raster image data. The developed raster image data is output to the printing mechanism as described above and
Raster printing is performed, and printing of one page is performed by repeating reading of the line segment data group and output to the printing mechanism.

[0008]

However, the print control apparatus disclosed in Japanese Patent Application No. Hei 4-9511 is characterized in that a line segment data group size required for raster image data development and an external storage device (fixed magnetic disk device) are provided. Since it is irrelevant to the sector size, which is the minimum unit for reading / writing data, the boundary of the line segment data group does not match the boundary of the sector.
When reading / writing the line data group corresponding to a specific raster, the line data of other rasters before and after the line data group, that is, unnecessary data are attached, and unnecessary data is processed at the same time. This requires processing time, which reduces the transfer rate of the line segment data group, and takes time for printing processing.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problem, and has been made in order to reduce the amount of semiconductor memory devices and to perform large-size, high-resolution, high-quality printing at a higher speed. It is an object to provide a control device.

[0010]

In order to achieve the above object, a printing control apparatus according to the present invention converts graphic information data created by a computer or the like into line segment data having a position and length in a raster direction. The line data is grouped into a line data group composed of line data of the same raster, stored in an external storage device, the line data is read from the external storage device, and the line data is converted to a raster image. A print control device that converts the data into data and outputs the data to a printing device, wherein the print control device converts the line segment data group into
A data size conversion unit for converting the external storage device into an integral multiple of a sector size, which is a minimum unit of reading / writing, and performing reading / writing processing on the external storage device in units of the sector size; .

[0011]

The print control apparatus receives graphic information data sent from a computer or the like, sequentially converts the graphic information data into line segment data, and stores a line segment data group for each raster in a storage device. When the stored line segment data group exceeds the capacity of the storage device, the data size conversion means increases the data size of the line segment data group by an integral multiple of the sector size which is the minimum unit for reading / writing of the external storage device. And sequentially saves the line data group in the external storage device in units of sector size. Here, the data size of the line segment data group is set to an integral multiple of the sector size, and the data is stored in units of the sector size, so that the processing time for saving to the external storage device can be reduced.

When the development of all the graphic information data is completed, the line segment data group stored in the external storage device is sequentially read in units of the sector size, and is converted into raster image data having a width of several rasters. To the printing mechanism. Here, the reading of the line segment data group from the external storage device is performed at an integral multiple of the sector size, so that the processing time for reading from the external storage device can be reduced. The printing mechanism executes printing based on the converted raster image data.

[0013]

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of a print control apparatus according to the present invention. First, FIG. 1 shows a schematic diagram of an external connection of the embodiment of the print control apparatus.

As shown in FIG. 1, an external connector 101 of the computer 100 and a first interface connector 3 of the print control device 300 are provided so that a print command can be transmitted and received between the computer 100 and the print control device 300.
01 are connected by a first cable 401. In addition, the print control device 300 transmits the
A second cable 402 connects the second interface connector 302 of the print control device 300 and the interface connector 201 of the inkjet printer 200 so that the raster image data, which is one line of data, can be sent to 00.

Next, referring to FIG.
00 will be described in more detail. As shown in FIG. 2, a first interface connector 301 for receiving data from the computer 100 is connected to a first interface circuit 303 for receiving the data. Similarly, a second interface circuit 350 is connected to the second interface connector 302 so that data can be transmitted. A first bus 313 is connected to the other ends of both interface circuits so that data can be exchanged with the first CPU 305. Also, the first bus 313 has a first dynamic memory 306 for storing data, a hard disk drive 30.
A third interface circuit 307 for interfacing with the second CPU 310, and a dual-port memory 3 having two ports for communicating with a second CPU 310 to be described later and capable of accessing the same memory cell from both ports.
A first port 08 is connected to a DMAC 314 for performing direct memory transfer between these devices.

On the other hand, the second bus 312 of the second CPU 310
Is connected to a second port of the dual port memory 308 and a second dynamic memory 311 for storing data. The hard disk 309 stores programs such as a command execution unit 402 shown in FIG. 5 described below and a data size conversion unit 407 according to the gist of the present invention.
The data is transferred to the second dynamic memory 311 when the apparatus starts. 2, illustration of various control signals such as an address bus and a chip select signal is omitted.

