JP2009020766A - Test chart and test pattern - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a test pattern and a test chart suitable for a bar code generation system, which generates an appropriate bar-code, which satisfies the requirement of each user, quickly with a minimum consumption of ink and paper. <P>SOLUTION: A test chart 704 has a positive region including test patterns 401 and 402 with a plurality of black bars having a plurality of dot widths by dot, and a negative region including test patterns 501 and 502 with white bars having a plurality of dot widths by dot. The test pattern 402 of the positive region includes a plurality of black bars extending in the longitudinal direction, and the test pattern 401 includes a plurality of black bars extending in the lateral direction. The test pattern 502 of the negative region includes a plurality of white bars extending in the longitudinal direction, and the test pattern 501 includes a plurality of white bars extending in the lateral direction. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a test chart for correcting a black bar width and a white bar width of a barcode recorded by an ink jet recording apparatus, and a test pattern constituting the test chart.

  2. Description of the Related Art As a recording apparatus that records an image on a recording medium such as paper, an ink jet recording apparatus (image forming apparatus) that forms an image by ejecting ink from an ink jet recording type recording head to a recording medium is known.

  In general, an inkjet recording apparatus can form a high-definition image using a small recording head in which a plurality of nozzles from which ink is ejected are formed at high density. Further, by arranging a plurality of the small recording heads and supplying inks of different colors to the respective recording heads, a color image can be performed with a relatively inexpensive and small apparatus configuration.

  Since the ink jet recording apparatus has the advantages as described above, it is used in various image output apparatuses such as printers, facsimiles, and copiers regardless of business use or home use.

  In recent years, ink jet recording apparatuses have been widely used as address printers for direct mail, credit card specifications, and the like in the high-speed printing field. In such an address printer, it is common to record a bar code in addition to an address and name in the address section of a recording medium.

  However, in a barcode generation system using an ink jet recording head, a black bar (that is, a recording portion) of the barcode becomes thick and a white bar (that is, a non-recording portion) becomes thin due to a phenomenon that ink droplets spread on the paper surface. There is a tendency. The phenomenon of the thinning of the bar greatly affects the reading accuracy of the bar code and sometimes makes it impossible to read.

  In order to solve such a problem, a barcode correction method is known in which a white bar portion of a barcode is enlarged in advance in anticipation of dot bleeding. Also, a method has been proposed in which part or all of the dots forming the outer periphery of the code image are made smaller than the dots other than the outer periphery to make the black bar portion less likely to blur (see Patent Document 1).

  Since the degree of ink bleeding largely depends on the physical properties of paper, there has been a problem that barcodes may not be readable even though they are recorded by the same apparatus as the paper type is changed.

  In order to solve this problem, a method has been proposed in which the number of black and white bar dots is prepared in advance as a table for each paper type and the number of dots is switched depending on the paper type to cover the difference in paper type. (Patent Document 2).

  Furthermore, ink bleeding is not only related to the paper material, but is also related to various factors such as the type of ink, individual differences in the recording head, and the recording environment. There was also a problem that sometimes could not be read.

To deal with these problems, barcodes can be generated according to individual usage environments by reading various barcodes recorded based on various ratios of wide and narrow bar widths with a barcode reader. The method of making it is also proposed (Patent Document 3).
JP 2003-237059 A Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 08-123886 Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 08-04807

  However, the technique described in Patent Document 1 is effective when the degree of dot bleeding is known in advance, but there remains a problem that it cannot cope with a change in the paper type.

  Further, although the technique described in Patent Document 2 considers the paper type, there is a problem that a software barcode correction table must be added each time a new paper type is added.

  Furthermore, the technique described in Patent Document 3 provides a correction value for each parameter such as the barcode conditions actually used, that is, the barcode type such as EAN128 and CODE39, and the number of digits and the size of the numerical value to be barcoded. This is a technique to create and record a very large number of finely tuned barcodes and compare the results read by the verifier. It takes a lot of paper and time to record in order to determine the optimum barcode conditions. There was a problem. Further, when a sheet having a significantly different blur rate from the conventional condition is added, it is necessary to add a verification barcode with a wider correction range, and there is a problem in the maintenance of the verification pattern.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to realize generation of an appropriate bar code that matches a user's individual use conditions in a short time and with minimal ink and paper consumption. It is to provide a test pattern and a test chart suitable for a barcode generation system capable of performing the above.

