Information processing device and storage medium

Abstract

The present invention provides an information processing device and a storage medium. The information processing device includes a processor, the processor acquiring a first characteristic value representing a shape characteristic of a surface of a medium, and calculating the penetration of a droplet into the medium based on the first characteristic value.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an information processing device and a recording medium storing an information processing program. Background Art

[0002] Patent document 1 discloses a method for determining liquid penetration and absorption. The method for determining liquid penetration and absorption in Patent document 1 includes: a step of dripping or applying a liquid on a paper substrate; a step of irradiating a laser to a position where the liquid is dripped or applied; a step of photographing the laser interference light reflected from the position where the liquid is dripped or applied as a speckle pattern multiple times over time to obtain a plurality of image data; a step of calculating a correlation coefficient based on the plurality of image data, and a step of determining that the liquid has penetrated into the paper substrate when the correlation coefficient shows a minimum value.

[0003] Patent document 2 discloses a material discrimination method. The material discrimination method of Patent document 2 includes: a step of attaching a liquid to a detected object; a step of measuring the penetration of the liquid into the detected object using a sensor; and a step of discriminating the material of the detected object based on the measurement result of the sensor, wherein the sensor measures both or either the planar expansion and the penetration depth of the liquid.

[0004] Patent document 3 discloses an inkjet printing device. The inkjet printing device of Patent document 3 includes a conveying unit for conveying printing paper and an inkjet unit for ejecting ink onto the printing paper to perform printing. The inkjet printing device of Patent document 3 also includes: an ink permeability detection unit for detecting the ink permeability of the printing paper; and a control unit for controlling the ink ejection method of the inkjet unit according to the detection result of the ink permeability detection unit.

[0005] Prior Art Literature

[0006] Patent Literature

[0007] Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2014-224777

[0008] Patent Document 2: Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2003-329629

[0009] Patent Document 3: Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2005-305826

[0010] When measuring the degree of penetration of liquid into a medium for printing, etc., there is a known method of actually dropping liquid droplets onto the medium and analyzing the results using a laser irradiation device, a laser light source, and a detector (conductivity sensor, friction sensor, gas sensor, etc.).

[0011] However, since the laser irradiation device and the like are large and expensive, it is difficult to simply measure the penetration degree. Summary of the invention

[0012] Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0013] One embodiment of the present invention provides an information processing device and a recording medium recording an information processing program, which can easily calculate the degree of liquid penetration into the medium (penetration degree) compared with the case where liquid droplets are actually dropped and a laser irradiation device or the like is used.

[0014] Means for solving problems

[0015] [1] An information processing device according to one embodiment of the present invention includes a processor that acquires a first characteristic value indicating a shape characteristic of a surface of a medium and calculates a degree of penetration of a liquid droplet into the medium based on the first characteristic value.

[0016] [2] In the information processing device described in [1], the processor can use the brightness statistic obtained from the diffuse light image as the first characteristic value to calculate the penetration of the droplet into the medium, and the diffuse light image represents the amount of light reflected and diffused on the surface of the medium among the light incident on the surface of the medium.

[0017] [3] In the information processing device described in [2], the processor can calculate the brightness statistic by counting the number of pixels that have the possibility of being holes among a plurality of pixels within a unit area constituting the diffuse light image, each of the plurality of pixels representing brightness.

[0018] [4] In the information processing device described in [3], the pixel that is likely to be the hole can be a pixel having a brightness that is at a position that is more than a predetermined distance away from the brightness of the most frequent value in the distribution diagram representing the relationship between the brightness and the plurality of pixels.

[0019] [5] In the information processing device described in [3], the pixels that are likely to be the hole may be pixels having a brightness value greater than a predetermined first threshold value, and pixels having a brightness value less than a predetermined second threshold value.

[0020] [6] In the information processing device described in any one of [1] to [5], the processor can obtain a second characteristic value representing a physical property of the surface of the medium, and calculate the permeability based on at least one of the first characteristic value and the second characteristic value.

[0021] [7] In the information processing device described in [6], the processor may use a resistance value on the surface of the medium as the second characteristic value.

[0022] [8] In the information processing device described in [6], the processor may use the amount of infrared light absorbed out of the amount of infrared light irradiated to the surface of the medium as the second characteristic value.

