JP3466889B2 - Recording device and recording method - Google Patents

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a mask pattern management means inside a printer which performs a multi-pass printing method.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, in an ink jet printer, in order to obtain a higher quality image output, a means called a multi-pass printing method is used, which is characterized in that print data is masked.

The multi-pass printing method is carried out for the purpose of eliminating the image deterioration phenomenon due to the performance variation of the ejection nozzles of the print head or the density unevenness of the print data, and is typified by JP-A-07-052389. An implementation type having such a configuration is currently commercialized.

The multi-pass printing method will be described below with reference to FIGS. 10 to 13 by taking 4-pass printing as an example.

First, the form of the nozzles of the recording head used in FIG. 10 is shown. As shown, the recording head 500
Has a plurality of nozzles 505, and ink is ejected from each nozzle 505 to perform printing.

When 4-pass printing is performed, the recording head 5
No. 00 nozzle part is divided into four. Here, each block is divided into four as divided areas 501 to 504. When performing 4-pass printing, the number of nozzles included in each of the divided areas 501 to 504 depends on the data read from a RAM (not shown) that stores ejection data.
It must be a multiple of 8.

The 4-pass printing is performed in each of the divided areas 501 to 504.
It is realized by operating separately. The state of the print is shown in FIG.

The 4-pass printing referred to here is a recording method in which one printing area is completed by four printing scans. In each print scan, a mask pattern for thinning with a duty of 25% is set in the print data for each divided area, and a 100% image is created by four scans.

For 4-pass printing, for example, 4 × 4 mask patterns A1 to A4 as shown in FIG. 12 are prepared.
In each of the mask patterns A1 to A4, mask data exists at the position on the grid indicated by the mesh pattern in the figure, and when the mask patterns A1 to A4 are overlapped, all the 4 × 4 grids have the mask data. It is configured to be filled with.

Print data 8 as shown in FIG.
00 (hatched area indicates that there is print data)
Then, the above mask patterns A1 to A4 are set.
Here, the print data 800 is set to 1 when there is print data, 0 when there is no print data, and 1 when there is mask data for the mask patterns A1 to A4, and 0 when there is no print data, The logical sums of the same positions of the respective mask patterns A1 to A4 are calculated, and the ejection data 801 to 804 of the print heads are respectively generated. By superimposing the four ejection data 801 to 804, the same print image 805 as the original print data 800 is formed.

In multi-pass printing, the setting of such mask data is performed by the print head 500 in each print scan.
Is performed for each of the divided areas 501 to 504.

FIG. 11 is a diagram for explaining multi-pass printing. In the case of multi-pass printing, first, as a mask pattern, a group of A1 to A4, a group of B1 to B4, a group of C1 to C4, a group of D1 to D4,
Four types of mask data groups are used. All the patterns in each group are 100 when four are superposed.
The pattern is such that the% image is completed.

The actual printing is performed as follows.

In the first print area on the print image, in the first print scan, the mask pattern A1 is set in the divided area 501 of the print head and printing is performed.

Subsequently, in the second print scan, the first print area is divided into the mask pattern A in the divided area 502 of the print head.
2 is used, and in the second print area, printing is performed in the divided area 501 of the recording head using the mask pattern B1 in a different group from the first print area.

Further, in the third print scan, the first print area in the divided area 503 of the print head is the mask pattern A3.
In the second printing area, the mask pattern B2 is printed in the divided area 502 of the recording head, and in the third printing area, the divided area 501 of the recording head is printed using the mask pattern C1 in a different group. Is done.

In the fourth print scan, the mask pattern A4 is used in the print head division area 504 in the first print area, and the print head division area 50 is used in the second print area.
3 in the third print area, the mask pattern C2 in the print head divided area 502 in the third print area, the print head divided area 501 in the fourth print area, and the mask pattern D1 in different groups. Is used to print. At this time, the first print area uses four mask patterns, A1, A2, A3, and A4, for a total of 4
The printing scan is performed once, and the image printing for this area is completed.

In the same procedure, the second print area is set to B1, B
2, B3, B4, the third print area is C1, C2,
Using C3 and C4, the fourth print area is D1, D2, D
3 and D4 are used to form an image. Further, after that, the fifth print area is again printed with A1, A2, A3, and A4, and the sixth print area is printed with B1, B2, B3, and B4. Printing continues even after repeated operation.

As described above, in the four-pass printing method using the four mask patterns disclosed in the above publication, the same group of mask patterns is used for each of the four printing areas. Further, naturally, two mask patterns are repeatedly used in the case of 2-pass printing, and eight mask patterns are repeatedly used in the case of 8-pass printing.

As described above, the means called the multi-pass printing method prevents the deterioration of the image due to the variation in the performance of the ejection nozzles by using many kinds of nozzles in the same printing area.
Then, the mask pattern is periodically changed for each area to be printed, thereby resolving the image deterioration due to the density unevenness of the print data.

Next, a method of managing a mask pattern inside the printer will be described.

