JPH10187933A - Printer/scanner device, information processor and data setting method for the printer/scanner device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a printer/scanner device which can reads the images of stable and high quality despite the exchange of scanner head units and also to provide a data setting method for the printer/scanner device and an information processor. SOLUTION: This printer/scanner device acquires a scanner function by mounting a loadable/unloadable scanner head unit on a printer carriage. Then the white reference data is previously stored to prescribe the value of the whitest data that is acquired via the actual measurement. When the scanner head unit that is used for the said measurement is mounted (S25-1, NO and S25-3, YES), the white reference data stored in the scanner head unit is set (S25-7).

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a printer / scanner apparatus having a function of reading a document image by mounting a detachable scanner head (also referred to as a scanner head cartridge) on a carriage of a serial printer. It is about.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as a general document reading apparatus used for a scanner, a facsimile or the like, an apparatus using a reduction optical system as shown in FIG. 3 is known.

In this apparatus, a light source 5 extending in the longitudinal direction for irradiating a document 6, a mirror 4 for bending an optical path for downsizing the entire apparatus, a lens 2 for focusing document information light, and a lens cos 4 having a white output waveform. It is composed of a white reference correction plate (shading plate) 3 for correcting the power law and a CCD image pickup device 1 for converting optical information into an electric signal.

Further, before transferring the voltage waveform output from the CCD image pickup device 1 to the image processing system, the voltage waveform is subjected to A / D conversion.
An IC such as a / D converter is interposed.

In the above-described image reading apparatus,
In order to reduce the cost of the device, an inexpensive Xe lamp or LED (light emitting diode) is often used as the light source.

[0006]

However, in the above-mentioned conventional example, the Xe lamp, the LED, and the like have a small absolute light amount (light intensity), and therefore, in order to obtain stable image information, the reading is not performed. There is a problem that it is necessary to lengthen the accumulation time or increase the sensitivity of the light receiving system.

However, at present, the light receiving element Bas
Although the development of high-speed driving of is sensors and CCD devices is being promoted, there is a limit to the sensitivity characteristics of a light receiving unit for photoelectrically converting optical information of a document, and a stable S / N ratio is required.
In order to obtain the ratio, it is necessary to irradiate the original with a sufficient amount of light.

For this reason, when the driving current of an LED or the like is increased to increase the amount of light, the heat generated by the LED itself causes a change in current due to a change in the wavelength of light and a change in forward voltage, and a stable amount of light can be obtained. There is no problem.

Further, in the embodiment of the present invention, a detachable print head / ink tank in a printer contained in a notebook type personal computer (also referred to as a notebook type personal computer).
It is necessary to take a form in which the unit can be detached and the scanner head unit can be mounted, and there is a problem that the scanner circuit must be simplified due to the restriction of miniaturization of the outer shape.

Further, in the embodiment of the present invention, since the notebook type personal computer which can be driven by the secondary battery is used,
There is also a problem of reducing power consumption as much as possible.

In some cases, it is difficult to physically arrange a white reference plane (white / black plane) for measuring a white reference value and an offset value due to miniaturization and cost reduction. In this case, every time the white reference value and the offset value are measured, the user needs to set the white reference value / offset value measurement reference document on the document table and read it.

Since the characteristics of each scanner head unit vary, it is necessary to measure the white reference value and the offset value for each scanner head unit.

The present invention has been made under such circumstances, and a printer / printer capable of reading stable and high-quality images even if the scanner head unit is replaced.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a scanner device, an information processing device such as a notebook personal computer having the device built therein, and a data setting method in a printer / scanner device.

[0014]

According to the present invention, there is provided a printer / scanner apparatus comprising:
According to (5), the information processing device is
The data setting method in the printer / scanner device is configured as in (7) and as in (8) below.

(1) A printer / scanner apparatus that obtains a scanner function by mounting a detachable scanner head unit on a carriage of a printer, and defines the value of the whitest data obtained by actual measurement. Storage means for storing the white reference data for performing the scanning in association with the scanner head unit used for the measurement and the ambient temperature at the time of the measurement, and the scanner head used for the measurement on the carriage when the unit is replaced. Determining means for determining that the unit has been mounted, and determining whether the scanner head unit used during measurement by the determining means has been mounted,
The white reference data of the storage means is stored in the scanner head
A printer / scanner device having control means for controlling the unit to set.

