JP2003001879A - Recording system, recording device, and recording method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To shorten a time up to the start of recording and to reduce a circuit scale of the whole recording device. SOLUTION: Image data corresponding to each record head is transmitted to the recording device for recording on record media by four record heads 308 corresponding to CMYK inks from host equipment every one line. A data controller 304 of the recording device directly transmits the received image data by one line to the each record head 308. When the image data by one line is transmitted to the each four record heads, a head drive circuit 307 selectively drives each record element and conducts recording.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a recording system, a recording device, and a recording method, and more particularly to a recording device having a recording head having a plurality of recording elements arranged in a predetermined direction and recording on a recording medium. The present invention relates to processing when recording image data transmitted from a host device connected to the.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As an information output device in, for example, a word processor, a personal computer, a facsimile, etc., a recording device for recording desired information such as characters and images on a sheet-shaped recording medium such as paper or film is widely used. ing.

In a general recording apparatus, a recording command and data to be recorded are received from a connected host device such as a computer for recording, and the received recording data follows the recording method of the recording apparatus. It is configured to convert the data and start recording after the conversion process is completed.

For example, in a serial type printing apparatus, received print data is converted into data of a format corresponding to each scan according to the configuration of the print head. Further, the page printer performs a process of converting (also referred to as developing) the received print data into image data of one page.

[0005]

In recent years, the resolution of the recording apparatus has been remarkably improved, but when the resolution of the recording apparatus becomes high,
The time required for these conversion processes increases, the time from the recording instruction to the actual start of recording increases, and the actual recording speed decreases.

In order to reduce the time required for the conversion process,
There is an increasing number of cases where expensive and high-speed CPUs are mounted in recording devices.

Although the converted data is stored in the image memory, the required memory size differs depending on the size and resolution of the image. Therefore, a large capacity is required to cope with a large size or high resolution image. Of image memory, and not to increase the memory capacity to use,
It is necessary to use a complicated memory management method. This is a serious problem especially in page printers.

As a result, the cost of the CPU and the image memory used increases and the scale of the internal processing circuit increases.
This leads to an increase in the price of the recording device.

The present invention has been made in view of the above situation, and shortens the time until the start of recording, and
An object of the present invention is to provide a recording system, a recording device, and a recording method that can reduce the circuit scale of the entire recording device.

[0010]

In order to achieve the above object, a recording system of the present invention is a recording system having a recording device for recording on a recording medium and a host device communicating with the recording device. The recording apparatus receives a recording head having a plurality of recording elements arranged in a predetermined direction, a conversion unit that converts received image data into a selection signal of each recording element, and image data corresponding to a predetermined recording unit. And a recording control unit that drives each recording element in accordance with the selection signal to perform recording, and the host device transmits the image data to the recording apparatus for each of the predetermined recording units. Is equipped with.

Further, the recording apparatus of the present invention which achieves the above object is a recording apparatus which records on a recording medium by a recording head having a plurality of recording elements arranged in a predetermined direction, and receives image data The recording device further includes a conversion unit that converts the selection signal of the recording element, and a recording control unit that, when receiving image data corresponding to a predetermined recording unit, drives each recording element according to the selection signal to perform recording. .

Further, the above-mentioned object has a recording head having a plurality of recording elements arranged in a predetermined direction, and recording image data transmitted from a host device connected to a recording device for recording on a recording medium. A method of transmitting image data from the host device to the recording device for each predetermined recording unit, and a converting process of converting the received image data into a selection signal of each recording element in the recording device. And a recording control step of performing recording by driving each recording element according to the selection signal when image data corresponding to the predetermined recording unit is received in the recording apparatus. Is also achieved.

That is, according to the present invention, the host device transmits the image data for each predetermined recording unit to the recording apparatus which has the recording head having the plurality of recording elements arranged in the predetermined direction and records on the recording medium. Then, in the recording apparatus, the received image data is converted into a selection signal for each recording element, and when the image data corresponding to a predetermined recording unit is received, each recording element is driven according to the selection signal to perform recording.

With this configuration, the process of converting the received print data into the data according to the printing method in the printing apparatus becomes unnecessary, and the image memory for storing the converted data becomes unnecessary.

Therefore, it is possible to shorten the time until the start of recording regardless of the processing speed of the CPU, reduce the circuit scale of the entire recording apparatus, and suppress the cost.