  The test chart according to the present invention is a test chart in which a test pattern constituting a test chart for correcting a black bar width and a white bar width of a barcode recorded by an inkjet recording apparatus is recorded on a recording medium. It includes a positive region in which black bars having a plurality of dot widths in dot increments are arranged, and a negative region in which white bars having a plurality of dot widths in one dot increments are arranged.

  In this way, by providing recording areas for both black and white bars, the width of the recorded black and white bars is measured, so that the black when the barcode is actually recorded on the recording medium. The width of the bar and the white bar can be estimated with high accuracy. Therefore, it is possible to obtain an accurate correction value based on the actual measurement value.

  More specifically, the positive area includes a plurality of black bars extending in the vertical direction and a plurality of black bars extending in the horizontal direction, and the negative area extends in the horizontal direction with a plurality of white bars extending in the vertical direction. Including multiple white bars.

  The test pattern according to the present invention is a test pattern constituting a test chart for correcting the black bar width and white bar width of a bar code recorded by an ink jet recording apparatus, and has a plurality of dot widths in increments of 1 dot. It includes a positive area in which black bars are arranged, and a negative area in which white bars having a plurality of dot widths in units of one dot are arranged.

  Note that “recording” (also referred to as image formation) in the present specification is not only for forming significant information such as characters and figures, but also for human beings to be perceptible regardless of significance. Regardless of whether or not it is actualized, it includes a case where an image, a pattern, a pattern, or the like is widely formed on a recording medium or a medium is processed.

  The “recording medium” is a printing medium (also referred to as a sheet) used in a general recording apparatus, and is widely used not only for paper but also for cloth, plastic film, metal plate, glass, ceramics, wood, leather. Etc. Furthermore, the present invention can be grasped as a recording medium in which image data representing a test pattern as a kind of data structure is recorded so as to be readable by a computer. The recording medium in this case is an electronic data recording medium, a magnetic recording medium such as a flexible disk or a hard disk, a recording medium using a laser beam such as a CD or a DVD, or a nonvolatile recording by a semiconductor such as a ROM or a flash memory. Media, etc.

  Furthermore, “ink” should be interpreted broadly in the same way as the definition of “recording”, and is applied to a recording medium as a printing medium to form an image, a pattern, a pattern, or the like. And a liquid that can be used for ink processing (for example, coagulation or insolubilization of the colorant in the ink applied to the recording medium).

  According to the test pattern and the test chart of the present invention, the width of the black bar and the white bar constituting the barcode can be corrected according to the individual conditions such as the installation environment of the recording apparatus, individual differences, and the paper type. As a result, barcode generation optimal for the conditions can be realized in a short time with minimal ink and paper consumption.

  Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, the components described in the following embodiments are merely examples, and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention only to them.

  FIG. 1 shows a schematic configuration example of the barcode generation system of the present invention.

  The barcode generation system includes an ink jet recording apparatus 200 that records information on a recording medium, an information processing apparatus 100, and an image scanner 110. The information processing apparatus 100 supplies the inkjet recording apparatus 200 with a test chart capable of determining the sizes of black bars and white bars necessary for generating an optimal barcode and information to be recorded on the recording medium. The information processing apparatus 100 also corrects a predetermined barcode to an optimum configuration based on the recording result of the test chart and records it on a recording medium.

  The ink jet recording apparatus 200 includes a recording unit 101 including a recording head of an ink jet recording system, a transport unit 106 that transports paper, and an encoder 104 that detects a recording speed from the transport unit 106. Here, the encoder 104 is a rotary encoder attached to the rotating shaft of the conveyance roller, but may be a linear encoder that detects a mark or slit attached to the conveyance belt.

  In this ink jet recording apparatus, recording information sent from the information processing apparatus 100 is recorded on the recording paper 103 being transported by the recording unit 101 based on transport speed information obtained by the transport unit 106 obtained from the encoder 104. The recorded content is, for example, a barcode 105 as shown in the figure.

  Instead of using the encoder 104, a recording medium such as paper may be transported at an arbitrary speed designated by the user by a transport device for the recording paper 103 independently of the recording unit 101.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of control hardware of the information processing apparatus 100 and the recording apparatus 200 in the system of FIG.

