JP3902800B2 - PRINT CONTROL DEVICE AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING THE DEVICE - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
[Industrial application fields]
The present invention relates to a print control apparatus for controlling development processing of bit pattern data and a control method for the apparatus .
[0002]
[Prior art]
The print head used in this technology has three subtractive colors (yellow (hereinafter referred to as Y), magenta (hereinafter referred to as M), and cyan (hereinafter referred to as C) used in the printing ink in the vertical direction. ))) In which print nozzles are arranged in order (see FIG. 3). The above three primary colors (Y, M, C) are simultaneously output in one printing operation, and in the next printing operation, the height of one primary color (24 dots in this case) is lowered downward. The three primary color inks are simultaneously output again after being moved. All the developed bit pattern data is printed out while repeating the above printing operation (see FIG. 4). FIG. 4 illustrates the movement of the print head. A print head and a print head on the side thereof are shifted by 24 dots below in the vertical direction (sub-scanning direction). The direction (main scanning direction) is shifted from side to side in the description of the drawing. In addition, it is difficult to secure a storage area that can store all the bit pattern data at a time due to restrictions on memory storage capacity. For this reason, the bit pattern data to be developed is divided into several blocks and developed to realize printing of one page. Between a certain block and the next block, there is an overlapping area of memory as shown in FIG. This is an area required for the above-described print head configuration and head feed operation. In the printing operation at the end of a block (dotted line area (1)), the color nozzle at the top of the head. For the part (in this case yellow (Y)), all three primary colors (Y, M, C) are output in the output, but in the dotted line area (2), M and C have already been output. However, Y has not been output yet. Further, in the dotted line area (3), only C is output, and not all the bit pattern data of the block is output. Therefore, it is necessary to output the remaining M and Y bit pattern data in the next block. This means that Y is output in the dotted line area (4) and all are output, and M and Y are output in the dotted line area (5) and all are output. For this reason, an area overlapping with the previous block (in this case, 48 dots) is required. The bit pattern data existing in the overlapped portion is data used for the bit pattern data output of the block and the bit pattern data output of the next block. Until now, this output data has been developed for each block. For this reason, the bit pattern data in the overlapped portion is expanded twice, and the expansion time is increased accordingly. In addition, if the same bit pattern data is separately developed twice in different block areas, drawing deviation may occur due to the influence of error diffusion processing or the like, which causes color deviation.
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
In the present invention, the bit pattern data in the overlapped portion is expanded only once in one block, the bit pattern data expanded in the block is copied to the corresponding overlapped portion in the next block, and the previous block and By expanding the area excluding the overlapping part, it is possible to speed up the development time, and it is possible to suppress the occurrence of deviation in drawing by copying and using the bit pattern data developed last time, The purpose is to suppress color misregistration.
[0004]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to solve the above-described object, the printing control apparatus of the present invention includes a printing unit that performs printing by scanning in the main scanning direction a print head in which a plurality of nozzle groups corresponding to different colors are arranged in order in the sub-scanning direction. Developing means for dividing the bit pattern data into a plurality of blocks based on the print data, and storage means for storing the bit pattern data developed by the developing means, wherein the print head is moved once in the main scanning direction. the area scanned by than printable area for storing bit pattern data corresponding to a large area in the sub-scanning direction a plurality of perforated, each said region has two areas contiguous to correspond to the sub-scanning direction overlaps a storage unit having a lap area, a bit pattern data once stored in the overlapping area of the area storing the bit pattern data of the previous block, the next And copying means for copying the overlapping area of the area storing the bit pattern data of the block, then the developed bit pattern data, the copying means controls said deployment means to store following the area has been copied.
[0005]
In order to solve the above-mentioned object, the control method of the print control apparatus according to the present invention performs printing by scanning a print head in which a plurality of nozzle groups corresponding to different colors are arranged in order in the sub-scanning direction in the main scanning direction. For developing the bit pattern data into a plurality of blocks based on the print data, and storage means for storing the bit pattern data developed by the development means, the main scanning of the print head. an area for storing the bit pattern data corresponding to a large area at a time scan to the sub-scanning direction than the printable area in the direction a plurality of perforated, each said area is continuously in response to the sub-scanning direction a control method for a print control apparatus comprising storage means having overlapping areas two regions overlap,
A copy step of copying the bit pattern data once stored in the overlapping area among the areas storing the bit pattern data of the previous block to the overlapping area of the area storing the bit pattern data of the next block ;
And a developing step for developing the developed bit pattern data so as to be stored subsequent to the area where the bit pattern data is copied in the copying step.
