JPH106575A - Method for processing image data, apparatus for processing storage medium and image data, and color printer apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To decrease the vol. of a memory of a color printer apparatus in relation to a method for processing image data to a color printer apparatus with a plurality of recording elements, an image data processing apparatus for processing the image data to the color printer apparatus with a storage medium storing a program for executing this method and a plurality of recording elements and the color printer apparatus with a plurality of recording elements. SOLUTION: A color printer apparatus 3 records images with respectively different color by means of a recording head 9 consisting of a plurality of recording elements arranged in the same direction as the carrying direction of recording papers in accordance with color image data from a computor 1. A printer controlling circuit 7 controls in such a way that the color image data from the computor 1 are stored in an RAM 8 and carrying is performed by a specified distance in accordance with constitution of the recording papers in synchronizing with that a specified amt. in accordance with constitution in the carrying direction of the recording papers of a plurality of recording elements are stored.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image data processing method, a storage medium, an image data processing apparatus and a color printer, and more particularly to an image data processing method for processing image data to a color printer having a plurality of recording elements. The present invention also relates to a storage medium storing a program for executing the method, an image data processing apparatus for processing image data to a color printer having a plurality of printing elements, and a color printer having a plurality of printing elements.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, serial color printers have been widely used as color printers that can be configured in a small size and at low cost. In particular, an ink jet color printer has been remarkably developed in recent years as a color printer capable of printing at a high speed and quietly among serial color printers, and various performances have been improved. For example, with respect to the printing speed, the printing speed has been improved by increasing the scanning speed of a carriage equipped with a recording head.

[0003] In addition, the color graphic environment has been enhanced in low-cost personal computers.
There has been a demand for a color printer for a personal computer that can perform high-quality printing at a low price. As a suitable color printer for this personal computer,
Inkjet color printers are receiving attention.

In general, a color printer has three colors (RGB).
Alternatively, it is necessary to provide a printing function for a plurality of colors of four colors (YMCK). In an ink-jet color printer, a plurality of recording elements in one recording head are arranged in the paper transport direction (3 for RGB, 4 for YMCK).
Are configured to perform color printing by supplying inks of different colors to the printing elements of each group. Such an ink jet color printer is particularly advantageous in reducing the price of a color printer because color printing can be performed with one recording head.

[0005]

In this method, the area where the recording head prints recording paper by one head scan differs depending on the color. However, the computer that transmits the image data transmits the image data of each color in parallel for the same raster data.
There is a problem in that image data having a larger capacity than image data required for one head scan must be stored, and a large-capacity memory is required.

FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining the relationship between the configuration of a recording head used in a conventional color printer and image data stored in a memory.

In the recording head 9, a plurality of recording elements are grouped at regular intervals and arranged in a line in the recording paper transport direction (Y direction). As shown in FIG. 5, the group is divided into a group (Y) for printing yellow, a group (M) for printing magenta, a group (C) for printing cyan, and a group (K) for printing black in order from the top. . The number of recording elements in each group is, for example, 24 dots, and a gap of 8 dots is provided between each group. By driving the recording element while scanning the recording head 9 in a direction (X direction) perpendicular to the transport direction of the recording paper, printing for 24 dots of each color is performed simultaneously. After scanning once by the recording head, the recording paper is transported by 24 dots in the Y direction. The color printer repeats the scanning of the recording head and the conveyance of the recording sheet in this manner to perform color printing on the entire recording sheet.

In FIG. 5, reference numerals 21, 22, 23, and 24 denote respective image data of yellow, magenta, cyan, and black captured in the color printer, and the capacity thereof corresponds to the area shown in FIG. . The Y direction of each image data corresponds to the arrangement direction of the recording elements for each color, and the X direction corresponds to the scanning direction of the recording head, that is, the width direction of the recording paper. The position of each image data in the X direction shown in the drawing differs depending on the color. This is because the difference in the capacity of each image data is shifted for the sake of easy explanation, and the actual image data in the X direction is different. All positions match.

A computer connected to a color printer decomposes an image to be printed into image data of each color, converts the data into raster data expanded in the horizontal direction, and transmits the raster data to the color printer in order for each raster data. The color printer prints image data of 24 dots each of yellow, magenta, cyan, and black in one scan. Therefore, the data of the 24th dot of black is received in the lowermost dot of the recording head 9 in FIG. 5, that is, the movement direction (-Y direction) of the recording head 9 relative to the transport direction of the recording paper. It is necessary to store all data received so far in the memory in the color printer until the processing is completed.