(2) The printer / printer according to the above (1), wherein the determination means determines based on an input from a user.
Scanner device.

(3) The printer / scanner device according to (1), wherein the scanner head unit is provided with an identifying means for identifying each unit, and the identifying means makes the identification by the identifying means.

(4) The discriminating means measures the white reference data using the attached scanner head unit, and compares the white reference data with the white reference data stored in the storage means to determine. Printer / scanner device.

(5) The printer / scanner device according to (4), wherein the comparison of the data is based on a variance of a difference between values for each dot.

(6) An information processing apparatus comprising the printer / scanner device according to any one of (1) to (5).

(7) The information processing device according to (6), which is a notebook computer.

(8) In a printer / scanner apparatus in which a detachable scanner head unit is mounted on a carriage of a printer to obtain a scanner function, the value of the whitest data actually measured and obtained is defined. The white reference data is stored in association with the scanner head unit used for the measurement and the ambient temperature at the time of the measurement, and when the scanner head unit used for the measurement is mounted on the carriage, A data setting method in a printer / scanner apparatus for setting stored white reference data in this unit.

[0023]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to an embodiment of a "notebook personal computer".

[0024]

FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of a notebook computer.
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a color scanner head unit used in the embodiment. In the figure, there are a positioning hole 1B and a positioning groove 1C for positioning when installed on a carriage. It is the reference wall 1 that determines the attitude in the reading direction, and its mounting position is determined by being offset to a reference wall (not shown) on the carriage side. Reference numeral 20A denotes a connector portion which is an internal I / F for making an electrical contact when mounted on the carriage.

FIG. 2 is a view for explaining the arrangement of the optical system components of the color scanner head unit. In the figure, 3 is an LED of three colors ([red]) which is a light source.
λ = 640 nm, [green] λ = 525 nm, [blue] λ
= 470 nm), and they are arranged in the reading width direction.

A cylindrical rod lens 6, which is a light condensing means, is installed in proximity to the LED 3, which is a light source, in parallel with the arrangement direction of the LEDs 3. The irradiation center of the LED 3 passes through the center of the lens working surface of the rod lens 6, and the document surface is obliquely irradiated.

The reflected light from the original passes through a field lens 7 which is a first imaging lens whose optical axis center is provided substantially perpendicular to the original, and is then provided in parallel with the reading width direction. The traveling direction of the optical axis is bent by 90 ° by the mirror 5 to be a light beam substantially parallel to the original.

Numeral 11 denotes an aperture, and the image plane of the field lens 7 as the first image system lens is located at this position. An imaging lens (not shown), which is a second imaging system lens, is provided behind the aperture 11.

The imaging position of the imaging lens is determined by the photoelectric conversion element 13.
(Basis sensor). The arrangement of the imaging lens is set at a position where the reduction ratio is 0.45158.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing the configuration of the color scanner head unit.

As a light receiving element (sensor), a monochrome Basis sensor (128 pixels) is used.

As a light source, R [red] / G [green] /
2 LEDs of 3 colors of B [blue] / 2 pieces / 1 piece in total 5
For switching RGB light sources. However, L
Regarding the number of EDs, there is no problem even if another number is used.

FIG. 8 shows an RGB LED drive circuit.
In the figure, IC is 12 [V] of the power supply for driving the LED.
It is a three-terminal regulator. 12 output from here
[V] power is supplied to the LEDs of each color. The drive circuit for each color constitutes a simple constant current circuit. To describe red, 12 [V] is divided by resistors R12 and R13, and the divided voltage is between the base and emitter of the drive transistor Q1. A current flows through the LED circuit as much as the voltage becomes equal to the voltage drop of the resistor R11. Ron signal is L
When the output is low, the LED is turned off, and when the output is high, the LED is turned on. When the signal is low due to the H / L signal, the resistor R14
By being connected in parallel with 13, the divided voltage is reduced and the LED drive current becomes a weak current.

