Abstract: A method of encoding higher resolution edge information in lower resolution image information, so that the advantageous properties of both types of data can be used in binarization including the steps of receiving text/line art regions of the document image as binary pixels at a text/line art frequency selected to avoid aliasing effects at any edge pixels therein; receiving pictorial regions of the document image as continuous tone pixels, at a frequency lower than the text/line art frequency; applying an anti-aliasing filter to the text/line art regions, to replace some edge pixels with gray level pixels having M levels; converting the document image to a binary representation by converting each of the M levels in the text/line art regions to a binary representation reflecting correct edge position of the text/line art regions, and converting the contone pixels to a binary representation determined by a halftone pattern having N levels selected for the contone pixels.

Abstract: A print control device allows image data to be generated from intermediate data and printed by a printing unit. The print control device comprises generating means for generating image data from intermediate data memorized in an intermediate buffer, a band raster buffer for memorizing said image data generated by said generating means, a cache buffer for allowing cache of said image data generated by said generating means, and control means for reserving said intermediate buffer for memorizing said intermediate data by extending said band raster buffer to a full-raster buffer of one page or deleting said cache buffer, when the capacity of said intermediate buffer is insufficient.

Abstract: A frame buffer control circuit interchanges at least one row address bit with at least one column address bit. In operations such as access to bit-mapped character data, the interchange reduces the number of different row addresses that have to be generated, thereby speeding up access to the frame buffer.

Abstract: Data for C, M, Y and K color nozzle arrays are stored in the same memory area in an image buffer 31'. The data groups, which are to be respectively transmitted to the C, M, Y and K color nozzle arrays at a specific print timing, are stored at continuous addresses in the image buffer 31', as is shown by the shaded portion. In a transfer process, a plurality of bytes for the C, M, Y and K color nozzle arrays, which are at continuous addresses 1 to 20, are read as a data set from the image buffer 31', and at the same time are transmitted to the print head.

Abstract: An electronic white-board apparatus having a writable screen, a reader for reading information on a screen and outputting the information as image data, a printer for printing and recording the image data output from the reader onto a recording medium, and an external interface which is connectable to external equipment and can output the image data from the reader. Data obtained by reading information on the screen can be output to external information equipment such as personal computers for editing purposes. Information written on a screen (1) is read by a CCD (9), and stored in an image memory (13) through an A/D converter (10), magnification and reduction circuit (11), and binarizer (12). A CPU (14) determines whether a laser printer (18) or personal computer (20) is connected to a parallel interface connector (17). If one of them is connected, data stored in the image memory (13) is output to the laser printer (18) or personal computer (20).

Abstract: A tape-shaped label printing device for use with a plurality of freely detachably mountable ribbon cassettes each housing a different color ink ribbon for printing serially on a tape in a plurality of print colors, the label printing device including: an input unit for inputting characters, symbols, and a variety of commands; a data memory unit for storing input text data; a tape/ink ribbon movement mechanism for feeding in a feeding direction the tape and, in synchronization with the tape, an ink ribbon of a mounted one of the ribbon cassettes; a print unit including a print head for printing on the tape via the ink ribbon; a color range setting unit for setting, to text stored in the data memory unit, a printing target range for each of the print colors: print control unit for controlling drive of the tape/ribbon movement mechanism and the print unit to print, on the tape, each printing target range set by the color range setting unit; and an idle feed control unit for, after each printing target range set

Abstract: A printing apparatus and a method for protecting information in a printing apparatus capable of performing a normal operation by restoring valid information even if abnormality occurs in a part of information stored in a non-volatile memory, are provided. This apparatus is equipped with electrically programmable and erasable first and second memory means.

Abstract: A method of printing on a print medium with an ink jet printer uses a first color ink, a second color ink and a black ink. An image area on the print medium has a plurality of pixel locations. Print image data indicate one of a presence and an absence of the first color ink, the second color ink and the black ink at the plurality of pixel locations. A subset of the print image data is defined. A determination is made as to whether the subset of print image data indicates 1) a presence of the first color ink and/or the second color ink within the subset and a presence of the black ink within the subset; 2) a presence of each of the first color ink and the second color ink within the subset at a same corresponding pixel location; and/or 3) a presence of the first color ink and/or the second color ink within the subset at a number of corresponding pixel locations exceeding a threshold value. The print medium is printed on in the image area at an interlace level which is dependent upon the determination.

Abstract: A method of printing patterns for vertically aligning a serial printer that increases the speed of the vertical alignment operation. The method also reduces alignment errors caused by mechanical variation by printing a plurality of aligning patterns on the same line while a carriage body is continuously moved across the printing scan axis, reduces errors caused by the motor due to the accelerating of the carrier body, and also lessens the amount of paper wasted in the vertical alignment process.

Abstract: An information processing apparatus has a derivation unit which derives a usable memory size, and a controller which determines a default value of the memory to be used, according to the derived size.

