JPH07193713A - Picture element recording pulse signal generator - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To reduce the deterioration in picture quality by continuing the generation of recording energy between a pair of picture elements(PEs), i.e., between a preceding recording side PE using comparing data to be gradually reduced and a succeeding recording side PE using comparing data to be gradually increased. CONSTITUTION:In PE recording pulse signal generating operation by comparing PE density data DA With comparing data DB, the size of the data DB is changed so as to be increased in an odd PE number area and decreased in an even PE number area. Thereby the generating position of a PE recording pulse signal prepared by comparing the size of the data DA with that of the data DB is set up so that the leading end of the PE recording pulse signal coincides with the leading end of PEs in the odd PE number area and the final end of the pulse signal coincides with the final end of the PEs in the even PE number area and PE numbers 2, 3 and 4, 5 are respectively continued. Since PE numbers of PEs to be recorded are continued, an edge part in a scanning direction is removed between a pair of PEs and an unstable area is reduced.

Description

Description: BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a pixel recording pulse signal generator, and relates to the recording area (coloring or coloring area) of each pixel forming the image by changing the density of the recorded image. The present invention relates to a pixel recording pulse signal generator in a scanning recording type recording device expressed by the ratio of In a scanning recording type recording apparatus, as a method of changing the recording area of each pixel in order to express the density of an image, there is a method of pulse width modulating a pixel recording pulse signal by density data. The devices described in JP-B-57-57679 and JP-A-57-99866 are specific examples. By the way, in such a recording apparatus, in order to record an image with high definition, it is necessary to reduce each pixel to increase the pixel density. The size of each pixel in the scanning direction in scanning recording is determined by the scanning speed and the pixel recording pulse signal generation period, and in order to reduce the pixel size, the pixel recording pulse signal generation period must be shortened and the number of interruptions must be increased. However, if the number of intermittent pixel recording pulse signals is increased, the image quality tends to deteriorate. The reason will be specifically described by taking an electrophotographic laser beam printer as an example. In FIG. 2, a memory 1 stores one scanning line of density data of each pixel in an image signal from an image reading device or a computer (not shown). Then, in accordance with a pixel clock signal PCLK1 given from a timing processing circuit 4 which will be described later, the pixel density data DA is sent to the latch 2 pixel by pixel in accordance with the print scanning position. When the pixel density is changed from "0" (white) to "15" (black), the pixel density data DA becomes 4-bit data. In the pixel recording pulse signal generation circuit 9, the latch 2 holds (latches) the pixel density data DA by the pixel clock signal PCLK2 provided from the timing processing circuit 4, and the holding period is a period for recording scanning one pixel area. equal. Then, the held pixel density data DA is given to the comparator 5. The counter 3 is a circulating 4-bit binary counter, and is controlled by the print scan signal LINE1 from the timing processing circuit 4 to count the clock signal CLK1 from the clock generator 10. Sixteen clock signals CLK1 are output during a period of recording and scanning one pixel area. The counter 3 counts up from "0" (white) to "15" (black), supplies the count content to the comparator 5 as comparison data DB, and the carry signal as the pixel clock signal PCLK3 to the timing processing circuit. Give to. The timing processing circuit 4 uses the pixel clock signal P
The pixel clock signal PCLK based on CLK3
1, PCLK2 and laser beam detector 8
The detection signal LINE2 is used as a recording scan start synchronization signal for each scanning line. The comparator 5 compares the pixel density data DA and the comparison data DB with each other and generates a binary pixel recording pulse signal S corresponding to "black" when DA> DB and "white" when DA≤DB. Then, this is given to the semiconductor laser circuit 6. The laser beam output from the semiconductor laser circuit 6 is deflected in the range of the angle θ to scan and expose the electrophotographic photosensitive drum 7 to form an electrostatic latent image. The electrostatic latent image is formed on the recording paper after the toner phenomenon. It is transferred and further fixed to form a recorded matter. FIGS. 1A to 1C are timing charts of the pixel recording pulse signal generating operation and the pixel recording of such a laser beam printer. (A) shows the pixel number and the pixel density data DA. The horizontal axis t in (b) is a time axis, and the time required to scan and print one pixel is T. The vertical axis is a digital value corresponding to pixel density, "0" is "white", "15" is "black", DA is pixel density data, and DB is comparison data. The horizontal axis x in (c) indicates the recording scanning position of the laser beam, and the shaded area represents the recording area of each pixel. In such a recording system, since the laser beam output from the semiconductor laser circuit 6 has a spread in the scanning direction, if the laser beam is interrupted by the pixel recording pulse signal S while scanning, the laser beam on each pixel recording surface is changed. The exposure amount at both edges in the scanning direction is an intermediate area between black and white,
