JP2007301743A - Ink-jet recording device, data processing method, program, and storage medium - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To achieve high image quality while saving a memory capacity of mask data for multipass recording of an ink-jet recording device. <P>SOLUTION: The ink-jet recording device has a recording head provided with a plurality of recording nozzle arrays corresponding to colors to be recorded while including a plurality of recording nozzle arrays of the same color with respect to a specific color. The device is provided with a means, which processes recording data of a color recorded with a single recording nozzle array not the recording nozzle array of the same color while using mask data for first multipass recording, and a means for processing recording data of a color recorded with the recording nozzle arrays of the same color while using mask data for second multipass recording that have the number of passes larger than that of the mask data for first multipass recording. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an inkjet recording apparatus, a data processing method, a program, and a storage medium that enable high-quality color recording using a recording head that includes a plurality of recording nozzle arrays for a specific color ink.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in an ink jet recording apparatus having a recording head having a plurality of recording nozzle arrays for ejecting ink of the same color, one recording nozzle array and the other recording nozzle array are used in one recording scan. The recording position is controlled to be the same position. In that case, the ink heating timing for the two recording nozzle rows of the recording head is shifted and controlled.

  It is known to employ a multi-pass printing method and increase the number of printing passes (printing scans) in order to achieve high resolution by shifting the heating timing of the printheads in the main scanning direction for each print scan of the printhead. Yes.

  Also, when printing is performed at a speed faster than the discharge frequency to achieve high speed, the heating timing of one printing nozzle row and the other printing nozzle row is shifted. As a result, the apparent output resolution is improved by setting the recording positions of the nozzles of one recording nozzle row and the other recording nozzle row to be oblique.

Also, when recording data with high resolution is recorded with a photographic ink jet recording apparatus, recording is performed by combining column-thinning recording and mask data for multi-pass recording. As a result, cyan and magenta having a plurality of print nozzle arrays are not printed using multi-pass print mask data having a different number of passes from the other colors.
JP 2001-096770 A JP 2001-096771 A JP 2002-137421 A

  However, the above conventional example has the following problems to be solved.

  That is, conventionally, even when recording high-resolution recording data in the recording scanning direction, since recording is performed by combining column thinning recording and mask data for multi-pass recording, even when multi-pass recording is performed, It was necessary to perform line thinning. For this reason, in the recorded image, only the recording image quality inferior to the image quality of the number of passes actually recorded can be obtained. More specifically, even when 4-pass scanning printing is performed in the 4-pass, that is, multi-pass printing method, the printing operation is actually executed by a combination of 2-pass printing and column thinning printing. Therefore, there is a problem that the recorded image has an image quality equivalent to two-pass recording.

  In addition, for cyan C and magenta M, each having two recording nozzle arrays, there is a problem that the storage capacity of the mask data becomes larger than the present when using the distribution mask data.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and aims to save memory capacity for mask data and achieve high resolution and high image quality without reducing throughput.

To achieve the above object, according to an embodiment of the present invention,
In an inkjet recording apparatus that performs recording using a recording head that includes at least a plurality of recording nozzle arrays corresponding to the first color and a single recording nozzle array corresponding to the second color.
Means for processing the second color recording data to be recorded by the single recording nozzle array using the first multi-pass recording mask data;
Means for processing the first color recording data recorded by the plurality of recording nozzle arrays using second multi-pass recording mask data having a larger number of passes than the first multi-pass recording mask data; An ink jet recording apparatus is provided.

To achieve the above object, according to another embodiment of the present invention,
In a method of processing print data for printing using a print head including at least a plurality of print nozzle rows corresponding to a first color and a single print nozzle row corresponding to a second color ,
Processing the second color recording data to be recorded by the single recording nozzle row using the first multi-pass recording mask data; and
Processing the first color recording data recorded by the plurality of recording nozzle arrays using second multi-pass recording mask data having a larger number of passes than the first multi-pass recording mask data; A data processing method is provided.

  According to still another embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a program in which the procedure of the data processing method is described as a computer executable code.

  According to still another embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a computer-readable storage medium storing a program in which the procedure of the data processing method is described as a code.

