JP2021074959A - Image formation apparatus, control method of the same and program - Google Patents

Abstract

To perform image formation by using a plurality of image processing units that are used in a case of forming an image with a prescribed number of recording materials even for an image constituted by recording materials larger than the prescribed number of recording materials.SOLUTION: An image formation apparatus comprises: first image processing means and second image processing means to which image data formed by using a plurality of recording materials equal to or less than a prescribed number is input and which can perform prescribed image processing on the image data; reception means which receives the image data printed by using the plurality of recording materials greater than the prescribed number; division means which divides the image data into the first image data printed by using the prescribed number of recording materials and the second image data printed by using the residual recording materials; and transmission means which transmits the first image data to the first image processing means and transmits the second image data to the second image processing means.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 8

Description

The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus, a control method thereof, and a program.

In a conventional image forming apparatus, an image is formed on paper by using toners of so-called process colors (hereinafter referred to as process colors) such as yellow, magenta, cyan, and black (Y, M, C, K). .. In the image forming apparatus, in order to express a color that is difficult to express with the above process colors (hereinafter referred to as a spot color), a technique of preparing a toner for expressing a spot color and forming an image on paper using the toner is used. It is being considered. Examples of toners other than process colors include corporate color toners dedicated to specific users, clear toners that give gloss to printed images, white toners for decoration, and gold / silver toners.

Patent Document 1 describes a circuit having an image forming unit of five or more colors including a spot color by mounting an image forming unit for spot colors that can be added in addition to an image forming unit of four process colors in the image forming apparatus. A technique for realizing multicolor printing without providing it in advance is disclosed.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2007-286096

The expandable image forming unit described in Patent Document 1 described above makes it possible to form an image for image data of five or more colors including process colors and spot colors. However, the image forming apparatus described in Patent Document 1 prints the spot color image data based on the image data prepared in advance.

When the image data including both the process color and the spot color is received from the outside, the image forming apparatus must generate the image data for controlling the image forming unit corresponding to the spot color from the received image data. Therefore, it is necessary to newly create an image processing unit for processing image data including both process colors and spot colors. In addition, every time the number of spot colors used in the image forming apparatus increases, the image processing unit must be recreated.

Therefore, the image forming apparatus according to the present invention is used for image processing when an image is formed by a predetermined number of recording materials even if the image is composed of a larger number of recording materials than a predetermined number of recording materials. The purpose is to enable image formation using a plurality of parts.

In order to solve the above problems, the image processing apparatus of the present invention is an image forming apparatus that forms an image on paper using a plurality of recording materials, and is formed by using a plurality of recording materials of a predetermined number or less. The image data to be input is input, and the image data to be printed using the first image processing means capable of performing a predetermined image processing on the image data and a plurality of recording materials of the predetermined number or less A second image processing means that is input and can perform the predetermined image processing on the image data, and a receiving means that receives the image data to be printed using a plurality of recording materials exceeding the predetermined number. And the image data to be printed using the plurality of recording materials received by the receiving means in excess of the predetermined number, the first image data to be printed using the predetermined number of recording materials, and the rest. The dividing means for dividing into the second image data to be printed using the recording material of No. 1 and the first image data are transmitted to the first image processing means, and the second image processing means is used as the second image processing means. It is characterized by having a transmission means for transmitting to the image processing means of the above.

The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 of the present application is an image used when an image is formed by a predetermined number of recording materials even if the image is composed of a larger number of recording materials than a predetermined number of recording materials. It is possible to perform image formation by using a plurality of processing units.

It is a figure which shows an example of the block diagram of the digital multifunction device as an image forming apparatus which concerns on Example. It is a figure which shows an example of the structure of the image forming part which concerns on Example. It is a figure which shows an example of the hardware block which comprises the controller part which concerns on embodiment. It is a figure which shows an example of the hardware block of the system control part which concerns on Example. It is a figure which shows an example of the structure of the packet data which concerns on Example. It is a figure which shows an example of the internal structure of the DFE interface which concerns on Example. It is a figure which shows an example of the internal structure of the print processing part which concerns on Example, and the internal structure of the printer image processing part which concerns on Example 1. FIG. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the flow of image processing of the controller which concerns on Example 1. FIG. It is a figure which shows an example of the internal structure of the printer image processing part which concerns on Example 2. FIG. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the flow of image processing of the controller which concerns on Example 2. FIG.

(Example 1)
Hereinafter, embodiments for carrying out the present invention will be described in detail exemplarily with reference to the drawings. However, the components described in this embodiment are merely examples, and the scope of the present invention is not limited to them. In this embodiment, toner will be used as an example of the recording material, but the recording material is not limited to toner and may be ink or the like.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of a digital multifunction device as an image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment.

The image forming apparatus 100 includes a scanner unit 110, a controller unit 120, an operation unit 130, and a printer unit 140.

The scanner unit 110 has a function of optically reading an image of a document and converting it into image data. The scanner unit 110 is composed of a document transport unit 102 including a belt or the like for transporting a document, a document reading unit 103 including a laser light source or a lens for optically reading a document, and a scanner control unit 101 for controlling them. ..

The printer unit 140 has a function of transporting a recording medium (paper) and printing image data on the recording medium (paper) as a visible image. The printer unit 140 is composed of an image forming unit 142, a transfer fixing unit 143, a paper ejection unit 144, a paper feeding unit 145, and a printer control unit 141. The image forming unit 142 forms a toner image corresponding to the image data on the paper by using an electrophotographic process. The transfer fixing unit 143 transfers and fixes the toner image on the paper. The paper ejection unit 144 sorts and staples the printed paper and carries it out of the machine. The paper feeding unit 145 feeds the paper on which the image is formed to the image forming unit 142. The printer control unit 141 controls the entire printer including the image forming unit 142, the transfer fixing unit 143, the paper ejection unit 144, and the paper feeding unit 145.

