MXPA97004809A - Registration method using large and small points - Google Patents
Registration method using large and small pointsInfo
- Publication number
- MXPA97004809A MXPA97004809A MXPA/A/1997/004809A MX9704809A MXPA97004809A MX PA97004809 A MXPA97004809 A MX PA97004809A MX 9704809 A MX9704809 A MX 9704809A MX PA97004809 A MXPA97004809 A MX PA97004809A
- Authority
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- Mexico
- Prior art keywords
- ink
- data
- registration
- ink jet
- jet recording
- Prior art date
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Abstract
An ink jet recording apparatus and method is provided for recording an image on a recording medium by ejecting ink from each of a plurality of recording elements of a recording head. The apparatus includes an ink ejection quantity change unit for changing an ink ejection amount of each registration element of the recording head, a timing controller for controlling an ink ejection temperature of the recording unit change unit. amount of ink ejection, a modulator for modulating the registration data, and a controller for controlling the recording of an image on a recording medium by sending the registration data modulated by the modulator synchronously, with an ejection timing determined by the controller timing
Description
"REGISTRATION METHOD USING BIG AND SMALL POINTS"
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION. FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an ink jet recording method and apparatus and an ink jet recording head, wherein the recording is carried out by injecting the ink out of a recording head and applying the same to the recording medium. registry.
BACKGROUND OF THE RELATED ART
In recording devices, such as printers, copiers and facsimiles, the points are registered with recording elements (such as nozzles, heating elements and wires) in the recording medium, such as paper and thin plastic plate, in accordance with the information of the image to in this way register a composite image of points. These recording devices are classified based on their recording methods, on the type of inkjet, a type of wire point, a thermal type, a type of laser beam and the like. Of these types, the type of ink jet (inkjet printer) records an image by ejecting the ink (recording liquid) out of an ejection port (nozzle) of a recording head and blowing it to the medium of registry. A number of recording devices are currently used with output terminals such as personal computers and image processing apparatus. It is required that these recording devices have recording functions of high speed, high resolution, high image quality, low noise and the like. An example of recording apparatus that can satisfy these requirements is an ink jet recording apparatus. Since an ink jet recording apparatus performs recording by ejecting the ink outside a recording head, the relative non-contact recording with the recording medium is possible so that a very stable recording image can be formed. With the recent advent of various types of digital cameras, digital encoders, CD-ROMs and the like, the illustrative image data can now be easily processed by applications running on a host computer. Under these circumstances, an operation of sending illustrative images for output devices, such as printers, is required. Conventionally, an illustrative image has been registered by a highly sophisticated silver salt type recording apparatus that uses digital image input or an expensive sublimation type recording apparatus that is limited only to the photographic output generated by the use of a sublimation dye. Conventionally, these recording devices dedicated to photographic images are very expensive. One reason is a very complicated process of the silver salt type and a large size unsuitable for use on a desk. Another reason is the use of the sublimation dye by the sublimation type apparatus which results in a higher cost of the apparatus and its higher operating cost as the size of the recording medium becomes larger. These conventional recording devices are too expensive for general users. The most significant disadvantage is that the design of these devices adopts the use of a specific recording medium. Therefore, these devices are not suitable for shared use by general and professional persons. It is very annoying and difficult to discriminate using simple sheets of paper and specific record sheets in order to record the graphic originals formed by a word processor and illustrative photographic originals. An inkjet printer is known as a recording apparatus that reduces these limitations in the recording means. In order to solve the aforementioned problems associated with these inkjet printers, the image processing, coloring agents and recording media have been improved and a photographic image with considerably improved quality can now be printed. Several studies have been made in order to improve the tone level of a color graphic output. For example, those improvements recently proposed in practical use include an improved registration resolution rather than a normal color registration mode to provide better drawing capability, a multi-valued output using sub-pixels with improved registration resolution and the like. Another practical registration method is to uniformly reduce an amount of ink ejected during a high resolution mode, by changing an amount of ink ejection from a recording head. Registration heads, such as those capable of modulating an amount of ink ejection in each nozzle, have also been proposed. The conventional recording methods described above are associated, however, with the following problems.
(1) The method of uniformly reducing the amount of inkjet records an image at a higher resolution in both the main and subsidiary scanning directions. Therefore, the number of main scans increases and the amount of feeding in the sub-scan direction decreases, so that the rate of registration greatly decreases. As the data resolution of registration increases, the amount of the data greatly increases which results in a large increase in memory capacity, an increased amount of data transfer and time required by the interface, an increase in the loading of a printer driver and the like. For example, if the resolution of the registration data is increased by two times, the amount of data is duplicated for both main and sub-scan directions so that the total data amount is a square of two or four times. Since the registration points are thinned in order to suppress a grainy image quality (irregular imaen quality) to a low density area, a number of fine points are also recorded in the high density area even when in this area , the quality of the grainy image does not become conspicuous. Even though the amount of the total image can be improved, an image-forming efficiency is not correspondingly improved.
(2) Another method of registration is to use a combination of large and small points. This method can improve an image-forming efficiency. This method can be easily applied if a registration nozzle is used for each color. However, if a plurality of nozzles is used for each color, this method becomes difficult as the number of nozzles increases. The ejection of the ink droplets from each nozzle is usually carried out at several KHz or higher. If the number of nozzles is small, these nozzles can be controlled directly by a CPU. However, as the number of nozzles increases, it becomes necessary to use hardware such as gate-forming circuits in addition to the operation of the CPU in view of a processing speed. In order to modulate the amount of ejection of ink from large and small points, either an ejector propeller pulse is modulated or an ejector element is changed in a nozzle. If the ejection element is to be changed, it is necessary to provide the registration head with records for large and small points. The number of records required is a multiple of the integer relative to a registration resolution so that the circuit scale of the record head becomes large and the cost of the record head is raised. If the drive pulse is to be modulated, signal lines are required to independently control the respective nozzles. In opposition to a signal line, several hundred signal lines are required (as many as the number of nozzles). In this case, other elements such as signal line contacts, a flexible cable towards the registration head, drive transistors of the registration element and the like are also required, which lead to increased cost. If a combination of large and small points is not recorded during a scan of a record head, the record head must be scanned several times for a large-point scan and a small-point scan. With this method, a combination of large and small points can be recorded with a simple circuit structure. However, this method necessarily requires a plurality of scans (hereinafter referred to as multipath scanning). For example, even when small points are recorded in most directions during a scan and only one large point is recorded during this scan, a total of two log scans are necessary regardless of just one large point. further, as the number of scans or multipath records increases, the recording time is prolonged so that it is necessary to minimize the number of multipath records. In this regard, taking into account that a low density graduation (white) at high density (black) is reproduced with a record of two trajectories. The registration begins first of the smallest points when color develops, including the gray scale after the area of low density. As the image density increases, small points are recorded in sequence at available grid points
(Virtual record point positions). After the small dots are fully recorded, an image is recorded with mixed dots of large and small dots and as the image density increases further, large dots are also recorded up to the maximum density. To find the aforementioned register, the recording apparatus is configured so that the large and small points are alternatively recorded between respective multipath scans. Registration under these conditions can result in a pointless exploration if there is not a large point to be recorded due to the small points recorded in all the available grid points. In addition to this problem, the prevention effect of the so-called banding that is characteristic of the multipath divisional record is lost, because the recording is carried out 100 percent only by small points during an exploration of the two trajectory scans. The banding is a phenomenon of the variation of the ejection amounts of the recording nozzles and the variation of the paper feed amounts and the like. Still additionally, since the registration relationship between the scans is not uniform, several problems occur such as the inability to decrease an error rate during a scan with a higher registration ratio due to different registration ratios, an inability to decrease the consumption energy due to an instantaneous high consumption during a scan with a higher register ratio and similar factors.
COMPENDIUM OF THE INVENTION
An object of the present invention is to provide an ink jet recording method and apparatus and an ink jet recording head capable of recording an image with different tone levels in accordance with the registration data.
