JP2009088859A - Image processor - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image processor which can prevent the decrease of print productivity even if the decrease of transfer performance occurs by a temperature factor in a memory unit of image data. <P>SOLUTION: In print output of copy or print request (step S101), if temperature of a hard disk unit is out of a range of setting temperature predetermined beforehand (step S103; No), contents of processing performed for the image data are changed (step S108), a size of the image data stored in the hard disk unit is made small compared to a normal condition. Even if a data transfer speed of the hard disk unit is decreased by the temperature factor, the print productivity decrease can be prevented since time increase required for writing in or reading out of the image data for the hard disk unit is suppressed. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus including a hard disk device or the like as a storage device for image data.

  Recent hard disk devices have a problem called “thermal fluctuation” in which the recording magnetization disappears due to heat as the recording density increases, and the temperature at which the flying height of the recording head (flying height) is controlled by the temperature. Various problems related to have occurred.

  For example, even if the product has a guaranteed operating temperature of 0-60 ° C, manufacturers have taken various measures to improve data reliability under severe temperature conditions such as 0-10 ° C and 50-60 ° C. Yes. Due to the influence, when the average value of the transfer performance of the hard disk device is measured while changing the ambient temperature, the transfer performance may be lowered in the low temperature and high temperature environments as compared with the normal temperature. In particular, at low temperatures, the coercive force of data increases due to an increase in magnetic force, and data writing may fail. Therefore, a reduction in writing performance may appear significantly due to the countermeasure.

  FIG. 3 is a graph showing an example of the result of measuring the data transfer rate of the hard disk device while changing the ambient temperature. In this measurement, the temperature inside the apparatus detected by a self-diagnosis function (SMART; Self-Monitoring Analysis and Reporting Technology) is used as the temperature of the hard disk apparatus.

  As can be seen from FIG. 3, the hard disk drive (HDD; Hard Disk Drive) of this example can maintain the transfer rate in the range of 10-60 ° C. when reading data (about 70 MB / s), but the data write Occasionally, the transfer rate decreases at low and high temperatures (about 24 MB / s). The transfer rate can be maintained up to about 60 ° C. on the high temperature side, but the transfer rate is reduced from about 20 ° C. on the low temperature side, and the writing performance particularly decreases on the low temperature side. As described above, in the hard disk device, when the temperature exceeds or falls below a certain threshold value, the data transfer rate (input / output rate) may decrease.

  FIG. 4 is a graph showing an example of a result of comparative measurement of the relationship between the temperature inside the device and the transfer speed at the time of data writing in three hard disk devices (HDD_A to C) having different manufacturers (models). Note that the HDD_C in this example is the HDD illustrated in FIG.

  As can be seen from FIG. 4, HDD_A can maintain the transfer rate at the time of data writing in the range of about 0 to 65 ° C. (about 73 MB / s), but HDD_B has a slightly lower transfer rate at low and high temperatures (about From 70 MB / s to around 60 MB / s, the transfer rate of HDD_C is greatly reduced at low and high temperatures (from about 70 MB / s to about 24 MB / s). As described above, there may be a difference in the performance of data writing at low and high temperatures due to differences in hard disk device models.

  2. Description of the Related Art Some image processing apparatuses such as copiers and multi-function machines equipped with a hard disk device perform printing by temporarily storing image data in a hard disk device and then printing in a copying operation or a printing operation. However, when the transfer performance of the hard disk device deteriorates in a low temperature environment or a high temperature environment, input / output of image data by the hard disk device may not be in time for print output.

  In particular, when the hard disk device is in a low temperature state due to factors such as a low temperature environment or immediately after power-on, a decrease in transfer performance is not improved unless the hard disk device is heated to a certain temperature. For this reason, the image processing apparatus waits for printing until the writing and reading of the image data by the hard disk device is completed, and this tends to cause a decrease in productivity.

  In order to improve such a problem caused by the temperature of the hard disk device, on the high temperature side, the image reading and the print output are intermittently operated based on the temperature of the hard disk device to suppress the temperature rise in the entire system. Discloses a technique for suppressing the temperature rise of the hard disk device (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

  On the low temperature side, when the temperature of the hard disk device is low, control to stop the rotation of the cooling FAN is performed to speed up the temperature rise of the hard disk device, or job submission or multiple submission in a low-speed access state is prohibited. A technique for preventing problems during low-speed operation of a hard disk device mounted on an image processing apparatus by performing control or the like is disclosed (for example, see Patent Document 2).

