JPH07148999A - Printing device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To improve print quality by ensuring that a printing engine part best suited for the characteristics of received data to be printed can be automatically selected and used. CONSTITUTION:Printing engine parts for printing image data for printing have respectively different characteristics. CPU 112 stores the characteristics of the print engine parts 120A, 120B in ROM 114. CPU 112 analyzes the received data, and compares the characteristics of the received data and those of the printing engine parts 120A, 120B obtained as a result of the analysis to the specific data of ROM 114. Thus CPU determines which printing engine part should be used for printing to obtain a highest quality print. In addition, the CPU 112 creates image data for printing of the best suited type to the determined printing engine parts 120A, 120B based on the received data, and sends the image data to the printing engine parts 120A, 120B for printing.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a printing apparatus, and more particularly to a printing apparatus having a plurality of print engine units having different characteristics.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A conventional printing apparatus has only one print engine section, and received data to be printed is always converted into printing image data corresponding to the one print engine section. I used the print engine to print.

[0003]

As described above, the conventional printing apparatus has only one print engine section,
The received data to be printed is always converted into only the print image data corresponding to that one print engine unit, and the print engine unit was used for printing, so the characteristics of the received data to be printed are printed. Even if it does not match the characteristics of the engine unit, it is necessary to use the print engine unit for printing, and the print quality may be poor.

In view of the above points, the object of the present invention is to improve the printing quality by automatically selecting and using the print engine section most suitable for the characteristics of the received data to be printed. To provide a printing device.

[0005]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a receiving means for receiving data from an external device, a plurality of print engine sections each having different printing characteristics, and a plurality of the print engine sections. Of the characteristic data of the storage means for storing the characteristic data of the plurality of print engine parts, and analyzing the received data received by the receiving means, and comparing the characteristic of the received data with the characteristic of the plurality of print engine units from the analysis result Determination means for determining which print engine unit should be used for printing to achieve the highest quality printing, and the received data by selecting the print engine unit determined by the determination unit. And a control means for performing the printing process of 1.

In one aspect of the present invention, the print engine section and the received data may be targeted for print resolution.

As another aspect of the present invention, the characteristics of the print engine unit and the received data can be characterized by distinguishing between black and white printing and color printing.

As another aspect of the present invention, the characteristic of the print engine section is to distinguish between an electrophotographic system and an inkjet system, and the characteristic of the received data constitutes the received data. It can be characterized in that the control language corresponds to either the electrophotographic system or the inkjet system.

Further, according to the present invention, a plurality of receiving means for receiving data from different external devices, a plurality of print engine sections having different printing characteristics, and printing the respective received data of the plurality of receiving means. A storage unit that individually selects a dedicated print engine unit to be used from the plurality of print engine units and stores in advance corresponding to each of the plurality of receiving units, and a reception that is received when data is received by the receiving unit. Deciding means for deciding which print engine section to use by referring to the storing means by means, and control means for selecting the print engine section decided by the deciding means to perform the print processing of the received data. Is provided.

[0010]

According to the present invention, there are provided a plurality of print engine units for printing the printing image data created inside the printing apparatus on paper, and the plurality of print engine units have different characteristics. Then, when data is received from the host computer, the characteristics of the received data are analyzed, and based on the analysis result, which of the multiple print engine units should be used to print can achieve the highest quality printing. Is determined, print image data of a format suitable for the print engine unit to be used is created from the received data, and the print engine unit that has determined the created print image data is selected and printing is performed.
It is possible to perform printing by using the print engine unit that is most suitable for the characteristics that the received data to be printed depends on, and it is possible to improve the printing quality.

Further, in the present invention, the print engine section of the above-mentioned printing apparatus and the characteristics of the received data are targeted for the print resolution, so that when the received data depends on the print resolution, it is suitable for the print resolution. It is possible to use a print engine unit that has a high quality, and it is possible to obtain higher quality printing results.

Further, according to the present invention, the characteristics of the print engine section and the received data of the above-mentioned printing apparatus are to distinguish between monochrome printing and color printing, so that the received data requires color printing. It is possible to switch the print engine unit to be used depending on whether black-and-white printing is required, and it is possible to obtain an appropriate print result.

