JP2002290699A - Imaging device and method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To eliminate the possibility of an imaging device being used for forging securities, such as bills, etc., as the image quality of the device is improved. SOLUTION: A laser driver IC 602 is mounted with a tracking pattern generating section 410, an oscillation circuit 413, and a laser driving circuit 501. The oscillation circuit 413 generates a synchronizing signal CCLK which is not necessarily synchronized to an image signal VDO and the tracking pattern generating section 410 generates additional data based on the synchronizing signal CCLK.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus and method for providing specific information when forming high-quality image data.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, the colorization of image forming apparatuses such as printers has been advanced, and they have been used as various expression means for users. In particular, color page printers are attracting attention because of their quietness, high quality printing, and high speed printing.

[0003] As one of the color page printers, a laser beam printer is known. A laser beam printer scans a light beam in a main scanning direction on a photoreceptor to perform a first scanning.
After the phenomenon described above, the transfer of the formed latent image to the recording medium on the transfer carrier is repeated for a plurality of colors, thereby performing high-quality recording of a color image.

[0004]

However, with the improvement in image quality of the image forming apparatus as described above, there is a problem that the image forming apparatus is used for forgery of securities such as bills. It is expected that such fears will increase in the future due to further improvements in image forming technology.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problem, and it is possible to track a device that has output a forged image by adding predetermined information to the specific image when forming the specific image. An image forming apparatus and a method thereof are provided.

[0006]

As one means for achieving the above object, the image forming apparatus of the present invention has the following arrangement.

That is, an image forming apparatus for forming a color image on a recording medium by an image forming means, comprising: image data generating means for generating image data for image formation based on input image information; An additional data generating unit that generates additional data based on the image data and a driving unit that drives the image forming unit based on the image data and the additional data, wherein the additional data generating unit includes: The additional data is generated based on a synchronization signal that is not necessarily synchronized with the generated image data.

For example, the additional data generating means and the driving means are mounted in the same unit.

For example, the additional data generating means and the driving means are mounted in the same IC package.

[0010]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment according to the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows an image forming apparatus A according to this embodiment.
FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing the structure of FIG.

In the image forming apparatus A, the leading end of the recording paper P fed from the paper feeding unit 101 is gripped by a gripper 103f.
And is held on the outer periphery of the transfer drum 103. Then, the image carrier 10 is moved by the optical unit 107.
0, the latent image formed for each color is a developing unit (Dy,
Dc, Dm, Db), and the transfer drum 10
The multi-color image is formed by being transferred a plurality of times onto a sheet held on the outer periphery of the sheet 3.

Thereafter, the recording paper P is separated from the transfer drum 103 and fixed by the fixing unit 104, and
From 05, the sheet is discharged to the sheet discharge tray unit 106.

Each of the developing units (Dy, Dc, Dm, Db)
It has rotating shafts at both ends thereof, and each is held by the developing device selecting mechanism 108 so as to be rotatable about the shaft.

Each developing device (Dy, Dc, Dm, Db)
The rotation for selecting the developing device is performed with the posture kept constant. Then, after one of the selected developing devices is moved to the developing position, the selection mechanism holding frame 109 is moved around the fulcrum 109b by the solenoid 109a, so that the developing device selecting mechanism 108 and the image carrier 100 of the developing device are moved toward the developing device. Is positioned.

Next, the operation of the image forming apparatus A having the above configuration will be described.

First, the charger 111 shown in FIG.
The image carrier (photoconductor drum) 100 is uniformly charged to a predetermined polarity, and a first magenta latent image is formed on the photoconductor drum 100 by exposure with the laser beam L.

Next, in this case, a required developing bias voltage is applied only to the magenta developing device Dm to develop a magenta latent image, and a first toner image of magenta M is formed on the photosensitive drum 100. It is formed.

