JP2002086728A - Substrate for print head, print head using the same, printer and image input/output device having the printer as image output device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To miniaturize a print head, a printer or a device such as a digital camera integrally having them and to reduce the cost by a constitution wherein the number of signals to be inputted to the head for controlling and driving an ink jet print head is reduced and the number of connection pads to be disposed to the periphery of the head is reduced. SOLUTION: In the case where multiple nozzles of the ink jet print head are set in a group and are divisionally driven, block selecting data is inputted as serial data so that the number of signals relating to the block selecting data or the number of pads are reduced.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a print head,
Regarding a printer using the head and an image input / output device such as a digital camera integrally having the printer as an image output device, in particular, by reducing the number of drive signal lines to a drive circuit of a print head such as an inkjet head,
An object of the present invention is to reduce the size and cost of an image input / output device such as a print head or a printer, and furthermore, a digital camera or the like having a printer as an image output device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art An ink jet printing method is extremely excellent in that noise generation during operation is extremely small to a negligible level and that high-speed recording is possible. In recent years, the printing method has become mainstream. is there.
Among them, the thermal energy acts on the ink to cause film boiling in the ink, whereby the ink is ejected from the ejection port to perform printing, so that the ejection port can be arranged with high density, and Since colorization is easy, it has an excellent feature that a high-resolution and high-quality image can be obtained at high speed.

[0003] The ink jet head of this form has an ejection port provided for ejecting ink, and a heat acting portion which is in communication with the ejection port and which is a portion where heat energy for ejecting ink acts on the liquid. A plurality of electrothermal converters (heating elements) having a liquid discharge unit having a liquid passage as a part of the configuration and generating thermal energy for the liquid discharge unit;
Is provided. A drive circuit for appropriately driving the plurality of heating elements according to the image data is provided, and the head base includes not only the plurality of heating elements but also the driving circuit integrally formed on the substrate. There is.

Further, with the high integration of the discharge port or the heating element, the number of simultaneously driven heating elements is reduced, and the current flowing instantaneously is reduced, thereby reducing the size of the power supply.
A configuration for dividing the heating element group into a predetermined number of blocks and performing divided driving in units of blocks is adopted (Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Nos. 09-327914 and 2000-16).
8061 publication etc.). FIG. 16 shows a configuration example of a drive circuit on a conventional head base. Here, 1400 is a substrate,
.., 15-n are heating elements provided corresponding to the (n + 1) outlets (nozzles), 15-0, 1
5-1..., 15-n turn on / off the power to each heating element.
This is a switch transistor that is turned off.

A shift register 1112 aligns the serially transferred data signal DATA in synchronization with the clock signal DCLK in accordance with the position of the discharge port or the heating element. A latch circuit 1122 latches the data arranged in the shift register 1112 in synchronization with a latch clock LATCH.

Reference numeral 1132 denotes a decoder, which is provided for the purpose of reducing the size of the power supply of the printer main body by reducing the number of heating elements driven simultaneously and reducing the current flowing instantaneously. Here, the heating elements 15-0, 15-1,.
A selection signal for selecting 16 blocks from 4-bit parallel input signals BEN0 to BEN3 in order to divide the group of 15-n into 16 blocks of a predetermined number and perform time-division driving in units of each block Generate 11
Reference numeral 40 denotes a heat control circuit that controls a corresponding switching transistor to drive a heating element included in the selected block, and receives a driving pulse HEAT for externally controlling a heating element driving time.

In the drive sequence, first, image data DATA is serially sent from the printer main body to the base 1400 inside the head in synchronization with the clock DCLK, and the data is sent to the base 1.
The shift register 1112 in 400 receives the data. While the fetched data is temporarily stored in the latch circuit 1122, block selection is performed in a time division manner. Then, one or a plurality of switching transistors which are included in the selected block and whose image data is on are turned on, and a current flows through the corresponding one or more heating elements to be driven.

The signals include a clock DCLK for operating the shift register, a serial image data input DATA,
A latch clock LATCH for holding data in the latch circuit, four block enable signals BEN0 to BEN3 for block selection, a driving pulse HEAT for externally controlling the heating element driving time, a ground signal HGND, and a heating element driving There is a power supply VH,
Connection member 12 such as pad or pin on base 1400
20, 1212, 1270 (four), 1240, 126
0 is input.

[0009]

However, there has been a demand for higher resolution and higher definition printing, and accordingly, the number of nozzles provided in the head has increased and the nozzle density has increased. There has been an increasing demand for downsizing of a driving circuit or a head for driving the head.

For example, in recent years, with the rapid spread of digital cameras, there has been an increasing demand for printing out images taken by digital cameras on the spot. Some digital cameras have an integrated printer for printing information. That is, when a printer is incorporated in such a device, there is a strong demand for a smaller head or printer.

Under such circumstances, if there are many signals necessary for controlling and driving the head, it is necessary to provide a large number of connection members for connection around the head. If that is an obstacle.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In view of the above problems, the present invention reduces the number of signals input to control and drive a head, reduces the number of connection members to be disposed around the head, and provides a print head or printer. It is another object of the present invention to reduce the size and cost of an image input / output device such as a digital camera having the above components integrally.