JP 2004-336246 A JP 2006-56062 A

  In the above technology, the temperature can be controlled by performing temperature control, such as suppressing the temperature rise by intermittent operation when the hard disk device becomes high temperature, and speeding up the temperature rise by stopping the rotation of the cooling FAN when the temperature becomes low. It is trying to become. However, since the transfer performance of the hard disk device is reduced until the temperature returns or until the hard disk device rises from a low temperature to a certain temperature after turning on the power in a low temperature environment, printing is still performed. May reduce productivity. That is, there is a problem that printing cannot be performed with maximum productivity (100%) until the hard disk device cools from a high temperature state or warms from a low temperature state.

  The present invention is intended to solve the above problem, and provides an image processing apparatus capable of preventing a decrease in printing productivity even if a transfer performance is deteriorated due to a temperature factor in an image data storage unit. The purpose is to do.

  The gist of the present invention for achieving the object lies in the inventions of the following items.

[1] An image data input unit;
A processing unit that performs processing on the image data output from the input unit;
A storage unit for storing image data output from the processing unit;
An image forming unit that forms an image on a sheet based on image data read from the storage unit;
A temperature detection unit for detecting the temperature of the storage unit;
A control unit that changes the content of the processing based on the temperature of the storage unit detected by the temperature detection unit, controls the size of image data that is subjected to the processing and is output from the processing unit,
An image reading apparatus comprising:

  In the above invention, based on the temperature of the storage unit detected by the temperature detection unit, the content of the processing performed by the processing unit on the image data is changed, and the size of the image data that is processed and output from the processing unit is changed. Control. For example, when a high or low temperature is detected that decreases the transfer performance (data transfer speed) of the storage unit, processing is performed so that the size (data amount) of the image data output from the processing unit is smaller than normal. Change the content of the processing performed by the department. As a result, even if the transfer performance of the storage unit decreases due to temperature factors, an increase in the time required to store and read out image data by the storage unit is suppressed, and for example, an image forming unit that forms an image at a predetermined (maximum) speed On the other hand, the image data can be transferred to the image forming unit via the storage unit without delay.

[2] The image processing apparatus according to [1], wherein the temperature detection unit is an internal temperature detection unit provided in the storage unit.

  In the above invention, by detecting the temperature using the internal temperature detection unit provided in the storage unit, the accurate temperature in the storage unit can be detected and controlled. Further, temperature detection with a simple configuration is possible.

[3] The image processing apparatus according to [1], wherein the temperature detection unit is an external temperature detection unit provided outside the storage unit.

  In the above invention, the temperature of the storage unit without the built-in temperature detection unit can be detected by providing the external temperature detection unit outside the storage unit and detecting the temperature.

[4] Any one of [1] to [3], wherein the processing unit is an image processing unit that performs gradation processing of image data, and the change in the content of the processing is a change in the number of gradations. The image processing apparatus according to item 1.

  In the above invention, the data size is changed by changing the number of gradations of the image data. For example, when processing for reducing the number of gradations such as error diffusion is performed, the size of the image data can be made smaller than usual by reducing the number of gradations.

[5] Any one of [1] to [3], wherein the processing unit is a compression processing unit that performs compression processing of image data, and the change of the content of the processing is a change of a compression rate. An image processing apparatus according to 1.

  In the above invention, the data size is changed by changing the compression rate of the image data. For example, when compression processing is performed to save image data in the storage unit, the size of the image data can be made smaller than usual by increasing the compression rate.

[6] The size of the image data that is processed and output from the processing unit is controlled to a size that allows the storage and reading of the image data by the storage unit to be in time for image formation by the image forming unit. The image processing device according to any one of [1] to [5].

  In the above invention, the size of the image data is controlled so that the image data is stored and read out by the storage unit in time for image formation by the image forming unit. For example, when the transfer performance of the storage unit is reduced, the size of the image data is reduced so that the storage and reading of the image data by the storage unit is in time for image formation by the image forming unit. Thereby, maximum productivity can be ensured in image formation by the image forming unit.

[7] The image processing apparatus according to any one of [1] to [6], further including an operation unit configured to perform a selection operation as to whether to execute the control.

  In the above invention, execution / non-execution of control of the size of the image data performed based on the temperature of the storage unit can be selected by an operation from the operation unit. When control execution is selected, image formation is performed with priority on productivity. When non-execution is selected, image processing is performed by performing normal processing on image data without changing the processing content. . As a result, it is possible to respond to a user's request to form an image without changing the content of processing on the image data.