Further, according to the present invention, the characteristics of the print engine section of the above-mentioned printing apparatus are the electrophotographic method or the inkjet method, and the printer control which constitutes the received data as the characteristic of the received data. By targeting whether the language corresponds to the printing device of the electrophotographic system or the inkjet system, it is possible to specify the print engine unit where the characteristics of the print engine section and the characteristics of the received data match. Done,
By switching the print engine unit to be used according to what kind of print engine unit the received data is supposed to be, a print result more suitable for the received data can be obtained.

In the present invention, in addition to the above printing device,
By providing a plurality of means for receiving data from the host computer, it is possible to switch the print engine unit to be used according to which host interface the received data is received, which allows the user to easily use it. The print engine section can be used properly.

[0015]

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

(First Embodiment) A block diagram of FIG. 1 shows a circuit configuration of a printing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention (hereinafter referred to as a first embodiment). In FIG. 1, reference numeral 100 is a printer main body. The printing apparatus main body 100 includes a controller unit 110,
Print engine unit A 120A, print engine unit B
It is composed of 120B.

The controller unit 110 receives information such as print data and control commands from the outside, creates print image data according to the information, and sends the print image data to the print engine unit A 120A or the print engine unit B 120B as a video signal. To transfer as. Print engine unit A120A, print engine unit B1
20B receives the video signal from the controller unit 110 and forms the video signal as a visible image on a paper surface. Further, the controller unit 110 communicates with the print engine unit A 120A or the print engine unit B 120B to convey the state of the print engine unit A 120A or the print engine unit B 120B to the outside,
It also performs overall control of the print engine unit A 120A or the print engine unit B 120B.

The controller section 110 will be described in more detail. The controller unit 110 includes a host interface A111A, a host interface B111B, and a CP.
U (Central Processing Unit) 112, RAM (Random Access Memory) 113, ROM (Read Only Memory) 1
14, video interface 115, operation panel 11
6, a card 117, a card slot 118, and a data bus 119. Host interface A
The 111A and the host interface B111B send and receive data to and from external devices (for example, a host computer such as a workstation and a network). As an actual device corresponding to this host interface, an RS-232c interface standardized by EIA, SCSI or the like can be assumed, but the present invention does not require a restriction on the type or number of devices.

The CPU 112 controls the entire apparatus, analyzes received data, and creates image data for printing. R
AM113 stores the received data sent from the outside,
Storage of image data for printing, storage of various registration data,
It is used for temporary information storage such as use as a work area for information processing. The ROM 114 stores programs for controlling the apparatus, various printer control language analysis programs, font information corresponding to the printer control language, and the like.

The video interface 115 includes a print engine section A120A and a print engine section B120B.
Send and receive data with. The operation panel 116 sets / changes / displays the parameters of the printing environment. Card 117 is I
It is a removable external storage device such as a C card, and holds various information such as character pattern data, print form data, and printer control language analysis program. An actual device corresponding to the card 117 may be a ROM type IC memory, a hard disk, a floppy disk, or the like. The card slot 118 is a connection device for connecting the card 117 and transmitting / receiving information. Data exchanged inside the controller unit 110 flows through the data bus 119.

In the embodiment taken up by the present invention, as an example of a specific device of the print engine unit, the print engine unit A 120A is assumed to be capable of printing a black and white binary image by an electrophotographic system (LBP) using a laser. However, the description will proceed assuming that the print engine unit B120B is capable of printing a color image by a known bubble jet method (BJ), which is a kind of inkjet method.
Further, the print resolution of the print engine unit A120A is 600 [dpi], and the print engine unit B12
The print resolution of 0B is 360 [dpi]. These characteristics of the print engine section must be available for reference as needed. Here, the print engine unit and its characteristics are read in the form of a table as shown in FIG.
The description will be made assuming that the characteristics of the print engine unit are acquired by storing and holding in the OM 114 and accessing the ROM 114.

Further, as an embodiment of the present invention, a case in which there are two print engine units will be taken up for explanation, but the present invention can be similarly applied if there are two or more print engine units. Further, the above-mentioned LBP (laser beam printer) and BJ (bubble jet type inkjet printer) will be taken up and described as the printing mechanism of the print engine section, but the present invention does not limit the type of the printing mechanism of the print engine itself. .

