JP2001186351A - Recording device and recording method - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] [Problem] To record a high-quality image excellent in reproducibility of an outline portion from input binary image information at high speed without density unevenness. SOLUTION: Binary image information input to an input buffer circuit 21 is converted into two-level image data of a predetermined number of bits by a two-level conversion circuit 22, and a filter processing circuit 23 is provided.
Performs a two-dimensional filter operation. Pattern determination circuit 32
Then, the target pixel is compared with a predetermined pattern to determine whether or not the pixel is included in the outline portion, and the output of the input buffer circuit 21 is output to the pixel included in the outline portion, and to the other pixels, , The output from the filter processing circuit 23 is selected and output. With respect to the image data, the recording unevenness is corrected by the recording unevenness correction circuit 24 due to the difference in the characteristics of the respective printing elements, and the data is supplied to the print head 14 by performing a pseudo intermediate super-processing and the like.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a recording apparatus and a recording method, and more particularly, to a recording apparatus and a recording apparatus capable of recording inputted binary image information with high image quality by a recording head having a plurality of recording elements. About the method.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As an information output device in, for example, a word processor, a personal computer, a facsimile, etc., there is a printer for recording desired information such as characters and images on a sheet-like recording medium such as paper or film.

[0003] Various types of printing methods are known for printers. However, ink-jet printing is possible because non-contact printing is possible on printing media such as paper, colorization is easy, and quietness is high. In recent years, the method has attracted special attention. As a configuration, a recording head (multi-head) having a plurality of recording elements (nozzles) for ejecting ink in accordance with desired recording information is mounted, and recording of paper or the like is performed. A serial recording method for performing recording while reciprocating scanning in a direction perpendicular to the medium feeding direction is generally widely used because it is inexpensive and easy to miniaturize.

In such a recording apparatus using the multi-head system, the ejection is performed because the characteristics of the respective recording elements provided on the recording head are non-uniform due to the manufacturing process and the constituent materials. The capacity of the ink droplet differs depending on the recording element, and as a result, the density (density unevenness) of dots recorded on the recording medium occurs. In an extreme case, it is recognized as a streak, and the recording quality is significantly reduced.

Therefore, as a recording method for solving the density unevenness caused by the non-uniformity of the characteristics of each recording element,
For example, JP-A-2-231149, U.S. Pat.
Each pixel (dot) described in the specification of No. 67203
A multi-scan (multi-pass printing) method of printing using a plurality of different printing elements has been put to practical use.

[0006]

However, in the multi-scan system, each pixel is recorded by using a plurality of different recording elements. Therefore, the same recording area as the number of recording elements used for recording each pixel is used. Must be scanned by the recording head.

That is, as in the example shown in the above-mentioned document, the recording elements are driven in even / odd numbers separately, and each pixel is driven by 2 pixels.
In the multi-scan method in which printing is performed by one printing element, printing is performed by scanning each printing area twice, and the printing speed is reduced to half.

Therefore, in order to more effectively reduce density unevenness in a multi-scan type printing apparatus, it is desirable to print each pixel using more printing elements.
As the number of scans increases, the printing speed further decreases.

For this reason, in a facsimile apparatus or the like that is required to perform high-speed communication and recording of image signals, it is not practical to perform recording by such a multi-scan method.

As a method of recording a high-quality image at a high speed in a facsimile apparatus, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 4-212566 discloses a method in which a received binary image signal is converted into a multivalued image signal, and the characteristics of the recording element are adjusted. It describes that recording is performed by modulating an image signal in accordance with the image signal, and a high-quality image without unevenness is recorded from an image signal capable of high-speed communication.

[0011] However, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Hei 4-21256 discloses the method.
According to the method described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 6-64, multi-level conversion is performed on all the received image signals, so that the image resolution (reproducibility)
Is a problem. This is particularly evident in the outlines of characters and thin lines.

The present invention has been made in view of the above situation, and records a high-quality image having excellent reproducibility of an outline portion from input binary image information at high speed without density unevenness. It is an object of the present invention to provide a recording apparatus and a recording method that can perform the recording.

