JP2004255764A - Image processor, image processing method and computer readable storage medium storing program for executing that method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image processor capable of writing an image having a high image quality by reading data most suitable for the writing timing thereby avoiding formation of a blurred image as a while, and to provide an image processing method and a computer readable storage medium storing a program for executing that method. <P>SOLUTION: The image processor comprises a means for generating a spread timing signal where the timing of a line is spread at random and writes image data in synchronization with the spread timing signal. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO&NCIPI

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus, an image processing method, and a computer-readable storage medium storing a program for executing the method, and more particularly, to an image processing apparatus capable of rendering a high-quality image by smoothing an entire image. About.
[0002]
[Prior art]
[Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent No. 3,029,595 Conventionally, it has been impossible to develop an image processing apparatus having a certain resolution or more due to mechanical and electric restrictions, and the software and hardware are the leading and the pseudo-processors. Image processing to increase the resolution. For example, in the above-mentioned Patent Document 1, the resolution of the printer engine and the resolution of the data are compared, and if the comparison results show the same, one line of data is sequentially read out in accordance with the horizontal synchronization timing of the printer, and the printer engine is read. Sequentially. On the other hand, when the resolution of the data is 1 / n of the resolution of the printer engine, one line of data is sequentially read out in accordance with the horizontal synchronization timing of the printer, sequentially transmitted to the printer engine, and temporarily stored in the memory. The latest one line of data stored in the memory is read out and sent to the printer engine n-1 times in accordance with the timing of the subsequent n-1 horizontal synchronization signals, and the final print image is accurately output. Raster images are printed with high image quality.
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, according to an image processing apparatus such as an ink jet recording apparatus, the ejection timing is randomly diffused by hardware, and an image is drawn at a position other than a place where the drawing should have been originally performed. On the other hand, however, there is a possibility that the image will be blurred.
[0004]
The present invention is intended to solve this problem, and can read data most suitable for drawing timing, and can render a high-quality image while avoiding a blurred image as a whole image. An object of the present invention is to provide an image processing device, an image processing method, and a computer-readable storage medium storing a program for executing the method.
[0005]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to solve the above problem, the image processing apparatus of the present invention is configured such that a carriage equipped with a head for printing image data from a host computer reads lines drawn at regular intervals by a motor operated by PWM control. It moves and prints image data in synchronization with the timing of the read line. The image processing apparatus of the present invention has a spread timing signal generating means for generating a spread timing signal in which line timing is randomly spread, and draws image data in synchronization with the spread timing signal. Therefore, it is possible to provide an image processing apparatus capable of rendering a high-quality image by smoothing the entire image.
[0006]
Further, the image processing apparatus of the present invention includes a resolution changing means for changing image data from the host computer to a resolution higher than the highest image quality of the image processing apparatus, and a spreading timing for generating a spreading timing signal in which line timing is randomly spread. Signal generating means for drawing the image data most suitable for the drawing timing. Therefore, it is possible to avoid a blurred image as a whole and draw a still higher quality image.
[0007]
Further, the image processing apparatus of the present invention is an image processing apparatus using a drawing method using a laser beam, and generates a spread frequency that spreads a frequency determined by communication between a print engine and an engine interface. Means for drawing image data in synchronization with the spread frequency. Therefore, a high-quality image can be drawn.
[0008]
According to the image processing method as another invention, a spread timing signal in which line timing is randomly spread is created, and image data is drawn in synchronization with the created spread timing signal. Therefore, it is possible to provide an image processing method in which the whole image becomes smooth and a high-quality image can be drawn.
[0009]
Furthermore, according to the image processing method as another invention, the image data from the host computer is changed to a resolution higher than the highest image quality of the image processing apparatus, and a spread timing signal is generated by randomly spreading the timing of the line, Draws image data most suitable for the timing of drawing. Therefore, it is possible to avoid a blurred image as a whole and draw a still higher quality image.
[0010]
According to the image processing method as another invention, a spread frequency is generated by spreading a frequency determined by communication between the print engine and the engine interface, and the image data is drawn in synchronization with the spread frequency. Therefore, a high-quality image can be drawn.
[0011]
Another aspect of the present invention is a computer-readable storage medium storing a program for executing the image processing method. Therefore, the image processing system can be constructed for general use without changing the existing system.
[0012]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
The image processing apparatus of the present invention has a spread timing signal generating means for generating a spread timing signal in which line timings are randomly spread, and draws image data in synchronization with the spread timing signal.
[0013]
【Example】
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the image processing apparatus of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 1, an image processing apparatus according to the present embodiment includes a CPU 11, an application-specific integrated circuit (hereinafter, abbreviated as ASIC) 12, a RAM 13, a program ROM 14, an NVRAM 15, an engine I / F 16, a host I / F 17, It includes a host 18, a motor I / F 19, a motor 20, a head I / F 21, a head 22, and an encoder 23.
[0014]
First, the operation of a normal image processing apparatus will be described with reference to FIG. 2 and FIG. 3 showing the relationship between each signal waveform and a drawn image. Note that an inkjet printer will be described as an example of the image processing apparatus.
