Image recording apparatus, image recording control method, and storage medium

Claim 2

An image recording apparatus which divides a recording head having plural recording elements into plural areas, performs plural-time scans to an identical area on a recording medium such as a sheet by using the same or different areas of said divided recording head, and creates a thinned-out image according to a thinning pattern in each scan to complete an entire image, said apparatus comprising: mask creation means for creating plural mask patterns from a pseudo periodic mask arrangement that an arrangement of non-recording pixels and recording pixels becomes visually preferable; and thinning means for thinning out recording data by using the mask patterns as the thinning patterns for respective recording areas by said recording head, wherein said pseudo periodic mask arrangement is created by repeating a process of obtaining initial recording pixel positions at random, giving certain repulsion potentials to all the obtained recording pixel positions, and setting a new recording pixel to the pixel position at which the sum of the potentials is minimum, until the recording pixels are set for all the pixels.

Claim 3

An apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the repulsion potential is represented by a function which attenuates according to the position from the recording pixel.

Claim 4

An apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising: shift means for shifting said recording head relatively to the recording medium; printing means for forming the image on the recording medium through said recording head; and storage means for storing said pseudo periodic mask arrangement.

Claim 5

An apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the division of said recording head into the plural areas is performed at least in two or more methods, on the basis of the number of the recording elements of said recording head and a transportation quantity of the recording medium.

Claim 6

An apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein said mask creation means creates the plural mask patterns in accordance with a printing mode set based on a kind of recording medium and a priority of printing quality/printing speed.

Claim 7

An apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein said mask creation means can change a ratio of the non-recording pixels and the recording pixels in accordance with the arrangement positions of the recording elements of said recording head.

Claim 8

An apparatus according to claim 5 , wherein said mask creation means can change a ratio of the non-recording pixels and the recording pixels in accordance with the arrangement positions of the recording elements of said recording head and said printing mode.

Claim 9

An image recording apparatus which divides a recording head having plural recording elements into plural areas, performs plural-time scans to an identical area on a recording medium such as a sheet by using the same or different areas of said divided recording head, and creates a thinned-out image according to a thinning pattern in each scan to complete an entire image, said apparatus comprising: mask creation means for creating plural mask patterns from a pseudo periodic mask arrangement that an arrangement of non-recording pixels and recording pixels becomes visually preferable; and thinning means for thinning out recording data by using the mask patterns as the thinning patterns for respective recording areas by said recording head, wherein said pseudo periodic mask arrangement can be supplied from an apparatus external to said image recording apparatus, and said pseudo periodic mask arrangement has a characteristic that generation of a repetitive pattern and graininess can be suppressed because low-frequency components are few, as compared with an arrangement based on a random number.

Claim 10

An image recording apparatus which divides a recording head having plural recording elements into plural areas, performs plural-time scans to an identical area on a recording medium such as a sheet by using the same or different areas of said divided recording head, and creates a thinned-out image according to a thinning pattern in each scan to complete an entire image, said apparatus comprising: mask creation means for creating plural mask patterns from a pseudo periodic mask arrangement that an arrangement of non-recording pixels and recording pixels becomes visually preferable; and thinning means for thinning out recording data by using the mask patterns as the thinning patterns for respective recording areas by said recording head, wherein said pseudo periodic mask arrangement can be supplied from an apparatus external to said image recording apparatus, and said pseudo periodic mask arrangement has a characteristic that generation of a repetitive pattern and graininess can be suppressed because low-frequency components are few, as compared with an arrangement based on a random number.

Claim 11

An image recording control method which is applied to an image recording apparatus which divides a recording head having plural recording elements into plural areas, performs plural-time scans to an identical area on a recording medium such as a sheet by using the same or different areas of the divided recording head, and creates a thinned-out image according to a thinning pattern in each scan to complete an entire image, said method comprising: a mask creation step of creating plural mask patterns from a pseudo periodic mask arrangement that an arrangement of non-recording pixels and recording pixels becomes visually preferable; and a thinning step of thinning out recording data by using the mask patterns as the thinning patterns for respective recording areas by the recording head, wherein the pseudo periodic mask arrangement is created by repeating a process of obtaining initial recording pixel positions at random, giving certain repulsion potentials to all the obtained recording pixel positions, and setting a new recording pixel to the pixel position at which the sum of the potentials is minimum, until the recording pixels are set for all the pixels.

