JP2005119204A - Printing system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a printing system which can cope with secular change and characteristic variation between the same model, and can obtain stable printing characteristics while reducing a user's load.
Calibration starts with an event having a high possibility of changing engine characteristics such as a change in temperature / humidity sensor inside the printer engine 23 as a trigger, and the printer engine 23 adjusts the maximum density of each color of CMYK. The latest second engine characteristic 213 is acquired. Calibration correction data is created from the second engine characteristic and the first engine characteristic 211 at the time of performing the soft calibration executed in accordance with an instruction from the PC 1 before that, and the previously executed soft calibration The latest second calibration table 214 for executing printing is created by merging with the first calibration table 212 at the time of execution.
[Selection] Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to a printing system, and more particularly, to a printing system characterized by calibrating a printing apparatus constituting the system, for example, a color printer.

  In general, when color printing is performed in a color printer connected to a personal computer (PC), the printing result changes with time due to a change in printing characteristics of the color printer. The change in the printing characteristics is generally called aging. The secular change is caused by the temperature, humidity, toner remaining amount, printer drum usage, etc. of the printing environment.

  From another point of view, the printing characteristics of the printer A and the printer B vary among the same model printers due to the above external factors.

  As a result, when printing data created based on printer characteristics at a certain time is printed at another time, the user cannot obtain a desired color printing result.

  In addition, since printing characteristics vary among printers of the same model, the printing results of the printer A and the printer B are different, and a desired color printing result cannot be obtained.

  In order to solve such a problem, a calibration method as shown in Patent Document 1 has already been disclosed. In other words, the calibration method in Document 1 is a calibration method executed between a computer device and a color printing device constituting the system, and is through user operations. This process is hereinafter referred to as “soft calibration”. This calibration method has the following configuration.

That is, the patch data is output from the color printer by an instruction from a server computer among a plurality of computers,
Read the patch data from any scanner,
Create calibration data based on the scan data read by the server computer,
Download the calibration data created on the server computer to the color printer,
Printing is performed by the color printer using the downloaded calibration data.
This greatly reduces variation in printing characteristics among a plurality of printing apparatuses. (Absolute concentration stability)

  As another conventional example, there is a calibration method between an engine and a controller constituting a printing apparatus. That is, this calibration method is a calibration method executed between the printer controller and the printer engine constituting the color printing apparatus, and automatically operates in the color printing apparatus. This process is hereinafter referred to as “device calibration”. This device calibration method has the following configuration.

That is, the maximum density of each color of CMYK is corrected at an arbitrary timing in the printer engine,
In the printer engine, engine characteristic information is passed in response to an inquiry from the printer controller at the timing of the maximum density correction.
Create calibration correction data based on the passed engine characteristic information in the printer controller,
Update the calibration data held by the printer controller,
Printing is performed using the updated calibration data.

  As a result, it is possible to suppress changes in characteristics due to external factors such as temperature and humidity that can occur in a particular printer. (Relative concentration stability)

JP 2001-94747 A

However, the above-described technique has the following problems.
That is, in the above-described two types of calibration, it is possible to obtain absolute density and relative density stability. However, although the above-mentioned soft calibration can relatively stabilize the color printing characteristics, the engine characteristics tend to change relatively easily when the drum temperature rises due to, for example, continuous printing, In order to always obtain stable color printing only by the calibration, the user must frequently perform the calibration. In addition, both calibrations are configured to function independently and have no correlation with each other. Therefore, for example, even if calibration is performed by soft calibration at a certain timing, device calibration occurs at an arbitrary timing. On the contrary, the engine characteristics change due to the device calibration, and the effect of soft calibration continues. Result. Therefore, in this case, in order to always obtain a color print having a stable absolute density, the user must frequently perform the soft calibration.

  Therefore, the present invention is to solve the above-described problem, and by providing a correlation between the two types of calibration, it is possible to cope with aging and variations in characteristics between the same models, and An object of the present invention is to provide a printing system capable of obtaining stable printing characteristics while reducing the load.