[8] A notifying unit that notifies that the image forming productivity of the image forming unit is reduced when the control is not executed outside a predetermined temperature range set in advance. The image processing apparatus according to any one of [1] to [7], which is characterized.

  In the above invention, when the above control is not executed outside the predetermined temperature range set in advance, the notification unit notifies that image formation is performed in a state where productivity is lowered. For example, when informing before the selection operation by the operation unit is performed, the user can easily determine whether to give priority to productivity by receiving the notification. Further, when the notification is made after the selection operation by the operation unit is performed, the user can receive the notification after the selection operation and can grasp that the image is formed in a state where the productivity is lowered.

[9] The content of the process is not changed while the image formation is performed on image data of the same job. [1] to [8], Image processing device.

  In the above invention, a certain image quality can be ensured for an image formed on a sheet by image data of the same job. Thereby, in the printed matter of a plurality of pages, the image quality of each page can be made uniform.

  According to the image processing apparatus of the present invention, it is possible to prevent a decrease in printing productivity even if a transfer performance is deteriorated due to a temperature factor in the image data storage unit.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of an image processing apparatus 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The image processing apparatus 10 is configured as a digital copying machine having a copy function for optically reading a document, forming an image of the image data obtained by the reading on a sheet, and printing it out.

  The image processing apparatus 10 includes a reading unit 11 that optically reads a document, a reading system image processing circuit 20 that performs various types of image processing on image data obtained by reading the document by the reading unit 11, and compression of the image data. And a first compression / decompression unit 12 and a second compression / decompression unit 14 for performing decompression, a first image memory 13 and a second image memory 15 for temporarily storing image data, a first compression / decompression unit 12 and a second compression unit A first memory / compression / decompression controller 16 to which one image memory 13 is connected; and a second memory / compression / decompression controller 17 to which a second compression / decompression device 14 and a second image memory 15 are connected. I have. The reading unit 11 functions as an image data input unit.

  Further, the image processing apparatus 10 forms an image on a sheet based on the output system image processing circuit 30 that performs various image processing for print output on the image data, and the image data output from the output system image processing circuit 30. And a printer unit 18 as an image forming unit.

  Further, the image processing apparatus 10 includes a system bus 41 configured by a PCI (Peripheral Component Interconnect) bus or the like. In addition to the normal operation as the image processing apparatus 10, the system bus 41 includes image processing performed by the reading-system image processing circuit 20 on the image data, or the first compression / decompression unit 12 and the second compression / decompression unit 14 include images. In compression processing performed on data, a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 42 as a control unit that changes the processing contents and controls the size of image data and a hard disk device 43 (indicated as HDD in the figure) are connected under control. HDD-I / F (Hard Disk Drive-Interface) 44, NIC / printer controller 45, first memory / compression / decompression controller 16, second memory / compression / decompression controller 17, and operation display unit 19. It is connected.

  The NIC / printer controller 45 has a function of a network controller (NIC: Network Interface Card), is connected to a LAN (Local Area Network) 2 and the like, and exchanges data with the outside. The NIC / printer controller 45 has a function of receiving print data composed of character codes or the like from an external terminal (not shown) via the LAN 2 and developing the print data into image data (image data). It functions as an input unit for image data in the same manner as the above.

  The CPU 42 is further connected to a host bus 46 that is different from the system bus 41. A memory 47 such as a flash memory storing various programs executed by the CPU 42 and a RAM (Random Access Memory) serving as a work memory of the CPU 42 is connected to the host bus 46. The reading system image processing circuit 20, the first and second memory / compression / decompression controllers 16 and 17, and the output system image processing circuit 30 are connected to the CPU 42 via the host bus 46. Various operation settings are included.

  The hard disk device 43 is equipped with a SMART 43A. The SMART 43A performs a self-diagnosis function for detecting various inspection items including the usage time of the hard disk device 43 and the temperature inside the device in real time and holding the information. When the hard disk device 43 is not equipped with a SMART, a temperature sensor 48 for detecting the temperature of the hard disk device 43 is separately provided. This temperature sensor 48 is attached to the surface of the hard disk device 43 to detect the temperature outside the device, or is attached to the periphery of the hard disk device 43 to detect the ambient temperature around the device, and is connected to the host bus 46. The temperature information detected in this way is configured to be acquired by the CPU 42.

  The operation display unit 19 is configured as a touch panel type operation panel capable of image display and touch operation. The operation display unit 19 performs various displays related to the operation state of the image processing apparatus 10, operation guidance, warnings, errors, and the like. It fulfills the function of accepting input operations.

