JPH1188713A - Color image recording device/method and storage medium recording color image record control program - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a color image recording device where an appropriate color correction value corresponding to the ground color of recording paper is automatically set and which can obtain a satisfactory recording result. SOLUTION: The device has a carriage where a scanner unit and a recording head can simultaneously by loaded. Furthermore, a ROM which previously stores a reference color characteristic value being the color characteristic value of recording paper, which is reference, and the color correction value for correcting printing data in response to the color characteristic value when the color characteristic value of recording paper to be printed hereafter is a value except the reference color characteristic value is provided. Here, the recording head is loaded on the carriage and the scanner unit reads the color characteristic value of recording paper before printing starts (S201-S206). Color correction fitted to the color characteristic of recording paper is executed on printing data by using the color correction value of the ROM in accordance with the color characteristic value which is read (S207-S211). Printing is executed by printing data which are color-corrected (S212-and S213).

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a color image recording apparatus, a color image recording method for the same, and a recording medium on which a color image recording control program is recorded. In particular, a recording head and a scanner unit are mounted on a carriage. The present invention relates to a printing technique for reading color characteristics of recording paper using a scanner unit and correcting and printing print image data based on the read color characteristic values.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in a print recording apparatus in which a scanner head can be mounted, reference image data and data of a test pattern to be recorded on recording paper are stored in a memory in the recording apparatus. Once the test pattern is printed on paper, the printed paper (also referred to as printing or imprinting) is read by the scanner unit, and the read data is compared with the reference image data to determine the optimal print quality (such as blurring). The recording conditions for obtaining were automatically set.

[0003]

However, although the print quality has been improved by the above-mentioned prior art, when printing a color image, a color image created by an application on a personal computer (PC) or the like is printed on a recording sheet. At the time of printing, there is a problem to be solved that the appearance often differs from that created by a user on a display depending on the color of a recording sheet as a recording medium.

[0004] In particular, in an ink jet recording apparatus or the like,
Since the color of the recording paper itself greatly affects the output result (print result), the user changes the color correction value according to the color (ground color) of the recording paper itself by setting the driver of the print recording apparatus on the PC side. Complicated and difficult settings must be performed, and even if color correction is performed by the settings, an output result as expected is not easily obtained, which is inconvenient for the user.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In view of the foregoing, it is an object of the present invention to automatically perform appropriate color correction according to the ground color of a recording paper without the user having to set color correction according to the ground color of the recording paper. An object of the present invention is to provide a color image recording apparatus and method capable of setting a value to obtain a good recording result, and a recording medium recording a color image recording control program.

[0006]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention is directed to a carriage on which a scanner unit and a recording head can be simultaneously mounted, or a recording head in which the scanner unit is integrated. In a color image recording apparatus equipped with a scanner unit having a mountable carriage, when a reference color characteristic value which is a color characteristic value of a reference recording sheet and a color characteristic value of a recording sheet to be printed are other than the reference color characteristic value Storage means for preliminarily storing a color correction value for correcting print data in accordance with the color characteristic value, and a recording head mounted on the carriage, and printing is performed while moving the carriage along a platen. Color characteristic value reading means for reading the color characteristic value of the recording paper by the scanner unit before the start; and recording of the recording paper read by the color characteristic value reading means. Image data processing means for performing color correction on print data in accordance with the color characteristics of the recording paper using the color correction value of the storage means in accordance with the characteristic value; and performing color correction by the image data processing means. Print output means for printing a color image on the recording paper based on the obtained print data.

Here, after the recording paper is fed, before the printing is started, the color characteristic value reading means is fed to the recording paper at a predetermined position where the recording paper is fed or the carriage is moved to an arbitrary predetermined position on the recording paper. Reads the image of the recording paper and detects the color characteristic value of the recording paper from the read image data, and the image data processing means converts the color characteristic value detected by the color characteristic value reading means to the color of the recording paper. Adaptive color correction can be performed.

[0008] The predetermined position may be a print start position.

Further, after the recording paper is fed, before the printing is started, the recording paper is sequentially fed to an arbitrary plurality of predetermined positions of the recording paper or at each of the plurality of predetermined positions where the carriage is sequentially moved. The color characteristic value reading means reads an image of the recording paper and detects a plurality of color characteristic values of the recording paper from the read image data; and the image data processing means reads the plurality of color characteristic values detected by the color characteristic value reading means. , And the color data of the print data is corrected using the calculated average value as the color characteristic value of the recording paper.

Further, when calculating the average value of the color characteristic values, the image data processing means calculates the average value by excluding the peak value from the plurality of color characteristic values detected by the color characteristic value reading means. Then you can.

