JP2007112016A - Image forming device, and its controlling method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a technique by which a good image can be obtained without requiring a line memory or a complicated hardware constitution even in an image forming device in which a positional slip occurs in an image forming unit. <P>SOLUTION: This image forming device is equipped with an image memory which holds image information, a storing means which stores compensation information regarding the positional slip compensation of an image, a converting means which converts the reading address of the image memory based on the compensation information, and a first reading means which reads pixel information of an image drawing line based on address information which has been converted, a second reading means which reads the pixel information of corresponding picture pixels of an adjacent line to a line to be drawn, a gradation compensating means which performs the gradation compensation of the pixel information which has been read in the first reading means based on the compensation information and the pixel information which has been read in the second reading means, and an outputting means which outputs a driving signal to the image forming unit based on the pixel information which has been gradation-compensated in the gradation compensating means. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus, and more particularly, to an image forming apparatus capable of correcting a positional shift generated in an image forming unit.

  Conventionally, a configuration of an image forming apparatus that obtains a full-color image using, for example, an electrophotographic system or the like is known. For example, in an image forming apparatus including one photosensitive member and a plurality of developing units corresponding to the respective toner colors, the photosensitive member is exposed and developed using a developing unit corresponding to a certain toner color, and transferred to transfer paper. A configuration is known in which the process of performing the above is repeated for each toner color. In this configuration, a full-color image is formed by forming and fixing a color image on a transfer sheet in an overlapping manner.

  According to this method, in order to obtain one printed image, it is necessary to repeat the image forming process a plurality of times, and there is a drawback that it takes time to form an image.

  In order to make up for this drawback, a configuration in which a plurality of photoconductors for each toner color are used, and a visible image obtained for each toner color is sequentially superposed on a transfer paper to obtain a full color print by one pass of paper. Are known. According to this configuration, the time required for image formation can be greatly shortened. However, on the other hand, due to the positional accuracy and diameter shift of each photoconductor and the positional accuracy shift of the optical system, a positional shift (color shift) of each toner color on the transfer paper occurs, resulting in a high-quality full-color image. There was a problem that it was difficult to obtain.

  As a configuration to prevent this positional deviation, a test toner image is formed on a transfer paper or a conveyance belt that conveys the transfer paper, and this is detected, and based on the detection result, the optical path of each optical system is corrected, A configuration for correcting the writing start position of each toner color image is known (Patent Document 1).

  Further, a positional shift of each toner color is detected by a method similar to the configuration disclosed in Patent Document 1, a coordinate conversion equation is derived based on the detected value of the positional shift, and a coordinate is converted using this coordinate conversion equation. A configuration for outputting image data while performing conversion is known (Patent Document 2). Furthermore, when the dot position coordinate after coordinate conversion includes a value after the decimal point, the amount of toner is reduced around the place where the point is ideally positioned to form dots, thereby causing streak spots due to quantization errors. A configuration that prevents generation is known (Patent Document 2). The configuration disclosed in Patent Document 2 requires a line buffer in order to correct a fine positional shift smaller than a pixel unit.

Further, as a configuration for correcting a fine positional shift smaller than a pixel unit without providing a line buffer, a configuration is known in which processing such as compression / decompression is performed for each raster data for each line (Patent) Reference 3).
Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 64-40956 JP-A-8-85237 JP 2000-246965 A

  However, the configuration disclosed in Patent Document 1 has the following problems. First, in order to correct the optical path of the optical system, it is necessary to mechanically operate a correction optical system including a light source and an f-θ lens, a mirror in the optical path, and the position of the test toner image. For this purpose, a highly accurate movable member is required, resulting in an increase in cost. Furthermore, since it takes time to complete the correction, it is impossible to perform correction frequently, but the optical path length deviation may change with time due to the temperature rise of the machine. It is difficult to prevent positional deviation by correcting the optical path of the optical system. In addition, by correcting the image writing position, it is possible to correct the positional deviation at the writing position, but it is not possible to correct the tilt of the optical system or the magnification deviation due to the optical path length deviation. There is.

  In the configuration disclosed in Patent Document 2, a line buffer is required to perform fine correction smaller than the minimum dot (pixel) unit. For this reason, in this configuration, it is necessary to install a memory having a larger capacity than the normal configuration in the circuit.

  In the configuration disclosed in Patent Document 3, it is necessary to newly add a circuit in order to perform processing such as compression / decompression on raster data. This complicates the hardware configuration.

  Note that the above-described problems of the prior art are the same when a monochrome image is formed.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and provides a technique capable of obtaining a good image without requiring a line memory or a complicated hardware configuration even in an image forming apparatus in which positional deviation occurs in an image forming unit. The purpose is to do.