That is, in order for the computer to transmit image data of each color in parallel for each raster at the same position,
For each color other than black, even if image data required for one scan has already been received, black data is received and scanned once, and the corresponding image of each color is printed at the scan position. Until the end, the image data of each color must be stored. Therefore, the black data is equal to the number of dots for one color of the recording element, ie, 2 dots.
It is sufficient to hold image data for 4 dots, but yellow data for 120 dots and magenta data for 8
This means that the data for 8 dots and the data for cyan must hold 56 dots. If the amount of image data to be stored in the color printer is larger than that required directly for printing, the memory capacity is increased, which has been a factor of increasing the cost of the color printer.

The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and has as its object to provide an image data processing method for processing image data to a color printer so that the memory capacity of the color printer can be reduced. Provided are a storage medium storing a program for executing the method, an image data processing apparatus for processing image data to the color printer so that the memory capacity of the color printer is small, and a color printer having a small memory capacity. It is in.

[0012]

In order to achieve the above object, according to the method of the present invention, images are arranged in substantially the same direction as the recording paper conveyance direction, and images are recorded in different colors. An image data processing method for processing image data to be transmitted to a color printer having a recording head including a plurality of recording elements, wherein a detecting step of detecting a configuration of the plurality of recording elements in the substantially same direction; A raster data generating step of generating raster data corresponding to each color image recorded on the recording paper by the recording elements in synchronization with the conveyance of the recording paper according to the configuration of the plurality of recording elements; A compression step of compressing the raster data generated in the raster data generation step.

The method according to the second aspect of the present invention further includes a transmission step of transmitting the compressed raster data generated in the compression step.

In order to achieve the above object, in the storage medium according to the present invention, a plurality of recording elements arranged in substantially the same direction as the recording paper transport direction and recording images in different colors are used. A detecting step of detecting a configuration in the substantially same direction, and raster data corresponding to an image of each color recorded by the plurality of recording elements on the recording paper, according to the configuration of the plurality of recording elements. A readable program including a raster data generation step for generating the raster data in synchronization with the conveyance of the recording paper and a compression step for compressing the raster data generated in the raster data generation step is stored.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the storage medium of the present invention, the program is supplied from the computer network to a storage medium writable by a computer connected to the computer network.

In the storage medium according to the present invention, the storage medium is a CD-ROM.

Further, in the storage medium according to the present invention, the storage medium is a floppy disk.

In the storage medium according to the present invention, the storage medium is a hard disk.

In order to achieve the above object, in the image data processing apparatus according to the present invention, the images are arranged in substantially the same direction as the recording paper conveyance direction, and images are recorded in different colors. In an image data processing apparatus for processing image data to be transmitted to a color printer having a recording head composed of a plurality of recording elements, detecting means for detecting a configuration of the plurality of recording elements in the substantially same direction; Raster data generating means for generating raster data corresponding to each color image recorded on the recording sheet by each of the elements in synchronization with conveyance of the recording sheet according to the configuration of the plurality of recording elements; and Compression means for compressing the raster data generated by the data generation means.

In the image data processing apparatus according to the present invention, preferably, the image data processing apparatus further includes a transmission unit for transmitting the compressed raster data generated by the compression unit.

According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a color printer according to the present invention, which is arranged in substantially the same direction as the recording paper transport direction in accordance with compressed color image data from an external device. In a color printer device for recording images in different colors by a recording head composed of a plurality of recording elements, the compressed color image data from the external device is stored in storage means, and the plurality of recording elements are stored in the substantially same direction. A transporting means for transporting the recording sheet a predetermined distance in accordance with the configuration in synchronization with the storage of a predetermined amount according to the configuration in (1), and an expanding means for expanding the compressed color image data. .

[0022]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings.

(First Embodiment) FIG. 1 shows a first embodiment of the present invention.
It is a block diagram showing an embodiment.

