JP2018037870A - Image reader, image reading method and recording device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image reader that is able to efficiently store image data from two reading sensors into an external memory while hindering a cost increase and a size increase, and to provide an image reading method and a recording device.SOLUTION: An image reader comprises: reading means having two reading sensors that are movable relative to an image to be read and output respective different image data on the basis of the image; selecting means that, from the first image data read by one of the reading sensors, selects an area corresponding to a predetermined area in the second image data read by the other reading sensor; and writing means that writes the second image data and the image data selected by the selecting means, in a first memory with different timings.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

  The present invention relates to an image reading apparatus and an image reading method for reading an image recorded on a medium, and a recording apparatus including the image reading apparatus.

  In a full-line type ink jet recording apparatus (hereinafter referred to as “recording apparatus”), a reading unit capable of reading an image recorded on a conveyed medium in order to detect a non-ejection state of ink in a nozzle Is arranged. For this reading unit, a reading sensor is used in which a plurality of image sensors are arranged in parallel along the width direction of the medium.

  In the reading sensor, a gap is formed between the image sensors arranged in parallel. As a result, an area in which the image data due to the gap is missing (hereinafter referred to as “missing area”) occurs in the read image data. For this reason, the reading unit is provided with two reading sensors so that one reading sensor can acquire image data of a missing region of the other reading sensor. Then, the missing area in the image data read by the other reading sensor is compensated by the image data read by the one reading sensor, and the read image data is stored in the external memory.

  Here, as a technique for processing image data read by two reading sensors, for example, a technique disclosed in Patent Document 1 is used. In Patent Document 1, a different DMA (direct memory access) controller is connected to each of a plurality of reading sensors. Thus, the image data read by each reading sensor can be efficiently stored in an external memory via each DMA controller.

JP 2005-236576 A

  However, since the plurality of DMA controllers are used, the following problems have occurred. That is, since the DMA controller generally has a large logic circuit, the cost of the integrated circuit on which the DMA controller is mounted has been increased. Further, in order to be able to operate a plurality of DMA controllers simultaneously, the transfer clock to the memory has to be made faster, increasing electromagnetic interference. Furthermore, the bus width of the memory has to be increased, and the integrated circuit and the substrate on which the integrated circuit is mounted have become larger. Such high cost and large size of the integrated circuit have led to high cost and large size of the image reading apparatus.

  An object of the present invention is to provide an image reading apparatus, an image reading method, and a recording apparatus capable of storing image data from two reading sensors in an external memory while suppressing an increase in cost and an increase in size.

  To achieve the above object, an image reading apparatus according to the present invention includes a reading sensor that includes two reading sensors that are movable relative to an image to be read and output different image data based on the image. Means for cutting out a region corresponding to a predetermined region in the second image data read by the other reading sensor from the first image data read by one reading sensor, and the second image data And writing means for writing the cut-out image data cut out by the cutting-out means into the first memory at different timings.

  According to the image reading apparatus of the present invention, it is possible to store image data from two reading sensors in an external memory as a first memory while suppressing an increase in cost and an increase in size.

(A) is a schematic block diagram of the recording device provided with the image reading apparatus by this invention, (b) is a schematic block diagram of a reading part. 1 is a block configuration diagram of a main part of an image reading apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention. It is a flowchart which shows the detailed processing content of a 1st reading process. (A) is explanatory drawing which shows the structure and extraction area | region of a reading part with respect to a detection pattern, (b) is explanatory drawing which shows the image data of the detection pattern read by the reading part. It is a block block diagram of the principal part of the image reading apparatus by the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the detailed process content of a 2nd reading process. It is a flowchart which shows the detailed processing content of a writing process.

  Hereinafter, an example of an image reading apparatus, an image reading method, and a recording apparatus according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. First, a first embodiment of an image recording apparatus according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

(First embodiment)
A recording apparatus 10 having an image reading apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention is a full-line type recording apparatus, and is fed from a sheet feeding apparatus (not shown) as shown in FIG. A main conveyance roller pair 12 for conveying the recording paper 200 is provided. The main transport roller pair 12 includes a transport roller 12a and a driven roller 12b that rotates following the transport roller 12a. Then, the recording paper 200 is nipped and conveyed by the conveying roller 12a and the driven roller 12b. The conveyance accuracy of the recording paper 200 is determined by the performance of the main conveyance roller pair 12.

  In addition, the recording apparatus 10 includes four recording heads 14, 16, 18, and 20 that eject ink onto the recording paper 200 that is transported by the main transport roller pair 12. The recording heads 14, 16, 18, and 20 are integrally held by the head holder 11, and a sub-conveying roller pair 22 is provided on the downstream side in the conveying direction of each recording head. The recording heads 14, 16, 18 and 20 are fixedly arranged in the recording apparatus 10 by the head holder 11. The sub-conveying roller pair 22 includes a conveying roller 22a and a driven roller 22b that rotates following the conveying roller 22a, and conveys the recording paper 200 by the conveying roller 22a and the driven roller 22b.