[0016]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

In the embodiments described below, a printer will be described as an example of a recording apparatus using the ink jet recording method.

In this specification, "recording" (sometimes referred to as "printing") means not only the formation of significant information such as characters and figures, but also the meaning perceived by humans and visually. Regardless of whether or not it is actualized so as to be possible, it also represents a case where an image, a pattern, a pattern, etc. is widely formed on a recording medium or the medium is processed.

The "recording medium" is not limited to paper used in a general recording apparatus, but is widely applicable to ink such as cloth, plastic film, metal plate, glass, ceramics, wood and leather. Things shall also be represented.

Further, "ink" (which may be referred to as "liquid") is to be broadly construed in the same way as the definition of "recording (printing)", and when applied on a recording medium, A liquid that can be used for forming an image, a pattern, a pattern, or the like, processing a recording medium, or treating an ink (for example, solidifying or insolubilizing a coloring agent in the ink applied to the recording medium).

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the structure of a recording system as an embodiment of the present invention. The recording system according to the present embodiment includes an inkjet recording device 1 as a recording device.
00 and a host device 102 such as a computer for transmitting image information and data to the recording device, and both are connected by a cable 103.

A recording medium supply device 101 is attached to the ink jet recording device 100, and a cut paper as a recording medium built in the recording medium supply device 101 is transmitted from a host device 102 via a cable 103. The recorded image information can be recorded. Information of the recording device can also be transferred to the host device 102 via the cable 103.

Incidentally, here, the ink jet recording apparatus 1
00 and the host device 102 are connected by the cable 103. However, if signals can be transmitted and received, they may be connected by means other than a cable such as wireless or infrared rays. Further, here, the recording apparatus 100 and the recording medium supply apparatus 101 are separate bodies, but the recording apparatus may have a configuration in which the recording medium supply apparatus is integrally incorporated.

The host device 102 also includes a processing unit CPU for controlling and a control memory storing a program. The processing unit CPU performs arithmetic processing / processing based on a control program stored in a program memory that stores programs corresponding to the control procedure shown in FIG. Further, a memory RAM as a work memory is provided, and the work memory stores image data to be recorded. The work memory is used for storing received data and as a work area for the processing unit CPU. Further, in order to communicate with the recording device, the processing unit CPU has an interface, and communicates with the recording device via the interface.

Further, in the following description, it is assumed that the resolution of the image data transmitted from the host device 102 and the resolution of the recording device are equal.

FIG. 2A shows an ink jet recording apparatus 10.
2 is a partial perspective view for explaining the structure of FIG.
FIG. 3B is a side view schematically showing how recording is performed by the inkjet recording apparatus 100.

Inkjet recording apparatus 10 of this embodiment
0 is a length corresponding to the width of the recording area of the recording medium on the upper portion of the recording apparatus main body 208, and four ink jet recording heads 201 to 204 ejecting different inks.
And a recording head unit 210 including a recovery system unit (not shown) for ensuring stable ejection of each inkjet recording head.

Further, the recording apparatus main body 208 includes a transport unit 206, an ink cartridge (not shown) for storing ink to be supplied to the ink jet recording head, and a pump unit (not shown) for supplying ink to the recording head and a recovery operation. ), A control board (not shown) for controlling the entire recording apparatus, and the like. Also, the front door 209
Is an opening / closing door for replacing the ink cartridge.

A sheet as a recording medium is supplied from a recording medium cassette (not shown) in the recording medium supply device 102, and the transport unit 20 provided in the recording device main body 208.
6 is continuously conveyed in the direction of the arrow in the figure at a constant speed and guided to the recording position.

When the transmissive entrance TOF sensor 212 detects that the leading edge of the sheet has been conveyed to the recording position,
The black ink is ejected from the inkjet recording head 201 when the reference position of the sheet moves below the inkjet recording head 201 which ejects the black ink.

Similarly, ink of each color is ejected in the order of the ink jet recording head 202 for ejecting cyan ink, the ink jet recording head 203 for ejecting magenta ink, and the ink jet recording head 204 for ejecting yellow ink. A color image is formed on. Then, after the rear end of the sheet is detected by the transmissive exit TOF sensor 213, the sheet is ejected.

FIG. 3A is a block diagram showing the electrical configuration of the recording apparatus used in this embodiment, and FIG. 3B is a diagram showing input / output signals of the data controller.

