Recording device and its control method

Abstract

Traditionally, when powered via USB, not only is the printing speed reduced, but the number of dots on the paper decreases, resulting in lower density. Furthermore, when powered by battery, high-power interfaces may be disabled depending on the battery status, preventing communication. [Solution] A recording device that is wired connected via an interface and can operate by power supplied from the interface, which determines the specifications of the interface and the power supply level indicating the power supply status from the interface. Based on the determined specifications of the interface and the power supply level, a print mode is set, and printing is performed according to the print job based on the set print mode.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This disclosure relates to a recording apparatus and a control method thereof.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, a printing apparatus that operates only with power supplied from a USB (Universal Serial Bus) interface (hereinafter referred to as USB bus power) has been proposed.

[0003] Patent Document 1 describes a printer apparatus that can operate with power supplied from an AC power source and power supplied by a wired connection to an external device. For a wired connection with a general external device, an interface of a standard for data transmission and reception including a USB connection is used. The printer apparatus of Patent Document 1 is characterized in that it switches the printing mode between the case of operating with power supplied from a USB and the case of operating with power supplied from a main power source. In particular, when operating with power supplied from a USB, it is described that the number of ejection nozzles driven in the printer apparatus is limited and the frequency of the operation clock is reduced as a low power consumption mode.

[0004] Also, Patent Document 2 describes a recording apparatus that can operate receiving power supply from a battery and can be connected by a plurality of interfaces. And it is described that when the remaining amount of the battery is small, by switching the connection of an interface with high power consumption among the plurality of interfaces to an invalid state, it is possible to prevent an error state even when the remaining amount of the battery becomes small.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0005]

Patent Document 1

Patent Document 2

Summary of the Invention

[0006] However, the printer device described in Patent Document 1 above offers only two options: power supply from an AC main power source or power supply via USB connection. Moreover, when powered via USB, power consumption is reduced by lowering the operating clock frequency in a low-power mode and limiting the number of ejection nozzles. As a result, when powered via USB, not only is the printing speed slower, but the number of dots on the paper decreases, reducing density and thus lowering the visibility of the printed material.

[0007] Furthermore, Patent Document 2 describes disabling the interface with the highest power consumption among multiple interfaces depending on the battery status. In recent years, printer devices that only have USB and LAN as interfaces have become common, and there has been a problem that if an interface is disabled, communication with the host computer becomes impossible. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] This disclosure was made to solve the above-mentioned problems and aims to provide a technology that allows setting the print mode based on power supply information supplied through an interface while the device is connected via a wired connection.

[0009] To achieve the above objective, the recording device according to one aspect of this disclosure has the following configuration: A recording device that is wiredly connected via an interface and can operate by power supplied from said interface, A first determination means for determining the specifications of the interface, A second determination means for determining the power supply level indicating the power supply status from the interface, A setting means for setting the print mode based on the interface specifications determined by the first determination means and the power supply level determined by the second determination means, The system is characterized by having a control means that executes printing according to the print job based on the print mode set by the setting means.

[0010] Other features and advantages of this disclosure will become apparent from the following description with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the accompanying drawings, the same or similar components are given the same reference numeral. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0011] The attached drawings are included in the specification and constitute part thereof, illustrating embodiments of the present disclosure and are used together with the description to illustrate the principles of the present disclosure. [Figure 1] (a) An overall perspective view of the recording device according to Embodiment 1, and (b) a block diagram illustrating an example of the hardware configuration of the recording device according to Embodiment 1 of this disclosure. [Figure 2] A block diagram illustrating the power supply system for the power supplied from USB in the recording device according to Embodiment 1. [Figure 3] This diagram shows an example of power supply amounts for each USB standard. [Figure 4] Figure (a) shows how to determine the voltage threshold of Vbat according to the amount of power supplied via USB, and Figure (b) shows an example of a print mode corresponding to the Vbat voltage and the amount of power supplied via USB. [Figure 5] A flowchart illustrating the process when the recording device according to Embodiment 1 receives power via a wired connection and performs printing. [Figure 6] A flowchart illustrating the overview of the processing in the printing process performed by the recording device according to Embodiment 1. [Figure 7] An illustrative diagram illustrating the control of printing speed and image density corresponding to each printing mode in Embodiment 1. [Figure 8] Figure 5 shows an example screen in S505 that prompts the user to input their preferred printing operation. [Figure 9] This figure shows an example of screen transitions during initial setup in the recording device according to Embodiment 2. [Figure 10]Flowchart for explaining the process when the recording apparatus according to Embodiment 2 receives power supply through a wired connection and executes printing. [Figure 11] Diagram for explaining the capping operation. [Figure 12] Image diagram for explaining the control of printing speed and image density corresponding to each printing mode according to Embodiment 3. [Figure 13] Diagram showing an example of Printing Mode 2 and Printing Mode 3 in which both a decrease in image density and a decrease in printing speed are applied in a modified example of the embodiment. [Figure 14] Flowchart for explaining the process of determining the printing mode according to the power supply state in the recording apparatus according to Embodiment 3.

Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0012] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Note that the following embodiments do not limit the invention according to the claims. Although a plurality of features are described in the embodiments, not all of these plurality of features are essential for the invention, and the plurality of features may be arbitrarily combined.

[0013] First, the terms used in this embodiment are defined as follows in advance. · "Recording" In this specification, "recording" does not only refer to the case of forming significant information such as characters and figures. Regardless of whether it is significant or not, and regardless of whether it is manifested so that a human can perceive it visually. It also represents the case of forming an image, pattern, pattern, etc. on a recording medium widely, or performing processing on the medium. · "Recording Medium" The recording medium not only refers to paper used in a general recording apparatus, but also widely represents materials such as cloth, plastic film, metal plate, glass, ceramics, wood, leather, etc. that can receive ink. · "Ink" Ink, as with the definition of "record" above, should be interpreted broadly and refers to a medium containing recording material that, when applied to a recording medium, can be used to form images, patterns, designs, etc., or to process the recording medium, or to treat the ink. Physically, it is a liquid. The ink treatment mentioned above refers, for example, to the coagulation or insolubilization of the colorant in the ink applied to the recording medium. ·"nozzle" Unless otherwise specified, the term "nozzle" refers to the discharge port. Inside the nozzle are interconnected liquid channels and an element that generates energy used for ink ejection. ·"scanning" To record data onto a recording medium, the recording head scans the recording medium and performs the recording. Here, scanning refers to the movement of the head during acceleration and deceleration for the purpose of recording or related to recording. • "Round-trip record" "Round-trip recording" refers to recording while performing the above-mentioned "recording" or "scanning" motion back and forth on the paper. Round-trip scanning, round-trip recording, bidirectional scanning, and bidirectional recording all refer to the same thing.

