Character printing method and device6496275
Abstract
There are provided a character printing method and device. There are defined print size alternatives to be selectively set to a print size of a printing area of a printing object on which is to be printed part or all of a character group including at least one character. One of the print size alternatives is set to the print size. Print image data is formed by extracting part or all of the character group such that the part or all of the character group is adapted to the print size. A print image is printed on the printing object based on the print image data.
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A method of printing characters, comprising the steps of:
defining print size alternatives to be selectively set to a print size of a printing area of a printing object on which is to be printed part or all of a character group including at least one character;
reading said character group from a disc storing said character group;
setting one of said print size alternatives to said print size;
forming print image data by extracting part or all of said character group such that said part or all of said character group is adapted to the set print size; and
printing a print image on said printing object based on said print image data;
wherein the step of reading said character group is carried out by disc playback means for reading said character group from said disc, the disc playback means being constructed such that said disc playback means receives a request signal generated in response to a key operation of a remote controller from said remote controller, and transmitting a portion of a character group to be displayed on a display of said remote controller to said remote controller, said portion corresponding to said request signal, said step of reading said character group being further carried out by sending said request signal and receiving said portion of said character group in place of said remote controller with remote-controlled communication means.
2. A method according to claim 1, including the step of removably mounting one of a plurality of kinds of printing objects in a printing device, as said printing object.
3. A method according to claim 2, wherein the step of setting one of said print size alternatives to said print size includes selecting, from said print size alternatives, one corresponding to the mounted one of said plurality of kinds of printing objects, when said print size varies with a kind of said printing object which is mounted in said printing device.
4. A method according to claim 3, further including the step of detecting said kind of said printing object which is mounted in said printing device, and
wherein the step of setting one of said print size alternatives to said print size includes selecting, from said print size alternatives, one corresponding to the detected kind of said printing object.
5. A method according to claim 1, wherein the step of setting one of said print size alternatives to said print size includes selection of one of said print size alternatives by the user.
6. A method according to claim 1, wherein said print size alternatives include sizes of a plurality of kinds of labels.
7. A method according to claim 6, wherein said plurality of kinds of labels include a disc label to be attached to a front surface of a disc cartridge, a case label to be attached to a front surface of a case of said disc cartridge, and a side label to be attached to a side surface of said disc cartridge or said case.
8. A method according to claim 6, wherein the step of setting one of said print size alternatives to said print size includes selecting, from said print size alternatives, one corresponding to a size of a half-die-cut label, when said printing object is formed with said half-die-cut label.
9. A method according to claim 1, wherein said printing object is a tape.
10. A method according to claim 1, wherein said disc is a mini disc.
11. A character printing device comprising:
print size storage means for storing print size alternatives to be selectively set to a print size of a printing area of a printing object on which is to be printed part or all of a character group including at least one character;
reading means for reading said character group from a disc storing said character group;
print size-setting means for setting one of said print size alternatives to said print size;
image data-forming means for forming print image data by extracting part or all of said character group such that said part or all of said character group is adapted to said print size; and
printing means for printing a print image on said printing object based on said print image data;
wherein said reading means includes disc playback means for reading said character group from said disc; and
wherein said disc playback means is constructed such that said disc playback means receives a request signal generated in response to a key operation of a remote controller from said remote controller, and transmits a portion of a character group to be displayed on a display of said remote controller to said remote controller, said portion corresponding to said request signal, and
wherein said reading means further includes remote-controlled communication means for sending said request signal and receiving said portion of said character group in place of said remote controller.
12. A character printing device according to claim 11, including mounting means for removably mounting one of a plurality of kinds of printing objects in a printing device, as said printing object.
13. A character printing device according to claim 12, wherein said print size-setting means selects, from said print size alternatives, one corresponding to the mounted one of said plurality of kinds of printing objects, when said print size varies with a kind of said printing object which is mounted in said printing device.
14. A character printing device according to claim 13, further including detection means for detecting said kind of said printing object which is mounted in said printing device, and
wherein said print size-setting means selects, from said print size alternatives, one corresponding to the detected kind of said printing object.
15. A character printing device according to claim 11, wherein said print size-setting means selects said one of said print size alternatives in response to an operation carried out by the user.
16. A character printing device according to claim 11, wherein said print size alternatives include sizes of a plurality of kinds of labels.
17. A character printing device according to claim 16, wherein said plurality of kinds of labels include a disc label to be attached to a front surface of a disc cartridge, a case label to be attached to a front surface of a case of said disc cartridge, and a side label to be attached to a side surface of said disc cartridge or said case.
18. A character printing device according to claim 16, wherein said print size-setting means selects, from said print size alternatives, one corresponding to a size of a half-die-cut label, when said printing object is formed with said half-die-cut label.
19. A character printing device according to claim 11, wherein said printing object is a tape.
20. A character printing device according to claim 11, wherein said disc is a mini disc.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a character printing method and device for reading a character group from a disc which can be played back and stores data of the character group, and printing the character group.
2. Prior Art
Recently, disc systems have become commercially available one after another which store and reproduce main information and attribute information concerning the main information (which is formed of text data, and includes management information corresponding to the main information, a disc title entered by the user, and main information titles corresponding to the main information) by using a recordable/reproducible disc.
The disc system of this kind includes a magneto-optical (MO) disc system for mainly storing and reproducing music/voice signals as the main information, a rewritable CD (CD-R, etc.) system, and a DVD system for mainly recording and reproducing movie data as the main information. A mini disc (minidisc) (hereinafter referred to as an "MD") system available from Sony Corporation as an applied system of the MO disc system is also a commercial product of the disc system of the same kind drawing attention of users.
In the case of the MD system, for instance, the MD records not only music pieces (music information) as the main information but also characters representative of a disc title, music numbers, music titles, playing (playback) times, recording dates, etc., as the attribute information. When the MD is played by an MD player, these characters (attribute information) are displayed on a display block of the MD player, to present information from which the user can know a title of the disc, a title of the music piece being played, etc., and further write down on various kinds of labels to be affixed to predetermined areas of an MD cartridge and an MD case, which are supplied as accessories of the MD.
However, it is a troublesome and time-consuming operation to extract data (take notes) from the information displayed on the MD player being played. Further, even if the MD player is provided with means for reading all the attribute information from the MD and printing the information on a predetermined printing object, it is still required to extract therefrom a portion suitable for a selected one of various sizes (e.g. of various kinds of labels). Still further, even if the extraction can be properly carried out, it is difficult to manually write lots of letters within a small-sized label such that the written characters have an attractive appearance, and what is more, when there are lots of labels to be prepared (i.e. when several types of labels are manually written), the operation demands much patience.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the invention to provide a character printing method and device which is capable of reading a character group from a recordable/reproducible disc on which is recorded the character group, and printing a portion extracted from the character group such that the portion is adapted to a selected one of various print sizes.
To attain the object, according to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of printing characters, comprising the steps of:
defining print size alternatives to be selectively set to a print size of a printing area of a printing object on which is to be printed part or all of a character group including at least one character;
reading the character group from a disc storing the character group;
setting one of the print size alternatives to the print size;
forming print image data by extracting part or all of the character group such that the part or all of the character group is adapted to the set print size; and
printing a print image on the printing object based on the print image data.
To attain the object, according to a second aspect of the invention, there is provided a character printing device comprising:
print size storage means for storing print size alternatives to be selectively set to a print size of a printing area of a printing object on which is to be printed part or all of a character group including at least one character;
reading means for reading the character group from a disc storing the character group;
print size-setting means for setting one of the print size alternatives to the print size;
image data-forming means for forming print image data by extracting part or all of the character group such that the part or all of the character group is adapted to the set print size; and
printing means for printing a print image on the printing object based on the print image data.
According to the character printing method and device, by reading out a character group recorded on a disc, and at the same time, setting one of print size alternatives to the print size, a predetermined part or all of the character group is extracted such that the predetermined part or all of the character group is adapted to the set print size to form print image data, and a print image is printed based on the print image data. In short, by selecting one of various print size alternatives and setting the selected one to the print size, it is possible to extract part or all of the character group such that the part or all of the character group is adapted to the set print size and print the same.
Preferably, the method includes the step of removably mounting one of a plurality of kinds of printing objects in a printing device, as the printing object.
Preferably, the character printing device includes mounting means for removably mounting one of a plurality of kinds of printing objects in a printing device, as the printing object.
According to these preferred embodiments, it is possible to mount one (any) of the plurality of kinds of printing objects in the printing device, and print on the mounted printing object.
More preferably, the step of setting one of the print size alternatives to the print size includes selecting, from the print size alternatives, one corresponding to the mounted one of the plurality of kinds of printing objects, when the print size varies with a kind of the printing object which is mounted in the printing device.
More preferably, the print size-setting means selects, from the print size alternatives, one corresponding to the mounted one of the plurality of kinds of printing objects, when the print size varies with a kind of the printing object which is mounted in the printing device.
According to these preferred embodiments, it is possible to select a print size suitable for a kind of the printing object. More specifically, this embodiment is applied to cases where the print size varies with the kind of printing object, and in this case, the selection of the printing object means the selection of the print size.
Further preferably, the method further includes the step of detecting the kind of the printing object mounted in the printing device, and the step of setting one of the print size alternatives to the print size includes selecting, from the print size alternatives, one corresponding to the detected kind of the printing object.
Further preferably, the character printing device further includes detection means for detecting the kind of the printing object mounted in the printing device, and the print size-setting means selects, from the print size alternatives, one corresponding to the detected kind of the printing object.
According to these preferred embodiments, the kind of a printing object mounted is detected, and the print size is selected according to the kind of the printing object, it is possible to select the print size adapted to the kind of printing object mounted.
Preferably, the step of setting one of the print size alternatives to the print size includes selection of one of the print size alternatives by the user.
Preferably, the print size-setting means selects the one of the print size alternatives in response to an operation carried out by the user.
According to these preferred embodiments, since the print size is selected in response to the selection by the user, and hence it is possible to select the print size complying with the user's intention.
Preferably, the print size alternatives include sizes of a plurality of kinds of labels.
According to this preferred embodiment of each of the first and second aspects of the invention, since the print size alternatives to be selected for the print size include sizes of a plurality of kinds of labels, and hence by selecting any of them as the print size, it is possible to extract a character group adapted to any of sizes of labels.
More preferably, the plurality of kinds of labels include a disc label to be attached to a front surface of a disc cartridge, a case label to be attached to a front surface of a case of the disc cartridge, and a side label to be attached to a side surface of the disc cartridge or the case.
According to this preferred embodiment of each of the first and second aspects of the invention, it is possible to extract and print a character group adapted to any of sizes of various kinds of labels including a disc label, a case label, and a side label.
More preferably, the step of setting one of the print size alternatives to the print size includes selecting, from the print size alternatives, one corresponding to a size of a half-die-cut label, when the printing object is formed with the half-die-cut label.
More preferably, the print size-setting means selects, from the print size alternatives, one corresponding to a size of a half-die-cut label, when the printing object is formed with the half-die-cut label.
According to these preferred embodiments, when a half-die-cut label is formed in a printing object, by selecting a print size adapted to the size of the half-die-cut label, it is possible to extract and print a character group adapted to the label size of the half-die-cut label.
Preferably, the printing object is a tape.
According to this preferred embodiment of each of the first and second aspects of the invention, since the printing object is a tape, it is possible to apply the method and device to a tape printing apparatus.
Preferably, the disc is a mini disc.
