PRINTING CONTROL APPARATUS AND PRINTING CONTROL METHOD

• US 20140232771A1
• Filed: 02/12/2014
• Published: 08/21/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 02/15/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Canon Ayutthaya Limited (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Ayutthaya Limited (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Kawatoko, Norihiro, Kano, Yutaka
• Granted Patent: US 9,138,989 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 347/12
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/04513 for increasing lifetime
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/2132 Print quality control characterised by dot disposition, e.g. for reducing white stripes or banding methods for local corrections by dot omission, image edge enhancement, or multi-pass mask selection G06K15/102; colour conversion H04N1/40

Abstract

In a printing apparatus capable of printing the same pixel by a plurality of print elements, a print speed is increased, and further, a partial frequency of use of each of the print elements is reduced, so as to prolong the lifetime of the print head. In view of this, dithering is used as a pseudo-halftone representing method, and further, a distribution pattern for use in creating image data to be distributed to each of the plurality of print elements is switched.

Claims

1. A printing control apparatus for controlling a printing apparatus which can print the same pixel by using a plurality of print elements arrayed in a predetermined direction on a print head, the print head and a print medium being movable relatively along the predetermined direction, an unit area on the print medium being printed by one relative moving between the print head and printing medium, the printing control apparatus comprising:

a quantizing unit configured to quantize input image data by dithering;

a distributing unit configured to create image data to be distributed to each of the plurality of print elements from the quantized image data by using a plurality of distribution patterns, the plurality of distribution patterns corresponding to the plurality of print elements and determining a portion to be printed by each of the plurality of print elements, the distribution unit being switchable the distribution patterns to be used such that the portion to be printed by the print element is changed; and

a control unit configured to control the print elements based on the image data to be distributed to the print elements.

2. The printing control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the distributing unit creates the image data to be distributed from the quantized image data by using the distribution patterns, and to switch the distribution patterns at the time of the creation of the image data to be distributed.

3. The printing control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the distributing unit creates a plurality of divided image data from the quantized image data by using the plurality of distribution patterns, and changes a combination of the plurality of divided image data to create the image data to be distributed.

4. The printing control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the quantizing unit shifts a dither matrix during non-printing.

5. The printing control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the distributing unit switches the distribution patterns during printing.

6. The printing control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the distributing unit switches the distribution patterns during non-printing.

7. The printing control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the distributing unit can change a frequency of switch of the distribution patterns.

8. The printing control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the distributing unit changes the frequency of switch of the distribution patterns according to a position of the print element in the print head.

9. The printing control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of print elements are arranged in different print element arrays extending in a direction crossing the predetermined direction.

10. The printing control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the print element includes a nozzle capable of ejecting ink.

11. The printing control apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a conveying unit configured to convey the print medium in the predetermined direction.

12. A printing control method of controlling a printing apparatus which can print the same pixel by using a plurality of print elements arrayed in a predetermined direction on a print head, the print head and a print medium being movable relatively along the predetermined direction, an unit area on the print medium being printed by one relative moving between the print head and printing medium, the printing control method comprising:

a quantizing step of quantizing input image data by dithering;

a distributing step of creating image data to be distributed to each of the plurality of print elements from the quantized image data by using a plurality of distribution patterns, the plurality of distribution patterns corresponding to the plurality of print elements and determining a portion to be printed by each of the plurality of print elements, the distribution step being switchable the distribution patterns to be used such that the portion to be printed by the print element is changed; and

a control step of controlling the print elements based on the image data to be distributed to the print elements.