WO2004055663A1 - 印刷用のデータを圧縮した状態で保存して印刷を行なう印刷システムおよびこの印刷システムに用いる印刷装置 - Google Patents
印刷用のデータを圧縮した状態で保存して印刷を行なう印刷システムおよびこの印刷システムに用いる印刷装置 Download PDFInfo
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- WO2004055663A1 WO2004055663A1 PCT/JP2003/016049 JP0316049W WO2004055663A1 WO 2004055663 A1 WO2004055663 A1 WO 2004055663A1 JP 0316049 W JP0316049 W JP 0316049W WO 2004055663 A1 WO2004055663 A1 WO 2004055663A1
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- G—PHYSICS
- G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
- G06K—GRAPHICAL DATA READING; PRESENTATION OF DATA; RECORD CARRIERS; HANDLING RECORD CARRIERS
- G06K15/00—Arrangements for producing a permanent visual presentation of the output data, e.g. computer output printers
- G06K15/02—Arrangements for producing a permanent visual presentation of the output data, e.g. computer output printers using printers
- G06K15/10—Arrangements for producing a permanent visual presentation of the output data, e.g. computer output printers using printers by matrix printers
- G06K15/102—Arrangements for producing a permanent visual presentation of the output data, e.g. computer output printers using printers by matrix printers using ink jet print heads
- G06K15/105—Multipass or interlaced printing
Definitions
- the present invention relates to a technique for performing printing by applying predetermined image processing to an image.
- the present invention relates to a technique for printing an image while performing the image processing in a shared manner between an image processing apparatus and a printing apparatus.
- BACKGROUND ART Printing devices that print images by forming dots on print media are widely used as output devices for various types of image devices. In these printing devices, images are handled in a state subdivided into small areas called pixels, and dots are formed in these pixels. Such a printing device can express only one of the states of forming dots or not for each pixel, but when viewed as a whole image, the area where dots are formed densely or sparsely formed.
- dots are densely formed look dark, and areas where dots are sparsely formed look bright. Therefore, if the dot formation density is appropriately controlled according to the gradation value of the image to be expressed, it is possible to print a multi-gradation image.
- the following method is usually used to form dots at an appropriate density according to the gradation value of an image.
- an image to be printed is subjected to predetermined image processing, and the image data is converted into data (dots indicating presence or absence of dot formation) for each pixel.
- this is referred to as “dot data” in this specification.
- the printing apparatus By performing appropriate image processing on an image, it is possible to generate dot data for forming dots at an appropriate density according to the gradation value of the image data.
- the obtained dot data indicating the presence or absence of dot formation is supplied to the printing apparatus.
- the printing device forms dots on each pixel according to the data sent in this way. In this way, dots can be formed at an appropriate density according to the gradation value of the image data, and a desired image can be printed. Since images are printed in this way, if the number of pixels that make up the image increases, it takes time to transfer the data that has undergone image processing, making it difficult to print quickly. Become.
- Such dots are formed on a printing medium such as printing paper by using a dot forming element provided in the printing head, for example, a nozzle for discharging ink droplets.
- one raster is formed by using at least two of a plurality of dot forming elements provided on a printing head. In this case, in a printing apparatus of a type in which a printing head is reciprocated with respect to a printing medium to perform printing, one lath is completed by a plurality of forward and backward movements.
- dots are formed at discrete positions (for example, every other position), and the relative positional relationship between the print head and the print medium is shifted. , The raster is completed by filling the gaps between the already formed dots with another dot forming element.
- This technique is called overlap.
- adopting such a dot formation method causes a problem that once generated dot data is not used immediately, it must be held until the print head moves. I do.
- the printing head was provided with a plurality of dot-forming elements separated by several dots, and a fixed width was completed only after the printing head moved forward or backward several times.
- the method of interlacing is adopted, so if the overlap is further performed, the amount of dot data that must be kept increases dramatically. As a result, a large amount of memory is required to store a large amount of dot data
- the processing from the original image data to the final printing can be shared between the image processing device (usually a computer) and the printing device, or all processing can be performed on the printing device side. It is. In either case, it is necessary to develop and maintain the dot data in accordance with the dot forming element, and this requires a large-scale memory.
- dot data can be generated on the image processing device side.
- an image processing apparatus is realized by executing an application program for performing a predetermined process on a computer. When printing is performed, a printer driver is activated and necessary information is transmitted from the application program. It receives data and generates data to be output to the printing device.
- the present invention solves at least a part of the problems described above, and comprises a printing head having a plurality of dot forming elements for forming the dot on a printing medium, Each raster forming the image is printed using at least two dot-forming elements of the printing head.
- the image processing device and the printing device should efficiently share the image processing. Becomes possible. In such a case, it is possible to freely design how each means constituting the printing system is incorporated into the image processing device and the printing device. For example, processing such as color correction is performed outside the printing device, the processed data is stored in a compressed form in the memory of the printing device, and this data is expanded into dot data while being printed. For driving the dot forming element Is also good. Further, the present invention can be grasped not only as a printing system but also as a printing device and a printing method.
- the determination result of whether or not a dot is formed for a pixel of interest is temporarily stored, and at least one forward or backward determination is made from the stored determination result.
- the determination results corresponding to the dots formed in the backward movement may be combined to form a raster.
- the raster can be formed quickly, and the image can be printed quickly, which is preferable.
- a portion corresponding to the pixel of interest may be selected from the converted data stored in a state requiring development. The above data may be developed to determine the presence or absence of the dot formation.
- the image data corresponding to the target pixel can be expanded, so that the image data is not unnecessarily expanded. Therefore, it is possible to save the storage capacity required for deployment.
- a printing apparatus, and a printing method which form a dot while repeating forward and backward movements on a print medium and print an image while forming a raster array of dots.
- the data including the pixel of interest may be expanded from the stored converted data on a raster basis to determine the presence or absence of the dot formation. Good. In this way, it is possible to easily specify the image data to be developed. This is preferable because the processing on the device side can be simplified and the processing can be speeded up.
- the conversion of the image data may be realized by compressing the dot data obtained by performing the half I processing on the original image data.
- a plurality of laths separated by a predetermined interval are formed at a time.
- the dot data including the pixels is expanded, and dot data representing whether or not dots are formed for the pixels is obtained.
- An image is printed by forming a dot based on the dot data. Even in this case, since the dot data can be stored while being compressed, a large storage capacity is not required.
- the printing system or the printing apparatus according to the present invention may further include, for a pixel group in which a plurality of pixels constituting an image are grouped by a predetermined number, the number of dots formed in the pixel group as the image data. Based on this, the converted data is obtained, the data of the number of dots is stored as the converted data, and the data of the number of stored dots is converted to the dot data.
- the conversion is performed at least once for each of the pixel groups, and the conversion is performed for at least M pixel sets (M is an integer of 2 or more and less than N which is the number of the pixel sets included in the pixel group).
- M is an integer of 2 or more and less than N which is the number of the pixel sets included in the pixel group).
- the saved dot date and evening may be stored at the same time. If the dot data of all pixels included in the pixel group is generated at once, the dot data of many pixels is stored for a long time because the raster is formed by reciprocating multiple times. Requires a large storage capacity. However, if only the dot data of the corresponding pixel set is stored in accordance with the reciprocation of the head, the count data must be converted to dot data every time the head reciprocates. However, the conversion efficiency decreases.
- dot data for two or more pixel groups is generated and stored at least once for each pixel group.
- the storage capacity required at one time can be reduced unless the dot data of all the pixel groups included in the pixel group is stored, and the number of pieces of data can be reduced for each pixel group. Since the number of conversions to dot data can be reduced, it is possible to suppress a decrease in conversion efficiency.
- the dot data for a plurality of pixel groups are stored at the same time, the dot data for the other pixel groups will be stored until the dot is formed, except for the pixel group that immediately forms the dot. Storage capacity is required.
- the required storage capacity can be reduced as compared with the case where dot data of all pixel sets is stored.
- the number data is converted to generate dot data of all the pixels included in the pixel group, and then the dot data is converted only for the pixels of the target pixel group. It may be stored, or it is also possible to convert the count data into dot data and store it only for the pixels of the target pixel set. In such a printing system, the converted dot data may be stored simultaneously for at least a plurality of pixel sets in which a dot is continuously formed in the pixel group.
- a plurality of sets of dot data to be stored at the same time are data of a pixel group in which a dot is continuously formed in a pixel group, even if the pixel data is not a pixel group in which a dot is continuously formed, Since the data is supplied to the head soon after the dot data, the capacity required for storing the dot data can be suppressed.
- dot data of the following pixel group may be stored as a plurality of sets of dot data to be stored simultaneously. That is, dots are formed while supplying the dot data included in the pixel group to the head by pixel group, and the last plural pixel groups (all the pixel groups remaining in the pixel group at a certain time) are formed. May be stored at the same time.
- the dot data of these pixel sets Assuming that there are only two pixel sets that have not been converted to dot data yet in the pixel group, for example, if the dot data of these pixel sets are stored, the It is not necessary to store the number data. In other words, it is possible to store the dot data of two pixel sets with a storage capacity that is small enough to store the number data. As is clear from this, with regard to a plurality of pixel groups in which a dot is formed last in the pixel group, if the dot data is converted and stored simultaneously, the storage of the dot data is possible. Therefore, it is possible to suppress an increase in capacity required for the operation.