The control board 300 performs recording control and the like in accordance with an instruction from the connected host device 102 and a user input via the operation panel. Three
Reference numeral 01 denotes the MPU of the processing unit, which is shown in FIGS. 6A, 6B and 6
Based on a control program stored in a program memory ROM 302 that stores a program corresponding to the control procedure shown in C, arithmetic / processing is performed to control the entire system. Three
Reference numeral 03 denotes a memory RAM, which is used as a storage area for received data and as a work area of the MPU 301.

Reference numeral 305 denotes a motor driver, which drives and controls various motors 306 in the apparatus for conveying the recording medium. Reference numeral 307 denotes a head driving unit, which can set print enable / disable, print area, and the like independently for each color, and inks of C (cyan), M (magenta), Y (yellow), and K (black) The four recording heads 308 for ejecting are controlled to be driven.

The data controller 304 divides the signal input from the host device into a control signal and image data,
The control signal is sent to the MPU 301, and the image data is sent to the recording head 3.
08, and the command receiving circuit 3041 and the data transfer selecting circuit 304.
2 and. In addition, the operation panel 309
Manages the LEDs, liquid crystal display, and keys provided on the panel according to an instruction from the MPU 301.

FIG. 4A is a schematic diagram for explaining the structure of the ink jet recording head of the recording apparatus of this embodiment, and FIG. 4B is a diagram showing an electric circuit in the recording head.

In FIG. 4A, a plurality of discharge ports 402 are provided on the left side.
Are arranged in a straight line, and each liquid passage 40 leading to the discharge port is
6 is provided with a heating element (heater) 404 corresponding to each of them, and by selectively applying predetermined energy to the heater 404 by the head drive circuit, ink droplets are ejected from the corresponding ejection ports 402. Is ejected.

The heater 404 is a silicon substrate 401.
Is formed on the top surface by a method similar to the semiconductor manufacturing process.
Reference numeral 403 denotes a nozzle partition wall that separates each liquid passage 406.
Reference numeral 05 is a common liquid chamber for supplying ink to each liquid passage 406, and reference numeral 407 is a top plate.

Further, the recording head of this embodiment is similar to that shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 3, the data conversion circuit 410, the shift register 411, and the data latch 412 are provided inside. The image data directly transferred to the recording head via the data controller 304 of the control board 300 is input to the data conversion circuit 410 and converted into serial data, and is synchronized with the clock SICK and is serially recorded as data by the signal line SI. , Are sequentially input to the shift register 411.

When the data for one line is converted, the SEND * signal (equivalent to the DLAT * signal) is output from the data conversion circuit 410, and the recording data input to the shift register 411 by the signal line SI is the data latch 41.
2 is transferred. This SEND * signal is obtained when both image data is not transferred and the MHENB * signal for ejecting ink from the recording head is not in an active state, that is, the previous data is not being recorded. Output when satisfied.

Furthermore, the SEND * signal is also transmitted to the control board 300 at the same time, and when the MPU 301 receives this signal, it activates the head drive circuit 307. The head drive circuit 307 supplies a PHEAT * signal that defines the timing of preheating of the heater as a drive signal of the heater, and an MHENB * signal that defines the drive timing of the heater.
Signal and control. Then, the heater (Seg) corresponding to the recording data output from the data latch 412 is driven to perform recording.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a format (command system) of a signal transmitted from the host device to the recording device.

Reference numerals 501, 502, 503, and 510 are commands for setting and control, and 504, 505,
Image data commands 506 and 507 transmit image data in units of lines. Reference numeral 508 is a set value request from the host device requesting the set value or state of the printing apparatus, and 509 is reply data from the printing apparatus as a response to the set value request.

FIG. 5B shows reply data 5 from the recording device.
The content of 09 is shown. As illustrated, the reply data 509 is, for example, the entrance TOF sensor (21 in FIG. 2B) as the head-to-head distance of the four KCMY recording heads.
It includes data representing the distance from the reference position in the apparatus such as 2) to each recording head.

Hereinafter, the process of receiving a command from the host device in the recording apparatus of this embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. 6A.
An embodiment will be described with reference to the flows of FIGS. 6B and 6C.

In the present embodiment, the expansion to the image memory is not particularly required, the time until the start of recording is shortened irrespective of the processing speed of the CPU, and the circuit scale of the entire recording apparatus is reduced to suppress the cost. I am able to

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a procedure of data transmission / reception between the host device and the recording device when an image is recorded by the recording device in accordance with an instruction from the host device in this embodiment.

