JP2010131854A - Image processing apparatus, image processing method, and image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To quickly output divided image data on which image processing has surely been applied while further effectively accelerating the speed of the image processing. <P>SOLUTION: The image processing apparatus has a band data generating part 33a which generates band data by dividing image data, a first image processing part 35b<SB>1</SB>which applies the image processing to the band data, a second image processing part 35b<SB>2</SB>which applies the image processing to the band data, and a data transfer part 33b which transfers first band data of the band data to the first image processing part 35b<SB>1</SB>and transfers second division data of the band data subsequent to the first band data to the second image processing part 35b<SB>2</SB>. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus for performing image processing such as color conversion processing and screen processing on input image data, a method for image processing of image data, and an exposure head having aligned light emitting elements to form a latent image carrier. The present invention relates to a technical field of an image forming apparatus that forms a latent image.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as an image forming apparatus such as a printer, an image forming apparatus that forms an electrostatic latent image on a photosensitive member that is a latent image carrier using a line head having light emitting elements such as aligned organic EL elements is known ( For example, see Patent Document 1). In the image forming apparatus described in Patent Document 1, image data is included in an image formation command and image processing is performed by an image processing controller to form video data. The head controller controls the lighting of the light emitting elements of the line head based on the video data, thereby forming an electrostatic latent image on the latent image carrier.

Conventionally, as an image forming apparatus such as a printer, an image forming apparatus in which image data is improved by performing screen processing such as halftone on the image data when printing the image data (for example, Patent Document 2). In the image forming apparatus described in Patent Document 2, high-quality images can be printed by performing N-value processing (halftone processing) of image data using a dither matrix of screen pattern threshold values.
JP 2008-137237 A. Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2008-153914.

  By the way, in an image forming apparatus using a line head, in recent years, higher speed and higher resolution are increasingly demanded. For this reason, high-speed processing is also required in image processing. However, the amount of image processing data associated with higher resolution and the like is increasing, which is an impediment to increasing the speed of image processing. In addition, the image forming apparatus is also required to have versatility so as to flexibly cope with various high resolutions.

  However, the image forming apparatus described in Patent Document 1 does not have versatility, and it is difficult to flexibly cope with various high resolutions. In addition, since data is communicated on a one-to-one basis between the image processing controller and the head controller, it is difficult to further increase the speed of image processing. In addition, when screen processing is performed on an input image as described in Patent Document 2, it is conceivable to divide image data and perform screen processing for each of the divided divided image data.

  However, when screen processing is performed for each piece of divided image data in this way, the image processing controller can always prepare divided image data that can be output after image processing is completed in the order of the divided image data. Is not limited. For this reason, it is difficult to quickly output divided image data on which image processing has been reliably executed.

  The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and an object thereof is to quickly obtain divided image data on which image processing has been reliably performed while effectively achieving higher speed image processing. To provide an image processing apparatus, an image processing method, and an image forming apparatus for outputting.

In order to solve the above-described problem, in the image processing apparatus, the image processing method, and the image forming apparatus according to the present invention, the input image data is divided into divided image data by the image data dividing unit. The image processing apparatus includes a first image processing unit and a second image processing unit. Therefore, parallel and distributed image processing such as color conversion processing and screen processing can be performed independently on the divided image data by the first image processing unit and the second image processing unit. As a result, it is possible to execute image processing of high-resolution and large-capacity image data even more quickly.

  In addition, the first divided data of the divided image data generated by dividing the image data is subjected to image processing and output, and the second divided data of the divided image data is subjected to image processing following the output of the first divided data. Is output. Therefore, it is possible to quickly output divided image data on which image processing has been executed more reliably.

The best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a diagram schematically and partially showing an example of an embodiment of an image forming apparatus according to the present invention.
As shown in FIG. 1, the image forming apparatus 1 of this example includes a housing body 2. In the housing body 2, an image forming unit 3, a transfer unit 4, a transfer material supply unit 5 that accommodates a transfer material such as transfer paper, a fixing unit 6, an engine control unit 7, and a paper discharge tray 8 are disposed. ing.