Normally, the mask pattern used by the printer in the multi-pass printing method is not of a small size as shown in FIG. 12, but, for example, a print head having 128 nozzles is used for Y (yellow), M ( Magenta), C
When each of the colors (cyan) and Bk (black) is divided into four blocks of 32 nozzles and four-pass printing is attempted, one mask pattern is stored in the printer RAM.
Internally, it has a size of at least about 2 kbytes.

This is done by A1, A2, A in one group.
If there are 4 groups of 3, A4 and 4 types, and A group, B group, C group and D group, 2 kbyte × 4 × 4 = 32 kbyte, the mask pattern group is It is common to have separate patterns for each.
Therefore, the size when recording with four colors of Y, M, C, and Bk is 32 kbyte × 4 = 128 kbyte, and this value is the capacity occupied by all mask patterns in the RAM.

The large area as described above is limited to a limited area R
Occupying the mask buffer in the AM capacity is very inefficient from the viewpoint of the operation of the printer system. Therefore, a mask pattern as shown in FIG. 14 is used.

First, it is assumed that the mask pattern A1 has a size of 2 kbytes and is stored in a certain continuous address area in the RAM. In the following description, A1
The first address stored in is set to address "1" for easy understanding.

One address stores 1 byte, that is, mask data for 8 nozzles. In addition, here, since it is assumed that block printing is performed for every 32 nozzles, it is possible to perform 4 bytes as illustrated by one heat.
Each pattern is read from the RAM.

Then, system operation is performed so as to generate four types of mask patterns from this one mask buffer area.

As shown, the pattern of A1 is "9".
Start reading every 4 bytes from the address, A1
It is regarded as a mask pattern different from that, and the pattern is designated as B1. Similarly, the pattern A1 is read every 4 bytes from the address "17", the pattern is set to C1, the pattern A1 is read every 4 bytes from the address "25", and the pattern is set to D1.

Similarly, from A2 to B2, C2 and D2
, A3 to B3, C3 and D3, A4 to B4 and C4
And create D4.

The creation of the pattern is specifically realized by the following means. This mask pattern generation system is performed by a simple calculation of a logic circuit inside the printer.

First, a certain fixed value is set as a mask generation offset value and held in the logic circuit, and another mask pattern is created based on this offset value. In this description, this offset value is set to "8".

As shown in the conventional example, when B1 is created from A1, the offset value "8" is added to the start address of A1 and the value "9" is set as the start address of B1. In this case, the start address "9" of B1 is generated from the start address "1" of A1.

Next, when creating C1, an offset value "8" is added to the start address of B1 and the value is added to C1.
The start address of In this case, the C1 start address “17” is generated from the B1 start address “9”.

Finally, when D1 is created, an offset value "8" is pushed to the start address of C1 and that value is set to D1.
The start address of In this case, the D1 start address "25" is generated from the C1 start address "17".

In the same calculation, A2 to B2, C2 and D
2, A3 to B3, C3 and D3, A4 to B4 and C
Create 4 and D4. At this time, the mask generation offset value must be the same as the one generated from A1, B1, C1, and D1.

The state when the mask is actually used in the above system is shown in FIG. That is, as the print area changes, the same pattern is used while being shifted leftward by the same amount.

With the above-described configuration, it is possible to handle as if the user has patterns of four different groups by only having the mask of the A group inside the RAM. As a result, the area that the mask pattern occupies is only 1/4 of the total calculated value, and therefore the efficient RAM
The area could be operated.

[0038]

Strictly speaking, the phenomenon of recording is that ink (dye) is physically and chemically bound to a recording medium (paper). Also,
Since the binding capacity of the recording medium for ink is finite,
When a plurality of ink droplets are ejected at the same position or in adjacent areas, the dye ejected first preferentially works with the medium.

Therefore, if multi-pass printing is attempted with inks having the same binding characteristics, the inks recorded in the first print scan will be the second, third, and fourth inks in the same print area. That is, it can be better combined with the recording medium than the ink ejected for scanning.

Specifically, the ink recorded in the first print scan can stay at the landing position on the surface of the medium, but the ink ejected in the second print scan does not change in the first print scan. There is a case where the ink is interfered with by the combined ink and is displaced from the landing position to be combined with the recording medium, or sinks under the previously combined ink and is dyed. Naturally, the ink ejected in the third print scan is the dye combined in the first print scan and the second print scan, and the ink ejected in the fourth print scan is the first, second, and 3 Print scans are affected by the attached dyes.

As described above, the influence of interference is expressed in the form of density unevenness in the final image output. However,
As described above, as far as each of the finely divided print areas is viewed, the level is at a level that causes almost no problem.

However, in the mask management system as described above, this density unevenness may appear significantly. This is the case, for example, in the case of printing a halftone image such as a halftone pattern, or printing over a wide range of the recording medium, and the following phenomenon occurs.

First, as a result of multi-pass recording of a halftone pattern in a certain print area, FIG.
It is assumed that interference unevenness as shown in FIG. This interference unevenness is inconspicuous only in this area.

Next, this halftone is shown in FIG.
Consider the case where recording is performed over a plurality of print areas as shown in FIG. At this time, the unevenness shown in FIG.
The same mask pattern appears in each print area at the set position, that is, shifted to the left by an amount commensurate with the mask generation offset amount. As a result, the resulting image looks like a streak running diagonally, as shown in FIG.