  The invention of claim 1 is a printer engine having means for correcting the maximum density of each color toner, a printer controller for controlling the printer engine, an acquisition means for acquiring engine characteristics of the printer engine, and the acquisition means A printer controller having a storage means for storing the engine characteristics acquired by the calibration method, a calibration table creation means, and a calibration table storage means. The printer controller After correcting the maximum density of each color toner, a first engine characteristic of the printer engine is acquired, patch data is output by the printer engine, and a first calibration is generated based on a result of reading the patch data by a scanner. Station And storing the first engine characteristic in the storage unit together with the first engine characteristic, correcting the maximum density of each color toner of the printer engine according to an arbitrary timing, and then obtaining the second engine characteristic of the printer engine. Obtaining and storing in the storage means, creating calibration correction data based on the first and second engine characteristics in the storage means, the calibration correction data thus created, the first calibration table, A second calibration table is created based on the image data, stored in the storage unit, and image data to be printed is processed using the second calibration table in the storage unit.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect, the printer controller corrects the maximum density of each color toner of the printer engine until an appropriate density value is obtained according to an instruction from the outside, and then the printer controller A first engine characteristic of the engine is obtained.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided: means for outputting an instruction to output patch data by the printer engine after correcting the maximum density of each color toner of the printer engine to the printer of the first aspect; Means for creating a first calibration table based on a result of reading of patch data output from the printer by a scanner, and means for supplying the created first calibration table to the printer; Features.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the third aspect, means for analyzing a maximum density value based on a reading result of the patch data by a scanner and determining whether or not the value is an appropriate value; And a means for instructing the printer to execute an appropriate maximum density correction based on the determination result when the value is not a value.

  The invention of claim 5 is characterized by a printing system comprising the printer of claim 1 and the data processing apparatus of claim 3.

  The invention of claim 6 is characterized by a printing system comprising the printer of claim 2 and the data processing apparatus of claim 4.

  The invention of claim 7 corrects the maximum density of each color toner of the printer engine in accordance with an instruction from the data processing device, acquires the first engine characteristic of the printer engine, and outputs the patch data by the printer engine Then, a first calibration table created based on the result of reading the patch data by the scanner is acquired and stored together with the first engine characteristics, and the toner of each color of the printer engine is determined according to a predetermined timing. The maximum density is corrected, the second engine characteristic of the printer engine is acquired and stored, calibration correction data is created based on the stored first and second engine characteristics, and the created calibration correction Based on the data and the saved first calibration table, Characterized by creating a second calibration table for processing image data should be Santos.

  According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, in the seventh aspect, the maximum density value is analyzed based on a result of reading the patch data by a scanner to determine whether the value is an appropriate value, and the determination result is not an appropriate value. In this case, an appropriate maximum density correction based on the determination result is executed.

  A ninth aspect of the present invention is a program that causes a computer to execute the calibration table creating method according to the seventh or eighth aspect.

  In the above configuration, for example, by generating calibration data with a frequency not so high as in the past by an instruction via a computer constituting the system and downloading it to a color printer, the characteristics of the engine are basically changed on the printer side thereafter. By automatically fine-tuning, the user's load is light and the advantages of both conventional software calibration and device calibration can be utilized in a synergistic effect so that stable color printing can be always obtained. Become.

  According to the present invention, a stable printing result of a printer can be obtained, and a highly accurate calibration environment can be provided using an existing apparatus without purchasing an expensive densitometer or the like. In other words, more accurate calibration is performed by outputting patch data from a printer that has been calibrated and controlling the calibration performed in the printer using a calibration table created based on the data read by the scanner. Make it possible. Furthermore, when creating the calibration table based on the data read from the patch data, it is determined whether or not the printer engine outputs the maximum density, and if not, the printer outputs the maximum density. Therefore, it is possible to perform calibration with higher accuracy.

Embodiments according to the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.
In each of the embodiments described below, a color laser beam printer (LBP) is used as an example of a printer device constituting the system, but the present invention can be similarly applied to other printer devices such as a color ink jet printer. Needless to say.

<First embodiment>
Hereinafter, this embodiment will be described in detail.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a printer calibration system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

  In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a server PC, and a part (including FIG. 2) of a software program for executing this system is installed. The server PC 1 is connected to the network 5.

  The server PC 1 exchanges various commands and data related to calibration with the printer 2 described later via the network 5.

  Reference numeral 11 denotes a calibration data storage unit 11 configured in the server PC1 and is used to hold calibration data, which will be described later, in the server PC1.

  Reference numerals 111 and 112 denote first engine characteristics and a first calibration table, which will be described later, stored in the calibration data storage unit 11.

