JP3585315B2 - Exposure control method for laser recording apparatus and apparatus therefor - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an exposure device in a laser recording device such as a laser printer or a laser plotter.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In a conventional laser recording apparatus such as a laser printer or a laser plotter, after data transfer from a host that has issued a recording request to the recording apparatus is completed, a polygon motor that drives a polygon mirror that scans a laser beam is driven to drive an image. Since the information is output, it takes time for the polygon motor to reach the specified rotation speed and stabilize, and it takes a long time to complete the printing. Therefore, in order to shorten the output time, when the main power supply of the laser recording device is turned on, even when the printing is not performed while waiting for data from the host, the polygon motor is driven at a specified speed (high speed). Was rotating. Therefore, in a high-speed printer, the polygon motor always rotates at a high speed, so that not only the noise of the polygon mirror and the polygon motor is loud, but also the life of the polygon motor is shortened.
[0003]
Therefore, in Japanese Patent Publication No. 7-36600 filed by the present applicant, the data transfer from the host to the controller of the printing apparatus is completed, and the data transfer from the controller to the engine inside the printing apparatus is started. Then, the polygon motor is driven at a lower speed than the recording speed, and after the data transfer is completed, the drive is switched so as to rotate at a predetermined high speed immediately to shorten the output time and to reduce the polygon mirror. And to reduce the noise of the polygon motor and prolong its life.
[0004]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in the above-described conventional technology, the polygon motor is driven at the start of data transfer regardless of the type and amount of data sent from the controller to the engine. Therefore, it is not a complete solution for preventing noise and preventing early deterioration of the polygon motor.
[0005]
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances of the prior art, and a first object of the present invention is to control the start time of driving of a polygon motor by controlling the amount and type of data to be transmitted, and to rotate the polygon motor. It is an object of the present invention to provide an exposure control method for a laser recording apparatus capable of reducing noise caused by the laser beam and preventing early deterioration of the polygon motor.
[0006]
A second object of the present invention is to provide an exposure control apparatus for a laser recording apparatus capable of reducing noise caused by rotation of a polygon motor and preventing early deterioration of the polygon motor.
[0007]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the first object, the first means includes a laser generating means for generating a laser light modulated in accordance with recording data, and a laser light generated by the laser generating means, which scans a recording medium. An exposure control method for a laser recording apparatus, comprising: a scanning unit including a polygon motor for performing exposure by scanning; an engine unit for controlling the driving of the scanning unit; and a controller for converting external data into a form corresponding to the engine unit. The raster time from the start of transfer of the recording data to the controller to the development of the recording data to the engine means is measured by the raster time measuring means, and the next processing is performed by the central processing means based on the raster data. The controller estimates the raster time for the output request, and completes the data transfer to the engine means after the recording request comes to the controller. The time to be estimated by the central processing unit, before the data transfer is complete to the engine unit, and drives the advance the polygon motor.
[0008]
The first object is to determine whether or not the data of the recording request is a character by an application determining unit in the first means, and to change the driving start time of the polygon motor according to the type of the determined application. This is achieved by the following means.
[0009]
In order to achieve the second object, the third means comprises: a laser generating means for generating a laser beam modulated in accordance with the recording data; and scanning the recording medium with the laser light generated by the laser generating means. A scanning unit including a polygon motor for performing exposure by scanning, an engine unit for controlling the driving of the scanning unit, and a controller for converting external data into a form corresponding to the engine unit. A raster time measuring means for measuring a raster time from the start of transfer of the recording data to the controller until the recording data is developed to the engine means, and a raster time measuring means for measuring the raster time from the raster time measuring means. The raster time for the next output request is predicted, and the data transfer to the engine means is started after the recording request comes to the controller. It estimates the time to Ryosuru, before the data transfer is complete to the engine unit, and having a central processing unit for controlling to drive the advance the polygon motor.
[0010]
The second object is that the exposure control device in the third means further includes an application discriminating section for discriminating whether or not the data of the recording request is a character, and the central processing means includes an application discriminating section. This is achieved by a fourth means in which the drive start time of the polygon motor is changed according to the type of application determined in step (1).