[0014] [Embodiment 1] Figure 1 is a block diagram illustrating an example of the hardware configuration of a recording device 1000 according to Embodiment 1 of this disclosure.

[0015] Figure 1(a) is an overall perspective view of a recording device according to Embodiment 1 of the present disclosure.

[0016] The user-operated control unit 111 includes a display unit 192 such as an LCD panel and user-operated control keys 191.

[0017] Figure 1(b) is a block diagram illustrating an example of the hardware configuration of a recording device 1000 according to Embodiment 1 of this disclosure.

[0018] The recording device 1000 comprises, broadly speaking, a control unit 100, a printer unit 110, and an operation unit 111. In the control unit 100, the CPU (Central Processing Unit) 101 loads the control program stored in the ROM (Read Only Memory) 103 into the RAM (Random Access Memory) 102, reads it when needed, and performs various controls such as power-on control and recording control. The RAM 102 is the main memory of the CPU 101 and is used as a temporary storage area for loading various programs stored in the work area and ROM 103. The ROM 103 stores image data, various programs, and various setting information. In Embodiment 1, flash storage is assumed as ROM 103, but auxiliary storage devices such as hard disks may also be used. In this embodiment, the recording device 1000 is configured so that one CPU 101 uses one memory (RAM 102) to execute each process shown in the flowchart described later, but other configurations are also possible. For example, multiple CPUs, multiple RAMs, ROMs, and storage devices can cooperate to execute each process shown in the flowchart described later. Furthermore, hardware circuits may be used to execute a portion of the processing performed by the CPU 101. The engine interface 104 connects the printer unit 110 and the control unit 100. Hereinafter, interfaces will be denoted as I / F. Image data to be recorded by the printer unit 110 is transferred from the control unit 100 via the engine I / F 104 and recorded on the recording paper in the printer unit 110.

[0019] In Embodiment 1, the printer unit 110 is assumed to be an inkjet recording device, and therefore includes a head drive unit for driving the inkjet head, and a carriage (CR) drive unit for scanning the carriage on which the inkjet head is mounted. The printer unit 110 further includes a transport drive unit (LF drive unit) for transporting the recording paper, which is the recording medium.

[0020] The operation unit interface 105 connects the operation unit 111 and the control unit 100. The operation unit 111 has a display unit 192 with touch panel functionality and operation keys 191, and functions as a reception unit that receives user instructions and a presentation unit that presents various information to the user. The operation unit 111 may also include operation buttons (not shown) and LEDs. The network interface 106 and USB interface 107 control communication with the host computer (PC) 112 connected to the recording device 1000, respectively.

[0021] Furthermore, USB-TypeC has been proposed as an interface standard for modern smart devices, and this interface can be used to supply power in addition to communication. Since this connection relies on power supply via USB-TypeC, it may be possible to operate without connecting to the main AC power supply.

[0022] In Embodiment 1, the recording device 1000 can connect to a host computer (host PC) 112 not only via the network I / F 106 but also via the USB-TypeC USB I / F 107. Note that the connection via the USB I / F 107 may be to a smart device 120 or a mobile battery instead of the host PC 112. When a device is connected via USB-TypeC, power is supplied to the recording device 1000 from that device. Furthermore, the power supply board I / F 108 is connected to the AC input and to the power supply board of the main power supply that supplies power to the inside of the recording device 1000, and may include a rechargeable battery capable of storing power. The above-described components of the control unit 100 are communicated via the bus 109.

[0023] Figure 2 is a block diagram illustrating the power supply system of the power supply from the USB in the recording device 1000 according to Embodiment 1, and shows the configuration of the power supply board section 130 in Figure 1(b).

[0024] The recording device 1000 is powered by a power supply Vbat from an electric double-layer capacitor (EDLC) 204 supplied to a Charger IC (charging IC) 203. That is, the power supply of the recording device 1000 is controlled by the power supply via the Charger IC 203. The Charger IC 203 charges the EDLC 204 with current supplied by the power supply Vbus from the USB I / F 107, which receives connections from an external battery or smart device 120. Simultaneously, the Charger IC 203 outputs a voltage to the DC-DC (boost circuit) 206 using the power supplied from the EDLC 204. The DC-DC 206 is a boost circuit for increasing the voltage from the Charger IC 203. The voltage boosted by the DC-DC 206 is used by the motor driver 208 to drive the motors of the reading and printing mechanisms. The voltage boosted by the DC-DC 206 is also used as the power supply for the head by the head driver 209. Thus, the voltage boosted by the DC-DC206 is capable of driving relatively large loads.

[0025] The voltage boosted by DC-DC206 is further supplied to DC-DC (buck converter)207, which generates the logic power supply voltage used by ASIC210, flash ROM212, DDR (SDRAM)211, etc. Here, ASIC210 is a custom IC including the CPU and peripheral circuits. ChargerIC203 is an IC equipped with functions for controlling the input current of USBI / F107, controlling the charging of EDLC204, and protecting against abnormal operation. ChargerIC203 also communicates with ASIC210, which is connected via the control serial bus213. ChargerIC203 also determines the input current according to the external device that supplies power. In Embodiment 1, ChargerIC203 performs a determination in accordance with the USB-BC (USB Battery Charge) standard (hereinafter referred to as BC determination). Furthermore, it performs a determination in accordance with the USB-PD (USB Power Delivery) standard (hereinafter referred to as CC determination).