  Reference numeral 2 denotes a printer connected to the network 5, which is a device to be calibrated in this system. The printer 2 is configured to perform printing in accordance with instructions from a plurality of PCs connected on the network. Reference numeral 21 denotes a calibration data storage unit configured in the printer 2 and is used to hold calibration data, which will be described later, in the printer 2. 211 and 212 are first engine characteristics and a first calibration table downloaded from the server PC 1 and stored in the calibration data storage unit 21. Reference numerals 213 and 214 denote second engine characteristics which are stored in the calibration data storage unit 21 and which are latest engine characteristics acquired from an engine which will be described later, and second calibration which is a latest calibration table which will be described later. It is a table. As will be described later, the latest engine characteristic immediately after the maximum density correction is always stored in the calibration data storage unit 21 as the second engine characteristic 213.

  Reference numeral 22 denotes a printer controller that is configured inside the printer 2 and manages various controls relating to the printer 2, and includes a CPU and a software program (FIGS. 3, 7, and 11) for realizing the system executed by the CPU. Including the stored memory. The printer controller 22 stores a first engine characteristic (to be described later) and a first calibration table in the calibration data storage unit 21 when downloaded from the PC 1, or the calibration data storage unit 21 (to be described later). It also serves to update the second calibration table. Also, it plays a role of notifying the printer engine, which will be described later, of the start of the engine maximum density adjustment process instructed by the server PC1.

  Reference numeral 23 denotes a printer engine configured in the printer 2, which basically outputs print data from the printer controller 22, but transmits engine characteristic information described later to the printer controller 22, It also plays a role of adjusting the maximum density in engine characteristics described later.

  A scanner 3 connected to the server PC 1 is used to measure patch data output from the printer 2 in the present system, but can also be used for an original purpose of inputting a document. Reference numeral 4 denotes a client PC connected to the network, which performs creation, editing, and printing instructions of desired print data.

  In the above configuration, the flow when performing calibration (calibration) will be described with reference to FIGS.

  FIG. 2 is a flowchart of calibration that operates between the server PC 1 and the color printing apparatus 2 constituting the system.

  The process starts by instructing the printer controller 22 from the PC 1 to operate the printer engine 23 to correct the maximum densities of the output toners CMYK.

First, in step S25, the printer controller 22 causes the printer engine 23 to execute the maximum density correction of each of the output toners CMYK, and at the same time, acquires the latest engine characteristic information from the printer engine at the timing of the maximum density correction.
Details of these maximum density and engine characteristic information will be described later.

  Next, in step S26, it is confirmed whether or not the maximum density correction and engine characteristic transfer processing in step S25 have been completed.

  The confirmation of the completion of the processing is performed by exchanging status information indicating the current processing state of the engine 23 between the PC 1 and the controller 22, for example.

  As soon as it is confirmed in step S26 that the maximum density correction and engine characteristic transfer processing has been completed, in step S20, an instruction is issued to output patch data from the PC 1 to the printer 2, and the printer 2 outputs patch data from the printer engine. Do.

  An example of the patch data is shown in FIG. In the example of FIG. 6, a total of 1024 blocks are prepared by dividing each page vertically and horizontally into 32 pages. In the horizontal direction, blocks are arranged for Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, and Black, which are basic colors of printing toner. The numerical value described in each block indicates a subscript of the array, but internally, output data is associated with the subscript, and the subscript itself is not actually output.

  That is, in FIG. 6, blocks are arranged at 4 highlights on the highlight side of the arrays 0 to 31 and 4 locations on the shadow side of the arrays 33 to 63 on 8 locations. The difference in the number of gradation levels of highlight and shadow is because the highlight side requires more detailed gradation information than the shadow side in this system. Further, the difference in the number of highlights and shadows is due to the fact that the variation in input values in the scanner tends to be more on the shadow side than on the highlight side.

  The patch data is output from the printer 2 in response to an instruction from the PC 1 as described above. However, the printer 2 has information constituting the patch data of the above format in the printer 2, and the information is received in accordance with an instruction from the PC 1. The patch data may be generated originally, or the patch data may be generated by transmitting the patch data configuration information to the printer 2 on the PC 1 side. The patch data configuration information depends on the command system owned by the printer 2, but is not mentioned here.

  In step S21 in FIG. 2, the server PC 1 acquires engine characteristic information at the time of patch output immediately after the patch data is output. The acquisition of the engine characteristic is performed by acquiring the second engine characteristic which is the latest engine characteristic stored in the calibration data storage unit 21 in the printer 2 from the server PC 1.

