JP2007125727A - Printing device, control device, and image data processing method for printing device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent operating clocks of a tandem ASIC from speeding up when the tandem ASIC is applied to a four-cycle printing engine. <P>SOLUTION: A laser color printing device comprises a control device having a plurality of image processing means for controlling a tandem-type printing engine, and the four-cycle printing engine. The plurality of image processing means carry out parallel image processing of image data to be processed in units of raster, and comprise a control means for controlling raster data subjected to image processing, so as to be successively output to the four-cycle printing engine in the order of original rasters. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a printing apparatus, and more particularly to a color printing apparatus employing a laser system.

  As described in Patent Document 1, as a printing engine of a color printing apparatus adopting a laser system, a tandem system that outputs and prints laser beams for four colors of CMYK at a time, and four colors with one laser beam. There is a 4-cycle method in which CMYK colors are overlaid and printed sequentially.

  FIG. 4A is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a four-cycle print engine 40 and a control unit for controlling the four-cycle print engine.

  As shown in the figure, the control unit for controlling the four-cycle print engine includes a four-cycle ASIC 120 developed for the four-cycle print engine, a CPU 20, and a memory 30. The four-cycle ASIC 120 includes a CPU control unit 121, a memory control unit 122, an I / F control unit 123, and an image processing unit 124.

  FIG. 4B is a diagram illustrating a relationship between a video clock in the four-cycle print engine 40, a processing target of the image processing unit 124, and video data output to the print engine 40.

  As shown in the figure, the image processing unit 124 performs image processing one raster at a time with the same clock as the video clock of the print engine 40. The generated video data is output to the print engine 40 by one raster in synchronization with the video clock. These processes are repeated four times for each color.

  FIG. 5A is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a tandem type print engine 50 and a control unit for controlling the tandem type print engine.

  As shown in the figure, the control unit for controlling the tandem print engine includes a tandem ASIC 130 developed for the tandem print engine, a CPU 20, and a memory 30. The tandem ASIC 130 includes a CPU control unit 131, a memory control unit 132, an I / F control unit 133, and an image processing unit 134. Here, the image processing unit 134 includes an image processing unit a, an image processing unit b, an image processing unit c, and an image processing unit d and four processing units in order to process CMYK four colors simultaneously.

  FIG. 5B is a diagram illustrating a relationship between a video clock in the tandem type print engine 50, a processing target of the image processing unit 134, and video data output to the print engine 50.

  As shown in the figure, the image processing units a to d of the image processing unit 134 perform image processing of each color in parallel by one raster at the same clock as the video clock of the print engine 50, and the generated video data is 1 Each raster is output to the print engine 40 in synchronization with the video clock.

  Generally, a tandem engine that processes four colors in parallel has a higher printing speed than a four-cycle engine that processes one color at a time. On the other hand, the video clock, which is a request from the print engine side, requires a faster clock in the 4-cycle engine.

  In order to output the video data in synchronization with the video clock, video data for one raster must be prepared for each raster start instruction signal. For this reason, the operation clock of the control unit needs to be the same as the video clock of the print engine, but as the clock becomes faster, noise such as EMI and power consumption increase.

JP 2001-43059 A

  Conventionally, as shown in FIG. 4 and FIG. 5, the control ASIC developed exclusively for the 4-cycle type print engine and the tandem type print engine has been used. ASICs developed for tandem are being used as a control unit for a four-cycle print engine for the purpose of cost reduction through generalization.

  FIG. 6A is a block diagram showing a configuration when a tandem ASIC 130 is used as the control unit of the four-cycle print engine 40.

  As shown in the figure, when the tandem ASIC 130 is used in the four-cycle print engine 40, video data is only transmitted using one image processing unit a134a out of the four image processing units 134. It is generated and output to the 4-cycle print engine 40.

  For this reason, as shown in FIG. 6B, the image processing unit 134 a performs image processing one raster at a time using the same clock as the video clock of the print engine 40. The generated video data is output to the print engine 40 one raster at a time in synchronization with the raster start instruction signal. These processes are repeated four times for each color.