- the dot data is determined based on the order of pixels in each pixel in the pixel group.
- the pixels that form the dots may be determined in this way.
- the order of the pixels that form dots in the pixel group i.e., It is preferable to know information on whether or not a pixel is a pixel in which dots are formed, since dot data can be easily obtained from the number of dots formed in the pixel group.
- the printing apparatus of the present invention can be grasped as a printing method, a program that is incorporated in a printing apparatus using a computer, and realizes each function as a printing apparatus, and a recording medium on which the program is recorded. it can.
- FIG. 1A and 1B are explanatory diagrams showing an outline of the invention by a printing system.
- FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram conceptually showing the configuration of a computer as the image processing device of the present embodiment.
- FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram conceptually showing the configuration of the printer according to the present embodiment.
- FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing the arrangement of nozzles formed on the bottom surface of the ink discharge head.
- FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing a mechanism by which ink droplets are ejected from nozzles under the control of a control circuit.
- FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the flow of the image processing of this embodiment.
- FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram illustrating one mode of expanding image data.
- FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram exemplifying another mode for developing the image data.
- FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram conceptually showing the contents of the micro weave process.
- FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram showing an outline of a generally performed microweave process for reference.
- FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram showing an outline of the half-in-one microweave process of this embodiment.
- FIG. 12 is an explanatory view conceptually showing the principle of judging the presence or absence of dot formation by the dither method.
- FIG. 13 is a flow chart showing the flow of the half-size microweave processing of the present embodiment.
- FIG. 14 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a printing system according to a modification.
- FIG. 15 is a flowchart showing the flow of a process of generating control data and printing an image (image printing process) in the present embodiment.
- FIG. 16A and FIG. 16B are explanatory diagrams showing a state of resolution conversion performed in the image printing process.
- FIG. 17 is a flowchart showing the flow of the count data generation process.
- FIG. 18 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a part of dither matrices.
- FIG. 19 is an explanatory diagram conceptually showing a state in which the presence / absence of dot formation for the pixel of interest is determined with reference to the dither matrix.
- FIGS. 20A and 20B are explanatory diagrams conceptually showing a state in which the number data is converted into dot data.
- FIG. 21 is a flowchart showing the flow of the count data decoding process according to the present embodiment.
- FIG. 22 is an explanatory diagram showing a state in which an image is printed by forming a raster in a plurality of passes while performing sub-scanning.
- FIG. 23 is an explanatory diagram showing an enlarged effective display area of an image.
- FIG. 24 is a flowchart showing the flow of processing for generating dot data from the number data.
- FIG. 25A to FIG. 25E are explanatory diagrams conceptually showing how the dot data is generated from the quantity data.
- FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram conceptually showing an example of the above.
- FIG. 27A and Fig. 27B store the dot data generated by decoding the number data when forming the dots while repeating the main scanning of the ink ejection head.
- FIG. 5 is an explanatory view conceptually showing another example of the memory capacity required for the above.
- BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION In order to more clearly explain the functions and effects of the present invention, embodiments of the present invention will be described below in the following order.
- FIG. 1A is an explanatory diagram illustrating an embodiment of the printing system of the present invention.
- the illustrated printing system includes a computer 1 OA as an image processing device, a printer 2 OA as a printing device, and the like.
- predetermined image processing must be performed on the image data.
- a series of these image processing is performed by the computer 10 A. It is being shared with Prince O 2 OA.
- the image is generally represented by the so-called three primary colors of light, RG B
- Printer 2 OA prints images using the ink installed in the printer. Therefore, when printing an image on a computer, it is necessary to convert the RGB image data into data equivalent to the amount of ink.
- image processing is performed using a color conversion module provided in the computer 1 OA. That is, the color conversion processing is performed on the computer 1 OA side. The details of the color conversion processing will be described later.
- the computer 1 OA is also provided with an intermediate data transfer module, and the intermediate data that has been subjected to the image processing performed by the computer 1 OA is transferred from this module to the printer 2 OA.
- the printer 2 OA When transferring intermediate data, the printer 2 OA transfers the data in a state that requires expansion to multiple pixels in order to reduce the time required for the transfer.
- the intermediate data transferred to the printer 2 OA is stored in the intermediate data storage module in a state requiring expansion.
- the printer 2 OA performs the remaining image processing on the data thus stored, and supplies the finally obtained data to the print head.
- the print head prints an image while forming a dot of ink on a print medium according to the supplied data.
- the intermediate data transmitted from the computer 1 OA to the printer 20 A is not in a format in which an image can be expressed using a dot, so the intermediate data is converted into data of such a format. Processing is required.
- the order in which the print head forms dots does not always match the order stored in the printer 20A, it may be necessary to rearrange the order of the data.
- ⁇ 1 microweave module is provided in the printer 20A, and after these processes are performed using this module, the final result is obtained.
- the supplied data is supplied to the print head to print the image.
- the intermediate image requires the development of multiple pixels on the printer 20A side It is stored in the state. Therefore, when performing the above process, the Half! Microweave module reads the intermediate data including the pixel to be processed, expands it, and performs predetermined image processing on the target pixel. .
- the intermediate data including the other pixels is read and expanded again, and the predetermined image processing is repeated for the target pixel.
- the printer 2 OA although the intermediate data to be processed is expanded, most of the intermediate data can be stored without being expanded. There is no need. As a result, even when image processing is shared between the computer 1 OA and the printer 20 A, the processing can be effectively shared without limiting the storage capacity of the printer 20 A side. .
- FIG. 1B is an explanatory diagram exemplifying an outline of a printing apparatus and a printing system of the present invention.
- the printing system includes a computer # 0B as an image processing device, a printer 20B, and the like.
- B and the printer 20B function as an integrated printing system as a whole.
- the printer 20B is provided with a head 22B that discharges fine ink droplets, and discharges ink droplets from the head 22B toward the print medium at an appropriate position on the print medium. Then, an ink dot can be formed at an arbitrary position.
- the printer 20B ejects ink droplets while reciprocating the head 22B on the print medium, and forms ink dots with an appropriate distribution on the print medium.
- the image is printed by.
- the printer 20B since the image is printed by forming ink dots, the image to be printed is subjected to predetermined image processing in advance, and dots are formed at any pixel in the image. It is necessary to convert it to data indicating whether to do so.
- image processing is usually provided separately from the printer 20B.
- the image is printed by supplying the obtained data to the printer 20B from the computer 10B.
- the computer 10B of the printing system illustrated in FIG. 1B determines the number of dots to be formed in the pixel group by grouping a predetermined number of pixels into a pixel group, and the obtained number data is printed by the printer 2.
- the number-of-dots determination module 12 B shown in FIG. 1B performs a process of determining the number of dots to be formed in a pixel group for each pixel group by performing predetermined image processing on an image to be printed.
- a frame surrounded by a dashed line next to the dot number determination module 12B conceptually shows how this module determines the number of dots to be formed in the pixel group.
- a small rectangle shown in the frame indicates a pixel
- a black circle displayed in the pixel indicates that a dot is formed in that pixel.
- the pixels forming the dots can be determined by applying a well-known image processing method such as a so-called error diffusion method or dither method to the image data.
- the dot number determination module 12B illustrated in FIG. 1B four pixels in two rows and columns are grouped as a pixel group, and the number of dots to be formed in the pixel group is determined.
- the number of dots formed in the pixel group is one, and the number of dots formed in the second pixel group from the left is The number is 0, and the number of dots formed in the rightmost pixel group is two.
- the number of dots is determined for each pixel group.
- the number data output module 14B outputs the number of dots thus determined for each pixel group to the printer 20B as number data. Outputting the number of dots formed in the pixel group in this way is more data than outputting the presence or absence of dot formation for each pixel. Since the data amount can be reduced, it is possible to quickly supply data to the printer 20B.
- the printer 20B converts the received count data into data representing the presence or absence of dot formation for each pixel, and prints an image by driving the head 22B according to the obtained data.
- the number data received from the computer 0B is not immediately converted into data indicating whether or not dots are formed for each pixel. Store it in memory 24B. Then, according to the movement of the head 22B, which forms dots while reciprocating on the print medium, the number data is converted into data representing the presence or absence of dot formation in accordance with the movement of the head 22B. Print the image by driving the head 22B.
- the dot data storage module 26B converts the number data into dot data and stores it, and supplies the data to the head drive module 28B in accordance with the reciprocation of the head 22B. This drives the head 22B to form a dot at an appropriate position on the print medium.
- the dot data storage module 26B is provided with a pixel set detection unit. Here, each time the head 22B reciprocates, it detects a pixel set as a plurality of pixels forming a dot.
- the number data conversion unit converts the number data into dot data, and stores the dot data for each pixel included in the pixel set in the dot data storage memory. By supplying the stored dot data of the pixel set to the head drive module 28B, an image is printed on a print medium.
