Inkjet recording apparatus and information processing method

Abstract

To properly perform processing for complementing ejection by a non-ejecting nozzle, in performing a decimating process to nozzle data that are transferred to a recording head in order to control ejection of ink from a nozzle.SOLUTION: A recording device 101 comprises a recording head 112 having a plurality of nozzle rows, which is configured to obtain nozzle data for controlling ink ejection, on respective nozzles which the plurality of nozzle rows have. Nozzle data on a supplementary nozzle which is different from a non-ejecting nozzle are corrected so as to complement nozzle data on the non-ejecting nozzle, on the basis of information showing the non-ejecting nozzle. Portions of nozzle data on the plurality of nozzles which the plurality of nozzle rows have are decimated and then remaining nozzle data are transferred to the recording head 112. The complementary nozzle can eject ink toward a target position in stead of the non-ejecting nozzle. When the nozzle data on the non-ejecting nozzle are not decimated, the complementary nozzle is selected so that nozzle data on the complementary nozzle are not decimated.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an inkjet recording apparatus and an information processing method, and more particularly to a method for performing a complement process for a non-ejecting nozzle in an inkjet recording apparatus. [Background technology]

[0002] In an inkjet recording device, when the nozzles of a recording head include a non-ejecting nozzle, a method is known in which print data corresponding to the non-ejecting nozzle is supplemented with print data corresponding to another nozzle to reduce the impact of the non-ejecting nozzle. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a method of performing such supplementary processing while satisfying conditions regarding the ejection interval by the same nozzle and the interval between nozzles that can eject simultaneously. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2018-24144 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] Inkjet printing devices are subject to limitations on the data transfer speed to the print head. To satisfy this limitation, thinning out the nozzle data transferred to the print head to control ink ejection from the nozzles can sometimes prevent sufficient compensation for non-ejecting nozzles. For example, if the nozzle data for non-ejecting nozzles is thinned out by thinning out the nozzle data for the nozzles used for compensation, but not the nozzle data for the nozzles used for compensation, ink that would not be ejected without the compensation process will be ejected. Conversely, if the nozzle data for non-ejecting nozzles is not thinned out and the nozzle data for the nozzles used for compensation is thinned out, ink will not be ejected from the nozzles used for compensation.

[0005] The present invention aims to appropriately perform a process of complementing non-ejecting nozzles when a thinning process is performed on nozzle data transferred to a print head in order to control the ejection of ink from the nozzles. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] An inkjet recording apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention has the following configuration: a print head in which a plurality of nozzle rows are arranged in a first direction and which ejects ink onto a print medium which moves relatively in the first direction, wherein one of the nozzle rows has a plurality of nozzles which eject ink and are arranged along a second direction different from the first direction; an acquisition unit that acquires nozzle data for controlling ink ejection for each of the plurality of nozzles included in the plurality of nozzle rows; a complementing means for correcting nozzle data for a complementary nozzle different from the non-ejecting nozzle based on information indicating a non-ejecting nozzle that cannot properly eject ink among the plurality of nozzles included in the plurality of nozzle arrays, so as to complement the nozzle data for the non-ejecting nozzle; a transfer means for thinning out a part of the nozzle data for the plurality of nozzles in the plurality of nozzle rows and transferring the remaining nozzle data to the print head; the complementary nozzle is capable of ejecting ink toward a target position on the recording medium in place of the non-ejecting nozzle; The complementary nozzles are selected so that when the nozzle data for the non-ejecting nozzles is not thinned out by the transfer means, the nozzle data for the complementary nozzles is also not thinned out by the transfer means. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] When thinning out nozzle data transferred to a print head to control ink ejection from the nozzles, it is possible to appropriately perform compensation processing for non-ejecting nozzles. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an example of the hardware configuration of a recording apparatus according to an embodiment. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a data flow in a recording apparatus according to an embodiment. [Figure 3] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of the arrangement of print heads in a printing apparatus. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of a recording head. [Figure 5] FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating the inclination of a recording head. [Figure 6] FIG. 4 is an image diagram showing the landing positions of ink ejected from the recording head. [Figure 7] FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating tilt correction. [Figure 8] FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of thinning processing. [Figure 9] FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of nozzle data. [Figure 10] 10A and 10B are diagrams for explaining discharge failure complement processing. [Figure 11] 1 is a flowchart of an information processing method according to an embodiment. [Figure 12] FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of thinning processing. [Figure 13] 10A and 10B are diagrams for explaining discharge failure complement processing. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0009] Hereinafter, embodiments will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Note that the following embodiments do not limit the scope of the invention claimed. Although multiple features are described in the embodiments, not all of these multiple features are necessarily essential to the invention, and multiple features may be combined arbitrarily. Furthermore, in the accompanying drawings, the same reference numerals are used to designate the same or similar components, and redundant explanations will be omitted.

[0010] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of the hardware configuration of a recording apparatus 101, which is an inkjet recording apparatus according to this embodiment. Image data input from a host PC 102 is stored in a RAM 116 via a host I / F unit 113. Each processing unit reads the data from the RAM 116, processes the data, and then writes the data back to the RAM 116. A CPU 114 controls each processing unit in accordance with a control program stored in a ROM 115. Note that the function of each processing unit may be realized by a processor such as the CPU 114 executing a program stored in a memory such as the ROM 115 or the RAM 116.

[0011] 3A and 3B are diagrams showing the configuration of a recording apparatus 101 according to this embodiment. FIG. 3A shows the recording apparatus 101 as seen from the side. FIG. 3B shows the recording apparatus as seen from above. A recording medium such as recording paper is supplied from a supply unit 302. The recording medium is then transported on a transport path 301. The recording medium is then discharged from a discharge unit 303. Recording heads 304, 305, 306, and 307 are recording heads that eject ink of different colors. Recording heads 304 to 307 eject ink onto the recording medium transported on transport path 301.

[0012] FIG. 4 shows the configuration of the print head 304. In the print head 304, multiple nozzle rows (eight rows in the example of FIG. 4) are arranged side by side in a first direction (the X direction in FIG. 4). Each nozzle row has multiple nozzles that eject ink arranged along a second direction different from the first direction (the Y direction in FIG. 4, which is perpendicular to the X direction). The print head 304 ejects ink onto a print medium that moves relatively in the first direction. In FIG. 4, the X direction corresponds to the print medium transport direction. However, as will be described later, due to the inclination θ of the print head 304, the print medium transport direction may not completely coincide with the X direction. The position of each nozzle is represented by Seg in FIG. 4.

[0013] In the example of FIG. 4, each nozzle array has nozzles arranged in a number corresponding to the printing width of the printing device. The print heads 305-307 can also have a configuration similar to that of FIG. 4. Each print head 304-307 ejects ink of one color. That is, the multiple nozzle arrays and multiple nozzles of each print head 304-307 eject ink of the same color. Furthermore, the nozzles of the same Segment in each nozzle array are aligned in the X direction. Therefore, the ink ejected from the nozzles of the same Segment in each nozzle array generally lands on the print medium in the Y direction at the same position. In the print head 304 shown in FIG. 4, the nozzles of the same Segment in each nozzle array eject ink at different times to the same position on the print medium transported in the X direction. In the example of FIG. 4, if the thinning process described below is not performed, printing can be performed using eight nozzles from columns A to H to the same position on the print medium.

[0014] 2 is a block diagram showing the data flow in the inkjet printing apparatus according to this embodiment. The RIP processing unit 103 generates multi-value bitmap data by performing rendering in accordance with image data input from the host PC 102. The print data generation unit 104 generates halftone data for each ink color by performing ink color conversion processing and quantization processing on the multi-value bitmap data.

[0015] The nozzle data generation unit 105 acquires nozzle data. This nozzle data is data that controls ink ejection for each of the multiple nozzles in the multiple nozzle arrays in the print heads 304 to 307. In this embodiment, the nozzle data generation unit 105 generates nozzle data for each color based on halftone data. This nozzle data includes binary data for each line and for each nozzle. This binary data indicates whether or not to eject ink from a nozzle. Hereinafter, binary data included in the nozzle data that instructs a specific nozzle to eject ink will be referred to as ejection data. Also, binary data included in the nozzle data that instructs a specific nozzle not to eject ink will be referred to as non-ejection data. However, the nozzle data generation unit 105 may acquire nozzle data from another processing unit or another device. Hereinafter, such binary data or a collection of binary data may also be referred to as nozzle data.