The flowchart of FIG. 3 checks whether or not the characteristic of the received data depends on the resolution in the first embodiment of the present invention, and if it depends, the optimum print engine corresponding to the resolution is obtained. A control procedure until printing is performed by selectively using a set is shown. Specific examples of this resolution-dependent data are bitmap images,
Bitmap font, pattern fill data, dot unit position, line thickness, etc. can be specified. For example, assuming that the position is specified in dot units,
It is assumed that a value of [dot] (dot) is given. When converting this value into printing image data to be output to the print engine unit of 300 [dpi] (dots / inch), the value is 1 [inch], but 600 [dpi]
In the case of conversion into print image data to be output to the print engine unit of i], the value becomes 0.5 [inch]. Therefore, the dot-by-dot position designation depends on the resolution of the print engine unit. Others in this example also depend on resolution for similar reasons. When printing data that depends on such resolution, there are two methods: printing using a print engine that matches the resolution or printing after converting the data resolution to the print engine resolution. It is common. In this embodiment, the received data is divided into a case where the received data depends on the resolution and a case where the received data does not depend on the resolution. When the received data further depends on the resolution, the resolution is 600 [dpi], 360 [dpi], 300.
[Dpi], 180 [dpi], 120 [dpi], 7
What kind of processing is performed in the case of 2 [dpi] will be described below.

First, in step S31 of FIG. 3, data is received from a host computer (not shown) via either the host interface A111A or the host interface B111B, and the process proceeds to step S32. In step S32, the received data is analyzed to check whether the data to be printed depends on the resolution, and if it does not depend on the resolution, the process proceeds to step S35.
If it depends on the resolution, the process proceeds to step S33.

In step S33, the value of the resolution on which the received data depends is analyzed, and the result is 600 [dp
i], the process proceeds to step S35 and 360 [dpi].
In case of, it progresses to step S37, and in other cases, it progresses to step S34. This means that in the case of received data (600 [dpi] or 360 [dpi]) having a resolution matching the resolution of the print engine section of the printing apparatus of the present invention, the print engine section having the corresponding resolution, that is, 600 [dpi The received data of [dpi] is printed by using the print engine unit A120A, and 360 [dpi]
This is because the received data [i] is printed using the print engine unit B120B. On the other hand, the received data (300 [dpi], 180 [dp] of a resolution that does not match the resolution of the print engine unit included in the printing apparatus of the present embodiment.
i], 120 [dpi], 72 [dpi]),
It is necessary to convert the resolution of the received data into the resolution of the print engine section of the printing apparatus and print. At the time of this resolution conversion processing, it is the processing of step S34 that determines which resolution of the print engine section the conversion processing is performed.

In step S34, the resolution on which the received data depends is multiplied by an integer, and the result is 600 [dpi].
When it becomes, it progresses to step S35 and the result is 360.
When it becomes [dpi], it progresses to step S37, and when it is other than that and both 600 [dpi] and 360 [dpi], it progresses to step S35. When converting the resolution, the process of converting the resolution to an integer multiple of the original resolution is simple and can be done without degrading the image quality. However, when converting to a resolution other than an integer multiple, the process is performed. Is complicated, and the quality of the image is significantly deteriorated. Therefore, in this step S34, it is checked whether or not printing can be performed with resolution conversion of an integral multiple, and the print engine unit for printing is determined according to the result. In the case of the present embodiment, if the resolution on which the received data depends is 180 [dpi], the process proceeds to step S37 and 300 [dpi], 120 [d]
pi] and 72 [dpi], the process proceeds to step S35.

In step S35, the received data corresponds to the print engine unit A120A (that is, 600 [d
[pi]) to print image data, and step S
Proceed to 36.

On the other hand, in step S37, the received data corresponds to the print engine B120B (that is, 36).
The image data is converted into printing image data (0 [dpi]), and the process proceeds to step S38.

In step S36, the output destination of the video interface 115 is set to the print engine unit A120A in order to output the print image data to the print engine unit A120A, and the process proceeds to step S39. On the other hand, in step S38, in order to output the print image data to the print engine unit B120B, the output destination of the video interface 115 is set to the print engine unit B1.
20B, and the process proceeds to step S39.

In step S39, the print image data is output to the selected print engine unit to perform print processing, and the series of processing ends.

As described above, in this example, the print engine unit used for the printing process is switched according to the resolution of the received data, so that a higher quality printing result can be obtained.

(Second Embodiment) In the above-described first embodiment of the present invention, the present invention has been described by treating the dependent resolution of the received data as the characteristic of the received data. The second embodiment of the present invention described below is an example in which whether the printing process by the received data is color printing or monochrome printing is treated as a characteristic of the received data.