The image forming unit 3 includes a first image forming station 9Y that is a yellow (Y) image forming station, a second image forming station 9M that is a magenta (M) image forming station, and a cyan (C) image forming station. And a fourth image forming station 9K which is a black (K) image forming station. The first to fourth image forming stations 9Y, 9M, 9C, 9K are arranged in tandem in this order. The arrangement order of the first to fourth image forming stations 9Y, 9M, 9C, 9K is arbitrary. Hereinafter, the first to fourth image forming stations 9Y, 9M, 9C, and 9K shown in FIG.

The first to fourth image forming stations 9Y, 9M, 9C, 9K are all configured identically. Therefore, the first image forming station 9Y of yellow (Y) will be described, and detailed descriptions of the second to fourth image forming stations 9M, 9C, 9K of other colors will be omitted. Note that the constituent elements of the second to fourth image forming stations 9M, 9C, and 9K have the same reference numerals and subscripts of M, C, and K as the corresponding constituent elements of the yellow (Y) image forming station 4Y. Attached is shown.

The first image forming station 9Y has a first photoconductor 10Y which is a latent image carrier. The first image forming station 9Y includes a first charging unit 11Y, a first line head 12Y that is an exposure head of an image writing unit, a first developing unit 13Y, around the first photoconductor 10Y. And a first photoconductor cleaner 14Y.
The first charging unit 11Y includes a conventionally known first charging roller 15Y. The first charging roller 15Y charges the surface of the first photoconductor 10Y to a preset surface potential.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the first line head 12Y includes a first base substrate 16Y, a first LED array 17Y, a first driver IC 18Y, and a first rod lens array 19Y. The first LED array 17Y includes LED elements that are light emitting elements. In this case, the LED elements are arranged on the first base substrate 16Y along a first direction α (so-called main scanning direction) that is orthogonal or substantially orthogonal to the transfer material conveyance direction (movement direction).

The first driver IC 18Y is adjacent to the first base substrate 16Y adjacent to the LED element along a second direction β (so-called sub-scanning direction) β that is the same or substantially the same direction as the transfer material conveyance direction. And arranged along the first direction α. At this time, a preset number of LED elements are connected to one first driver IC 18Y. Accordingly, one first driver IC 18Y drives the connected LED element. In this case, when a video signal is given from the head controller 36 described later, the LED element emits light by driving the first driver IC 18Y based on the video signal.

  Furthermore, the first rod lens array 19Y has a first gradient index rod lens 20Y. The first gradient index rod lenses 20Y are arranged in a zigzag pattern in two rows along the first direction α, and are arranged facing the LED elements. The first gradient index rod lens 20Y optically forms an image of the light from the LED element to expose the first photoconductor 10Y, and a yellow (Y) static light is applied to the first photoconductor 10Y. An electrostatic latent image is formed. The first gradient index rod lens 20Y is not limited to two rows, and can be arbitrarily arranged in three or more rows.

The first developing unit 13Y has a first developing roller 21Y. The first developing roller 21Y supplies yellow (Y) toner to the first photoconductor 10Y. With this toner, the electrostatic latent image on the first photoconductor 10Y is developed, and a yellow (Y) toner image is formed on the first photoconductor 10Y.
The first photoconductor cleaner 14Y cleans the first photoconductor 10Y to which the toner image is transferred.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the transfer unit 4 includes a yellow (Y) first transfer unit 22Y, a magenta (M) second transfer unit 22M, a cyan (C) third transfer unit 22C, and a black ( B) a fourth transfer portion 22K, an endless transfer belt 23 as a transfer medium, a fifth transfer portion 24, and a transfer belt cleaner 25.