On the other hand, immediately before the recording paper P is fed at a predetermined timing and its leading edge reaches the above-described transfer start position, a transfer bias voltage (+1.8 KV) of the opposite polarity (for example, plus polarity) to the toner is used. Is applied to the transfer drum 103, the first toner image on the photosensitive drum 100 is transferred to the recording paper P, and the recording paper P is
3 is electrostatically adsorbed on the surface of the substrate. Thereafter, the magenta toner remaining on the photoconductor drum 100 is removed by the cleaner 112, and the preparation is made for the formation of a latent image of the next color to be printed and the development process.

Next, a second cyan latent image is formed on the photosensitive drum 100 by the laser beam L, and the second latent image on the photosensitive drum 100 is developed by the cyan developing unit Dc. Thus, a second toner image of cyan C is formed.

Then, the second toner image of cyan C is transferred to the recording paper P in accordance with the position of the first toner image of magenta M previously transferred to the recording paper P. In addition,
In the transfer of the second color toner image, a bias voltage of +2.1 KV is applied to the transfer drum 103 immediately before the recording paper reaches the transfer portion.

Similarly, third of yellow and black,
A fourth latent image is sequentially formed on the photosensitive drum 100,
Each is sequentially developed by the developing devices Dy and Db. Then, the toner image is aligned with the toner image previously transferred to the recording paper P, and the third and fourth toner images of yellow and black are sequentially transferred. As a result, on the recording paper P,
The four color toner images are formed in an overlapping state.

In the transfer of the third and fourth color toner images, bias voltages of +2.5 KV and +3.0 KV are applied to the transfer drum 103 immediately before the recording paper reaches the transfer portion.

The reason why the transfer bias voltage is increased every time a toner image of each color is transferred is to prevent a decrease in transfer efficiency. The main cause of the decrease in the transfer efficiency is that when the recording paper separates from the photosensitive drum 100 after the transfer, the recording paper surface is charged to a polarity opposite to the transfer bias voltage by air discharge (the recording paper is carried). This is because the surface of the transfer drum is slightly charged), and this charge is accumulated for each transfer. If the transfer bias voltage is constant,
That is, the transfer electric field decreases every time transfer is performed.

In the transfer of the fourth color, when the leading end of the recording paper reaches the transfer start position (including immediately before and immediately after), an AC voltage of 5.5 KV (effective value, the frequency of which is 500 Hz) Then, a DC bias voltage of +3.0 KV having the same polarity and the same potential as the transfer bias voltage applied during the transfer of the fourth toner image is superimposed and applied to the charger 111.

As described above, at the time when the leading edge of the recording paper reaches the transfer start position during the transfer of the fourth color, the charger 111
Is operated to prevent transfer unevenness. In particular, in the transfer of a full-color image, even if slight transfer unevenness occurs, the difference in color tends to be conspicuous, and it is necessary to perform a discharging operation by applying a required bias voltage to the charger 111 as described above. Become.

Thereafter, when the leading end of the recording paper P on which the four color toner images are superimposed and transferred approaches the separation position, the separation claw 113 is moved.
Approach, the leading end thereof comes into contact with the surface of the transfer drum 103, and the recording paper P is separated from the transfer drum 103. The leading end of the separation claw 113 keeps contact with the surface of the transfer drum 103 until the trailing end of the recording paper P leaves the transfer drum 103, and then returns to the original position when it is separated from the transfer drum 103.

As described above, the charger 111 controls the recording paper P
Operates until the trailing edge of the recording paper separates from the transfer drum 103 from the time when the leading edge of the recording paper reaches the transfer start position of the final color. In addition to facilitating paper separation, aerial discharge during recording paper separation is reduced.

When the trailing edge of the recording paper reaches the transfer end position (the exit of the nip formed by the photosensitive drum 100 and the transfer drum 103), the transfer bias voltage applied to the transfer drum 103 is turned off. (Installation potential). At the same time, the bias voltage applied to the charger 111 is turned off.

The recording paper P thus separated is then conveyed to a fixing device 104, where the toner image on the recording paper is fixed, and then discharged onto a paper discharge tray 115.

Next, laser beam scanning in the image forming apparatus A will be described.