The recording density in this portion becomes unstable, which causes deterioration of image quality. Therefore, when the pixel is made small and the number of times of intermittent laser beam is increased in order to record a high-definition image, the area ratio of such an unstable region is increased and the image quality is deteriorated. Such a phenomenon is not limited to a laser beam printer, but a thermal recording device, a stylus electrostatic recording device, a liquid crystal optical switch, a scanning exposure using a light emitting diode, which controls intermittently while scanning recording energy applied to a recording medium. Common to scanning recording type recording devices such as electrophotographic printers. Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide an apparatus for generating a pixel recording pulse signal capable of reducing deterioration of image quality in high-definition image recording by this type of recording apparatus. In order to achieve this object, the present invention compares the density data of each pixel in an image signal with comparison data whose size increases or decreases sequentially for each pixel. And a pixel recording pulse signal having a time width proportional to the density, and intermittently controlling the generation of recording energy by the pixel recording pulse signal. Detecting means for detecting each odd-numbered pixel and each even-numbered pixel from the plurality of pixels arranged in line, and when the odd-numbered pixel is detected, the comparison data whose size is sequentially increased and the sequential decrease Output one of the comparison data, and when an even-numbered pixel is detected, the size of that comparison data Is provided with a comparison data output means for outputting the other comparison data of the comparison data that sequentially increases and the comparison data that sequentially decreases. The pixel recording pulse signal generator according to the present invention comprises:
With the above configuration, the recording is made up of the preceding recording side pixel using the comparison data whose size is sequentially decreased as the comparison data and the subsequent recording side pixel using the comparison data whose size is sequentially increased as the comparison data. The recording pulse signal of the preceding recording side pixel in a pair of pixels adjacent in the scanning direction has its end coincident with the end of the pixel, and the recording pulse signal of the subsequent recording side pixel has its start end coincident with the start end of the pixel. The recording energy can be continuously generated between the pair of pixels to reduce the unstable area of the recording density, thereby reducing the deterioration of the image quality. Embodiments (d), (e) and (f), (g) of FIG.
3 is a timing chart of pixel recording pulse signal generation operation and pixel recording in the pixel recording pulse signal generator according to the present invention. (D) is a pixel recording pulse signal generating operation by comparing the pixel density data DA and the comparison data DB, and the size of the comparison data DB is increased in the odd pixel number area and decreased in the even pixel number area. Change. For this reason, the generation position of the pixel recording pulse signal S created by comparing the magnitudes of the pixel density data DA and the comparison data DB is such that the start end of the pixel recording pulse signal coincides with the start end of the pixel in the odd pixel number region, In the even-numbered pixel number area, the end of the pixel recording pulse signal coincides with the end of the pixel, and in the illustrated example, the pixel numbers 2, 3, 4, and 5 are continuous. Therefore, as shown in (e), the recording pixels recorded based on this pixel recording pulse signal have pixel numbers 2 and 3, 4 and 5 consecutively, and there is no edge portion in the scanning direction between the pair of pixels. , The unstable area is reduced. (F) is an example in which the size of the comparison data DB decreases in the odd pixel number area and increases in the even pixel number area, and the recording pixels in this case are as shown in (g).
Pixel numbers 1 and 2, 3 and 4 are consecutive. Next, a pixel recording pulse signal generating circuit according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described. Generation of the pixel recording pulse signal by comparing the magnitude of the pixel density data DA and the comparison data DB as shown in FIG. 1D can be performed by improving the circuit for generating the comparison data DB shown in FIG. it can. Therefore, a circuit for generating the comparison data DB will be described here, and the other circuits are the same as those in the conventional device, and therefore the description thereof will be omitted. The same reference numerals are used for the output terminal of each circuit and the signal generated at the terminal. In FIG. 3, the counter 13 is a hexadecimal counter that counts the clock signal CLK1 input from the clock generator 10 to the clock terminal CLK. Recording scan signal LINE1 output from the timing processing circuit 4
Is a high level during a print scan, and the counter 13 outputs a clock signal C when the print scan signal LINE1 input to the clear terminal CLR is a high level.