The structure of the second interface circuit 350 will be described in detail with reference to FIG. As shown in FIG. 3, a data input terminal of a first-in first-out memory device (hereinafter, referred to as FIFO) 351 is connected to the first bus 313 so that data can be written from the first CPU 305 or the like. A driver 352 for outputting data to the second interface connector 302 is connected to a data output terminal of the FIFO 351. A receiver 353 is provided for receiving a ready signal from the second interface connector 302 and inputting the signal to the control circuit 354. The FI
A control circuit 354 is provided to generate a read signal 359 of the FO 351 and a data clock signal 356 output to the second interface connector 302 via the driver 352.
Clock signal 360 for controlling the timing of 54
Is generated. A clock generation circuit 355 for generating the clock is provided. The empty flag 357 of the FIFO 351 is input to the control circuit 354.

Next, the ink jet printer 200
Will be described in detail with reference to FIG. As shown in FIG. 4, input data and a data clock signal 221 are connected to the interface connector 201 by FIFO2.
A data input terminal 05 and a receiver 202 for inputting to the interface control circuit 204 are connected. A driver 203 for outputting a ready signal 220 generated by the interface control circuit 204 is connected to the interface connector 201. In order to prevent overflow of the FIFO 205, the full flag signal 22 of the FIFO 205
3 is connected to the interface control circuit 204. To write data to FIFO 205,
A write signal 222 is connected from the interface control circuit 204.

The data output terminal of the FIFO 205 has a CP
A bus 230 is connected so that the U 206 can read data, and a dynamic memory 20 for storing data is connected to the bus 230 so that data can be exchanged with each other.
7. First data memory 2 for storing print data to be described later
09, the second data memory 210, the third data memory 21
The first and fourth data memories 212 are connected to each other. The data output terminal of the first data memory 209 is connected to the first head control circuit 213 so that the print data 224 can be sent out, and the read signal 228 of the data read control circuit 208 is controlled by the first signal to control the reading. It is connected to the data memory 209.

On the other hand, the first head control circuit 213 has a head control signal 229 connected to the inkjet head 251 so that the amount of ink ejected from the nozzle 256 can be controlled, and the inkjet head 251 has an ink pump (not shown). So that ink is supplied from pipe 2
60 are connected. Second to fourth data memory 21
0, 211, 212, the first data memory 2
The connection is made in the same manner as in the case from 09. Each of the ink jet heads 251 to 254 has a pipe 260 to 26
For example, inks of four colors, black, yellow, magenta, and cyan, are supplied through 3.

The four ink-jet heads 251 to 251
Drum 269 around which paper 264 is wound
Are arranged rotatably around a shaft 265, and an encoder 266 capable of sending a rotation timing signal to the data read control circuit 208 is attached to the shaft 265. A belt 268 for transmitting the rotation of the motor 267 is stretched around the shaft 265. The four inkjet heads 251 to 254 are arranged on a single bed (not shown), and are configured to be integrally movable in the axial direction of the drum 269.

Next, a series of printing operations of the printing control apparatus 300 having the above configuration will be described with reference to FIGS.
The first CPU 305 (see FIG. 2)
When a command group to be printed is received from, the command group is stored in the hard disk drive 309 first. When all the command groups are input from the computer 100 (see FIG. 1), the first CPU 305 stores the command group in the dual port memory 308 so as to interpret the command group.
A command to instruct U310 is written. When the command group is written to the dual port memory 308, the second CPU
310, a command group is read from the memory 308 and interpreted, and the result is stored in the second dynamic memory 3.
11 is stored.