- the storage memory when storing the dot data in the storage memory, at least once for each pixel group, a plurality of pixel sets, provided that a smaller number of pixel sets than the number of pixel sets included in the pixel group, Convert to data and store. By doing so, the storage capacity of the dot data storage memory can be reduced as compared with the case where all the pixel groups included in the pixel group are converted into dot data.
- the number data must be converted more frequently than if all pixel sets were converted to dot data.
- the frequency of conversion is lower than in the case where the number data is converted into dot data each time 22B reciprocates. Therefore, it is possible to quickly print an image while suppressing the storage capacity of the memory to be mounted on the printer 20B.
- a printing system and a printer will be described in detail based on embodiments.
- such a printing system will be described in detail based on embodiments.
- FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a configuration of a computer 100 as an image processing apparatus according to the present embodiment.
- the computer 100 is a well-known computer constituted by connecting 1 ⁇ 01 ⁇ / 1 104 ⁇ [3 ⁇ 4 AM106, etc. to each other by a bus 116, centering on the CPU 102. is there.
- the computer 100 has a disk controller DDC 109 for reading data from the flexible disk 124 and the compact disk 126, and a peripheral device interface for exchanging data with peripheral devices.
- One interface P—I / F 108, a video interface for driving the CRT 114, and V—IZF 112 are connected.
- the P-I / F 108 is connected to a hard disk 118 and a color printer 200 described later.
- FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of the color printer 200 of the first embodiment.
- the color printer 200 is an inkjet printer that can form dots of four color inks of cyan, magenta, yellow, and black.
- An inkjet printer that can form a total of six colors of ink dots including ink can also be used.
- cyan ink, magenta ink, yellow ink, and black ink will be abbreviated as C ink, M ink, Y ink, and K ink, respectively.
- the color printer 200 has a mechanism for driving a print head 241, which is mounted on a carriage 240, to discharge ink and form a dot, and a mechanism for driving the carriage 240.
- the carriage 240 is equipped with an ink cartridge 242 for storing K ink and an ink cartridge 243 for storing various inks of C ink, M ink and Y ink.
- each ink in the cartridge is ejected through the inlet pipe (not shown) for each color provided on the lower surface of the print head 241. Supplied to heads 2 4 4 to 2 4 7.
- the control circuit 260 includes a DZA converter 262 that converts digital data into an analog signal in addition to ROM, RAM, peripheral device interface P-IZF, etc. And a driving buffer 261, which temporarily stores data to be supplied to the node 241, and the like. Of course, the same function may be realized by hardware or firmware without mounting a CPU.
- the control circuit 260 controls the carriage motor 230 and the paper feed motor 230. By controlling the operation, the main scanning operation and the sub-scanning operation of the carriage 240 are controlled.
- the print head 241 is driven at an appropriate timing in accordance with the main scanning and the sub-scanning of the carriage 240.
- a drive signal is supplied from the DZA converter 262 and control data is supplied from the drive buffer 261.
- the mechanism for supplying the drive signal and the control data to eject the ink droplets will be described later with reference to another drawing.
- ink droplets are ejected at appropriate timing from the ink ejection heads 2444 to 247 of each color, and as a result, the ink droplets are printed on the printing paper P. A dot is formed and a color image is printed.
- Various methods can be applied to the method of ejecting ink droplets from each color ink ejection head. That is, a method of ejecting ink using a piezo element or a method of ejecting ink droplets by generating bubbles in the ink passage by a heater arranged in the ink passage can be used. Also, instead of ejecting ink, a printer that forms ink dots on printing paper using a phenomenon such as thermal transfer or a printer that uses a static electricity to deposit toner powder of each color on a printing medium is used. It is also possible to use. FIG.
- FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing a state in which a plurality of nozzles for ejecting ink droplets are formed on the bottom surface of the ink ejection heads 2444 to 247 of each color.
- four sets of nozzle rows for discharging ink drops of each color are formed on the bottom of the ink discharge head of each color, and ⁇ sets of nozzle rows have 48 nozzles Nz.
- the nozzles are arranged in a zigzag pattern at intervals of k. These nozzles simultaneously eject ink droplets according to the drive signal and control data supplied from the control circuit 260. This will be described with reference to FIG. Fig. 5 shows that the ink ejection heads 244 to 247 are the drive signal and control data.
- FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram conceptually showing a state of ejecting ink droplets according to the above.
- a plurality of nozzles Nz are provided on the bottom surface of the ink ejection head, and each nozzle is connected to a unique area allocated on the driving buffer 26 1.
- the D / A converter 262 outputs a drive signal
- the drive signal is supplied to all the nozzles Nz simultaneously.
- the ink ejection heads 24 4 to 24 7 eject ink droplets as follows. First, a nozzle for ejecting ink droplets is selected, and data representing the selection result is written to the drive buffer 261. As described above, each of all the nozzles is associated with a unique area provided on the drive buffer 261.
- the control circuit 260 shown in FIG. 3 sets control data for controlling the ejection of ink droplets in the drive buffer 261, and synchronizes with the main scanning and sub-scanning of the carriage 240, one after another. Output drive signal. In this way, ink dots are formed at appropriate positions on the printing paper P, and as a result, an image is printed.
- control data used to control the ejection of ink droplets is generated by performing a predetermined image processing on an image to be printed.
- FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the flow of image processing performed in the printing system of the present embodiment. In the present embodiment, such processing is executed by sharing between the computer 100 and the color printer 200.
- the outline of the image processing will be briefly described with reference to FIG. This image processing corresponds to the embodiment shown in FIG. 1A.
- the data read here is R, G, B color image data, that is, image data having 256 gradation widths of gradation values 0 to 255 for each of R, G, B colors.
- a color conversion process is performed on the captured image data (step S102).
- the color conversion process converts RGB color image data represented by a combination of R, G, and B gradation values into an image represented by a combination of gradation values of each color used for printing. This is the process of converting to data.
- the printer 20 prints an image using four color inks of C, M, Y, and ⁇ .
- processing is performed to convert image data represented by each color of RG ⁇ into data represented by gradation values of each color of C, M, Y, ⁇ .
- the color conversion process is performed by referring to a three-dimensional numerical table called a color conversion table (LUT).
- the LUT previously stores the gradation values of C,, ⁇ , and K obtained by color conversion for R, G, and B color image data, so if the conversion is performed while referring to this LUT, Color conversion can be performed quickly.
- R, G, B image data having 256P gradation is converted into CMY gradation data, also having 256 gradations. Replace.
- step S104 the process of transferring the obtained intermediate data to the color printer 200 is started (step S104).
- the computer 100 transfers the intermediate data in a state where the color data 200 needs to be expanded.
- the meaning of the “state requiring deployment” will be described.
- the printing resolution at which the printer 200 forms dots on a printing medium is set to a value higher than the resolution of an image handled in the computer 100.
- FIG. 7 is an explanatory view illustrating this situation.
- the resolution of the image data in the combination screen 100 is 720 di (720 pixels per inch), while the printing resolution of the color printer 200 is. Is set to 1440 dpi (1440 pixels per inch).
- the large square at the top of Fig. 7 represents pixels at a resolution of 720 dpi.
- each pixel of 720 dpi is divided vertically and horizontally to generate four pixels per pixel.
- the lower part of FIG. 7 conceptually shows how the pixel is divided into four parts. That is, pixel a with a resolution of 720 di is divided into four pixels al, a2, a3, and a4 when the resolution is converted to 1440 dpi. Similarly, pixel b with a resolution of 720 dpi is divided into four pixels b1, b2, b3, and b4 when the resolution is converted to 1440 dpi.
- the image data of each pixel having a resolution of 1440 dpi thus divided takes the same image data as the pixels having a resolution of 720 dpi before the division.
- an interpolation operation may be performed between adjacent pixels.
- the image data of pixel a1 and pixel b1 have the same value as the image data of pixel a and pixel b before division, respectively.
- the image data of the pixel a2 is calculated by interpolation from the image data of the pixel a and the pixel b.
- the image data of the pixel a3 is calculated by interpolating the image data of the pixel a and the image data of the pixel below the pixel a3.
- the image data of the pixel a4 is calculated by performing an interpolation calculation between the pixel a4 and the pixel at the lower right of the pixel a.
- the above two methods namely, a method of simply dividing using the same image data, and an interpolation method It is also possible to use the method for performing the operation properly.
- the division may be simply performed, and when the absolute value is equal to or smaller than the predetermined value, interpolation may be performed. Since the part where the absolute value of the variation takes a large value is considered to be a part corresponding to an edge in the image, in this part, the edge is not dulled by simply dividing the image instead of performing the interpolation operation. Conversely, if interpolation is performed in a portion where the absolute value of the amount of change between pixels is small, it is possible to smoothly change the gradation value of the image data and obtain a natural-looking image.
- One aspect of the “state requiring development” is a state before converting the low-resolution image data into high-resolution image data, in other words, a state before dividing the pixels, as described above.
- the high resolution is twice the resolution of the low resolution, but is not limited to this.
- a high resolution and a low resolution may not be an integral multiple.
- the “state requiring decompression” includes a mode in which image data is compressed as follows.