In order to achieve the above object, an image forming apparatus according to the present invention comprises the following arrangement. That is,
An image forming apparatus including an image forming unit that forms an image on a recording medium by drawing in units of lines based on an input drive signal,
An image memory for holding image information composed of a plurality of pixel information;
Storage means for storing correction information relating to positional deviation correction of the image formed by the image forming unit;
Conversion means for converting the coordinates of the read address of the image memory based on the correction information stored in the storage means;
First reading means for reading pixel information of a line to be drawn based on the address information converted by the conversion means;
Second reading means for reading pixel information of a pixel corresponding to the converted address information of a line adjacent to the line to be drawn;
Gradation correction means for performing gradation correction of the pixel information read by the first reading means based on the correction information and the pixel information read by the second reading means;
Output means for outputting the drive signal to the image forming unit based on the pixel information subjected to gradation correction by the gradation correction means.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a technique capable of obtaining a good image without requiring a line memory or a complicated hardware configuration even in an image forming apparatus in which positional deviation occurs in an image forming unit.

  Embodiments according to the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, the constituent elements described in this embodiment are merely examples, and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention only to them.

<< First Embodiment >>
[Physical configuration of image forming apparatus]
FIG. 1 is a schematic sectional view showing an outline of a physical configuration of an image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment, and corresponds to, for example, a four-drum type color laser beam printer. In this image forming apparatus, a transfer paper cassette 53 is mounted at the lower right side of the main body apparatus. Transfer paper (transfer material, transfer medium, recording paper) as a recording medium set in the transfer paper cassette 53 is taken out one by one by a paper feed roller 54, and an image is taken by a pair of transport rollers 55-a and 55-b. It is fed to the area where the forming unit is located. In the area where the image forming unit is arranged, a transfer conveyance belt 10 as a conveyance means for conveying the transfer paper is stretched flat by a plurality of rotating rollers in the transfer paper conveyance direction (from right to left in FIG. 1). In the most upstream part, the transfer conveyance belt 10 is electrostatically adsorbed. The photosensitive drums 14-C, 14-Y, 14-M, and 14-K (hereinafter collectively referred to as 14) as four drum-shaped photosensitive members (image bearing members) facing the belt conveyance surface. ) Are arranged in a straight line.

  Since the image forming unit for each color component is different only in the color of the toner to be mounted and there is no structural difference, the color component C will be described.

  The C-color image forming unit contains a charger 50-C for uniformly charging the surface of the photosensitive drum 14-C, C-color toner, and an electrostatic latent image generated on the photosensitive drum 14-C. It has a developing device 52-C for developing (developing) a visible image and an exposure unit 51-C. A predetermined gap is provided between the developing device 52-C and the charger 50-C. The exposure unit 51-C formed of a laser scanner scans the laser beam on the photosensitive drum 14-C whose surface is uniformly charged by the charger 50-C through the gap, while scanning in a direction perpendicular to the drawing. Light exposure and scanning exposure. By this operation, the scanning exposed portion is charged differently from the non-exposed portion, and an electrostatic latent image is formed on the photosensitive drum 14-C. The developing device 52-C transfers the toner to the electrostatic latent image to make a visible image (toner image; development).

  A transfer member 57 -C is disposed across the conveyance surface of the transfer conveyance belt 10. The toner image formed (developed) on the peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 14-C is charged and adsorbed onto the conveyed recording medium by the transfer electric field formed by the transfer member 57 corresponding to the toner image. Transferred onto the medium surface.

  By performing the above-described processing for the other color components Y, M, and K in the same manner, the C, M, Y, and K color toners are successively transferred to the recording medium. Thereafter, each color toner on the recording medium is melted and fixed by the fixing device 58, and is discharged out of the apparatus by a pair of paper discharge rollers 59-a and 59-b.

  As described above, the photosensitive drum 14, the exposure unit 51, the developing device 52, and the transfer member 57 integrally form an image forming unit, and each of the image forming units includes C, Y, M, and K. Installed for each basic color. It goes without saying that the image forming unit inputs a drive signal and forms a single color image on the transfer paper based on the drive signal. Note that the transfer conveyance belt 10 may be configured as an intermediate transfer belt having a configuration in which toners of basic colors of C, Y, M, and K are temporarily transferred and then secondarily transferred onto a transfer sheet. In addition, if the configuration is such that a plurality of image forming units are juxtaposed, transfer paper is conveyed between the image forming units, and a monochromatic image is superimposed on the transfer paper, a configuration using a laser beam printer as in this embodiment is used. Not limited. For example, you may comprise by an inkjet printer etc.