[0026] Upon receiving the BC and CC determination results from ChargerIC203 via the control serial bus 213, ASIC210 determines the thresholds for the ChargerIC203's charging current, full charge, and over-discharge voltages, and sets these thresholds in ChargerIC203. Based on instructions from ASIC210, ChargerIC203 controls the charging of EDLC204 and supplies power to DC-DC206, motor driver 208, and head driver 209 via the power supply Vbat from EDLC204. The voltage of the power supply Vbat from EDLC204 can be transmitted from ChargerIC203 to ASIC210. ​​Furthermore, various other information related to power supply can be transmitted from ChargerIC203 to ASIC210. ​​ASIC210 can use this information to perform various controls on the recording device 1000. For example, if the voltage of the power supply Vbat of EDLC204 drops during printing operation of the recording device 1000, ASIC210 stops the printing operation. The ASIC210 then instructs the ChargerIC203 to perform charging control until the power supply voltage Vbat of the EDLC204 reaches a certain threshold. Upon receiving confirmation that the power supply voltage Vbat has reached the threshold, the ASIC210 can then perform control to resume the printing operation.

[0027] Furthermore, since the inkjet ejection mechanism ejects small droplets from fine nozzles, it is necessary to keep this ejection mechanism moist when not in operation and to cap the nozzles to prevent ink drying and subsequent ejection failures. Therefore, when stopping the printing operation, it can be determined that the power required to drive the mechanism until capping is sufficient if the voltage of the power supply Vbat exceeds a threshold. Thus, the power supplied from this power supply Vbat can be used to complete the capping of the print head.

[0028] Furthermore, if the USB cable is disconnected or power is interrupted for any reason while the device is operating and receiving power from the USBI / F107, the ChargerIC203 notifies the ASIC210. ​​This notification allows the device to immediately initiate an action to respond to the power interruption, namely capping, and once capping is complete, it can terminate the entire job.

[0029] Figure 11 is a diagram illustrating the capping operation.

[0030] The ink droplet ejection mechanism 1101 of the inkjet recording device is mounted on a carriage, and printing is performed by ejecting ink droplets while the carriage is rotated by a CR motor 1102 and scans back and forth across the paper surface 1103. When a print job is completed, or when a certain period of time or a predetermined number of back and forth movements has been completed, the ejection mechanism 1101 is moved to the capping mechanism 1104. The capping mechanism 1104 then rises and caps the ejection mechanism 1101 to protect it from moisture. If there are no print jobs to be executed, the process ends there.

[0031] Figure 3 shows an example of power supply amounts for each USB standard.

[0032] BC1.2 is based on the USB-BC (Battery Charge) standard, and defines a method for electrically determining a charging USB port (CDP) using the D+ and D- signal lines used for USB data communication. In the case of a standard USB port that is not a charging port, communication based on the USB standard takes place after this detection is complete, and the USB version can be determined during this communication. On the other hand, USB Type-C defines the Power Delivery standard, and the amount of power supplied can be notified by communication on the CC (Configuration Channel) pin. Note that the Power Delivery standard can also control the power supply voltage from 5V to 48V, but in Figure 3, the maximum power is shown as the value when supplied at 5V.

[0033] Figure 4(a) is a diagram for determining the voltage threshold of Vbat according to the amount of power supplied from USB. The criteria for setting the voltage threshold of Vbat is, for example, that threshold 1 is the voltage threshold at which capping operation is possible using only the remaining power of the EDLC204 even when power supply from USB is stopped.

[0034] Figure 4(b) shows an example of a print mode that can be set in correspondence between the Vbat voltage and the amount of power supplied from USB.

[0035] The printing mode can range from Print Mode 1, which is used when sufficient power is supplied, to Print Mode 3, which progresses in stages as the power supply decreases. The contents of Figure 4(b), which shows the correspondence between USB power supply amount, Vbat voltage, and printing mode, may be stored as table data in ROM103, or they may be implemented as a program code identification code.

[0036] In the example in Figure 4(b), if the voltage value of the power supply Vbat from the EDLC204 is less than or equal to threshold 1, the remaining power of the EDLC204 is insufficient, and therefore the print mode setting is not performed. If the voltage value of the power supply Vbat from the EDLC204 is greater than threshold 1, the print mode is set according to the USB-TypeC standard. In this case, print mode 1 is set for PowerDelivery3.0 connection, which provides the most power from USB. Print mode 2 is set for PowerDelivery2.0 connection, and print mode 3 is set for standard USB-TypeC connection.

[0037] Figure 5 is a flowchart illustrating the process when the recording device 1000 according to Embodiment 1 receives power via a wired connection and performs printing. This process is initiated, for example, when a USB device is inserted into the USB I / F 107 of the recording device 1000.

[0038] First, in S501, the ASIC210 determines the interface standard of the inserted USB device. Next, in S502, the ASIC210 sets the voltage threshold for Vbat by referring to Figure 4(a) based on the determination result in S501. Then, in S503, the ASIC210 detects the voltage of Vbat via the ChargerIC203. As mentioned earlier, this Vbat voltage is supplied by the EDLC204, and when an external device is connected via the interface, it is constantly charged by the voltage supplied from that interface. Therefore, this Vbat voltage represents the power supply level indicating the power supply status via the interface.

[0039] Next, the process proceeds to S504, where the ASIC210 compares the Vbat voltage detected in S503 with threshold 1 set in S502. If the Vbat voltage is less than or equal to threshold 1, the process proceeds to S509, where the ASIC210 notifies the user of insufficient remaining power and to begin charging, and then terminates this process.

[0040] On the other hand, if in S504 the Vbat voltage is determined to be greater than threshold 1, the process proceeds to S505, where the ASIC210 determines the print mode according to Figure 4(b) based on the USB standard and Vbat voltage determined in S501. In the example in Figure 4(b), print mode 1 is selected when using a USB-TypeC connection with Power Delivery 3.0. Print mode 2 is selected when using a Power Delivery 2.0 connection, and print mode 3 is selected when using a standard Type-C connection. However, when using a Power Delivery 2.0 connection, it may be possible to select either print mode 2 or print mode 3. Similarly, when using a standard Type-C connection, it may be possible to select either print mode 2 or print mode 3. In other words, as long as it is possible to operate in either print mode 2 or print mode 3 with limited power supply compared to the standard Power Delivery 3.0 connection, either mode may be selected. Therefore, in S505, the selectable print modes are displayed according to the comparison result between the Vbat voltage and threshold 1, allowing the user to select their desired print mode from the displayed options. Furthermore, in S505, the user may be shown a print mode appropriate for the power supply, an image of the printable image for that print mode, and the contents of any already set priority modes before making a selection. Alternatively, a selection button regarding whether or not a print mode setting is necessary may be displayed, and the system may transition to the setting process in S506 when that button is pressed.