[0015]
In a normal drawing operation of the ink-jet printer, drawing is performed by simultaneously discharging a certain fixed width while the carriage on which the head 22 is mounted is moved by the motor 20 operated by PWM control. The drawing timing signal moves while reading a line drawn at a constant interval, maintains a constant speed while calculating the moving speed based on the time interval at which the line can be read, and recognizes the position of the carriage. By discharging ink by triggering the reading of the line, an image to be drawn is discharged at a predetermined position at a constant interval. That is, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the ASIC 12 performs a predetermined operation based on an encoder signal (1) from the encoder 23 at a constant interval obtained by reading a line drawn at a constant interval from the operation of the head 22, and The signal (2) is output to the head I / F 21. At the same time, the image data (3) sent from the host 18 is stored in the RAM 13, the stored image data (4) is sent to the head I / F 21, and the image data (5) is converted to a timing signal (2). The data is transmitted to the head 22 in synchronization. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 3, the drawn image is discharged at a fixed position at a fixed interval.
[0016]
FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a state of each signal output in the image processing apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 5 is a time chart showing a relationship between each signal waveform and a drawn image in this embodiment. is there. As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, in the present embodiment, the ASIC 12 performs a predetermined operation in response to an encoder signal (1) from the encoder 23 at a constant interval which reads a line drawn at a constant interval, and The transmission timing of the image data (8) is shifted by the extended timing signal (6) created by randomly spreading (2) in hardware. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 5, the ejection timing is shifted to a position where the conventional image processing apparatus could not eject the ink, and the ink is ejected at the shifted timing. Therefore, it is possible to improve the image quality by making it look as if the resolution was increased in a pseudo manner.
[0017]
However, since the timing is shifted in terms of hardware, the ink is ejected to a position different from the position where the ejection was originally intended, so that the image may be shifted, resulting in a blurred image. Therefore, in the second embodiment of the present invention shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, an image having a much higher resolution than the original image is transmitted from the host computer. By adopting the data, it is possible to draw a still higher quality image.
[0018]
FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing a state of each signal output of the image processing apparatus according to the second embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 7 is a time chart showing a relationship between each signal waveform and a drawn image in this embodiment. is there. As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, in this embodiment, the resolution of the image data (3) from the host 18 is made as high as possible, and as much data as possible is stored in the RAM 13 as much as possible. ) Sends the image data (10) to the head I / F 21 according to the instruction of the ASIC 12. The ejection data (11) is transmitted to the head 22 in synchronization with the transmitted image data (10) with the diffusion timing signal (9). Therefore, as shown in FIG. 7, the image data (3) not synchronized with the diffusion timing signal (9) is skipped without being reflected in the ejection data (11). In this manner, data most suitable for the ejection timing can be read, and a higher quality image can be drawn.
[0019]
FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing the state of each signal output of the image processing apparatus according to the third embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 9 is a time chart showing the relationship between each signal waveform and the drawn image in this embodiment. is there. As shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, the image processing apparatus using the laser beam communicates with the engine 100 via the engine I / F 207 instead of the ink-jet encoder signal as in the first and second embodiments. Are transmitted in synchronization with the timing signal of the frequency determined by the above. The transmission timing of the image data (14) is spread by the spread timing signal (12) obtained by spreading the frequency of the communication, and the engine board of the engine 100 is spread. It is possible to write to the writing unit 101 via 106. As described above, by randomly diffusing the emission timing of the laser beam, a high-quality image can be drawn.
[0020]
Next, FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing a system configuration of the present invention. That is, FIG. 1 shows hardware constructed from a microprocessor or the like that executes software according to the image processing method of the present invention. In FIG. 1, the image processing system includes an interface (hereinafter abbreviated as I / F) 31, a CPU 32, a ROM 33, a RAM 34, a display device 35, a hard disk 36, a keyboard 37, and a CD-ROM drive 38. In addition, a general-purpose processing device is prepared, and a program for executing the image processing method of the present invention is stored in a readable storage medium such as the CD-ROM 39. Further, a control signal is input from an external device via the I / F 31, and a command of an operator or a program of the present invention is automatically activated by the keyboard 37. The CPU 32 performs image processing according to the above-described image processing method in accordance with the program, stores the processing result in a storage device such as the RAM 34 or the hard disk 36, and outputs the result to the display device 35 or the like as necessary. As described above, by using the medium in which the program for executing the image processing method of the present invention is stored, the image processing system can be constructed for general purpose without changing the existing system.
[0021]
It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and it goes without saying that various modifications and substitutions can be made within the scope of the claims.
[0022]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, in the image processing apparatus of the present invention, the carriage equipped with the head for printing image data from the host computer moves while reading lines drawn at regular intervals by a motor operated by PWM control, The image data is printed in synchronization with the timing of the read line. The image processing apparatus of the present invention has a spread timing signal generating means for generating a spread timing signal in which line timing is randomly spread, and draws image data in synchronization with the spread timing signal. Therefore, it is possible to provide an image processing apparatus capable of rendering a high-quality image by smoothing the entire image.
