JP2004094586A - Printer driver, information processing device and printing system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To control printers by a common printer driver even when the printers respectively have constitutions of printing heads different from each other. <P>SOLUTION: This printer driver 320 for making an information processing device 30 function as a printer host, allows the information processing device 30 to execute a printer information acquiring process for acquiring the printer information 121 relating to the constitution of the printer head of the printer 10, from the printer 10 connected to the information processing device 30, a printing data creating process for creating the printing data of an image to be printed on the basis of the acquired printer information, and a process for outputting the created printing data. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a printer host and a printer driver capable of controlling a plurality of types of printers.
[0002]
[Prior art]
A printer driver is software that runs on a printer host to control a printer.
[0003]
In general, printers have different internal control methods depending on the model. Therefore, printer manufacturers and the like develop and provide dedicated printer drivers for each type of printer. Therefore, the user of the printer must obtain a printer driver developed specifically for the model used by the user and install it on the printer host.
[0004]
However, in general, printers employing the same printing method of the same maker have the same basic commands for controlling the printer, even if the models are different. Therefore, for example, if the printers are of the inkjet type provided by the same maker, even if the models are different, the configuration of the print head such as the number of colors of the ink used for printing and the configuration of the nozzles for discharging the ink is common. Then, although the color tone changes depending on the coloring characteristics of the printer itself, it is practically possible to control printing using the same printer driver.
[0005]
As described above, if a common printer driver can be used for different models, by providing a common printer driver, the developer can save the trouble of developing and providing each model, and can also provide a printer user. Is convenient because even if the model of the printer is changed, the trouble of replacing the printer driver can be saved.
[0006]
In particular, when an information processing device other than a personal computer, such as a set-top box or a game machine, is used as a printer host, printing in these information processing devices does not necessarily require detailed color expression such as photographic image quality. In many cases, the printer driver is not required, and it is not assumed that processing such as installation of a printer driver is frequently performed by a user as in a personal computer. It is desirable to do.
[0007]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, even with different models, if the configuration of the print head is common, it is possible to use a common printer driver as described above, but if the configuration of the print head included in the printer is different, As a result, a color different from the expected color is ejected from the nozzle for which printing is instructed by the command, or the like, and the expected printing result is not obtained, or the printing is not executed.
[0008]
An object of the present invention is to provide a technology that enables a common printer driver to control a printer even when the configuration of a print head included in the printer is different.
[0009]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to solve the above problems, according to a first aspect of the present invention,
In a printer driver for causing the information processing device to function as a printer host,
A printer information acquisition process for acquiring, from a printer connected to the information processing apparatus, printer information on a configuration of a print head provided in the printer;
Print data generation processing for generating print data of an image to be printed based on the acquired printer information;
A printer driver is provided which causes an information processing apparatus to execute a process of outputting the generated print data.
[0010]
Here, the printer information includes the number of ink colors,
The print data generation process includes a color conversion process,
The color conversion processing can be performed by referring to a lookup table corresponding to the acquired number of ink colors.
[0011]
Alternatively, the printer information includes an ink type,
The print data generation process includes a color conversion process,
The color conversion process may be performed by referring to a lookup table corresponding to the acquired ink type.
[0012]
Further, the printer information includes the number of nozzles of the print head,
The print data generation process represents an image to be printed by dots, and includes a dot output control process for controlling the output order of dot data.
In the dot output control process, the output order of the dot data may be determined based on the acquired number of nozzles of the print head.
[0013]
Further, the printer information includes a value related to the interval between nozzles of the print head,
The print data generation process includes a paper feed amount control process for controlling the paper feed amount of the printer,
In the paper feed amount control process, the paper feed amount of the printer may be determined based on the acquired value regarding the interval between nozzles of the print head.
[0014]
Further, it includes the number of ink colors and the number of nozzles of the print head,
In the print data generation processing, the capacity of an area used for the processing in a storage area included in the information processing apparatus may be determined based on the acquired number of ink colors and the number of nozzles included in the print head.
[0015]
According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided:
In an information processing device to which a printer can be connected,
Printer information acquisition means for acquiring, from a connected printer, printer information relating to a configuration of a print head provided in the printer;
Print data generating means for generating print data of an image to be printed based on the acquired printer information;
Means for outputting the generated print data to a printer.
[0016]
Furthermore, according to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided
In a printing system including a printer and an information processing device,
The printer is
Storing printer information relating to a configuration of a print head included in the printer,
The information processing device,
A printer information acquisition unit for acquiring the printer information from the printer;
Print data generating means for generating print data of an image to be printed based on the acquired printer information;
Means for outputting the generated print data to the printer.