Next, the current value flowing through the LED of each color is indicated by a strong current (Ron / Gon = Hig)
h, H / L = High), 10 [mA], weak current (Ro)
n / Gon = High, H / L = Low) and 2.5 [m
A]. Blue indicates a strong current (Bon = Hig)
20 [mA] at h, H / L = High, weak current (Bo)
n = High, H / L = Low) and set to 5 [mA]. The difference between the set values of the current is to set the light quantity level close to the number and arrangement of the LEDs.

The above-mentioned light receiving element Basis sensor and LED
As a color original reading method using the combination of the RGB light source switching, the field sequential three-pass reading by the sequential color method is performed.

In this operation, among the RGB LED light sources, first, only the first color is turned on, and data of one row is acquired while moving the carrier by the reading width of the Basis sensor.

Next, the data at the same position is obtained by switching to lighting only the LED light source and lighting only the second color without performing a line feed. Similarly, the data of the third color is obtained, and the reading of the RGB color data for one line is completed, and the line feed to the next line is performed.

The portion surrounded by the thick dashed line in FIG. 4 is a custom IC made exclusively for the color scanner head unit, and its function is as follows.

A function for clamping the signal from the Basis sensor A peak search function for amplifying the clamped signal to the optimum A / D range 1 to 5 times amplifier & gain control (256 steps) 10 bitA / D converter function ・ Image processing function * B / W distortion correction * Edge enhancement * Reduction in column direction and line direction * Binary image data output * Multi-valued (8-bit) image data output When reading a color image, three color components of RGB are used. Since different types of light sources are used and the output and temperature characteristics of the LED light source are different for each color, it is necessary to set the white reference.

For this reason, when the white reference is obtained, the custom IC uses the signal of each color from the Basis sensor for each signal.
The peak of the white reference profile is detected, and the amplifier gain that can be set in 256 steps is determined in order to set the reference in the A / D optimum range.

The white reference data includes: 128 pixels * 10 bits as white data; 8 bits as gain data; 128 pixels * 8 bits as black data in three color units of RGB plus temperature data (2 bytes)
te) and ID (2 bytes).

In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 13, five kinds of resolutions (360 × 360 dpi, 180 ×)
180 dpi, 90 × 90 dpi, 200 × 360 dpi
i, 300 × 360 dpi) and four kinds of accumulation time (256 μsec, 320 μsec)
c, 307 μsec, 288 μsec). It has the white reference data for each accumulation time and manages it.

The entire notebook personal computer to which the color scanner unit having the above-mentioned configuration is mounted will be described with reference to FIGS.

FIG. 10 is an external perspective view of the notebook personal computer of this embodiment. The liquid crystal display device 101 has one TFT.
It can be opened and closed with a 1.8-inch color display.
The keyboard 102 can be operated when the liquid crystal display device 101 is opened. Although not shown, the printer / scanner unit is housed in the rear portion of the main body.

FIG. 11 is a block diagram of a notebook computer. AC drive (rated voltage 20
[V], 54 [W]) and nickel-hydrogen secondary batteries (rated voltage 12 [V], 2700 [mA / h]). The built-in functions include a floppy disk controller (FDC) and a hard disk controller (H
DC), keyboard controller (KBC), VGA
There is a controller for peripheral devices such as a controller (VGAC). Further, a built-in printer / scanner is connected by an internal bus.

A printer unit built in the notebook personal computer having the above-mentioned configuration, a color scanner head unit detachable from the printer unit, and a print head
4 and 5 for the unit (described as BJ head)
Will be described.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram. C for printer
PU and controller control 3 motors (for carriage, line feed, auto sheet feed), 4 sensors (home position detection, ASF position detection, paper feed detection, paper discharge detection), color scanner / printing・ Head drive control. The color scanner head unit and the print head unit (also referred to as a print head cartridge) have a configuration in which any one unit and the carriage of the printer unit can be detached. The joint has a contact electrode on the carriage, and is connected by pressure when the head unit is mounted.

As a method of discriminating the mounted head unit, a 2-bit head ID is attached to the carriage contact portion.
After mounting, the head ID is read, the scanner head unit and the print head unit are determined, and the contents of the control pins are made to correspond.

FIG. 5 illustrates the state of attachment to the printer unit.