  The recording heads 14, 16, 18, and 20 eject inks of different colors, for example, black, cyan, magenta, and yellow. In addition, each recording head is disposed so that the nozzles serving as ink ejection openings face the recording paper 200 being conveyed, and the nozzles are used to eject ink with the maximum recording width in the recording apparatus 10. A plurality of nozzle rows arranged along the width direction of 200 are formed. The recording heads 14, 16, 18, and 20 eject ink by an ink jet method using a heating element, a piezoelectric element, or the like. The number of recording heads is not limited to four, and may be one to three or five or more. Each recording head is supplied with ink stored in an ink tank (not shown) via an ink tube (not shown). Note that an ink tank (not shown) may be mounted on the head holder 11, and ink may be supplied from the ink tank to each recording head. Further, the recording apparatus 10 is provided with a cleaning unit (not shown) for executing a recovery operation such as processing for eliminating the non-ejection state of the nozzles in each recording head.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 1A, the recording apparatus 10 includes a reading unit 24 (reading unit) that can read an image recorded on the recording paper 200 to be transported on the downstream side in the transport direction of the recording head 20. Is provided. The reading unit 24 includes reading sensors 26 and 28, and the reading sensor 26 is located downstream of the reading sensor 28 in the transport direction. As shown in FIG. 1B, the reading sensor 26 refers to the four image sensors 30 in the width direction of the recording paper 200 conveyed in the conveyance direction (hereinafter simply referred to as “width direction”). In the direction of crossing). At this time, the interval between the adjacent image sensors 30 is, for example, about several pixels when converted into the number of pixels in the read image data. That is, in the image data read by the reading sensor 26, a missing area is generated at the interval between the image sensors 30, and this missing area is about several pixels in the width direction.

  As the image sensor 30, for example, a CIS (CMOS image sensor) chip is used. The image sensors 30 are juxtaposed along the width direction. In the present embodiment, the region S1 where the juxtaposed image sensors 30 are located coincides with the maximum recording width of the recording apparatus 10 in the width direction or the maximum. The length exceeds the recording width. The number of image sensors 30 is not limited to four, and can be changed according to the shape and size of the image sensor 30 to be used. Since the reading sensor 28 has the same configuration as the reading sensor 26, detailed description thereof is omitted.

  The reading sensor 26 is disposed at a position where an image recorded with the maximum recording width on the recording paper 200 being conveyed can be read. Further, the reading sensor 28 is disposed on the upstream side of the reading sensor 26 in the conveyance direction so as to be shifted in the width direction with respect to the reading sensor 26 so that each image sensor 30 is positioned between the image sensors 30 of the reading sensor 26. The That is, regarding the positional relationship between the reading sensor 26 and the reading sensor 28, for example, as shown in FIG. 1B, the image sensors 30 of the reading sensors 26 and 28 are arranged in a staggered manner. The reading sensor 26 and the reading sensor 28 may be disposed in contact with each other in the transport direction, or may be disposed with a space therebetween.

  Note that the reading sensors 26 and 28 are fixedly arranged in the recording apparatus 10. In the reading sensors 26 and 28, an image recorded on the recording paper 200 conveyed in the conveying direction is read by a plurality of image sensors 30 arranged in parallel in the width direction. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 4B, line-shaped image data having a width W1 corresponding to the width W2 of the image sensor 30 in the transport direction (see FIG. 4A) is acquired. Accordingly, the image data Ig of the detection pattern pt (see FIG. 4A) read by the reading sensors 26 and 28 and stored in the external memory 50 (described later) is the order in which the line-shaped image data is read. They are created side by side in the transport direction.

  The overall operation of the recording apparatus 10 is controlled by the controller 32. That is, the controller 32 starts a recording operation based on a recording start instruction from the user, and performs a recovery operation on the recording heads 14, 16, 18, and 20 at a predetermined timing. As the recovery operation, the detection pattern is recorded by each recording head, the detection pattern is read, and when it is detected that there is a non-ejection state nozzle based on the image data of the read detection pattern, Including a recovery operation to eliminate the non-ejection state. Since a known technique can be used for the recovery operation other than the recording operation and the process of reading the detection pattern, detailed description thereof will be omitted. Therefore, in the following description, a configuration for reading a detection pattern for detecting a nozzle in a non-ejection state and a process for reading the detection pattern using the configuration will be described.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the controller 32 includes a reading control unit 34 for controlling the reading sensors 26 and 28 and storing image data read by the reading sensors 26 and 28 in an external memory 50 (described later). ing. The reading control unit 34 is controlled by the CPU 36. As such a reading control unit 34, for example, an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC) or a field programmable gate array (FPGA) can be used. Note that the CPU 36 may be provided in the reading control unit 34.