  The reading unit 11 is a light source that irradiates a document, a CCD (Charge Coupled Device) image sensor that reads the document for one line in the width direction, and an A / D conversion that converts an analog image signal output from the image sensor into digital image data. Equipped with a bowl. Although not shown in the drawings, a moving mechanism that moves the reading position of the line unit by the image sensor in the length direction of the document, and an optical component that includes a lens or a mirror that guides reflected light from the document to the image sensor and forms an image. Etc.

  The reading system image processing circuit 20 is a circuit and image that performs image processing such as shading correction / luminance density conversion 21, area discrimination 23, spatial filter / magnification / density γ conversion 24, inclination correction / error diffusion 25, resolution conversion 26, and the like. A delay FIFO (First-In First-Out) 22 is provided. When the through setting is made by the CPU 42, the reading system image processing circuit 20 passes and outputs the image data without performing image processing. In addition, it is possible to set through for image processing units such as shading correction / luminance density conversion 21 and area determination 23. The output of the reading system image processing circuit 20 is input to both the first memory / compression / decompression controller 16 and the second memory / compression / decompression controller 17.

  The first memory / compression / decompression controller 16 exchanges data with the reading system image processing circuit 20, the first compression / decompression unit 12, the first image memory 13, the system bus 41, and the output system image processing circuit 30. Has the ability to manage and control. Specifically, the function of inputting image data output from the reading system image processing circuit 20, the writing and reading of data to the first image memory 13 by giving an address signal, a timing signal, etc. to the first image memory 13 , A function for transferring data to and from the first compression / decompression unit 12, a function for transferring data between the hard disk device 43 and the first image memory 13 via the HDD-I / F 44, and a first image It fulfills the function of outputting the image data stored in the memory 13 to the output system image processing circuit 30.

  The second memory / compression / decompression controller 17 is a first memory / compression / decompression controller for the second compression / decompression unit 14 and the second image memory 15 instead of the first compression / decompression unit 12 and the first image memory 13. Performs the same function as 16.

  The output system image processing circuit 30 has a selector 31 that switches between input of image data from the first memory / compression / decompression controller 16 and image data from the second memory / compression / decompression controller 17, and the selector 31. A circuit for performing image processing such as cell average / resolution conversion 32, area discrimination 34, printer γ conversion / thinning processing 35, minute scaling 36, screen processing 37 and the like, and an image delay FIFO 33; It has.

  Similarly to the reading system image processing circuit 20, the output system image processing circuit 30 passes and outputs image data without performing image processing when the through setting is made from the CPU. In addition, through setting can be made in units of image processing such as cell average / resolution conversion 32 and printer γ conversion / thinning processing 35. Image data output from the output system image processing circuit 30 is input to the printer unit 18 and printed out. The selector 31 switches the input destination of the image data to either the first memory / compression / decompression controller 16 or the second memory / compression / decompression controller 17 according to the setting from the CPU 42.

  The printer unit 18 forms an image corresponding to the image data input from the output system image processing circuit 30 on a sheet by an electrophotographic process and outputs it. The printer unit 18 includes a paper transport device, a photosensitive drum, a charging device, an LD (Laser Diode) that is controlled to be turned on according to input image data, and laser light emitted from the LD (not shown). It is configured as a so-called laser printer having a scanning unit that scans on a photosensitive drum, a developing device, a transfer separating device, a cleaning device, and a fixing device. Instead of an LED printer that irradiates a photosensitive drum with an LED (Light Emitting Diode) instead of a laser beam, other types of printers may be used.

  Next, the flow from input to output of image data in normal copy operation and print operation will be described.

  In the case of a copy operation, when the reading unit 11 reads a document image, image data is sequentially output from the reading unit 11 and input to the shading correction / luminance density conversion 21 of the reading system image processing circuit 20. The image data is subjected to various types of image processing by the reading system image processing circuit 20 and then stored in the first image memory 13 via the first memory / compression / decompression controller 16 or the second memory / It is stored in the second image memory 15 via the compression / decompression controller 17.

  In the case of a print operation, when the NIC / printer controller 45 receives print data from an external terminal (not shown) via the LAN 2, the NIC / printer controller 45 expands the print data into image data. This image data is stored in the first image memory 13 via the first memory / compression / decompression controller 16 or stored in the second image memory 15 via the second memory / compression / decompression controller 17. The

  The image data stored in the first image memory 13 or the second image memory 15 is compressed by the first compression / decompression unit 12 or the second compression / decompression unit 14 and is temporarily stored in the hard disk device 43 in both the copying operation and the printing operation. The The image data stored in the hard disk device 43 is read at the time of output, decompressed by the first compression / decompression unit 12 or the second compression / decompression unit 14, and returned to the first image memory 13 or the second image memory 15.