LK1 is counted, and when it is low level, it is cleared to "0". The input terminal A of the data selector 14 receives the count output signal Q ₁₃ of the counter 13 as it is, and the input terminal B receives an inverted value of the count output signal Q ₁₃ of the counter 13. Therefore, when the count output signal Q 13 of the counter ₁₃ is “0”, the input terminal A is “0” and the input terminal B is “1”.
5 ". This data selector 14 has a selection control terminal S
According to the signal level input to el, the input terminals A,
One input signal of B is selectively output to the output terminal Y, and the output signal Q ₁₂ of the RS flip-flop (hereinafter referred to as FF) ₁₂ is given to the selection control terminal Sel. The latch 15 outputs the signal input to the input terminal D from the output terminal as it is as the output signal Q ₁₅ (comparison data DB), and performs data latch according to the signal level of the pixel clock signal PCLK3 supplied to the enable terminal En. The carry signal output from the carry terminal Car of the counter 13 is inverted to become the pixel clock signal PCLK3, and the timing processing circuit 4, the clock terminal CLK of the FF 12 and the enable terminal En of the latch 15 are provided.
Given to. [0018] In the above-described circuit configuration, when the recording scanning signal LINE1 outputted from the timing treatment circuit 4 becomes high level counter 13 counts the clock signal CLK1 supplied from the clock generator 10, the value of the count output signal Q ₁₃ To increase. When the value of the count output signal Q ₁₃ becomes "15", a carry signal is generated at the carry terminal Car. If the data selector 14 is set to select and output the signal of the input terminal A in the initial state,
The comparison data DB, which is the output signal Q ₁₅ of the latch 15, sequentially increases from “0” to “15”. Then, when the count value becomes “15” and the carry signal Car is output, this is latched as the pixel clock signal PCLK3.
5, the latch 15 latches "15". Since also given to the pixel clock signal PCLK3 is FF12 the FF12 changes the signal level of the inverted output signal Q _12, selects the signal input terminal B data selector 14 by the change of the signal level of the output signal Q ₁₂ And outputs to the output terminal Y. Therefore, the value of the output terminal Y of the data selector 14 is "15" to "0".
However, since "15" is latched in the latch 15, the comparison data DB is "15". The processing up to this point is the signal processing for the pixel of pixel number 1. When the next clock signal CLK1 is input, the value of the counter 13 becomes "0", and therefore the data selector 14 outputs the output terminal Y.
Becomes "15", and the signal processing for the pixel of pixel number 2 is started. At the same time, the carry signal Car of the counter 13
Disappears, so that the latch 15 directly outputs the signal at the input terminal D. After that, the counter 13 counts the clock signal CLK1 and increases the value thereof, but the data selector 14 outputs the value of the terminal B to which the inverted signal thereof is input. Therefore, the comparison data DB which is the output signal Q ₁₅ of the latch 15 is It gradually decreases. When the value of the counter 13 becomes "15" (comparison data DB = 0), the carry signal Car is output, and the latch 15 and FF1 are output as described above.
2. The data selector 14 is controlled. At this time, the data selector 14 selects the signal of the input terminal A and outputs it to the output terminal Y.
Switch to output to. By repeating such an operation while the print scan signal LINE1 is at the high level, the comparison data DB repeats an increase and a decrease as shown in FIG. 1 (d). Such a comparison data generating circuit has an advantage that it can operate at high speed as compared with the case where the counter 13 is moved up and down. The comparative data D thus obtained
Comparing B and the pixel density data DA, the result is shown in FIG.