The procedure of the interpretation will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. FIG. 5 shows a functional block diagram for interpreting the command group and developing the print data. As shown in FIG.
Command interpreter 40 constituting "line segment data converter"
1. A command execution unit 402, a command dictionary unit 403, a print data development unit 406 constituting a “raster image conversion unit”, and a data size conversion unit 407 according to the gist of the present invention are stored in a hard disk 309, At the time of startup, the command is transferred to the second dynamic memory 311 (see FIG. 2), and the command interpreting unit 401, the command executing unit 402, the command dictionary unit 403, the print data expanding unit 406, and the data size converting unit 407
The execution is sequentially performed by 310. Here, the command interpreting unit 401 decomposes the incoming command group one by one, and the command dictionary 403 checks whether the incoming command group is a valid command. The command group arriving under the control of 402 is decomposed to create line segment data. Further, the line segment data storage unit 405 includes a second dynamic memory 311 and a hard disk drive 309. In the second dynamic memory 311, a line segment data buffer 505 described later (see FIG. 6) is secured.
9 is provided with a line segment data auxiliary buffer 507. The data size conversion unit 407 converts the data size of the line segment data group to an integral multiple of the read / write sector size of the hard disk 309.

The commands to be interpreted include "vector data" represented by figures such as straight lines and circles and their coordinate values, and "bit image data" obtained by scanning and digitizing a photograph with an image scanner or the like. "It is included. The command group written in the dual port memory 308 is decomposed into commands one by one by the command interpretation unit 401, and the command dictionary 403 checks whether the command is a valid command. Command execution unit 402
Is the work area 40 on the second dynamic memory 311
While using "4" as a temporary buffer, "vector data" is converted into line segment data, and "bit image data" is separated from the command group and written to the hard disk drive 309. The position information of the converted line segment data and bit image data is stored in the line segment data storage unit 405.

FIG. 6A shows the data structure of the line segment data stored in the line segment data storage unit 405 (see FIG. 5).
FIG. 6A shows a storage state in the second dynamic memory 311. When data in the second dynamic memory 311 overflows, as shown in FIG. 507.

As shown in FIG. 6A, one line segment data D includes an image flag bit 501 for determining whether the data is “vector data” or “bit image data”, a starting point position 502 at which data starts to exist, and , And the end point position 503 of the end of the existence of the data, and the line value data having four fields of the color value 504 for determining the colors such as red and green. The line segment data D is stored in the line segment data buffer 505 divided for each raster in the order of interpretation. The buffer management information 506 holds the usage efficiency of the line segment data buffer 505 and the position of the free area, and the auxiliary buffer management information 508 connects the line segment data buffer 505 to where the line segment data auxiliary buffer 507 is connected. The connection information of the

FIG. 7A shows an example of the order relation of the graphic to be output on the second dynamic memory 311. As shown in FIG. 7A, bit image data 601 such as a photograph, and a rectangle 602 and a circle 603 corresponding to vector data are arranged in the order of command generation. here,
I _s indicates an image start point position of the bit image data 601, I _e indicates an image end point position, and I _c is an image ID indicating the order of appearance of individual bit image data. Also, the C _s is the starting position of the circular 603, C _e is the end position, is C _c is a circular color values. Further, R _s
Is the start position of the rectangle 602, R _e is the end point position, R _c is the color value of the rectangle.

FIG. 7B shows line segment data 604 of the various figures in an arbitrary raster i. FIG.
(B), the case of "vector data", taking a circular 603 as an example, since the same color value C _c of the start point C _s to the end point C _e are continuous, holding the data by line segment data Then, the storage capacity can be reduced. On the other hand, in the “bit image data 601”, there is a low possibility that dots having the same color value continue. Therefore, when converted to line segment data, the data amount increases. In order to solve such a problem, in this embodiment, the image flag bit 501 is used.
(See FIG. _6A ), only the position information where the bit image data is arranged and the image ID (code Ic) are recorded in the line segment data D, and the bit image data is separated and held. That is, the line segment data is held in the semiconductor storage device (second dynamic memory 311), and the bit image data is stored in the external storage device (the hard disk drive 30).
9) Separately and hold. This separation makes it possible to efficiently hold "vector data" and "bit image data", and does not require special handling of bit image data until the development of print data described later, thereby simplifying processing. Help.

