Patent ID: 8864256
Filing Date: 2014-10-21
Classification: B41J,G06K,H04N

Abstract:
1. An image processing apparatus in order to print an image on a printing medium by a relative movement of the printing medium and a print head in which a first chip and a second chip each of which includes first and second nozzle arrays for ejecting ink are arranged in a predetermined direction crossing a nozzle arrangement direction in a nozzle array, wherein the first chip and the second chip are shifted from each other in the nozzle arrangement direction so that each of (i) nozzles of the first nozzle array in an overlapped portion of the first chip, (ii) nozzles of the first nozzle array in the overlapped portion of the second chip, (iii) nozzles of the second nozzle array in the overlapped portion of the first chip and (iv) nozzles of the second nozzle array in the overlapped portion of the second chip performs printing on a same region on the printing medium, the image processing apparatus comprising: an obtaining unit configured to obtain first image data corresponding to the overlapped portion of the first nozzle array of both of the first chip and the second chip, and second image data corresponding to the overlapped portion of the second nozzle arrays of both of the first chip and the second chip; and a distribution unit configured to distribute the first image data to the first chip and the second chip by using a first mask pattern corresponding to the first chip and a second mask pattern corresponding to the second chip respectively, and distribute the second image data to the first chip and the second chip by using a third mask pattern corresponding to the first chip and a fourth mask pattern corresponding to the second chip respectively, wherein in each of the first, second, third and fourth mask patterns, print permitting pixels and non-print permitting pixels for the same region are arranged, wherein a plurality of print permitting pixels are arranged such that (i) a print permitting ratio in each of the first mask pattern and the third mask pattern corresponding to the nozzle at a first position in the nozzle arrangement direction is lower than a print permitting ratio in each of the first mask pattern and the third mask pattern corresponding to the nozzle at a second position which is more distant than the first position from an end position of the nozzle array of the first chip in the nozzle arrangement direction respectively, and (ii) the print permitting ratio in the first mask pattern corresponding to nozzles at the first position in the nozzle arrangement direction is lower than the print permitting ratio in the third mask pattern corresponding to nozzles at the first position in the nozzle arrangement direction.