When a user records an image created on the host device 102, the host device 102 first transmits a setting value request command 508 to the recording device 100, and the recording device 100 responds to this by sending each recording head ( 201-20
4) and data 50 representing the distance between each recording head and the entrance TOF sensor 212 for detecting the leading edge and the trailing edge of the sheet.
9 is returned in the format shown in FIG. Next, the host device 102 transmits a printer reset command 501, a paper setting command 502, a compressed bit image mode setting / cancellation command, and the like.

The host device 102 is the recording device 1
00 performs processing for these commands, and when it becomes a recordable state, it transmits an image data command (504 to 507) which is image data in units of lines.
The recording device 100 uses the image data command (504 to
When 507) is received, recording is started based on the received image data.

FIG. 6A is a flow chart showing the processing when a command is received by the MPU 301 of the control board 300 of the recording apparatus. When the MPU 301 receives any command, it is determined whether it is a printer reset command (step S600), it is determined whether it is a paper setting command (step S602), and a command for setting / releasing the compressed bit image mode. Or not (step S604), whether or not it is an image data command (step S606), whether or not it is a set value request command (step S608), and whether or not it is a data end command. The determination (step S610) is sequentially performed.

If the command is a printer reset command, a setting initialization process (step S601) is performed. If the command is a paper setting command, a paper setting process (step S6).
03), if it is a command to set / cancel the compressed bit image mode,
Release processing (step S605), and if it is an image data command, data transfer processing (step S60)
7) If the command is a set value request command, the set value return process (step S609) is executed, and if the command is a data end command, a recording end process (step S611) is executed.

FIG. 6B is a diagram showing a flowchart of the data transfer process (step S607), which is a characteristic process in the MPU 301 of the control board 300 of the recording apparatus of this embodiment.

First, the current state is confirmed by the MPU 301 (step S620). If recording has already started, the command receiving circuit 3041 outputs the number of image data (step S623) and the designated color (step S624).
Is acquired, and the information acquired by the compression mode setting command is reflected in the compression / non-compression select signal (step S6).
24) Then, the number of image data is set in the transfer counter in the data transfer select circuit of the acquired print head of the designated color (step S626), and the image data part of the image data command is prepared for transfer to the head.

After that, the hard transfer circuit in the data transfer select circuit is enabled to enable reception from the host device (step S628), and the image data of the number of data (for one line) set in the transfer counter is handled. The recording is directly transferred to the head (step S628).

If recording has not started yet, it is confirmed whether data for four colors has been transferred to each head (whether the head lines are aligned) (step S62).
1). The end of transfer can be confirmed by confirming whether or not the SEND * signal output from the data conversion circuit 410 in each head at the end of transfer of data for one line is reflected in the register of the data controller 304. is there. If this condition is satisfied, recording start processing is performed (step S622).

In the recording start process, the conveyance motor for conveying the sheet is driven to feed the sheet from the recording medium supply device 101 to the recording position. Further, in order to perform ejection from the recording head at a constant cycle, a recording interruption process (described later) using a periodic interruption by a timer in the MPU 301 is activated. After that, as in the case where recording has already started, the processing from steps S623 to S628 is performed, and the image data for one line transferred from the host device is directly transferred to the recording head.

When recording is not yet started, and
If the data for 4 colors is not transferred to each head,
Similar to the case where recording has already started, step S62
The processing from 3 to S628 is performed, and the image data for one line transferred from the host device is directly transferred to the recording head.

The recording interrupt process will be described below with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 6C. When a periodic interrupt is generated by the timer of the MPU 301, the MPU 301 confirms the current position of the paper using the entrance TOF sensor 212 and the exit TOF sensor 213 (step S630). If the paper has already reached the recording position, it is confirmed whether or not the data transfer to the four recording heads has been completed (step S631). When the transfer is completed, the heat pulse value of the print head is set in the print head drive circuit 307 and the drive is started.

On the other hand, when the data transfer of the four recording heads is not completed, the recording stop process (step S63).
By 4), the drive of the carry motor is stopped. afterwards,
In step S621 of the data transfer process described above with reference to FIG. 6B, the completion of data transfer to the four recording heads is waited for, and recording is restarted by the recording restart process in step S622.

If the sheet has not reached the recording position in step S631, no processing is performed and the process ends.

