JPH0325685A - Image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To improve the print quality by deciding the equal or different levels of print dot density set at a print means in a bit evolving process based on the print information received from a data source and re-editing the print information optimum to the set print dot density to output this print information to the print means. CONSTITUTION:When the print information is received from a data source, a deciding means 12a decides whether the print dot density designated by the print information is equal to that set at a print means 7 or not. If not, an evolution control means 12b reproduces and evolves the print information received from the data source in the bit map memory 5 in accordance with the print dot density set at the means 7. Thus the print output information optimum to the means 7 is obtained. Then it is possible to prevent the deformation, the omission, etc., of the output images caused by the different levels of print dot density. In such a way, the images are efficiently formed.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus that prints an image while analyzing image information input from a host and generating image data.

[Conventional technology]

Conventionally, this type of image format control device includes a recording control unit that develops an image in a storage unit as a dot image on a memory at a print dot density according to image data from a host computer, etc., and a recording control unit that stores an image as a dot image on a memory, and a The recording section scans a light beam that irradiates the photoreceptor at a speed corresponding to a set print dot density, thereby forming an electrostatic latent image on the photoreceptor.

[Problem to be solved by the invention]

However, in the above conventional example, if the printing dot density set in the recording unit differs from the printing dot density of the image data developed in the memory, problems may occur in the printed image.
For example, there is a problem in that an image output that is different from the specified image size occurs, which impairs printing quality.

This invention was made in order to solve the above-mentioned problems, and by determining the difference in print dot densities set in the printing means during bit expansion processing based on print information sent from a data source, it is possible to It is an object of the present invention to provide an image forming apparatus capable of re-editing printing information optimal for the printing dot density being set and outputting it to the printing means in a printing means capable of printing at a printing dot density.

[Means for Solving the Problems] An image forming apparatus according to the present invention includes a printing means capable of printing print output information at a plurality of print dot densities, and a print dot density designated by print information sent from a data source. and the printing dot density set in the printing means to determine whether the dot densities are different. A development control means for reconstructing and developing data in a bitmap memory in accordance with the print dot density is provided.

(Operation) In this invention, when printing information is sent from the data source, the determining means judges whether the printing dot density specified in the printing information and the printing dots set in the printing means are different, and both When the print dot density does not match, the development control means reconstructs and develops the print information sent from the data source in the bitmap memory according to the print dot density currently set in the printing means, and prints the print information that is most suitable for the printing means. Allows to generate output information.

〔Example〕

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating the structure of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention, in which 1 is a host computer that transmits print information to be printed through serial/parallel communication via an interface 2. Page buffer memory 3
Store in. Reference numeral 4 denotes a character font memory, which stores character fonts for referring to the fonts of character codes input from the host computer 1.

Reference numeral 5 denotes a bitmap memory for developing patterned characters and storing dot images for transfer to the recording section 7. 6 is a parallel-to-serial converter that reads from the bitmap memory 5. The extracted parallel data is converted into serial data and sent to the recording section 7. A clock generator 8 generates an image clock corresponding to the set resolution and inputs this image clock to the parallel-serial converter 6.

By changing the frequency of this image clock, the dot density in the main scanning direction can be changed. 12 is c
pu controls page editing, printing processing, etc. based on a control program stored in the ROM 10. R.A.
M11 is mainly used as a work area while various programs are being executed. A timer 9 measures the interval between horizontal synchronization signals.

In the image forming apparatus configured as described above, when print information is sent from the host computer 1 serving as a data source, the judgment stage 12a selects the print dot specified by the print information.
- It is determined whether the density and the print dots set in the printing means (recording unit 7) are in the same state or not, and if the two print dot densities do not match, the expansion control means 12b controls the host computer 1.
The print information sent from the printer is reconstructed and developed in the bitmap memory 5 according to the print dot density currently set in the recording section 7, thereby generating print output information optimal for the recording section 7.

FIG. 2 is an external configuration diagram illustrating the outline of the recording section 7 shown in FIG. 1, and shows, for example, a light beam printer in which an image is formed by exposing and scanning a light beam onto a photoreceptor 25. be.

In the figure, reference numeral 21 denotes a laser oscillator, which turns on/off a laser beam based on the image signal output from the parallel-serial converter 6.

A scanner driver 22 outputs a drive signal to the scanner motor 23 so that the rotational speed of the polygon mirror 24 of the scanner motor 23C becomes a specified resolution.

The polygon mirror 24 is turned on/off from the laser oscillator 21.
The O FF modulated light beam is deflected and scanned in the axial direction of the photoreceptor 25 rotating at a predetermined speed to form an electrostatic latent image. A beam detector 26 outputs a horizontal synchronization signal for determining the horizontal writing position.