The first transfer portion 22Y has a first transfer roller 26Y. The second transfer portion 22M has a second transfer roller 26M. Further, the third transfer portion 22C has a third transfer roller 26C. Further, the fourth transfer portion 22K has a fourth transfer roller 26K. The first transfer roller to the fourth transfer rollers 26Y, 26M, 26C, and 26K press the transfer belt 23 to the corresponding first to fourth photoconductors 10Y, 10M, 10C, and 10K and The toner images of the first to fourth photoreceptors 10Y, 10M, 10C, and 10K are transferred to the transfer belt 23 by the transfer bias or the fourth transfer bias.

The transfer belt 23 is stretched between a driving roller 27 and a driven roller 28 and is rotated by the driving roller 27 in the arrow γ direction.
The fifth transfer unit 24 has a fifth transfer roller 29. The fifth transfer roller 29 brings the transfer material into pressure contact with the transfer belt 23 and transfers the toner image on the transfer belt 23 to the transfer material with a fifth transfer bias.
The transfer belt cleaner 25 cleans the transfer belt 23 to which the toner image is transferred.

  The transfer material supply unit 5 includes a transfer material storage unit 5 a that stores a transfer material such as transfer paper, and a transfer material supply unit 5 b that supplies the transfer material from the transfer material storage unit 5 a to the fifth transfer unit 24. is doing. The transfer material supply unit 5 supplies transfer materials one by one from the transfer material storage unit 5a to the fifth transfer unit 24 during image formation.

The fixing unit 6 includes a heating roller 30 and a pressure belt 31. The pressure belt 31 presses the transfer material on which the toner image is transferred by the fifth transfer unit 24 to the heating roller 30. The heating roller 30 heats the toner image transfer surface of the transfer material. As a result, the toner image is fixed on the transfer material, and an image is formed on the transfer material.
The image forming unit 3, the transfer unit 4, the transfer material supply unit 5, and the fixing unit 6 constitute an engine unit 32 of the image forming apparatus 1.

  The engine control unit 7 controls the engine unit 32. As shown in FIG. 3, the engine control unit 7 includes a power circuit board (not shown), a main controller 33, an engine controller 34, an image processing controller 35, and a head controller 36. The main controller 33, the image processing controller 35, and the head controller 36 constitute an image processing apparatus.

When an image formation command is given from an external device (not shown) such as a host computer, the main controller 33 sends a control signal for starting the engine unit 32 to the engine controller 34 via a UART (general purpose asynchronous transmission / reception) communication line. Send.
When the engine controller 34 receives a control signal from the main controller 33, the engine controller 34 starts initialization and warm-up of the engine unit 32. When initialization and warm-up are completed and the image forming operation is ready, the engine controller 34 outputs a synchronization signal that triggers the start of the image forming operation to the head controller 36 via the UART communication line. To do. Further, in the communication between the engine controller 34 and the head controller 36, in addition to the transmission of the synchronization signal, the line heads 12Y, 12M, 12C, 12K
(Transmission and reception of signals of these control parameters is the same as that of the image forming apparatus described in Patent Document 1 described above, and therefore, details thereof will be described.) Will be omitted).

  Further, as shown in FIG. 4, the main controller 33 includes a band data generation unit 33a and a data transfer unit 33b which are image data division units. The band data generation unit 33a generates divided image data obtained by dividing the image data included in the image formation command into first band data or mth band data of m (m ≧ 1) lines in the second direction. (Divided image data generation step).

  The band data generation unit 33a includes an absolute line number assigning unit 33c. As shown in FIG. 5A, the absolute line number assigning unit 33c assigns the absolute line number of the head line to each band data. This absolute line number indicates the number of line data in one page. In the example shown in FIG. 5A, the absolute line number “1B00h” is given to the head of the line data of one line, and this absolute line number “1B00h” indicates the line data of the 6912th line.

  The divided image data used in the image forming apparatus 1 of this example is image data in an interleave format. For example, if the image data is YMCK image data of yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (K) as shown in FIG. The YMCK image data is 8-bit (256 gradations) image data in which the four toner colors of YMCK are developed for each pixel. The divided image data is composed of several pixels of data per line. Further, one page of image data is divided into m lines in the second direction (sub-scanning direction) as described above, and is configured as band data. Therefore, the divided image data is not data in a format divided for each color of yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (K).