Another object of the present invention is to provide an ink jet recording method and apparatus and an ink jet recording head, capable of modulating a spot diameter during a scan with a simple structure. A further object of the present invention is to provide an ink jet recording apparatus and method and an ink jet recording head, capable of easily recording an image using the same data control algorithm even for a multipath recording. . Still a further object of the present invention is to provide an ink jet recording method and apparatus, capable of improving an image quality by recording the ink droplets forming the points having different diameters, to generally the same position of the pixel. . In order to achieve the aforementioned objects, an ink jet recording apparatus of this invention for recording an image on a recording medium ejecting the ink from each of the plurality of recording elements of a recording head comprises: means of changing the ejection amount of ink to change an amount of ink ejection of each record element of the registration head; a timing control means for controlling a timing of the ejection of ink from the ink ejection amount changing means; modulation means for modulating the registration data; and a control means for controlling the recording of an image in the recording medium by sending the recording data modulated by the modulation means synchronously with an ejection timing determined by the timing control means. In order to achieve the aforementioned objects, an ink-jet recording medium of this invention for recording an image on a recording medium by ejecting the ink from each of a plurality of registration elements of a recording head, comprises the steps of: modulating the registration data; and registering an image on the recording medium by sending the modulated registration data in the modular step synchronously with an ink ejection timing of each register element of the recording head having a different ink ejection amount. In order to achieve the aforementioned objects, an ink jet recording head of this invention for recording a pixel with a plurality of points ejecting ink from an ink ejection port comprises: a driving means for ejecting in sequence during timings predetermined at least two inks between a plurality of inks that form a plurality of points constituting the pixel, from the ink ejection port; a change means for changing the ink ejection quantities of at least two inks ejected in sequence from the registration head by the driving means during predetermined timings; and an output means for sending, in sequence of time and synchronously with the predetermined timings, the data for ejecting the ink forming the pixel and containing information of the ejection quantities of ink in the order of ink output.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Figure 1 is a functional diagram showing the structure of a host computer and a printing system having a printer in accordance with one embodiment of the invention. Figure 2 is a perspective view of a registration unit of a printer in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. Figure 3 is a perspective view of a head cartridge of the embodiment.
Figure 4 is a diagram showing an electrical contact portion shown for electrical connection between the head cartridge and the mode printer. Figure 5 is a flow chart illustrating a record data processing routine to be carried out by a printer of the mode printer. Figure 6 is a functional diagram showing the circuit structure of the head cartridge of the mode. Figure 7 is a diagram showing an example of the formation of points to be registered with the mode printer. Figure 8 is a diagram illustrating another example of the formation of points to be recorded by the mode printer. Figure 9 is a diagram illustrating another example of the formation of points to be recorded by the mode printer. Figure 10 is a diagram showing the impulse timings of the nozzles of the registration head of the printer according to a first example.
Fig. 11 is a diagram showing the positions of points registered by the mode printer during the timings' shown in Fig. 10. Fig. 12 is a functional diagram showing the structure of a data record processing circuit. the mode printer. Figure 13 is a diagram illustrating the timings of the nozzle driver when the modal registration head is driven. Figure 14 is a diagram showing examples of decoding outputs of a two-bit registration data. Figure 15 is a diagram illustrating a method of recording multiple trajectories. Figure 16 is a diagram showing an example of the decoding outputs of the two-bit registration data of the mode. Figure 17 is a diagram illustrating a random mask of the modality. Figure 18 is a flow chart illustrating a printing operation by the mode ink jet recording apparatus.
Figure 19 is a flow chart illustrating a head drive process in step S3 shown in Figure 18. Figure 20 is a flow chart illustrating the registration of three modal trajectories. Figures 21A, 21B and 21C are diagrams illustrating the manner in which the disadvantages can be eliminated, which are associated with the case where a large point is first recorded and then a small point is recorded to record a pixel by a plurality of points. Figures 22A, 22B, 22C, 22D and 22E show examples of the displacement of the point position when a small point is recorded first and then a large point is recorded, in accordance with a second example. Figure 23 is a diagram showing an example of the arrangement of heaters placed in a nozzle of an ink jet head of this embodiment. Figures 24A, 24B and 24C are diagrams showing examples of the arrangement of heaters placed in a nozzle of an ink jet head of this embodiment. Figures 25A and 25B are diagrams showing examples of the arrangement of heaters placed in a nozzle of an ink jet head of this embodiment. Figures 26A, 26B and 26C are diagrams illustrating the generation of the texture caused by a difference in velocity of the inks ejected from the large and small points.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED MODALITIES
Preferred embodiments of the invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Fig. 1 is a functional diagram showing the structure of a printing system according to the method of the invention. In Figure 1, a host computer is generally configured so that different data is processed by application software 102 operating in an OS (operating system) 101. A data stream will be described taking as an example the case where using the application software 102 the image data is sent through an impeller 103 of the printer to a printer to be printed. The image data processed by the application software 102 is the illustrative image data and is sent as a multi-valued RGB data to the printer driver 103. The printer driver color processes the multi-valued RGB data received from the application software 102 and processes the half tone to it to convert it into two sets of CMYK data in an ordinary case. The converted image data is sent through the printer interface of the host computer or through the interface of a storage device, such as a file. In the example shown in Figure 1, the image data is sent through the interface of the printer to a printer. Under the control of the software 104 of the controller, the printer receives the data of the image and checks the integrity with a printing mode and an ink cartridge or the like. Then, the received image data is transferred to the software 105 of the engine. The software 105 of the engine receives the data of the image having a printing mode and a data structure that is designated by the software 104 of the controller, and in accordance with the image data generates an ink ejection pulse that is sends to a cartridge 106 of the head. The cartridge 106 of the head ejects ink having a color corresponding to the color to register a color image corresponding to the image data. The cartridge 106 of the head has an integral structure of ink tanks accommodating various color inks and a registration head. Figure 2 shows a mechanical structure of an ink jet recording apparatus 200 of a replaceable cartridge type according to an embodiment of the invention. In Figure 2, the reference number 1 represents a replaceable type head cartridge (corresponding to the cartridge 106 of the head shown in Figure 1). This cartridge 1 has an ink tank unit to accommodate the inks and a registration head. The reference number 2 represents a carriage unit that loads the cartridge 1 of the head to move it to the right and to the left for registration. The reference number 3 represents a retainer for fixing the head cartridge 1, the retainer being operated in combination with a cartridge fixing lever 4. Namely, after the head cartridge 1 is loaded in the carriage unit 2, the cartridge fixing lever 4 is operated to press the head cartridge 1 against the carriage unit 2. In this way, the alignment of the position of the head cartridge 1 and the electrical connection between the head cartridge 1 and the carriage unit 2 can be established. The reference number 5 represents a flexible cable for transferring electrical signals to the carriage unit 2. The reference number 6 represents a carriage motor for reciprocatingly moving the carriage unit 2 in the main scanning direction. The reference number 7 represents a cartridge belt that is moved by the carriage motor to move the carriage unit 2 to the right and left. The reference number 8 represents a guide arrow for holding the carriage unit 2 in a slidable state. The reference number 9 represents an elevator of the base position that has a photocoupler to determine the base position of the carriage unit 2. The reference number 10 represents a light shield used to detect the base position. The light-protecting plate 10 protects the photocoupler mounted on the carriage unit 2 when this unit arrives at the base position in order to thereby detect that the carriage unit 2 has reached the