JP2000118106A - Printer tester - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To sense automatically errors in bit map data in a printer, obtain detailed evaluation data, make the evaluation work for printer easy and judge accurately. SOLUTION: A printer tester is used for sensing errors in the printing state by a printer 1 provided with a controller section 2 for outputting printing data as bit map data formed of video I/F signals and an engine section 3 for printing the bit map data. In that case, the printer comprises a data input means 10, an original comparison data storage means 11 for storing original comparison data input from the data input means 10, a means 12 of storing data to be compared with for storing the data to be compared with input by the data input means 10, a comparison discrimination means 13 for comparing the data to be compared with the original comparison data one dot by one dot and discriminating whether errors are in dots or not and an evaluation data display means 14 for displaying evaluation data of the data to be compared with on a display means 5 based on the comparison discrimination result of the comparison discrimination means.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a test apparatus for a printer, and more particularly, to a test apparatus for a printer which outputs print data as bitmap data and prints the data.

[Prior art]

Generally, for example, as a printer, an LED
In a so-called page printer of a laser type or a laser type, a controller unit that outputs print data sent from a host computer as bitmap data, an electrophotographic printing mechanism that prints bitmap data output from the controller unit, and the like are provided. An engine unit.
In such a printer, in a development process and a manufacturing process, an evaluation is performed by repeatedly performing a test on whether or not the controller unit normally operates. This evaluation includes, for example, an item for checking whether or not a dot error has occurred in a printed character, symbol, graphic, or the like. Conventionally, this dot error is determined by directly observing the printed matter. Was.

[0003]

However, in this conventional determination, the type and quantity of the printed matter to be evaluated may become enormous, and the visual work is extremely complicated, and the accuracy is poor because the visual work is performed visually. was there. Therefore, there is a demand to automate the evaluation work in order to facilitate the evaluation work and to make the judgment as accurately as possible.
Incidentally, conventionally, for example, a technique disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 5-334112 is known. This is a test method for determining whether the data to be displayed on the bitmap display is correct or not, and compares the prepared bitmap data prepared in advance with the bitmap data to be tested output to the display one dot at a time, and If there is a dot, the bitmap data to be tested is determined to be incorrect, and the result is displayed on a display device.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and enables an error of bitmap data to be automatically detected in a printer, thereby facilitating an evaluation operation of the printer and accurately determining the error. It is an object of the present invention to provide a printer test apparatus as described above. It is another object of the present invention not only to determine whether an error is present, but also to obtain other detailed evaluation data, if necessary.

[0005]

A technical means of the present invention for achieving the above object is to provide a controller for outputting print data as bitmap data and a controller for outputting bitmap data output from the controller. In a printer test apparatus for detecting a printing error of a printer having a printing engine unit, a data capturing unit for capturing bitmap data output from a controller unit of the printer, and a comparison unit storing comparison source data Data storage means, comparison destination data storage means for storing comparison destination data captured by the data capture means, and comparison source data stored by the comparison source data storage means for comparison destination data stored by the comparison destination data storage means Comparing means for comparing each dot with one dot to determine whether or not there is an error in the dots; It has a configuration which includes an evaluation data display means for displaying on the display means the evaluation data of the comparison target data based on the comparison determination result of another means.

The technical means of the present invention for achieving the above object is to provide a controller for outputting print data as bitmap data composed of a video I / F signal, and a bit output from the controller. In a printer test device for detecting an error in printing of a printer having an engine unit for printing map data, a data acquisition unit for acquiring bitmap data output from a controller unit of the printer; Comparison source data storage means for storing the captured comparison source data, comparison destination data storage means for storing the comparison destination data captured by the data capture means, and comparing the comparison destination data stored by the comparison destination data storage means The original data stored in the original data storage means is compared with the comparison original data one dot at a time, and A comparison discriminating means for discriminating whether or not there has been based on the comparison determination result of said comparison discriminating means is configured to include an evaluation data display means for displaying on the display means the evaluation data of the comparison target data.

