JP2004122594A - Recording device, computer system, and recording method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To realize a recording device or the like which can output at a high speed. <P>SOLUTION: The recording device has a control means 54, a data generating means 62, a memory 69, a first transfer path 501 which enables data transfer between the control means 54 and the data generating means 62, and a second transfer path 511 which enables data transfer between the data generating means 62 and the memory 69. Data for second recording which is stored in the memory 69 is transferred by the second transfer path 511 to the data generating means 62, and the data generating means 62 generates data for first recording on the basis of the data for second recording. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a recording device, a computer system, and a recording method for recording based on recording data.
[0002]
[Prior art]
As a recording device that records based on recording data, for example, a printer with a scanner that includes a scanner unit that inputs a document image and a printer unit that prints based on given print data is known. In a printer with a scanner, a CPU that controls the entire apparatus and an external memory that can be directly accessed by the CPU are connected by a bus. The RGB image data input from the scanner unit is stored in the external memory via a bus, and is converted into print data for printing on the external memory by processing of the CPU. The converted print data is sent to the printer unit via the bus, and is printed by the printer unit based on the print data.
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
In the above-mentioned conventional printer with a scanner, the RGB image data and the converted print data input from the scanner unit are transmitted via a bus. The conversion from RGB image data to print data is a software process performed by the CPU. In this process, since data is transmitted and received via the bus, a large amount of data flows on the bus.
[0004]
A CPU that controls the entire apparatus is also connected to this bus, and control signals naturally flow through this bus. That is, there is a problem that the output speed of the printer with the scanner is reduced because the processing speed of the device control is reduced due to the crowded bus.
[0005]
The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and has as its object to provide a recording device capable of high-speed output, a computer system having the recording device, and recording performed by using the recording device. Is to implement the method.
[0006]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
A main aspect of the present invention is a recording apparatus that performs recording based on first recording data,
Control means for controlling the apparatus, data generation means for generating the first recording data, memory for storing data, and a first transfer path enabling data transfer by the control means and the data generation means And a second transfer path enabling data transfer in the data generation means and the memory, wherein second recording data to be recorded stored in the memory is used for the data transfer in the second transfer path. The recording apparatus is characterized in that the first recording data is generated based on the second recording data by being transferred to a generating unit.
Other features of the present invention will be apparent from the accompanying drawings and the following description.
[0007]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
=== Disclosure Overview ===
At least the following matters will be made clear by the description in this specification and the accompanying drawings.
In a recording apparatus that records based on first recording data,
Control means for controlling the apparatus, data generation means for generating the first recording data, memory for storing data, and a first transfer path enabling data transfer by the control means and the data generation means And a second transfer path enabling data transfer in the data generation means and the memory,
The second recording data to be recorded stored in the memory is transferred to the data generation means via the second transfer path, and the first recording data is generated based on the second recording data. It is a recording device characterized by the above.
[0008]
According to such a recording apparatus, the first and second recording data are transferred between the memory and the data generating means through the second transfer path, so that the first transfer path through which the control signal of the control means flows. Do not go through. Therefore, the first transfer path does not become jammed with the recording data, and the control signal smoothly flows through the first transfer path, and the processing speed of the control unit is increased. Become.
[0009]
In this recording apparatus, it is preferable that the data transfer is a burst transfer in which a plurality of continuous unit data are transferred by one address designation.
According to such a recording apparatus, since an address is not specified for each unit data, the number of processing steps required to transfer data is reduced, and data can be transferred at a higher speed. Here, the unit data is not limited to 1-bit data, and may be a unit data including a plurality of bits such as 8 bits and 16 bits.
[0010]
In the recording apparatus, it is preferable that the data generation unit generates the first recording data by rearranging a data array of the second recording data into a recordable data array.
According to such a recording apparatus, the first recording data can be generated only by rearranging the arrangement of the second recording data. For this reason, for example, since complicated arithmetic processing is not required, the first recording data can be generated without depending on the processing of the control unit. Therefore, the load on the control means for controlling the apparatus is small, and the control processing of the apparatus can be executed at high speed.
[0011]
In such a recording apparatus, the burst transfer from the memory to the data generating means is repeated a plurality of times, and the data generating means determines that the transfer order in each of the plurality of unit data is the same from each of the plurality of unit data repeatedly burst-transferred. It is desirable that the second recording data be rearranged by taking out the unit data one by one and arranging it as a plurality of new unit data.
According to such a recording apparatus, the amount of unit data transferred at a time by burst transfer is constant, and by taking out a plurality of transferred unit data one by one and forming a new plurality of unit data, the same number of unit data can be obtained. It is possible to rearrange as a plurality of new unit data having unit data. In addition, since the unit data having the same transfer order in each of the plurality of unit data is extracted and made a new plurality of unit data, it is possible to form a data array having a predetermined regularity. Therefore, a plurality of unit data can be rearranged into a data array along a predetermined regularity by a simple process.
[0012]
In such a recording apparatus, it is desirable that the number of data transferred by a single burst transfer from the memory to the data generation means coincides with the number of times of repeated burst transfer.
According to such a recording apparatus, when the transferred data is rearranged into a plurality of new unit data, before and after the rearrangement, the number of unit data of the plurality of unit data is equal. It is possible to do.
[0013]
In such a recording apparatus, data input means for inputting original data which is a source of the second recording data, an original data area provided in the memory for storing the original data inputted by the data input means, Data conversion means provided in the generation means for transferring the original data in the original data area and converting the data into the second recording data, wherein the original data is converted from the memory by the second transfer path from the memory. It is preferable that the data is transferred to the second recording data and converted into the second recording data by the data conversion means.
According to such a recording apparatus, even when the data is converted into the second recording data, the data is transferred between the memory and the data generating means via the second transfer path. However, since the processing speed of the control means is increased, it is possible to output at high speed.
[0014]
In such a recording apparatus, recording may be performed by ejecting ink onto a print medium and printing the ink.
According to such a recording device, it is possible to provide a recording device with a high printing speed.
[0015]
In such a recording apparatus, an ink ejection unit for ejecting ink to form dots has an ejection head provided with an ink ejection unit row arranged in a row along the sub-scanning direction, and the ejection head is mainly used. Printing on the printing medium while scanning in the scanning direction,
It is preferable that the data generating unit generates the first recording data by rearranging the second recording data sequentially read in the main scanning direction so as to correspond to the ink ejection unit row.
According to such a printing apparatus, it is possible to rearrange the second printing data sequentially read in the main scanning direction in correspondence with the ink ejection unit row without depending on the processing of the control unit.
[0016]
Further, in a recording apparatus for recording by discharging ink and printing on a printing medium based on the first recording data,
Control means for controlling the apparatus; data generation means for generating the first recording data; memory for storing data; and a data transfer means for enabling data transfer between the control means and the data generation means. A first transfer path, a second transfer path enabling data transfer between the data generating means and the memory,
A data input unit for inputting original data which is a source of the second recording data; an original data area provided in the memory for storing the original data input by the data input unit; Data conversion means for transferring the original data in the original data area and converting the original data into the second recording data,
An ink ejection unit for ejecting ink to form dots has an ejection head provided with an ink ejection unit row arranged in a row along the sub-scanning direction, and the ejection head scans in the main scanning direction. While printing on the printing medium,
The original data is transferred from the memory to the data conversion means via the second transfer path, and is converted into the second recording data by the data conversion means,
The second recording data stored in the memory is transferred to the data generation means via the second transfer path, and based on the second recording data, the data generation means Rearranging the data array into a recordable data array to generate the first recording data;
The data transfer is a burst transfer in which a plurality of continuous unit data are transferred by one address designation,
Burst transfer from the memory to the data generation means is repeated the same number of times as the number of unit data transferred by one burst transfer,
The main scanning is performed by taking out, one by one, unit data having the same transfer order in each of the plurality of unit data from each of the plurality of unit data repeatedly and burst-transferred and arranging them as new plurality of unit data. The second recording data sequentially read in a direction is rearranged so as to correspond to the ink ejection unit row to generate the first recording data.