The optical unit 107 as a driving means is
Semiconductor laser 12 as image forming element (light emitting element)
0, a polygon mirror 121, a scanner motor 122, a lens 123, and a mirror 125.

The recording paper P is fed, and the leading end of the recording paper
26, it is detected by the vertical synchronizing signal PSYN.
As C, an image signal VDO for one page is output to the semiconductor laser 120.

In the semiconductor laser 120, the light beam L
Is modulated by the image signal VDO, and the scanner motor 12
The light is emitted toward the polygon mirror 125 rotated by 2 and is guided to the photosensitive drum 100 by the lens 123 and the mirror 125. When the light beam L is emitted, it is detected by the detector 124 arranged on the scanning axis, and a beam detection signal BD serving as a horizontal synchronization signal is output. As a result, the photosensitive drum 100 is scanned and exposed by the light beam L in synchronization with the BD signal, and an electrostatic latent image is formed.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a printing system using the image forming apparatus A. As shown in FIG. 1, the printer 2 (image forming apparatus A) includes a printer controller 3 for developing image information in a predetermined description language sent from the host computer 1, a printer controller 404, and a laser unit 601. And a printer engine 4.

The host computer 1 also sends out bit data such as RGB read by an image reader or the like.

Laser unit 6 in printer engine 4
01 denotes the laser driver IC 602 and the semiconductor laser 12
It consists of 0.

Image processing unit 4 in printer controller 3
In step 01, an RGB image is converted to a YMCK multi-valued image, and the multi-valued image data is subjected to pulse width modulation and dither processing to generate a VDO signal as a 1-bit image data sequence.

When the printer 2 receives the control signal and the image information from the host computer 1, the printer controller 303 sends the control signal to the printer control unit 404 in the printer engine 4. On the other hand, the image information is transmitted through the image processing unit 305 in the printer controller 3.
The data is transmitted to a laser driver IC 602 that drives the semiconductor laser 120 on the printer engine 4 side.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the internal configuration of the printer controller 3.

As shown in FIG.
Is an image expansion unit 406 that expands printer language information sent from the host computer 1 into bitmap data.
And a page memory unit 407 for storing one page of the bitmap data, and converting RGB information sent from the page memory unit 407 into YMCK multi-valued information to obtain a pulse width corresponding to the density indicated by the multi-valued information. An image processing unit 401 that generates the converted VDO signal.

The image processing unit 401 determines that the number of print dots is six.
The VDO signal, which is controlled by a clock signal corresponding to one dot of 00 dpi and is generated, is transmitted by one signal line to the laser driver IC 602 in the printer engine 4.
Transmitted to

FIG. 4 shows the relationship between the VDO signal sent from the printer controller 3, the BD signal which is a horizontal synchronization signal sent from the printer engine 4 to the printer controller 3, and the PSYNC signal which is also a vertical synchronization signal. It is a timing chart. As shown in the figure,
Magenta, cyan, yellow, and black data are sequentially output in synchronization with the PSYNC signal.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing the internal configuration of the laser unit 601 in the printer engine 4.

As shown in FIG.
Are the semiconductor laser 120 and the laser driver IC 602,
And a crystal oscillator 502. In the figure, a VDO signal sent from the printer controller 3 to the laser driver IC 602 is an OR circuit 41.
4 and the laser drive signal LO via the AND circuit 415.
It is sent to the laser drive circuit 501 as N, thereby controlling the light emission of the semiconductor laser 120.

The semiconductor laser 120 generates a laser drive signal L
If ON is “1”, light is emitted; if “0”, no light is emitted.

In the tracking pattern generating section 410, for example, a dot for printing a machine-specific number is printed.
Generate a tracking pattern signal. For example, a predetermined code can be expressed by the arrangement of the tracking patterns provided on the printed matter. The tracking pattern is added to the VDO signal only when printing a generally invisible yellow plane, and is not added to other color planes.