The controller unit 120 is electrically connected to the scanner unit 110 and the printer unit 140, and is further connected to a network 150 such as a LAN, ISDN, or the Internet / intranet. When the user uses the copy function, the controller unit 120 controls the scanner unit 110 to acquire the image data of the original, and controls the printer unit 140 to print the image on paper and output it. When the user uses the scanning function, the controller unit 120 controls the scanner unit 110 to acquire the image data of the original, convert it into code data, and transmit it to the host PC 160 or the like via the network 150. When the user uses the print function, the controller unit 120 receives image data (code data) from the host PC 160 or the digital front end (DFE) 170 via the network 150. Then, the controller unit 120 converts the received print data into image data and transmits it to the printer unit 140. The printer unit 140 prints an image on paper and outputs it based on the received image data. The image forming apparatus 100 also has a FAX receiving function for receiving and printing data from ISDN or the like, and a FAX transmitting function for transmitting scanned data to ISDN or the like. The execution instruction of the process in each of these functions is called a job, and the image forming apparatus 100 executes a predetermined process according to the job corresponding to each function.

The operation unit 130 is a user interface for the user to perform an input operation, and is composed of, for example, a touch panel and various buttons.

The DFE (Digital Front End) 170 is, for example, a printer server. The DFE 170 communicates with the controller unit 120 via the network 150 to control the image formation in the printer unit 140. The DFE 170 receives print data composed of a language such as PDL (Page Description Language) from the PC 160 via the PC 160 or the network 150, and converts the print data into image data.

FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of an image forming unit 142 according to this embodiment. The operation of image formation in the electrophotographic color image forming apparatus will be described with reference to FIG. Here, as an example, an image forming apparatus corresponding to a total of 6 colors with 2 special colors in addition to the 4 YMCK process colors will be described. The special color toner is a clear toner for giving gloss to printed matter, a toner of a color other than the above YMCK such as gold and silver, and a toner of a specific color that is difficult to express by a combination of the above YMCK toners. ..

The image forming unit 142 has six photoconductor drums and can form a full-color electrophotographic image using an intermediate transfer body. For each process unit P (Pa, Pb, Pc, Pd, Pe, Pf) that forms an image of each color of yellow, magenta, cyan, black (Y, M, C, K) and spot colors (S1, S2), Photoreceptors 1 (1a, 1b, 1c, 1d, 1e, 1f) are arranged. Each photoconductor rotates in the direction of the arrow. Corona chargers 2 (2a to f), exposure devices 3 (3a to f), and developing devices 4 (4a to f) as primary charging means are arranged around each photoconductor 1 (1a to f). .. Further, the cleaners 6 (6a to 6f) are arranged along the rotation direction of the photoconductor 1.

The photoconductor 1 has a support shaft at the center, and is rotationally driven in the direction of arrow R1 around the support shaft. The corona charger 2 uniformly and uniformly charges the surface of the photoconductor 1 to a predetermined polarity and potential.

The exposure apparatus 3 scans while turning off / on the laser beam corresponding to the image data to form an electrostatic latent image on the irradiated photoconductor 1.

The developing apparatus 4 develops the toner by adhering it to the exposed portion of the electrostatic latent image by the magnetic brush in the developing region, and forms the toner image on the photoconductor 1.

The intermediate transfer unit 5 includes an intermediate transfer belt 51, a transfer roller 53 (53a, 53b, 53c, 53d, 53e, 53f), a secondary transfer roller 56, 57, and an intermediate transfer belt cleaner 55.

The toner images of each color formed on the photoconductor 1 (1a, 1b, 1c, 1d, 1e, 1f) are sequentially transferred onto the intermediate transfer belt 51 by the primary transfer unit N1, and the secondary transfer unit rotates as the belt rotates. It is transported to N2. Further, the paper taken out from the cassette is supplied to the transport roller, and the toner image described above is transferred onto the paper at the secondary transfer unit N2. Then, the fixing means (not shown) fixes the toner on the paper by pressurizing and heating at pressure and temperature, and a full-color image is formed. Each process means acting on the photoconductor 1 is controlled by the printer control unit 141.

FIG. 3 is a hardware block diagram showing an internal configuration of the controller unit 120 according to this embodiment. The controller unit 120 is composed of two image processing chips 200, 201, a ring bus 202, a ROM 290, a RAM 270, 271, 291 and an HDD 292, a PHY293, and a DFE interface 294. Each part will be described below. In this embodiment, the image processing chips 200 and 201 are independent 1-chip LSIs. In this embodiment, the image processing chip 201 has the same configuration as the image processing chip 200. That is, the controller unit 120 has a configuration in which two identical image processing chips are prepared and they are connected by a ring bus 202. The image processing chips 200 and 201 may be on the same substrate or on different substrates.

The image processing chip 200 includes a system control unit 210, a ring bus switch 220, a print processing unit 230, a loopback processing unit 240, a scan processing unit 250, a RAM controller 260, and a ring bus external interface 280. The system control unit 210 is a control module that controls the scan process in the scanner unit 110 and the print process in the printer unit 140. The system control unit 210 is connected to the print processing unit 230, the loopback processing unit 240, and the scan processing unit 250 by the ring bus 202 switched by the ring bus switch 220. In addition, the system control unit 210 transfers image data for printing and image data obtained by scanning via the ring bus 202 that can be switched by the ring bus switch 220. Further, the system control unit 210 comprehensively controls the entire system such as data transmission to the network 150 via PHY293, data reception from the network 150, and display processing to the operation unit 130.