[0013]

To achieve the above object, a first recording apparatus of the present invention is a recording apparatus for recording input binary image information by a recording head having a plurality of recording elements. Converting means for converting the input binary image data into two-level image data having a predetermined number of bits;
Calculating means for performing a two-dimensional filter operation on the two-level image data; determining means for determining whether a target pixel of the binary image data is included in a contour portion; Selecting means for selecting and outputting one of the output data of the arithmetic means and the two-level image data as multi-valued image data of the pixel of interest; and image data output from the selecting means.
Correction means for performing data correction so as to correct recording unevenness due to a difference in recording characteristics of each of the plurality of recording elements,
The image processing apparatus further includes a quantization unit that quantizes the image data corrected by the correction unit, and a recording unit that controls the recording head according to output data from the quantization unit.

A second recording apparatus according to the present invention for achieving the above object is a recording apparatus which comprises a recording head having a plurality of recording elements for a plurality of colors and records inputted binary color image information. Converting means for converting the input binary color image data into two-level color image data having a predetermined number of bits;
Calculating means for performing a dimensional filter calculation; determining means for determining whether or not the pixel of interest of the binary color image data is included in a contour portion; and
Selecting means for selecting and outputting one of the output color data of the calculating means and the two-level color image data as the multi-valued color image data of the pixel of interest; and selecting the color image data output from the selecting means. A correcting unit for performing data correction so as to correct recording unevenness due to a difference in recording characteristics of each of the plurality of printing elements; a quantizing unit for quantizing the corrected color image data corrected by the correcting unit; Recording means for controlling the recording head of the color component according to output data from the converting means.

[0015] The above object is also a recording method for recording input binary image information by a recording head having a plurality of recording elements. The image data is converted to image data, a two-dimensional filter operation is performed on the two-level image data, and it is determined whether or not the pixel of interest of the binary image data is included in a contour portion. Based on the result of the determination, One of the output data of the calculation and the two-level image data is selected and output as the multi-valued image data of the pixel of interest, and the recording of each of the plurality of recording elements is performed on the selected and output image data. Data correction is performed so as to correct recording unevenness due to a difference in characteristics, the corrected image data is quantized, and the recording head is controlled according to the quantized data. Also achieved by a recording method characterized by.

That is, when recording inputted binary image information by a recording head having a plurality of recording elements, the inputted binary image data is converted into two-level image data having a predetermined number of bits. 2 for level image data
A dimensional filter operation is performed to determine whether or not the target pixel of the binary image data is included in the outline portion. Based on the result of the determination, the output data of the operation and the two-level image data And outputs the selected image data, and performs data correction on the selected and output image data so as to correct recording unevenness due to a difference in recording characteristics of each of the plurality of recording elements. Is quantized, and recording is performed by controlling the recording head according to the quantized data.

According to this, two-level image data of a predetermined number of bits is provided for the pixels included in the contour portion, and two-dimensional image data is provided for the pixels of the other portions. The image data subjected to the filter operation is output as multi-valued image data, and the multi-valued image data is subjected to a process of correcting recording unevenness due to a difference in recording characteristics between a plurality of recording elements, and is quantized. Actual recording data is obtained.

Therefore, by performing a two-dimensional filter operation on the pixels included in the outline portion, it is possible to prevent the reproducibility of the outline of a character or a thin line from deteriorating, and to make a difference between the recording characteristics of a plurality of recording elements. An image with reduced recording unevenness due to the above can be recorded at high speed by a recording head having a plurality of recording elements.

[0019]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

In the embodiment described below, a printer will be described as an example of a recording apparatus using an ink jet recording method.

In this specification, the term “record” (also referred to as “print”) refers not only to the formation of significant information such as characters and figures, but also to the meaning of human beings, whether significant or insignificant. Regardless of whether or not the image has been exposed so as to be perceivable, a case where an image, a pattern, a pattern, or the like is widely formed on a recording medium or a medium is processed is also referred to.

Here, the "recording medium" is not limited to paper used in a general recording apparatus, but is widely used for cloth, plastic film, metal plate, glass, ceramics, wood,
A material that can accept ink, such as leather, is also referred to.

Further, “ink” (sometimes referred to as “liquid”) is to be interpreted as widely as the definition of “recording (printing)”, and is given on a recording medium by It refers to a liquid that can be used for forming an image, a pattern, a pattern, or the like, processing a recording medium, or processing ink (for example, solidifying or insolubilizing a colorant in ink applied to the recording medium).

