JPH08310032A - Method for forming record data - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To provide a method for forming record data capable of accurately representing a density of a pixel. CONSTITUTION: This method is a record data forming method wherein one pixel is constituted of dot matrix M consisting of a plurality of arranged dots so that the pixel of a print image is recorded in a gradation fashion. A growing order of the dots with respect to the dot matrix M is surely adjacent to the dots already arranged in the dot matrix M.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a recording data forming method suitable for a recording apparatus capable of gradationally recording pixels of a print image with a dot matrix in which one pixel has a plurality of dots arranged therein.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, a thermal printer, an ink jet printer, a bubble jet printer or the like which prints an image such as characters and figures output from a word processor or a computer on plain paper, OHP paper, thick paper and the like. 2. Description of the Related Art A recording device called a dot printer is frequently used for reasons such as high printing quality, low noise, low cost, and easy maintenance.

A thermal printer will be described as an example of such a conventional recording apparatus.

In a conventional thermal printer, a paper and an ink ribbon formed by applying a desired ink to a base film are supported in front of a platen, and a thermal head having a plurality of heating elements arranged as a print head. While moving the carriage along with the carriage along the paper (platen), the ink ribbon is drawn out, and the heating elements arranged in the thermal head are selectively heated based on the print information to partially melt the ink on the ink ribbon. By transferring the image to a desired print position on the paper, an image such as a desired character is printed on the paper.

That is, in the conventional thermal printer, image information of original images such as characters and illustrations output from a word processor or a computer is used as recording data, and each heating element of the thermal head is selected based on this recording data. By repeating an energization cycle of electrically energizing each of the heating elements to generate heat, the ink of the ink ribbon pressed against the heating elements is transferred to a sheet for printing.

As a recording data forming method for performing gradation recording, that is, recording a grayscale image in a conventional recording apparatus, a dither method in which one pixel is composed of a dot matrix composed of a plurality of dots is used. . According to the conventional print data forming method called the dither method, the dots are generated so that the growth order of the dots in the dot matrix is random.

For example, as shown in FIG. 3, when one pixel is represented by a dot matrix M of 6 dots vertically and horizontally (36 dots in total), a dot pattern table (not shown) is used to change the reference numerals 1 to 3 in FIG. The dot growth order is as indicated by reference numeral 36.

In the conventional thermal printer, the heating elements of the thermal head are arranged in the vertical direction of the dot matrix M, and the thermal head is arranged as shown in FIG.
In FIG. 5, printing is performed for each column of the dot matrix 1 while moving in the printing direction indicated by arrow A.

Further, in recent years, thermal printers are required to have high-quality printed images that look more beautiful, and in order to meet such demands, the printing resolution is subdivided. For example, the printing resolution is Is 300 DP
It is increased from I to about 400 DPI or 600 DPI. Due to the improvement in printing resolution, a thermal printer having a smaller size of a heating element of a thermal head is used, and in the case of an inkjet printer or the like using a liquid ink, the ejected ink particles are reduced in size. It has been designed.

[0010]

However, in the above-described conventional print data forming method for gradation printing, the growth order of dots in the dot matrix M is random, and a thermal printer is used as a printing apparatus. When used, the energization order of the heating elements of the thermal head becomes random, and for example, for the dot matrix M shown in FIG. 3, five dots shown by reference numerals 1 to 5 in FIG. 3 are used. In the case of gradation recording, when the thermal head is located in the leftmost column (first column) in FIG. 3, the heating element located in the position of reference numeral 5 of the dot matrix M is energized to perform thermal recording. When the head is located in the right column (second column) of the first column in FIG. 3, the heating elements located in the positions 1 and 4 of the dot matrix M Energization is carried out. Next, when the thermal heads are located in the third row and the fourth row, the heating elements are not energized. After that, the thermal head moves to the leftmost row (the fifth row) in FIG.
When the heating element is positioned in the column), the heating elements located at the positions 2 and 3 of the dot matrix M are energized, and the energization in the dot matrix M is completed.

