JP2007105910A - Inkjet recorder, and its control method and device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an inkjet recorder which enables an image recorder to effectively shift to a power-saving mode. <P>SOLUTION: In the network-connected inkjet recorder, a data processor utilizing the inkjet recorder is specified. It is judged whether the specified data processor is in a state to be able to utilize the image recorder. The image recorder is effectively shifted to the power-saving mode by determining the shift to the power-saving mode on the basis of the judgment. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an ink jet recording apparatus that performs recording by relatively moving an ink jet recording head and a recording medium, and a control method and apparatus therefor, and more particularly to a shift control method to a power saving mode.

  In general, an ink jet recording apparatus performs recording by ejecting ink from a recording head to a recording medium. The recording head can be easily made compact, can record high-definition images at high speed, and has a running cost. However, since it is a low-impact and non-impact method, there are advantages such as low noise and easy recording of a color image using multicolor inks.

  In general, the ink jet recording apparatus is on-demand recording and does not require a fixing device such as an electrophotographic recording method. Therefore, it is originally excellent in power saving, but further suppresses power consumption. A device having a power saving mode is provided.

  In an image recording apparatus having a conventional power saving mode, a transition control method to various power saving modes has been proposed so that the power saving mode is used more effectively.

For example, the operation status of a plurality of host PCs connected to the network to which the image recording apparatus is connected is monitored, and the image recording apparatus is omitted when it is detected that all the host PCs are in a sleep state. A configuration for shifting to the power mode has been proposed (see, for example, Patent Document 1).
JP 2004-001241 A (FIG. 1)

  However, in the case of the image recording apparatus having the above configuration, the image recording apparatus is shifted to the power saving mode only when all the host PCs connected to the same network are in the sleep state. For this reason, if there is even one non-sleeping host PC, the image recording apparatus is not shifted to the power saving mode. Even when only the host PC that does not plan to use the image recording apparatus is in the non-sleep state, the image recording apparatus is not shifted to the power saving mode. In an environment where a plurality of image recording devices are installed on the same network, it is assumed that only one specific image recording device that meets the needs is usually used from a specific host PC. However, even when only the host PC that does not normally use the specific image recording apparatus is in the non-sleep state, the image recording apparatus is not shifted to the power saving mode.

  As described above, even when the image recording apparatus is unlikely to be used, the image recording apparatus may not be shifted to the power saving mode. Reduction may not be achieved as expected.

  In order to achieve the above object, an ink jet recording apparatus according to the present invention includes means for specifying a data processing apparatus using the ink jet recording apparatus, and the specified data processing apparatus is in a state where the image recording apparatus can be used. It is characterized by having means for determining whether or not there is, and means for determining the transition to the power saving mode based on the determination.

  As described above in detail, according to the present invention, an ink jet recording apparatus that forms an image using a recording head, specifies a data processing apparatus using the ink jet recording apparatus, and specifies the specified data processing apparatus. Determines whether the image recording apparatus is in a usable state, and determines the transition to the power saving mode based on the determination, so that the image recording apparatus can effectively shift to the power saving mode. A recording apparatus can be provided.

  Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

(First embodiment)
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of the ink jet printing system according to the present embodiment.

  In FIG. 1, reference numeral 100 denotes an ink jet printer according to this embodiment, which includes a printer engine 120 that records an image by an ink jet method. The printer engine 120 is a printer for color recording, and includes a plurality of recording heads (inkjet heads) that eject ink corresponding to each color of YMCK, and reciprocally scans the plurality of recording heads to form an image on a recording sheet. Record. The configuration of the ink jet printer 100 will be described in detail later with reference to FIGS.

  A host computer 200 stores various application programs 220 and a printer driver 221 for the inkjet printer 100 in a hard disk (not shown). The ink jet recording control method according to the present embodiment may be executed by the ink jet printer 100 or the printer driver 221. The printer driver 221 is provided from the manufacturer of the printer 100 via a storage medium such as a CD-ROM and is installed on the hard disk of the host computer 200. At the time of execution, the program is loaded into the RAM 223 of the host computer 200 and executed under the control of the CPU 222.

  The printer 200 receives the recording data sent from the printer driver 221 and records an image by an instructed recording method, for example, multipass. The inkjet printer 100 includes mask information for determining dot positions to be recorded in each scan, and determines dot positions (nozzles) to be recorded in each pass according to the mask information. However, the mask information may be provided in the host computer 200, and the printer 100 may be configured to record based on the received recording data.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration for explaining image processing in the printer driver 221 according to the present embodiment.