  The data transfer unit 33b transfers the band data to the image processing controller 35. At the time of transferring the band data, the line data of one line is transferred to the image processing controller 35 together with the absolute line number given to the line data. To do.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the image processing controller 35 includes an image processing controller 35a _n of n (n ≧ 2) pieces of the first image processing controller 35a ₁ to the n. The first image processing controller 35a ₁ includes a first image processing unit 35b ₁ and a first image processing side communication module 35c ₁ . Further, as shown in FIG. 4, the first image processing unit 35b ₁ includes a first color conversion processing unit 35d ₁ , a first screen processing unit 35e ₁ , and a first valid / invalid data display header adding unit. It has a 35f _1. Other image processing controller is also similar, for example, the image processing controller 35a _n of the n is an image processing section of the n-th chromatic image processing side communication module 35c _n of the image processing unit 35b _n and the n of the n is doing. Further, the n-th image processing unit 35b _n includes an n-th color conversion processing unit 35d _n , an n-th screen processing unit 35e _n , and an n-th valid / invalid data display header adding unit 35f _n . . In this case, the first image processing controller 35a _{1 to} the nth image processing controller 3
5a _n are driven independently.

Then, the data transfer portion 33b of the main controller 33, the first image processing section the band data of the first band data through m-th through transfer lines 37a _n of the first transmission line 37a ₁ to n-th these turn 35b _{1 to} the n-th image processing unit 35b _n (
assign).

The image processing section 35b _n of the first image processing section 35b ₁ to the n is the band data is transferred, first transferred in the first color conversion processing unit 35d _n of the color conversion processing unit 35d ₁ to the n Color conversion processing is performed on the band data that has been transmitted (first image processing step, second image processing step). The color conversion process is a process of converting the band data into the color gamut of the image forming apparatus 1 (the color area that can be reproduced by the image forming apparatus 1 (within the limit range)). This color conversion processing is performed by interpolation using a color conversion LUT (lookup table: conversion matrix to the color gamut of the image forming apparatus 1). The data size after the color conversion process is 8 bits for each color, the same as before the color conversion process.

Next, the first image processing unit 35b _{1 to} the n-th image processing unit 35b _n perform the _first screen processing unit 35e _{1 to} the n-th screen processing unit 35e _n on the band data subjected to the color conversion processing. Screen processing (first image processing step, second image processing step). The screen processing is processing for converting each pixel into dot on / off information (that is, information for emitting / not emitting light from the line head) in the band data subjected to color conversion processing. This screen processing uses a screen LUT (a matrix of threshold values for determining dot on / off) to determine dot on / off. The data size after the screen processing is 1 bit for each color.

Valid or invalid data display header imparting portion 35f _n of the first valid or invalid data display header imparting unit 35f ₁ to n-th, a header indicating whether the line data of the corresponding band data is invalid or is valid It is added to the head of the line data.

  That is, it is assumed that the corresponding line data can be transferred after completing the color conversion process and the screen process (assuming that the line data is ready). At this time, as shown in FIG. 5A, a header indicating the head of the effective data is added to the head of the line data (that is, before the absolute line number). In the illustrated example, the header indicating the beginning of the valid data is “5555h”. Further, it is assumed that the corresponding line data has not finished the color conversion process or the screen process and cannot be transferred (assuming that the line data is not ready). At this time, as shown in FIG. 5B, a header indicating the head of invalid data is added to the head of the line data. In the illustrated example, the header indicating the beginning of invalid data is “5500h”.

The first image processing side communication module 35c _{1 to} the nth image processing side communication module 35
c _n receives the first band data or band data of the m from the main controller 33. Then, the image processing side communication module 35c _n of the first image processing communication module 35c ₁ to the n receives the band data from the main controller 33, these band data first image processing section to 35b ₁ no The data is transferred from the first color conversion processing unit 35d _{1 to} the nth color conversion processing unit 35d _n of the nth image processing unit 35b _n .