According to this preferred embodiment of each of the first and second aspects of the invention, it is possible to print a character group read from the mini disc.
Preferably, the reading means includes disc playback means for reading the data of the character group from the disc.
According to this preferred embodiment, the character printing device has disc playback means for reading the character group from the disc. That is, the device is provided with the disc playback means which is not only capable of playing back (reading) main information of music, voices, movies, etc., but also capable of reading a character group, such as information of attributes. This makes it possible to easily read out character groups stored in the disc as well as divert the construction of a disc playback device of a general type to the reading of the character group.
More preferably, the disc playback means is constructed such that the disc playback means receives a request signal generated in response to a key operation of a remote controller from the remote controller, and transmits a portion of a character group to be displayed on a display of the remote controller to the remote controller, the portion corresponding to the request signal, and the reading means further includes remote-controlled communication means for sending the request signal and receiving the portion of the character group in place of the remote controller.
The aforementioned disc playback device of the general type is constructed such that it receives a request signal generated by a key operation from the remote controller, and transmits a character group in response to the request signal. Therefore, by generating the same request signal as generated by the remote controller for the same processing, the character printing device can also obtain the same character group as obtained by the remote controller. That is, in this character printing device, the reading means has the disc playback means and the remote-controlled communication means for transmitting the same request signal as generated by the remote controller and receives the character group, which makes it possible to obtain the character group stored in the disc. It should be noted that by configuring the remote-controlled communication means such that it causes the remote controller to generate a plurality of request signals by a single operation and transmit a combination of a plurality of successive request signals to the disc playback device, it is possible to obtain a plurality of character groups corresponding to the respective request signals by a single operation.
The above and other objects, features, and advantages of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an appearance of a tape printing apparatus to which are applied a character printing method and device according to an embodiment of the invention, in a state in which a lid of the tape-printing apparatus is open and a tape cartridge is removed therefrom;
FIG. 2 is a block diagram schematically showing a control system of the FIG. 1 tape printing apparatus;
FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an appearance of the tape cartridge with an upper casing removed therefrom;
FIGS. 4A and 4B are diagrams showing appearances of tapes formed with half-die-cut labels different in type from each other;
FIGS. 5A and 5B are diagrams each of which is useful in explaining a print image printed on a main label (a disc label and a case label);
FIG. 5C is a diagram which is useful in explaining a print image printed on a side label;
FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an appearance of an mini disc (MD) cartridge and a case thereof, which is useful in explaining the relationship among the cartridge, the case, the disc label, the case label and the side label;
FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an appearance of a conventional portable MD player and a remote controller connected thereto;
FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram which is useful in explaining the arrangement of a keyboard;
FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram which is useful in explaining the arrangement of a display;
FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram which is useful in explaining the arrangement of an indicator display block of the FIG. 9 display;
FIGS. 11A and 11B are diagrams each of which is useful in explaining the arrangement and control coordinates of a character display block of the FIG. 9 display;
FIGS. 12A to 12E are diagrams showing examples of images displayed on a character display block, together with a cursor position, which are useful in explaining a screen display process in the FIG. 1 tape printing apparatus.
FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing a conceptual representation of an overall control process executed by the FIG. 1 tape printing apparatus;
FIG. 14 is a diagram which illustrates an example of a manner of sending and receiving signals and data between the tape printing apparatus or a remote controller and the MD player during operation of the remote controller;
FIG. 15 is a diagram which illustrates an example of a manner of sending and receiving signals and data between the FIG. 1 tape printing apparatus and the MD player, when the tape printing apparatus combines request signals generated by operating a plurality of request keys on the remote controller and makes successive attribute information requests;
FIG. 16 is a continuation of the FIG. 15 diagram;
FIG. 17 is a continuation of the FIG. 16 diagram;
FIG. 18 is a flowchart for a print data-reading process in which a disc title requesting/storing process corresponding to FIG. 15, a music title-requesting preparation process corresponding to FIG. 16, and a music title requesting/storing process corresponding to FIG. 17 are carried out by respective subroutines which are sequentially activated;
FIG. 19 is a diagram which is useful in explaining changes in the edit mode of the FIG. 1 tape printing apparatus;
FIGS. 20A and 20B are diagrams each of which is useful in explaining a display screen in a text-initialized state;
FIG. 20C is a diagram showing an example of a display screen displaying a disc title;
FIG. 21 is a diagram which is useful in explaining an example of an image of the display screen presented when there is character data (text data) for display, and an example of key operations carried out by the user for deleting whole text data from the FIG. 21A state, thereby returning to an initial state (to the basic entry mode);
FIG. 22 is a diagram which is useful in explaining an example of key operations carried out by the user during the print data-reading process, and screens displayed in accordance with the key operations;
FIG. 23 is a continuation of the FIG. 22 diagram;
FIG. 24 is a diagram which is useful in explaining an example of key operations carried out by the user during the printing process, and a sequence of screens displayed in accordance with the key operations for permitting the user to select the kind of label to be formed,;
FIG. 25 is a continuation of the FIG. 24 diagram;
FIG. 26 is a flowchart which is useful in explaining an in-preparation display process and a during-printing display process;
FIGS. 27A and 27B are diagrams which are useful in explaining the difference between print images formed by selecting the case label and the disc label, respectively, as labels to be formed;
FIGS. 28A and 28B are diagrams which are useful in explaining a concept or an idea of an elided image-forming process for forming an elided image by omitting characters or lines;
FIG. 29 is a diagram which is useful in explaining an example of key operations carried out by the user when an automatic new line-starting format is set, and screens displayed in accordance with the key operations;
FIG. 30 shows a table useful in explaining the titles and meanings of overflow-notifying character strings (marks) as display-only characters exclusively provided for display;
FIGS. 31A to 31D are diagrams which are useful in explaining examples of display character strings (edit information character strings) formed by using the FIG. 30 overflow-notifying character strings (marks), and display images (edit information images) formed based on the display character strings (edit information character strings);
FIG. 32A is a diagram showing an example of a display image (edit information image) displayed on the display screen;
FIG. 32B is a diagram which is useful in explaining an example of key operations carried out by the user when the FIG. 32A display image (edit information image) is displayed;
FIG. 33 is a flowchart showing procedures for producing print images (edit images) based on display character strings (edit information character strings);
FIG. 34A is a diagram showing a print image formed of a mixture of full-size and half-size characters;
FIG. 34B is a diagram showing a print image formed of full-size characters alone;
FIGS. 35A to 35I are diagrams which are useful in explaining displacements of the printing position;
FIGS. 36A to 36C are diagrams which are useful in explaining the relationship between a print head and a tape;
FIGS. 37A to 37C are diagrams showing images representative of examples of adjustment of the printing position, in which:
FIG. 37A shows a case where printing is carried out at a reference position;
FIG. 37B shows a case where printing is carried out after adjusting the printing position one dot upward of the reference position;
FIG. 37C shows a case where printing is carried out after adjusting the printing position one dot downward of the reference position;
FIGS. 38A to 38E are diagrams showing images representative of examples of control of data to be sent to each dot element of the print head 7, when the printing position is adjusted in various ways;
FIGS. 39A and 39B are diagrams useful in explaining the range of adjustment of the printing position;
FIG. 40A is a diagram schematically showing a position of print data before carrying out a vertical adjustment of printing positions, when the main label is selected;
FIG. 40B is a diagram schematically showing an adjusted position of the print data after carrying out the vertical adjustment of the printing position, when the main label is selected;
FIG. 41A is a diagram schematically showing a position of print data before carrying out a horizontal adjustment of the printing position, when the main label is selected;
FIG. 41B is a diagram schematically showing an adjusted position of the print data after carrying out the horizontal adjustment of the printing position, when the main label is selected;
FIG. 42A is a diagram schematically showing a position of print data before carrying out a vertical adjustment of the printing position, when the side label is selected;
FIG. 42B is a diagram schematically showing an adjusted position of the print data after carrying out the vertical adjustment of the printing position, when the side label is selected:
FIG. 43A is a diagram schematically showing a position of print data before carrying out a horizontal adjustment of the printing position, when the side label is selected;
FIG. 43B is a diagram schematically showing an adjusted position of the print data after carrying out the horizontal adjustment of printing position, when the side label is selected;
FIG. 44 is a diagram which is useful in explaining an example of key operations carried out by the user at a top level in the hierarchy, when the printing position is adjusted;
FIG. 45 is a continuation of the FIG. 44 diagram, which is useful in explaining an example of key operations carried out by the user at a first level under a selected option for adjustment of the printing position;
FIG. 46 is a continuation of the FIG. 45 diagram, which is useful in explaining an example of key operations carried out by the user at a second level under the option selected for adjustment of the printing position;
FIG. 47 is a flowchart for a side label presence/absence detection & horizontal printing position adjustment process;
FIG. 48A is a diagram showing an appearance of a tape cartridge as viewed from a bottom side, which holds a tape T for use in producing a main label LM;
FIG. 48B is a diagram showing an appearance of a tape cartridge as viewed from a bottom side, which holds a tape T for producing a side label LS;
FIG. 49A is a perspective view of the compartment of the tape printing apparatus in which the FIGS. 48A and 48B tape cartridge is inserted, and component parts in the vicinity thereof;
FIG. 49B is a plan view of the compartment of the tape printing apparatus in which the FIGS. 48A and 48B tape cartridge is inserted, and component parts in the vicinity thereof;
FIG. 50 is a diagram which is useful in explaining a format of a register (internal configuration register) for setting processing formats;
FIGS. 51A to 51C are diagrams which are useful in explaining details of some of the FIG. 50 processing formats;
FIG. 52 is a diagram which is useful in explaining a format of character code data;
FIGS. 53A to 53C are diagrams which are useful in explaining details of the FIG. 52 format;
FIG. 54 is a diagram which is useful in explaining an example of key operations carried out by the user during execution of Kana/Kanji conversion, and a sequence of screens displayed in accordance with the key operations;
FIG. 55 is a diagram which is useful in explaining an example of key operations carried out by the user during execution of Katakana/Hiragana conversion, and a sequence of screens displayed in accordance with the key operations;
FIG. 56 is a flowchart for procedures of operations carried out in the Kana/Kanji conversion mode;
FIG. 57 is a diagram which is useful in explaining an example of key operations carried out by the user during execution of character entry, and screens displayed in accordance with the operations;
FIG. 58 is a diagram which is useful in explaining an example of key operations carried out by the user when the kind of characters is selected during execution of the FIG. 57 character entry, and a sequence of screens displayed in accordance with the operations;
FIG. 59 is a diagram which is useful in schematically explaining an example of key operations carried out by the user from the start of the character entry to the end thereof, and a sequence of screens displayed in accordance with the operations;
FIGS. 60A and 60B are diagrams useful in explaining a selection screen for selecting characters, divided into five display areas for controlling the same.
