JPH11170675A - Printer system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a printer system for always conducting an adequate image correction of various printing data. SOLUTION: The printer system comprises a host machine 12 for storing an image correction pattern for conducting an image correction by dividing pixels of print data and selecting the image correction pattern adapted to the correction of the data to be printed from the stored image correction pattern, and a printer unit 1 having an image correction chip 7 connected to a host machine to store the image correction pattern transmitted from the host machine and a CPU 2 for controlling read/write of the chip. In this case, the printer unit corrects the print data by using the optimum image correction pattern selected and transmitted by the host machine and prints it, thereby printing in a high image quality of any data of the print data.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a printer system having an image correction function of dividing each pixel of image data and performing correction.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in a printer device which divides each pixel of image data to correct the image data, the image data is corrected using an image correction pattern. However, since the characteristics are different depending on the data, if the correction is performed using one type of image correction pattern, the image quality of the corrected image data may be worse on the contrary. For example, in a document in which a text document and an image (such as a photograph) are pasted, if the correction is performed using an image correction pattern suitable for the text document, data characteristics are different. However, in the latter case, the image quality is deteriorated by performing the image correction as compared to before the correction.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, as a method conventionally devised, two or three memories are stored in a memory of a printer device.
There is a method of storing various types of image correction patterns and selecting and switching them for each data to be printed.

[0004]

However, in the above method, since the image correction patterns are stored in the memory of the printer device, only a few types of image correction patterns can be stored. Data other than print data could not be handled at all. Further, when the image correction pattern is stored in the memory, there is a problem that a valuable memory resource of the printer device is pressed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a printer system capable of always performing appropriate image correction on various print data.

[0006]

In order to achieve the above object, a printer system according to the present invention stores an image correction pattern for dividing each pixel of print data to perform image correction, and stores the stored image correction pattern. , A host computer for selecting an image correction pattern suitable for correcting data to be printed, an image correction chip connected to the host computer and storing the image correction pattern sent from the host computer, and a read / write of the image correction chip. A printer device having a CPU for controlling the light, wherein the printer device corrects the print data using the optimal image correction pattern selected and sent by the host computer and prints the corrected data. .

The host computer may identify an application of data to be printed by an installed printer driver, select an image correction pattern suitable for the identified application, and transfer the selected image correction pattern to a printer device.

The above-mentioned host computer may identify a printer description language of data to be printed by an installed printer driver, select an image correction pattern suitable for the identified printer description language, and transfer the image correction pattern to a printer device.

The above-mentioned printer system further includes an input unit that allows the user to freely correct the print data, and the host computer transfers the image correction pattern input from the input unit to the printer during printing. Good.

A printer system according to the present invention is a system in which a host device and a printer device are connected. The printer device has a function of dividing one pixel to perform image correction, and a correction pattern for performing image correction. The memory to store is C
It is readable / writable from the PU, stores the contents of the memory in the host device, and transfers the correction pattern from the host device.

The application of the data to be printed may be identified by a printer driver installed in the host device, and appropriate image correction data may be selected and transferred to the printer device.

It is preferable that an application of data to be printed is identified by a printer driver installed in the host device, appropriate image correction data is selected, and the image correction data is transferred to the printer device.

The above-mentioned printer system further comprises a generating means for allowing a user to freely generate an image correction pattern, and prints the image correction pattern generated by the generating means by a printer driver installed in the host device. It is characterized in that it is transferred to a printer device.

[0014]

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a printer system according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG.
FIG. 6 shows an embodiment of the printer system of the present invention. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a printer system according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining jaggy correction which is an example of image correction.
FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the operation of the printer device.
6 to 6 are flowcharts for explaining an operation example according to the embodiment.

First, the configuration of an embodiment of a printer system will be described with reference to FIG. The embodiment shown in FIG.
Printer device 1, operation panel 11, host machine 1
2 and a print engine 13.
The printer 1 includes a CPU 1, an ASIC 2, a D
RAM3, NVRAM4, CODE ROM5,
FONT ROM 6, image correction chip 7, operation panel I / F10, host I / F9, engine I / F8
Are provided.

The CPU 2 is a main processor and controls each of the above devices provided in the printer. AS
The IC 2 controls and arbitrates the CPU bus and the system bus (functions for managing and arbitrating the bus), and controls the video I / F, the operation panel I / F, and the host I / F. The DRAM 3 is a readable / writable work storage device. NVRAM4 is powered off
It is a storage device capable of storing data at the time of. The CODE ROM 5 stores program data. The font ROM 6 stores font data representing the size and font of characters. DRAM
3, NVRAM4, CODE ROM5, FONTR
OM6 is connected to the system bus.