Further, the color image recording apparatus may be an ink jet recording type recording apparatus.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, there is provided a carriage or a carriage on which a scanner unit and a recording head can be simultaneously mounted.
In a color image recording method of a color image recording apparatus equipped with a scanner unit having a carriage capable of mounting a recording head in which a scanner unit is integrated, a reference color characteristic value, which is a color characteristic value of a recording paper as a reference, A color correction value storing step of storing in a storage means a color correction value for correcting print data in accordance with the color characteristic value when the color characteristic value of the recording paper to be printed is other than the reference color characteristic value; A color head reading step of reading color characteristics of recording paper by the scanner unit before starting printing while moving the carriage along the platen, and a color head reading step. Using the color correction value of the storage means according to the read color characteristic value of the recording paper, the color characteristic of the recording paper for print data An image data processing step of applying a matched color correction, and having a printed output step of printing a color image on the recording paper by the print data subjected to color correction by the image data processing step.

According to a thirteenth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a color printer mounted on a scanner unit having a carriage on which a scanner unit and a recording head can be mounted at the same time, or a carriage on which a scanner unit and a recording head can be mounted integrally. A recording medium on which a control program for controlling an image recording apparatus by a computer is recorded. The control program causes the computer to record a reference color characteristic value, which is a color characteristic value of a reference recording sheet, and a recording sheet to be printed from now on. When the color characteristic value is other than the reference color characteristic value, a color correction value for correcting print data in accordance with the color characteristic value is stored in a storage unit in advance, and a recording head is mounted on the carriage, While moving the printer along the platen, read the color characteristic value of the recording paper by the scanner unit before starting printing. Then, the print data is subjected to color correction suitable for the color characteristics of the recording paper using the color correction values of the storage means in accordance with the color characteristic values of the read recording paper, and the color correction is performed. A color image is printed on the recording paper by the applied print data.

According to the present invention, there is provided storage means for preliminarily storing a color correction value for correcting print data for each color characteristic value of the recording paper, and the color characteristic value of the recording paper to be actually printed is read by a scanner unit. Since the color correction suitable for the color characteristics of the recording paper is performed using the color correction values stored in the recording means, an optimal print image that can obtain an expected output result can be obtained without forcing the user to perform a complicated procedure. It is possible to output.

[0015]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows a system configuration of an ink jet recording apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 1, a system control unit 1 controls the entire inkjet recording apparatus according to a program stored in a ROM (Read Only Memory) 3. Further, the ROM 3 stores a reference color characteristic value, which is a color characteristic value of a recording paper serving as a reference, and a correction value of image data for each color characteristic value other than the reference color characteristic value (a color correction value for correcting print data). ) Is stored in advance. The system control unit 1 includes an interface (I / F)
Communication control is performed via the control unit 2 to receive data such as print data and control commands from an external host computer 17, and transmit image data read by the scanner unit 8 to the host computer 17.

Print data received from the host computer 17 via the I / F control unit 2 is stored in a RAM (random access memory) 4 which is a work area. The data stored in the RAM 4 is converted by the image data processing unit 9 into data to be printed by the recording head 6, and passed to the recording head drive control unit 5. The recording head drive control unit 5 controls the recording head 6 according to the print data, discharges ink from the recording head 6, and prints on recording paper.

The scanner control unit 7 includes a scanner unit 8
It controls an LED (light emitting diode) and a CCD (charge coupled device) built in the device. The scanner unit 8 is an LE
The light of D is applied to the recording paper, and the reflected light is read by a CCD via a condenser lens. By reading the recording paper by the scanner unit 8, the color (ground color) of the recording paper is converted into image signals R, G, and B of three colors of red, green, and blue, and a color characteristic value of the recording paper is obtained. Can be.

The color correction processing unit 10 includes a scanner unit 8
Based on the color characteristic values of the recording paper read by the computer, the color characteristic values are compared with the reference color characteristic values stored in the ROM 3 to obtain the color correction patterns (color characteristics) stored in the ROM 3 in advance. Color correction of print data such as color matching is performed using a color correction value for correcting print data for each value.

An input / output control unit 11 controls key data input from a key input unit 12 such as a power switch and a paper supply / discharge key, and a display unit 13 including an LED for status display.
Control. The motor control unit 14 controls a carriage (CR) motor 15 for moving the carriage and a line feed (LF) motor for feeding paper.

(First Embodiment) An example in which an ink jet recording apparatus having the configuration shown in FIG. 1 reads a recording paper image and detects a color characteristic value in a state where the recording paper is fed to a print start position will be described. A first embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the operation of the ink jet recording apparatus according to the present embodiment when reading an image on a recording sheet at a print start position and acquiring a color characteristic value.