The above problems can be solved by setting different mask patterns for each print area without generating many kinds of masks from one mask. However, in this case, as described above, a large amount of R is used for the mask buffer.
AM area is required.

The present invention has been made in view of the problems of the above-mentioned conventional technique, and has the above-mentioned inferior image deterioration without requiring a large mask buffer in the RAM. It is an object of the present invention to realize a recording device that does not generate.

[0047]

According to a recording apparatus of the present invention, a recording head is made to scan a recording area on a recording medium a plurality of times, and a thinned image is formed according to a different mask pattern in each scanning to form an image. When completing the above,
The recording head is divided into a plurality of divided areas, and
Corresponding different mask patterns to the recording area
A recording apparatus for completing an image for frequency, given
The different masses are recorded so that the image for the recording area is completed.
The mask pattern group click pattern is grouped
A memory that stores each of the mask patterns that belong to it at different read start addresses and a memory that is stored in the memory.
From the read start address of each mask pattern, wherein
Used in another recording area different from the specified recording area
The read start address of each mask pattern is generated, before
Serial and a mask pattern managing means for determining a mask pattern group that will be manually used for other recording region, said mask pattern managing means, different values of the same number of mask pattern group for performing the generation of the read start address Has an offset value of , and is stored in the memory.
Respectively adding the offset value to the read start address of each mask pattern hand being used for the other recording area
The read start address of each mask pattern is generated.

In this case, the mask pattern management means
Reads each mask pattern stored in the memory
Read start address selected from the start address
One off selected from each of the offset values
A value obtained by adding the set values is divided into one of the recording heads.
Read start address of mask pattern corresponding to area
May be set as

The recording head ejects ink.
It may be an inkjet recording head.

In the recording method of the present invention, the recording head is used as a recording medium.
The recording area on the body is scanned multiple times, and each scan
Form thinned images according to different mask patterns
To complete the image,
The different mask patterns are provided in the divided areas.
Images for the recording area
A recording method to be completed, which is for a predetermined recording area.
The different mask patterns are glued to complete the image.
Each mask pattern belonging to the mask pattern group
Memorize each turn with a different read start address
And a step of preparing a memory to be stored in the memory.
From the read start address of each mask pattern,
Each of the other recording areas that are different from the regular recording area
Generate the read start address of the mask pattern,
Determine the mask pattern group used in other recording areas
And a reading step in which the reading step is performed.
The same number of mask patterns that generate the start address
By using different offset values,
Start reading each mask pattern used in the recording area
Each address stored in the memory in generating the address
Each offset to the read start address of the mask pattern
It is used in the other recording area by adding each value.
Generate the read start address of each mask pattern
It is characterized by

"Operation" The present invention is designed so that a predetermined 1
Since the read address of another divided area is generated from the read address of one divided area, the read address of each divided area does not occur cyclically as in the conventional case. Therefore, even if there is interference unevenness, it will appear regularly.

[0052]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the ink jet recording apparatus of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings.

1 to 5 show preferred ink jet units IJU, ink jet heads IJH, ink tanks IT, ink jet cartridges IJC, ink jet recording apparatus main body IJRA, carriage HC, and their relations, to which the present invention is applied or applied. It is an explanatory view for explaining. Hereinafter, the configuration of each part will be described with reference to these drawings.

(I) General Description of Apparatus Main Body FIG. 6 shows an ink jet recording apparatus I applied to the present invention.
It is an example of a general view of JRA. In the figure, the driving force transmission gear 501 is interlocked with the forward and reverse rotations of the drive motor 5013.
Lead screw 500 rotating through 1,5009
The carriage HC engaging with the spiral groove 5004 of No. 5 has a pin (not shown) and is reciprocated in the directions of arrows a and b. An inkjet cartridge IJC is mounted on the carriage HC. Reference numeral 5002 denotes a paper pressing plate that holds the paper in the platen 500 in the carriage movement direction.
Press against 0. Reference numerals 5007 and 5008 denote photocouplers, which are home position detecting means for confirming the presence of the lever 5006 of the carriage in this area and switching the rotational direction of the motor 5013. 5016 is a cap member 5022 for capping the front surface of the recording head.
A member 5015 for supporting the recording head 5015 is a suction means for sucking the inside of the cap to perform suction recovery of the recording head through the opening 5023 in the cap. 5017 is a cleaning blade,
Reference numeral 5019 denotes a member that allows this blade to move in the front-rear direction, and these are supported by the main body support plate 5018. Needless to say, a well-known cleaning blade can be applied to this example instead of this form.

Reference numeral 5012 denotes a lever for starting suction for suction recovery, which is a cam 5020 engaging with the carriage.
And the driving force from the drive motor is controlled by known transmission means such as clutch switching. The capping, cleaning, and suction recovery are configured so that desired processing can be performed at their corresponding positions by the action of the lead screw 5005 when the carriage comes to the home position side area, but at desired timings at known times. Any operation can be applied to this example as long as the operation is performed.

