Data conversion apparatus and image recording apparatus

• US 5,870,536 A
• Filed: 06/17/1997
• Issued: 02/09/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 07/11/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Kurosawa, Yuji
• Primary Examiner(s): Evans, Arthur G.
• Application Number:
  US08/877,029
• Time in Patent Office: 602 Days
• Field of Search: 395/102, 395/112, 395/115, 395/116, 395/117, 345/507, 345/508, 345/509, 345/510, 345/517, 345/523, 345/437, 345/439, 382/275, 382/277, 382/293, 382/296, 382/297, 382/298, 382/299
• US Class Current: 358/1.18
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32358 using picture signal storage, e.g. at transmitter H04N1/17 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/3247 Changing the arrangement of data in a page, e.g. reversing the order to produce a mirror image
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/33315 reading or reproducing mode only, e.g. sheet size, resolution
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/40068 Modification of image resolution, i.e. determining the values of picture elements at new relative positions H04N1/3935 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/33328 Resolution

Abstract

After the image data transmitted via a line is received and is then stored in a predetermined zone a of a RAM. The resolution of the image data along the line is converted to the resolution of the recording means in the main-scanning direction after the image data is decoded. The converted data is then stored in a predetermined zone b of the RAM. Subsequently, the image data is read by a predetermined length (eight pixels) to reverse the arrangement of the image data in the horizontal and vertical directions while converting the resolution of the image data to the resolution of the recording means in the sub-scanning direction. The resulting data is then stored in a predetermined zone c of the RAM.

Claims

1. An image recording apparatus having recording means that performs a recording operation while scanning received image data by a recording head, said apparatus comprising:

conversion means for converting pixel density of said received image data at each line according to a resolution of said recording in a main-scanning direction;

first storage means for storing the received image data whose resolution is converted by said conversion means;

processing means for collectively performing a process for converting the resolution of the image data in sub-scanning direction at each predetermined length according to the resolution of said recording head in the sub-scanning direction and a process for converting a horizontal and vertical arrangement of the image data whose resolution is converted in the sub-scanning direction, by inputting a plurality of predetermined length of image data corresponding to a plurality of lines, which are read out from said first storage means, wherein said predetermined length is shorter than a length of image data corresponding to one line; and

second storage means for storing the image data processed by said processing means,

wherein said recording means performs a recording operation in accordance with the image data stored in said second storage means.

2. An image recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said second storage means has a capacity for storing image data required for one or two scanning operations to be performed by said recording means.

3. An image recording apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising recording-control means for controlling the recording operation performed by said recording means while executing double-buffering control over said second storage means.

4. An image recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the pixel number of the data stored in said second storage means by said control means is larger than the pixel number of the data read from said first storage means.

5. An image recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said conversion means performs resolution conversion according to the ratio of the pixel density of the received image data per line to the resolution of said recording head.

6. An image recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said second conversion means performs resolution conversion according to the ratio of the resolution of said received image data in the sub-scanning direction to the resolution of said recording head.

7. An image recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said recording head is an ink-jet recording head for performing a recording operation by ejecting ink.

8. An image recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said recording head is a recording head that ejects ink by use of thermal energy and comprises an electrothermal transducer for generating thermal energy to be applied to ink.

9. A data conversion apparatus for rearranging a predetermined amount of image data in the horizontal direction and outputting the image data by said predetermined amount in the vertical direction, said apparatus comprising:

a plurality of storage means for storing the image data in the horizontal direction;

selection means for selecting from said plurality of storage means a storage means for storing said image data in the horizontal direction, said selection means being capable of selecting a plurality of storage means at the same time;

generation means for generating a signal for causing the storage means selected by said selection means to store said image data in the horizontal direction; and

output means for outputting the image data in the vertical direction by said predetermined amount according to the image data stored in said plurality of storage means.

10. A data conversion apparatus for converting a horizontal and vertical arrangement of image data, said apparatus comprising:

a plurality of storage means for storing a predetermined amount of image data in a horizontal direction;

selection means for selecting from said plurality of storage means a storage means for storing said predetermined amount of image data, said selection means selecting a plurality of storage means at a same time, wherein a same image data is stored in said storage means selected at the same time by said selection means;

generation means for generating a signal for causing the storage means selected by said selection means to store said image data in the horizontal direction; and

output means for outputting the image data in the vertical direction according to the image data stored in said plurality of storage means.

12. A data conversion apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said selection means comprises address means for generating addresses for said plurality of storage means, and upon generating an address by said address means, said selection means selects the storage means corresponding to the generated address and subsequent addresses so as to store said image data in the horizontal direction in the selected storage means.

11. An image recording apparatus having recording means that performs a recording operation while scanning received image data by a recording head, said apparatus comprising:

first conversion means for converting the pixel density of said received image data at each line to the resolution of said recording means in the main-scanning direction;

first storage means for storing the received image data whose resolution is converted by said first conversion means;

second conversion means for reading a predetermined length of the resolution-converted image data stored in said first storage means so as to convert the resolution of said data in the sub-scanning direction to the resolution of said recording means in the sub-scanning direction;

second storage means for storing the image data whose resolution is converted by said second conversion means; and

control means for reversing the horizontal and vertical arrangement of the image data while performing resolution conversion by said second conversion means.

13. A data conversion apparatus for converting the horizontal and vertical arrangement of image data, comprising:

storage means for storing line image data; and

processing means for collectively performing a process for converting a resolution of the image data in a sub-scanning direction at each predetermined length according to a resolution of said recording means in a sub-scanning direction, and a process for converting the horizontal and vertical arrangement of the image data whose resolution is converted in the sub-scanning direction, by inputting a plurality of predetermined length of image data corresponding to a plurality of lines, which are read out from said storage means, wherein said predetermine length is shorter than a length of image data corresponding to one line.

14. A data conversion apparatus according to claim 13 wherein said processing means comprises:

a plurality of memory means for storing said predetermined length of image data;

designation means for designating memory means for storing the same predetermined length of image data;

means for causing said plurality of memory means to store said predetermined length of image data in accordance with the designation of said designating means; and

output means for outputting image data in a vertical direction from said plurality of memory means.

15. A data conversion apparatus according to claim 14, wherein said designation means comprises address means for generating addresses for said plurality of memory means, and upon generating an address by said address means, said designation means designates a memory means corresponding to the generated address and subsequent addresses so as to store the same predetermined length of data in the designated memory means.