The system control unit 1 controls the LF motor 16 via the motor control unit 14 when it receives a paper feed command from the host computer 17 via the I / F control unit 2 or receives print data. Then, a paper feeding operation is performed (S201).

If the sheet feeding operation is not completed normally due to a jam (paper jam) or the like (S202), the process proceeds to another process such as an error process (S203).

The print data received from the host computer 17 during the paper feeding operation is sequentially stored in the RAM 4 serving as a reception buffer. When the paper feeding operation is completed normally (S
202), the system control unit 1 analyzes the received data and the margin setting command, and
6 is controlled to feed the recording paper (S204).

After completion of the paper feed, the system control unit 1
By controlling the CR motor 15 via the motor control unit 14,
The scanner unit 8 is moved to a predetermined image reading position in the platen direction (S205), and the image of the fed recording paper is read by the scanner unit 8 under the control of the scanner control unit 7 (S206). The recording head 6 is moved to the printing start position in the platen direction by the CR motor 15 (S207).

The (ground) image read by the scanner unit 8 is temporarily stored in the work area of the RAM 4 as color characteristic values represented by RGB image signals (S208).

The color correction processing section 10 has a reference value (reference color characteristic value) of the recording paper color characteristic stored in the ROM 3 in advance.
And the color characteristic values of the recording paper stored in the RAM 4 are compared (S209). If color correction is necessary based on the comparison result between the read color characteristic value of the recording paper and the reference color characteristic value (S
210), the print data stored in the RAM 4 and transmitted from the host computer 17 is processed by the color correction processing unit 1
0, color correction conversion suitable for the recording paper is performed (S21).
1).

The print data after the color correction is converted by the image data processing unit 9 into a data format for printing by ejecting ink from the recording head 6 (S212).

The recording head drive control unit 5 includes a CR motor 1
The color image is printed on the recording paper by controlling the ink ejection of the recording head by the print data converted for the recording head 6 according to the moving speed of the recording head 5 and the paper feed of the LF motor 16. (S211).

If the data printing for one page has not been completed (S211), the processing of S210 to S213 is repeated to print the data for one page. After the printing of the data of one page is completed, if there is data of the next page (S212), S2 is performed again.
A plurality of pages are printed by repeating a series of processes from 01 to S213.

In the above embodiment, the color characteristic value of the recording paper is obtained by reading the (ground) image of the recording paper at the print start position. However, the image of the recording paper is read at an arbitrary position on the recording paper. It is also possible to obtain color characteristic values.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, the color characteristic value of the recording paper itself is obtained, and the print data is corrected based on the color characteristic value. It is possible to output an image in a hue visually expected by the user without performing the above operation. In particular, when the color characteristic value of the recording paper is acquired at the print start position and reflected in the color correction processing, the recording paper is not reversely conveyed after reading the image, and the print throughput is not significantly reduced. A visually good print image output is obtained. Also, when performing continuous printing on a plurality of recording papers having different color characteristics, color correction can be performed for each page, and a visually favorable print image output can be obtained in each page.

(Second Embodiment) The flowchart of FIG. 3 shows the present invention when the image of the recording paper is read at a plurality of arbitrary positions in the ink jet recording apparatus of FIG. 1 and the average color characteristic value of the recording paper is obtained. 2 shows the operation of the second embodiment. The process shown in FIG. 3 is a process replacing S204 to S209 in FIG. 2, and the other processes in FIG.

In FIG. 3, the system control section 1 controls the LF motor 16 via the motor control section 14 to perform a sheet feeding operation. When the paper feeding operation is completed normally, the system control unit 1 controls the LF motor 16 and the CR motor 15 to move the scanner unit 8 to the first predetermined image reading position (S301). After moving the scanner unit to a predetermined position, the image of the fed recording paper is read by the scanner unit 8 under the control of the scanner control unit 7 (S302).

The image read by the scanner unit 8 is
The color characteristic value represented by the RGB image signal is temporarily stored in the work area of the RAM 4 (S303).

Next, if it is necessary to acquire the color characteristics of the recording paper at another image reading position (S304), the processes of S301 to S303 are repeated to change the color characteristics of the recording paper read at each position. It is stored in the RAM 4.

When the color characteristics of the recording paper at all the preset reading positions have been acquired (S30).
4) Return the recording head 6 to the print start position (S30)
5).