As described above, in this embodiment, the image data transmitted from the host device is transferred to the recording head.
The data transfer process shown in B and the recording interrupt process shown in FIG. 6C that drives the recording head when the paper is at the recording position and the data transfer to the recording head is completed are executed in parallel. It is possible to efficiently perform the data transfer to the recording head and the driving of the recording head.

FIG. 8 is a timing chart regarding the recording head in the recording apparatus of the present embodiment. FIG. 8A shows the timing of activating the recording interrupt processing described with reference to FIG. 6C and the driving timing of each recording head.
(B) shows the timing of data transfer to each recording head. The setting of the start timing of the print interrupt process in (a) is set by the timer in the MPU 301. However, the timing for driving the print head is calculated according to the speed at which the paper is conveyed, and the calculated result is used. It is preferable to determine the period of the timer in the MPU 301 based on this.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing the structure of image data transferred from the host device 102. (A), (b),
(C) and (d) show image data of black (K), cyan (C), magenta (M), and yellow (Y), respectively, and (e) shows four images of (a) to (d). A color image as a recording result of overlapping is shown.

When recording an image created or stored on the host device 102, as described with reference to FIG. 7, the MPU of the host device first sends the set value request command 508 to the recording device 100 by the cable. The setting value data 509 is received as a reply. Thereafter, as shown in FIG. 10, it is checked in step 1001 whether or not there is a set value, and the set value data includes data representing the distance (offset) between the inlet TOF 212 and each head. In step 1002, based on the set value data, each image data of KCMY in the memory is edited into an image in which an offset value is processed, and in step 1003, the host device 102 print head of each color based on the offset data. The image matched with the above is transferred to the recording apparatus 100 via the cable 103 line by line. This processing is performed by the host device 102.
Is incorporated in software such as a printer driver.

At this time, in the host device, as shown in FIGS. 9A to 9D, white data representing a margin portion is added before and after the image data of each color according to the offset of each recording head. And send it to the recording device. By doing so, it is possible to perform the recording process on the recording apparatus 100 side without being aware of the offset of each recording head. It should be noted that the offset data of each print head in the set value reply 509 includes an adjustment value for preventing color misregistration, and the host device 102 side creates an image of each color without being aware of color misregistration. It is possible to

When the transfer of one image data is completed, the host device 102 transfers the image data end command 510 to notify the recording device 100 of the end of the image data transfer. When the printing apparatus 100 receives the image data end command 510, the printing apparatus 100 proceeds to step S611 of FIG. 6A, performs print ending processing, and after confirming that the discharge of all print heads has been completed, carries a certain amount of paper and After discharging, the conveyance is stopped and the series of recording operations is ended.

Here, when the next image data is transferred from the host device 102 before the recording apparatus 100 stops the conveyance, the next sheet is fed from the recording medium supply apparatus 101 without stopping the conveyance. Then, the recording process can be started again.

According to the embodiment described above, it is not necessary to record the image data once received from the host device on the image memory as in the conventional case, and therefore, the recording is not performed.
In addition to shortening the time until the start of recording regardless of the processing speed, the circuit size of the entire recording apparatus can be reduced to reduce the cost.

[0069]

[Other Embodiments] The recording apparatus of the above embodiment has been described as recording by an inkjet method, but the present invention is not limited to this, and an electrophotographic method or the like can be used.
Of course, other recording methods can be applied. For example, in the case of applying the present invention to an electrophotographic recording apparatus, it is conceivable that the image data transferred from the host device in units of one line is directly written on the photoconductor by a laser or the like.

In the above embodiment, the case of recording a full-color image using YMCK ink has been described as an example, but the present invention is not limited to color data and can be applied to monochrome data.

In the above embodiment, the case where the resolution of the image data transmitted from the host device and the resolution of the recording device are the same has been described. The resolution conversion process may be performed according to the resolution of the recording device before transmitting the image data.

In the above-described embodiment, particularly in the ink jet recording system, a means (for example, an electrothermal converter or a laser beam) for generating heat energy as energy used for ejecting ink is provided, and High density and high definition recording can be achieved by using a method of causing a change in ink state by energy.

