Printer Font Data Management for Multi-Language Printing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional printers are unable to easily print characters in multiple languages that share common character codes, leading to potential misprinting of characters in unintended languages, and lack a simple configuration for switching between languages.
Innovation Solution
A printer with a storage system holding font data for multiple languages, including Japanese, Chinese, and Korean, and a controller that uses location information to switch between font data sets based on received character codes, allowing it to print characters in multiple languages by changing the font data corresponding to the specified language.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If font data for multiple languages is stored in the printer, then the printer can print characters in multiple languages, but the device complexity increases due to managing multiple font data sets with common character codes
Solution Approach 1:
The font data for multiple languages is segmented into separate storage areas within the printer's memory, with each language's font data assigned a unique base address. This segmentation allows the printer to selectively access only the required language's font data based on the character code range, reducing the complexity of managing multiple font data sets while maintaining multi-language printing capability.
Solution Approach 2:
A language identification table serves as an intermediary data structure that maps character code ranges to corresponding font data base addresses. This intermediary layer simplifies the management of multiple font data sets by providing a systematic way to translate character codes into the appropriate font data location, reducing the complexity of multi-language font management.
2Duration of action of stationary object
If font data is stored in nonvolatile memory, then the printer can retain font data permanently, but the processing speed decreases due to slower access time compared to volatile memory
Solution Approach 1:
When the printer is powered on or when a language is selected, the required font data is preliminarily copied from nonvolatile memory to volatile memory. This preliminary action ensures that the font data is readily available in faster volatile memory for subsequent printing operations, thereby improving processing speed while maintaining the benefit of permanent storage in nonvolatile memory.
Solution Approach 2:
The printer's memory system is structured with nonvolatile memory containing the complete font data sets, and volatile memory containing working copies of the currently needed font data. This nested memory structure allows the system to maintain both permanent storage capability and fast access speed by appropriately placing data in the suitable memory layer.
Data Source
AI summary
A printer has a printing mechanism for printing on roll paper; RAM storing font data for multiple languages having at least some character codes in common, and the starting address of the font data for each of the multiple languages; a communicator that receives a command specifying starting addresses and character codes; and a controller that reads font data corresponding to the character codes received by the communicator from RAM based on the starting address specified by the command, and controlling the printing mechanism to print based on the read font data.