- FIG. 8 shows an example of such an embodiment in which image data
- FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing a case where the length is compressed.
- Run-length compression is a method of performing compression by expressing the portion where the same numerical value is continuous in data by the number of continuous data and the numerical value of continuous data.
- Fig. 8 (a) is run-length compressed
- the data shown is composed of 15 numerical values. Of these, the same numerical value “2 1” is continuous from the third numerical value to the seventh numerical value. It is assumed here that each numerical value is represented by 1 byte.
- this part of the data is converted into data consisting of a compression flag indicating that the data is compressed, a continuous number (here 5), and a continuous number (here 2 1). I will replace it.
- data in the part where the same numerical value is not continuous is not compressed, and a compression flag to indicate that it is not compressed is added before each data.
- Figure 8 (b) summarizes the rules for such conversions when performing run-length compression.
- the data shown in Fig. 8 (a) is run-length compressed according to these rules, the data shown in Fig. 8 (c) is obtained. Since the first and second numerical values of the original data shown in Fig. 8 (a) are different from “1 2" and "1 5", this part is not compressed, and 1 is added before each numerical value. A bit compression flag is added. The compression flag is set to “0” if no compression is performed. In addition, since the third to seventh numerical values of the original data are continuous, this part includes the compression flag, “5 -1” indicating the number of continuous data, and “2 1 j When performing compression, the compression flag is set to ⁇ ”.
- the "state requiring decompression" includes that the image data is in a compressed state. Further, there is also a mode in which these modes are combined, that is, a mode in which the image is compressed with low resolution.
- compression may be performed by another known method.
- step S104 of FIG. 6 a process of transferring the color-converted image data to the color printer 200 in a state where the above-described development is required is performed. In the color printer 200, the transferred intermediate data is stored in a state requiring expansion, and half-in-one microweave processing is performed on this data (step S106). This is roughly the following process.
- the intermediate data transferred from the computer 100 has been subjected to color conversion processing and has been converted to gradation data corresponding to the amount of ink, but is data having 256 gradations.
- color printing 200 only a state of “forming” or “not forming” a dot can be taken. Therefore, it is necessary to convert grayscale data having 256 grayscales into data expressed by the presence or absence of dot formation.
- Such a process is usually called a half! half!
- Various methods such as an error diffusion method and a dither method are known as a method for performing the processing. Further, for the reason described below, the ink discharge head does not form dots in the order of arrangement of the pixels.
- microweave processing It is necessary to perform a process of rearranging the dots in the order in which the dots are actually formed.
- microweave processing In the half-I-one-microweave process shown in step S106 of FIG. 6, the eighteen-fin process and the microphone-mouth weave process are performed integrally. The details of the half I ⁇ one microweave processing will be described later, and here, the microweave processing will be supplementarily described.
- the nozzles N2 provided on the bottom surfaces of the ink discharge heads 2444 to 247 are formed at intervals of a nozzle pitch k from each other.
- FIG. 9 is an explanatory view conceptually showing this state.
- FIG. 9 shows a manner in which the ink ejection head is sub-scanned so as to fill the gap between the rasters.
- the left side of the figure shows the sub-scanning position of the head, and the right side shows the raster according to the head position. It shows how it is formed.
- the dashed line indicated by the broken line is formed between the solid lines, but there is still a gap left between the lines. Therefore, the head is further sub-scanned.
- the rectangle indicated by the dashed line indicates the head position when sub-scanning is performed in this manner.
- the raster formed at this head position is indicated by the dash-dot line, which corresponds to the number 3.
- the dash-dot line which corresponds to the number 3.
- the raster formed without gaps As described above, since the nozzles are spaced apart by the nozzle pitch k (3 in the example of FIG. 9), the raster formed by each main scan has a gap between the rasters corresponding to the nozzle pitch. I will.
- the head sub-scan by making the head sub-scan by an appropriate amount, it is possible to form a raster so as to fill the gap by the following k-1 main scans. Forming a raster without gaps by sub-scanning to fill gaps between rasters in this way is called “interlacing”.
- interlacing In order to perform the interlacing, when the number of nozzles provided in the ink ejection head is N and the nozzle pitch is k, select a numerical value such that the common divisor of N and k does not exist other than 1. (The relationship between N and k is referred to as a “relatively prime” relationship), and the sub-scan amount may be performed for N rasters corresponding to the number of nozzles.
- the ink discharge head forms a raster in a different order from the arrangement of pixels, and accordingly forms a dot.
- each raster is described as being formed in one main scan, but one raster may be formed in a plurality of main scans.
- odd-numbered pixel dots and even-numbered pixel dots can be formed by different main scans. It is known that the image quality becomes stable if this is done.
- Fig. 9 it is assumed that four rasters are sub-scanned, but if the head is sub-scanned two rasters at a time, the nozzle passes through each raster position twice.
- a dot of an odd-numbered pixel may be formed in the first main scan, and a dot of an even-numbered pixel may be formed in the second main scan.
- overlap forming each raster by dividing it into multiple main scans.
- the ink discharge head forms dots in a different order from the arrangement of pixels.
- dots are formed when the head moves forward, but also dots are formed when the head moves backward. Forming dots during the forward movement and the backward movement in this way is called "bidirectional printing".
- ink ejection heads form dots in an order different from the arrangement of pixels.
- the microweave process is a process of rearranging half-in-one processed data in the order in which the ink ejection head forms dots, according to the processing status of interlacing, smart wrapping, and bidirectional printing. It is.
- the half I ⁇ 1 'microweave process of the present embodiment shown in step S106 of Fig. 6 the half I ⁇ 1' process and the microweave process are integrally performed as described later.
- the obtained data is output to the driving buffer 261, and the data is output from the driving buffer 261 according to the movement of the carriage 240. And supplies it to the print head 241 (step S108 in FIG. 6).
- ink droplets are simultaneously ejected from the nozzles by the mechanism described with reference to FIG. 5, and an image is printed on printing paper.
- the intermediate data transferred from the color printer 200 in a state requiring development is stored in a state in which development is required. Then, since the halftone and microchip processing described later is performed on this data, a large storage capacity is not required for the image processing performed on the color printer 200 side. For this reason, even when the storage capacity of the color printer 200 is small, this is not a limitation, and the image processing can be effectively distributed and executed with the computer 100. It becomes possible. Hereinafter, the reason will be described.
- FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram conceptually showing, as a reference example, a state in which the microphone opening weave processing is performed on the image data that has been subjected to the half!
- halftone processing and microweave processing are performed integrally on the intermediate data stored in a state requiring development, but the normal microweave shown in FIG. 10 is used as a reference.
- the processing is performed on the image data that has been subjected to the half I-one processing.
- the image data that has been subjected to the half-one processing and converted into an expression format based on the presence or absence of dot formation for each pixel is stored in the RAM in the printer. Appropriate data is selected from this image data according to the order in which the nozzles form dots.
- the data is transferred to the driving buffer.
- the data transferred to the driving buffer is supplied to each nozzle as control data at an appropriate timing in synchronization with the main scanning and sub-scanning of the head.
- an image is printed by simultaneously ejecting ink droplets from the nozzles according to this control data.
- FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram showing an outline of the half-wave microweave processing of this embodiment. half! Even in the micro weave process, raster data generated by the nozzle during main scanning is temporarily stored in the drive buffer 261, and then from the drive buffer 261, control data for ink ejection is used as control data.
- This halftone / microweave processing is performed by the halftone / microweave module in the control circuit 260 of the color printer 200.
- This module first sets a pixel to which data is to be transferred to the drive buffer 261, as a target pixel.
- the corresponding data is read out from the intermediate data stored in the RAM in a state where the development is required, developed, and the presence / absence of dot formation is determined for the pixel of interest in the developed data.
- Half! ⁇ One-ing refers to judging the presence or absence of dot formation for each pixel based on image data. Note that FIG.
- the Microwipe module shows a case where image data for one pixel stored in RAM is expanded to image data for four pixels. Also, the circled pixel among the four expanded pixels shown in the module indicates that this pixel is the target pixel.
- the determination of the presence or absence of the dot formation can be performed by using, for example, a method called a dither method. As shown in Fig.
- the dither method uses the image data of the pixel of interest and the dither By comparing with the threshold value set at the corresponding position in the matrix, if the image data is larger, it is determined that a dot is formed at that pixel, and the image data is smaller, and the pixel is smaller. This is a method of determining not to form a dot. If such a method is used to determine whether or not a dot is formed, it is possible to immediately determine whether or not a dot is formed after developing an image including the pixel of interest. After determining whether or not a dot is formed for the pixel of interest, the result of the determination is stored in the drive buffer 261.
- FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing the flow of the half-in-microweave process described above. This processing is executed by the control circuit 260 of the color printer 200. Hereinafter, the specific contents of the processing will be described in accordance with the flowchart.
- the control circuit 260 first requests the computer 100 to transfer a predetermined amount of intermediate data (step S200).
- the image data subjected to the color conversion processing is developed from the computer 100. It is transferred in the required state. Therefore, in step S200, the transferred intermediate data is stored in the RAM in a state requiring expansion. When storing the data in the RAM, the transferred intermediate data may be stored as it is, or may be stored after some preprocessing.