Reference numeral 10 denotes a detachable scanner head unit which can be replaced with a print head unit 30 for performing recording on a recording medium.

The scanner head unit 10 has the same shape as the print head unit 30 used for printing. 40 is a carriage, a scanner head
There is a contact section for transmitting and receiving a read signal to and from the main body via the connector section of the unit 10.

The read signal is sent to the contact section and the flexible
It is processed by the CPU of the printer unit via the cable 44.

The carriage 40 is provided with a side plate portion 45 of the frame.
Reading is performed by reciprocating along the slide shaft and the slide plate 47 between A and 45B. A drive motor 48 moves the carriage 40 via a belt.

The electrical characteristics of the LED, which is the color scanner light source, in the present embodiment constructed as described above will be described with reference to FIG.

FIG. 6 is a graph showing the relationship between the ambient temperature (Ta) and the relative luminous intensity (Iv). It can be seen that the emission intensity of the LED decreases as the ambient temperature rises.

The printer head is connected to the scanner head unit.
The white reference sheet fed from the unit is stored for 256 storage times.
Figure 9 shows the data that was continuously read in the strong current state at [μsec].
Shown in The horizontal axis represents time (unit: seconds) and represents the time since the LED of the light source was turned on. The vertical axis is the numerical value received by the printer unit when the output from the scanner head unit 10 is expressed in 256 steps. The color scanner head unit 10 of the present embodiment has a reading width of 1
Although it has a 28-pixel configuration, the data included in the data are the 63rd to 66th pixels.

The LED emits heat after lighting, so that the relative light emission intensity is lowered. This change is not in a proportional relationship with time, and obviously changes sharply immediately after light emission.

Considering the reading operation by the color scanner head unit 10, the LED being read is being read.
Light emission from the light source is selectively performed with a high current in order to improve the S / N ratio on the light receiving side, but it is necessary to reduce the power consumption of the main body and LEDs during the return operation when the carriage returns to the home position. Therefore, the lighting of the LED of the light source is prohibited. In this state, the temperature condition when the LED is temperature saturated is the most stable state in terms of temperature. The white reference reading value in this state is “110” in FIG.
It is.

LE during document reading in the same environment
D Preheat control is performed to eliminate output fluctuations due to temperature rise.

The heat balance condition of the image reading state is as follows: [R (strong current / 100% lighting) + G (strong current / 100%)
(Lighting) + B (strong current / 100% lighting)] / 6 = 1 color (strong current / 100% lighting) / 2 After the document reading is in a stable state, the interval until the next reading operation starts is set to this value. In order to maintain the state, it is necessary to consume the power consumption equivalent to that in the reading state by the LED of the light source. The control that does this is heat retention.

As heat retention, heat retention = R, G (weak current / 100% lighting) can be performed under the above conditions.

FIG. 14 shows experimental data obtained in this example. The vertical axis shows LE when preheating is not performed.
This is the output ratio when the D output is 100%, and the horizontal axis is the heat retention condition. On the horizontal axis, the same as the image reading is [1 on 50%], and [R100% PHT3 =
1] is equivalent to the heat retention condition. From this result, LE
The fact that the heat retention is good regardless of the D color (red, blue) is supported.

As for the preheating, all the LEDs that generate heat are turned on so that the heating condition is reached in the shortest time.

According to the data shown in FIG. 9, the output value reaches "110", which is a stable state at the time of reading, about 60 [sec] after the LED light emission. In this embodiment, the preheating time is controlled to 60 seconds, but a thermistor may be provided in the color scanner head unit 10 to control the temperature.

As shown in FIG. 13, the reciprocating speed of the carriage 40 varies depending on the read mode.
Four types are set depending on the relationship between the accumulation time of the s sensor and the existing carriage speed table.

Under the same environment, preheat control can be performed to stably obtain a high quality image.

Next, FIG. 12 is data obtained by using the system of this embodiment to obtain RGB LED outputs and ambient temperature characteristics. The vertical axis is the output ratio when 20 ° C. is 100%, and the horizontal axis is the environmental temperature, which is the output ratio when the white reference is acquired.

From these results, it can be seen that the amount of change in output changes depending on the ambient temperature due to the difference in the materials of the LEDs.