[0013]

For this purpose, a printhead substrate according to the present invention comprises a drive circuit for driving a plurality of print elements in accordance with image data, and an image data for driving the plurality of print elements. An image data input circuit, a block selection circuit for dividing the plurality of print elements into blocks each having a predetermined number, and performing division driving in units of blocks, and serially inputting data for performing the block selection. A block selection data input circuit, and an output circuit that outputs a drive signal corresponding to data supplied from the image data input circuit and data supplied from the block selection circuit to the drive circuit. It is characterized by the following.

Here, the image data input circuit and the block selection data input circuit are input to the lock data input circuit and the recording data input circuit, and the image data and the block selection data are input serially according to a supplied clock signal. As an integrated shift register.

A print head according to the present invention includes any one of the above substrates, and a member combined with the substrate and constituting a component of the printing element for applying a printing agent to a print medium. It is characterized by having.

Here, the printing element includes a discharge port for discharging the ink as the printing agent onto the print medium, and a base for generating energy used for discharging the ink. And an element driven by the driving circuit.

The element driven by the drive circuit of the base to generate energy used for discharging the ink is a heating element for generating heat energy for causing film boiling of the ink in response to energization. It can be.

Further, the printer of the present invention is characterized by comprising means for performing printing using the print head, and means for transporting a print medium relative to the head.

In addition, the present invention resides in an image input / output device integrally including the printer, an image input device for obtaining image data, and a unit for supplying image data to the printing unit.

Here, the image input / output device may be in the form of a digital camera having the image data input means for acquiring image data by imaging.

[0021]

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

In the present specification, "print" (sometimes referred to as "recording") refers not only to the formation of significant information such as characters and figures, but also to human perception irrespective of significance. Regardless of whether or not it is evident, it refers to a case where an image, a pattern, a pattern, or the like is widely formed on a print medium, or a case where the print medium is processed. Further, the “printer” and the “recording device” refer to not only one complete device for performing printing but also a device having a function of performing printing.

The term "printing medium" means not only paper used in general printing apparatuses but also inks such as cloth, plastic films, metal plates, glass, ceramics, wood, leather and the like. In the following, it is also referred to as “paper” or simply “paper”.

In this specification, a "camera" refers to a device or a device that optically captures an image and converts an optical image into an electric signal, and is also referred to as an "imaging unit" in the following description.

Further, “ink” (sometimes referred to as “liquid”) is to be interpreted widely as in the definition of “print” described above. , A pattern, etc., processing of a print medium, or ink processing (for example, solidification or insolubilization of a coloring material in ink applied to the print medium).

One form of the head in which the present invention is effectively used is a form in which film boiling occurs in a liquid using thermal energy generated by an electrothermal transducer to form bubbles.

[Basic Configuration] First, the basic configuration of the apparatus according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.
The device described in the present example is an imaging unit (hereinafter, also referred to as a “camera unit”) that optically captures an image and converts it into an electric signal.
And an image recording unit (hereinafter, also referred to as a “printer unit”) that records an image based on an electric signal obtained by imaging. Hereinafter, the information processing apparatus described in this example will be described as a “camera with a built-in printer”, but the present invention is not limited to this, and a printer having an independent printer unit described below and a camera other than a camera are described. The present invention is also applicable to an image input / output device combined with the input device.

In the apparatus main unit A001, the camera unit A
A printer unit (recording device unit) B100 is integrated with the back side of the unit 100.

The printer unit B100 is provided with a media pack C
An image is recorded using the ink supplied from 100 and a print medium. In this configuration, as is clear from FIG. 5 when the exterior is removed from the apparatus main body A001 and viewed from the rear side, the media pack C10 is placed on the right hand side of the apparatus main body A001 in FIG.
0 is inserted, and the printer unit B100 is disposed on the left hand side of the apparatus main body A001 in FIG. When recording is performed by the printer unit B100, the posture of the apparatus main body A001 can be set such that a liquid crystal display unit A105 described later in the camera unit A100 is on the upper side and the lens A101 is on the lower side. In this recording position, the printer unit B10
At 0, a recording head B120 described later is in a posture for discharging ink downward. The recording attitude is the camera section A10
It is also possible to set the same posture as the posture in the shooting state by 0, and it is not limited to the above-described recording posture. From the viewpoint of the stability of the printing operation, the printing position in which the ink is ejected downward is preferable.

In the following, the mechanical basic configuration of the apparatus of this embodiment is divided into a "camera unit" constituting the A image input unit, a "media pack" constituting the B image output unit, and a C "printer unit". The basic configuration of the signal processing system is described as D “signal processing system”.