[0041] Figure 8 shows an example of a screen (hereinafter referred to as a UI screen) in S505 that prompts the user to input their preferred printing operation. These UI screens are displayed on the display unit of the operation unit 111, and each item is selected using touch operations on the display unit or the hard keys on the operation unit 111.

[0042] The first screen 801 of various settings 1 displays the power setting items related to Embodiment 1, and from here, detailed settings related to power settings are displayed in a list-scroll type display at a deeper level. The second screen 802 of various settings 2 displays items 803 for USB-TypeC power supply in addition to the menu that is normally set when connected to AC main power. Embodiment 1 is characterized by the processing when USB-TypeC power supply item 803 is selected. When USB-TypeC power supply item 803 is selected here, the detailed settings screen 804 or detailed settings screen 805, which allows for more detailed settings, is displayed in an even deeper level UI. On the detailed settings screen 804 or detailed settings screen 805, the user can set the desired priority mode. In the detailed settings screen 804 of Figure 8, image density priority is selected, which is a setting that prioritizes image density to obtain high image quality even when the USB-TypeC power supply state is not in the best possible state. On the other hand, if speed priority is set as in the detailed settings screen 805, the setting prioritizes printing speed even when the power supply state is poor.

[0043] Once these conditions are met, the process proceeds to S506, where the ASIC210 sets the selected print mode. After the print mode is set, the process proceeds to S507, where the ASIC210 executes the print process using the set print mode. Once the electronic image is printed according to the print job, the process proceeds to S508, where the ASIC210 terminates the print operation of the recording device 1000. At S508, when the print operation ends, a capping operation is performed to prevent ink drying in the fine nozzles of the ink ejection mechanism and to avoid ejection failures during the next print. The fact that there is enough power remaining for the minimum processing required at the end of this print operation is guaranteed by the Vbat judgment during the initial operation. Therefore, even if, for example, the USB-TypeC cable which also provides power is unplugged midway through, the capping operation can be completed after the final print pass. When the print process starts in S507, data processing is performed in the image processing flow, and print control processing related to image printing is executed while controlling the image density and print speed.

[0044] Figure 6 is a flowchart illustrating the overview of the printing process performed by the recording device 1000 according to Embodiment 1. Specifically, in Embodiment 1, the image processing unit is configured by the elements for controlling and processing the recording device 1000 shown in Figure 1(b). However, the configuration of the image processing unit is not limited to the form of Embodiment 1. For example, the image processing unit may be implemented in the host PC 112 shown in Figure 1(b), or a part of the image processing unit may be implemented in the host PC 112 and the other part in the recording device 1000.

[0045] The input processing of S601 outputs the image data contained in the print job, based on the print job received from the host PC 112, to the image processing of S602. The image processing of S602 includes the input color conversion processing of S603, the ink color conversion processing of S604, the quantization processing of S605, and the path decomposition processing of S606.

[0046] The input color conversion process in S603 converts the image data received from the input process in S601 into image data corresponding to the color gamut of the recording device 1000. The input image data at this time is data indicating color coordinates (R, G, B) in a color space coordinate such as sRGB, which is the color representation of the monitor. The input color conversion process converts the input image data of each 8 bits R, G, B into image data (R', G', B') corresponding to the color gamut of the recording device using known methods such as matrix arithmetic processing or processing using a three-dimensional LUT. In Embodiment 1, a three-dimensional lookup table is used, and interpolation is used in combination with it to perform the conversion process. Note that the resolution of the 8-bit image data handled in the image processing in S602 is described as 600 dpi.

[0047] The ink color conversion process in S604 converts the 8-bit R, G, and B image data processed by the input color conversion process in S603 into image data using the color signal value data of the inks used by the recording device 1000. Next, in the quantization process in S605, the 10-bit color signal value data of each ink color output from the ink color conversion process is quantized to reduce the number of gradations. Then, in the pass decomposition process in S606, the image data consisting of the 10-bit color signal values ​​of each ink color processed by the quantization process is divided into scan-specific data for recording in multiple scans. Once the image processing in S602 is completed, the output process is executed in S607, and based on the data obtained from the pass decomposition process in S606, the recording head is driven in synchronization with the scanning of the recording head to eject ink of each color onto the recording medium for recording.

[0048] Figure 7 is an illustrative diagram illustrating the control of print speed and image density corresponding to each print mode according to Embodiment 1.

[0049] Print Mode 1, shown in Figure 7(a), is a mode performed when sufficient power is supplied. It uses 100% (all) of the nozzles in the inkjet head, and prints at a sufficient carriage scanning speed, such as the initial setting. Here, for example, it is assumed that there are sufficient ejection capacity and carriage speed to print using 100% of the nozzles in a single pass of a serial head. Therefore, the image density and print speed that can be printed in Print Mode 1 serve as the standard among all print modes.

[0050] Print Mode 2 in Figure 7(a) is a printing mode that is set with reduced power supply compared to Print Mode 1. In Print Mode 2, for example, 50% of the nozzles of the inkjet head are used in a single pass, and the image is printed to cover 100% of the paper surface in multiple passes. In this way, power consumption can be reduced by halving the number of ejections per pass.

[0051] Print mode 3 in Figure 7(a) is a print mode set with reduced power supply compared to print mode 1. In print mode 3, power consumption of the ejection mechanism is reduced, for example, by decreasing the number of dots that form an image per unit area. In the example in Figure 7(a), an example is shown where printing is done using 50% of the number of dots compared to print mode 1. In this print mode 3, power reduction is achieved by reducing the number of nozzles that can be ejected in one pass, so the printing speed can be the same as in print mode 1.

[0052] Figure 7(b) illustrates an example of another printing mode.

[0053] Print mode 1 is the same as in Figure 7(a), and is the standard print mode in terms of both print density and print speed. Print mode 2 in Figure 7(b) is shown as an example of a print mode to avoid multipass printing, and by halving the carriage (CR) scanning speed, the coverage rate can be increased and as a result, the image density can be maintained. Print mode 3 in Figure 7(b) is the same as print mode 3 in Figure 7(a), and is an example of a print mode that prioritizes print speed when the second power supply is lower than the first power supply.