  The image data returned to the first image memory 13 or the second image memory 15 is output to the output system image processing circuit 30 via the first memory / compression / decompression controller 16 or the second memory / compression / decompression controller 17. Then, after various image processing is performed by the output system image processing circuit 30, the image is output to the printer unit 18. The printer unit 18 controls the lighting of the LD according to the image data input from the output system image processing circuit 30, forms an image on a sheet, and prints it out.

  Next, a data size control process for controlling the size of image data stored in the hard disk device 43 will be described.

  As described in the background art, when the temperature exceeds or falls below a certain threshold value, the data transfer rate may be reduced. In addition, the decrease in data transfer speed due to the temperature factor may vary depending on the model, and there are models in which the data writing speed is significantly decreased. Therefore, particularly in an image processing apparatus that realizes high resolution and high-speed output, due to the effect of a decrease in the data transfer speed of the hard disk device, output of image data from the hard disk device is not in time for print output, resulting in a data waiting time. May occur and 100% productivity may not be maintained.

  Therefore, in the present embodiment, the relationship (characteristics) between the temperature of the hard disk device 43 mounted on the image processing apparatus 10 and the data transfer speed is measured in advance, and a temperature threshold that allows the decrease in the data transfer speed with respect to the print output is set. Based on the threshold value, the contents of the processing applied to the image data are changed, and the size control of the image data stored in the hard disk device 43 is performed (data size control processing).

  Specifically, the upper and lower thresholds set based on the above measurement results in the hard disk device 43 are stored in advance in the memory 47 or the like, and when the detected temperature of the hard disk device 43 exceeds the upper threshold or the lower limit Is lower than the normal number in the error diffusion processing of the image data by the inclination correction / error diffusion 25 of the reading system image processing circuit 20, or the first compression / decompression device 12 or The image data compressed by the second compressor / decompressor 14 is processed at a higher compression rate than usual, so that the size of the image data stored in the hard disk device 43 is made smaller than usual.

  For example, when the temperature-data transfer rate characteristic shown in HDD_C of FIG. 4 (HDD of FIG. 3) is obtained, if the temperature exceeds about 60 ° C. or falls below about 20 ° C., the data transfer rate decreases. Therefore, the upper limit threshold is set to 60 ° C., and the lower limit threshold is set to 20 ° C. When the temperature-data transfer rate characteristic shown in HDD_B of FIG. 4 is obtained, since the data transfer rate decreases when the temperature exceeds about 55 ° C. or falls below about 17 ° C., the upper limit threshold is set to 55 ° C. And set the lower threshold to 17 ° C. In addition, a threshold may be set by providing a predetermined margin (for example, 1 ° C.) for the temperature at which the data transfer rate decreases. Based on the threshold value thus set, the data size control process described below is performed.

  FIG. 2 shows the flow of data size control processing executed by the image processing apparatus 10 of this embodiment.

  When the image processing apparatus 10 receives a copy or print request (step S101), the CPU 42 acquires temperature information inside the hard disk device 43 detected by the SMART 43A in real time (step S102). Further, when the hard disk device 43 is not equipped with a SMART, temperature information (an external temperature of the hard disk device 43 or an ambient temperature around the device) detected in real time by a separately provided temperature sensor 48 is acquired.

  The CPU 42 determines whether or not the temperature acquired from the SMART 43A or the temperature sensor 48 is within the set temperature range (step S103). For example, when the lower limit threshold is set to 20 ° C. and the upper limit threshold is set to 60 ° C., it is determined whether or not the acquired temperature is within a range of 20 ° C. or more and 60 ° C. or less.

  If the temperature is within the set temperature range (step S103; Yes), the CPU 42 sets the requested copy or print image processing to a normal setting (step S104). Specifically, various image processing settings of the reading system image processing circuit 20 are set to normal settings. In the setting of the reading system image processing circuit 20, the number of gradations of the error diffusion processing by the inclination correction / error diffusion 25 is set to a normal value. Further, the compression rate of the compression processing by the first compression / decompression unit 12 and the second compression / decompression unit 14 is set to a normal value.