  The information processing apparatus 100 includes a control unit 111 configured by a central processing unit (CPU) or the like, and executes a control program stored in the storage unit 112 by the control unit 111 to control each unit. The storage unit 112 can include a ROM, a RAM, an HDD, and the like. The display unit 113 includes a display such as an LCD or CRT, and displays information to the user. The operation unit 114 includes a keyboard, a mouse, and the like, and accepts user operations and information input. The USB interface 115 is shown as an example of a printer interface for connecting the information processing apparatus 100 to the recording apparatus 200. The printer interface is not limited to USB.

  The control unit 201 of the recording apparatus 200 includes a central processing unit (CPU) 202, and the CPU 202 executes a control program stored in a non-volatile memory (ROM) 203 to control each unit. The control unit 201 also includes a memory (RAM) 204 used as a work area for various data processing and a reception buffer by the CPU 202, and an image memory 205 used as an image development unit via the control circuit 209. Further, the CPU 202 via the control circuit 209 is a head driving circuit 210 that drives the recording heads 104 to 107, and various motors 206 that control a cleaning operation and a recording operation for keeping each recording head in an optimum state for recording. And the input / output interface control unit (I / O) 212 of the paper transport unit 207 for feeding paper under the recording head.

  The recording apparatus 200 basically includes a USB controller 208 that receives image data, a cleaning command, and the like transmitted from the information processing apparatus 100 that is an external apparatus via the printer cable 102 using an interface such as a USB. The operation is performed according to the received various command instructions.

  FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram when a pattern composed of a black bar and a white space such as a barcode is recorded by the recording unit. The black bar is a linear element recorded with black ink, and the white space is a linear element composed of a blank portion of recording, and is also called a white bar. In this figure, recording was performed in the order of lines 21, 22 and 23. Hereinafter, a black bar that is a barcode recording portion is simply referred to as a bar, and a white bar that is a non-recording portion between adjacent black bars is simply referred to as a space. In the example of FIG. 3, the line 21 constitutes a thin bar, and the lines 22 and 23 constitute a thick bar.

  In an ink jet recording apparatus, normally, assuming a use environment within a certain range, an ejection amount is set based on a relationship with a recording medium, and an ink dot size is determined. However, bleeding and discharge amount change due to the influence of severe recording conditions such as industrial use, installation environment, individual differences of heads, and paper types. As a result, the dot size may change as shown as case 1 and case 2 in FIG. When the dot size changes, the space between the dots increases or decreases with respect to the specified value, and as a result, there are cases where the barcode is poorly read or cannot be read in the worst case.

  In order to cope with such a problem, the present invention uses a pattern that can easily obtain the relationship between the number of dots constituting a bar code and the number of dots in the space and the actual recording result, and corrects the bar code based on the result. Thus, it is possible to record a bar code that can be read stably even if the recording environment changes.

  Next, a test pattern for determining a barcode correction value and a correction method according to the present embodiment will be described.

  FIG. 4 shows an example of a test pattern recorded in order to make it possible to confirm the state of thinning of the black bar in the present embodiment. In the present invention, “a plurality of blacks having a plurality of dot widths of one dot unit” is shown. This corresponds to the “positive area where the bars are arranged”. This test pattern 400 is a pattern for obtaining the relationship between the number of dots, the bar width (recording portion), and the dot diameter. The paper transport direction adjustment test pattern 401, the paper transport vertical direction adjustment test pattern 402, and the dot diameter confirmation pattern 403. The paper transport direction adjustment test pattern 401 includes a black bar group in which each black bar extends in a straight direction perpendicular to the paper transport direction. The paper conveyance vertical direction adjustment test pattern 402 includes a group of black bars in which each black bar extends in a convex direction parallel to the paper conveyance direction. The test patterns 401 and 402 are each composed of a group of ten black bars each having a width of 1 to 10 dots (dot size width) in the illustrated example. The dot diameter confirmation pattern 403 is a pattern for confirming the dot diameter of one isolated black dot.

  FIG. 5 shows an example of a test pattern recorded in order to make it possible to confirm the state of thinning of the white space according to the present embodiment. In the present invention, “a plurality of white having a plurality of dot widths in units of one dot” is shown. This corresponds to the “negative area in which the bars are arranged”. The test pattern 500 is a pattern for obtaining the relationship between the number of dots, the space width (non-recording portion), and the dot diameter. The paper transport direction adjustment test pattern 501, the paper transport vertical direction adjustment test pattern 502, and the dot diameter confirmation pattern 503. The paper conveyance direction adjustment test pattern 501 includes a white space group in which each white space extends in a straight direction perpendicular to the paper conveyance direction. The paper conveyance vertical direction adjustment test pattern 502 includes a white space group in which each white space extends in a convex direction parallel to the paper conveyance direction. The test patterns 501 and 502 are composed of a group of 10 white spaces each having a width of 1 to 10 dots in the illustrated example. The dot diameter confirmation pattern 503 is a pattern for confirming the dot diameter of an isolated white dot.

