Print control apparatus, printing apparatus, and data processing method

A print control apparatus which includes a plurality of nozzle arrays each formed from a plurality of nozzles for discharging ink, and controls a printhead for executing printing on a print medium by discharging inks of a plurality of colors from the plurality of nozzle arrays, the apparatus comprising:

• a reception unit configured to receive image data from an external apparatus;
• a generation unit configured to generate print data to be output to the printhead by causing one of a plurality of integrated circuits to execute at least common data processing for generating print data corresponding to the plurality of colors with respect to the image data received by the reception unit, and causing another one of the plurality of integrated circuits to execute specific data processing related to each of the plurality of colors;
• and
• a transmission unit configured to transmit the print data generated by the generation unit to the printhead, wherein
• each of the plurality of integrated circuits includes, as components,
• a first interface configured to receive the image data from the reception unit
• a second interface configured to communicate with another integrated circuit
• a data processing unit configured to process the received image data;
• and
• a third interface configured to transfer data to the transmission unit,
• each of the plurality of integrated circuits includes a component to be used and a component not to be used in accordance with whether the common data processing or the specific data processing related to each of the plurality of colors is executed,
• an integrated circuit for executing the common data processing does not use the second interface, uses the data processing unit and the third interface, generates print data corresponding to an ink color for which the integrated circuit is responsible by executing the common data processing for the image data received by the reception unit and input via the first interface, and causes the data processing unit to execute specific data processing related to the ink color for the image data having undergone the common data processing, and transmits the generated print data to the transmission unit via the third interface, and
• another integrated circuit which does not execute the common data processing does not use the first interface, generates print data corresponding to an ink color for which the other integrated circuit is responsible by causing the data processing unit to execute specific data processing related to the ink color for the image data having undergone the common data processing and input via the second interface, and transmits the generated print data to the transmission unit via the third interface.

A data processing method for a print control apparatus which controls a printhead, including a plurality of nozzle arrays each formed from a plurality of nozzles for discharging ink, for executing printing on a print medium by discharging inks of a plurality of colors from the plurality of nozzle arrays, the method comprising:

• receiving image data from an external apparatus;
• generating print data to be output to the printhead by using a plurality of integrated circuits, each including, as a component, a data processing unit for processing image data, to execute data processing for the received image data;
• and
• transmitting the generated print data to the printhead, wherein
• one integrated circuit of the plurality of integrated circuits includes a first interface configured to receive the image data,
• each of the rest of the plurality of integrated circuits, respectively, includes a third interface configured to transfer data to the printhead,
• each of the plurality of integrated circuits includes a second interface configured to communicate with another integrated circuit,
• the one integrated circuit executes common data processing for the plurality of colors with respect to the received image data, and transfers, via the second interface, the image data which has undergone the common data processing to another integrated circuit responsible for executing specific data processing related to each of the plurality of colors, and
• the rest of the plurality of integrated circuits, respectively, executes, for the image data, input via the second interface, having undergone the common data processing, the specific data processing related to an ink color by the data processing unit, generates the print data corresponding to the ink color for which the other integrated circuit is responsible by causing the data processing unit to execute, for the image data, input via the second interface, having undergone the common data processing, the specific data processing related to the ink color, and transfers the generated print data to the printhead via the third interface.

A data processing method for a print control apparatus which controls a printhead, including a plurality of nozzle arrays each formed from a plurality of nozzles for discharging ink, for executing printing on a print medium by discharging inks of a plurality of colors from the plurality of nozzle arrays, the method comprising:

• receiving image data from an external apparatus;
• generating print data to be output to the printhead by causing one of a plurality of integrated circuits to execute at least common data processing for generating print data corresponding to the plurality of colors with respect to the received image data, and causing another one of the plurality of integrated circuits to execute specific data processing related to each of the plurality of colors;
• and
• transmitting the generated print data to the printhead,
• wherein a component to be used and a component not to be used are selected for each of the plurality of integrated circuits in accordance with whether the common data processing or the specific data processing related to each of the plurality of colors is executed,
• wherein each of the plurality of integrated circuits includes, as components, a first interface configured to receive the image data, a second interface configured to communicate with another integrated circuit, a data processing unit configured to process the received image data, and a third interface configured to transfer data to the printhead, and
• in an integrated circuit for executing the common data processing,
• the second interface is selected as a component not to be used, the first interface, the data processing unit, and the third interface are selected as components to be used, print data corresponding to an ink color for which the integrated circuit is responsible is generated by executing the common data processing for the received image data input via the first interface and causing the data processing unit to execute specific data processing related to the ink color for the image data having undergone the common data processing, and the generated print data is transferred to the printhead via the third interface, and
• in another integrated circuit which does not execute the common data processing,
• the first interface is selected as a component not to be used, the second interface, the data processing unit, and the third interface are selected as components to be used, print data corresponding to an ink color for which the other integrated circuit is responsible is generated by causing the data processing unit to execute specific data processing related to the ink color for the image data having undergone the common data processing and input via the second interface, and the generated print data is transferred to the printhead via the third interface.