Patent ID: 6491372
Filing Date: 2002-12-10
Classification: G06K

Abstract:
An ink jet recording method for performing a recording operation with dots, each dot being formed at a pixel on a recording medium with ink ejected from a recording head, the recording head including a plurality of ejection ports, while scanning the recording head in a scanning direction, said method comprising the steps of:checking image data as to whether ejection data is present or not in each pixel of a two-dimensional arrangement comprising the scanning direction and a direction different from the scanning direction, the checking being performed one pixel by one pixel, in such a manner that the checking of each pixel is sequentially shifted in any direction of the scanning direction, the direction being different from the scanning direction, or a direction opposite to the direction different from the scanning direction; based on the image data checked in said checking step, for the pixel in which the ejection data is present, executing an assignment of an initial order of ejecting ink from the ejection ports, corresponding to the image data, to print a plurality of lines with the dots at pixels of the two-dimensional arrangement and executing, based on the image data checked in said checking step, an assignment of an order of a plurality of times of scanning the recording head for ink ejection when the recording operation is performed to print the plural lines with the dots formed by the plurality of times of scanning by the recording head, wherein the initial order of ejecting ink and the plurality of times of scanning are determined such that a plurality of dots of the plural lines are formed by ejecting the ink from the ejection ports, the ejection port ejecting the ink being determined in accordance with the order of the plurality of times of scanning, and a subsequent order of scanning to be effected for ink ejection for printing the lines with the dots is sequentially assigned in accordance with the initial order of scanning for dots to which an assignment has previously been executed for the image data, both on a specific line having the dots belonging thereto while the dots are arranged for printing the lines, and on corresponding rows of dots; performing the plural times of scanning with the recording head; and ejecting ink based on the ejection data of the image data to form the dots to which the order of scanning is assigned by ejecting the ink from the ejection ports.