Further, this data is an average value of 14 samples for each color, and since there are some variations in the LED outputs of the same color, it is necessary to apply this characteristic to all temperature ranges and mass-produced products because of error expansion. Since there is a possibility, the following environmental correction control is performed.

1) Temperature information is added to the white reference for each accumulation time, and a temperature range of ± 5 ° C. centered on the acquired white reference temperature is set as an effective temperature range in which the white reference can be used. For, you need another white standard.

2) Manage up to 5 sets of white reference.

3) The peak gain acquisition method at the time of acquiring the white reference is performed using the following formula.

Gw = −L (64 + Gf) + Gf (1) Gf: Peak scan gain Gw: Gain when white reference is obtained L: Red LED = + 0.05 Green LED = + 0.02 Blue LED = 0.00 4) Within the band having a width of ± 5 ° C., the temperature difference of image reading from the white reference acquisition temperature is corrected to the white reference value for each LED color using the following equation.

Red LED: -0.5% / ° C ...... (* 1) Green LED: -0.2% / ° C ...... (* 2) Blue LED: 0.0% / ° C ...... (* 3) The correction of the environmental temperature of the system according to the present embodiment is performed on the driver in a maximum of five sets of white reference and white reference value correction in the ± 5 ° C. band.

FIG. 15 shows white data of an accumulation time of 256 [μsec] when the white reference is acquired by the system of this embodiment.

The vertical axis represents the A / D conversion value after photoelectric conversion (10
The horizontal axis represents 128 pixels, which is the total reading width of the Basis sensor. A mark indicates the output of the red LED, a mark indicates the output of the green LED, and a mark indicates the output of the blue LED.

Depending on the arrangement of the LED light source and the position of the lens, it can be seen that the output is not uniform within 1 to 128 dots, and that the peak positions of the profiles for each color do not match.

The image reading pixels in this embodiment are 33 to
It is performed at a central 64 dot width of 96 dots.

The white reference peak search function in the custom IC of this embodiment will be described.

The white reference value has a 10-bit / 128-pixel data structure for each color, but the peak of the sensor signal output for 128 pixels is detected so that the white data exists in the full A / D range, and the peak value is detected. Is a function to determine the gain of the amplifier before A / D (1 to 5 times gain / control in 256 steps) so that is set to the full range.

When this function is used, the 77th dot indicated by the arrow is detected as a peak in the white profile in blue in FIG. 15, and the gain data is determined so that the output of this dot comes to the peak in the A / D range. To do.

The problem here is that the peak does not exist within 33 to 96 dots for reading an image in the system of the present embodiment.

If the white data subjected to the normal peak search is used, the gain is determined so that the peak value is in the full A / D range.
Considering the image quality at the dot, the gain should be used with the peak from the 32nd to the 97th.
The one whose resolution capability is deteriorated by the ratio of the deviation from the peak will be used.

In the present embodiment, the white reference data in the above-mentioned state is called "irregular white data", and the definition is: "When the peak search of the gain is performed, the target white data peak output value is 33 Does not exist within 〜96 dots. In addition, the difference between the output values is 5% or more. ] L
The cause of the shift of the peak of the ED light source from 33 to 96 dots at the center is due to a shift in the positional accuracy on the LED board and a shift in the mounting of the board and the lens.

In the present embodiment, the following processing is performed so that the above-mentioned deterioration does not occur.

Correction is made according to the following cases 1) and 2).

S1: 33-96 dot in-peak output value S2: 1-32 dot, 97-128 in-dot peak output value 1) When S1 / S2 <0.95, when the above condition is satisfied, the gain is calculated by the following formula. Conversion is performed to determine the gain (Gf).
An optimum white reference value in a 4-dot width is obtained.

Gf = (1−S1 / S2) * (64 + Gs) + Gs (2) Gf: gain of peak scan after gain conversion Gs: gain obtained by peak scan of 128 dots 2) S1 / S2> 0 .95 or S1 / S2 = 0.9
In the case of 5, the white reference is acquired as Gf = Gs.

