EP0100853A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Character generator for raster printers
Assignee: International Business Machines Corp
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Filing: 1983-06-29
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2003-06-29
Abstract
Abstract @ A character generator for a raster printer which prints in the page mode. Input format data is generated in response to the input print data which defines for each pattern the position of the pattern on the page, the size of the pattern and the location of the pattern in the raster pattern storage. The format data is accessed for all patterns beginning with a predetermined plurality of scan lines and raster data is accessed in response to the format data to store in an output buffer the raster pattern data in the sequence, size and position defined by the format data. The raster pattern data can then be accessed to control a printer to print on a print medium a pattern defined by the input print data. As shown in the drawing print data is received by channel adapter 14 from the host system channel 10 and is passed to control means 16. The control means includes a microprocessor 24 which processes the received print data and supplies pattern control data to the character generator 32. The pattern control data is entered in storage 34 and is transferred therefrom to pattern shifter 36 under the control of pattern generator 35. Pattern shifter 36 properly positions the data in partial page buffer 38. The data is then gated from the buffer 38 to serializer 39 which supplies the data serial to the raster printer.
Inventors
- 👤 Kenneth Dean Cummings
- 👤 Donald Robin Gould
- 👤 Forrest Clifton Gray
- 👤 Lawrence William Pereira
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 12:49
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06K; G06K15/00; G06K15/02
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
243 words
A character generator for a printing system for printing text and image patterns on a print medium in raster fashion in successive scan lines in response to input data comprising in operative combination: pattern storage means for storing raster pattern data for each of the text and image patterns; input means for generating format data for each pattern specifying the position of the pattern on the page, the size of the pattern and the location of the pattern in said pattern storage means; means for accessing the format data for those patterns beginning within a predetermined plurality of scan lines; output buffer means for storing output raster pattern data for presentation in sequence to an output device for controlling the printing of the pattern defined by the output pattern data; means operable in response to said format data specifying the position of said pattern to be printed to read out said`raster pattern data from said pattern storage means; means operable in response to said format position data and said format size data to store said raster pattern data read out from said pattern storage means into said output buffer means in the sequence, size and position defined by said format data; and means for accessing the data in said output buffer means in the order required for printing by an output means so that a printed pattern corresponding to the pattern defined by said format data can be printed on a print medium.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
243 words
A character generator for a printing system for printing text and image patterns on a print medium in raster fashion in successive scan lines in response to input data comprising in operative combination: pattern storage means for storing raster pattern data for each of the text and image patterns; input means for generating format data for each pattern specifying the position of the pattern on the page, the size of the pattern and the location of the pattern in said pattern storage means; means for accessing the format data for those patterns beginning within a predetermined plurality of scan lines; output buffer means for storing output raster pattern data for presentation in sequence to an output device for controlling the printing of the pattern defined by the output pattern data; means operable in response to said format data specifying the position of said pattern to be printed to read out said`raster pattern data from said pattern storage means; means operable in response to said format position data and said format size data to store said raster pattern data read out from said pattern storage means into said output buffer means in the sequence, size and position defined by said format data; and means for accessing the data in said output buffer means in the order required for printing by an output means so that a printed pattern corresponding to the pattern defined by said format data can be printed on a print medium.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
113 words
A character generator as claimed in claim 1 additionally comprising: first register means and means for loading each component of said format data in one of said first register means; second register means coupled to said first register means; means for generating a control signal indicating said first register means are loaded with format data for a first pattern; means responsive to said control signal to transfer the contents of said first register means to said second register means; and means to load format data into said first register means for a second pattern while the format data in said second register means is used to access raster data for said first pattern.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
29 words
A character generator as claimed in claim 2, wherein said means for loading said first register means comprises loading said format data by means of a cycle steal transfer.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
65 words
A character generator as claimed in claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein said format size data is specified as a height in scan lines and a width in pels; and means for accessing said raster pattern data for a specified pattern and for storing the raster pattern data into said output buffer means for the specified height and width prior to accessing a second pattern.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
55 words
A character generator as claimed in claim 1, 2, 3 or 4, wherein one out of said predetermined plurality of scan lines is specified by a sub scan field in said size format data; and means for setting the starting scan to the specified one of said group of scan lines for each pattern accessed.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
88 words
A character generator as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein said output buffer means has capacity for storing only a fraction of the raster pattern data required to print a page and wherein said means for storing raster pattern data into said output buffer means and said means for accessing raster pattern data in said output buffer means for printing operate concurrently so that said storing and said accessing permits printing of an entire page of the raster patterns on a real time basis.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