When the line segment data is small, the line segment data is stored in the line segment data buffer 505 of the line segment data storage unit 405.
5 overflows the line data buffer 5
A set of line segment data for one raster stored in the line data 05 is referred to as a “line segment data group” and a line segment data auxiliary buffer 507 is used.
Move to At this time, the process in the data size conversion unit 407 is executed by the second CPU 310. That is, FIG.
As shown in (A), first, the data size of the line segment data group DG is divided into sector sizes, which are the minimum units of reading and writing of the hard disk drive 309, and the presence or absence of a remainder is checked. If the remainder is present, as shown in FIG. 8 (B), the line segment data group DG ₁ added with the remainder of the data amount corresponding to the dummy data, if the integral number (shown apparent 3
) Is converted so that the line segment data group is constituted by the sector sizes.

FIG. 9 shows a schematic flowchart of a method for storing line segment data. When line data is generated by expanding print data, first, a line data buffer 505 is generated.
Referring to the buffer management information 506 holding the usage efficiency and the position of the empty area (see FIG. 6A) (step S701), it is determined whether or not line segment data can be written to the line segment data buffer 505 (step S701). S702).

If writing is not possible due to buffer full, the auxiliary buffer management information 508 for holding the use efficiency of the line segment data auxiliary buffer 507 (see FIG. 6B) and the connection information with the line segment data buffer 505 is stored. The transfer destination of a line segment data group to be described later is determined with reference to step S703. Then, the line segment data of one raster held in the line segment data buffer 505 is taken out as a line segment data group, and the line segment data conversion unit 407 is driven by the second CPU 310 to drive the line segment data as shown in FIG. The data size of the data group is converted to an integral multiple of the sector size of the hard disk drive 309 (step S704). Then, the line segment data group is transferred to the line segment data auxiliary buffer 507, and the area occupied by the transferred line segment data group in the line segment data buffer 505 is released (step S70).
5). Next, as connection information of the line data buffer 505 and the line data buffer 507, a pointer indicating where the line data group of the same raster is connected from the line data buffer 505 to the line data auxiliary buffer 507 is held. The sub-buffer management information section 508 is updated (step S706). Step S704
By converting the data size of the line segment data group by
There is no waste in accessing the hard disk drive 309 in sector units, the access time can be reduced, and the transfer rate of line segment data can be maximized.

Thereafter, the currently generated line segment data is written into the line segment data buffer (step S707), and the buffer management information is updated (step S708). Normally, the cost per bit of storage capacity is about 1/100 of that of a semiconductor memory for a hard disk, and the use of a semiconductor memory and a hard disk together and optimizing the data transfer unit result in a significant reduction in speed. A large-capacity, low-priced buffer can be realized without the need.

When the above interpretation is completed for all the command groups, the second CPU 310
08 to issue a command to notify that printing has started.
Upon receiving the command, the first CPU 305 sends the command to the second interface control circuit 350.
0 is written as the start command. If the ready signal 358 is true, the second interface control circuit 350 reads the data from the FIFO one byte at a time and sends it to the second interface connector 302, and simultaneously sends the data clock signal one pulse at a time. The interface control circuit 204 in the inkjet printer 200 fetches the data into the FIFO 205 in synchronization with the data clock signal. The above operation is performed when the FIFO 351 in the print control device 300 becomes empty or when the FIFO
There is no interruption until 5 is full. Further, the interface control circuit 204 includes a FIFO 205
To the CPU 206 that data has been input to the CPU 206. When the CPU 206 sequentially reads the data and recognizes that the command is a start command, the mechanism control circuit (not shown) starts the motor 267 and rotates the drum 269.

Subsequently, the second CPU 310
At step 05, the first print data is read.
The print data is “line data” stored in the line data buffer 505 and the line data auxiliary buffer 507.
And “bit image data” stored in the hard disk drive 507 by reconstructing them. The reconstruction procedure has been previously transferred to the second dynamic memory 311 in order to interpret the command group.
It is executed by the CPU 310.

Next, a method of forming print data will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 10 is a flowchart of the configuration of the print data. FIG. 11 is a buffer on the second dynamic memory 311 for configuring the print data. The line buffer 80 stores the print data.
1, a dot flag row 802 and a dot counter 803. Here, the dot flag row 802 exists by the number corresponding to all the dots in the raster, and is set to ON when writing is performed on the corresponding dots. The dot counter 803 is a counter that counts the number of written dots in the raster.