[0017]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
An embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
[0018]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of a printing system to which the present invention has been applied.
[0019]
As shown in the figure, the printing system includes an information processing device 30 for realizing various processes by an application, a printing process by a printer driver, and the like, and a printer 10 connected to the information processing device 30. You. In the present embodiment, the information processing device 30 functions as a printer host that compresses the generated image data and transmits the compressed image data to the printer 10. The printer 10 performs printing based on the print data received from the information processing device 30. The configuration of the printing system is not limited to this.
[0020]
The information processing device 30 is represented by a personal computer, but is not limited to a personal computer, and may be a set-top box, a game machine, a portable personal information device, or the like.
[0021]
Printing in such an information processing device other than a personal computer often does not always require fine color representation such as photographic image quality, and processing such as installation of a printer driver is frequently performed by a user like a personal computer. Is not expected to be performed. The present invention can be particularly effectively applied to a printing system using such an information processing device other than a personal computer.
[0022]
The information processing device 30 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 31 that performs processing based on various programs, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 32 that temporarily stores data, programs, and the like, and various types of devices that control the information processing device 30. It is provided with a ROM (Read Only Memory) 33 in which data, a startup program and the like are stored in a nonvolatile manner in advance, and an interface 34 for transmitting and receiving data to and from a peripheral device such as the connected printer 10.
[0023]
The information processing device 30 includes a display device 21 such as a color display, an input device 22 such as a mouse and a keyboard, a media reading device 23 that reads data from a recording medium such as a CD-ROM, and an internal or external auxiliary storage device. 24 and a communication control device 25 for connecting to a computer network such as the Internet. However, the configuration of the information processing device 30 is not limited to this.
[0024]
The printer 10 is, for example, an ink jet type color printer. An ink jet type color printer includes a plurality of ink cartridges in which a housing is filled with ink, and performs printing by spraying the ink from a plurality of nozzles provided on a print head onto a printing medium such as printing paper.
[0025]
As shown in FIG. 8, the inkjet printer 10 ejects ink while reciprocating the print head mounted on the carriage 420 with respect to the printing paper 400 in the main scanning direction, and also prints a sub-head orthogonal to the main scanning direction. An image is formed on the printing paper 400 by conveying (feeding) the printing paper 400 in the scanning direction.
[0026]
As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the print head is formed with a group of nozzles for each ink color of the printer 10. As the configuration of the print head, various configurations other than the configurations shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 can be adopted. For example, the number of ink colors to be used, the number of nozzles of each ink color, the interval between nozzles, and the like can be changed depending on the model.
[0027]
The printer 10 controls an interface 11 that controls communication with the information processing device 30 such as data reception, a CPU 12 that performs processing based on various programs, a RAM 13 that temporarily stores image data, and the like, and controls the printer 10. ROM 14 in which various data, various programs, and information on the printer 10, such as the configuration of the print head, are stored in advance in a nonvolatile manner, a print head for discharging ink, and a carriage drive for driving a carriage on which the print head is mounted. The print engine 15 includes a mechanism, a paper feed mechanism, a paper supply / discharge mechanism for performing a print medium supply / discharge process, and the like. However, the configuration of the printer 10 is not limited to this.
[0028]
Next, a functional configuration realized in the information processing apparatus 30 and the printer 10 by the printing system will be described with reference to the block diagram of FIG.
[0029]
As shown in the figure, an operating system 300, an application 310, and a printer driver 320 are built on the information processing device 30.
[0030]
The operating system 300 is basic software of the information processing device 30 and has a function of providing system management, a basic user interface environment, and the like.
[0031]
The application 310 has a function of causing the information processing device 30 to perform processes such as games and schedule management, and is built on the information processing device 30 by the CPU 31 executing an application program read by the RAM 32. You. Upon receiving a print execution command from the user, the application 310 outputs drawing data for the document being processed to the printer driver 320. Here, the drawing data is a language defined by the operating system 300 for each drawing object constituting an image to be printed, such as a position in a page, a form such as color and shape, and a distinction between text / image / figure. It is described.
[0032]
The printer driver 320 has a function of reading drawing data generated by the application 310, generating image data printable by the printer 10, and transmitting the image data to the printer 10 via the interface 34.
[0033]
Therefore, the printer driver 320 includes a rasterizing unit 321, a color converting unit 322, a halftone processing unit 323, a command generating unit 324, and a communication unit 325.