[0016] The non-discharge complement unit 107 performs non-discharge complement processing on the nozzle data. The non-discharge complement unit 107 can complement the nozzle data for the non-discharge nozzle based on information indicating a non-discharge nozzle that cannot properly eject ink among the multiple nozzles in the multiple nozzle arrays of the print heads 304 to 307. Specifically, in the non-discharge complement processing, the ejection data assigned to the non-discharge nozzle is reassigned to a nozzle that is not the non-discharge nozzle. Specifically, the non-discharge complement unit 107 can correct the nozzle data for the complementary nozzle that is different from the non-discharge nozzle. In this way, the non-discharge complement unit 107 can complement the nozzle data for the non-discharge nozzle with the nozzle data for the complementary nozzle. The complementary nozzle can eject ink toward a target position on the recording medium in place of the non-discharge nozzle. For example, a complementary nozzle can be selected so that ink is ejected from the complementary nozzle toward the same target impact position as the ink from the non-discharge nozzle. Non-discharge nozzle information indicating the non-discharge nozzle is stored in the non-discharge information storage unit 106. Details of the non-discharge complement processing will be described later.

[0017] The tilt correction unit 109 can perform correction processing on the nozzle data after the interpolation processing in order to correct deviations in the ink ejection position based on the tilt between the transport direction of the recording medium and the Y direction. The tilt correction unit 109 can perform head tilt correction by moving the nozzle data in the Y direction in accordance with the amount of tilt of the recording heads 304 to 307. The head tilt correction can be performed according to the head tilt information stored in the tilt information storage unit 108.

[0018] Head tilt correction will be described with reference to FIGS. 5 to 7(B). FIG. 5 is a diagram showing the tilt θ of the attached print head 304. As shown in FIG. 5, the print head 304 (or each nozzle row of the print head 304) may be tilted with respect to the direction (Y direction) perpendicular to the print medium transport direction (X direction). In FIG. 5, the angle formed between the arrangement direction of one nozzle row and the X direction in a plan view of the print medium is represented as the tilt θ.

[0019] 6A to 6C are conceptual diagrams showing the relationship between the tilt θ of the print head 304 and the landing position of ink droplets from each nozzle on the print medium. In FIGS. 6A to 6C, the hatched areas represent the target landing positions of ink droplets from one nozzle array. The circles represent the actual landing positions of ink droplets from the nozzles Seg0 to Seg7 included in one nozzle array.

[0020] Fig. 6A shows the ideal landing positions on a recording medium from each nozzle of one nozzle array when there is no tilt of the recording head 304. Fig. 6B shows the landing positions on a recording medium from each nozzle of one nozzle array when the recording head 304 is mounted with an inclination of θ.

[0021] 6C is a diagram illustrating head tilt correction performed by tilt correction unit 109. As shown in FIG. 6C, ink ejection from a nozzle whose landing position is shifted by one line or more due to print head tilt is performed one line later. This process reduces the effects of print head tilt.

[0022] 7(A) and 7(B) are diagrams showing the processing performed by the tilt correction unit 109 to achieve the head tilt correction shown in FIG. 6(C). In FIGS. 7(A) and 7(B), binary data indicating whether or not ink is ejected from each of the nozzles Seg0 to Seg7 is shown. Furthermore, the lines in FIGS. 7(A) to 7(B) indicate the ejection timing. For example, the nozzles Seg0 to Seg7 can eject ink in accordance with the binary data shown in Line 1 at synchronized timing.

[0023] The tilt correction unit 109 can correct nozzle data that controls ink ejection onto one line on a recording medium by a plurality of nozzles. In this case, the tilt correction unit 109 can correct the nozzle data so that ink ejection by some of the nozzles included in one nozzle row is performed at a later timing than ink ejection by the rest of the nozzles.

[0024] FIG. 7(A) shows the nozzle data before head tilt correction. FIG. 7(B) shows the nozzle data after head tilt correction. As shown in FIG. 7(B), head tilt correction causes the binary data corresponding to the nozzles in Seg4 to Seg7 to be positioned one line later. With this type of head tilt correction, the timing of ink ejection from Seg4 to Seg7 according to the binary data shown in Line 1 in FIG. 7(A), for example, is delayed by one line compared to Seg0 to Seg3. As a result of this type of tilt correction, there is a possibility that binary data that was assigned to active nozzles (described below) may now be assigned to inactive nozzles.

[0025] The thinning unit 110 and data transfer unit 111 thin out some of the nozzle data for the plurality of nozzles in the plurality of nozzle arrays, and transfer the remaining nozzle data to the print heads 304 to 307. First, the thinning unit 110 performs a thinning process on the nozzle data after the head tilt correction has been performed by the tilt correction unit 109. In other words, the thinning unit 110 thins out some of the nozzle data for the plurality of nozzles in the plurality of nozzle arrays in the print heads 304 to 307.

[0026] 8(A) to 8(B) are conceptual diagrams of the thinning process performed by the thinning unit 110. In the examples of FIGS. 8(A) to 8(B), the nozzle data is thinned to 1 / 2. Also, FIGS. 8(A) to 8(B) show nozzle data for rows A and B of the multiple nozzle rows of the print head 304. In FIGS. 8(A) to 8(B), unhatched rectangles indicate that binary data has not been thinned out, i.e., the corresponding nozzles are active nozzles whose ink ejection is controlled. Also, hatched rectangles indicate that binary data has been thinned out, i.e., the corresponding nozzles are inactive nozzles whose ink ejection is not controlled (for example, ink is not ejected) due to the thinning process.

[0027] FIG. 8A is an image diagram of nozzle data after thinning processing when the print head 304 is not tilted. In the example of FIG. 8A, a portion of the nozzle data for row A and a portion of the nozzle data for row B are thinned out. Furthermore, the nozzle data for row A and the nozzle data for row B complement each other's thinned binary data. That is, the thinning processing is performed on the nozzle data for a pair consisting of row A and row B so that only one binary data corresponding to a nozzle in the same Seg remains. In other words, the thinning processing is performed on the nozzle data for a pair consisting of row A and row B so that only one binary data used for printing at the same position on the print medium remains. In the example of FIG. 8A, specifically, the binary data is thinned out alternately for each nozzle (Seg) and each line.

[0028] Figure 8(B) is an image diagram of nozzle data after head tilt correction and thinning processing. Figure 8(B) shows nozzle data when the print head 304 is installed with an inclination of θ as shown in Figure 6(B). Figure 8(B) shows that the binary data to be thinned out changes depending on the magnitude of the inclination θ.

[0029] In the embodiment described below, nozzles are classified into multiple nozzle groups. Furthermore, the nozzle data thinning process is performed on a nozzle group basis. Specifically, the nozzles in each nozzle array are divided into four nozzle groups. For example, the nozzles in each nozzle array can be assigned to the nozzle groups in order. In this case, nozzles Seg0, Seg4, Seg8, ..., and Seg(4n) are included in nozzle group 0. Furthermore, nozzles Seg1, Seg5, Seg9, ..., and Seg(4n+1) are included in nozzle group 1. Furthermore, nozzles Seg2, Seg6, Seg10, ..., and Seg(4n+2) are included in nozzle group 2. Furthermore, nozzles Seg3, Seg7, Seg11, ..., and Seg(4n+3) are included in nozzle group 3. In FIG. 8A, in Line 0 of Column A, the binary data for nozzles in nozzle group 1 and nozzle group 3 has been thinned out. Additionally, in Line 1 of Column A, the binary data for the nozzles in Nozzle Group 0 and Nozzle Group 2 is thinned out. In this way, information indicating the binary data to be thinned out for each Line is called a thinning pattern.