A "Camera Unit" The camera unit A100 basically constitutes a general digital camera, and includes a printer unit B10 to be described later.
The digital camera with a built-in printer as shown in FIG. 1 to FIG. 1 to 3, A101 is a lens, A102 is a finder, A1
02a is a finder window, A103 is a flash, A10
Reference numeral 4 denotes a release button, and A105 denotes a liquid crystal display unit (external display unit). As will be described later, the camera unit A100
Processing of data captured using CD, Compact Flash (registered trademark) memory card (CF card) A107
It stores images in the printer unit, displays the images, and exchanges various data with the printer unit B100. A discharge unit A109 discharges a print medium C104 on which an image has been recorded when the photographed image is recorded on a print medium C104 described below. A108 shown in FIG. 5 is a battery as a power source for the camera unit A100 and the printer unit B100.

B "Media Pack" The media pack C100 is detachable from the apparatus main body A001, and in this case, is inserted from the insertion portion A002 (see FIG. 3) of the apparatus main body A001, thereby obtaining the media pack C100 shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. The insertion portion A002 is closed as shown in FIG. 3 when the media pack C100 is not mounted, and is opened when the media pack C100 is mounted. FIG. 5 shows the media pack C100.
Shows a state in which the exterior has been removed from the apparatus main body A001 to which is attached. Pack body C101 of media pack C100
As shown in FIG. 4, a shutter C102 is provided so as to be slidable in the direction of arrow D. Shutter C102
When the media pack C100 is not mounted on the apparatus main body A001, it slides to the position indicated by the two-dot chain line in FIG.
When it is attached to the position 1, it slides to the position indicated by the solid line in FIG.

The ink pack C is provided in the pack body C101.
103 and a print medium C104 are accommodated. FIG.
In the ink pack C103, the print medium C1
04. In the case of this example, ink pack C
Three 103s are provided so as to individually accommodate Y (yellow), M (magenta), and C (cyan) inks, and about 20 print media C104 are accommodated in an overlapping manner. Those inks and print medium C104
Means that the best combination for image recording was selected,
They are housed in the same media pack C100. Therefore, various media packs C100 (for example, media packs for ultra-high image quality, normal image quality, seals (split seals), etc.) having different combinations of ink and print medium are prepared, and the images to be recorded are prepared. These media packs C100 are selectively loaded into the apparatus main assembly A0 in accordance with the type and use of the print medium on which the image is formed.
By mounting the ink cartridge on the print medium 01, an image suitable for the purpose can be reliably recorded using the optimal combination of ink and print medium. Further, the media pack C100 is provided with an EEPROM (identification IC) to be described later, and the EEPROM stores identification data such as ink contained in the media pack and the type and remaining amount of the print medium.

When the media pack C100 is mounted on the apparatus main assembly A001, the ink pack C103 has Y,
Through three joints C105 corresponding to the M and C inks, respectively, it is connected to an ink supply system of the apparatus main body A001 described later. On the other hand, the print medium C104
Are separated one by one by a separation mechanism (not shown), and are then sent out in the direction of arrow C by a feed roller C110 (see FIG. 9) described later. The driving force of the paper feed roller C110 is supplied from a transport motor M002 (see FIG. 9), which will be described later, provided on the apparatus main assembly A001 side, via a connecting portion C110a.

Further, the pack body C101 is provided with a wiper C106 for wiping a recording head of a printer section described later, and an ink absorber C107 for absorbing waste ink discharged from the printer section. ing. The recording head in the printer section reciprocates in the main scanning direction indicated by arrow A as described later. When the media pack C100 is detached from the apparatus main body A001, the shutter C102 slides to the position indicated by the two-dot chain line in FIG. 4, and the joint C105, the wiper C106,
And protect the ink absorber C107 and the like.

C "Printer Unit" The printer unit B100 of this example is a serial type using an ink jet recording head. This printer section B1
00 will be described separately for C-1 "print operation unit", C-2 "print medium transport system", and C-3 "ink supply system".

C-1 "Print Operation Unit" FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the entire printer unit B100, and FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the printer unit B100 with a part thereof removed.

As shown in FIG. 5, the leading end of the media pack C100 mounted on the apparatus main body A001 is located at a fixed position inside the main body of the printer section B100. The print medium C104 sent out from the media pack C100 in the direction of arrow C is transmitted to
While being sandwiched between the F roller B101 and the LF pinch roller B102, the sheet is conveyed on the platen B103 in the sub-scanning direction indicated by the arrow B. A carriage B104 is reciprocated in the main scanning direction indicated by the arrow A along the guide shaft B105 and the lead screw B106.

On the carriage B104, as shown in FIG.
A bearing B107 for the guide shaft B105 and a bearing B108 for the lead screw B106 are provided. At a fixed position of the carriage B104, as shown in FIG. 7, a screw pin B109 protruding inside the bearing B108 is attached by a spring B110. Then, the tip of the screw pin B109 fits into the spiral groove formed on the outer peripheral portion of the lead screw B106, so that the rotation of the lead screw B106 is converted into the reciprocating movement of the carriage B104.

