Printing system, printing apparatus, information processing apparatus, control method therefor, and computer-readable memory

• US 6,885,472 B1
• Filed: 08/18/2000
• Issued: 04/26/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 08/24/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Konno, Yuji, Maeda, Tetsuhiro, Fujita, Miyuki
• Primary Examiner(s): Coles, Edward
• Assistant Examiner(s): RAHIMI, IRAJ A
• Application Number:
  US09/640,584
• Time in Patent Office: 1,712 Days
• Field of Search: 347/9, 347/19, 358/1.15, 358/1.16, 358/400, 235/375
• US Class Current: 358/1.15
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 15/02 using printers
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 2215/0017 Preparing data for the controlling system, e.g. status, memory data

Abstract

A printer stores head information about a printhead in an EEPROM, and outputs the head information from an I/F. A host computer receives the head information, and sets the processing parameters of an image processor for printing data to be output to the printer on the basis of the input head information.

Claims

1. A printing system having an external apparatus for generating printing data corresponding to an image to be printed and a printing apparatus for performing printing by discharging ink from a printhead to be attached, and said printing systems performs printing with said printing apparatus on the basis of the printing data to be output from the external apparatus,

wherein the printing apparatus comprises:

output means for outputting discharge amount information of ink discharge amount of the printhead and identification information unique to the printhead, which are stored in storage means mounted on the printhead, to said external apparatus according to a request from said external apparatus, and

the external apparatus comprises;

image processing means for processing the printing data;

input means for inputting the discharge amount information and the identification information output by said output means of said printing apparatus;

setting means for setting a processing parameter for processing by said image processing means on the basis of the discharge amount information input by said input means; and

management means for managing the processing parameter set by said setting means on the basis of the discharge amount information for the printhead, and the identification information for the printhead in correspondence with each other, and

wherein a) when the identification information input by said input means is managed by said management means, said setting means performs a process by said image processing means using the processing parameter corresponding to the identification information, and b) when the identification information input by said input means is not managed by said management means, said setting means sets the processing parameter on the basis of the discharge amount information output by said output means of said printing apparatus and performs a process by said image processing means using the set processing parameter.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein said external apparatus transmits a signal requesting the identification information to said printing apparatus according to a printing start instruction, and

when the identification information is not manages by said management means said setting means transmits a signal requesting the discharge amount information to said printing apparatus.

3. The system according to claim 1, wherein said output means outputs the discharge amount information and the identification information when the printhead is exchanged.

4. An information processing apparatus for inputting printing data to a printing apparatus for performing printing by discharging ink from a printhead, comprising:

image processing means for processing the printing data;

input means for requesting the printing apparatus and inputting discharge amount information of ink discharge amount of the printhead and identification information unique to the printhead, which are stored in storage means mounted on the printhead, from said printing apparatus, and

setting means for setting a processing parameter for processing by said image processing means on the basis of the discharge amount information input by said input means; and

management means for managing the processing parameter set by said setting means on the basis of the discharge amount information for the printhead, and the identification information for the printhead in correspondence with each other, and

wherein a) when the identification information input by said input means is managed by said management means, said setting means performs a process by said image processing means using the processing parameter corresponding to the identification information, and b) when the identification information input by said input means is not managed by said management means, said setting means sets the processing parameter on the basis of the discharge amount information input by said input means and performs a process by said image processing means using the set processing parameter.

5. The apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said external apparatus transmits a signal requesting the identification information to said printing apparatus according to a printing start instruction, and

when the identification information is not managed by said management means, said setting means transmits a signal requesting the discharge amount information to said printing apparatus.

6. A control method for printing system having an external apparatus for generating printing data corresponding to an image to be printed and a printing apparatus for performing printing by discharging ink from a printhead to be attached to the printing apparatus, comprising:

an output step of outputting discharge amount information of ink discharge amount of the printhead and identification information unique to the printhead, which are stored in storage means mounted on the printhead, to said external apparatus according to a request from said external apparatus;

an input step of inputting the discharge amount information and the identification information output in said output step to said external apparatus; and

a setting step of setting a processing parameter for processing by image processing means of the external apparatus on the basis of the discharge amount information input in said input step,

wherein the external apparatus manages the processing parameter set in said setting step on the basis of the discharge amount information for the printhead, and the identification information for the printhead in correspondence with each other, and

wherein a) when the identification information input in said input step is managed by the external apparatus, said setting step includes performing a process by the image processing means using the processing parameter corresponding to the identification information, and b) when the identification information input in said input step is not managed by the external apparatus, said setting step includes setting the processing parameter on the basis of the discharge amount information output in said output step of the printing apparatus and performing a process by the image processing means using the set processing parameter.

7. The method according to claim 6, wherein the external apparatus transmits a signal requesting the identification information to the printing apparatus according to a printing start instruction, and

when the identification information is not managed by the external apparatus, said setting step includes transmitting a signal requesting the discharge amount information to the printing apparatus.

8. The method according to claim 6, wherein said output step includes outputting the discharge amount information and the identification information when the printhead is exchanged.

9. A control method for an information processing apparatus for inputting printing data to a printing apparatus for performing printing by discharging ink from a printhead, comprising:

an image processing step of processing the printing data;

an input step of requesting the printing apparatus and inputting discharge amount information of ink discharge amount of the printhead and identification information unique to the printhead, which are stored in storage means mounted on the printhead, from the printing apparatus;

a setting step of setting a processing parameter for processing in said image processing step on the basis of the discharge amount information input in said input step; and

a management step of managing the processing parameter set in said setting step on the basis of the discharge amount information for the printhead, and the identification information for the printhead in correspondence with each other,

wherein a) when the identification information input in said input step is managed in said management step, said setting step includes performing a process in said image processing step using the processing parameter corresponding to the identification information, and b) when the identification information input in said input step is not managed in said management step, said setting step includes setting the processing parameter on the basis of the discharge amount information input in said input step and performing a process in said image processing step using the set processing parameter.

10. The method according to claim 9, wherein a signal requesting the identification information is transmitted to the printing apparatus according to a printing start instruction, and

when the identification information is not managed in said management step, said setting step includes transmitting a signal requesting the discharge amount information to the printing apparatus.

11. The method according to claim 9, wherein the discharge amount information and the identification information is outputted from the printing apparatus when the printhead is exchanged.