  When the setting is completed, the CPU 42 controls each unit of the image processing apparatus 10 and executes a print output for a copy or print request (step S105). This print output is performed according to the above-described normal copy operation or normal print operation.

  In response to a copy request, when image data obtained by reading a document image by the reading unit 11 is input to the reading system image processing circuit 20, the reading system image processing circuit 20 sets various kinds of image data according to normal settings. The image processing is performed. At this time, the inclination correction / error diffusion 25 performs error diffusion on the image data with the normal number of gradations. Image data that has been subjected to image processing and output from the reading system image processing circuit 20 is stored in the first image memory 13 via the first memory / compression / decompression controller 16, or the second memory / compression. The image data is stored in the second image memory 15 via the expansion controller 17.

  In response to a print request, when print data is received by the NIC / printer controller 45 from the external terminal via the LAN 2, the NIC / printer controller 45 expands the print data into image data. This image data is stored in the first image memory 13 via the first memory / compression / decompression controller 16 or stored in the second image memory 15 via the second memory / compression / decompression controller 17. The

  For both copy and print requests, the first compression / decompression unit 12 or the second compression / decompression unit 14 compresses the image data stored in the first image memory 13 or the second image memory 15 at a normal compression rate. The compressed image data is temporarily stored in the hard disk device 43. When the image data compressed and stored in the hard disk device 43 is read at the time of output, the first compression / decompression unit 12 or the second compression / decompression unit 14 decompresses the image data and returns it to the original size before compression. .

  When the print output in the normal operation for the copy or print request is completed through the above-described processes, the present process is terminated (END).

  On the other hand, if the temperature acquired from the SMART 43A or the temperature sensor 48 is outside the set temperature range (step S103; No), in the case of a copy operation, the CPU 42 displays a mode selection screen on the operation display unit 19 (step S106). ). In the case of a printing operation, a mode selection screen is displayed on the display device of the external terminal that requested printing. The mode selection screen displays, for example, a selection button for selecting the normal mode or the productivity priority mode, and a message indicating that the printing productivity is reduced when the normal mode is selected.

  The user looks at the mode selection screen displayed on the operation display unit 19 or the display device of the external terminal and performs the selection operation (pressing or clicking the selection button) of the normal mode or the productivity priority mode. The CPU 42 confirms the selected mode (step S107), and if it is the normal mode (step S107; normal mode), the process proceeds to step S104. Then, the CPU 42 sets the image processing (including compression processing) applied to the requested copy or print image data to a normal setting, and controls each unit of the image processing apparatus 10 to execute print output in response to the copy or print request. (Step S105), the process ends (END).

  If the selected mode is the productivity priority mode (step S107; productivity priority mode), the CPU 42 excludes the inclination correction / error diffusion 25 in the image processing setting of the requested copy or print request. Various image processing settings of the reading system image processing circuit 20 are set to normal settings, and the number of gradations of error diffusion processing by the inclination correction / error diffusion 25 is set to a value smaller than normal. Further, the compression rate of the compression process by the first compression / decompression unit 12 and the second compression / decompression unit 14 is set to a value larger than usual (step S108). Note that only one of the settings different from the normal setting (decreasing the number of gradations / increasing the compression rate) for the inclination correction / error diffusion 25 and the first / second compression / expansion units 12 and 14 is performed. You may do it.

  Further, in the above setting, the size of the image data that is made smaller than the normal setting by performing processing with the setting is set to a size that allows the writing and reading of the image data by the hard disk device 43 to be in time for the print output by the printer unit 18. Like that. In the print output by the printer unit 18 of the image processing apparatus 10, the data transfer amount per print output necessary for ensuring the maximum productivity can be calculated, and is reduced by performing the processing with the above settings. The size of the image data may be set to be equal to or less than the data transfer amount.

  For example, in the case of a 60-sheet machine, one sheet is output per second, so the image data size per sheet may be set equal to or less than the amount of data that can be input / output by the hard disk device 43 per second. In addition, since 30 sheets are output once per 2 seconds, the image data size per sheet may be set to be equal to or smaller than the data amount that the hard disk device 43 can input / output in 2 seconds. When the data transfer rate is reduced to about 24 MB / s at a low temperature or a high temperature as in the hard disk device shown in FIG. 3, the image data size per sheet is 24 MB × 1/2 for 60 sheets. As shown below, the number of gradations of the inclination correction / error diffusion 25, the first compression / decompression unit 12 and the second compression / decompression unit are set so that the image data size per sheet is 24 MB or less in the case of 30 sheets machine. A compression ratio of 14 is set.