[0011]
The second object is set in advance in the exposure control device in the third means so that the polygon motor is driven before the data transfer to the engine means is completed after the recording request is sent to the controller. This is achieved by a fifth means further provided with a drive start timing setting section for performing the operation.
[0012]
The second object is that the exposure control device in the third means further has a user ID registration unit for recognizing a user, and the central processing means, when a recording request is issued from a recording request source, This is achieved by a sixth means in which the user ID is collated by the user ID registration unit, and if the user ID is not registered, control is made so as not to accept a recording request.
[0013]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram schematically showing the entire configuration, and FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an example of a detailed configuration of the plotter engine circuit in FIG.
[0014]
As shown in FIG. 1, a laser printer 1000 having a controller 1100 and a plotter engine circuit 1200 is connected to a host 2000 that requests recording output. The controller 1100 converts data corresponding to image information from the host 2000, a print request signal, and the like into a signal in a format corresponding to the plotter engine circuit 1200 and outputs the signal. The plotter engine circuit 1200 controls various mechanisms for recording and outputting image data from the controller 1100, as described later.
[0015]
As shown in the block diagram of FIG. 2, the plotter engine circuit 1200 includes a CPU 1201 serving as a central processing unit for performing various controls based on a program, a ROM 1202 storing a program for controlling the CPU 1201 and the like, and a work of the CPU 1201. Basic means of an interface circuit (I / F circuit) 1204 for interfacing the RAM 1203 in which areas and the like are stored, the controller 1100 and the CPU 1201, and the polygon motor control circuit 1205 are connected by a system bus. The system bus further includes a polygon motor control circuit 1205, a video signal control circuit 1206, a raster time measurement unit 1207, an operation panel 1208, a polygon motor drive start timing calculation unit 1209, a user ID registration unit 1210, and a polygon motor drive start timing setting unit. 1211 and an application determining unit 1212 are connected.
[0016]
The polygon motor control circuit 1205 is a circuit for controlling the driving of the polygon motor, and is connected to a polygon motor (not shown). The video signal control circuit 1206 sends a signal for modulating a laser beam according to an image signal sent from the system bus to an LD unit (not shown), whereby the LD unit modulates the laser beam according to the image information. Occurs. A raster time measuring unit 1207 measures and stores a raster time required from the start of transfer of recording data to the controller 1100 to the development of the data to the plotter engine circuit 1200 by an AI (artificial intelligence) function. Means. The operation panel 1208 is a panel for performing various settings, registration operations, and the like. Based on the result of the raster time measuring unit 1207, the polygon motor drive start timing calculation unit 1209 determines the time from when a recording request is sent to the controller 1100 to when the data reception is completed to the plotter engine circuit 1200 based on a certain standard. This is for predicting and calculating the polygon motor drive start timing. The user ID registration unit 1210 registers an ID (recognition) number provided for restricting access to the printer 1000. The polygon motor drive start timing setting unit 1211 is used to set a start timing for driving the polygon mirror after a recording request is sent from the host 2000 to the controller 1100 and before data transfer to the plotter engine circuit 1200 is completed. It is. The last application determining unit 1212 determines whether the data transmitted from the host 2000 is a character (a graphic or the like) by looking at the header. The operation of the laser printer configured as described above will be described with reference to flowcharts shown in FIGS. First, a description will be given with reference to a flowchart of FIG. 3 showing a flow of processing for predicting a raster time. The raster time measuring means 1207 first checks whether or not a request signal for recording output has been received from the host 2000 [Step 3001]. When a recording request signal is received from the host 2000, the raster time measuring unit 1207 measures the raster time by the AI function [Step 3002]. The data of the measured raster time is sent to the CPU 1201, and the CPU 1201 calculates the average of all the raster times up to now [Step 3003]. The average of the raster times is as follows, where the average of the raster times up to the n-th time is Tn.
Tn = (T1 +... + Tn-1) / (n-1)
It is calculated based on the following equation. Note that the AI function is not limited to the average value, but may use a fuzzy function or a neuro function.