FIG. 60C is a diagram showing display-only characters displayed in one of the FIGS. 60A and 60B display areas;
FIG. 61 shows a Hiragana array table as an example of an array table for arranging a predetermined kind of characters;
FIG. 62 is a diagram which is useful in explaining a scroll rule for changing an entry designation character through a manner of operation of a cursor, based on the FIG. 61 Kana array table;
FIG. 63 is a diagram similar to FIG. 62, which is useful in explaining a scroll rule for changing the entry designation character through another manner of operation of the cursor;
FIG. 64 is a diagram similar to FIG. 62, which is useful in explaining a scroll rule for the changing entry designation characters through still another manner of operating the cursor;
FIG. 65 is a diagram similar to FIG. 62, which is useful in explaining a scroll rule for changing the entry designation character through still another manner of operating the cursor;
FIG. 66 is a diagram similar to FIG. 62, which is useful in explaining a scroll rule for changing the entry designation character through still another manner of operating the cursor;
FIG. 67 is a diagram similar to FIG. 62, which is useful in explaining a scroll rule for changing the entry designation character through still another manner of operating the cursor;
FIG. 68 shows a Katakana array table as an example of the array table for arranging the predetermined kind of characters;
FIG. 69 shows an array table of alphanumeric characters as an example of the array table;
FIG. 70 shows a numeral array table as an example of the array table;
FIG. 71 shows a Kanji array table as an example of the array table;
FIG. 72 shows a symbol array table as an example of the array table;
FIG. 73 shows a symbol array table as a variation of the FIG. 72 array table;
FIG. 74 shows a symbol array table as another variation of the FIG. 72 array table;
FIG. 75 shows a table classifying symbol groups for use in a symbol selection/entry mode;
FIG. 76 shows a character-code table for showing an example of characters that can be entered when "{character pullout}" (music) is selected as a symbol group in FIG. 75;
FIG. 77 shows a character-code table showing an example of characters that can be entered when "{character pullout}" (description) is selected as a symbol group in FIG. 75; and
FIG. 78 shows a character-code table showing an example of characters that can be entered when "{character pullout}" (omission) is selected as a symbol group in FIG. 75.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
The invention will now be described in detail with reference to drawings showing an embodiment thereof. In this embodiment, a method and device for printing characters according to the invention are applied to a tape printing apparatus.
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an appearance of the tape printing apparatus with a lid thereof opened, and FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a control system of the FIG. 1 tape printing apparatus.
Referring to FIG. 1, the tape printing apparatus 1 includes a casing 2 having upper and lower divisional portions. The casing 2 includes a keyboard 3 arranged on the top of the front portion thereof, a display 4 arranged on the front surface at a location upward of the right side of the keyboard 3, a lid 21 arranged on the top of the rear portion thereof, and a lid-opening button 23 provided in front of the lid 21 for opening the same. The keyboard 3 is comprised of various kinds of entry keys.
Referring to FIG. 2, the tape printing apparatus 1 is basically comprised of an operating block 11 having the keyboard 3 and the display 4 for interfacing with the user, a printer block 12 having a print head 7 and a tape feeder block 120 for printing on a tape T contained in a tape cartridge 5 loaded in a compartment 6, a cutter block 13 for cutting off the printed portion of the tape T, a sensor block 14 having various sensors for carrying out various detecting operations, a driving block 270 having drivers for driving respective circuits associated therewith, a power supply block 290, and a control block 200 for controlling operations of components of the tape printing apparatus 1 including the sensors and drivers.
To implement the above construction, the casing 2 accommodates a circuit board, not shown, in addition to the printer block 12, the cutter block 13, the sensor block 14 and so forth. On the circuit board are mounted a power supply block 290 and the circuits of the driving block 270 and the control block 200. The power supply block 290 has a power supply unit EU connected to a connector port 24 for connecting an AC adapter thereto, and batteries E, such as nicad batteries, which can be removably mounted within the casing 2 from outside. The power supply unit EU supplies power to components of the tape printing apparatus 1 including the sensors and drivers.
In the tape printing apparatus 1, after loading the tape cartridge 5 in the compartment 6, the user enters and edits desired characters (letters, numerals, symbols, simple figures, etc.) or the like and inputs instructions via the keyboard 3, while checking or viewing the results of the entry, editing and instructing operations on the display 4. For instance, when the user instructs a printing operation via the keyboard 3, the tape feeder block 120 unwinds a tape T from the tape cartridge 5, while the print head 7 prints on the tape T as desired. The printed portion of the tape T is delivered from the tape exit 22 as the printing proceeds. When the desired printing operation is completed, the tape feeder block 120 sends the tape T to a location corresponding to termination of a predetermined tape length (the predetermined length of a label to be formed), and then stops the feeding of the tape.
It should be noted that in the above and following descriptions, data (items) representative of character information are collectively described as character data (items) or simply as characters, and when it is considered preferable to explicitly show that a character data (item) is text code data (item), the data (item) is described as character code data (item) or simply as a character code, whereas when it is considered preferable to explicitly show that a character data (item) is an image (dot matrix pattern or its synonym, bit map), the data (item) is referred to as a character image data (item) or simply as a character image.
In other words, usually, it is obvious that a character data item input via the keyboard 3, for instance, is a character code, and a character data item displayed as character information based on the character code is a character image data item. Further, when data of a character image is arranged in a display image-forming area of memory to form a display image, for instance, to form a display image by generating pixel dots of each character image by converting a character code based on an outline font or the like and arranging the dots in the display image-forming area (in short, converting a character code to a corresponding image), and to form a display image by arranging character image data based on a dot (bit map) font corresponding to a character code or a registered dot matrix (arranging a character image), can be considered substantially the same things or operations in respect of forming a display image by arranging data (character data) representative of character information, except when the difference matters in description.
Therefore, a character code data item (or a character code) and a character image data item (or a character image) are discriminated from each other only when it is considered particularly preferable to discriminate one from the other. Otherwise, data items representative of character information are indiscriminately described as character data items (or characters).
Referring again to FIGS. 1 and 2, under the lid 21, the printer block 12 has the compartment 6 for loading the tape cartridge 5 therein. The tape cartridge 5 is mounted in or removed from the compartment 6 when the lid 21 is open. Further, the casing 2 has a left side portion thereof formed with a tape exit 22 which communicates between the compartment 6 and the outside of the apparatus. On the tape exit 22 faces a tape cutter 132 for cutting a dispensed portion of the tape T.
Referring to FIG. 3, the tape cartridge 5 has a cartridge casing 51 formed of an upper casing 51a and a lower casing 51b. A tape reel 52 around which the tape T having a predetermined width (approximately 4 to 52 mm: approximately the size of a side label to the size of a case label, both of which are described hereinafter) is wound, a ribbon supply reel 53 around which an ink ribbon R is wound, and a ribbon take-up reel 54 for taking up used part of the ink ribbon R therearound are rotatably arranged within the cartridge casing 51. At a location facing a passageway where the tape T and the ink ribbon R are placed one upon the other, there is formed a hollow chamber 55 without a bottom.
Further, the upper casing 51a has an inflated portion 57 facing the hollow chamber 55, formed such that the print head 7 and a platen 62 does not abut the upper casing 51a from inside. The inflated portion 57 is formed with a platen-fitting hole 58 and a head-fitting hole 59, for fitting an upper end of the shaft of the platen 62 and an upper end of a head-supporting shaft 65 therein, respectively, when the tape cartridge 5 is loaded in the compartment 6.
On the other hand, in the compartment 6, there are arranged a head unit 61 incorporating the print head 7, such as a thermal head, and the platen 62. When the tape cartridge 5 is loaded in the compartment 6, the head unit 61 and the platen 62 are inserted into the hollow chamber 55 in a manner sandwiching the tape T and the ink ribbon R therebetween. Similarly, a guide bar 64 and a take-up reel drive shaft 63 are inserted into a central hole of the tape reel 52 and a central hole of the ribbon take-up reel 54, respectively.
When the platen 62 and the take-up reel drive shaft 63 are driven for rotation by a feed motor 121 as a drive source, the tape T and the ink ribbon R are fed or advanced. More specifically, when the tape T is rolled out from the tape reel 52, the ink ribbon R is also rolled out from the ribbon supply reel 53 and fed or run together with the tape T in a state lying upon the tape T, followed by being taken up by the ribbon take-up reel 54. At the same time, the print head 7 is driven in synchronism with running of the tape T and the ink ribbon R to thereby carry out a printing operation. The printed portion of the tape T is fed from a tape-sending slit 56 formed in the lower casing 51b toward the tape exit 22 of the casing 2. Further, after completion of the printing operation, the tape T continues to be fed until a predetermined cutting position on the tape T reaches the position of the tape cutter 132.
The cutter block 13 includes the tape cutter 132, a cutting button 133 for being manually operated to cause the tape cutter 132 to carry out a manual cutting operation, and a cutter motor 131 for driving the tape cutter 132 for an automatic cutting operation. To selectively carry out one of these two types of cutting operations, the tape printing apparatus 1 is constructed to permit the use to switch the mode between an automatic cutting mode and a manual cutting mode.
More specifically, in the manual cutting mode, when the printing operation is completed, the user pushes the cutting button 133 arranged on the casing 2, whereby the tape cutter 132 is actuated to cut the tape T to a desired length. Further, in the automatic cutting mode, after completion of the printing operation, the tape T is automatically sent for incremental feed by a predetermined length, and then stopped, whereupon the cutter motor 131 is driven to cut off the tape T.
The tape T is a laminate of a base tape having a printing surface as one surface and an adhesive treated surface as the other surface, and a peel-off paper covering the adhesive treated surface of the base tape. There are provided a plurality of types of tape T, and the tape cartridge 5 for holding the tape T includes various types having respective slightly different shapes according to the types of tape T (some types of tape cartridge 5 have a plurality of small holes and recesses formed in the bottom thereof, while others do not have the same).
As shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B, for instance, some types of tape T comprise a base tape having label portions formed by half die cutting (hereinafter, label portions formed as such are referred to as "half-die-cut labels"). The half-die-cut labels are for use in affixation to a disc cartridge (MD cartridge) containing a mini disc (MD) or a disc case (MD case) for storing the MD cartridge. Thus, according to the tape printing apparatus 1, the tape cartridge 5 holding any of the above-mentioned types of tape T is loaded in the apparatus 1 to print on the tape T, and simply by peeling half-die-cut labels printed with characters off the tape T, it is possible to easily form desired labels, which can be easily affixed to predetermined locations on the disc cartridge and the disc case.
As shown in FIG. 6, an MD 92 having a standard size of 64 mm (2.5 inches) in diameter (see FIG. 7) is held in an MD cartridge 91 which is received in an MD case 93 for storage.
To the top surface of the MD cartridge 91, for instance, it is possible to affix a main label LM printed as shown in FIG. 5A. The main label LM is also referred to as a "disc label LMD" when it is discriminated from a "case label LMC" described hereinbelow. To the top surface of the MD case 93, it is possible to affix two main labels LM formed as shown in FIG. 5B. If a unitary label having a size corresponding to a total size of two successive main labels LM is used for these main labels, it is referred to as the case label LMC. Further, even a set of two main labels LM is also referred to as the "case label LMC" when it is discriminated from the above-mentioned disc labels LMD. To a side surface of the MD cartridge 91 or the MD case 93, it is possible to affix a label (side label) LS as shown in FIG. 5C.
The main label LM (disc label LMD) includes various types different in size, including the largest type having a size of approximately 36 mm.times.52 mm, and the smallest type having a size of approximately 36 mm.times.18 mm. The side label LS has a size of approximately 4 mm.times.60 mm. Further, the case label LMC has a size of approximately 52 mm.times.72 mm. As the case label LMC, the above-mentioned unitary label or the set of two disc labels LMD (main labels) may be affixed.