  The reading control unit 34 includes a driving unit 38 that controls driving of the reading sensor 26 and a driving unit 42 that controls driving of the reading sensor 28. Note that image data read by the reading sensor 26 (hereinafter appropriately referred to as “first image data”) is converted into digital data by an AFE (analog front end) 40. The image data read by the reading sensor 28 (hereinafter referred to as “second image data” as appropriate) is converted into digital data by the AFE 44.

  Here, since each of the reading sensors 26 and 28 is configured by arranging the image sensors 30 in the width direction, the image data read by the reading sensors 26 and 28 has a line shape extending in the width direction. Become. The width W1 of the line-shaped image data corresponds to the width W2 of the image sensor 30. Then, the image data of the detection pattern pt is formed by arranging such line-shaped image data in the transport direction in the order of reading. Accordingly, the first image data and the second image data are line-shaped image data. In the following description, as shown in FIG. 4B, in the image data Ig of the detection pattern pt, the first line and the second line in the order in which the line-shaped image data is read by the reading sensors 26 and 28. This line is called. In the present specification, the image data Ig of the detection pattern pt is formed by l lines (that is, first to l lines).

  The reading control unit 34 appropriately cuts out a predetermined area of the second image data converted into digital data, and image data cut out by the cutting unit 46 (hereinafter referred to as “cutout image data” as appropriate). .) Can be stored. For example, an SRAM (static random access memory) is used as the memory 48 (second memory). The cutout unit 46 (cutout unit) cuts out a region that cannot be read by the reading sensor 26 with respect to the second image data read by the reading sensor 28, that is, a region corresponding to a missing region in the first image data. Become. Therefore, the cut-out area Sc that is an area cut out by the cut-out unit 46 is set so as to include a missing area in the first image data. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 4A, it is set to include a region where the image sensor 30 of the reading sensor 26 is not positioned in the width direction.

  In addition, the number of pixels in the width direction of the cutout region Sc is a unit of the number of pixels that becomes the data amount of the burst transfer unit to the external memory 50 by the memory controller 52 in consideration of the transfer efficiency of the data written to the external memory 50. That is, the unit is 8 pixels or 16 pixels. Since the number of pixels in the width direction of the missing area in the first image data is usually about several pixels, if the cut-out image data is 8 pixels or 16 pixels, it is larger in the width direction than the missing area. In the second image data read by the reading sensor 28, a plurality of cut areas Sc are set. In this case, the cutout unit 46 cuts out a plurality of image data from the second image data. Therefore, the cutout unit 46 specifies line information for specifying the number of lines of the second image data as the cutout source and the cutout area Sc in the second image data as the cutout source for the cutout image data. Associate with cutting information.

  In addition, the reading control unit 34 includes a DMA controller 54 that transfers the first image data to the memory controller 52 via the driving unit 38 and transfers the cut image data stored in the memory 48 to the memory controller 52. Yes. Note that the memory controller 52 writes the first image data and the cut image data transferred from the DMA controller 54 to an external memory 50 (first memory) such as a DRAM (dynamic random access memory). That is, in the reading control unit 34 according to the present embodiment, the DMA controller 54 and the memory controller 52 constitute writing means for writing image data into the external memory 50.

  In the above-described configuration, a case where the recording apparatus 10 performs processing for detecting a non-ejection state nozzle will be described. When detection processing for detecting a non-ejection state nozzle is started, detection for detecting a non-ejection state nozzle from the recording heads 14, 16, 18, and 20 for the recording paper 200 conveyed in the conveyance direction A pattern pt is recorded. Also, a reading process for reading the detection pattern pt recorded on the recording paper 200 is started. That is, in the detection process, the recording of the detection pattern pt onto the recording paper 200 and the reading process of the detection pattern pt recorded on the recording paper 200 are started simultaneously.

  Here, FIG. 3 shows a flowchart showing the detailed processing contents of the first reading processing. When the first reading process is started, first, the reading unit 26 is driven by the driving unit 38 and the reading sensor 28 is driven by the driving unit 42 to start reading the detection pattern pt by the reading sensors 26 and 28. (Step S302). When reading by the reading sensors 26 and 28 is started, the detection pattern pt recorded on the recording paper 200 is first read by the reading sensor 28 positioned upstream in the transport direction in the reading unit 24. The second image data read by the reading sensor 28 is converted into digital data by the AFE 44, and is output to the cutting unit 46 via the driving unit 42. The cutout unit 46 cuts out the set cutout region Sc for the input second image data. At this time, line information of the second image data that is the cut-out source and cut-out information in the second image data are associated with the cut-out cut-out image data. The cut-out image data thus cut out is output to the memory 48 together with the line information and the cut-out information, and stored in the memory 48. In this way, the process of creating the cut image data after reading the second image data from the first line to the l-th line and outputting it to the memory 48 is repeatedly executed.