Hereinafter, as an embodiment according to the present invention, a recording apparatus using an ink jet head which is a kind of a multi-head will be described as an example.

[First Embodiment] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of a recording apparatus 100 according to a first embodiment of the present invention. Reference numeral 20 in the figure temporarily stores binary image data input from a data I / F unit (not shown) and generates a signal for driving the inkjet head 14 based on the binary image data. Is a recording control circuit. 1
0 is a paper cassette for storing recording paper as a recording medium, 12 is a paper feed roller for feeding recording paper 11, 13 is a conveying roller for conveying the fed recording paper 11, Reference numeral 15 denotes a platen provided at a position facing the inkjet head 14, reference numeral 16 denotes a discharge roller for transporting the recording paper outside the apparatus, and reference numeral 17 denotes a discharge tray for receiving the discharged recording paper.

Here, the ink jet head 14 is
Paper feed roller 12, transport roller 13, and paper discharge roller 16
Ejects ink onto the surface of the recording paper 11 conveyed by the printer to reproduce and record a full-color image. Therefore, it corresponds to each ink color component of cyan (C), magenta (M), yellow (Y), and black (Bk). are doing.

Next, the configuration of the recording control circuit 20 will be described with reference to the block diagram of FIG. In FIG. 2, binary image data composed of C, M, Y, and Bk color components input from a data I / F unit (not shown) is temporarily stored in an input buffer circuit 21 and then at a predetermined timing. The read signal is supplied to the two-level conversion circuit 22 and the pattern determination circuit 32. In the two-level conversion circuit 22, the input 1b
The binary image data of it [0/1] is converted into two-level image data of a predetermined number of bits (8 bits [00H / FFH] in the present embodiment).

In the filter circuit 33, for example, FIG.
The two-level image data is converted into a predetermined b by using a region as shown in FIG. 3 and a filter coefficient having an attenuation characteristic as shown in FIG.
It number (8 bits [00H to FFH] in this embodiment)
And output the image data. At the same time, the two-level image data of the pixel located at the center of the filter area shown in FIG. 3 is output as it is. It should be noted that the filter coefficients and the calculation area used are not limited to those shown in FIG.

On the other hand, in the pattern determination circuit 32,
It is determined whether or not a predetermined pixel arrangement exists in the input binary image data by comparing with a plurality of preset reference patterns. Examples of this reference pattern are shown in FIGS. (A) to (l) of FIG. 4 show twelve reference patterns that are not subjected to the filtering process when the input binary image data corresponding to the pixel of interest is “1”. ) To (t) show 20 reference patterns that are not subjected to the filtering process when the input binary image data corresponding to the target pixel is “0”.

When detecting the arrangement of the binary image data corresponding to any of the reference patterns, the pattern determination circuit 32 outputs "1" as output data, and
If there is no corresponding arrangement of binary image data, “0” is output as output data.

The selector 33 includes two types of image data from the filter circuit 33 and the pattern determination circuit 3.
When the output data of the pattern determination circuit 32 is "0", the filtered image data is output. When the output data of the pattern determination circuit 32 is "1", the two-level image data is output as the multi-valued image data. Output as data.

Next, in the recording unevenness correction circuit 24,
Inkjet head 14 for the multi-valued image data
Data correction is performed using a conversion table (not shown) in order to correct unique recording unevenness, and corrected image data is supplied to the pseudo halftone processing circuit 25.

In the pseudo halftone processing circuit 25, a known pseudo halftone process (for example, an error diffusion method or the like) is performed to quantize the image signal of a predetermined number of bits (1 bit [0/1] in this embodiment). Become

The quantized image signal is delayed by a process delay circuit 26 for a time corresponding to the arrangement interval of the ink jet heads 14 corresponding to the C, M, Y, and Bk color components, and then subjected to pulse conversion. The circuit 27 converts the ink into a head drive pulse, drives each ink jet head 14, and discharges ink of each color component of C, M, Y, and Bk onto the recording paper 11 to record a full-color image.