  As described above, according to the present invention, the memory capacity of the mask data for multi-pass printing can be saved, and high resolution and high image quality can be realized without reducing the throughput.

<Embodiment 1>
FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a recording head of an ink jet recording apparatus that records a color image that can be used in an embodiment of the present invention. The nozzles that eject ink have recording nozzle rows that are divided into an even nozzle row E and an odd nozzle row O for each color recording head. The positions of the nozzles of the even nozzle row E and the odd nozzle row O are arranged in a staggered manner as shown in the figure. The even nozzle row E and the odd nozzle row O are combined to form a recording nozzle row for one color. That is, in FIG. 1, cyan C ink is recorded by the recording head C1 and the recording head C2, and therefore cyan C is recorded by the two recording nozzle arrays NZC1 and NZC2. Similarly, the ink of magenta M is recorded by the recording head M1 and recording head M2, and therefore magenta M is also recorded by the two recording nozzle rows NZM1 and NZM2. Further, a yellow Y recording nozzle row YNZ is provided in the middle. For yellow Y, only one recording nozzle row is provided. As described above, the print head shown in FIG. 1 is arranged with the print nozzle rows NZM1 and NZM2 of magenta M centered on the print nozzle row NZY of yellow Y. Similarly, cyan C recording nozzle arrays NZC1 and NZC2 are arranged symmetrically with respect to the yellow Y recording nozzle array NZY. For that reason, the arrangement of recording nozzle arrays as shown in FIG. 1 is called a symmetrical nozzle array structure, and has two identical color recording nozzle arrays for two colors, that is, cyan and magenta, For yellow, it has one single recording nozzle row.

  In addition, a recording head having a recording nozzle array including each even nozzle array E and odd nozzle array O is provided with a diode sensor DS for detecting the recording head temperature in order to detect the temperature of the recording head. Normally, a black BK recording head is used in addition to the recording head shown in FIG. 1, but it is omitted in the description of the embodiment of the present invention because it is not particularly necessary.

  FIG. 2 shows an ink jet recording system using the ink jet recording apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention, and is constructed by a personal computer (PC) 20 serving as a host and an ink jet recording apparatus 22.

  The ink jet recording apparatus 22 includes a control unit 23 and a mechanism unit 24 including a recording head and a recording paper feeding mechanism. As the mechanism unit 24, a conventionally known serial type printer mechanism can be used. Since the description of the mechanism portion 24 is not necessarily required for the description of the embodiment of the present invention, this description is omitted.

  Next, the control unit 23 is provided with a CPU 201 that controls the entire inkjet recording apparatus 22 and a ROM 202 that stores a control program 203. Further, the ROM 202 stores a dot arrangement index pattern 204 used when converting input image data having a certain resolution into output data resolution, a mask pattern 205 for multi-pass control, and the like. The index pattern 204 and the mask pattern 205 are stored independently for each color recording nozzle row of the recording head.

  Reference numeral 207 denotes a reception buffer that receives the input recording data transferred from the PC 20, and a part of the RAM 206 is allocated thereto. The RAM 207 includes a data expansion work buffer 208 and a recording buffer 209 for storing recording data. The RAM 207 further includes a mask pattern development mask buffer 210 and an index pattern development index buffer 212 for cyan print nozzle rows NZC1 and NZC2 and magenta print nozzle rows NZM1 and NZM2. Furthermore, a mask pattern development mask buffer 211 and an index pattern development index buffer 213 for the yellow recording nozzle row NZY are also set.

  Reference numeral 214 denotes a recording buffer management module that manages each buffer used in connection with recording, and reference numeral 215 denotes a recording sequencer module of the recording engine unit of the inkjet recording apparatus 22 that performs the operation.

