JP2006154944A - Image output controller - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To increase the print quality of an image output by detecting the calibration circumstances of an image output device, and selecting and outputting the most suitable image output device in response to a print request for giving priority to image quality from a user. <P>SOLUTION: This image output controller for controlling the image outputs of a plurality of image output devices having calibration executing functions on a network comprises a means for acquiring the calibration correction data of a plurality of image output devices, a means for monitoring the correction data of each image output device, a means for managing the calibration execution date of each image output device, and a selecting means for selecting the optimal image processor having a mode giving priority to image quality. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an image output control apparatus that connects and controls an image output apparatus that performs calibration by bidirectional communication.

  In a conventional image output device, in order to respond to changes in the environment and changes and deterioration of the visible image formed by parts consumption, correction processing of the engine unit that forms the visible image, that is, a process called calibration Was running.

Even when a plurality of image output devices connected to the network are used, each image output device performs calibration and corrects the output image.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-063047

  However, in the above conventional example, there is no guarantee that the color reproducibility of the image output device selected by the user is optimal for outputting an image. As a result, depending on the image output device, a situation has occurred in which the color reproducibility of the image output is poor.

  Therefore, the image output control device according to the present invention is configured to monitor the density correction state of the image output device and obtain an optimum image output when there are a plurality of image output devices on the network. The purpose is to select.

In order to achieve the above object, an image output control apparatus of the present invention has the following configuration. That is,
Correction data acquisition means for acquiring correction data at the time of calibration of the image output device;
Selecting means for selecting an image output device from the plurality of image output devices according to a predetermined condition;
It is possible to set a mode in which color reproduction is emphasized when outputting an image, and when the mode is selected, the image is output from the image output device selected by the selection unit when the image is output. .

  Further, the selection means compares a plurality of correction data of a plurality of image output devices, and selects an image output device having the smallest correction value of the correction data.

Further, the selecting means selects an image output apparatus that has been most recently calibrated among a plurality of image output apparatuses.

  According to the image output control device of the present invention, a plurality of image output devices connected on the network are managed by the image output control device, and the image output from the image output device considered to have the highest color reproducibility is performed. Thus, it is possible to improve the quality of image output.

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

  FIG. 1 shows an example of a network form in which this embodiment is used.

  In FIG. 1, reference numeral 101 denotes a network using a known technology for connecting devices. In this embodiment, it is assumed that Ethernet (registered trademark) using the TCP / IP protocol is used.

  Reference numeral 102 denotes a management server that manages calibration of the network printers 103, 104, and 105. The management server 102 is usually realized by installing software in a personal computer or workstation. The management server 102 has a network interface and is connected to each device via the network 101.

  Reference numerals 103, 104, and 105 each have a network interface, receive print data and image data sent via the network interface, and actually print on a medium such as paper using a known printing technique such as an electrophotographic technique. It is a network printer. Network printers 103, 104, and 105 are also connected to each device via the network 101. Here, reference numeral 103 denotes a color digital multifunction printer, and 104 and 105 denote color laser printers.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the management server 102.

  In FIG. 2, the CPU 201 performs control via the CPU bus 203 in accordance with a program stored in the ROM 202 or the like. The RAM 204 is used as a work area for the CPU 201. Further, it is an area for storing printer calibration information.

  A network I / F 205 manages communication processing with other devices and printers on the network. In addition, a CRT display device 206, an input device 207 such as a keyboard, and an external storage device 208 such as a hard disk are included as components.

  FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the network printer 104. In FIG. 3, reference numeral 301 denotes a CPU 301 for controlling the printer, 302 denotes a ROM for storing a program for controlling the operation of the printer, 303 denotes a RAM for storing work storage information and image data, and 304 denotes a network for connecting to the network 101. I / F. Further, it is connected to the printer unit 306 via the printer I / F 305. The printer unit 306 includes an image processing unit 308, a density measurement unit 307 that measures the optical density of the patch pattern, and a color printer engine 309 that performs actual image formation based on the image signal sent from the image processing unit 308. It is divided roughly into.

  Note that an optical sensor (FIG. 4, 401) is connected to the concentration measuring unit 307. The density measurement unit 307 measures the density value of the patch pattern read by the optical sensor 401, and the image processing unit 308 performs density correction based on the measured value.

  Next, with reference to FIG. 4, the concentration measurement process in the present embodiment will be described.

  FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing a configuration example for the density measurement processing. In the printer unit 306, a patch pattern including a plurality of patterns is formed on a line 403 on the photosensitive drum 402 as an intermediate transfer member. The patch pattern includes a plurality of patch patterns of density levels (0 to 255), and is arranged in the rotation direction of the photosensitive drum 402 for each color (Y, M, C, K). The patch pattern is read by the optical sensor 401, and the optical density is measured by the density measuring unit 307. Based on the measured density value, the image processing unit 308 corrects the density of the output data.

  FIG. 10 is a characteristic diagram showing the relationship between the input density value and the actual density value in the color printers 103 to 105 shown in FIG. 1. The vertical axis shows the actual density value, and the horizontal axis shows the input density value, that is, the color printer 103. The density values input to ˜105 are shown. Usually, the input density value and the actual density value when the visible image is formed do not exactly match. This difference is further exacerbated by environmental changes and electrical and mechanical factors. It also differs between printers.

