JPH07177352A - Printer - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide a printer capable of always obtaining gradation required by a user even when a printer engine is changed with the lapse of time. CONSTITUTION:The printer has a command generating means 7, a command decoding means 14, a printer image memory 16 for storing image data, a printer engine 18, and a gamma curve detecting means 19 for detecting a secularly changed gamma curve table. The printer includes also a secularly changed gamma curve table memory 11, a gamma correction table preparing means 10 for preparing a secularly changed gamma correction table from the secularly changed gamma curve table, a secularly changed gamma correction table memory 17, a computer image memory 4, a status decoding means 2, a current gamma correction table memory 5, and an image data converting means 3 for correcting image data based upon a new secularly changed gamma correction table.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a printer having a computer section for performing image processing, and more particularly to a printer capable of correcting a gamma curve table at any time.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A conventional printer including a printer section and a computer section will be described with reference to FIGS.

In FIG. 2 showing the structure of a conventional example, first,
In the computer unit 101, the image data of the print target is externally stored in the computer image memory 103. The gamma correction table memory 104 stores the gamma correction curve shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 4, the gamma curve shows the relationship between the input to the printer engine 111 and the image output to be printed out. If the gamma curve is an ideal gamma curve as shown in FIG. For example, the image data from the outside is directly used in the printer unit 107.
However, since it is actually as shown in FIG. 4, the image data converting means 102 is based on the gamma correction curve shown in FIG. 5 for correcting FIG. 4 as shown in FIG. The image data in the image memory 103 is corrected.

Next, FIGS. 3 to 5 will be described in detail.

FIG. 3 shows an ideal gamma curve in which the input a of the printer engine 111 and the output a'of the printer engine 111 are equal. In this case, even if the image data in the computer image memory 103 is directly transmitted to the printer unit 107, it is possible to obtain an image having a gradation that the user wants to output. On the other hand, in the case of the printer engine 111 having the gamma curve shown in FIG. 4, the input b to the printer engine 111 is the output b ′ of the printer engine 111, and the input and output are not equal.
Therefore, even if the image data in the computer image memory 103 is directly transmitted to the printer unit 107, it is not possible to obtain the image of the gradation that the user wants to output. As a solution to this problem, the image data input from the outside stored in the computer image memory 103 is set as shown in FIG. 5 so that the output b ′ of the printer engine 111 becomes equal to the input of the image data input from the outside. It is necessary to correct it based on the gamma correction curve of. As described above, the image data converting means 102 corrects the image data in the computer image memory 103 based on the gamma correction curve shown in FIG.

The image data corrected as described above is transferred from the communication unit 105 of the computer unit 101 to the communication unit 109 of the printer unit 107 via the communication circuit 106.
Be sent to. In the printer unit 107, the communication means 109
Image data received by the printer language decoding means 108
The image data is decoded and developed into image data to be actually printed, and this image data is stored in the printer image memory 110.

The printer unit 107 receives the image data until one page of image data is collected and forms one page of image data. Next, when a paper discharge command is received from the computer unit 101, the image data for one page is sent to the printer engine 111, and the printer engine 11
1 prints based on this image data.

[0008]

However, in the configuration of the above-mentioned conventional example, even if the actual gamma curve of the printer engine 111 changes due to the change over time of the printer engine 111, the gamma correction table memory of the computer unit 101 stores it. Since the stored gamma correction table remains stored initially, there is a problem in that even if the image data is corrected based on this gamma correction table, the gradation required by the user cannot be obtained.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to solve the above problems and provide a printer which can always obtain a gradation required by a user even if the printer engine changes with time.

[0010]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the printer of the present invention comprises a printer section and a computer section, wherein the printer section comprises a two-way communication means for communicating with the computer section and a computer. Command decoding means for decoding the command from the computer and transferring the command to the designated destination, printer language decoding means for decoding the printer language from the computer to generate image data, and printer for storing the decoded image data An image memory, a printer engine for printing based on the image data from the printer image memory, and a gamma curve detecting means for detecting a time-dependent gamma curve table showing a relationship between the image data and the print output of the printer are provided. However, either the printer unit or the computer unit detects the above-mentioned detected time-dependent gamma curve. A time-dependent gamma curve table memory for storing a table; a gamma correction table creating means for creating a time-dependent gamma correction table based on the time-dependent gamma curve table stored in the time-dependent gamma curve table memory; An image input from the outside by a computer unit, which has a time-dependent gamma correction table memory for storing a time-dependent gamma correction table of the above, and status generation means for generating a transmission signal of the time-dependent gamma correction table. A computer image memory for storing data, a bidirectional communication means with the printer section, a command generating means for generating a command, a status decoding means for decoding the data from the status generating means, and a status decoding means for the status decoding means. Stores the gamma correction table after change over time A comma correction table memory, and having an image data conversion means for correcting the image data to which the computer image memory is stored based on the current gamma correction table memory new aging after gamma correction table.

