Printing apparatus and information processing apparatus using the same

Claim 2

In a printing apparatus in which a dot printing element is controlled in accordance with an image information signal transmitted from an image information signal generating unit and a visual image expressed by dots is formed, said dot printing element is controlled through a main control unit, said main control unit comprises a first control means, said first control means of the main control unit controls said dot printing element so as to print a dot having a predetermined dot size in accordance with an existence of a dot signal in said image information signal, the printing apparatus characterized in that, said main control unit includes further a second control means and a control selection means; said second control means of said main control unit controls said dot printing element so as to vary a size of the dot of a dither dot matrix which is expressed in accordance with a gradation signal of said image information signal; and said control selection means of said main control unit operates selectively said first control means of said main control unit and said second control means of said main control unit.

Claim 3

In a printing apparatus in which a dot printing element is controlled in accordance with an image information signal transmitted from an image information signal generating unit and a visual image expressed by dots is formed, said dot printing element is controlled through a main control unit, said main control unit comprises a first control means, said first control means of said main control unit controls said dot printing element so as to print a dot having a predetermined dot size in accordance with an existence of a dot signal in said image information signal, the printing apparatus characterized in that, said main control unit includes further a second control means and a control selection means; said second control means of said control unit controls said dot printing element so as to print the dot in accordance with a gradation signal of said image information signal; and said control selection means of said main control unit operates selectively said first control means of said main control unit and said second control means of said main control unit.

Claim 4

In a printing apparatus in which a dot printing element is controlled in accordance with an image information signal transmitted from an image information signal generating unit and a visual image expressed by dots is formed, said dot printing element is controlled through a main control unit, said main control unit comprises a first control means, said first control means of said main control unit controls said dot printing element so as to print a dot having a predetermined dot size in accordance with an existence of a dot signal in said image information signal, the printing apparatus characterized in that, said main control unit includes further a second control means and a control selection means; said second control means of said control unit controls said dot printing element so as to print the dot in accordance with a gradation signal of said image information signal; and said control selection means of said main control unit operates selectively said first control means of said main control unit and said second control means of said main control unit.

Claim 5

In a printing apparatus in which a dot printing element is controlled in accordance with an image information signal transmitted from an image information signal generating unit and a visual image expressed by dots is formed, said dot printing element is controlled through a main control unit, said main control unit comprises a first control means, said first control means of said main control unit controls said dot printing element so as to print a dot having a predetermined dot size in accordance with an existence of a dot signal in said image information signal, the printing apparatus characterized in that, said main control unit includes further a second control means, a control selection means and a data identifying signal generating means; said second control means of said main control unit controls said dot printing element so as to vary a size of the dot of a dither dot matrix which is expressed in accordance with a gradation signal of said image information signal; and said control selection means of said main control unit operates selectively said first control means of said main control unit and said second control means of said main control unit in accordance with an identifying signal through said data identifying signal generating means of said main control unit.

Claim 6

In a printing apparatus in which a dot printing element is controlled in accordance with an image information signal transmitted from an image information signal generating unit and a visual image expressed by dots is formed, said dot printing element is controlled through a main control unit, said main control unit comprises a first control means, said first control means of said main control unit controls said dot printing element so as to print a dot having a predetermined dot size in accordance with an existence of a dot signal in said image information signal, the printing apparatus characterized in that, said main control unit includes further a second control means, a control selection means and a data identifying signal generating means; said second control means of said main control unit controls said dot printing element so as to vary a size of the dot of a dither dot matrix which is expressed in accordance with a gradation signal of said image information signal; and said control selection means of said main control unit operates selectively said first control means of said main control unit and said second control means of said main control unit in accordance with an identifying signal through said data identifying signal generating means of said main control unit.

Claim 7

A printing apparatus according to claim 2, characterized in that, said main control unit includes further a data identifying signal generating means, said control selection means of said main control unit selects said first control means of said main control unit and said second control means of said main control unit in accordance with a data identifying signal in said data identifying signal generating means of said main control unit.

Claim 8

A printing apparatus according to claim 4, characterized in that, said image information signal generating unit comprises a central processing unit for carrying out a data processing and a control processing, a keyboard for giving a control function and a character data, an image scanner for generating a gradation data by reading out a picture under a control of said central processing unit and for storing said gradation data in a first memory means, and a second memory means for storing a character pattern dot data by converting a character code from said keyboard in a predetermined position of a third memory means.

Claim 9

A printing apparatus according to claim 5, characterized in that, said image scanner reads out a density of the picture in a predetermined gradation and outputs said gradation data in sequence and stores said gradation data in sequence.

Claim 10

A printing apparatus according to claim 5, characterized in that, said central processing unit receives a selection data, and said selection data indicates an effective image data to be printed in a case one of said gradation data and said character pattern dot data is generated by reading out from the data stored in said first memory means and said third memory means.