Further, the image processing side communication module 35c _n of the first image processing communication module 35c ₁ to the n receives a page request signal Preq and line request signals Lreq from the head controller 36 to be described later. Further, the first image processing side communication module 35c ₁
To the image processing side communication module 35c _n n-th, first valid or invalid image processing section 35b _n of these of page request signals Preq and line request signals Lreq first image processing section 35b ₁ to the n The data is transferred from the data display header giving unit 35f _{1 to} the nth valid / invalid data display header giving unit 35f _n .

Then, the image processing side communication module 35c _n of the first image processing communication module 35c ₁ to the n, after receiving these pages request signals Preq and line request signals Lreq, each time it receives a line request signal Lreq and outputs corresponding data to the head-side communication module 36a _n of the first head-side communication module 36a ₁ to the n. In this case, if the corresponding line data is valid, the first head side communication module 36a _{1 to} the n th head side communication module 3 are sequentially used as video data.
And transfers it to the 6a _n. Further, when the line data is invalid, and outputs an invalid header is invalid granted data notified to the head-side communication module 36a _n of the head-side communication module 36a ₁ to n-th order as soon as 1.

Although FIG. 3 line data from the main controller 33 is shown as being transferred directly to the image processing unit 35b _n of the first image processing section 35b ₁ through the n, the engine control in this example in section 7 actually line data first image processing section 35b ₁ through n-th through the image processing side communication module 35c _n of the first image processing communication module 35c ₁ to n-th from the main controller 33 To the image processing unit 35b _n .

As shown in FIG. 3, the head controller 36 includes a first head side communication module 36a ₁ , a second head side communication module 36a ₂ ,..., And an nth head side communication module c36a. The head controller 36 includes a head control module 36b and a page memory 36c.

The first image processing side communication module 35c ₁ and the first head side communication module 36a ₁ can communicate bidirectionally. Similarly, the other image processing side communication module and the other head side communication module can communicate bidirectionally. For example, the head-side communication module 36a _n of the image processing side communication module 35c _n and the n of the n is also capable of communicating bidirectionally.

Further, the head control module 36b has a data request unit 36d. The data request unit 36d sends a page request signal Preq indicating the head of one page of image data and the image data to the first image processing side communication module 35c ₁ via the _first head side communication module 36a _1. The line request signal Lreq is output to request video data for one line among the lines constituting the band data. Similarly, the page request signal Preq indicating the head of the image data of one page and the line constituting the band data of the image data are sent to the other image processing side communication module via the other head side communication module. Among them, a line request signal Lreq is output to request video data for one line. For example, to the image processing side communication module 35c _n of the n via a head-side communication module 36a _n of the n, constituting a page request signal Preq and band data of the image data indicating the top of the image data of one page A line request signal Lreq is transmitted to request video data for one line among the lines to be transmitted. In that case, the data request unit 36d is toward the image processing side communication module 35c _n of the first image processing communication module 35c ₁ to the n transmits a line request signal Lreq the order of the line data (first
Data request step, second data request step).

In the head control module 36b, the interleaved divided image data transmitted to the _first head side communication module 36a ₁ is stored in a first FIFO buffer (not shown) in the head control module 36b. The divided image data stored in the first FIFO buffer is color-coded as shown in FIG. 6 (b) and undergoes processing such as registration misregistration, and sequentially performs yellow Y lines (not shown) in the head control module 36b. The data are sorted and stored in a buffer, a magenta M line buffer, a cyan C line buffer, and a black K line buffer. Similarly, the interleaved divided image data transmitted to the _nth head side communication module 36an is stored in an nth FIFO buffer in the head control module 36b (not shown). Then, the divided image data stored in the nth FIFO buffer is color-coded as shown in FIG. 6B and subjected to processing such as registration misalignment, and sequentially, a yellow line (not shown) in the head control module 36b. The data are sorted and stored in a buffer, a magenta line buffer, a cyan line buffer, and a black line buffer.