  When the recording paper 200 is conveyed and the detection pattern pt reaches the reading sensor 26, the reading sensor 26 reads the detection pattern pt. When the length L1 of the detection pattern pt exceeds the interval G1 (see FIG. 4A) between the image sensors 30 of the reading sensors 26 and 28 in the transport direction, the reading by the reading sensor 26 is It is executed in parallel with reading by the reading sensor 28. The first image data read by the reading sensor 26 is converted into digital data by the AFE 40 and transferred to the memory controller 52 by the DMA controller 54 via the drive unit 38. Thereafter, the memory controller 52 writes the first image data into the external memory 50.

  As described above, in the reading sensor 26, since the first image data is in a line shape, the memory controller 52 arranges the first image data in the transport direction in the order of reading the first image data when writing the first image data into the external memory 50. . At this time, the memory controller 52 writes the address by offsetting the number of pixels corresponding to the missing area in the missing area of the first image data. Alternatively, null data is written only in the number of pixels corresponding to the missing area in the missing area. In this way, the first image data from the first line to the l-th line is stored in the external memory 50. For this reason, in the image data of the detection pattern pt created by storing the first image data in the external memory 50, a missing region based on the interval between the image sensors 30 of the reading sensor 26 is formed.

  When the reading of the l-th line by the reading sensor 26 is completed, the CPU 36 stops the DMA controller 54. For example, the end of reading of the l-th line is associated with line information for specifying the line with the first image data. Furthermore, the total number of lines “1” when all the detection patterns pt are read by the reading sensor 26 is stored. When the number of lines associated with the first image data becomes “l”, the CPU 36 determines that the reading of the l-th line has been completed. Thereafter, after the first image data of the l-th line is transferred by the DMA controller 54, the CPU 36 outputs a signal regarding the stop to the DMA controller 54. Further, since the reading sensor 28 is located upstream in the conveyance direction of the reading sensor 26, the reading of the detection pattern pt is completed before the reading by the reading sensor 26 is completed.

  When reading by the reading sensors 26 and 28 is started in step S302, it is next determined whether or not reading by the reading sensor 26 is completed (step S304). That is, in step S304, for example, it is determined whether or not the DMA controller 54 has stopped. If it is determined in step S304 that the reading of the reading sensor 26 has not been completed, that is, the DMA controller 54 has not stopped, the process of step S304 is performed again. If it is determined in step S304 that reading by the reading sensor 26 has been completed, that is, the DMA controller 54 has been stopped, the process proceeds to step S306. In this step 306, the DMA controller 54 is restarted, and the cut-out image data associated with the line information and the cut-out information stored in the memory 48 is transferred to the memory controller 52 by the DMA controller 54.

  Thereafter, the cut image data transferred by the DMA controller 54 is written in the external memory 50 by the memory controller 52 (step S308). When the cut image data is written in the external memory 50, the detection pattern pt created by the first image data stored in the external memory 50 based on the line information and the cut information associated with the cut image data. It is incorporated in the missing area of the image data.

  That is, when writing the first image data to the external memory 50, if the address is offset by the number of pixels corresponding to the missing area, the cut image data is written based on the line information and the cut information. Further, when Null data is written for the number of pixels in the missing area, the cut image data is overwritten based on the line information and the cut information. Thereby, in the detection pattern pt stored in the external memory 50, the missing area of the first image data read by the reading sensor 26 is read by the reading sensor 28 as shown in FIG. 4B. It is complemented by data.

  As described above, the recording apparatus 10 including the image reading apparatus according to the present invention includes the reading sensors 26 and 28 in which a plurality of image sensors 30 are arranged in the width direction, and the image sensors 30 are arranged in a staggered manner. It arranged so that. At this time, the reading sensor 28 is positioned upstream of the reading sensor 26 in the transport direction. Then, the second image data read by the reading sensor 28 is cut out by the cutout unit 46, and the cut out cutout image data is stored in the memory 48. The first image data read by the reading sensor 26 is transferred to the memory controller 52 by the DMA controller 54 and written to the external memory 50. Thereafter, the cut image data stored in the memory 48 is transferred to the memory controller 52 by the DMA controller 54 and written to the external memory 50. That is, by shifting the transfer timing of the DMA controller 54 to the memory controller 52 between the first image data and the cut image data, the timing for writing the first image data and the cut image data to the external memory 50 is shifted. I made it.

  As a result, the image data read by the two reading sensors 26 and 28 can be efficiently written into the external memory 50 by using one DMA controller 54, and the reading control unit 34 is costly or large. It can be configured without making it. Therefore, in the image reading apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention provided with the reading control unit 34, cost and size increase are suppressed.