  In step S21, the server PC1 stores the acquired second engine characteristic as the first engine characteristic 111 in the calibration data storage unit 11. The first engine characteristic 111 is associated with a first calibration table described later as the engine characteristic when the patch data is output. Details of the engine characteristics will be described later.

  In step S22 of FIG. 2, the patch data output by the scanner 3 is measured. The scanner 3 inputs the RGB signal value of each block of the patch data described above, and returns the value to the PC 1. The PC 1 calculates the average of four points on the highlight side and the average of eight points on the shadow side based on the arrangement of the block of the patch data from the input value, and obtains RGB signal values of 48 gradations for each color of CMYK as a result. . Here, by using a brightness density conversion table (not shown) indicating the correspondence between the RGB brightness signal of the scanner 3 and the CMYK density signal of the printer 2 prepared in advance, the density characteristics of 48 tones from the 48 tone brightness signals. A value can be obtained.

  Although not described in detail here, scanning is normally performed through a scanner driver configured on the PC 1. The scanner driver sets scan resolution, specifies an input area, and the like.

  Next, in step S23, a calibration table is created by the PC1. This will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 4A shows the density characteristic values of the 48 gradations of each color. Although only one color is shown here for simplicity, the same processing is actually performed for the four colors of CMYK. In the figure, an input / output relationship curve is shown, which is obtained by interpolation calculation from the 48 gradations. On the other hand, the ideal value of the density characteristic is defined as a linear curve as shown in FIG. Therefore, in order to bring the current density characteristic (a) closer to the ideal density (c), the calibration table shown in FIG. That is, by applying (b) to characteristic (a), (c) is obtained as a result.

  In step S <b> 23, the created calibration table is stored in the calibration data storage unit 11 as the first calibration table 112 by the PC 1.

  In step S24, the PC 1 downloads the first engine characteristics 111 and the first calibration table 112 in the calibration data storage unit 11 to the printer 2. The downloaded first engine characteristic 111 and first calibration table 112 are stored in the calibration data storage unit 21 via the printer controller 22 as a first engine characteristic 211 and a first calibration table 212. Stored.

  A processing flow of the printer controller 22 when the printer 2 receives download data will be described with reference to FIG. In step S70 of FIG. 7, it is determined whether or not data has been received. If not received, step S70 is repeated. If received, data analysis is performed in step S71. The analysis result is determined in step S72. If it is a calibration download command, it is determined in step S73 whether or not the data is an engine characteristic. If the data is an engine characteristic, the determination is made in step S74. As described above, the engine characteristic 1 is registered as the first engine characteristic 211 in the calibration data storage unit 21. If it is not the engine characteristic in step S73, it is determined that it is a calibration table. In step S75, the calibration table 1 is registered as the first calibration table 212 in the calibration data storage unit 21 as described above.

  If it is determined in step S72 that the calibration download is not performed, the respective processes are performed in step S74.

  FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating the flow of calibration that operates between the printer controller 22 and the printer engine 23 constituting the color printing apparatus 2 according to the present invention.

  This calibration is performed for a predetermined event such as a change in a temperature / humidity sensor (not shown) installed in the printer engine 23, an event that is highly likely to change engine characteristics such as the number of printed sheets, a drum or toner cartridge replacement, and the like. It is executed between the printer engine 23 and the printer controller 22 by triggering events that occur at the timing (in response to the events) (that is, by detecting these events by the printer controller). There are other considerations for the event, but they are not mentioned here.

  Starting with the above-described event as a trigger, first, in step S31, the printer engine 23 adjusts the maximum density of each color of CMYK. Normally, the target maximum density at the time of design is determined in the printer engine, but the density fluctuates up and down due to aging. In this step, a maximum density value for each current CMYK color is obtained by a development system (not shown) such as a sensor on the drum, and if the value fluctuates, an appropriate maximum density adjustment is performed by controlling the development bias value and the like. .

The movement of the density characteristic curve at this time will be described with reference to FIG.
A characteristic curve 2 in FIG. 10 is an example showing a density characteristic curve before the maximum density adjustment, and a characteristic curve 1 is an example showing a density characteristic curve after the maximum density adjustment. First, here, the maximum density of the characteristic curve 2 indicates max2. When the maximum density adjustment is started by the trigger, first, the sensor on the drum detects that the current maximum density value is max2. Since the target value of the maximum density value is max1, the printer engine 23 controls the development bias value and the like, and performs adjustment so that the maximum density becomes max1.