In printing on portions of "TITLE" appearing in FIGS. 5A and 5B and the side label LS, usually, the disc title (attribute information) of an MD (disc) 92 to which the printed labels are affixed is used. This is because the disc title represents the contents of main information (music) stored in the MD (disc) 92 most accurately. Further, numbers, such as 1, 2, 3 and the like, appearing in the figures represent main information numbers (music numbers). For instance, they correspond to track numbers in the MD 92 and corresponding capital letters, such as "AAAAA", designate main information titles (music titles) stored in the track. Images of labels shown in these figures represent music numbers and corresponding music titles printed such that each music number is followed by a corresponding music title on the same line.
It should be noted that conventionally, the MD records pieces of music or music information as main information. Further, management information formed of text data (text code data) and other text information is recorded as attribute information concerning the main information. The management information includes a music number, the starting and ending addresses of a music piece, and a date of recording of the music piece, which are automatically recorded when the music piece is recorded, and a date of recording a disc title automatically recorded when the disc title is recorded. Further, the above other text information contains disc titles and music titles entered by the user.
Alphanumeric characters and the like are easy to process even in half size (as half-size characters), since they have simpler character constructions (character images) than ideographic characters, such as Chinese letters and Japanese Kanji letters, and hence they are generally processed as half-size characters (half-size display characters) by taking into account display efficiency per unit area, functions of a display, etc. On the other hand, ideographic characters, such as Kanji letters, and symbols are generally processed in full size, i.e. displayed as full-size characters (full-size display characters), since they have complicated character constructions (character images). In the case of a Japanese language-adapted type of the tape printing apparatus 1 of the present embodiment which is capable of processing Japanese language, Kana letters (Hiragana letters and Katakana letters) representative of the Japanese syllabary are processed (displayed or printed) as half-size characters, while Kanji letters are processed (displayed or printed) as full-size characters. It should be noted that as defined by JIS B0191, a "half-size character" is a character having a character area whose size in the direction of reading (in the direction of width) is half the size in the same direction of a character area of a "full-size character" of which height-to-width ratio is approximately 1:1. The height-to-width ratio of the character area of a "half-size character" is, therefore, approximately 1:0.5.
Therefore, in the MD, there are separately provided an area for storing attribute information (hereinafter referred to as "half-size display attribute information") represented by character data (hereinafter referred to as "half-size display attribute data") formed of only half-size display characters, such as alphanumeric characters and the like, and an area for storing attribute information (hereinafter referred to as "full-size display attribute information") represented by character data (hereinafter referred to as "full-size display attribute data") including data of full-size display characters, such as Kanji letters and the like. Normally, only one of the above areas is used. When full-size display characters, such as Kanji letters and the like, are employed, if the displayed characters are reflected i.e. printed on labels as they are, it is possible to create labels which are easy to view or read.
Further, the attribute information sometimes includes the total number of music pieces automatically input by an MD player (or arbitrarily entered by the user), the recording (play) time of each music piece, the names of artists (names of composers or the like) in addition to the above-mentioned kinds of attribute information. Small letters "aaaaa . . . " added after the capital letters "AAAAA" as a music title as shown in FIG. 5B represent the name of an artist (name of a composer or the like). A comment of a phrase ".about.XX OTHER TITLES.about." appearing in FIGS. 5A and 5B expresses information obtained from the total number of music pieces (of course, a phrase ".about.A TOTAL OF XX TITLES.about." may be used in place thereof).
Conventionally, the above-mentioned attribute information (the total number of music pieces, a disc title, music numbers, music titles, play times, recording dates, artist names, etc.) is used as display information displayed on the display of an MD playback system (MD player) or a remote controller.
Referring to FIG. 7, conventionally, an MD cartridge 91 (containing an MD 92) is loaded, e.g. in a portable MD player 90, and keys of a system-operating block 914 of the MD player 90 are operated, whereby it is possible to play back music pieces stored in the MD 92 as well as display the above various kinds of attribute information on a system display 912.
Further, forms of the above-mentioned labels are conventionally provided as accessories of the MD 92, and, for instance, each user manually writes on the labels with reference to character data (display data) of attribute information displayed on the system display 912 when the MD player 90 plays back the MD 92, and then affixes them to respective predetermined portions of the MD cartridge 91 and the MD case 93.
Further, some conventional MD playback systems send and receive data to and from a remote controller by remote control communication means (including wired and wireless ones), and particularly, there is a type for use with a display-equipped remote controller. For instance, the MD player 90 shown in FIG. 7 belongs to this type. The connector (or connection plug) of a remote control connection cable 925 from a remote controller 921 is inserted into the remote control terminal 901 of the MD player 90, and keys of a remote controller-operating block 923 are operated, whereby music pieces recorded in the MD 92 can be played back and at the same time attribute information can be displayed on a remote controller display 922. The user can manually write on the labels with reference to the attribute information thus displayed.
However, this conventional method of making labels for MD's is very troublesome, and it is almost impossible to manually write lots of characters within a label which is small in size. What is more, to make several types of labels has the problem that it demands much patience.
In contrast, as described above with reference to FIGS. 4A and 4B, the tape printing apparatus 1 according to the embodiment of the invention makes it possible to easily form desired labels which can be affixed to predetermined locations, only by loading the tape cartridge 5 holding the tape T formed with half-die-cut labels therein for printing on the tape T, and peeling the half-die-cut labels printed with characters off the tape T.
Although in the examples shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B, the tapes T formed with different labels of a plurality of types, that is, the tape T formed with half-die-cut labels for making main labels LM (disc labels LMD) and the tape T formed with half-die-cut labels for making side labels LS are shown as separate tapes T, one type of tape T may be formed with different half-die-cut labels suitable for making respective types of labels (that is, for making disc labels LMD and side labels LS). Further, it is possible to provide a tape T for making case labels LMC.
To this end, for the tape printing apparatus 1, there are provided several kinds of tape cartridges 5 respectively holding the above tapes T which range in size from a side label-forming tape T having a width of approximately 4 mm to a case label-forming tape having a width of approximately 52 mm, and a tape T without half-die-cut labels thereon.
In the following, description will be mainly made of cases of forming labels. Since minimum two types of tape T, that is, a tape T for forming main labels LM and a tape T for forming side labels LS are required for providing necessary labels for MD's, let it be assumed for clarity of description that there are provided only the two types of tape T shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B. In the FIG. 4A tape T, a main label LM having a width of 36 mm is defined within the range of a tape width Tw of 46 mm, while in the FIG. 4B tape T, two side labels LS each having a width of 4 mm are defined within the range of a tape width Tw of 20 mm.
Further, a print width in the direction of the width of the tape T over which the print head 7 can print characters is set to 36 mm (288 dots when 0.125 mm/dot) in a manner adapted to the widths of the labels LM and LS defined as above on the tapes T (see FIGS. 39A and 39B). When the main label LM is printed, a portion having a print width of 32 mm exclusive of margins in the direction of the width of the tape T is used. Although the print head 7 is required to have a size appropriate for a print width of approximately 56 mm when it is used to form a case label LMC as a unitary label, and only a size appropriate for a print width of 4 mm when it is dedicatedly used to make side labels, the following description will be made assuming that the print head 7 of 288 dots is used in the present embodiment, which can be most generally employed and at the same time designed relatively compact.
On the other hand, as described above, the tape cartridge 5 includes various types constructed to have slightly different shapes in a manner corresponding to respective types of tape T contained therein so as to enable the user to discriminate between the types of tape T which vary with the width, the kind of half-die-cut label defined thereon, and so forth, from a different shape of each type of tape cartridge 5. To this end, a tape-discriminating sensor 141 comprised e.g. of a micro-switch is arranged in the compartment 6, for detecting the different shape of each cartridge to thereby determine the type of tape T contained therein.
Further, similarly to the tapes T shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B, each tape T has reference holes TH formed at predetermined space intervals, and a tape position sensor 143 which is comprised of a photo interrupter or the like is arranged in the vicinity of the tape exit 22 (see FIG. 1), i.e., in the vicinity of the tape cutter 132, for detecting the reference holes TH, thereby enabling detection of the position of the tape T (particularly the printing position thereof).
Furthermore, a mechanism for opening/closing of the lid 21 includes a lid opening/closing sensor 142 which is comprised of a limit switch and the like for detecting the opening or closing of the lid 21, whereby it is possible to detect an abnormality e.g. of the lid 21 being opened during printing.
As shown in FIG. 2, the sensor block 14 has not only the tape-discriminating sensor 141, the lid opening/closing sensor 142 and the tape position sensor 143 but also a voltage sensor 144 connected to the power supply unit EU of the power supply block 290 supplying power to components of the tape printing apparatus 1, for detecting a change in electric potential thereof. It should be noted that sensors other than the above, such as an ambient temperature sensor, a head surface temperature sensor and the like can be added to the apparatus, or some of the above sensors can be omitted therefrom, so as to suit the practical conditions under which the apparatus is used.
The driving block 270 includes a display driver 271, a head driver 272, and a motor driver 273.
The display driver 271 drives the display 4 of the operating block 11 in response to control signals delivered from the control block 200, i.e. in accordance with commands carried by the signals. Similarly, the head driver 272 drives the print head 7 of the printer block 12 in accordance with commands from the control block 200.
Further, the motor driver 273 has a feed motor driver 273d for driving the feed motor 121 of the printer block 12 and a cutter motor driver 273c for driving the cutter motor 131 of the cutter block 13, and similarly, drives each motor in accordance with commands from the control block 200.
The operating block 11 includes the keyboard 3 and the display 4. Referring to FIG. 8, the keyboard 3 has a power key 31, a shift key 32, and four cursor keys 33 (33U, 33D, 33L and 33R) for moving a cursor (actually, for scrolling the display range of a print image on the display screen 41) in respective upward (.uparw.), downward (.dwnarw.), leftward (.rarw.) and rightward (.fwdarw.) directions (hereinafter the cursor keys will be referred to as "the up arrow key 33U", "the down arrow key 33D", "the left arrow key 33L" and "the right arrow key 33R", whereas when collectively called, they are referred to as "the cursor key 33"). The keyboard 3 has eight function keys as well.
More specifically, on the upper side of the top of the keyboard 3, there is arranged a function key group 34 including a character decoration key (hereinafter referred to as "the decoration key) 34F, a character entry key (hereinafter referred to as "the character key") 34C, a figure/symbol entry key (hereinafter referred to as "the symbol key") 34D mainly for use in entry, editing and decoration of each character (letter, numeral, symbol, figure, etc.), as well as a delete/cancel key (hereinafter referred to as "the delete key") 35. On the lower side of the top of the keyboard 3, there are arranged a read key 36, a conversion/space key (hereinafter referred to as "the conversion key") 37, an enter key 38, and a print key 39.
FIG. 8 is a diagram schematically showing the arrangement of keys on the keyboard 3. Although the arrangement of each key is slightly different in relative position from the actual arrangement thereof (see FIG. 1), the keys are shown in an approximately identical arrangement to the actual arrangement thereof. Further, name(s) and functions (some are shown by using callouts) of keys appearing in FIG. 8 are printed on the top surface of the FIG. 1 keyboard 3.
If the decoration key 34F, the character key 34C, symbol key 34D, the delete key 35, the read key 36 or the conversion key 37 are each operated in combination with the shift key 32 (i.e. by depressing the key while depressing the shift key 32), they serve as a format key 34FS (the shift key 32+the decoration key 34F: to reflect the state of the decoration key 34F being used in combination with the shift key 32, hereinafter referred to as "the format key 34FS" by adding an alphabetical letter "S" to the reference numeral, and the same applies to the other keys), a frame key 34CS, an adjustment key 34DS, an all character delete key 35S, a line read key 36S and a conversion mode key 37S.