[0023] [9] In the information processing device described in [6], the processor may use both the resistance value on the surface of the medium and the amount of infrared light absorbed out of the amount of infrared light irradiated on the surface of the medium as the second characteristic value.

[0024]

[10] An information processing program stored in a recording medium according to one embodiment of the present invention causes a computer to execute the following processing: obtaining a first characteristic value representing a shape characteristic of a surface of a medium, and calculating a degree of penetration of a droplet into the medium based on the first characteristic value.

[0025] Effects of the Invention

[0026] According to the information processing device described in [1] and the recording medium storing the information processing program described in

[10] , the permeability can be calculated more easily than when actually dropping liquid droplets and using a laser irradiation device or the like.

[0027] According to the information processing device described in [2], the permeability can be easily calculated optically compared to the case of using a laser irradiation device or the like.

[0028] According to the information processing device described in [3], the penetration can be calculated arithmetically more easily than by performing image processing or the like.

[0029] According to the information processing device described in [4], the calculation of the penetration can be performed geometrically more easily than performing image processing or the like.

[0030] According to the information processing device described in [5], the penetration can be calculated according to a clear standard, compared to a case where the first threshold value and the second threshold value are not used.

[0031] According to the information processing device described in [6], the permeability can be calculated using the shape characteristic, the physical characteristic, or any one of the shape characteristic and the physical characteristic.

[0032] According to the information processing device described in [7], the permeability can be calculated easily electrically compared to the case of using parameters other than the resistance value.

[0033] According to the information processing device described in [8], the permeability can be calculated optically more easily than when using parameters other than the infrared rays.

[0034] According to the information processing device described in [9], the permeability can be calculated optically more easily than when using parameters other than the resistance value and the infrared ray. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0035] Figure 1 The structure of the droplet penetration calculation device ESS according to the embodiment is shown.

[0036] Figure 2 This is a functional block diagram of the droplet penetration calculation device ESS according to the embodiment.

[0037] Figure 3 The unit configuration of the droplet penetration calculation device ESS according to the embodiment is shown.

[0038] Figure 4 This is a first diagram showing irradiation of white light HS and imaging of diffused light KS by the brightness detection unit KKU in the embodiment.

[0039] Figure 5 FIG. 2 is a second diagram showing irradiation of white light HS and imaging of diffused light KS by the brightness detection unit KKU in the embodiment.

[0040] Figure 6 It is a flowchart showing the operation of the brightness detection unit KKU according to the embodiment.

[0041] Figure 7 A diffused light amount image GZ according to the embodiment is shown.

[0042] Figure 8 A distribution diagram BPZ showing an implementation scheme.

[0043] Fig. 9 1 is a diagram showing measurement of a resistance value by the resistance value measurement unit TSU according to the embodiment.

[0044] Fig.10 1 is a flowchart showing the operation of the resistance value measuring unit TSU according to the embodiment.

[0045] Fig.11 1 is a diagram showing the measurement of the infrared absorption amount SK of the infrared absorption amount detection unit SKU according to the embodiment.

[0046] Fig.12 1 is a flowchart showing the operation of the infrared absorption amount detection unit SKU according to the embodiment.

[0047] Fig.13 1 is a flowchart showing the calculation of permeability STD by the droplet permeability calculation device ESS according to the embodiment.

[0048] Fig.14The first relationship between the predicted value and the true value of the permeability STD according to the implementation method is represented.

[0049] Fig.15 It represents the second relationship between the predicted value and the true value of the permeability STD regarding the implementation method.

[0050] Fig.16 The third relationship between the predicted value and the true value of the permeability STD of the implementation method is represented. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0051] Hereinafter, an embodiment of a droplet permeability calculation device as an example of the information processing device of the present invention will be described.

[0052] <Configuration of Droplet Penetration Calculation Device ESS>

[0053] Figure 1 The structure of the droplet penetration calculation device ESS according to the embodiment is shown below. Figure 1 The configuration of the droplet penetration calculation device ESS according to the embodiment will be described.

[0054] like Figure 1 As shown, the droplet permeability calculation device ESS of the first embodiment includes an input unit 11 , a CPU 12 (Central Processing Unit), an output unit 13 , a storage medium 14 , and a memory 15 .

