JP2012218305A - Recording apparatus, and data storage method thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To solve the following problem: in the case of storing recording data in a DRAM, page mistakes occur when continuously accessed data are stored in different row addresses, therefore, the access efficiency is lowered.SOLUTION: The recording data continuing in a column direction are stored in a certain extent having the same row address while increasing column addresses. When the column address reaches the final address in a certain extent, the following column address is returned to the value of the leading address in the certain extent, and the recording data stored at the first is overwritten, then, circulatingly stored.

Description

  The present invention relates to a recording apparatus and a data storage method, and more particularly to a recording apparatus that records a color image on a recording medium using, for example, an inkjet recording head, and a data storage method thereof.

  Inkjet recording apparatuses are in increasing demand in a wide range of industrial fields as relatively simple and excellent recording means, and there is a demand for higher recording speed and higher-quality image recording.

  As a method for realizing high image quality of an ink jet recording apparatus (hereinafter referred to as a recording apparatus), a multi-purpose image recording apparatus (hereinafter referred to as a recording head) that completes image recording in an area by scanning the same area of the recording medium a plurality of times. There is a method called pass recording. In multipass printing, printing scanning is performed a plurality of times using different portions of the printing head for the same image area of the printing medium. In multi-pass printing, printing of the same image area is completed by a plurality of nozzle groups of the printing head. Therefore, even if some nozzles have some variation, the characteristics of the nozzle unit are dispersed and averaged over a wide area, and density unevenness and streaks can be made inconspicuous.

  FIG. 19 is a diagram showing an area recorded by each scan and a position of the recording head when an image is recorded by two scans in multi-pass recording. For each scanning operation, the recording medium is conveyed by a distance corresponding to ½ of the height (2L) of the recording head. In the first scan, image data thinned out for adjacent pixels among the image data corresponding to the height of the recording head is recorded. In the second scan, image recording at the height of the recording head is completed. In FIG. 19, the main scanning direction indicates the direction in which the recording head mounted on the carriage moves, and the sub-scanning direction indicates the direction perpendicular to the main scanning direction and transporting the recording medium.

  The recording data transmitted from the host to the recording apparatus is generally continuous in the raster direction, but the ejection ports of the recording head are aligned in the sub-scanning direction, and the recording data transferred to the recording head is Must be continuous in direction. Therefore, in the recording apparatus, the recording data is subjected to raster / column conversion, and the recording data continuous in the raster direction is converted into data continuous in the column direction. The recording data subjected to the raster / column conversion is temporarily stored in the print buffer, read out from the print buffer at an appropriate timing for recording, and transferred to the recording head.

  As a method for storing recording data in a print buffer, for example, a method disclosed in Patent Document 1 is known. That is, SDRAM is used as a print buffer (buffer memory in Patent Document 1), and print data in the column direction ejected at the same timing is arranged in the same row address. By storing the recording data in this way, it is possible to read the recording data used for recording at the same timing without causing a page miss.

JP 2002-240261 A

  However, Patent Document 1 does not mention a method of storing image data continuous in the column direction, and a method of transferring image data continuous in the column direction to the recording head while being gradually shifted as in multi-pass recording. There is a problem that cannot be handled.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above conventional example, and provides a recording apparatus and a recording method thereof capable of arranging recording data continuous in the column direction in the same row address of a memory even when performing multi-pass recording. The purpose is to do.

  In order to achieve the above object, the recording apparatus of the present invention has the following configuration.

  That is, a recording apparatus that performs recording on a recording medium while scanning a recording head in which a plurality of recording elements are arranged based on recording data received from a host in a direction intersecting the arrangement direction of the plurality of recording elements, Receiving means for receiving recording data arranged in the raster direction from the host, a memory for storing the recording data received by the receiving means, and a converting means for performing raster / column conversion by reading the recording data stored in the memory And the recording data subjected to the raster-column conversion by the converting means, the recording data continuous in the column direction among the recording data is cyclically within the address specified by one row address of the memory. And control means for controlling to write back to the memory so as to store.