With this configuration, the bitmap data output from the controller of the printer is fetched by the data fetching means, and the comparison destination data fetched by the data fetching means is stored in the comparison destination data storage means, and is compared by the comparison determination means. This comparison destination data is compared with the comparison source data stored in the comparison source data storage unit one dot at a time, and it is determined whether or not there is an error in the dot. Then, the evaluation data display unit displays the evaluation data of the comparison destination data on the display unit based on the comparison determination result. For this reason, the operator can perform evaluation by looking at the evaluation data displayed on the display means. As a result, it is possible to automatically detect errors in bitmap data during printer testing, and to evaluate whether or not the controller of the printer operates properly in the printer development process and manufacturing process. It can be performed easily and reliably.

If necessary, the comparing and judging means may divide the comparison data stored in the comparison data storage means with the comparison data stored in the comparison data storage means by one dot for each of a plurality of color elements. In comparison, when there is an error in any one of the color elements, a function is provided for determining that there is an error in the dot. Since the error is determined for each color element, it is possible to grasp the contents that cannot be determined from the print result, and the evaluation accuracy is improved. Further, if necessary, the evaluation data display means is displayed by the overlap image display means, and the overlap image display means causes the display means to display an overlap image obtained by superimposing the comparison source data and the comparison target data as images. Error dot color display means for displaying an erroneous dot of the comparison destination data in a different color from the erroneous dot in the overlapped image. As a result, erroneous dots can be recognized by color, so that erroneous portions can be immediately identified and fine portions that cannot be identified from the print result can be grasped. Since the comparison can be made as if moving the printer, the comparison is easy, the evaluation accuracy is further improved, and the evaluation of the printer is reliably performed.

In this case, an image enlargement means for enlarging and displaying the overlap image displayed by the overlap image display means as necessary is provided. An error portion can be visually recognized by being enlarged and displayed, and a small portion that cannot be discriminated from the print result can be grasped, whereby the evaluation accuracy can be improved. Further, if necessary, there is provided an image moving means capable of moving and shifting the image of the comparison source data and the image of the comparison destination data displayed by the overlapping image display means of the evaluation data display means in the XY directions. Configuration. This is very useful because it can be used for confirming head misalignment when there is a head interval in color printing or the like, or for smoothing confirmation during font development.

Further, if necessary, the evaluation data display means is provided with error dot number display means for displaying the number of erroneous dots. The number of erroneous dots can be immediately grasped, and the evaluation of the printer is more reliably performed. In this case, if necessary, an error dot number display upper limit number designating means for designating the display upper limit number of the number of erroneous dots displayed by the error dot number display means is provided. When there are a large number of errors, it is not necessary to make the display means uselessly display. First, it is grasped qualitatively that there is an error, and efficient evaluation is performed.
If necessary, the evaluation data display means is provided with coordinate display means for displaying the coordinates of the erroneous dot. The position of the erroneous dot can be immediately grasped, and the evaluation of the printer can be performed more reliably.

[0011] Further, if necessary, the data fetching means has a printing environment setting means for setting a printing environment of the printer for fetching bitmap data from the printer. Since the printing environment of the printer can be set as appropriate, it is possible to cope with various types of printers, thereby increasing versatility. Further, if necessary, the data acquisition means may include a detachable interface card for connection to the printer, and an acquisition execution module capable of processing and independently starting bitmap data acquired through the interface card. And the comparison determining means is provided with a comparison execution module that can be activated independently. Since a detachable interface card for connection to a printer is provided, the general-purpose personal computer can be configured as a test device by connecting the interface card to a general-purpose personal computer. In addition, since it is divided into an independently executable capture execution module and an independently executable comparison execution module, each module can be mounted on a different personal computer.
For example, an apparatus configuration using a LAN can be easily performed. Since the test can be performed using the LAN, the transport and connection of the printer to be tested can be easily performed, and the test efficiency can be greatly improved.

[0012]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, a printer test apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. The test apparatus S for a printer according to the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 is an apparatus for testing a so-called page printer of an LED system or a laser system as the printer 1. The printer 1 transmits print data to a video I
The controller 2 includes a controller unit 2 that outputs bitmap data including an / F signal, and an engine unit 3 that has an electrophotographic printing mechanism or the like that prints the bitmap data output from the controller unit 2.