Inkjet cartridge IJ in this example
C has a large ink storage ratio, and has a shape in which the tip of the inkjet unit IJU slightly projects from the front surface of the ink tank IT. The ink jet cartridge IJC is a type that is fixed and supported by the above-mentioned positioning means of the carriage HC mounted on the ink jet recording apparatus main body IJRA and electrical contacts, and is detachable from the carriage HC.

(Ii) Description of the structure of the ink jet unit IJU The ink jet unit IJU is a unit of the type that performs recording using an electrothermal converter that generates heat energy for causing film boiling in the ink in response to an electric signal. Is.

(Iii) Description of Heater Board FIG. 2 shows a schematic view of the heater board 100 of the head used in this embodiment. The temperature adjustment (sub) heater 8d for controlling the temperature of the head, the ejection portion array 8g in which the ejection (main) heater 8c for ejecting the ink is arranged, and the drive element 8h are positioned as shown in FIG. Because of this, they are formed on the same substrate. By arranging each element on the same substrate in this manner, the head temperature can be detected and controlled efficiently, and the head can be made compact and the manufacturing process can be simplified. The figure also shows the positional relationship of the cross section 8f of the outer peripheral wall of the top plate, which is divided into a region where the heater board is filled with ink and a region where it is not. The discharge heater 8d side of the outer peripheral wall cross section 8f of the top plate functions as a common liquid chamber. In addition, the liquid passage is formed by the groove portion formed on the discharge portion row 8g of the outer peripheral wall cross section 8f of the top plate.

(Iv) Description of Control Configuration Next, a control configuration for executing recording control of each unit of the above-described apparatus configuration will be described with reference to the block diagram shown in FIG. In the figure showing the control circuit, 10 is an interface for inputting a recording signal, 11 is an MPU, 12
Is a program ROM that stores a control program executed by the MPU 11, and 13 is a dynamic RAM that stores various data (the above-described recording signals and recording data supplied to the head). The number of times the head is replaced can also be stored. 14 is a recording head 18
It is a gate array that controls the supply of recording data to, and also controls the transfer of data between the interface 10, the MPU 11, and the RAM 13. Reference numeral 20 is a carrier motor for carrying the recording head 18, and 19 is a carrying motor for carrying the recording paper. Reference numeral 15 is a head driver for driving the head, and 16 and 17 are motor drivers for driving the carry motor 19 and the carrier motor 20, respectively.

FIG. 4 is a circuit diagram showing the details of each part of FIG. The gate array 14 has a data latch 141, a segment (SEG) shift register 142, a multiplexer (MPX) 143, a common (COM) timing generation circuit 144, and a decoder 145. Recording head 18
Has a diode matrix configuration, and a drive current flows through the ejection heaters (H1 to H64) where the common signal COM and the segment signal SEG match, whereby the ink is heated and ejected.

The decoder 145 decodes the timing generated by the common timing generation circuit 144 and selects any one of the common signals COM1 to COM8. The data latch 141 latches the recording data read from the RAM 13 in 8-bit units, and the multiplexer 143 stores the recording data in the segment shift register 1
According to 42, it outputs as segment signals SEG1-8. The output from the multiplexer 143 can be variously changed according to the contents of the shift register 142, such as 1 bit unit, 2 bit unit, or all 8 bits as described later.

The operation of the above control structure will be described. When a recording signal is input to the interface 10, the recording signal is converted between the gate array 14 and the MPU 11 into recording data for printing. Then, the motor drivers 16 and 17 are driven, and the recording head is driven according to the recording data sent to the head driver 15 to perform printing.

Next, FIG. 5 shows a block diagram for explaining the flow of print data inside the printing apparatus. The print data sent from the host computer is stored in the receiving buffer inside the printing apparatus via the interface. The reception buffer has a capacity of several k to several tens of kbytes. Command analysis is performed on the recorded data stored in the reception buffer, and then the data is sent to the text buffer. In the text buffer, the record data is held as an intermediate format for one line, and the printing position of each character, the type of decoration, the size, the character (code), the address of the font and the like are added. The capacity of the text buffer varies depending on each model,
A serial printer has a capacity of several lines, and a page printer has a capacity of one page. Further, the print data stored in the text buffer is expanded and stored in the print buffer in a binarized state, and a signal is sent to the print head as print data for printing. In this embodiment, the binary data stored in the print buffer is multiplied by mask pattern data (random mask) described later, and then the signal is sent to the print head. Therefore, it is also possible to set the mask pattern data after observing the data stored in the print buffer. Depending on the type of recording device, there is also a device which does not have a text buffer and expands the recording data accumulated in the reception buffer simultaneously with command analysis and writes it in the print buffer.

Specific examples of the present invention will be described below using such an apparatus.

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

FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining the first embodiment according to the present invention. In this embodiment, the case where 4-pass printing is performed is taken as an example.

In this embodiment, similar to the conventional example, patterns A1, A1, A3,
A4 is used as a mask pattern, and each of these mask patterns is stored in a certain continuous address area in the RAM in a size of 2 kbytes.