The flowchart of FIG. 4 shows a second embodiment of the present invention in which it is determined whether color printing or black-and-white printing is required as a characteristic of received data, and printing is performed by using a print engine section according to the characteristic. The control procedure of is shown.

First, in step S41 of FIG. 4, data is received from the host computer via either the host interface A111A or the host interface B111B, and the process proceeds to step S42. In step S42, the received data is analyzed to determine whether the data to be printed is monochrome printing or color printing. If monochrome printing, the process proceeds to step S43, and if color printing, the process proceeds to step S45.

In step S43, the received data is converted into print image data corresponding to the print engine unit A120A (that is, for monochrome printing), and the process proceeds to step S44. On the other hand, in step S45, the received data is converted into print image data corresponding to the print engine unit B120B (that is, for color printing), and step S46.
Go to.

In step S44, the output destination of the video interface 115 is set to the print engine unit A120A in order to output the print image data to the print engine unit A120A, and the process proceeds to step S47. On the other hand, in step S46, in order to output the print image data to the print engine unit B120B, the output destination of the video interface 115 is set to the print engine unit B1.
20B, and the process proceeds to step S47.

In step S47, the print image data is output to the selected print engine unit to perform print processing, and a series of processing ends.

As described above, in this example, it is checked whether the received data requires color printing or black-and-white printing, and the print engine unit used for printing processing is switched according to the result. An appropriate print result can be obtained according to the characteristics of the received data.

(Third Embodiment) In the third embodiment of the present invention,
An example will be described in which what type of print engine unit the received data is composed of in the printer control language (PDL) is treated as a characteristic of the received data. The flowchart of FIG. 5 shows a printer control language (PD) used as a characteristic of received data in the third embodiment of the present invention.
A control procedure for checking L) and printing using the print engine unit corresponding to the PDL is shown.

First, in step S51 of FIG. 5, data is received from the host computer via either the host interface A111A or the host interface B111B, and the process proceeds to step S52. In step S52, the received data is analyzed to find out what kind of PDL the data to be printed is composed of, and LB
If it is composed of P PDL, step S53.
If it is composed of PDL for BJ or other type of inkjet printer, the process proceeds to step S55.

In step S53, the received data is converted into print image data corresponding to the print engine unit A120A, and the process proceeds to step S54. On the other hand, step S
At 55, the received data is transferred to the print engine unit B120B.
Convert to print image data corresponding to
Proceed to 56.

In step S54, the output destination of the video interface 115 is set to the print engine unit A120A in order to output the print image data to the print engine unit A120A, and the process proceeds to step S57. On the other hand, in step S56, in order to output the print image data to the print engine unit B120B, the output destination of the video interface 115 is set to the print engine unit B1.
20B, and the process proceeds to step S57.

In step S57, the print image data is output to the selected print engine unit to perform print processing, and a series of processing ends.

As described above, in this example, the PDL for which the received data is intended for the print engine section
It is checked whether it is configured by (printer control language) and the print engine unit used for the printing process is switched according to the type of the PDL, so that the print result more suitable for the PDL can be obtained.

(Fourth Embodiment) In the fourth embodiment of the present invention,
An example in which the host interface through which the received data was received is treated as a characteristic of the received data will be described. The flowchart of FIG. 6 shows the control procedure for checking the characteristics of the received data and the host interface that received the data and printing using the print engine unit according to the host interface in the fourth embodiment of the present invention. .

First, in step S61 of FIG. 6, data is received from the host computer via either the host interface A111A or the host interface B111B, and the flow advances to step S62. In step S62, the print engine unit to be used for printing is determined based on which host interface, which has two pieces of received data, is received. If the print engine unit A120A is used, step S6 is performed.
3, the process proceeds to step S65 if the print engine unit B120B is used. Here, the combination of the host interface used for reception and the print engine unit used for printing is secured in advance in the ROM 114 in the form of a table as shown in FIG. 7, and by referring to this table as necessary. The print engine unit used for printing can be determined. It is also possible to reserve the table in the RAM 113 and arbitrarily rewrite the contents of the table to change the combination of the host interface and the print engine unit. The present invention does not limit the table management method or the combination determination method.

In step S63, the received data is converted into print image data corresponding to the print engine unit A120A, and the process proceeds to step S64. On the other hand, step S
In 65, the received data is transferred to the print engine unit B120B.
Convert to print image data corresponding to
Proceed to 66.