As described above, in the printing apparatus according to the present embodiment, the input C, M, Y, and Bk color components
By sequentially visualizing the value image data by the ink jet method, a high-quality image without recording unevenness is recorded and reproduced, and an image having a predetermined pixel arrangement (in the present embodiment, mainly a character / thin line outline) portion Is for recording and reproducing high quality images without loss of resolution.

[Second Embodiment] A recording apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be described below.

The configuration of the apparatus according to the second embodiment is the same as the configuration shown in FIG. 1 of the above-described first embodiment, and a description thereof will be omitted.

FIG. 6 shows a recording control circuit 2 according to the second embodiment.
FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a configuration of a zero. In the figure, the same reference numerals are given to the portions having the same configuration as the first embodiment, and the description is omitted.

A feature of the present embodiment is that a color condition judging unit 41 is provided after the pattern judging circuit 32.
, One of the C, M, Y, and Bk color components is “1” for the determination data [1/0] output for each color component.
Is "1" as output data,
When all the color components of C, M, Y, and Bk are "0", "0" is output as output data.

The selector 33 includes the two types of image data described above from the filter circuit 33 and the color condition determination means 41.
Of the color condition determination means 4
When the output data of "1" is "0", the filter-processed image data is output, and when the output data of "1" is "1", the two-level image data is output as multi-valued image data.

As described above, in the printing apparatus according to the present embodiment, the two color components C, M, Y, and Bk are used.
By sequentially visualizing the value image data by the ink jet method, a high-quality image without recording unevenness is recorded and reproduced, and an image having a predetermined pixel arrangement (in the present embodiment, mainly characters / thin lines / color graphics) In the (contour) portion, high-quality images are recorded and reproduced without deteriorating the resolution.

[Modification of Second Embodiment] Hereinafter, another embodiment of the third embodiment according to the present invention will be described.

The configuration of the apparatus according to this embodiment is the same as the configuration shown in FIG. 1 of the above-described first embodiment, and a description thereof will be omitted.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing the configuration of the recording control circuit 20 of this modification. In the figure, portions having the same configuration as in the second embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof is omitted.

A characteristic part of this modification lies in the processing by the color condition determining means 51. Specifically, the determination data [1/1 /
[0], the color condition determination unit 51 outputs “1” as output data when all of the C, M, and Y color components are “1” or when the color component of Bk is “1”. "
On the other hand, if the color component of Bk is “0” and any of the color components of C, M, and Y is “0”, “0” is output as output data. Then, one of the filtered image data and the two-level image data is selected by the selector 33 and output as multi-valued image data.

As described above, in the recording apparatus of this modification,
By sequentially visualizing the input binary image data composed of the C, M, Y, and Bk color components by an ink jet method, high-quality images can be recorded and reproduced without recording unevenness.
In an image having a predetermined pixel arrangement (in this modified example, mainly a black character / fine line outline), high-quality images are recorded and reproduced without deteriorating the resolution.

[Third Embodiment] A recording apparatus according to a third embodiment of the present invention will be described below.

The configuration of the device according to the third embodiment is the same as the configuration shown in FIG. 1 of the above-described first embodiment, and a description thereof will be omitted.

FIG. 8 shows a recording control circuit 2 according to the third embodiment.
FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a configuration of a zero. In the figure, parts having the same configuration as the above-described embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof will be omitted.

The feature of this embodiment is that a color replacement circuit 61 is provided before the two-level conversion circuit 22.
C, M, Y, B input from a data I / F unit (not shown)
The binary image data composed of k color components is temporarily stored in the input buffer circuit 21, read out at a predetermined timing, and supplied to the color replacement circuit 61. Color replacement circuit 6
In case 1, each of the C, M, Y color component data has a value to be recorded for each pixel of the binary image data composed of the C, M, Y, Bk color components.
The data of each color component of Y is set to “0”, and a value “1” to be recorded is set for the data of the BK color component.

In this embodiment, when the binary image data is "1", it indicates that the pixel (color component) is to be recorded. On the other hand, when the binary image data is "0", the non-recording pixel (color component) is not. component)
It represents that. After that, the two-level conversion circuit 22
1 bit [0/1] supplied from the color replacement circuit 61
Of binary image data of a predetermined number of bits (8 in this embodiment)
bit [00H / FFH]).