[Color shift model]
FIG. 2 is an image view showing a shift of the main scanning line formed by scanning on the photosensitive drum 14. Reference numeral 201 denotes an image of an ideal main scanning line, and scanning is performed perpendicular to the rotational direction (Y direction) of the photosensitive drum 14. Reference numeral 202 denotes an actual main scanning line in which the positional accuracy and the diameter of the photosensitive drum 14 are shifted and the inclination and the curve are increased due to the positional accuracy of the optical system in the exposure unit 51 of each basic color. It is an image. When such an inclination or curvature of the main scanning line exists in any of the basic color image stations, color misregistration (position misregistration, registration misalignment) occurs when a plurality of color toner images are collectively transferred to the transfer paper. Will occur. In the present embodiment, in the main scanning direction (X direction), the point A, which is the scanning start position of the print area, is used as a reference point, and a plurality of points are used to subside the ideal main scanning line 201 and the actual main scanning line 202. The amount of deviation in the scanning direction (Y direction) is measured. Point B, point C, and point D are examples of points for measuring the amount of deviation. Then, the entire region is divided into a plurality of regions (region 1 between Pa and Pb, region 2 between Pb and Pc, and region 3 between Pc and Pd) for each point at which the amount of deviation is measured, The inclination of the main scanning line in each region is approximated by straight lines (Lab, Lbc, Lcd) connecting the points. In the example of FIG. 2, the deviation amounts are measured at the respective points Pb, Pc, and Pd, and the deviation amounts are m1, m2, and m3, respectively. Therefore, when the difference in the amount of deviation between points (m1 for region 1, m2-m1 for region 2, m3-m2 for region 3) is a positive value, the main scanning line of the corresponding region is illustrated in FIG. In the XY plane, it has an upward slope. On the other hand, a negative value indicates that the slope has a downward slope.

[Functional configuration of image forming apparatus]
Next, functions of the image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 3 is a functional block diagram of the image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment for explaining the operation of the color misregistration correction process for correcting the color misregistration caused by the inclination and curvature of the scanning line.

  In FIG. 3, reference numeral 301 denotes a printer engine, which performs a printing process based on image bitmap information generated by the controller 302, specifically based on a drive signal input from a PWM 310 described later.

  303C, 303M, 303Y, and 303K (hereinafter collectively referred to as 303) are color misregistration amount storage units for each basic color, and store information on the color misregistration of the main scanning line for each region described above for each basic color. To do. In the present embodiment, the difference between the actual main scanning line 202 and the ideal main scanning line 201 described with reference to FIG. 2, that is, the shift amount is determined for each region divided by a plurality of measured points. This is stored in the color misregistration amount storage unit 303. Specifically, for example, the color misregistration amount storage unit 303 uses the width in the main scanning direction (X direction) and the deviation amount in the sub scanning direction (Y direction) as information indicating the inclination and curvature of the main scanning line. To remember.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram exemplarily showing information stored in the color misregistration amount storage unit 303. Regions 1 to 3 in FIG. 4 correspond to the regions in FIG. For example, the widths of the regions 1 to 3 in FIG. 4 are the widths of the regions 1 to 3 in FIG. 2, that is, the x coordinate difference of (Pa, Pb), the x coordinate difference of (Pb, Pc), and (Pc, Pd). Respectively corresponding to the x-coordinate differences. Further, the shift amounts of the regions 1 to 3 in FIG. 4 are the shift amounts of the regions 1 to 3 in FIG. 2, that is, the y coordinate difference of (Pa, Pb), the y coordinate difference of (Pb, Pc), (Pc, It corresponds to the y coordinate difference of Pd).

  In this embodiment, the color misregistration amount storage unit 303 stores the misregistration amount between the ideal main scanning line and the actual main scanning line as information regarding color misregistration. The present invention is not limited to this as long as it is information that can derive the inclination and curvature characteristics of the scanning line. Such information includes, for example, the actual inclination of the main scanning line and the coordinates of the end points. The information stored in the color misregistration amount storage unit 303 can be stored in advance as information unique to the image forming apparatus by measuring the misregistration amount in the manufacturing process of the apparatus, for example. Alternatively, a detection mechanism for detecting the shift amount is prepared in the image forming apparatus itself, and a predetermined pattern for measuring the shift is formed for each photosensitive drum 14 of each basic color, and is detected by the detection mechanism. It can also be configured to store the amount of deviation.

  Next, an operation in the controller 302 for performing the printing process by correcting the image data so as to cancel out the main scanning line misregistration amount stored in the color misregistration amount storage unit 303 will be described.