With regard to its typical structure and principle, see, for example, US Pat. Nos. 4,723,129 and 4740.
What is done using the basic principles disclosed in 796 is preferred. This method can be applied to both the so-called on-demand type and continuous type, but especially in the case of the on-demand type, liquid (ink)
By applying at least one drive signal to the electrothermal transducer arranged corresponding to the sheet or liquid path in which is stored, which corresponds to the recorded information and gives a rapid temperature rise exceeding nucleate boiling. Since the electrothermal converter is caused to generate heat energy to cause film boiling on the heat-acting surface of the recording head, as a result, bubbles in the liquid (ink) corresponding to the drive signal in a one-to-one relationship can be formed. It is valid.

Due to the growth and contraction of the bubbles, the liquid (ink) is ejected through the ejection openings to form at least one droplet. It is more preferable to make this drive signal into a pulse shape because bubbles can be immediately and appropriately grown and contracted, so that liquid (ink) ejection with excellent responsiveness can be achieved.

As the pulse-shaped drive signal, those described in US Pat. Nos. 4,463,359 and 4,345,262 are suitable. If the conditions described in US Pat. No. 4,313,124 of the invention relating to the rate of temperature rise on the heat acting surface are adopted, more excellent recording can be performed.

As the constitution of the recording head, in addition to the combination constitution of the ejection port, the liquid passage, and the electrothermal converter (the linear liquid passage or the right-angled liquid passage) as disclosed in the above-mentioned respective specifications. The present invention also includes the configurations described in US Pat. No. 4,558,333 and US Pat. No. 4,459,600, which disclose configurations in which the heat-acting surface is arranged in a bending region. In addition, Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 59-123670 discloses a structure in which a common slot is used as a discharge portion of a plurality of electrothermal converters, and an opening for absorbing a pressure wave of thermal energy is discharged. A configuration based on Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 59-138461, which discloses a configuration corresponding to each section, may be adopted.

Further, as a full line type recording head having a length corresponding to the maximum recording medium width that can be recorded by the recording apparatus, the length can be increased by combining a plurality of recording heads as disclosed in the above-mentioned specification. Either of the structure satisfying the requirement or the structure as one recording head integrally formed may be used.

In addition to the cartridge type recording head in which the ink tank is integrally provided in the recording head itself described in the above embodiment, the recording head itself is electrically connected to the apparatus main body by being mounted on the apparatus main body. A replaceable chip-type recording head that enables various connections and supply of ink from the apparatus main body may be used.

Further, it is preferable to add recovery means for the recording head, preliminary means, etc. to the structure of the recording apparatus described above, because the recording operation can be made more stable. Specific examples thereof include capping means for the recording head, cleaning means, pressurizing or sucking means, electrothermal converters or heating elements other than these, or preheating means by a combination thereof. Further, provision of a preliminary ejection mode for performing ejection different from recording is also effective for stable recording.

Further, the recording mode of the recording apparatus is not limited to the recording mode of only the mainstream color such as black, but the recording head may be integrally formed or a plurality of combinations may be used. Alternatively, the device may be provided with at least one of full-color mixed colors.

In the above-described embodiments, the explanation is made on the premise that the ink is a liquid, but even if the ink solidifies at room temperature or lower, one that softens or liquefies at room temperature is used. Or, in the inkjet method, it is general that the temperature of the ink itself is adjusted within a range of 30 ° C. or higher and 70 ° C. or lower to control the temperature of the ink so that the viscosity of the ink is in a stable ejection range.
It suffices that the ink is in a liquid state when the use recording signal is applied.

In addition, in order to positively prevent the temperature rise due to thermal energy from being used as the energy for changing the state of the ink from the solid state to the liquid state,
Alternatively, in order to prevent the ink from evaporating, an ink that solidifies in a standing state and liquefies by heating may be used. In any case, by applying heat energy, such as ink that is liquefied by applying heat energy according to the recording signal and liquid ink is ejected, or that begins to solidify when it reaches the recording medium. The present invention can be applied to the case where an ink having a property of being liquefied for the first time is used.

In this case, the ink is described in JP-A-54-5.
6847 or Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 60-71260, a mode in which it is opposed to an electrothermal converter in a state of being held as a liquid or a solid in a recess or through hole of a porous sheet. May be In the present invention, the most effective one for each of the above-mentioned inks is to execute the above-mentioned film boiling method.

Even when 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.), a device including one device (for example, a copying machine or a facsimile device). Etc.)

Another object of the present invention is to supply a storage medium storing a program code of software for realizing the functions of the above-described embodiments to a system or apparatus, and to supply the computer (or CPU) of the system or apparatus.
It is needless to say that it can be achieved by reading and executing the program code stored in the storage medium.