  Next, in step S32, the engine characteristic 2 which is the latest engine characteristic is acquired. This process is performed by returning several intermediate density sensor values from the printer engine 23 to the printer controller 22 in response to a request from the printer controller 22. This will be described with reference to FIG. In FIG. 10, four intermediate density sensor values are taken as an example for explanation, but the number of points is not limited to this. ABCD on the horizontal axis is a predetermined input value, and abcd on the vertical axis is a density value returned by a development system (not shown) such as a sensor corresponding to each input value. The printer engine 23 communicates with the printer controller 22 and passes the four points of abcd to the printer controller 22.

  Incidentally, the intermediate density sensor value before the maximum density adjustment is a'b'c'd ', and changes to abcd by the maximum density adjustment. That is, since the intermediate density sensor value, that is, the engine characteristic is greatly affected by the maximum density adjustment, it is necessary to always perform processing in the order of maximum density adjustment and engine characteristic acquisition as a series of flows.

  In general, the development system sensor has variations in characteristics of the sensor itself, and thus there is no accuracy to obtain an absolute density value with certainty. However, when the characteristics of the development system change in the same sensor, a sensor value corresponding to the change is returned. In other words, absolute accuracy is low, but relative accuracy can be expected.

  Next, in step S33, it is determined whether or not the calibration table 1 has been downloaded in the calibration data storage unit 21. If the calibration table 1 has not been downloaded, the calibration table 2 is created in the same manner as in the conventional device calibration in step S34.

  This process will be described with reference to the characteristic curve 1 in FIG. In the conventional device calibration, first, a characteristic curve 1 is obtained from an intermediate density sensor value abcd, which is an engine characteristic, by an approximate expression, and an inverse function for obtaining a target characteristic as described above with reference to FIG. 4 is generated. The calibration table 2 is created.

If the calibration table 1 has been downloaded in step S33, calibration table correction data is created by the printer controller 22 in step S35. The correction data is created as follows. First, a characteristic curve as shown in the characteristic curve 1 of FIG. 10 is obtained from an approximate expression from the second engine characteristic 213 in the calib data storage unit 21 which is the latest engine characteristic. Next, a characteristic curve is similarly obtained from the first engine characteristic 211, which is an engine characteristic at the time of soft calibration (FIG. 2), by an approximate expression. After that, as described above with reference to FIG. 4, provisional calibration data is obtained for each of them by obtaining a table from the inverse function curve so as to be linear in FIG. 4C. Calibration correction data is created by taking the difference between these two provisional calibration tables.
That is, the information is information representing a characteristic change of the engine sensor level.

  In step S36, the printer controller 22 updates the calibration table 2 stored in the calibration data storage unit 21. This processing is performed by merging the calibration table correction data created in step S35 and the calibration table 1 stored in the calibration data storage unit 21.

  In step S <b> 37, the created calibration table 2 is stored in the calibration data storage unit 21.

  A series of these operations will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 5A shows a first calibration table generated and downloaded by the PC 1 by soft calibration (FIG. 2) and stored in the calibration data storage unit 21 of the printer 2. In FIG. 5B, the CMYK maximum density adjustment occurs in the printer engine 23, and the engine characteristic 2 is exchanged between the printer controller 22 and the printer engine 23. In FIG. 5C, the above-described calibration correction data is created based on the engine characteristic 2 and the engine characteristic 1 at the time of soft calibration in the printer controller 23 and merged with the calibration table 1. The created latest calibration table 2 is stored in the calibration data storage unit 21 as the second calibration table 214. The printer controller 22 always performs the calibration process shown in step S113 of FIG. 11 using the second calibration table stored in the calibration data storage unit 21.

  The normal print data is sent from the application on the PC 1 to the printer 2 via the printer driver on the PC 1. The printer controller 22 in the printer 2 performs analysis of print data, page layout configuration, image processing, printing, and the like in step S74 in FIG. Here, the flow of processing when performing image processing using calibration data in the printer controller 22 will be described with reference to FIG. First, in step S110, color fine adjustment is performed on the input signal RGB. The color fine adjustment is luminance correction or contrast correction. Next, in step S111, color matching processing is performed. The color matching process is a process for matching the color of the monitor with the color of printer printing. In step S112, luminance density conversion processing is performed. This is a process for converting luminance RGB as an input signal into density CMYK as a printer print signal. Next, calibration processing is performed in step S113. That is, the CMYK 8-bit multilevel signal is used as an input / output signal, and the output characteristic is linearized using the calibration table 2 which is the latest calibration table. In step S114, the CMYK 8-bit signals are converted into signals in accordance with the output system. In general, binarization is performed on a 1-bit signal for each CMYK.