In FIG. 1, 1 is a computer, 2 is a printer driver, 3 is a color printer, 4 is a CPU,
5 is a ROM, 6 is an interface, 7 is an integrated IC
Printer control circuit 7a, a data expansion circuit 7a
b denotes a horizontal / vertical conversion circuit, 8 denotes a RAM, and 9 denotes a recording head.

The computer 1 includes an interface, a CPU, a ROM, a RAM, a hard disk drive, a floppy disk drive, and a CD-ROM.
This is a known configuration including a drive device, a communication device, a display device control device, and the like, and a display device having a CRT or the like and a keyboard are connected. A floppy disk is detachably mounted on the floppy disk drive and a CD-ROM is detachably mounted on the CD-ROM drive. The floppy disk drive and the CD-ROM drive may be separate from the computer itself.

The computer 1 is capable of forming an image by an application program for image processing readablely stored in a storage medium such as a ROM, a hard disk, a floppy disk, or a CD-ROM. Further, the printer driver 2 which is control software dedicated to the color printer 3 is stored in a readable manner in any of the above-described storage media before using the color printer 3 or provided to the user by a network service. It is assumed that

The computer 1 is connected to the color printer 3 via an interface 6. Image data to be printed is created on the computer 1 by an application program and transmitted to the color printer 3. The recording head 9 of the color printer device 3 is an inkjet head in which the inkjet nozzles are arranged at intervals of 1/360 inch in the same direction as the transport direction of the recording paper, and has the same configuration as that described in [Prior Art]. It has been. At the time of printing, the computer 1 operates under the control of the printer driver 2 to control the color printer 3, so that an optimal printing operation conforming to the configuration of the recording head 9 of the color printer 3 can be performed.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the control by the printer driver 2.

The printer driver 2 is called from the application program and starts operation when the user instructs execution of printing on the application program for image processing.

In step S20, the printer driver 2
The configuration of the plurality of recording elements of the recording head 9 of the color printer device 3 in the same direction as the recording paper is detected by reading from the storage medium storing the printer driver 2.

In step S22, the image data created on the application program is decomposed into raster data. At this time, the printer driver 2
For each image of magenta, cyan, and black, raster data shifted in units of 32 bits in synchronization with the conveyance of the recording paper in the arrangement direction of the plurality of recording elements of the recording head 9 (the same direction as the conveyance direction of the recording paper). (One bit of data corresponds to one dot of the recording element).

In step S24, the generated raster data is compressed by a known technique such as run length. When the data is compressed, the compressed raster data is transmitted to the color printer 3 in step S26.

In step S28, it is determined whether transmission of all image data has been completed. If the processing has not been completed, the processing after step S22 is performed again, and step S28
The processing of steps S22 to S28 is repeatedly executed until it is determined that transmission of all image data has been completed.

Next, the internal configuration of the color printer 3 will be described. The CPU 4 controls the whole of the color printer device 3 as a whole, and includes a timer function, an input / output port and the like in addition to a processor unit for executing a program. The ROM 5 contains a program executed by the CPU 4. The interface 6 is connected to the computer 1 and receives print data and commands. Printer control circuit 7
Is an interface 6 based on an instruction from the CPU 4,
The RAM 8 and the recording head 9 are controlled. Data expansion circuit 7
Reference numeral a denotes a circuit in the printer control circuit 7, which reads out compressed data from the RAM 8 by direct memory access and decompresses it, and
Write to AM8.

The horizontal / vertical conversion circuit 7b is also a circuit in the printer control circuit 7, and has a RA
The raster data is read in blocks from M8, converted into a vertical array, and written into the RAM 8 again by direct memory access. The RAM 8 is a dynamic RAM having a bus width of 16 bits, and is used for storing received data, print data, and the like.

FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining the relationship between the configuration of the recording head 9 used in the color printer 3 and the image data stored in the memory.

In the recording head 9, a plurality of recording elements are grouped at regular intervals and arranged in a line in the recording paper transport direction (Y direction). As shown in FIG. 5, the group is divided into a group (Y) for printing yellow, a group (M) for printing magenta, a group (C) for printing cyan, and a group (K) for printing black in order from the top. . The number of recording elements in each group is, for example, 24 dots, and a gap of 8 dots is provided between each group. By driving the recording element while scanning the recording head 9 in a direction (X direction) perpendicular to the transport direction of the recording paper, printing for 24 dots of each color is performed simultaneously. After scanning once by the recording head, the recording paper is transported by 24 dots in the Y direction. The color printer device 3 repeats the scanning of the recording head and the conveyance of the recording paper in this manner to perform color printing on the entire recording paper.