As described above, in the printing apparatus according to the present embodiment, the input C, M, Y, and Bk color components
By sequentially visualizing the value image data by the ink jet method, high-quality images can be recorded and reproduced without recording unevenness.

It should be noted that the configuration shown in the second embodiment and its modifications can also be used in this embodiment.

[Other Embodiments] In the first to third embodiments, a recording apparatus using an ink jet head, which is a kind of a multi-head, has been described as an example. For example, thermal head, LED
It is obvious that the present invention can be applied to an apparatus using an element array or the like.

Furthermore, in the above-described first to third embodiments, the binary pseudo halftone processing system is used as the quantization means, but this is not limited to binary, and it is not limited to binary. This can be applied to the case where quantization is performed. In addition, the configuration may be changed without departing from the gist of the present invention.

The above-described embodiment is particularly provided with a means (for example, an electrothermal converter or a laser beam) for generating thermal energy as energy used for performing ink ejection even in an ink jet recording system. By using a method in which a change in the state of the ink is caused by energy, it is possible to achieve higher density and higher definition of recording.

The typical structure and principle are described in, for example, US Pat. Nos. 4,723,129 and 4,740.
It is preferable to use the basic principle disclosed in the specification of Japanese Patent No. 796. This method can be applied to both the so-called on-demand type and continuous type. In particular, in the case of the on-demand type, liquid (ink)
By applying at least one drive signal corresponding to the recorded information and providing a rapid temperature rise exceeding the nucleate boiling to an electrothermal transducer arranged corresponding to the sheet or the liquid path holding the Since thermal energy is generated in the electrothermal transducer and film boiling occurs on the heat-acting surface of the recording head, bubbles in the liquid (ink) corresponding to this drive signal on a one-to-one basis can be formed. It is valid.

By discharging the liquid (ink) through the discharge opening by the growth and contraction of the bubble, at least one droplet is formed. When the drive signal is formed into a pulse shape, the growth and shrinkage of the bubble are performed immediately and appropriately, so that the ejection of a liquid (ink) having particularly excellent responsiveness can be achieved, which is more preferable.

As the pulse-shaped driving signal, those described in US Pat. Nos. 4,463,359 and 4,345,262 are suitable. Further, if the conditions described in US Pat. No. 4,313,124 relating to the temperature rise rate of the heat acting surface are adopted, more excellent recording can be performed.

As the configuration of the recording head, in addition to the combination of a discharge port, a liquid path, and an electrothermal converter (a linear liquid flow path or a right-angled liquid flow path) as disclosed in the above-mentioned respective specifications, The configurations described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,558,333 and U.S. Pat. No. 4,459,600, which disclose a configuration in which the heat acting surface is arranged in a bending region, are also included in the present invention. In addition, Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 59-123670 discloses a configuration in which a common slot is used as a discharge section of an electrothermal transducer for a plurality of electrothermal transducers, and an opening for absorbing pressure waves of thermal energy is discharged. A configuration based on JP-A-59-138461, which discloses a configuration corresponding to each unit, may be adopted.

Further, as a full-line type recording head having a length corresponding to the width of the maximum recording medium that can be recorded by the recording apparatus, the length is determined by combining a plurality of recording heads as disclosed in the above specification. This may be either a configuration satisfying the above requirements or a configuration as a single recording head formed integrally.

In addition to the cartridge-type recording head in which the ink tank is provided integrally with the recording head itself described in the above embodiment, the recording head is electrically connected to the apparatus main body by being mounted on the apparatus main body. A replaceable chip-type recording head, which enables a simple connection and supply of ink from the apparatus main body, may be used.

It is preferable to add recovery means for the print head, preliminary auxiliary means, and the like to the above-described configuration of the printing apparatus, since the printing operation can be further stabilized. Specific examples thereof include capping means for the recording head, cleaning means, pressurizing or suction means, preheating means using an electrothermal transducer or another heating element or a combination thereof. It is also effective to provide a preliminary ejection mode for performing ejection that is different from printing, in order to perform stable printing.

Further, the recording mode of the recording apparatus is not limited to the recording mode of only the mainstream color such as black, but may be a single recording head or a combination of plural recording heads. Alternatively, the apparatus may be provided with at least one of full colors by color mixture.