[0054] The movement that reflects these printing modes is achieved through image processing performed in each step from 603 to 606 in Figure 6.

[0055] Here, for example, we will explain how to reduce the number of dots to 50% (half) in print mode 3 shown in Figure 7.

[0056] In the input color conversion process of S603 in Figure 6, the luminance data is converted to luminance data such that the number of dots is 50%. The total number of dots for each luminance data is calculated using the data flow in Figure 6. Furthermore, considering the data processing speed, the number of dots per unit time can be calculated. Based on these relationships, a conversion table should be created that halves the number of dots per unit time. In addition, since the conversion is performed using luminance data, it has the effect of making it easier to check how it will look on a monitor, etc.

[0057] Furthermore, if there is sufficient power, a similar effect can be easily achieved by applying gamma correction to linearize the concentration and then converting it so that the concentration is halved.

[0058] On the other hand, the above method does not separate the data into ink colors, making it difficult to accurately reflect the number of dots determined by secondary colors or UCR processing (undercoat color removal). In such cases, the S604 ink color conversion process should reduce the amount of multi-level data separated into ink colors. In this case as well, it is sufficient to calculate the number of dots for each input value and create a table that converts them so that the dot value is halved. Alternatively, a simpler calculation to halve the density is also acceptable.

[0059] Furthermore, for stricter control, it is necessary to ensure that the power consumption in each path does not exceed the capacity. In that case, the data after separation for each path should be controlled so that the number of shots per unit time is halved.

[0060] Furthermore, if the viscosity and coverage of the inks differ, the size of the ink droplets ejected from the recording head may also differ. In such cases, the amount of power required to eject each ink droplet will also differ. In these situations, the total power consumption can be calculated by multiplying the number of dots for each ink color by a coefficient of power consumption, and the system should be controlled so that the total power consumption is halved.

[0061] As described above, according to Embodiment 1, when a recording device connected to a wired interface is powered by that interface and operates, it can select a print mode according to the power supply information and execute printing. As a result, malfunctions such as the recording device stopping due to insufficient power supplied from the connected device can be prevented. In this way, the probability of printing being interrupted due to insufficient power supplied via the interface can be reduced, thereby increasing the frequency of processing print jobs that can continue printing.

[0062] [Embodiment 2] In the above-described embodiment 1, an example was explained in which the user selects the print mode on the UI input screen shown in Figure 8 and inputs whether to prioritize speed or image density depending on the type of print job.

[0063] In contrast, in Embodiment 2, instead of the user making a selection at the timing of S505, it may be possible to set it during the initial setup of the recording device 1000, for example, as shown in Figure 9. This eliminates the need for the user to select or input a print mode each time during a series of operations during printing. The user can then set the priority print mode that serves as the basis for how they want the recording device 1000 to operate, for example, whether to prioritize image density or print speed. Note that the hardware configuration of the recording device 1000 in Embodiment 2 is the same as that of Embodiment 1 described above, so its explanation will be omitted.

[0064] Figure 9 shows an example of screen transitions during initial setup in the recording device 1000 according to Embodiment 2.

[0065] The initial setup screen 901 allows you to set the country or region where the recording device 1000 will be used. In the example in Figure 9, Japan is selected. The initial setup screen 902 allows you to set the current date and time. When the OK button is pressed on the initial setup screen 902, the system transitions to the initial setup screen 903. On the initial setup screen 903, for example, speed priority is selected.

[0066] This allows users to set a preferred print mode that serves as the basis for the recording device's operation, such as a mode that prioritizes print speed.

[0067] Figure 10 is a flowchart illustrating the process when the recording device 1000 according to Embodiment 2 receives power via a wired connection and performs printing. This process begins, for example, when a USB device is inserted into the USB I / F 107 of the recording device 1000. In Figure 10, the same processes as those in Figure 5 according to Embodiment 1 described above are given the same reference numerals, and their explanations are omitted.

[0068] If the system determines in S504 that the voltage of Vbat is greater than threshold 1, the process proceeds to S1001, where the ASIC210 determines whether a priority printing mode is set in the initial settings as described in Figure 9. If a priority printing mode is not set in the initial settings, the process proceeds to S505, where the same process as in Embodiment 1 described above is executed. On the other hand, if the system determines that a priority printing mode is set in the initial settings, the process proceeds to S1002, where the ASIC210 sets the initially set printing mode and proceeds to S507. At this time, the system may also determine whether printing is possible in the set priority printing mode based on the voltage of Vbat, and if so, proceed to S1002 to set that printing mode. If not, the process may proceed to S505, where the system presents the user with other print modes that can be selected besides the priority printing mode and allows the user to make a selection.

[0069] Furthermore, in Figure 9, between the initial setup screen 902 and the initial setup screen 903, for example, the second screen 802 of various settings 2 in Figure 8 may be displayed, and the system may transition to the initial setup screen 903 when item 803 for USB-TypeC power supply is selected.

[0070] As described above, according to Embodiment 2, when the recording device is initially set up, it is possible to set whether to prioritize speed or image density depending on the type of print job. This has the effect of eliminating the need for the user to input settings each time during the printing process.

[0071] [Embodiment 3] Next, Embodiment 3 will be described.

[0072] Figure 14 is a flowchart illustrating the process of determining the print mode according to the power supply status in the recording device 1000 according to Embodiment 3. The process shown in this flowchart is started when the power of the recording device 1000 is turned on, and this process is realized by the CPU 101 loading the program stored in ROM 103 into RAM 102 and executing it. This process may be started not only when the power is turned on, but also, for example, when a print job is submitted, when a print mode setting command is received from the host PC 112, or when there is an instruction operation from the user.

[0073] First, in S1401, the CPU 101 determines whether it is connected to the main power supply. This can be determined by a signal from the power supply board I / F 108. If it determines that it is connected to the main power supply, the process proceeds to S1402, where the CPU 101 sets the print mode to 1. As mentioned earlier, referring to Figure 7(a), this mode is performed when the power supply is sufficient. In other words, this mode uses 100% (all) of the nozzles of the inkjet head, and prints at a sufficient speed represented by the initial setting of the carriage scanning speed.