[0011]

In the printer of the present invention, the printer section has a gamma curve detecting means for detecting a gamma curve table showing the relationship between the image data input from the computer section and the print output of the printer. The gamma curve after the printer unit changes with time can be detected by the command from the means.

Then, one of the printer unit and the computer unit stores a time-dependent gamma curve table memory that stores the detected time-dependent gamma curve table and a time-dependent gamma curve table memory that stores the time-dependent gamma curve table memory. A gamma correction table creating means for creating a gamma correction table after aging based on the gamma curve table,
Since it has a time-dependent gamma correction table memory for storing the time-dependent gamma correction table and a status generating means for generating a transmission signal of the table, the computer part can operate the time-dependent gamma curve by these means. You can get a table.

Then, the computer section decodes the data from the status generating means, a status decoding means, a working gamma correction table memory for storing a time-dependent gamma correction table from the status decoding means, and the working gamma correction. Image data conversion means for correcting the image data stored in the computer image memory based on the new time-dependent gamma correction table of the table memory, so that the computer unit always uses the new time-dependent gamma correction table. The image data can be corrected, and the printer unit can always output the image having the gradation that the user wants to output.

[0014]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the printer of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 6 to 10.

In FIG. 1, which is a block diagram showing the configuration of this embodiment, this embodiment comprises a computer section 1 and a printer section 9. The printer unit 9 decodes the printer language from the computer unit 1, the bidirectional communication unit 12 with the computer unit 1, the command decoding unit 14 that decodes the command from the computer unit 1 and transfers the command to the instruction destination. Printer language decoding means 15 for creating image data
A printer image memory 16 for storing the decoded image data, and a printer engine 18 for printing based on the image data from the printer image memory 16.
And a gamma curve detecting means 19 for detecting a time-dependent gamma curve table indicating the relationship between the image data input and the print output of the printer, and a time-dependent gamma curve table for storing the detected time-dependent gamma curve table. Memory 11, gamma curve table after time change Gamma correction table creating means 10 for creating a gamma curve table after time change based on the gamma curve table after time change stored in memory 11, and gamma correction table after time change Since it has a time-dependent gamma correction table memory 17 for storing and a status generation means 13 for generating a transmission signal of the time-dependent gamma curve table,
The printer unit 9 can create a gamma correction table after a change with time by a command from the computer unit 1 and transmit it to the computer unit 1. 8 is a communication line.

The computer unit 1 includes a computer image memory 4 for storing image data input from the outside, a bidirectional communication unit 6 with the printer unit 9, a command generating unit 7 for issuing a command, and a printer unit 9. The status decoding means 2 for decoding the data from the status generating means 13, the working gamma correction table memory 5 for storing the time-dependent gamma correction table from the status decoding means 2, and the working gamma correction table memory 5
And the image data conversion means 3 for correcting the image data stored in the computer image memory 4 based on the new post-aging gamma correction table stored by the computer. Image data can be corrected based on
The printer unit 9 always outputs a gradation image that the user wants to output.

The operation of this embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.

6 to 8 are flow charts when the user updates the gamma correction table.

FIG. 6 is a flow chart showing the operation when the user issues a command to update the gamma correction table. The user who determines in step 1 that the gamma correction table needs to be updated uses the command generating means 7 to set the gamma correction table. Issue a command requesting a correction table.

In steps 2 and 3, the command requesting the gamma correction table is transmitted to the printer unit 9 via the bidirectional communication unit 6, the communication line 8 and the bidirectional communication unit 12.

In steps 4 and 5, the command decoding means 14 decodes the command that has been sent and judges whether or not the command is a command requesting a gamma correction table. If No, go to step 6. If yes, go to step 7.

At step 6, processing corresponding to the contents of the command is performed and the processing is ended.

In steps 7 and 8, it is determined whether the printer engine 18 is printing, and after waiting until printing is completed,
Proceeding to the next step 8, the gamma curve detecting means 19
Enable gamma curve detection.

FIG. 7 is a flow chart showing the operation of the printer section 9 when the gamma curve detecting means 19 detects a gamma curve. In steps 8 and 9, the gamma curve detecting means 19 causes the gamma curve detecting means 19 to change with time. Is detected and the time-dependent gamma curve table is stored in the time-dependent gamma curve table memory 11.

In step 10, the gamma correction table creating means 10 creates a post-aging gamma correction table based on the post-aging gamma curve table, and stores the post-aging gamma correction table in the post-aging gamma correction table memory. Store in 17.

In steps 11 and 12, the status generating means 13 takes out the data of the gamma correction table after time change from the gamma correction table memory 17 after time change, and the bidirectional communication means 12, the communication line 8 and the bidirectional communication means. 6 to the computer unit 1.