The ring bus switch 220 is a switch that controls the connection destination of the ring bus 202 for transferring image data to each module in the controller unit 120. In this embodiment, the ring bus 202 for transferring image data to each module in the controller unit 120 is connected in a ring shape via the ring bus switch 220. By connecting the system control unit 210, the print processing unit 230, the loopback processing unit 240, the scanning processing unit 250, and the ring bus external interface 280 in a ring shape, data flows in the ring bus 202 in one direction. .. The ring bus switch 220 is controlled by a ring bus switch setting unit (not shown), and the connection destination of each module on the ring bus 202 can be changed as needed.

The print processing unit 230 performs print image processing such as color space conversion processing and halftone processing of image data used for image formation by the printer unit 140. The print processing unit 230 receives the image data from the ring bus switch 220, performs the above-mentioned image processing for printing on the image data, and outputs the processed image data to the printer unit 140. The print processing unit 230 can perform image processing on image data composed of a predetermined number of recording materials, for example, four recording materials corresponding to process colors. Further, the print processing unit 230 may be able to perform image processing on image data having a number of colors less than a predetermined number of colors.

The loopback processing unit 240 edits image data that may be used in both the print processing and the scanning processing. The loopback processing unit 240 receives image data from the system control unit 210 via the ring bus 202, performs the above-mentioned editing system image processing, and transfers the processed image data to the system control unit 210 via the ring bus 202. return.

The scan processing unit 250 performs scanner image processing such as shading correction processing and filter processing on the image data acquired by the scanner unit 110. The scan processing unit 250 performs scanner image processing on the image data transferred from the scanner unit 110, and transfers the processed image data to the ring bus switch 220. The image data transferred to the ring bus switch 220 is transferred to the system control unit 210 via the ring bus 202.

The RAM controller 260 performs a process of writing the image data received from the print processing unit 230, the loopback processing unit 240, and the scan processing unit 250 to the RAM 270, or reading and transferring the image data written to the RAM 270. The print processing unit 230, the loopback processing unit 240, and the scan processing unit 250 use the RAM 270 as a temporary image buffer to execute the image processing in charge of each.

The ring bus external interface 280 is an interface that connects the image processing chip 200 and the outside to input and output packet data described later. Data is transferred between the image processing chip 200 and the image processing chip 201 via the ring bus external interface 280. That is, in this embodiment, the image processing chip 201 is connected to the image processing chip 200 via the ring bus external interface 280 to form one ring bus 202.

The image processing chip 201 performs image processing on spot color image data that is not processed by the image processing chip 200. As described above, in this embodiment, the configuration of the image processing chip 201 and the configuration of the image processing chip 200 are the same. That is, the image processing chip 201 is composed of a system control unit 211, a ring bus switch 221, a print processing unit 231 and a loopback processing unit 241, a scan processing unit 251, a RAM controller 261 and a ring bus external interface 281. The functions of these parts are the same as the functions of the corresponding parts in the image processing chip 200. By adopting such a configuration, it is possible to execute image processing for a special color with an image processing chip having the same configuration as the image processing chip 200 without preparing an image processing chip for a special color different from the image processing chip 200. Will be able to.

In this embodiment, among the print processing unit 231, the loopback processing unit 241 and the scan processing unit 251 in the image processing chip 201, the print processing unit 231 is actually used as an extended function. In FIG. 3, the system control unit 211, the loopback processing unit 241 and the scan processing unit 251 are shaded to indicate that they do not need to be operated. Therefore, it may be controlled not to supply power to the shaded module.

The DFE interface 294 receives print data from the DFE 170 and generates packet data that can be processed by the image processing chips 200 and 201. The generated packet data is stored in the RAM 291 or the HDD 292 by the system control unit 210 via the ring bus 202. The details of the packet data will be described with reference to FIG. 5, and the details of the DFE interface 294 will be described with reference to FIG.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing an internal configuration of the system control unit 210 according to the present embodiment. Hereinafter, each element constituting the system control unit 210 will be described. The system control unit 211 in the image processing chip 201 has the same configuration.

The CPU 310 is a processor that controls the entire system. The CPU 310 comprehensively controls job processing such as print processing and scan processing according to the OS and control program deployed in the RAM 291.

The ROM controller 320 is a control module for accessing the ROM 290 that stores the boot program of the system. When the power of the image forming apparatus 100 is turned on, the CPU 310 accesses the ROM 290 via the ROM controller 320, and the CPU 310 boots.

The RAM controller 330 is a control module for accessing the RAM 291 in which the system control program and image data are stored. The RAM controller 330 includes a register for setting and controlling the RAM 291, and this register can be accessed from the CPU 310.

The operation unit interface 340 controls the reception of operation instructions and the display of operation results when the user operates the operation unit 130.

The HDD 292 stores system software, application programs, image data, and page information and job information corresponding to each image data. The HDD 292 is connected to the system bus 300 via the HDD controller 360, and writes and reads data according to the instructions of the CPU 310.

The LAN controller 370 connects to the network 150 via PHY293 and inputs / outputs information such as image data to and from an external host computer.

The image compression unit 350 compresses the image data stored in the RAM 291 or the HDD 292 into a compression format such as JPEG. Further, the image stretching unit 351 stretches the image data compressed in a compression format such as JPEG. The rendering unit 352 converts the image data (PDL data) received from the network 150 via the LAN controller 370 into bitmap data that can be handled by the printer unit 140.

The ring bus interface 301 is an interface that connects the system bus 300 in the system control unit 210 and the ring bus 202 centered on the ring bus switch 220 outside the system control unit 210. The data flowing through the ring bus 202 is called packet data, and the ring bus interface 301 transmits the packet data stored in the RAM 291 or the HDD 292 to the ring bus 202. Further, the packet data received from the ring bus 202 is stored in the RAM 291 or the HDD 292.