  As described above, when the tandem ASIC 130 is used in the four-cycle print engine 40, the clock is faster than that used in the tandem print engine 50 in order to match the video clock of the four-cycle print engine 40. Must work.

  However, it is desirable to operate with a slow clock in order to reduce EMI noise and power consumption.

  An object of the present invention is to suppress an increase in the operating clock of a tandem ASIC when the tandem ASIC is used in a four-cycle print engine.

In order to solve the above-described problem, a printing apparatus according to the first aspect of the present invention includes:
A laser type color printing apparatus comprising a control device having a plurality of image processing means and a 4-cycle printing engine for controlling a tandem printing engine,
The plurality of image processing means perform image processing in parallel on a raster basis on image data to be processed,
Control means for sequentially outputting the raster data subjected to the image processing to the four-cycle print engine in the original raster order.

  In the present invention, processing is performed using the image processing means in parallel and sequentially output to the 4-cycle print engine, so that the operation clock of the image processing means is higher than the clock required by the 4-cycle print engine. Can be slow.

  As a result, when the control device developed for tandem is used as a control device for a four-cycle print engine, EMI noise and power consumption can be reduced as compared with the conventional technology.

More specifically, the control means outputs the raster data in synchronization with a video clock of the 4-cycle print engine,
The image processing means can operate with a clock of a value obtained by dividing the video clock of the 4-cycle printing engine by the number of image processing means.

  Since the print engine has four cycles, the image processing unit repeats the image processing of the image data for each color.

  Further, the plurality of image processing means respectively process consecutive rasters of image data to be processed in parallel.

In order to solve the above problem, a control device according to a second aspect of the present invention includes:
A control device comprising a plurality of image processing means for controlling a tandem print engine,
The plurality of image processing means perform image processing in parallel on successive rasters of image data to be processed,
Control means for sequentially outputting the raster data subjected to the image processing in the original raster order.

Furthermore, in order to solve the above problem, an image data processing method according to a third aspect of the present invention includes:
An image data processing method in a laser-type color printing apparatus comprising a control device having a plurality of image processing means and a 4-cycle printing engine for controlling a tandem printing engine,
The plurality of image processing means performing image processing in parallel on a raster basis on image data to be processed;
And sequentially outputting the raster data subjected to the image processing to the four-cycle print engine in the original raster order.

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

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of this embodiment. That is, it is a block diagram showing a configuration in the case of using a 4-cycle type print engine 40 and a tandem ASIC 10 as a control unit of the print engine.

  Note that the present invention can be applied to a color printing apparatus employing a laser system, such as a printer, a facsimile machine, and a copier.

  As shown in the figure, a CPU 20 for controlling various processes in the printing apparatus and a memory 30 are connected to the tandem ASIC 10 that controls the four-cycle print engine 40. The tandem ASIC 10 includes a CPU control unit 11 for communication with the CPU 20, a memory control unit 12 for controlling access to the memory 30, an I / F control unit 13 for controlling communication with an external device, an image, and the like. A processing unit 14 and a switching control unit 15 are provided.

  Here, since the image processing unit 14 simultaneously processes CMYK four-color image data when controlling the tandem type print engine, the image processing unit a, the image processing unit b, the image processing unit c, and the image processing units d and 4 A book processing unit is provided.

  In this embodiment, the tandem ASIC 10 controls the four-cycle print engine 40. In this case, the four rasters are processed in parallel using the image processing units a to d, and are output in the order of the rasters. Thereby, the four image processing units can be used effectively.

  When the tandem ASIC 10 is used in a tandem type print engine, it is natural that the same processing as the conventional one can be performed. Further, the number of image processing units can be changed according to the number of toner colors used in the tandem type print engine.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an example of the configuration of the image processing unit 14 and the switching control unit 15. As shown in the figure, each of the image processing units a to d configuring the image processing unit 14 includes a DMA module that captures compressed image data from the memory 30, a decompression module that decompresses the compressed image data, and a print position. A position adjustment module for adjustment, a color adjustment module for adjusting the color to be printed, and a screen processing module for performing screen processing are provided.

