Lexmark International, Inc.

International Business Machines Corporation

Carl P Cole

John K Brown, Iii

James L Beck

Lynn M Oliver

James Ronald Booth

James C Buchanan

Patrick Oscar Bischel

Stephen R Troyer

James Francis Webb

John Parker Richey

Mark Lane Mayberry

Cuong Manh Hoang

Timothy J Louie

Alan F Neel, Ii

Warren J Spina

Margaret E Claffey-Cohen

Michael James Klein

James P, Ward

Wallace L Holloway, Ii

Donald G Fitch

An electrophotographic printer (1) adjusts high resolution data while preserving the resolution capabilities of the printer. Data in a 600.times.600 bit map is assigned alternately to two rows of a 300.times.1200 bit map. Excellent visual effects are realized.

Bit map adjustment preserving resolution

A parallel interface connects a data processor and a printer so that each may transmit information to the other or receive information from the other. The transmitted information from the data processor can be data or status signals. The data or status signals are transmitted over the same eight information lines between the data processor and the printer with a predetermined signal being sent over another line from the data processor to the printer prior to transmission over the eight lines to identify whether the transmitted information is data or status signals. The printer sends status signals to the data processor over the same eight information lines after sending a predetermined signal to the data processor over a further line that it is going to transmit.

Bi-directional parallel printer interface

A memory management system for a page printer controller (11) which includes random access memory (17) allocated among bit map memory (30), page buffer memory (29), and user memory (28). The memory management system allocates the random access memory to provide either a large bit map memory or, responsive to needs of the controller (11) for increased memory for other uses, for allocating the random access memory (17) to provide a small bit map memory and place more memory in the page buffer memory (29) and user memory (28).

Page printer memory allocation

A page printer (101) which rasterizes a page utilizing partial page bit map swaths. Received data to be printed is stored in packets (12-17) in a page buffer in random access memory (105). Data within each packet is arranged in printing order down the page to be printed, but the packets themselves are arranged in the order received, and are not indexed or linked. As each swath (11) is rasterized, each packet is examined, and packets containing data falling at least in part within the active swath are processed. The printer is controlled by a programmed microprocessor, and logic hardware assistance is provided for translating data addresses from logical addresses (54) to physical addresses (52). Logic hardware assistance is also provided for making the determination of whether or not a given data address lies within the active swath.

Printer buffer and rasterization arrangement

The bit map description for a page printer (1) from data for more lines per page than would normally fit on the page is composed by reserving the full vertical height of one line and determining the line spacing on the basis of the ratio (division) of the remaining printable page length to the number of lines less one. This is done automatically by a microprocessor (7) which determines the lines per page from the page selected from the control panel (13), performs the division (37) of lines per page less one into printable height less one, followed by page composition (39) based on the result. The data invariable fits into the mapped description without additional operator intervention.

Page printer composition line spacing revision

A printer control system which enables the using application program to automatically selectively alter printer default parameters, to automatically selectively delete previously downloaded fonts and macros, and to enable the printer to operate from one of several datastream formats. The system allows the printer to initialize default parameters for a succeeding job during the printing of a current job as long as the datastream format is unchanged, and allows the deletion of downloaded fonts as long as they are not needed for the current or future pages being printed for the current job.

Printer initialization system

Growing community of inventors

Lexington, KY, United States of America

Carl P Cole