  Further, although the width variation range is from 1 dot to 10 dots, it is not limited to this.

  Specifically, a test pattern is recorded with an actual apparatus, a recording environment, and a used recording medium. Thereafter, for example, the width of the bar and space is measured using a microscope, and the width of the bar and space at each dot number is clarified. From this result, it is possible to determine the number of dots and the correction value of the bar and space in the actual recording environment. Further, by measuring the dot diameter, it is possible to confirm the state of bleeding in the recording environment.

  The barcode generation system generates barcode data for recording barcodes, and is a test chart for recording barcode black bars and white bars with a plurality of different widths of dots. The width of black bar and white bar for barcodes based on the image of the test chart recorded by the specific recording device 200 based on the image data of the test chart (storage unit 112) and the test chart image data Is set at the time of recording so that the black bar width and the white bar width of the bar code after recording become a predetermined size on the basis of the measurement means (image scanner 110) for measuring Bar width correcting means (control unit 111) for obtaining the number of dots of the black bar width and the white bar width as a bar code correction value is provided.

  Measure actual widths of bar elements (black bars and white bars) recorded with various dot widths (indicated values) from test charts recorded under conditions of a recording device and a certain type of paper. By obtaining the value, the relationship between the dot width and the actual width under that condition is grasped. From this relationship, for example, the fact that the black bar width composed of 5 dots and the white space width composed of 8 dots are the same as the actual size on the paper surface is found. Therefore, the bar width correction means barcode corrects the number of dots of the black bar width and white bar width that should be set at the time of recording so that the black bar width and white bar width of the bar code after recording become the prescribed sizes. It can be obtained as a value. If a barcode is recorded under this condition using this barcode correction value, a barcode with an appropriate element width is recorded even if there is a width variation factor such as dot bleeding in the element width of the barcode. It becomes possible.

  Bar codes can be broadly classified into two types: multi-level and binary level. A multi-level bar code is a bar code composed of four types of bars and four types of spaces, each of which has a ratio of 1: 2: 3: 4. Typical barcodes include JAN, EAN128, and code128. A binary-level barcode is a barcode composed of two types of bars and two types of spaces, and the two types are configured at a ratio of 1: 2. Typical barcodes include code 39 and ITF.

  For example, when correcting a multi-level barcode, an optimal barcode is created by correcting the barcode by selecting a dot number of 1: 2: 3: 4 from the relationship between the dot, bar, and space. It is possible.

    6 (a) and 6 (b) respectively measure the dot sizes (bar width and space width) on the paper surface of the black bar and white space when the test charts shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 are recorded. 6 is a graph showing the relationship between the number of dots of the recorded bar and the actual dot size (actually measured value) on the paper surface, obtained as described above. In other words, if the test chart of the present embodiment is recorded under actual use conditions (apparatus, environment, paper, etc.), the difference in ejection amount due to individual differences in the recording heads and the bleeding rate due to the type of paper It is possible to know the actual dot size in consideration of the difference, and it is possible to generate barcode data in which the size of the black bar / white space is corrected according to the actual dot size. The test chart analysis method will be described later.

  For example, when a multi-level barcode is created with a minimum bar and space of 100 μm, the bar configuration is 2 dots: 4 dots: 6 dots: 9 dots, and the space configuration is 3 dots: 6 dots: 8 dots: 11 dots.

  The result is registered in the information processing apparatus 100 as a barcode correction value. Therefore, it is not effective only for a specific barcode, and any barcode can be recorded stably.

  Here, the barcode correction value is registered in the information processing apparatus and the barcode is generated based on the information. However, the barcode correction value information is registered in the recording unit 101, and the barcode is generated in the recording unit. Even when recorded, the same effect can be obtained.

  As described above, the optimum relationship between dots, bars, and spaces is clarified using test patterns, and barcode correction values are determined and recorded based on the results to record barcodes suitable for the recording environment. It becomes possible.