  In FIG. 2, reference numeral 301 denotes an input correction unit for inputting image data represented by 8 bits for each RGB input from, for example, the application program 220 and the like, and C (cyan) M (magenta) Y (yellow) used for recording. Each is converted to 8-bit data. Reference numeral 302 denotes a color tone correction unit that generates and outputs CMYK (black) data based on the CMY data corrected by the input correction unit 301. Reference numeral 303 denotes an output correction unit, which is a characteristic part of the present embodiment, and determines the value of image data recorded in each pass when recording is performed by the inkjet printer 100. In this case, the data recorded in each pass may be corrected based on the correction data in the correction table 113. A quantization unit 304 quantizes CMYK 8-bit image data output from the output correction unit 303 using, for example, an error diffusion method, and CMYK 1-bit data (recording data) as a result of the quantization. Is output.

  FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the basic configuration of the inkjet printer 100 according to the embodiment of the present invention. In the description of the ink jet printer 100, the case where the ink jet printer 100 itself has an image processing function as shown in FIG. 2 will be described. However, the host-side printer driver 221 has this function. It goes without saying that this function is omitted and the configuration is simpler.

  In FIG. 3, reference numeral 101 denotes a control unit that controls the operation of the entire inkjet printer according to the present embodiment. Reference numeral 102 denotes a head driver, which performs recording by driving the inkjet head 105 based on recording data from the control unit 101. Reference numerals 103 and 104 denote motor drivers, which respectively drive the corresponding carriage motor 106 and sheet feeding motor 107 to rotate. An input unit 108 inputs image data from an external device such as the host computer 200 and supplies the image data to the control unit 101.

  Next, the configuration of the control unit 101 will be described.

  110 is a CPU such as a microprocessor, 111 is a program memory storing programs executed by the CPU 110, 115 is a RAM, and has a work area for recording various data when the CPU 110 operates, and stores recording data. A print buffer 116 is also provided. Reference numeral 112 denotes a print buffer controller (PBC) which controls to take out recording data to be printed from the print buffer 116. Reference numeral 113 denotes the correction table (FIG. 2), and reference numeral 114 denotes mask data, which is used to determine recording data to be recorded at each scanning of the inkjet head 105.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining the configuration of the recording unit of the inkjet printer 100 according to the embodiment of the present invention.

  In FIG. 4, reference numeral 205 denotes a head cartridge, which integrates an ink jet head (105 in FIG. 3) and an ink tank as an ink supply source. The head cartridge 205 is fixed on a carriage 206 by a pressing member 202, and the carriage 206 is slidably attached along the shaft 211. A belt 203 is wound around another pulley 109 a on a pulley 109 attached to the rotation shaft of the carriage motor 106, and a part of the belt 203 is fixed to the carriage 206. Thus, the carriage 206 can reciprocate along the shaft 211 by rotating the carriage motor 106. In synchronism with the scanning of the carriage 206, the ink jet head 105 of the head cartridge 205 is driven and ejected ink via the head driver 102 (FIG. 3) according to the recording data, whereby the platen 210 is wound. Thus, a desired image can be recorded on the recording sheet 209 that forms the recording surface. The platen 210 is rotated by the rotation of the sheet feeding motor 107.

  Reference numeral 207 denotes a cable, and recording data to be recorded is supplied from the control unit 101 to the head cartridge 205 via the cable 207 and a terminal coupled thereto. The head cartridge 205 can be provided with one or a plurality of ink jet heads according to the color of ink to be used. Reference numeral 204 denotes an HP (home position) sensor that detects that the carriage 206 is at the home position.

(The description up to this point is common to serial type ink jet printers. The following description is unique to the present invention.)
FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a state of a network to which the inkjet printer 100 is connected.

  Referring to FIG. 5, a plurality of host PCs (PC1, PC2, PC3) and a plurality of printers (printer 1, printer 2) are connected to a local network. At this time, the host PC 1 and the host PC 2 use the printer 1 (inkjet printer 100). The printer 2 is used by the host PC 2 and the host PC 3. Thus, the use of a specific printer may be limited to a specific host PC instead of all host PCs. Printing from the host PC is limited to specific printers such as printer functions (monochrome / color, double-sided printing, paper size, etc.), the distance to the printer from the location where the host PC is installed, etc. This is because a specific printer that best meets the needs among the plurality of installed printers is commonly used.

  FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a print history of the inkjet printer 100.

  Referring to FIG. 6, the history of printing performed by the inkjet printer 100 is recorded in the nonvolatile memory of the inkjet printer 100 in time series. A single print received from the host PC (referred to as “print job”) is managed in one record. The record consists of the name of the requesting PC of the print job, the print start time, the number of print pages, and the print result. ing. As shown in FIG. 5, it can be confirmed by referring to the print history that the printer 1 (inkjet printer 100) is regularly used only for the host PC1 and the host PC2.