The packet DMA unit 380 receives the packet data output by the loopback processing unit 240, the scanning processing unit 250, or the DFE interface 294 via the ring bus 202, and writes the packet data to the RAM 291. Further, the packet DMA unit 380 reads the packet data from the RAM 291 via the ring bus 202, and transmits the packet data to the print processing unit 230, 231 or the loopback processing unit 240. The packet DMA unit 380 has a function of rewriting the header of the packet data described later, thereby controlling the transfer destination of the packet data. Further, the packet DMA unit 380 can execute data transfer to a plurality of image processing modules in parallel by having a plurality of DMA controllers.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a structure of packet data flowing through the ring bus 202. The packet data 600 is composed of a header unit 610 and a data unit 620.

The header unit 610 is further composed of packet type 601, chip ID 602, page ID 603, job ID 604, packet Y coordinate 605, packet X coordinate 606, packet byte length 607, and data byte length 608. Further, the data unit 620 is composed of pixel data 621 and attribute data 622. The pixel data 621 is a signal value indicating the color of each pixel. The attribute data 622 is composed of a plurality of bit strings, and indicates whether each pixel is a character or a photograph, is image data obtained by scanning, or is image data to be printed. It indicates whether or not it is a feature.

Packet type 601 indicates whether the packet is image data or command data. When the packet type 601 indicates image data, the image data is stored in the data unit 620. When the packet type 601 indicates command data, the data unit 620 stores a setting address and a setting value for setting the coefficient and mode of each image processing unit.

The chip ID 602 indicates an ID (identification information) for identifying a processing unit that is a target for transmitting a packet. For example, ID "0" of the image processing chip 200 is the print processing unit 230, ID "1" is the loopback processing unit 240, ID "2" is the scan processing unit 250, and ID "3" is the print processing of the image processing chip 201. It is a part 231 and so on.

Page ID 603 indicates the page number to which the packet belongs. Processing such as scanning and printing may be performed on a plurality of pages, and indicates which page the packet belongs to in that case.

The job ID 604 indicates the job number to which the packet belongs. For example, a job number is assigned to a packet of a print job containing only process colors, a job number is assigned to a packet of a multicolor print job including a spot color, and so on, and each job can be identified. It is possible.

The packet Y coordinate 605 indicates at which Y coordinate in the page the image data is located when the image data is stored in the data unit 620. Further, the packet X coordinate 606 indicates at which X coordinate in the page the image data is located when the image data is stored in the data unit 620. The image data stored in the data unit 620 is obtained by dividing the image data for each page into a rectangular size having a predetermined number of pixels (for example, 32 pixels × 32 pixels). Therefore, when the page data is regenerated from the packet data, these Y-coordinate and X-coordinate data are referred to. The image data is compressed by the image compression unit 350 or a compressor mounted inside each image processing unit, and is stored in the data unit 620 as compressed image data.

The packet byte length 607 indicates the total number of bytes of the packet, and the data byte length 608 indicates the total number of bytes of the data unit 620.

The pixel data 621 indicates each pixel value of the 32 × 32 pixel rectangular image data included in the packet. Further, the attribute data 622 indicates an attribute information value corresponding to the rectangular image data of 32 × 32 pixels included in the packet.

The packet data as described above flows on the ring bus 202. When each image processing unit receives the packet data, it refers to the chip ID 602 and determines whether or not the packet is addressed to itself. When the received packet is a packet addressed to itself, the image data included in the packet is processed and transmitted to the ring bus 202. On the other hand, if the packet is not addressed to itself, the packet is not processed and is transmitted to the next module via the ring bus 202.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of the internal structure of the DFE interface 294. The module shown in FIG. 6 is a part of the DFE interface 294, and the DFE interface 294 may have a module other than the module shown in FIG.

The image input unit 501 receives the image data received from the DFE 170 and generates raster image data divided into each color of YMCK and S1S2.

The raster packet conversion unit 502 converts the raster data of each color input from the image input unit 501 into rectangular image data of 32 pixels × 32 pixels. Since the image data in the packet is a rectangular unit of 32 pixels × 32 pixels, the raster packet conversion unit 502 is used to convert the raster data into image data of a rectangular unit of 32 pixels × 32 pixels.

The image compression unit 503 compresses the image data input from the raster packet conversion unit 502 and outputs it to the packet input / output I / F 504 in the subsequent stage. Then, the image compression unit 503 generates packet data in which the data unit 620 is the compressed image data. At this time, the image compression unit 503 generates a packet in which the ID of the system control unit 210 is set in the chip ID 602 of the packet.

The packet input / output I / F 504 is an interface between the DFE interface 294 and the ring bus 202 centered on the ring bus switch 220. The packet input / output I / F 504 is composed of a packet input unit 505 and a packet output unit 506.

The packet output unit 506 receives the packet data input from the image compression unit 503 and outputs the packet data to the ring bus 202. The output packet data is temporarily stored in the RAM 291 by the packet DMA unit 380 in the system control unit 210, then transferred from the RAM 291 to the HDD 292 by the HDD controller 360 and spooled.

The packet input unit 505 receives the packet data via the ring bus 202, refers to the chip ID in the header of the packet data, and checks whether or not it is the same as the chip ID assigned to itself. If the received chip ID is different from the chip ID assigned to itself, it is determined that the packet data should not be processed by itself, and the packet output unit 506 is not processed for the data stored in the data unit of the packet. Transfer packet data to. In this embodiment, the image data for the DFE interface 294 is input only from the DFE 170. Therefore, the DFE interface 294 does not receive the image data packet to be processed by itself.

FIG. 7A is a diagram showing the internal structure of the print processing unit 230. The packet input / output I / F 400 is an interface between the print processing unit 230 and the ring bus 202 that connects the ring bus switch 220. The packet input / output I / F 400 is composed of a packet input unit 404 and a packet output unit 405.