A test apparatus S for a printer according to an embodiment
Is configured by, for example, a personal computer 4 as shown in FIG. 2, and is realized by functions of a CPU, an HDD, a memory, and the like. A keyboard and a mouse are connected to the computer 4. Reference numeral 5 denotes a display unit composed of a CRT. In the test apparatus S shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, reference numeral 10 denotes a data capturing unit that captures bitmap data output from the controller unit 2 of the printer 1;
Reference numeral 1 denotes a comparison source data storage unit that stores comparison source data fetched from the data fetching unit 10, and 12 denotes a comparison destination data storage unit that stores the comparison destination data fetched by the data fetching unit 10. As shown in FIG. 2, the data fetching means 10 processes the bitmap data fetched through the detachable interface card 6 for connection with the printer 1 and the bitmap data fetched through the interface card 6, and the driver 7 which can be activated independently and And an execution module 8. Reference numeral 13 denotes the comparison destination data stored in the comparison destination data storage unit 12 and the comparison source data storage unit 1.
1 is a comparison determining means for comparing the stored comparison source data one dot at a time and determining whether or not there is an error in the dot. The comparison determination means 13 includes a comparison execution module 9 that can be activated independently. The bitmap data is data for each of the three primary colors of red (C), blue (M), yellow (Y) and four color elements of black (K). Then, the comparison determination unit 13 compares the comparison destination data with the comparison source data for each of a plurality of color elements by one dot, and when there is an error in any one of the color elements, determines that the dot has an error. It is configured with functions.

Reference numeral 14 denotes evaluation data display means for displaying the evaluation data of the comparison destination data on the display means 5 based on the result of the comparison judgment by the comparison judgment means 13. More specifically, the evaluation data display unit 14 includes an overlap image display unit 15 that causes the display unit 5 to display an overlap image in which the comparison source data and the comparison target data are overlapped as an image, and an overlap image that is displayed by the overlap image display unit 15. And an error dot color display means 16 for displaying an erroneous dot of the comparison destination data in a different color from the erroneous dot. As shown in FIG. 9, for example, an error-free dot N that is duplicated and displayed is displayed in “yellow”, and an erroneous dot E is displayed in another color. For example, when a dot exists in the comparison source data but not in the comparison destination data, the dot is displayed in “green”, and when a dot does not exist in the comparison source data but in the comparison destination data, it is displayed in “red”. The color of the dot display may be set to any color. Reference numeral 17 denotes an image enlargement unit that enlarges and displays the overlap image displayed by the overlap image display unit 15. Further, a reduced display means (not shown) for reducing and displaying the displayed overlapped image is also provided. The magnification is, for example, 0.1, 0.25, 0.5, 1, 2, 4,
It is 8, 10, 20 times, registered in the memory, and can be selected by keyboard or mouse input. 1
Reference numeral 8 denotes an image moving unit that enables the image of the comparison source data and the image of the comparison destination data displayed by the overlapping image display unit 15 of the evaluation data display unit 14 to be moved and shifted in the XY directions. That is, as shown in FIG.
The sheets are superimposed, and a motion is made to move the superimposed sheets up, down, left, and right.

The evaluation data display means 14 displays an error dot number display means 20 for displaying the number of erroneous dots.
It is provided with. Reference numeral 21 denotes an error dot number display upper limit number specifying unit that specifies a display upper limit number of the number of erroneous dots displayed by the error dot number display unit 20. Furthermore,
The evaluation data display means 14 is provided with a coordinate display means 22 for displaying coordinates of erroneous dots. In such an evaluation data display unit 14, the overlapping image display unit 15, the error dot number display unit 20, and the coordinate display unit 22 are selected and operated by a keyboard or mouse input. Further, the printer test apparatus S according to the embodiment includes a print environment setting unit 23 for setting a print environment of the printer 1 and enables data processing in accordance with various printer 1 environments. .