[0074] On the other hand, if the CPU 101 determines in S1401 that it is not connected to the main power supply, it proceeds to S1403, where the CPU 101 determines whether the power supply level indicated by the Vbat voltage is above a predetermined value. If it determines that the power supply level is above the predetermined value, it proceeds to S1404, where the CPU 101 sets the print mode to 2. If the CPU 101 determines in S1404 that the power supply level is below the predetermined value, it proceeds to S1405, where the CPU 101 sets the print mode to 3. These print modes 2 and 3 may be those described above with reference to Figure 7, or they may be as shown in Figure 12, which will be described later.

[0075] Figure 12 is an illustrative diagram illustrating the control of print speed and image density corresponding to each print mode according to Embodiment 3.

[0076] Figures 12(a) and 12(b) are diagrams illustrating how the printing speed and image density are controlled for each printing mode throughout the printing process up to the output processing stage shown in Figure 6.

[0077] Print Mode 1 in Figures 12(a) and 12(b) corresponds to a state where sufficient power is supplied, and printing is performed using 100% (all) of the nozzles of the ink ejection means. Furthermore, it shows an operating state in which printing is performed at a sufficient speed in the scanning direction of the carriage, as represented by the initial setting. It assumes a sufficient number of ejections and a sufficient carriage scanning speed for image formation using 100% of the nozzles in a single pass of the serial head, and is the standard printing mode among all printing modes in terms of both density and speed.

[0078] Figure 12(a) shows a case where a density-maintaining, power-saving printing mode is provided. Printing mode 2 in Figure 12(a) is a printing mode set when the power supply is suppressed compared to printing mode 1, and uses 50% (half) of the nozzles of the ink ejection means to form an image by covering the paper surface with a multi-pass, for example, two passes. In this way, the amount of power consumption can be reduced by halving the number of nozzles that eject ink.

[0079] Furthermore, print mode 3 in Figure 12(a) further reduces the number of nozzles used, utilizing 25% (1 / 4) of the total number of nozzles, and forms the image by covering the paper surface with multiple passes, for example, 4 passes. In this case, power consumption can be further reduced than in print mode 2, while maintaining density. Thus, when printing using (1 / (integer)) of the total number of nozzles in a single pass, the number of passes will be that integer number of multi-passes.

[0080] Figure 12(b) shows a case where a power-saving printing mode that maintains speed is provided. Printing mode 2 in Figure 12(b) is a printing mode set when the power supply is reduced compared to printing mode 1, and the power consumption of the ejection mechanism is reduced by lowering the ratio of the number of dots that form the image per unit area. In this example, printing mode 2 represents a state where the number of dots is 50% of that of printing mode 1. Printing mode 3 is a printing mode set when the power supply is further reduced compared to printing mode 2. In printing mode 3, the number of dots is 25% of that of printing mode 1. In Figure 12(b), since the image is formed in one pass in all printing modes, the print density decreases, but the printing speed can be maintained.

[0081] The print modes shown in Figures 12(a) and 12(b) are achieved by performing the image processing steps S603 to S606 in Figure 6. Here, for example, we will explain how to reduce the number of dots in print mode 2 (Figure 12(b)) to 50% (half).

[0082] In the S603's input color conversion process, luminance data is converted to luminance data such that the number of dots is 50%. The total number of dots for each color for each luminance data is calculated using the data flow in Figure 6. Furthermore, considering the data processing speed, the number of dots per unit time can be calculated. Based on this relationship, a conversion table should be created that halves the number of dots per unit time. In addition, since the conversion is performed using luminance data, it has the effect of making it easier to check how it will look on a monitor, etc.

[0083] Furthermore, if there is sufficient power, a similar effect can be obtained in a simpler way by applying a gamma transform to linearize the change in concentration and then transforming it so that the concentration is halved.

[0084] On the other hand, with the method described above, since the data is not separated into ink colors, it is difficult to accurately reflect the number of dots determined by secondary colors or UCR processing. In such cases, the S604 ink color conversion process should reduce the amount of multi-level data separated into ink colors. In this case as well, it is sufficient to calculate the number of dots for each input value and create a table that converts them so that the dot value is halved. Alternatively, a simpler calculation to halve the density is also acceptable.

[0085] Furthermore, for stricter control, it is necessary to ensure that the power consumption in each pass does not exceed the capacity. In that case, the data after separation into recorded data for each pass should be controlled so that the number of shots per unit time is halved.

[0086] Furthermore, in systems with different ink viscosities and coverage rates, the size of the dots for each ink color may differ. In such cases, the power required to eject the dots for each ink color will differ. In these situations, the power should be controlled so that it is halved based on the number of dots for each ink color multiplied by a coefficient of power consumption.

[0087] The above describes a typical example of the flow from when a recording device selects a print mode based on power supply information from a wired connected device, to when it finishes printing. As a result, it becomes possible to select a print mode that reduces the probability of the recording device stopping due to insufficient power from the connected device, and the frequency of jobs that can continue printing can be increased.

[0088] (Modified form of Embodiment 3) Here, a modified example of Embodiment 3 will be described.

[0089] Figure 12(c) is an illustrative diagram illustrating the control of print speed and image density corresponding to a print mode that is a modified example of the density-maintaining type (density priority), and Figure 12(d) is an illustrative diagram illustrating the control of print speed and image density corresponding to a print mode that is a modified example of the speed-maintaining type (speed priority). Here, conditions 1 (power consumption in print mode 1 > power consumption in print mode 2) and 2 (power consumption in print mode 2 > power consumption in print mode 3) are satisfied. An example is shown in which both the carriage scanning speed and image density are not allowed to fall below approximately 50%. In the case of the density-maintaining type, in print mode 2, 50% (half) of the nozzles are used to perform printing in two passes. On the other hand, in the case of the speed-maintaining type, in print mode 2, 50% (half) of the nozzles are used to perform printing in one pass. Therefore, there is a difference in processing between the speed-maintaining type and the density-maintaining type. However, in the case of print mode 3, in both the density-maintaining type and the speed-maintaining type, 50% (half) of the nozzles are used to perform printing in two passes. Therefore, in this case, there is no difference in processing between the rate-maintaining type and the concentration-maintaining type.

