JPH06143698A - Resolution controlling device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide a continuous changeability of a main scanning directional resolution and a sub-scanning directional one. CONSTITUTION:There is such composition that as an oscillation circuit 104 oscillates a clock signal having a frequency based on a first analogue signal potential, if the given first analogue signal potential is changed, the frequency of-the clock signal which decides a main scanning directional resolution changes continuously, and if a first resolution datum is decided, a CPU 107 executes an output of a second resolution datum for deciding a sub-scanning directional resolution. And, from a D/A converter 108 a second analogue signal potential is given to an oscillation circuit 109 and there is changed the frequency of the clock signal that decides the sub-scanning directional resolution, the frequency being sent from the oscillation circuit 109.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a resolution control device for continuously variably setting the resolution of input image data in the main scanning direction and the sub scanning direction.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Due to recent advances in electronic technology, the resolution of output images is becoming higher and higher.
A printer engine of about 00 to 800 DPI has been put into practical use.

While such higher resolution is progressing, the resolution is changed by the printer engine to change the output data processing speed, and the resolution is changed according to the output image type (image, graphics, character (text)). In such a case, a so-called printer device or display device (for example, the dot configuration changes depending on the screen size) that sequentially scans raster data in the main scanning direction in the sub-scanning direction to output an image ) Etc., a product capable of switching between low resolution and high resolution has been put into practical use.

[0004]

As described above, in the prior art, when switching the resolution, it is often possible to switch only the low resolution and the high resolution or the intermediate resolution in addition to the resolution. This is due to the data structure of the data to be output, but it is planned that the resolution of the data to be processed by the application in the future is not fixed and can be set arbitrarily, at least low resolution and high resolution. During the resolution, for example, the resolution of 240 DPI to 400 DPI, the image data can be output only at a limited resolution,
There is a problem that the specifications of the output device cannot be effectively utilized.

The present invention has been made in order to solve the above problems, and oscillates a clock signal having a frequency that can be continuously changed according to an input analog potential to thereby oscillate a main scanning direction and a sub scanning direction. It is an object of the present invention to provide a resolution control device capable of continuously varying the resolution of.

[0006]

A resolution control apparatus according to the present invention comprises a designating unit for designating a desired resolution and a first unit for analyzing the resolution designated by the designating unit to determine the resolution in the main scanning direction. First output means for outputting one resolution data, and a first D / A for generating a first analog signal based on the first resolution data from the first output means.
Converting means, first oscillating means for oscillating a clock signal having a frequency based on the first analog signal potential from the first D / A converting means, and first resolution data from the first outputting means. To output second resolution data for determining the resolution in the sub-scanning direction, and a second analog signal based on the second resolution data from the second output means. A second D / A conversion unit that is generated and a second that oscillates a clock signal having a frequency based on the second analog signal potential from the second D / A conversion unit.
And oscillating means.

[0007] Further, a designating means for designating a desired resolution and a first output means for analyzing the resolution designated by the designating means and outputting first resolution data for determining the resolution in the main scanning direction. , The first from this first output means
First D / A converting means for generating a first analog signal based on the resolution data of the first and second clock signals for oscillating a clock signal having a frequency based on the first analog signal potential from the first D / A converting means. 1, an oscillating means, an arithmetic means for generating a second analog signal potential corresponding to second resolution data for determining the resolution in the sub-scanning direction calculated from the first analog signal potential, and this arithmetic operation. Second oscillating means for oscillating a clock signal having a frequency based on the second analog signal potential output from the means.

[0008]

In the present invention, when the first output means outputs the first resolution data according to the designation of the designating means, the first
The first analog signal potential is applied to the first oscillating means from the D / A converting means of the first oscillating means, and the first oscillating means oscillates the clock signal having the frequency based on the first analog signal potential. When the analog signal potential is changed, it is possible to continuously change the frequency of the clock signal that determines the resolution in the main scanning direction, and when the first resolution data is determined, the second output unit changes the resolution in the sub scanning direction. Since the second resolution data for determining the resolution is output,
A second analog signal potential is applied from the second D / A conversion means to the second oscillating means, and the second oscillating means oscillates a clock signal having a frequency based on the second analog signal potential. When the analog signal potential of 1 is changed, the frequency of the clock signal that determines the resolution in the sub-scanning direction can be continuously changed.