- a target pixel is set (step S202).
- the pixel of interest referred to here is a pixel which has been determined to determine whether or not a dot has been formed and to write the determination result into the drive buffer 261.
- the color printer 200 performs printing by appropriately combining interlace, overlap, bidirectional printing, and the like according to the printing conditions of the image.
- the color printer 200 is provided on the ink ejection head according to the printing conditions.
- the order in which the nozzles Nz form dots also differs.
- the target pixel is set in consideration of the order in which the nozzles Nz form dots in accordance with the printing conditions.
- the intermediate data including the target pixel is read and expanded (step S204). When reading the intermediate data, the entire raster including the pixel of interest may be read, or only the portion of the pixel of interest may be read.
- the origin pixel is the upper left corner in the image to be printed, and the pixel of interest is the pixel on the Nth row and the Mth column.
- the intermediate data transferred from the computer 100 is, for example, run-length compressed, the intermediate data in the Nth row may be read and expanded as it is, or the intermediate data in the Nth row may be read. Analyzing the evening, the M-th pixel It is also possible to read out only the part including.
- step S204 a process of expanding the transferred intermediate data to the level of the pixel where the color printer 200 actually prints is performed.
- step S206 it is determined whether or not a dot is formed for the pixel of interest.
- the presence or absence of dot formation is determined by applying a so-called dither method. That is, the image data of the pixel of interest in the expanded data is compared with the threshold value set at the position corresponding to the pixel of interest in the dither matrix, and if the image data is larger, the pixel of interest is determined. Determines that a dot is to be formed, otherwise determines not to form a dot.
- a process of writing the determination result to a corresponding portion of the drive buffer 261 is performed (step S208).
- step S210 it is determined whether or not it has been stored on the 261 (step S210). If all the data for one pass has not been stored yet (step S210: no), the process returns to step S202 and receives a new focus. Set a pixel and repeat the following series of processing.
- step S210 If such processing is repeated, it will be determined that all data for one pass is stored (step S210: yes). As described above, the stored data is output to the ink ejection head as control data. Next, it is determined whether or not the printing is completed (step S212). If the printing is not completed (step S216: n0), the process returns to step S200 and the computer 10 is executed. Requests transfer of new intermediate data to 0. If it is determined that printing has been completed (step S216: yes), the half-in-micro-weave processing shown in FIG. 13 is terminated, and the process returns to the image processing routine shown in FIG. I do. In the image processing shown in FIG. 6, after returning from the half-!-Microwave processing, the data stored in the drive buffer 261 is output as control data in accordance with the movement of the carriage 240. As a result, the image is printed on the print medium.
- the intermediate data received from the computer 100 in a state requiring development is stored in a state in which development is required. Then, the intermediate data including the pixel of interest is read out each time to determine the presence or absence of dot formation, and the result of the determination is stored in the drive buffer 261, so that the color printer 200 has a large storage capacity. If not, half-in processing and microweave processing can be performed. Therefore, when the image processing is shared between the computer 100 and the color printer 200, the effect can be obtained without being limited by the shortage of the storage capacity mounted on the color printer 200. It is possible to share the processing in an efficient manner.
- FIG. 14 is an explanatory diagram conceptually showing an example of such a modification.
- the computer # 100 performs color conversion processing and half-processing.
- the half I ⁇ one processing is not limited to the dither method described above, and various methods can be applied. In particular, even when using a method such as an error diffusion method that requires high processing power although high image quality can be obtained, the processing power of the computer 100 is usually higher than the processing power of the color printer 200. It is possible to process quickly. In this way, after the half!
- the image data is subjected to compression processing such as, for example, run-length compression, and transferred to the color printer 200.
- compression processing such as, for example, run-length compression
- the transferred intermediate data is stored in a state where expansion is required, and microweave processing is performed on the intermediate data. That is, a target pixel is set, and intermediate data including the target pixel is developed. Then, data on the target pixel is stored in the drive buffer.
- a software program (application program) for realizing the above-described functions may be supplied to a main memory or an external storage device of the computer system via a communication line and executed.
- a software program stored in a CD-ROM / flexible disk may be read and executed.
- the size of the dots formed on the printing paper is constant.
- the present invention can be applied to a printer that can control the size of a dot formed on printing paper, such as a variable dot printer.
- the image data conversion processing is described as being executed in the computer. However, part or all of the image data conversion processing is performed using the printer or a dedicated image processing device. May be executed
- FIG. 15 is a flowchart showing the flow of a process of generating control data and printing an image (image printing process) in this embodiment.
- the first half of the process is executed using the function of the CPU built in the computer 100, and the second half of the process is performed by the control circuit 2 of the printer 200. It is executed using the functions of the CPU built in the 60.
- the computer 100 When starting the image printing process, the computer 100 first starts reading image data to be converted (step S1000), and then performs a color conversion process (step S1). 0 2 0). The reading processing and the color conversion processing of these image data are the same as those in the first embodiment, and thus detailed description is omitted.
- the resolution conversion processing is started next (step S104) 0).
- the resolution conversion process is a process of converting the resolution of the image data into a resolution at which the printer 200 performs printing (print resolution). In general, in order to improve print quality, it is effective to reduce the size of pixels and print at a higher resolution.
- each pixel has only two options: whether to form a dot or not.
- some printers can change the size of the dots, or change the density of the ink used to form the dots, so that more conditions can be expressed by the dots alone. Some things have been done.
- the number of gradations that can be expressed per pixel is only a few gradations at most.
- the image data to be read is one byte of data, it is possible to express 256 gradations per pixel.
- FIG. 16A and FIG. 16B are explanatory diagrams showing how the resolution conversion is performed in the first embodiment.
- the image data for each of the colors C, M, Y, and ⁇ ⁇ ⁇ ⁇ is obtained by the color conversion, but the processing described below is similarly performed for any of the image data for each of these colors. Is Therefore, in order to avoid complicating the description, the description is given below without specifying the color.
- FIG. 16 (1) schematically shows an enlarged part of the image data after color conversion.
- a plurality of rectangles shown in FIG. 16A each schematically represent a pixel, and the numerical value displayed in the rectangle represents a gradation value assigned to each pixel.
- the image data is stored in each of the pixels arranged in a grid pattern. It is data to which a key value is assigned.
- a new pixel may be generated by performing an interpolation operation between pixels, but in this embodiment, the simplest method is to use Resolution conversion is performed by dividing into small pixels.
- FIG. 16B is an explanatory diagram showing how the resolution is converted by dividing pixels.
- each pixel is divided into four in the main scanning direction (horizontal direction in the figure) and into two in the sub-scanning direction (vertical direction in the figure), so that one pixel becomes eight pixels.
- the broken line shown in FIG. 16B indicates that the pixel is divided.
- the small pixels generated in this way are assigned the same gradation value as the P total tone value of the original pixel before division.
- the resolution of the image data is converted to four times the resolution in the main scanning direction and to twice the resolution in the sub-scanning direction.
- the rate of increase in resolution can be set to various rates as needed.
- the combo 100 starts the number data generation process (FIG.
- the count data generation process is as follows.
- the image data after the color conversion is a gradation data in which a gradation value is assigned to each pixel.
- the printer 200 prints an image by forming dots on pixels so that the dots are formed at an appropriate density according to the gradation value of the image data. Therefore, it is necessary to convert the gradation data into data indicating the presence or absence of dot formation for each pixel, and then transfer the data to the printer 200. Also, if the data indicating whether or not dots are formed is transferred to the printer 200 pixel by pixel, the time required for transfer increases as the number of pixels increases, so the image must be printed quickly. Becomes difficult.
- a predetermined number of pixels are grouped into a pixel group, and the number of dots formed in the pixel group is transferred to the printer 200.
- Data on the number of dots to be formed can be obtained by converting image data into data indicating whether or not dots are formed for each pixel in advance, and then combining a plurality of pixels as a pixel group.
- the number data generation processing of step S 1660 data of the number of dots formed in the pixel group (number data) is generated, and the obtained number data is transferred to the printer 20. Do.
- the CPU incorporated in the control circuit 260 of the printer 200 receives the number data output from the computer 100, it starts the number data decoding process (step S1800).
- the count data decoding process is as follows. As described above, the printer 200 prints an image based on data indicating the presence or absence of dot formation for each pixel. However, the computer 100 according to the present embodiment outputs the number data indicating the number of dots to be formed in the pixel group instead of the data indicating whether or not a dot is formed for each pixel. Therefore, first, a process of converting this number data into data representing the presence or absence of dot formation for each pixel is required.
- dot data data representing the presence or absence of dot formation for each pixel.
- the method of converting the count data into the dot data will be described later.
- the obtained dot data is output from the drive buffer 261, as control data, in accordance with the main scanning movement of the ink ejection heads 244-247, so that ink droplets are ejected.
- the image is printed on the print medium.
- the number data decoding process is a process of obtaining dot data from the number data and outputting the same as control data from the driving buffer 261, in accordance with the main scanning of the ink ejection heads 244-247.