[0017]
Next, the flow of processing from when a recording request is made to when printing is actually performed will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 4. It is checked whether or not a recording output request signal has been received from the host 2000 [step 4001]. If there is a recording request, the polygon motor drive start timing calculation unit 1209 checks whether or not the polygon motor prediction drive mode is set [step 4002]. If the polygon motor prediction drive mode has been set, it is next checked whether or not the setting of the application determination unit 1212 is turned on [step 4003]. When the setting of the application determination unit 1212 is ON, the polygon motor drive start timing calculation unit 1209 is controlled based on the raster time predicted by the AI function and the table provided in the RAM 1203 according to the type of application as described above. To calculate the optimal polygon motor driving start timing [Step 4004]. The polygon motor is driven at the timing calculated in step 4004 [step 4005], writing is started [step 4006], and printing (recording) and output are performed [step 4007].
[0018]
If the polygon motor drive start timing calculation unit 1209 is not in the polygon motor prediction drive mode, the polygon motor is turned on at normal timing to perform writing, printing, and output [step 4008]. If the setting of the application determination unit 1212 is not turned on, the polygon motor drive is performed based on the table provided in the RAM 1203 according to the preset application and the raster time predicted by the AI function. After the start timing calculator 1209 calculates the optimal polygon motor driving start timing [Step 4009], the polygon motor is driven at that timing [Step 4005].
[0019]
In the operation based on the flowchart of FIG. 4 described above, when the polygon motor prediction drive mode is off, the polygon motor is turned on at normal timing to perform writing, printing, and output. By providing the timing setting unit 1211, when the polygon motor prediction drive mode is turned off, the polygon mirror can be driven at a preset timing. The flowchart is shown in FIG. The flowchart in FIG. 5 is the same as the step in FIG. 4 except for the step 4008 in FIG. 4, and therefore, the same steps are denoted by the same step numbers and overlapping description will be omitted.
[0020]
In the flowchart of FIG. 5, the operation start timing of the polygon motor drive start timing setting unit 1211 is set in advance by the operation panel 1208, and the data is input to the table of the RAM 1203 in advance. As a result, if the polygon motor prediction drive mode is off in step 5001, the polygon motor is turned on at the polygon motor drive start timing preset in the table of the RAM 1203, and writing, printing, and output are performed. By providing the polygon motor drive start timing setting unit 1211 in this way, the drive start timing of the polygon motor can be arbitrarily set, and flexibility can be improved.
[0021]
FIG. 6 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the user ID registration unit 1210. The ID number of an operator who can access the printer 1000 is registered in the user ID registration unit 1210 in advance by operating the operation panel 1208. deep. As a result, when it is confirmed that a connection request has been made from the host 2000 to the printer 1000 and that the ID number of the operator has been input from the host 2000, the ID number coming from the host 2000 is first stored in the user ID registration unit 1210 in advance. The CPU 1201 checks whether it is registered or not [Step 5001]. If the ID number is that of a user registered in the user ID registration unit 1210, it is simultaneously recognized whether the registered priority is the Tth [Step 5002]. It is assumed that the priority order N is N = 1, 2,..., T,. Then, predetermined recording and output are performed in the recognized order of priority [Step 5003]. If the ID number is that of a user who is not registered in the user ID registration unit 1210, the host 2000 is notified that access is rejected and the connection is disconnected [Step 5003]. As described above, by providing the user ID registration unit 1210, a user who can use the laser printer 1000 can be specified, and by setting the priority order, for example, the waiting time of a frequently used user can be reduced.
[0022]
In the above-described embodiment, the raster time measuring unit 1207 and the user ID registration unit 1210 are provided in the plotter engine circuit 1200. However, they may be provided in the controller 1100.
[0023]
【The invention's effect】
As is apparent from the above description, according to the method of the present invention, the raster time from the start of transfer of print data to the controller until the print data is expanded to the engine means. Accordingly, since the control when driving the polygon motor, it is possible to drive the polygon motor at frequent timing, shorten the recording-output time, it is possible to extend the life of the polygon motor.
[0024]
According to the second aspect of the invention, since the drive start time of the polygon motor is changed depending on the type of application, the recording / output time can be shortened depending on the type of application, and the life of the polygon motor can be reduced. Can be achieved.