  The image generation unit 304 generates raster image data that can be printed from print data received from a computer device (not shown), and outputs the raster image data as RGB (Red, Green, Blue) data for each dot. A color conversion unit 305 converts RGB data output from the image generation unit 304 into CMYK space data that can be processed by the controller 302 and stores the data for each basic color in a bitmap memory (image memory) 306 described later. To do. The bitmap memory 306 temporarily stores raster image data for performing print processing, and is a page memory for storing image data for one page or a band memory for storing data for a plurality of lines.

  307C, 307M, 307Y, and 307K (hereinafter collectively referred to as 307) are color misregistration correction amount calculation units. The color misregistration correction amount calculation unit 307 performs main scanning designated by the color misregistration amount correction unit 308 described later for each dot based on information such as the main scanning line misregistration amount accumulated in the color misregistration amount storage unit 303. A color misregistration correction amount in the sub-scanning direction corresponding to the direction coordinate information is calculated. Then, the calculated color misregistration correction amount is output to the color misregistration amount correction unit 308.

  For example, the color misregistration correction amount calculation unit 307 derives a color misregistration correction amount in the sub-scanning direction by executing the following calculation. That is, assuming that the coordinate data in the main scanning direction is x (dots) and the color misregistration correction amount in the sub-scanning direction is Δy (dots), the following arithmetic expression is performed for each region in FIGS. . The following calculation assumes that the print density is 600 dpi.

Region 1: Δy1 = x * (m1 / L1)
Region 2: Δy2 = m1 * 23.622 + (x−L1 * 23.622) * ((m2−m1) / (L2−L1))
Region 3: Δy3 = m2 * 23.622 + (x−L2 * 23.622) * ((m3−m2) / (L3−L2))
As shown in FIG. 2, L1, L2, and L3 are distances (unit: mm) in the main scanning direction from the print start position to the left ends of the regions 1, 2, and 3. m 1, m 2, and m 3 are deviation amounts between the ideal main scanning line 301 and the actual main scanning line 302 at the left ends of the regions 1, 2, and 3.

  308C, 308M, 308Y, and 308K (hereinafter collectively referred to as 308) are color misregistration amount correction units that correct color misregistration due to inclination and distortion of the main scanning line. The color misregistration amount correction unit 308 adjusts the output timing of the bitmap data stored in the bitmap memory 306 based on the color misregistration correction amount calculated for each dot by the color misregistration amount calculation unit 307, and Adjust the exposure. This prevents color misregistration when each basic color toner image is transferred to a transfer sheet.

  Here, the configuration of the color misregistration correction unit 308 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 7 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of the color misregistration amount correction unit 308.

  As illustrated in FIG. 7, the color misregistration amount correction unit 308 includes a coordinate conversion unit 600 and a gradation correction unit 604. The coordinate conversion unit 600 performs a correction process of the integer part of the correction amount Δy obtained from the color misregistration correction amount calculation unit 307, that is, a process of reconfiguring in the sub-scanning direction in units of pixels. On the other hand, the gradation correction unit 604 performs a correction process after the decimal point of the correction amount Δy, that is, a process of adjusting and correcting the exposure ratio of dots before and after the sub-scanning direction in less than a pixel unit.

  The coordinate conversion unit 600 includes a coordinate counter 601 and a plurality of direct memory access controllers (DMAC) 602 and 603. The coordinate counter 601 counts coordinate position data in the main scanning direction and sub-scanning direction in which color misregistration correction processing is performed, and obtains transfer addresses and transfer sizes of the DMACs 602 and 603 for coordinate conversion. The DMACs 602 and 603 refer to the pixel values of the dots before and after in the sub-scanning direction stored in the bitmap memory 306 based on the transfer address and transfer size obtained by the coordinate counter 601.

  The processing performed by the color misregistration correction unit 308 having the above configuration will be described in detail later. Note that the data corrected by the color misregistration correction unit 308 is output to the halftone processing unit 309.

  309C, 309M, 309Y, and 309K (hereinafter collectively referred to as 309) are halftone processing units. The halftone processing unit 309 uses a predetermined halftone screen pattern to reduce the number of bits of the pixel data input from the color misregistration amount correction unit 308, and from the gradation representation of the pixel unit to the area unit of the halftone screen. To the gradation expression. The converted data is output for each color to the PWM unit 310 described later.

  310C, 310M, 310Y, and 310K (hereinafter collectively referred to as 310) are PWM (Pulse Wide Modulation) units. When the PWM unit 310 receives the image data subjected to the halftone process, the PWM unit 310 performs a pulse width modulation process on the image data and outputs it to the printer engine 401 as a drive signal. Based on the received drive signal, the printer engine 401 executes exposure processing, development processing, transfer processing to transfer paper, and the like on the photosensitive drum 14.