[0055] The input unit 11 is composed of, for example, a sensor, a photodiode, a keyboard, a mouse, and a touch panel. The CPU 12 is an example of a processor and is a well-known computer core that operates hardware according to software. The output unit 13 is composed of, for example, a light-emitting diode, a printer, a liquid crystal monitor, and a touch panel. The storage medium 14 is composed of, for example, a hard disk drive (HDD), a solid state drive (SSD), and a ROM (Read Only Memory). The memory 15 is composed of, for example, a DRAM (Dynamic Random Access Memory) and an SRAM (Static Random Access Memory).

[0056] The storage medium 14 stores the program PR and the permeability calculation formula EQ.

[0057] The program PR is a set of instructions that defines the content of processing to be executed by the CPU 12 .

[0058] The permeability calculation formula EQ is a formula for calculating permeability (also called "permeability coefficient").

[0059] Here, the term "permeability (permeability coefficient)" refers to the degree to which a droplet of ink or the like penetrates into a printing medium PM such as paper (for example, Figure 5 The printing medium PM such as paper is an example of the “medium”.

[0060] The penetration calculation formula EQ is as follows.

[0061] Permeability (permeability coefficient) STD = A × brightness statistics KT + B × resistance value DT + C × infrared absorption SK1 / infrared absorption SK2 + D… (1)

[0062] The “brightness statistics KT” refers to the number of holes AN (e.g. Figure 5 ) status (e.g., number).

[0063] The “brightness statistic KT” is an example of the “first characteristic value” indicating the “shape characteristic” of the surface of the printing medium PM.

[0064] The “resistance value DT” is represented by the common logarithm (logΩ) of the resistance value per unit length of the surface of the printing medium PM.

[0065] "Infrared absorption amount SK1" refers to the amount of infrared light absorbed by the surface of the printing medium PM when infrared light with a wavelength of 1400nm is irradiated to the surface of the printing medium PM. The infrared absorption amount SK1 and the infrared absorption amount SK2 described later are calculated as the ratio of the actual light receiving amount to the light receiving amount when the irradiated infrared light is 100% reflected. The case where the irradiated infrared light is 100% reflected means that no infrared light is absorbed.

[0066] The “infrared absorption amount SK2” refers to the amount of infrared rays absorbed by the surface of the printing medium PM when the surface of the printing medium PM is irradiated with infrared rays having a wavelength of 1250 nm.

[0067] The “resistance value DT”, the “infrared absorption amount SK1”, and the “infrared absorption amount SK2” are examples of the “second characteristic value” indicating the “physical property” of the surface of the printing medium PM.

[0068] The reason for using two infrared wavelengths of 1250nm and 1400nm is as follows. By using the former wavelength of 1250nm, the infrared absorption amount can be measured regardless of the material of the printing medium PM. Therefore, the infrared absorption amount obtained by the measurement using the former wavelength of 1250nm is used as a reference amount (reference value), and the infrared absorption amount obtained by the measurement using the latter wavelength of 1400nm can be corrected (calibrated).

[0069] "Constant A", "Constant B" and "Constant C" are constants used for conversion obtained experimentally and are used to obtain the permeability STD of the printing medium PM from the brightness statistic KT, resistance value DT and infrared absorption amounts SK1 and SK2 of the printing medium PM, which is the object to predict the permeability STD.

[0070] “Constant A”, “Constant B”, and “Constant C” are, for example, numerical values ​​determined in advance by an experimenter in an environment that is different from the droplet permeability calculation device ESS and that can be measured with higher accuracy (for example, an environment using a laser microscope, etc.). More specifically, “Constant A”, “Constant B”, and “Constant C” are determined by experimentally using a plurality of printing media PM that are different from the “printing media PM as an object of permeability STD prediction” to determine the relationship between the permeability STD of each of the plurality of printing media PM and the brightness statistic KT, resistance value DT, and infrared absorption amount SK1, SK2 of each of the plurality of printing media PM.

[0071] "Constant D" is a constant used to supplement the calculation when calculating the permeability STD using the brightness statistic KT, the resistance value DT, the infrared absorption amounts SK1, SK2, and the constants A, B, and C. The combination of "Constant A", "Constant B", "Constant C", and "Constant D" is prepared in advance corresponding to the case where all of the brightness statistic KT, the resistance value DT, and the infrared absorption amounts SK1, SK2 are used, or the case where none of them is used.