  When one line of yellow (Y) data is accumulated in the yellow line buffer, the line data is transferred to and stored in a yellow page data memory unit (not shown) of the page memory 36c. Similarly, when magenta (M) data, cyan (C) data, and black (K) data for one line are accumulated in the magenta line buffer, cyan line buffer, and black line buffer, these line data are stored. Are transferred to and stored in a magenta page data memory unit, a cyan page data memory unit, and a black page data memory unit (not shown) of the page memory 36c.

At this time, when the line data is transferred from the line buffer to the page data memory unit, the data necessary for the line head is rearranged into the line data of each color. The line data of each color after the rearrangement is transferred to the corresponding memory address of each page data memory unit and stored. Then, the head control module 36b extracts line data from the page memory 36c in response to a request and outputs it to the first to fourth line heads 12Y, 12M, 12C, and 12K of the corresponding colors. As a result, the first to fourth line heads 12Y, 12M, 12C, 12K
Images of the respective colors are written on the first to fourth photoconductors 10Y, 10M, 10C, and 10K according to the supplied line data.

A specific example of image processing and image data transmission / reception in the image forming apparatus 1 of this example will be described.
As shown in FIG. 7A, in this specific example, the engine control unit 7 of the image forming apparatus 1 includes four first image processing controllers 35a _{1 to} fourth image processing controllers 35a ₄ . The image data in the main controller 33 has two line data per band data.

  In this case, the first band data is 0-1 lines as shown in FIG. The second band data is 2-3 lines. Further, the third band data is 4-5 lines. Further, the fourth band data is 6-7 lines.

Then, the first band data is transferred from the main controller 33 to the first image processing controller 35a ₁ . Also, the second band data is stored in the second image processing controller 35.
It is transferred to a _2. Further, the third band data is transferred to the _third image processing controller 35a ₃ . Further, the fourth band data is transferred to the _fourth image processing controller 35a4. Further, the fifth band data is transferred again to the first image processing controller 35a ₁ . Although not described below, the band data from the main controller 33 is transferred in order to the first image processing controller 35a _{1 to} the fourth image processing controller 35a ₄ in this way.

In this case, as shown in FIG. 7B, first line data of the first band data is _first transferred to the first image processing controller 35a ₁ and then second line data of the first band data. Is transferred to the first image processing controller 35a ₁ . Next, the third line data of the second band data is transferred to the second image processing controller 35a ₂ , and then the fourth line data of the second band data is transferred to the _second image processing controller 35a _2. The Next, the fifth line data of the third band data is transferred to the third image processing controller 35a ₃ , and then the sixth line data of the third band data is transferred to the _third image processing controller 35a _3. The Then, the seventh line data of the fourth band data is transferred to the fourth image processing controller 35a _4, and then the fourth band data eighth
Are transferred to the _fourth image processing controller 35a4. Next, the ninth line data of the fifth band data is transferred again to the first image processing controller 35a ₁ , and then the tenth line data of the fifth band data is transferred to the first image processing controller 35a ₁ . Is done. Thereafter, the line data of the band data is sequentially transferred to the image processing controller in the same manner.

Then, from the data request unit 36d of the head controller 36 as shown in FIG. 9, first, the first page request signal Preq-1 to the fourth page request signal Preq-4 of the first image processing controller 35a ₁ to 4 It is transferred to the image processing controller 35a ₄ of. Then, the first line request signal Lreq-1 is transferred to the first image processing controller 35a ₁ from the data request unit 36d of the head controller 36. When the first band data can be transferred after the color conversion process and the image process of the screen process are completed, the valid data header “5555” and the absolute line number “0000” are set as shown in FIG. The first line data and the valid data header “5555” and the second line data assigned the absolute line number “0001” are transferred from the first image processing controller 35a ₁ to the head controller 36 in this order. . When the first band data cannot be transferred because the image processing of the color conversion process and the screen process is not completed, for example, an invalid header (not shown in FIG. 8) as shown in FIG. The given data invalidity notification is transferred from the first image processing controller 35a ₁ to the head controller 36. In this case, the data request unit 36d of the head controller 36, a valid line data transfers a first line request signal Lreq-1 to the first image processing controller 35a ₁ to be transferred.