Therefore, when manufacturing the test apparatus S for a printer according to this embodiment, for example, as shown in FIG.
Interface card 6 for connection with
In the personal computer 4, the driver 7 and the fetching execution module 8 that can process the bitmap data fetched through the interface card 6 and can be activated independently and construct the comparison execution module 9 that can be activated independently are constructed. In this case, since the interface card 6 can be connected to the personal computer 4 and the device can be constructed by a simple operation of constructing the above-described functional means by installing software therein, various personal computers can be used, and Is improved. Next, a case where a printer test is performed by the printer test apparatus S according to this embodiment will be described.
In the test apparatus S, bitmap data based on reference print data is stored in advance as comparison source data. First, as shown in FIG. 3, the printing environment of the printer 1 to be tested is set in the printing environment setting means 23 by a keyboard or mouse input (1-1), as shown in FIG. The printing environment to be set is, for example, paper size, printing density, vertical and horizontal printing directions, the number of blank dots, and the like. Also, since the test is performed for each file,
The setting for matching the file name of the print data of one file with the file name of the bitmap data composed of the video I / F signal is performed. Thus, when print data is selected at the time of print data registration, the file name of bitmap data is automatically determined. For example, print data file name ABC. PRN Bitmap data file name ABC. img.

Further, a timer for monitoring the end of the bit map data for the print data is set. Since it is not possible to determine whether the number of pages in the print data file is a plurality of pages or a single page print, the print data output result is used as a capture termination factor by monitoring the time between pages. After the output of one print data file is completed, the bitmap data is fetched and the timer is monitored. If the next image data does not occur during the set time of the monitoring timer, the end of one file is regarded as the end of the next print. Output data file.

In this state, the comparison source data is fetched. As shown in FIG. 3, the output order of the file of the data to be taken is set in advance (1-2), and first, the print data of one file is sent to the printer 1 (1--1).
3) The print data is sequentially output as bitmap data for each page by the controller unit 2 of the printer 1 (1-4).
And is stored in the comparison source data storage unit 11 (1-5). This capture is performed for each page (1-6), and the above-mentioned file name is assigned and stored in file units (1-7). In this case, the fetching and storing of the files are continuously performed, and when the fetching and storing of all the files are completed (1-8), the process ends.

As described above, in a state where the comparison source data is stored in the test apparatus S in advance, the test of the printer 1 is appropriately performed. First, as shown in FIG.
Similarly to the above, the printing environment of the printer 1 to be tested is set (1-1), and the output order of the data file to be taken is set (1-2). When the print data of one file is sent to the printer 1 (1-3), the print data is sequentially output as bitmap data for each page by the controller unit 2 of the printer 1 (1-3).
-4), fetched by the data fetching means 10 of the test apparatus S and stored in the comparison destination data storage means 12 (1-5). This capture is performed for each page (1-6), and the above-mentioned file name is assigned and stored in file units (1-7). In this case, the fetching and storing of the files are continuously performed, and when the fetching and storing of all the files are completed (1-8), the process ends.
Thus, the comparison destination data is stored in the test device S.

Next, in the test apparatus S, the comparison source data and the comparison destination data are compared. As shown in FIG. 4, a file to be compared stored in the comparison source data storage unit 11 and the comparison destination data storage unit 12 is designated by keyboard or mouse input (2-1, 2-2).
A plurality of files can be specified (2-2).
When the designation is completed, the comparison determination means 13 reads the comparison source data file (2-3), reads the comparison destination data file (2-4), and compares the read comparison destination data with the comparison source data one dot at a time. Then, it is determined whether or not there is an error in the dot (2-5), the comparison result is written as a file (2-6), and written in a list of comparison results (2-7). In this case, the comparison of the files and the storage of the comparison result are continuously performed. When the comparison is performed for all the specified files (2-8), the process ends. The comparison by the comparison determining means 13 is performed by comparing the comparison destination data with the comparison source data by one.
Each dot is compared for each of a plurality of color elements, and when there is an error in any one of the color elements, it is determined that the dot has an error. That is, since the bitmap data is data for each of the three primary colors of red, blue, and yellow and black, the comparison determination means 13 determines whether any one of the color components has an error. It is determined that there is an error in the dot. In this case, since the error is determined for each color element, the content that cannot be determined from the print result can be grasped, and the evaluation accuracy can be improved.