[0030] In the embodiment described below, the multiple nozzle arrays are classified into multiple thinning groups. In the following example, the nozzle arrays A, C, E, and G belong to the same thinning group. The nozzle arrays B, D, F, and H belong to another thinning group. The same method of thinning is performed on the binary data for the nozzle arrays that belong to the same thinning group. For example, the nozzle data that the thinning unit 110 thins out from the nozzle data for each ejection timing is the nozzle data for multiple nozzles that are located at the same position along the Y direction among the multiple nozzles in the nozzle arrays that belong to the same thinning group. Specifically, for nozzle arrays that belong to the same thinning group, the binary data for nozzles in the same Segment among the nozzle data for the same line is thinned out. In this way, the binary data that controls ink ejection to the same position on the recording medium is thinned out from the nozzle data for each nozzle array that belongs to the same thinning group. On the other hand, for nozzle arrays that belong to the same thinning group, the binary data for nozzles in different Segments among the nozzle data for the same line remains unthinned. Therefore, the nozzle data after the thinning process includes binary data that controls ink ejection to the same position on the recording medium for each nozzle array that belongs to the same thinning group.

[0031] In the following example, for columns A, C, E, and G, the binary data for nozzles in nozzle groups 1 and 3 for odd-numbered lines and the binary data for nozzles in nozzle groups 0 and 2 for even-numbered lines are thinned out. For columns B, D, F, and H, the binary data for nozzles in nozzle groups 0 and 2 for odd-numbered lines and the binary data for nozzles in nozzle groups 1 and 3 for even-numbered lines are thinned out. Thus, the nozzle data for columns A, C, E, and G is thinned out according to a predetermined thinning pattern. Furthermore, the nozzle data for columns B, D, F, and H is thinned out according to another predetermined thinning pattern.

[0032] That is, with regard to nozzle data (e.g., Line 0) corresponding to one ejection timing, nozzle data for a first nozzle group (e.g., nozzle groups 1 and 3) of a first nozzle array (e.g., array A) belonging to one thinning-out group is thinned out. Meanwhile, nozzle data for the remaining nozzles of the first nozzle array (e.g., nozzle groups 0 and 2) is transferred to the print head 112. Furthermore, nozzle data for a second nozzle group (e.g., nozzle groups 1 and 3) of a second nozzle array (e.g., array C) belonging to the same thinning-out group and located at the same position in the Y direction as the first nozzle group is thinned out. Meanwhile, nozzle data for the remaining nozzles of the second nozzle array (e.g., nozzle groups 0 and 2) is transferred to the print head 112.

[0033] Furthermore, with regard to nozzle data (e.g., Line 0) corresponding to one ejection timing, nozzle data for a first nozzle group (e.g., nozzle groups 1 and 3) included in a first nozzle array (e.g., array A) belonging to the first thinning-out group is thinned out. Meanwhile, nozzle data for the remaining nozzles (e.g., nozzle groups 0 and 2) of the first nozzle array is transferred to the print head 112. Furthermore, nozzle data for a third nozzle group (e.g., nozzle groups 0 and 2) included in a third nozzle array (e.g., array B) belonging to a second thinning-out group different from the first thinning-out group is thinned out. Meanwhile, nozzle data for the remaining nozzles (e.g., nozzle groups 1 and 3) of the third nozzle array is transferred to the print head 112. Here, at least one nozzle included in the first nozzle group (e.g., nozzle groups 1 and 3) and at least one nozzle included in the third nozzle group (e.g., nozzle groups 0 and 2) are located at different positions in the Y direction.

[0034] Here, the positions in the Y direction may be different between any nozzle included in the first nozzle group and all nozzles included in the third nozzle group. In particular, the positions in the Y direction may be the same between nozzles in the first nozzle row that are not included in the first nozzle group and nozzles included in the third nozzle group. This means that nozzle rows belonging to one thinning group and nozzle rows belonging to another thinning group will complement each other after the thinning process. In the example of FIG. 8A, not only the pair of rows A and B, but also the pair of rows C and D, the pair of rows E and F, and the pair of rows G and H will complement each other after the thinning process.

[0035] Furthermore, with regard to the nozzle data (e.g., Line 0) corresponding to the first ejection timing, the nozzle data for the first nozzle group (e.g., nozzle groups 1 and 3) of the first nozzle array (e.g., array A) is thinned out. Meanwhile, the nozzle data for the remaining nozzles (e.g., nozzle groups 0 and 2) of the first nozzle array is transferred to the print head 112. Then, with regard to the nozzle data (e.g., Line 1) corresponding to the second ejection timing, the nozzle data for the fourth nozzle group (e.g., nozzle groups 0 and 2) of the first nozzle array is thinned out. Meanwhile, the nozzle data for the remaining nozzles (e.g., nozzle groups 1 and 3) of the first nozzle array is transferred to the print head 112. Furthermore, with regard to the nozzle data (e.g., Line 2) corresponding to the third ejection timing, the nozzle data for the first nozzle group (e.g., nozzle groups 1 and 3) of the first nozzle array is thinned out. Meanwhile, the nozzle data for the remaining nozzles (e.g., nozzle groups 0 and 2) of the first nozzle array is transferred to the print head 112.

[0036] Here, the nozzles included in the first nozzle group (e.g., nozzle groups 1 and 3) and the nozzles included in the fourth nozzle group (e.g., nozzle groups 0 and 2) are at least partially different. In this way, the nozzles that become ineffective nozzles change at each ejection timing. In particular, the positions in the Y direction of the nozzles in the first nozzle row that are not included in the first nozzle group and the nozzles included in the fourth nozzle group may be the same.

[0037] Fig. 9 shows an example of nozzle data generated by the nozzle data generation unit 105 when performing thinning processing. Fig. 9 shows an example of nozzle data used to control the ejection of ink for one line in the Y direction on a recording medium. The nozzle data shown in Fig. 9 may be nozzle data for each ink array corresponding to Line 0 shown in Fig. 8(A). In accordance with this nozzle data, each nozzle array ejects ink at different timings onto the same line on a recording medium transported in the X direction, thereby recording on this line.

[0038] When performing thinning processing, the nozzle data generation unit 105 assigns the same nozzle data to pairs of nozzle arrays that will complement each other after thinning processing. For example, the nozzle data generation unit 105 can assign nozzle data by regarding such nozzle arrays as a single nozzle array. Therefore, in the example of Figure 9, the pairs of arrays A and B, arrays C and D, arrays E and F, and arrays G and H have the same binary data.

[0039] The data transfer unit 111 transfers the remaining nozzle data after the thinning process to the printhead 112. The printhead 112 corresponds to printheads 304 to 307. Here, the data transfer unit 111 can transfer nozzle data for some of the nozzles in a first nozzle array included in the plurality of nozzle arrays to the printhead 112, along with data identifying some of the nozzles. For example, the data transfer unit 111 can transfer packet data to the printhead 112, the packet data including nozzle data for nozzles belonging to one or more nozzle groups in the first nozzle array and flag signals identifying the one or more nozzle groups. If the nozzle data for nozzle groups 1 and 3 is thinned out, the data transfer unit 111 transmits only the nozzle data for nozzle groups 0 and 2 to the printhead 112. This configuration can reduce the amount of data transmitted by approximately half compared to transmitting nozzle data for all nozzle groups.

[0040] The following describes the non-discharge complement process performed by the non-discharge complement unit 107. The non-discharge complement unit 107 can perform the non-discharge complement process while taking into account the thinning process performed by the thinning unit 110. For example, the non-discharge complement unit 107 can complement nozzle data that controls ink ejection from a non-discharge nozzle with nozzle data for a complementary nozzle that ejects ink to the same position on the recording medium. Specifically, when ejection data is set for a non-discharge nozzle, the non-discharge complement unit 107 can set ejection data for the complementary nozzle that had non-ejection data set before the complement. Here, when the nozzle data for the non-discharge nozzle is not thinned out by the thinning unit 110, the non-discharge complement unit 107 can select a complementary nozzle so that the nozzle data for the complementary nozzle is not thinned out by the thinning unit 110. With this configuration, even when thinning out is performed, ink is ejected by the complementary nozzle instead of the non-discharge nozzle. This reduces the impact of non-discharge nozzles on the image.

