Calibration method for density in image forming apparatus

Claim 2

A calibration method for a printer, comprising: a patch outputting step for effecting print output of patch, from a print apparatus, on the basis of patch data based on a predetermined number of binarizing processing conditions fewer than plural binarizing processing conditions usable for generating data for print output; a first acquiring step for acquiring first print output characteristics information and first calibration information for the predetermined number of binarizing processing conditions on the basis of read result of said patch and the patch data; a measuring step for effecting output of said patch and measurement of said patch on the basis of the patch data based on the predetermined number of binarizing processing condition in said print apparatus at a predetermined timing; a second acquiring step for acquiring second print output characteristics information for the predetermined number of binarizing processing condition on the basis of measured result of said patch and the patch data based on the predetermined number of binarizing processing condition; a generating step for generating correction data for the predetermined number of binarizing processing condition on the basis of the first print output characteristics information and the second print output characteristics information; and a third acquiring step for acquiring second calibration information for the predetermined number of binarizing processing conditions by correcting the first calibration information on the basis of the generated correction data.

Claim 3

A method according to claim 1 , wherein the binarizing processing is a dither method.

Claim 4

A method according to claim 2 , wherein the plural binarizing processings effect binarizing processing on the basis of different halftone patterns.

Claim 5

A method according to claim 1 , wherein the calibration information is information of gamma correction table, and, in said measuring step, before the output of said patch, maximum density of the print output characteristics in said print apparatus is adjusted to a predetermined value.

Claim 6

A method according to claim 1 , wherein, in said second acquiring step, if the acquisition of the first calibration information is not effected, the second calibration information is acquired by using only the second print output characteristics information.

Claim 7

A print system including a print apparatus and a host apparatus for controlling print of said print apparatus and adapted to make point output characteristics of said print apparatus constant, comprising: patch outputting means for effecting print output of patch, from a print apparatus, on the basis of patch data based on a predetermined number of binarizing processing conditions fewer than plural binarizing processing conditions usable for generating data for print output; first acquiring means for acquiring first print output characteristics information and first calibration information for the predetermined number of binarizing processing conditions on the basis of read result of said patch and the patch data; patch output measuring means for effecting output of said patch and measurement of said patch on the basis of the patch data based on the predetermined number of binarizing processing conditions in said print apparatus at a predetermined timing; characteristics information acquiring means for acquiring second print output characteristics information for the predetermined number of binarizing processing conditions on the basis of measured result of said patch and the patch data based on the predetermined number of binarizing processing conditions; correction data generating means for generating correction data for the predetermined number of binarizing processing conditions on the basis of the first print output characteristics information and the second print output characteristics information; second acquiring means for acquiring second calibration information for the predetermined number of binarizing processing conditions by correcting the first calibration information on the basis of the generated correction data; selection means for selecting calibration information corresponding to one of the predetermined number of binarizing processing conditions fewer than the plural binarizing processing conditions, in accordance with set binarizing processing condition; correction means for correcting print output characteristics for the data by using the selected calibration information; and processing means for effecting binarizing processing of the data under the binarizing processing condition corresponding to the selected calibration information.

Claim 8

A print system including a print apparatus and a host apparatus for controlling print of said print apparatus and adapted to make point output characteristics of said print apparatus constant, comprising: patch outputting means for effecting print output of patch, from a print apparatus, on the basis of patch data based on a predetermined number of binarizing processing conditions fewer than plural binarizing processing conditions usable for generating data for print output; first acquiring means for acquiring first print output characteristics information and first calibration information for the predetermined number of binarizing processing conditions on the basis of read result of said patch and the patch data; patch output measuring means for effecting output of said patch and measurement of said patch on the basis of the patch data based on the predetermined number of binarizing processing conditions in said print apparatus at a predetermined timing; characteristics information acquiring means for acquiring second print output characteristics information for the predetermined number of binarizing processing conditions on the basis of measured result of said patch and the patch data based on the predetermined number of binarizing processing conditions; correction data generating means for generating correction data for the predetermined number of binarizing processing conditions on the basis of the first print output characteristics information and the second print output characteristics information; second acquiring means for acquiring second calibration information for the predetermined number of binarizing processing conditions by correcting the first calibration information on the basis of the generated correction data; selection means for selecting calibration information corresponding to one of the predetermined number of binarizing processing conditions fewer than the plural binarizing processing conditions, in accordance with set binarizing processing condition; correction means for correcting print output characteristics for the data by using the selected calibration information; and processing means for effecting binarizing processing of the data under the binarizing processing condition corresponding to the selected calibration information.