Further, the first output means can specify the designation means.
When the corresponding first resolution data is output, the first D / A
The first analog signal potential from the converting means is the first oscillating means.
Is applied to the first oscillating means to generate the first analog signal potential.
Gives a clock signal with a frequency based on
When the first analog signal potential is changed, resolution in the main scanning direction
The frequency of the clock signal that determines the
And the first resolution data is determined.
Then, the calculation means calculates from the first analog signal potential.
Second resolution data for determining the resolution in the sub-scanning direction.
The second analog signal potential corresponding to the
The second oscillating means is provided to the second analog signal source.
Since it oscillates a clock signal with a frequency based on
If the first analog signal potential is changed, the solution in the sub-scanning direction
The frequency of the clock signal that determines the image resolution is also changed continuously
It becomes possible.

[0010]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIG. 1 is a block diagram for explaining the configuration of a resolution control device showing a first embodiment of the present invention.

In the figure, 101 is a controller unit for converting code data sent from a host computer (not shown) into a video signal, 102 is a CPU for controlling the controller 101, and 103 is D for converting digital data into analog voltage. An A / A converter 104 is an oscillating circuit, which generates a video clock signal having an oscillating frequency according to the input voltage from the D / A converter 103. 1
An interface 05 connects the controller unit 101 and the recording unit 106. The recording unit 106 includes a CPU 107 that controls the entire recording unit, and the interface 105
A D / A converter 108 and an oscillating circuit 109 for determining the frequency of a control clock signal that determines the resolution in the sub-scanning direction according to the video clock signal input via the. The CPU 102 controls the entire system according to a control program stored in a ROM (not shown), and also controls the resolution designation process in the main scanning direction. Further, the CPU 107 controls the entire recording unit according to a control program stored in a ROM (not shown) and also controls the resolution designation processing in the sub-scanning direction.

In the resolution control device having the above-described structure, the CPU 102 operates the first CPU in response to the designation from the key input.
When the resolution data of is output, the D / A converter 103 supplies the first analog signal potential to the oscillation circuit 104,
Since the oscillator circuit 104 oscillates a clock signal having a frequency based on the first analog signal potential, changing the first analog signal potential to be applied also continuously changes the frequency of the clock signal that determines the resolution in the main scanning direction. Is enabled and the first resolution data is determined, the CPU
Since the 107 outputs the second resolution data for determining the resolution in the sub-scanning direction, the D / A converter 108 applies the second analog signal potential to the oscillation circuit 109, and the oscillation circuit 109 outputs the second analog signal potential. Since the clock signal having the frequency based on the analog signal potential is oscillated, the frequency of the clock signal that determines the resolution in the sub-scanning direction can be continuously changed by changing the applied first analog signal potential.

Specifically, in the controller section 101, when an instruction from the panel of the printer device or a host computer or a condition that the CPU 102 needs to change the resolution, the CPU 102 instructs the D / A converter 103 to Set the digital data corresponding to the specified resolution. In response to this, the D / A converter 103 converts the set digital data into a voltage level, and the oscillation circuit 10
Output to 4. The oscillating circuit 104 can continuously change the frequency of the oscillating video clock signal according to the input voltage level.

In the present embodiment, when the resolution is to be increased, the CPU 102 sets in the D / A converter 103 a value that the basic video clock signal for realizing the resolution is generated and output by the oscillation circuit 104. D / A converter 10
When the value 3 is converted into a voltage level and applied to the oscillation circuit 104, the oscillation circuit 104 outputs a clock having a frequency linked to the input voltage. The frequency of this clock increases in proportion to the resolution.

On the other hand, in the recording unit 106, C is calculated based on the new frequency value sent through the interface 105.
The PU 107 causes the D / A converter 108 to oscillate circuit 109.
Set a value that lowers the frequency of the clock output from. This clock is the speed of the paper conveyance direction,
That is, it is the basis of the speed in the sub-scanning direction.

In the present embodiment, the resolution in the main scanning direction is proportional to the frequency of the video clock signal, and the resolution in the sub scanning is a scanner motor (for example, the recording unit 106 has a laser beam printer engine and a polygon mirror is provided in a predetermined manner). When the rotation speed of the driving means for rotating at a constant speed is constant, it is inversely proportional to the rotation speed of the photosensitive drum.

