JPH11105322A - Thermal recording system, information operation apparatus and recording medium containing program to be executed by computer - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a thermal recording system, an information operation apparatus and a recording medium containing a program to be executed by a computer capable of providing a high quality image in a low cost structure. SOLUTION: This thermal recording system comprises a personal computer 1 for outputting print data to be printed and a sublimation type printer 3 for printing the outputted print data by means of a thermal head having heating resistors. The personal computer 2 stores resistance value data of the heating resistors on the thermal head in a hard disk drive and generates correction print data by correcting print data to be printed based on the stored resistance value data to output it to the sublimation type printer 3. The printer 3 receives the correction print data outputted from the computer 2 and executes the printing by heating the heating resistors on the thermal head based on the received correction print data.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to a thermal recording system,
Regarding the information processing device and the thermal recording device, and a recording medium storing a computer-executable program,
In detail, a thermal recording system that prints print data sent from an information processing device such as a personal computer by using thermal energy in a thermal recording device, the information processing device, and a program executable by a computer are stored. Related to a recorded medium.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art For example, a thermal head, which is a thermal recording apparatus, has heating resistive elements formed at equal intervals on a line, and performs recording using Joule heat generated by the heating resistive elements. Recording with a thermal head can be broadly classified into a thermal recording method and a thermal transfer method. It has many features such as a simple structure, excellent maintainability and operability, no noise, and low cost and high reliability. . Since recording can be performed from monochrome to color, the applications are expanding, and for this reason, it is widely used for facsimile machines, ticket vending machines, personal computers, videos, electronic blackboards, recording of OA related equipment, various printers, and the like.

For example, using this thermal head,
In a printer capable of gradation recording such as a sublimation printer, a variation in the resistance value of the heating resistor element of the thermal head in the thermal head appears as a difference in printing energy, and density unevenness occurs in a printed image. There's a problem.

FIG. 10 shows a configuration of a conventional thermal recording system. The thermal recording system shown in FIG. 10 includes a personal computer 100 that sends out image data to be printed, an image data sent out from the personal computer 100, and performs a thermal correction operation on the image data to perform printing. And a sublimation printer 200.

Next, the configuration of the sublimation printer 200 will be described in detail. The sublimation printer 200 is connected to the PC 100
An interface for receiving RGB color image data transmitted through an interface such as SI or Centronics.
/ F201 and an RGB → YMC conversion unit 202 for converting RGB color image data into YMC color image data
A thermal correction operation unit 203 that performs a series of thermal correction operations on the color image data, and a binary 25 that allows the thermal head 205 to print the corrected image data that has been subjected to the thermal correction operation.
The thermal head 205 converts the data into 6-level gradation data.
Head drive circuit 20 for driving the head by generating heat
4 and a thermal head 205 for printing the corrected image data on transfer paper or the like.

The thermal correction operation unit 203 converts a γ of color image data into a γ conversion unit 203 and an adjacent pixel correction operation unit 204 performs an adjacent pixel correction operation on color image data.
Correction unit 205 for correcting the history of color image data
A rising / falling correction calculating unit 206 for correcting the rising / falling of the color image data; and a head resistance value calculating unit 207 for correcting the head resistance value of the color image data.
And

In the thermal recording system having the above configuration, the personal computer 100 is installed on the sublimation printer 200 side.
A thermal correction operation is performed on the image data sent from the computer using dedicated hardware to improve the image quality.

[0008]

However, in the above-described conventional thermal recording system, the heat correction calculation of the image data is performed by the heat correction calculation unit 203 of the sublimation printer 200. The unit 203 is RO
It is composed of hardware such as an M, a RAM, and a gate array, has a complicated and large-scale circuit configuration, and has a problem of increasing the cost of the sublimation printer.

Further, as described above, since the heat correction calculation unit 203 is constituted by hardware, there is a problem that it takes a very long time to tune the coefficients used for the heat correction calculation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and has been made in view of the above circumstances. It is an object of the present invention to provide a recording medium in which is stored.