[0090] As shown in Figures 12(c) and 12(d), if conditions 1 and 2 above are met, processing that reduces both image density and printing speed, as in print mode 3, may be performed.

[0091] Figure 13 shows examples of print modes 2 and 3, in which both image density and print speed are reduced.

[0092] In this case, in addition to conditions 1 and 2 above, conditions 3 (density in density priority mode > density in speed priority mode) and 4 (speed in density priority mode < speed in speed priority mode) are also met in print modes 2 and 3.

[0093] (Other embodiments) This disclosure can also be implemented by supplying a program that implements one or more of the functions of the above-described embodiments to a system or device via a network or storage medium, and by having one or more processors in the computer of that system or device read and execute the program. It can also be implemented by a circuit (e.g., an ASIC) that implements one or more functions.

[0094] This specification and drawings disclose the following recording device and its control method.

[0095] <Item 1> A recording device that is wiredly connected via an interface and can operate by power supplied from said interface, A first determination means for determining the specifications of the interface, A second determination means for determining the power supply level indicating the power supply status from the interface, A setting means for setting the print mode based on the interface specifications determined by the first determination means and the power supply level determined by the second determination means, A control means that executes printing according to the print job based on the print mode set by the setting means, A recording device characterized by having the following features.

[0096] <Item 2> The system further includes a charging means that charges by power supplied from the aforementioned interface, The recording device according to item 1, characterized in that the second determination means determines the power supply level based on the voltage value output from the charging means.

[0097] <Item 3> The recording device according to item 1 or 2, characterized in that the setting means sets a threshold corresponding to the interface standard and sets the printing mode based on a comparison of the power supply level and the threshold.

[0098] <Item 4> If there are multiple selectable print modes, the system further includes a means for presenting these multiple print modes to the user and allowing them to make a selection. The recording device according to any one of items 1 to 3, further characterized in that, when there are multiple print modes that can be selected based on the interface standard and the power supply level, the setting means sets the print mode selected by the selection means.

[0099] <Item 5> As an initial setting, it further includes an initial setting means for setting the preferred print mode. The recording device according to any one of items 1 to 4, wherein the setting means further sets the preferred printing mode based on the interface standard and the power supply level.

[0100] <Item 6> Inkjet head and The system further includes scanning means for scanning the inkjet head, The recording device according to any one of items 1 to 5, characterized in that the printing mode is a mode that controls at least one of the number of nozzles of the inkjet head used for printing and the scanning speed of the inkjet head by the scanning means.

[0101] <Item 7> The recording device according to item 6, characterized in that the printing mode includes a first printing mode in which all of the nozzles of the inkjet head are used and the scanning speed is set to a speed based on an initial setting.

[0102] <Item 8> The recording device according to item 6, characterized in that the printing mode includes a second printing mode in which the number of nozzles of the inkjet head used for printing is reduced, and the scanning speed is set to a speed based on an initial setting.

[0103] <Item 9> The recording device according to item 6, characterized in that the printing mode includes a third printing mode in which the number of nozzles of the inkjet head used in a single pass is reduced, the scanning speed is set to a speed based on the initial setting, and printing is performed in multiple passes.

[0104] <Item 10> The recording device according to item 6, characterized in that the printing mode includes a fourth printing mode in which printing is performed using all of the nozzles of the inkjet head and further reducing the scanning speed to a speed based on the initial setting.

[0105] <Item 11> The system further includes a storage means for storing selectable print modes in correspondence with the interface specifications and the power supply level. The recording device according to item 4, characterized in that the selection means obtains the selectable printing mode by referring to the storage means.

[0106] <Item 12> It further has an inkjet head as a recording head, The recording device according to item 11, characterized in that the selectable printing mode is a printing mode that can guarantee a power supply level sufficient to cap the inkjet head after printing is completed.

[0107] <Item 13> The recording device according to any one of items 1 to 12, characterized in that the interface standard includes USB-TypeC.

[0108] <Item 14> A control method for controlling a recording device that is wiredly connected via an interface and is powered by the power supplied from that interface, The first determination means of the recording device includes a first determination step of determining the standard of the interface, The second determination means of the recording device includes a second determination step of determining a power supply level indicating the power supply status from the interface, The setting means for the recording device includes a setting step of setting a print mode based on the interface standard determined in the first determination step and the power supply level determined in the second determination step, The control means of the recording device includes a control step of executing printing according to a print job based on the print mode set in the setting step, A control method characterized by having the following features.

[0109] <Item 15> A recording device that can operate by receiving power from a wired connected device, A determination means for determining the power supply level of the aforementioned power supply, The system includes a control means that controls the printing process by setting the printing mode based on the power supply level determined by the determination means, The recording device is characterized in that the control means prints in a first printing mode when the power supply level is a first power supply level, prints in a second printing mode when the power supply level is a second power supply level lower than the first power supply level, and prints in a third printing mode when the power supply level is a third power supply level lower than the second power supply level.

[0110] <Item 16> The recording device according to item 15, characterized in that the first printing mode is a printing mode in which all nozzles of the recording head can be used in a single pass and printing can be performed at a scanning speed of the recording head based on an initial setting, and the second printing mode and the third printing mode are printing modes in which the number of nozzles used in a single pass is reduced compared to the first printing mode, or the number of nozzles used in a single pass is reduced and printing is performed in multiple passes.

[0111] <Item 17> The recording device according to item 16, characterized in that the third printing mode is a printing mode that reduces the number of nozzles used in one pass or increases the number of passes compared to the second printing mode.

[0112] <Item 18> In the case of a density-maintaining type that performs printing at a density that can be printed in the first printing mode, the control means controls the recording device according to item 16, wherein in the second printing mode and the third printing mode, the number of nozzles used in one pass is (1 / (integer)) of the total number of nozzles, and printing is performed in a multipass corresponding to the integer.

[0113] <Item 19> In the case of a speed-maintaining type that performs printing at a speed based on the initial settings, the recording device according to item 16 is characterized in that, in the second printing mode and the third printing mode, the control means controls the printing to reduce the ratio of the number of dots per unit area used to print an image.