(Second Embodiment)
Next, a second embodiment of the image reading apparatus according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. In the following description, as in the case of the first embodiment, the case where the recording apparatus is mounted will be described. However, the same reference numerals are used for the same or corresponding components as those of the recording apparatus 10 described above. Therefore, detailed description thereof will be omitted as appropriate.

  The recording apparatus 100 provided with the image reading apparatus according to the second embodiment has the above-described recording apparatus 10 only in that the reading control unit 34 includes a monitoring unit 156 and a switching unit 158 as shown in FIG. Is different. In the present embodiment, the interval G1 between the image sensors 30 of the reading sensors 26 and 28 is, for example, m (m is a positive integer) times the width W1 of the line-shaped image data read by the reading sensors 26 and 28. It has become. Note that the width W1 of the line-shaped image data and the width W2 of the image sensor 30 are the same.

  The monitoring unit 156 (monitoring unit) monitors the movement amount of the detection pattern pt. Specifically, the movement amount of the detection pattern pt is monitored by monitoring line information in the cut image data stored in the memory 48. Here, since the interval G1 is m times the width W1, the reading start position P1 in the reading sensor 28 and the reading start position P2 in the reading sensor 26 are in the transport direction as shown in FIG. (M + 1) W1 away. Accordingly, when reading of the second image data for (m + 1) lines is completed by the reading sensor 28, the detection pattern pt is positioned at the reading start position P2 of the reading sensor 26. Therefore, in the monitoring result of the monitoring unit 156, when it is detected that the cut image data associated with the line information “m + 1” is stored in the memory 48, the CPU 36 detects the detection pattern pt up to the reading start position P2. Judged that moved. When the CPU 36 determines that the detection pattern pt has moved to the reading start position, the CPU 36 outputs a signal related to driving start to the driving unit 38 to drive the reading sensor 26.

  Note that the timing at which the CPU 36 outputs a signal related to the drive start of the drive unit 38 is not limited to the timing at which the cut image data associated with the line information “m + 1” is stored. In other words, it may be the timing when the cut image data associated with the line information “m” or “m−1” is stored, or any timing before the detection pattern pt reaches the reading start position P2. . The monitoring unit 156 monitors the drive unit 42 and counts the second image data read by the reading sensor 28. When the counted value becomes “m + 1”, the CPU 36 drives the drive unit 38. A signal related to the start may be output. In this case, the monitoring unit 156 monitors the movement amount of the detection pattern pt by counting the second image data.

  The switching unit 158 can acquire the cut image data stored in the memory 48 and also acquires the first image data read by the reading sensor 26 via the driving unit 38. The switching unit 158 counts the first image data acquired via the driving unit 38 and associates the counted value as the number of lines of the first image data. When the data is transferred to the memory controller 52 by the DMA controller 54, the transferred image data is cut-out image data in which the first image data is associated with the same line information as the number of lines of the first image data. Switch with. As a result, the line-shaped image data is transferred to the memory controller 52 while complementing the missing area of the first image data with the cut-out image data. That is, in the reading control unit 34 according to the present embodiment, the switching unit 158, the DMA controller 54, and the memory controller 52 constitute writing means for writing image data into the external memory 50.

  Specifically, the switching unit 158 counts the number of pixels in the width direction of the image data transferred by the DMA controller 54. When the first image data is being transferred and the count value reaches one pixel value in the width direction of the cut-out information, the transferred image data is associated with the cut-out information from the first image data. Switch to the extracted image data. Further, when the cut image data is being transferred and the count value reaches the other pixel value in the width direction in the cut information, the transferred image data is changed from the cut image data to the first image data. Switch.

  In this embodiment, pixel values at both ends in the width direction of the missing region are set as the cutout information, and this pixel value corresponds to the number of pixels when counted from one side in the width direction of the first image data. The value to be In the present embodiment, the number of pixels in the width direction of the cutout region Sc may be the number of pixels that matches the missing region instead of being 8 pixels or 16 pixels, or one side in the width direction from the missing region. Alternatively, the number of pixels may increase by several pixels on the other side. Then, the DMA controller 54 transfers the image data pixel by pixel from one side to the other side in the width direction while switching the first image data and the cut-out image data in the switching unit 158. For this reason, when the line-shaped image data read by the reading sensor 26 is stored in the external memory 50, the missing area is complemented.

  In the above-described configuration, a case where the recording apparatus 100 performs processing for detecting a non-ejection state nozzle will be described. When the detection process for detecting the non-ejection state nozzle is started, the detection pattern pt is recorded on the recording paper 200 conveyed in the conveyance direction. Also, a reading process for reading the detection pattern pt is started. That is, in the recording apparatus 100, similarly to the recording apparatus 10, recording of the detection pattern pt on the recording paper 200 and reading processing of the detection pattern pt are started simultaneously.