In such a conventional print data forming method, since the five dots are randomly arranged in the dot matrix M, the intervals of the dots to be printed are separated and the print resolution is improved. In a heating element with a small area and a small heat capacity, the ink does not adhere well to the paper, and even if you intend to print 5 dots, only 3 or 4 may actually be printed. There is a problem that it is difficult to express the density.

Further, since the heating elements of the thermal head are energized at random, the heat history of each heating element becomes random, and the thermal control of the thermal head is performed by energization correction such as history correction and area correction for each heating element of the thermal head. There was a problem that became complicated.

Further, in the case of an ink jet printer using liquid ink as a recording device, there is a problem that it is difficult to accurately express the density of one pixel due to dot bleeding or the like.

The present invention has been made in view of these points, and an object thereof is to provide a recording data forming method capable of accurately expressing the density of a pixel.

[0015]

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, in the recording data forming method of the present invention, one pixel is composed of a dot matrix formed by arranging a plurality of dots, and the pixels of the print image are gradation. A method of forming recording data for recording is characterized in that the dot growth order with respect to the dot matrix is formed so as to be always adjacent to the arranged dots in the dot matrix.

[0016]

According to the recording data forming method of the present invention having the above-described structure, the growth order of dots generated in the dot matrix composed of a plurality of dots is adjacent to the arranged dots in the dot matrix. Since it can be formed in this manner, the density of the pixel can be accurately expressed.

[0017]

The present invention will be described below with reference to the embodiments shown in the drawings.

FIG. 1 is an explanatory view showing a first embodiment of a recording data forming method according to the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 1, in the recording data forming method of this embodiment, one pixel has 6 dots in each of the vertical and horizontal directions (total 36 pixels).
When the dot matrix M represents the dots, the growth order of each dot of the dot matrix M according to the recording density is indicated by the arrow A in the figure for the dots arranged in each column of the dot matrix M. They are formed so as to be adjacent to each other in the lateral direction parallel to the direction.

That is, as shown in FIG. 1, the dot matrix M is defined as the XY coordinates by the X axis which is the printing direction and the Y axis which is the direction orthogonal to the printing direction, and the upper left corner is the origin (X0, Y0) of the XY coordinates. ), The first dot used for the lightest gradation shown by reference numeral 1 in the dot matrix M is generated at the coordinates (X0, Y3). Then, the next dot indicated by reference numeral 2 is generated at the coordinates (X1, Y3) of the position adjacent in the X-axis direction (horizontal direction) to the arranged dot first generated in the dot matrix M. . Below, coordinates (X2, Y3), coordinates (X3, Y3),
Dots are generated in the order of the coordinates (X4, Y3) and the coordinates (X5, Y3).

Next, the coordinate (Y3) in the Y direction (vertical direction)
When dots are generated at all positions in the X direction (horizontal direction) located at, the dots are generated at coordinates (X0, Y2) located at the next position in the Y direction (vertical direction). X0, Y2) are arranged so that they are sequentially adjacent to each other in the X-axis direction (horizontal direction) with respect to the coordinates (X2, Y
2), coordinates (X3, Y2), coordinates (X4, Y2), and coordinates (X5, Y2) are generated in this order.

Hereinafter, the coordinates (X0, Y1) and the coordinates (X1,
Y1), coordinates (X2, Y1), coordinates (X3, Y1), coordinates (X4, Y1), coordinates (X5, Y1), coordinates (X0,
Y0), coordinates (X1, Y0), coordinates (X2, Y0), coordinates (X3, Y0), coordinates (X4, Y0), coordinates (X5,
Y0), coordinates (X0, Y4), coordinates (X1, Y4), coordinates (X2, Y4), coordinates (X3, Y4), coordinates (X4,
Y4), coordinates (X5, Y4), coordinates (X0, Y5), coordinates (X1, Y5), coordinates (X2, Y5), coordinates (X3,
Dots are formed in the order of (Y5), coordinates (X4, Y5), coordinates (X5, Y5).