  In another aspect of the present invention, a recording head in which a plurality of recording elements are arranged based on recording data received from a host is scanned on a recording medium while scanning in a direction intersecting the arrangement direction of the plurality of recording elements. A data storage method in a recording apparatus that performs recording, the method comprising: receiving recording data arranged in a raster direction from the host; storing the received recording data in a memory; and recording data stored in the memory A conversion step for reading and performing raster / column conversion, and recording data that has undergone raster / column conversion in the conversion step. Among the recording data, for recording data continuous in the column direction, one row address of the memory And a control step for controlling to write back to the memory so as to cyclically store within the address specified by A data storage method according to symptoms.

  Therefore, according to the present invention, continuous recording data can be accessed in the column direction without causing a page miss, and the memory access efficiency can be improved. Furthermore, by storing a plurality of types of recording data in the same row address, it is possible to increase the efficiency of memory access while suppressing the required total memory capacity.

1 is a perspective view mainly showing a schematic configuration of a recording unit of an ink jet recording apparatus which is a typical embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an arrangement layout of recording element arrays arranged in a head cartridge. FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an outline of a control configuration of the recording apparatus illustrated in FIG. 1. It is a figure showing the internal structure of memory. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating raster / column conversion processing of recording data executed by a raster / column conversion circuit. It is a figure showing the method of storing the recording data converted so that it might become continuous in the column direction by the raster column conversion circuit according to Example 1. FIG. It is a figure showing the storage method of the image data in the area | region shown with one row address in memory. FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an order in which image data of color 1 is written in a memory in a processing unit of a raster / column conversion circuit. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an area in which the head transfer circuit reads from the memory print data used for printing the head portion of the print paper of the even-numbered nozzle row of the first column of color 1 and transfers it to the head cartridge. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an area in which the head transfer circuit reads from the memory print data used for printing the head portion of the print paper of the even-numbered nozzle row of the first column of color 1 and transfers it to the head cartridge. 10 is a flowchart showing a process in which a raster / column conversion circuit reads received recording data stored in a memory, performs raster / column conversion, and stores the data in the memory again. 6 is a flowchart showing a process from the recording data after raster / column conversion being read out from the memory by the head transfer circuit, transferred to the head cartridge, and recorded on the recording medium. 12 is a flowchart showing a detailed processing procedure in step S704 of FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing a detailed processing procedure in step S805 of FIG. It is a figure showing the storage method in the memory of the image data converted so that it might become continuous in the column direction by the raster column conversion circuit according to Example 2. FIG. It is a figure showing the storage method of the image data in the area | region shown with one row address in memory. FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating an order in which image data of color 1 is written in a memory in a processing unit of a raster / column conversion circuit in the second embodiment. 12 is a flowchart illustrating a detailed processing procedure according to the second embodiment in S704 of FIG. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an area recorded by each scan and a position of a recording head when an image is recorded by two scans in multi-pass recording.

  Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described more specifically and in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In addition, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected to the already demonstrated part and duplication description is abbreviate | omitted.

  In this specification, “recording” (hereinafter also referred to as “printing”) is not only for forming significant information such as characters and figures, but also for images on a wide range of recording media, regardless of significance. A case where a pattern, a pattern, or the like is formed or a medium is processed is also expressed. It does not matter whether it has been made obvious so that humans can perceive it visually.

  “Recording medium” refers not only to paper used in general recording apparatuses but also widely to cloth, plastic film, metal plate, glass, ceramics, wood, leather, and the like that can accept ink. Shall.

  The term “ink” should be broadly interpreted in the same way as the definition of “recording”. When applied to a recording medium, the “ink” forms an image, a pattern, a pattern, or the like, or processes the recording medium. It represents a liquid that can be subjected to the treatment. Examples of the ink treatment include solidification or insolubilization of the colorant in the ink applied to the recording medium.

  Further, “recording element” or “recording element” collectively refers to an ejection port (nozzle) or a liquid path communicating with this and an element that generates energy used for ink ejection unless otherwise specified. And

  FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a schematic configuration of mainly a recording unit of an ink jet recording apparatus (hereinafter referred to as a recording apparatus) which is a typical embodiment of the present invention.

  In FIG. 1, the ink cartridge 201 stores black (Bk), cyan (C), magenta (M), and yellow (Y) inks individually, so that the storage chambers correspond to the respective inks. It is constructed integrally. The head cartridge 202 is provided with a total of eight recording element arrays (nozzle arrays) corresponding to each ink stored in the ink cartridge 201, two for each color. The head cartridge may be referred to as a recording head (ink jet recording head) as a whole or a part thereof. The ink cartridge 201 and a head cartridge 202 having a plurality of recording element arrays and a carriage 203 are detachably mounted. The carriage 203 can move along the guide shaft 210 by slidably engaging with the guide shaft 210.