Further, the above each cursor key 33 is sometimes employed in combination with the shift key 32, and hence, for instance, the state of the up arrow key 33U and the shift key 32 being simultaneously operated is referred to as "the shift/up arrow key 33US", whereas when operation of any of the cursor key 33 in combination with the shift key 32 is collectively referred to as "the shift key 33S".
Although dedicated keys may be exclusively provided for the above key entries, the size of the keyboard 3 dominantly determines the whole size of the tape printing apparatus 1, so that to design the apparatus compact in size, the number of keys having required functions is decreased by using keys in combination with the shift key 32.
Referring to FIG. 9, the display 4 has a display screen 41 which is comprised of an LCD and provides therein an indicator display block 4i which is capable of lighting eighteen indicators, and a character display block 4c formed of a dot matrix of (horizontal) 72.times.(vertical) 16 dots.
The indicator display block 4i is provided for indicating various printing modes and states of the tape printing apparatus 1 for printing character data (text data: see FIGS. 5A to 5C) of titles and music titles, by state of each indicator being lighted or not lighted. The indicator display block 4i has eight upper indicators 4i00 to 4i07 shown in FIG. 10 indicating information concerning a title (disc title), eight lower indicators 4i10 to 4i17 indicating information concerning music titles, two right-hand side indicators 4iL and 4iR indicating that all music titles cannot be printed on a main label LM (disc label LMD or case label LMC), that is, lines to be printed with the music titles are overflowed (line overflow).
Referring to FIGS. 11A and 11B, the character display block 4c has two basic units of control, i.e. two forms of display to be controlled. One of the two forms of display is a full-size/half-size display shown in FIG. 11A. In this form of display, the character display block 4c is divided into two control blocks; a sub-display block at a left end, indicated by coordinates CE and CF in the figure, for displaying two images each in a 8.times.8 dot matrix, and a main display block for displaying eight images each in a 8.times.16 dot matrix. The sub-display block is used for displaying music numbers, referred to hereinafter, or the like, while the main display block is used for displaying general character data other than the music numbers or the like.
The other form of display is a 6.times.8 display shown in FIG. 11B. In this form of display, the character display block 4c is controlled in units of 6.times.8 dot matrices as explicitly represented by the name of 6.times.8 display, that is, by dividing the display block into twelve upper dot-matrix areas indicated by coordinates A0 to Ab and twelve lower dot-matrix areas indicated by coordinates B0 to Bb, i.e. a total of twenty-four dot-matrix areas. This form of display is for use in special display carried out by a code display block (for displaying JIS codes for an MD system), e.g. when characters are input.
During the screen display process of the tape printing apparatus 1, a cursor K for instructing a display range or an editing position (position for inserting character, for instance) is fixed to the right end of the coordinates C5 of the above main display block, as shown in FIGS. 12A to 12E.
FIG. 12A schematically shows the main display block divided into character display areas indicated by respective schematic representations of coordinate values, while FIGS. 12B to 12E show a case where only full-size display characters are displayed, a case where only half-size display characters are displayed, a case where full-size and half-size display characters are displayed in a mixed manner with the cursor K being positioned on the right side of a full-size display character, and a case where full-size and half-size display characters are displayed in a mixed manner, with the cursor K being positioned on the right side of a half-size display character, respectively. In these cases, the display range is scrolled by operating the cursor key 33. For instance, when the right arrow key 33R is depressed, characters displayed are moved leftward, that is, the display range is shifted rightward.
Referring to FIG. 2, contents (instructions and data items) which the user input via the keyboard 3 while viewing the results of the entry are output to the control block 200.
The control block 200 includes a CPU 210, a ROM 220, a character generator ROM (CG-ROM) 230, a RAM 240, and a peripheral control circuit (P-CON) 250, all of which are connected to each other by an internal bus 260.
The ROM 220 has a control program area 221 for storing control programs executed by the CPU 210, and a control data area 222 for storing control data including e.g. a Kana-Kanji conversion table (dictionary) in the case of the Japanese language-adapted type of the tape printing apparatus 1 which is capable of processing Japanese language, a color conversion table, a letter modification table and the like.
The CG-ROM 230 stores font data, i.e. data defining letters, symbols, figures and the like, provided for the tape printing apparatus 1. When code data indicative of a specific character or the like is input thereto, it outputs the corresponding font data.
The RAM 240 is backed up such that stored data items can be preserved even when the power is turned off by operating the power key 321. The RAM 240 includes areas of a register group 241, a text data area 242, a display image data area 243, a print image data area 244, a half-size display attribute data area 245, a full-size display attribute data area 246, as well as a conversion buffer area 247 including a color conversion buffer. The RAM 240 is used as a work area for carrying out the control process.
The P-CON 250 incorporates logic circuits for complementing the function of the CPU 210 as well as handling interface signals for interfacing with peripheral circuits and the MD player 90. The logic circuits are comprised of gate arrays, custom LSIs, etc. For instance, a timer (TIM) 251 as time-measuring means and a remote control communication control circuit (RC) 252 are also incorporated in the P-CON 250 for realizing other functions thereof.
The P-CON 250 is connected to the sensors of the sensor block 14, and the keyboard 3, for receiving signals generated by the sensor block 14 as well as commands and data entered via the keyboard 3, and inputting these to the internal bus 260 as they are or after processing them. Further, the P-CON 250 cooperates with the CPU 210 for outputting data and control signals input to the internal bus 260 by the CPU 210 or the like to the driving block 270 as they are or after processing them.
Further, the P-CON 250 is connected to the MD player 90 in a remotely controllable manner via the remote control interface terminal (RT) 25 of the tape printing apparatus 1, a remote control connection cable 26 having a connector (or connection plug) connected to the RT 25, and the remote control terminal 901 of the MD player 90, and cooperates with the CPU 210 for carrying out remote control communication, described hereinbelow.
The CPU 210 of the control block 200 receives signals and data from components of the tape printing apparatus 1 and the MD player 90 by using the P-CON 250 according to the control program read from the ROM 220, processes font data from the CG-ROM 230 and various data stored in the RAM 240, and delivers signals and data to the components of the tape printing apparatus 1 and the MD player 90, to thereby carry out position control during printing operations, the display control of the display screen 41, and the remote control communication control, as well as cause the print head 7 to carry out printing on the tape T under predetermined printing conditions. In short, the CPU 210 controls the overall operation of the tape printing apparatus 1.
Next, the overall control process carried out by the tape printing apparatus 1 will be described with reference to FIG. 13. As shown in the figure, when the power key 31 is depressed (to turn on the power of the tape printing apparatus 1) to start the program for carrying out the control process, first, at step S1, initialization of the system including restoration of saved control flags is carried out to restore the tape printing apparatus 1 to the state it was in before the power was turned off the last time. Then, the image that was displayed on the display screen 41 before the power was turned off the last time (screen G0 in FIG. 20B, screen G11 in FIG. 21 or the like) is displayed as the initial screen at step S2.
The following steps in FIG. 13, that is, step S3 for determining whether or not a key entry has been made, and step S4 for carrying out an interrupt handling operation are conceptual representations of actual operations. Actually, when the initial screen has been displayed at step S2, the tape printing apparatus 1 enables an interrupt by key entry (keyboard interrupt), and maintains the key entry wait state (No to S3) until a keyboard interrupt is generated. When the keyboard interrupt is generated (Yes to S3), a corresponding interrupt handling routine is executed at step S4, and after the interrupt handling routine is terminated, the key entry wait state is again enabled and maintained (No to S3).
As described above, in the tape printing apparatus 1, main processing operations executed by the apparatus are carried out by task interrupt handling routines, and hence if print image data required to be printed is available, the user can print the image data at a desired time, by depressing the print key 39 to generate an interrupt handling routine therefor and thereby start a printing process for carrying out a printing operation. In short, operating procedures up to the printing operation can be selectively carried out by the user as he desires.
Now, a manner or procedure of sending and receiving data between a remote controller (for instance, the remote controller 921 described above with reference to FIG. 7) and the MD player 90 (during remote control communication) by operating the remote controller will be described by way of example.
For instance, as shown in FIG. 14, when the user operates a key for requesting desired attribute information (hereinafter, operating the key is provisionally described as depressing the "request key"), a request process (Q10) as an interrupt handling routine is activated and started by the remote controller 921. First, a request signal RQ1 is generated to send the same (Q101).
When the MD player 90 receives the request signal RQ1, a response process responsive to the request is activated and started by the MD player 90 to carry out the response process (P10 and P101), and response data RP1 for answering the request RQ1 is sent out (P102) (although the response is sometimes made by a control signal alone, here, "response data" is used to mean such a control signal as well).
When the response data RP1 is received (Q102), it is determined by the remote controller 921 (Q103) whether or not the received response data RP1 is data requested, i.e. desired response data responsive to the request signal RQ1. In this case, there is provided identification data (of one byte, for instance) at a head of one sending/receiving data unit (e.g. a packet) of the response data, and the received response data RP1 is identified by using the identification data, whereby it is determined whether or not the received response data RP1 is the data requested.
When the response data RP1 is different from the data requested (No to Q103), another response data RP1 is requested (Q101). On the other hand, when the received response data RP1 is the data requested (Yes to Q103), the request process is terminated (Q106), followed by the program proceeding to next processes in which received data is stored in a predetermined area or displayed. Of course, these processes (the storage process and the display process) may be included in the preset process to carry out before terminating the request process.
However, in the above case, in the MD player 90, if there are response data items to be sent successively, the response data RP1 is set to a first response data RP1, for instance, and then a second response data RP2, a third response data RP3, . . . , and a k-th (k represents a number) response data RPk are sequentially sent out (P104 and P105).
In the remote controller 921, when the first response data RP1 is different from the data requested (No to Q103), the first response data RP1 is ignored and another data is requested (Q101), so that the second response data RP2 is also ignored, whereas when the first response data RP1 is the data requested (Yes to Q103), the second response data RP2, the third response data RP3, . . . , and the k-th response data RPk are received, followed by terminating the request process (Q104 to Q106).
As described above, the remote controller 921 is configured such that request signals can be generated in response to the operated request key to send the same, while the MD player 90 is configured such that response data responsive to the request signals can be sent out (in reply). Therefore, if the tape printing apparatus 1 is also provided with the same request key and means associated therewith as those of the remote controller 921 to carry out the same request key process, the apparatus can perform the same function as that of the remote controller 921.
It should be noted that the MD player 90 contemplated in the present embodiment may be of a type which is different from the MD player described above with reference to FIG. 7, that is, which has only part of various request keys in the system-operating block 914 or which does not have a system display 912, so long as the player is capable of displaying various attribute information on the remote controller display 922 by operating keys of the remote controller 921. Further, although the following description is made of cases wherein wired remote control communication is carried out for convenience of description, this is not limitative, but only by using infrared (optical) or FM carrier wave communication in place of the wired communication, the present invention can be applied to wireless remote control communication.
Now, the MD player 90 described here by way of example is a kind of MD player commercially available, which has, as the above types of request keys, a play key (PLAY key), a rewind key (REWIND key: hereinafter simply referred to as "the REW key"), a stop key (STOP key), a pause key (PAUSE key), a play-mode key (PLAY-MODE key) (hereinafter simply referred to as "the P-MOD key"), and a display key (DISPLAY key) (hereinafter simply referred to as "the DISP key"). In short, the remote controller is provided with the above request keys for causing the MD player to perform its functions.
