# US 5,708,463 A · Ink jet recording device having monochromatic and color recording modes > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 5,708,463 A - Document ID: US5708463A - Status: Granted - Kind: A - Application number: 08/475,461 - Filed: 1995-06-07 - Granted: 1998-01-13 - Earliest claimed: 1989-01-28 - Assignees: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha - Inventors: Hiromitsu Hirabayashi; Atsushi Arai; Hiroshi Tajika; Noribumi Koitabashi - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US5708463A ## CPC - H04N 1/128: {using a scanning head arranged for linear reciprocating motion} - B41J 2/2132: {Print quality control characterised by dot disposition, e.g. for reducing white stripes or banding (methods for local corrections by dot omission, image edge enhancement, or multi-pass mask selection G06K15/102; colour conversion H04N1/40)} - G06K 15/102: {using ink jet print heads} - G06K 15/105: {Multipass or interlaced printing} - H04N 1/1911: {Simultaneously or substantially simultaneously scanning picture elements on more than one main scanning line, e.g. scanning in swaths} - H04N 1/502: {Reproducing the colour component signals dot-sequentially or simultaneously in a single or in adjacent picture-element positions} - G06K 2215/0082: Architecture adapted for a particular function - G06K 2215/0094: Colour printing - G06K 2215/0097: Printing on special media, e.g. labels, envelopes - H04N 1/12: using the sheet-feed movement {or the medium-advance or the drum-rotation movement} as the slow scanning component, {e.g. arrangements for the main-scanning}({sheet-feed movement by translatory movement of a flat picture-bearing surface H04N1/1008; main-scanning using oscillating or rotating mirrors H04N1/113; } using multi-element arrays H04N1/19) - H04N: PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION - B41J: TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS - G06K: GRAPHICAL DATA READING (image or video recognition or understanding G06V); PRESENTATION OF DATA; RECORD CARRIERS; HANDLING RECORD CARRIERS ## Abstract An ink jet recording device having scanning means for scanning an ink jet recording head having plural arrays in a scanning direction, wherein each of the arrays has discharge ports such that each of the arrays discharges a different color ink, supplying means for supplying recording signals corresponding to a first recording area to plural of ink discharge energy generating elements, conveying means for conveying a recording medium relative to the recording head, and control means for controlling the ink jet recording head, the supplying means and conveying means so that when the control means operates in a first recording mode, a recording covering the first recording area is produced by one of the arrays during one scanning operation, and when the control means operates in a second recording mode a recording covering a second recording area which is smaller than the first recording area is produced by each of the arrays during one scanning operation. The control means selects the recording mode at least according to a number of colors of an image to be recorded on the recording medium and the second recording area produced by respective arrays during the one scanning operation are not overlapped in the scanning direction. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An ink jet recording device comprising: scanning means for scanning an ink jet recording head having a plurality of arrays in a scanning direction, wherein each of said arrays has a plurality of discharge ports such that each of said arrays discharges a different color ink; supplying means for supplying recording signals corresponding to a first recording area to a plurality of ink discharge energy generating elements; conveying means for conveying a recording medium relative to said recording head; and control means for controlling said ink jet recording head, said supplying means and said conveying means so that when said control means operates in a first recording mode, a recording covering the first recording area is produced by one of said arrays during one scanning operation, and when said control means operates in a second recording mode a recording covering a second recording area which is smaller than the first recording area is produced by each of said arrays during one scanning operation, the control means selecting the recording mode, at least according to a number of colors of an image to be recorded on the recording medium and said second recording area produced by respective arrays during the one scanning operation are not overlapped in the scanning direction. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) An ink jet recording device according to claim 1, wherein said ink discharge energy generating elements comprise electrothermal transducers of thermal energy generating elements which cause film boiling to occur in the ink. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1, 2) An ink jet recording device according to either claim 1 or claim 2, wherein said recording heads are arranged in the scanning direction. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1, 2) An ink jet recording device according to either claim 1 or claim 2, wherein a part of the second recording area recorded during the second recording mode is 1/n of the first recording area, wherein n is an integer which can be varied. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1, 2) An ink jet recording device according to either claim 1 or claim 2, wherein said second recording area recorded in the second recording mode is a half of the first recording area. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1, 2) An ink jet recording device according to either claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the second recording area recorded in the second recording mode is a quarter of the first recording area. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1, 2) An ink jet recording device according to either claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the second recording area recorded in the second recording mode is an eighth of the first recording area. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1, 2) An ink jet recording device according to either claim 1 or claim 2, further comprising four said recording heads. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) An ink jet recording head according to claim 8, wherein said four recording heads emit Y, M, C and K inks respectively. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) An ink jet recording device according to claim 8, wherein said four recording heads emit, R, G, B and K inks respectively. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1, 2) An ink jet recording device according to either claim 1 or claim 2, wherein said recording head is integrally formed. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1, 2) An ink jet recording device according to either claim 1 or claim 2, wherein said recording head is exchangeable. ### Claim 13 (depends on 8) An ink jet recording device according to claim 8, wherein said control means increases at least one of the first recording area and the second recording area covered per scanning operation by increasing the number of said recording heads used for recording and reduces at least one of the first recording area and the second recording area covered per scanning operation by reducing the number of said recording heads used for recording. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1, 2) An ink jet recording device according to either claim 1 or claim 2, wherein said control means increases at least one of the first recording area and the second recording area covered per scanning operation by increasing a recording area of at least one of said recording heads, and decreases at least one of the first recording area and the second recording area covered per scanning operation by decreasing the recording area of at least one of said recording heads. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) An ink jet recording device according to claim 1, wherein said second recording area recorded in the second recording mode is defined by a number of the discharge ports. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) An ink jet recording device according to claim 1, wherein said second recording area recorded in the second recording mode is defined by a number of the discharge ports. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) An ink jet recording device according to claim 1, wherein said control means selects the first recording mode when the image to be recorded on the recording medium is in mono-color. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) An ink jet recording device according to claim 1, wherein said control means selects the second recording mode when the image to be recorded on the recording medium is in multi-color.