When gradation recording is performed by using a thermal printer (not shown) as a recording device based on the recording data thus formed, each heating element of the thermal head (not shown) has a printing direction. The dot matrix M is continuously energized or de-energized. That is, when the heating elements located at positions corresponding to a plurality of dots in the dot matrix M are energized, the heating elements (not shown) located in the column direction which is the vertical direction of the dot matrix M are Since electricity is always applied continuously in the row direction (printing direction), the spacing between printed dots is minimized, and even in a heating element (not shown) with a small area and a small heat capacity to improve printing resolution. In addition, it is possible to surely improve the ink adhesion to the paper (not shown), and it is possible to accurately and surely express the pixel density.

Further, since each heating element of the thermal head (not shown) is continuously energized or de-energized in the printing direction, when performing energization correction such as history correction and area correction for each heating element of the thermal head. The heat control of can be simplified.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory view showing a second embodiment of the recording data forming method according to the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 2, in the recording data forming method for gradation recording in the recording apparatus of this embodiment, one pixel is 6 dots vertically and horizontally (total 36 dots).
When represented by the dot matrix M, the growth order of each dot of the dot matrix M is such that the dots arranged in each column of the dot matrix M are adjacent to each other in the row direction which is the printing direction in each row. Has been formed.

That is, the growth order of the dots generated in the dot matrix M is random with respect to the printing direction, which is the row direction of the dot matrix M, but is arranged in the Y-axis direction, which is the column direction of the dot matrix M. The dots in the X-axis direction, which is the same as the printing direction, which is the row direction of the dot matrix M, are always generated adjacent to the already formed dots for each row. It should be noted that the dots arranged in each row of the dot matrix M may be generated in each row and row so as to be adjacent to the arranged dots arranged in the column direction of the dot matrix M. The order of dot generation in the embodiment is not limited.

When printing is performed based on the recording data thus formed, each heating element of the thermal head (not shown) is continuously turned on or off in the row direction of the dot matrix M. To be done. That is,
When energizing a heating element (not shown) located at a position corresponding to a plurality of dots in the dot matrix M,
For example, Y = 3, which is the fourth position from the top in the Y-axis direction.
When all the dots in the row direction of the dot matrix M are printed, the heating element located at the position of is consecutively shown in the order of reference numeral 5, reference numeral 3, reference numeral 1, reference numeral 2, reference numeral 4, and reference numeral 6 in FIG. Since electricity is generated and heat is generated, the same effect as the data forming method of the recording apparatus according to the first embodiment described above is obtained.

In each of the above-described embodiments, the dot growth order is arranged adjacent to the arranged dots in each column of the dot matrix M in the row direction. The dot growth order may be adjacent to the dots in the column direction.

When an ink jet printer using liquid ink (not shown) is used as the recording apparatus, the influence of ink bleeding can be surely reduced, so that the pixel density can be accurately expressed. it can.

Further, the generation order of each dot of the dot matrix M in each of the above-mentioned embodiments is referred to as a main body including a computer or a word processor, a display device such as a CRT display, and a dot printer such as a thermal printer or an inkjet printer. Recording device,
In a printing system (not shown) consisting of an input / output device such as a keyboard, mouse and scanner,
It is preferably used in the form of a look-up table for a control program that forms print data from the image information of the original image.

Furthermore, the present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiments, but can be modified as necessary.

[0033]

As described above, according to the recording data forming method of the present invention, the dot growth order with respect to the dot matrix is formed so as to be always adjacent to the arranged dots in the dot matrix. Therefore, there is an extremely excellent effect that the density of the pixel can be accurately expressed.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing a first embodiment of a recording data forming method according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing a second embodiment of a recording data forming method according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing a recording data forming method of a conventional recording device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 A printing direction M dot matrix

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A method for forming recording data, wherein one pixel is composed of a dot matrix in which a plurality of dots are arranged, and the pixels of a print image are recorded in gradation, wherein the growth order of dots in the dot matrix is: A recording data forming method, wherein the dots are formed so as to be always adjacent to the arranged dots in the dot matrix.