[0011]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a thermal recording system, comprising: an information processing apparatus for transmitting print data to be printed; A thermal recording device that prints using the thermal recording device, wherein the information processing device corrects the print data to be printed according to a thermal recording characteristic of the recording device to generate corrected print data. Print data correcting means, and sending means for sending the generated print data to the thermal recording device, wherein the thermal recording device receives the sent corrected print data, And printing means for printing the corrected print data.

In the present specification, the thermal recording characteristics include output characteristics (including γ characteristics) and thermal characteristics (including thermal fluctuations) of a thermal recording apparatus. When the thermal head is used, it includes the output characteristics of the thermal head and the resistance value characteristics (including the variation and fluctuation of the resistance value) of the heating resistor constituting the thermal head.

That is, according to the thermal recording system of the first aspect, the information processing apparatus corrects print data to be printed according to the thermal recording characteristics of the thermal recording apparatus to generate corrected print data. Transferred to the thermal recording device,
Since the corrected print data is printed, a circuit for correcting the print data in the thermal recording device is not required, and the circuit configuration of the thermal recording device can be simplified and the cost can be reduced. The cost of the thermal recording system including the recording device can be reduced. As a result, a high-quality printed image can be obtained with a low-cost thermal recording system.

The thermal recording system according to claim 2 is
In a thermal recording system, comprising: an information processing device that sends print data to be printed; and a thermal recording device that prints the sent print data by a thermal head including a heating resistor element, wherein the information processing device comprises: Storage means for storing resistance value data of the heating resistance element of the head; and correcting the printing data to be printed based on the stored resistance value data of the heating resistance element of the thermal head to generate corrected printing data. Print data correction means, and transmission means for sending the generated corrected print data to the recording device, the thermal recording device, receiving means for receiving the sent correction image data, the received And printing means for printing the corrected print data by causing the heating resistor element of the thermal head to generate heat.

In other words, according to the thermal recording system of the present invention, the information processing apparatus is adapted to perform the following processing in accordance with the resistance value data of the heating resistance element of the thermal head stored in the storage means.
The print data to be printed is corrected, corrected print data is generated and transferred to the thermal recording device. The thermal print device prints the corrected print data. Is unnecessary, the circuit configuration of the thermal recording device can be simplified and the cost can be reduced, and the thermal recording system including the information processing device and the thermal recording device can be reduced in cost. As a result, a high-quality printed image can be obtained with a low-cost thermal recording system irrespective of the variation in the resistance value of the heating resistor element of the thermal head.

The thermal recording system according to claim 3 is
In a thermal recording system comprising: an information processing device that sends print data to be printed; and a thermal recording device that prints the sent print data by a thermal head including a heating resistor element, the information processing device includes: Receiving means for receiving the resistance value data of the heating resistance element of the thermal head transmitted from the recording apparatus; storage means for storing the received resistance value data of the heating resistance element of the thermal head; and the stored thermal head Print data correcting means for correcting the print data to be printed based on the resistance value data of the heating resistor element to generate corrected print data, and transmitting the generated corrected print data to the thermal recording device Means, wherein the thermal recording device comprises: a resistance value measuring means for measuring a resistance value of a heating resistor element of the thermal head; Transmitting means for transmitting resistance value data of the heating resistance element of the thermal head, receiving means for receiving correction print data sent from the information processing device, and transmitting the received correction print data to the heating resistance element of the thermal head. And printing means for printing by heating.

That is, according to the thermal recording system of the third aspect, in the thermal recording apparatus, the resistance value of the heating resistor element of the thermal head is measured, and the measured resistance value data is transferred to the thermal recording apparatus. The information processing device corrects the print data to be printed based on the received resistance value data of the heating resistor element of the thermal head, generates corrected print data and transfers the corrected print data to the thermal recording device. Since the print data is printed, a correction circuit for the print data in the thermal recording device is not required, and the circuit configuration of the thermal recording device can be simplified and the cost can be reduced. Can reduce the cost of the thermal recording system. In addition, since the thermal recording device measures the resistance value of the heating resistor element of the thermal head and transmits the measured resistance value data to the information processing device, the resistance value of the heating resistor element of the thermal head is measured over time. Regardless of the variation, a high-quality printed image can be obtained. As a result, a high-quality printed image can be obtained with a low-cost thermal recording system irrespective of the variation in the resistance value of the heating resistor element of the thermal head.

