Patent ID: 8520252

Claim:
A printing apparatus including a printhead in which printing elements provided in correspondence with a plurality of nozzles are divided into a plurality of blocks and the printing elements are driven block-by block, the apparatus printing an image on a printing medium by driving the printhead based on divided block data for driving printing elements that belong to a same block, the apparatus comprising: a first converter configured to, in a case where the number of data pieces included in the divided block data and indicating driving of the printing elements is greater than a predetermined number, convert the divided block data into first serial data that indicates whether or not each printing element belonging to the block corresponding to the divided block data is to be driven; a second converter configured to, in a case where the number of data pieces included in the divided block data and indicating driving of the printing elements is less than or equal to the predetermined number, convert the divided block data into second serial data that indicates at least one of the printing elements to be driven among the printing elements belonging to the block corresponding to the divided block data, the second serial data having a smaller number of bits than the first serial data; and a transfer unit configured to transfer either the first serial data or the second serial data to the printhead, wherein in a case where the second serial data has been received, the printhead converts the second serial data into a data format of the first serial data.