A method for forming one raster into "print data" will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. First, the line buffer 801 and the dot flag string 80
2. Initialize the dot counter 803 (step S9)
01). Next, it is checked whether or not the corresponding raster has "line segment data" (step S902). If there is no line segment data, the process ends. If there is no line segment data, one data is read (step S903). In step S903, when the line data group stored in the line data auxiliary buffer 507 is read, the size of the line data group is converted to an integral multiple of the sector size at the time of storage, as described above. Since it is not necessary to read unnecessary data as described in the technology, the access time in the hard disk drive 309 can be reduced, and the transfer rate of the line segment data group can be maximized. The line segment data is read from the latest data to the oldest data. That is, reading is performed in a “reverse order”. The start point position of the read line segment data is set in the dot position pointer (step S90)
4). Here, it is checked whether or not the dot counter is equal to the print width (step S905).

Next, the dot flag corresponding to the current dot pointer is checked (step S906), and if it is on, the process jumps to step S912. The image flag of the line segment data is checked (step S907). If it is on, the bit image data is developed (step S908), and the bit image data is written to the corresponding dot of the line buffer (step S910). If it is not bit image data, the color value of the current line segment data is written to the line buffer (step S909).
Next, the dot counter is updated, the dot flag is set to ON (step S911), and the dot position pointer is updated (step S912). If the dot position counter is equal to the end point position of the line segment data, step S90
2, and if not equal, the process returns to step S905 (step S913).

As described above, there are two end conditions, ie, step S902 and step S905, for expanding the print data of "line segment data". In step S902, the line raster data is lost in the corresponding raster. This is a normal termination condition.

Step S905 is a state in which the dot counter has become equal to the print width, that is, a state in which writing has been completed for all dots in the line buffer but "line segment data" remains. In this state, the remaining line segment data is hidden under the new line segment data like a rectangle 602, and there is no need to expand the data.

In step S903, the line data group is stored in the line data storage unit 405 as follows.
Read from. First, the line data group of the corresponding raster is read from the line data buffer 505. And
The auxiliary buffer management information 508 corresponding to the raster is checked, and if a pointer that is connection information between the line data buffer 505 and the line data auxiliary buffer 507 is stored, the pointer is read from the line data auxiliary buffer 507. The line data group indicated by the pointer is read. If the pointer is not stored in the auxiliary buffer management information 508, the line data group of the raster is not stored in the line data auxiliary buffer 507, and thus the reading process is terminated.

The first CPU 305 (see FIG. 2) stores the expanded data in the dynamic memory 207,
The DMAC 314 is instructed to write the expanded data to the second interface circuit 350. At this time, the required capacity of the dynamic memory is at least the data amount of one raster, which can be significantly reduced as compared with the case where one page of expanded data is provided. DMAC 314 is F
When the FIFO 351 becomes full, the writing is interrupted and the FIFO
When O351 becomes empty, writing is started again. While the direct memory transfer is suspended, the first CPU 305 transmits the next line segment data to the second CPU 310.
The data can be transferred from the hard disk drive 309 to the other side, and the developed data can be stored in another area of the dynamic memory 207. Further, the second CPU 310 can continue the expansion work regardless of whether or not the bus 230 is in use, so that high-speed processing is possible. DMAC314
When the expanded data is written to the FIFO 351 by
The data is sent to the inkjet printer 200 and sent to the CPU
206 temporarily stores the data in the dynamic memory 207.

Further, the CPU 206 sequentially stores only the cyan data component in the data memory 212 for one raster, and issues an instruction to cause the data read control circuit 208 to print one raster when the storage is completed. Upon receiving the command, the data read control circuit 208 synchronizes with the output signal of the encoder 266 and
The content of 2 is sent to the fourth head control circuit 216. The fourth head control circuit 216 determines the drive amount based on the data and drives the head 254. The head 254 ejects the ink amount corresponding to the driving amount onto the paper 264. This jet prints one raster image of cyan on paper 264 on drum 269. Next, the CPU 206 moves the head in the axial direction by one raster, and repeats the above operation for the next cyan raster image. Then, when the head 253 reaches the first cyan raster position, the same is repeated from the next on the magenta and cyan data. If the necessary data is not on the dynamic memory 207, the process waits until data is input.