It is possible to generate a pixel recording pulse signal S for performing pixel recording as shown in FIG. In the initial state, the data selector 1
When the output signal Q _{12 of the} FF ₁₂ is initialized so that 4 selects and outputs the signal of the input terminal B, the comparison data DB changes as shown in FIG. g)
A pixel recording pulse signal S for performing pixel recording as shown in is obtained. Further, the comparison data generating circuit shown in FIG. 3 further includes a counter 11 and a monostable multivibrator (hereinafter referred to as MM) 16. The timing processing circuit 4 generates a print signal PAGE which becomes high level when the recording operation is started and becomes low level when the recording operation is completed.
The counter 11 carries a carry signal C when the count value becomes "3".
This is a 2-bit binary counter in which ar is at a high level and loads the screen angle data SD as an initial value when the print signal PAGE is at a low level. Counter 11
When the carry signal Car is low level, the FF 12 is preset, and as a result, the data selector 14 selects and outputs the signal of the input terminal A, so that the initial value of the comparison data DB is “0” and the carry signal Car is high level. At this time, the FF 12 is cleared, and as a result, the data selector 14 selects and outputs the signal of the input terminal B, so that the initial value of the comparison data DB becomes "15". When the recording for one scanning line is completed, the recording scanning signal LINE1 becomes low level, and the counter 11 is counted up. The count value of the counter 11 is “0” →
"1", "1" → because when changed to "2" carry signal Car remains at a low level, the recording scanning signal LINE1 is triggered MM16 changes to the low level short pulse at its output terminal Q ₁₆ When a signal is generated, this pulse signal Q ₁₆ is given to the clear terminal CLR of the FF 12, and the FF 12 is cleared. When the count value of the counter 11 changes from "2" to "3", the carry signal Ca
Since r becomes high level, the pulse signal Q ₁₆ generated from the MM ₁₆ is applied to the preset terminal PR of the FF 12, and the FF 12 is preset. Further, when the count value of the counter 11 is "3" and the carry signal Car is at the high level, the load terminal L of the counter 11 is at the low level. Therefore, the next count value of the counter 11 is the screen angle data. Become SD. Therefore, the FF 12 is preset when the screen angle data SD is "3", and is reset otherwise. This operation is continued until recording is completed and the print signal PAGE becomes low level. FIG. 4 is a timing chart of the pixel recording pulse signal S generation operation and pixel recording controlled by this circuit. (H) and (i) show the case where the screen angle data SD is "3", (h) shows the pixel recording pulse signal generating operation, and (i) shows the pixel recording pattern by the pixel recording pulse signal obtained as a result. Is. The horizontal axis corresponds to the recording scanning direction, the time axis is shown in (h) and the scanning position is shown in (i), but it is shown here by pixel number. The vertical axis corresponds to the feeding direction of the recording medium, the time axis is shown in (h), and the feeding amount is shown in (i), but it is shown here by scanning line numbers. The vertical axis also shows the count value of the counter 11.
In (j) and (k), the screen angle data SD is "2", and in (l) and (m), the screen angle data SD is "1".
In the case of (1), (n) and (p) are the cases where the screen angle data SD is "0". When the screen angle data SD is "3", the count value of the counter 11 is always "3" as shown in FIG.
Since r is always at the high level, the recording scan signal LIN
Each time E1 becomes low level, the FF 12 is preset, so that the initial value of the comparison data DB in each scanning line becomes "15", and the same pixel recording pulse signal generating operation as shown in FIG. 1F is repeated. Then, the pixel recording pattern of each scanning line by the pixel recording pulse signal obtained as a result is such that pixels of pixel numbers 1, 2, 3, and 4 are continuous as shown in FIG. When the screen angle data SD is "2", the count value of the counter 11 is "2", "3", "2", "3" in the order of the scanning line numbers as shown in FIG. 4 (j). .., the carry signal Car of the counter 11 repeats low level and high level, so that the initial state of the FF 12 in each scanning line becomes clear, preset, clear ... In the order of scanning line numbers. Therefore, the initial values of the comparison data DB in each scanning line are "0" for the odd scanning line number and "15" for the even scanning line number, as shown in FIGS. 1 (d) and 1 (f).
The same pixel recording pulse signal generation operation as is repeated. As a result, as shown in FIG. 4K, pixel numbers 2 and 3, 4 and 5 are paired in the odd-numbered scanning lines to continue pixel recording, and pixel numbers 1 and 2 in the even-numbered scanning lines. , 3
And pixel recording of 4 continues. When the screen angle data SD is "1", the count value of the counter 11 is "1", as shown in FIG.