  Next, the flow of the user interface (UI) in the PC 1 of the printer configuration system according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. This printer configuration system is configured on the PC 1 as a kind of application.

  When this application is activated in step S80, it is first determined in step S81 whether the necessary printer driver and scanner driver are installed in the system of the PC1. If the necessary driver is not installed, a driver check error is displayed in step S814, and the process ends in step S813. If the necessary driver is installed in step S81, the main screen is displayed in step S82. An example of the main screen is shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 9, the other screens basically move to other related screens by pressing the “Next”, “Back”, “Cancel”, and “Help” buttons. In the main screen of FIG. 9, three types of “new”, “open existing measurement data”, and “delete download data” are prepared as selection menus. If “new” is selected and “next” is pressed, the process proceeds to step S84. In step S84, patch data is output to the printer 2. In step S87, the patch data is measured by the scanner 3 as described above. Next, in step S88, calibration is applied. In this step, steps S23 and S24 in FIG. 2 described above, that is, creation of calibration data and downloading of the data to the printer 2 are performed. In step S88, a button for shifting to steps S89 and S810 is prepared, and the shift is made when the user presses the button. Step S89 is a screen that allows the measurement data to be stored, and stores the scan data measured in step S87. The saved file can be used in the flow of processing using existing measurement data described later. Step S810 is a screen for displaying detailed information, and displays detailed information such as displaying the measured density characteristics. After step S89 and step S810, the process returns to step S88. In step S811, a process end screen is displayed. If the end of the application is specified on the screen, the process ends in step S813. If the return to the main screen is specified, the process returns to step S82.

  When “open measurement data” is selected on the main screen in step S82 and “next” is pressed, a screen for instructing measurement data is displayed in step S85. Here, when the “reference” button is pressed, the screen shifts to the measurement data reading screen in step S812. Here, it is possible to search the measurement data in detail. The measurement data is the data file stored in step S89 described above. Next, calibration is applied in step S88. The subsequent steps are the same as described above.

When “delete download data” is selected on the main screen in step S82 and “next” is pressed, the calibration data stored in the calibration data storage unit 21 of the printer 2 is deleted in step S86. This is performed by an instruction from the PC 1 to the printer 2, but the command will not be mentioned.
Next, the screen moves to an end screen S811. The subsequent steps are the same as described above.

  The flow of the user interface (UI) of the printer calibration system that operates as an application on the PC 1 has been described above with reference to FIGS.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, it is possible to reduce the load on the user and always perform stable color printing.

  The present invention may be applied to a system composed of a plurality of devices or an apparatus composed of a single device. Needless to say, the present invention can also be applied to a case where the present invention is achieved by supplying a program to a system or apparatus. In this case, the storage medium storing the program according to the present invention constitutes the present invention. Then, by causing the system or apparatus to read the program from the storage medium, the system or apparatus operates in a predetermined method.

<Second Embodiment>
Since this embodiment has the same configuration and operation as those of the first embodiment except that the operation at the time of creating the calibration table by the PC 1 is partially different, the difference will be mainly described.

  FIG. 12 is a flow chart of calibration in this embodiment that operates between the server PC 1 and the color printing apparatus 2 constituting the system.

  The process starts from the PC 1 to the printer controller 22 by instructing an operation for correcting the respective maximum densities of the output toners CMYK in the printer engine 23, and the process up to the process of measuring patch data by the scanner 3 in step S22. It is the same as one embodiment.

  Next, in step S27, the PC 1 analyzes the value of the maximum density portion of the density characteristic values obtained in step S22, and determines whether or not it is an appropriate value. The maximum density correction in step S25 described above is normally corrected to an appropriate value, but may not be a desired value due to variations in in-engine sensors, accuracy limitations, and the like.

  In this case, in step S28, the PC 1 instructs the printer 2 to perform detailed maximum density correction processing in step S25 described above.