The packet input unit 404 receives the packet data via the ring bus 202, refers to the chip ID in the header of the received packet data, and determines whether or not it is the same as the chip ID assigned to itself. If the received chip ID is different from the chip ID assigned to itself, it is determined that the packet data is not the packet data to be processed by itself, and the packet data is transferred to the packet output unit 405 without processing the data unit. On the other hand, when the received ID is the same as the chip ID assigned to itself, the packet data is transferred to the image stretching unit 401, and the print image processing is executed on the image data of the data unit.

The packet output unit 405 transfers the packet data addressed to the other chip ID transferred from the packet input unit 404 to the ring bus 202.

The image stretching unit 401 stretches the compressed image data received from the packet input / output I / F 400 and restores the image processing in the subsequent stage to a state in which it can be performed.

The packet raster conversion unit 402 receives the image data expanded from the image expansion unit 401 and converts it into raster data. As described above, the image data in the packet is data in a rectangular unit of 32 pixels × 32 pixels. In the case of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, since the printing process in the printer unit 140 is performed in line order, the packet raster conversion unit 402 converts the arrangement of pixels of the image data in line order.

The printer image processing unit 403 receives the image data converted in line order from the packet raster conversion unit 402, and performs image processing on the image data as preprocessing for printing in the printer unit 140.

FIG. 7B is a diagram showing the internal structure of the printer image processing unit 403. The color space processing unit 406 executes color space conversion processing according to the toner color used by the printer unit 140 on the raster data input from the packet raster conversion unit 402. At this time, the attribute data is referred to in pixel units, and the signal value of each pixel is converted into the signal value for each toner color to be used by using the parameters corresponding to the attribute data.

The halftone processing unit 407 performs halftone processing on the color space-converted raster data of each color input from the color space processing unit 406. Specific processing of the halftone processing unit includes screen processing and error diffusion processing. The screen processing is N-valued using a plurality of predetermined dither matrices and input image data. Further, in the error diffusion processing, the input image data is compared with a predetermined threshold value to be converted into an N value, and the difference between the input image data and the threshold value at that time is converted into an N value for the surrounding pixels. It is a process of spreading. Further, the halftone processing unit 407 refers to the attribute data on a pixel-by-pixel basis, and can select screen processing or error diffusion processing according to the attribute data.

The inter-drum delay control unit 408 controls reading and writing of halftone image data of each color to the RAM 270 or 271. At the time of image formation, it is necessary to adjust the printing timing of each color by the time corresponding to the drum interval of the photoconductor 1 of each color at the transport speed of the recording paper (called the print engine speed). Therefore, the inter-drum delay control unit 408 temporarily buffers the halftone image data of each color of YMCK or S1S2 in the RAM 270 or 271, reads the image data at the printing timing according to the inter-drum distance of each color, and reads the image data to the printer unit 140. Output to.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of processing executed by the controller unit 120 when image data including a spot color is received from the DFE 170 in the present embodiment.

Steps S701 to S703 indicate the processes executed by each module of the DFE interface 294.

In step S701, the image input unit 501 of the DFE interface 294 receives the image including the spot color and the PDL data including the attribute information from the DFE 170. The image input unit 501 of the DFE interface 294 performs RIP processing on the received PDL data to generate raster data that can be printed. Further, before executing S701, the CPU 310 determines whether or not the image received by the DFE interface 294 contains a spot color based on the packet received from the DFE 170 via the PHY 293. When it is determined that the image to be received is an image containing a spot color, the CPU 310 performs command communication to the printer unit 140 via a signal line (not shown), and instructs the printer unit 140 to print using the spot color. .. .. Upon receiving the notification, the printer unit 140 performs a process of combining the data received from the print processing unit 230 and the print processing unit 231 and outputting the data as one image.

In step S702, the image input unit 501 of the DFE interface 294 divides the raster data received from the DFE 170 into raster data of four process colors (Y, M, C, K) and two spot colors (S1, S2). That is, the image data of one page consisting of 6 colors is divided into the image data of 4 colors and the image data of 2 colors.

In step S703, the DFE interface 294 generates one page of YMCK + Z packet data from the YMCK raster data and attribute information (referred to as Z) divided in step S702. First, the raster packet conversion unit 502 of the DFE interface 294 divides the CMYK raster data into 32 pixel × 32 pixel image data. The image compression unit 503 of the DFE interface 294 compresses the image data converted by the raster packet conversion unit 502 and generates packet data. Then, the packet output unit 506 of the DFE interface 294 transmits the generated packet to the system control unit 210. Similar to the CMYK image data, one page of S1S2 + Z packet data is generated from the raster data and attribute information of the spot color S1S2. That is, the DFE interface 294 generates two types of packet data, one is packet data consisting of YMCK image data and the other is packet data consisting of S1S2 image data, and outputs the two types to the ring bus 202. In S703, the image compression unit 503 sets the chip ID of the system control unit 210 in the packet. By doing so, both the CMYK + Z packet data and the S1S2 + Z packet data are transmitted to the system control unit 210.

Step S704 indicates a process executed by the system control unit 210. The process described in S704 is realized by the CPU 310 executing a program stored in the ROM 290 or the HDD 292.

In step S704, the system control unit 210 spools each of the two types of packet data generated in step S703 to the HDD 292. Specifically, the system control unit 210 activates the WriteDMAC of the packet DMA unit 380, and stores the packet data input from the DFE interface 294 via the ring bus 202 in the RAM 291. Further, the system control unit 210 controls the HDD controller 360 and stores the packet data stored in the RAM 291 in the HDD 292. Further, the system control unit 210 controls the HDD controller 360, reads the YMCK + Z packet data spooled in the HDD 292, and expands the YMCK + Z packet data in the RAM 291. The CPU 310 sets the chip ID 602, which is the packet transfer destination, to ID “0” (print processing unit 230) with respect to the Read DMAC of the packet DMA unit 380, and activates the DMAC. As a result, the YMCK + Z packet data expanded in the RAM 291 is read out and input to the print processing unit 230 of the image processing chip 200 via the ring bus 202.