base position. The reference number 12 represents a base position unit including a recovery mechanism for the registration head of the head cartridge 1. The reference numeral 13 represents a paper ejection roller for ejecting the recording medium. This paper ejection roller squeezes the recording medium using a paper ejection strut unit not shown to eject the recording medium from the apparatus. The reference number 14 represents an LF unit for feeding the recording medium in a sub-scan direction by a predetermined amount. Figure 3 is a detailed diagram of the head cartridge of this embodiment. In Figure 3 the reference number 15 represents a replaceable black ink tank (Bk). Reference number 16 represents replaceable ink tanks that accommodate inks to C colors, M and Y. The reference number 17 represents a conduit (dyeing agent supply port) for the ink tank 16, the duct being in communication with the head cartridge 1 for the delivery of coloring agents. The reference numeral 18 represents a conduit (coloring agent supply port) for the ink tank 15. The delivery ports 17 and 18 of the coloring agent communicate with a supply tube 20 for supplying coloring agents to a registration head unit 21. The reference number 19 represents a portion of the contact of the electrical signal that is connected with a flexible cable 5 (Figure 2) to transfer the various signals to the head cartridge 1. Figure 4 is a detailed diagram of the contact portion 19 of the head cartridge 1. This contact portion 19 is provided with a plurality of electrode pads through which an ink ejection signal, an ID signal for the head cartridge 1 and the like are transferred to and from the ink jet recording apparatus. . It is possible to check if the head cartridge 1 was exchanged, by monitoring the conduction state of the contact portion 19 shown in Figure 4. Figure 5 is a flow chart illustrating an example of an image processing routine that goes to be carried out by an image processing module of the impeller 103 of the mode printer. In Step SlOl, a luminance / density conversion process is carried out to convert the 24-bit RGB luminance signals consisting of 8 bits for each of R, G and B, into 24-bit CMY density signals constituted of 8 bits for each of C, M and Y or 32-bit CMYK signals. Then, in Step S102, a masking process is carried out to carry out a correction process of the unnecessary color components of color correction of the CMY collating agents. In Step S103, a UCR / RGB process is carried out to remove the background color and derive the black components. In Step S104, the primary and secondary colors of each pixel are limited to different injection quantities. In this example, the primary color is limited up to 300 percent and the secondary color is limited up to 400 percent. Then, in Step S105, an output gamma correction is performed to correct the output characteristics to be linear. Up to these steps, an 8-bit multi-value output is used for each color. Then, in Step S106, a half-tone process of an 8-bit signal is performed to convert the CMYK data of each color into a one- or two-bit signal. The half-tone process in Step S106 is carried out by an error diffusion method or a fusion method. Figure 6 is a functional diagram showing a flow of an internal signal from the head cartridge of the mode printer. In this example, two ink ejection heaters having different heat generation amounts are provided for each nozzle. By changing a heater to be driven, the size (size of the recording point) of a droplet of ejected ink is changed. A plurality of heat generating resistive members (heaters) can be provided for each nozzle, and by changing the number of heaters driven generally at the same time, the amount of heat generation is controlled to thereby change the amount of ejection. An inkjet method can be other methods, such as a piezo-jet method. In Figure 6, the reference number 601 represents a heater board of the registration head. The image data 621 to be recorded is sent in series from the main body of the printer synchronously with a clock signal 622. This image data is transferred to a shift register 602 and retained therein. Since all the image data that is to be recorded in a registration period is transferred to and is retained in the displacement register 602, a bolt signal 623 is supplied from the main body of the recording apparatus. Synchronously with this bolt signal 623, the data retained in the shift register 602 is engaged by a bolt circuit 603. Then, the image data recorded in the bolt circuit 603 is divided into blocks, each having a scattered distribution of points as designated in one of the different methods. In accordance with a block selection signal 624, a latch circuit output 603 is selected by a block selection circuit 604 and sent. The reference number 605 represents an odd / even selector for selecting either an odd-numbered nozzle or an even-numbered nozzle of the registration head in accordance with a selection signal 625. In this mode, a nozzle is provided with two ejector heaters A and B for large and small points having large and small spot sizes. When the amount of ink ejection is to be changed, one of the appropriate heaters is selected. The shift register 602 and latch circuit 603 are preferably structured so that they can retain as many bits as twice the number of nozzles (in the case where a pixel is composed of two bits). There are several types of methods for controlling the size of a point to be registered by the recording apparatus described above. In this mode, it is assumed that the point size is changed in the following method. For example, as heater A 607 ejector nozzle 1 is driven through an A606 impeller by a heat training signal
(HEA) 627, the amount of ink ejected from the nozzle 1 becomes larger to form a large point, while the ejector heater B 609 from the nozzle 1 is driven through a B 608 impeller by a signal from Heat Training (HEB) 626, the amount of ink ejected from the nozzle 1 becomes small to form a small point. Similarly, as an ejector heater 611 of the nozzle 2 is driven by an impeller A 610, a large point is formed while as an ejector heater 613 is driven by a B 612 impeller a point is formed little. The conditions of registration of a point in a designated position in the registration means by the registration apparatus constructed as above are the following: (1) one bit of each registration data hooked by the latch circuit 603 corresponding to each Ejection nozzle is "1" (presence of the data). (2) The bit corresponding to the block selected by the block selection signal 624. (3) The selection signal 625 for an odd / even number nozzle corresponds to the position of the nozzle. (4) Corresponding heat training signals 626, 627 are allowed. When the four aforementioned conditions are satisfied, one of the corresponding ejection heaters A and B is driven and a large or small point is recorded. Specifically, depending on whether the input heat training signal is signal 626 HEB or signal 627 (HEA), the diameter of the spot of a droplet of ink ejected from the nozzle is determined, and depending on which timing of the block the record data is graduated to a high level "1", the position of the large or small point is determined. Then, a specific example of the record will be described with reference to Figures 7 to 9. In order to simplify the description, it is assumed that the registration head has only one nozzle. In Figures 7 to 9, a grid indicated as a grid shows a point position registered with a registration head. In Figure 7, a distance between the grids in the main scanning direction is 720 dpi
(point / 2.54 centimeters). The nozzle 1 is assumed to belong to the block 1. Since only one nozzle is used in this example, the selection signal 624 to select in block 1 and the odd number nozzle selection signal 625 always adopt a connected level ( high level). The image data "H" indicates that there is a registration data while the image data "L" indicates that there is no registration data. The heat training signal A means a transfer of an ejection signal (large point) to the impeller A and the heat training signal B means a transfer of an ejection signal (small point) to the impeller B. As shown in Figure 7, the large and small points are recorded in a mixed state during a registration scan. Namely, during the output of the heat training signal A (which corresponds to HEA) and the heat training signal (corresponding to HEB), the large points 70 and 73 are recorded and points 71 and 72 are recorded. small, respectively. If only the large points are required, the heat training signal HEA 627 (A) is sent when the image data corresponding to the nozzle assumes a high level (H) as shown in Figure 8. For the otherwise, if only small dots are required, HEB signal 626 for heat training (B) is sent when the image data corresponding to the nozzle adopts a high level (H) as shown in Figure 9. Then, the record will be described by a plurality of nozzles of the registration head. In comparison with registration by a single nozzle, a plurality of block selection signals are required when a plurality of nozzles are used. There are several driving methods. In this example, a block is defined as a set of adjacent nozzles identified with odd and even numbers, and the block numbers are graded in ascending order from the block containing the nozzle 1.
As shown in Figure 10 ,. the number of blocks of the registration head that has 16 nozzles is
"8" The block of the nozzle 1 and the adjacent nozzle 2 is a block 1. As the nozzle numbers increase, the block number is added in sequence as 2, 3, 4, .... In this example shown in FIG. Figure
, the nozzles are divided into the block (Bl) to the block
(B8) The nozzle that satisfies the conditions of the four signals, including the "H" image data, the heat training signal "ON", the block selection signal, the odd / even selection signal, is driven and the ink is ejected out of this selected nozzle.