The tracking pattern generator 410 forcibly turns on the semiconductor laser 120 based on the clock signal CCLK output from the oscillation circuit 413 connected to the crystal oscillator 502 and the BD signal which is a horizontal synchronization signal. A turn-on (turn on) forced ON signal MKON and a turn-off (turn off) forced OFF signal MKOFF are generated.
Note that the oscillation circuit 413 may generate a CCLK signal by connecting a ceramic oscillator instead of a crystal oscillator.

The forcible ON signal MKON and the forcible OFF signal MLOFF are generated asynchronously with the VDO signal sent from the printer controller 3, and the details thereof will be described later.

The forced ON signal MKON generated by the tracking pattern generator 410 is supplied to the OR circuit 414 together with the VDO signal.
, The output of the OR circuit 414 is turned on irrespective of the VDO signal if the forced on signal MKON is on.

On the other hand, the inverted value of the forced off signal MKOFF generated by the tracking pattern generating section 410 is input to the AND circuit 415 together with the output signal of the OR circuit 414. Therefore, if the forced off signal MKOFF is on,
It can be seen that the laser drive signal LON output from the AND circuit 415 is turned off regardless of the output of the OR circuit 414.

Hereinafter, a tracking pattern generated by the tracking pattern generation section 410 will be described in detail with reference to FIGS.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing the internal configuration of the tracking pattern generator 410.

Here, the frequency of the clock signal CCLK output from the oscillation circuit 413 is
It is assumed that a value similar to the image transfer rate in is used.

The frequency of the CCLK signal is converted to eight times by the multiplication circuit 434. The clock signal whose frequency has been multiplied by 8 times is supplied to a parallel-serial conversion circuit (P
-S conversion circuit) 432,433. Divider 4
At 54, C is synchronized with the rising edge of the BD signal.
A pixel clock PCLK synchronized with the BD signal is generated at the same frequency as CLK. FIG. 7 shows a timing chart of these signals. As the PCLK signal, for example, a signal generated in the image processing unit 401 in the printer controller 3 may be used.

The H-counter 426 is a 4-bit counter that counts the pixel clock PCLK in the main scanning direction, and is reset from 0 [H] to B [H] after being reset by the BD signal.
([H] indicates a hexadecimal number).

The V-counter 427 controls the BD in the sub-scanning direction.
It is a 5-bit counter that counts signals, and PSYN
After being reset by the C signal, counting from 0 [H] to 1F [H] is repeated.

The 9-bit signals output from these counters are information representing the coordinates of the print dots.
When the matching circuits 428 and 429 at the next stage determine that the print dot is at the desired coordinate position based on the 9-bit signal, the matching signal is output as "1". The selectors 430 and 431 select the input from the A input terminal when the coincidence signal input thereto is “1”, and select and output the input from the B input terminal when the coincidence signal is “0”.

The dot arrangement information of the tracking pattern in this embodiment is transmitted to the matching circuits 428 and 429 by
Provided as ODE-A and CODE-B. This CO
DE-A and CODE-B represent, for example, machine-specific numbers managed in the manufacturing process so as to identify the individual printer engine, and are read and stored from, for example, an EEPROM (not shown) by a CPU (not shown). In addition,
The values of CODE-A and CODE-B may be updatable by, for example, maintenance personnel. In this case, the CPU
The newly provided pattern is encoded to generate tracking pattern arrangement information (coordinate information).

As shown in FIG. 10 described later, the basic pixels of the tracking pattern in this embodiment are forcibly removed (off) on both sides of the forcibly provided (on) dots (forcibly on dots). Dots (forced off dots) are arranged. The output from the selector 430 in FIG. 6 is an 8-bit multi-level signal indicating a forced on-dot. That is, FC [H] is output from the selector 430 at the timing of printing the forced on-dot, but otherwise, 0 [H] is output.
0 [H] is output.

On the other hand, the output from the selector 431 is an 8-bit multi-level signal designating a forced off dot. That is, as for the output from the selector 431, E0 [H] is output at the timing of printing the forced off dot, but otherwise, 00 [H] is output.

8 output from the selectors 430 and 431
The bit multi-valued signals are respectively converted to a PS conversion circuit 432,
After being converted into serial data at 433, the data is output from the tracking pattern generation unit 410 as a forced ON signal MKON and a forced OFF signal MKOFF.