Claim 11

A printing apparatus according to claim 7, characterized in that, said selection data identifies a gradation data of said image outputted through said image information signal generating unit and a character dot data of said image outputted through said image information signal generating unit.

Claim 12

A printing apparatus according to claim 5, characterized in that, said main control unit comprises a gradation converting circuit for converting said gradation data to a modulating data, and said gradation converting circuit comprises a memory means for storing said gradation data transmitted from image information signal generating unit.

Claim 13

A printing apparatus according to claim 9, characterized in that, said memory means of said gradation converting circuit stores said gradation data and transfers said gradation data to a mean value calculating circuit.

Claim 14

A printing apparatus according to claim 10, characterized in that, a mean value of said gradation data is transmitted to a dither matrix, and said dither matrix stores a matrix data corresponding to a digital data of said gradation data.

Claim 15

In an information processing apparatus using a printing apparatus comprising an image information signal generating unit having an image read out means for generating a gradation information signal and a character pattern information generating means for generating a character pattern information signal, and the printing apparatus in which a dot printing element is controlled in accordance with an image information signal transmitted from said image information signal generating unit and a visual image expressed by dots is formed, said image information signal generating unit includes a transmitting means for transmitting said gradation information signal and the character pattern information signal, and the printing apparatus includes a main control unit for controlling the dot printing element, said first control means of said main control unit controls said dot printing element so as to print a dot having a predetermined dot size in accordance with an existence of a dot signal in said image information signal, the information processing apparatus characterized in that, said main control unit of the printing apparatus includes further a second control means, a control selection means, and a data identifying signal generating means; said second control means of said main control unit in the printing apparatus controls said dot printing element so as to vary a size of the dot of a dither dot matrix which is expressed in accordance with a gradation signal of said image information signal; said control selection means of said main control unit in the printing apparatus operates selectively said first control means of said main control unit and said second control means of said main control unit in accordance with an identifying signal through said data identifying signal generating means of said main control unit.

Claim 16

In an information processing apparatus using a printing apparatus comprising an image information signal generating unit having an image read out means for generating a gradation information signal and a character pattern information generating means for generating a character pattern information signal, and the printing apparatus in which a dot printing element is controlled in accordance with an image information signal transmitted from said image information signal generating unit and a visual image expressed by dots is formed, said image information signal generating unit includes a transmitting means for transmitting said gradation information signal and the character pattern information signal, and the printing apparatus includes a main control unit for controlling the dot printing element, said first control means of said main control unit controls said dot printing element so as to print a dot having a predetermined dot size in accordance with an existence of a dot signal in said image information signal, the information processing apparatus characterized in that, said main control unit of the printing apparatus includes further a second control means, a control selection means, and a data identifying signal generating means; said second control means of said main control unit in the printing apparatus controls said dot printing element so as to vary a size of the dot of a dither dot matrix which is expressed in accordance with a gradation signal of said image information signal; said control selection means of said main control unit in the printing apparatus operates selectively said first control means of said main control unit and said second control means of said main control unit in accordance with an identifying signal through said data identifying signal generating means of said main control unit.

Claim 17

An information processing apparatus using a printing apparatus according to claim 12, characterized in that, said image information signal generating unit comprises a central processing unit for carrying out a data processing and a control processing, a keyboard for giving a control function and a character data, an image scanner for generating a gradation data by reading out a picture under a control of said central processing unit and for storing said gradation data in a first memory means, and a second memory means for storing a character pattern dot data by converting a character code from said keyboard in a predetermined position of a third memory means.

Claim 18

An information processing apparatus using a printing apparatus according to claim 13, characterized in that, said image scanner reads out a density of the picture in a predetermined gradation and outputs aid gradation data in sequence and stores said gradation data in sequence.

Claim 19

An information processing apparatus using a printing apparatus according to claim 12, characterized in that, said central processing unit receives a selection data, and said selection data indicates an effective image data to be printed in a case one of said gradation data and said character pattern dot data is generated by reading out from the data stored in said first memory means and said third memory means.

Claim 20

An information processing apparatus using a printing apparatus according to claim 15, characterized in that, said selection data identifies a gradation data of said image outputted through said image information signal generating unit and a character dot data of said image outputted through said image information signal generating unit.

Claim 21

An information processing apparatus using a printing apparatus according to claim 12, characterized in that, said main control unit comprises a gradation converting circuit for converting said gradation data to a modulating data, and said gradation converting circuit comprises a memory means for storing said gradation data transmitted from image information signal generating unit.

Claim 22

An information processing apparatus using a printing apparatus according to claim 17, characterized in that, said memory means of said gradation converting circuit stores said gradation data and transfers said gradation data to a mean value calculating circuit.

Claim 23

An information processing apparatus using a printing apparatus according to claim 18, characterized in that, a mean value of said gradation data is transmitted to a dither matrix, and said dither matrix stores a matrix data corresponding to a digital data of said gradation data.