US 5,672,016 A · Method for controlling color image data

Abstract

A color-image data control method for storing color image data inputted from an external device in a memory provided in a printer, for reading the color image data stored in this memory and for printing the read color image data by use of a print head, wherein the color image data is data obtained by performing a raster scan on each color component of the color image data according to the arrangement of the printing elements of the print head, wherein the memory provided in the printer has capacity sufficient to store all color components of color image data to be printed by use of all printing elements of the print head, wherein image data corresponding to each color component is read from the memory provided in the printer as a unit to be printed by all of the printing elements of the print head and is used to print one of the color components of an image, wherein color image data respectively sent from the external device are serially stored in spaces of the memory provided in the printer color, which are released by reading the image data respectively corresponding to color components. Thereby, the capacity of the memory can be reduced by half in comparison with that of the memories of a system employing a conventional method, and a high-speed printing can be realized by performing a multitasking operation.

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Claims3

Dependent claims

A method for controlling a color printer to print a color image corresponding to color image data transmitted from an external device, comprising the steps of:

storing color image data for a first row of the color image in a storage device such that data associated with a first color component of the color image data is stored in a first plurality of storage spaces of the storage device, data associated with a second color component of the color image data is stored in a second plurality of storage spaces of the storage device, and data associated with a third color component of the color image data is stored in a third plurality of storage spaces of the storage device;
simultaneously transmitting the data associated with the first color component of the first row from the first plurality of storage spaces to a print head of the color printer while storing color image data for one-third of a second row of the color image in the storage device such that data associated with the first color component, the second color component and the third color component of the color image data associated with said one-third of the second row of the color image is stored in the first plurality of storage spaces;
simultaneously transmitting the data associated with the second color component from the second plurality of storage spaces of the storage device to the print head while storing color image data for a second one-third of the second row in the second plurality of storage spaces;
simultaneously transmitting the data associated with the third color component from the third plurality of storage spaces to the print head while storing color image data for a third one-third of the second row in the third plurality of storage spaces;
and
simultaneously transmitting the data associated with the first color component of the second row from a fourth plurality of storage spaces of the storage device to the print head while storing color image data for a first one-third of a third row of the color image in the storage device such that data associated with the first color component, the second color component and the third color component of the color image data associated with said first one-third of the third row of the color image is stored in the fourth plurality of storage spaces, wherein the fourth plurality of storage spaces includes selected storage spaces of the first, second and third pluralities of storage spaces.

3 more elements

A method for transferring color-image data from a first device to a color printer and for printing a color image using a print head of the color printer and the color-image data, comprising the steps of:

scanning a color image to obtain color-image data for each of a first plurality of dots making up a first portion of the color image, and for each of a second plurality of dots making up a second portion of the color image, the color-image data including data for a plurality of color components of the color image data, the first and second pluralities of dots being arranged in correspondence with an arrangement of printing elements of the print head;
storing the color-image data for the first portion of the color image in a storage device of the color printer such that data associated with a first color component of the color-image data is stored in a first plurality of storage spaces of the storage device, data associated with a second color component of the color-image data is stored in a second plurality of storage spaces of the storage device, and data associated with a third color component of the color-image data is stored in a third plurality of storage spaces of the storage device;
and
transferring the color-image data for the first color component of the first portion from the first plurality of storage spaces to the print head while storing a fraction of the color-image data for the second portion of the color image in the storage device such that data associated with the first color component, the second color component and the third color component of the color image data associated with said fraction of the second portion of the color image is stored in the first plurality of storage spaces.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Description3,469 words

Summary1,576 words

#1. Field of the Invention

#The present invention relates to a color-image-data control method for controlling color image data of the row raster data type by utilizing a memory contained in a serial printer when the printer prints the image data.

#2. Description of the Related Art

Brief description of the drawings3 figures

#Other features, objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of a preferred embodiment with reference to the drawings in which like reference characters designate like or corresponding parts throughout several views, and in which:

#FIG. 1 is a block diagram for illustrating the configuration of a printing system to be used for performing a color-image-data control method of the present invention;

#FIG. 2 is a diagram for illustrating a flow of color image data in the case of performing an embodiment of the color-image-data control method of the present invention; and

Detailed description1,771 words

#Hereinafter, a preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail by referring to FIGS. 1 and 2.

#FIG. 1 illustrates the configuration of a printing system to be used for performing a color-image-data control method of the present invention. Further, FIG. 2 illustrates a flow of color image data in the case of performing an embodiment of the color-image-data control method of the present invention.

#As shown in FIG. 1, the printing system used for performing the method of the present invention is provided with a memory 10, which has memory capacity sufficient to store color image data respectively corresponding to all color components of an image to be printed by use of all printing elements of a print head 7, instead of the first memory 8 and the second memory 9 of the printer 6 of the conventional system of FIG. 3. The other composing elements of the printing system of FIG. 1 are similar to the corresponding composing elements of the system of FIG. 3.

Method for controlling color image data

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Method for controlling color image data

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Life of this patent

Abstract

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Claims3

Description3,469 words

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Classification7 codes

Life of this patent

Description3,469 words