[0072] <Function of Droplet Penetration Calculation Device ESS>

[0073] Figure 2 This is a functional block diagram of the droplet penetration calculation device ESS according to the embodiment.

[0074] like Figure 2 As shown, the droplet penetration calculation device ESS of the embodiment includes a measuring unit (acquisition unit) 21 , a calculation unit 22 , a control unit 23 , and a storage unit 24 .

[0075] Regarding the relationship between the hardware configuration and the functional configuration in the droplet permeability calculation device ESS, in terms of hardware, the CPU 12 uses the memory 15 (which realizes a part of the function of the storage unit 24) to execute the program PR stored in the storage medium 14 (which realizes another part of the function of the storage unit 24), and controls the operation of the input unit 11 and the output unit 13 as the control unit 23 as needed, thereby realizing the functions of the measurement unit 21 and the calculation unit 22. The functions of each unit will be described later.

[0076] <Unit Configuration of Droplet Penetration Calculation Device ESS>

[0077] Figure 3 The unit configuration of the droplet penetration calculation device ESS according to the embodiment is shown.

[0078] like Figure 3 As shown, the droplet penetration calculation device ESS of the embodiment includes three units, namely, a brightness detection unit KKU, a resistance value measurement unit TSU, and an infrared absorption amount detection unit SKU.

[0079] like Figure 3 As shown, the brightness detection unit KKU has a white light emitting diode 31 and a CMOS sensor 32. The white light emitting diode 31 corresponds to the output unit 13 ( Figure 1 ), and the CMOS sensor 32 corresponds to the input unit 11 ( Figure 1 as shown. ).

[0080] like Figure 3 As shown in FIG. 1 , the brightness detection unit KKU includes a resistance value measuring device 41 . The resistance value measuring device 41 corresponds to the input unit 11 and the output unit 13 .

[0081] like Figure 3 As shown in FIG. 1 , the infrared absorption amount detection unit SKU includes an infrared light emitting diode 51 and a photodiode 52. The infrared light emitting diode 51 corresponds to the output unit 13, and the photodiode 52 corresponds to the input unit 11.

[0082] <Factual Relationship Assumed by Droplet Penetration Calculation Device ESS of Embodiment>

[0083] Figure 4 This is a first diagram showing irradiation of white light HS and imaging of diffused light KS by the brightness detection unit KKU according to the embodiment.

[0084] Figure 5 FIG. 2 is a second diagram showing irradiation of white light HS and imaging of diffused light KS by the brightness detection unit KKU according to the embodiment.

[0085] Printing medium PM (eg Figure 4 As shown. ) There are multiple holes AN on the surface (e.g. Figure 5 As shown. ). The plurality of pores AN have, for example, pore diameters of several μm to several hundred μm. Analysis using a laser microscope (not shown) shows that among the pores AN of several μm to several hundred μm in diameter, pores AN of several μm (for example, including less than 3 μm) to several tens of μm (for example, including 30 μm) in diameter are particularly correlated with the permeability STD.

[0086] Therefore, in the droplet penetration calculation device ESS of the embodiment, in order to calculate the brightness statistic KT to be used in the penetration calculation formula EQ, it is theoretically preferable to detect pores AN having a pore size of 10 μm or more, for example. Furthermore, in order to detect pores AN having a pore size of 10 μm or more, for example, a CMOS sensor 32 ( Figure 3 As shown. ), and, on the surface of the printing medium PM, for example, a square area having a length and width of 5 mm (for example, Figure 7 As shown. ) within the square range of the area above, the hole AN is detected by using the CMOS sensor 32.

[0087] <Operation of the Droplet Penetration Calculation Device ESS According to the Embodiment>

[0088] For ease of explanation and understanding, it is assumed below that the printing medium PM is pre-set at a position where the brightness statistic KT, resistance value DT and infrared absorption amount SK of the printing medium PM can be measured, i.e., detected, based on the relationship with the droplet penetration calculation device ESS.

[0089] <Operation of Brightness Detection Unit KKU>

[0090] Figure 6 1 is a flowchart showing the operation of the brightness detection unit KKU according to the embodiment. Figures 4 to 6 The operation of the brightness detection unit KKU according to the embodiment will be described.