  Here, FIG. 6 shows a flowchart showing the detailed processing contents of the second reading processing. When the second reading process is started, first, the reading sensor 28 is driven by the drive unit 42, and the reading process of the detection pattern pt by the reading sensor 28 is started (step S602). That is, in step S602, the reading sensor 28 is driven by the driving unit 42, and reading of the detection pattern pt recorded on the recording paper 200 to be conveyed is started. The second image data read by the reading sensor 28 is converted into digital data by the AFE 44, and is output to the cutting unit 46 via the driving unit 42. The cutout unit 46 cuts out the second image data in the set cutout region Sc, and the cutout image data cut out includes the line information of the second image data that is the cutout source, and the second image data. Is associated with the cut-out information at. Then, the cut image data is output to the memory 48 together with the line information and the cut information, and stored in the memory 48. In this manner, after reading the second image data from the first line to the l-th line, the cut image data is created and stored in the memory 48 is repeatedly executed. Regarding the reading process of the detection pattern pt by the reading sensor 28, when the length L1 of the detection pattern pt exceeds the interval G1 between the image sensors 30 of the reading sensors 26 and 28, the processing after step S608 described later is performed. It is executed in parallel with processing.

  Next, monitoring of the memory 48 by the monitoring unit 156 is started (step S604). Thereafter, it is determined whether or not the cut-out image data associated with the predetermined line information is stored in the memory 48 (step S606). In other words, in step S606, the monitoring unit 156 determines whether or not cut image data associated with line information specifying the number of lines “m + 1” is input to the memory 48, for example. Note that the predetermined line information may be set as appropriate, and the read start timing by the reading sensor 26 may be adjusted by setting the predetermined line information.

  If it is determined in step S606 that the cut-out image data associated with the predetermined line information is not stored in the memory 48, the process of step S606 is executed again. If it is determined in step S606 that the cut-out image data associated with the predetermined line information is stored in the memory 48, the reading sensor 26 starts reading the detection pattern pt (step S608). That is, in step S608, a signal related to driving start is output from the CPU 36 to the driving unit 38, and the driving unit 38 starts reading by the reading sensor 26 based on the signal. When reading of the detection pattern pt by the reading sensor 26 is started, a writing process for writing the first image data and the cut image data into the external memory 50 is started (step S610).

  Here, FIG. 7 shows a flowchart showing the detailed processing contents of the writing processing. When the writing process is started, first, “n” representing the number of lines is set to “1” (step S702). Next, the switching unit 158 acquires cut-out image data associated with line information specifying the number of lines “n” from the cut-out image data stored in the memory 48 (step S704). In step S704, if there are a plurality of corresponding clipped image data, all of them are acquired.

  Then, the switching unit 158 acquires the first image data via the drive unit 38, and transfers the acquired first image data to the memory controller 52 by the DMA controller 54 (step S706). The first image data transferred to the memory controller 52 is written to the external memory 50. Further, when the first image data is transferred by the DMA controller 54, counting of the pixels in the width direction of the first image data transferred by the switching unit 158 is started (step S708). Note that steps S706 and 708 may be executed before step S704, or may be executed in parallel with step S704.

  Next, it is determined whether or not the counted number of pixels matches the pixel value of the cutout information associated with the cutout image data acquired in step S704 (step S710). That is, in step S710, it is determined whether or not the pixel value matches one of the two pixel values (pixel values at both ends in the width direction of the missing region) set as the cutout information. When a plurality of pieces of cut image data are acquired in step S704, the count value is determined for the pixel value in the cut information associated with each piece of cut image data. If it is determined in step S710 that the count value does not match the pixel value of the cutout information associated with the cutout image data, the process of step S710 is executed again. If it is determined in step S710 that the count value matches the pixel value of the cutout information associated with the cutout image data, the DMA controller 54 transfers the cutout image data (step S712). That is, in step S712, the image data transferred from the DMA controller 54 to the memory controller 52 is changed from the first image data to the cut-out image data associated with the cut-out information having the same pixel value by the switching unit 158. Switch. The clipped image data transferred to the memory controller 52 by the DMA controller 54 is written to the external memory 50 by the memory controller 52.

  Thereafter, it is determined whether or not the count value matches the other pixel value of the cut-out information associated with the cut-out image data being transferred (step S714). If it is determined in step S714 that the count value does not match the other pixel value of the cutout information associated with the cutout image data being transferred, the process of step S714 is executed again. If it is determined in step S714 that the count value matches the other pixel value of the cut-out information associated with the cut-out image data being transferred, the first image data is transferred by the DMA controller 54 ( Step S716). That is, in step S716, the image data transferred by the DMA controller 54 to the memory controller 52 is switched from the cut image data to the first image data (having the same line information as the cut image data) by the switching unit 158. . At this time, the cut-out image data transferred to the DMA controller 54 is output data. The first image data transferred to the memory controller 52 by the DMA controller 54 is written to the external memory 50 by the memory controller 52.