FIG. 16 shows the structure of the white reference database managed by the driver. In the figure, 16-1 indicates a white reference acquisition number management area, and 16-2 indicates a white reference data area. The white reference acquisition number management area 16-1 includes the white reference acquisition number 16-1-0, the first
Temperatures at the time of acquiring white reference data 16-1-1 ,. . . , Fifth
Temperature 16-1-5 at the time of obtaining white reference data, and 1 for spare
6-6 to 15. The white reference data area 16-2 is
First white reference data ,. . . , And the fifth white reference data. Each of the white reference data includes the number of scans at the time of acquisition and the accumulation time 256 μsec, 320 μsec, and 307 μsec.
c, 288 μsec, and 307 μsec of white reference data, the white reference data of each accumulation time includes red, green, and blue white reference data, and the white reference data of each color includes white data 1 ,. . . , White data 128, black data 1,. . . , Black data 128, gain, ID, and temperature.

FIG. 17 shows interface commands for the computer (hereinafter referred to as the host) of the notebook personal computer body and the built-in printer. FIG. 18 shows a command sequence from the host when the white reference is obtained. FIG. 19 shows a command sequence from the host when the white reference is set.

FIG. 20 is a flowchart showing the white reference acquisition processing of the printer. The process of this flowchart is
This is performed by the CPU of the printer unit.

White reference acquisition designation command ADF from host
When 0H is received, the white reference acquisition processing is started to generate white reference data, and the white reference data is returned to the host according to the command sequence from the host shown in FIG.

First, in step S20-1, the carrier is moved to position A. Then, the gain value is detected in step S20-2, and the offset value and the white reference value are detected in step S20-3. In step S20-4, it is determined whether or not "the target white data peak output value does not exist within 33 to 96 dots when the gain is peak searched, and the difference between the output values is 5% or more". If so, in step S20-5, each gain value is changed and the offset value and the white reference value are detected again according to the above-mentioned formula (2).

Next, the carrier is moved to position B in step S20-6, and the white reference value is detected in step S20-7. In step S20-8, the white reference values at position A and at position B are compared to determine the final value.

Thereafter, the carrier is moved to the home position in step S20-9, the temperature is acquired in step S20-10, the heat retention state is returned in step S20-11, and the process is terminated.

FIG. 21 is a flowchart of the gain value detection processing in step S20-2. First, step S21
At -1, the LED of the corresponding color is turned on, and the gain value is detected 30 times at the corresponding accumulation time and turned off. Then, step S21-2
Then, the determined value is calculated by averaging from the 30 data.
In step S21-3, it is determined whether all four storage times have ended, and this is repeated over all four storage times. Further, in step S21-4, it is determined whether all of R, G and B have been completed, and this is repeated for all of R, G and B. After completing this, in step S21-5, the gain value conversion of the above-described equation (1) is performed in preparation for temperature correction. Complete the process.

FIG. 22 is a flowchart showing the process of detecting the offset value and the white reference value in step S20-3.

First, in step S22-1 the gain value of the corresponding color and the corresponding accumulation time is set in the head. Then step S
At 22-2, the LED is turned off, the offset value is detected, and L
The white reference value is detected while the ED is turned on and the offset value remains in the head, and this is repeated 40 times according to the determination in step S22-3. Thereafter, in step S22-4, the LED is turned off, and the determined value is calculated by averaging for each of the 128 dots.

This series of processing is repeated for all four accumulation times by the determination in step S22-5,
Further, by discriminating it in step S22-6, R,
Repeated processing is completed for all G and B.

FIG. 23 is a flowchart of the white reference detection processing in step S20-7.

First, in step S23-1 the corresponding color, gain value and offset value of the corresponding accumulation time are set in the head. Next, in step S23-2, the LED is turned on to detect a white reference value, and this is repeated 40 times by the determination in step S23-3. After this, in step S23-4, the LED
Is turned off, and the determined value is calculated by averaging for each of the 128 dots.

This series of processing is repeated over all four accumulation times by the determination in step S23-5.
Further, by discriminating it in step S23-6, R,
Repeated processing is completed for all G and B.

FIG. 24 is a flowchart for replacing a head unit (cartridge).