Further, the MD 92 loaded in this MD player 90 stores information (including both half-size display attribute information and full-size display attribute information) of one music piece per one track with each track number and music number identical in number with each other.
The PLAY key has the function of playing back MD's and further, if it continues to be depressed for a predetermined time period, it can activate the function of a fast forward key (i.e. send a fast forward request signal as a request signal). When playback is requested, the MD player 90 starts a playback process in response thereto, and sends the number and title of a requested music piece to the remote controller during playback, whereas when fast forward is requested, the MD player 90 sequentially outputs a track number (music number) and a corresponding music title whenever fast forward is requested. That is, the user can proceed to playback of a next music piece and display of the number and title thereof by fast forward without waiting for each information to be reproduced as music information.
Although the above music title (attribute information, display information) includes both of a music title (half-size display music title) represented by half-size display attribute data and a music title (full-size display music title) represented by full-size display attribute data, the remote controller according to this embodiment selects and displays a predetermined one of the half-size and full-size display music titles (the conventional one displays only a half-size display music title).
The REW key is a request key for requesting character data (attribute information: character data of the track number (music number) and music title) of a music piece being reproduced, or alternatively character data of a music piece reproduced in immediately preceding playback, depending on the state of the MD player 90 at a time point of depressing the REW key. When the REW key is repeatedly operated, the MD player 90 sequentially outputs track numbers (music numbers) and corresponding music titles similarly to the case of the PLAY key being depressed but in a reverse direction (in a direction of smaller music numbers). The STOP key is a request key for requesting stoppage of playback and the PAUSE key is a request key for requesting pause or temporary stop of playback.
The P-MOD key is a request key for sequentially switching modes (playback modes) during playback to a normal playback mode, a playback mode for repeating all the music pieces, a playback mode for repeating one music piece, and a playback mode for playing back music pieces at random.
Further, the DISP key is a request key for switching display modes of the display block of the remote controller for selection. The display mode is sequentially switched to a music number display mode for displaying a music title (or a music number+a music title: sometimes, additional information, such as an artist's name and the like, is further included. In the following, for simplicity of the description, it is assumed that a music number+a music title are displayed), a disc title display mode for displaying a disc title (or the total number of music pieces+a disc title: hereinafter, it is assumed that the total number of music pieces+a disc title are displayed), a time display mode for displaying a time, a play time display mode for displaying a play time (performance time), and again, the music number display mode, the disc title display mode, and so forth.
Although the above disc title (attribute information, display information) includes both of one represented by half-size display attribute data (half-size display disc title) and one represented by full-size display attribute data (full-size display disc title), the remote controller selects and displays a predetermined one of the half-size and full-size display disc titles (conventionally only a half-size display disc title is displayed).
The MD player 90 is configured such that it can send (in reply) response data in response to each request signal generated by operating each of the above keys, so that if the tape printing apparatus 1 is provided with the same request keys as those of the remote controller for carrying out similar processes, the tape printing apparatus 1 is capable of performing the same function as that of the remote controller.
Further, it is also possible to generate request signals by operating a plurality of request keys on the remote controller and combine the request signals so as to request a continuous set of attribute information of the MD player 90. More specifically, by operating a newly provided key or an existing one for which programs are modified for processing, it is also possible to make a desired combination of requests for attribute information. For instance, it is also possible to request music titles of an arbitrary number of music pieces based on a disc title and a desired music number.
Therefore, the tape printing apparatus 1 is provided with the read key 36 described hereinbefore with reference to FIG. 8 as the request key described above. In the following, a process for successively requesting attribute information will be described.
As shown in FIG. 15, when the user depresses the read key 36, similarly to the case of FIG. 14, a print data-reading process (Q20) as an interrupt handling routine is activated and started in the tape printing apparatus 1, and first, a DISP key signal is generated as a request signal RQ21 to send the same to the MD player (Q201).
When the request signal RQ21 is received, the display mode of the MD player 90 is changed in response to the request (P201), and character data (attribute information, display information) corresponding to the display mode is sent as response data RP21 (P202).
When the response data RP21 as character data is received (Q202), it is determined by the tape printing apparatus 1 whether or not the response data RP21 is desired data, i.e. disc title display data (Q203).
For instance, if the request signal RQ21 was sent (Q201) when the MD player 90 was in the disc title display mode, the display mode is changed (P201) to the time display mode, so that the response data RP21 in this case is character data for displaying a time. Further, if the request signal RQ21 was sent (Q201) when the MD player 90 was in the time display mode, the response data RP21 is character data for displaying a play time. Similarly, if the MD player 90 was in the play time display mode, the response data RP21 is character data for displaying a music title (a music number+a music title).
In the above cases, since each character data is not a desired disc title display data (character data of the total number of music pieces+a disc title) (No to Q203), attribute information is requested again (Q201). Further, as described above, in the these cases as well, the identification data arranged at the head of the response data RP21 is used to determine whether or not the received response data RP1 is data desired.
On the other hand, if the request signal RQ21 was sent (Q201) when the MD player 90 was in the music title display mode, the display mode is changed (P201) to set the MD player 90 to the disc title display mode, so that the response data RP21 in this case is character data (of the total number of music pieces+a disc title) for displaying the disc title.
In this case, the received character data is the desired disc title display data (Yes to Q203), so that in the tape printing apparatus 1, the received character data is stored in a predetermined area as the character data (of the total number of music pieces+a disc title) for displaying the disc title (Q204), followed by the program proceeding to a next process (Q205).
The character data of the disc title (attribute information, display information) in this case also includes character data items of a half-size display disc title and a full-size display disc title, and hence, the character data items of both the display disc titles are successively sent in response to a single request signal. Therefore, in the tape printing apparatus 1, differently from the case of the remote controller, the character data items of the two kinds of display disc titles are stored in respective storage areas in the RAM 240, that is, in respective disc title-storage areas of the half-size display attribute data area 245 and the full-size display attribute data area 246 in the RAM 240 (Q204).
Further, when the above character data items are stored (Q204), there is a case where a lack of one or both of the character data items occurs (where there is empty data), or there is a case where invalid data is contained in the character data items, so that flags or the like for displaying the status of the character data items are provided for storing the status thereof.
For instance, by providing e.g. a half-size display disc title flag and a full-size display disc title flag, the status of the character data of a disc title is stored in the following manner: when character data items for displaying a half-size display disc title and as a full-size display disc title are included in the character data received, a combination of flag statuses [half-size display disc title flag, full-size display disc title flag]=[1, 1] is set, and if only a character data item for displaying one of the display disc titles is included, a combination of flag statuses [half-size display disc title flag, full-size display disc title flag]=[1, 0] or [0, 1] is set, whereas if there is not included any character data item for displaying the display disc titles in the received character data, a combination of flag statuses [half-size display disc title flag, full-size display disc title flag]=[0, 0] is set. Similarly, when invalid data is included, it is possible to provide corresponding flags to store the status of the character data received. In the above manner, the status of character data read in is determined by using flags or the like, thereby enabling a subsequent step to be selected with ease according to the user's selection or to suit a subsequent process (read process).
After completing storage of the disc title (the total number of music pieces+the disc title) (Q204 and Q205), next, as shown in FIG. 16, a DISP key signal is generated as a request signal RQ26 by the tape printing apparatus 1 to send the same to the MD player 90 (Q206). Then, the same sending/receiving operations and the same determination operations as described above with reference to FIG. 15 are carried out (Q206, P206, P207, Q207 and Q208). When desired music title display data is received (Yes to Q208), next, a predetermined music number (track number) (Q209) and a predetermined count of music pieces (Q210) are set.
In this case, as the predetermined music number, there may be set a music number which can be automatically detected and set, such as music number 1, the music number of a music piece played the last time, or the music number of a music piece next thereto. Alternatively, the user may set the predetermined music number as desired by providing some setting means for setting the music number through key operation. Further, as the predetermined count of music pieces, there may be set a value which can be automatically set, such as a value of the total number of music pieces obtained together with a disc title described above with reference to FIG. 15, or a value which the user sets as desired. In the following, a case will be described by way of example, in which the music numbers of all music pieces (e.g. 20 pieces) starting from music number 1 are set, that is, the predetermined music number I=1 and the predetermined count of music pieces J=20 are set.
When the predetermined music number I=1 and the predetermined count of music pieces J=20 are set to the first music number i=1 (=I) and the number or count of remaining music pieces j=20 (=J), respectively (Q209 and Q210), the program in the tape printing apparatus 1 proceeds to a next process (Q211). Then, as shown in FIG. 17, a signal (i.e. fast forward request signal) to be generated in response to a continuous depression of the play key is generated as a request signal RQ2C and sent to the MD player 90 (Q212).
When the request signal RQ2C is received, in the MD player 90, a playback track number (i.e. a music number) is incremented by one as processing responsive to the request (P212), and character data (attribute information, display information) of the track number (music number) is sent as first response data RP2C1 (P213), followed by sending character data of a music title stored in the track as second response data RP2C2 (P215).
When first character data (music number) is received as the first response data RP2C1 (Q213), it is determined by the tape printing apparatus 1 (Q214) whether or not the received music number is a desired music number i (first, i=1). If it is not the desired music number i (No to Q214), another request is made (Q212), whereas when it is the desired music number i (Yes to Q214), next, second character data (music title) is received as the second response data RP2C2 Q215) to store the first character data and the second character data as data of a music title(music number+music title) in a predetermined area (Q216).
The character data of the music title (music number +music title: attribute information, display information) in this case also includes character data items of a half-size display music title and a full-size display music title, and in the tape printing apparatus 1, similarly to the case of the disc title described above, the character data items of two kinds of each display music title are stored in the half-size display attribute data area 245 and the full-size display attribute data area 246 in the RAM 240, respectively (Q216).
Further, the status of data items of all the music pieces including the following music pieces described hereinafter, is stored by using flags similar to those described above with reference to the disc title (for instance, a half-size display music title flag indicative of inclusion of a half-size display music title in the received data items, a full-size display music title flag indicative of inclusion of a full-size display music title in the same, a half-size music title invalid data flag indicative of inclusion of invalid data in the received half-size music titles, a full-size music title invalid data flag indicative of inclusion of invalid data in the received full-size music titles, a half-size music title empty data flag indicative of inclusion of empty data in the received half-size music titles, a full-size music title empty data flag indicative of inclusion of empty data in the received full-size music titles, etc.). This makes it easy to determine the status of character data read in at the following steps (Q216).
When character data of the first music title (music number 1 and a music title corresponding thereto) has been stored (Q216), then, it is determined (Q217) whether or not the predetermined number of music pieces have already been stored. That is, it is determined whether or not the number of remaining music pieces j.ltoreq.1 holds. At this time point of the present process, only the first music title (of the music number i=1) has been stored (j=20) (No to Q217), so that, then, the music number i is incremented by one to update the desired music number i=2 (=1+1), while the number of remaining music pieces j is decremented by one to update the number or count of remaining music pieces j =19 (=20-1) (Q218).
Thereafter, the same processes as described above (Q212, P212, P213, Q213, Q214, P215, Q215 and Q216) are carried out using the desired music number i=2 and the number or count of remaining music pieces j=19. When character data of a next music title (music number 2 and a music title corresponding thereto) has been stored (Q216), next, it is determined whether or not the predetermined number of music pieces have been stored (whether or not the number of remaining music pieces j.ltoreq.1 holds). Then, the music number i is incremented by one to update the desired music number i=3 (=2+1), while the number of music pieces j is decremented by one to update the number or count of remaining music pieces j=18 (=19-1) (Q218).