  FIG. 7 shows a state in which the inkjet printer 100 shifts to the power saving mode.

  Referring to FIG. 7A, the printer 1 (inkjet printer 1) inquires the communication status to the host PC on the network at a timing determined by itself. At this time, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, since the printer 1 is regularly used by the host PC1 and the host PC2, the inquiry is made only to the host PC1 and the host PC2, and not to the host PC3. At this time, the host PC 1 is in a communication disabled state and the host PC 2 is in a communication enabled state. In the communicable state, the host PC can notify the printer of a print request and can respond to a status inquiry from an external device including the printer. In the communication disabled state, a print request cannot be notified from the host PC to the printer, and a status inquiry from an external device including the printer cannot be responded. Generally, the former can be determined that the host PC is in an operating state, and the latter can be determined that the host PC is in a sleep state or a power-off state. The communication status inquiry means is not limited to a specific one, and various known communication protocols can be applied.

  Referring to FIG. 7B, in response to the communication status inquiry from the printer 1 in FIG. 7A, only the host PC 2 in a communicable state responds to the printer 1 and is in a communication impossible state. The host PC 1 does not respond (cannot do). Thereby, the printer 1 can know the communicable state of the host PC 1 and the host PC 2. Since either the host PC 1 or the host PC 2 that normally uses the printer 1 is in a communicable state and there is a possibility that a print request may be notified from the communicable host PC, the transition to the power saving mode Is not performed, and the print standby state is maintained.

  Referring to FIG. 7C, after the state of FIG. 7B, in addition to the host PC 1, the host PC 2 is in a communication disabled state. At this time, the printer 1 inquires the communication status to the host PC on the network at the timing determined by itself again. Inquiries are made only to the host PC 1 and the host PC 2 that regularly use the printer 1 as in the case of FIG.

  Referring to FIG. 7D, the printer 1 is not responded to the inquiry of the printer 1 in FIG. 7C because neither the host PC 1 nor the host PC 2 can communicate. As a result, the printer 1 knows that both the host PC 1 and the host PC 2 that regularly use its own printer are in a communication disabled state, and that it is less likely to be notified of a print request. Shift the printer to power saving mode.

  Next, with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 8, the sleep shift determination process according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail. FIG. 8 shows a sleep transition determination process in the inkjet printer 100. The sleep transition determination process in the inkjet printer 100 of FIG. 8 is started at a predetermined cycle. In this embodiment, it is assumed that it is activated every 180 seconds.

  Referring to FIG. 8, first, the value of the “sleep determination flag” is set to true (S101). Here, “true” indicates that the inkjet printer 100 is in a state capable of shifting to sleep, and the “sleep determination flag” is evaluated in a determination process described later. Subsequently, a print history is acquired from the nonvolatile memory of the inkjet printer 100 (S102). Subsequently, the current date and time is acquired from the RTC unit built in the inkjet printer 100 (S103). Acquisition of the current date and time is not limited to acquisition using a clock function built in the inkjet printer 100, and various known acquisition means such as inquiring and acquiring an external device (such as a time server) connected to the network. Can be applied.

  Next, based on the date obtained from the acquired current date and time, the host PC that has performed printing today is extracted from the acquired print history (S104). The date obtained from the print start time of the print order shown in FIG. 6 is compared for each record to determine whether the print was performed today, and extraction is performed by referring to the host PC name of the record. Subsequently, the number of extracted host PCs is evaluated (S105). If the number of host PCs is 0, the subsequent process is skipped and the sleep determination process (S119) is performed. If not, the subsequent process after S106 is performed. If the number of host PCs is 0, it means that there is no host PC that has used the inkjet printer 100 today so far, and the sleep PC is immediately shifted to the sleep state.

  Next, based on the extracted host PC group, the number of prints performed today for each host PC is tabulated with reference to the acquired print history (S106). Subsequently, the host PCs are rearranged in descending order of the number of printings based on the total number of printings for each host PC (S107).