One address stores mask data for 1 byte, that is, for 8 nozzles. Further, in this embodiment, since block printing for every 32 nozzles is assumed, a pattern (mask group group) for every 4 bytes is read from the RAM by one heat, as shown in the figure.

After that, the following calculation is performed, and this A
Four groups of mask patterns are generated from the groups. Here, for the sake of clarity, B1 rather than A1
The principle of generating C1 and D1 will be described, and in particular, the first address in which A1 is stored is assumed to be the address "1".

First, three types of fixed values are prepared as mask generation offset values. In this embodiment, the offset value 1 is “8”, the offset value 2 is “12”,
"28" is set as the offset value 3.

First, when B1 is created from A1,
Offset value 1 "8" is added to the start address of 1, and the value is set as the start address of B1. Therefore, A1
The B1 start address "9" is generated from the start address "1".

Secondly, when C1 is created, offset value 2 "12" is added to the start address of A1 and the value is used as the start address of C1. Therefore, the C1 start address “13” is generated from the A1 start address “1”.

Finally, when D1 is created, offset value 3 "28" is added to the start address of A1 and the value is used as the start address of D1. Therefore, the start address "29" of D1 is generated from the start address "1" of A1.

By the same calculation, A2 to B2, C2 and D
2, A3 to B3, C3 and D3, A4 to B4 and C
Create 4 and D4. The mask generation offset value at this time is the offset value 1 between the A group and the B group.
And the offset value is 2 between the A group and the C group.
, And an offset value of 3 between A and D groups must be used.

Although A1, B1, C1, and D1 are taken as an example here, the manner in which these masks are used is as shown in FIG. That is, at the same time as the print area changes, the same A1 pattern is set while shifting to the left by an amount commensurate with each offset value.

That is, in this embodiment, the shift amount of the mask pattern set in each print area is not constant. Therefore, even if halftone is recorded over a plurality of print areas and the mask pattern unevenness occurs in each print area, the position where the unevenness occurs in each area depends on each offset value and varies. Since it comes to the place, it does not become a diagonal streak unlike the case above. as a result,
The halftone unevenness only occurs within each print area, that is, it is suppressed to a level where it is hardly noticeable.

FIG. 8 is a peripheral system diagram for the mask pattern management means of this embodiment.

First, the units in the figure are managed by the CPU 1. There is also a RAM 2 for temporarily storing print data and mask patterns.
There are a print buffer management unit 3 for managing the address of the print buffer of M2 and a mask pattern management unit 4 for managing the address of the mask buffer. A data bus 5 is used for exchanging control data between the print buffer management means 3 and the mask pattern management means 4 and the CPU 1. On the other hand, 1 byte obtained from the RAM 2 from the address indicated by the print buffer management means 3 and the mask pattern management means 4
The print data and mask data of e are input to the mask setting means 6 and output in the form of ejection data.

As can be seen from the above description, the mask pattern management means 4 in this embodiment mainly has a function of setting the read address of the RAM 2 in such a printer system. Also, this unit is for Bk, Y
It is assumed that the logic circuits having the same function for each color for M, C, and C are separately possessed.

FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing the structure of the mask pattern management means 4. Here, in particular, only the unit for Bk is shown.

First, some important units of the building block will be described. In the figure, reference numeral 41 denotes an address latch means, which is a RAM of mask patterns A1, A2, A3, A4 necessary for generating masks of B, C, D groups.
A register for storing the upper start address, 42 is a register for storing an offset value required for generating each mask pattern of B, C, and D groups from the A group pattern, and 43 is a recording head. Divided area management means for managing whether or not the divided area is for generating ejection data, 4
Reference numeral 4 is a setting mask management means for managing the type of mask to be set for generating the ejection data, and 45 is loaded with the start address on the RAM of the selected mask data and is incremented by "1". Is a counter,
This is composed of four counters so that the mask address can be managed for each divided area of the head.

Next, the function of the setting mask management means 44 will be described in detail.

First, when setting the mask of the A group: the mask management means 44 causes the selector 46 to display A1,
One of the patterns A2, A3, and A4 is selected, and the selector 47 is caused to select the line a. Then, the start address of any one of A1, A2, A3, and A4 is loaded in the counter 45.

Secondly, when setting the mask of group B: the mask management means 44 causes the selector 46 to display A1,
One of the patterns A2, A3, and A4 is selected, the offset value 1 is selected by the selector 48, and the line b is selected by the selector 47. Then, the counter 45 causes the adder 49 to add the offset value 1 to the start address of the A group, that is, B1, B2, and B.
The starting address of either 3, B4 is loaded.

Thirdly, in the case of setting the mask of the C group: the mask management means 44 causes the selector 46 to display A1,
One of the patterns A2, A3, and A4 is selected, the offset value 2 is selected by the selector 48, and the line b is selected by the selector 47. Then, the counter 45 uses the adder 49 to add the offset value 2 to the start address of the A group, that is, C1, C2, and C.
The starting address of either 3, C4 is loaded.

Fourth, when setting the mask of the D group: the mask management means 44 causes the selector 46 to display A1,
One of the patterns A2, A3, and A4 is selected, the offset value 3 is selected by the selector 48, and the line b is selected by the selector 47. Then, the counter 45 uses the adder 49 to add the offset value 3 to the start address of the A group, that is, D1, D2, and D.
The starting address of either 3, D4 is loaded.