58 words
A character generator as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein said means for reading data into said output buffer means additionally comprises: sequencing means for reading data into said output buffer means in a read-modify-write cycle so that said raster pattern data is logically ORed with data previously stored in said output buffer means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
27 words
A character generator as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein a branch/link address to the next pattern is included within said format data.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
30 words
A character generator as claimed in claim 8 additionally comprising means to store said branch/link address to serve as a cycle steal address for the next pattern to be processed.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
239 words
A system for producing text and image patterns on a print medium in raster fashion in successive scan lines in response to input data, said system including a character generator comprising: pattern storage means for storing raster pattern data for each of the text and image patterns; input means for generating in response to said input data format data for each pattern specifying the position of the pattern on the page, the size of the pattern and the location of the pattern in said pattern storage means; means for grouping the format data for all patterns beginning within a predetermined group of scan lines; means for sequentially accessing the format data for each of said patterns within said grouping; output buffer means for storing raster pattern data for presentation to an imaging apparatus for controlling the printing of the pattern defined by the stored raster pattern data; means operable in response to said format position data for accessing the raster pattern data for the specified pattern from said pattern storage means; means operable in response to said size format data and said position format data to load said accessed raster pattern data into said output buffer means in the sequence, size and position specified by said format data; and means to access said raster pattern data stored in said output buffer means in the order required for printing the pattern defined by said input data on a print medium.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
239 words
A system for producing text and image patterns on a print medium in raster fashion in successive scan lines in response to input data, said system including a character generator comprising: pattern storage means for storing raster pattern data for each of the text and image patterns; input means for generating in response to said input data format data for each pattern specifying the position of the pattern on the page, the size of the pattern and the location of the pattern in said pattern storage means; means for grouping the format data for all patterns beginning within a predetermined group of scan lines; means for sequentially accessing the format data for each of said patterns within said grouping; output buffer means for storing raster pattern data for presentation to an imaging apparatus for controlling the printing of the pattern defined by the stored raster pattern data; means operable in response to said format position data for accessing the raster pattern data for the specified pattern from said pattern storage means; means operable in response to said size format data and said position format data to load said accessed raster pattern data into said output buffer means in the sequence, size and position specified by said format data; and means to access said raster pattern data stored in said output buffer means in the order required for printing the pattern defined by said input data on a print medium.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
112 words
A system as claimed in claim 10, additionally comprising: first register means and means for loading each component of said format data in one of said first register means; second register means coupled to said first register means; means for generating a control signal indicating said first register means are loaded with format data for a first pattern; means responsive to said control signal to transfer the contents of said first register means to said second register means; and means to load format data into said first register means for a second pattern while the format data in said second register means is used to access raster data for said first pattern.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
28 words
A system as claimed in claim 11 wherein said means for loading said first register means comprises loading said format data by means of a cycle steal transfer.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
64 words
A system as claimed in claim 10, 11 or 12 wherein said format size data is specified as a height in scan lines and a width in pels; and means for accessing said raster pattern data for a specified pattern and for storing the raster pattern data into said output buffer means for the specified height and width prior to accessing a second pattern.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
54 words
A system as claimed in claim 10, 11, 12, or 13, wherein one out of said predetermined group of scan lines is specified by a sub scan field in said size format data; and means for setting the starting scan to the specified one of said group of scan lines for each pattern accessed.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
87 words
A system as claimed in any one of claims 10 to 14, wherein said output buffer means has capacity for storing only a fraction of the raster pattern data required to print a page and wherein said means for storing raster pattern data, into said output buffer means and said means for accessing raster pattern data in said output buffer means for printing operate concurrently so that said storing and said accessing permits printing of an entire page of the raster patterns on a real time basis.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
57 words
A system as claimed in any one of claims 10 to 15, wherein said means for reading data into said output buffer means additionally comprises: sequencing means for reading data into said output buffer means in a read-modify-write cycle so that said raster pattern data is logically ORed with data previously stored in said output buffer means.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
26 words
A system as claimed in any one of claims 10 to 16, wherein a branch/link address to the next pattern is included within said format data.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
29 words
A system as claimed in claim 17 additionally comprising means to store said branch/link address to serve as a cycle steal address for the next pattern to be processed.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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