  The encoder scale 204 provided on the surface facing the carriage 203 is provided with slits at an interval of 150 lpi. The encoder scale 204 is irradiated with light emitted by an encoder sensor (not shown), and A-phase and B-phase encoder signals based on the transmitted light are output according to the scanning position of the carriage 203. The B phase signal has a phase relationship that is 90 degrees behind the A phase signal.

  A recording medium 209 such as recording paper is sandwiched between a transport roller 205 and an auxiliary roller 206, and these rollers are transported in the y direction in FIG. 1 by rotating in the direction of the arrow in FIG. On the other hand, the recording medium 209 is also sandwiched between a pair of paper feed rollers 207 and 208 and is fed.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an arrangement layout of the printing element arrays arranged in the head cartridge 202, and shows an ink ejection surface of the head cartridge. In FIG. 2, nozzle rows of color 1 and color 2 are arranged from the left, and the nozzles (printing elements) of each color are arranged in the same structure. The nozzles of each color are arranged in a staggered arrangement of 1280, 640 even-numbered nozzle rows (nozzle numbers 0, 2,..., 1278) and odd-numbered nozzle rows (nozzle numbers 1, 3, 3) by odd-numbered nozzles. ... 1279) Two rows of 640 are formed. The even nozzle row is also called an even printing element row, and the odd nozzle row is also called an odd printing element row.

  Here, the main scanning direction shown in FIG. 2 is the moving direction of the carriage 203, and the sub-scanning direction is a direction orthogonal to the main scanning direction and conveying the recording medium, and is also a direction in which the nozzles are arranged. The nozzle arrangement direction is not necessarily the same direction as the sub-scanning direction, and may be a direction that intersects the main scanning direction.

  FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an outline of the control configuration of the recording apparatus shown in FIG.

  In FIG. 3, a host interface (I / F) 101 communicates with a host (not shown) regarding the reception of image data (recording data) and the state of the image recording apparatus, and the recording data received from the host is sent to a bus 102 (described later). ) To the memory 103 (described later). A bus 102 connects each block in the recording apparatus, and a memory 103 mainly stores recording data temporarily. The memory 103 is composed of SDRAM, the bus width is 32 bits, and the capacity per page is 4 kilobytes.

  The raster / column conversion circuit 104 reads the received recording data continuous in the raster direction stored in the memory 103, and matches the recording data with the arrangement direction of the ejection ports (nozzles) of the recording heads aligned in the sub-scanning direction. Therefore, it is converted into a continuous one in the column direction. The recording data after the raster / column conversion is written back to the memory 103 again. The raster / column conversion circuit 104 includes an address control circuit (not shown) for realizing the data storage method in the memory 103 shown in the first to third embodiments described later.

  The head transfer circuit 105 reads the recording data from the memory 103 at a predetermined timing based on the position information obtained from the encoder scale 204 and transfers the data to the head cartridge 202. The head transfer circuit 105 includes an address control circuit (not shown) for realizing the data storage method in the memory 103 shown in the first to third embodiments described later.

  The CPU 106 performs settings for the host I / F 101, raster / column conversion circuit 104, and head transfer circuit 105 to control the entire printing apparatus.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the internal configuration of the memory 103.

  By designating a predetermined row (ROW) address and column (COLUMN) address, reading / writing to a predetermined area becomes possible. As described above, the SDRAM bus width is 32 bits. The area indicated by one row address is 4 KB (page size) from 0 to 3FFh in the column address range, and 32-bit data can be stored for one column address. Yes. Ink ejection / non-ejection from one nozzle is determined for 1-bit data in the memory 103. Since the bus width of the SDRAM device constituting the memory 103 is 32 bits, ink ejection / non-ejection from 32 nozzles is determined per address.