While the first band data to which the valid data header and the absolute line number are assigned is being transferred from the first image processing controller 35a ₁ to the head controller 36, the data request unit 36d of the head controller 36, as shown in FIG. The second line request signal Lreq-2 is transferred to the _second image processing controller 35a2. Of course, the second line request signal Lreq-2 can be transferred to the _second image processing controller 35a2 after the transfer of the first band data, not during the transfer of the first band data. Similarly, when the second band data can be transferred, the header “5555” of the valid data and the header “5555” of the third line data and the valid data to which the absolute line number “0002” is assigned. The fourth line data assigned with the absolute line number “0003” is transferred from the second image processing controller 35a ₂ to the head controller 36 in the order of the fourth line data. Second
When the band data cannot be transferred, the second image processing controller 35a ₂ notifies the head controller 3 of the data invalidity with the invalid header (not shown in FIG. 8).
6 is transferred. In this case, the data request unit 36d of the head controller 36 transfers the second line request signal Lreq-1 to the second image processing controller 35a ₂ until valid line data is transferred. Similarly, transfer from the third line request signals Lreq-3 and the fourth line request signals Lreq-4 the head controller 36 in that order in the third image processing controller 35a ₃ and the fourth image processing controller 35a ₄ of the Is done. In the same manner, the band data after the fifth band data is transferred to the head controller 36 in order as the line data to which the valid data header and the absolute line number shown in FIG.

Based on the band data transferred in order as described above, the head controller 36 converts the line data to the first to fourth line heads 12Y, 12M, 12C, and 12K of colors corresponding to the line data. Output. As a result, the first to fourth line heads 12Y, 12M, 12C, and 12K cause the first to fourth photoreceptors 10Y, 10M, 10C, and 10K to have different colors according to the supplied line data. Write the image.

The image processing apparatus of this embodiment, an image processing method, and according to the image forming apparatus 1, the image processing controller 35, and an image processing controller 35a _n of the first image processing controller 35a ₁ to the n. Thus, possible parallel distributed processing of independently image processing by the image processing controller 35a _n of the first image processing controller 35a ₁ through n-th relative a divided image data obtained by dividing the input image data band data or line data It becomes. As a result, it is possible to execute image processing of high-resolution and large-capacity image data even more quickly.

In addition, the line data of the first band data of the divided image data generated by dividing the image data by the main controller 33 is transferred to the first image processing controller 35a ₁ and the transfer of the first band data is performed. Subsequently, the line data of the second band data following the first band data of the divided image data is transferred to the _second image processing controller 35a2. In this way, the band data of the divided image data from the main controller 33 in order from the first image processing controller 35a _{1 to} the nth image processing controller 3.
It has been transferred to the 5a _n. Furthermore, the image processing controller 35a _n of the first image processing controller 35a ₁ to the n is the order of the line data of the band data came transferred, and performs image processing of the color conversion processing and screen processing. Then, requesting the line data of the band data sequentially by the data request unit 36 to the image processing controller 35a _n of the first image processing controller 35a ₁ to n-th head controller 36. And first
Image processing controller 35a _n of the image processing controller 35a ₁ to the n-th is outputting the line data of the band data image processing is made possible output ends in order to head controller 36. Accordingly, it is possible to quickly output band data on which image processing has been executed more reliably.

Note that other configurations and other image operations in the image forming apparatus 1 of this example are substantially the same as those of the image forming apparatus described in Patent Document 1, and thus the description thereof is omitted.
The present invention is not limited to the above-described examples, and various design changes can be made within the scope of the matters described in the claims.