[First example]
Figure 10 shows an example of the timing when the inks are ejected outwards from all nozzles 1 to 16, over a period and the points are recorded. During timing 80 for the nozzle 1, if the four signals satisfy the conditions that the image data "H", the heat training signal "A", the block selection signal (block 1: Bl) and the odd / even selection signal (odd: 0), then due to the heat training signal "A", a drive signal is supplied to the impeller A connected to nozzle ejector heater A 1 to form a large point . During the next timing 81 for the nozzle 9 of block 5 (the head is mounted obliquely), if the four signals satisfy the conditions that the signal data "H", the heat training signal "B", the signal of block selection (B5) and the odd / even selection signal (odd: 0), then due to the heat training signal "B", a drive signal is supplied to the impeller B connected to the ejector heater B of the nozzle 9 to form a small point. Then, the nozzle 2 of the block 1 and the nozzle 10 of the block 5 are processed in a similar manner, and after the nozzle 16 of the block 8 is driven, large points are recorded for a period of exploration for the nozzles 1 to 8 and if small points are recorded during a scanning period for nozzles 9 to 16. Since the small dots for nozzles 1 to 8 and the large dots for nozzles 9 to 16 respectively during a scanning period are recorded below (in Figure 10, this state is shown partially); the record of two scan periods is therefore completed, including the large dots during a period and the small dots during a period with respect to all the dies 1 to 16. An image recorded in the manner previously mentioned is shown in the Figure 11. Figure 11 shows the point positions in the regitro medium when the ejection timings of the respective nozzles are synchronized with respective directions corresponding to a resolution of 720 dpi x 360 dpi. In Figure 11, a maximum density of the 2-bit registration data of each of the nozzles corresponds to "11" and each nozzle records two pixels, for a total of two exploration periods (32 points) of large dots and two exploration periods (32 points) of small points. An example of the printer capable of recording large and small points in the aforementioned manner applied to a practical printing system will now be described. Figure 12 is a diagram showing a data stream transferred from a printer control unit to the head 106. Parts equal to those shown in the drawings already described are represented by identical reference numbers and the description thereof is skip The reference number 200 represents a CPU which controls the total operation of the printer of this mode. In Figure 12 only a characteristic signal flow to this mode is shown. The reference number 201 represents a RAM (random access memory) having a print buffer 210 for storing the printed data, a conversion data area 211 for storing the conversion data used for the conversion of the pixel data, a decoding frame 212, a work area 213 and the like. The print data stored in the print buffer 210 is the pixel data consisting of two bits. A gate array 202 reads the print data stored in the print buffer 210 by direct memory access (DMA). In general, the data of a multiple of a word (16 bits) is read from the print buffer 210. Therefore, as shown in the data structure of Figure 13, the gate array 202 reads the two bit data surrounded by a retained line. The reference number 204 represents a data converter for converting the data or pixel in accordance with the conversion data to carry out the division of the data of each trajectory for the record of multiple trajectories and to carry out other operations. The reference number 205 represents a decoder for decoding (modulating) a 2-bit print data by reference to a data frame (modulation data frame) stored in the decoding frame 212. The reference number 206 represents a register for the gate array 202, the register 206 including a register 206a for storing the forming data of the large point and a register 206b for storing the small point forming data. Figure 13 is a diagram illustrating the ink ejection timings of the respective nozzles of the registration head. A large diameter circle indicates a large point ejection timing, and a small diameter circle indicates a small point ejection timing. In the example shown in Figure 13, a portion (only 32 nozzles) of a registration head having 256 nozzles has been shown. This head is mounted obliquely at an angle? predetermined in relation to the direction perpendicular to the head scan direction (horizontal left direction in Figure 13). Referring to Figure 13, two nozzles are driven at the same time to eject inks so that during the first period, large nozzle points 1 and 17, small dots of nozzles 9 and 25, are recorded in sequence in sequence. , large points of the nozzles 2 and 18, small points of the nozzles 10 and 26, ..., large points of the nozzles 8 and 24 and small points of the nozzles 16 and 32. Before the second period, the data of 2 bits adjacent to the left side of the data surrounded by the retained line are read and during the second period, two nozzles are driven at the same time to eject inks in such a way that the small points of the nozzles 1 and 16, the large points of the nozzles 9 and 25, the small points of the nozzles 2 and 18, ... are recorded. The aforementioned processes are carried out for all 32 nozzles to register 32 pixels in total that have the maximum denisdad (large point and small point). During the next third period, similar to the first period, two nozzles are driven at the same time such that the large points of the nozzles 1 to 17, the small dots of the nozzles 9 and 25, the large dots of the nozzles 2 and 18, ... are registered. In this example of Figure 13, all data of two bits recorded by nozzles are shown at a maximum density "11". For each pixel, a small point is recorded first and then a large point is recorded. In this embodiment, in order to express the graduation of the two-bit print data using a combination of two points, the print data is read from the print buffer 210 and stored in the register 206 of the gate array 202. . In this case, before the data is stored, it is converted by the data converter 204 and the decoder 205. This convection of the data can be carried out in various ways for both the recording of a trajectory and for the multipath recording. . First, an example of the conversion of the data for the registration of a trajectory will be described. Figure 14 shows an example of the printing data of each pixel read from the printing buffer 210 and represented by two bits, using the decoder 205. In the printer of this mode, the value data of four (each pixel being represented by two bits) was sent from the driver 103 of the host computer printer is written to the print buffer 210. Then, the two-bit print data stored in the print buffer 210 is decoded by the two-bit decoder 205 in accordance with that shown in Figure 14 and the content is stored in the decoding frame 212 and transferred by MDA to register 206 of gate 202 formation. In this case, during a track record, the print data passes through the data converter 204 without being converted thereto. In the example shown in Figure 14, the upper bit of 2 bits is assigned large point and the lower bit of it is assigned to the small point. Instead, by changing the content of decoding frame 212, the decoder 205 can send the desired decoding outputs for the two-bit print data. A pixel represented by a multiple value is formed by a plurality of points, these points being called sub-pixels. In the example shown in Figure 13, sub pixels are formed by first registering a small point and then registering a large point. Then, the multipath record will be described. As shown in Figure 15, the recording medium is fed in the sub-scanning direction by 1 / n-th (in the example shown in Figure 15, n = 3) the length of the nozzle train (height of the head) each time a registry scan is carried out, and the complementary data is printed to form an image. In Figure 15, the recording medium is fed by a distance corresponding to a third part of the length of the nozzle train each time a registration scan is carried out to perform the registration by three trajectories (corresponding to one band) . According to the conventional recording method, after a rarefied image is printed during a registration scan at the main registration address, the recording medium is fed into the sub-scanning direction to carry out the next registration in the main scan direction to record an additional image in a rarefied portion formed during the previous registration. In this embodiment, the two-bit print data is sent in a manner similar to that described above for each main scan record. Therefore, in addition to the conventional rarefaction function (in this case, data conversion), a decoding function is used to further expand the graduation representation. This function will be described with reference to Figure 16. In this embodiment, two bits of the print data show a tonal level and therefore a combination of two bits is used to generate the rarefaction data (for data conversion) and it stores in the conversion data area 211 of the RAM 201. When generating this data, three sets of two-bit data in the case of three trajectory registration, including "aa" for the first registration path, "bb" for the second record path and "cc" for the third record path, all having the same number of data elements, are stored in the memory area 211, as shown in Figure 17. Then, three data sets of two bits are exchanged and stirred. This operation is repeated more than the predetermined times to generate tables with a random number with three data sets exchanged, as