  FIG. 5 is a diagram showing raster / column conversion processing of recording data executed by the raster / column conversion circuit 104.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the raster / column conversion circuit 104 includes a register group of 64 rasters × 64 columns (64 bits × 64 bits). The raster / column conversion circuit 104 reads a total of 64 rasters from the memory 103 for 64 bits per raster, with respect to recording data of a certain color continuous in the raster direction stored in the memory 103. The read recording data is stored in the register group as shown in the input order shown in FIG. When the data of 64 rasters × 64 columns is stored in the register group, a total of 64 columns of 64 bits per column is recorded in the output order shown in FIG. Output and write to the memory 103.

  Now, as shown in FIG. 3, the even nozzles and odd nozzles are grouped together in the nozzle array. Accordingly, the raster / column conversion circuit 104 divides the recording data continuous in the column direction into even bits 32 bits and odd bits 32 bits, respectively outputs them from the register group, and writes them into the memory 103 in two portions.

  Next, several embodiments relating to a method for storing recording data in a print buffer using the recording apparatus and head cartridge (recording head) configured as described above will be described.

  FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a method for storing in the memory 103 recording data converted by the raster / column conversion circuit 104 so as to be continuous in the column direction.

  As shown in FIG. 6, the data discharged from the even nozzle row of color 1 in the first column from the left in the print data is assigned to the 4 kilobyte area indicated by the row address 0h. Similarly, the color 1 odd-number nozzle row data for the first column in the row address 1h region, the color 2 even nozzle row data for the first column in the row address 2h region, and the first column data in the row address 3h region. Color 2 Odd nozzle row data is assigned. Furthermore, the color 1 even nozzle row data in the second column in the row address 4h region, the color 1 odd nozzle row data in the second column in the row address 5h, and the second column data in the row address 6h region. Color 2 even nozzle row data is assigned. Furthermore, the data of the color 2 odd nozzle row of the second column is assigned to the area of the row address 7h.

  When the recording width in the main scanning direction is n columns by repeating the above, even-numbered or odd-numbered image data of any color in any column from the first column to the n-th column is stored in one row. Store in the area indicated by the address.

  FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a storage method of print data (for example, data that causes ink ejection from the color 1 even nozzle row in the first column) in an area indicated by one row address in the memory 103. The recorded data after raster-column conversion stored in the memory 103 in the first to m-th (m: natural number) described below is data that is continuous in the column direction in order from the recording data at the top of the page of the recording paper. It means what was divided into 32 bits.

  When the number of columns of recording data in this embodiment is s, the raster / column conversion circuit 104 writes the image data of color 1 in the memory 103 in the order as shown in FIG. The first raster / column conversion-processed color 1 image data is a row address for storing the image data of the even / odd nozzle row of color 1, that is, row addresses 0, 1, 4, 5, 8, 9, ... 4s and 4s + 1 are written in the area of column address 0h (FIG. 7A).

  The second and third raster / column conversion data of color 1 is also stored in the row addresses 0, 1, 4, 5, 8, 9,..., 4s, 4s + 1 column addresses 1h and 2h, respectively. Write (FIG. 7B). Similarly, the image data of color 1 that has been subjected to raster-column conversion processing up to 1024th is in the area up to column address 3FFh of row addresses 0, 1, 4, 5, 8, 9,..., 4s, 4s + 1. Write (FIG. 7C).

  If the recording on the recording medium using the first written recording data stored in the column address 0 of each row address has already been completed, the 1025th raster-column conversion is performed. The color 1 image data that has been subjected to the 1025th raster-column conversion processing is a row address that stores the image data of the even / odd nozzle row of color 1, that is, row addresses 0, 1, 4, 5, 8, 9, ... 4s and 4s + 1 are written in the area of column address 0h. That is, the first stored recording data is overwritten (FIG. 7D).

  Similarly, with respect to the recording data to be subjected to the raster-column conversion processing after the 1026th, if the recording on the recording medium using the already-recorded recording data has already been completed, the raster-column conversion is performed. Is overwritten on the already written data.

  FIG. 9 shows an area where the head transfer circuit 105 reads out the recording data used for recording the top part of the recording paper of the even nozzle row of the first column of color 1 from the memory 103 and transfers it to the head cartridge 202. FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 2, an even or odd nozzle row of a certain color has 640 nozzles. Accordingly, the head transfer circuit 105 reads a total of 640 bits of recording data from the row address 0 and the column addresses 0h to 13h of the memory 103 as shown in FIG. 9, and transfers them to the head cartridge 202.