Steps S705 and S707 and steps S706 and 708 indicate the processes executed by the print processing unit 230 of the image processing chip 200 and the print processing unit 231 of the image processing chip 201, respectively.

In step S705, the print processing unit 230 reads the YMCK + Z packet data spooled in the HDD 292, executes packet decompression processing and rasterization processing, and generates YMCK + Z raster data. The packet input unit 404 determines whether or not the ID of the received packet is the ID assigned to the print processing unit 230. When the ID of the received packet is the ID assigned to the print processing unit 230, the received packet data is transmitted to the image expansion unit 401. The image expansion unit 401 expands the data unit 620 of the received packet data and converts it into rectangular raster data. The converted raster data is transmitted to the packet raster conversion unit 402. The packet raster conversion unit 402 generates raster data for one page from the expanded raster data.

In step S707, the printer image processing unit 403 executes a series of print image processing such as color space conversion and halftone on the YMCK + Z raster data. Then, the printer image processing unit 403 generates YMCK print data to be output to the printer unit 140. This is the same processing as the normal print image processing of only the process color. Then, the printer image processing unit 403 transmits the print data to the printer unit 140.

On the other hand, in step S704, the CPU 310 of the system control unit 210 sets the chip ID 602, which is the transfer destination of the packet, to ID "3" (print processing unit 231) with respect to the readDMAC of the packet DMA unit 380, and activates the readDMAC. To do. As a result, the S1S2 + Z packet data expanded in the RAM 291 is read out and transmitted to the print processing unit 231 of the image processing chip 201 via the ring bus 202.

In step S706, the print processing unit 231 executes packet decompression processing and rasterization processing, and generates raster data of S1S2 + Z. The S1S2 + Z packet data input to the print processing unit 231 is expanded for each packet by the image expansion unit of the print processing unit 231 and converted into rectangular raster data. Further, the packet raster conversion unit of the print processing unit 231 converts the data into one page of raster data.

In step S708, the printer image processing unit of the print processing unit 231 executes a series of print image processing such as color space conversion and halftone on the S1S2 + Z raster data, and generates the print data of S1S2 to be output to the printer unit 140. .. At this time, the print processing unit 230 and the print processing unit 231 execute print image processing with different image processing parameters for image data of different colors.

As described above, by using ReadDMAC of two channels in YMCK + Z packet data transfer and S1S2 + Z packet data transfer, packet data can be input to the print processing unit 230 and the print processing unit 231 at the same time.

Step S709 is a process executed by the printer unit 140. In step S709, the image forming unit 142 of the printer unit 140 receives an instruction from the printer control unit 141, receives YMCK print data from the print processing unit 230, and receives S1S2 print data from the print processing unit 231. Then, the image forming unit 142 sequentially prints the 6-color toner images of YMCK and S1S2, and prints one page. The printer unit 140 executes printing using both the print processing unit 230 and the print data output from the print processing unit 231 based on the fact that a predetermined signal is received from the CPU 310 before S701. .. When a predetermined signal is not received from the DFE interface 294, the printer unit 140 forms an image by using the output of the print processing unit 230 without using the output of the print processing unit 231. In this case, the printer unit 140 forms an image only with process colors without using spot colors.

As described above, the print image processing for each of the process color and the spot color image data is executed by using the print processing units 230 and 231 in the two image processing chips 200 and 201 mounted in the controller unit 120. As a result, multicolor printing of 5 or more colors can be realized.

In this embodiment, the number of special colors is two, but multicolor printing is possible as long as the number of colors is less than or equal to the number of colors that can be processed by the print image processing unit.

Further, in this embodiment, the raster data including the spot color is generated from the PDL data by the DFE 170, but it may be generated inside the controller unit 120 such as the rendering unit 352 in the system control unit 210.

(Example 2)
In the first embodiment, a method of executing multicolor printing of five or more colors using print image data including spot color data generated outside the controller of the image processing apparatus has been described. In the second embodiment, a method of generating spot color data inside the controller for the print image data input to the image processing device and executing multicolor printing of five or more colors will be described.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an internal structure of the printer image processing unit 403 according to this embodiment. The printer image processing unit 403 of FIG. 9 includes a color space processing unit 409, as opposed to the printer image processing unit 403 of the first embodiment shown in FIG. 7 (b).

The color space processing unit 409 refers to the attribute data in pixel units with respect to the YMCK 4-color raster data input from the packet raster conversion unit 402, and internally adds the S1S2 data in addition to the YMCK data with the parameters corresponding to the attribute data. Performs the color space conversion to be generated in.

In this embodiment, the attribute data is a plurality of bit strings in which the attribute information for each pixel of the image data is embedded. For example, Bit0 of attribute data is assigned an object attribute (0: character, 1: photo), and Bit1 is assigned a job type attribute (0: scan, 1: print). Further, at the time of spot color printing, it is possible to specify whether or not to use the spot color by using the attribute data. For example, Bit2 of the attribute data is assigned the spot color S1 attribute (0: not printed, 1: printed), and Bit3 is assigned the spot color S2 attribute (0: not printed, 1: printed). As described above, when it is specified by the attribute whether or not to print using the spot color, the color space processing unit 406 generates image data based on the information.