"2", "3", "1", "2", "3", etc. are repeated. Therefore, the initial value of the comparison data DB in each scanning line is "0", "0", "in the order of scanning line number". By repeating 15 ″ ..., The pixel recording pattern becomes as shown in FIG. When the screen angle data SD is "0", the count value of the counter 11 is repeated "0", "1", "2", "3" ... As shown in FIG. Therefore, the initial value of the comparison data DB repeats “0”, “0”, “0”, “15”, ... In the order of the scanning line numbers, so that the pixel recording pattern is as shown in FIG. become. 4 (i), (k), (m),
By comparing the pixel recording patterns of (p), it can be understood that the screen angle of the recording pattern differs depending on the value of the screen angle data SD. In a full-color laser beam printer using multiple recording, if the screen angles of the respective colors are the same, moire fringes occur and the image quality deteriorates. Therefore, in such color recording, a high-quality color image without moire fringes can be obtained by changing the value of the screen angle data SD for each color. In the embodiment described above, the number of bits of the pixel density data DA, the comparison data DB, and the screen angle data SD is increased or decreased, and the waveform of the comparison data DB is changed, for example, the shape is compensated for the .GAMMA. What to do,
Furthermore, the method of setting the value of the screen angle data SD can be changed freely. Of course, the present invention is not limited to the laser beam printer and can be applied to the other scanning recording type recording apparatus as described above. As described above, according to the present invention, the density data of each pixel in the image signal is compared with the comparison data whose size increases or decreases sequentially for each pixel, and the time width proportional to the density is obtained. In the pixel recording pulse signal generating device in the scanning recording type recording device for converting the pixel recording pulse signal with the pixel recording pulse signal to intermittently control the generation of the recording energy by the pixel recording pulse signal, One of detection means for detecting each odd-numbered pixel and each even-numbered pixel, and one of comparison data whose size is sequentially increased and comparison data which is sequentially decreased when the odd-numbered pixel is detected. When the even numbered pixels are detected and the even numbered pixels are detected, the size of the comparison data and the comparison data whose size increases sequentially And the comparison data output means for outputting the other comparison data of the comparison data that sequentially decreases, so that the preceding recording side pixel using the comparison data whose size decreases as the comparison data and the comparison data The recording pulse signal of the preceding recording side pixel in a pair of pixels adjacent to each other in the recording scanning direction, which is composed of the succeeding recording side pixel using the comparison data whose size is sequentially increased, has its end coincident with the end of the pixel, Since the recording pulse signal of the subsequent recording side pixel can be generated by making its start end coincident with the start end of the pixel, the recording energy is continuously generated between the pair of pixels, and the recording density becomes unstable. By reducing the area, deterioration of image quality can be reduced.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a timing chart for explaining operation. FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a conventional laser beam printer. FIG. 3 is a comparison data generation circuit diagram of a pixel recording pulse signal generation device according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing a pixel recording pulse signal generation operation and a pixel recording pattern by the circuit of FIG. [Explanation of Codes] 4 Timing Processing Circuit 5 Comparator 6 Semiconductor Laser Circuit 13 Counter 14 Data Selector 15 Latch DA Pixel Density Data DB Comparison Data

Continuation of front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁶ Identification code Office reference number FI Technical display location B41J 2/455 H04N 1/403 H04N 1/40 103 A

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. The density data of each pixel in the image signal is compared with the comparison data whose size increases or decreases sequentially for each pixel, and is converted into a pixel recording pulse signal having a time width proportional to the density. In the pixel recording pulse signal generator in the scanning recording type recording device for intermittently controlling the generation of recording energy, a detecting means for detecting each odd-numbered pixel and each even-numbered pixel from a plurality of pixels arranged in the recording scanning direction. When an odd-numbered pixel is detected, one of comparison data whose size is sequentially increased and comparison data whose size is sequentially decreased is output as the comparison data, and when an even-numbered pixel is detected, As the comparison data, one of the comparison data whose size increases sequentially and the comparison data which decreases sequentially Pixel recording pulse signal generation apparatus characterized by comprising a comparison data output means for outputting.