[0091] Step S10: A user (not shown) of the liquid droplet penetration calculation device ESS uses the input unit 11 ( Figure 1 ), a button for calculating the brightness statistic KT is pressed (not shown). In response to the pressing, in the droplet penetration calculation device ESS, the CPU 12 ( Figure 1 As shown. ) as the measuring unit 21 ( Figure 2 As shown. ), so that as the output unit 13 ( Figure 1 As shown in FIG. 3 , the operation of the white light emitting diode 31 starts. Figure 4 As shown, the white light emitting diode 31 irradiates the printing medium PM with white light HS.

[0092] like Figure 4 As shown, the white light emitting diode 31 of the brightness detection unit KKU preferably irradiates the printing medium PM with white light HS at an angle of approximately 16 degrees. Figure 5As shown, at the upper end of the side wall of the hole AN on the surface of the printing medium PM, diffused lights KS11, KS12, and KS13 are emitted with a much larger amount of light than other diffused lights KS. On the other hand, at the lower end of the side wall of the hole AN, diffused lights KS21, KS22, and KS23 are emitted with a much smaller amount of light than other diffused lights KS.

[0093] return Figure 6 , the operation of the droplet penetration calculation device ESS will be described below.

[0094] Step S11: When the white light HS is irradiated in step S10, in the droplet penetration calculation device ESS, the CPU 12 as the measuring unit 21 causes the input unit 11 ( Figure 1 As shown in FIG. 1 , the operation of the CMOS sensor 32 starts. As a result, the CMOS sensor 32 receives the diffused light KS emitted from the surface of the printing medium PM, namely, the diffused light KS11 to KS23 ( Figure 5 As shown. ) and other diffuse light KS.

[0095] Figure 7 A diffused light amount image GZ according to the embodiment is shown.

[0096] The CMOS sensor 32 receives the diffused light KS, and the CPU 12 as the measuring unit 21 generates a diffused light amount image GZ. The diffused light amount image GZ is as follows: Figure 7 The figure shows the amount of light diffused on the surface of the printing medium PM, in other words, it suggests that there are holes AN on the surface of the printing medium PM.

[0097] As the diffuse light amount image GZ, Figure 7 As shown in FIG. 1 , a square area of, for example, 500 μm in length and width on the surface of the printing medium PM is imaged. Figure 7 As shown, the diffuse light quantity image GZ is composed of, for example, 650×650 pixels GS (about 420,000 pixels GS in total). Each pixel GS represents the brightness KD of the surface of the printing medium PM, in other words, the intensity of the diffuse light KS, using 8 bits (256 levels from 0 to 255).

[0098] return Figure 6 , the operation of the droplet penetration calculation device ESS will be described below.

[0099] Step S12: When the diffused light amount image GZ is generated in step S11, the CPU 12 as the measuring unit 21 generates a distribution map BPZ indicating the distribution of the brightness KD on the surface of the printing medium PM.

[0100] Figure 8 A distribution diagram BPZ showing an implementation scheme.

[0101] In more detail, Figure 8 As shown, the CPU 12 generates a distribution map BPZ representing the diffuse light amount image GZ ( Figure 7 The relationship between the plurality of pixels GS (about 420,000 pixels) contained in the BPZ and the brightness KD shown in each pixel GS is shown in the distribution diagram BPZ. Figure 8 As shown in FIG. 1 , the relationship between the brightness KD and the frequency (the number of pixels GS) is close to a normal distribution. Figure 8 As shown, the brightness KD "122" to "123" (≈(255-0) / 2) is the most frequent value SH of the frequency (the number of pixels GS).

[0102] return Figure 6 , the operation of the droplet penetration calculation device ESS will be described below.

[0103] Step S13: When the distribution diagram BPZ of the brightness KD is generated in step S12, the CPU 12 as the calculation unit 22 ( Figure 2 As shown. ), the number of pixels GS that may be holes AN is counted. Thus, CPU 12 calculates the brightness statistic KT.

[0104] Here, “possibility of being an aperture AN” also means that the pixel GS includes two or more apertures AN, includes only one aperture AN, and includes only a part of one aperture AN.