In this case, the program code itself read from the storage medium realizes the function of the above-described embodiment, and the storage medium storing the program code constitutes the present invention.

As a storage medium for supplying the program code, for example, a floppy disk, a hard disk, an optical disk, a magneto-optical disk, a CD-ROM, a CD
-R, magnetic tape, non-volatile memory card, ROM, etc. can be used.

Further, not only the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized by executing the program code read by the computer, but also the OS (operating system) running on the computer based on the instructions of the program code. It is needless to say that this also includes a case where the above) performs a part or all of the actual processing and the processing realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments.

Further, after the program code read from the storage medium is written in the memory provided in the function expansion board inserted into the computer or the function expansion unit connected to the computer, based on the instruction of the program code, It goes without saying that a case where the CPU or the like included in the function expansion board or the function expansion unit performs some or all of the actual processing and the processing realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments is also included.

When the present invention is applied to the above-mentioned storage medium, the storage medium has been described above (see FIGS. 6A, 6B and /).
Alternatively, the program code corresponding to the flowchart (shown in FIG. 6C) is stored.

[0091]

As described above, according to the present invention,
The process of converting the received print data into data according to the printing method in the printing apparatus is unnecessary, and the image memory for storing the converted data is also unnecessary.

Therefore, regardless of the processing speed of the CPU, the time until the start of recording can be shortened, the circuit scale of the entire recording apparatus can be reduced, and the cost can be suppressed.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a configuration of a recording system as an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining the structure of the recording apparatus in FIG.

3A is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration of the recording apparatus of FIG. 1. FIG.

FIG. 3B is a diagram showing input / output signals of the data controller.

FIG. 4A is a schematic diagram for explaining the structure of an inkjet recording head.

FIG. 4B is a diagram showing an electric circuit in the recording head.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a format of a signal transmitted from a host device to a recording device.

FIG. 6A is a flowchart showing processing when a recording device receives a command.

FIG. 6B is a flowchart of a data transfer process in the recording device.

FIG. 6C is a flowchart of recording interrupt processing in the recording device.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a procedure of transmitting and receiving data between a host device and a recording device.

FIG. 8 is a timing chart regarding a recording head in the recording apparatus.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a configuration of image data transferred from a host device.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart of processing of image data of a host device.

[Explanation of symbols]

100 recording device 101 recording medium supply device 102 Host device 103 connection cable 201 Black inkjet recording head 202 Inkjet recording head for cyan 203 Inkjet recording head for magenta 204 Yellow inkjet recording head 205 recording paper 206 Paper transport unit 208 Recording device main unit 209 front door 210 recording head unit 211 Recording medium cassette 212 Entrance TOF sensor 213 Exit TOF sensor 300 control board 301 MPU 302 Program ROM 303 RAM 304 data controller 305 motor driver 306 motor 307 Recording head drive circuit 308 recording head 309 Operation panel 401 Silicon substrate 402 ink ejection port 403 nozzle partition 404 Heating element (heater) 405 common liquid chamber 406 Ink Road 407 Top plate 410 data conversion circuit 411 shift register 412 data latch

   ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued front page    F-term (reference) 2C056 EA01 EB58 EC79 FA13                 2C061 AP01 AQ05 AR01 HH03 HH07                       HJ06 HJ08 HK03 HN02 HN05                       HN15                 2C087 AB05 AC07 BC02 BD35 BD40                       BD41 BD46

Claims (25)