- the reciprocating motion of the head is performed instead of converting the number data of each pixel group at a time and storing all the dot data. Considering this, the number data is converted multiple times and the dot data is stored. For this reason, the number data is quickly converted to dot data while suppressing the memory capacity to be mounted on the printer 200.
- the number data generation process will be described first, and then the contents of the number data decoding process of the present embodiment and the number data decoding process will be described. The reason why it is possible to reduce the memory capacity to be mounted on the printer 200 by performing this will be described.
- FIG. 17 is a flowchart showing the flow of the count data generation process.
- the number data generation processing will be briefly described with reference to a flowchart.
- a predetermined plurality of pixels are put together to generate a pixel group (step S20000).
- eight pixels obtained by dividing the same pixel are grouped as a pixel group. For example, focusing on the pixel at the upper left corner in Fig. 6A, as shown in the upper left corner of Fig. 16B, this pixel is divided into eight pixels in two columns and four columns.
- a pixel group is generated by combining these eight pixels.
- the pixels to be grouped as a pixel group do not need to be adjacent pixels, and any pixel having a predetermined positional relationship can be grouped as a pixel group.
- the resolution conversion processing in FIG. 15 can be omitted. In this case, substantially the same processing can be performed by appropriately reading a part of “pixel group” in the following description.
- One pixel of interest (pixel of interest) is set (step S2020).
- the dither matrix is a two-dimensional numerical table in which a plurality of threshold values are stored in a grid. The process of determining whether or not dots are formed using dither matrices will be described with reference to FIGS.
- FIG. 18 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a part of dither matrices. In the matrix shown in the figure, threshold values that are uniformly selected from the range of gradation values 0 to 255 are stored at random in 6496 pixels in total in the vertical and horizontal directions.
- the reason why the threshold gradation value is selected from the range of 0 to 255 is that image data is byte data in this embodiment, and the gradation value assigned to the pixel is 0 to 255. This corresponds to taking the value of 255.
- the size of the dither matrix is not limited to 64 pixels vertically and horizontally as exemplified in FIG. 18, but may be various sizes including those having different numbers of pixels vertically and horizontally. .
- FIG. 19 is an explanatory diagram conceptually showing a state in which the presence / absence of dot formation is determined for the pixel of interest with reference to the dither matrix.
- the tone value of the pixel of interest is compared with a threshold value stored at a corresponding position in the dither matrix.
- the thin broken arrow shown in the figure schematically represents that the tone value of the pixel of interest is being compared with the threshold value stored at the corresponding position in the dither matrix. . If the tone value of the pixel of interest is larger than the threshold value of the dither matrix, it is determined that a dot is formed at that pixel. Conversely, when the threshold value of the dither matrix is larger, it is determined that no dot is formed in the pixel. Referring to FIG.
- the tone value of the image data is 97, and the threshold value of the dither matrix is 1. That is, the gradation value of the image data is larger than the threshold value. Therefore, it is determined that a dot is formed in this pixel.
- the arrow indicated by the solid line in FIG. 19 schematically represents a state in which it is determined that a dot is to be formed in this pixel, and the result of the determination is written in the memory.
- the tone value of the image data is 97 and the threshold value of the dither matrix is 177, and the threshold value is larger, so it is determined that no dot is formed for this pixel. I do.
- step S204 of FIG. 17 a process is performed to determine whether or not to form a dot in the target pixel while referring to the dither matrix in this manner.
- step S2600 it is determined whether or not the above-described processing has been performed for all the pixels in the pixel group (step S2600), and if unprocessed pixels remain in the pixel group (step S2).
- step S2600: n0 a series of processes following step S2020 are performed.
- the determination as to whether or not to form dots is completed for all the pixels in the pixel group (step S260: yes)
- the number of dots to be formed in the pixel group is detected, and the number of dots to be formed is determined.
- the state is stored in the memory (step S2800). In the example shown in Fig.
- step S2100 when processing for one pixel group is completed, it is determined whether or not processing has been completed for all pixels (step S2100), and if unprocessed pixels remain, After returning to step S200 and generating a new pixel group, the subsequent series of processing is performed to store the number of dots formed in the pixel group (step S2800).
- step S210: yes the number of dots stored for each pixel group is output to the printer 200.
- step S2120 the number data generation process shown in FIG. 17 is completed.
- 2 OA is an explanatory diagram conceptually showing data obtained by performing the above-described number data generation processing on image data.
- the plurality of rectangles shown in the figure each represent a pixel group, and the numerical value displayed in the pixel group represents how the number of dots formed in the pixel group is stored. I have.
- the combination 100 converts the image data after color conversion into data as shown in FIG. 20A, and then stores only the number of data stored for each pixel group into the number data. Is output to the printer 200.
- the data is output in the state of the number data in this manner, the data amount is reduced as compared with the case of outputting data (dot data) indicating whether or not a dot is formed for each pixel, so that the data can be output quickly.
- FIG. 20B is an explanatory diagram showing a state in which the presence or absence of dot formation is determined for each pixel in the pixel group.
- the thin broken line shown in FIG. 20B indicates that the pixel group is composed of a plurality of pixels, and the diagonal lines attached to the pixels are determined to form dots at the pixels. It is shown that.
- the computer 100 outputs the dot data in the state shown in FIG. 20B to the printer 200. Assuming that there is only one type of dot, each pixel can have only two states of whether a dot is formed or not, so that only one bit of dot data per pixel is sufficient.
- the data to be output to the printer 200 as dot data is, in the end, eight bits of data per pixel group.
- the number of dots formed in one pixel group can take only a value of 0 to 8, so that a 4-bit data per pixel group is sufficient. That is, the data amount can be reduced by half as compared with the case where data indicating the presence or absence of dot formation is output for each pixel. This is the count data generation C) Processing. Therefore, by outputting the data in the state of the count data, it is possible to output the data quickly to the printer 200.
- the number data transferred from the computer 100 is decoded by the control circuit 260 of the printer 200 and converted into data indicating whether or not dots are formed for each pixel, as described below.
- the control data is output to the ink ejection heads 244 to 247.
- FIG. 21 is a flowchart showing the flow of the count data decoding process of this embodiment. This processing is executed by the function of the CPU built in the control circuit 260 of the printer 200. In the printer 200 of this embodiment, the number data is converted by performing such processing, so that a quick decoding process can be performed while suppressing the memory capacity to be mounted on the printer 200. I have. Hereinafter, description will be made in accordance with the flowchart.
- the CPU of the control circuit 260 starts the count data decoding process, first, after reading the count data transferred from the computer 100 (step S3000), the CPU sets the print path. Is performed (step S 3 0 2 0).
- the printer 200 prints an image by forming dots on printing paper while repeating main scanning and sub-scanning of the ink discharge head. Will be described.
- the ink discharge head is provided with a plurality of nozzles, if the main scan is performed while simultaneously forming dots with these nozzles, a plurality of nozzles are provided in one main scan.
- a book can form a lath evening.
- these nozzles are separated by the nozzle pitch ⁇ , there is no nozzle between the formed rasters. A gap corresponding to the pitch p is left. Thus, an image cannot be represented until there is a gap between rasters.
- each raster is printed in one pass. Instead of forming a raster, it is formed in multiple passes, ie, when forming a raster in one pass, a raster is formed at the position where the nozzle has passed.
- the raster is formed by a single nozzle.
- the raster formed by the nozzle will be different from other rasters. If multiple rasters are formed and only a specific raster is different, the image quality may be greatly impaired.
- Each la If the star is formed in a plurality of passes, dots can be formed using different nozzles for each pass, so that it is possible to avoid deterioration in image quality due to such factors.
- the ink discharge head is provided with a large number of nozzles for each color (48 nozzles for each color in this embodiment).
- the nozzle pitch is 3, and one raster is formed by two main scans.
- the head of each color is provided with four nozzles, and the interval between each nozzle is a distance equivalent to two nozzles (equivalent to three times the diameter of the nozzle when viewed from the center of the nozzles) Distance).
- the right half of FIG. 22 shows a state in which dots are formed on printing paper by main scanning of the head.
- the circles shown in the right half of FIG. 22 schematically represent the dots formed on the printing paper.
- the actual sub-scanning is performed by feeding the printing paper, and the ink discharge head does not move in the sub-scanning direction.
- the printing paper is used as a reference for the sake of explanation, and the expression is as if the head were moving.
- main scanning is performed while forming dots while the head is at the position indicated by (1) in the figure.
- a dot indicated by “ ⁇ ” in the right half of FIG. 22 is formed on the printing paper.
- the head is moved in the sub-scanning direction by two rasters. As a result, the head moves to the position indicated as (2) in the left half of FIG.
- the solid arrow shown in the left half of FIG. 22 schematically represents the operation of sub-scanning the head.
- the main scanning is performed again to form a dot on the printing paper.
- a dot indicated by “2” is formed on the right side of FIG. 22 on the printing paper.
- the sub-scan is performed again to move the head to the position indicated by (3), and then the ink droplet is ejected while performing the main scan to form a dot indicated by "3".
- the gap formed in the last night was filled with raster.
- the raster can be formed without gaps in the area after that.