In the following, the same processes as described above are carried out as to each desired music number i=3, 4, . . . (and each number or count of remaining music pieces j=18, 17, . . . ). When character data of the music title (music number 20 and a music title corresponding thereto) of the desired music number i=20 (the number or count of remaining music pieces j=1) has been stored (Q216), then, it is determined whether or not the predetermined number of music pieces have been stored (whether or not the number or count of remaining music pieces j.ltoreq.1 holds). Now, since the number or count of remaining music pieces j=1 holds (Yes to Q217), the whole reading process is terminated (Q219).
At this time point, reading of desired character data (attribute information, display information) of the disc title (the total number of music pieces+the disc title) and the music titles (the music numbers+corresponding music titles) of all the music pieces (20 pieces) starting from music number 1, and storing of the character data in the predetermined area are completed.
Further, in the above process for obtaining (data of) a desired music number, it is only required that the track number is changed, and hence it is also possible to obtain the data thereof, by using a signal for requesting a continuous depression of the REW key (i.e. the REWIND signal), as shown in FIG. 17 (in an area enclosed by square brackets Q212). Further, if the formula of "i.rarw.i+1" (Q218) for setting the music number of a next music piece is changed to the formula of "i.rarw.i-1", it is possible to store data of music titles (music numbers+music titles) in reverse order (in descending order in contrast to ascending order in the above example).
Although in the above description, the MD 92 with each track number and a music number in agreement with each other was taken as an example, attribute information may be more finely controlled on sector-by-sector basis or cluster-by-cluster basis in a manner corresponding to a data format of data stored in the MD 92. Further, it is also possible to employ an MD 92, for instance, in which one music number is correlated to a plurality of tracks to thereby store more information including an artist's name and the like as the information of one music piece. Further, such an MD 92 can be applied to a combination of an MD player and a remote controller which are capable of playing back the MD 92 and displaying the above more attribute information, if the MD player is connected to the remote controller in place of the above MD player 90, and a processing program is changed such that each request signal generated by operating a corresponding one of the same request keys as those on the connected remote controller is sent, or a combination of request signals generated by a corresponding combination of request keys are sent.
Further, although in the above example, description was made assuming that half-size display attribute data (or half-size display attribute information) and full-size display attribute data (or full-size display attribute information) are distinguished from each other in dependence on only whether or not full-size characters, such as Kanji letters or the like, are included therein, this is not limitative, but half-size display characters each represented not by a two-byte code, such as a JIS character code, but by a one-byte code (generally employed conventional method) may be adopted to thereby distinguish the half-size display characters from full-size display characters represented by the two-byte codes.
In other words, in the above case, by limiting the number of half-size display characters to be represented by respective character codes, the half-size display characters can be represented based on a one-byte code system, permitting the reduction or saving of capacity of memory for storing half-size display attribute data. In this case, the one-byte code system is used for the convenience of the capacity of memory being reduced. Hence, this method of discrimination is also based on the concept that half-size display attribute data and full-size display attribute data are distinguished from each other in dependence on whether or not a full-size display character (character represented by a code of a particular code set or system), such as Kanji letters or the like, is included in the attribute data, and therefore is included in the category of the above explanation.
Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 18, a program routine may be programmed which includes subroutines (in the form of modules) in a disc title requesting/storing process (S201) corresponding to the FIG. 15 process, a music title-requesting preparation process (S202) corresponding to the FIG. 16 process, and a music title requesting/storing process (S203) corresponding to the FIG. 17 process to sequentially activate the subroutines, to thereby carry out the same processing as described above with reference to FIGS. 15 to 17 as the print data-reading process (S20). Further, although this program routine is an interrupt handling routine activated by depression of the read key 36 (read key interrupt), this is not limitative, but the overall process (S20) may be further programmed as a subroutine such that the process can be activated from a processing routine at the upper level.
As described above, the MD player 90 (disc playback system) is constructed such that it receives request signals generated through key operation of the remote controller, and sends, to the remote controller, character data items selected from character data for display on the display block of the remote controller, so that if the tape printing apparatus 1 generates the same request signals as generated by the remote controller to thereby carry out the same processing as carried out when the signals are generated by the remote controller, the same character data as obtained by the remote controller can be obtained by the apparatus 1.
On the other hand, according to the tape printing apparatus 1, a plurality of request signals are generated simply by depressing the read (request) key 36 (through a single operation of external operating means), and a plurality of successive request signals formed by combining the plurality of request signals are sent to the MD player 90 (disc playback system), so that it is possible to obtain a plurality of character data items responding to the plurality of successive request signals through the single operation of external operating means.
For instance, in the examples described above with reference to FIGS. 15 to 18, character data of the disc title (the total number of music pieces+a disc title) and the music titles (the music numbers+music titles) of all the music pieces (20 music pieces) starting from music number 1 is obtained (received or read in). Although to obtain such an amount of character data (display data) by operating the remote controller, at least 22 key operations (for Q201.times.1, Q206.times.1, and Q212.times.20) are required, according to the tape printing apparatus 1, as described above, it is possible to obtain the amount of character data (display data) by a single operation of the read key.
As a result, part or whole of obtained data can be printed on a label directly or after editing the same, and hence it is possible to form beautiful labels for affixation to an MD (disc) cartridge 91 and an MD (disc) case 93 (see FIGS. 5A to 6) by a simplified operation.
Further, it is preferred that a request signal for requesting all the character data items to be printed on a label is included in a plurality of successive request signals.
In the example described above with reference to FIGS. 15 to 18, for instance, character data of a disc title (the total number or count of music pieces+a disc title) and music titles (music numbers+music titles) of all music pieces (20 music pieces) starting from music number 1 is obtained. This means all the character data items except for additional information, such as artists' names and the like, out of all the character data items to be printed on the main labels LM shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B and the FIG. 5C side label are obtained by a single operation of the read key 36.
It should be noted that when the additional information, such as artists' names and the like, can be received immediately after obtaining the music numbers+music titles in the music number display mode (if the above additional information is regarded as part of the character data of the music titles, an additional information-obtaining (receiving, reading) process is the same process as the print data-reading process, or alternatively the additional information may be processed as a third response data successive to the music titles), all the character data items including the additional information, such as artists' names and the like, can be obtained through a single operation of the read key 36.
That is, in this case, a request signal for requesting all the character data items to be printed e.g. on the FIGS. 5A to 5C labels is included in a plurality of successive request signals generated by a single operation of the read key 36, so that all the character data items required for printing on these labels can be obtained by executing the single operation of the read key 36, which makes it possible to more easily form the labels shown in the FIGS. 5A to 5C, for instance.
Next, changes in edit modes and a typical screen display process of the tape printing apparatus 1 will be described with reference to FIGS. 19 to 21.
Referring to FIG. 19, the tape printing apparatus 1 has a basic entry mode (H1), a character selection/entry mode (H2), a symbol selection/entry mode (H3), and a function-selecting/setting mode (H5), as basic edit mode, and in the case of the Japanese language-adapted type of the tape printing apparatus 1 which is capable of processing Japanese language, additionally, a Kana/Kanji conversion mode (H4) for carrying out conversion between Japanese Kana letters and Kanji letters.
Immediately after the power key 31 is depressed, that is, immediately after the power of the tape printing apparatus 1 is turned on, the apparatus is set to the basic entry mode (H1), and then by operating function keys, the edit mode can be changed between the basic entry mode (H1) and the other edit modes as well as between the character selection/entry mode (H2) and the symbol selection/entry mode (H3).
First, if the character key 34C is depressed in the basic entry mode (H1), the apparatus is set to the character selection/entry mode (H2), whereas if the enter key 38 is depressed after selecting characters, or when the delete key 35 is depressed in order to stop a character-selecting process, the apparatus returns to the basic entry mode (H1).
If the symbol key 34D is depressed instead of the character key 34C in the basic entry mode (H1), the apparatus is set to the symbol selection/entry mode (H3). Further, if the symbol key 34D is depressed in the character selection/entry mode (H2), or the character key 34C is depressed in the symbol selection/entry mode (H3), the character selection/entry mode (H2) and the symbol selection/entry mode (H3) are interchanged.
Further, in the case of the Japanese language-adapted type of the tape printing apparatus 1, when the conversion mode key 37S is depressed in the basic entry mode (H1), the apparatus is set to the Kana/Kanji conversion mode (H4), whereas when the conversion mode key 37S is again depressed in the resulting mode, or when the enter key 38 is depressed after carrying out the Kana/Kanji conversion, or when the delete key 35 is depressed in order to stop the Kana/Kanji conversion process, the apparatus returns to the basic entry mode (H1).
Further, when the apparatus is in the basic entry mode (H1), if the decoration key 34F, the format key 34FS, the frame key 34CS or the adjustment key 34DS is depressed, the apparatus is set to the function-selecting/setting mode (H5), and if the enter key 38 is depressed after a function-setting process is terminated, or if the delete key 35 is depressed in order to stop the function-setting process, the apparatus returns to the basic entry mode (H1).
As described hereinbefore with reference to FIG. 13, when the power key 31 is depressed, the initialization of the system is carried out, and the image that was displayed on the display screen 41 before the power was turned off the last time is shown as the initial screen. However, since the apparatus is set to the basic entry mode (H1) immediately after the power is turned on, as described above, the image that was displayed in the basic entry mode (H1) before the power was turned off the last time is shown as the initial screen (S2).
When the tape printing apparatus 1 is shipped from a factory or before it is used, no character data (text data) is displayed on the display screen 41. The initial screen in such a state displays, as shown in FIGS. 20A and 20B, the cursor K at the right end of the coordinates C5, and a capital letter "D" (representative of "Disc Title", since a disc title is usually used as a title to be printed on labels, as described hereinabove) indicative of a title line at a location of the coordinates CE and CF (G0). Hereinafter, this state is referred to as "the text-initialized state", which is used to mean the state of no text data being available. FIG. 20C shows an example of a title displayed.
On the other hand, for instance, assuming that a character string "Someday" was displayed in half size (i.e. by using half-size characters) as character data representative of the title of music number i=2 before the power was turned off the last time, the initial screen becomes a screen reproducing the screen displayed then, as shown in FIG. 21 (G11). Further, in the indicator display block 4i at this time, indicators indicative of active ones out of modes and states set before the power was turned off are lighted. It should be noted that in FIGS. 20B, 20C, and so forth, a portion representative of the indicator display block 4i does not represent an actual image, but shows a description of the state of indicator display block 4i and hence it is shown in a state enclosed by broken lines.
When the all character delete key 35S is depressed from the above state (G11), a message prompting the user to confirm that all characters displayed are to be deleted is displayed in a flickering (or highlighted) manner (G12). Hereinafter, characters displayed in the flickering or highlighted manner are expressed in a shaded manner as shown in screen G12 in FIG. 21. Although it is possible to switch between the above two manners of display (flickering and highlighting) by configuring internal modes of the apparatus, detailed description thereof is omitted.) When the enter key 38 is depressed, all characters are deleted to initialize the display screen to the same text-initialized state as it was in when the apparatus was shipped from the factory (G13: the same screen as G0).
As described above, the tape printing apparatus 1 is set to the basic entry mode (H1) immediately after the power is turned on, and the initial screen displayed in the state is the screen G0 in the text-initialized state or a screen displaying characters (text) that were displayed before the power was turned off the last time (G13 or the like).