  FIG. 7 shows a configuration diagram of the barcode generation system in the present embodiment.

  In order to obtain the test chart 704 in which the test patterns 401 and 402 and the test patterns 501 and 502 shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 are recorded on the recording medium, the information is stored in the storage unit 112 of the information processing apparatus 100. Test chart image data 706 corresponding to the test patterns 401, 402, 501, 502 is transferred from the information processing apparatus 100 to the recording apparatus 200 via the USB cable 705. As described above, recording of the test chart 704 by the recording unit 101 (FIG. 1) in the recording apparatus 200 is performed under the same conditions as the actual use conditions (recording apparatus, recording environment, used paper, etc.). The effect is obtained. The test chart 704 recorded and output on the paper is set on the image scanner 110 and read. The information processing apparatus 100 receives the read image information via the USB cable 705, and the control unit 111 obtains actual dot size information by recording bar elements of each width of the test chart 704. The control unit 111 also generates a bar code correction value 707, which will be described later, based on the actual dot size information as bar width correction means, and stores it in the storage unit 112. The storage unit 112 also stores a relationship table 800 described later.

  FIG. 8 illustrates a relationship table 800 obtained from the test chart 704 and indicating the relationship between the number of dots, the black bar width, and the white space width. This data is obtained by reading the test chart 704 with the image scanner 110 and, for each dot number (unit dot) on the image data, the actual dots of black bar width and white space width that have actually landed and spread on the paper surface. The result obtained by measuring the size (unit: micrometers) is shown. Therefore, the relationship table 800 is created for each different actual use condition. Specifically, for example, the black bar width constituted by 10 dots is 465 μm on the paper surface, and the white space width of the same 10 dots is 335 μm. Note that the data shown in FIG. 8 should match the result of the graph shown in FIG. 6, but in this example, the consistency is not achieved for the sake of convenience.

  As described above, one-dimensional barcodes can be broadly classified into two types, binary level and multilevel. The binary-level barcode is a barcode composed of two types of black bars and two types of white spaces. The widths of the two types of black bars are configured at a ratio of 1: 2. The same applies to the white bar. Typical binary-level barcodes include Code 39 and ITF. A multi-level barcode is a barcode composed of four types of black bars and four types of white spaces. The widths of the four types of black bars are configured at a ratio of 1: 2: 3: 4. The same applies to the white bar. Typical multi-level barcodes include JAN, EAN128, Code128, and the like.

  For example, when correcting a multi-level bar code, the number of black bar dots with an actual dot size of 1: 2: 3: 4 is selected from the relationship between the black bar and the white space shown in FIG. By selecting the number of dots with the same actual size width of the white space, it is possible to create an optimal barcode with high read quality.

  Since the number of dots is an integer, if the target width is not an integer, the nearest integer is used as the correction value.

  Hereinafter, the correction value determination method for the binary level barcode Code 39 and the multi-level barcode EAN128 will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 8 and 9.

  FIG. 9 shows correction value tables 901 and 902 as examples of the barcode correction value 707 of FIG. A correction value table 901 shown in FIG. 9A shows a dot configuration in which Code 39 having a narrow bar width (NB) of 5 dots is corrected according to the standard. This corrected dot configuration is obtained as follows. The narrow bar width of 5 dots has a black bar width of 250 μm from the relation table 800 shown in FIG. The fine space is determined to be 8 dots by searching the relation table 800 for the number of dots that is 250 μm, the same as the fine bar. Thereby, the black bar width composed of 5 dots and the white space width composed of 8 dots are the same as the actual size on the paper surface. For the thick bar and the thick space, the number of dots corresponding to the width closest to 250 μm × 2 = 500 μm is searched from the relation table 800 with the thinness ratio 1: 2, and the actual black bar width is 505 μm closest to 500 μm. It is determined that the bar width is 11 dots and the actual white space width is 505 μm closest to 500 μm and the thick space is 14 dots. As a result, it is possible to guarantee the standard conditions of “thin bar × 2 = thick bar” and “black bar width = white space”, which are one of the important factors of the barcode reading rate, with the actual size on the paper.