In the above-described embodiment, the description has been made on the assumption that the ink is a liquid. However, even if the ink solidifies at room temperature or lower, the ink that softens or liquefies at room temperature is used. Or, in the ink jet method, generally, the temperature of the ink itself is controlled within a range of 30 ° C. or more and 70 ° C. or less to control the temperature so that the viscosity of the ink is in a stable ejection range.
It is sufficient that the ink is in a liquid state when the use recording signal is applied.

In addition, in order to positively prevent temperature rise due to thermal energy as energy for changing the state of the ink from the solid state to the liquid state, the temperature is positively prevented.
Alternatively, in order to prevent evaporation of the ink, an ink which solidifies in a standing state and liquefies by heating may be used. In any case, the application of heat energy causes the ink to be liquefied by application of the heat energy according to the recording signal and the liquid ink to be ejected, or to start to solidify when reaching the recording medium. The present invention is also applicable to a case where an ink having a property of liquefying for the first time is used.

In such a case, the ink is disclosed in JP-A-54-5
No. 6,847, or Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 60-71260, in which the porous sheet is opposed to the electrothermal converter while being held as a liquid or solid substance in the concave portion or through hole of the porous sheet. It may be. In the present invention, the most effective one for each of the above-mentioned inks is to execute the above-mentioned film boiling method.

Even if the present invention is applied to a system including a plurality of devices (for example, a host computer, an interface device, a reader, a printer, etc.), an apparatus including one device (for example, a copying machine, a facsimile, etc.) Device).

Further, an object of the present invention is to supply a storage medium (or a recording medium) on which a program code of software for realizing the functions of the above-described embodiments is recorded to a system or an apparatus, and to provide a computer (a computer) of the system or the apparatus. It is needless to say that the present invention can also be achieved by a CPU or an MPU) reading and executing the program code stored in the storage medium. In this case, the program code itself read from the storage medium implements the functions of the above-described embodiment, and the storage medium storing the program code constitutes the present invention. Also,
When the computer executes the readout program code, not only the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized, but also the operating system (OS) running on the computer based on the instructions of the program code.
It goes without saying that a case where the functions of the above-described embodiments are implemented by performing some or all of the actual processing, and the processing performs the functions of the above-described embodiments.

Further, after the program code read from the storage medium is written into the memory provided in the function expansion card inserted into the computer or the function expansion unit connected to the computer, the program code is read based on the instruction of the program code. Needless to say, the CPU included in the function expansion card or the function expansion unit performs part or all of the actual processing, and the processing realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments.

[0071]

As described above, according to the present invention, the reproducibility of the outline of a character or a thin line is prevented by performing a two-dimensional filter operation on the pixels included in the outline, In addition, an image in which recording unevenness due to a difference in recording characteristics between a plurality of recording elements has been reduced can be recorded at high speed by a recording head having a plurality of recording elements.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of a recording apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a recording control circuit 20 of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of a filter coefficient.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of a reference pattern used in a pattern determination circuit.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of a reference pattern used in a pattern determination circuit.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a recording control circuit 20 according to a second embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a recording control circuit 20 according to a modified example of the second embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a recording control circuit 20 according to a third embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Paper cassette 11 Recording paper 12 Paper feed roller 13 Transport roller 14 Ink jet head 15 Platen 16 Discharge roller 17 Discharge tray 20 Recording control circuit 21 Input buffer circuit 22 Two-level conversion circuit 23, 31 Filter processing circuit 24 Recording unevenness correction circuit Reference Signs List 25 pseudo halftone circuit 26 process control circuit 27 pulse conversion circuit 32 pattern determination circuit 33 selector 41, 51 color condition determination circuit 61 color replacement circuit 100 image forming apparatus

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page F term (reference) 2C262 AA02 AA24 AA27 AB05 AC03 BB34 BC11 DA03 EA04 GA23 GA29 5C074 AA09 BB16 DD24 FF11 FF15 5C077 LL04 LL18 MP04 MP07 PP01 PP27 PP28 PP33 PP55 PP58 PQ08 PQ12 TT05

Claims (11)