  Next, it is determined whether or not all of the cut image data acquired in step S704 has been transferred by the DMA controller 54 (step S718). That is, in step S718, it is determined whether or not all the clipped image data acquired in step S704 has been output. If it is determined in step S718 that all the clipped image data acquired in step S704 has not been transferred by the DMA controller 54, that is, the clipped image data is not all output data, the process returns to step S710. The subsequent processing is executed. If it is determined in step S718 that all the cut-out image data acquired in step S704 has been transferred by the DMA controller 54, that is, it is determined that all the cut-out image data is output data, the process proceeds to step S720. .

  In step S720, it is determined whether the count value has reached a predetermined value. That is, in step S720, whether or not the count value has reached the total number of pixels in the width direction of the detection pattern pt (that is, the number of pixels from one end to the other end in the width direction). Make a decision. The total number of pixels in the width direction of the detection pattern pt is stored in advance. If it is determined in step S720 that the count value does not reach the predetermined value, that is, the count value does not reach the total number of pixels in the width direction of the detection pattern pt, the process of step S720 is executed again. If it is determined in step S720 that the count value has reached a predetermined value, that is, the count value has reached the total number of pixels in the width direction of the detection pattern pt, whether or not all the detection patterns pt have been read. Is determined (step S722).

  Note that the total number of lines when all the detection patterns pt are read by the reading sensors 26 and 28 is stored in advance. In step S722, whether or not the number of lines “n” has reached the stored total number of lines. Make a decision. If it is determined in step S722 that all the detection patterns pt have not been read, that is, the number of lines “n” has not reached the stored total number of lines, “n” representing the number of lines is incremented (step S724). ). Thereafter, the count value of the pixel by the switching unit 158 is reset (step S726), the process returns to step S704, and the subsequent processing is executed. If it is determined in step S722 that all the detection patterns have been read, that is, the number of lines “n” has reached the stored total number of lines, the writing process is terminated and the second reading process is performed. finish.

  As described above, in the recording apparatus 100 including the image reading apparatus according to the present invention, the second image data read by the reading sensor 28 is cut out by the cutting unit 46, and the cut out cut image data is stored in the memory 48. Stored. The first image data read by the reading sensor 26 is acquired by the switching unit 158 and then transferred to the memory controller 52 by the DMA controller 54 and written to the external memory 50. At the time of transfer by the DMA controller 54, cut-out image data associated with the same line information as the first image data is acquired from the memory 48, and the number of pixels in the width direction of the transferred image data is counted. When this count value matches the pixel value in the cut-out information associated with the cut-out image data, the image data to be transferred is switched from the first image data to the cut-out image data or vice versa. That is, by shifting the transfer timing of the DMA controller 54 to the memory controller 52 between the first image data and the cut image data, the timing for writing the first image data and the cut image data to the external memory 50 is shifted. I made it.

  As a result, the image data read by the two reading sensors 26 and 28 can be efficiently written into the external memory 50 by the single DMA controller 54, and the reading control unit 34 is increased in cost or size. It can be configured without. Therefore, in the image reading apparatus according to the second embodiment of the present invention provided with the reading control unit 34, cost and size increase are suppressed. In the recording apparatus 100, when the first image data is transferred by the DMA controller 54, cut-out image data associated with the same line information as the first image data is output. For this reason, it is only necessary to store the cut image data for the number of lines corresponding to the interval between the reading sensors 26 and 28 in the memory 48, and the capacity of the memory 48 used for storing the cut image data is small. I'll do it.

(Modification)
The embodiment described above may be modified as shown in the following (1) to (4).

  (1) The reading sensor 26 and the reading sensor 28 are different from each other as long as the missing area of the image data read by one reading sensor is included in the image data read by the other reading sensor. Also good. Further, the reading sensor 28 may be configured so that the area S1 where the image sensor 30 is located includes the maximum recording width by arranging a large number of image sensors 30, for example. In this case, in the recording apparatus 10, for example, the cutout unit 46 cuts out the first image data to create cutout image data, stores the second image data in the external memory 50, and then stores the cutout image data in the external memory. 50 can be stored.

  (2) The first image data may be stored in the memory 48. At this time, the cut-out image data cut out by the cut-out unit 46 is combined with the first image data stored in the memory 48 and stored in the external memory 50. That is, in the recording apparatus 10, the cut image data is transferred to the memory controller 52 by the DMA controller 54 and written to the external memory 50. Thereafter, the first image data stored in the memory 48 is transferred to the memory controller 52 by the DMA controller 54 and written to the external memory 50. In the recording apparatus 100, when the cut image data cut by the cut unit 46 is transferred by the DMA controller 54, it is transferred to the memory controller 52 while switching to the first image data stored in the memory 48. At this time, in the recording apparatus 100, the reading sensor 26 is located upstream of the reading sensor 28 in the transport direction.