The image correction chip 7 is mounted on the video I / F, and controls the image correction of the video data or reads / writes the image correction pattern sent from the host machine 12 under the control of the CPU 1. The image correction chip 7 is connected to the system bus and the ASIC.

At the stage subsequent to the image correction chip 7, the engine I /
F8 is connected, and is connected to a print engine 13 of an external device by an engine I / F. An operation panel I / F 10 connected to an operation panel as an interface with other external devices, a host I / F connected to a host machine
F9 and the like. Each of the operation panel I / F 10 and the host I / F 9 connects an external device to the ASIC.

The operation panel 11, which is an external device, is a device for a user to input various settings. The host machine 12 stores image correction data corresponding to various print data. In addition, a printer driver is installed in the host machine, and determines the characteristics of the print data and selects a corrected image pattern that best matches the characteristics. The print engine 13 performs printing using the corrected image data sent from the image correction chip 7.

Next, the correction processing operation according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. As described above, the image correction pattern is stored in the host machine 12, identifies the application or the printer description of the data to be printed by the printer driver installed in the host machine, and identifies the application or the printer description language as the most appropriate. Select a suitable pattern and set the printer 1
Shall be sent to The image correction pattern sent from the host machine is sent to the image correction chip 7. The CPU corrects the data by changing the corrected image pattern stored in the image correction chip to the data of the pixel to be corrected. Here, diagonal line jaggy correction will be described as an example of image correction according to the present embodiment. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of image correction by oblique line jaggy correction. In FIG. 2, the image shown on the left is an image before correction, and the right is an image after correction. The bold 4 × 4 dot frame shown in FIG. 2 is the original one pixel. Jaggy correction is performed by dividing this one pixel into four parts (divided into thin lines) and further shifting one pixel in units of 画素 pixel. The corrected image data is sent to the print engine via the engine I / F and printed.

Next, an operation example of the printer of this embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating an operation example of the printer device. In FIG. 3, step S
In step 1, when the printer is powered on, the printer initializes itself. If there is no problem after the initialization, the device enters a ready state in which the host waits for data input. When data is input from the host in step S2 (step S2 / YES), it is determined whether or not the data sent in step S3 is image correction data. If it is determined that the data sent from the host is the image correction data (step S3 / YES), the data is written into the image correction data of the image correction chip (step S4), and the drawing process is performed in step S5. If it is determined in step S3 that the data sent from the host is not the image correction data, the flow shifts to step S5 to perform a drawing process. Next, it is determined in step S6 whether or not to print. If it is determined that printing is to be performed (step S6 / YES), printing is performed by the printer engine 13 in step S7. When it is determined that printing is not to be performed (step S6 / NO), the printer enters the ready state of step S2.

Next, an operation example according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. First, an operation for identifying an application by a printer driver installed in the host will be described with reference to FIG. In FIG.
In step S10, each printing parameter is set from the operation panel 11 shown in FIG. Next, in step S11, a print operation is performed by clicking a print button. Next, step S
In step 12, the application of the print data used by the printer driver installed in the host is recognized. The print data application refers to an application of a computer that has created data to be printed. Since the print data differs depending on which application is created, such as a text-based application, a graphic-based application, or an image-based application, an image correction pattern suitable for the feature is selected. Next, image correction data is acquired in step S13. Next, in step S14, the image correction pattern is sent to the printer device and written in the image correction data of the image correction chip. Next, print data is sent out in step S15, and printing is performed in step S16.

Next, an operation example in the case of recognizing a printer description language of print data will be described with reference to a flowchart shown in FIG. 5, first, in step S20, each printing parameter is set from the operation panel 11 shown in FIG. Next, in step S21, a print button is clicked to start a print operation. When the print button is clicked, the printer driver installed in the host recognizes the printer description language of the print data (step S2).
2). Since the characteristics of print data differ depending on the type of printer description language such as a text-based printer description language, a graphic-based printer description language, and an image-based printer description language, an image correction pattern corresponding to the characteristics is selected. Next, image correction data is obtained (step S2).
3) Send the image correction pattern to the printer (step S24). The printer device stores the transmitted image correction pattern in the image correction chip, performs image correction, and sends the converted corrected image data to the print engine (step S25). The printer engine performs printing using the sent corrected image data (step S2).
6).

Next, the user generates an image correction pattern,
An operation example in the case where the generated image correction pattern is transferred to the printer device at the time of printing will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 6, first, in step S30, the setting of each printing parameter is input from the operation panel 11 shown in FIG. Here, the user can freely generate a corrected image pattern by designating image correction pattern user registration. Next, in step S31, a print button is clicked to start a print operation. The printer driver installed in the host sends the corrected image pattern generated by the user to the printer (step S).
32). The printer device stores the transmitted image correction pattern in the image correction chip, performs image correction, and sends the corrected image data to the printer engine (step S33). The printer engine performs printing using the sent corrected image data (step S34).