Further, the thermal recording system according to claim 4 is:
4. The thermal recording system according to claim 1, wherein the print data correction unit performs color conversion of print data of a color to be printed into a color form according to a color reproduction characteristic of the thermal recording apparatus. Color conversion means, the color-converted print data, the color-converted print data, γ conversion means for γ conversion according to the print output characteristics of the thermal recording device,
An adjacent pixel correction operation unit that performs adjacent pixel correction on each pixel data of the γ-converted print data based on adjacent pixel data of each pixel; and stores each pixel data of the adjacent pixel corrected print data on a previous line. History correction calculating means for correcting the history based on the pixel data in the vicinity, rising and falling correction calculating means for correcting the rise and fall of each pixel data of the print data subjected to the history correction, and calculating the rise and fall. Thermal correction calculating means for correcting each pixel data of the corrected print data based on the resistance value data of the heating resistor element of the thermal head stored in the storage means to generate corrected print data. Things.

That is, according to the thermal recording system of the fourth aspect, in the thermal recording system according to any one of the first to third aspects, the print data correction means of the information processing apparatus includes: The print data is color-converted into a color form according to the color reproduction characteristics of the thermal recording device, and the color-converted print data is γ-converted according to the print output characteristics of the thermal recording device,
Each pixel data of the γ-converted print data is subjected to adjacent pixel correction based on the adjacent pixel data of each pixel, and each pixel data of the print data subjected to the adjacent pixel correction is recorded based on the pixel data in the vicinity of the previous line. The rising and falling of each pixel data of the corrected print data is corrected based on the resistance value data of the heating resistive element of the thermal head. Then, the corrected print data is generated by the heat correction, so that the information processing apparatus can generate the print data suitable for the characteristics of the thermal recording apparatus.

Further, the thermal recording system according to claim 5 is:
In the thermal recording system according to any one of claims 1 to 4, the information processing device is a personal computer.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a recording medium storing a computer-executable program according to the first aspect.
A program for causing a computer to function as each unit of the information processing apparatus according to any one of the above-described items is stored.

That is, according to the recording medium storing the computer-executable program according to the sixth aspect, the CPU of the information processing device executes the program stored in the recording medium, thereby enabling the thermal recording device to execute the program. It is possible to generate print data suitable for the characteristics.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, there is provided an information processing apparatus for transmitting image data to be printed to a thermal recording apparatus for printing print data using thermal energy. A print data correction unit that corrects the print data to be printed according to recording characteristics to generate corrected print data; and a sending unit that sends the generated print data to the thermal recording device. It is.

That is, according to the information processing apparatus of the present invention, print data to be printed is corrected in accordance with the thermal recording characteristics of the thermal recording apparatus, corrected print data is generated, and transferred to the thermal recording apparatus. This eliminates the need for a print data correction circuit on the thermal recording device side, thereby simplifying the circuit configuration of the thermal recording device and making it possible to construct the thermal recording device at low cost.

[0025]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Preferred embodiments of a thermal recording system, an information processing apparatus thereof, and a recording medium storing a computer-executable program according to the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. explain.

FIG. 1 shows the configuration of a thermal recording system according to the present embodiment. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a thermal recording system. The thermal recording system 1 generates image data to be printed and corrects the print data according to the thermal recording characteristics of a thermal head of the sublimation printer 3. A personal computer 2 that generates corrected print data by performing an operation and sends the corrected print data to the sublimation printer 3, and a sublimation printer 3 that receives and prints the corrected print data sent from the personal computer 2. It is configured.

Next, a detailed configuration of the personal computer will be described. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a detailed configuration of the personal computer 2 in FIG.

As shown in FIG. 2, the personal computer 2 has an input section 21 for giving operation instructions, an I / F 22 for performing data communication, a display section 23, and a CPU 24 for controlling the entire apparatus of the personal computer 2. And the CP
A hard disk 25 storing various control programs for operating the U 24, a disk controller 26 for reading / writing data from / on the hard disk 25, and C
And a RAM 27 used as a work area of the PU 24.

The input section 21 is composed of a keyboard having a cursor key, numeral input keys, various function keys, and the like, a mouse, a scanner for reading an image, and the like, and is a user interface for an operator to give an operation instruction to the CPU 24. is there.

