Printing Apparatus Direct Image Data Conversion Without Driver
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing printers require a printer driver installed on terminal devices to convert image data to print data, limiting their ability to receive and process image data directly for printing.
Innovation Solution
A printing apparatus with a controller that includes multiple electronic circuits and modules to convert image data into print data without relying on a printer driver, allowing direct reception and processing of image data for printing, including a reception module, registration module, and job-management module that execute various conversion processes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the printer receives image data directly from a terminal device without a printer driver, then the printer's versatility and direct processing capability are improved, but the conversion time from image data to print data increases
Solution Approach 1:
The conversion process is divided into multiple parallel stages: a first conversion unit performs initial conversion of image data, and a second conversion unit performs subsequent conversion on the converted data. These units operate in parallel rather than sequentially, allowing the printer to handle complex conversion tasks efficiently while maintaining direct reception capability from terminal devices without printer drivers.
Solution Approach 2:
Multiple conversion units are combined within the printer's control unit to perform different types of conversions simultaneously. The first conversion unit and second conversion unit work together in an integrated pipeline, merging their capabilities to process image data through multiple transformation stages without requiring external driver software, thus reducing overall conversion time while maintaining versatility.
2Productivity
If multiple conversion units are used to convert image data, then the conversion speed is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The conversion units are designed with multi-functionality, where each unit can handle different types of data transformations. The first conversion unit and second conversion unit share common resources and can perform various conversion operations, reducing the need for separate dedicated units for each conversion task. This universal design maintains high conversion speed while controlling device complexity through resource sharing and functional integration.
Data Source
AI summary
In a printing apparatus, a job-management module causes a computer to: determine whether the computer executes a second conversion processing; when the second conversion processing is to be executed, input a first instruction to a first sub-module to execute a first conversion processing to store first converted data into the memory, input a second instruction to a second sub-module to execute a second conversion processing to store second converted data into the memory, and input a third instruction to a third sub-module to execute a third conversion processing to output print data; and when the second conversion processing is not to be executed, input a first ganged-fashion-execution instruction to the first sub-module to execute the first conversion processing to input the first converted data to an electronic circuit, and input a second ganged-fashion-execution instruction to the third sub-module to output the print data.