[0034]
The rasterizing unit 321 interprets the drawing data generated by the application 310 and develops the data into image data which is a group of dots. At this time, the rasterizing unit 323 processes the drawing objects included in the drawing data according to the respective object types (for example, in the case of a straight line, each pixel from the start point coordinates to the end point coordinates is displayed in the designated color. (Painting, etc.) to generate image data.
[0035]
The color conversion unit 322 performs a process of converting image data in RGB format expressing colors with R (red), G (green), and B (blue) color components into CMY format image data used for printing. Conversion from the RGB format to the CMY format is performed with reference to a color conversion lookup table prepared in advance. The lookup table is stored in advance in the printer driver 320, for example.
[0036]
In the present embodiment, the color conversion unit 322 can refer to a plurality of types of look-up tables, and uses a look-up table corresponding to the number of ink colors and ink types that can be used by the printer 10. Perform color conversion processing. For example, when the connected printer 10 performs printing with four color pigment inks of C (cyan), M (magenta), Y (yellow), and K (black), the RGB format is used. A look-up table for a pigment-based ink for converting a value represented by 256 gradations into C, M, Y, K values of 256 gradations is used. Further, the connected printer 10 prints with six dye-based inks of C (cyan), M (magenta), Y (yellow), lc (light cyan), lm (light magenta), and K (black). If it is to be performed, a look-up table for a dye-based ink for converting the values expressed in the RGB format into C, M, Y, lc, lm, and K values of 256 gradations is used. To
[0037]
The halftone processing unit 323 performs a process for pseudo-representing an image expressed in 256 gradations in CMY format with binary data in CMY format. The halftone processing unit 323 expresses an intermediate color by setting on / off of each dot of each color using, for example, an error diffusion method.
[0038]
The command generation unit 324 generates a command for causing the printer 10 to print image data that has been subjected to halftone processing or the like. At this time, control such as the order of sending dot data to be sent to the printer 10, the designation of the paper feed amount, and the designation of the movement amount of the print head is performed in accordance with the print head configuration of the printer 10. The control of the sending order of the dot data to be transmitted to the printer 10 is performed by determining which nozzle is to be used for printing in a certain area among a number of nozzles of the print head, Determine the data transmission order.
[0039]
For example, as shown in FIG. 3, when the print heads 150 of the printer 10 connected to the information processing device 30 are vertically arranged with 32 nozzles in the order of CMY, the CMY dots are used. Based on the provided image data, first, the Y data is transmitted for 32 rasters, the area 402 is drawn with Y, the sheet 400 is sent by an amount corresponding to the nozzle configuration, and then the Y data is converted to 32 rasters. Raster and M data are transmitted for 32 rasters, Y in the area 403 and M in the area 402 are drawn, and control is performed such that the paper 400 is sent.
[0040]
Further, as shown in FIG. 4, when the print heads 150 of the printer 10 connected to the information processing apparatus 30 are arranged horizontally with 48 nozzles in the order of CMYlclmK, for example, the same line The control is performed so that 48 rasters of dot data of each color constituting (the area 404 drawn by one main scan) are continuously transmitted.
[0041]
In general, basic printer control commands are common to printers of the same manufacturer that employ the same printing method, even if the models are different. Therefore, when a common command is transmitted to different printers, each model can interpret the command itself. However, if the configuration of the print head included in the printer, for example, the number of ink colors to be used, the type of ink, the configuration of the nozzles, and the like are different, a different color from the scheduled color is ejected from the nozzle that instructed the printing. However, there is a possibility that the expected print result cannot be obtained.
[0042]
For this reason, in the present embodiment, from the printer 10 connected to the information processing apparatus 30, information on the configuration of the print head included in the printer 10, for example, information on the number of ink colors to be used, the ink type, the configuration of the nozzles, and the like is acquired. The conversion unit 322 performs color conversion processing according to the number and type of ink colors, and the command generation unit 324 specifies the printing order of dot data, the paper feed amount, The movement amount and the like of the print head are adjusted.
[0043]
The communication unit 325 performs a process for transmitting and receiving data to and from the printer 10. The data to be transmitted to the printer 10 includes, for example, print data including a print command generated by the command generation unit 324, a command for inquiring information about the printer 10, and the like. In particular, there are information on the number of colors of inks (including the arrangement order), the types of inks, and the configuration of the print head including the nozzle configuration.
[0044]
The printer driver 320 is built on the information processing device 30 by the CPU 31 executing a printer driver program read by the RAM 32. The printer driver program for this can be distributed by recording it on a portable recording medium such as a CD-ROM, for example. Then, by reading this recording medium with the media reading device 23, the printer driver program can be installed in the information processing device 30. In addition, the communication control device 25 can be used for installation via an information processing device network such as the Internet.