FIG. 8 is a diagram schematically showing a unit area indicating a machine-specific number as an example of a tracking pattern. In the figure, the area inside the broken line is one unit area representing a predetermined code (machine number). The unit area has nine patterns. Of these, the first two patterns are reference patterns indicating the start of the unit area, and thus the code content is indicated by the positions of the remaining seven patterns. Specifically, since each of the seven patterns can represent a 2-bit code of “0” to “3” depending on the position (four patterns) in the main scanning direction, a total of 14 bits can be represented by the seven patterns. is there. When this is converted into a decimal number, values from “0” to “16383” can be expressed. In the example shown in FIG. 8, a seven-digit “230132”
"0", that is, the code content of "11384" in decimal.

The pattern of the unit area indicating such a predetermined code is repeatedly printed in the main scanning direction and the sub-scanning direction.

FIG. 9 shows the forced ON signal MKON and the forced OFF signal MK generated in the tracking pattern generator 410.
It is a figure showing the example of the actual pursuit pattern generated by OFF. In the figure, one cell indicates one pixel (one dot), and the upper and lower parts of the cell indicate the values of the forced ON signal MKON and the forced OFF signal MKOFF, respectively. The tracking pattern shown in FIG. 9 is printed every four lines.

In the figure, three dots surrounded by thick lines indicate dots forcibly forming a tracking pattern. This shows that the tracking patterns are arranged in a three-dot arrangement of [forced off dot, forced on dot, forced off dot].

When the forcible ON signal MKON is FC [H], that is, 8-bit serial data of 11111100 [B] is output to the OR circuit 414 shown in FIG. As a result, 6/8 dots obtained by dividing one dot into eight are forcibly printed (forced on-dot).

On the other hand, the forced off signal MKOFF is set to F8 [H].
In this case, 8-bit serial data of 11111000 [B] is output to the AND circuit 415 shown in FIG. As a result, 5/8 dots obtained by dividing one dot into eight are forcibly made non-printing (forcible off dot).

When both the forced ON signal MKON and the forced OFF signal MKOFF are 00 [H], V
The DO signal is output as it is as the laser drive signal LON.

FIG. 10 shows that the tracking pattern shown in FIG.
FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating a printing example in a case where a VDO signal and a tracking pattern are synchronized (the phases match) when printing mixed with a DO signal. In this case, the control clock in the image processing unit 401 in the printer controller 3 and the control clock C in the tracking pattern generation unit 410
Regarding CLK, the frequency completely matches. It is assumed that the VDO signal prints uniform intermediate density data. According to the figure, it can be seen that the forced on dot and the forced off dot of the tracking pattern correspond to the dot unit of the VDO signal.

FIG. 11 shows an example of printing when the VDO signal and the tracking pattern are not synchronized (the phases do not match) when the tracking pattern is mixed with the VDO signal and printed as in FIG. FIG. In this case, the frequencies of the control clock in the image processing unit 401 in the printer controller 3 and the control clock CCLK in the tracking pattern generation unit 410 do not match.
FIG. 9 shows an example in which the frequency of the control clock CCLK in the tracking pattern generation unit 410 is 1.5 times lower than the frequency of the control clock in the image processing unit 401.

According to FIG. 11, it can be seen that the tracking pattern can be properly applied even if the phases of the control clocks of the VDO signal and the tracking pattern are shifted. That is, in the present embodiment, an appropriate tracking pattern can be given even when the VDO signal and the tracking pattern are not synchronized.

The frequency ratio between the VDO signal and the tracking pattern is not limited to the example shown in FIG. 11, that is, according to FIG. 11, the frequency of CCLK in the laser driver IC 602 in the printer engine 4 is It merely indicates that the image transfer rate may be different from the image transfer rate of No. 3.