Next, the evaluation data display means 14
The evaluation data of the comparison destination data is displayed on the display unit 5 based on the comparison determination result of the comparison determination unit 13. In this case, the duplicate image display means 15, the error dot number display means 20, and the coordinate display means 22 are input by keyboard or mouse input.
Select to make it work. First, as shown in FIG. 5, the number of erroneous dots (difference) for each file can be displayed on the comparison result by the error dot number display means 20 of the evaluation data display means 14 as shown in FIG. This error dot number display means 2
In the case of 0, display is performed in the range of the display upper limit number of the number of erroneous dots specified by the error dot number display upper limit number specifying means 21. In the error dot number display upper limit number specifying means 21, as shown in FIG. 6, the maximum number of difference detections per page can be specified in the range of 1 to 10 cases. However, even if the number of comparison differences is designated as 10, if the number of Y-direction comparison increments is such that only 5 differences can be detected in one page, the maximum number of detections per page is five. . As for the number of steps in the Y-direction comparison, when one value is detected as a detection block using the value set in the Y-axis direction, the comparison process is shifted to the next block. For example, when the data of 6000 rasters per page is set to 1500 in steps, one page is regarded as four blocks and the comparison process is performed.

Next, as shown in FIG.
According to 2, the coordinates of the dot E having an error can be displayed. In this method, the position of the error dot is displayed in coordinates by selecting the difference number portion indicating the error dot number by mouse input. Next, as shown in FIG. 8, in the evaluation data display means 14, the overlap image display means 15 can display the overlap image in which the comparison source data and the comparison destination data are overlapped as an image.
For example, when the comparison source file is opened after the comparison source file is opened, the display is automatically superimposed. In this case, in the overlap image displayed by the overlap image display means 15 by the error dot color display means 16, as shown in the enlarged image shown in FIG. It is displayed in a color different from N. For example, an error-free dot N that is duplicated and displayed is displayed in “yellow”, and an error dot E is displayed.
Is displayed in a different color. For example, when a dot exists in the comparison source data and does not exist in the comparison destination data, it is displayed in “green”, and when a dot does not exist in the comparison source data and exists in the comparison destination data, it is displayed in “red”.

Further, as shown in FIG.
7, the overlapping image displayed by the overlapping image display means 15 can be enlarged and displayed by the selected magnification. As described above, for example, the erroneous dot E of the comparison destination data is displayed by the error dot color display unit 16.
Are displayed in a different color from the dot N having no error. Further, as shown in FIG. 10, the image enlargement unit 17 selects the item to be displayed on the XY coordinate display screen shown in FIG. 7 with a mouse (double-clicks or an item selection button). The XY coordinates corresponding to the image information are displayed from the upper left corner of the display screen. When the user double-clicks on the display screen, the display of the coordinates of the double-click is moved to the center of the screen (in the window). In this way, the printing of the printer 1 is evaluated by selecting and functioning the overlapping image display means 15, the error dot number display means 20, and the coordinate display means 22 of the evaluation data display means 14 and enlarging the display. The evaluation work is facilitated, and accurate judgment is made. In the development process and the manufacturing process, the controller unit 2 of the printer 1 is used.
Can be easily and reliably evaluated as to whether or not the device operates properly.

Further, as shown in FIG. 11, the image of the comparison source data and the image of the comparison destination data displayed by the overlapping image display means 15 can be moved and shifted in the XY directions by the image moving means 18. it can. This shift can be performed after the image data is superimposed, or
It is effective when the comparison result image is displayed, and shifts the superimposed display image in the X-axis and Y-axis directions, that is, moves the superimposed paper up, down, left, and right. Let it. This displacement can be used for confirming a head displacement when there is a head interval in color printing or the like, or for smoothing confirmation at the time of font development, and is extremely useful.