The carriage B104 has Y, M,
Ink jet recording head B1 capable of discharging C ink
20 and a sub-tank (not shown) for storing ink to be supplied to the recording head B120. The recording head B120 is formed with a plurality of ink ejection ports B121 (see FIG. 8) arranged in a direction intersecting the main scanning direction of the arrow A (in this example, orthogonal to the main scanning direction). The ink discharge port B121 forms a nozzle capable of discharging ink supplied from the sub tank. As a means for generating energy for ejecting ink, an electrothermal converter provided for each nozzle can be used. The electrothermal transducer generates bubbles in the ink in the nozzles by being driven to generate heat, and discharges ink droplets from the ink discharge port B121 by the bubbling energy.

The sub-tank has a smaller capacity than the ink pack C103 contained in the media pack C100, and is sized to contain at least an amount of ink necessary for recording an image of one print medium C104.
In the sub-tank, an ink supply portion and a negative pressure introduction portion are formed in the ink storage portions for each of the Y, M, and C inks, and these ink supply portions are individually provided to the corresponding three hollow needles B122. The negative pressure introduction sections are connected to a common supply air port B123. In such a sub-tank, as described later,
When the carriage B104 moves to the home position as shown in FIG. 6, ink is supplied from the ink pack C103 of the media pack C100.

In the carriage B104 shown in FIG.
Reference numeral 24 denotes a needle cover. When the needle B122 and the joint C105 are not connected to each other, the needle cover 122 is moved to a position for protecting the needle B122 by the force of the spring as shown in FIG. When connecting, the needle B122 is pushed upward in the figure against the force of the spring to release the protection of the needle B122. The moving position of the carriage B104 is the carriage B1.
04 encoder sensor B131 and printer unit B1
00 linear scale B132 on the main body side (see FIG. 6)
And is detected by. The movement of the carriage B104 to the home position indicates that the carriage B10 has moved.
The HP (home position) flag B133 on the fourth side and the HP sensor B134 (FIG.
See).

In FIG. 7, a support shaft (not shown) is provided at each end of the guide shaft B105 at a position eccentric from the center axis. The position of the carriage 104 is adjusted by rotating and adjusting the guide shaft B105 about its support shaft, so that the recording head B120 and the platen B
The distance between the print medium 103 and the print medium C 104 (also referred to as “paper distance”) is adjusted. The lead screw B106 is driven to rotate by a carriage motor M001 via a screw gear B141, an idler gear B142, and a motor gear B143. Also,
B150 is a flexible cable for electrically connecting a control system described below and the recording head B120.

The recording head B120 includes a carriage B10
By ejecting ink from the ink ejection port B121 in accordance with the image signal while moving in the main scanning direction indicated by the arrow A together with 4, the image for one line is recorded on the print medium on the platen B103. By repeating such a recording operation for one line by the recording head B120 and a conveyance operation of a predetermined amount of the print medium in the sub-scanning direction of an arrow B by a print medium conveyance system described later, images are sequentially printed on the print medium. Record

C-2 "Print Medium Transport System" FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the components of the print medium transport system in the printer section B100. In FIG. 9, B201
Denotes a pair of discharge rollers, and one of the upper discharge rollers B201 in the figure includes a discharge roller gear B202 and a relay gear B2.
03, and is driven by the transport motor M002.
Similarly, the above-described LF roller B101 is connected to the transport motor M via the LF roller gear B204 and the relay gear B203.
002. The discharge roller B201 and the LF roller B101 convey the print medium C104 in the sub-scanning direction indicated by the arrow B by the driving force of the conveyance motor M002 at the time of normal rotation.

On the other hand, when the transport motor M002 rotates in the reverse direction, the switching slider B211 and the switching cam B2
The pressure plate head B 213 and a lock mechanism (not shown) are driven through the drive unit 12, and a driving force is transmitted to the paper feed roller C 110 on the side of the media pack C 100. That is,
The pressure plate head B 213 is driven by the driving force of the transport motor M002 during the reverse rotation, passes through the window C102A of the shutter C102 of the media pack C100 (see FIG. 4), and print media C integrated in the media pack C100.
104 is pressed downward in FIG. As a result, the print medium C104 at the lowermost position in FIG.
The sheet 100 is pressed on the sheet feeding roller C110 in the sheet 100. A lock mechanism (not shown) locks the media pack C100 with respect to the apparatus main body A001 by the driving force of the transport motor M002 at the time of reverse rotation, and
0 removal is prohibited. Media pack C10
The zero-side paper feed roller C110 carries out one print medium C104 at the lowermost position in FIG. 4 in the direction of arrow C by transmitting the driving force at the time of reverse rotation of the transport motor M002.

As described above, when the transport motor M002 rotates in the reverse direction, only one print medium C104 is taken out of the media pack C100 in the direction of the arrow C. Thereafter, when the transport motor M002 rotates forward, the print medium C104 is rotated. Is transported in the direction of arrow B.

C-3 "Ink Supply System" FIG. 10 is a perspective view of components of the ink supply system in the printer section B100, and FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a state where the media pack C100 is mounted on the components of the ink supply system. It is a top view.