In the present embodiment, an example has been shown in which the tracking pattern generation section 410 has the multiplication circuit 434.
If the transmitting circuit 413 in the laser driver IC 602 can generate CCLK at a frequency several times the image transfer rate, the multiplying circuit 434 becomes unnecessary. When the oscillation circuit 413 generates a frequency lower than the image transfer rate, a clock having a desired frequency may be generated in the multiplying circuit 434.

Further, CC output from the oscillation circuit 413
By increasing the frequency of the LK by the multiplication circuit 434 and synchronizing with the horizontal synchronization signal BD, the phase jitter of the tracking pattern dot is reduced to a fraction of one dot, but without using the multiplication circuit 434 The phase jitter may be one dot. In this case, a multiplication circuit or the like becomes unnecessary,
A cheaper configuration can be realized.

Although the example in which the PS conversion circuits 432 and 433 are used to divide one tracking dot into eight is shown, the pulse width can be controlled by PWM (Pulse Width Modulation). is there.

When the horizontal synchronizing signal BD is not generated due to a modification or a sensor failure, the MKOFF signal of the tracking pattern generation unit 410 may be generated to turn off the LON signal, thereby performing blank printing.

In the laser driver IC 602, an example has been shown in which the OR circuit 414 and the AND circuit 415 are used to mix tracking dots into the VDO signal, but this can be replaced by a selector circuit.

Further, in this embodiment, an example has been described in which both the forced on dot and the forced off dot are smaller than one dot. However, for example, 11/8 dots, 10/8 dots, etc. It may be a large size.

As described above, according to the present embodiment,
Since the predetermined information (tracking pattern) can be added to the image without deteriorating the image quality of the formed image, the device that has output the image can be specified based on the predetermined information on the formed image.

Further, even when the image signal and the tracking pattern are not synchronized, the tracking pattern can be appropriately given.

[0082]

[Other Embodiments] Even if the present invention is applied to a system including a plurality of devices (for example, a host computer, an interface device, a reader, a printer, etc.), an apparatus (for example, a copying machine) Machine, facsimile machine, etc.).

Further, an object of the present invention is to supply a storage medium (or a recording medium) in which a program code of software for realizing the functions of the above-described embodiments is recorded to a system or an apparatus, and a computer (a computer) of the system or the apparatus. Or a CPU or MPU) reads out and executes the program code stored in the storage medium,
It goes without saying that this is achieved. In this case, the program code itself read from the storage medium implements the functions of the above-described embodiment, and the storage medium storing the program code constitutes the present invention.
In addition, by executing the program code read by the computer, not only the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized, but also based on the instructions of the program code,
The operating system (OS) running on the computer performs part or all of the actual processing,
It goes without saying that a case where the function of the above-described embodiment is realized by the processing is also included.

Further, after the program code read from the storage medium is written into the memory provided in the function expansion card inserted into the computer or the function expansion unit connected to the computer, the program code is read based on the instruction of the program code. , The CPU provided in the function expansion card or the function expansion unit performs part or all of the actual processing,
It goes without saying that a case where the function of the above-described embodiment is realized by the processing is also included.

[0085]

As described above, according to the present invention, a device that has output a forged image can be tracked by adding predetermined information to the specific image when the image is formed.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a structure of an image forming apparatus A according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of a print system using an image forming apparatus A.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an internal configuration of the printer controller 3.

FIG. 4 is a timing chart showing a relationship among VDO, BD, and PSYNC signals.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing an internal configuration of a laser driver IC.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing an internal configuration of a tracking pattern generation unit 410.

FIG. 7 is a timing chart when a PCLK signal is generated.

FIG. 8 is a diagram schematically showing a unit area (tracking pattern) representing a machine-specific number.

FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating an example of dots indicating a tracking pattern.

FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a print example when a tracking pattern and a VDO signal are synchronized.

FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating a printing example when the tracking pattern and the VDO signal are not synchronized.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Host computer 2 Printer 3 Printer controller 4 Printer engine 120 Semiconductor laser 401 Image processing unit 404 Printer control unit 410 Tracking pattern generation unit 413 Oscillation circuit 414 OR circuit 415 AND circuit 501 Laser drive circuit 502 Crystal oscillator 601 Laser unit 602 Laser driver IC

──────────────────────────────────────────────────の Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification symbol FI Theme coat ゛ (Reference) H04N 1/40 H04N 1/40 Z 5C076 1/46 1/46 Z 5C077 5C079 F term (reference) 2C061 AP03 AP04 AQ06 AR01 CL10 2C087 AA03 AA09 AA13 AA15 AC08 BA03 BA07 BD07 DA13 2C187 AC07 AD03 GD01 2H030 AA00 AD01 AD12 BB02 2H134 NA20 NA22 NA24 5C076 AA14 BA02 BA06 5C077 LL14 MP08 PP23 PP33 PQ12 PAQ02 OA02

Claims (18)

[Claims] 1. An image forming apparatus for forming a color image on a recording medium by image forming means, comprising: image data generating means for generating image data for image formation based on input image information; An additional data generating unit that generates additional data based on the image data, and a driving unit that drives the image forming unit based on the image data and the additional data. An image forming apparatus, wherein the additional data is generated based on a synchronization signal not necessarily synchronized with the generated image data. 2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said additional data generating means has a synchronizing signal inputting means for inputting said synchronizing signal. 3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said synchronization signal input means generates said synchronization signal. 4. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the additional data generation unit and the driving unit are mounted in the same unit. 5. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the additional data generation unit and the driving unit are mounted in the same IC package. 6. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a synchronizing signal generating means for generating the synchronizing signal. 7. The image forming apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the synchronization signal generation unit, the additional data generation unit, and the driving unit are mounted in a same unit. 8. The image forming apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said synchronization signal generating means, said additional data generating means, and said driving means are mounted in the same IC package. 9. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the additional data is control data for forcibly controlling on / off of driving of the image forming unit in the driving unit. 10. The additional data includes forced on data for controlling the drive of the image forming unit in the drive unit to be forcibly turned on, and forcibly turning off the image forming unit in the drive unit. 10. The image forming apparatus according to claim 9, comprising forced off data. 11. The image forming apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the image forming unit has a light emitting element, and the additional data is control data for forcibly controlling on / off of light emission of the light emitting element. Image forming device. 12. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the additional data is data indicating information that can specify the image forming apparatus. 13. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: position information generating means for generating position information for image formation in said image forming means, wherein said additional data generating means generates said additional data based on said position information. Item 2. The image forming apparatus according to Item 1. 14. The image forming means forms a color image on a recording medium in a plurality of colors including at least yellow, and the additional data generating means generates image data relating to yellow in the image data generating means. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the additional data is generated only in the case. 15. An image forming method in an image forming apparatus for forming a color image on a recording medium by an image forming means, wherein an image data generating step of generating image data for image formation based on input image information. An additional data generation step of generating additional data based on predetermined information, and a drive signal generation step of generating a drive signal for driving the image forming unit based on the image data and the additional data, An image forming method, wherein in the additional data generation step, the additional data is generated based on a synchronization signal that is not necessarily synchronized with the image data generated in the image data generation step. 16. An image processing system in which an image forming apparatus that forms a color image on a recording medium by an image forming unit and an image processing apparatus are connected, wherein the image forming apparatus receives an input from the image processing apparatus. Image data generating means for generating image data for image formation based on image information; additional data generating means for generating additional data based on predetermined information; driving the image forming means based on the image data and the additional data The additional data generating unit generates the additional data based on a synchronization signal that is not necessarily synchronized with the image data generated by the image data generating unit. Forming system. 17. A program for executing image formation in an image forming apparatus for forming a color image on a recording medium by an image forming means, wherein the program generates image data for image formation based on input image information. A code of an image data generating step to generate, a code of an additional data generating step of generating additional data based on predetermined information, and a drive of generating a drive signal for driving the image forming unit based on the image data and the additional data. And a code for a signal generation step. In the additional data generation step, the additional data is generated based on a synchronization signal that is not necessarily synchronized with the image data generated in the image data generation step. And the program. 18. A recording medium on which the program according to claim 17 is recorded.