Next, a description will be given of a printer test apparatus S according to another embodiment of the present invention. The test apparatus S is configured using a LAN as shown in FIG. More specifically, the printer 1 includes a data acquisition unit 10 including the above-described interface card 6, a driver 7 that can be independently activated, and an acquisition execution module 8.
A plurality of personal computers (personal computers P4 and P5) dedicated to transmitting and receiving data to and from the comparison source data storage unit 11, the comparison destination data storage unit 12, and the independently executable comparison execution module 9 Another plurality of personal computers (computers P1, P2) on which means such as the determination means 13 and the evaluation data display means 14 are mounted.
2, P3) via a LAN. In this case, the fetch execution module 8 that can be started independently and the comparison execution module 9 that can be started independently are divided, so that each module can be mounted on a different personal computer. The apparatus configuration used can be easily performed. Since the test can be performed using the LAN, the transport and connection of the printer to be tested can be easily performed, and the test efficiency can be greatly improved.

In the above-described embodiment, the data obtained by taking the comparison source data through the controller 2 of the printer 1 is used. However, the present invention is not limited to this. You may make it memorize | store directly in the comparison source data storage means 11,
It can be changed as appropriate. Further, in the above-described embodiment, the present invention is applied to a so-called page printer of an LED system or a laser system. However, the present invention is not necessarily limited to this, and may be applied to other types of printers. It is.

[0027]

As described above, according to the printer test apparatus of the present invention, bitmap data output from the controller of the printer is fetched by the data fetching means, and the comparison is performed by the data fetching means. The comparison data is stored in the comparison data storage means, and the comparison data is compared by one dot with the comparison data stored in the comparison data storage means to determine whether or not there is an error in the dots. Since the evaluation data display means displays the evaluation data of the comparison destination data on the display means based on the result of the comparison determination, the error of the bitmap data can be automatically detected in the test of the printer. In the development and manufacturing process of the printer, whether the controller of the printer It is possible to perform the valence easily and reliably.

Further, the comparison / determination means compares the comparison target data with the comparison source data one dot at a time for each of a plurality of color elements, and when there is an error in any one color element, it is determined that there is an error in the dot. In the case where the system is provided with a function of distinguishing, an error is distinguished for each color element, so that it is possible to grasp the contents that cannot be distinguished from the print result, to improve the evaluation accuracy, and to more reliably evaluate the printer. be able to. Further, the evaluation data display means includes an overlap image display means for displaying an overlap image obtained by superimposing the comparison source data and the comparison target data as an image on the display means, and the comparison target data in the overlap image displayed by the overlap image display means. Error dot color display means for displaying the erroneous dot in a different color from the erroneous dot, the erroneous dot can be immediately visually recognized,
In other words, the comparison can be made as if the superimposed sheets are moved up, down, left and right, so that the comparison is easy, the evaluation accuracy is further improved, and the evaluation of the printer can be performed more reliably.

Further, when an image enlarging means for enlarging and displaying the overlapping image displayed by the overlapping image displaying means is provided, it is possible to grasp a small portion which cannot be discriminated from the printing result. The evaluation accuracy can be improved, and the evaluation of the printer can be more reliably performed. Further, in the case where there is provided an image moving means capable of moving and shifting the image of the comparison source data and the image of the comparison destination data displayed by the overlapping image display means of the evaluation data display means in the XY directions, This is very useful because it can be used for confirming head misalignment when there is a head interval in color printing or the like, or for smoothing confirmation during font development.

If the evaluation data display means is provided with an error dot number display means for displaying the number of erroneous dots, the number of erroneous dots can be immediately grasped, and furthermore. The printer can be evaluated reliably. In this case, when the apparatus is provided with an error dot number display upper limit number designating means for designating the display upper limit of the number of erroneous dots displayed by the error dot number display means, the display means It is not necessary to make useless display. First, it is possible to evaluate individual dots after grasping that there is a qualitative error, so that efficient evaluation can be performed. Become.
Further, when the evaluation data display means is provided with coordinate display means for displaying the coordinates of the erroneous dot, the position of the erroneous dot can be immediately grasped, and the evaluation of the printer can be further improved. It can be performed reliably.