The joint C105 of the media pack C100 mounted on the printer unit B100 is connected to the needle B12 on the side of the carriage B104 moved to the home position.
2 (see FIG. 8). The main body of the printer unit B100 is provided with a joint fork B301 (see FIG. 10) located below the joint C105, and the joint fork B301 is connected to the joint C1.
By moving 05 upward, the joint C105 is connected to the needle B122. This forms an ink supply path between the ink pack C103 on the media pack C100 side and the ink supply unit of the sub tank on the carriage B104 side. A carriage B10 moved to the home position is provided on the main body of the printer unit B100.
A supply joint B302 is provided below the fourth supply air port B123 (see FIG. 8). This supply joint B302 is provided via a supply tube B303.
It is connected to a pump cylinder B304 of a pump as a negative pressure source. The supply joint B302 is connected to the supply air port B123 on the carriage B104 side by being moved up by the joint lifter B305. Thus, a negative pressure introducing path is formed between the negative pressure introducing portion of the sub tank on the side of the carriage B104 and the pump cylinder B304. The joint lifter B305 moves the joint fork B301 up and down together with the supply joint B302 by the driving force of the joint motor M003.

The negative pressure introducing portion of the sub tank is provided with a gas-liquid separating member (not shown) that allows the passage of air and prevents the passage of ink. The gas-liquid separation member allows the air in the sub-tank to be sucked through the negative pressure introduction passage, thereby supplying ink from the media pack C100 to the sub-tank. When the ink in the sub-tank reaches the gas-liquid separation member, when the ink is sufficiently replenished, the gas-liquid separation member stops the passage of the ink, so that the ink supply is automatically stopped. The gas-liquid separation member is provided in an ink supply unit in an ink storage portion for each ink in the sub tank, and automatically stops replenishing ink for each of those ink storage portions.

The main body of the printer section B100 is provided with a suction cap B310 capable of capping the recording head B120 (see FIG. 8) on the carriage B104 moved to the home position. The suction cap B310 has a suction tube B311 inside.
, A negative pressure is introduced from the pump cylinder B304 through the ink discharge port B1 of the recording head B120.
The ink can be sucked and discharged (suction recovery processing) from the ink cartridge 21. The recording head B120 also removes ink that does not contribute to image recording, if necessary, with a suction cap B3.
10 (preliminary discharge processing). Suction cap B
The ink in the ink cartridge C107 in the media pack C110 flows from the pump cylinder B304 through the waste liquid tube B312 and the waste liquid joint B313.
Is discharged.

The pump cylinder B304 constitutes a pump unit B315 together with a pump motor M004 for reciprocating the pump cylinder B304. Pump motor M004 is
It also functions as a drive source for moving the wiper lifter B316 (see FIG. 10) up and down. Wiper lifter B31
No. 6 moves the wiper C106 to a position where the recording head B120 can be wiped by moving the wiper C106 of the media pack C100 mounted on the printer unit B100 upward.

In FIG. 10 and FIG.
Is a pump HP sensor for detecting that the operating position of the pump constituted by the pump cylinder B 304 is at the home position. A joint HP sensor B322 detects that the ink supply path and the negative pressure introduction path described above have been formed. B323 is a chassis that forms the main body of the printer unit B100.

D "Signal Processing System" FIG. 12 is a schematic block diagram of the camera unit A100 and the printer unit B100.

In the camera section A100, 101 is a CCD as an image sensor, 102 is a microphone for voice input, 103 is an ASIC for performing hardware processing, 10
Reference numeral 4 denotes a first memory for temporarily storing image data and the like;
Reference numeral 5 denotes a CF card (“CF card A1
07), an LCD (corresponding to the “liquid crystal display unit A105”) for displaying a captured image or a reproduced image, and 120
Is a first CPU for controlling the camera unit A100.

In the printer section B100, 210 is
An interface 201 between the camera unit A100 and the printer unit B100, an image processing unit 201 (2 for binarizing an image)
202, a second memory used for performing image processing; 203, a band memory control unit;
4 is a band memory, 205 is a mask memory, 206 is a head controller, and 207 is a printhead (“printhead B12
0), 208 is an encoder (corresponding to “encoder sensor B131”), 209 is an encoder counter, 2
Reference numeral 20 denotes a second CPU for controlling the printer unit B100;
1 is a motor driver, 222 is a motor (“motor M00
1, M002, M003, M004 ") 223
Is a sensor ("HP sensors B134, B321, B322").
224, an EEPROM built in the media pack C100, 230, an audio encoder unit, 25
0 is a power supply unit ("Battery A108") for supplying power to the entire apparatus.
).

FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram of signal processing in the camera unit A100. In the shooting mode, the lens 107
The image captured by the CCD 101 through the
Signal processing (CCD signal processing) by C103
It is converted into a V luminance two-color difference signal. Further, the image data is resized to a predetermined resolution, JPEG-compressed, and recorded on the CF card 105. The voice is input from the microphone 102 and stored in the CF card 105 via the ASIC 103. Regarding the recording of the sound, it can be stored at the same time as the shooting or as a post-recording after the shooting. In the playback mode, the JPE
The G image is read out, JPEG-decompressed by the ASIC 103, and further resized to the display resolution.
06 is displayed.