  The switching control unit 15 includes a raster buffer corresponding to each of the image processing units a to d and a control unit that sequentially outputs data for each raster stored in the raster buffer.

  The data output from the switching control unit 15 is converted into serial data for controlling the laser beam by a PWM module (not shown) and output to the four-cycle print engine 40. Note that the switching control unit 15 may be provided outside the tandem ASIC 10.

  FIG. 3 shows the relationship between the video clock of the 4-cycle print engine 40, the processing target of the image processing unit 14, the video data output to the 4-cycle print engine 40, and the operation clock of the image processing unit 14 in this embodiment. FIG.

  As shown in the figure, in this embodiment, first to fourth rasters are processed in parallel by image processing units a to d, respectively, and generated video data is synchronized with a video clock for each raster. Output sequentially. Then, while outputting the first to fourth video data, the fifth to eighth rasters are processed in parallel by the image processing units a to d, respectively, and the generated data is stored in the raster buffer. The data stored in the raster buffer is sequentially output in raster order in synchronization with the video clock for each raster. Note that some of the four image processing units may not be used.

  As described above, in this embodiment, the processing is performed using the four image processing units in parallel, so that the operation clock of the image processing unit 14 may be 1/4 of the video clock as shown in FIG. become.

  As a result, when the ASIC developed for tandem is used as a control unit of a four-cycle print engine, EMI noise and power consumption can be reduced as compared with the conventional technology.

The block diagram which shows the structure of ASIC for 4 cycle type printing engines and tandems. The block diagram which shows the structure of an image process part and a switching control part. The figure which shows the relationship between a video clock and image processing data. The figure which shows the structure of 4 cycle type print engine and ASIC for 4 cycles. The figure which shows the structure of a tandem type | mold print engine and ASIC for tandems. The figure which shows the structure of ASIC for 4 cycle type | mold printing engines and tandem.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... ASIC for tandem, 11 ... CPU control part, 12 ... Memory control part, 13 ... I / F control part, 14 ... Image processing part, 15 ... Switching control part, 30 ... Memory, 40 ... 4-cycle printing engine, DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 50 ... Tandem type print engine, 120 ... 4 cycle ASIC, 121 ... CPU control part, 122 ... Memory control part, 123 ... I / F control part, 124 ... Image processing part, 130 ... Tandem ASIC, 131 ... CPU control , 132 ... Memory control unit, 133 ... I / F control unit, 134 ... Image processing unit

Claims (6)

A laser-type color printing apparatus comprising a control device having a plurality of image processing means and a 4-cycle printing engine for controlling a tandem printing engine,
The plurality of image processing means perform image processing in parallel on a raster basis on image data to be processed,
A printing apparatus comprising: control means for sequentially outputting the raster data subjected to the image processing to the four-cycle print engine in the original raster order. The printing apparatus according to claim 1,
The control means outputs the raster data in synchronization with a video clock of the 4-cycle print engine,
The image processing means operates with a clock having a value obtained by dividing the video clock of the 4-cycle printing engine by the number of image processing means. The printing apparatus according to claim 1,
The printing apparatus, wherein the image processing unit repeats image processing of the image data for each color. The printing apparatus according to claim 1,
The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of image processing units process consecutive rasters of image data to be processed in parallel. A control device comprising a plurality of image processing means for controlling a tandem print engine,
The plurality of image processing means perform image processing in parallel on successive rasters of image data to be processed,
A control apparatus comprising control means for sequentially outputting the raster data subjected to the image processing in the original raster order. An image data processing method in a laser-type color printing apparatus comprising a control device having a plurality of image processing means and a 4-cycle printing engine for controlling a tandem printing engine,
The plurality of image processing means performing image processing in parallel on a raster basis on image data to be processed;
And a step of sequentially outputting the raster data subjected to the image processing to the four-cycle print engine in the original raster order.

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