  The correction value table 902 shown in FIG. 9B shows a corrected dot configuration of EAN128 with a narrow bar width (NB) of 4 dots according to the standard. This corrected dot configuration is obtained as follows. Since the fine bar width of 4 dots is 210 μm as the actual black bar width from the relation table 800, the dot size of each of the four-valued black bars of 1: 2: 3: 4 is calculated to be 210 μm, 420 μm, 630 μm, respectively. 840 μm. Therefore, by the same method as described above, the number of dots corresponding to each dot size is determined as 4 dots, 9 dots, 14 dots, and 19 dots from the relation table 800 in FIG. Similarly, the space widths of 210 μm, 420 μm, 630 μm, and 840 μm can be determined as 7 dots, 12 dots, 17 dots, and 22 dots. As a result, the standard conditions of “1: 2: 3: 4 ratio” and “black bar width = white space”, which are one of the important factors of the barcode reading rate, can be guaranteed with the actual size on the paper. it can.

  The correction value tables 901 and 902 are stored in the storage unit 112 of the information processing apparatus 100 together with barcode type information.

  FIG. 10 is a diagram for explaining the operation of the barcode generation system according to the present embodiment.

  An input screen 1000 of a barcode creation application executed on the information processing apparatus 100 includes a barcode type selection field 1001 for selecting a barcode type from options, and a fine bar (reference bar width information). A dot number input field 1002 for inputting the number of dots of a narrow bar), a “chart reading” button 1003 for instructing reading of the test chart 704, a “barcode generation” button 1004, and an “end” button. . When the “read chart” button 1003 is instructed by the user, the barcode creation application reads the recorded output of the test chart 704 set in the image scanner 110, and the number of dots of each element width and the actual measurement value based on the read image. Based on the above, a relationship table 800 as shown in FIG. 8 is created. Further, when the “barcode generation” button 1004 is instructed by the user, an optimal barcode correction value that matches the barcode type and the number of dots of the fine bar specified by the user on the input screen 1000 is obtained, and the barcode correction is performed. A value screen 1005 is output. When the barcode correction value screen 1005 is a binary level barcode, the optimal number of constituent dots for each display column of the fine bar 1006, the fine space 1007, the thick bar (wide bar) 1008, and the thick space (wide space) 1009. Is displayed. When the barcode creation application also has a barcode recording function, the optimum number of constituent dots is stored in the storage unit 112 in the information processing apparatus 100 and used for subsequent barcode recording. Each display field on the barcode correction value screen 1005 may accept a correction input by the user. For example, although the quality of the barcode is lowered, the user may be able to perform fine adjustment input for reducing the dot width by, for example, one dot in order to reduce the size of the barcode.

  If the barcode creation application does not have a barcode recording function, the barcode correction value screen 1005 can be used by the user to confirm the correction value. After confirmation, those bar widths and space widths can be set in a dot configuration input field (not shown) of general bar code generation software. As a result, it is possible to generate an optimal barcode with a high reading rate.

  In the case of a multi-level bar code, although not shown, the optimum number of constituent dots is displayed in the display column of each quaternary bar / space.

  FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing optimum barcode generation processing by the barcode generation system of this embodiment. This process is realized by the control unit 111 of the information processing apparatus 100 reading and executing a program stored in the storage unit 112. This process does not need to be performed every time the barcode is recorded, and only needs to be performed when the actual use environment is changed, such as a barcode recorder or a paper type.

  This process is started in response to a user instruction. First, a test chart in an actual use environment is recorded and output (S11). The recorded test chart is set on the image scanner 110 by the user. When the recording apparatus 200 has a scanner function, this operation by the user is not necessary. This test chart is read by the image scanner (S12).

  Next, the user receives an input of the barcode type (1001) and the thin bar condition (1002) from the input screen 1000 (FIG. 10) of the barcode creation application, and sets these conditions (S13). If there is a barcode reading instruction (instruction of “read chart” button 1003) by the user (S14, Yes), the image of the test chart is read by the image scanner. Therefore, the relationship table 800 is generated by analyzing the reading result (image) and stored in the storage unit 112 (S16). Thereafter, if there is a barcode generation instruction (instruction of “barcode generation” button 1004) (S17, Yes), it is determined whether or not the barcode of the specified condition can be generated as readable quality (S18). ). This determination is made based on the determination of the barcode rank (reading rank). Details of rank determination will be described later. The size of the entire barcode is fixed in advance or can be designated by the user. When the user designates, for example, the input field may be added on the input screen 1000, and the input may be accepted in step S13.