The above operation is repeated for yellow and black, and the printing of the raster is sequentially stopped from cyan until the end of the print data.
64 can be printed in full color. At this time, the capacity required for the dynamic memory 207 in the inkjet printer 200 is the sum of the memory capacity for storing the interval between the heads, which is extremely small for the raster image memory for one page. The same printed matter can be obtained with the memory amount.

It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and various applications are possible. For example, the printing apparatus may be a sublimation type thermal transfer system, or a magneto-optical disk device or a tape drive device may be used instead of the hard disk drive.

[0045]

As is apparent from the above description,
According to the present invention, instead of rasterizing one page of raster image data in a memory, a print command is first converted into “line segment data having a position and a length”, and printing is performed while sequentially expanding the line commands. Therefore, the required memory amount can be remarkably reduced, and therefore, a print control device capable of obtaining high-definition and high-quality printed matter can be configured at low cost. In addition, since the size of the line segment data group is converted to an integral multiple of the sector size of the external storage device, the access time for reading and writing with the external storage device can be reduced, and the transfer rate of the line data group can be maximized. it can.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a connection between a print control device and the outside according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a print control device of the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of an interface control circuit in the embodiment.

FIG. 4 is an internal block diagram of the ink jet printer in the embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a functional block diagram of a procedure for interpreting a command group, performing data size conversion, and developing the data into print data in the embodiment.

FIGS. 6A and 6B are diagrams showing a data structure stored in a line segment data storage unit in the embodiment.

FIGS. 7A and 7B are diagrams showing examples showing the order relation of target graphics in the embodiment.

FIGS. 8A and 8B are explanatory diagrams of creating a line segment data group having an integral multiple of a sector size by adding dummy data to a surplus portion of the line segment data group.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing an outline of a method of storing line segment data in the embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart for configuring one raster into print data in the embodiment.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a buffer for configuring print data in the embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 ... Computer 200 ... Inkjet printer 300 ... Printing control device 401 ... Command interpretation part (line segment data conversion means) 402 ... Command execution part (line segment data conversion means) 403 ... Command dictionary part (line segment data conversion means) 404 ... line was added to the work area (the line segment data converting means) 405 ... line data storage section 406 ... print data rasterizing unit (raster image data converting means) 407 ... data size converting unit DG ... line segment data group DG ₁ ... dummy data Minute data group

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor Kosuke Fukaya 15-1 Naeshiro-cho, Mizuho-ku, Nagoya City, Aichi Prefecture Inside Brother Industries, Ltd. (72) Inventor Yoshiyuki Saka 15th Naeshiro-cho, Mizuho-ku, Nagoya City, Aichi Prefecture No. 1 in Brother Industries, Ltd. (56) References JP-A-2-166497 (JP, A) JP-A-3-136878 (JP, A) JP-A-61-274596 (JP, A) JP-A-3-273 175064 (JP, A) JP-A-4-144760 (JP, A) JP-A-2-45823 (JP, A) JP-A-5-12800 (JP, A) JP-A-4-144760 (JP, A) (58) Field surveyed (Int.Cl. ⁶ , DB name) B41J 5/30 B41J 29/38 G11B 20/10

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. Graphic information data created by a computer or the like is converted into line segment data having a position and a length in the raster direction, and the line segment data is composed of line segment data of the same raster. A print control device for storing the line segment data group in the external storage device in a group, reading the line segment data group from the external storage device, converting the line segment data into raster image data, and outputting the raster image data to a printing device; The control device includes a data size conversion unit that converts the line segment data group into an integral multiple of a sector size, which is a minimum unit of reading and writing of the external storage device, and performs a read / write process to the external storage device. A printing control apparatus wherein the printing is performed in units of the sector size.