[0041] For example, the discharge failure complement unit 107 can perform complement processing while checking whether the nozzle data for the discharge failure nozzle and the nozzle data for the complementary nozzle will be thinned out by the thinning unit 110. In this case, if the nozzle data for the discharge failure nozzle is not thinned out by the thinning unit 110, the discharge failure complement unit does not need to perform discharge failure complement processing for the discharge failure nozzle. On the other hand, in the embodiment described below, the discharge failure complement unit 107 performs discharge failure complement processing while taking into account the thinning group. In this embodiment, the discharge failure complement unit 107 does not need to check whether the nozzle data for the discharge failure nozzle and the nozzle data for the complementary nozzle will actually be thinned out by the thinning unit 110. According to this embodiment, processing to check whether the nozzle data will actually be thinned out is unnecessary. Therefore, the circuitry required to implement this processing can be made smaller. This configuration is particularly effective when tilt correction processing is performed, because complex processing is required to check whether the nozzle data will actually be thinned out.

[0042] With reference to Figures 10(A) and 10(B), the discharge failure complement process by the discharge failure complement unit 107 when thinning out is performed will be described. The discharge failure complement unit 107 first determines a complementary nozzle candidate corresponding to the discharge failure nozzle. Figure 10(A) is a diagram illustrating a method for determining a complementary nozzle candidate. Figure 10(A) shows an example of performing thinning out process on the nozzle data shown in Figure 9. As described above, the nozzle data shown in Figure 10(A) is used for printing one line in the Y direction on the printing medium. In Figure 10(A), the binary data corresponding to the discharge failure nozzle is indicated by a cross. Furthermore, the binary data corresponding to the complementary nozzle candidate selected by the discharge failure complement unit 107 is indicated by a circle.

[0043] In this embodiment, the non-ejection complement unit 107 selects a complementary nozzle so that the nozzle row having the non-ejection nozzle belongs to the same thinning group as the nozzle row having the complementary nozzle. Therefore, the non-ejection complement unit 107 selects a complementary nozzle candidate from among the nozzles that belong to the same thinning group as the non-ejection nozzle. In other words, the nozzle row to which the non-ejection nozzle belongs and the nozzle row to which the complementary nozzle candidate belongs belong to the same thinning group. Furthermore, the complementary nozzle is selected so that the position in the Y direction of the complementary nozzle and the non-ejection nozzle are the same. Therefore, the non-ejection complement unit 107 selects a complementary nozzle candidate that belongs to the same thinning group as the non-ejection nozzle and has the same position in the Y direction as the non-ejection nozzle. The landing position of ink from the non-ejection nozzle on the recording medium in the Y direction is the same as the landing position of ink from the complementary nozzle candidate on the recording medium in the Y direction. Therefore, the complementary nozzle candidate selected in this manner can eject ink at the same position as the landing position of ink from the non-ejection nozzle.

[0044] Furthermore, because the complementary nozzle candidate belongs to the same thinning group as the non-ejecting nozzle, if the non-ejecting nozzle is an effective nozzle for printing a specific line, it is guaranteed that the complementary nozzle candidate will also be an effective nozzle for printing the same line. Therefore, if the non-ejecting nozzle is an effective nozzle, the complementary nozzle candidate can eject ink in place of the non-ejecting nozzle. Furthermore, if the non-ejecting nozzle is an ineffective nozzle for printing a specific line, it is guaranteed that the complementary nozzle candidate will also be an ineffective nozzle for printing the same line. In this case, even if complementary processing is performed so that the complementary nozzle candidate ejects ink in place of the non-ejecting nozzle, there is no effect on the image because the non-ejecting nozzle does not eject ink due to the thinning processing.

[0045] With this configuration, the non-discharge complement unit 107 can select an appropriate complementary nozzle candidate without knowing whether the binary data for the non-discharge nozzle will be thinned out. Specifically, the non-discharge complement unit 107 can select a complementary nozzle candidate for a non-discharge nozzle that is an effective nozzle such that the nozzle data for the complementary nozzle candidate is not thinned out. Furthermore, the non-discharge complement unit 107 can select a complementary nozzle candidate for a non-discharge nozzle that is an ineffective nozzle such that the nozzle data for the complementary nozzle candidate is thinned out. In this way, the non-discharge complement unit 107 can correct the nozzle data for the complementary nozzle regardless of whether the nozzle data for the non-discharge nozzle will be thinned out by the thinning unit 110. At this time, the non-discharge complement unit 107 does not need to consider the magnitude of the head tilt correction.

[0046] Note that before the complementation process, a nozzle that is instructed not to eject ink by the nozzle data is selected as a complementary nozzle. Therefore, the complementary nozzle candidate selected by the non-ejection complement unit 107 is a nozzle for which ejection data indicating that it will eject ink is not set in the nozzle data before the complementation process. Also, a nozzle for which information indicating that it is a non-ejection nozzle, meaning that it cannot eject ink correctly, is selected as a complementary nozzle. Therefore, the complementary nozzle candidate selected by the non-ejection complement unit 107 is a nozzle that is not set as a non-ejection nozzle. This is because complementation is achieved by having a complementary nozzle that does not eject ink eject ink in place of the non-ejection nozzle. Also, if ejection data is not set for the non-ejection nozzle in the nozzle data before the complementation process, a complementary nozzle candidate is not selected. This is because complementation for the non-ejection nozzle is not necessary.

[0047] In the example of FIG. 10(A), the nozzle in column A Seg1 is a non-ejecting nozzle, and ejection data is set for this nozzle. The nozzle columns that belong to the same thinning group as column A are columns C, E, and G. The nozzles that belong to the same thinning group as the non-ejecting nozzle in column A Seg1 and are located at the same position in the Y direction are the nozzles in columns C Seg1, E Seg1, and G Seg1. Furthermore, in the nozzle data before the complementation process, ejection data is not set for the nozzles in columns C Seg1, E Seg1, and G Seg1. Furthermore, the nozzles in columns C Seg1, E Seg1, and G Seg1 are not non-ejecting nozzles. Therefore, the non-ejection complement unit 107 selects the nozzles in columns C Seg1, E Seg1, and G Seg1 as candidate complementary nozzles for the nozzles in column A Seg1.

[0048] Similarly, the nozzles in columns D, F, and H belong to the same thinning group as the non-ejecting nozzle in column B Seg3. However, ejection data is set for the nozzles in columns D, F, and H Seg3. Therefore, the non-ejection complement unit 107 selects only the nozzle in column F Seg3 as a complementary nozzle candidate. Furthermore, because no ejection data is set for the non-ejecting nozzles in columns A, B, and Seg7, the non-ejection complement unit 107 does not perform complementation processing for these non-ejecting nozzles. Furthermore, the nozzles in columns B, F, and H Seg7, which belong to the same thinning group as the non-ejecting nozzle in column D Seg7, are either non-ejecting nozzles or have ejection data set for them. Therefore, the non-ejection complement unit 107 does not select a complementary nozzle candidate for the nozzle in column D Seg7. In this way, when there is no complementary nozzle candidate, the non-ejection complement unit 107 can notify an error without performing complementation processing.

[0049] Furthermore, the non-ejection complement unit 107 selects a complementary nozzle from among the complementary nozzle candidates for each non-ejection nozzle. The method for selecting a complementary nozzle is not particularly limited. For example, the non-ejection complement unit 107 can select the nozzle with the highest priority among the complementary nozzle candidates as the complementary nozzle. The priority can be set, for example, depending on whether ejection data is set for other nozzles in the same nozzle row as the complementary nozzle candidate. For example, by lowering the priority of the complementary nozzle candidate when ejection data is set for an adjacent nozzle, a nozzle that is less susceptible to vibrations caused by ink ejection from the adjacent nozzle is more likely to be selected as the complementary nozzle. The priority can also be set depending on whether or not the complementary nozzle candidate ejected ink in past ejection timings. For example, by lowering the priority of a complementary nozzle candidate that ejected ink in the immediately preceding ejection timing, a nozzle that is sufficiently supplied with ink is more likely to be selected as the complementary nozzle. In Figure 10(B), the binary data corresponding to the nozzles targeted for the complementation process, i.e., the non-ejection nozzle and the complementary nozzle selected by the above process, are indicated by hatching.