  When it is determined that the read quality of the generated barcode does not reach a certain level, the user is notified of this (S19). This notification may be based on the display or sound of an arbitrary message such as a text, a symbol, or an image. If it is determined that the read quality exceeds a certain level, a barcode correction value (number of constituent dots) for generating an optimal barcode is obtained, and a barcode correction value screen 1005 is displayed (S20). If the application has a barcode recording function, the barcode correction value is stored in the storage unit 112 so as to be reflected in the subsequent barcode recording.

  When the actual usage environment does not change and only the barcode type and narrow bar width are changed, recording or scanning of the test chart is not necessary, and the execution may be performed from the barcode type and narrow bar setting in step S13.

  Here, the barcode rank will be briefly described.

  As can be inferred from the above description, when the number of integer dots is determined in the relationship table 800, there is not always an actually measured number of dots that completely matches the theoretical value of the bar width. That is, the selected number of dots may have an error of a maximum of 0.5 dots. Accordingly, there is an error even if it is referred to as “optimal correction value”, and even if the ratio of 1: 2: 3: 4 is actually ideal, for example, 0.9: 2.1: 3.0: 3.9. It only presents correction values that are close to ideal. From such a viewpoint, the rank of the generated barcode can be estimated. Details of the rank are described in ISO / IEC15416, ANSI X3.182, JIS X0520 and the like. Actually, it is determined from several evaluation items such as reflectance and decodability.

In general, the bar code quality is expressed by a reading rank of 0.0 to 4.0. In some cases, the reading ranks 0.0 to 4.0 are divided into five levels and expressed in alphabets A, B, C, D, and F. In general, the rank quality is as follows.
Rank A: Quality that can be read by only one scan Rank B: Quality that can be read by scanning the same location Quality rank C: Quality that can be read by scanning different locations Rank D: Quality that can be read by scanning different locations multiple times, depending on the reader May not be readable.
Rank F: Defect barcode. Some readers can read with that ability, but they should not be used in the system.

  In the test chart shown in the embodiment described above, a black bar and a white space composed of 1 to 10 dots are taken as an example, but the relationship between the number of dots and the actual size is roughly as shown in FIG. If there are at least two actually measured values for each of the black bar and the white space, such as 5 dots, 10 dots, etc., the graph of FIG. 6 can be obtained. Of course, actual measurement values may be obtained for all the numbers of dots within the dot configuration range. In order to generate a higher quality barcode, the dot configuration range may be expanded to 1 to 100 dots.

  Further, as shown in the dot number input field 1002 in FIG. 10, a narrow bar size is input and a barcode is generated. However, as shown in FIG. 12, a drawing range (drawing area) 1202 of the barcode 1201 is designated. Alternatively, an optimal barcode that fits in the designated area may be generated. At this time, if a barcode that can satisfy the reading rank cannot be generated in the input area, it is desirable to notify the user to that effect.

  Furthermore, as shown in the barcode correction value screen 1005 in FIG. 10, an example in which the number of dots constituting the barcode is used as output information has been described. However, bitmap data representing the barcode image itself is output. Also good. In this case, the input screen 1000 of the barcode creation application in FIG. 10 is provided with an input field for inputting a character string represented by the barcode and the size of the barcode area (corresponding to the height and length of the barcode). Also good. The user can use the displayed barcode image by an operation such as copy and paste.

  In the above embodiment, the dot number information obtained from the test pattern is input and the barcode correction is performed. However, the correction value is determined by inputting the bar / space ratio information obtained from the test pattern. Is also possible.

  Specifically, bar / space ratio information is derived from the recorded test pattern based on the bar and space information, and the result is input as a correction value to create a barcode. For example, the recorded test pattern is scanned by an image scanner, and the number of dots, the bar, and the space width are analyzed from the scan data. After that, graphing is performed by the same method as in the first embodiment, and the barcode correction value is determined at the target ratio.

  The preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described above, but various modifications and changes other than those mentioned above can be made. For example, an image scanner is used as the reading device, but an optical detector specialized for barcodes such as a barcode reader or a barcode verifier may be used. Alternatively, a human may actually measure using a microscope to clarify the relationship between dots, bars, and spaces.

  In the case of a two-dimensional barcode, the size of the unit rectangle can be regarded as the minimum basic size, so that the present invention can be applied in the same manner as described above if the increase in dimension is supported. Accordingly, the barcode of the present invention may include a two-dimensional barcode.