Claim 9

A print system according to claim 6 , wherein the binarizing processing is a dither method.

Claim 10

A print system according to claim 7 , wherein the binarizing processing effects binarizing processing on the basis of different halftone pattern.

Claim 11

A print system according to claim 6 , wherein the calibration information is information of gamma correction table, and, in said patch output measuring means, before the output of said patch, maximum density of the print output characteristics in said print apparatus is adjusted to a predetermined value.

Claim 12

A print system according to claim 6 , wherein, in said characteristics information acquiring means, if the acquisition of the first calibration information is not effected, the second calibration information is acquired by using only the second print output characteristics information.

Claim 13

A print apparatus comprising: first storing means for storing first print output characteristics information and first calibration information acquired on the basis of read result of patch and patch data and downloaded from a host apparatus with respect to a predetermined number of binarizing processing conditions fewer than plural binarizing processing conditions usable for generating data for print output, said patch being outputted from said print apparatus on the basis of said patch data based on said predetermined number of binarizing processing conditions; patch output measuring means for effecting output of said patch and measurement of said patch on the basis of the patch data based on the predetermined number of binarizing processing conditions at a predetermined timing; characteristics information acquiring means for acquiring second print output characteristics information for the predetermined number of binarizing processing conditions on the basis of measured result of said patch and the patch data based on the predetermined number of binarizing processing conditions; second storing means for storing the second print output characteristics information and second calibration information for the predetermined number of binarizing processing conditions; correction data generating means for generating correction data for the predetermined number of binarizing processing conditions on the basis of the first print output characteristics information stored in said first storing means and the second print output characteristics information stored in said second storing means; calibration information generating means for generating the second calibration information for the predetermined number of binarizing processing conditions by correcting the first calibration information on the basis of the correction data generated by said correction data generating means; selection means for selecting calibration information corresponding to one of the predetermined number of binarizing processing conditions fewer than the plural binarizing processing conditions, in accordance with a binarizing processing condition set in binarizing processing; correction means for correcting print output characteristics for the data by using the selected calibration information; and processing means for effecting binarizing processing of the data under the binarizing processing condition corresponding to the selected calibration information.

Claim 14

A print apparatus comprising: first storing means for storing first print output characteristics information and first calibration information acquired on the basis of read result of patch and patch data and downloaded from a host apparatus with respect to a predetermined number of binarizing processing conditions fewer than plural binarizing processing conditions usable for generating data for print output, said patch being outputted from said print apparatus on the basis of said patch data based on said predetermined number of binarizing processing conditions; patch output measuring means for effecting output of said patch and measurement of said patch on the basis of the patch data based on the predetermined number of binarizing processing conditions at a predetermined timing; characteristics information acquiring means for acquiring second print output characteristics information for the predetermined number of binarizing processing conditions on the basis of measured result of said patch and the patch data based on the predetermined number of binarizing processing conditions; second storing means for storing the second print output characteristics information and second calibration information for the predetermined number of binarizing processing conditions; correction data generating means for generating correction data for the predetermined number of binarizing processing conditions on the basis of the first print output characteristics information stored in said first storing means and the second print output characteristics information stored in said second storing means; calibration information generating means for generating the second calibration information for the predetermined number of binarizing processing conditions by correcting the first calibration information on the basis of the correction data generated by said correction data generating means; selection means for selecting calibration information corresponding to one of the predetermined number of binarizing processing conditions fewer than the plural binarizing processing conditions, in accordance with a binarizing processing condition set in binarizing processing; correction means for correcting print output characteristics for the data by using the selected calibration information; and processing means for effecting binarizing processing of the data under the binarizing processing condition corresponding to the selected calibration information.