It is considered that a case in which some characters were displayed before the power was turned off the last time occurs more often than special cases where all characters displayed are deleted as described above or where the apparatus has just been shipped from the factory or before it is used. Hence, in the following description, a screen similar to the above screen G11 is shown as an example of an image that was displayed before the power was turned off the last time, and description is made assuming that key operation is started from the state of the screen (G11 or the like).
Therefore, next, the print data-reading process (S20) described above with reference to FIGS. 15 to 18 (e.g. FIG. 18 print data-reading process) will be described from the viewpoint of key operation carried out by the user and screens displayed in response to the key operation.
Referring to FIG. 22, when the user depresses the read key 36 in the state of the same screen as G21 being displayed, the print data-reading process (S20) is activated as an interrupt handling routine. Then, a message "ALL ?" prompting the user to confirm that the reading process for reading all data is to be executed is displayed, and character data or the like displayed is saved (backed up) in case of the reading process being stopped (G22). The above message was omitted in FIG. 15.
Here, when a key other than the enter key 38 and the read key 36 is depressed, the reading process is stopped to restore the stored original character data, i.e. return to the screen (G21) displayed before depressing the read key 36. Further, when the user depresses the enter key 38 or the read key 36 after confirming that the process to be executed is the reading process, a message "READING" is displayed, and at the same time the reading process described above with reference to FIG. 18 and the like is carried out. Then, after the lapse of a certain time period, that is, after all the data items are read in, it is determined at step S24 whether or not both half-size display attribute information and full-size display attribute information has been read in.
In the above example, for instance, in the case of a logical expression "half-size display disc title flag. or. half-size display music title flag=1", character data (half-size display attribute data: hereinafter referred to as "the half-size code data" for purposes of ease of intuitive understanding, Kana character codes being included in the data in the case of Japanese language-adapted type of the apparatus, as described hereinbefore) of the half-size display attribute information (here, half-size display disc title or half-size display music title) is read in. In this case, as described above, the character data (half-size code data) read in is stored in the half-size display attribute data area (second storage area) 245 in the RAM 240.
On the other hand, in the case of a logical expression "full-size display disc title flag. or. full-size display music title flag=1", character data (full-size display attribute data: hereinafter referred to as "the full-size code data" for purposes of ease of intuitive understanding) of the full-size display attribute information (full-size display disc title or full-size display music title) is read in. In this case, as described above, the character data (full-size code data) read in is stored in the full-size display attribute data area (first storage area) 246 in the RAM 240.
When only one of the full-size code data and the half-size code data has been read in (No to S24), the title of a first music piece in the read code data is displayed. For instance, if only the half-size code data has been read in, the title of a first music piece is displayed based on the half-size code data (G25). That is, in this case, character (code) data for display is stored in the text data area 242 in the RAM 240, which serves as a text data-editing area, while corresponding character (image) data is stored as dot matrix data into the display image data area 243 in the same, which serves a display image (display character image)-editing area.
Here, if the user depresses the print key 39, character (image) data corresponding to the character (code) data of the displayed code type of the disc title, music titles and so forth is similarly stored as dot matrix data into the print image data area 244 in the RAM 240, that is, into a print image (print character image)-editing area in the RAM 240, such that the character (image) data is arranged in a predetermined manner. A printing process for printing the character (image) data will be described hereinafter.
On the other hand, when the full-size code data and the half-size code data are both read in (Yes to S24), the program proceeds to a next step (S26), wherein code type selection is carried out by the user. It should be noted that an abnormal case in which neither the full-size code data nor the half-size code data is read in will be described later.
When the program proceeds to the code type selection by the user (S26), as shown in FIG. 23, a message "FULL-C?" appears which prompts the user to effect a key entry answering the message questioning as to whether or not the full-size code data should be selected (G27). Here, when the user depresses the enter key 38, the full-size code data is selected to display the music title (full-size display music title) based on the full-size code data (G29). In short, in this case, image data corresponding to the character data of the full-size display music title is stored as dot matrix data into the display image data area 243.
Further, in the code selection, it is possible to change the display of the option "FULL-C" to the display of the option "HALF-C" for selection of the half-size code data through operation of the down arrow key 33D" (G28). Furthermore, it is also possible to operate the up arrow key 33U from the state (G28) to thereby return the display screen to the screen G27 displaying the option "FULL-C".
When the user depresses the enter key 38 in the sate of the option "HALF-C" being displayed (G28), the half-size code data is selected to display the music title (half-size display music title) based on the half-size code data (G30). In short, in this case, image data corresponding to the character data of the half-size display music title is stored as dot matrix data into the display image data area 243.
Further, when the user depresses the delete key 35 in one of the above states (G27 or G28), the character data displayed before depressing the print key 39 is restored, i.e. the display screen returns to the screen (G31: the same as G21), similarly to the case of the reading process being interrupted.
Although in the above example, the title of the first music piece is displayed as a typical screen display, this is not limitative, but a title (disc title: half-size display disc title or full-size display disc title) may be displayed in place of the title of the first music piece.
Further, although in the above example, the user depresses the read key 36 in order to read in all the data items (data items of all the music pieces), this is not limitative, but the line read key 36S may be depressed instead of the read key 36, whereby new character data corresponding to only character data on a desired line can be read in to replace the old character data with the new character data.
For instance, when the line read key 36S is depressed in the state of the title of the music number i=2 being displayed (e.g. G21), a message "LINE?" is displayed instead of the above message "ALL?", and then if the enter key 38 or the read key 36 (or the line read key 36S) is depressed, new character data of the music number i=2 is read in to replace the old character data with the new character data.
Further, in the state of a title (disc title) being displayed, if the line read key 36S is depressed, new character data of the title is read in similarly to the case of the music title, whereby the old character data is replaced with the new character data of the disc title. In the text-initialized state (G0 or G13) described above with reference to FIGS. 20B and 21, the cursor K is set or placed on a title line, so that when the line read key 36S is depressed, new character data of a title is read in.
It should be noted that when the read key 36 or the line read key 36S is depressed in a mode other than the basic entry mode (H1), an error message is displayed to indicate that the key is depressed in an improper edit mode, and the reading process is not carried out.
Further, if an abnormality other than the above occurs, the following processing is carried out. That is, if the reading process is carried out to eventually read in neither the half-size code data nor the full-size code data, or if there exists invalid data, or if a (remote) control communication error occurs, an error message is displayed to notify the user that an error has occurred during the reading process, whereas if the read key 36 is depressed in a state where the tape printing apparatus 1 is not connected to the MD player 90, or if normal connection between the apparatus and the MD player 90 is broken during the reading process, an error message is displayed to notify the user that the apparatus is not connected to the MD player 90. In any of the above cases, the user is notified of the error and then, similarly to the case of the reading process being interrupted, and the original character data is restored to return the display screen to the screen (the same as G21) displayed before starting the present process.
Still further, when the delete key 35 is depressed during the reading process, the user is notified that the reading process is interrupted, and then the display screen returns to the screen displayed before. Further, when the power is turned off (by depressing the power key 31), an error message is displayed to notify the user that the reading process is interrupted, and then all the display and indications are turned off, and thereafter, if the power is turned on again, similarly to the case of the reading process being interrupted, the old character data having been in use is restored to return the display screen to the screen displayed before (the same as G21).
As described above, in the tape printing apparatus 1, an area for storing attribute information (character groups) read in from the MD 92 is determined based on whether or not the attribute information is full-size display attribute information (whether or not the character codes of character groups read out from a disc include a character code of a specific code group), that is, whether the attribute information is full-size code data or half-size code data. For instance, if the attribute information is full-size code data, it is stored in the full-size display attribute data area (first storage area) 246, whereas if it is half-size code data, it is stored in the half-size display attribute data area (second storage area) 245.
Therefore, at the following steps, it is only required that character data is read out from one of the areas 245 and 246, and there is no need to determine whether the read character data is half-size code data or full-size code data.
Further, this makes it possible to program the process such that the process branches according to the result of the above area determination, thereby enhancing processing efficiency, such as average processing speed, and processing capability of the apparatus.
For instance, full-size code data includes character codes of Kanji letters in the case of the Japanese language-adapted type of the tape printing apparatus 1, and hence, it is possible to easily view or recognize a title (disc title), music titles or the like as well as easily display and print the same as a compact image, since Kanji letters are included therein. This makes it easy to print music titles of more music pieces on a main label LM, and add additional information, such as artists' names and the like, to the attribute information. Further, in the JIS code system for use with the MD system, for instance, simple figures, symbols and the like are encoded similarly to general characters. These figures and symbols are basically processed as full-size display characters similarly to Kanji letters. Since the apparatus according to the present embodiments is capable of processing the full-size code data, that is, characters including full-size display characters, such figures and symbols can be included in displayed images and printed images, whereby it is possible to display or print more diversified and attractive images.
On the other hand, in the case of half-size code data, display characters are uniformly half-size display characters, and hence it is possible to omit processes of determining whether characters are of full size or of half size to determine display areas and printing areas therefor. That is, the process may be programmed to branch according to the result of the above storage area determination dependent on the code type, whereby when half-size code data is to be processed, part of steps required for processing full-size code data can be omitted, which results in the increased processing efficiency.
Further, as described above, the MD 92 has the storage area for storing data of half size characters (half-size code data storage area) and the storage area for storing data of full-size characters (full-size code data storage area) defined separately from each other in view of the difference in the above data processing.
Further, since half-size code data and full-size code data are sent in succession in response to a single request signal, it is determined that data of characters sent from the half-size code data storage area is half-size code data and data of characters sent from the full-size code data storage area is full-size code data, whereby it is possible to simplify a code type-determining process. This enables groups of characters sent from the two storage areas in the MD 92 to be easily stored in respective storage areas in the RAM 240, i.e., in the half-size display attribute data area (second storage area) 245 and the full-size display attribute data area (first storage area) 246, respectively, in a discriminating manner thereby enhancing the processing efficiency.
Further, in the tape printing apparatus 1, when character groups have been stored in only one of the full-size display attribute data area (first storage area) 246 and the half-size display attribute data area (second storage area) 245, i.e. when only one of the full-size code data and the half-size code data has been read in, character image data corresponding to the character groups (character data of the music titles, for instance) represented by the code data read in is stored as dot matrix data into the display image data area 243 in the RAM 240, which is the display image (display character image)-editing area, and the stored character (image) data is displayed (processed). On the other hand, when character groups are stored in both of the first storage area 246 and the second storage area 245, that is, when the full-size code data and the half-size code data have been both read in, the program proceeds to the next step, wherein the code type selection by the user is carried out. Then, character image data corresponding to the character groups of the selected code type is stored as dot matrix data into the display image data area 243, and the stored character (image) data is displayed (processed) as data for display (processing).
Further, if the user depresses the print key 39, image data corresponding to characters of the same code type as that of the above character (image) data displayed is stored as dot matrix data into the print image data area 244 as the print image (print character image)-editing area in the RAM 240, such that the image data is arranged in a predetermined manner. Then, the stored character (image) data is printed (processed) as data for printing (processing). Although in the above display process and printing process, characters are stored into the corresponding editing area as image data in dot-matrix form, this is not limitative but, for instance, in a process for transmitting data to another device at a subsequent step, e.g., in a communication process, character codes (text codes) are stored as they are, into an editing area for the communication process (for instance, into the text data area 242 provided for a general editing process).
As described above, according to the tape printing apparatus 1, when only one of the full-size code data and the half-size code data is read in (stored) as well as when the full-size code data and the half-size code data are both read in (stored), character data stored in an editing area can be processe |