The I / F 22 has an interface such as SCSI or Centronics, and performs data communication with the sublimation printer 3 and the like.

The display unit 23 is composed of a CRT, an LCD, or the like, and performs display according to display data input from the CPU 24. The display unit 23 displays necessary information when creating image data or transferring print data to the sublimation printer 3.

The CPU 24 is a central control unit for controlling the entire apparatus according to various control programs stored in the hard disk 25. The CPU 24 has an input unit 21, an I / F 22, a display unit 23, The device 26 and the RAM 27 are connected to each other. Data communication, reading of an application program by accessing the memory, reading / writing of various data,
Controls data / command input, display, etc.

The hard disk 25 stores various control programs for operating the CPU 24 and parameter data used for the processing. The control program includes, for example, an application program for creating print data for inputting / editing characters and images, and converting print data into print data in a form suitable for the sublimation printer 3. There is a print driver program for sending. These control programs are stored in the hard disk 25 in the form of object codes or source codes that can be interpreted directly or indirectly by the CPU 24.
Is stored in

The hard disk 25 has a γ having characteristics as shown in FIG. 3 used in the print driver program.
The conversion table is stored as data (digitized). The gamma conversion table shown in FIG. 3 defines a characteristic curve between input data and output data when printing is performed by the sublimation printer 3. When the input data is converted based on the γ conversion table, the brightness characteristic or the density characteristic of the output image printed by the sublimation printer 3 becomes linear. Further, the hard disk 25 stores resistance value data of the heating resistance elements constituting the thermal head transmitted from the sublimation printer 3.

The recording medium for storing the control program is not limited to the above-mentioned hard disk, but may be another storage medium. For example, a CD-R
An optical recording medium such as an OM, a magnetic storage medium such as a floppy disk, or an electric recording medium such as a PC card may be used.

The RAM 27 has a work memory for storing designated control programs, input instructions, input data, processing results, and the like, and a display memory for temporarily storing display data to be displayed on the display screen of the display unit 22. ing.

Next, a detailed configuration of the sublimation printer 3 will be described. FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a detailed configuration of the sublimation printer 3 of FIG.

As shown in FIG. 4, the sublimation printer 3 has an I / F for performing data communication with the personal computer 2.
31, and the received corrected print data
A thermal head drive circuit 32 that converts the data into printable binary 256-level gradation data and generates heat by driving the thermal head 33, and a thermal head 33 that prints corrected print data on transfer paper or the like. It is composed of

The thermal head drive circuit 32 includes:
Although not shown, a CPU that controls each part of the thermal head drive circuit 32, a ROM that stores a control program to be executed by the CPU, an image memory that stores received correction print data, and a thermal head 33 that stores the correction print data Is provided with a data generation unit for converting into binary 256-level gradation data that can be printed. The thermal head drive circuit 32 includes a print mode in which a normal print operation is performed, and a heating resistor element R of the thermal head 33.
The CPU includes a resistance value measurement mode for measuring the resistance values of x1 to Rxn, and the CPU controls operations in the print mode and the resistance value measurement mode.

The thermal head 33 is provided for each of C, M, and Y. For example, the heating resistance elements Rx1 to Rxn and the heating resistance elements Rx1 to Rx1 which are formed in a line at equal intervals are provided.
A drive IC including a switching transistor for driving Rxn, a shift register, a latch circuit, and an AND gate, etc., and these drive ICs and the heating resistance elements Rx1 to Rxn are mounted on the same base. . This thermal head has heating resistance elements Rx1 to Rx.
The sublimation ribbon is sublimated by Joule heat generated in n and is transferred to recording paper.

Next, the printing operation of the thermal recording system having the above configuration will be described. FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the procedure of the printing operation of the thermal recording system. Hereinafter, the printing operation of the thermal recording system will be described with reference to FIG.