First, a unit to be replaced is selected in step S24-1. Then, in step S24-2, the scanner
Determine whether the head unit has been selected. If not a scanner head unit, step S24-3
Specify the setting items for the print head with. If it is a scanner head unit, it is designated in step S24-4 whether to replace with a new unit or a unit in use.

Next, in step S24-5, the unit is replaced. For unit replacement, the unit replacement start command D0
00H to make the unit replaceable, and when the replacement work is completed, the unit replacement end command D00
1H is issued to complete the unit replacement.

After the replacement of the unit, it is confirmed in step S24-6 whether the new product or the new product specified in advance is confirmed by the user.

Thus, the unit replacement is completed.

FIG. 25 is a flowchart of a driver white reference acquisition / setting process before scanning starts.

First, in step S25-1, it is determined from the information file settings whether the unit is a new unit. If it is a new product, the white reference database is initialized in step S25-2, and the process proceeds to the white reference acquisition processing. If not new, step S
In step 25-3, it is determined whether the white reference data is stored in the database. If it is not stored, the process proceeds to white reference acquisition processing. If it is stored, the current temperature and the temperature at the time of acquisition are compared in step S25-4 to determine whether the difference is less than 11 degrees.
In 5-5, it is determined whether or not the next data exists, and data having a temperature difference of less than 11 degrees is sequentially searched from the latest white reference data. If not found, the process proceeds to white reference acquisition processing.

When data having a temperature difference of less than 11 degrees is found, the current total number of scans is compared with the number of scans at the time of acquisition in step S25-6 to determine whether 100 or more scans have been performed since the time of acquisition. If it has been scanned 100 times or more, the process proceeds to the white reference acquisition process. If it is less than 100, the white reference value is read from the white reference database in step S25-7, and the process proceeds to the white reference setting process.

FIG. 26 is a flow chart of the white reference value acquisition processing of the driver.

First, a white reference acquisition request dialog box is displayed in step S26-1. Then feed command 9
FF1H is issued and white reference paper is fed.

When the white reference paper is fed, step S26
At -3, a white reference acquisition command is issued. The white reference acquisition command follows the command sequence shown in FIG. Upon receiving the white reference acquisition command, the printer performs white reference acquisition processing as described above, and acquires a white reference value for each accumulation time.

Until the printer finishes the white reference acquisition processing and returns the white reference value data, a white reference acquisition modeless dialog box is displayed in step S26-4. Step S
The timer is started in 26-5, and the determination as to whether or not the acquisition process has been completed is repeated in step S26-6.

When the acquisition process is completed, step S26-7
Issue a discharge command 9FF0H to discharge the white reference sheet. The data received from the printer in step S26-8 is stored in the white reference database, and the data is stored in step S26-
In step 9, the modeless dialog box during white reference value acquisition is discarded, and the process proceeds to the white reference value setting process.

FIG. 27 is a flowchart of the white reference value setting process of the driver.

First, in step S27-1, white reference data of an accumulation time (corresponding to resolution) corresponding to a designated reading mode among the reading modes shown in FIG. 13 is prepared. Then, in step S27-2, reading is in color mode or Mono
Whether it is the mode or not, and if it is Mono, step S27-
Correct the value corresponding to green in 3 and red for color,
Correct the values corresponding to green and blue. The correction follows the above formulas (* 1) (* 2) (* 3). Step S27-5
To determine whether the carrier sheet is selected,
If it is selected, it is corrected to 93% of the white reference value prepared in step S27-6. The white reference value thus prepared is set by issuing a white reference setting command in step S27-7. The white reference setting command complies with the command sequence shown in FIG. Upon receiving the command, the printer sets the received white reference value in the head.

Thus, the setting of the white reference value is completed.

As described above, according to this embodiment,
Even if the scanner head unit is replaced, stable high-quality images can be read. Further, a high-quality image can be read without being affected by the ambient temperature and the reading mode.

(Other Embodiments) When mounting the scanner head unit, there are the following methods for setting white reference data.

A circuit (not shown) is provided in the scanner head unit so that the serial number can be read so that each head can be specified. At the time of unit replacement, this serial number is read and set in the information file.

The serial number of the head at the time of acquisition is also stored in the white reference database, and the serial number set in the information file is compared with the serial number of the database when the white reference is acquired and set. If they do not match, the database is initialized and the white reference is acquired.