The color space processing unit 409 refers to the spot color S1 attribute (Bit2) and the spot color S2 attribute (Bit3) of the attribute data for each pixel, and from the pixel value of the input YMCK data, the output YMCK data and the S1 or S2 data. Calculate the pixel value. For example, when S1 is a color used for printing overlaid with a process color such as clear toner, the pixel values of YMCK and S1 data are calculated from the pixel values of the input YMCK data by referring to the spot color S1 attribute (Bit2). Will be done.

Further, for example, when S2 is a color used for printing a solid image without overlapping with a process color such as white toner or gold / silver toner, if the spot color S2 attribute (Bit3) is 0, an image is formed only by YMCK. The pixel value is calculated so that On the other hand, in the above case, if the spot color S2 attribute (Bit3) is 1, the pixel value is calculated so that only S2 is printed without using the process color.

Then, the color space processing unit 409 selects image data of a maximum of four colors from the image data of a total of six colors of YMCKS1S2 internally generated as described above, and outputs the image data to the halftone processing unit in the subsequent stage.

FIG. 10 is an image processing flow of the controller unit 120 according to this embodiment. The image processing flow of Example 1 shown in FIG. 8 and the flow of FIG. 10 differ in the format of the image data input / output in each image processing. Further, steps S1001 to S1005 are the same flow as printing only process colors that do not include spot colors.

Steps S1001 to S1003 are flows executed by the DFE interface 294.

In step S1001, the image input unit 501 of the DFE interface 294 receives the PDL data including the image received from the DFE 170 and the attribute information related to the spot color attribute, and generates raster data that can be printed by the RIP process.

In step S1002, the image input unit 501 of the DFE interface 294 divides the raster data received from the DFE 170 into raster data of four process colors (Y, M, C, K).

In step S1003, the raster packet conversion unit 502 and the image compression unit 503 generate one page of YMCK + Z packet data from the YMCK image raster data and attribute information divided in step S1002, and output the YMCK + Z packet data to the ring bus 202. The raster packet conversion unit 502 converts the color-separated image data into 32 pixel × 32 pixel image data and transmits the image data to the image compression unit 503. The image compression unit 503 compresses the received image data and generates a packet in which the compressed image data is used as the data unit 620. Then, the image compression unit 503 sets the ID of the system control unit 210 as the chip ID of the packet.

Step S1004 is a process executed by the system control unit 210. The process described in S1004 is realized by the CPU 310 executing a program stored in the ROM 290 or the HDD 292.

In step S1004, the system control unit 210 spools the packet data generated in step S1003 to the HDD 292. Specifically, the CPU 310 activates WriteDMAC of the packet DMA unit 380 of the system control unit 210, and stores the packet data input from the DFE interface 294 via the ring bus 202 in the RAM 291. Further, the HDD controller 360 of the system control unit 210 stores the packet data stored in the RAM 291 in the HDD 292. Then, the CPU 310 of the system control unit 210 expands the CMYK + Z packet data stored in the HDD 292 into the RAM 291. Then, the CPU 310 of the system control unit 210 sets the chip ID of the print processing unit 230 of the image processing chip 200 in the read DMAC of the packet DMA unit 380, and transmits the packet data expanded in the RAM 291 to the print processing unit 230. ..

Steps S1005, S1007, S1009, S1011 and steps S1006, 1008, S1010, and S1012 are flows executed by the print processing unit 230 of the image processing chip 200 and the print processing unit 231 of the image processing chip 201, respectively. In step S1005, the packet input unit 404 of the print processing unit 230 determines whether or not the chip ID of the received packet data is the chip ID of the print processing unit 230. If the chip ID of the packet data is the chip ID of the print processing unit 230, the image expanding unit 401 expands the image data included in the received packet data. The packet raster conversion unit 402 generates image data for one page based on the expanded image data.

In step S1007, the packet raster conversion unit 402 inputs the YMCK + Z raster data to the color space processing unit 409 of the print processing unit 230. The color space processing unit 409 internally generates YMCKS1S2 + Z raster data by referring to the Z data and calculating the pixel value of the spot color data S1S2 as described above.

In step S1009, the color space processing unit 409 of the print processing unit 230 outputs the YMCK + Z data among the YMCKS1S2 + Z raster data generated in step S1007 as the processing result of the color space processing unit 409.

In step S1011, the halftone processing unit 407 executes halftone processing of the YMCK + Z raster data output from the color space processing unit 409, and outputs the YMCK halftone image data to the printer unit 140.

On the other hand, in S1004, the CPU 310 reads the same YMCK + Z packet data as in step S1005 spooled in the HDD 292, executes packet decompression processing and rasterization processing, and generates YMCK + Z raster data. Then, the CPU 310 controls the packet DMA unit 380, and sets the destination of the read DMAC to the print processing unit 231 of the image processing chip 201. As a result, the YMCK + Z packet data expanded in the RAM 291 is read out and input to the print processing unit 231 of the image processing chip 201 via the ring bus 202. At this time, by using RedDMAC of two channels in the YMCK + Z packet data transfer of one page, the packet data can be input to the print processing unit 230 and the print processing unit 231 at the same time. The subsequent processing of step S1006 is the same as that of step S1005.

Step S1008 is the same as step S1007.

In step S1010, the color space processing unit of the print processing unit 231 outputs the S1S2 + Z data among the YMCKS1S2 + Z raster data generated in step S1008 as the processing result of the color space processing unit 409.

In step S1012, the halftone processing unit of the print processing unit 231 executes the halftone processing of the S1S2 + Z raster data input from the color space conversion processing unit, and outputs the halftone image data of S1S2 to the printer unit 140.

Step S1013 is the same as step S709 of the first embodiment. Based on the notification from the CPU 310, the printer unit 140 forms an image on the sheet by using the outputs of the print processing unit 230 and the print processing unit 231 as one image data.