[0006]
[Action]
With the above configuration, the bit pattern data in the overlapping area can be copied to the overlapping area of the next block, thereby reducing the number of times the bit pattern data existing in the overlapping area is expanded. It is possible to suppress the occurrence of misalignment in drawing because printing is performed based on the same data by minimizing the time required for printing and copying and using the previously developed bit pattern data.
[0007]
【Example】
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail and specifically with reference to the drawings.
[0008]
FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of a word processor in the present embodiment. Reference numeral 1 denotes a central processing unit (CPU). Reference numeral 2 denotes a read-only memory (ROM), which stores a program of procedures shown in FIGS. 6 to 10, a control program for controlling the CPU 1, and the like. Reference numeral 3 denotes a readable / writable memory (RAM) that stores various data such as print data and bit pattern data. Reference numeral 4 denotes a read-only memory (external ROM) added to the outside. Reference numeral 5 denotes a keyboard control device (KBC), and reference numeral 6 denotes a keyboard (KB) for inputting various data. Reference numeral 7 denotes a display control device (CRTC), and 8 denotes a display device (CRT). Reference numeral 9 denotes a peripheral device control device (DKC), and reference numerals 10 and 11 denote external storage devices (FD 10 and HD 11). The program of the procedure shown in FIGS. 6 to 10 may be stored in the FD or HD. Reference numeral 12 denotes a printing device (PRT). Reference numeral 13 denotes a pointing device (PD). Reference numeral 14 denotes a system bus for transmitting and receiving data between these devices.
[0009]
Next, a control configuration for executing the above-described printing control of the PRT 12 will be described with reference to a block diagram shown in FIG. In the figure showing a control circuit, reference numeral 1701 denotes an MPU that controls processing according to a control program stored in a ROM 1702, 1702 denotes a program ROM that stores a control program executed by the MPU 1701, and 1703 denotes various data (bit patterns supplied to print commands and heads) This is a dynamic RAM that stores data and the like. Reference numeral 1704 denotes a gate array that controls the supply of bit pattern data to the print head 1708, and also controls data transfer among the system bus 14, MPU 1701, and RAM 1703. Reference numeral 1710 denotes a carrier motor for conveying the inkjet print head 1708, and 1709 denotes a conveyance motor for conveying the recording paper. Reference numeral 1705 denotes a head driver for driving the head, and reference numerals 1706 and 1707 denote motor drivers for driving the transport motor 1709 and the carrier motor 1710, respectively.
[0010]
The operation of the above control configuration will be described. When a print command and bit pattern data are input from the system bus 14, the bit pattern data is converted between the gate array 1704 and the MPU 1701 into bit pattern data in a format inside the printer. The motor drivers 1706 and 1707 are driven, and the print head is driven in accordance with the bit pattern data sent to the head driver 1705 to perform printing.
[0011]
A program for controlling the apparatus exists on the ROM 2, FD 10, HD 11, or RAM 3, and the CPU 1 performs a desired process while sequentially reading the program from the ROM 2, FD 10, HD 11, or RAM 3 through the system bus.
[0012]
FIG. 6 shows a flowchart for explaining the print control process of the present invention. The operation of the present apparatus will be described in the following order using this flowchart.
[0013]
Specifically, processing is performed in the following procedure. That is, a bit pattern development buffer for holding bit pattern data based on print data to be printed is provided in the RAM 3. Since the bit pattern development buffer cannot acquire the capacity for storing the bit image for one page, it acquires the minimum necessary capacity for two (by preparing two, print processing and development processing Can be done in parallel). Thereafter, the bit pattern data based on the print data is developed on the bit pattern development buffer. The bit pattern data is developed in a raster scan format (bytes are arranged in the horizontal direction) (see FIG. 11), and the bit pattern development buffer has three colors Y, M, and C in one buffer. (See FIG. 12).