[Color misregistration correction]
Next, color misregistration amount correction processing executed by the color misregistration amount correction unit 308 will be described. The color misregistration amount correction process includes a process for correcting the misregistration amount of the integer part of the color misregistration correction amount Δy and a process for correcting the misregistration amount after the decimal point of the color misregistration correction amount Δy.

(Process for correcting the shift amount of the integer part of the color shift correction amount Δy)
FIG. 5 is a diagram schematically showing an operation content in which the coordinate conversion unit 600 corrects the shift amount of the integer part of the color shift correction amount Δy.

  As shown in FIG. 5A, the coordinate conversion unit 600 stores data in the bitmap memory 306 in accordance with the value of the integer part of the color misregistration correction amount Δy obtained from the color misregistration information of the main scanning line approximated by a straight line. The coordinates in the sub-scanning direction (Y direction) of the accumulated image data are offset.

  For example, as shown in FIG. 5B, a situation is considered in which the coordinate position in the sub-scanning direction is n and the coordinate position in the main scanning direction is X, which is referenced by the coordinate counter 601. In this case, in the area A in the X coordinate in the main scanning direction, the color misregistration correction amount Δy is 0 or more and less than 1, and therefore the offset amount is 0. Therefore, when reconstructing the nth line data, the nth line data is read from the bitmap memory 306. On the other hand, in the region B, the color misregistration correction amount Δy is 1 or more and less than 2. For this reason, when the n-th line data is reconstructed, a coordinate conversion process is performed to read the image bit map at the position where the number of one sub-scan line is offset, that is, the n + 1-th line data from the bitmap memory 306. Similarly, coordinate conversion processing is performed in order to read data of the (n + 2) th line in the area C and n + 3th line in the area D. Through the above processing, reconstruction processing in the sub-scanning direction in units of pixels is performed.

  FIG. 5C shows an exposure image when image data that has been subjected to color misregistration correction in pixel units by the coordinate conversion unit 600 is exposed to the photosensitive drum 14. Even when the main scanning direction is deviated obliquely during image formation, by executing the reconstruction process in the sub-scanning direction as described above, the image of the straight line on the transfer paper is made close to the original image. Can be formed.

(Processing for correcting the shift amount after the decimal point of the color shift correction amount Δy)
Next, processing in which the gradation correction unit 604 performs correction by adjusting the exposure ratio of dots before and after the sub-scanning direction in less than a pixel unit will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 6 is a diagram schematically illustrating the operation content of the color correction performed by the gradation correction unit 604 in less than a pixel unit, that is, the correction of the color shift correction amount Δy after the decimal point. Correction of the shift amount after the decimal point is performed by adjusting the exposure ratio of dots before and after in the sub-scanning direction.

  FIG. 6A exemplarily shows an image of a main scanning line having an upward slope. FIG. 6B is a bitmap image of a horizontal straight line before gradation correction, that is, the original image, and FIG. 6C is for canceling the color shift due to the inclination of the main scanning line in FIG. 4B is a corrected bitmap image after gradation correction of the bitmap image exemplified in (b). The corrected bitmap image of (c) is ideal when the amount of tilt deviation is given by (a), for example. The tone correction unit 604 adjusts the exposure amount with respect to the regular grid points and further the toner application amount to form an ideal correction bitmap in order to form an image close to the correction bitmap image of (c). Form an image close to the image.

In order to realize the correction image of (c), the exposure amount adjustment of dots before and after in the sub-scanning direction is performed. FIG. 6D is a table showing the relationship between the color misregistration correction amount Δy and the correction coefficient for performing gradation correction. k is an integer part of the color misregistration correction amount Δy (the fractional part is rounded down), and represents the correction amount in the sub-scanning direction in units of pixels. β and α are correction coefficients for performing correction in the sub-scanning direction less than a pixel unit, and represent the distribution ratio of the exposure amount of dots before and after the sub-scanning direction based on information below the decimal point of the color misregistration correction amount Δy.
α = Δy−k
β = 1−α
Is calculated by α represents the distribution ratio for the scanning dot, and β represents the distribution ratio for the subsequent dot.

  FIG. 6E schematically shows a tone-corrected bitmap image for adjusting the exposure ratio of dots before and after in the sub-scanning direction based on α and β based on the correction coefficient (distribution rate) of (d). FIG. FIG. 6F shows an exposure image of the bitmap image with the gradation corrected on the photosensitive drum 14, and the inclination of the main scanning line is canceled out by the bitmap image with the gradation corrected, thereby forming a horizontal straight line. It shows how it is being done.