[0017]
According to such a recording apparatus, the first recording data, the second recording data, and the original data are transferred between the memory and the data generating means through the second transfer path. The first transfer path through which the control signal flows is not crowded. The data is transferred at a high speed by burst transfer, and the first recording data can be efficiently generated by rearranging the arrangement of the second recording data without depending on the processing of the control means. Therefore, the control signal flows smoothly through the first transfer path, and the processing load on the control means is reduced, so that the control signal can be output at a high speed.
[0018]
Further, in a computer system including a computer main body and a recording device connected to the computer main body and recording based on the first recording data, control means for controlling the apparatus, and generating the first recording data Data generating means, a memory for storing data, a first transfer path enabling data transfer between the control means and the data generating means, and a data transfer means between the data generating means and the memory. A second transfer path enabling data transfer, wherein the second recording data stored in the memory is transferred to the data generation means via the second transfer path, and based on the second recording data. Thus, a computer system characterized in that the data generating means generates the first recording data can also be realized.
[0019]
Also, in a recording method for recording based on the first recording data, a control means for controlling the apparatus, a data generating means for generating the first recording data, a memory for storing data, the control means, A recording apparatus comprising: a first transfer path enabling data transfer between the data generation means and a second transfer path enabling data transfer between the data generation means and the memory. Transferring the second recording data stored in the memory to the data generating means via the second transfer path when recording using the data generating means; And a step of generating the first recording data.
[0020]
=== Schematic Configuration of Recording Device ===
The schematic configuration of the recording apparatus according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 is a perspective view showing a schematic configuration of a recording apparatus according to the present embodiment, FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a state in which a cover of a scanner unit 10 is opened, FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing an internal configuration of the recording apparatus, FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a state where the inside of the printer unit is exposed, and FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of the operation panel unit. The recording apparatus according to the present embodiment includes a scanner function for inputting a document image, a printer function for printing an image on a medium such as paper based on image data, and a local copy function for printing an image input by a scanner function on paper or the like. (Hereinafter, referred to as an SPC multifunction peripheral).
[0021]
The SPC multifunction apparatus 1 includes a scanner unit 10 as a data input unit that reads a document 5 and inputs the image data as image data, a printer unit 30 that prints an image on a medium such as paper based on image data, and an entire SPC multifunction apparatus 1. And a control panel unit 70 as an input unit operated by a user or the like. Under the control of the control circuit 50, a scanner function, a printer function, and a local copy function of printing data input from the scanner unit 10 by the printer unit 30 are realized.
[0022]
The scanner unit 10 is disposed on the printer unit 30, and has a platen glass 12 on which a document 5 to be read is placed, and a platen glass 12 for reading the document 5 or when not in use. An original cover 14 for covering is provided. The platen cover 14 is formed so as to be openable and closable, and also has a function of pressing a document placed on the platen glass 12 toward the platen glass 12 when closed. A paper supply unit 32 for supplying the paper 7 to the printer unit 30 is provided on the back side of the SPC multifunction device 1, and the printed paper 7 is discharged on the lower side on the front side. An operation panel unit 70 as an input unit is provided on the upper side of the unit 34, and a control circuit 50 is built in the printer unit 30.
[0023]
The paper discharge unit 34 is provided with a paper discharge tray 341 capable of closing a paper discharge opening when not in use, and the paper supply unit 32 is provided with a paper feed tray 321 holding cut paper (not shown). ing. The medium used for printing may be not only cut-sheet printing paper such as cut paper, but also continuous printing paper such as roll paper. The SPC multifunction apparatus 1 has a paper feeding structure that enables printing on roll paper. May be.
[0024]
As shown in FIG. 4, the printer unit 30 and the scanner unit 10 are connected by a hinge mechanism 41 on the back side, and the scanner unit 10 unitized around the pivoting portion of the hinge mechanism 41 is located on the front side. Lifted from. When the scanner unit 10 is lifted, the inside of the printer unit 30 is exposed from an opening 301 provided at an upper portion of a cover that covers the printer unit 30. By exposing the inside of the printer unit 30 in this manner, the ink cartridge and the like can be exchanged, and a paper jam can be easily handled.
[0025]
A power supply unit for the SPC multifunction device 1 is provided on the printer unit 30 side, and a power supply cable 43 for supplying power to the scanner unit 10 is provided near the hinge mechanism 41. Further, the SPC multifunction device 1 has a USB interface 52 for fetching an image into the host computer 3 (FIG. 10) by the scanner function and outputting the image data transmitted from the host computer 3 by the printer function. Is provided.
[0026]
=== Configuration of Operation Panel Unit 70 ===
As shown in FIG. 5, the operation panel unit 70 is provided with a liquid crystal display 72 as a display unit and a notification lamp 74 at substantially the center thereof. The liquid crystal display 72 can display 32 characters of 2 lines and 16 digits, and can display setting items, setting states, operating states, and the like by characters. The notification lamp 74 provided beside the liquid crystal display 72 is a red LED, and is turned on when an error occurs to notify the user of the occurrence of the error.
[0027]
On the left side of the liquid crystal display 72, a power button 76, a scan start button 78, a setting display button 80, and a clear button 82 are provided. The power button 76 is a button for turning on and off the power of the SPC multifunction peripheral 1. The scan start button 78 is a button for starting the reading of the document 5 by the scanner unit 10 in a state where the SPC multifunction device 1 is connected to the host computer 3. The setting display button 80 is a button for displaying the setting state for the copy function set by the user on the liquid crystal display 72. The clear button 82 is a button for clearing the setting for the copy function and changing each setting item to a default value.
[0028]
On the right side of the liquid crystal display 72, a color copy button 84, a monochrome copy button 86, a stop button 88, and a copy number setting button 90 are provided.
[0029]
The color copy button 84 is a button for starting color copying, and the monochrome button 86 is a button for starting monochrome copying. Therefore, the copy buttons 84 and 86 also serve as a copy operation start instruction and a selection unit for selecting whether the image to be output is color or monochrome. The stop button 88 is a button for stopping the copy operation once started. The number-of-copies setting button 90 is composed of two buttons 901 and 902 with “+” or “−” written on the front side. When the “+” button 901 is pressed, the set number is increased, and the “−” button 902 is set. By pressing, the set number of sheets is reduced. The number-of-copies setting button 90 is set so that the number is sequentially increased or decreased by keeping the button pressed, and the increasing or decreasing speed increases as the pressing time becomes longer.
[0030]
On the front side of the liquid crystal display 72, a menu button 92 for switching setting items displayed on the liquid crystal display 72 is provided. The menu button 92 is composed of two buttons arranged on the left and right, and a leftward arrow or a rightward arrow is described, respectively. Each time one of the left and right menu buttons 92 is pressed, the displayed setting items are sequentially switched in a predetermined order, and when the display is completed, the first setting item is displayed. The left and right arrows are used to change the order in which the setting items are displayed, and the two buttons 92 display the setting items in the reverse order of the display order when the other buttons are pressed. The menu button 92 is set so that the switching speed is increased by continuing to press the same as the copy number setting button 90.