  When the above setting is completed, the CPU 42 controls each unit of the image processing apparatus 10 to execute a print output for a copy or print request (step S105). In addition to the error diffusion process by the inclination correction / error diffusion 25 and the compression process by the first compression / decompression unit 12 and the second compression / decompression unit 14, the print output includes the copy operation or the normal setting (step S 104) described above. This is performed in the same manner as the printing operation.

  In response to a copy request, when image data obtained by reading a document image by the reading unit 11 is input to the reading system image processing circuit 20, the reading system image processing circuit 20 performs various image processes on the image data. Among them, the inclination correction / error diffusion 25 performs error diffusion on the image data with a smaller number of gradations than usual. Image data that has been reduced in size by this process and output from the reading system image processing circuit 20 is stored in the first image memory 13 via the first memory / compression / decompression controller 16, or Stored in the second image memory 15 via the second memory / compression / decompression controller 17.

  In response to the print request, the NIC / printer controller 45 develops the print data received from the external terminal through the LAN 2 into image data, as in the normal print operation, and this image data is stored in the first memory / compressed. It is stored in the first image memory 13 via the expansion controller 16 or stored in the second image memory 15 via the second memory / compression expansion controller 17.

  For both copy and print requests, the first compression / decompression unit 12 or the second compression / decompression unit 14 compresses the image data stored in the first image memory 13 or the second image memory 15 at a higher compression rate than usual. The compressed image data is temporarily stored in the hard disk device 43. When the image data compressed and stored in the hard disk device 43 is read at the time of output, the first compression / decompression unit 12 or the second compression / decompression unit 14 decompresses the image data and returns it to the original size before compression. .

  When print output in response to a copy or print request is executed through each of the above processes, the image data input / output to / from the hard disk device 43 is sized so that writing and reading of the image data by the hard disk device 43 is in time for the print output by the printer unit 18. Thus, when the printer unit 18 prints at the maximum speed, it is transferred to the printer unit 18 via the hard disk device 43 without delay. Upon receiving the image data without delay via the hard disk device 43, the printer unit 18 can print with maximum productivity. Then, when the print output by the printer unit 18 is finished, this processing is ended (END).

  The data size control process is repeated for each job of a copy or print request. For this reason, the temperature of the hard disk device 43 changes between the temperature detection by the SMART 43A or the temperature sensor 48 and the setting of the processing contents until the printing is completed, so that the temperature changes from the set temperature range to the outside range or from the outside range to the outside range. Even if the transition is made, the content of the processing applied to the image data is not changed until the copy or print request of the same job is completed, and the processing is continued with the content set based on the first detected temperature.

  As described above, in the image processing apparatus 10 according to the present embodiment, in the print output of a copy or print request, if the temperature of the hard disk device 43 is outside the predetermined set temperature range, the content of the process applied to the image data And the size of the image data stored in the hard disk device 43 is made smaller than usual. As a result, even if the data transfer speed of the hard disk device 43 decreases due to temperature factors, an increase in time required for writing and reading image data can be suppressed, and a decrease in printing productivity can be prevented.

  In particular, in the present embodiment, the maximum productivity is ensured during printing by reducing the size of the image data so that the writing and reading of the image data by the hard disk device 43 is in time for the printing output by the printer unit 18. Can do. Furthermore, while performing the copy of the same job or the print output of the print request, it is possible to ensure a certain image quality in the print output of the same job by not changing the contents of the processing applied to the image data. Thereby, in the printed matter of a plurality of pages, the image quality of each page can be made uniform.

  In addition to the productivity priority mode for printing with priority on productivity, the user can select the normal mode for printing image data with normal processing, so that users who want to print without reducing the image data than usual. It will be possible to respond to the request. In addition, the mode selection screen for selecting the normal mode or the productivity priority mode is preliminarily guided to display that printing in a state where the productivity is reduced when the normal mode is selected, so the user gives priority to productivity. It becomes possible to easily determine whether or not to make it.

  The embodiment of the present invention has been described with reference to the drawings. However, the specific configuration is not limited to that shown in the embodiment, and there are changes and additions within the scope of the present invention. Are also included in the present invention.

  For example, in the image processing apparatus 10 described in the embodiment, in the case of a print operation, the image data output from the NIC / printer controller 45 does not pass through the reading system image processing circuit 20 and the first image memory 13 or the second image data. Although the image data is stored in the image memory 15, the image data output from the NIC / printer controller 45 is stored in the first image memory 13 or the second image memory 15 via the reading system image processing circuit 20. It may be configured. In this case, the size of the image data can be controlled by the error diffusion processing by the inclination correction / error diffusion 25 of the reading system image processing circuit 20 in the printing operation as well as the copying operation.