Claim 15

A storage medium which stored a program readable by an information processing apparatus, said program comprising: a patch outputting step for effecting print output of patch, from a print apparatus, on the basis of patch data based on a predetermined number of binarizing processing conditions fewer than plural binarizing processing conditions usable for generating data for print output; a first acquiring step for acquiring first print output characteristics information and first calibration information for the predetermined number of binarizing processing conditions on the basis of read result of said patch and the patch data; a measuring step for effecting output of said patch and measurement of said patch on the basis of the patch data based on the predetermined number of binarizing processing conditions in said print apparatus at a predetermined timing; a second acquiring step for acquiring second print output characteristics information for the predetermined number of binarizing processing conditions on the basis of measured result of said patch and the patch data based on the predetermined number of binarizing processing conditions; a generating step for generating correction data for the predetermined number of binarizing processing conditions on the basis of the first print output characteristics information and the second print output characteristics information; and a third acquiring step for acquiring second calibration information for the predetermined number of binarizing processing conditions by correcting the first calibration information on the basis of the generated correction data.

Claim 16

A storage medium which stored a program readable by an information processing apparatus, said program comprising: a patch outputting step for effecting print output of patch, from a print apparatus, on the basis of patch data based on a predetermined number of binarizing processing conditions fewer than plural binarizing processing conditions usable for generating data for print output; a first acquiring step for acquiring first print output characteristics information and first calibration information for the predetermined number of binarizing processing conditions on the basis of read result of said patch and the patch data; a measuring step for effecting output of said patch and measurement of said patch on the basis of the patch data based on the predetermined number of binarizing processing conditions in said print apparatus at a predetermined timing; a second acquiring step for acquiring second print output characteristics information for the predetermined number of binarizing processing conditions on the basis of measured result of said patch and the patch data based on the predetermined number of binarizing processing conditions; a generating step for generating correction data for the predetermined number of binarizing processing conditions on the basis of the first print output characteristics information and the second print output characteristics information; and a third acquiring step for acquiring second calibration information for the predetermined number of binarizing processing conditions by correcting the first calibration information on the basis of the generated correction data.

Claim 17

A program stored in a computer readable medium for calibration processing for making print output characteristics of a print apparatus constant, said program including codes for executing processing comprising the steps of: effecting print output of patch, from a print apparatus, on the basis of patch data based on a predetermined number of binarizing processing conditions fewer than plural binarizing processing conditions usable for generating data for print output; acquiring first print output characteristics information and first calibration information for the predetermined number of binarizing processing conditions on the basis of read result of said patch and the patch data; effecting output of said patch and measurement of said patch on the basis of the patch data based on the predetermined number of binarizing processing conditions in said print apparatus at a predetermined timing; acquiring second print output characteristics information for the predetermined number of binarizing processing conditions on the basis of measured result of said patch and the patch data based on the predetermined number of binarizing processing conditions; generating correction data for the predetermined number of binarizing processing conditions on the basis of the first print output characteristics information and the second print output characteristics information; and acquiring second calibration information for the predetermined number of binarizing processing conditions by correcting the first calibration information on the basis of the generated correction data.

Claim 18

A program stored in a computer readable medium for calibration processing for making print output characteristics of a print apparatus constant, said program including codes for executing processing comprising the steps of: effecting print output of patch, from a print apparatus, on the basis of patch data based on a predetermined number of binarizing processing conditions fewer than plural binarizing processing conditions usable for generating data for print output; acquiring first print output characteristics information and first calibration information for the predetermined number of binarizing processing conditions on the basis of read result of said patch and the patch data; effecting output of said patch and measurement of said patch on the basis of the patch data based on the predetermined number of binarizing processing conditions in said print apparatus at a predetermined timing; acquiring second print output characteristics information for the predetermined number of binarizing processing conditions on the basis of measured result of said patch and the patch data based on the predetermined number of binarizing processing conditions; generating correction data for the predetermined number of binarizing processing conditions on the basis of the first print output characteristics information and the second print output characteristics information; and acquiring second calibration information for the predetermined number of binarizing processing conditions by correcting the first calibration information on the basis of the generated correction data.