[Claims] 1. A recording apparatus for recording inputted binary image information by a recording head having a plurality of recording elements, wherein the inputted binary image data is converted into two-level image data having a predetermined number of bits. Converting means for performing a two-dimensional filter operation on the two-level image data; determining means for determining whether a target pixel of the binary image data is included in a contour portion; Based on the determination result, the output data of the arithmetic means and the multi-valued image data of the pixel of interest
Selecting means for selecting and outputting any one of the level image data; and data for correcting the printing unevenness due to a difference in printing characteristics of each of the plurality of printing elements with respect to the image data output from the selecting means. Correction means for performing correction, quantization means for quantizing the image data corrected by the correction means, and recording means for controlling the recording head in accordance with output data from the quantization means. Characteristic recording device. 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the determining unit determines that the pixel of interest is included in a contour portion when an arrangement of data in a predetermined area including the pixel of interest in the binary image data matches a predetermined data arrangement. If it is determined that the target pixel is included in the outline portion, a control signal for selecting the two-level image data is supplied to the selection means, while the target pixel is not included in the outline portion. 2. The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein when the determination is made, a control signal for causing the selection means to select output data of the calculation means is supplied. 3. The determination means stores a plurality of data arrangement patterns as the predetermined data arrangement, and the arrangement of data in a predetermined area including a pixel of interest in the binary image data is determined by the data arrangement pattern. 3. The recording apparatus according to claim 2, wherein when any of the above conditions is satisfied, it is determined that the pixel of interest is included in an outline portion. 4. A recording apparatus comprising a recording head having a plurality of recording elements for a plurality of colors and recording inputted binary color image information, wherein the inputted binary color image data is stored in a predetermined manner. Conversion means for converting the number of bits into two-level color image data; operation means for performing a two-dimensional filter operation on the two-level color image data; and a target pixel of the binary color image data is included in an outline portion Determining means for determining whether or not the output color data of the calculating means and the two-level color image data are selected as the multi-valued color image data of the pixel of interest based on the determination result of the determining means; Selecting means for outputting, and for the color image data output from the selecting means, compensation for recording unevenness due to a difference in recording characteristics of each of the plurality of recording elements. Correction means for performing data correction so as to perform the correction, quantizing means for quantizing the corrected color image data corrected by the correction means, and controlling the recording head of the color component according to output data from the quantization means. A recording apparatus comprising: 5. The determination means stores a plurality of data arrangement patterns as the predetermined data arrangement, and arranges data in a predetermined area including a target pixel in the binary image data according to the data arrangement pattern. 5. The recording apparatus according to claim 4, wherein when one of the above conditions is satisfied, it is determined that the pixel of interest is included in an outline portion. 6. When the determination unit determines that the target pixel is included in an outline portion, the determination unit supplies a control signal for selecting the two-level color image data to the selection unit. When it is determined that the target pixel is not included in the outline portion, a process of supplying a control signal for selecting the output color data of the arithmetic unit to the selecting unit is performed for each color. The recording device according to claim 5. 7. A control signal for causing said selecting means to select said two-level color image data when said judging means judges that said target pixel is included in an outline portion for at least one color. On the other hand, if it is determined that the pixel of interest is not included in the outline for any color, a control signal is supplied to the selecting means to select the output color data of the calculating means. The recording apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the recording is performed. 8. The apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the plurality of colors include four of C (cyan), M (magenta), Y (yellow), and Bk (black). Recording device. 9. The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the recording head is an inkjet recording head that performs recording by discharging ink. 10. The recording head according to claim 1, wherein the recording head ejects ink by using thermal energy, and includes a thermal energy converter for generating thermal energy to be applied to the ink. Item 10. The recording device according to Item 9. 11. A recording method for recording inputted binary image information by a recording head having a plurality of recording elements, wherein the inputted binary image data is converted into two-level image data having a predetermined number of bits. And performing a two-dimensional filter operation on the two-level image data to determine whether or not the target pixel of the binary image data is included in a contour portion. One of the output data of the calculation and the two-level image data is selected and output as the value image data, and the selected and output image data is based on a difference in recording characteristics of each of the plurality of recording elements. Data correction is performed so as to correct recording unevenness, the corrected image data is quantized, and the recording head is controlled according to the quantized data. Recording method to be.