[0105] Specifically, CPU 12 in the distribution map BPZ ( Figure 8 ), the number of pixels GS existing at a position more than a predetermined distance DS away from the most frequent value SH, in other words, the number of pixels GS more than a predetermined brightness KD (as an example of a "first threshold") defined by the distance DS and less than a predetermined brightness KD (as an example of a "second threshold") also defined by the distance DS from the vicinity of the brightness KD "122" to "123" of the most frequent value SH is counted.

[0106] More specifically, the CPU 12 counts the number of pixels GS present in the area RYa below the threshold TH2, which is located at a position of the brightness KD corresponding to the distance DS from the mode value SH in the direction of the smaller brightness KD. In other words, the CPU 12 counts the number of pixels GS present in the area RYa below the threshold TH2, which is located at a position of the brightness KD corresponding to the distance DS from the mode value SH in the direction of the smaller brightness KD. Figure 5 As shown. ) is counted, that is, the number of pixels GS that have the possibility of being the lower end of the side wall of the hole AN on the surface of the printing medium PM.

[0107] Similarly, the CPU 12 counts the number of pixels GS existing in the area RYb above the threshold TH1, which is a position away from the mode value SH in the direction of the larger brightness KD by a distance DS. In other words, the CPU 12 counts the number of pixels GS existing in the area RYb above the threshold TH1, which is a position away from the mode value SH in the direction of the larger brightness KD. Figure 5 As shown. ) is counted, that is, the number of pixels GS that have the possibility of being the upper end of the side wall of the hole AN on the surface of the printing medium PM.

[0108] The CPU 12 obtains the brightness statistic KT by counting the number of pixels GS in the regions RYa and RYb.

[0109] Here, the "distance DS" is a value obtained by observing the surface of the printing medium PM as a sample for calculating the distance DS in advance, for example, by a laser microscope (not shown). More specifically, the "distance DS" is a value for making the state of the hole AN on the surface of the printing medium PM represented by the calculated brightness statistic KT approximate the state of the hole AN on the surface of the printing medium PM (a state closer to the actual state).

[0110] The reason for using a laser microscope in the observation of the printing medium PM as the sample is that the state of the holes AN on the surface of the printing medium PM can be obtained with higher accuracy, thereby enabling observation of a state close to the actual state.

[0111] It is preferable to use a combination of a plurality of paper types and a plurality of paper brands (manufacturing companies, factories, etc.) as the sample printing medium PM, so that the distance DS can be widely and generally used.

[0112] <Operation of Resistance Measurement Unit TSU>

[0113] Fig. 9 1 is a diagram showing measurement of a resistance value by the resistance value measurement unit TSU according to the embodiment.

[0114] Fig.10 1 is a flowchart showing the operation of the resistance value measuring unit TSU according to the embodiment.

[0115] The following is a diagram showing the operation of the resistance value measuring unit TSU. Fig. 9 and Fig.10 , the operation of the resistance value measuring unit TSU according to the embodiment will be described.

[0116] Step S20: The user of the droplet penetration calculation device ESS uses the input unit 11 ( Figure 1), a button (not shown) for calculating the resistance value DT is pressed. In response to the pressing, in the droplet penetration calculation device ESS, the CPU 12 ( Figure 1 As shown. ) as the measuring unit 21 ( Figure 2 As shown. ), so that as the output unit 13 ( Figure 1 As shown. ) The operation of the resistance value measuring device 41 starts. As a result, the resistance value measuring device 41 applies a voltage between the two electrodes 42A and 42B on the printing medium PM.

[0117] Here, since the resistance value DT of the printing medium PM is extremely large, it is preferable that the distance between the two electrodes 42A and 42B is, for example, approximately 1 mm, and the applied voltage is approximately several hundred V or more (eg, 200 V).

[0118] Step S21: When a voltage is applied between the two electrodes 42A and 42B in step S20, the CPU 12 functions as the measuring unit 21 (shown in FIG. Figure 2 . ), instructing the resistance value measuring device 41 to measure the resistance value of the printing medium PM, that is, the resistance value DT. Thus, the resistance value measuring device 41 measures the resistance value DT of the printing medium PM.

[0119] <Operation of the infrared absorption detection unit SKU>

[0120] Fig.11 1 is a diagram showing the measurement of the infrared absorption amount SK performed by the infrared absorption amount detection unit SKU according to the embodiment.