As described above, not only the image correction mode is specified by the driver, but also an image correction pattern corresponding to each application or an image correction pattern corresponding to each printer description language is selected. Obtainable. In addition, since the image correction patterns corresponding to various print data are stored in the host, the memory resources of the printer can be effectively used for other functions.

Since the print data has characteristics depending on the application used when the print data is created, such as a text-based application, a graphic-based application, and an image-based application, it is necessary to prepare an image correction pattern corresponding to the characteristics. Therefore, high-quality printing can be performed. Further, since print data has features in the printer description language such as a text-based printer description language, a graphics-based printer description language, and an image-based printer description language, an image correction pattern corresponding to the features is prepared and corrected. Accordingly, high-quality printing can be performed. Further, by providing an input unit capable of generating an image correction pattern so that a user can optimally correct an image of print data created by the user for a more advanced user, higher quality printing can be performed. .

[0027]

As is apparent from the above description, according to the printer system of the present invention, an image correction pattern for performing image correction by dividing each pixel of print data is stored.
A host computer for selecting an image correction pattern suitable for correction of data to be printed from the stored image correction patterns, a memory connected to the host computer and storing the image correction pattern sent from the host computer, A printer device having a CPU for performing read / write control, wherein the printer device is selected by the host computer, the print data is corrected using the optimum image correction pattern sent, and printing is performed, thereby achieving high image quality. Printing can be made possible. Also, by storing image correction data corresponding to various print data on the host side, the memory resources of the printer device can be effectively used for other functions.

The host computer identifies an application of data to be printed by a printer driver installed, selects an image correction pattern by the identified application, and transfers the selected image correction pattern to a printer. Therefore, a text-based application, a graphic-based application, Appropriate data correction can be performed even for print data created by any application such as an image-based application.

The host computer identifies the printer description language of the data to be printed by the installed printer driver, selects an image correction pattern according to the identified printer description language, and transfers the image correction pattern to the printer. It is possible to properly correct print data using any printer description language such as a language, a graphic description language, and an image description language.

The host computer further includes an input unit that allows the user to freely correct the image data, and the host computer transfers the corrected image data input from the input unit to the printer at the time of printing. Printing can be performed.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a printer system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram for describing oblique line jaggy correction.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating an operation example of the printer device.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating an operation example of the printer system.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating an operation example of the printer system.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an operation example of the printer system.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Printing apparatus 2 ASIC 3 DRAM 4 NVRAM 5 CODE ROM 6 FONT ROM 7 Image correction chip 8 Engine I / F 9 Host I / F 10 Operation panel I / F 11 Operation panel 12 Host machine 13 Print engine

Claims (8)

[Claims] An image correction pattern for performing image correction by dividing each pixel of print data is stored, and the image correction pattern suitable for correcting data to be printed is selected from the stored image correction patterns. A printer computer, comprising: a host computer for connecting the host computer; an image correction chip for storing the image correction pattern sent from the host computer; and a CPU for controlling read / write of the image correction chip. A printer system, wherein the printer device corrects print data using the optimal image correction pattern selected and sent by the host computer, and prints the corrected print data. 2. The host computer identifies an application of data to be printed by an installed printer driver, selects the image correction pattern suitable for the identified application, and transfers the image correction pattern to the printer. The printer system according to claim 1, wherein 3. The host computer identifies a printer description language of data to be printed by an installed printer driver, selects the image correction pattern suitable for the identified printer description language, and transfers the image correction pattern to the printer device. The printer system according to claim 1, wherein 4. An image processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an input unit that allows a user to freely correct the print data, wherein the host computer transfers the image correction pattern input from the input unit to the printer when printing. The printer system according to claim 1, wherein: 5. In a system in which a host device and a printer device are connected, the printer device has a function of performing image correction by dividing one pixel, and a memory for storing a correction pattern for performing the image correction. A printer system capable of reading / writing data from the memory, storing the contents of the memory in the host device, and transferring the correction pattern from the host device. 6. The printer according to claim 5, wherein an application of data to be printed is identified by a printer driver installed in the host device, and appropriate image correction data is selected and transferred to the printer device. Printer system. 7. The printer according to claim 5, wherein an application of data to be printed is identified by a printer driver installed in the host device, and appropriate image correction data is selected and transferred to the printer device. Printer system. 8. A printing apparatus, further comprising: generating means for allowing a user to freely generate an image correction pattern, wherein the image correction pattern generated by the generating means is printed by a printer driver installed in the host device. 6. The printer system according to claim 5, wherein the data is transferred to an apparatus.