indicated in 170, 171 and 172, in Figure 17. The data generated in this manner is stored in the conversion data area 211 shown in Figure 12. In the three trajectory record, the data for each record scan becomes in a print data by the data conversion circuit 204 in accordance with the conversion data. This example is shown in Figure 16. In the examples shown in Figure 16, an example indicated at 160 shows the two-bit print data converted by the data "aa" and further converted by the decoder 205 according to the content of decoding box 212. An example indicated at 161 shows the print data converted by the data "bb" and further converted by the decoder 205 in accordance with the content of the decoding frame 212. An example indicated at 162 shows the print data converted by the data "cc" and further converted by the decoder 205 in accordance with the content of the decoding frame 212. An example indicated at 163 shows the printing results of each printed pixel by three registration scans. In the examples shown in Figure 16, the print data "00" indicates "xx" representative of no record point, the print data "01" indicates the lowest density with only one small dot recorded during three registration scans , the printing data "10" indicates only one registered large dot, and the printing data "11" indicates two large dots printed twice and a small dot. Figure 16 shows the specific examples only and the invention is not limited solely to these examples. By changing the content of decoding frame 212 in RAM 101, it is possible to select one of a plurality of combinations, for example, one of the four final output results shown in Figure 16. In addition to the above-mentioned combinations, one can be used. mixed combination of large and small points so that all the tables are graded so that large points are recorded or that a pixel with three large points and three small points provides a higher density. These combinations can be graduated by appropriately selecting a maximum amount of ink injection relative to the recording medium, a ratio of luminance change to an intermediate density for each combination of large and small points and the like. With the bit arrangement described above, each two-bit data is distributed evenly during each scan in a random manner. Therefore, it is possible to reduce almost a difference between the numbers of the points recorded during the respective log scans. In addition, in this mode, the use of the two-bit decoding frame allows the formation of large and small dots that combine and shuffle in combinations of two-bit data sets. Therefore, even when the numbers of the large and small points are very different, it is possible to uniformly distribute them in each record scan. Compared to the conventional dynamic scale of a maximum of two points and the number of tonal levels of three in the case of two-bit print data, the use of the mode function that allows printing by a combination of three points large and three small points to a maximum in combination with a registration head capable of printing large and small points, multipath recording, decoded by the two-bit code, randomization data and the like. In addition, four tonal levels between the sixteen levels can be selected as desired. Still further, the capacity of graduation representation and the dynamic scale can be considerably improved by increasing the number of trajectories of the multipath record and using such as the codes of 3-, 4- bits instead of the two-bit code. The number of modulation levels is not limited to only two levels, including large and small points, but can be further increased. Figure 18 is a flow chart illustrating a printing process to be carried out by the mode ink jet printer. This printing process is carried out under the control of the CPU 200. This process begins when the data supplied from the host computer is stored in the print buffer 210 by the amount of at least one scan data or one data of page. First, in Step SI, the motor 6 of the carriage begins to rotate and the head cartridge 106 begins to move. In Step S2 it is checked whether it is a recording timing of the registration head. If so, the flow proceeds to step S3 to drive the head and record the points with a train of head nozzles (detailed in the flow chart of Fig. 19). In Step S4, it is checked whether the printing of a line has been completed. If not, the flow returns to Step S2, where it is completed, the flow proceeds to step S5 where the carriage is returned and the recording medium is fed through a distance corresponding to a record width. In Step S6 it is checked that the printing of a page has been completed, otherwise the flow returns to the Step YES, while if it has been completed, the flow proceeds to Step S7 to eject the printed recording medium. Referring to the flow chart shown in Figure 19, a head drive process to be carried out by the mode ink jet printer will now be described. First in Step Sil, the print data for a head nozzle train is read from the print buffer 210. In Step S12 the data is passed through the data converter 204 without being processed by it, decoded by the decoder 205 and set in the registers 206a and 206b of the gate array 202 through the DMA. In Step S13 the data set in registers 206a and 206b is transferred to scroll register 602. In this embodiment, the heaters A and B of each nozzle are driven to different timings in accordance with the registration data to form a pixel of a certain tonal level (constituted from two points to a maximum) corresponding to that of the registration data. . Therefore, it is first checked in Step S14 if it is an impulse timing of the heater A. If so, the flow proceeds to Step S15, where the block selection signals 624 and the odd / even signal are sent. 625 to determine the position of the nozzle to be driven and then sent to the signal 627 to drive the heater A. In this way, if the data for the selected nozzle is a "1", a large dot is printed. In the next Step SI6, it is checked whether it is a driving timing of the motor B. If so, the flow proceeds to Step S17 where the block selection signal 624 and the odd / even signal 625 are sent to determine the position from the nozzle that drives the heater B and then, the heat signal 626 is sent. In this way, if the data for the selected nozzle is "1", a small dot is printed by the selected nozzle. The flow then proceeds to Step S18, where it is checked whether all the nozzles of the head have been driven and the printing by them has been completed. If so, the flow returns to the original routine, where if it is not, the flow returns to Step S14 to check the heater A and B timing of the next nozzle. In this way, the printing sequence is carried out by the other nozzles. Figure 20 is a flow chart illustrating a printing process during the registration of three mode trajectories. Processes similar to those shown in the flow chart of Figure 19 are represented by identical process numbers and the description of them is omitted. In Step S21, the number n adjusts or graduates to "3". After a log scan, a calculation of n = n-1 is carried out in Step S22, and the head is driven by repeating steps S2 to S22 until it becomes n = 0 in step S23. In this case, the registration data for each registration scan is generated by the data converter 204 and the decoder 205 shown in Figure 12.
[Second Example]
In the first example, a plurality of points including large and small points according to the pixel data graduation are used to register the pixel data represented by two bits. In the first example, the importance of the registration order of large and small points is not specifically described. However, it is known that the positions of the small and large points ejected from the nozzles and recorded in the recording medium, move slightly. Therefore, the recording positions of the small and large dots during a registration scan of the recording head are displaced even when this displacement is minute, so that a texture or the like can be formed in the recording image. Figures 26A to 26C show examples of recorded points, while the registration head moves from right to left as seen in Figures 26A to 26C, and illustrate a displacement of the recorded small and large dots caused by the difference in speed of ejection. In Figure 26A, the timings indicated by the solid lines represent true registration positions of the large points and the timings indicated by the broken lines represent true registration positions of the small points. In this state, the points are formed at the same timings of the ejection timings (a distance between the centers of the adjacent points (pixel length) = 0). In Figure 26B, a small point is recorded at an advanced position from the true position by a pixel length of 0.5 pixel. In this case, even when a space is formed between the pixels, as shown in Figure 26A, this space fills up and the overlapped area of the large and small points disappears. In Figure 26C, a small point is recorded at a position delayed from the true position by a length of 0.5 pixel. In this case, the small and large dots that make up one pixel completely overlap one over the other, and a space between the pixels is clearly shown. Namely, it is desirable that a plurality of points forming a pixel (sub-pixel) be placed close to each other. In the Second Example, the registration timings of the large and small points are definitively determined to avoid the aforementioned disadvantages. A carriage speed Vc for moving the registration head is allocated by: Vc (mm / s) =. { 25.4 (mm) / N} x f where f (Hz) is the highest drive frequency used when a point of the same size is recorded by the same nozzle of the recording head, and N (dpi) is a registration resolution.