  As recording progresses and scanning recording is repeated, the address value at which the head transfer circuit 105 reads image data from the memory 103 becomes larger. FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example in which the recording data used for ink ejection from the nozzle 0 of the color 1 in FIG. 2 is present in the area of the column address 3EFh. Here, a case where 640-bit data is read using 3EFh as a start address is shown. In this case, the data is read by incrementing the address by 1 from 3EFh. As shown in FIGS. 9 to 10, the recording data continuous in the column direction is stored in 0h after 3FFh. Accordingly, the head transfer circuit 105 reads the data at address 0h next to 3FFh in accordance with this, reads the data up to address 2h, and transfers this to the head cartridge 202.

  In this way, when the print data necessary for performing one scan is read from the memory 103, when the column address reaches the boundary of the memory, it returns to the top column address and continues reading cyclically. .

  In the first embodiment, when the scanning by the carriage 203 is performed once, the recording data used for ejecting ink from an odd or even column of a certain color in a certain column is 640 bits at the maximum in one pass recording. On the other hand, the area indicated by one row address capable of storing this simultaneously is 32 bits × 400h = 32768 bits. Therefore, image data for a maximum of 51.2 scans can be stored in the memory 103, and the recorded data after raster / column conversion can be stored in the memory without overwriting recording data that has not yet been recorded on the recording medium. 103 can be stored.

  FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing a procedure in which the received / recorded data stored in the memory 103 is read out by the raster / column conversion circuit 104, subjected to raster / column conversion, and stored in the memory 103 again. Here, the processing ends when the recording data for one page of the recording paper is processed.

  First, in step S <b> 701, the CPU 106 performs register settings for the host I / F 101 and the raster / column conversion circuit 104, and each block sets a write / read destination address to the memory 103. When the setting is completed, the process proceeds to step S702.

  In step S702, the host I / F 101 receives the recording data from the host, and stores the recording data in the memory 103 according to the address set in step S701.

  In step S703, it is determined whether or not recording data of 64 rasters × 64 columns (64 bits × 64 bits) necessary for raster / column conversion exists in the memory 103. If the recording data necessary for raster / column conversion does not exist in the memory 103, the process returns to step S702, and the recording data is received from the host via the host I / F 101. The recording data is stored in 103. On the other hand, if the recording data necessary for raster / column conversion exists in the memory 103, the process proceeds to step S704.

  In step S704, it is determined whether the area where the raster / column converted recording data is written back to the memory 103 is an empty area or whether recorded recording data is stored. If it is determined that this is a free area, the process proceeds to step S705. If it is determined that recorded recording data is stored, the determination in step S704 is repeated again.

  In step S705, the raster / column conversion circuit 104 reads the recording data from the memory 103, executes the raster / column conversion, and then writes the image data into the memory 103 by the storage method shown in FIG. Thereafter, the process proceeds to step S706. Detailed processing in step S705 will be described later in detail with reference to FIG.

  In step S706, it is determined whether or not the processing for one page of the recording paper has been completed. If the process for one page of recording paper has not been completed, the process returns to step S703, and the process for performing raster / column conversion is continued. On the other hand, when the processing for one page of the recording paper is finished, the processing is finished.

  FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing the processing from when the print data after raster / column conversion is read out from the memory 103 to the head cartridge 202 and transferred to the head cartridge 202 and recorded on the recording medium. Here, as with FIG. 11, the processing for one page of recording paper is completed.

  First, in step S801, the register of the head transfer circuit 105 is set, and the address of the read destination of recording data from the memory 103 is set.

  In step S 802, it is determined whether or not the print data stored in the memory 103 after the raster / column conversion is completed is sufficient to scan the head cartridge 202 and perform printing. If a sufficient amount of recording data does not exist in the memory 103, the same determination is repeated again in step S802. On the other hand, if a sufficient amount of recording data exists in the memory 103, the process proceeds to step S803.

  In step S803, driving of the carriage 203 is started to perform recording on the recording medium. In step S804, it is determined whether the carriage 203 has reached the recording position. If the carriage 203 has not reached the recording position, the process returns to step S804 again, and the same determination is repeated. On the other hand, if the carriage 203 has reached the recording position, the process proceeds to step S805.