Claim 12

An image recording control method which is applied to an image recording apparatus which divides a recording head having plural recording elements into plural areas, performs plural-time scans to an identical area on a recording medium such as a sheet by using the same or different areas of the divided recording head, and creates a thinned-out image according to a thinning pattern in each scan to complete an entire image, said method comprising: a mask creation step of creating plural mask patterns from a pseudo periodic mask arrangement that an arrangement of non-recording pixels and recording pixels becomes visually preferable; and a thinning step of thinning out recording data by using the mask patterns as the thinning patterns for respective recording areas by the recording head, wherein the pseudo periodic mask arrangement is created by repeating a process of obtaining initial recording pixel positions at random, giving certain repulsion potentials to all the obtained recording pixel positions, and setting a new recording pixel to the pixel position at which the sum of the potentials is minimum, until the recording pixels are set for all the pixels.

Claim 13

A method according to claim 9 , wherein the repulsion potential is represented by a function which attenuates according to the position from the recording pixel.

Claim 14

A method according to claim 9 , further comprising: a shift step of shifting the recording head relatively to the recording medium; a printing step of forming the image on the recording medium through the recording head; and a storage step of storing the pseudo periodic mask arrangement.

Claim 15

A method according to claim 9 , wherein the division of the recording head into the plural areas is performed at least in two or more methods, on the basis of the number of the recording elements of the recording head and a transportation quantity of the recording medium.

Claim 16

A method according to claim 9 , wherein said mask creation step creates the plural mask patterns in accordance with a printing mode set based on a kind of recording medium and a priority of printing quality/printing speed.

Claim 17

A method according to claim 9 , wherein said mask creation step can change a ratio of the non-recording pixels and the recording pixels in accordance with the arrangement positions of the recording elements of the recording head.

Claim 18

A method according to claim 13 , wherein said mask creation step can change a ratio of the non-recording pixels and the recording pixels in accordance with the arrangement positions of the recording elements of the recording head and the printing mode.

Claim 19

An image recording control method which is applied to an image recording apparatus which divides a recording head having plural recording elements into plural areas, performs plural-time scans to an identical area on a recording medium such as a sheet by using the same or different areas of the divided recording head, and creates a thinned-out image according to a thinning pattern in each scan to complete an entire image, said method comprising: a mask creation step of creating plural mask patterns from a pseudo periodic mask arrangement that an arrangement of non-recording pixels and recording pixels becomes visually preferable; and a thinning step of thinning out recording data by using the mask patterns as the thinning patterns for respective recording areas by the recording head, wherein the pseudo periodic mask arrangement can be supplied from an apparatus external to the image recording apparatus, and the pseudo periodic mask arrangement has a characteristic that generation of a repetitive pattern and graininess can be suppressed because low-frequency components are few, as compared with an arrangement based on a random number.

Claim 20

An image recording control method which is applied to an image recording apparatus which divides a recording head having plural recording elements into plural areas, performs plural-time scans to an identical area on a recording medium such as a sheet by using the same or different areas of the divided recording head, and creates a thinned-out image according to a thinning pattern in each scan to complete an entire image, said method comprising: a mask creation step of creating plural mask patterns from a pseudo periodic mask arrangement that an arrangement of non-recording pixels and recording pixels becomes visually preferable; and a thinning step of thinning out recording data by using the mask patterns as the thinning patterns for respective recording areas by the recording head, wherein the pseudo periodic mask arrangement can be supplied from an apparatus external to the image recording apparatus, and the pseudo periodic mask arrangement has a characteristic that generation of a repetitive pattern and graininess can be suppressed because low-frequency components are few, as compared with an arrangement based on a random number.

Claim 21

A computer-readable storage medium which stores a program to execute an image recording control method applicable to an image recording apparatus which divides a recording head having plural recording elements into plural areas, performs plural-time scans to an identical area on a recording medium such as a sheet by using the same or different areas of the divided recording head, and creates a thinned-out image according to a thinning pattern in each scan to complete an entire image, said method comprising: a mask creation step of creating plural mask patterns from a pseudo periodic mask arrangement that an arrangement of non-recording pixels and recording pixels becomes visually preferable; and a thinning step of thinning out recording data by using the mask patterns as the thinning patterns for respective recording areas by the recording head, wherein the pseudo periodic mask arrangement is created by repeating a process of obtaining initial recording pixel positions at random, giving certain repulsion potentials to all the obtained recording pixel positions, and setting a new recording pixel to the pixel position at which the sum of the potentials is minimum, until the recording pixels are set for all the pixels.