  Further, the method for controlling the size of the image data stored in the hard disk device 43 is not limited to the error diffusion processing and compression processing described in the embodiment. For example, the size of the image data may be controlled by reducing the number of gradations more than usual by gradation processing other than error diffusion, or by reducing the resolution more than usual by resolution conversion.

  Also, the mode selection screen for selecting the normal / productivity priority mode displays a message or the like indicating that printing with reduced productivity is performed when the normal mode is selected. This guidance display is a mode selection screen. It may be displayed only when the normal mode is selected without being displayed. Further, during printing in the normal mode, a message indicating that the printing productivity is reduced may be displayed in the same manner. Further, the mode selection screen may display a message or the like indicating that printing with reduced image quality is performed when the productivity priority mode is selected. Furthermore, the guidance display for the productivity priority mode is not displayed on the mode selection screen, but only when the productivity priority mode is selected, or the image quality is lowered during printing in the productivity priority mode. A message indicating that printing is in progress may be displayed. Moreover, you may make it alert | report with an audio | voice instead of these displays.

  In the embodiment, the hard disk device is described as an example of the image data storage device (storage unit). However, a storage device other than the hard disk device may be used as long as the transfer performance is reduced due to a temperature factor.

  The present invention is not limited to the digital copying machine described in the embodiment, and can be applied to other image processing apparatuses such as a digital multifunction machine having a copy function, a scanner function, a printer function, a facsimile function, and the like. .

It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the image processing apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention. 5 is a flowchart showing data size control processing performed by the image processing apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention. It is a graph which shows the result of having measured the relationship between temperature and data transfer speed in a general purpose hard disk drive. It is a graph which compares and shows the result of having measured the relationship between the temperature and data transfer rate in a general purpose hard disk drive.

Explanation of symbols

2 ... LAN
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Image processing apparatus 11 ... Reading part 12 ... 1st compression expander 13 ... 1st image memory 14 ... 2nd compression expander 15 ... 2nd image memory 16 ... 1st memory / compression expansion controller 17 ... 2nd Memory / compression / decompression controller 18 ... Printer unit 19 ... Operation display unit 20 ... Reading image processing circuit 21 ... Shading correction / luminance density conversion 22 ... Image delay FIFO
23: Area discrimination 24: Spatial filter / magnification / density γ conversion 25 ... Inclination correction / error diffusion 26 ... Resolution conversion 30 ... Output system image processing circuit 31 ... Selector 32 ... Cell average / resolution conversion 33 ... Image delay FIFO
34 ... Area discrimination 35 ... Printer gamma conversion / thinning processing 36 ... Micro zoom 37 ... Screen processing 41 ... System bus 42 ... CPU
43 ... Hard disk drive 43A ... SMART
44 ... HDD-I / F
45 ... NIC / printer controller 46 ... Host bus 47 ... Memory 48 ... Temperature sensor

Claims (9)

An input unit for image data;
A processing unit that performs processing on the image data output from the input unit;
A storage unit for storing image data output from the processing unit;
An image forming unit that forms an image on a sheet based on image data read from the storage unit;
A temperature detection unit for detecting the temperature of the storage unit;
A control unit that changes the content of the processing based on the temperature of the storage unit detected by the temperature detection unit, controls the size of image data that is subjected to the processing and is output from the processing unit,
An image processing apparatus comprising: The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the temperature detection unit is an internal temperature detection unit included in the storage unit. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the temperature detection unit is an external temperature detection unit provided outside the storage unit. 4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the processing unit is an image processing unit that performs gradation processing of image data, and the change in the content of the processing is a change in the number of gradations. 5. Image processing device. The image processing according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the processing unit is a compression processing unit that performs compression processing of image data, and the change in the content of the processing is a change in a compression rate. apparatus. The size of the image data that is processed and output from the processing unit is controlled to a size that allows the storage and reading of the image data by the storage unit to be in time for image formation by the image forming unit. Item 6. The image processing apparatus according to any one of Items 1 to 5. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an operation unit configured to perform a selection operation as to whether to execute the control. An informing unit for informing that the productivity of image formation by the image forming unit decreases when the temperature of the storage unit is not executed outside a predetermined temperature range set in advance. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the content of the processing is not changed while the image formation is performed on image data of the same job.

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