[0050] FIG. 11A is a flowchart of an information processing method performed by the printing apparatus 101. At S91, the RIP processing unit 103 generates multi-value bitmap data as described above. At S92, the print data generation unit 104 generates halftone data as described above. At S93, the nozzle data generation unit 105 generates nozzle data as described above. At S94, the non-discharge complement unit 107 performs non-discharge complement processing on the nozzle data. Details of S94 will be described later with reference to FIG. 11B. At S95, the tilt correction unit 109 performs head tilt correction processing on the nozzle data as described above. However, head tilt correction processing is not essential. At S96, the thinning unit 110 performs thinning processing on the nozzle data as described above. At S97, the data transfer unit 111 transfers the nozzle data to the print head 112 as described above.

[0051] Fig. 11(B) is a flowchart of the discharge failure complement process performed by the discharge failure complement unit 107. The discharge failure complement unit 107 can sequentially perform the following processes on the nozzle data used to control the ejection of ink for each line, as shown in Fig. 9. Furthermore, the discharge failure complement unit 107 can sequentially perform the processes shown in Fig. 11(B) on the binary data for each nozzle included in the nozzle data. Hereinafter, the binary data to be processed will be referred to as target data.

[0052] In S01, the discharge failure complement unit 107 references the discharge failure nozzle information stored in the discharge failure information storage unit 106 to check whether the target data is binary data for a discharge failure nozzle. If the target data is not binary data for a discharge failure nozzle, discharge failure complement processing is not performed on the target data. In this case, the processing shown in Figure 11(B) for the target data ends. On the other hand, if the target data is binary data for a discharge failure nozzle, processing proceeds to S02.

[0053] In S02, the discharge failure complement unit 107 checks whether the target data is discharge data. If the target data is not discharge data, discharge failure complement processing is not performed on the target data. In this case, the processing shown in FIG. 11(B) for the target data ends. On the other hand, if the target data is discharge data, processing proceeds to S03.

[0054] In S03 to S07, complementary nozzle candidates are selected. First, in S03, the discharge failure complement unit 107 selects, as complementary nozzle candidates, nozzles that belong to a different nozzle array from the nozzle corresponding to the target data and that have the same Seg as the nozzle corresponding to the target data. In S04, the discharge failure complement unit 107 removes the non-discharge nozzle from the selected complementary nozzle candidates. In S05, the discharge failure complement unit 107 removes nozzles for which discharge data has been set from the selected complementary nozzle candidates.

[0055] In S06, the discharge failure complement unit 107 checks whether the printing apparatus 101 is operating in a nozzle data thinning mode, in which part of the nozzle data is thinned out and the remaining nozzle data is transferred to the printhead 112. In the nozzle data thinning mode, processing proceeds to S07. In the non-thinning mode, in which nozzle data is transferred to the printhead without thinning out processing, processing proceeds to S08. In this way, the thinning unit 110 and the data transfer unit 111 can operate in both the thinning mode and the non-thinning mode, and operate in the mode selected from these. In S07, the discharge failure complement unit 107 removes from the selected complementary nozzle candidates any nozzles that belong to a thinning group different from the nozzle corresponding to the target data.

[0056] In S08, the discharge failure complement unit 107 checks whether any complementary nozzle candidates remain. If any complementary nozzle candidates remain, the process proceeds to S09. If no complementary nozzle candidates remain, the process proceeds to S10. In S09, the discharge failure complement unit 107 selects the nozzle with the highest priority among the complementary nozzle candidates as the complementary nozzle. The discharge failure complement unit 107 then changes the binary data for the selected complementary nozzle to ejection data. In this way, the discharge failure complement unit 107 complements the target data with the binary data for the complementary nozzle. In S10, the discharge failure complement unit 107 notifies that an error has occurred in the discharge failure complement process. In S11, the discharge failure complement unit 107 masks the target data. For example, the discharge failure complement unit 107 can change the target data to non-ejection data.

[0057] Up to this point, a case where nozzle data is thinned to 1 / 2 has been described with reference to FIGS. 8A and 8B. However, the thinning process is not limited to this example. For example, as shown in FIG. 12, the thinning unit 110 may thin the nozzle data to 1 / 4. In the example of FIG. 12, the nozzle data for four columns, A, B, C, and D, complement each other after thinning. Furthermore, the nozzle data for four columns, E, F, G, and H, complement each other after thinning. The pair of columns A and E, the pair of columns B and F, the pair of columns C and G, and the pair of columns D and H each belong to the same thinning group. Thus, in one embodiment, when nozzle data for a nozzle of interest that belongs to one of multiple thinning groups is not thinned, nozzle data for nozzles that belong to other thinning groups and are located at the same position in the Y direction as the nozzle of interest is thinned. Multiple thinning groups can have such a complementary relationship.

[0058] In nozzle data thinning mode, the nozzle data generation unit 105 assigns the same binary data to the four columns A, B, C, and D, which complement each other after thinning. Similarly, the nozzle data generation unit 105 assigns the same binary data to the four columns E, F, G, and H. In this case, too, the non-discharge nozzle complementation unit 107 selects a complementary nozzle from among the nozzles that belong to the same thinning group as the non-discharge nozzle. Therefore, the only candidate complementary nozzles for the non-discharge nozzles in column A are the nozzles in column E.

[0059] According to the above embodiment, by taking into consideration the thinning process for the nozzle data transferred to the print head, for example, by taking into consideration the above-mentioned thinned-out groups, it is possible to appropriately perform the process of complementing non-ejecting nozzles.

[0060] (Variation) The nozzles of the print heads 304 to 307 may have constraints regarding their ejection operations. The constraints may be conditions regarding the positional relationship of multiple nozzles that eject ink at the same timing, or conditions regarding the interval between ink ejections from the same nozzle. In the following example, we will explain a case where the print head 304 has a constraint that nozzles in a Seg adjacent to the nozzle that is ejecting cannot eject, and that after ejection, the same nozzle cannot eject until the printing of two other lines is completed. In this configuration, the non-ejection complement unit 107 can select a complementary nozzle that satisfies these constraints.

[0061] 13(A) and 13(B) are conceptual diagrams illustrating the complementation process performed by the discharge failure complement unit 107 in such an example. FIGS. 13(A) and 13(B) show complementary nozzle candidates for each nozzle in row A when complementation process is performed on the nozzle data of Line 0. Of the eight nozzle rows, FIGS. 13(A) and 13(B) show nozzle data for rows C and F as an example. As with FIG. 10(A), binary data corresponding to discharge failure nozzles is indicated by a cross, and binary data corresponding to complementary nozzle candidates is indicated by a circle. The thinning groups and thinning patterns in this example are the same as those described above with reference to FIG. 8.

[0062] In this example, the nozzle that ejects ink on the previous line (Line-1) and the nozzle that ejects ink on the previous line (Line-2) are not selected as complementary nozzle candidates. Also, the nozzle adjacent to the nozzle that ejects ink on Line 0 is not selected as a complementary nozzle candidate.

[0063] FIG. 13A shows an example of complementary processing in non-thinning mode. In non-thinning mode, the nozzles in column C Seg0 and column F Seg1, for which ejection data is set in Line-1, are not selected as complementary nozzle candidates. Furthermore, the nozzles in column C Seg1 and column F Seg3, for which ejection data is set in Line-2, are also not selected as complementary nozzle candidates. Furthermore, the nozzles in column C Seg3 and column F Seg6, for which ejection data has already been set, are also not selected as complementary nozzle candidates. Furthermore, the nozzles in column C Seg2, column C Seg4, column F Seg5, and column F Seg7, which are adjacent to the nozzles for which ejection data is set in Line 0, are also not selected as complementary nozzle candidates. Furthermore, column C Seg7, which is a non-ejecting nozzle, is also not selected as a complementary nozzle candidate. Therefore, the nozzles in column C Seg6, column F Seg0, column F Seg2, and column F Seg4 are selected as complementary nozzle candidates.