FIG. 14 is an explanatory diagram of signal processing in the printer section B100.

The image reproduced on the camera unit A100 side, that is, the image read from the CF card 105, is JPEG expanded by the ASIC 103 and resized to a resolution suitable for the printing resolution as shown in FIG. Then, the resized image data (YUV) is sent to the printer unit B100 via the interface unit 210. As shown in FIG. 14, the printer unit B100 converts data based on image data sent from the camera unit A100 and image data such as encoded data into the image processing unit 201.
Image processing, conversion of image data into RGB signals,
Input gamma correction according to the characteristics of the camera, color correction and color conversion using a look-up table (LUT), and conversion into a binary signal for printing. At the time of the binarization process, the second memory 202 is used as an error memory in order to perform an error diffusion (ED) process. In the case of this example, the binarization processing unit in the image processing unit 201 performs an error diffusion process, but other processes such as a binarization process using a dither pattern may be performed. The binarized print data is temporarily stored in the band memory 204 by the band memory control unit 203. An encoder pulse from the encoder 208 is input to the encoder counter 209 of the printer unit B100 every time the carriage B104 on which the recording head 207 and the encoder 208 are mounted moves a predetermined distance. Then, in synchronization with the encoder pulse, print data is read from the band memory 204 and the mask memory 205, and based on the print data, the head control unit 206 controls the print head 207 to perform printing.

The band memory control in FIG. 14 will be described as follows.

A plurality of nozzles in the recording head 207 are formed in rows so as to have a density of, for example, 1200 dpi. When the carriage is scanned once in order to print an image using such a recording head 207, the number of nozzles in the sub-scanning direction (hereinafter, also referred to as “vertical (Y direction)”) is equal to the number of nozzles in the main scanning direction (hereinafter, referred to as “vertical (Y direction)”). , "Horizontal (X direction)
In this case, it is necessary to create print data for the print area (print data for one scan) in advance.
After the recording data is created by the image processing unit 201,
Band memory 204 by band memory control unit 203
Is stored once. After one scan of print data is stored in the band memory 204, the carriage is scanned in the main scanning direction. At this time, encoder pulses input from the encoder 208 are counted by the encoder counter 209, print data is read from the band memory 204 according to the encoder pulses, and ink droplets are ejected from the print head 207 based on the image data. You. When the bidirectional printing method of printing an image (forward printing and backward printing) at the time of forward scan and backward scan of the print head 207 is adopted, image data is transferred from the band memory 204 according to the scan direction of the print head 207. Is read. For example, at the time of forward pass recording, the address of the image data read from the band memory 204 is sequentially incremented, and at the time of backward pass recording, the address of the image data read from the band memory 204 is sequentially decremented.

Actually, when the image data (C, M, Y) created by the image processing unit 201 is written to the band memory 204 and one band of image data is prepared, the scanning of the recording head 207 is performed. Becomes possible. Then, the recording head 207 is scanned, image data is read from the band memory 204, and the recording head 207 records an image based on the image data. During the recording operation, image data to be recorded next is created in the image processing unit 201,
The image data is written to an area of the band memory 204 corresponding to the recording position.

As described above, the band memory control is performed for the recording data (C, M, Y) created by the image processing unit 201.
Is written in the band memory 204 and the operation of reading out the print data (C, M, Y) to be sent to the head control unit 206 in accordance with the scanning operation of the carriage is performed while switching.

The mask memory control in FIG. 14 will be described as follows.

This mask memory control is required when the multi-pass printing method is adopted. In the case of the multi-pass printing method, a print image for one row having a width corresponding to the length of the nozzle row of the print head 207 is printed by dividing the print head 207 into a plurality of scans. That is, the transport amount of the print medium that is transported intermittently in the sub-scanning direction is set to 1 / N of the length of the nozzle row. For example, when N = 2, one row of the recorded image is scanned twice. (N-pass printing), and when N = 4, a print image for one line is printed in four scans (4-pass printing). Similarly, when N = 8, 8-pass printing is performed, and when N = 16, 16-pass printing is performed. Therefore, the recording image for one line is recorded by the recording head 207.
Is completed by multiple scans.

In practice, the mask memory 205 stores mask data for allocating image data to a plurality of scans of the print head 207. The mask data is logically ANDed (AND) data of the mask data and the image data. Then, the recording head 207 ejects ink to record an image.

In FIG. 14, the CF card 105
Are sent to the printer unit B100 via the interface 210 by the ASIC 102 in the same manner as the image data. Printer section B100
Is encoded (encoded) by the audio encoder 230 and recorded as code data in an image to be printed. When it is not necessary to add audio data to a print image, or when printing an image without audio data, naturally, coded audio data is not printed and only the image is printed.

In this embodiment, the description has been given of a camera with a built-in printer in which the camera section A100 and the printer section B100 are integrated. However, the camera unit A100
And the printer unit B100 can be separated into separate devices, and the same configuration can be realized in a configuration in which they are connected by the interface 210, and the same function can be realized.