In FIG. 3, 11, 12, 13 and 1
Reference numeral 4 denotes yellow, magenta, cyan, and black image data taken into the RAM 8 of the color printer device 3, and the capacity thereof corresponds to the area shown. The Y direction of each image data corresponds to the arrangement direction of the recording elements for each color, and the X direction corresponds to the scanning direction of the recording head, that is, the width direction of the recording paper.

The computer 1 decomposes the image to be printed into image data for each color, converts the data into raster data developed in the horizontal direction, and transmits the raster data to the color printer in order from the upper raster. At this time, the computer 1 has the configuration of the recording head obtained by the printer driver 2 as described above,
That is, the raster position of the image data of each color is shifted by 32 bits in synchronization with the conveyance of the recording paper and transmitted in correspondence with the shift of the number of recording elements of 24 dots of each color and the gap of 8 dots. The image data is transmitted after being compressed. The compression method is instructed by the printer driver 2, and a known technique such as run length can be applied.

Since the color printer 3 can print by scanning the recording head when image data for 24 dots of each color of yellow, magenta, cyan and black is received, it should be stored in the color printer. The image data amount is only the amount required directly for one scan. Therefore, the capacity of the RAM 8 can be significantly reduced as compared with the related art.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the color printer device 3.

In step S41, the printer control circuit 7 stores the data received by the interface 6 in the RAM 8
And store it in the receive buffer. C in step S42
The PU 4 analyzes the reception data in the reception buffer. If the received data is compressed image data in step S43, the CPU 4 activates the data expanding circuit 7a in step S44. The data expansion circuit 7a reads the compressed data from the reception buffer by direct memory access, decompresses the original raster data, and stores it in the editing buffer in the RAM 8 again by direct memory access.

If the received data is a command or the like in step S43, command processing is performed in step S45. For example, if the command is a paper discharge command, a paper discharge operation is executed. In step S46, if the image data stored in the editing buffer does not reach 8 rasters, step S4
Return to 1. In step S47, the horizontal / vertical conversion circuit 7 converts the raster data developed in the horizontal direction into data arranged in the vertical direction suitable for printing by a serial printer.
Start b.

The horizontal / vertical conversion circuit 7b reads out eight raster data in block units of 16 horizontal dots and 8 vertical dots by direct memory access, converts the raster data into data arranged in the vertical direction, and returns to the direct memory again. The data is stored in the print buffer in the RAM 8 by the access. In step S48, if the data stored in the print buffer has not reached the predetermined amount according to the configuration in the same direction as the transport direction of the recording paper of a plurality of recording elements of 24 bits for each color in which printing is possible, the process returns to step S41. .
If the predetermined amount has been reached, the process proceeds to step S49 in synchronization with this, the recording head is scanned to print data of 24 bits in each color, and the recording paper is transported in the Y direction by a predetermined distance equivalent to 24 dots. . Further, the print buffer area in the RAM 8 where printing has been completed is released.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, a printer driver for executing a control operation in accordance with the configuration of a recording head of a color printer is readablely stored in a storage medium in a computer for outputting image data. The computer transmits image data shifted in position for each recording color in accordance with the position configuration of the recording colors of the recording head, thereby reducing the print buffer capacity in the RAM 8 in the color printer to the minimum necessary for the printing operation. Can be reduced to the limit.

Further, the computer compresses the image data and transmits the image data, and the color printer stores the received data in a compressed state in the reception buffer while compressing the received data.
8 can also reduce the receiving buffer capacity. Reduction of the capacity of the two buffers, the print buffer and the reception buffer, reduces the capacity of the RAM 8 in the color printer, and makes it possible to provide a low-cost color printer.

Furthermore, since the data transfer speed from the computer to the color printer is slower than the data processing speed inside the computer, the transfer time can be reduced by compressing the image data, and the printing time of the color printer can be reduced. Speed improves. Since the color printer stores the received data in the receive buffer with the data compressed, more image data than the image being printed can be stored in the color printer, so the computer immediately ends the data transfer and prints. Freed from processing. Decompression of the compressed image data can be performed in a short time by performing the decompression by the data decompression circuit, and the printing speed of the color printer device does not decrease due to the decompression work.