[0014]
When the development of bit pattern data in the bit pattern development buffer (for three colors) is completed, the printer printout process is started, the bit pattern developed above is cut out in units of one line (head height), and is sent to the PRT 12. In this processing, the processing for each page is roughly performed in the following procedure.
[0015]
First, the initialization process (S1) will be described.
[0016]
First, in S101 of FIG. 7, the head address for each color for developing the bit pattern data in the bit pattern development buffer is acquired. In step S102, the number of vertical dots (n), the number of horizontal dots (M) in the bit pattern development buffer, and the number of vertical dots (y) in the overlapping portion of the bit pattern development buffer are acquired. In step S103, the line fetch position pointer (c_ * dpos) for each color is initialized. Here, * indicates that there are three position pointers of Y, M, and C. Specifically, it is initialized to c_Ydpos = −48, c_Mdpos = −24, c_Cdpos = 0.
[0017]
Next, the bit pattern development process (S2) to the bit pattern development buffer will be described (see FIG. 8).
[0018]
In S2, bit pattern data corresponding to the number of vertical dots (n) × number of horizontal bytes (M / 8) acquired in S1 is developed in the bit pattern development buffer.
[0019]
At this time, it is determined whether or not the bit pattern development buffer is a buffer at the beginning of one page (S201). If it is determined in S201 that the data in the bit pattern development buffer is the head portion data of one page, the process proceeds to S202, and the number of n × (M / 8) bytes obtained in S2 from the address obtained in S1. Perform development for each color. On the other hand, when it is determined in S201 that the data is a part other than the head part, the process proceeds to S203, and development is performed for each color by the number of (ny) × (M / 8) bytes from the address set in S504 described later. . This is because, in the case of data other than the head, since the previous data exists, there is an overlapping portion with the buffer, and this overlapping portion is copied by the overlapping portion batch copying process described later. Because there is no need to deploy.
[0020]
Next, the bit pattern data extraction process (S3) from the bit pattern development buffer will be described (see FIG. 9).
[0021]
In S301, it is determined whether or not the cyan row extraction position pointer (c_Cdpos) has exceeded the number of vertical dots (n) of the bit pattern development buffer. In S301, the cyan line extraction position pointer (c_Cdpos) is in the bit pattern development buffer. If it is determined that the number of vertical dots (n) is not exceeded, the process proceeds to S302, and the bit pattern developed in S2 is printed on the RAM 3 from the bit pattern development buffer for each corresponding color (Y, M, C). The data is taken out to the head expansion buffer and output to the PRT 12 (S302). This process is repeated until all the bit patterns stored in the bit pattern development buffer are output to the PRT 12. As the bit pattern extraction position at this time, the row extraction position pointer (c_ * dpos) of each color is set as the extraction start position. The line fetch position pointer (c_ * dpos) for each color is incremented by the C (cyan) nozzles (24 in this case) every time one line (head height) is output (S303). If it is determined in S301 that the cyan row extraction position pointer (c_Cdpos) has exceeded the number of vertical dots (n) in the bit pattern development buffer, the number of vertical dots (n) in the bit pattern development buffer minus the dots in the overlapping portion Since the bit patterns of all the colors (Y, M, C) up to the number (y) have been output, the process is finished.
[0022]
Next, in S4, it is checked whether the bit pattern development buffer is the last buffer of one page. If it is determined in S4 that it is the final bit pattern development buffer, the print control process is terminated. On the other hand, if it is determined in S4 that it is not the final bit pattern development buffer, the process proceeds to the overlapping partial batch copying process (S5).
[0023]
Next, the overlapping partial batch copying process (S5) will be described (see FIG. 10).
[0024]
The address S of the bit pattern development buffer of the overlapping portion that is the copy source is obtained for each color (S501). Next, the head address D of the next bit pattern development buffer as the copy destination is obtained for each color (S502). The overlapping bit pattern area from the address S at the end of the bit pattern development buffer is collectively copied for each color to the overlapping bit pattern area starting from the address D at the top of the next bit pattern development buffer (S503). ). As the buffer size for batch copying, an area corresponding to the number of vertical dots (y) × the number of horizontal bytes (M / 8) in the overlapping portion is set as the copy size. Further, the cyan row extraction position pointer (c_Cdpos) of the next bit pattern development buffer is set to a value of the head vertical size-C (cyan = 24 in this case) (S504). Thereafter, a bit pattern development process (S2) to the bit pattern development buffer is performed.