If a distance between the tip of the nozzle of the registration head and the record sheet (recording medium) is represented by L, a velocity of a large ink droplet (for a large dot) ejected from the nozzle is represented by VI (mm / s), and a velocity of a small ink droplet (for small point) ejected from the nozzle is represented by V2 (mm / s), then a position shift di of the registration head in the direction of scanning during the period of time required for a droplet of large ink ejected from the nozzle to reach a record sheet, is provided by: di (mm) = Vc x L / Vl Similarly to position d2 of the registration head in the scanning direction in the case of a small ink droplet is provided by: d2 (mm) = Vc x L / V2 Therefore, a position shift when the large and small ink droplets are ejected at the same time, it is provided a by: d2 - di = Vc x L (1 / V2 - 1 / V1) = (25.4 / N) xfx L (1 / V2 - 1 / V1) (mm) Since a unit length of one pixel is 25.4 / N, the displacement (d2 - di) represented by the pixel length, is provided by: (d2 - dl) / (25.4 / N) = fx L (1 / V2 - 1 / V1) = fx L (VI - V2) / (V1 x V2) (in the pixel unit) It has already been confirmed that if the displacement of the centers of two large and small points is 0.5 pixel or less, the quality of the recorded image is not adversely affected, even when large and small points are recorded alternately. Substituting this relation in the aforementioned equation, we obtain the following formula: -0.5 (pixel) <; f x L (VI - V2) / (V1 x V2) - 0.5 < 0.5, that is, 0 < f x L (VI - V2) / (VI x V2) < 1.0 If this formula is satisfied, it is possible to prevent the quality of the image from degrading. Figures 21A to 21C are diagrams showing the relationship of the position between the large and small points recorded in this order during ejection of inks at an equal time interval (corresponding to 0.5 pixel). Figure 21A shows the relationship between the positions of the point where the large point is recorded first and then the small point is recorded at the same ejection speed or at the distance L of "0"
(practically impossible) between the tip of the mouthpiece and the record sheet. In this case, the distance between the centers of the large and small points is 0.5 pixel. Figure 21B shows a position shift by 0.25 pixel caused by a difference in the ejection speed between the large and small ink droplets, the distance L between the tip of the nozzle and the registration sheet and the like. In this case, the distance between the centers of the large point and the small point recorded after the large point is 0.75 pixel. Figure 21C shows a displacement of position by 0.5 pixel that is caused by a difference in ejection speed between the droplets of large and small ink, the distance L between the tip of the nozzle and the record sheet and the like. In this case, the distance between the centers of the large point and the small point recorded after the large point is 1 pixel. Figures 22A to 22E show examples where this shift between the registration position of the large and small points is caused by a difference in the ejection speed between the large and small ink droplets, the distance L between the tip of the nozzle and the registration and similar sheet, which is deleted by first registering a small point and then registering the large point. Figure 22A shows a relationship of the position of the point where the large point is recorded first and then the small point is recorded at the same ejection speed or the distance L of "0" (practically impossible) between the tip of the nozzle and the record sheet. In this case, the distance between the centers of the large and small points is 0.5 pixel. Figure 22B shows a position shift by 0.25 pixel caused by a difference in ejection velocity between the large and small ink droplets, the distance L between the tip and the nozzle and the record sheet and the like. In this case, the distance between the centers of the small point and the large point recorded after the small point is 0.25 pixel, and the small point is included in the large point. Figure 22C shows a position shift by 0.5 pixel caused by a difference in ejection velocity between the large and small ink droplets, the distance L between the tip of the nozzle and the registration sheet and the like. In this case, the center of the small point and the center of the large point recorded after the small point, are usually in the same position. Figure 22D shows a position shift by 0.75 pixel. In this case the center of the small point is separated from the center of the large point registered after the small point, by 0.25 pixel. Figure 22E shows a position shift by 1.0 pixel. In this case, the center of the small point is separated from the center of the large point recorded after the small point by 0.5 pixel. As above, when registering a pixel using a plurality of large and small points, if the large point for the pixel is recorded first and then the small point for the pixel is recorded, the distance between the large and small points becomes prolonged, as shown in Figures 21A to 21C. Therefore, the quality of the image becomes grainy and patterns of strips, texture patterns or the like are degraded or formed in the recorded image. In contrast in this Second Example the small point for a pixel is recorded first and then the large point for the pixel is recorded so that the two points usually overlap one another as shown in Figures 22A to 22E for in this way allow a higher quality image to be recorded while retaining the pixel's graduation. Figure 23, Figures 24A, 24C and Figures
25A and 25B show examples of heater arrangements of an ink jet head used by the First and Second Examples. Figure 23 shows an example of the arrangement of heaters 281 and 282 that generally have the same amount of heat generation placed in the nozzle 280 at displaced positions in the horizontal direction. In this example, different ink ejection quantities (different spot diameters) can be obtained by either driving only the heater 281 near the ink ejection port 283 or by driving both heaters 281A and 282B at the same time. Each of the examples shown in Figures 24A to 24C show an arrangement of a small heater 291 and a large heater 292 (having a larger heat generation amount) that have different heat generation amount placed in the nozzle 290 in different positions. Also, in this case, it is possible to eject from the ink ejection port 293 the ink droplets having appropriate amounts to register a small point, a medium point and a large point, either by driving only the small heater 291, only the heater 292 large, or both small and large heaters 291 and 292 at the same time. The example shown in Figure 25A shows an arrangement of heaters 301 and 302 that generally have the same amount of heat generation placed in the nozzle 300 in tandem sequence toward the ejection port. Registration by two different ink ejection quantities is possible either by driving only the heater 301 and at the same time driving both heaters 301 and 302. The example shown in Figure 25B shows an arrangement of a small heater 304 and a large heater 305 which have different heat generation amount placed in tandem towards the ejection port 303. Registration by three different ink ejection quantities is possible either by driving only the small heater 304, only the large heater 305 or both heaters 304 and 305, at the same time. Accordingly, by driving the heaters shown in Figures 23, 24A to 24C, 25A and 25B to booster timings of the heaters A and B in the first and second examples as mentioned above, a more toned image can be recorded. elevated Even in this case, as described in the second example, causing the ejection timing of the ink droplets to register small-sized dots precede that of the ink droplets to register large-sized dots, an image of higher tonality. According to the recording head mode, ink droplets of different amounts are ejected from the same ejection port of the nozzle, changing an applied pulse, and a proportional relationship between an ejection amount of ink and the speed of ejection. Choice is used positively. Accordingly, an ejection amount of ink can be modulated by changing a displacement amount of a piezo element of the nozzle. In addition, this registration head is also vastably applicable to other ink-jet recording systems, such as recording heads and recording devices, using thermal energy. As for the representative constitution and principle of this ink jet recording method for forming flying liquid droplets using thermal energy for recording, for example, one which is practiced by using the basic principle disclosed, for example, in US Patents Nos. 4,723,129 and 4,740,796, it is preferred. This system is applicable to the so-called type on request and the continuous type. Particularly, the case of the on-demand type is effective because by applying at least one driving signal that provides rapid temperature rise that exceeds the boiling of the core corresponding to the registration information in thermal electric converters placed corresponding to the leaves or liquid channels that retain a liquid (ink), the thermal energy is generated in the thermal converters of electricity to effect the boiling of the film on the surface and which acts in the heat of the recording head, and consequently, the bubbles within the liquid (ink) can be formed correspondingly one by one to drive the signals. By discharging the liquid (ink) through an opening for discharge by growth and shrinkage of the bubble, at least one droplet forms. By making the driving signals in impulse configurations, the growth and shrinkage of the bubbles can be effected instantaneously and suitably to achieve the preferred discharge of the liquid (ink) particularly excellent in response characteristic. As the driving signals of this impulse configuration, those disclosed in U.S. Patent Nos. 4,463,359 and 4,345,252 are appropriate. The adonal excellent registration can be carried out by employing the conons described in US Pat. No. 4,313,124 of the invention relating to the temperature rise regime of the heat operating surface mentioned above. As the constitution of the registration head, in adon to the combination of the discharge orifice, the liquid channel and the electricity-heated converter (linear liquid channel or liquid channel of right angles) as disclosed in the respective specifications mentioned above, the constitution by the use of US Pat. Nos. 4,558,333 or 4,459,600 which discloses the constitution that the heat drive portion has in the flexed region is also included in the present invention. In adon, the present invention can also effectively provide the constitution as disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Number 59-123670 which discloses the constitution using a slit common to a plurality of heat converters by electricity as the portion for discharge of the electric heated converter or Japanese Patent Application Number 59-138461 which discloses the constitution of the opening for absorbing the pressure wave of the thermal energy corresponding to the discharge portion. Also, as regards the registration head of the full line type having a length corresponding to the maximum width of the recording medium that can be registered by the recording device, either the consitution satisfying its length by a combination of a plurality of recording heads as disclosed in the aforementioned specification of the constitution or can be used as an integrally formed recording head. Furthermore, the present invention is effective for a freely interchangeable pickup type recording head that allows the electrical connection to the main device or the supply of ink from the main device mounted on the main device, or a recording head of the type of cartridge that has an ink tank that is provided integrally in the same registration head. In adon, the adon of a recovery means for the registration head, a preliminary auxiliary means, etc. which is provided for the recording head is preferred, because the effect of the present invention can be further stabilized. Specific examples of these may include for the recording head, a stage means, a cleaning means, a pressure or suction means, heat converters by electricity or other type of heating elements, or a preliminary heating means of It is also effective to carry out the stable registration in order to carry out the preliminary download mode that carries out the separate download of the record.