  Next, a process in which the coordinate conversion unit 600 and the gradation correction unit 604 correct the shift amount after the decimal point of the color shift correction amount Δy will be further described with reference to FIG.

  FIG. 8 is a diagram for explaining the reading order of image data read by the coordinate conversion unit 600 from the bitmap memory 306. FIG. 8A is a diagram for explaining the reading order of image data in a normal configuration. FIG. 8B is a diagram for explaining the reading order of the image data in which the order is reconfigured in order to correct the color misregistration amount in the configuration according to the present embodiment.

  In FIGS. 8A and 8B, the lines indicate pixel columns from which the coordinate conversion unit 600 reads the pixel values. The coordinate conversion unit 600 scans the lines in order, and reads the pixel value of each pixel included in each line. Here, for convenience of explanation, a case will be described as an example in which pixel values included in each line are read in ascending order from one line (1 line, 2 lines,... N line,...). For each line, for example, the pixel values are read in order from the leftmost pixel to the rightmost pixel in the drawing.

  In FIG. 8A, the horizontal direction or vertical direction of the image data coincides with the direction of each line. In FIG. 8A, A indicates a color shift of the main scanning line. For this reason, if the color misregistration amount is not corrected, the output image is distorted along the color misregistration A in the main scanning direction.

  In order to prevent such distortion of the output image, the coordinate conversion unit 600 corresponds to the color shift A in the main scanning direction so that the reading order of the pixel values is as shown in FIG. The coordinate value of the image data is calculated. Then, pixel values corresponding to the calculated coordinate values are sequentially read out from the bitmap memory 306. For example, in order to correct color misregistration, pixel values need to be read in the order of 801, 802, 803, 804, and 805 in the n line. For this reason, the coordinate conversion unit 600 calculates the reading position (coordinates) based on the color misregistration correction amount Δy acquired from the color misregistration correction amount calculation unit 307 so that the reading order is as described above. The principle of calculation is as described with reference to FIG. Then, pixel values corresponding to the calculated coordinates are read in order. In this way, by reconfiguring the reading order of pixel values corresponding to the color shift A in the main scanning direction, the color shift in units of pixels is corrected.

  Furthermore, the coordinate conversion unit 600 according to the present embodiment reads out pixel values adjacent (for example, following) in the sub-scanning direction, in addition to the pixels being scanned, in order to perform gradation correction less than a pixel unit. Based on the two pixel values, the toner application amount of the pixel value being scanned is determined. In the configuration according to the present embodiment, the coordinate conversion unit 600 includes a coordinate counter 601 that determines the coordinate values (transfer addresses), transfer sizes, and the like of two pixels adjacent to each other in the sub-scanning direction, and the pixel of the determined transfer address. Two DMACs 602 and 603 for reading values are provided. The gradation correction unit 604 corrects the pixel value Pn (x) corrected based on the read two pixel values Pn-1 (x) and Pn (x) and the distribution ratios α and β. Ask for. Thereby, in addition to coordinate conversion, gradation correction less than a pixel unit can also be performed. In addition, by reading and calculating the pixel values of adjacent pixels by providing two easy-to-implement and simple-to-configure DMACs, color misregistration correction is possible without requiring a line memory or a complicated hardware configuration. It can be performed.

  For example, in FIG. 8, in response to the inclination deviation amount A, the coordinate conversion unit 600 uses the DMAC 603 to transfer in the order of the n lines in FIG. The DMAC 602 transfers the (n-1) th line to the gradation correction unit 604.

The gradation correction unit 604 acquires the pixel position (coordinates) in the main scanning direction from the coordinate counter 601 in order to generate correction data. Then, the gradation correction unit 604 obtains correction coefficients α and β from the value of the coordinate counter, performs the following calculation with the pixel values Pn and Pn−1 transferred from the DMACs 603 and 602, and performs correction data P′n (x ) Is generated.
P′n (x) = Pn (x) * β (x) + Pn−1 (x) * α (x)
By the above calculation, an image bitmap in which the color misregistration amount less than the pixel unit in the sub-scanning direction is corrected is output.

  The image data that has been subjected to the color misregistration correction by these processes is output to the printer engine 1 as a color signal subjected to the pulse width modulation process in the PWM unit 310, and the exposure unit performs the exposure process on the image carrier.

  As described above, in the configuration according to the present embodiment, a correction amount for correcting the amount of blur in the sub-scanning direction at each main scanning position is calculated from the image bitmap, and this is used as a corrected image bitmap. Reconfigure. Therefore, it is possible to create an image in which the color shift due to the inclination and distortion of the main scanning line is corrected. In addition, since the readout of pixels adjacent in the sub-scanning direction is realized by providing a DMAC, it is possible to obtain a good image without requiring a line memory or a complicated hardware configuration.

