JP3517538B2 - Printer / scanner device, information processing device, and data setting method for printer / scanner device - Google Patents

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

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

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as a general document reading apparatus used in scanners, facsimiles, etc., there is known one using a reduction optical system as shown in FIG.

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

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

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

[0006]

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

However, at present, Bas, which is a light receiving element, is used.
Although iss sensors and CCD devices have been developed for high-speed driving, there is a limit to the sensitivity characteristics of the light receiving part for photoelectrically converting the optical information of the original, and a stable S / N ratio is achieved.
In order to obtain the ratio, it is necessary to illuminate the document with a sufficient amount of light.

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

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

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

For size reduction and cost reduction, it may be difficult to physically arrange a white reference surface (white surface / black surface) for measuring the white reference value and the offset value. In this case, every time the white reference value and the offset value are measured, the user needs to set the white reference value / offset value measurement reference document on the document table and read it.

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

The present invention has been made under such circumstances, and is a printer / printer capable of reading a high quality image without being influenced by the reading mode and the ambient temperature.
Provided are a scanner device, an information processing device such as a notebook personal computer having the device built therein, and a data setting method for a printer / scanner device.

[0014]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a printer / scanner device with the following (1).
As described in (3), the information processing device is
The data setting method of the printer / scanner apparatus is configured as in (5) and as in (6) below.

(1) A printer / scanner device having a detachable scanner head unit mounted on a carriage of a printer to obtain a scanner function, which is obtained by actually measuring a plurality of accumulation times for reading. , Storage means for storing white reference data for defining the value of the whitest data in association with each accumulation time and ambient temperature, and a scanner head mounted on the carriage with the white reference data of the storage means. A printer / scanner device having control means for controlling the unit to set.

(2) The control means controls, when using the scanner function, the white reference data of the storage time corresponding to the reading mode among the white reference data of the storage means to be set in the scanner head unit. The printer / scanner device according to (1) above.

(3) When the scanner function is used, the control means sets the white reference data corresponding to the ambient environmental temperature at that time and the storage time according to the reading mode among the white reference data of the storage means to the scanner head. The printer / scanner device according to (1) above, which is set in a unit.

(4) An information processing apparatus including the printer / scanner device according to any one of (1) to (3) above.

(5) The information processing device according to (4), which is a notebook computer.

(6) In a printer / scanner apparatus which has a scanner function by attaching a detachable scanner head unit to the carriage of the printer, the most obtained by actually measuring using a plurality of accumulation times for reading. White reference data for defining the value of white data is stored in association with each accumulation time and ambient temperature, and when using the scanner function, the ambient temperature at that time is stored among the stored white reference data. And a data setting method for a printer / scanner device in which white reference data corresponding to the storage time according to the reading mode is set in the scanner head unit.

[0021]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to examples of "notebook personal computer".

[0022]

[Embodiment] FIG. 1 is an embodiment of a "notebook type personal computer".
3 is a perspective view of a color scanner head unit used in FIG. In the figure, there is a positioning hole 1B and a positioning groove 1C for positioning when installed in the carriage. The reference wall 1 determines the posture in the reading direction, and the mounting position thereof is determined by being biased to the reference wall (not shown) on the carriage side. Reference numeral 20A denotes a connector portion which is an internal I / F for making an electrical contact when mounted on the carriage.

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

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

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

Reference numeral 11 is an aperture, and the image forming surface of the field lens 7 which is the first image forming system lens is located at this position. An image forming lens (not shown) which is a second image forming system lens is provided behind the aperture 11.

The image forming position of the image forming lens is the photoelectric conversion element 13.
(Basis sensor) position. The arrangement of the imaging system lens is set to a position where the reduction ratio is 0.45158.

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

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

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

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

Next, regarding the current value to be passed through the LEDs of each color, red / green is a strong current (Ron / Gon = High).
h, H / L = High, 10 [mA], weak current (Ro)
2.5 [m when n / Gon = High, H / L = Low)
A] is set. Blue color is strong current (Bon = Hig
20 [mA] at h, H / L = High, weak current (Bo)
n = High, H / L = Low) and set to 5 [mA]. The difference in the set value of the current is that the number of LEDs and the arrangement of the LEDs are set so that the levels of the light amounts are close to each other.