  In FIG. 10, reference numerals 1002 to 1004 denote actual density curves of the printers 103 to 105, respectively, which are curves obtained by plotting actual density values against input density values. In order to approximate this to an ideal density straight line 1001, that is, a straight line rising to the right with an inclination of 45 degrees, it is necessary to correct it with curves 1005 to 1007 for the input density value. Correction curves 1005 to 1007 correspond to the printers 103 to 105, respectively. In the case of a color printer, this correction curve is prepared for four sets of four colors, YMCK (yellow, magenta, cyan, black).

  The printer to which the present invention is applied includes a charging device that uniformly charges the photosensitive drum 402, an exposure device that removes charges on the photosensitive drum 402 in accordance with an image signal, and the photosensitive drum 402, in addition to the illustrated elements. Developing device for developing electrostatic latent image formed thereon using toner, transfer device for transferring developed visual image to sheet-like recording medium, conveying device for conveying sheet-like recording medium, sheet-like recording medium A fixing device for fixing the upper toner image, a conveying device, a driving device for driving an exposure system, and the like are provided.

  FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a calibration execution procedure of the printer 104. First, it is determined whether the calibration execution condition is satisfied (S501). If the condition is satisfied, density measurement is performed (S502). The conditions for executing calibration are when the power is turned on, when a specified number of sheets are printed (for example, after printing a predetermined number of sheets after printing 50 sheets or every 200 sheets after the power is turned on), when a specified time elapses (for example, 30 minutes have elapsed) A predetermined elapsed time).

  Next, the density correction table is updated based on the density value obtained by the density measurement (S503). When the calibration is completed, the printer 104 notifies the management server 102 of the completion of calibration (S504). Further, the printer 104 transmits the density correction table to the management server (S505).

  FIG. 6 is a flowchart for updating the device management table (FIG. 7) of the management server 102. First, a calibration execution notification from the printer 104 is confirmed (S601). If there is a notification, a density correction table is received from the printer 104 (S602), and the correction table area of the corresponding printer in the device management table is updated. The calibration execution date / time is updated (S603).

  FIG. 7 is an example of a device management table.

  For convenience, printers 103, 104, and 105 are referred to as printer A, printer B, and printer C, respectively. This table stores an address for referring to the density correction table of each printer for each printer. In addition, the calibration execution date for each printer is stored. In addition, the attributes of each printer are stored.

  When there is a print request from a client computer (not shown), the management server transmits the print request to the printer. At that time, as shown in FIG. 11, whether or not automatic printer selection for improving color reproducibility is necessary is displayed to prompt the user to make a determination.

  FIG. 9 is an operation flowchart of the management server 102 at the time of automatic printer selection. The management server 102 checks the device management table (S901). A printer is selected according to a predetermined condition (S902). Next, image output is performed by the selected printer (S903). At that time, as shown in FIG. 8, it may be displayed on the client computer to ask the user for confirmation. As the printer selection conditions in step S902, for example, the following may be used.

  As a first condition, the date and time of calibration in the device management table are compared, and the printer that has been calibrated recently is selected. In FIG. 7, since the calibration execution date and time of the printer C is new, this printer is selected.

  As a second condition, the difference between the density correction curve and the ideal density line is sampled at several density levels, and it is determined whether or not the sum for each color exceeds a predetermined value. For example, in FIG. 10, since the density correction curve 1007 of the printer 105 has little difference from the ideal density line 1001, it can be said that it is desirable to output it by the printer 105.

  As described above, the network printer according to this embodiment has a configuration of three color printers. Among them, the color reproducibility of image output is improved by using a printer with high color reproducibility. be able to.

  In the above-described embodiment, the configuration includes three color printers. However, the control can be similarly performed even when the configuration includes three or more color printers. Even with a monochrome printer configuration, the same control can be performed, and an image output with good gradation reproducibility can be obtained.

  Further, the function of the management server of this embodiment may be provided in one of the CPU-equipped printer devices connected on the network to manage other printer devices.

The figure which shows the example of a network configuration using this embodiment Block diagram of the management server of this embodiment Block diagram of printer of this embodiment Configuration diagram for concentration measurement processing in the present embodiment Operation flow diagram of printer in this embodiment Operation flow diagram of management server in this embodiment Device management table of the management server in this embodiment The figure which shows the display screen to the client computer in this embodiment. Operation flow diagram of management server in this embodiment Density characteristic diagram of printer in this embodiment The figure which shows the display screen to the client computer in this embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

101 Network 102 Management Server 103 Network Printer 104 Network Printer 105 Network Printer

Claims (3)

An image output control device connected to a plurality of image output devices having a calibration function on a network,
Correction data acquisition means for acquiring correction data at the time of calibration of the image output device;
Selecting means for selecting an image output device from the plurality of image output devices according to a predetermined condition;
It is possible to set a mode in which color reproduction is emphasized when outputting an image, and when the mode is selected, the image is output from the image output device selected by the selection unit when the image is output. Image output control device.   The image output control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the selection unit compares a plurality of correction data of the plurality of image output apparatuses and selects an image output apparatus having the smallest correction value of the correction data.   The image output control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the selection unit selects an image output apparatus that has been most recently calibrated among a plurality of image output apparatuses.

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