  In step S805, the head transfer circuit 105 reads the print data from the memory 103 according to the address set in step S801 and transfers it to the head cartridge 202. The detailed processing in step S805 will be described later in detail with reference to FIG.

  In step S806, recording is performed by ejecting ink onto a recording medium using the recording data received by the head cartridge 202. In step S807, it is determined whether the carriage 203 has completed one scan. If one scan has not been completed yet, the process returns to step S804, and the processes in steps S804 to S806 are continued. On the other hand, when one scan is completed, the process proceeds to step S808.

  In step S808, it is determined whether or not the processing for one page of the recording paper has been completed. If the process for one page of recording paper has not been completed, the process returns to step S801 to continue the process of recording on the recording medium, but when the process for one page of recording paper has been completed. Ends the processing.

  The processes of the flowcharts shown in FIGS. 11 to 12 are executed in parallel.

  FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing a detailed processing procedure in step S704 of FIG.

  First, in step S1801, it is determined whether or not the current process is the process at the top of the page of the recording paper, that is, the first process in the page. Here, if it is determined that the current process is the process at the top of the page of the recording paper, the process proceeds to step S1802, where “0” is substituted for the variable (j) necessary for the process, and initialization is performed. Thereafter, processing proceeds to step S1803. On the other hand, if it is determined that the current process is not the process at the top of the page of the recording paper, the process proceeds to step S1803.

  In step S1803, raster / column conversion is executed by the method shown in FIG. 5, and then the process proceeds to step S1804.

  In step S1804, it is determined whether or not the variable (j) is j> 3FFh. If j> 3FFh, the process advances to step S1805 to substitute 0 for the variable (j), and then advances to step S1806. On the other hand, if j ≦ 3FFh, the process proceeds to step S1806.

  In step S1806, the image data is written to the column address j of the row address 0, 1, 4, 5, 8, 9,..., 4s, 4s + 1 in the memory 103. Thereafter, processing proceeds to step S1807. In step S1807, the variable j is incremented by 1, and the process ends.

  FIG. 13 illustrates the writing method for color 1 in the raster / column conversion circuit 104. In step S704 of FIG. 11, the same processing must be performed for color 2 if necessary.

  FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing a detailed processing procedure in step S805 of FIG.

  First, in step S1901, it is determined whether the current process is the process at the top of the page of the recording paper, that is, the first process in the page. If it is determined that the current process is the process at the top of the page of the recording paper, the process proceeds to step S1902, where “0” is substituted for the variable (j) necessary for the process, and initialization is performed. Thereafter, processing proceeds to step S1903. On the other hand, if it is determined that the current process is not the process at the top of the page of the recording paper, the process proceeds to step S1903.

  In step S1903, “0” is substituted into another variable (k) necessary for the process to perform initialization, and then the process proceeds to step S1904.

  In step S1904, it is determined whether or not the variable (j) is j> 3FFh. If j> 3FFh, the process advances to step S1905 to substitute “0” for the variable (j), and then the process advances to step S1906. On the other hand, if j ≦ 3FFh, the process proceeds to step S1906.

  In step S1906, the recording data is read from the row address 0 and the column address j of the memory 103. Thereafter, in step S1907, the variable (j) and the variable (k) are each incremented by one. .

  Thereafter, in step S1908, it is determined whether or not the variable k is k> 19. If k ≦ 19, the process returns to step S1904 to continue the process. On the other hand, if k> 19, the process ends.

  Note that FIG. 14 illustrates only a method for reading data ejected from the color 1 even nozzle row of the first column in the head transfer circuit 105. Accordingly, in step S805 in FIG. 12, if necessary, similar processing must be performed on memory addresses storing image data of different columns and even / odd nozzle rows of different colors.

  By following the processing shown in FIGS. 13 to 14, the processing described in FIG. 7 can be realized.

  Therefore, according to the embodiment described above, when recording data is stored up to the last address of the same row address so that continuous recording data in the column direction is stored in the same row address, the next recording data is Stored back to the start address of the row address. As a result, when the access reaches the final address in the course of continuous access by burst access, the address control is executed to return to the head address without causing a page miss.

  FIG. 15 is a diagram showing a method for storing in the memory 103 the image data converted so as to be continuous in the column direction by the raster / column conversion circuit 104.