[0064] In this way, when there is a constraint that adjacent nozzles in the Y direction do not eject ink at the same timing, a complementary nozzle is selected in non-thinning out mode according to the following condition: That is, a nozzle that ejects ink to the same position on the recording medium as the non-ejecting nozzle, and whose nozzle data indicates that the adjacent nozzle does not eject ink to the same line on the recording medium, is selected as a complementary nozzle. Also, when there is a constraint that a single nozzle does not eject ink at consecutive ejection timings, a complementary nozzle is selected in non-thinning out mode according to the following condition: That is, a nozzle that ejects ink to the same position on the recording medium as the non-ejecting nozzle, and whose nozzle data indicates that it did not eject ink at the immediately preceding ejection timing, is selected as a complementary nozzle.

[0065] 13B shows an example of complementary processing in nozzle data thinning mode. In nozzle data thinning mode, the thinning pattern for column F is different from the thinning pattern for column A, so the nozzles in column F are not selected as complementary nozzle candidates. In addition, the nozzles in column C Seg3, for which ejection data is set in Line 0, the non-ejecting nozzle in column C Seg7, and the nozzles in column C Seg1, for which ejection data is set in Line-2, are also not selected as complementary nozzle candidates. Therefore, the nozzles in column C Seg0, column C Seg2, column C Seg4, column C Seg5, and column C Seg6 are selected as complementary nozzle candidates.

[0066] Note that ejection data is set for the nozzles in Seg0 of column C in Line-1. However, in this example, a thinning pattern is used for nozzles in the same Seg, in which binary data is thinned out alternately for each line. As a result, one nozzle will not eject ink for consecutive lines. Therefore, there is no need to consider the nozzle data for Line-1. Also, ejection data is set for the nozzles in Seg3 of column C in Line 0, and the nozzles in Seg2 and Seg4 of column C are adjacent to this nozzle. However, in this example, a thinning pattern is used for the same nozzle column, in which binary data is thinned out alternately for each nozzle. As a result, two adjacent nozzles in the same nozzle column will not eject ink at the same ejection timing. Therefore, there is no need to consider the nozzle data for nozzles adjacent to the complementary nozzle candidate.

[0067] In this way, when there is a constraint that adjacent nozzles in the Y direction do not eject ink at the same timing, in the thinning mode, a complementary nozzle is selected according to the following condition. That is, the complementary nozzle is selected so that it ejects ink to the same position on the recording medium as the non-ejecting nozzle, and so that the nozzle row containing the non-ejecting nozzle belongs to the same thinning group as the nozzle row containing the complementary nozzle. Also, in the examples of FIGS. 8A and 12, when nozzle data for one of two adjacent nozzles in a single nozzle row is transferred to the printhead, the nozzle data for the other nozzle is thinned out. When such a thinning pattern is used, the complementary nozzle is selected regardless of whether the nozzle data indicates that the nozzle adjacent to the complementary nozzle does not eject ink to the same line on the recording medium.

[0068] Furthermore, when there is a constraint that one nozzle does not eject ink at consecutive ejection timings, in the thinning mode, a complementary nozzle is selected according to the following condition: That is, the complementary nozzle is selected so that it ejects ink at the same position on the recording medium as the non-ejecting nozzle, and the nozzle row containing the non-ejecting nozzle belongs to the same thinning group as the nozzle row containing the complementary nozzle. In the examples of Figures 8(A) and 12, when nozzle data for one of two consecutive ejection timings for one nozzle is transferred to the printhead, the nozzle data for the other ejection timing is thinned out. When such a thinning pattern is used, the complementary nozzle is selected regardless of whether the nozzle data indicates that the complementary nozzle will not eject ink at the immediately preceding ejection timing.

[0069] This type of complementation processing can be achieved by performing the following processing after S06 in Figure 11(B). In nozzle data thinning mode, the processing of S07 is performed after S06. In S07, the non-discharge complement unit 107 removes from the selected complementary nozzle candidates any nozzles that belong to a thinning group different from the nozzle corresponding to the target data. Furthermore, the non-discharge complement unit 107 removes from the selected complementary nozzle candidates any complementary nozzle candidate for which the binary data of the previous line is ejection data.

[0070] In the non-thinning mode, the non-discharge complement unit 107 excludes from the selected complementary nozzle candidates those complementary nozzle candidates for which the binary data of the previous line is the discharge data, and those complementary nozzle candidates for which the binary data of the previous line is the discharge data. Furthermore, the non-discharge complement unit 107 excludes complementary nozzle candidates for which the binary data of an adjacent nozzle is the discharge data.

[0071] According to the above embodiment, it is possible to perform a compensation process for non-ejecting nozzles so as to satisfy the constraints on the ejection operation of the print head.

[0072] (Other Examples) The present invention can also be realized by supplying a program that realizes one or more functions of the above-described embodiments to a system or device via a network or a storage medium, and having one or more processors in the computer of the system or device read and execute the program. It can also be realized by a circuit (e.g., ASIC) that realizes one or more functions.

[0073] The disclosure of this specification includes the following inkjet recording apparatus and information processing method.

[0074] (Item 1) a print head in which a plurality of nozzle rows are arranged in a first direction and which ejects ink onto a print medium which moves relatively in the first direction, wherein one of the nozzle rows has a plurality of nozzles which eject ink and are arranged along a second direction different from the first direction; an acquisition unit that acquires nozzle data for controlling ink ejection for each of the plurality of nozzles included in the plurality of nozzle rows; a complementing means for correcting nozzle data for a complementary nozzle different from the non-ejecting nozzle based on information indicating a non-ejecting nozzle that cannot properly eject ink among the plurality of nozzles included in the plurality of nozzle arrays, so as to complement the nozzle data for the non-ejecting nozzle; a transfer unit that thins out a portion of the nozzle data for the plurality of nozzles in the plurality of nozzle rows and transfers the remaining nozzle data to the print head, the complementary nozzle is capable of ejecting ink toward a target position on the recording medium in place of the non-ejecting nozzle; The complementary nozzles are selected so that when the nozzle data for the non-ejecting nozzles is not thinned out by the transfer means, the nozzle data for the complementary nozzles is also not thinned out by the transfer means. An inkjet recording apparatus comprising:

[0075] (Item 2) the plurality of nozzle arrays are classified into a plurality of thinning groups, a part of the nozzle data that is thinned out by the transfer means from the nozzle data for each ejection timing is nozzle data for a plurality of nozzles that are located at the same position along the second direction among the plurality of nozzles included in the nozzle array that belong to the same thinning group; 2. The inkjet recording apparatus according to item 1, wherein the complementary nozzle is selected so that the nozzle row having the non-ejecting nozzle belongs to the same thinning group as the nozzle row having the complementary nozzle.

[0076] (Item 3) 3. The inkjet recording apparatus according to item 1 or 2, wherein the complementary nozzle is selected so that the complementary nozzle and the non-ejecting nozzle are positioned in the same position along the second direction.

[0077] (Item 4) 4. The inkjet recording apparatus according to any one of items 1 to 3, wherein a nozzle for which non-ink ejection is instructed by the nozzle data before the complementary process is selected as the complementary nozzle.

[0078] (Item 5) 5. The inkjet recording apparatus according to any one of items 1 to 4, characterized in that a nozzle for which the information indicating the non-ejecting nozzle does not indicate that it cannot eject ink correctly is selected as the complementary nozzle.

[0079] (Item 6) The inkjet recording device according to any one of items 2 to 5, which is dependent on item 2, is characterized in that the complementing means corrects the nozzle data for the complementary nozzles regardless of whether the nozzle data for the non-ejecting nozzles is thinned out by the transfer means.

[0080] (Item 7) 7. The inkjet recording device according to any one of items 1 to 6, characterized in that the complementary nozzle is selected according to constraints regarding the positional relationship of multiple nozzles that eject ink at the same timing or the interval between ink ejections from the same nozzle.