<< Second Embodiment >>
In the configuration according to the first embodiment, the derivation of the correction amount and the correction in units of pixels and less than the unit of pixels are performed for all the pixels in all the regions having the tilt deviation. In the configuration in which the color misregistration correction is performed, the number of accesses to the memory that is performed when outputting an image is doubled compared to the configuration in which the color misregistration correction is not performed. In the present embodiment, a configuration in which the memory access amount is reduced by performing control so that subsequent pixels are not read out in an image area that does not require color misregistration correction in units of pixels will be described.

  In the configuration according to the present embodiment, only the surrounding pixels on which coordinate conversion is performed are transferred by the DMAC 603, and gradation correction of less than a pixel unit is performed only in a necessary region. As a result, the time for simultaneously operating the 2-channel DMACs 602 and 603 can be shortened, and the memory access amount can be reduced.

  In the configuration according to the present embodiment, the color misregistration amount storage unit 303 stores information about a region where gradation correction is performed in units of less than a pixel unit in addition to the information on the color misregistration amount. For example, in the manufacturing process of this apparatus, an area for gradation correction less than a pixel unit is determined based on the measurement result of the color misregistration amount, and is stored in advance in the color misregistration amount storage unit 303 as information unique to the image forming apparatus. You can make it. Alternatively, a detection mechanism for detecting the shift amount is prepared in the image forming apparatus itself, a predetermined pattern for measuring the shift is formed on the photosensitive drum 14, the shift amount is detected by the detection mechanism, and the detected value is detected. It is also possible to configure so as to determine a region for gradation correction based on the above.

  For example, the process of determining a region in which gradation correction less than a pixel unit is performed based on the amount of deviation is performed by, for example, determining the threshold value X in advance, and based on the magnitude relationship between the correction coefficient α or β and the threshold value X described above. Can be determined. As a specific example, for example, an area where the value of the correction coefficient α is equal to or greater than the threshold value X = 0.7 can be set as an area for gradation correction less than a pixel unit. In this case, in the example of FIG. 6C, the region of Δy = 0.75 and 1.75 corresponds to a region where gradation correction is performed with less than a pixel unit.

  The color misregistration amount correction unit 308 refers to the information about the area where gradation correction is performed in less than a pixel unit and stored in the color misregistration amount storage unit 303, and only the pixels included in this area are adjacent in the sub-scanning direction. Refer to the pixel value of the target pixel. FIG. 9 is a diagram for explaining the reading order of image data read from the bitmap memory 306 by the coordinate conversion unit 600 according to the present embodiment.

  In FIG. 9, when the data of the B line is transferred by the DMAC 603, the DMAC 602 transfers the data immediately before the B line only at the portion where the gradation correction of each area is performed, and corrects the color misregistration less than the pixel unit. Do. For example, when the DMAC 603 refers to the line 901, the DMAC 602 does not refer to the line in a portion other than the correction area 1 less than a pixel unit. Therefore, the gradation correction unit 604 outputs the pixel information input from the DMAC 603 as it is to the halftone processing unit 309 without performing gradation correction. Only when the DMAC 603 refers to the line 901 included in the correction area 1 of less than a pixel unit, the DMAC 602 refers to the line 902 at a position corresponding to the reference location of the DMAC 603 and performs color misregistration correction less than the pixel unit. Then, the corrected information is output to the halftone processing unit 309.

  With such a configuration, correction processing for a color misregistration amount less than a pixel unit is not performed in an unnecessary area, and unnecessary memory access can be reduced. In addition, since the gradation correction unit 604 does not need to perform multiplication processing for a portion where gradation correction is not performed, power consumption can be reduced.

1 is a schematic cross-sectional view illustrating an outline of a physical configuration of an image forming apparatus according to first and second embodiments. FIG. 4 is an image diagram showing a shift of a main scanning line formed by scanning on a photosensitive drum. FIG. 3 is a functional block diagram of an image forming apparatus according to first and second embodiments. 6 is a diagram exemplarily showing information stored in a color misregistration amount storage unit. FIG. It is the figure which showed typically the operation | movement content which a coordinate conversion part correct | amends the deviation | shift amount of the integer part of color shift correction amount (DELTA) y. FIG. 10 is a diagram schematically showing the operation content in which the gradation correction unit corrects the amount of deviation after the decimal point of the color misregistration correction amount Δy. It is a block diagram showing a configuration of a color misregistration amount correction unit. It is a figure explaining the read-out order of the image data which the coordinate transformation part which concerns on 1st Embodiment reads from a bitmap memory. It is a figure explaining the read-out order of the image data which the coordinate transformation part which concerns on 2nd Embodiment reads from a bitmap memory.