Next, an average value of the color characteristic values of the recording paper at a plurality of positions stored in the RAM 4 is calculated (S306). The calculated average color characteristic value is compared with a reference color characteristic value (reference color characteristic value) of the recording paper stored in the ROM 3 in advance (S307) to determine the necessity of color correction of the print data. Subsequent processing is performed in step S2
10 to S215.

Further, when calculating the average value of the color characteristic values acquired at a plurality of positions, a unique value of the color characteristic value may be excluded from the average value calculation. This is because ruled lines and the like may be printed on recording paper in advance. For example, assuming such a case, the average color characteristic value may be calculated with the remaining color characteristic values, excluding the maximum value and the minimum value and those close to these values.

As described above, in the second embodiment, the color characteristic values of the recording paper are obtained at a plurality of positions, and the print data is corrected based on the average value of the color characteristic values. The user can more reliably output an image in a color visually expected by the user without performing a complicated operation. In particular, even when a format or the like is printed in advance on the recording paper, a visually favorable print image output can be obtained.

The present invention may be achieved in a system including a plurality of devices, or may be achieved in an apparatus including a single device. It goes without saying that the present invention is also applied to a case where the present invention is achieved by supplying a program to a system or an apparatus.

Further, the recording medium for recording the control procedure as shown in FIGS.
In addition to D, a CD-ROM, IC memory card, or the like may be used. Further, it is also possible to record this program in the ROM 3, configure the program as a part of the memory map, and execute the program directly by the system control unit 1.

[0044]

As described above, according to the present invention,
Before printing, the color characteristics of the recording paper are acquired using a scanner unit, and the print data is color-corrected to data suitable for the color characteristics of the recording paper. Color (ground color)
However, in a recording apparatus that greatly affects the output result, visually favorable image output can be obtained.

As a result, the user can easily obtain the expected output result without performing a very complicated and complicated operation such as color matching.

Further, according to the present invention, since the color correction suitable for the recording paper is automatically performed, there is no need for the test print, which has been performed by the user after the color correction, so that the recording paper is not wasted.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a color image recording apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing a processing operation of the first embodiment according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a processing operation of a second embodiment according to the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 System control part 2 Interface control part 3 ROM 4 RAM 5 Recording head drive control part 6 Recording head 7 Scanner control part 8 Scanner unit 9 Image data processing part 10 Color correction processing part 11 Input / output control part 12 Key input Unit 13 Display unit 14 Motor control unit 15 CR motor 16 LF motor 17 Host computer

Claims (17)