[0045]
In FIG. 2, a communication unit 110, a print control unit 120, and a print execution unit 130 are constructed on the printer 10.
[0046]
Communication unit 110 performs processing for transmitting and receiving data to and from information processing device 30.
[0047]
The print control unit 120 interprets the print data transmitted from the information processing device 30 and controls the printer 10 to execute printing based on a command included in the print data. That is, based on the command, movement of the print head, ink ejection from nozzles, paper feeding, and the like are performed.
[0048]
In the present embodiment, the print control unit 120 stores printer information 121. The printer information 121 stores information on the printer 10 and responds to an inquiry about the printer information 121 from the printer 10. The printer information 121 is stored in, for example, the ROM 14 of the printer 10.
[0049]
The information about the printer 10 can be, for example, information about the print head configuration such as the number of ink colors, ink types, and nozzle configurations that can be used by the printer 10. The information related to the nozzle configuration may further include the number of nozzles for each color, the number of paper feed pitches based on the interval between nozzles, the nozzle arrangement, and origin information.
[0050]
Taking the print head schematically shown in FIG. 6 as an example, the number of ink colors is four, CMYK, arranged in the order of CMYK. In the present embodiment, the number of nozzles for each color is 32 for both color ink and black ink, which are divided into color ink and black ink. The nozzle interval is d1, and the number of paper feed pitches is determined based on this. The nozzle arrangement is vertical. The origin information is the origin position at the default position of the print head, and is x1 in FIG. The pigment type is used as the ink type.
[0051]
Also, taking the print head schematically shown in FIG. 7 as an example, the number of ink colors is six, namely, YlmmlcCK, and they are arranged in the order of YlmmlcCK. The number of nozzles for each color is 48 for both color ink and black ink. The nozzle interval is d2, and the number of paper feed pitches is determined based on this. The nozzle array is horizontal. The origin information is the origin position at the default position of the print head, and is x2 in FIG. As the ink type, a dye system is used.
[0052]
The print execution unit 130 executes printing according to an instruction from the print control unit 120.
[0053]
Next, the processing operation of the printer driver 320 of the printing system according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.
[0054]
In the present embodiment, when a print instruction is received from the user, the printer driver 320 acquires information on the printer 10 connected to the information processing apparatus 30 before generating print data (S101).
[0055]
The information about the printer 10 is provided in the printer 10, and the printer driver 320 sends a command for inquiring information about the printer 10 to the printer 10 using so-called bidirectional communication, and the printer 10 responds to the command. The information about the printer 10 is obtained.
[0056]
Alternatively, if the address of the ROM 14 of the printer 10 at which the information about the printer 10 is stored is known, the printer driver 320 may directly access this address to acquire the information about the printer 10. .
[0057]
As described above, the information on the printer 10 includes information on the configuration of the print head of the printer 10, specifically, information on the number of available ink colors, ink types and nozzle configurations, that is, the number of nozzles for each color. , The number of paper feed pitches based on the nozzle interval, the nozzle arrangement, and the origin information.
[0058]
Next, the printer driver 320 secures a work area on the RAM 32 (S102). In order to use the capacity of the RAM 32 more efficiently, the capacity of the area to be reserved can be based on the acquired information on the printer 10, particularly, the number of ink colors and the number of nozzles. This is because the maximum number of dots of the image data can be estimated from these. Of course, a sufficient area for the work may be secured irrespective of the content of the acquired information on the printer 10.
[0059]
The printer driver 320 that has secured the work amount area acquires image data of a document to be subjected to print processing directly from the application 310 or via the operating system 300 as in the conventional print processing (S103).
[0060]
The rasterizing unit 321 converts the acquired image data into image data (S104). At this time, the resolution in the sub-scanning direction of the printer 10 is obtained based on the nozzle interval, and the image data can be converted into image data according to this resolution.
[0061]
Next, the color conversion unit 322 converts the image data expressed in the RGB format into image data in the CMY format used for printing. At this time, the color conversion processing is performed with reference to a look-up table corresponding to the number of ink colors and the ink type included in the acquired information about the printer.
[0062]
The halftone processing unit 323 performs halftone processing on the image data on which the color conversion processing has been performed, using an error diffusion method or the like (S106).