[0031]
=== Configuration of Scanner Unit 10 ===
The scanner unit 10 includes a platen glass 12 on which the document 5 is placed, a platen cover 14 for pressing the reading surface of the document 5 placed on the platen glass 12 toward the platen glass 12, A reading carriage 16 that faces the document 5 and scans along the document 5 while maintaining a constant space therebetween, a driving unit 18 for scanning the reading carriage 16, and the reading carriage 16 in a stable state. And a regulation guide 20 for scanning.
[0032]
The reading carriage 16 includes an exposure lamp 22 as a light source for irradiating the original 5 with light through the original table glass 12, a lens 24 for condensing light reflected by the original 5, and a lens 24 for reflecting light reflected by the original 5. , A CCD sensor 28 that receives the reflected light transmitted through the lens, and a guide receiving portion 29 that engages with the regulation guide 20.
[0033]
The CCD sensor 28 includes three linear sensors in which photodiodes for converting an optical signal into an electric signal are arranged in a row, and these three linear sensors are arranged in parallel. The CCD sensor 28 includes three filters (not shown) of R (red), G (green), and B (blue), and filters of different colors are provided for each linear sensor. Each linear sensor detects light of a component corresponding to the color of the filter. For example, a linear sensor having an R filter detects the intensity of red component light. The three linear sensors are arranged along a direction (hereinafter, referred to as a main scanning direction) substantially orthogonal to a moving direction of the reading carriage 16 (hereinafter, referred to as a sub-scanning direction).
[0034]
Since the length of the CCD sensor 28 is sufficiently shorter than the width (length in the main scanning direction) of the readable original 5, the image of the original 5 due to the reflected light is reduced by the lens 24 and formed on the CCD sensor 28. Will be imaged. That is, the lens 24 interposed between the document 5 and the CCD sensor 28 needs to be arranged close to the CCD sensor 28 side, and the distance between the document 5 and the lens 24 needs to be set long. Is done. Therefore, in order to secure the distance between the original 5 and the lens 24 in the limited space of the scanning carriage 16 for scanning, the light is reflected by the four mirrors 26 to secure a long optical path length.
[0035]
The light reflected by the original 5 is reflected by the four mirrors 26, passes through the lens 24, and reaches the CCD sensor 28. However, since the three linear sensors are arranged in parallel, they are simultaneously connected to each linear sensor. The reflection position of the reflected light to be imaged with respect to the document is shifted in the sub-scanning direction by an interval of the linear sensor. Therefore, in the scanner control unit 58 (FIG. 10) of the control circuit 50, a line-to-line correction process for correcting the deviation is performed. The line-to-line correction processing will be described later.
[0036]
The regulation guide 20 is provided along the sub-scanning direction, and is formed of a stainless steel cylindrical material. The restriction guide 20 is provided on the reading carriage 16 and penetrates two guide receiving portions 29 formed of thrust bearings. By increasing the interval in the sub-scanning direction between the two guide receiving portions 29 provided on the reading carriage 16, the reading carriage 16 can be more stably scanned.
[0037]
The driving unit 18 includes an annular timing belt 181 fixed to the reading carriage 16, a pulley 182 meshing with the timing belt 181, a pulse motor 183 disposed at one end in the sub-scanning direction, and An idler pulley 184 is disposed on the end side and applies tension to the timing belt 181. The pulse motor 184 is driven by the scanner control unit 58 (FIG. 10) of the control circuit 50. The pulse motor 184 scans the read image in the sub-scanning direction by the scanning speed of the reading carriage 16 which is changed according to the speed of the pulse motor 183. Can be enlarged and reduced.
[0038]
The scanner unit 10 irradiates the original 5 with the light of the exposure lamp 22 and moves the reading carriage 16 along the original 5 while imaging the reflected light on the CCD sensor 28. At this time, a voltage value indicating the amount of light received by the CCD sensor 28 is read at a predetermined cycle, so that an image corresponding to the distance the reading carriage 16 has moved during one cycle is converted into data for one line of the output image. I will take in. At this time, three data of an R component, a G component, and a B component are taken in as data for one line.
[0039]
=== Configuration of Printer Unit 30 ===
The printer unit 30 has a configuration capable of outputting a color image. For example, the printer unit 30 applies four color inks of cyan (C), magenta (M), yellow (Y), and black (K) to a medium such as printing paper. An ink-jet system is employed in which an image is formed by forming dots by discharging the ink on the top. As the color ink, in addition to the above four colors, light cyan (light cyan, LC), light magenta (light magenta, LM), and dark yellow (dark yellow, DY) may be used.
[0040]
Next, the printer unit 30 will be described with reference to FIGS. 3, 6, and 7. FIG. FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing an arrangement around the print head, and FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram for explaining a driving unit of the printing paper transport mechanism.
[0041]
As shown in the drawing, the printer unit 30 drives a print head 38 mounted on the writing carriage 36 to eject ink and form dots. A mechanism for reciprocating in a direction perpendicular to the direction of the arrow, and a mechanism for transporting the paper 7 supplied from the paper feed tray 321 (see FIG. 1) by a paper feed motor (hereinafter also referred to as a PF motor) 42.
[0042]
The mechanism for discharging ink and forming dots includes a print head 38 having a plurality of nozzles as ink discharge units, and discharges ink from predetermined nozzles based on a print command signal. On the lower surface 381 of the print head 38, a plurality of nozzles form a row along the transport direction of the paper 7, and a plurality of nozzles are provided in a direction orthogonal to the transport direction of the paper 7. Details of the print head 38 and the nozzle arrangement will be described later. The print head 38 has a 16-bit memory corresponding to each nozzle, and data is transferred to each nozzle in 16-bit units from a head control unit 68 (FIG. 10) described later.
[0043]
A mechanism for reciprocating the writing carriage 36 is provided in a direction perpendicular to the direction in which the paper 7 is conveyed by a carriage motor (hereinafter, also referred to as a CR motor) 40 for driving the writing carriage 36. A sliding shaft 44 movably held, a linear encoder 46 fixed to the writing carriage 36, a linear encoder code plate 461 having slits formed at predetermined intervals, and a rotating shaft of the carriage motor 40. It comprises a pulley 48 attached and a timing belt 49 driven by the pulley 48.
[0044]
A print head 38 and a cartridge mounting portion provided integrally with the print head 38 are fixed to the write carriage 36. The cartridge mounting portion includes black (K), cyan (C), and magenta (M). An ink cartridge containing ink such as yellow (Y) is mounted.
[0045]
A mechanism for transporting the paper 7 supplied from the paper feed tray 321 is disposed to face the print head 38 and serves as a guide member for guiding the paper 7 so that the paper 7 and the print head 38 are at an appropriate distance. And a transport roller 37 provided upstream of the platen 35 in the transport direction of the paper 7 to transport the supplied paper 7 so as to contact the platen 35 at a predetermined angle. On the other hand, a paper discharge roller 39 provided downstream of the paper 7 in the transport direction for transporting and discharging the paper 7 detached from the transport roller 37, and a PF for driving the transport roller 37 and the paper discharge roller 39 It has a motor 42, a rotary encoder 47 for detecting the transport amount of the paper 7, and a paper detection sensor 45 for detecting the presence or absence of the paper 7 and the leading and trailing edges of the paper 7.