[0114] <Item 20> A control method for controlling a recording device that can operate by receiving power from a wired connected device, The determination means of the recording device includes a determination step of determining the power supply level of the power supply, The control means of the recording device includes a control step of setting a print mode and controlling printing based on the power supply level determined in the determination step, The control method is characterized in that, in the control step, printing is performed in a first printing mode when the power supply level is a first power supply level, printing is performed in a second printing mode when the power supply level is a second power supply level lower than the first power supply level, and printing is performed in a third printing mode when the power supply level is a third power supply level lower than the second power supply level.

[0115] The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, and various modifications and variations are possible without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the following claims are attached to make the scope of the invention public. [Explanation of symbols]

[0116] 1000…Recording device, 100…Control unit, 107…USB interface, 110…Printer unit, 111…Operation unit, 203…Charger IC, 204…Electric double-layer capacitor (EDLC), 206…DC-DC converter (boost circuit), 207…DC-DC converter (buck circuit)

Claims

1. A recording device that is wiredly connected via an interface and can operate by power supplied from said interface, A first determination means for determining the specifications of the interface, A second determination means for determining the power supply level indicating the power supply status from the interface, A setting means for setting the print mode based on the interface specifications determined by the first determination means and the power supply level determined by the second determination means, A control means that executes printing according to the print job based on the print mode set by the setting means, A recording device characterized by having the following features.

2. The system further includes a charging means that charges by power supplied from the aforementioned interface, The recording device according to claim 1, characterized in that the second determination means determines the power supply level based on the voltage value output from the charging means.

3. The recording device according to claim 1, characterized in that the setting means sets a threshold corresponding to the interface standard and sets the printing mode based on a comparison between the power supply level and the threshold.

4. If there are multiple selectable print modes, the system further includes a means for presenting these multiple print modes to the user and allowing them to make a selection. The recording device according to claim 1, further characterized in that, if there are multiple print modes that can be selected based on the interface standard and the power supply level, the setting means sets the print mode selected by the selection means.

5. As an initial setting, it further includes an initial setting means for setting the preferred print mode. The recording device according to claim 1, wherein the setting means further sets the preferred printing mode based on the interface standard and the power supply level.

6. Inkjet head and The system further includes scanning means for scanning the inkjet head, The recording apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the printing mode is a mode that controls at least one of the number of nozzles of the inkjet head used for printing and the scanning speed of the inkjet head by the scanning means.

7. The recording device according to claim 6, characterized in that the printing mode includes a first printing mode in which all of the nozzles of the inkjet head are used and the scanning speed is set to a speed based on an initial setting.

8. The recording device according to claim 6, characterized in that the printing mode includes a second printing mode in which the number of nozzles of the inkjet head used for printing is reduced, and the scanning speed is set to a speed based on an initial setting.

9. The recording device according to claim 6, characterized in that the printing mode includes a third printing mode in which the number of nozzles of the inkjet head used in a single pass is reduced, the scanning speed is set to a speed based on an initial setting, and printing is performed in multiple passes.

10. The recording device according to claim 6, characterized in that the printing mode includes a fourth printing mode in which printing is performed using all of the nozzles of the inkjet head and further reducing the scanning speed to a speed based on the initial setting.

11. The system further includes a storage means for storing selectable print modes in correspondence with the interface specifications and the power supply level. The recording device according to claim 4, characterized in that the selection means obtains the selectable printing mode by referring to the storage means.

12. It further has an inkjet head as a recording head, The recording device according to claim 11, characterized in that the selectable printing mode is a printing mode that can guarantee a power supply level sufficient to cap the inkjet head after printing is completed.

13. The recording device according to claim 1, characterized in that the interface standard includes USB-TypeC.

14. A control method for controlling a recording device that is wiredly connected via an interface and is powered by the power supplied from that interface, The first determination means of the recording device includes a first determination step of determining the standard of the interface, The second determination means of the recording device includes a second determination step of determining a power supply level indicating the power supply status from the interface, The setting means for the recording device includes a setting step of setting a print mode based on the interface standard determined in the first determination step and the power supply level determined in the second determination step, The control means of the recording device includes a control step of executing printing according to a print job based on the print mode set in the setting step, A control method characterized by having the following features.

15. A recording device that can operate by receiving power from a wired connected device, A determination means for determining the power supply level of the aforementioned power supply, The system includes a control means that controls the printing process by setting the printing mode based on the power supply level determined by the determination means, The recording device is characterized in that the control means prints in a first printing mode when the power supply level is a first power supply level, prints in a second printing mode when the power supply level is a second power supply level lower than the first power supply level, and prints in a third printing mode when the power supply level is a third power supply level lower than the second power supply level.

16. The recording device according to claim 15, characterized in that the first printing mode is a printing mode in which all nozzles of the recording head can be used in a single pass and printing can be performed at a scanning speed of the recording head based on an initial setting, and the second printing mode and the third printing mode are printing modes in which the number of nozzles used in a single pass is reduced compared to the first printing mode, or the number of nozzles used in a single pass is reduced and printing is performed in multiple passes.

17. The recording device according to claim 16, characterized in that the third printing mode is a printing mode that reduces the number of nozzles used in one pass or increases the number of passes compared to the second printing mode.

18. In the case of a density-maintaining type that performs printing at a density that can be printed in the first printing mode, the control means controls the recording device according to 16, wherein in the second printing mode and the third printing mode, the number of nozzles used in one pass is (1 / (integer)) of the total number of nozzles, and printing is performed in a multipass corresponding to the integer.

19. In the case of a speed-maintaining type that performs printing at a speed based on the initial settings, the recording device according to claim 16 is characterized in that, in the second printing mode and the third printing mode, the control means controls the printing to reduce the ratio of the number of dots to print an image per unit area.

20. A control method for controlling a recording device that can operate by receiving power from a wired connected device, The determination means of the recording device includes a determination step of determining the power supply level of the power supply, The control means of the recording device includes a control step of setting a print mode and controlling printing based on the power supply level determined in the determination step, The control method is characterized in that, in the control step, printing is performed in a first printing mode when the power supply level is a first power supply level, printing is performed in a second printing mode when the power supply level is a second power supply level lower than the first power supply level, and printing is performed in a third printing mode when the power supply level is a third power supply level lower than the second power supply level.

Images