[0081] (Item 8) the constraint condition includes a condition that adjacent nozzles in the second direction do not eject ink at the same timing; the transfer means is operable in accordance with a mode selected from a thinning-out mode in which a portion of the nozzle data is thinned out and the remaining nozzle data is transferred to the recording head, and a non-thinning-out mode in which the nozzle data is transferred to the recording head without thinning out; In the non-thinning-out mode, a nozzle that ejects ink onto the same position on the recording medium as the non-ejecting nozzle and whose adjacent nozzles are indicated by the nozzle data not to eject ink onto the same line on the recording medium is selected as the complementary nozzle; In the thinning mode, the complementary nozzle is selected so that the complementary nozzle ejects ink at the same position on the recording medium as the non-ejecting nozzle, and the nozzle row having the non-ejecting nozzle belongs to the same thinning group as the nozzle row having the complementary nozzle. 8. The inkjet recording apparatus according to item 7,

[0082] (Item 9) In the thinning mode, when the transfer means transfers nozzle data for one of two adjacent nozzles in one nozzle row to the print head, the transfer means thins out the nozzle data for the other nozzle; 9. The inkjet recording apparatus according to item 8, characterized in that in the thinning mode, the complementary nozzle is selected regardless of whether the nozzle data indicates that a nozzle adjacent to the complementary nozzle does not eject ink in the same line on the recording medium.

[0083] (Item 10) The constraint condition includes a condition that one nozzle does not eject ink at consecutive ejection timings, the transfer means is operable in accordance with a mode selected from a thinning-out mode in which a portion of the nozzle data is thinned out and the remaining nozzle data is transferred to the recording head, and a non-thinning-out mode in which the nozzle data is transferred to the recording head without thinning out; In the non-thinning mode, a nozzle that ejects ink to the same position on the recording medium as the non-ejecting nozzle and that is indicated by the nozzle data as not ejecting ink at the immediately preceding ejection timing is selected as the complementary nozzle; In the thinning mode, the complementary nozzle is selected so that the complementary nozzle ejects ink at the same position on the recording medium as the non-ejecting nozzle, and the nozzle row having the non-ejecting nozzle belongs to the same thinning group as the nozzle row having the complementary nozzle. 10. The inkjet recording apparatus according to any one of items 7 to 9,

[0084] (Item 11) In the thinning mode, when transferring nozzle data for one of two consecutive ejection timings for one nozzle to the print head, the transfer means thins out the nozzle data for the other ejection timing; Item 11. The inkjet recording apparatus according to item 10, characterized in that in the thinning mode, the complementary nozzle is selected regardless of whether the nozzle data indicates that the complementary nozzle will not eject ink at the immediately preceding ejection timing.

[0085] (Item 12) The transfer means transfers the nozzle data corresponding to one ejection timing, thinning out nozzle data for a first nozzle group included in a first nozzle array belonging to one of the thinned-out groups, and transferring nozzle data for the remaining nozzles of the first nozzle array to the print head; thinning out nozzle data for a second nozzle group that is included in a second nozzle array that belongs to the one thinning-out group and that is located at the same position as the first nozzle group in the second direction, and transferring nozzle data for the remaining nozzles of the second nozzle array to the print head; 12. The inkjet recording apparatus according to any one of items 2 to 11, which is dependent on item 2.

[0086] (Item 13) The transfer means transfers the nozzle data corresponding to one ejection timing, thinning out nozzle data for a first nozzle group included in a first nozzle array belonging to a first thinning-out group, and transferring nozzle data for the remaining nozzles of the first nozzle array to the print head; thinning out nozzle data for a third nozzle group included in a third nozzle array belonging to a second thinning-out group, and transferring nozzle data for the remaining nozzles of the third nozzle array to the print head; At least one nozzle included in the first nozzle group and at least one nozzle included in the third nozzle group are located at different positions in the second direction. 13. The inkjet recording apparatus according to any one of items 2 to 12, which is dependent on item 2.

[0087] (Item 14) Item 14. The inkjet recording apparatus according to item 13, characterized in that the positions in the second direction are different between any nozzle included in the first nozzle group and all nozzles included in the third nozzle group.

[0088] (Item 15) The transfer means thinning out nozzle data for a first nozzle group included in a first nozzle array, and transferring nozzle data for the remaining nozzles of the first nozzle array to the print head, with respect to the nozzle data corresponding to a first ejection timing; thinning out nozzle data for a fourth nozzle group included in the first nozzle array, and transferring nozzle data for the remaining nozzles of the first nozzle array to the print head, with respect to the nozzle data corresponding to the second ejection timing; thinning out nozzle data for the first nozzle group included in the first nozzle array, and transferring nozzle data for the remaining nozzles of the first nozzle array to the print head, with respect to the nozzle data corresponding to a third ejection timing; The nozzles included in the first nozzle group and the nozzles included in the fourth nozzle group are at least partially different. 15. The inkjet recording apparatus according to any one of items 1 to 14, which is dependent on item 2.

[0089] (Item 16) 16. The inkjet recording device according to any one of items 1 to 15, wherein the transfer means transfers nozzle data for a portion of a plurality of nozzles of a first nozzle row included in the plurality of nozzle rows to the recording head together with data identifying the portion of the plurality of nozzles.

[0090] (Item 17) the plurality of nozzles in the first nozzle row are classified into a plurality of nozzle groups, Item 17. The inkjet recording device according to item 16, wherein the transfer means transfers packet data to the recording head, the packet data including nozzle data for nozzles belonging to one or more nozzle groups of the first nozzle row and a flag signal that identifies the one or more nozzle groups.

[0091] (Item 18) 18. The inkjet recording apparatus according to any one of items 1 to 17, further comprising a tilt correction unit that performs a correction process on the nozzle data after the interpolation process in order to correct a deviation in the ink landing position based on a tilt between the transport direction of the recording medium and the first direction.

[0092] (Item 19) Item 19. The inkjet recording device of item 18, characterized in that the tilt correction means corrects nozzle data that controls ink ejection by the plurality of nozzles onto one line on the recording medium so that ink ejection by some of the plurality of nozzles included in one nozzle row is performed at a later timing than ink ejection by the rest of the plurality of nozzles.

[0093] (Item 20) An information processing method for generating data to be transferred to a print head of an inkjet printing apparatus, comprising: the print head has a plurality of nozzle rows arranged in a first direction, and ejects ink onto a print medium that moves relatively in the first direction, and one of the nozzle rows has a plurality of nozzles that eject ink and are arranged along a second direction different from the first direction; The information processing method includes: acquiring nozzle data for controlling ink ejection for each of the plurality of nozzles included in the plurality of nozzle rows; and correcting nozzle data for a complementary nozzle different from the non-ejecting nozzle based on information indicating a non-ejecting nozzle that cannot properly eject ink among the plurality of nozzles included in the plurality of nozzle rows, so as to complement the nozzle data for the non-ejecting nozzle; a part of the nozzle data for the plurality of nozzles included in the plurality of nozzle arrays is thinned out, and the remaining nozzle data is transferred to the print head; the complementary nozzle is capable of ejecting ink toward a target position on the recording medium in place of the non-ejecting nozzle; the complementary nozzle is selected such that, when the nozzle data for the non-ejecting nozzle is not thinned out, the nozzle data for the complementary nozzle is also not thinned out; An information processing method comprising:

[0094] The invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various changes and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the following claims are appended to apprise the public of the scope of the invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0095] 101: Printing device, 105: Nozzle data generation unit, 107: Discharge failure complement unit, 109: Inclination correction unit, 110: Thinning unit, 111: Data transfer unit, 304: Print head

Claims

1. a print head in which a plurality of nozzle rows are arranged in a first direction and which ejects ink onto a print medium which moves relatively in the first direction, wherein one of the nozzle rows has a plurality of nozzles which eject ink and are arranged along a second direction different from the first direction; an acquisition unit that acquires nozzle data for controlling ink ejection for each of the plurality of nozzles included in the plurality of nozzle rows; a complementing means for correcting nozzle data for a complementary nozzle different from the non-ejecting nozzle based on information indicating a non-ejecting nozzle that cannot properly eject ink among the plurality of nozzles included in the plurality of nozzle arrays, so as to complement the nozzle data for the non-ejecting nozzle; a transfer means for thinning out a part of the nozzle data for the plurality of nozzles in the plurality of nozzle rows and transferring the remaining nozzle data to the print head; the complementary nozzle is capable of ejecting ink toward a target position on the recording medium in place of the non-ejecting nozzle; the complementary nozzle is selected such that, when the nozzle data for the non-ejecting nozzle is not thinned out by the transfer means, the nozzle data for the complementary nozzle is also not thinned out by the transfer means; the plurality of nozzle arrays are classified into a plurality of thinning groups, a part of the nozzle data that is thinned out by the transfer means from the nozzle data for each ejection timing is nozzle data for a plurality of nozzles that are located at the same position along the second direction among the plurality of nozzles included in the nozzle array that belong to the same thinning group; An inkjet recording apparatus, characterized in that the complementary nozzles are selected so that the nozzle row having the non-ejecting nozzle belongs to the same thinning group as the nozzle row having the complementary nozzle.