[0023]
Further, the image processing apparatus of the present invention includes a resolution changing means for changing image data from the host computer to a resolution higher than the highest image quality of the image processing apparatus, and a spreading timing for generating a spreading timing signal in which line timing is randomly spread. Signal generating means for drawing the image data most suitable for the drawing timing. Therefore, it is possible to avoid a blurred image as a whole and draw a still higher quality image.
[0024]
Further, the image processing apparatus of the present invention is an image processing apparatus using a drawing method using a laser beam, and generates a spread frequency that spreads a frequency determined by communication between a print engine and an engine interface. Means for drawing image data in synchronization with the spread frequency. Therefore, a high-quality image can be drawn.
[0025]
According to the image processing method as another invention, a spread timing signal in which line timing is randomly spread is created, and image data is drawn in synchronization with the created spread timing signal. Therefore, it is possible to provide an image processing method in which the whole image becomes smooth and a high-quality image can be drawn.
[0026]
Furthermore, according to the image processing method as another invention, the image data from the host computer is changed to a resolution higher than the highest image quality of the image processing apparatus, and a spread timing signal is generated by randomly spreading the timing of the line, Draws image data most suitable for the timing of drawing. Therefore, it is possible to avoid a blurred image as a whole and draw a still higher quality image.
[0027]
According to the image processing method as another invention, a spread frequency is generated by spreading a frequency determined by communication between the print engine and the engine interface, and the image data is drawn in synchronization with the spread frequency. Therefore, a high-quality image can be drawn.
[0028]
Another aspect of the present invention is a computer-readable storage medium storing a program for executing the image processing method. Therefore, the image processing system can be constructed for general use without changing the existing system.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an image processing apparatus according to the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a state of outputting each signal in a normal image processing apparatus.
FIG. 3 is a time chart showing a relationship between each signal waveform and a drawn image in FIG. 2;
FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a state of each signal output in the image processing apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 5 is a time chart showing a relationship between each signal waveform and a drawn image in the first embodiment.
FIG. 6 is a block diagram illustrating a state of each signal output in an image processing apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 7 is a time chart showing a relationship between each signal waveform and a drawn image in the second embodiment.
FIG. 8 is a block diagram illustrating a state of each signal output in an image processing apparatus according to a third embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 9 is a time chart showing a relationship between each signal waveform and a drawn image in the third embodiment.
FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing a system configuration of the present invention.
[Explanation of symbols]
11; CPU 11, 12; ASIC, 13; RAM,
14; program ROM, 15; NVRAM, 16; engine I / F,
17; host I / F, 18; host, 19; motor I / F,
20; motor, 21; head I / F, 22; head, 23; encoder.

Claims (7)

A carriage equipped with a head for printing image data from a host computer moves while reading lines drawn at regular intervals by a motor operated by PWM control, and moves the image data in synchronization with the timing of the read lines. In an image processing apparatus that performs a printing process,
Having a spread timing signal creating means for creating a spread timing signal by randomly spreading the timing of the line,
An image processing apparatus, wherein the image data is drawn in synchronization with the spread timing signal. A carriage equipped with a head for printing image data from a host computer moves while reading lines drawn at regular intervals by a motor operated by PWM control, and moves the image data in synchronization with the timing of the read lines. In an image processing apparatus that performs a printing process,
Resolution changing means for changing the image data from the host computer to a resolution higher than the highest image quality of the image processing apparatus,
Having a spread timing signal creating means for creating a spread timing signal by randomly spreading the timing of the line,
An image processing apparatus for drawing the image data most suitable for drawing timing. In an image processing apparatus using a drawing method using a laser beam,
Having a spread frequency generating means for generating a spread frequency obtained by spreading a frequency determined by communication between the print engine and the engine interface,
An image processing apparatus, wherein the image data is drawn in synchronization with the spread frequency. A carriage equipped with a head for printing image data from a host computer moves while reading lines drawn at regular intervals by a motor operated by PWM control, and moves the image data in synchronization with the timing of the read lines. In an image processing method for performing a printing process,
An image processing method, comprising: creating a spread timing signal obtained by randomly spreading the timing of a line; and rendering the image data in synchronization with the created spread timing signal. A carriage equipped with a head for printing image data from a host computer moves while reading lines drawn at regular intervals by a motor operated by PWM control, and moves the image data in synchronization with the timing of the read lines. In an image processing method for performing a printing process,
The image data from the host computer is changed to a resolution higher than the highest image quality of the image processing apparatus, a spread timing signal is generated by randomly spreading the timing of the line, and the image data most suitable for the drawing timing is drawn. An image processing method comprising: In an image processing method using a drawing method using a laser beam,
An image processing method comprising: generating a spread frequency obtained by spreading a frequency determined by communication between a print engine and an engine interface; and rendering the image data in synchronization with the spread frequency. A computer-readable storage medium storing a program for executing the image processing method according to claim 4.

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