Patent ID: 6027197
Filing Date: 2000-02-22
Classification: G06K

Abstract:
A recording apparatus for recording an image according to recording data on a recording medium by performing a record scan in a main scan direction with a recording head, said recording head having a plurality of recording elements arranged in a direction different from the main scan direction, said recording elements being driven in a time-division manner in units of a block of a predetermined number of recording elements, said recording apparatus comprising:scanning means for moving said recording head, in the main scan direction, relatively to the recording medium to perform the record scan, said scanning means performing the record scan on a predetermined area of the recording medium a plurality of times to sequentially record thinned images, in respective record scans with the thinned images not overlapping each other, thereby completing an image on the predetermined area;mask data generating means for generating mask data corresponding to the block, said mask data being for masking record data in accordance with the thinned images, said mask data generating means generating plural sets of mask data in accordance with the thinned images;signal generation means for generating a record timing signal in accordance with the record scan by said scanning means;selection means for sequentially selecting one mask data from the plural sets of mask data in accordance with the record timing signal; anddrive means for driving said recording head in a time division manner in units of a block in accordance with data obtained by a logical product of record data and the mask data selected by said selection means, the mask data being commonly used for the blocks of said recording head.