1 is a diagram schematically and partially showing an example of an embodiment of an image forming apparatus according to the present invention. It is a fragmentary perspective view of the line head of the example shown in FIG. It is a block diagram of the engine control part and engine part of the example shown in FIG. 2 is a block diagram schematically showing a main controller and an image processing controller. FIG. (A) is a figure which shows the line data of effective data, (b) is a figure which shows the line data of invalid data. (A) is a figure which shows an example of the divided image data color-developed by YMCK for every pixel, (b) is a figure which shows an example of the divided image data by which color coding was carried out. (A) is a figure explaining transfer of band data, (b) is a figure explaining the transfer order of line data. It is a figure explaining the specific example of transfer of line data. It is a figure explaining transfer of the band data with respect to a request signal.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Image forming apparatus, 3 ... Image forming unit, 7 ... Engine control part, 10Y ... 1st photoreceptor, 10M ... 2nd photoreceptor, 10C ... 3rd photoreceptor, 10K ... 4th photoreceptor, 12Y: first line head, 12M: second line head, 12C: third line head, 12K: fourth line head, 32: engine unit, 33: main controller, 33a: band data generation unit, 33b Data transfer unit 33c Screen application line generation unit 34 Engine controller 35 Image processing controller 35a ₁ First image processing controller 35a ₂ Second image processing controller 35an _nth Image processing controller, 35b ₁ ... first image processing unit, 35b ₂ ... second image processing unit, 35b _n ... nth image processing unit,
35c ₁ ... first image processing communication module, 35c ₂ ... second image processing side communication module, 35c _n ... image processing side communication module of the n, 35d ₁ ... first color conversion processing unit, 35d _n
... n-th color conversion processing unit, 35e ₁ ... first screen processing unit, 35e _n ... n-th screen processing unit, 35f ₁ ... first valid / invalid data display header giving unit, 35f _n ... n-th Valid / invalid data display header adding unit 36... Head controller 36 a ₁ ... First head side communication module 36 a _2. Second head side communication module 36 a _n n th head side communication module 36 b. Control module, 36c ... page memory, 36d ... data request unit

Claims (7)

An image data dividing unit for dividing the image data to generate divided image data;
A first image processing unit that performs image processing on the divided image data;
A second image processing unit that performs image processing on the divided image data;
Transferring the first divided data of the divided image data to the first image processing unit;
An image data transfer unit that transfers second divided data of the divided image data following the first divided data to the second image processing unit;
An image processing apparatus comprising: A first data request for requesting the image-processed first divided data is output to the first image processing unit, and the second image-processed second data is output following the output of the first data request. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a data requesting unit that outputs a second data request for requesting the divided data to the second image processing unit.   The first image processing unit outputs the first divided data when the first divided data can be output based on the first data request, and the second image processing unit Following the output of the first divided data from the first image processing unit, the second divided data is output when the second divided data can be output based on the second data request. Item 3. The image processing apparatus according to Item 2.   The data request unit outputs the first data request until the first divided data can be output when the first image processing unit cannot output the first divided data. When the second image processing unit cannot output the second divided data following the first data request, the second divided data can be output as the second data request. The image processing apparatus according to claim 3, which outputs until A divided image data generation step of dividing the image data to generate divided image data;
A first image processing step of performing image processing on the first divided data of the divided image data;
A second image processing step of performing image processing on second divided data of the divided image data following image processing of the first divided data;
An image processing method comprising: A first data requesting step for requesting the first divided data image-processed in the first image processing step;
Subsequent to the first data request, a second data request step for requesting the second divided data image-processed in the second image processing step;
The image processing method according to claim 5. A latent image carrier on which a latent image is formed;
An exposure head for forming a latent image based on image data on the latent image carrier;
An image data dividing unit for dividing the image data to generate divided image data;
A first image processing unit that performs image processing on the divided image data;
A second image processing unit that performs image processing on the divided image data;
Transferring the first divided data of the divided image data to the first image processing unit;
An image data transfer unit that transfers second divided data of the divided image data following the first divided data to the second image processing unit;
An image forming apparatus comprising:

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