Next, the function of the divided area management means 43 will be described in detail.

The divided area management means 43 manages the counter 45 and the selector 450.

First, before a certain print scan is performed, the divided area management means 43 loads the start address of the mask pattern set in each divided area of the print head into the counter unit for calculating the address of each divided area. Let

When the nozzles of the divided area 1 of the print head are used during the printing scan, the divided area management means 43 enables the counter of the divided area 1 in the counter 45 and outputs the output from the selector 450. Instruct you to select. The output of the selector 450 becomes the read address of the mask pattern used in the divided area 1, and the counter of the divided area 1 is incremented every time the nozzle of the divided area 1 is used, and the read address of the mask pattern is updated. Will be done.

When the nozzles of the divided areas 2, 3, and 4 are used, the divided area management means 43 has the same function.

Finally, based on FIG. 9, 4 in this embodiment is used.
The pass print sequence will be described. The state of mask setting at the time of recording is the same as that of FIG. 11 used in the description of the related art.

First, the CPU 1 makes two initial settings for the mask pattern management means 4. One is mask patterns A1, A2, A for the address latch means 41.
3, read start address of A4, here, A1 is "1", A2 is "1001", and A3 is "200".
Set "1" and A4 to "3001".
One is for the offset value register 42, the other is B group, C
Group, offset value for generating D group,
Here, the offset value 1 is “8”, the offset value 2
Is set to 12 and the offset value is set to 28.

At this time, the start address of the B group is
B1 is "9" address, B2 is "1009" address, B3 is "2009" address, B4 is "3009" address, C group start address is C1 is "13" address, C2 is "1".
013 ", C3 is" 2013 ", C4 is" 30 "
The start address of the D group at the address 13 "is D2 is" 2 ".
9 ", D2 is" 1029 ", D3 is" 202 "
The 9th address and D4 are the "3029" addresses.

Then, 4-pulse printing is started.

In the first print area on the print image, in the first print scan, the mask pattern A1 is set in the divided area 1 of the print head and printing is performed.

Therefore, the mask pattern management means 4 outputs a select signal to each counter so that the start address of A1 is output to the counter 45. Then, the divided area management unit 43 sets the start address of A1 to the counter 4
5 is loaded into the unit of the divided area 1 in 5.

After this, the divided area management means 43 selects the selector 4 when using the nozzles of the divided area 1 of the recording head.
Control is performed so that the address of A1 is counted up from 10 and output.

The read address of A1 is "1".
→ "2" → "3" → "4" is counted up and 1b
The ejection data is generated for each yte.

Subsequently, in the second print scan, the mask pattern A2 is used in the first print area in the divided area 2 of the print head, and in the second print area, the divided area 1 of the print head is used.
At, printing is performed using the mask pattern B1.

Therefore, the mask pattern management means 4 outputs a select signal to each selector so as to output the start address of A2 and the start address of B1 to the counter 45. Then, the divided area management unit 43 sets the start address of A2 to the unit of the divided area 2 in the counter 45.
The start address of B1 is loaded into the unit of the divided area 1 in the counter 45.

After that, the divided area management means 43 selects the selector 4 when using the nozzles of the divided area 2 of the print head.
When the nozzles of the divided area 1 of the print head are used, the address of 10 to A2 is controlled so that the address of B1 is counted up and output from the selector 410.

The read address of A2 is "10".
01 ”→“ 1002 ”→“ 1003 ”→“ 1004 ”
And the read address of B1 is “9” → “10” → “1”
The discharge data is generated in increments of 1 byte by incrementing from 1 ”to“ 12. ”Further, in the third print scan, in the divided area 3 of the print head, the first print area is the mask pattern A3, and the second print area is the second print. In the area, the mask pattern B2 is provided in the divided area 2 of the recording head, and in the third print area,
Printing is performed using the mask pattern C1 in the divided area 1 of the recording head.

Therefore, the mask pattern management means 4 outputs a select signal to each selector so as to output the start address of A3, the start address of B2 and the start address of C1 to the counter 45. Then, the divided area management unit 43 sets the start address of A3 to the unit of the divided area 3 in the counter 45, and the start address of B2 to the counter 4.
The unit of the divided area 2 in 5 is loaded with the start address of C1 into the unit of the divided area 1 in the counter 45.

After this, the divided area management means 43 selects the selector 4 when using the nozzles of the divided area 3 of the print head.
10 to A3 addresses, when using the recording head divided area 2 nozzles, the selector 410 counts the B2 address, and when using the recording head divided area 1 nozzles, the selector 410 counts the C1 address. Control so that it is up and output.

The read address of A3 is "20.
01 ”→“ 2002 ”→“ 2003 ”→“ 2004 ”
And the read address of B2 is “1009” → “101
The read address of C1 is incremented from 0 ”→“ 1011 ”→“ 1012 ”,“ 13 ”→“ 14 ”→“ 15 ”→“ 16 ”, and the ejection data is generated for each 1 byte.