Even when the ink is considered as the liquid in the modalities described above, another ink may also be usable, which is solid at a temperature lower than the ambient temperature and which will be reblanded or liquefied at room temperature or on top of it, or liquefies when a used registration signal is issued as is common with the ink-jet recording system to control the viscosity of the ink that must be maintained within a certain scale of stable discharge, adjusting the temperature of ink within the range of 30 ° C to 70 ° C. In addition, in order to avoid temperature rise due to thermal energy using positively thermal energy as the energy for the change of state from solid to liquid or to avoid evaporation of the ink using the ink that will become rigid in the state on the shelf, the use of ink having a property to liquefy only with the application of thermal energy, such as those that liquefy with the application of heat energy in accordance with a registration signal so that the liquid ink is discharged or it may solidify at the time of reaching the recording medium, it is also applicable in the present invention. In this case, the ink may be retained as a solid liquid or in recesses or through holes in a porous sheet that is placed opposite the electrodes heated by electricity, or as described in Japanese Patent Application Number 54-56847 or Number 60-71260. The film boiling method can be implemented very effectively for the inks, as mentioned above. Also, the present invention is applicable not only to the ink jet system using thermal energy, but also to the ink jet system using the piezoelectric element. Also, even when the facsimile apparatus has been exemplified in this embodiment, it will be understood that the present invention is not limited thereto but is also applicable to a printer connected to a host system, or a copying machine with a reading apparatus. In the aforementioned embodiment, a recording apparatus for recording an image by scanning a recording head is the one used. The invention is not limited thereto, but is applicable to an apparatus of the type in which a full line type head is used and the recording means moves relative to the head. As described so far, the apparatus of this mode can register a plurality of points of different sizes in the recording medium with a simple circuit structure even during the registration of a trajectory. Although not provided by conventional techniques, the respective point registration ratios can usually be distributed uniformly on each scan path, even if the numbers of points of different sizes are unbalanced during multipath recording. Both the selection of points and the data distribution can be carried out by commonly using a rarefied mask for a multipath recording when the points are scattered towards each scanning path. Therefore, control of the record is facilitated. Since a function is provided to generally disperse the points uniformly to each record of the scan path, the multipath register function to eliminate the variations in registration that will be caused by the fluctuations of the recorded points and the different ones diameters of the point, can be used efficiently even when the numbers of the large and small points are greatly unbalanced.
An average register ratio of respective nozzles during each scan path record can be made constant and an error rate such as ejection faults at a high register ratio can be reduced. further, since the ejection amounts are continuously changed for the respective nozzles, an average of the amount of ink ejection from the respective nozzles can be decreased even at a high register ratio. Therefore, it is possible to improve a filling frequency and an error rate. The power of instantaneous consumption can also be decreased so that the cost of the power can be reduced considerably. This energy cost can also be reduced by using an energy supervisor or similar. According to the embodiment, when registering an image during a relative movement of the recording head and recording medium, a small point with a slow ejection speed is recorded before a large point with a fast ejection velocity is recorded. . Accordingly, the large and small points constituting a pixel can be recorded in the recording medium which is superimposed one on top of the other, usually in the same position and a superior quality image can be formed which suppresses texture generation or similar. As described above, according to the invention, an image having a tonal level corresponding to the registration data can be reproduced with high fidelity. Furthermore, according to the invention, the ejection amounts of the ink droplets of the recording points having different diameters are modulated, and the registration data is supplied during the ink ejection timing of the point having a desired diameter. . Therefore, it is possible to modulate the diameter of the point during each registration scan with great ease and with a simple circuit structure. Still further, according to the invention, the registration data is modulated in accordance with the modulation data so that the same data control algorithm can be used even for multipath recording. In addition, according to the invention, points of different diameters expressing a tonal level of a pixel can be recorded without position shifting so that an image of high quality and high gradient reproducibility can be formed.
Claims (54)
1. An ink jet recording apparatus that records an image on a recording medium ejecting ink from each of a plurality of recording elements of a recording head, comprising: a means of changing the ejection amount of ink to change an amount of ink ejection of each registration element of the registration head; a timing control means for controlling an ink ejection timing of the medium that changes the amount of ink ejection; modulation means for modulating the registration data; and a control means for controlling in order to record an image in the recording medium by sending the modulated registration data by means of the modulation means synchronously with an ejection timing determined by the timing control means.
2. An ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the timing control means determines at least two ink ejection timings including an ink ejection timing to register a larger diameter point. with recording elements, and an ink ejection timing to register a smaller diameter point with the recording element.
3. An ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the medium that changes the amount of ink ejection includes a plurality of resistive heat generating members having different heat generation amounts, the resistive members. Heat generators are driven in sequence or at the same time.
4. An ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the medium that changes the amount of ink ejection includes a plurality of heat generating resistive members positioned at different positions, and changes the ejection amount of the ink jet. ink by changing the number of resistive general heat elements that are going to be driven generally at the same time or by changing the positions thereof.
5. An ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the modulation means modulates the registration data in accordance with the modulation data and includes a storage means for storing the modulation data, wherein the modulation data is capable of being rewritten.
6. An ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the modulation means modulates the registration data in accordance with the modulation data and includes a storage means for storing the modulation data, wherein the data Modulation is able to rewrite.
7. An ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the modulation means modulates the registration data in accordance with the modulation data and includes a storage means for storing the modulation data, wherein the modulation data is capable of being rewritten.
8. An ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the modulation means modulates the registration data in accordance with the modulation data and includes a storage means for storing the modulation data, wherein the modulation data is capable of being rewritten.
An ink jet apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the control means controls to express a tonal level of the modulated registration data by means of the modulation means, using a combination of larger points, smaller points, or both larger and smaller points.
10. An ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 5, further comprising: a means of generating registration scan data to generate the registration data for each registration scan, diluting the data registration data for each registry scan and changing the data divided in accordance with the modulation data; and a multi-path control means for performing the registration by a plurality of record scans in accordance with the registration data generated by the record scan data generating means.
11. An ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 6, further comprising: a means for generating registration scan data to generate the registration data for each registration scan, diluting the data registration data to each record scan and changing the data divided in accordance with the modulation data; and a multi-path control means for performing the registration by a plurality of registration scans in accordance with the registration data generated by the log scan data generation means.
12. An ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 7, further comprising: a log scan data generating means for generating a log data for each log scan, dividing the log data into data for each scan of registration and changing the data divided in accordance with the modulation data; and a multi-path control means for performing the registration by a plurality of record scans in accordance with the registration data generated by the log scan data generating means.
13. An ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 8, further comprising: a means for generating register scan data to generate a register data for each register scan by dividing the data record into data for each log scan and changing the data divided in accordance with the modulation data; and a means of control and multiple trajectories for carrying out the registration by a plurality of registration scans in accordance with the registration data generated by the means of generating registry scan data.
14. An ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the timing control means controls to register the smallest point for a certain pixel before the largest point for the pixel is recorded.
15. An ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the recording head ejects ink using thermal energy and includes a thermal energy generator for generating thermal energy applied to the ink.
16. An ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the recording head ejects the ink using thermal energy and includes a thermal energy generator for generating thermal energy applied to the ink.
17. An ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the recording head ejects the ink using thermal energy and includes a thermal energy generator for generating thermal energy applied to the ink.
18. An ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the recording head ejects the ink using thermal energy and includes a thermal energy generator for generating thermal energy applied to the ink.
19. An ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the recording head ejects the ink using thermal energy and includes a thermal energy generator for generating thermal energy applied to the ink.
20. An ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the recording head ejects the ink using thermal energy and includes a thermal energy generator for generating thermal energy applied to the ink.
21. An ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the recording head ejects the ink using thermal energy and includes a thermal energy generator for generating thermal energy applied to the ink.