[0046]
The transport roller 37 is provided below the transport path of the paper 7, and a driven roller 371 for holding the paper 7 is provided above the transport roller 37 so as to face the transport roller 37. The paper discharge roller 39 is also provided below the conveyance path of the paper 7, and a driven roller 391 for holding the paper 7 is provided above the paper discharge roller 39 so as to face the paper discharge roller 39. The opposing driven roller 391 is a roller made of a thin plate and provided with fine teeth on an outer peripheral portion thereof, and is configured so that ink does not rub even when it comes into contact with the surface of the paper 7 after printing.
[0047]
The contact position between the transport roller 37 and the sheet 7 is higher than the contact position between the platen 35 and the sheet 7. That is, the sheet 7 transported from the transport rollers 37 contacts the platen 35 at a predetermined angle, and is further transported. Thus, the sheet 7 is conveyed along the guide surface 351 of the platen 35 to be described later. For this reason, it is possible to obtain a good image by maintaining the sheet 7 at an appropriate position from the nozzle by the platen 35.
[0048]
The transport roller 37 and the paper discharge roller 39 are connected by the gear train 31, and the rotation of the PF motor 42 is transmitted and rotated, so that the transport speed of the paper 7 by the two rollers 37 and 39 is equal.
[0049]
The platen 35 has a guide surface 351 that faces the lower surface 381 of the print head 38, that is, the surface on which the nozzles are provided, and guides the paper 7 in contact therewith. The guide surface 351 is formed to be narrower than the area of the lower surface 381 of the print head 38 where the nozzles are provided, and some of the nozzles located on the most upstream side and the most downstream side in the transport direction of the paper 7 face the platen 35. Not. This prevents the ink ejected to the outside of the paper 7 from adhering to the platen 35 when printing the leading and trailing edges of the paper 7, and prevents the back surface of the paper 7 that is subsequently conveyed from becoming dirty. I have. That is, a space is provided without providing the platen 35 at a position facing the nozzles at the upstream end and the downstream end. In this space, an ink receiver is provided at a position lower than the guide surface 351 of the platen 35, and unnecessary ink is collected so that the inside of the printer is not stained.
[0050]
The paper detection sensor 45 is provided on the upstream side of the transport roller 37 in the transport direction, has a lever 451 having a rotation center at a position higher than the transport path of the paper 7, and is provided above the lever 451, and has a light emitting unit and a light receiving unit. And a transmission type optical sensor 452. The lever 451 is disposed so as to hang down on the transport path by its own weight, and is an operation part 453 which is rotated by the sheet 7 supplied from the paper supply tray 321, and is located on the opposite side of the operation part 453 with respect to the center of rotation. , And a light shielding unit 454 provided so as to pass between the light emitting unit and the light receiving unit. When the lever 451 is pushed by the supplied paper 7 and the paper 7 reaches a predetermined position, the light-shielding unit 454 blocks light emitted by the light emitting unit, so that the paper 7 reaches the predetermined position. Is detected. Thereafter, when the sheet 7 is conveyed by the conveying roller 7 and the rear end of the sheet 7 passes, the lever 451 hangs down by its own weight, the light shielding unit 454 comes off from between the light emitting unit and the light receiving unit, and the light of the light emitting unit is received. The light receiving unit detects that the rear end of the sheet 7 reaches a predetermined position. Therefore, while the light blocking unit 454 blocks the light from the light emitting unit, it is detected that the sheet 7 exists at least in the transport path.
[0051]
=== Nozzle Configuration ===
FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram showing the arrangement of nozzles on the lower surface 381 of the print head 38.
On the lower surface 381 of the print head 38, a black ink nozzle row 33 (K), a cyan ink nozzle row 33 (C), a magenta ink nozzle row 33 (M), and a yellow ink nozzle row 33 (Y) are formed. ing. Each nozzle row 33 includes a plurality of nozzles (10 nozzles in the present embodiment) which are ejection ports for ejecting ink of each color.
[0052]
The plurality of nozzles of each nozzle row 33 are aligned at a constant interval (nozzle pitch: kD) along the paper transport direction. Here, D is the minimum dot pitch in the paper transport direction (that is, the interval of the dots formed on the paper 7 at the highest resolution). For example, if the resolution is 720 dpi, 1/720 inch (about 35. 3 μm). K is an integer of 1 or more.
In addition, the nozzles of each nozzle row 33 are assigned smaller numbers toward the downstream nozzles, and are referred to as a first nozzle N1 to a tenth nozzle N10, respectively. Each nozzle is provided with a piezo element (not shown) as a drive element for driving each nozzle to eject ink droplets.
[0053]
At the time of printing, the paper 7 is intermittently conveyed by a predetermined conveyance amount F by the conveyance rollers 37 and the discharge rollers 39, and during the intermittent conveyance, the writing carriage 36 moves in the scanning direction and Ink droplets are ejected from.
[0054]
=== Print head drive ===
Next, driving of the print head 38 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a drive signal generation section provided in head control unit 68 (FIG. 10).
[0055]
9, the drive signal generator includes a plurality of mask circuits 204, an original drive signal generator 206, and a drive signal corrector 230. The mask circuit 204 is provided corresponding to a plurality of piezo elements for driving the nozzles N1 to N10 of the print head 38, respectively. In FIG. 9, the number in parentheses added to the end of each signal name indicates the number of the nozzle to which the signal is supplied. The original drive signal generator 206 generates an original drive signal ODRV commonly used for the nozzles N1 to N10. The original drive signal ODRV is a signal including two pulses of the first pulse W1 and the second pulse W2 within the main scanning period for one pixel. The drive signal correction unit 230 performs correction by shifting the timing of the drive signal waveform shaped by the mask circuit 204 back and forth over the entire return path. By the correction of the timing of the drive signal waveform, the deviation of the landing position of the ink droplet between the forward path and the return path is corrected, that is, the deviation of the dot formation position between the forward path and the return path is corrected.
[0056]
As shown in FIG. 9, the input serial print signal PRT (i) is input to the mask circuit 204 together with the original drive signal ODRV output from the original drive signal generator 206. This serial print signal PRT (i) is a 2-bit serial signal per pixel, and each bit corresponds to the first pulse W1 and the second pulse W2, respectively.
[0057]
The mask circuit 204 is a gate for masking the original drive signal ODRV according to the level of the serial print signal PRT (i). That is, when the serial print signal PRT (i) is at the 1 level, the mask circuit 204 passes the corresponding pulse of the original drive signal ODRV as it is and supplies it to the piezo element as the drive signal DRV, while the serial print signal PRT (i) ) Is at the 0 level, the corresponding pulse of the original drive signal ODRV is cut off.
[0058]
=== Internal Structure of Control Circuit 50 ===
FIG. 10 is a block diagram illustrating an example of the control circuit 50.
The control circuit 50 of the SPC multifunction device 1 reads and writes data directly from the CPU 54 as a control unit that controls the entire SPC multifunction device 1, a control ASIC 51 that controls each of the scanner function, the print function, and the local copy function. The SDRAM 56 as a possible memory and the operation panel unit 70 as an input operation means are connected by a CPU bus 501 as a first transfer path. The scanner unit 10 and the print head 38 are connected to the control ASIC 51, and an ASIC SDRAM 69 that can read and write data directly from the control ASIC 51 is connected via a local bus 511.