Then, in the fourth print scan, in the first print area, the mask pattern A4 is formed in the divided area 4 of the print head.
In the second printing area, in the first printing area, the mask pattern A4 is in the divided area 4 of the recording head, and in the second printing area, the mask pattern C2 is in the divided area 2 of the recording head.
In the fourth print area, printing is performed using the mask pattern D1 in the divided area 1 of the recording head.

Therefore, the mask pattern management means 4 outputs a select signal to each selector so as to output the start address of A4, the start address of B3, the start address of C2 and the start address of D1 to the counter 45. Then, the divided area management means 43 sets the start address of A4 to the unit of divided area 4 in the counter 45, the start address of B3 to the unit of divided area 3 in the counter 45, and C
The starting address of 2 is loaded into the unit of the divided area 2 in the counter 45, and the starting address of D1 is loaded into the unit of the divided area 1 in the counter 45.

After that, the divided area managing means 43 selects the selector 4 when using the nozzles of the divided area 4 of the recording head.
10 to A4, when using the nozzles of the divided area 3 of the print head, the address of B3 from the selector 410, and when using the nozzle of the divided area 2 of the print head, from the selector 410 to the address of D1. Control to count up and output.

The read address of A4 is "30".
01 ”→“ 3002 ”→“ 3003 ”→“ 3004 ”
And the read address of B3 is “2009” → “201”
0 ”“ 2011 ”→“ 2012 ”, and the read address of C2 is“ 1013 ”→“ 1014 ”“ 1015 ”→
"1016" and the read address of D1 is "29"
→ "30", "31 →" 32 "are counted up and 1
The ejection data is generated for each byte.

After that, the same work is performed for the fifth printing scan and the sixth printing scan.

The above is the operation of the 4-pulse printing in the present embodiment. Of course, even in the case of other number of multi-pass printing, if the necessary number of mask generation offset values are provided, the same result can be obtained. You can control.

(Others) The present invention provides excellent effects particularly in a recording head and a recording apparatus of a system that utilizes thermal energy among ink jet recording systems.

Regarding its typical structure and principle, see, for example, US Pat. Nos. 4,723,129 and 4740.
What is done using the basic principles disclosed in 796 is preferred. This method can be applied to both the so-called on-demand type and continuous type, but especially in the case of the on-demand type, liquid (ink)
By applying at least one drive signal to the electrothermal converter arranged corresponding to the sheet or liquid path in which the is held, which corresponds to the recorded information and gives a rapid temperature rise exceeding nucleate boiling, This is effective because heat energy is generated in the electrothermal converter to cause film boiling on the heat acting surface of the recording head, and as a result, bubbles can be formed in the liquid (ink) in one-to-one correspondence with this drive signal. The liquid (ink) is ejected through the ejection openings by the growth and contraction of the bubbles to form at least one droplet. It is more preferable to make the driving signal into a pulse shape because bubbles can be grown and contracted immediately and appropriately, and thus a liquid (ink) with excellent responsiveness can be ejected. This pulse-shaped drive signal is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,463,359 and No. 43.
Those as described in 45262 are suitable. If the conditions described in US Pat. No. 4,313,124, which is an invention relating to the rate of temperature rise on the heat acting surface, are adopted, more excellent recording can be performed.

As the constitution of the recording head, in addition to the combination constitution of the ejection port, the liquid passage, and the electrothermal converter (the linear liquid passage or the right-angled liquid passage) as disclosed in the above-mentioned respective specifications, US Pat. No. 4,558,333, US Pat. No. 4,558,333, which discloses a configuration in which a heat acting portion is arranged in a bending region.
A configuration using the specification of No. 459600 is also included in the present invention. In addition, Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 123670/1984 discloses a configuration in which a common slit is used as a discharge portion of the electrothermal converter for a plurality of electrothermal converters, and an opening for absorbing a pressure wave of thermal energy. The present invention is also effective as a configuration based on Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 138461/1984, which discloses a configuration that corresponds to the discharge portion.

In addition, as the form of the ink jet recording apparatus of the present invention, other than the one used as an image output terminal of an information processing apparatus such as a computer, a copying apparatus combined with a reader or the like, and a facsimile apparatus having a transmitting / receiving function can be used. It may be a form or the like.

The present invention is not limited to ink jet recording, but can be applied to general recording devices such as thermal recording, heat transfer recording, wire dot recording, etc., and the mask pattern is changed for each recording area in the serial printer. The effect of doing so will be described.

As described above, the divisional (multi-pass) recording is performed by printing with a plurality of different recording elements (elements) on one raster, so that the characteristics of the recording elements (deviation, dot size, etc.) The unevenness is averaged to make it difficult to see the density unevenness in one recording area.
With respect to the effect of this divided recording, if the print data and the mask pattern are synchronized and the recording elements used are biased as described above, the characteristics are likely to appear in one raster. Therefore, by using the random mask, the synchronism with the data becomes partial, and the divided printing can be effectively performed.

This is common to all dot matrix printers. In the case of producing a pseudo gradation with two values of ON / OFF of dots, it is necessary to uniformly control the characteristics of this recording element, and divided printing in which the mask pattern is changed for each recording area is effective.