Claims (10)

An image forming apparatus including an image forming unit that forms an image on a recording medium by drawing in units of lines based on an input drive signal,
An image memory for holding image information composed of a plurality of pixel information;
Storage means for storing correction information relating to positional deviation correction of the image formed by the image forming unit;
Conversion means for converting the coordinates of the read address of the image memory based on the correction information stored in the storage means;
First reading means for reading pixel information of a line to be drawn based on the address information converted by the conversion means;
Second reading means for reading pixel information of a pixel corresponding to the converted address information of a line adjacent to the line to be drawn;
Gradation correction means for performing gradation correction of the pixel information read by the first reading means based on the correction information and the pixel information read by the second reading means;
An image forming apparatus comprising: output means for outputting the drive signal to the image forming unit based on the pixel information subjected to gradation correction by the gradation correction means.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the first reading unit and the second reading unit includes a DMAC. The storage means further stores range information indicating a range in which the gradation correction is performed,
The second reading means and the gradation correcting means operate in a range indicated by the range information,
The output means is based on the pixel information subjected to gradation correction when the pixel information read out by the first reading means is subjected to gradation correction, and the first information when the gradation information is not corrected. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the drive signal is output to the image forming unit based on the pixel information read by the reading unit. A plurality of the image forming units are provided corresponding to basic colors, and each of the image forming units forms an image of the basic color corresponding to the recording medium,
A plurality of the storage means, the conversion means, the first reading means, the second reading means, the gradation correction means, and the output means are provided corresponding to the basic colors, respectively.
Further, the recording medium includes a conveying unit that conveys the recording medium between the plurality of image forming units and forms the basic color image on the recording medium in a superimposed manner using the plurality of image forming units. The image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3. The image forming unit includes:
A photoreceptor that forms an electrostatic latent image based on irradiation of a light beam;
Exposure means for irradiating the photoreceptor with a light beam;
Developing means for developing a toner image on the photosensitive member by transferring a monochromatic toner to the photosensitive member on which the electrostatic latent image is formed based on irradiation of a light beam from the exposing unit;
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a transfer unit that transfers the toner image developed on the photoconductor to the recording medium. An image forming unit that forms an image on a recording medium by line-based drawing based on an input drive signal;
An image memory for holding image information composed of a plurality of pixel information;
A storage unit that stores correction information relating to correction of misregistration of the image formed by the image forming unit;
A conversion step of converting the coordinates of the read address of the image memory based on the correction information stored in the storage means;
A first readout step of reading out pixel information of a line to be drawn based on the address information converted in the conversion step;
A second reading step of reading pixel information of a pixel corresponding to the converted address information of a line adjacent to the line to be drawn;
A gradation correction step for performing gradation correction of the pixel information read in the first reading step based on the correction information and the pixel information read in the second reading step;
An output step of outputting the drive signal to the image forming unit based on the pixel information subjected to gradation correction in the gradation correction step.   7. The method of controlling an image forming apparatus according to claim 6, wherein at least one of the first reading step and the second reading step is executed by a DMAC. The storage means further stores range information indicating a range in which the gradation correction is performed,
The second readout step and the gradation correction step operate in a range indicated by the range information,
In the output step, the pixel information read in the first reading step is based on the pixel information subjected to the gradation correction when the gradation correction is performed, and the first information when the gradation correction is not performed. 8. The method of controlling an image forming apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the drive signal is output to the image forming unit based on the pixel information read in the reading step. A plurality of the image forming units are provided corresponding to basic colors, and each of the image forming units forms an image of the basic color corresponding to the recording medium,
A plurality of the storage means are provided corresponding to the basic color,
The image forming apparatus further includes a conveying step of conveying the recording medium between the plurality of image forming units and forming the basic color image on the recording medium in a superimposed manner using the plurality of image forming units. The method of controlling an image forming apparatus according to claim 6. The image forming unit includes:
A photoreceptor that forms an electrostatic latent image based on irradiation of a light beam;
Exposure means for irradiating the photoreceptor with a light beam;
Developing means for developing a toner image on the photosensitive member by transferring a monochromatic toner to the photosensitive member on which the electrostatic latent image is formed based on irradiation of a light beam from the exposing unit;
The image forming apparatus control method according to claim 6, further comprising: a transfer unit that transfers the toner image developed on the photoconductor to the recording medium.

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