22. An ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the recording head ejects the ink using thermal energy and includes a thermal energy generator for generating thermal energy applied to the ink.
23. An ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the recording head ejects the ink using thermal energy and includes a thermal energy generator for generating thermal energy applied to the ink.
24. An ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the recording head ejects the ink using thermal energy and includes a thermal energy generator for generating thermal energy applied to the ink.
25. An ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the recording head ejects the ink using thermal energy and includes a thermal energy generator to generate thermal energy applied to the ink.
26. An ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the recording head ejects the ink using thermal energy and includes a thermal energy generator for generating thermal energy applied to the ink.
27. An ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the recording head ejects the ink using thermal energy and includes a thermal energy generator to generate thermal energy applied to the ink.
28. An ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the recording head ejects the ink using thermal energy and includes a thermal energy generator for generating thermal energy applied to the ink.
29. An ink jet recording method for recording an image on a recording medium by ejecting the ink from each of a plurality of recording elements of a recording head, comprising the steps of: a modulation registration data; and recording an image in the recording medium by sending the modulated registration data in the modulation step synchronously with an ink ejection timing of each registration element of the recording head having a different ink ejection amount.
30. An ink jet recording method according to claim 29, wherein the ink ejection timing includes at least two ink ejection timing including an ink ejection timing to register a larger diameter point. with the registration element, and an ink ejection timing to register a smaller diameter point with the registration element.
31. An ink jet recording method according to claim 30, wherein the amount of ink ejection from the recording head is changed by a plurality of resistive heat generating members having different heat generation amounts or which are placed in different positions, or by changing the number of positions of resistive heat generating members to be driven generally at the same time, or by changing the positions thereof.
32. An ink jet recording method according to claim 29, wherein the modulation step modulates the registration data in accordance with the modulation data and includes a memory for storing the modulation data, and wherein the modulation data is capable of being rewritten.
33. An ink jet recording method according to claim 30, wherein the modulation step modulates the registration data in accordance with the modulation data and includes a memory for storing the modulation data, wherein the data Modulation is able to rewrite.
34. An ink jet recording method according to claim 31, wherein the modulation step modulates the registration data in accordance with the modulation data and includes a memory for storing the modulation data, wherein the data Modulation is able to rewrite.
35. An ink jet recording method according to claim 31, wherein a tonal level of the registration data modulated in the modulation step is expressed using a combination of larger points, smaller points or much larger points. as smaller.
36. An ink jet recording method according to claim 32, further comprising the steps of: generating the registration data for each record scan by dividing the data record into data for each record scan and changing the divided data 10 in accordance with the modulation data; and carrying out the registration by means of a plurality of registration scans in accordance with the registration data generated in the scanning or registration data generating step. 15
37. A method of recording inkjet r _ according to claim 33, further comprising the steps of: generating the registration data for each record scan by dividing the data record into data for each record scan and changing the data divided in accordance with the modulation data; and carrying out the registration by a plurality of registration scans in accordance with the registration data generated in the registration scan data generator step.
38. An ink jet recording method according to claim 34, further comprising the steps of: generating the registration data for each record scan by dividing the data record into data for each record scan and changing the data divided by conformity with the modulation data; and carrying out the registration by a plurality of registry scans in accordance with the registration data generated in the registration scan data generator step.
39. An ink jet recording method according to claim 30, wherein as the timing of the ink ejection, the smallest point for a certain pixel is recorded with the registration element before the point is recorded. great for the pixel.
40. An ink jet recording apparatus for recording a pixel with a recording head having ink ejection ports using a plurality of dots, comprising: a driving means that is provided to correspond to the ejection port of the ink jet. ink in order to eject in sequence, during predetermined timings, at least two inks between a plurality of inks that form a plurality of points constituting the pixel, from the ink ejection port of the registration head; a change means for changing the ink ejection quantities of at least two inks ejected in sequence from the registration head by the driving means during the predetermined timings; and an output means for sending, in sequence of time and synchronously with the predetermined timings, the data for ejecting the ink forming the pixel and containing information of the ejection quantities of ink in the order of ink output.
41. An ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 40, wherein the change medium changes the ejection amounts of at least two inks in order to form a larger diameter point and one more diameter point. little.
42. An ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 41, wherein at the ink ejection port, a plurality of resistive heat generating members having different heat generation amounts are provided, and the change drives the plurality of resistive heat generating members in sequence or at the same time during the predetermined timings.
43. An ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 41, wherein in the ink ejection port a plurality of resistive heat generating members placed in different positions are provided, and the change means drives the plurality of resistive members. heat generators by changing the number or positions thereof during the predetermined timings.
44. An ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 41, wherein the change medium changes the ejection amounts of at least two inks to be ejected in sequence during predetermined timings in order to register the most point. small for a certain pixel before the largest point for the pixel is recorded.
45. An ink jet recording apparatus for recording a pixel with a plurality of dots ejecting the ink from an ink ejection port, comprising: a driving means for ejecting in sequence, during predetermined timings, at least two inks between a plurality of inks that form a plurality of points constituting the pixel, from the ink ejection port; a change means for changing the ink ejection quantities of at least two inks ejected in sequence from the registration head by the driving means during the predetermined timings; and an output means for sending, in sequence of time and synchronously with the predetermined timings, the data for ejecting the ink forming the pixel and containing information of the ejection quantities of ink in the order of ink output.
46. An ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 45, wherein the changing medium changes the ejection amounts of at least two points in order to form a larger diameter point and a larger diameter point. little.
47. An ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 46, wherein at the ink ejection port, a plurality of resistive heat generating members having different heat generation amounts are provided, and the change drives the plurality of resistive heat generating members in sequence or at the same time during the predetermined timings.
48. An ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 46, wherein at the ink ejection port, a plurality of heat generating resistive members positioned at different positions are provided, and the change means drives the plurality of resistive heat generating members by changing the number or positions thereof during the predetermined timings.
49. An ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 46, wherein the changing medium changes the ejection amounts of at least two inks to be ejected in sequence during the predetermined timings in order to register the point. smaller for a certain pixel before the largest point for the pixel is recorded.
50. An ink jet recording method for registering a pixel with a registration head having ink ejection ports, using a plurality of points comprising the steps of: ejecting in sequence, during predetermined timings, at least two inks between a plurality of inks that form a plurality of points constituting the pixel, from the ink ejection port of the registration head, corresponding to the ink ejection ports of the registration head; changing the ink ejection quantities of at least two inks in sequence ejected from the registration head during the predetermined timings; and sending, in sequence of time and synchronously with the predetermined timings, the data for ejecting the ink forming the pixel and containing information of the ejection quantities of ink in the order of ink output.
51. An ink jet recording method according to claim 50, wherein the change step changes the ejection amounts of at least two inks in order to form a larger diameter point and a smaller diameter point.
52. An ink jet recording method according to claim 51, wherein in the ink ejection port, a plurality of resistive heat generating members having different heat generation amounts are provided, and the step of change drives the plurality of resistive heat generating members in sequence or at the same time during the predetermined timings.
53. An ink jet recording method according to claim 51, wherein in the ink ejection port, a plurality of heat generating resistive members positioned in different positions are provided, and the change step drives the plurality of heat generating resistive members by changing the number or positions thereof during the predetermined timings.
54. An ink jet recording method according to claim 51, wherein the change step changes the ejection amounts of at least two inks to be ejected in sequence during predetermined timings in order to register the most small for a certain pixel before the largest point for the pixel is recorded.
Applications Claiming Priority (4)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| JP16775296 | 1996-06-27 | ||
| JP8-167752 | 1996-06-27 | ||
| JP9151359A JPH1071730A (en) | 1996-06-27 | 1997-06-09 | Ink jet recording, its device, and ink jet recording head |
| JP9-151359 | 1997-06-09 |
Publications (2)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| MX9704809A MX9704809A (en) | 1998-07-31 |
| MXPA97004809A true MXPA97004809A (en) | 1998-11-09 |
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