As described above, in the present embodiment, the spot color printing can be executed by inputting the spot color data as attribute information to the controller unit and internally generating the spot color image data in the color space conversion processing unit of the printer processing unit. That is, by mounting two image processing chips inside the controller, not only the spot color image data generated outside the print processing unit but also the spot color image data generated from the attribute information inside the print processing unit is used. Spot color printing can be easily realized.

(Other Examples)
In the first and second embodiments, multicolor printing of five or more colors is realized by simultaneously operating the print processing units in the two image processing chips mounted in the controller.

With this configuration, normal printing of only process colors that do not use spot colors by operating only the print processing unit 230, or only spot colors for printed paper owned by the user by operating only the print processing unit 231 are available. Printing is also possible.

In this way, in the case of a print job that uses only one of the print processing units 230 and 231, the power supply other than the packet input / output I / F 400 of the other unused print processing unit can be turned off. In addition, the printer unit 140 can perform printing by communicating with only the print processing unit to be used for image formation control instructions and transmitting / receiving print data. For example, when the received print data does not use special colors and prints only in process colors, power may not be supplied to the image processing chip 201.

Further, in the above embodiment, the case where the image data to be printed using the recording material of 5 colors or more is input via the DFE170 has been described as an example. If the image data exceeds the number of recording materials that can be processed by the print processing unit 230, the present invention is applied to the printing of the image read by the scanner unit 110 or the printing of the image data received from the PC 160. May be good.

The present invention is also realized by executing the following processing. That is, software (program) that realizes the functions of the above-described embodiment is supplied to the system or device via a network or various storage media, and the computer (or CPU, MPU, etc.) of the system or device reads the program code. This is the process to be executed. In this case, the computer program and the storage medium that stores the computer program constitute the present invention.

100 Image forming device 120 Controller unit 140 Printer unit 170 DFE
200, 201 Image processing chip 202 Ring bus 210 System control unit 220, 221 Image ring bus switch 230, 231 Print processing unit 294 DFE interface 380 Packet DMA unit

Claims (16)

An image forming apparatus that forms an image on paper using a plurality of recording materials.
A first image processing means capable of inputting image data formed by using a plurality of recording materials of a predetermined number or less and performing predetermined image processing on the image data, and
A second image processing means capable of inputting image data to be printed using a plurality of recording materials of a predetermined number or less and performing the predetermined image processing on the image data, and
A receiving means for receiving image data to be printed using a plurality of recording materials exceeding the predetermined number, and
Image data printed using a plurality of recording materials received by the receiving means in excess of the predetermined number, first image data printed using the predetermined number of recording materials, and the remaining recording. A dividing means for dividing into a second image data to be printed using the material, and
An image forming apparatus comprising: a transmission means for transmitting the first image data to the first image processing means and transmitting the second image processing means to the second image processing means. .. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first image processing means and the second image processing means are different chips. Further having an image forming means for forming an image on paper using the plurality of recording materials,
The image forming means forms an image on paper based on the first image data processed by the first image processing means and the second image data processed by the second image processing means. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 or 2. A generation means for generating the first packet data including the first image data and generating the second packet data including the second image data, and
Further having a setting means for setting the destination of the first packet data to the first image processing means and setting the destination of the second packet data as the second image processing means.
The image forming apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the transmitting means transmits the first packet data and the second packet data to the destination set by the setting means. The first packet data and the second packet data include identification information that identifies a job corresponding to the image data included in the respective packet data.
The image forming means is characterized in that an image is formed based on an image data based on the first packet data including the identification information corresponding to the same job and an image data based on the second packet data. Item 4. The image forming apparatus according to Item 4. The first image processing means performs the predetermined image processing based on the pixel value of each pixel included in the first image data and the attribute information of each pixel.
The second image processing means according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the second image processing means performs the predetermined image processing based on the pixel value of each pixel included in the second image data and the attribute information of each pixel. The image forming apparatus according to any one item. The image forming apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the predetermined image processing includes at least a halftone processing. Any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the second image processing means performs the predetermined image processing on image data printed using the predetermined number or less of recording materials. The image forming apparatus according to. The image forming according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the second image data is input to the second image processing means via the first image processing means. apparatus. The image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the first image data is image data formed of recording materials of cyan, magenta, yellow, and black. The image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the receiving means receives image data to be printed using a smaller number of recording materials than other predetermined numbers. The other predetermined number is used for the predetermined number used for the image data that can be processed by the first image processing means and the image data that can be processed by the second image processing means. The image forming apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the number is a combination of predetermined numbers. Based on the image data printed using a number of recording materials smaller than the predetermined number received by the receiving means, either one of the first image processing means and the second image processing means is described. The image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 12, which performs predetermined image processing. The receiving means receives the image data including the pixel value and the attribute information of each pixel, and receives the image data.
The dividing means is characterized in that the image data is divided into the first image data and the second image data based on the pixel value of each pixel and the attribute information received by the receiving means. The image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 13. A first image processing means capable of inputting image data formed by using a plurality of recording materials of a predetermined number or less and performing predetermined image processing on the image data, and
It has a second image processing means capable of inputting image data to be printed using a plurality of recording materials of a predetermined number or less and performing the predetermined image processing on the image data. A control method for an image forming apparatus that forms an image on paper using a plurality of recording materials.
A receiving process for receiving image data to be printed using a plurality of recording materials exceeding the predetermined number, and
Image data printed using a plurality of recording materials received in the receiving step, which exceeds the predetermined number, first image data printed using the predetermined number of recording materials, and the remaining recording. The division process of dividing into the second image data to be printed using the material, and
A transmission step of transmitting the first image data to the first image processing means and transmitting the second image processing means to the second image processing means.
A method for controlling an image forming apparatus, which comprises. A program for a computer to execute the control method of the image forming apparatus according to claim 15.

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