[Characteristic Configuration] An embodiment of a characteristic configuration of the present invention will be described below.

FIG. 15 shows a configuration example of a head drive circuit according to an embodiment having a characteristic configuration of the present invention. This drive circuit is, for example, the printhead 207 in the basic configuration of FIG.
Can be provided on the substrate constituting the above. Note that FIG.
The same reference numerals are given to the corresponding parts for the components that can be configured in the same manner as the circuit shown in FIG.

Here, 1500 is a head base, 1110
Is a serial-in / parallel-out type shift register like the shift register 1112 in FIG. 16, but in this example, the block selection data BEN is input in series with the image data DATA via the connection member 1210. Reference numeral 1120 denotes a latch circuit that latches the image data DATA and the block selection data BEN in synchronization with a latch signal LATCH input via the connection member 1230.

Reference numeral 1130 denotes a decoder for decoding the block selection data BEN supplied from the latch circuit 1230, and includes heating elements 15-0, 15-1,..., 15-n.
Are divided into 16 blocks each having a predetermined number, and a time-division driving is performed for each block.
A selection signal for selecting each of the 16 blocks is generated from the block selection data BEN supplied in parallel from 30 to 4 bits.

Here, the head of 256 nozzles in total is
The operation of the above circuit will be described assuming that the block is divided into six blocks and driving is performed for each block having 16 nozzles.

In FIG. 15, 4-bit block selection data BEN for designating the nozzle group divided into blocks and grouped together with the data DATA of the grouped nozzle groups together with the head control circuit 20 shown in FIG.
6 to the shift register 1110. In this transfer format, 16-bit image data DATA is followed by 4-bit block selection data BEN.

After a series of image data DATA and block selection data BEN are input to the shift register 1110, a latch signal LATCH is input and a latch circuit 112 is input.
Latch to zero. Of the latched image data and block selection data, 4-bit block selection data is sent to the decoder 1130, where it is decoded into 16 signals and sent to the heat control circuit 1140.
The 16-bit image data also latched is sent to the heat control circuit 1140, and the logical product of the 16-bit image data and the decode signal from the decoder 130 is obtained. Then, in accordance with the heat signal 240, on / off signals for the heating elements corresponding to the 256 nozzles are generated, sent to the switching transistors 16-0 to 16-n, and output to the heating elements 15-0 to 15-n.
The driving of −n is controlled.

According to the above-described embodiment according to the characteristic configuration of the present invention, when a large number of nozzles are conventionally grouped and divided and driven, block selection data is directly input to the head. By inputting the block selection data as serial data together with the image data, the number of signals or the number of connection members relating to the block selection data can be reduced. As a result, the area of the chip (head base) can be reduced, which contributes to the miniaturization and cost reduction of a print head or a printer, or a device such as a digital camera integrally having them.

In the above description, block selection data BEN is input to shift register 1110 following image data DATA. Conversely, block selection data is input first, and image data is input later. The same effect can be obtained by inputting from. In this case, it is easy to understand that the decoder 1130 is located on the right side of the heat control circuit 1140 in FIG.

In the above example, the image data DATA and the block selection data BEN are serially input from one signal line or the connection member 1210. However, these are separated, and the image data DATA is processed in the same manner as in the prior art. It is also possible to input the data to the shift register, and to input the block selection data to another shift register as another serial signal. In this case as well, the number of block selection signals conventionally required a plurality is reduced. It becomes possible. That is, by serially transmitting the block selection data, the number of signals or the number of connection members can be reduced without the need for an external circuit (head control unit 206) for controlling the head to control image data and block selection data. Can do it.

Further, in the above example, the description has been made assuming that the head of 256 nozzles is divided into 16 blocks and driving is performed for each block having 16 nozzles. However, the number of nozzles or heating elements (M × N) included in the head is described. ), The number of block divisions (N) and the number of heating elements (M) included in each block can be determined as desired.

In addition, in the above example, the case where the present invention is applied to an ink jet print head having a heating element or a nozzle as a print element has been described. However, the present invention relates to a print head of another form, for example, an electromechanical transducer. The present invention can also be applied to an ink jet head having a form as a print element, a print head having a thermal element for thermal transfer recording, and the like.

[0081]

According to the present invention, when a large number of nozzles are grouped and divided and driven, block selection data is directly input to the head, whereas block selection data is input as serial data. ,
By reducing the number of signals and the number of connection members related to the block selection data, it is possible to contribute to the miniaturization and cost reduction of a print head or a printer, and an image input / output device such as a digital camera integrally having the same.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front view of a camera with a built-in printer to which the present invention can be applied.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the camera of FIG. 1 as viewed obliquely from the front.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the camera of FIG.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a media pack that can be mounted on the camera of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing an arrangement relationship of main components inside the camera of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a printer unit in FIG.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the printer shown in FIG. 6 with a part removed.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a carriage in the printer unit of FIG.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of components of a print medium transport system in the printer unit of FIG. 6;

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of components of an ink supply system in the printer unit of FIG.