[Claims] 1. A color image recording apparatus having a carriage on which a scanner unit and a recording head can be mounted simultaneously or a scanner unit having a carriage on which a scanning head can be mounted integrally with the scanner unit. A reference color characteristic value, which is a color characteristic value of a recording sheet, and a color correction value for correcting print data according to the color characteristic value when the color characteristic value of a recording sheet to be printed from now is other than the reference color characteristic value. A storage means which stores in advance, and a color characteristic value for reading a color characteristic value of recording paper by the scanner unit before starting printing while attaching a recording head to the carriage and moving the carriage along a platen. Reading means; and a printer which uses the color correction values of the storage means in accordance with the color characteristic values of the recording paper read by the color characteristic value reading means. Image data processing means for performing color correction suitable for the color characteristics of the recording paper on the recording data, and print output for printing a color image on the recording paper using the print data color-corrected by the image data processing means And a color image recording apparatus. 2. After the recording paper is fed and before starting printing, at the predetermined position where the recording paper is fed or the carriage is moved to an arbitrary predetermined position on the recording paper, the color characteristic value reading means is The image of the recording sheet is read, and a color characteristic value of the recording sheet is detected from the read image data. The image data processing unit adapts to the color of the recording sheet from the color characteristic value detected by the color characteristic value reading unit. The color image recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the color correction is performed. 3. The color image recording apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the predetermined position is a print start position. 4. After feeding the recording paper and before starting printing, the recording paper is sequentially fed to a plurality of predetermined positions on the recording paper or at each of the plurality of predetermined positions where the carriage is sequentially moved. The color characteristic value reading unit reads an image of the recording sheet and detects a plurality of color characteristic values of the recording sheet from the read image data; and the image data processing unit detects the plurality of color characteristic values detected by the color characteristic value reading unit. 2. The color image recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein an average value of the color characteristic values is calculated, and the calculated average value is used as a color characteristic value of the recording paper to perform color correction on the print data. 5. The image data processing unit calculates an average value of the color characteristic values by excluding a peak value from a plurality of color characteristic values detected by the color characteristic value reading unit when calculating the average value of the color characteristic values. The color image recording apparatus according to claim 4, wherein 6. The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said color image recording apparatus is an inkjet recording type recording apparatus.
6. The color image recording apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5. 7. A color image recording apparatus of a color image recording apparatus having a carriage on which a scanner unit and a recording head can be mounted simultaneously or a scanner unit having a carriage on which a recording head in which the scanner unit is integrated can be mounted. In the method, when the reference color characteristic value, which is the color characteristic value of the reference recording paper, and the color characteristic value of the recording paper to be printed thereafter are other than the reference color characteristic value, the print data is corrected according to the color characteristic value. A color correction value storing step of storing a color correction value in a storage unit in advance; and mounting a recording head on the carriage, moving the carriage along a platen, and recording paper by the scanner unit before starting printing. A color characteristic value reading step of reading the color characteristic value of the recording paper, and a color characteristic value of the recording paper read in the color characteristic value reading step. An image data processing step of performing color correction on the print data using the color correction value of the storage means so as to match the color characteristics of the recording paper; and the print data subjected to the color correction in the image data processing step. A print output step of printing a color image on the recording paper according to the following. 8. After the recording paper is fed and before printing starts, at the predetermined position where the recording paper is fed or the carriage is moved to an arbitrary predetermined position on the recording paper, the color characteristic value reading step includes: The image of the recording sheet is read, and the color characteristic value of the recording sheet is detected from the read image data. In the image data processing step, the color of the recording sheet is changed from the color characteristic value detected in the color characteristic value reading step. The color image recording method according to claim 7, wherein adaptive color correction is performed. 9. The color image recording method according to claim 8, wherein the predetermined position is a print start position. 10. After the recording paper is supplied, before the printing is started, the recording paper is sequentially fed to a plurality of predetermined positions on the recording paper or the carriage is sequentially moved at each of the plurality of predetermined positions. In the color characteristic value reading step, the image of the recording paper is read, and a plurality of color characteristic values of the recording paper are detected from the read image data. 8. The printing apparatus according to claim 7, wherein an average value of the plurality of color characteristic values is calculated, and the calculated average value is used as a color characteristic value of the recording paper to perform color correction on the print data.
3. The color image recording method described in 1. above. 11. When calculating the average value of the color characteristic values in the image data processing step, the average value is calculated by excluding a peak value from a plurality of color characteristic values detected in the color characteristic value reading step. 11. The calculation according to claim 10.
3. The color image recording method described in 1. above. 12. The color image recording method according to claim 7, wherein said color image recording apparatus is an inkjet recording type recording apparatus. 13. A computer-controlled color image recording apparatus having a carriage on which a scanner unit and a recording head can be simultaneously mounted, or a scanner unit having a carriage on which a recording head in which the scanner unit is integrated can be mounted. A recording medium on which a control program for controlling the recording medium is stored. The control program stores in the computer a reference color characteristic value, which is a color characteristic value of a recording paper as a reference, and a color characteristic value of a recording paper to be printed. In a case other than the characteristic value, a color correction value for correcting print data according to the color characteristic value is stored in advance in a storage unit, a recording head is mounted on the carriage, and the carriage is moved along a platen. Before starting printing, the scanner unit reads the color characteristic values of the recording paper, and Using the color correction value of the storage unit in accordance with the color characteristic value of the paper, the print data is subjected to color correction adapted to the color characteristics of the recording paper. A recording medium storing a color image recording control program for printing a color image on recording paper. 14. The control program, after feeding the recording paper, before starting printing, feeds the recording paper to an arbitrary predetermined position on the recording paper or moves the carriage at the predetermined position. An image of the recording sheet is read, a color characteristic value of the recording sheet is detected from the read image data, and a color correction adapted to a color of the recording sheet is performed based on the detected color characteristic value. Item 14. The recording medium according to Item 13. 15. The recording medium according to claim 14, wherein the predetermined position is a print start position. 16. The control program instructs the computer to feed the recording paper sequentially to a plurality of predetermined positions on the recording paper or to move the carriage sequentially to a plurality of predetermined positions on the recording paper before starting printing after feeding the recording paper. At each of the plurality of predetermined positions, an image of the recording sheet is read, a plurality of color characteristic values of the recording sheet are detected from the read image data, and an average value of the detected plurality of color characteristic values is calculated. 14. The recording medium according to claim 13, wherein the print data is subjected to color correction using the calculated average value as a color characteristic value of the recording paper. 17. The control program, when causing a computer to calculate an average value of the color characteristic values, causes the computer to calculate an average value by excluding a peak value from the plurality of detected color characteristic values. The recording medium according to claim 16, wherein