In step S64, the output destination of the video interface 115 is set to the print engine unit A120A in order to output the print image data to the print engine unit A120A, and the process proceeds to step S67. On the other hand, in step S66, in order to output the print image data to the print engine unit B120B, the output destination of the video interface 115 is set to the print engine unit B1.
20B, and the process proceeds to step S67.

In step S67, the print image data is output to the selected print engine unit to perform print processing, and a series of processing is completed.

As described above, in this example, the print engine unit used for the printing process is switched according to the host interface through which the received data is received. Therefore, the user can easily select the print engine unit to use. You can

Although each embodiment of the present invention has been described as having two host interfaces, the present invention does not limit the number of host interfaces.

(Other Embodiments) In each of the above-described embodiments of the present invention, the received data and the characteristics of the print engine section are, for example, the resolution, the distinction between color printing and monochrome printing, the type of PDL, and the host interface that received the data. However, the present invention does not limit what these characteristics are specifically.

Further, in each of the above-described embodiments of the present invention, the characteristics of the print engine unit are managed in the form of a table as shown in FIG. 2, and the contents of the table are read out as necessary, whereby the print engine is read. Although it has been described that the characteristics of the print engine section are acquired, in order to acquire the characteristics of the print engine section, the print engine section may be inquired via the video interface 115 when necessary.

[0054]

As described above, according to the present invention,
Since a plurality of print engine units having different characteristics are provided and one of the optimum print engines among the print engine units is selected and used according to the characteristics of the received data to perform the printing process, various types of print engines can be used. It is possible to obtain a high-quality printing result even for various received data.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a circuit configuration of a printing apparatus according to each exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a conceptual diagram showing contents of a table for managing characteristics of the print engine of FIG.

In the first embodiment of the present invention, it is checked whether or not the characteristic of the received data depends on the resolution, and if it depends, until printing is performed using the print engine unit according to the resolution. 3 is a flowchart showing the control procedure of FIG.

FIG. 4 is a control for determining whether color printing or monochrome printing is required as a characteristic of received data in the second embodiment of the present invention and performing printing using a print engine unit according to the determined characteristic. It is a flowchart which shows a procedure.

FIG. 5 is a printer control language (PD) used by received data as a characteristic of the received data in the third embodiment of the present invention.
5 is a flowchart showing a control procedure from checking L) to printing using a print engine unit corresponding to the PDL.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a control procedure for checking a host interface that has received the data as a characteristic of the received data and printing using a print engine unit according to the host interface in the fourth embodiment of the present invention. Is.

FIG. 7 is a conceptual diagram showing contents of a table for managing a combination of a host interface for receiving data and a print engine unit used for printing in the embodiment shown in FIG. 6;

[Explanation of symbols]

 100 printing apparatus main body 110 controller section 111A host interface A 111B host interface B 112 CPU 113 RAM 114 ROM 115 video interface 116 operation panel 117 card 118 card slot 119 data bus 120A print engine section A 120B print engine section B

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. Receiving means for receiving data from an external device, a plurality of print engine sections each having different printing characteristics, storage means for storing characteristic data of the plurality of print engine sections, and receiving by the receiving section. Analysis of the received data,
From the analysis result, the characteristics of the received data and the characteristics of the plurality of print engine units are compared based on the characteristic data of the storage unit, and which print engine unit is used to perform printing will produce the highest quality print. A printing apparatus comprising: a determining unit that determines whether or not it can be realized; and a control unit that selects the print engine unit determined by the determining unit to perform the print processing of the received data. 2. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein print resolution is targeted as a characteristic of the print engine unit and the received data. 3. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the characteristics of the print engine unit and the received data are for distinguishing between monochrome printing and color printing. 4. The characteristic of the print engine is intended to distinguish between an electrophotographic system and an inkjet system, and the characteristic of the received data is that the printer control language forming the received data is an electrophotographic system or an inkjet system. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the printing apparatus is targeted for which one of the methods is supported. 5. A plurality of receiving means for receiving data from different external devices, a plurality of print engine sections having different printing characteristics, and a dedicated print for printing the respective received data of the plurality of receiving means. A storage unit that individually selects an engine unit from the plurality of print engine units and stores in advance corresponding to each of the plurality of receiving units; and a storage unit that receives the data when the receiving unit receives the data. A determining unit that determines which print engine unit to use by referring to the unit, and a control unit that selects the print engine unit determined by the determining unit to perform the print processing of the received data. A printing device characterized by.