[0063]
Then, the command generation unit 324 generates a command for causing the printer 10 to print the image data (S107). At this time, a command corresponding to the acquired nozzle configuration of the print head of the printer 10 is generated. That is, the number of nozzles, the arrangement order of the dot data is adjusted based on the arrangement of the nozzles, etc., the paper feed amount is adjusted based on the number of paper feed pitches based on the interval between the nozzles, and based on the origin information and the like. After adjusting the amount of movement of the print head and the like, the printer 10 generates a command for printing image data. Note that the present invention can be applied to both one-way printing in which printing is performed only in the forward or backward path of main scanning and bidirectional printing in which printing is performed in the reciprocating path of main scanning.
[0064]
The generated command is output to the printer 10 as print data in a predetermined format, and the process in the printer driver 320 ends (S108).
[0065]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, a technique is provided that enables a printer to be controlled by a common printer driver even when the configuration of the print head included in the printer is different.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of a printing system to which the present invention has been applied.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram for explaining a functional configuration realized in the information processing apparatus 30 and the printer 10 by the printing system.
FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining an example of a configuration of a print head 150 of the printer 10 connected to the information processing device 30.
FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining another example of the configuration of the print head 150 of the printer 10 connected to the information processing device 30.
FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a processing operation of a printer driver 320 of the printing system according to the embodiment.
FIG. 6 is a diagram schematically illustrating an example of a print head.
FIG. 7 is a diagram schematically illustrating another example of the print head.
FIG. 8 is a diagram for explaining main scanning and sub-scanning of the printer.
[Explanation of symbols]
Reference Signs List 10 printer 11 interface 15 print engine 21 display device 22 input device 23 medium reading device 24 auxiliary storage device 25 communication control device 30 information processing device 34 interface 110 communication unit 120 print control unit 121 Printer information 130 Print execution unit 150 Print head 300 Operating system 310 Application 320 Printer driver 321 Rasterizing unit 322 Color conversion unit 323 Halftone processing unit 324 Command generation unit 325 Communication unit 400 Printing paper

Claims (11)

In a printer driver for causing the information processing device to function as a printer host,
A printer information acquisition process for acquiring, from a printer connected to the information processing apparatus, printer information on a configuration of a print head provided in the printer;
Print data generation processing for generating print data of an image to be printed based on the acquired printer information;
A printer driver for causing the information processing apparatus to execute a process of outputting the generated print data. The printer driver according to claim 1, wherein
The printer information includes the number of ink colors,
The print data generation process includes a color conversion process,
A printer driver characterized in that the color conversion processing is performed by referring to a lookup table corresponding to the acquired number of ink colors. The printer driver according to claim 1, wherein
The printer information includes an ink type,
The print data generation process includes a color conversion process,
A printer driver characterized in that the color conversion processing is performed by referring to a lookup table corresponding to the acquired ink type. The printer driver according to claim 1, wherein
The printer information includes the number of nozzles of the print head,
The print data generation process represents an image to be printed by dots, and includes a dot output control process for controlling the output order of dot data.
A printer driver, wherein the dot output control process determines an output order of dot data based on the acquired number of nozzles of the print head. The printer driver according to claim 1, wherein
The printer information includes a value related to an interval between nozzles of the print head,
The print data generation process includes a paper feed amount control process for controlling the paper feed amount of the printer,
A printer driver, wherein the paper feed amount control process determines the paper feed amount of the printer based on the acquired value relating to the interval between nozzles of the print head. The printer driver according to claim 1, wherein
The printer information includes the number of ink colors and the number of nozzles included in the print head,
The printer driver according to claim 1, wherein the print data generation processing determines a capacity of an area used for the processing in a storage area included in the information processing apparatus based on the acquired number of ink colors and the number of nozzles included in the print head. The printer driver according to claim 1, wherein
A printer driver according to claim 1, wherein said printer information acquisition processing sends a command for inquiring printer information to a printer, and acquires printer information as a response thereto. The printer driver according to claim 1, wherein
A printer driver, wherein the printer information acquisition processing acquires printer information by accessing a predetermined area of a storage device provided in the printer. An information processing device readable recording medium on which the printer driver according to claim 1 is recorded. In an information processing device to which a printer can be connected,
Printer information acquisition means for acquiring, from a connected printer, printer information relating to a configuration of a print head provided in the printer;
Print data generating means for generating print data of an image to be printed based on the acquired printer information;
Means for outputting the generated print data to a printer. In a printing system including a printer and an information processing device,
The printer is
Storing printer information relating to a configuration of a print head included in the printer,
The information processing device,
A printer information acquisition unit for acquiring the printer information from the printer;
Print data generating means for generating print data of an image to be printed based on the acquired printer information;
Means for outputting the generated print data to the printer.

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