First, when the power of the personal computer 2 and the sublimation printer 3 is turned on, the personal computer 2 and the sublimation printer 3 perform initialization processing (steps S1 and P1). Subsequently, in the sublimation printer 3, the thermal head drive circuit 32 executes the resistance measurement mode, and the thermal head 3
The measurement of the resistance value of each of the three heating resistance elements Rx1 to Rxn is performed (step P2). The method of measuring the resistance value of the heating resistance element may be a known method, and thus detailed description is omitted here. For example, the heating resistance elements Rx1 to Rx1 of the thermal head 33 connected to the constant current source are omitted. Rx n
May be sequentially turned on one element at a time, a voltage value generated in the heating resistor element Rx may be measured, and the resistance values of the heating resistor elements Rx1 to Rxn may be calculated based on the voltage value.

Then, the sublimation printer 3 transmits the measured data of the resistance value of each heating resistance element to the personal computer 2 via the I / F 31 (step P).
3). The personal computer 2 receives the data of the resistance value of each heating resistor element via the I / F 22 (Step S2) and stores it in the hard disk 25 (Step S3).

Next, in the personal computer 2, when an application program for creating print data is designated by the user operating the input unit 21 (step S4), the CPU 24 activates the designated application program (step S4). Step S5).

Then, on this application program, print data is created by the user operating the input unit 21 (step S5). For example, when desired image data (for example, image data of 8 bits / color per pixel in RGB) stored in the hard disk 25 is specified as print data by an operation of the input unit 21 by the user, the CPU The designated image data is read out of the RAM 25 and expanded on the RAM 27 and displayed on the display unit 23.

Subsequently, when a print command for the print data is issued by the user operating the input unit 21 (step S7), the CPU 24 executes a print data correction process in accordance with the printer driver program (step S7).
8).

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the specific processing contents of the print data correction processing. Hereinafter, the print data correction processing will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

First, the CPU 24 converts RGB print data into YMC print data which is a color form suitable for the sublimation printer 3 (step S81). Specifically, 1
For example, Y = 255-B, M = 255-
G, C = 255-R, etc., are converted into Y, M, C reduced color mixed data.

Next, based on the γ-conversion table (see FIG. 3), the CPU 24 sets the Y, M, Y and M values so that the brightness characteristics or the density characteristics of the output image printed by the sublimation printer 3 are linear with respect to the input data. The print data of each color C is γ-converted (step S82).

Next, the CPU 24 calculates the γ-converted Y,
An adjacent pixel correction operation is performed on each of the M and C print data (step S83). Specifically, as shown in FIG.
For the pixel data D-2, D-1, D + 1, and D + 2, for example, two pixels on both sides adjacent to the target pixel data D in the main scanning direction of the thermal head 12, predetermined weighting factors a and b are set. Then, a value obtained by multiplying the adjacent data by this weighting factor and a value obtained by multiplying a difference between the pixel of interest D and a contribution factor C by the addition are added to the current pixel data of interest D.
That is, when the corrected pixel data of interest is D ', an adjacent pixel correction calculation as in the following equation (1) is performed.

[0051]

(Equation 1)

By performing the above adjacent pixel correction operation,
If the adjacent pixel data is not large, increasing the amount of pixel data of interest increases the reproducibility of minute areas such as thin lines parallel to the main scanning direction of the thermal head 33, that is, parallel to the sub-scanning direction. Can be improved.

Next, the CPU 24 performs a history pixel correction operation on each of the Y, M, and C print data on which the adjacent correction operation has been performed (step S84). Specifically, as shown in FIG. 8, the thermal head 33
, For example, the pixel data D-3 ′, D
-4 'and D-5', weight factors d and e are set,
The difference between the history data (D-3 ', D-4', D-5 ') multiplied by this weighting factor and the difference between the pixel of interest D'
The value multiplied by the contribution coefficient f is added to the current pixel data of interest. That is, when the target pixel data after the correction is D '', a history pixel correction calculation as in the following equation (2) is performed.

[0054]

(Equation 2)

By performing the above-described history pixel correction calculation,
The reproducibility of a minute area such as a thin line portion parallel to the main scanning direction of the thermal head 33 can be improved.

Next, the CPU 24 performs a rising / falling correction operation on each of the Y, M, and C print data on which the history correction operation has been performed (step S85). In particular,
As shown in FIG. 9, a predetermined time constant A and a correction coefficient g are set for the target pixel Dn ″, the target pixel data after correction is set to D ′ ″, and the rising edge as shown in the following equation (3) is obtained. Performs fall correction calculation.