2. 2. The inkjet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the complementary nozzle is selected so that the complementary nozzle and the non-ejecting nozzle are positioned in the same position along the second direction.

3. 2. The inkjet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a nozzle for which non-ink ejection is instructed by the nozzle data before the complementary process is selected as the complementary nozzle.

4. 2. The inkjet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a nozzle that is not indicated as being unable to eject ink properly by the information indicating the non-ejecting nozzle is selected as the complementary nozzle.

5. 2. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said complementing means corrects the nozzle data for said complementary nozzles regardless of whether or not the nozzle data for said non-ejecting nozzles is thinned out by said transferring means.

6. 2. The inkjet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the complementary nozzle is selected in accordance with a constraint on the positional relationship of a plurality of nozzles that eject ink at the same timing, or on the intervals between ink ejections from the same nozzle.

7. the constraint condition includes a condition that adjacent nozzles in the second direction do not eject ink at the same timing; the transfer means is operable in accordance with a mode selected from a thinning-out mode in which a portion of the nozzle data is thinned out and the remaining nozzle data is transferred to the recording head, and a non-thinning-out mode in which the nozzle data is transferred to the recording head without thinning out; In the non-thinning-out mode, a nozzle that ejects ink onto the same position on the recording medium as the non-ejecting nozzle and whose adjacent nozzles are indicated by the nozzle data not to eject ink onto the same line on the recording medium is selected as the complementary nozzle; In the thinning mode, the complementary nozzle is selected so that the complementary nozzle ejects ink at the same position on the recording medium as the non-ejecting nozzle, and the nozzle row having the non-ejecting nozzle belongs to the same thinning group as the nozzle row having the complementary nozzle.

7. The inkjet recording apparatus according to claim 6, wherein:

8. In the thinning mode, when the transfer means transfers nozzle data for one of two adjacent nozzles in one nozzle row to the print head, the transfer means thins out the nozzle data for the other nozzle; 8. The inkjet recording apparatus according to claim 7, wherein in the thinning mode, the complementary nozzle is selected regardless of whether the nozzle data indicates that a nozzle adjacent to the complementary nozzle does not eject ink on the same line on the recording medium.

9. The constraint condition includes a condition that one nozzle does not eject ink at consecutive ejection timings, the transfer means is operable in accordance with a mode selected from a thinning-out mode in which a portion of the nozzle data is thinned out and the remaining nozzle data is transferred to the recording head, and a non-thinning-out mode in which the nozzle data is transferred to the recording head without thinning out; In the non-thinning mode, a nozzle that ejects ink to the same position on the recording medium as the non-ejecting nozzle and that is indicated by the nozzle data as not ejecting ink at the immediately preceding ejection timing is selected as the complementary nozzle; In the thinning mode, the complementary nozzle is selected so that the complementary nozzle ejects ink at the same position on the recording medium as the non-ejecting nozzle, and the nozzle row having the non-ejecting nozzle belongs to the same thinning group as the nozzle row having the complementary nozzle.

7. The inkjet recording apparatus according to claim 6, wherein:

10. In the thinning mode, when transferring nozzle data for one of two consecutive ejection timings for one nozzle to the recording head, the transfer means thins out the nozzle data for the other ejection timing; 10. The inkjet recording apparatus according to claim 9, wherein in the thinning mode, the complementary nozzle is selected regardless of whether the nozzle data indicates that the complementary nozzle will not eject ink at the immediately preceding ejection timing.

11. The transfer means transfers nozzle data corresponding to one ejection timing, thinning out nozzle data for a first nozzle group included in a first nozzle array belonging to one of the thinned-out groups, and transferring nozzle data for the remaining nozzles of the first nozzle array to the print head; thinning out nozzle data for a second nozzle group that is included in a second nozzle array that belongs to the one thinning-out group and that is located at the same position as the first nozzle group in the second direction, and transferring nozzle data for the remaining nozzles of the second nozzle array to the print head; 2. The inkjet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:

12. The transfer means transfers nozzle data corresponding to one ejection timing, thinning out nozzle data for a first nozzle group included in a first nozzle array belonging to a first thinning-out group, and transferring nozzle data for the remaining nozzles of the first nozzle array to the print head; thinning out nozzle data for a third nozzle group included in a third nozzle array belonging to a second thinning-out group, and transferring nozzle data for the remaining nozzles of the third nozzle array to the print head; At least one nozzle included in the first nozzle group and at least one nozzle included in the third nozzle group are located at different positions in the second direction.

2. The inkjet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:

13. 13. The inkjet recording apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the positions in the second direction of any nozzle included in the first nozzle group and all the nozzles included in the third nozzle group are different.

14. a print head in which a plurality of nozzle rows are arranged in a first direction and which ejects ink onto a print medium which moves relatively in the first direction, wherein one of the nozzle rows has a plurality of nozzles which eject ink and are arranged along a second direction different from the first direction; an acquisition unit that acquires nozzle data for controlling ink ejection for each of the plurality of nozzles included in the plurality of nozzle rows; a complementing means for correcting nozzle data for a complementary nozzle different from the non-ejecting nozzle based on information indicating a non-ejecting nozzle that cannot properly eject ink among the plurality of nozzles included in the plurality of nozzle arrays, so as to complement the nozzle data for the non-ejecting nozzle; a transfer means for thinning out a part of the nozzle data for the plurality of nozzles in the plurality of nozzle rows and transferring the remaining nozzle data to the print head; the complementary nozzle is capable of ejecting ink toward a target position on the recording medium in place of the non-ejecting nozzle; the complementary nozzle is selected such that, when the nozzle data for the non-ejecting nozzle is not thinned out by the transfer means, the nozzle data for the complementary nozzle is also not thinned out by the transfer means; an inkjet recording device, characterized in that the transfer means transfers nozzle data for a portion of a plurality of nozzles of a first nozzle row included in the plurality of nozzle rows to the recording head together with data identifying the portion of the plurality of nozzles.

15. the plurality of nozzles in the first nozzle row are classified into a plurality of nozzle groups, 15. The inkjet printing apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the transfer means transfers packet data to the print head, the packet data including nozzle data for nozzles belonging to one or more nozzle groups of the first nozzle row and a flag signal that identifies the one or more nozzle groups.

16. An information processing method for generating data to be transferred to a print head of an inkjet printing apparatus, comprising: the print head has a plurality of nozzle rows arranged in a first direction, and ejects ink onto a print medium that moves relatively in the first direction, and one of the nozzle rows has a plurality of nozzles that eject ink and are arranged along a second direction different from the first direction; The information processing method includes: acquiring nozzle data for controlling ink ejection for each of the plurality of nozzles included in the plurality of nozzle rows; and correcting nozzle data for a complementary nozzle different from the non-ejecting nozzle based on information indicating a non-ejecting nozzle that cannot properly eject ink among the plurality of nozzles included in the plurality of nozzle rows, so as to complement the nozzle data for the non-ejecting nozzle; a part of the nozzle data for the plurality of nozzles included in the plurality of nozzle arrays is thinned out, and the remaining nozzle data is transferred to the print head; the complementary nozzle is capable of ejecting ink toward a target position on the recording medium in place of the non-ejecting nozzle; the complementary nozzle is selected such that, when the nozzle data for the non-ejecting nozzle is not thinned out, the nozzle data for the complementary nozzle is also not thinned out; the plurality of nozzle arrays are classified into a plurality of thinning groups, a part of the nozzle data to be thinned out from the nozzle data for each ejection timing is nozzle data for a plurality of nozzles that are located at the same position along the second direction among the plurality of nozzles included in the nozzle array that belong to the same thinning group; The complementary nozzles are selected so that the nozzle row having the non-ejecting nozzle belongs to the same thinning group as the nozzle row having the complementary nozzle. An information processing method comprising:

Images