  In step S25, the maximum density correction is left to the engine, whereas in the density correction in step S28, if the maximum density value is higher than the appropriate value, the printer 2 is instructed to lower the maximum density value from the current value. If the maximum density value is lower than the appropriate value, the maximum density value is instructed to be higher than the current value.

  In step S28, at the same time, an instruction is given to pass new engine characteristic information immediately after the maximum density correction from the printer engine to the printer controller at the timing of the maximum density correction, and step S26 is a recognition step for recognizing the end. Return to.

  If it is determined in step S27 that the maximum density is appropriate, the process proceeds to step S23 as in the case of the first real scene, and a calibration table is created by the PC1. The subsequent steps are the same as in the first embodiment.

1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of a printer calibration system according to the present invention. FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a flow of printer calibration processing according to the present invention. It is another flowchart which shows the flow of the process of the printer calibration which concerns on this invention. It is a conceptual diagram which shows the concept of the calibration data creation which concerns on this invention. It is a conceptual diagram which shows the flow of the calibration data creation which concerns on this invention. It is an example of patch data used in the printer calibration system according to the present invention. 6 is a flowchart showing a flow of processing when a calibration data download command is received in the printer device according to the present invention. 4 is a flowchart showing a UI flow in an application according to the present invention. It is an example of UI in the application which concerns on this invention. It is a conceptual diagram which shows the concept of the calibration data creation in the 2nd calibration in this invention. 3 is a flowchart showing a flow of image processing in the printer according to the present invention. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of another printer calibration process which concerns on this invention.

Explanation of symbols

1 Server PC
11 Calibration Data Storage Unit 2 Printer 21 Calibration Data Storage Unit 22 Printer Controller 23 Printer Engine

Claims (9)

A printer engine having means for correcting the maximum density of each color, a printer controller for controlling the printer engine, obtaining means for obtaining engine characteristics of the printer engine, and storing engine characteristics obtained by the obtaining means A printer controller having storage means, calibration table creation means, and calibration table storage means;
The printer controller corrects the maximum density of each color toner of the printer engine according to an instruction from the outside, acquires a first engine characteristic of the printer engine, causes the printer engine to output patch data, A first calibration table created based on the result of reading the patch data by the scanner is acquired and stored together with the first engine characteristic in the storage unit, and each color of the printer engine is determined at an arbitrary timing. After correcting the maximum density of toner, a second engine characteristic of the printer engine is acquired and stored in the storage unit, and calibration correction data is obtained based on the first and second engine characteristics in the storage unit. The created calibration correction data and the first key A second calibration table is created based on the calibration table and stored in the storage unit, and image data to be printed is processed using the second calibration table in the storage unit. Printer. In claim 1,
The printer controller corrects the maximum density of each color toner of the printer engine in accordance with an instruction from the outside until an appropriate density value is obtained, and then acquires the first engine characteristic of the printer engine. Features printer.   2. The printer according to claim 1, wherein the printer engine outputs an instruction to output patch data after correcting the maximum density of each color toner of the printer engine, and the patch data output by the printer after the instruction is output. A data processing apparatus comprising: means for creating a first calibration table based on a result read by the scanner; and means for supplying the created first calibration table to the printer. In claim 3,
A means for analyzing the maximum density value based on the reading result of the patch data by the scanner and determining whether or not the value is an appropriate value, and an appropriate value based on the determination result when the determination result is not an appropriate value. Means for instructing the printer to perform maximum density correction.   A printing system comprising the printer of claim 1 and the data processing device of claim 3.   A printing system comprising the printer of claim 2 and the data processing device of claim 4. In response to an instruction from the data processing device, the maximum density of each color toner of the printer engine is corrected,
Obtaining a first engine characteristic of the printer engine;
Patch data is output by the printer engine,
Obtaining a first calibration table created based on the result of reading the patch data by the scanner and storing it together with the first engine characteristics;
According to a predetermined timing, the maximum density of each color toner of the printer engine is corrected,
Obtaining and storing a second engine characteristic of the printer engine;
Creating calibration correction data based on the stored first and second engine characteristics;
Creating a second calibration table for processing image data to be printed based on the created calibration correction data and the saved first calibration table; Method. In claim 7,
Analyzing the maximum density value based on the reading result of the patch data by the scanner and determining whether it is an appropriate value,
A calibration table creation method, wherein when the determination result is not an appropriate value, an appropriate maximum density correction based on the determination result is executed. A program for causing a computer to execute the calibration table creation method according to claim 7 or 8.