[0057]

(Equation 3)

By performing the rising / falling correction calculation, it is possible to improve the dullness of the rising portion of the image and the tailing of the falling portion.

Next, the CPU 24 performs a head resistance value correction operation on each of the Y, M, and C image data on which the above-described rise and fall correction operation has been performed (step S8).
6). Here, for example, if the resistance value data of a certain heating element is Rx, the printing voltage of the sublimation printer 3 is VH, and the printing pulse width per gradation is τ, the printing energy E is given by the following equation (4). Can be represented as

[0060]

(Equation 4)

As shown in the above equation (4), the print image unevenness due to the variation of E with respect to the variation of the resistance value data Rx of the heating element is proportional to Rx, so that the pixel data D ′ ″ is determined based on Rx. Is corrected to generate corrected print data.

Next, the CPU 24 transmits the corrected print data to the sublimation printer 3 via the I / F 22 (step S9). When the corrected print data is received via the I / F 31 (step P4), the thermal head drive circuit 32 of the sublimation printer 3 converts the corrected print data into binary 256-level gradation data that can be printed by the thermal head 33. In addition to the conversion, the thermal head 33 is heated to melt the sublimation ribbon, thereby printing the corrected print data (Step P5).

As described above, in the present embodiment, the sublimation printer 3
In accordance with the print recording characteristics of the sublimation printer 3, the correction data is generated by correcting the print data and transferred to the sublimation printer 3, and the sublimation printer 3 is configured to print the corrected print data. The circuit configuration can be simplified, the sublimation printer 3 can be configured at low cost, and the thermal recording system 1 including the personal computer 2 and the sublimation printer 3 can be reduced in cost.

In other words, the heat correction calculation conventionally performed by hardware or calculation means such as a CPU or a DSP inside the sublimation printer is performed by the personal computer 2.
The sublimation printer can be constructed at low cost, and the thermal recording system including the personal computer and the sublimation printer can be reduced in cost.

In addition, in the present embodiment, the sublimation printer 3 may be used in a different manner, the coefficient of each correction operation for improving the image quality may be changed, or the correction algorithm itself may be changed. What was impossible at all if the correction was performed by the built-in hardware of the printer, etc., can be changed very easily because only the software of the personal computer needs to be changed.

In the present embodiment, the sublimation printer 3 measures the resistance value of the heating resistor element of the thermal head 33 and transfers the resistance value measurement data to the personal computer 2. When printing, the print data is corrected based on the resistance value measurement data.
A high quality printed image can be obtained without correcting the printing energy (applied voltage) applied to the thermal head 33.

In this embodiment, the sublimation printer 3 executes the resistance value measurement mode when the power is turned on, measures the resistance value of the heating resistor element of the thermal head 33, and measures the resistance value. Transfer data to personal computer 2
When printing, the personal computer 2 corrects the print data based on the measured resistance value data, so that the personal computer 2 responds to the temporal change in the resistance value of the heating resistance element of the thermal head 33. And high quality printing is possible.

In the above-described embodiment, when the power of the sublimation printer 3 is turned on, the resistance value measurement mode is executed.
The resistance value of each heating resistance element of the thermal head 33 is measured and transmitted to the personal computer 2. The execution of the resistance value measurement mode is not limited to the time when the power is turned on. Alternatively, a configuration may be adopted in which the resistance value measurement mode is executed to measure the resistance value of each heating resistance element of the thermal head 33 and transmit the measured resistance value to the personal computer 2. With such a configuration, it is possible to cope with a temporal change in the resistance value of the heating resistor element of the thermal head 33, and it is possible to print with higher image quality.

Also, in the present embodiment, when the power of the sublimation printer 3 is turned on, the resistance value measurement mode is executed,
The configuration is such that the resistance value of each heating resistance element of the thermal head 33 is measured and transmitted to the personal computer 2. However, the above-described printer driver program includes the heat generation of each thermal head individually for each sublimation printer (for each model). The resistance value data of the resistance element may be written, and the above-described head resistance value correction processing may be executed based on the resistance value data. In this case, there is an effect that it is not necessary to execute the resistance measurement mode in the sublimation printer.