  (3) In the image reading apparatus according to the present invention, the recording paper 200 on which a predetermined image is recorded is placed, and the reading unit 24 moves in a direction intersecting the width direction of the recording paper 200, thereby An image reading device for reading an image is included. That is, the image reading apparatus according to the present invention is configured such that the image to be read and the reading sensors 26 and 28 constituting the reading unit 24 are relatively movable. In this case, the moving direction corresponds to the conveying direction in the above embodiment.

  (4) The image that can be read by the image reading apparatus according to the present invention is not limited to the detection pattern for detecting the non-ejection state nozzle. Further, the cut-out area Sc for cutting out the second image data by the reading sensor 28 is not limited to the area corresponding to the missing area of the first image data by the reading sensor 26. That is, the image reading apparatus according to the present invention may read a predetermined image on which a predetermined pattern is drawn. At this time, for example, the image sensor 30 in the reading sensor 26 is set to a low resolution, the image sensor 30 in the reading sensor 28 is set to a high resolution, and the cutout area Sc is set to an area where a predetermined pattern is drawn. As a result, image data in which a predetermined pattern is displayed with high resolution can be stored in the external memory 50.

  Specifically, in each line of the second image data, an area where a predetermined pattern is drawn is set as a cutout area Sc, and the cutout unit 46 is an area corresponding to the cutout area Sc in the second image data. Is cut out and cut out image data is created. In the image reading apparatus according to the first embodiment, the low-resolution first image data is stored in the external memory 50. At this time, the addresses are offset and stored by the number of pixels corresponding to the area corresponding to the cut-out area Sc. Alternatively, Null data is written only in the number of pixels corresponding to the area. Thereafter, the high-resolution cut-out image data is written in the offset portion or the portion where the Null data is written.

  In the image reading apparatus according to the second embodiment, the image data is written in the external memory 50 while switching between the low-resolution first image data and the high-resolution cut-out image data. That is, when the image data is written in the external memory 50, when the number of pixels set based on the cut-out area Sc is reached, the image data output from the switching unit 158 is cut out from the first image data with high resolution. Switch to image data or vice versa. In this case, the reading sensors 26 and 28 may be configured by one image sensor.

10, 100 Recording device 24 Reading section (reading means)
26, 28 Reading sensor 30 Image sensor 46 Cutting part (cutting means)
48 memory (second memory)
50 External memory (first memory)
52 Memory Controller 54 DMA Controller 156 Monitoring Unit (Monitoring Unit)
158 switching section

Claims (10)

Reading means comprising two reading sensors that are movable relative to an image to be read and output different image data based on the image;
Cutting means for cutting out a region corresponding to a predetermined region in the second image data read by the other reading sensor from the first image data read by one reading sensor;
An image reading apparatus comprising: writing means for writing the second image data and the cut-out image data cut out by the cut-out means into the first memory at different timings.   2. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a second memory capable of storing either the second image data or the cut-out image data until the writing unit writes the image data into the first memory. Image reading apparatus.   3. The writing device according to claim 1, wherein the writing unit writes one of the second image data or the cut-out image data into the first memory and then writes the other into the first memory. 4. The image reading apparatus described.   When the writing means reaches one of the second image data or the cut-out image data in the first memory and reaches an area corresponding to the other, the writing data is written from one to the other. The image reading apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image reading apparatus is switched to the other. It further has monitoring means for monitoring the moving amount of the image to be read,
5. The image reading apparatus according to claim 4, wherein timing for starting reading of the image by a reading sensor located downstream in the moving direction is controlled based on a monitoring result by the monitoring unit.   6. The image reading apparatus according to claim 1, wherein each of the two reading sensors includes a plurality of image sensors arranged in parallel in a direction crossing a moving direction.   The image reading apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the two reading sensors are arranged in the reading unit such that the plurality of image sensors in the two reading sensors are arranged in a staggered manner.   The image reading apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the predetermined area is an area corresponding to an interval between the image sensors. An image reading method for reading an image that moves relative to the two reading sensors by an image reading device including two reading sensors that output different image data based on images,
A first step of cutting out a region corresponding to a predetermined region in the second image data read by the other reading sensor from the first image data read by one reading sensor;
An image reading method comprising: a second step of writing the second image data and the cut-out image data cut out in the first step into a first memory at different timings. A full-line type recording apparatus capable of detecting a non-ejection state nozzle in a recording head that ejects ink by an inkjet method,
The nozzle in a non-ejection state is detected based on image data obtained by reading a predetermined pattern recorded on a medium using the recording head by an image reading device. The image reading device is any one of claims 1 to 8. A recording apparatus, comprising: the image reading apparatus according to 1).

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