- the raster is formed on the printing paper without gaps after the fifth pass. That is, the area after the fifth pass is the effective display area of the image. Observing the effective display area in Fig.
- the raster in the first row of this area is composed of the dots formed in the second pass and the dots formed in the fifth pass (that is, This raster is formed in two passes.)
- the lower raster (the raster in the second line of the effective display area) is composed of dots formed in the first pass and dots formed in the fourth pass.
- the last day of the eye is composed of dots formed in the third and sixth passes. That is, half of the dots in the second row are formed before the dots in the first row of the effective display area are formed. Before forming the remaining dots in the second row to complete the raster, half of the dots in the first row are formed, and both the raster in the second row and the raster in the ⁇ row remain unfinished. Form half of the dots in the row.
- the second pass is finally completed in the fourth pass.
- half of the dots in the fifth row are also formed.
- the first line is completed and half of the dot in the fourth line is formed.
- the sixth pass the third line is completed and half of the dot in the sixth line is completed. Also form.
- the printer 200 does not form dots in order from the pixel at the end of the effective display area of the image, but forms dots in a predetermined order as if forming a mosaic. While printing the image. Accordingly, in step S3002 in FIG.
- a process for setting a pass (print pass) to be performed for forming a dot is performed.
- the printing pass is set to the ⁇ th pass.
- it is determined whether or not the dot data of pixels (print pixels) on which dots are formed in the set print pass are aligned is determined (step S3040). That is, a plurality of nozzles are provided in the ink discharge head, and dots can be formed on pixels in a plurality of rows in one pass. It is determined whether or not one night is stored in the RAM of the control circuit 260.
- Step S3400 If the print pass is set to the first pass, no dot data has been generated yet, so in step S3400, it is judged "no J" and the pixel group including the print pixel is detected.
- Step S3060 This processing will be described with reference to Fig. 23.
- Fig. 23 shows an enlarged view of the effective display area of the image shown in Fig. 22.
- the print pixels in the first pass are the odd-numbered pixels in the second row of the effective display area.
- the image data is handled as a group of eight pixels in a group of two rows and four columns. As shown in Fig.
- the printing pixel in the first pass is ( Therefore, the pixel group in row a is detected as a pixel group including print pixels in step S3600 in Fig. 21.
- the process of decoding the number data of the pixel group and storing the dot data of the print pixel and the succeeding pixel in the memory is performed (step S3800).
- the dots are formed in a mosaic shape in a predetermined order as described above, the printing pixels and the pixels to be described later are not necessarily continuous passes, that is, the second pass and the third pass. It is not always a continuous pass like the pass etc.
- the pixels included in the pixel group are formed in the second pass, the fourth pass, the fifth pass, the seventh pass, and the number of print pixels is 2 If the pixel is in the pass, it is formed in the fourth pass. The next pixel is the next pixel.
- the process of storing the dot data in the memory will be described with reference to FIG.
- FIG. 24 is a flowchart showing a flow of a process of storing dot data for a print pixel and a subsequent pixel in a memory (dot data generation process).
- a threshold value corresponding to each pixel of the pixel group to be processed is obtained from the dither matrix (step S4000).
- the gradation value of the pixel of interest was compared with the threshold value set in the dither matrix (see FIGS. 17 to 19).
- the process of reading the threshold value corresponding to each pixel of the pixel group from the dither matrix is performed.
- a process of determining a pixel forming a dot in the pixel group is performed (Step S420).
- the pixels in the pixel group where dots should be formed can be determined based on the dither matrix threshold read out for each pixel and the number data for the pixel group.
- Fig. 25A is a conceptual diagram showing how the number data for each pixel group received from the computer 100 is stored in the RAM built in the control circuit 260 of the printer 200.
- FIG. It is assumed that the pixel group to be processed is the pixel group at the upper left corner in FIG. 25A.
- FIG. 25B is an explanatory view conceptually showing a state where a threshold value set at a corresponding position of this pixel group is obtained from the dither matrix.
- the threshold shown in FIG. 25B can be considered to indicate the order in which dots are easily formed in the pixel group. Because, as described above with reference to Fig. 19 As described above, when determining whether or not to form a dot on a pixel, the gradation value of the image data is compared with the threshold value of dither matrix, and if the gradation value is larger, the pixel Judge that a dot is formed. That is, the smaller the threshold value of the dither matrix shown in FIG.
- the threshold of the dither matrix can be considered to represent the order in which dots are easily formed.
- the number data as shown in Fig. 25A the number of dots formed in the target pixel group (the pixel group in the upper left corner) is three. If dots are formed in accordance with the order of Fig. 25B, as shown in Fig. 25C, the pixel with the smallest threshold value indicated by the solid line in the figure and the second smallest threshold value indicated by the broken line in the figure Dots will be formed at the three pixels, the pixel and the third lowest threshold pixel surrounded by the dashed line.
- Fig. 25A the number of dots formed in the target pixel group (the pixel group in the upper left corner) is three. If dots are formed in accordance with the order of Fig. 25B, as shown in Fig. 25C, the pixel with the smallest threshold value indicated by the solid line in the figure and the second smallest threshold value indicated by the broken line in the figure Dots will be formed at the three pixels, the pixel and the
- 25D conceptually shows how the number data is converted in this way to generate dot data for each pixel in the pixel group.
- step S40020 in FIG. 24 the process of determining pixels forming dots in the pixel group is performed by converting the number data into dot data in this manner.
- step S440 After the number data is converted to dot data for each pixel, only the dot data for the print pixel and the succeeding pixel is stored in the memory, that is, the RAM built in the control circuit 260 (step S440). Since the case where the printing pass is the second pass is described here, the pixel indicated as “1” in Fig. 25E, that is, the lower left pixel and the second pixel from the left, and the subsequent pixels Is the pixel labeled "2", that is, the upper left pixel and the second pixel from the left. Therefore, in step S440 of FIG. 24, dot data "0" is stored for all print pixels, and dot data "1" is stored for all subsequent pixels.
- dot date Evening “0” is data that means that no dot is formed at that pixel, and dot data “1 J is data that means that a dot is formed at that pixel.
- the dot data generation process shown in FIG. 24 is terminated, and the process returns to the number data decode process shown in FIG.
- FIGS. 24 and 25A to 25E after generating the dot data of all the pixels included in the pixel group, only the print data and the dot data of the pixels described later are stored in the memory. Of course, instead of generating dot data for all pixels, dot data is generated only for print pixels and pixels to be described later and stored in memory.
- Step S3100 the dot data read from the RAM is written into the drive buffer 261, whereby the corresponding head provided in the head is provided.
- Ink droplets are ejected from the nozzles to form dots on the printing paper, and it is determined whether or not the processing for all pixels has been completed (step S3120).
- ⁇ ⁇ the processing for all pixels has been completed
- step S3040 it is determined whether or not the dot data of the pixels to be formed in the second pass is complete.
- the dot data is stored in the memory for the subsequent pixels in addition to the print pixels. Therefore, in step S3400, it is checked whether or not the dot data of the print pixel for which a dot is to be formed is already stored in the memory. As shown in FIGS. 22 and 23, in the second pass, dots are formed on the pixels on the first line and the pixels on the fourth line of the effective display area of the image.
- dot data is generated and stored in the memory at the same time as the print pixel for the first pass in the first routine, but the pixel on the fourth line is For, dot data has not yet been generated. That is, since all the dot data of the print pixels for which dots are to be formed in the second pass have not yet been collected, it is determined in step 53040 that “
- step S3800 dot data for the print pixel and the succeeding pixel is generated for the detected pixel group and stored in the memory.
- the print pixels are pixels formed in the second pass.
- the succeeding pixel that is, the pixel in which the next dot is formed in the pixel group is the pixel of the third pass.
- the dot data of the printing pass is output to the head to form a dot (step S3100), and the processing is completed for all pixels. It is determined whether or not the process has been performed (step S3120).
- step S3040 determines whether all the dot data constituting the print path have been prepared or not. If all the dot data have already been stored (step S304: yes), the dot data is output to the head to form dots (step S310). On the other hand, if there is a print pixel having no dot data (step S304: n0), a pixel group including the print pixel is detected (step S3060), and the print pixel and the succeeding pixel are detected. And the dot about The data is stored (step S3808). When such processing is repeated and it is determined that the processing has been completed for all pixels (step S3120: yes), the number shown in FIG.
- FIG. 15 After exiting from the data decoding process, the image printing process shown in FIG. 15 ends.
- the dot data of the print pixel and the succeeding pixel is stored in the memory. By doing so, it is possible to quickly convert the number data into dot data while suppressing the memory capacity to be mounted on the printer 200 side.
- Figures 26A and 26B show how the dot data generated by decoding the count data uses the memory when forming dots while repeating the main scan of the ink ejection head. It is explanatory drawing shown notionally. Specifically, it shows how the memory capacity for storing dot data varies as the head repeats passes. Further, in FIG.
- Fig. 26A shows the case where the number data decoding process of this embodiment is performed
- Fig. 26B shows the dot data of all the pixels in the pixel group once as it is for reference.