The algorithm of the print data correction process, the number of reference pixels, and the reference method according to the present embodiment are merely examples, and the present invention is, of course, not limited thereto.

In the present embodiment, the personal computer has been described as an example. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and is applicable to, for example, a workstation or a mobile computer. That is, the present invention is of course applicable to all information processing apparatuses that send print data and print it.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, a sublimation printer has been described as an example. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and is applicable to other thermal recording devices and thermal recording devices. Of course.

The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, but can be implemented with appropriate modifications without departing from the spirit of the invention.

[0074]

As described above, according to the thermal recording system according to the first aspect, the information processing device corrects the print data to be printed according to the thermal recording characteristics of the thermal recording device. Since the print data is generated and transferred to the thermal recording device, and the corrected print data is printed by the thermal recording device, a correction circuit for the print data in the thermal recording device becomes unnecessary, and the circuit configuration of the thermal recording device is eliminated. Can be simplified and configured at low cost, and the cost of the thermal recording system including the information processing device and the thermal recording device can be reduced. As a result, a high-quality printed image can be obtained with a low-cost thermal recording system.

According to the thermal recording system of the present invention, the information processing apparatus corrects the print data to be printed according to the resistance value data of the heating resistor element of the thermal head stored in the storage means. The corrected print data is generated and transferred to the thermal recording device, and the corrected print data is printed by the thermal recording device. Can be simplified and can be configured at low cost, and a thermal recording system including an information processing device and a thermal recording device can be reduced in cost. As a result, a high-quality printed image can be obtained with a low-cost thermal recording system irrespective of the variation in the resistance value of the heating resistor element of the thermal head.

According to the thermal recording system of the third aspect, in the thermal recording apparatus, the resistance value of the heating resistance element of the thermal head is measured, and the measured resistance value data is transferred to the thermal recording apparatus. The information processing device corrects the print data to be printed based on the received resistance value data of the heating resistor element of the thermal head, generates corrected print data and transfers the corrected print data to the thermal recording device. Since the print data is printed, a correction circuit for the print data in the thermal recording device is not required, and the circuit configuration of the thermal recording device can be simplified and the cost can be reduced. Can reduce the cost of the thermal recording system. In addition, since the thermal recording device measures the resistance value of the heating resistor element of the thermal head and transmits the measured resistance value data to the information processing device, the resistance value of the heating resistor element of the thermal head is measured over time. Despite fluctuations,
It is possible to obtain a high quality printed image. as a result,
With a low-cost thermal recording system, a high-quality printed image can be obtained regardless of the variation in the resistance value of the heating resistor element of the thermal head.

According to the thermal recording system of the fourth aspect, in the thermal recording system according to any one of the first to third aspects, the print data correction means of the information processing apparatus may include:
The print data of the color to be printed is color-converted into a color form according to the color reproduction characteristics of the thermal recording device, and the color-converted print data is γ-converted and γ-converted according to the thermal recording characteristics of the thermal recording device. Each pixel data of the print data obtained, the adjacent pixel correction is performed based on the adjacent pixel data of each pixel, and each pixel data of the print data subjected to the adjacent pixel correction is history corrected based on the pixel data near the previous line, Correct the rise and fall of each pixel data of the print data that has been history corrected,
Each pixel data of the print data whose rise and fall have been corrected is corrected based on the resistance value data of the heating resistor element of the thermal head to generate corrected print data. It is possible to generate print data suitable for the characteristics of the thermal recording device.

According to the thermal recording system of the fifth aspect, in the thermal recording system of any one of the first to fourth aspects, the information processing apparatus is a personal computer. In addition, it is possible to generate print data suitable for the characteristics of the thermal recording device.

According to the recording medium storing the computer-executable program according to the sixth aspect, the CPU of the information processing apparatus executes the program stored in the recording medium, so that the CPU of the information recording apparatus executes the program. It is possible to generate print data suitable for the characteristics.

According to the information processing apparatus of the present invention, the print data to be printed is corrected in accordance with the thermal recording characteristics of the thermal recording apparatus, and corrected print data is generated and transferred to the thermal recording apparatus. This eliminates the need for a print data correction circuit on the thermal recording device side, simplifies the circuit configuration of the thermal recording device, and makes it possible to configure the thermal recording device at low cost.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of a thermal recording system according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a detailed configuration of the personal computer of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating characteristics of a γ table.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a detailed configuration of the sublimation printer of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a procedure of a printing operation of the thermal recording system of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing specific processing contents of a print data correction processing.