The method of the present invention may be applied to a system constituted by a plurality of devices or to an apparatus constituted by a single device. Needless to say, the method of the present invention can also be applied to a case where the method is achieved by supplying a program to a system or an apparatus. In this case, by reading out a storage medium storing a program represented by software for achieving the method of the present invention into a system or an apparatus,
It is possible to enjoy the effects of the method of the present invention.

[0049]

As described above, according to the present invention, a control program suitable for the configuration of a recording head of a color printer is installed in a storage medium in an external device, and the external device is provided with a plurality of recording elements of the recording head. According to the configuration of
By transmitting the image data shifted in synchronization with the conveyance of the recording paper for each recording color, the memory capacity in the color printer can be reduced, and a low-cost color printer can be provided.

Further, by compressing and transmitting the image data, the data transfer time can be shortened.
The external device is quickly released from the printing process and can perform other processes, and the printing speed of the color printer device is also improved.
Since the compressed image data is expanded by the circuit operation in the color printer device, the printing speed by the expansion operation does not decrease.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing control by a printer driver 2.

FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining a relationship between a configuration of a recording head used in the color printer according to the first embodiment of the present invention and image data stored in a memory.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of the color printer device 3;

FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining the relationship between the configuration of a recording head used in a conventional color printer and image data stored in a memory.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Computer 2 Printer driver 3 Color printer device 4 CPU 5 ROM 6 Interface 7 Printer control circuit 7a Data development circuit 7b Horizontal / vertical conversion circuit 8 RAM 9 Recording head

Claims (10)

[Claims] 1. Image data for processing image data to be transmitted to a color printer having a recording head comprising a plurality of recording elements which are arranged in substantially the same direction as the recording paper transport direction and which record images in different colors. In the processing method, a detection step of detecting a configuration of the plurality of recording elements in the substantially same direction; and raster data corresponding to images of each color recorded on the recording paper by the plurality of recording elements, respectively. A raster data generating step of generating the raster data in synchronization with the conveyance of the recording paper according to the configuration of the recording element; and a compression step of compressing the raster data generated in the raster data generating step. Image data processing method. 2. The image data processing method according to claim 1, further comprising a transmission step of transmitting the compressed raster data generated in the compression step. 3. A detecting step of detecting a configuration in a substantially same direction of a plurality of printing elements arranged in a direction substantially the same as a conveying direction of a printing sheet and printing images in different colors, respectively, and the plurality of printing elements. A raster data generating step of generating raster data corresponding to each color image to be recorded on the recording paper in synchronization with the conveyance of the recording paper according to the configuration of the plurality of recording elements; and A compression step of compressing the raster data generated in the generation step. 4. The storage medium according to claim 3, wherein the program is supplied from the computer network to a storage medium writable by a computer device connected to a computer network. 5. The storage medium according to claim 3, wherein said storage medium is a CD-ROM. 6. The storage medium according to claim 3, wherein the storage medium is a floppy disk. 7. The storage medium according to claim 3, wherein the storage medium is a hard disk. 8. Image data for processing image data to be transmitted to a color printer having a recording head comprising a plurality of recording elements which are arranged in substantially the same direction as the recording paper transport direction and which record images in different colors. In the processing device, a detection unit that detects a configuration of the plurality of recording elements in the substantially same direction, and raster data corresponding to images of each color recorded on the recording paper by the plurality of recording elements, and Raster data generating means for generating the data in synchronization with the conveyance of the recording paper according to the configuration of the recording element; and compression means for compressing the raster data generated by the raster data generating means. Image data processing apparatus. 9. The image data processing apparatus according to claim 8, further comprising a transmission unit that transmits the compressed raster data generated by the compression unit. 10. A color printer which prints images in different colors by a recording head comprising a plurality of recording elements arranged in substantially the same direction as the recording paper transport direction in accordance with compressed color image data from an external device. Storing the compressed color image data from the external device in a storage unit, and synthesizing the recording sheet in synchronization with a predetermined amount corresponding to the configuration of the plurality of recording elements in the substantially same direction being stored. And a decompressing means for decompressing the compressed color image data.