  Further, the PC 20 that is the host of the inkjet recording apparatus 22 is provided with a printer driver 21 for the inkjet recording apparatus 22 that generates recording data. Reference numeral 222 denotes an interface cable for connecting the inkjet recording apparatus 22 and the PC 20, for example. The inkjet recording device 22 and the PC 20 do not necessarily have to be connected by a wired interface cable 222, and can be connected wirelessly.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram showing recording data used in the ink jet recording apparatus 22. In the figure, it is shown that input recording data having a resolution of 600 dpi becomes an index pattern of 4 bits, 6 values of output resolution 2400 dpi (4 × 2). FIG. 4 shows that input recording data having a resolution of 600 dpi has an index pattern of 4 bits, 16 values of output resolution 4800 dpi (8 × 2).

  When the ejection frequency of the recording head is 1200 dpi, data is recorded by thinning out the columns during one recording scan of the recording head. Therefore, in order to print the 2400 dpi (4 × 2) index pattern shown in FIG. 3, at least two printing scans are required as shown in FIG. That is, the columns 0 and 2 are recorded during the first recording scan of the recording nozzle array of the recording head, and the columns 1 and 3 are recorded while the recording start position is shifted by 2400 dpi during the second recording scan.

  Therefore, when data of 600 dpi, 4 bits, and 6-value output resolution of 2400 dpi (4 × 2) in FIG. 3 is recorded by 4-pass printing, column thinning is performed, so that mask data for multi-pass printing is 2 passes. Use mask data for recording.

  In the first embodiment of the present invention, as shown in FIG. 5, cyan and magenta print data having a plurality of print nozzle arrays for one color is developed into a 4 × 2 index pattern of 600 dpi, 4 bits, and 6 values. To do. Then, one print nozzle row (NZC1, NZM1) prints row 0 and row 2 in one print scan, and the print start position of the other print nozzle row (NZC2, NZM2) is shifted by 2400 dpi. Specify and record columns 1 and 3.

  Thereby, 4 × 2 recording data can be recorded by one recording scan. Conventionally, mask data for 2-pass printing is used for mask data for multi-pass printing, but mask data for 4-pass printing can be used for mask data for multi-pass printing. Therefore, the number of passes remains at 4 passes, and until now only an image quality equivalent to 2-pass recording could be obtained, but an image quality equivalent to 4-pass recording was obtained, and the image quality improved.

  Conventionally, at least four recording scans have been required to record the 4800 dpi (8 × 2) index pattern of FIG. That is, column 0 and column 4 are recorded during the first recording scan, and column 1 and column 5 are recorded while the recording start position is shifted by 4800 dpi during the second recording scan. In the third recording scan, the recording start position is further shifted by 4800 dpi, and the columns 2 and 6 are recorded. Similarly, at the time of the fourth recording scan, the recording start position is further shifted by 4800 dpi, and columns 3 and 7 are recorded.

  For this reason, when performing 8-pass printing of 301 600 dpi, 4-bit, 16-valued output resolution 4800 dpi (8 × 2), 1/4 column thinning is performed. Therefore, as mask data for multi-pass printing, Mask data for 2-pass printing is used.

  In Embodiment 1 of the present invention, as shown in FIG. 6, cyan and magenta print data having a plurality of print nozzle arrays for one color is developed into an 8 × 2 index pattern of 600 dpi, 4 bits, and 16 values. To do. In the first print scan, the print start positions of the plurality of print nozzle rows (NZC1, NZM1) in rows 0 and 4 and the other print nozzle row (NZC2, NZM2) are shifted by 4800 dpi. Record column 1 and column 5. Further, at the time of the second recording scan, the recording start position is further shifted by 4800 dpi with one of the recording nozzle arrays (NZC1, NZM1), and the arrays 2 and 6 are recorded. Then, the recording start positions of the other recording nozzle arrays (NZC2, NZM2) are set to be shifted by 4800 dpi, and the arrays 3 and 7 are recorded.

  Thereby, 8 × 2 data can be recorded by two recording scans. Until now, mask data for two-pass printing has been used as mask data for multi-pass printing. However, according to the present invention, it is possible to use mask data for 4-pass printing with a large number of passes as mask data for multi-pass printing. Therefore, while the number of passes remains 8 and only an image quality equivalent to 2-pass recording has been obtained so far, in Embodiment 1 of the present invention, an image quality equivalent to 4-pass recording can be obtained and the image quality is improved. did.

  FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a mask data configuration used in the first embodiment of the present invention. In order to perform multi-pass printing, which mask data is used for each color in the printing mode is determined. Here, for example, a case of 4-pass printing will be described. The mask data for 4-pass printing includes mask data 701 for 4-pass string decimation (2-pass printing mask) and mask data 702 for 4-pass string decimation (4-pass printing mask). ing. The 8-pass printing mask data includes mask data 703 for 8-pass string thinning (4-pass printing mask) and mask data 704 for 8-pass string thinning-out (8-pass mask). .

  Accordingly, when high-resolution data is printed in which the ejection frequency of the head is not in time, for cyan and magenta having a plurality of recording nozzle rows for one color, the mask data for thinning-out with 4-pass rows (2 Pass recording mask). In the present invention, mask data for thinning out 4-pass rows (4-pass printing mask) or mask data for thinning-out 8-pass rows (4-pass printing mask) used in another high image quality mode is used. Can do.

  Since these mask data are already prepared for use in another high image quality mode, it is necessary to prepare mask data for sorting colors with a plurality of recording nozzle rows for one color. Absent. For this reason, the capacity of the ROM 202 for storing the mask pattern 205 can improve the image quality without increasing the mask data capacity as compared with the past.

  FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing the processing flow of the present invention. The processing flow of the present invention will be described below.

  In step S1, recording is started by the application of the PC 20. In step S2, the printer driver 21 of the PC 20 generates print data. At this time, the printer driver 21 generates recording data that becomes a high-resolution dot pattern with a resolution of 2400 dpi / 4800 dpi from input data with a resolution of 600 dpi.

  In step S3, recording data is transferred from the PC 20 to the inkjet recording apparatus 22. In step S4, the ink jet recording apparatus 22 receives the recording data. The recording data received in step S5 is expanded. In the recording buffer, the recording data is rearranged in the order of heating the recording head. First, the start position and end position of the heating window for recording in step S6 are set. In this case, for cyan and magenta having a plurality of print nozzle rows for one color, it is necessary to print print data of a row shifted by 2400 dpi or 4800 dpi in one print scan. Therefore, a position shifted by 2400 dpi or 4800 dpi in the recording nozzle row is set.

  In step S7, a recording mode of 600 dpi, 4 bits, 6 values, or 600 dpi, 4 bits, 16 values is designated, and 600 dpi, 4 × 2, or 600 dpi, 8 × 2 cyan and magenta recording data are developed into index codes. . Similarly, in step S8, the yellow recording data is expanded into an index code.

  In steps S9 and S10, column thinning is set, and which column data is recorded is set. Here, the following column data is specified.

  In the case of 600 dpi, 4-bit, 6-value printing mode in step S9, one printing nozzle row (NZC1) is printed during the first printing scan for cyan and magenta having a plurality of printing nozzle rows for one color. , NZM1) is designated to record column 0 and column 2. Furthermore, it is specified that the first and third recording nozzle rows (NZC2, NZM2) print row 1 and row 3. Further, in step S10, for yellow that does not have a plurality of recording nozzle arrays for one color, the first recording is performed for the recording nozzle array (NZY) in the 600 dpi, 4-bit, 6-value recording mode. Column 0 and column 2 are recorded during scanning. Then, designation is made to record row 1 and row 3 during the second printing scan.

  In step S7, when the recording mode is 600 dpi, 4 bits, and 16 values, for cyan and magenta, one of the plurality of recording nozzle rows (NZC1, NZM1) is set to row 0 during the first recording scan. Set to record column 4. In addition, the other recording nozzle row (NZC2, NZM2) is designated to print row 1 and row 5. Also, at the time of the second printing scan, designation is made to record row 2 and row 6 with one printing nozzle row (NZC1, NZM1) and print row 3 and row 7 with the other printing nozzle row (NZC2, NZM2). . Further, for yellow without a plurality of nozzles for one color, for the recording nozzle row (NZY), in the recording mode of 600 dpi, 4 bits, 16 values, row 0 and row 4 at the first printing scan. And the designation to record the columns 1 and 5 at the second recording scan. Further, it is specified that the columns 2 and 6 are recorded during the third recording scan, and the columns 3 and 7 are recorded during the fourth recording scan.