  As shown in FIG. 15, the data ejected from the odd-numbered and even-numbered nozzle rows of color 1 and color 2 in the first column from the left in the image data is assigned to the 4 kilobyte region indicated by the row address 0. Similarly, the second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh, and eighth columns are assigned to the row addresses 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7, respectively. Data for the odd and even nozzle rows of eye color 1 and color 2 are assigned.

  If the recording width in the main scanning direction is n columns by repeating the above, the image data of the even and odd columns in any column from the first column to the n-th column is represented by one row address. Store in the indicated area.

  FIG. 16 shows a storage method of image data (for example, data ejected from odd-numbered and even-numbered nozzle rows of color 1 and color 2 in the first column) in an area indicated by one row address in the memory 103. It is. Note that the image data after raster-column conversion stored in the memory 103 in the first to m-th (m: natural number) described below is data that is continuous in the column direction, starting from the recording data at the top of the page of the recording paper. It means what was divided into 32 bits.

  When the number of columns of print data in the second embodiment is s, the raster / column conversion circuit 104 writes the image data of color 1 in the memory 103 in the order as shown in FIG.

  That is, the first raster / column conversion processed color 1 image data is stored in the row address storing the image data of the color 1 even / odd nozzle row, that is, the row address 0, 1, 2,. Are written in the areas of column addresses 0h and 200h. The image data of color 1 that has been subjected to the second and third raster / column conversion processing is written in the regions of the column addresses 1h, 201h, 2h, and 202h of the row addresses 0, 1, 2,.

  Similarly, the color 1 image data subjected to the raster-column conversion processing up to the 1024th is written in the areas from the column addresses 0h to 1FFh of the row addresses 0, 1, 2,. Similarly, the color 2 image data subjected to the raster-column conversion processing from the first to the 1024th are written in the regions from the column addresses 200h to 3FFh of the row addresses 0, 1, 2,. 16 (a)).

  When recording on the recording medium using the first-written color 2 recording data stored in the column address 200h of each row address has already been completed, the 257th raster column for color 1 Perform conversion. The 257th raster / column conversion processed color 1 print data is a row address storing image data of even / odd nozzle rows of color 2, that is, columns of row addresses 0, 1, 2,..., S. Write to the area of address 200h. This overwrites the color 2 recording data stored first.

  Similarly, regarding the recording data of color 1 for which raster / column conversion processing is performed after the 258th, if recording on the recording medium using the already written color 2 recording data has already been completed, raster / column conversion is performed. To overwrite the already written color 2 recording data. Similarly, when the recording on the recording medium using the first written color 1 recording data stored in the column address 0h of each row address has already been completed, the 257th color 2 is recorded. Perform raster / column conversion. The color 2 image data subjected to the 257th raster-column conversion processing is a row address storing the print data of the even / odd nozzle row of color 1, that is, the column of row address 0, 1, 2,. Write to the area of address 0h. As a result, the first stored data of color 1 is overwritten (FIG. 16B).

  Similarly, regarding the color 2 image data to be subjected to the raster / column conversion process from the 258th onward, if the recording on the recording medium using the already written color 1 recording data has already been completed, the raster column Conversion is performed and the already written color 1 recording data is overwritten.

  Regarding the reading process of the head transfer circuit 105, as shown in FIGS. 9 to 10 described in the first embodiment, a total of 640 bits of recording data is read from a predetermined row address and column address and transferred to the head cartridge 202. . Then, print data necessary for one scan is read from the memory 103, and when the read reaches the boundary, the column data is returned to the top column address and reading is continued cyclically.

  In the second embodiment, when the carriage 203 is scanned once, the print data ejected from an odd or even row of a certain color in a certain column is 640 bits at the maximum in one pass printing, which can be stored simultaneously. The area is 32 bits × FFh = 8192 bits. Therefore, recording data for a maximum of 25.6 scans can be stored in the memory 103, and recording after raster / column conversion is performed without overwriting recording data that has not yet been recorded on the recording medium. Data can be stored in the memory 103.

  In the second embodiment, the processing proceeds according to the procedure shown in the flowcharts of FIGS. 11 to 12 as in the first embodiment, but the detailed processing in step S704 in FIG. 11 is different from the first embodiment. Hereinafter, this point will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

  First, in step S2101, it is determined whether or not the current process is the process at the top of the page of the recording paper, that is, the first process in the page. If it is determined that the current process is the process at the top of the page of the recording paper, the process proceeds to step S2102, where “0” is substituted for the variable (j) necessary for the process, and initialization is performed. Thereafter, processing proceeds to step S2103. On the other hand, if it is determined that the current process is not the process at the top of the page of the recording paper, the process proceeds to step S2103.