In the case where the data fetching means includes a printing environment setting means for setting a printing environment of the printer for fetching bitmap data from the printer,
It can support various types of printers,
Versatility can be increased. Further, the data acquisition means comprises a detachable interface card for connection to a printer, and an acquisition execution module which can process bitmap data taken in through the interface card and can be started independently, When the means is configured to include a comparison execution module that can be independently activated, the interface card can be connected to a general-purpose personal computer, and a test device can be constructed by a simple operation of installing software therein, Therefore, various personal computers can be used, and versatility can be improved. In addition, since the fetching execution module that can be started independently and the comparison execution module that can be started independently can be divided, each module can be mounted on a different personal computer. Can be easily performed. When the test is performed using the LAN, the transport and connection of the printer to be tested can be easily performed, and the test efficiency can be greatly improved.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a printer test apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram specifically showing a printer test apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating processing steps of a test apparatus of the printer according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating processing steps of a test apparatus of the printer according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a display example by an error dot number display means of the test device of the printer according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a setting example of an error dot number display upper limit number designating means of the printer test apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a view showing a display example by the coordinate display means of the test device of the printer according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a display function by an overlapping image display unit of the test device of the printer according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a display example by an image enlarging unit of the test device of the printer according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing another display example by the image enlarging means of the test device of the printer according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating a display example by an image moving unit of the test device of the printer according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing a test apparatus for a printer according to another embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 S Printer test device 1 Printer 2 Controller unit 3 Engine unit 4 Personal computer 5 Display unit 6 Interface card 7 Driver 8 Import execution module 9 Comparison execution module 10 Data acquisition unit 11 Comparison source data storage unit 12 Comparison destination data storage unit 13 Comparison Determination means 14 evaluation data display means 15 overlapping image display means 16 error dot color display means 17 image enlargement means 18 image moving means 20 error dot number display means 21 error dot number display upper limit number designation means 22 coordinate display means 23 printing environment setting means E Dot with error N Dot with no error

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[Procedure amendment]

[Submission date] September 10, 1999 (1999.9.1
0)

[Procedure amendment 1]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] Claims

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

[Claims]

[Procedure amendment 2]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0011

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

[0011] Further, if necessary, the data fetching means has a printing environment setting means for setting a printing environment of the printer for fetching bitmap data from the printer. Since the printing environment of the printer can be set as appropriate, it is possible to cope with various types of printers, thereby increasing versatility. Furthermore, the book
In the present invention, the data acquisition means includes a detachable interface card for connection with the printer, and an acquisition execution module that can independently process and activate bitmap data acquired through the interface card. And said comparing means is
It comprises a comparison execution module that can be activated independently. Since a detachable interface card for connection to a printer is provided, the general-purpose personal computer can be configured as a test device by connecting the interface card to a general-purpose personal computer. Also,
Since it is divided into a separately executable fetching execution module and an independently activating comparison execution module, each module can be mounted on a different personal computer. Therefore, for example, a device configuration using a LAN is used. Can be easily performed. Since the test can be performed using the LAN, the transport and connection of the printer to be tested can be easily performed, and the test efficiency can be greatly improved.

[Procedure amendment 3]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0031

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

In the case where the data fetching means includes a printing environment setting means for setting a printing environment of the printer for fetching bitmap data from the printer,
It can support various types of printers,
Versatility can be increased. Further, in the present invention,
The data acquisition means comprises a detachable interface card for connection to a printer, and an acquisition execution module which can process bitmap data taken through the interface card and can be activated independently, and comprises a comparison determination means. Since the configuration includes a comparison execution module that can be started independently , the interface card can be connected to a general-purpose personal computer, and a test device can be constructed by simple operations such as installing software inside the computer. Various personal computers can be used, and versatility can be improved. In addition, since the fetch execution module that can be activated independently and the comparison execution module that can be activated independently are divided, each module can be mounted on a different personal computer.
It is possible to easily implement a device configuration using an AN. When the test is performed using the LAN, the transport and connection of the printer to be tested can be easily performed, and the test efficiency can be greatly improved.