Claim 22

A computer-readable storage medium which stores a program to execute an image recording control method applicable to an image recording apparatus which divides a recording head having plural recording elements into plural areas, performs plural-time scans to an identical area on a recording medium such as a sheet by using the same or different areas of the divided recording head, and creates a thinned-out image according to a thinning pattern in each scan to complete an entire image, said method comprising: a mask creation step of creating plural mask patterns from a pseudo periodic mask arrangement that an arrangement of non-recording pixels and recording pixels becomes visually preferable; and a thinning step of thinning out recording data by using the mask patterns as the thinning patterns for respective recording areas by the recording head, wherein the pseudo periodic mask arrangement is created by repeating a process of obtaining initial recording pixel positions at random, giving certain repulsion potentials to all the obtained recording pixel positions, and setting a new recording pixel to the pixel position at which the sum of the potentials is minimum, until the recording pixels are set for all the pixels.

Claim 23

A storage medium according to claim 17 , wherein the repulsion potential is represented by a function which attenuates according to the position from the recording pixel.

Claim 24

A storage medium according to claim 17 , wherein said method further comprises: a shift step of shifting the recording head relatively to the recording medium; a printing step of forming the image on the recording medium through the recording head; and a storage step of storing the pseudo periodic mask arrangement.

Claim 25

A storage medium according to claim 17 , wherein the division of the recording head into the plural areas is performed at least in two or more methods, on the basis of the number of the recording elements of the recording head and a transportation quantity of the recording medium.

Claim 26

A storage medium according to claim 17 , wherein said mask creation step creates the plural mask patterns in accordance with a printing mode set based on a kind of recording medium and a priority of printing quality/printing speed.

Claim 27

A storage medium according to claim 17 , wherein said mask creation step can change a ratio of the non-recording pixels and the recording pixels in accordance with the arrangement positions of the recording elements of the recording head.

Claim 28

A storage medium according to claim 21 , wherein said mask creation step can change a ratio of the non-recording pixels and the recording pixels in accordance with the arrangement positions of the recording elements of the recording head and the printing mode.

Claim 29

A computer-readable storage medium which stores a program to execute an image recording control method applicable to an image recording apparatus which divides a recording head having plural recording elements into plural areas, performs plural-time scans to an identical area on a recording medium such as a sheet by using the same or different areas of the divided recording head, and creates a thinned-out image according to a thinning pattern in each scan to complete an entire image, said method comprising: a mask creation step of creating plural mask patterns from a pseudo periodic mask arrangement that an arrangement of non-recording pixels and recording pixels becomes visually preferable; and a thinning step of thinning out recording data by using the mask patterns as the thinning patterns for respective recording areas by the recording head, wherein the pseudo periodic mask arrangement can be supplied from an apparatus external to the image recording apparatus, and the pseudo periodic mask arrangement has a characteristic that generation of a repetitive pattern and graininess can be suppressed because low-frequency components are few, as compared with an arrangement based on a random number.

Claim 30

A computer-readable storage medium which stores a program to execute an image recording control method applicable to an image recording apparatus which divides a recording head having plural recording elements into plural areas, performs plural-time scans to an identical area on a recording medium such as a sheet by using the same or different areas of the divided recording head, and creates a thinned-out image according to a thinning pattern in each scan to complete an entire image, said method comprising: a mask creation step of creating plural mask patterns from a pseudo periodic mask arrangement that an arrangement of non-recording pixels and recording pixels becomes visually preferable; and a thinning step of thinning out recording data by using the mask patterns as the thinning patterns for respective recording areas by the recording head, wherein the pseudo periodic mask arrangement can be supplied from an apparatus external to the image recording apparatus, and the pseudo periodic mask arrangement has a characteristic that generation of a repetitive pattern and graininess can be suppressed because low-frequency components are few, as compared with an arrangement based on a random number.

