Patent ID: 8792137
Filing Date: 2014-07-29
Classification: G03G,G06K

Abstract:
1. A control apparatus for controlling a process for printing an image, the control apparatus comprising: a processor; and a memory that stores a computer program that, when executed by the processor, causes the control apparatus to function as: an acquisition unit configured to acquire first type binary image data, the first type binary image data representing density of each of a plurality of pixels by using a binary value, the plurality of pixels being arranged in a matrix along a first image direction and a second image direction that intersect each other, the pixels being arranged at a first resolution in the first image direction, the binary value being either one of a first value and a second value, the second value indicating a higher density than the first value; and a determining unit configured to execute a first determining process to determine an exposure pattern by using the first type binary image data, the exposure pattern representing exposure positions to be exposed to light on a surface of a photosensitive body, the exposure pattern indicating the exposure positions on a plurality of exposure lines, the exposure lines being different in their positions along a first exposure direction corresponding to the first image direction, each exposure line extending in a second exposure direction corresponding to the second image direction, the exposure pattern enabling exposures to be executed on each of the plurality of exposure lines, the first determining process determining the exposure pattern such that the exposure pattern is used to execute exposures of the plurality of exposure lines at a second resolution along the first exposure direction, the second resolution being lower than the first resolution, in the first determining process, the determining unit determining a partial exposure pattern for exposing an output partial area, the determining unit determining the partial exposure pattern for the output partial area by using a layout of second-value pixels within a binary partial area, the second-value pixels having the second values, the binary partial area being a continuous partial area in the first type binary image data and including a plurality of pixels at different positions in the first image direction, the output partial area being a continuous partial area correlated with the binary partial area, the output partial area overlapping N successive exposure lines that are arranged adjacent to one another in the first exposure direction, where N is an integer greater than or equal to two (2), the output partial area overlapping part of each of the N exposure lines, the determining unit determining the partial exposure pattern such that distribution of exposure amounts in the output partial area along the first exposure direction differs according to the layout of the second-value pixels in the binary partial area at least in the first image direction, thereby enabling an image of color material to be formed through development on the photosensitive body at a resolution higher than the second resolution in the first exposure direction.