[0025]
According to the third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a raster time measuring means for measuring a raster time from when the transfer of the recording data to the controller is started to when the recording data is developed to the engine means, the measured raster time, since the control when driving the polygon motor, it is possible to shorten the recording-output time it is possible to drive the polygon motor at frequent timing. Also , the life of the polygon motor can be extended.
[0026]
According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, the apparatus further includes an application determining unit that determines whether or not the data of the recording request is a character, and the central processing unit starts driving the polygon motor according to the type of the application. Since the control is performed so as to change the time, the recording / output time can be reduced depending on the type of application, and the life of the polygon motor can be extended.
[0027]
According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, since the drive start timing setting section is further provided, the drive start timing of the polygon motor can be set arbitrarily, and the flexibility can be further improved.
[0028]
According to the sixth aspect of the present invention, since the apparatus further includes a user ID registration unit for recognizing a user, even if a recording request is issued from a recording request source, the user ID whose user ID is not registered is registered. In the case of, the recording request is not accepted, so that the use can be restricted.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram schematically showing an overall configuration according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a detailed configuration of a plotter engine circuit in FIG.
FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a flow of a process for estimating a raster time.
FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a processing flow from when a recording request is issued to when printing and output are actually performed.
FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating another example of the processing flow from when a recording request is issued to when printing and output are actually performed.
FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a flow of processing when a user ID signal is input from a host.
[Explanation of symbols]
1000 Printer 1100 Controller 1200 Plotter engine circuit 1201 CPU
1205 polygon motor control circuit 1207 raster time measuring means 1208 operation panel 1209 polygon motor drive start timing calculation section 1210 user ID registration section 1211 polygon motor drive start timing setting section 1212 application discrimination section 2000 host

Claims (6)

A laser generating means for generating laser light modulated in accordance with recording data; a scanning means including a polygon motor for scanning and exposing the laser light generated from the laser generating means on a recording medium; and An exposure control method for a laser recording apparatus, comprising: engine means for controlling driving; and a controller for converting external data into a form corresponding to the engine means.
A raster time measuring unit measures a raster time from the start of transfer of the recording data to the controller until the recording data is expanded to the engine unit,
Based on this raster data, the central processing means predicts the raster time for the next output request,
The central processing means estimates the time from when the recording request comes to the controller until the data transfer to the engine means is completed, and before the data transfer to the engine means is completed, the polygon motor is preliminarily controlled. Drive,
An exposure control method for a laser recording apparatus, comprising: 2. The laser recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the application discriminating unit determines whether or not the data of the recording request is a character, and changes the drive start time of the polygon motor according to the type of the determined application. Exposure control method. A laser generating means for generating laser light modulated in accordance with recording data; a scanning means including a polygon motor for scanning and exposing the laser light generated from the laser generating means on a recording medium; and In an exposure control apparatus of a laser recording apparatus having an engine means for driving control and a controller for converting external data into a form corresponding to the engine means,
Raster time measuring means for measuring a raster time from the start of transfer of print data to the controller until the print data is developed for the engine means,
Predicting a raster time for the next output request based on the raster data from the raster time measuring means, estimating a time from when a recording request comes to the controller to when data transfer to the engine means is completed, Before data transfer to the engine means is completed, central processing means for controlling in advance to drive the polygon motor ;
An exposure control device for a laser recording device, comprising: The exposure control device further includes an application determining unit that determines whether or not the data of the recording request is a character, and the central processing unit determines the polygon motor based on the type of the application determined by the application determining unit. 4. The exposure control apparatus for a laser recording apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the control is performed so as to change the drive start time of the laser recording apparatus. The exposure control device further includes a drive start timing setting unit for setting in advance to drive the polygon motor before the data transfer to the engine unit is completed after the recording request is sent to the controller. 4. An exposure control device for a laser recording apparatus according to claim 3, wherein: The exposure control device further includes a user ID registration unit for recognizing a user, and when a recording request is issued from a recording request source, the central processing unit compares the user ID with the user ID registration unit. 4. The exposure control apparatus for a laser recording apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the control is performed such that a recording request is not accepted for a user ID that is not registered.

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