Abstract: A method of printing user data on a preprinted form comprising: scanning a preprinted form into a computer, and storing pixel data representing the form in a memory, indicating and storing the coordinates of data entry spaces of the scanned form, entering data into the computer at displayed locations within at least one of the indicated data entry spaces, and storing said data, inserting said preprinted form into a printer, and printing the entered data on the preprinted form within locations indicated by said coordinates.

Abstract: A solid area and edges are detected from original data to be printed. An arbitrary raster of the solid area is shifted by a unit of dot-to-dot distance corresponding to a resolution having twice the dot density of the resolution of the original data, while preserving the data representing the edges so that the edges remain unchanged. Printing is performed on the basis of the above shifted data. The shifting of the dot data prevents the generation of mist and makes it possible to print a high-quality image at a high speed. Thus, the invention provides a printing method and apparatus capable of forming a high-quality image at a high speed.

Abstract: An existing table may be read as table data by the position beam of a printer of a wordprocessor, a table may be read by an image input unit such as an image scanner, or may be created using a keyboard. The read or created table data is converted into code data which is stored in a memory. When the stored code data is subsequently read from the memory, the corresponding table can be displayed on an LCD unit, and the user can enter desired data in the displayed table. Thereafter, the entered data can be printed in cells of the table.

Abstract: A driving apparatus for a printer, includes: a first memory for successively storing pixel data by one pixel on the basis of data of a plurality of bits constituting one pixel which represents gradation, which are inputted in parallel, and after storing a predetermined number of pixel data, for outputting in parallel the stored pixel data; a position information signal outputting device provided in accordance with each of outputs from the first memory for outputting a position information signal within a pixel according to each pixel data of the first memory; and a recording device provided in accordance with each of outputs from the position information signal outputting device and driven according to the position information signal within the pixel.

Abstract: A method of interrupting a job currently in the process of being printed from a print queue of a multifunctional printing system with an interrupt job having its origin in one of a first service or a second service is provided. The job currently in the process of being printed includes a page boundary, a set boundary and a job boundary. Additionally, the first service includes a first input device disposed locally with respect to the multifunctional printing system and communicates with a first memory section having one or more jobs developed with the first input device, while the second service includes a second input device disposed remotely of the multifunctional printing system and communicates with a second memory section having one or more jobs developed with the second input device. The method includes selecting a job from one of a first memory section and the second memory section. The job is designated as an interrupt job and transmitted to the print queue.

Abstract: There is provided a method for a producing prints from a print job with a plurality of electronic pages divided into a first print job segment having a first number of electronic pages and a second print job segment having a second number of electronic pages. The method includes the steps of: a) storing the first print job segment in the electronic precollation memory, wherein the first print job segment is about equal to the electronic page capacity of the electronic precollation memory; b) printing N copies of each electronic page of the first print job segment stored in the electronic precollation memory; c) storing the second print job segment in the electronic precollation memory; and d) printing N copies of each electronic page of the second print job segment stored in the electronic precollation memory.

Abstract: An arrangement for emulating printer responses to combinations of applications, control commands and printers stores bit maps of characters which may be produced by a variety of printers connected to the system. Bit maps corresponding to characters within a text string, indicated by a cursor position within a text file are retrieved in accordance with a printer selection, a character code and a table address. The table address is retrieved from memory in response to a selected application profile and one or more selected commands. The printer response is produced in a window of the display as a sequential series of sub-windows corresponding to characters of the text string; each sub-window having a width corresponding to the width of each character image. The display also includes a plurality of menus for facilitating operator selection of a combination of application profiles, commands and printers to be emulated.

Abstract: A printer system and method with reduced memory. A first memory, a second memory, a third memory, and a device which converts image description data to bitmap data, compresses the bitmap data, prints the compressed bitmap data and controls the printing system. The system and method senses when the end of a swath of image description data is stored in the first memory or when the first memory is full, causing a conversion of the image description data to bitmap data. The bitmap data is stored in the second memory. The bitmap data in the second memory is compressed, and the compressed bitmap data is stored in the third memory. When the third memory means is full, the compressed bitmap data is printed. The memory capacity of each of the first, second, and third memories is variable, while the overall cumulative capacity of the first, second and third memories is held constant.

Abstract: A method is provided for a multifunctional printing system in which a first job, developed at a first service, and a second job, developed at a second service are placed in a queue for processing. A first value is assigned to the first job and a second value is assigned to the second job, with the first and second values varying in magnitude as a function of the first and second services. In practice, the first job is placed in the queue and a portion thereof is processed. Subsequently, the second job is placed in the queue and processing of the first job is interrupted by the second job if the second value is greater in magnitude than the first value.

Abstract: A method of preparing digital prints and a device for preparing digital prints are provided which prepare digital prints which are optimal in consideration of individual variations in output devices and exposure light sources due to production. In a state in which a liquid crystal panel is driven by using driving data set by a driving data setting section, a transmitted light amount sensor detects a transmitted light amount of the liquid crystal panel. At a look-up table changing section, contents of a look-up table are corrected on the basis of a relationship of transmitted light amount and driving data at those times.