[0059]
The control ASIC 51 includes a scanner control unit 58, a binarization processing unit 60, an interlace processing unit 62, an image buffer unit 64, a CPU interface unit (hereinafter, referred to as a CPUIF unit) 66, a head control unit 68, A USB interface (hereinafter, referred to as USBIF) 52 as an input / output unit with the host computer 3 and drivers such as motors and lamps provided in the scanner unit 10 and the printer unit 30 are provided. The scanner control unit 58, the binarization processing unit 60, the interlace processing unit 62, and the image buffer unit 64 are connected by a local bus 511 as a second transfer path. Further, a line buffer 691, an interlace buffer 692, and image buffers 693 and 694 are allocated to the control ASIC SDRAM 69, respectively. A so-called burst transfer in which the data transfer unit is 64 bits is performed via the local bus 511 between the control ASIC 51 and the ASIC SDRAM 69 in order to speed up the data transfer. Here, the burst transfer is a transfer method in which, when one address is set, data of the next address is continuously transferred. In the present embodiment, the data transfer between the control ASIC 51 and the ASIC SDRAM 69 is such that 16-bit unit data is transferred four times in succession, and 64-bit data is transferred at one time by specifying one address. Is set.
[0060]
The scanner control unit 58 controls the exposure lamp 22, the CCD sensor 28, the pulse motor 183 as a reading carriage drive motor and the like included in the scanner unit 10, and transmits data read via the CCD sensor 28 via a line buffer 691. And has a function of sending out to the binarization processing unit 60.
[0061]
The binarization processing unit 60 has a function of converting the transmitted multi-tone RGB data into CMYK binary data and transmitting the converted data to the interlace processing unit 62.
[0062]
The interlace processing unit 62 performs so-called overlap printing in which one raster line (one line in the main scanning direction in a print image) is printed by a plurality of scans of the writing carriage 36, so that CMYK data of one raster line is printed. Is divided into data to be printed for each scan of the writing carriage 36, and overlap printing corresponding data (hereinafter referred to as OL corresponding data) is generated. The generated OL-compatible data is stored in the interlace buffer 692 of the ASIC SDRAM 69.
[0063]
In the interlace processing unit 62, the data stored in the interlace buffer 692 is read into the SRAM 621 in the interlace processing unit 62 for each predetermined size, and is rearranged on the SRAM 621 so as to correspond to the nozzle array. 64 is provided.
[0064]
The image buffer unit 64 has a function of generating head drive data for causing the nozzles for each scan of the writing carriage 36 to eject ink from the data sent from the interlace processing unit 62.
[0065]
The CPUIF unit 66 has a function of enabling data transfer between the control ASIC SDRAM 69 connected to the control ASIC 51 and the CPU 54. The control circuit 50 is used to drive the head control unit 68 based on the head drive data generated by the image buffer unit 64.
[0066]
The head control unit 68 has a function of driving the print head 38 based on head drive data under the control of the CPU 54 to eject ink from nozzles.
[0067]
<<<< Data flow in each function >>>>
・ When using the scanner function
From the host computer 3 connected to the USB IF 52 of the control ASIC 51, an image reading command signal from the scanner unit 10 and reading information data such as reading resolution and reading area are transmitted to the control circuit 50. In the control circuit 50, the scanner control unit 58 is controlled by the CPU 54 based on the image reading command signal and the read information data, and the reading of the document 5 by the scanner unit 10 is started. At this time, in the scanner control unit 58, a lamp driving unit, a CCD driving unit, a reading carriage scanning driving unit, and the like are driven, and RGB data is read from the CCD sensor 28 at a predetermined cycle. The read RGB data is temporarily stored in a line buffer 691 allocated to the ASIC SDRAM 69, and is subjected to a line-to-line correction process for R (red component), G (green component), and B (blue component) data. , To the host computer 3 via the USBIF 52.
[0068]
The line-to-line correction process is a process for correcting the deviation of the reading position between the R, G, and B linear sensors that occurs due to the structure of the scanner unit 10. More specifically, the CCD sensor 28 included in the scanner unit 10 is a color sensor and has a linear sensor of one line for each of three colors of R, G, and B. Since these three linear sensors are arranged in parallel at an interval in the movement direction of the reading carriage 16, the three linear sensors cannot simultaneously receive the reflected light applied to the same line of the document 5. That is, when the reflected light applied to the same line of the document 5 is received by each linear sensor, a time shift occurs. For this reason, this is a process for synchronizing data sent with a delay of the delay time associated with the linear sensor arrangement.
[0069]
・ When using the printer function
At the time of the printer function, image data to be printed is converted into head drive data that can be printed by the printer unit 30 of the SPC multifunction device 1 by a printer driver of the host computer 3 connected to the USB IF 52 of the control ASIC 51. It is input from the USBIF 52. This head drive data is used, for example, for forming a raster line corresponding to the resolution of the image to be printed and the number and pitch of the nozzles of the nozzle array 33 of the writing carriage 36 when performing interlaced printing. The data is extracted, rearranged in the order of printing for each scan of the writing carriage 36, and serves as a signal for driving the print head 38.
[0070]
The head drive data is stored in an image buffer 57 allocated to an SDRAM 56 which can be directly read by the CPU 54. The image buffer 57 has two memory areas each having a capacity capable of storing head drive data for printing by one scan of the writing carriage 36. When data for one scan is written to one image buffer 571, the data is transferred to the head control unit 68. At this time, when the image data of one image buffer 571 is transferred to the head control unit 68, the other image buffer 572 stores head drive data for printing at the next scan. When the data for one scan is written to the other image buffer 572, the data is transferred to the head control unit 68, and the image data is written to the one image buffer 571. As described above, the print head 38 is driven by the head control unit 68 to perform printing while alternately writing and reading head drive data using the two image buffers 571 and 572.
[0071]
-When using the local copy function
Next, the flow of data during the local copy function will be described. Here, only the flow of data will be described, and details such as the data arrangement in the memory will be described later.
[0072]
The data read by the scanner unit 10 is taken into the line buffer 691 via the scanner control unit 58. The RGB data captured by the line buffer 691 is sequentially subjected to the above-described RGB inter-line correction processing, and the RGB data for the same line is sent from the scanner control unit 58 to the binarization processing unit 60.
[0073]
The RGB data sent to the binarization processing unit 60 is subjected to halftone processing, and thereafter, is referred to a look-up table (LUT) 695 stored in the control ASIC SDRAM 69, and is converted into binary data for each CMYK color. The data is converted to data and sent to the interlace processing unit 62.
[0074]
The CMYK binary data sent to the interlace processing unit 62 is sorted from all the data of each raster line to data to be printed for each scan of the writing carriage 36 based on the specified interlace method. For example, when adjacent dots of one raster line are formed by different scans by scanning the writing carriage 36 twice, data for forming odd-numbered dots from the end of the raster line and even-numbered dots are used. Are generated and OL-compatible data is generated. The OL corresponding data is burst-transferred and stored in the interlace buffer 692 by 64 bits via the local bus 511.
[0075]
Further, the interlace processing unit 62 reads data stored in the interlace buffer 692 for each predetermined size, and performs burst transfer to the SRAM 621 in the interlace processing unit 62 via the local bus 511. At this time, OL corresponding data is read from the interlace buffer 692 in correspondence with the nozzle arrangement of the print head 38 based on the image resolution to be printed and the nozzle pitch. For example, when the resolution of the image to be printed is 720 dpi and the nozzle pitch is 1/180 inch, three raster lines are printed between two raster lines printed by adjacent nozzles. For this reason, data separated by three raster lines from the OL corresponding data is read as data corresponding to the scanning of the writing carriage 36.