Further, in the case of a recording apparatus (heat transfer or the like) for performing printing by utilizing heat, the division printing is effective in the sense that the temperature rise of the recording head is suppressed. In this case as well, the print data and the thinning-out mask are synchronized with each other, which causes unevenness in the head temperature rise, and uneven density (nonuniformity of dot diameter) occurs due to heat distribution in the recording head. Against this, by changing the mask pattern for each recording area, it is possible to make the heat uniform overall.

Further, in a color recording apparatus having a plurality of recording heads arranged side by side in the scanning direction of the carriage, the color tone changes depending on the order in which dots are printed. The synchronization between the print data and the thinning mask appears in the color tone, and an image having a color tone different from the color desired by the user may be recorded. For example, in the case of thermal transfer recording, if the previously printed dots (ink layer) exist on the recording medium, the dots to be transferred next are difficult to be transferred. On the other hand, in ink jet recording, when a highly penetrating ink is used, the dye of the previously printed ink is adsorbed on the ink holding layer or the fiber of the recording medium first, and the dye of the next printed ink is difficult to be adsorbed.
Therefore, the color tone of the previously printed dots becomes strong. Further, in the case of ink having low penetrability, the post-printing dye may not flow and may be overlaid on the upper layer. Even with respect to these phenomena, by changing the mask pattern for each recording area, it is possible to prevent the deviation of the color tone from being seen macroscopically.

[0122]

As described above, according to the present invention, when a plurality of types of mask patterns are generated from one certain type of mask pattern, the same number of mask generation offset values as the mask patterns to be created are possessed and used. By doing so, it is possible to solve the above-mentioned inferiority of the image inferiority and to provide a means that does not require a large mask buffer in the RAM.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing an inkjet recording apparatus main body to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a heater board.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a control circuit.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a control configuration.

FIG. 5 is a configuration diagram illustrating a flow of print data.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of the principle of the mask pattern management method of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram of the principle of the mask pattern management method of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a peripheral system diagram of one embodiment of the mask pattern management means of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a configuration block diagram of an embodiment of a mask pattern management means of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a form of nozzles of a recording head.

FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram of multi-pass printing.

FIG. 12 is a mask pattern for 4-pass printing.

FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram showing how print data is masked.

FIG. 14 is an explanatory diagram of the principle of a conventional mask pattern management method.

FIG. 15 is an explanatory diagram of the principle of a conventional mask pattern management method.

FIG. 16 is a diagram for explaining a problem of the conventional mask pattern management method.

[Explanation of symbols]

4 Mask pattern management means 41 Mask Address Latch Means 42 Mask generation offset value register 43 Recording Head Nozzle Division Area Management Means 44 Setting mask management means for print data 45 Mask address calculation counter

Claims (4)

(57) [Claims] 1. When a recording head is made to scan a recording area on a recording medium a plurality of times and a thinned image is formed according to a different mask pattern in each scan to complete the image , the recording head is divided into a plurality of parts. Divided area
Corresponding each of the different mask patterns to each area
A recording device that completes an image for the recording area by using the different device so that the image for the predetermined recording area is completed.
Different reading out that the mask pattern of each mask pattern belonging to the mask pattern group formed by groups respectively
A memory for storing at Start address, from the read start address of each mask pattern stored in the memory, different from the serial from the predetermined recording area
Generating a read start address of each mask pattern used in the recording area, and a mask pattern managing means for determining a mask pattern group hand Ru is used for the other recording area, wherein the mask pattern managing means, has an offset value of the different values of the same number as the mask pattern group for performing the generation of the read start address in advance, and the
And characterized in that it generates a read start address of each mask pattern hand used in the other recording territory <br/> gamut respectively adding the offset value to the read start address of each mask pattern stored in the memory Recording device. 2. The mask pattern management means is configured to
Read start address of each mask pattern stored in memory
To the one read start address selected from
Note One offset value selected from each offset value
The added value corresponds to one divided area of the recording head
Defined as the read start address of the mask pattern
The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein: 3. The recording head ejects ink.
An inkjet recording head.
The recording device according to 1. 4. A recording head is arranged in a recording area on a recording medium.
And scan multiple times, and each scan has a different mask
Form a thinned image according to the pattern to complete the image
When the recording head is divided,
Corresponding each of the different mask patterns to each area
Recording method of made complete the image for the recording area by
However, the different image is recorded so that the image for the predetermined recording area is completed.
Mask pattern with mask patterns grouped together
Read out each mask pattern belonging to
A step of preparing a memory for storing at Start address, read the opening of the mask pattern stored in the memory
From the start address, another record different from the predetermined recording area
Start reading each mask pattern used in the recording area
Addresses are generated and used in other recording areas.
And a determination step of determining a mask pattern group, in which the generation of the read start address is determined.
The same number of mask pattern groups as
Used in the other recording area by using the offset value
To generate the read start address of each mask pattern
At this time, reading of each mask pattern stored in the memory
Add each offset value to the output start address
Of each mask pattern used in the other recording area
Recording characterized by generating read start address
Method.