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

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

Next, the line feed is not performed, and the data at the same position is obtained by switching the lighting of only the LED light source and the second color. Similarly, the data of the third color is also acquired, the reading of the RGB color data for one line is completed, and the line feed is started on the next line.

The portion surrounded by a thick dashed line in FIG. 4 is a custom IC made exclusively for the color scanner head unit, and has the following functions.

-Function for clamping the signal from the Basis sensor-Peak search function for amplifying the clamped signal in the optimum range of A / D-Amplifier & gain control of 1 to 5 times (256 steps) -10bitA / D converter function / Image processing function * Black and white distortion correction * Edge enhancement * Reduction in column and line directions * Binary image data output * Multi-value (8-bit) image data output When reading a color image, RGB of 3 as color elements Since different types of light sources are used and the output and temperature characteristics of the LED light source are different for each color, it is necessary to set the white reference.

Therefore, at the time of obtaining the white reference, the custom IC, for each color signal from the Basis sensor,
The peak of the white reference profile is detected, and the amplifier gain that can be set in 256 steps is determined in order to set the reference in the A / D optimum range.

The white reference data is as follows: white data has 128 pixels * 10 bits, gain data has 8 bits, black data has 128 pixels * 8 bits, and three RGB color data plus temperature data (2 bytes).
te) and ID (2 bytes).

In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 13, five kinds of resolutions (360 × 360 dpi, 180 ×)
180 dpi, 90 x 90 dpi, 200 x 360 dpi
i, 300 × 360 dpi) and four types of storage time (256 μsec, 320 μse) from the relationship between carriage speed
c, 307 μsec, 288 μsec). The white reference data is stored for each storage time and managed.

The entire notebook computer equipped with the color scanner unit having the above-described structure will be described with reference to FIGS. 10 and 11.

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

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

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

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

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

FIG. 5 illustrates how the printer unit is attached.

Reference numeral 10 is a detachable scanner head unit that is replaceable with the print head unit 30 for recording on the recording medium.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

For preheating, all the LEDs that generate heat are turned on so that the heat retention condition is reached in the shortest time.

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

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

Under the same environment, preheat control can be performed to stably acquire an image with high quality.

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

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

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

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

2) Manage up to 5 sets of white standards.

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

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

Red LED: -0.5% / ° C ...... (* 1) Green LED: -0.2% / ° C ...... (* 2) Blue LED: 0.0% / ° C ...... (* 3) A maximum of 5 sets of white reference and white reference value correction in the ± 5 ° C. band for the environmental temperature correction of the system of this embodiment are managed on the driver.

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

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

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

Image reading pixels in this embodiment are 33 to
The width is 64 dots at the center of 96 dots.

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

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

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

The problem here is that the peak does not exist within 33 to 96 dots from which an image is read by the system of this embodiment.

When the white data subjected to the normal peak search is used, the gain is determined so that the peak value becomes the full range of A / D, and 33 to 96 to be used as an image are used.
Considering the image quality at the dot eye, originally, the gain with the peak at the 32 dot eye to the 97 dot eye should be used.
The resolution capability is deteriorated by the ratio of deviation from the peak.

In the present embodiment, the white reference data in the above-mentioned state is called "irregular white data", and the definition is: "When the peak search of the gain is performed, the target white data peak output value is 33 Not present within ~ 96dot. Moreover, the difference between the output values is 5% or more. ] L
The reason why the peak of the ED light source deviates from the central 33 to 96 dots is due to the positional accuracy deviation on the LED board and the mounting deviation of the board and the lens.

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

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

S1: 33 to 96 dot within peak output value S2: 1 to 32 dot, 97 to 128 dot within peak output value 1) When S1 / S2 <0.95, when the above condition is satisfied, the gain is calculated by the following formula. Conversion is performed to determine the gain (Gf). Based on this, 6
The optimum white reference value in a 4-dot width is acquired.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

FIG. 22 is a flow chart showing the processing for detecting the offset value and white reference value in step S20-3.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

After the unit replacement, in step S24-6 it is confirmed by the user confirmation whether it is a new product specified previously or is in use. If it is a new product, it is set in the information file that a new unit has been replaced in the information file.