  In steps S11 and S12, mask data is set as to which mask data is used. A case where 4-pass printing is performed will be described. That is, in step S11, for cyan and magenta, mask data for non-decimation of 4-pass columns (mask for 4-pass printing) 702 or mask data for decimation of 8-pass sequences (mask for 4-pass printing) 703 Is specified. In step S12, for yellow, mask data (2-pass printing mask) 701 for thinning 4-pass rows is designated. Thereafter, recording is executed in step S13.

  In this way, for cyan and magenta, high-resolution data can be used to improve the image quality and reduce throughput by using mask data for multi-pass printing that has a higher image quality mode than yellow, that is, a larger number of passes. Can be recorded without.

  The description of the embodiment in the present application is merely an example, and it is not always necessary to have one yellow Y recording nozzle row. In addition, various combinations are possible when considering black BK. Further, the resolution of the output data and the number of printing scans are merely examples, and the invention of the present application can be implemented in various forms.

  The object of the present invention can also be achieved by supplying a system or apparatus with a storage medium storing software program codes for realizing the functions of the above-described embodiments. That is, it goes without saying that this can also be achieved by the computer (or CPU or MPU) of the system or apparatus reading and executing the program code stored in the storage medium. In this case, the program code itself read from the storage medium realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments, and the storage medium storing the program code constitutes the present invention.

  As a storage medium for supplying the program code, for example, a flexible disk, hard disk, optical disk, magneto-optical disk, CD-ROM, CD-R, magnetic tape, nonvolatile semiconductor memory card, ROM, or the like can be used. . Further, the functions of the above-described embodiments may be realized by executing the program code read by the computer.

  However, when the OS (operating system) operating on the computer performs part or all of the actual processing based on the instruction of the program code, and the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized by the processing. Needless to say, is also included.

  Furthermore, the program code read from the storage medium may be written in a memory provided in a function expansion board inserted into the computer or a function expansion unit connected to the computer. After that, based on the instruction of the program code, the CPU of the function expansion board or function expansion unit performs part or all of the actual processing, and the processing of the above-described embodiment is realized by the processing. Needless to say.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a configuration of a recording head in an embodiment of the present invention. It is a figure which shows an example of a structure of the inkjet recording system in embodiment of this invention. It is a figure explaining the recording operation in a prior art. It is a figure explaining the recording operation in a prior art. It is a figure explaining the recording operation in embodiment of this invention. It is a figure explaining the recording operation in embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows an example of a structure of the mask data stored in ROM in embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of the process in embodiment of this invention.

Claims (6)

In an inkjet recording apparatus that performs recording using a recording head that includes at least a plurality of recording nozzle arrays corresponding to the first color and a single recording nozzle array corresponding to the second color.
Means for processing the second color recording data to be recorded by the single recording nozzle array using the first multi-pass recording mask data;
Means for processing the first color recording data recorded by the plurality of recording nozzle arrays using second multi-pass recording mask data having a larger number of passes than the first multi-pass recording mask data; An inkjet recording apparatus comprising:   2. The inkjet according to claim 1, wherein one and the other of the plurality of recording nozzle arrays corresponding to the first color record the recording data at different column positions during the same recording scan. Recording device.   The second multi-pass printing mask data is multi-pass printing mask data used in a multi-pass printing mode different from a currently set multi-pass printing mode. The ink jet recording apparatus described. In a method of processing print data for printing using a print head including at least a plurality of print nozzle rows corresponding to a first color and a single print nozzle row corresponding to a second color ,
Processing the second color recording data to be recorded by the single recording nozzle row using the first multi-pass recording mask data; and
Processing the first color recording data recorded by the plurality of recording nozzle arrays using second multi-pass recording mask data having a larger number of passes than the first multi-pass recording mask data; A data processing method comprising:   A program in which the procedure of the data processing method according to claim 4 is described as a code executable by a computer.   A computer-readable storage medium storing a program in which the procedure of the data processing method according to claim 5 is described as a computer-executable code.

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