Dot formation position misalignment adjustment performed using pixel-level information indicating dot non-formation
First Claim
1. A printing control apparatus that generates print data to be supplied to a printer including a printing head unit, the printing head unit performing main scanning in which a head having a plurality of nozzles that eject ink is moving forward and backward in prescribed directions relative to a print medium, carrying out sub-scanning in which the print medium is forwarded in a sub-scanning direction perpendicular to the main scanning direction relative to the head, and driving the head in accordance with the print data along at least one of the forward or reverse scanning passes such that dots are formed on at least some of a plurality of pixels aligned along the main scanning direction, whereinthe printing control apparatus generates the print data before supplying to the printer the print data having pixel value data that includes image pixel value data and adjustment pixel value data irrespective of a size of a blank space on each side of an image in the print data, the image pixel value data indicating a dot formation status regarding image pixels that constitute images, the adjustment pixel value data indicating existence of adjustment pixels in which dots are not formed and are used to adjust positions of the image pixels in the main scanning direction, wherein at least a part of the adjustment pixel value data has a same format as the image pixel value data.
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Abstract
While performing main scanning in which a head having a plurality of nozzles that eject ink is moved in prescribed forward and reverse main scanning directions relative to a print medium, print images are printed on the print medium by forming dots in each pixel aligned in the main scanning direction in accordance with print data. The dot formation position misalignment amount for each nozzle is corrected using image pixel value data indicating the existence of image pixels comprising images and adjustment pixel value data indicating the existence of adjustment pixels in which dots are not formed.
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Citations
42 Claims
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1. A printing control apparatus that generates print data to be supplied to a printer including a printing head unit, the printing head unit performing main scanning in which a head having a plurality of nozzles that eject ink is moving forward and backward in prescribed directions relative to a print medium, carrying out sub-scanning in which the print medium is forwarded in a sub-scanning direction perpendicular to the main scanning direction relative to the head, and driving the head in accordance with the print data along at least one of the forward or reverse scanning passes such that dots are formed on at least some of a plurality of pixels aligned along the main scanning direction, wherein
the printing control apparatus generates the print data before supplying to the printer the print data having pixel value data that includes image pixel value data and adjustment pixel value data irrespective of a size of a blank space on each side of an image in the print data, the image pixel value data indicating a dot formation status regarding image pixels that constitute images, the adjustment pixel value data indicating existence of adjustment pixels in which dots are not formed and are used to adjust positions of the image pixels in the main scanning direction, wherein at least a part of the adjustment pixel value data has a same format as the image pixel value data.
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13. A printing method comprising the steps of:
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while performing main scanning in which a head having a plurality of nozzles that eject ink is moved in prescribed forward and reverse directions relative to a print medium, carrying out sub-scanning in which the print medium is forwarded in a sub-scanning direction perpendicular to the main scanning direction relative to the head; driving the head in accordance with print data supplied to a printer including the head along at least one of the forward or reverse scanning passes; and forming dots in at least some of a plurality of pixels aligned in the main scanning direction;
whereinthe printing method corrects the dot formation position misalignment for each nozzle in the main scanning direction by generating the print data before supplying to the printer the print data having pixel value data that includes image pixel value data and adjustment pixel value data irrespective of a size of a blank space on each side of an image in the print data, the image pixel value data indicating a dot formation status regarding image pixels that constitute images, the adjustment pixel value data indicating existence of adjustment pixels in which dots are not formed and are used to adjust positions of the image pixels in the main scanning direction, wherein at least a part of the adjustment pixel value data has a same format as the image pixel value data. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36)
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37. A recording medium on which is recorded a computer program to execute printing from a computer having a printing apparatus including a printer head unit that, while performing main scanning in which a head having a plurality of nozzles that eject ink is moved in prescribed forward and reverse directions relative to a print medium, carries out sub-scanning in which the print medium is forwarded in a sub-scanning direction perpendicular to the main scanning direction relative to the head, drives the head in accordance with print data along at least one of the forward or reverse scanning passes in accordance with the print data provided to the printing apparatus, and forms dots in at least some of a plurality of pixels aligned in the main scanning direction, wherein
recorded on the recording medium is a computer program to achieve the function of correcting dot formation position misalignment for each nozzle in the main scanning direction by generating the print data before supplying to the printer the print data having pixel value data that includes image pixel value data and adjustment pixel value data irrespective of a size of a blank space on each side of an image in the print data, the image pixel value data indicating a dot formation status regarding image pixels that constitute images, the adjustment pixel value data indicating existence of adjustment pixels in which dots are not formed and are used to adjust the position of the image pixels in the main scanning direction, wherein at least a part of the adjustment pixel value data has a same format as the image pixel value data.
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42. A printing apparatus comprising:
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a head having a plurality of nozzles that eject ink; a main scanning unit that carries out main scanning by moving the head forward and backward in prescribed directions relative to a print medium; a head driving unit that drives the head in at least one of the forward and reverse directions in accordance with print data and forms dots on at least some of a plurality of pixels aligned in the main scanning direction; a sub-scanning unit that carries out sub-scanning by moving the print medium forward relative to the head in a sub-scanning direction that is perpendicular to the main scanning direction; and a control unit that controls printing, the control unit correcting, in dot formation in accordance with the print data, dot formation position misalignment in the main scanning direction for each nozzle by generating the print data before supplying to the printer the print data having pixel value data that includes image pixel value data and adjustment pixel value data irrespective of a size of a blank space on each side of an image in the print data, the image pixel value data indicating a dot formation status at image pixels that constitute images, and the adjustment pixel value data indicating existence of adjustment pixels in which dots are not formed and which are used to adjust positions of the image pixels in the main scanning direction, wherein at least a part of the adjustment pixel value data has a same format as the image pixel value data.
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Specification