  In the above description, the analysis of the image of the test chart read by the image scanner and the determination of the barcode correction value have been described as functions of the information processing apparatus 100. However, the recording apparatus itself may include this function.

  Furthermore, it can be applied not only to barcodes but also to dot size widths such as ruled lines and frame lines.

  In addition, as a mechanical configuration of the ink jet recording apparatus, even in a serial recording method in which recording is performed while moving a carriage mounted with a recording head, recording is performed on a recording head having a length corresponding to the width of the recording medium. A full line recording method in which recording is performed while relatively moving the medium may be used.

  Although an example in which four recording heads of the recording apparatus are used is shown, the number may be one or a plurality other than four.

  The ink jet recording method is not limited to the so-called bubble jet (registered trademark) recording method using the thermal energy generated from the heating element as the energy for ejecting ink, but other methods (for example, using piezoelectric elements) The present invention can also be applied to an inkjet recording head of a method).

  Furthermore, the present invention can be applied to any recording system in which the recording size varies depending on the use conditions, other than inkjet as the recording system.

It is a figure which shows the structural example of the outline of the barcode production | generation system of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the structural example of the control hardware of the information processing apparatus and recording device in the system of FIG. FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram when a pattern composed of a black bar and a white space such as a barcode is recorded by the recording apparatus shown in FIG. 1. It is a figure which shows an example of the test chart printed in order to be able to confirm the state of the thinness of a black bar in embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows an example of the test chart printed in order to be able to confirm the state of the thinning of the white space in embodiment of this invention. 6 is a graph showing the relationship between the number of recorded dots and the actual dot size on the paper, obtained based on the test charts shown in FIGS. 4 and 5. It is a lineblock diagram of the barcode generation system in an embodiment of the invention. It is the figure which showed the structural example of the relationship table which shows the relationship between the number of dots, black bar width, and white space width obtained from the test chart in embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the correction value table of two types of barcodes as an example of the barcode correction value of FIG. It is a figure for demonstrating operation | movement of the barcode generation system of embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart showing the optimal barcode production | generation process by the barcode production | generation system of embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the drawing area | region of the barcode in embodiment of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 ... Information processing apparatus 101 ... Recording unit 102 ... Printer cable 103 ... Recording paper (recording medium)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 104 ... Encoder 105 ... Barcode 106 ... Conveying part 110 ... Image scanner 111 ... Control part 112 ... Storage part 113 ... Display part 114 ... Operation part 115 ... USB interface 200 ... Inkjet recording device 201 ... Control part 205 ... Image memory 206 ... Various motors 207 ... paper transport unit 208 ... controller 209 ... control circuit 210 ... head drive circuit 211 ... motor drivers 400, 401, 402, 500, 501, 502 ... test patterns 403, 503 ... dot diameter confirmation pattern 704 ... test chart 705 ... Cable 706 ... Test chart image data 707 ... Barcode correction value 800 ... Relationship table 901, 902 ... Correction value table 1000 ... Input screen 1001 ... Barcode type selection field 1002 ... Dot number input field 1003 ... " Chart read "button 1004 ..." bar code generation "button 1005 ... barcode correction value screen 1006 ... narrow bar 1007 ... fine space 1201 ... bar code

Claims (4)

A test chart in which a test pattern constituting a test chart for correcting a black bar width and a white bar width of a barcode recorded by an inkjet recording apparatus is recorded on a recording medium,
A test chart comprising a positive region in which black bars having a plurality of dot widths of one dot are arranged, and a negative region in which white bars having a plurality of dot widths of one dot are arranged.   The positive area includes a plurality of black bars extending in the vertical direction and a plurality of black bars extending in the horizontal direction, and the negative area includes a plurality of white bars extending in the vertical direction and a plurality of white bars extending in the horizontal direction. The test chart according to claim 1, further comprising: A test pattern constituting a test chart for correcting a black bar width and a white bar width of a barcode recorded by an inkjet recording apparatus,
A test pattern comprising a positive area in which black bars having a plurality of dot widths of 1 dot are arranged and a negative area in which white bars having a plurality of dots of 1 dot are arranged.   The positive area includes a plurality of black bars extending in the vertical direction and a plurality of black bars extending in the horizontal direction, and the negative area includes a plurality of white bars extending in the vertical direction and a plurality of white bars extending in the horizontal direction. The test pattern according to claim 3, wherein the test pattern is included.