FIG. 8 shows the computer unit 1 which stores the gamma correction table after change over time into the current gamma correction table memory 5
In the flow chart showing the operation for storing the data in the printer, the status decoding means 2 causes the status generating means 13 of the printer section 9 to operate in steps 13, 14, 15, 16, and 17.
Data is decoded and it is determined whether the data is a post-aging gamma correction table. If No, the process proceeds to step 16, the process corresponding to the content of the data is performed, and the process ends. If so, go to step 17,
After the change with time, the gamma correction table is stored in the current gamma correction table memory 5, and the process proceeds to step 18.

In step 18, it is judged whether or not all the requested gamma correction tables have been transmitted.
If it is es, the process ends, and if No, step 1 of FIG.
Return to 1.

The updating of the gamma correction data is completed in FIGS.

9 and 10 are flowcharts showing the operation when the user prints.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing the operation when the user issues a print command. In step 1, the user issues a print command to the computer section 1.

In steps 2 and 3, the image data conversion means 3 performs data conversion on the image data stored in the computer image memory 4 from the outside based on the corrected gamma correction table of the current gamma correction table memory, Bidirectional communication means 6, communication line 8 and bidirectional communication means 1
2 to the printer unit 9.

In steps 4, 5, and 6, the printer section 9 analyzes the sent image data by the command decoding means 1.
Decipher in 4, determine whether the data is a command,
If Yes, the process proceeds to step 6 and the process shown in FIG. 8 corresponding to the content of the command is performed.

If No, the process proceeds to step 7.

In step 7, the printer language decoding means decodes the image data, stores the image data in the printer image memory 16, and proceeds to step 8 in FIG.

FIG. 10 shows the printing operation of the printer unit 9.

In step 8, the printer section 9 judges whether or not the image data for one page is stored in the printer image memory 16, and if No, the process returns to step 5 of FIG. 9, and if Yes, Go to step 9.

In step 9, the image data stored in the printer image memory 16 is sent to the printer engine 18.

In step 10, the printer engine 18 prints based on the sent image data and ends.

In this embodiment, the gamma curve table memory 11 after change with time and the gamma correction table creating means 1 are used.
0 and the gamma correction table memory 17 after change over time are provided in the printer unit 9, but they may be provided in the computer unit 1. The operation in that case is similar to that of the present embodiment.

[0041]

Since the printer of the present invention can update the used gamma correction table according to the change with time of the printer unit, even if the printer unit changes with time,
The effect that the image of the gradation that the user wants to output can be printed is obtained.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a conventional example.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an ideal gamma curve.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a gamma curve.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a gamma correction curve.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing an operation when a user issues a command to update a gamma correction table in the embodiment of FIG.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing an operation when a gamma curve is detected in the printer unit of the embodiment of FIG.

8 is a flowchart showing the operation of the computer unit of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 when storing a gamma correction table after change over time in a current gamma correction table memory.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing an operation when a user issues a print command in the embodiment of FIG.

10 is a flowchart showing a printing operation of the printer unit 9 of the embodiment of FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Computer Part 2 Status Decoding Means 3 Image Data Deflection Means 4 Computer Image Memory 5 Current Gamma Correction Table Memory 6 Bidirectional Communication Means 7 Command Generating Means 8 Communication Line 9 Printer Part 10 Gamma Correction Table Creating Means 11 Gamma Curve Table After Time Change Memory 12 Two-way communication means 13 Status generation means 14 Command decoding means 15 Printer language decoding means 16 Printer image memory 17 Gamma correction table memory after aging 18 Printer engine 19 Gamma curve detection means

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Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A printer comprising a printer section and a computer section, wherein the printer section includes bidirectional communication means with the computer section, and command decoding means for decoding a command from the computer section and transferring the command to an instruction destination. A printer language decoding means for decoding the printer language from the computer section to generate image data, a printer image memory for storing the decoded image data, and a printer engine for printing based on the image data from the printer image memory And a gamma curve detecting means for detecting a time-varying gamma curve table indicating a relationship between the image data and the print output of the printer, and either the printer unit or the computer unit detects the time-varying gamma detected by the printer unit or the computer unit. A time-dependent gamma curve table memory for storing a curve table; Gamma correction table creating means for creating a time-varying gamma correction table based on the time-varying gamma curve table stored in the time-varying gamma curve table memory, and time-varying gamma for storing the time-varying gamma correction table. Both a computer table memory having a correction table memory and status generating means for generating a transmission signal of the gamma correction table after the time change, a computer image memory for storing image data input from the outside, and a printer unit. Communication means, command generating means for generating a command, status decoding means for decoding the data from the status generating means, and current gamma correction table memory for storing the gamma correction table after the change from the status decoding means. And the new working gamma correction table memory Printer, characterized in that had and an image data converting means for correcting the image data to which the computer image memory is stored based on the temporal change after gamma correction table.