[0076]
The transferred data is rearranged on the SRAM 621 so as to correspond to the nozzle arrangement, and sent to the image buffer unit 64.
[0077]
In the image buffer unit 64, the image data finely divided into blocks corresponding to the capacity of the SRAM 621 is burst-transferred to the image buffer 693 via the local bus 511, and ink is ejected to each nozzle of the writing carriage 36 for each scan. The data is aligned and stored so as to be the head drive data to be performed. Here, the image buffers 693 and 694 are assigned memory areas for storing head drive data for two scans of the writing carriage 36. The head drive data is sent to the head control unit 68 by the CPU 54 every time data for one scan is accumulated, and the head drive data corresponding to the next scan is stored in the memory area for the remaining one scan. Data writing is started. This process is similar to the image buffer process described above in the description of the printer function.
[0078]
The head drive data for each scan stored in the image buffers 693 and 694 is read by the CPU 54 via the CPUIF unit 66 under the control of the CPU 54, and is transferred to the head control unit 68 by the CPU 54. The print head 38 is driven by the head control unit 68 based on the head drive data, and an image is printed.
[0079]
=== Generation of head drive data ===
In the copy function, a process of generating head driving data stored in the image buffers 693 and 694 from the image data read by the scanner unit 10 via the binarization processing unit 60, the interlace processing unit 62, and the image buffer unit 64 is performed. , Will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 11 is an image diagram showing an image of a document to be read in the form of pixels, FIG. 12 is an image diagram showing an image of a line buffer in which read image data is stored as RGB data, and FIG. FIG. 14 is a diagram for explaining a method of reading data from the buffer, and FIG. 14 is an image diagram showing head drive data stored in the image buffer.
[0080]
Here, RGB data whose reading resolution corresponds to 600 dpi in each of the main scanning direction and the sub-scanning direction is sent from the scanner unit 10 to the binarization processing unit, and the output resolution is changed by the printer unit 30 to the main scanning direction and the sub-scanning direction. An example in which an image of 600 dpi is printed in each direction will be described. At this time, the printer unit 30 prints one raster line by scanning the writing carriage 36 twice. In addition, the pitch of the nozzles included in the print head 38 is 1/150 inch, and printing is performed by an interlace method in which three raster lines are printed between two raster lines printed by adjacent nozzles.
[0081]
Line image data read by each linear sensor corresponding to the RGB component of the CCD sensor 28 of the scanner unit 10 is sequentially stored in the line buffer 691 of the ASIC SDRAM 69. At this time, the line buffer 691 has a storage area for several lines corresponding to each of R, G, and B. Here, it is assumed that a storage area for 5 lines for each color is provided.
[0082]
For example, when the reading carriage 16 of the scanner unit 10 scans and reads an image having 80 pixel data in the main scanning direction as shown in FIG. 11, the line buffer 691 of the ASIC SDRAM 69 stores the image shown in FIG. As shown, data for five lines is sequentially stored for each color. At this time, the stored data of each color has a difference in the original reading position due to the arrangement of the linear sensor of the CCD sensor 28 as described above. That is, for example, the data of the first line stored in the R component area, the data of the first line stored in the G component area, and the data of the first line stored in the B component area are the same line of the document. Is not the data read. Therefore, after the line data obtained by reading the same line in the original is stored in each color component area, the line data is burst-transferred to the scanner control unit 58 via the local bus 511 and transmitted to the binarization processing unit 60. Sent out. For example, data obtained by reading the same part as the linear part of the document 5 corresponding to the data stored in the first line of the R component area is the third line of the G component area and the fifth line of the B component area. Is stored in The data corresponding to the same part on the original 5 is cut into 64 bits, and is burst-transferred to the scanner control unit 58 via the local bus 511, and then transferred to the binarization processing unit 60.
[0083]
The binarization processing unit 60 sequentially generates binary data of C, M, Y, and K corresponding to each pixel from the first pixel based on the transferred data of three lines of R, G, and B. Is done. For example, the head pixel is printed from the head data R1 of the first line of the R component area, the head data G161 of the third line of the G component area, and the head data B321 of the fifth line of the B component area. C, M, Y, and K binary data are generated. This binary data is composed of two bits per pixel.
[0084]
The generated binary data is sent to the interlace processing unit 62 for four colors of CMYK, two pixels at a time (4 bits) from the pixel at the head of the line.
[0085]
In the interlace processing unit 62, data of two pixels of each color is sorted and stored one pixel at a time in two storage areas provided for each color in the interlace buffer 692. This is to generate head drive data for each scan so that the printer unit 30 prints one raster line by scanning the writing carriage 36 twice for adjacent dots by different scans. For this reason, the interlaced buffer 692 has, for example, an odd-numbered dot area for storing odd-numbered pixel data to be printed in the preceding scan for each of C, M, Y, and K, and for printing in the subsequent scan. An even-numbered dot area for storing even-numbered pixel data is provided, and odd-numbered image data and even-numbered pixel data are sequentially stored for each color as shown in FIG. 13A. At this time, the data of each color and each scan, that is, 16-bit data of two pixels of each of four colors is temporarily stored in the SRAM 621 in the interlace processing unit 62, and when the 64-bit data is stored, the data is transmitted via the local bus 511. The data is burst-transferred to the interlace buffer 692. Here, data of eight pixels is stored in a region indicated by one cell (for example, C1, C3, etc., hereinafter referred to as a cell) in FIG. 13A, and data of 40 pixels is stored in a region of five cells. Data is stored. That is, for example, when the lowermost data of the odd-numbered dot area and the even-numbered area of the cyan binary data are alternately taken out and arranged in one line, the data for printing the cyan component in one line in the main scanning direction of the document is obtained. It will be aligned.
[0086]
Further, the interlace processing unit 62 sends out the odd-numbered and even-numbered dot areas of each color of CMYK to the image buffer unit 64 while changing the arrangement of the data stored in the interlace buffer 692. This process is executed for each color. However, since the processing method is the same for each color, an explanation will be given here by taking an odd-numbered dot area of cyan binary data as an example.
[0087]
The interlace processing unit 62 takes in the data transferred to the odd-numbered dot area of the cyan binary data into the SRAM 621 in the interlace processing unit 62. At this time, data (64 bits) for four cells on the left side (leading side of the data) from the bottom of the odd-numbered dot area of the cyan binary data, and data located thereabove are divided into four cells every three rows for four cells. Then, burst transfer is performed through the local bus 511 for every four cells. As the transferred data, data of four cells repeatedly and burst-transferred are sequentially extracted, for example, one cell at a time from the head of each of the four cells, and stored in the SRAM 621. At this time, for example, as shown in FIG. 13B, unit data for 16 cells is mapped on the SRAM 621 in a matrix of 4 cells and 4 stages. Here, the reason why the data is transferred every third stage is that the data stored in the image buffers 693 and 694 is head drive data for ejecting ink from each nozzle in one scan of the writing carriage 36. This is for extracting data corresponding to the head nozzle array. That is, the interlacing method in the main printing operation is used to print three raster lines between two raster lines printed by adjacent nozzles, to take out data every three stages, and to correspond to the nozzle arrangement. is there.