Next, the image type command processing operation according to the present invention will be explained with reference to FIG.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating an example of the image forming processing procedure according to the present invention. Note that (1) to (13) indicate each step. First, the CPU 12 analyzes and determines whether the input data received from the host computer 1 via the interface 2 is a parameter for printing (1), and if YES, stores the parameter in the RAMI 1 (2), and in step (1)
). On the other hand, if the determination in step (1) is NO, the received input data is recognized as character data, and the character data is stored in the page buffer memory 3 (3).

Next, it is determined whether one page's worth of character data has been stored in the page buffer memory 3 (4). If NO, return to step (1); if YES, that is, one page's worth of data has been stored in the page buffer memory 3. When stored in the character font memory 4, the stored data is analyzed and a font corresponding to the specified print dot density is stored in the character font memory 4.
, expand it as a dot image in the bitmap memory 5, and write the line < (5) . Next, it is determined whether one page's worth of development has been completed (6
), if NO, return to step (5); if YES, output the scanner rotation speed to the scanner driver 22 in order to specify the print dot density of the recording section 7, and output the video frequency to the clock generator 8. (7). Next, it is checked and determined whether the scanner rotation speed has been set correctly (8). That is, whether the scanner rotation speed is as set is determined by measuring the interval between horizontal synchronization signals output from the recording section 7. This takes advantage of the fact that the scanning speed changes depending on the print dot density and the transmission interval of the horizontal synchronization signal differs. In this measurement method, for example, the timer 9 is first reset, started at the rising edge of a certain horizontal synchronizing signal pulse, and stopped at the rising edge of the next horizontal synchronizing signal pulse to measure time.

Therefore, if the judgment in step (8) is YES, the process proceeds to step (10), and if NO, the font corresponding to the printing dot density of the recording section 7 is read from the font memory 4, and the image data is transferred to the pit map memory 4. (9).At this time, an error is displayed on the external display device such as an LCD to indicate that the printing dot density was not changed normally.Next, the image redeployment for one page is completed. (10), if NO, proceed to step (9); if YES, wait for the recording unit 7 to enter the standby state (ready state) (11); If it is determined that the contents of the bitmap memory 5 are read, the contents of the bitmap memory 5 are sequentially output to the parallel-serial converter 6 (12), and printing processing is performed sequentially.
Determine whether printing for the page has been completed (13), and select No.
If so, return to step (12), and if YES, return.

In the above embodiment, the printing dot density of the recording unit 7 is set after the image data is developed in the bitmap memory 5, and it is confirmed that the density is as set. When the data has been stored, the printing dot density is set for the recording section 7, and if the CPU 12 determines that it is different from the set one, it is developed in advance with the printing dot density according to the recording section 7. You can leave it as is. Furthermore, in the above embodiment, when the print dot density differs from the set one, the case is described in which the data is redeployed in the bitmap memory 5 according to the print dot density of the recording unit. , the error may be displayed on an external display device such as an LCD, and the control may be stopped. Furthermore, the configuration may be such that the user can select and set whether to print with a different print dot density or whether to print with a print dot density that matches the recording unit 7 from an external input device such as a panel. good. (Effects of the Invention) As explained above, the present invention provides a printing means capable of printing print output information at a plurality of print dot densities, and a printing means capable of printing print output information at a plurality of print dot densities, and a print dot density and printing means instructed by print information sent from a data source. A determining means for comparing the set printing dot densities to determine whether the dot densities are different; and a determining means for determining whether the dot densities are different by comparing the set printing dot densities; Since a development control means is provided which reconstructs and develops the bitmap memory as a dependent, even if the printing dot density according to the received printing information and the printing dot density currently set in the printing device do not match, the setting in the printing device Since the print output information is developed in the bitmap memory in a manner dependent on the print dot density in the print data, it has the excellent effect of efficiently performing image formation that prevents deformation or omission of the output image due to differences in print dot density. play.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating the structure of an m-image forming apparatus showing an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is an external configuration diagram illustrating the outline of the recording section shown in FIG. 1, and FIG. 1 is a flowchart illustrating an example of an image forming processing procedure according to the present invention. In the figure, 1 is a host computer, 2 is an interface,
3 is page buffer memory, 4 is character font memory,
5 is a bitmap memory, 6 is a parallel-to-serial converter, 7 is a recording unit, 8 is a clock generator, 9 is a timer, 10 is a ROM, 11 is a RAM, 12 is a cps, 12a
12b is a determination means, and 12b is an expansion control means. Figure 1 Figure 2 12b = 10 stages of deployment control

Claims (1)

[Claims] A page buffer that stores print information for each page sent from a data source, and print output information for analyzing the print information stored in this page buffer and outputting it to a predetermined printing means in a bitmap memory. an image forming apparatus having a developing means, a printing means capable of printing the print output information at a plurality of print dot densities, and a print dot density set in the printing means as instructed by the print information sent from the data source. determining means for determining whether the dot densities are different by comparing the printed dot densities, and a determining means for determining whether the dot densities are different by comparing the printed dot densities; 1. An image forming apparatus comprising: expansion control means for reconstructing and expanding in a bitmap memory in a subordinate manner.