  In step S2103, raster / column conversion is executed by the method shown in FIG. Thereafter, in step S2104, it is determined whether or not the variable (j) is j> 3FFh. If j> 3FFh, the process proceeds to step S2105. After substituting “0” for variable (j), the process proceeds to step S2106. On the other hand, if j ≦ 3FFh, the process proceeds to step S2106.

  In step S2106, the recording data is written to the column address j of the row address 0, 1, 2,. Thereafter, in step S2107, the variable (j) is incremented by 1, and the process is terminated.

  In the second embodiment, the recording data of each color and each column in the same column are stored in the same row address. However, it can be arbitrarily set as to which column the recording data of each color and each column is, and it does not have to store the recording data of a specific column at the same row address.

  In the second embodiment, color 1, color 2, and even and odd columns and 8 types of recording data are stored in the same row address. However, as to how many types of print data are to be stored, when the carriage is scanned once, a print having a number of bits larger than the maximum bit of print data used for ink ejection from an odd or even row of a certain color in a certain column. Any data can be stored at the same time. In other words, the number of types of recording data is not limited.

  Therefore, according to the embodiment described above, when the recording data is stored up to the last address of the same row address so that the recording data of each color and each column in the same column are stored in the same row address, The recording data is stored back to the head address of the row address. As a result, when the access reaches the final address in the course of continuous access by burst access, the address control is executed to return to the head address without causing a page miss.

Claims (8)

A recording apparatus that performs recording on a recording medium while scanning a recording head in which a plurality of recording elements are arranged based on recording data received from a host in a direction intersecting the arrangement direction of the plurality of recording elements,
Receiving means for receiving recording data arranged in a raster direction from the host;
A memory for storing recording data received by the receiving means;
Conversion means for reading the recorded data stored in the memory and performing raster-column conversion;
Regarding the recording data that has undergone raster-column conversion by the converting means, among the recording data, the recording data continuous in the column direction is cyclically stored within an address specified by one row address of the memory. As described above, the recording apparatus has control means for controlling to write back to the memory.   2. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a transfer unit that continuously reads out the recording data stored in the memory in the column direction after the raster / column conversion by the converting unit and transfers the data to the recording head. Recording device.   The control means further reads out the recording data written back to the memory by designating one row address, and when the column address reaches the boundary of the memory, returns to the first column address and continues reading. The recording apparatus according to claim 2, wherein control is performed as follows.   In the write-back of the recording data on which the raster / column conversion by the conversion unit has been executed, the control unit is configured to write the raster by the conversion unit to an address where the recording data already used for recording by the recording head exists. 3. The recording apparatus according to claim 2, wherein control is performed so as to write recording data on which column conversion has been performed. The recording head is an ink jet recording head that performs recording by discharging ink,
The inkjet recording head is provided with a plurality of recording element arrays corresponding to a plurality of colors of ink,
Each of the plurality of recording element arrays has a plurality of recording elements arranged in a staggered arrangement,
3. The recording apparatus according to claim 2, wherein each recording element array further comprises an even number recording element array including an even number of recording elements and an odd number recording element array including an odd number of recording elements.   6. The recording apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the control unit controls the recording data continuous in the column direction to be written back to the memory for each color, even number recording element array, and odd number recording element array. .   The recording apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the control unit performs control so that recording data continuous in the column direction is written back to the memory for each color and each recording element array. A data storage method in a recording apparatus for recording on a recording medium while scanning a recording head in which a plurality of recording elements are arranged based on recording data received from a host in a direction intersecting the arrangement direction of the plurality of recording elements. And
Receiving the recording data arranged in the raster direction from the host, and storing the received recording data in a memory;
A conversion step of reading the recorded data stored in the memory and performing raster-column conversion;
Regarding the recording data that has undergone raster-column conversion in the conversion step, among the recording data, the recording data continuous in the column direction is cyclically stored within an address specified by one row address of the memory. And a control step for controlling to write back to the memory.