[0088]
Next, the first unit data of each stage, that is, data (64 bits) of four cells arranged in the vertical direction, is once taken into the register of the interlace processing unit 62 from the SRAM 621 as shown in FIG. It is stored in another area of the SRAM 621. At this time, as shown in FIG. 13D, data for four cells in the vertical direction read from the original area of the SRAM 621 is mapped to four cells in the horizontal direction in another area. That is, the data fetched into the SRAM 621 is converted in data arrangement so that the vertical direction and the horizontal direction are switched. In the present embodiment, an example has been described in which data transferred by four burst transfers are arranged in a matrix in the SRAM 621. However, the data need not necessarily be arranged in a matrix.
[0089]
The data of the SRAM 621 whose arrangement has been converted is transferred to the image buffer unit 64. In the image buffer unit 64, the data of the SRAM 621 is read out for every four cells in the horizontal direction, and is burst-transferred to the image buffers 693, 694 via the local bus 511.
[0090]
FIG. 14 is an image diagram showing data transferred to image buffers 693 and 694. In the horizontal direction of FIG. 14, the same number of cells as the number of nozzles of the nozzle row are arranged, and in the vertical direction, the number of cells of the image to be printed is stored for one scan in the scanning direction of the writing carriage 36. Eight areas having cells are allocated. That is, each area has a data capacity for storing data for driving each nozzle in one scan of the writing carriage 36, and cells arranged in the horizontal direction correspond to each nozzle of the nozzle row. Yes, it is. Here, two areas are allocated to each of the CMYK nozzles for the eight areas, and a first area 693 for storing data for driving the head by one scan and a second area 694 are provided. In each area, data for each scan is stored alternately.
[0091]
In the image buffers 693 and 694, the data of the four cells subjected to the burst transfer are sequentially stored in the cells in the horizontal direction. When the data of the four cells is stored, the data is stored in the second-stage cell. When data for one scan is stored, data is stored in the fifth to eighth cells at the bottom, data is written in four cells at a time, and the first area 693 is written with data for the number of nozzles. Alternatively, when writing to one of the second areas 694 is completed, data corresponding to the next scan is stored in the other area.
[0092]
When data is written in the first or second area of each color of CMYK and head drive data is generated, the CPU 54 controls the carriage motor 40, the PF motor 42, and the like to convey the sheet, and the writing carriage 36 It is moved to a predetermined position. At this time, the head drive data stored in the lowermost row of the first area 693 corresponding to each color of CMYK in the image buffers 693 and 694 is sequentially read from the data of the cells arranged in the horizontal direction where the addresses are continuous. The read data is sent to a memory of the head control unit 68 corresponding to each nozzle, and the print head 38 is driven by the head control unit 68 controlled by the CPU 54 based on the head drive data.
[0093]
In the present embodiment, an example in which printing is performed by the overlap method has been described. However, an interlace method in which one raster line is printed with one dot, a method in which one raster line is sequentially printed from the leading end side of the printing paper, and Any printing method, such as a so-called band feed method, in which printing is performed intermittently while the paper is conveyed by the length of the nozzle row, may be used, and data that is continuous in the horizontal direction is read out in the vertical direction. Reordering can be performed efficiently.
[0094]
=== Other Embodiments ===
As described above, the storage device and the like according to the present invention have been described based on one embodiment. However, the above-described embodiment of the present invention is for facilitating understanding of the present invention, and limits the present invention. is not. The present invention can be changed and improved without departing from the spirit thereof, and it is needless to say that the present invention includes equivalents thereof.
Also, the printing medium has been described as an example of the medium, but a film, cloth, a thin metal plate, or the like may be used as the medium.
[0095]
Further, in the above embodiment, the printing device has been described as an example of the storage device, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, a color filter manufacturing apparatus, a dyeing apparatus, a fine processing apparatus, a semiconductor manufacturing apparatus, a surface processing apparatus, a three-dimensional modeling machine, a liquid vaporizer, an organic EL manufacturing apparatus (especially a polymer EL manufacturing apparatus), a display manufacturing apparatus, and a film forming apparatus The same technology as in the present embodiment may be applied to an apparatus, a DNA chip manufacturing apparatus, and the like. Even if the present technology is applied to such a field, since the liquid can be ejected toward the medium, the above-described effect can be maintained.
[0096]
Further, in the above-described embodiment, a color inkjet printer has been described as an example of a printing apparatus. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, a monochrome inkjet printer can be applied.
[0097]
Further, in the above embodiment, ink was described as an example of the liquid, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, a liquid (including water) including a metal material, an organic material (especially a polymer material), a magnetic material, a conductive material, a wiring material, a film forming material, a processing liquid, a gene solution, and the like may be discharged from the nozzle. .
[0098]
<<<< Configuration of Computer System etc. >>>>
Next, an embodiment of a computer system which is an example of an embodiment according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
[0099]
FIG. 15 is an explanatory diagram showing the external configuration of the computer system. The computer system 1000 includes a computer main body 1102, a display device 1104, an SPC multifunction device 1106, an input operation unit 1108, and a data reading device 1110. In the present embodiment, the computer main body 1102 is housed in a mini-tower type housing, but is not limited to this. The display device 1104 generally uses a cathode ray tube (CRT), a plasma display, a liquid crystal display device, or the like, but is not limited thereto. As the SPC multifunction device 1106, the SPC multifunction device described above is used. In this embodiment, a keyboard 1108A and a mouse 1108B are used as the input operation unit 1108, but the input operation unit 1108 is not limited to this. In this embodiment, the data reading device 1110 uses the flexible disk drive device 1110A and the CD-ROM drive device 1110B, but is not limited thereto. For example, an MO (Magneto Optical) disk drive device or a DVD (Digital) device is used. Versatile Disk).
[0100]
FIG. 16 is a block diagram showing a configuration of the computer system shown in FIG. An internal memory 1202 such as a RAM and an external memory such as a hard disk drive unit 1204 are further provided in a housing in which the computer main body 1102 is stored.
[0101]
In the above description, an example is described in which the SPC multifunction device 1106 is connected to the computer main body 1102, the display device 1104, the input operation means 1108, and the data reading device 1110 to constitute a computer system. It is not limited. For example, the computer system may include the computer main body 1102 and the SPC multifunction device 1106, and the computer system may not include any of the display device 1104, the input operation unit 1108, and the data reading device 1110.
[0102]
Further, for example, the SPC multifunction device 1106 may have a part of the functions or mechanisms of the computer main body 1102, the display device 1104, the input operation unit 1108, and the data reading device 1110. As an example, a configuration having a recording medium attaching / detaching portion for attaching / detaching a recording medium for recording image data captured by a digital camera or the like may be adopted.
[0103]
The computer system implemented in this way is a system superior to the conventional system as a whole.
[0104]
【The invention's effect】
ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, it becomes possible to implement | achieve the recording device which can output at high speed, the computer system which has this recording device, and the recording method which records using this recording device.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is an external perspective view of an SPC multifunction peripheral according to an embodiment.
FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a state in which an original plate cover of the SPC multifunction peripheral according to the embodiment is opened.
FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing an internal configuration of the SPC multifunction peripheral according to the embodiment.
FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a state where a scanner unit of the SPC multifunction peripheral according to the embodiment is lifted.
FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of an operation panel unit of the SPC multifunction peripheral according to the embodiment.
FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing an arrangement around a print head.
FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram for explaining a driving unit of the printing paper transport mechanism.
FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram showing the arrangement of nozzles on the lower surface of the print head.
FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram showing a configuration of a drive signal generator provided in the head control unit.
FIG. 10 is a block diagram illustrating an example of an electrical configuration of the SPC multifunction peripheral.
FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a document as a pixel image of a reading unit.
FIG. 12 is a diagram showing an image of data in a line buffer.
13A is a diagram illustrating a data image in an interlace buffer, FIG. 13B is a diagram illustrating an image of data mapped to an SRM of an interlace processing unit, FIG. 13C is a diagram illustrating an image of register data, and FIG. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an image of data rearranged in an SRAM.
FIG. 14 is a diagram showing an image of data in an image buffer.
FIG. 15 is an explanatory diagram showing an external configuration of a computer system.
16 is a block diagram showing a configuration of the computer system shown in FIG.
[Explanation of symbols]
1 SPC multifunction device (recording device), 3 host computer, 5 originals,
7 paper, 10 scanner unit, 12 platen glass,
14 platen cover, 16 reading carriage, 18 driving means,
181 timing belt, 182 pulley, 183 pulse motor,
184 idler pulley, 20 regulation guide, 22 exposure lamp,
24 lenses, 26 mirrors, 28 CCD sensors,
29 guide receiving part, 30 printer part, 301 opening,
31 timing belt, 32 paper supply unit, 321 paper tray,
33 nozzle row, 34 paper output unit, 341 paper output tray, 35 platen,
351 guide surface, 36 writing carriage, 37 transport roller,
371 driven rollers, 38 print heads, lower surface of 381 print heads,
39 discharge rollers, 391 driven rollers, 40 carriage motors,
41 hinge mechanism, 42 paper feed motor, 43 power supply cable,
44 sliding shaft, 45 paper detection sensor, 451 lever,
452 transmission type optical sensor, 453 action part, 454 light shielding part,
46 linear encoder, 461 code plate for linear encoder,
47 rotary encoder, 48 pulley, 49 timing belt,
50 control circuit, 501 CPU bus, 51 control ASIC,
511 local bus, 52 USB interface, 54 CPU,
56 SDRAM, 57,571,572 image buffer,
58 scanner control unit, 60 binarization processing unit,
62 interlace processing unit, 64 image buffer unit,
66 CPU interface unit, 68 head control unit,
69 ASIC SDRAM, 691 line buffer,
692 interlace buffer, 693,694 image buffer,
695 LUT, 70 operation panel, 72 liquid crystal display,
74 information lamp, 76 power button, 78 scan start button,
80 setting display button, 82 clear button, 84 color copy button,
86 monochrome copy button, 88 stop button,
90 copy number setting button, 901 "+" button,
902 "-" button, 204 mask circuit, 206 original signal generator,
230 drive signal correction unit, 1000 computer system,
1002 computer main unit, 1104 display device,
1106 SPC multifunction device, 1108 input device,
1108A keyboard, 1108B mouse,
1110 reader, 1110A flexible disk drive,
1110B CD-ROM drive device, 1202 internal memory,
1204 Hard disk drive unit

Claims (11)

In a recording apparatus that records based on first recording data,
Control means for controlling the apparatus; data generation means for generating the first recording data; memory for storing data; and a data transfer means for enabling data transfer between the control means and the data generation means. 1 transfer path, and a second transfer path that enables data transfer between the data generating means and the memory,
The second recording data stored in the memory is transferred to the data generation unit via the second transfer path, and the data generation unit generates the first recording data based on the second recording data. A recording device, comprising: The recording device according to claim 1,
The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the data transfer is a burst transfer in which a plurality of continuous unit data are transferred by one address designation. The recording device according to claim 1, wherein
The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the data generation unit rearranges the data array of the second recording data into a recordable data array to generate the first recording data. The recording device according to claim 2, wherein
The burst transfer from the memory to the data generating means is repeated a plurality of times. A recording apparatus, wherein the second recording data is rearranged by taking out the data one by one and arranging them as a plurality of new unit data. The recording device according to claim 2, wherein
2. A recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the number of unit data transferred by one burst transfer from said memory to said data generating means coincides with the number of repeated burst transfers. The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein
A data input unit for inputting original data which is a source of the second recording data; an original data area provided in the memory for storing the original data input by the data input unit; Data conversion means for transferring the original data in the original data area and converting the original data into the second recording data,
The recording apparatus, wherein the original data is transferred from the memory to the data conversion means on the second transfer path, and is converted into the second recording data by the data conversion means. The recording apparatus according to claim 1,
A recording apparatus for recording by ejecting ink onto a print medium and printing the ink. The recording device according to claim 7,
An ink ejection unit for ejecting ink to form dots has an ejection head provided with an ink ejection unit row arranged in a row along the sub-scanning direction, and the ejection head scans in the main scanning direction. While printing on the printing medium,
The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the data generating unit generates the first recording data by rearranging the second recording data sequentially read in the main scanning direction so as to correspond to the ink ejection unit row. In a recording apparatus for recording by discharging ink and printing on a print medium based on first recording data,
Control means for controlling the apparatus; data generation means for generating the first recording data; memory for storing data; and a data transfer means for enabling data transfer between the control means and the data generation means. A first transfer path, a second transfer path enabling data transfer between the data generating means and the memory,
A data input unit for inputting original data which is a source of the second recording data; an original data area provided in the memory for storing the original data input by the data input unit; Data conversion means for transferring the original data in the original data area and converting the original data into the second recording data,
An ink ejection unit for ejecting ink to form dots has an ejection head provided with an ink ejection unit row arranged in a row along the sub-scanning direction, and the ejection head scans in the main scanning direction. While printing on the printing medium,
The original data is transferred from the memory to the data conversion means via the second transfer path, and is converted into the second recording data by the data conversion means,
The second recording data stored in the memory is transferred to the data generation means via the second transfer path, and based on the second recording data, the data generation means Rearranging the data array into a recordable data array to generate the first recording data;
The data transfer is a burst transfer in which a plurality of continuous unit data are transferred by one address designation,
Burst transfer from the memory to the data generation means is repeated the same number of times as the number of unit data transferred by one burst transfer,
The main scanning is performed by taking out unit data having the same transfer order in each of the plurality of unit data one by one from each of the plurality of unit data repeatedly and burst-transferred and arranging them as new plurality of unit data. A recording apparatus for generating the first recording data by rearranging the second recording data sequentially read in a direction so as to correspond to the ink ejection unit row. In a computer system including a computer main body and a recording device connected to the computer main body and recording based on the first recording data,
Control means for controlling the apparatus; data generation means for generating the first recording data; memory for storing data; and a data transfer means for enabling data transfer between the control means and the data generation means. 1 transfer path, and a second transfer path that enables data transfer between the data generating means and the memory,
The second recording data stored in the memory is transferred to the data generation unit via the second transfer path, and the data generation unit generates the first recording data based on the second recording data. A computer system characterized by: In a recording method for recording based on first recording data,
Control means for controlling the apparatus; data generation means for generating the first recording data; memory for storing data; and a data transfer means for enabling data transfer between the control means and the data generation means. When recording is performed using a recording apparatus including one transfer path and a second transfer path that enables data transfer between the data generation unit and the memory, the second recording stored in the memory is performed. Transferring the data for use to the data generating means via the second transfer path, and generating the first data for recording based on the second data for recording. Characteristic recording method.

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