FIG. 7 is a diagram for explaining an adjacent pixel correction operation.

FIG. 8 is a diagram for explaining a history pixel correction operation.

FIG. 9 is a diagram for explaining a rise and fall correction calculation.

FIG. 10 is a diagram for explaining a conventional thermal recording system.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Thermal recording system 2 Personal computer 3 Sublimation printer 21 Input part 22 I / F 23 Display part 24 CPU 25 Hard disk 26 Disk controller 27 RAM 31 I / F 32 Thermal head drive circuit 33 Thermal head

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. A thermal recording system comprising: an information processing device that sends print data to be printed; and a thermal recording device that prints the sent print data using thermal energy. A print data correction unit configured to correct the print data to be printed according to a thermal recording characteristic of the thermal recording device to generate corrected print data, and to transmit the generated print data to the thermal recording device. And a printing unit for printing the received corrected print data, wherein the thermal recording device includes a receiving unit for receiving the sent corrected print data, and a printing unit for printing the received corrected print data. 2. A thermal recording system comprising: an information processing device for transmitting print data to be printed; and a thermal recording device for printing the transmitted print data by a thermal head including a heating resistor element. The apparatus comprises: storage means for storing resistance value data of a heating resistor element of the thermal head; and correcting the print data to be printed based on the stored resistance value data of the heating resistor element of the thermal head. Print data correction means for generating print data, and transmission means for transmitting the generated correction print data to the thermal recording device, wherein the thermal recording device receives the transmitted correction print data. Means, and printing means for printing the received corrected print data by causing a heating resistor element of the thermal head to generate heat. Heat recording system to be. 3. A thermal recording system comprising: an information processing device for transmitting print data to be printed; and a thermal recording device for printing the transmitted print data by a thermal head including a heating resistor element. The apparatus includes: a receiving unit that receives resistance value data of a heating resistor element of the thermal head transmitted from the thermal recording device; a storage unit that stores the received resistance value data of the heating resistor element of the thermal head; Print data correction means for correcting the print data to be printed based on the stored resistance value data of the heating resistor element of the thermal head to generate corrected print data; Transmitting means for transmitting to the apparatus, wherein the thermal recording apparatus has a resistance value for measuring a resistance value of a heating resistance element of the thermal head. Measuring means, transmitting means for transmitting resistance value data of the heating resistance element of the thermal head, receiving means for receiving the transmitted correction print data, and transmitting the received correction print data to the heating resistance element of the thermal head. And a printing means for printing by generating heat. 4. The print data correction unit includes: a color conversion unit that converts color print data to be printed into a color form corresponding to a color reproduction characteristic of the thermal recording apparatus; and a color conversion unit that converts the color-converted print data. The color-converted print data, γ-conversion means for γ-conversion according to the print output characteristics of the thermal recording device, and each pixel data of the γ-converted print data,
Adjacent pixel correction calculating means for performing adjacent pixel correction based on adjacent pixel data of each pixel; and history correction for correcting history of each pixel data of the print data subjected to the adjacent pixel correction based on pixel data near the previous line Calculating means, rising and falling correction calculating means for correcting the rise and fall of each pixel data of the history-corrected print data, and storing each pixel data of the print data for which the rise and fall have been corrected. 4. A thermal correction calculating means for performing thermal correction on the basis of resistance value data of the heat generating resistance element of the thermal head stored in the means to generate corrected print data. The thermal recording system according to any one of the above. 5. The thermal recording system according to claim 1, wherein the information processing device is a personal computer. 6. A recording device storing a computer-executable program, wherein the computer-executable program is stored as each unit of the information processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4. Medium. 7. An information processing apparatus for transmitting print data to be printed to a thermal recording apparatus which prints print data using thermal energy, wherein the print data is printed in accordance with the thermal recording characteristics of the thermal recording apparatus. An information processing apparatus comprising: a print data correction unit that corrects print data to generate corrected print data; and a transmission unit that transmits the generated print data to the thermal recording device.