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor Kazunari Yasuda 12-3, Taitaro, Mukonakano, Morioka City, Iwate Prefecture Iwate Prefecture Taxi Hall Grape System Morioka Office Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Akio Fujiwara Mukonakano, Morioka City, Iwate Prefecture 12-3, Taitaro, Iwate Prefecture Taxi Hall Grape System Morioka Office, Inc. (72) Inventor Tetsuya Kubota 12-3, Mukanakano Morioka City, Iwate Prefecture 12-3 Taitaro, Iwate Prefecture Taxi Hall, Grape System Morioka Office, F-term (Reference) 2C061 AP01 AQ06 AR01 KK04 KK13 KK18 KK23 KK26 KK28 KK35 5B021 AA30 BB02 NN01 PP04 PP08

Claims (11)

[Claims] 1. A printer test apparatus for detecting a printing error of a printer including a controller for outputting print data as bitmap data and an engine for printing bitmap data output from the controller. A data acquisition unit for acquiring bitmap data output from a controller unit of the printer; a comparison source data storage unit for storing comparison source data; and a comparison destination data for storing comparison destination data acquired by the data acquisition unit. Storage means, and comparison determining means for comparing the comparison destination data stored by the comparison destination data storage means with the comparison source data stored by the comparison source data storage means one dot at a time to determine whether or not there is an error in the dots; Displaying the evaluation data of the comparison destination data based on the comparison determination result of the comparison determining means. Test apparatus of the printer, characterized in that it comprises an evaluation data display means for displaying on the stage. 2. A controller for outputting print data as bitmap data comprising a video I / F signal;
In a printer test apparatus for detecting an error in printing of a printer having an engine unit for printing bitmap data output from the controller unit, data acquisition for capturing bitmap data output from the controller unit of the printer Means, comparison source data storage means for storing comparison source data fetched from the data acquisition means, comparison destination data storage means for storing comparison destination data fetched by the data acquisition means, and comparison destination data storage means. A comparison determining unit that compares the stored comparison target data with the comparison source data stored by the comparison source data storage unit one dot at a time to determine whether there is an error in the dots; and based on a comparison determination result of the comparison determination unit. Evaluation data display means for displaying the evaluation data of the comparison destination data on the display means. A test device for a printer. 3. The comparison determining means compares the comparison destination data stored by the comparison destination data storage means with the comparison source data stored by the comparison source data storage means for each of a plurality of color elements for each dot. 3. The printer test apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a function of determining that there is an error in the dot when there is an error in one of the color elements. 4. An overlapping image display means for displaying, on the display means, an overlapping image obtained by superimposing the comparison source data and the comparison destination data as an image, and an overlapping image displayed by the overlapping image displaying means. 4. The printer according to claim 1, further comprising error dot color display means for displaying an erroneous dot of the comparison destination data in an image in a color different from a color of the erroneous dot. Test equipment. 5. The printer test apparatus according to claim 4, further comprising image enlargement means for enlarging and displaying the overlapping image displayed by said overlapping image display means. 6. An image moving means capable of moving the image of the comparison source data and the image of the comparison destination data displayed by the overlapping image display means of the evaluation data display means in the XY directions to shift them. The printer test apparatus according to claim 4 or 5, wherein 7. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said evaluation data display means comprises error dot number display means for displaying the number of said erroneous dots.
7. The test device for a printer according to 5 or 6. 8. An error dot number display upper limit number designating means for designating an upper limit number of display of the number of erroneous dots displayed by the error dot number display means. Printer test equipment. 9. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said evaluation data display means includes coordinate display means for displaying coordinates of said erroneous dots.
9. The printer testing device according to 7 or 8. 10. The printer according to claim 1, wherein said data acquisition means includes a printing environment setting means for setting a printing environment of a printer for acquiring bitmap data from said printer. The printer test apparatus according to 5, 6, 7, 8 or 9. 11. The data acquisition means includes a detachable interface card for connection to the printer, and an acquisition execution module that can independently process and activate bitmap data acquired through the interface card. And a comparison execution module configured to include a comparison execution module that can be independently activated.
11. The printer test apparatus according to 8, 9, or 10.