- Fig. 23 in the pixel group on the "a" -th row, in addition to the pixels for which dots are formed in the first pass, the pixels in the second pass are shown. Pixels formed in the fourth pass, and pixels formed in the fifth pass.
- the number of pixels is decoded immediately before the head performs the main scan in the first pass. Then, as described with reference to FIG. 21, the number data decoding process of the present embodiment is performed.
- the dot data of the print pixel and the succeeding pixel are stored, so that the dot data for the pixels in the first pass and the pixels in the second pass are simultaneously stored in the memory.
- the dot data for a total of four pixels, the second pixel formed in the first pass and the two pixels formed in the second pass is used for the main scan of the ⁇ pass in the head. Immediately before the execution, it is temporarily stored in the memory.
- 26A is required to store dot data.
- the dot data of all the pixels in the pixel group is stored, the dot data of eight pixels is stored in the memory immediately before the first pass, as shown in FIG. ⁇
- dot data for two pixels is output to the head, and in the second pass, dot data for two pixels are output to the head.
- the dot data for four pixels that is, the dot data output to the head in the main scan of the fourth pass and the fifth pass, is stored in the memory.
- Dot data of the remaining two pixels in the main scan of the fifth pass As is clear from the comparison between the area of the hatched portion in FIG. 26A and the area of the hatched portion in FIG.
- the image data decoding process of The required memory capacity can be greatly reduced as compared with the case where dot data of all pixels in the element group are stored.
- the temporarily required maximum memory capacity can be greatly reduced.
- the print pixel and the succeeding pixel are continuous passes, that is, the first pass and the second pass, or the fourth pass and the fifth pass.
- the dot of the succeeding pixel is immediately formed in the next pass, but even if the print pixel and the subsequent pixel are not pixels of such a continuous pass, the memory capacity is increased. This is explained by taking the example of the pixel group indicated by “ g j row” in FIG. 23.
- FIG. 27A and 27B show the “ g j row” in FIG.
- Fig. 27A is an explanatory diagram conceptually showing how the number data is converted into dot data and stored in the memory for the pixel group of Fig. 27.
- Fig. 27A shows the case where the number data decoding process of this embodiment is performed.
- Fig. 27B shows the dot data of all the pixels in the pixel group stored in memory at once. Shows when to remember
- the pixel group on the "g" th row includes the pixels where dots are formed in the seventh pass, the pixels that are formed in the 10th pass, and the pixels that are formed in the 11th pass. And the pixels formed in the 14th pass.
- the number data of the pixel group in the “g” th row is decoded immediately before the head performs the main scan in the seventh pass.
- pixels forming dots on the seventh pass and pixels forming dots on the zeroth pass are added at the same time as pixels forming the seventh pass.
- a total of 4 pixels of dot data is stored in the memory. That is, as shown in Fig.
- dot data for four pixels is stored in the memory. Will be stored. Of these, the dot data for two pixels is output to the head during the main scan in the seventh pass, and the dot data for the remaining two pixels is output to the head during the main scan in the tenth pass. Immediately after the main scan of the 0th pass is completed, immediately before the 1st pass, this time, the dot data for a total of 4 pixels formed in the 11th pass and the 14th pass are stored in the memory. Is done. Subsequently, dot data for two pixels is output to the head in the main scan of the first pass, and dot data for the remaining two pixels are output to the head in the main scan of the fourteenth pass.
- a memory having a capacity indicated by hatching in FIG. 27A is necessary to form dots.
- dot data for eight pixels is stored in the memory immediately before the seventh pass.
- two pixels of dot data are output to the head in the main scan, and in the 10th pass, 11th pass, and 14th pass, the dot data of 2 pixels each is output. It will be output to the head. Therefore, when storing the dot data of all the pixels, a memory having the capacity indicated by diagonal lines in FIG. 27B is required.
- the memory capacity can be greatly reduced by performing the image data decoding processing of this embodiment.
- the memory capacity can be greatly reduced by performing the image data decoding processing of this embodiment.
- the number of data items must be decoded and the dot data of the print pixels must be written to the memory, which makes it difficult to improve the processing speed.
- the dot data of the printing pixel and the dot data of the pixel to be formed next are described as being simultaneously stored in the memory.
- the present invention is not limited to such a case. A similar effect can be obtained. That is, instead of always storing the dot data every two passes, if less than the total number of passes included in the pixel group, dot data for any number of passes may be stored simultaneously.
- the dot data for a plurality of passes it is not always necessary to store the dot data for a plurality of passes, and only the dot data for one pass may be stored. Even in such a case, the required memory capacity can be greatly reduced as compared with the case where dot data for all passes is stored at the same time.
- the pixels that store the dot data at the same time as the printing pixels are pixels in the pixel group where dots are formed at timings as close as possible to the printing pixels, the effect of saving the memory capacity will be great.
- a software program for realizing the above functions may be supplied to a main memory or an external storage device of a computer system via a communication line and executed.
- a software program stored in a CD-ROM or a flexible disk may be read and executed.
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Abstract
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Priority Applications (3)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
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CN200380106193.9A CN1726455B (zh) | 2002-12-16 | 2003-12-15 | 打印系统及其打印方法 |
EP03778928A EP1574941A4 (en) | 2002-12-16 | 2003-12-15 | SYSTEM FOR PRINTING STORAGE DATA IN COMPRESSED FORMAT AND PRINTER THEREFOR |
US10/539,081 US7480063B2 (en) | 2002-12-16 | 2003-12-15 | Print system printing data while storing under compressed state, and printer for use therein |
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JP2002363319A JP4007179B2 (ja) | 2002-12-16 | 2002-12-16 | 画像処理装置と印刷装置とで分担して画像処理を行いながら印刷する印刷システム |
JP2002-363319 | 2002-12-16 | ||
JP2003318427A JP2005086660A (ja) | 2003-09-10 | 2003-09-10 | 所定領域内に形成されるドット個数の情報に基づいて画像を印刷する印刷システム |
JP2003-318427 | 2003-09-10 |
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US (1) | US7480063B2 (ja) |
EP (1) | EP1574941A4 (ja) |
WO (1) | WO2004055663A1 (ja) |
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JP4561049B2 (ja) * | 2003-06-20 | 2010-10-13 | セイコーエプソン株式会社 | 所定領域内に形成されるドット個数の情報に基づいて画像を印刷する印刷システム |
JP4337846B2 (ja) * | 2006-06-27 | 2009-09-30 | セイコーエプソン株式会社 | ディザマトリックスの生成 |
JP4598750B2 (ja) * | 2006-12-27 | 2010-12-15 | セイコーエプソン株式会社 | ディザマトリックスの生成 |
JP4930462B2 (ja) * | 2007-06-29 | 2012-05-16 | ブラザー工業株式会社 | データ送信装置 |
WO2012138347A1 (en) | 2011-04-08 | 2012-10-11 | Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. | Computing a spectrum of a sample |
JP5853650B2 (ja) * | 2011-11-30 | 2016-02-09 | セイコーエプソン株式会社 | 印刷システム及び印刷システム用プログラム |
US9407789B2 (en) | 2012-07-27 | 2016-08-02 | Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. | Methods and systems to compress an image in a printing process |
Citations (2)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
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JPH10271322A (ja) * | 1997-01-27 | 1998-10-09 | Canon Inc | 画像処理方法及び装置と画像形成装置 |
JPH11331585A (ja) * | 1998-05-19 | 1999-11-30 | Canon Inc | 記録装置及び記録方法 |
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JP3292104B2 (ja) * | 1996-10-01 | 2002-06-17 | セイコーエプソン株式会社 | 印刷装置,画像記録方法およびそのプログラムを記録した記録媒体 |
JPH111006A (ja) | 1997-06-12 | 1999-01-06 | Canon Inc | 記録装置及び記録方法 |
US6439682B1 (en) * | 1998-03-05 | 2002-08-27 | Seiko Epson Corporation | Printing method, printing apparatus, and recording medium |
JP2000079681A (ja) * | 1998-07-10 | 2000-03-21 | Canon Inc | 記録装置及びその制御方法、コンピュ―タ可読メモリ |
JP4135229B2 (ja) | 1998-09-29 | 2008-08-20 | ソニー株式会社 | 映像信号の変換装置および変換方法、並びにそれを使用した画像表示装置およびテレビ受信機 |
JP3832702B2 (ja) | 1999-11-08 | 2006-10-11 | セイコーエプソン株式会社 | 印刷システム |
-
2003
- 2003-12-15 US US10/539,081 patent/US7480063B2/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
- 2003-12-15 EP EP03778928A patent/EP1574941A4/en not_active Withdrawn
- 2003-12-15 WO PCT/JP2003/016049 patent/WO2004055663A1/ja active Application Filing
Patent Citations (2)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
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JPH10271322A (ja) * | 1997-01-27 | 1998-10-09 | Canon Inc | 画像処理方法及び装置と画像形成装置 |
JPH11331585A (ja) * | 1998-05-19 | 1999-11-30 | Canon Inc | 記録装置及び記録方法 |
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US7480063B2 (en) | 2009-01-20 |
US20060050316A1 (en) | 2006-03-09 |
EP1574941A4 (en) | 2006-12-27 |
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