11 is a plan view when a media pack is mounted on a component of the ink supply system of FIG. 10;

FIG. 12 is a schematic block diagram of a camera unit and a printer unit in the camera of FIG. 1;

13 is an explanatory diagram of signal processing in the camera unit in FIG.

14 is an explanatory diagram of signal processing in the printer unit of FIG.

FIG. 15 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of a head drive circuit according to an embodiment having a characteristic configuration of the present invention.

FIG. 16 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of a drive circuit on a conventional head base.

[Explanation of symbols]

A001 Main unit A002 Insertion section A100 Camera section A101 Lens A102 Viewfinder A102a Viewfinder window A103 Strobe A104 Release button A105 Viewfinder A106 Liquid crystal display (external display) A107 Compact flash memory card (CF card) A107 Battery A109 Ejector B100 Printer (Recording unit) B101 LF roller B102 LF pinch roller B103 Platen B104 Carriage B105 Guide shaft B106 Lead screw B107 Bearing B108 Bearing B109 Screw pin B110 Spring B120 Recording head B121 Ink ejection port B122 Needle B123 Supply air port B124 Needle cover Needle cover Linear scale B133 HP flag B134 HP sensor B141 Screw gear B142 Idler gear B143 Motor gear B150 Flexible cable B201 Discharge roller B202 Discharge roller gear B203 Relay gear B204 LF roller gear B211 Switching slider B212 Switching cam B213 Pressure plate head B301 Joint supply fork B302 Pipe fork B302 Cylinder B305 Joint lifter B310 Suction cap B311 Suction tube B312 Waste liquid tube B313 Waste liquid joint B315 Pump unit B316 Wiper lifter B321 Pump HP sensor B322 Joint HP sensor B323 Chassis C100 Media pack C101 Pack body C102 Shut -C102A Window part C103 Ink pack C104 Print medium C105 Joint C106 Wiper C107 Ink absorber C110 Feed roller C110a Connecting part M001 Carriage motor M002 Transport motor M003 Joint motor M004 Pump motor 101 CCD 102 Microphone 103 ASIC 104 First memory 105 CF card (Corresponding to “CF card A107”) 106 LCD (corresponding to “liquid crystal display unit A105”) 107 Lens 120 First CPU 201 Image processing unit 202 Second memory 203 Band memory control unit 204 Band memory 205 Mask memory 206 Head control unit 207 Recording head (corresponding to “recording head B120”) 208 Encoder (corresponding to “encoder sensor B131”) 209 en Dakaunta 210 interface 220 first 2-CPU 221 motor driver 222 a motor ( "motor M001, M002, M00
223 sensor (“HP sensor B134, B321, B
322 ") 224 EEPROM 230 Audio encoder unit 250 Power supply unit (corresponding to" battery A108 ") 1110, 1112 Shift register 1120, 1122 Latch circuit 1130, 1132 Decoder 1140 Heat control circuit 15-0 to 15-n Heating element 16 −0 to 16-n Switching transistors 1210, 1212, 1220, 1230, 1240,
1250, 1260, 1270 Connection member 1400, 1500 Head base

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor Kenichi Inatomi 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Inside Canon Inc. (72) Inventor Kazunori Arima 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Canon (72) Inventor Toshiya Kondo 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Canon Inc. F-term (reference) 2C057 AF34 AG46 AG83 AG90 AG98 AM19

Claims (8)

[Claims] A drive circuit for driving a plurality of print elements according to image data; an image data input circuit for inputting image data for driving the plurality of print elements from an external image input device; A block selection circuit for dividing the print elements into a predetermined number of blocks and performing division driving in units of blocks, a block selection data input circuit for serially inputting data for performing the block selection, Forming an output circuit that outputs a drive signal to the drive circuit according to data supplied from an external image input device via the image data input circuit and data supplied from the block selection circuit. A substrate for a print head, comprising: 2. The image data input circuit and the block selection data input circuit, the lock data input circuit and the recording data input circuit, and the image data and the block selection data are serially input according to a supplied clock signal. 2. The print head substrate according to claim 1, wherein the print head substrate is configured as an integrated shift register for storing data. 3. A substrate according to claim 1 or 2, and a member combined with the substrate and constituting a component of the printing element for applying a printing agent to a print medium. Print head to be characterized. 4. The printing element includes: a discharge port for discharging the ink as the printing agent onto the print medium; and a drive unit for driving the base to generate energy used for discharging the ink. 4. The printhead of claim 3, including a circuit driven element. 5. An element driven by a drive circuit of the base to generate energy used for discharging the ink, wherein the heating element generates heat energy that causes film boiling of the ink in response to energization. The print head according to claim 4, wherein 6. A printing apparatus comprising: means for performing printing using the print head according to claim 3; and means for transporting a print medium relative to the head. Printer. 7. A printing means for performing printing using the print head according to claim 3.
An image input / output device, comprising: an image input device for obtaining image data; and a unit for supplying the image data to the printing unit. 8. An image input / output apparatus according to claim 7, further comprising a digital camera having said image data input means for acquiring image data by imaging.