Further, in the above embodiment, the case where the D / A converters 103 and 108 are respectively provided as means for designating the resolutions in the main scanning direction and the sub scanning direction has been described, but as will be described later. The resolution in the main scanning direction and the sub-scanning direction may be designated by one D / A conversion.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram for explaining the configuration of the resolution control device showing the second embodiment of the present invention.

In the figure, reference numeral 201 denotes a CPU for controlling the entire apparatus, which controls the entire system based on a control program stored in a ROM (not shown) and D / A converts digital data designating the resolution in the main scanning direction. Set in the container 202. The D / A converter 202 converts the voltage level corresponding to the designated digital data and applies it to the oscillation circuit 204 and the subtraction circuit 203. Subtraction circuit 2
Reference numeral 03 designates a subtraction level obtained by subtracting the voltage level input from the D / A converter 202 from a certain reference voltage.
Output to 05. The oscillator circuit 204 is the D / A converter 202.
It oscillates a video clock signal (which determines the resolution in the main scanning direction) having a frequency corresponding to the voltage level input from the. The oscillation circuit 205 oscillates a control clock signal having a frequency corresponding to the subtraction level relatively determined by the voltage level.

In the resolution control device having the above-described structure, the CPU 102 operates in accordance with the first key input.
When the resolution data of is output, the D / A converter 103 supplies the first analog signal potential to the oscillation circuit 104,
Since the oscillator circuit 104 oscillates a clock signal having a frequency based on the first analog signal potential, changing the first analog signal potential to be applied also continuously changes the frequency of the clock signal that determines the resolution in the main scanning direction. When the first resolution data is determined, the subtraction circuit 203 determines the second resolution data corresponding to the second resolution data for determining the resolution in the sub-scanning direction calculated from the first analog signal potential. The analog signal potential is supplied to the oscillation circuit 205, and the oscillation circuit 205 oscillates a clock signal having a frequency based on the second analog signal potential.
By changing the analog signal potential of, the frequency of the clock signal that determines the resolution in the sub-scanning direction can be continuously changed.

Specifically, when increasing the resolution, the CPU
When the digital data corresponding to the resolution of 201 is set in the D / A converter 202, the D / A converter 202 outputs the set digital data as a voltage. In response to this, the oscillation frequency of the oscillation circuit 204 increases in proportion to the output voltage of the D / A converter 202. The subtraction circuit 203 subtracts the output voltage of the D / A converter 202 from the reference voltage, and outputs the subtraction level to the oscillation circuit 205. And
As the output voltage level of the D / A conversion circuit 202 increases, the voltage input to the oscillation circuit 205 decreases and the frequency of oscillation also decreases. The clock signal output from the oscillation circuit 204 is used as the basis of the video clock in the main scanning direction, and the clock signal output from the oscillation circuit 205 is used as the basis clock of the rotation of the photosensitive drum in the sub-scanning direction. It is possible to change.

In the above embodiment, the D / A converter 10 is used.
Although the description has been given of the case where the corresponding CPU sets the digital data set in 3, 108, 202, the digital data setting means is not limited to the CPU, but may be a dip switch or an operation panel provided in the output device. It may be configured to be set by the command of.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view showing the arrangement of a recording apparatus to which the resolution control apparatus according to the present invention can be applied, and shows the case of a laser beam printer (LBP), for example.

In the figure, reference numeral 1500 denotes an LBP main body (printer) which stores and stores print information (character code or the like) supplied from an externally connected host computer, form information, or a macro command. A corresponding character pattern (generated by the character pattern processing according to the present invention), a form pattern, or the like is created according to the information, and an image is formed on a recording paper, which is a recording medium. 1501 is a switch for operation and LE
Operation panel with D display etc., 1000 is LB
A printer control unit for controlling the entire P body 1500 and analyzing character information and the like supplied from the host computer. The printer control unit 1000 mainly converts character information into a video signal of a corresponding character pattern and outputs it to the laser driver 1502. Laser driver 1
Reference numeral 502 is a circuit for driving the semiconductor laser 1503, which corresponds to the semiconductor laser 15 depending on the input video signal.
The laser beam 1504 emitted from 03 is switched on / off. The laser beam 1504 is shaken in the left-right direction by the rotating polygon mirror 1505 to scan and expose the electrostatic drum 1506. As a result, an electrostatic latent image having a character pattern is formed on the electrostatic drum 1506. This latent image is generated by the developing unit 150 arranged around the electrostatic drum 1506.
After being developed by No. 7, it is transferred to recording paper. A cut sheet is used for this recording paper, and the cut sheet recording paper is L
The paper cassette 1508 mounted on the BP main body 1500 stores the paper, and the paper feed roller 1509 and the transport roller 1510 are included.
It is taken into the apparatus by the transport roller 1511 and is supplied to the electrostatic drum 1506.