Claim 31

An image recording apparatus which divides a recording head having plural recording elements into plural areas, performs plural-time scans to an identical area on a recording medium such as a sheet by using the same or different areas of said divided recording head, and creates a thinned-out image according to a thinning pattern in each scan to complete an entire image, said apparatus comprising: mask creation means for creating plural mask patterns from a pseudo periodic mask arrangement that an arrangement of non-recording pixels and recording pixels becomes visually preferable; and thinning means for thinning out recording data by using the mask patterns as the thinning patterns for respective recording areas by said recording head, wherein the pseudo periodic mask arrangement has a characteristic that generation of a repetitive pattern and graininess can be suppressed because low-frequency components are few, as compared with an arrangement based on a random number.

Claim 32

An image recording apparatus which divides a recording head having plural recording elements into plural areas, performs plural-time scans to an identical area on a recording medium such as a sheet by using the same or different areas of said divided recording head, and creates a thinned-out image according to a thinning pattern in each scan to complete an entire image, said apparatus comprising: mask creation means for creating plural mask patterns from a pseudo periodic mask arrangement that an arrangement of non-recording pixels and recording pixels becomes visually preferable; and thinning means for thinning out recording data by using the mask patterns as the thinning patterns for respective recording areas by said recording head, wherein the pseudo periodic mask arrangement has a characteristic that generation of a repetitive pattern and graininess can be suppressed because low-frequency components are few, as compared with an arrangement based on a random number.

Claim 33

An image recording control method which is applied to an image recording apparatus which divides a recording head having plural recording elements into plural areas, performs plural-time scans to an identical area on a recording medium such as a sheet by using the same or different areas of the divided recording head, and creates a thinned-out image according to a thinning pattern in each scan to complete an entire image, said method comprising: a mask creation step of creating plural mask patterns from a pseudo periodic mask arrangement that an arrangement of non-recording pixels and recording pixels becomes visually preferable; and a thinning step of thinning out recording data by using the mask patterns as the thinning patterns for respective recording areas by the recording head, wherein the pseudo periodic mask arrangement has a characteristic that generation of a repetitive pattern and graininess can be suppressed because low-frequency components are few, as compared with an arrangement based on a random number.

Claim 34

An image recording control method which is applied to an image recording apparatus which divides a recording head having plural recording elements into plural areas, performs plural-time scans to an identical area on a recording medium such as a sheet by using the same or different areas of the divided recording head, and creates a thinned-out image according to a thinning pattern in each scan to complete an entire image, said method comprising: a mask creation step of creating plural mask patterns from a pseudo periodic mask arrangement that an arrangement of non-recording pixels and recording pixels becomes visually preferable; and a thinning step of thinning out recording data by using the mask patterns as the thinning patterns for respective recording areas by the recording head, wherein the pseudo periodic mask arrangement has a characteristic that generation of a repetitive pattern and graininess can be suppressed because low-frequency components are few, as compared with an arrangement based on a random number.

Claim 35

A computer-readable storage medium which stores a program to execute an image recording control method applicable to an image recording apparatus which divides a recording head having plural recording elements into plural areas, performs plural-time scans to an identical area on a recording medium such as a sheet by using the same or different areas of the divided recording head, and creates a thinned-out image according to a thinning pattern in each scan to complete an entire image, said method comprising: a mask creation step of creating plural mask patterns from a pseudo periodic mask arrangement that an arrangement of non-recording pixels and recording pixels becomes visually preferable; and a thinning step of thinning out recording data by using the mask patterns as the thinning patterns for respective recording areas by the recording head, wherein the pseudo periodic mask arrangement has a characteristic that generation of a repetitive pattern and graininess can be suppressed because low-frequency components are few, as compared with an arrangement based on a random number.

Claim 36

A computer-readable storage medium which stores a program to execute an image recording control method applicable to an image recording apparatus which divides a recording head having plural recording elements into plural areas, performs plural-time scans to an identical area on a recording medium such as a sheet by using the same or different areas of the divided recording head, and creates a thinned-out image according to a thinning pattern in each scan to complete an entire image, said method comprising: a mask creation step of creating plural mask patterns from a pseudo periodic mask arrangement that an arrangement of non-recording pixels and recording pixels becomes visually preferable; and a thinning step of thinning out recording data by using the mask patterns as the thinning patterns for respective recording areas by the recording head, wherein the pseudo periodic mask arrangement has a characteristic that generation of a repetitive pattern and graininess can be suppressed because low-frequency components are few, as compared with an arrangement based on a random number.