When replacing the scanner head unit, an identification number for specifying each head is set in the information file by a user operation. This identification number is stored together with the white reference database. When acquiring and setting the white reference, use the database that matches the identification number set in the information file. If there is no matching database, create a new one.

The white reference value is acquired when the cartridge is replaced. The white reference value profile is compared with the white reference value profile stored in the white reference database. For example, if the variance of the difference between the values for each dot is less than or equal to a certain value, it is regarded as the same head. If it is regarded as a different head, a new database is created, and if not, the acquired white reference value is saved in the corresponding database. Set the mounted head database in the information file. The database set in the information file is used to acquire and set the white reference.

[0125]

As described above, according to the present invention,
Even if the scanner head unit is replaced, stable high-quality images can be read.

Further, a high-quality image can be read without being affected by the ambient temperature.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a color scanner head unit.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the arrangement of optical system components.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a general document reading apparatus.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a main part of the embodiment.

[Fig. 5] Scanner head unit, print head
Illustration of mounting the unit

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing Iv-Ta characteristics of an LED.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a configuration of a color scanner head unit.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an LED drive circuit;

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing output characteristics when LEDs are continuously turned on.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of an embodiment.

FIG. 11 is a block diagram of an embodiment.

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing RGB LED output vs. environmental temperature characteristics.

FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an image reading mode.

FIG. 14 shows heat retention data.

FIG. 15 is a diagram showing an RGB white reference profile.

FIG. 16 is a diagram showing a structure of a white reference database managed by a driver.

FIG. 17 shows an interface command between the host and the built-in printer.

FIG. 18 is a diagram showing a command sequence from a host when a white reference is obtained.

FIG. 19 is a diagram showing a command sequence from the host when the white reference is set.

FIG. 20 is a flowchart showing white reference acquisition processing.

FIG. 21 is a flowchart showing a gain value detection process.

FIG. 22 is a flowchart showing a process of detecting an offset value and a white reference value.

FIG. 23 is a flowchart showing a white reference value detection process.

FIG. 24 is a flowchart of a unit replacement process.

FIG. 25: Acquisition of white reference of driver before starting scanning,
Setting process flowchart

FIG. 26 is a flowchart of a driver's white reference acquisition process.

FIG. 27 is a flowchart of setting a white reference of a driver.

[Explanation of symbols]

 10 Print head unit 30 Scanner head unit 40 Carriage

Claims (8)

[Claims] 1. A printer / scanner device in which a detachable scanner head unit is mounted on a carriage of a printer to obtain a scanner function, and defines a value of the whitest data obtained by actual measurement. Storage means for storing white reference data for the scanner head unit used for the measurement and the ambient environment temperature at the time of the measurement,
A discriminating means for discriminating that the scanner head unit used for the measurement is mounted on the carriage at the time of replacing the unit; and storing the memory when discriminating the mounting of the scanner head unit used for the measurement by the discriminating means. Control means for controlling the white reference data of the means to be set in the scanner head unit. 2. The printer / scanner device according to claim 1, wherein the determination means performs the determination based on an input from a user. 3. The printer / scanner apparatus according to claim 1, wherein an identification means for identifying each unit is provided in the scanner head unit, and the identification means makes the identification by said identification means. 4. The discriminating means measures white reference data using the attached scanner head unit, and compares the white reference data with the white reference data stored in the storage means to determine. A printer / scanner device. 5. The printer / printer according to claim 4, wherein the comparison of the data is based on a variance of a value difference for each dot.
Scanner device. 6. An information processing apparatus comprising the printer / scanner device according to claim 1. 7. The information processing apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the information processing apparatus is a notebook personal computer. 8. A printer / scanner device in which a detachable scanner head unit is mounted on a carriage of a printer to obtain a scanner function, for defining the value of the whitest data actually measured and obtained. The white reference data is stored in association with the scanner head unit used for the measurement and the ambient temperature at the time of the measurement, and is stored when the scanner head unit used for the measurement is mounted on the carriage. A data setting method in a printer / scanner device, wherein white reference data set in the printer / scanner device is set.