In the recording apparatus thus constructed, when the resolution information is input from the host computer through an interface (not shown), the CPU determines the resolution of the main scanning direction and the sub scanning direction by a predetermined oscillation circuit. By applying the voltage level of, the image data can be output while continuously changing the resolution.

[0026]

As described above, according to the present invention, when the first output means outputs the first resolution data according to the designation of the designating means, the first analog signal from the first D / A converting means. The potential is applied to the first oscillating means, and the first oscillating means oscillates a clock signal having a frequency based on the first analog signal potential. Therefore, when the applied first analog signal potential is changed, the resolution in the main scanning direction is changed. The frequency of the clock signal for determining is also continuously changeable, and when the first resolution data is determined, the second output means outputs the second resolution data for determining the resolution in the sub-scanning direction. Therefore, the second analog signal potential is given to the second oscillating means from the second D / A converting means, and the second oscillating means oscillates the clock signal having the frequency based on the second analog signal potential. Changing the first analog signal potential to obtain, it can be continuously variable frequency of the clock signal which determines the resolution in the sub-scanning direction.

When the first output means outputs the first resolution data according to the designation of the designating means, the first D / A
The first analog signal potential is supplied from the conversion means to the first oscillating means, and the first oscillating means oscillates a clock signal having a frequency based on the first analog signal potential. When changed, the frequency of the clock signal which determines the resolution in the main scanning direction can be continuously changed, and when the first resolution data is determined, the calculating means calculates the first analog signal potential in the sub scanning direction. Second analog signal potential corresponding to the second resolution data for determining the resolution of the second is supplied to the second oscillating means, and the second oscillating means supplies a clock signal having a frequency based on the second analog signal potential. Since the oscillation occurs, the frequency of the clock signal that determines the resolution in the sub-scanning direction can be continuously changed by changing the applied first analog signal potential.

Therefore, it is possible to relatively and continuously switch and set the resolution of the output image information in the main scanning direction and the sub-scanning direction with a very simple structure.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a resolution control device showing a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a resolution control device showing a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing a configuration of a recording device to which the resolution control device according to the present invention can be applied.

[Explanation of symbols]

 101 Controller Unit 102 CPU 103 D / A Converter 104 Oscillation Circuit 105 Interface 106 Recording Unit 107 CPU 108 D / A Converter 109 Oscillation Circuit

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Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. Designating means for designating a desired resolution, and first output means for analyzing the resolution designated by the designating means and outputting first resolution data for determining the resolution in the main scanning direction. A first D / A conversion means for generating a first analog signal based on the first resolution data from the first output means, and a first analog signal from the first D / A conversion means First oscillating means for oscillating a clock signal having a frequency based on the potential, and second resolution data for determining the resolution in the sub-scanning direction by analyzing the first resolution data from the first output means. Second output means for outputting, second D / A conversion means for generating a second analog signal based on the second resolution data from the second output means, and the second D / A conversion Based on a second analog signal potential from the means And a second oscillating means for oscillating a clock signal of high frequency. 2. Designating means for designating a desired resolution and first output means for analyzing the resolution designated by the designating means and outputting first resolution data for determining the resolution in the main scanning direction. A first D / A conversion means for generating a first analog signal based on the first resolution data from the first output means, and a first analog signal from the first D / A conversion means First oscillating means for oscillating a clock signal having a frequency based on the electric potential, and second analog corresponding to second resolution data for determining the resolution in the sub-scanning direction calculated from the first analog signal electric potential. A resolution control apparatus comprising: an arithmetic means for generating a signal potential and a second oscillating means for oscillating a clock signal having a frequency based on a second analog signal potential output from the arithmetic means.