With the above, the unit replacement is completed.

FIG. 25 is a flowchart of the driver white reference acquisition / setting processing before the start of scanning.

First, in step S25-1, it is determined from the setting of the information file whether the unit is a new unit. If it is a new product, the white reference database is initialized in step S25-2, and the process proceeds to the white reference acquisition processing. If not new, step S
In 25-3, it is determined whether or not white reference data is stored in the database. If it is not stored, the process proceeds to white reference acquisition processing. If stored, the current temperature and the temperature at the time of acquisition are compared in step S25-4 to determine whether the difference is less than 11 degrees, and if the difference is 11 degrees or more, step S2.
In 5-5, it is determined whether or not the next data exists, and the data with the temperature difference of less than 11 degrees are searched sequentially from the latest white reference data. If not found, the process proceeds to white reference acquisition processing.

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

FIG. 26 is a flowchart of the driver's white reference value acquisition processing.

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

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

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

When the acquisition process is completed, step S26-7
Then, the paper discharge command 9FF0H is issued to discharge the white reference paper. The data received from the printer in step S26-8 is saved in the white reference database, and the data in step S26-
In 9, the white reference value acquiring modeless dialog box is discarded and the white reference value setting process is performed.

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

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

With the above, the setting of the white reference value is completed.

As described above, according to this embodiment,
High-quality images can be read regardless of the reading mode and ambient temperature.

(Other Embodiments) When mounting the scanner head unit, there is a method of setting white reference data as shown in the following.

A circuit (not shown) is provided in the scanner head unit so that the serial number can be read so that each head can be specified. This serial number is set in the read information file when the unit is replaced.

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

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

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

[0123]

As described above, according to the present invention,
High-quality images can be read regardless of the reading mode and ambient temperature.

[Brief description of drawings]

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

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

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

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of an essential part of the embodiment.

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

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

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

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

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

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of an example.

FIG. 11 is a block diagram of an embodiment.

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

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

FIG. 14 is a diagram showing heat retention data.

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

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

FIG. 17 is a diagram showing interface commands between the host and the built-in printer.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

FIG. 25: Acquisition of white standard of driver before scanning starts,
Flow chart of setting process

FIG. 26 is a flowchart of driver white reference acquisition processing.

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

[Explanation of symbols] 10 Print head unit 30 Scanner head unit 40 carriage

Continuation of front page (56) References JP-A-8-281925 (JP, A) JP-A-8-223417 (JP, A) JP-A-5-260262 (JP, A) (58) Fields investigated (Int .Cl. ⁷ , DB name) G06T 1/00 H04N 1/00-1/409 B41J 3/44-3/51

Claims (6)

(57) [Claims] 1. A printer / scanner device having a detachable scanner head unit mounted on a carriage of a printer to obtain a scanner function, which is obtained by actually measuring a plurality of accumulation times for reading. Storage means for storing white reference data for defining the value of the whitest data in association with each accumulation time and ambient temperature, and a scanner head unit in which the white reference data of this storage means is mounted on the carriage. A printer / scanner device, comprising: a control unit for controlling to set the printer / scanner device. 2. The control means controls, when the scanner function is used, the white reference data of the storage time corresponding to the reading mode among the white reference data of the storage means to be set in the scanner head unit. The printer / scanner device according to claim 1, wherein the printer / scanner device is a printer / scanner device. 3. The scanner head unit controls the white reference data corresponding to the ambient temperature at that time and the storage time according to the reading mode, among the white reference data in the storage means when the scanner function is used. 2. The printer / scanner device according to claim 1, wherein 4. An information processing apparatus comprising the printer / scanner device according to any one of claims 1 to 3. 5. The information processing apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the information processing apparatus is a notebook computer. 6. A printer / scanner apparatus having a detachable scanner head unit mounted on a carriage of a printer to obtain a scanner function, the whitest white obtained by actually measuring using a plurality of accumulation times. The white reference data for defining the value of the data is stored in association with each accumulation time and the ambient environment temperature, and when the scanner function is used, the white environment data at that time among the stored white reference data is stored. A data setting method for a printer / scanner device, wherein white reference data corresponding to a storage time according to a reading mode is set in a scanner head unit.