  Next, one unevaluated host PC is acquired in order from the top of the host PC group that has been extracted and rearranged in descending order of the number of prints (S108). Subsequently, the time when the acquired host PC was last printed by the inkjet printer 100 is acquired (S109). It can be obtained by searching the print history and referring to the print start time of the record. Subsequently, an elapsed time from the last printing is calculated from the current time obtained from the obtained current date and time and the obtained last printing time (S110). This can be calculated by subtracting the current time from the last printing time. Subsequently, “sleep transition time” is acquired from the nonvolatile memory of the inkjet printer 100 (S111). The “sleep transition time” is the time from the last printing to the transition to the sleep state, and can be selected according to the user environment using the inkjet printer 100. In this embodiment, the user can select from 30 minutes, 60 minutes, or 180 minutes through the user interface, and the selected time is stored in the nonvolatile memory of the inkjet printer 100 as a set value. Can be obtained by reading out. Subsequently, the acquired sleep transition time and the calculated elapsed time from the last printing in the host PC are evaluated (S112). If the elapsed time is longer than the sleep transition time, it is determined that sleep transition is possible for the host PC regardless of the state of the host PC, and the evaluation end determination process (S117) for all subsequent extraction host PCs is performed. If not, the subsequent processes after S113 are performed.

  Next, the printing interval of printing performed by the host PC with the inkjet printer 100 is acquired (S113). With reference to the acquired printing history, the printing interval of printing performed today is derived from the host PC. The time from the last printing performed from the host PC to the next printing that may be performed next is simply estimated from the past printing results. In this embodiment, the time is performed from the host PC today. The printing interval is obtained by simply averaging the printing intervals of all the printed prints. Subsequently, the elapsed time from the acquired last printing and the acquired printing interval are evaluated (S114). If the elapsed time is longer than the printing interval, the subsequent process and evaluation of the other host PC are skipped, the “sleep determination flag” is set to false (S118), and the process proceeds to a sleep determination process (S119) described later, otherwise In this case, the subsequent processing from S115 is performed.

  Next, the state of the host PC is acquired using network communication means (S115). As shown in FIG. 7, an information inquiry is made to the host PC using a well-known communication protocol, and the status is acquired based on the presence / absence of a response thereto. If there is a response from the host PC, it is determined that communication is possible, and if there is no response within a predetermined time, it is determined that communication is not possible. Subsequently, the state of the acquired host PC is determined (S116). If the communication is possible, the subsequent process and the evaluation of the other host PC are skipped, the “sleep determination flag” is set to false (S118), and the process proceeds to a sleep determination process (S119) to be described later. Subsequent processing after S117 is performed.

  Next, it is determined whether the process for evaluating the sleep transition condition shown in S109 to S116 has been performed for all the extracted host PCs (S117). If unevaluated host PCs remain, the processing after S108 is continued and the evaluation is repeated for all the extracted host PCs. When all the extracted host PCs have been evaluated, the sleep determination flag is evaluated (S119). When the sleep determination flag is true, it is determined that the sleep can be shifted, and when the sleep determination flag is false, it is determined that the sleep cannot be shifted. When it is determined that the sleep can be shifted, the inkjet printer 100 is shifted to the sleep state after the sleep shift determination process ends.

1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of an inkjet printing system in one embodiment of the present invention. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration for explaining image processing in a printer driver according to an embodiment of the present invention. 1 is a block diagram showing a basic configuration of an ink jet printer according to an embodiment of the present invention. The figure for demonstrating the structure of the recording part of the inkjet printer in one Example of this invention. The figure which showed the mode of the network to which the inkjet printer in one Example of this invention was connected. The figure which showed the printing history of the inkjet printer in one Example of this invention The figure which showed a mode that the inkjet printer in one Example of this invention shifted to a sleep state. Flowchart of sleep transition determination process of inkjet printer in one embodiment of the present invention

Claims (7)

  Means for identifying a data processing apparatus using the ink jet recording apparatus; means for determining whether the identified data processing apparatus is in a state where the image recording apparatus can be used; and a power saving mode based on the determination And an ink jet recording apparatus characterized by comprising:   2. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein means for specifying a data processing apparatus using the ink jet recording apparatus refers to a print history recorded in the ink jet recording apparatus.   2. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein means for specifying a data processing apparatus using the ink jet recording apparatus is limited to a data processing apparatus using the ink jet recording apparatus within a predetermined period.   The inkjet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the means for determining whether the specified data processing apparatus is in a state where the image recording apparatus can be used is determined in an order corresponding to the number of times of printing.   The means for determining whether the specified data processing apparatus is in a state where the image recording apparatus can be used takes into account an elapsed time from the previous printing in the data processing apparatus. Inkjet recording device.   The means for determining whether the specified data processing apparatus is in a state where the image recording apparatus can be used takes into account a printing interval in the data processing apparatus estimated from a printing history. Inkjet recording apparatus.   The means for determining whether or not the specified data processing apparatus is in a state where the image recording apparatus can be used specifies the state of the data processing apparatus using network communication means. Inkjet recording device.

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