[Claims] 1. A recording system comprising a recording device for recording on a recording medium and a host device communicating with the recording device, wherein the recording device comprises a recording head having a plurality of recording elements arranged in a predetermined direction. A conversion means for converting the received image data into a selection signal of each recording element; and a recording element which, when receiving the image data corresponding to a predetermined recording unit, drives each recording element in accordance with the selection signal to perform recording. A recording system, comprising: a control unit, wherein the host device includes a transmission unit that transmits image data to the recording apparatus for each of the predetermined recording units. 2. The recording apparatus includes a moving unit that relatively moves the recording medium in a direction substantially orthogonal to the array direction of the recording elements, and the predetermined recording unit is one line. The recording system according to claim 1. 3. The recording apparatus has a plurality of recording heads for recording different colors, and the transmitting means associates the image data with the recording heads for each of the predetermined recording units. It transmits, The recording system of Claim 1 or 2 characterized by the above-mentioned. 4. The recording apparatus includes position information transmission means for transmitting information regarding the mounting position of each recording head to the host device, and the host device, based on the information regarding the mounting position, each recording head. 4. The recording system according to claim 3, further comprising a correction unit that adds correction data to the image data for. 5. The transmitting means transmits the image data to the recording device in a compressed format, and the converting means includes means for decompressing the received image data. The recording system according to any one of 1 to 4. 6. A recording device for recording on a recording medium by a recording head having a plurality of recording elements arranged in a predetermined direction, the conversion means converting the received image data into a selection signal for each recording element. A recording apparatus, comprising: a recording control unit that drives each recording element to perform recording when image data corresponding to a predetermined recording unit is received. 7. The recording apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the conversion unit is provided inside the recording head. 8. The recording apparatus comprises moving means for relatively moving the recording medium in a direction substantially orthogonal to the array direction of the recording elements, and the predetermined recording unit is one line. The recording device according to claim 6 or 7. 9. The recording apparatus has a plurality of recording heads for recording different colors, and further comprises position information transmitting means for transmitting information regarding the mounting position of each recording head. Claims 6 to 8
The recording device according to any one of 1. 10. The recording device according to claim 6, wherein the conversion unit includes a unit that decompresses the received image data when the image data is compressed. apparatus. 11. The recording apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the recording head is an inkjet recording head that ejects ink to perform recording. 12. The recording head is a recording head which ejects ink by utilizing thermal energy, and is provided with a thermal energy converter for generating thermal energy applied to the ink. Item 12. The recording device according to item 11. 13. A recording method, comprising a recording head having a plurality of recording elements arranged in a predetermined direction, for recording image data transmitted from a host device connected to a recording device for recording on a recording medium. A transmitting step of transmitting image data from the host device to the recording device in a predetermined recording unit; a converting step of converting the received image data into a selection signal of each recording element in the recording device; The apparatus comprises a recording control step of driving each recording element in accordance with the selection signal to perform recording when image data corresponding to the predetermined recording unit is received. 14. The recording apparatus further comprises a moving step of relatively moving the recording medium in a direction substantially orthogonal to the array direction of the recording elements, wherein the predetermined recording unit is one line. The recording method according to claim 13. 15. The recording device has a plurality of recording heads for recording different colors, and in the transmitting step, the image data is associated with each recording head for each of the predetermined recording units. The recording method according to claim 13 or 14, characterized by transmitting. 16. From the recording device to the host device,
The host device further includes a position information transmitting step of transmitting information regarding the mounting position of each recording head, and a correction step of adding correction data to the image data for each recording head in the host device based on the information regarding the mounting position. 16. The recording method according to claim 15, wherein: 17. The transmitting step includes a step of transmitting the image data in a compressed format to the recording device, and the converting step includes a step of decompressing the received image data. The recording method according to any one of 13 to 16. 18. A printer driver for driving a recording device for recording on a recording medium, the printer driver having a recording head having a plurality of recording elements arranged in a predetermined direction, the printer driver based on information received from the recording device. A printer driver having a transmission step of transmitting image data for each predetermined recording unit. 19. A host device of a recording system, comprising: a plurality of recording heads arranged in a predetermined direction; and a recording device for recording on a recording medium by the plurality of recording heads, and a host device communicating with the recording device. A host device comprising: a transmitting unit that transmits image data to the recording device for each of the predetermined recording units. 20. The host device according to claim 19, wherein the transmission unit transmits the image data for each of the predetermined recording units in association with each recording head. 21. The host device, based on information about mounting positions of a plurality of recording heads of the recording device,
20. The host device according to claim 19, further comprising a correction unit that adds correction data to the image data for each recording head. 22. A host device of a recording system, comprising: a plurality of recording heads arranged in a predetermined direction; a recording device for recording on a recording medium by the plurality of recording heads; and a host device communicating with the recording device. The control method comprises a transmission step of transmitting image data to the recording device for each of the predetermined recording units. 23. The control method according to claim 22, wherein in the transmitting step, the image data is transmitted for each of the predetermined recording units in association with each recording head. 24. The control method of the host device comprises a correction step of adding correction data to the image data for each recording head based on information regarding the mounting positions of the plurality of recording heads of the recording apparatus. 23. The control method according to claim 22. 25. A computer-readable recording medium recording a program for causing a computer to execute the control method according to claim 22.