[0025]
As can be seen from the above explanation, by using the bit pattern once developed as a part of the bit pattern of the next bit pattern development buffer to be continued, the time required for the bit pattern development can be reduced. It can be seen that the development time can be increased. Further, by using the bit image of the overlapping portion between the bit pattern development buffers in common between the buffers, it is possible to prevent the development buffer from being shifted in drawing and to prevent color shift.
[0026]
In the present embodiment, the print head has been described with three colors Y, M, and C. However, the present invention can be similarly applied to a head with four colors Y, M, C, and K. Further, the present invention can be similarly applied to a head configured with a predetermined interval between the heads for each color.
[0027]
In this embodiment, the example of controlling the printer unit by the CPU of the word processor has been described. However, the control can be performed by a single printer (MPU of the printer).
[0028]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, the bit image of the overlapping portion between the bit pattern development buffers required when using the print head in which the nozzles are arranged vertically and vertically can be used as a part of the next development, and the development time can be increased. The printing control apparatus and the control method of the printing control apparatus that can prevent the increase in speed and color misregistration of the printing color can be provided.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the overall configuration of a word processor.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a printing apparatus.
FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a print head.
FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining an overlapping portion in a bit pattern development buffer.
FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining a print output timing.
FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating print control processing.
FIG. 7 is a flowchart of initialization processing.
FIG. 8 is a flowchart of bit pattern development processing for a bit pattern development buffer;
FIG. 9 is a flowchart of bit pattern data extraction processing from a bit pattern development buffer.
FIG. 10 is a flowchart of an overlapped partial batch copying process.
FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating a bit pattern development buffer.
FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a bit pattern development buffer.
[Explanation of symbols]
1 CPU
2 ROM
3 RAM
4 External ROM
5 KBC
6 KB
7 CRTC
8 CRT
9 DKC
10 FD
11 HD
12 PRT
13 PD
14 System bus

Claims (6)

A printing means for performing printing by scanning a print head in which a plurality of nozzle groups corresponding to different colors are arranged in order in the sub-scanning direction in the main scanning direction;
Developing means for dividing the bit pattern data into a plurality of blocks based on the print data; and
Storage means for storing bit pattern data developed by the developing means, the bit pattern corresponding to an area larger in the sub-scanning direction than a printable area by scanning the print head once in the main scanning direction an area for storing data to multiple chromatic, each of said regions is a storage unit having a superimposed region in which two consecutive areas in response to the sub-scanning direction are overlapped,
Copying means for copying the bit pattern data once stored in the overlapping area among the areas storing the bit pattern data of the previous block to the overlapping area of the area storing the bit pattern data of the next block ;
A printing control apparatus for controlling the developing means so as to store the developed bit pattern data next to the area copied by the copying means.   2. The print control apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an output unit that outputs the bit pattern data stored in the storage unit to the print unit for one scan every scan.   3. The print control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the developing unit and the copying unit control the address of the storage unit based on the number of nozzles of the print head and the arrangement of nozzle groups. Determining means for determining whether or not the bit pattern data developed by the developing means is data corresponding to the top area of one page;
It said developing means contains printing control device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that to deploy the bit pattern data based on the determination by the determination means.   The print control apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the expansion unit changes an amount of bit pattern data to be expanded based on the determination by the determination unit. In order to perform printing by scanning a print head in which a plurality of nozzle groups corresponding to different colors are arranged in order in the sub-scanning direction in the main scanning direction, the bit pattern data is divided into a plurality of blocks based on the print data. Expanding means and storage means for storing bit pattern data expanded by the expanding means, wherein the print head is scanned once in the main scanning direction and is larger than the printable area in the sub-scanning direction. the area for storing the corresponding bit pattern data a plurality of perforated, each of said regions is a control method of the print control apparatus comprising storage means having overlapping areas two consecutive areas in response to the sub-scanning direction are overlapped And
A copying step of copying the bit pattern data once stored in the overlapping area among the areas storing the bit pattern data of the previous block to the overlapping area of the area storing the bit pattern data of the next block ;
And a developing step for developing the developed bit pattern data so as to store the bit pattern data following the region where the bit pattern data was copied in the copying step.

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