[0121] Fig.12 1 is a flowchart showing the operation of the infrared absorption amount detection unit SKU according to the embodiment.

[0122] Next, the infrared absorption detection unit SKU is used to represent the operation of Fig.11 and Fig.12 , describing the operation of the infrared absorption detection unit SKU of the implementation scheme.

[0123] Step S30: The user of the droplet penetration calculation device ESS uses the input unit 11 ( Figure 1 ), a button (not shown) for calculating the infrared absorption amount SK is pressed. In response to the pressing, in the droplet penetration calculation device ESS, the CPU 12 ( Figure 1 As shown. ) as the measuring unit 21 ( Figure 2 As shown. ), so that as the output unit 13 ( Figure 1 As shown. ) The operation of the infrared light emitting diode 51 starts. As a result, the infrared light emitting diode 51 irradiates the surface of the printing medium PM with infrared rays SG1.

[0124] Step S31: When the infrared ray SG1 is irradiated onto the surface of the printing medium PM in step S30, the CPU 12 as the measuring unit 21 instructs the input unit 11 ( Figure 1 ) is operated by the photodiode 52, for example, switching the circuit wiring between the CPU 12 and the photodiode 52 to feed back the detection result of the photodiode 52 to the CPU 12. Thus, the photodiode 52 measures the amount of infrared light SG2 reflected on the surface of the printing medium PM, that is, the reflection amount.

[0125] Step S32: When the reflected amount of infrared rays SG2 is measured in step S31, the CPU 12 as the calculation unit 22 ( Figure 2 ), the amount of infrared SG2 reflected by the photodiode 52 in step S31 is subtracted from the amount of infrared SG1 irradiated from the infrared light emitting diode 51 in step S30. Thus, the CPU 12 calculates the amount of infrared SG3 absorbed by the surface of the printing medium PM (absorption amount), that is, the infrared absorption amounts SK1 and SK2.

[0126] The infrared absorption amount is measured by combining the steps S30 to S32 as one group and performing two groups of measurements. In the first group, the 1400 nm is used as the wavelength of the infrared ray SG1. In the second group, the 1250 nm is used as the wavelength of the infrared ray SG2.

[0127] <Calculation of Permeability STD>

[0128] Fig.13 1 is a flowchart showing the calculation of the permeability STD by the droplet permeability calculation device ESS according to the embodiment. Fig.13 Flowchart illustrating the calculation of permeability STD.

[0129] In step S40, in the droplet penetration calculation device ESS, the CPU 12 ( Figure 1 As shown. ) as the calculation unit 22 ( Figure 2 ), the brightness statistic KT calculated in step S13, the resistance value DT measured in step S21, and the infrared absorption amounts SK1 and SK2 calculated in step S32 are substituted into the permeability calculation formula EQ. Thus, the permeability STD is calculated.

[0130] In addition, the CPU 12 outputs the calculated penetration STD to an output unit 13 such as a printer or a liquid crystal monitor according to a request from a user of the droplet penetration calculation device ESS. Figure 2 as shown. ).

[0131] More specifically, the CPU 12 may perform the following substitution.

[0132] (1) When only the brightness statistic KT is calculated, only the brightness statistic KT is substituted into the permeability calculation formula EQ.

[0133] (2) When the brightness statistic KT is calculated and the resistance value DT is measured, the brightness statistic KT and the resistance value DT are substituted into the permeability calculation formula EQ.

[0134] (3) When the brightness statistic KT and the infrared absorption amounts SK1 and SK2 are calculated, the brightness statistic KT and the infrared absorption amounts SK1 and SK2 are substituted into the permeability calculation formula EQ.

[0135] (4) When the resistance value DT is measured and the infrared absorption amounts SK1 and SK2 are calculated, the resistance value DT and the infrared absorption amounts SK1 and SK2 are substituted into the permeability calculation formula EQ.

[0136] <Comparison between the predicted value of permeability calculated by the permeability calculation formula EQ and the true value of permeability>

[0137] Fig.14 It represents the first relationship between the predicted value and the true value of the permeability STD regarding the implementation method.

[0138] Fig.15 It represents the second relationship between the predicted value and the true value of the permeability STD regarding the implementation method.

[0139] Fig.16 It represents the third relationship between the predicted value and the true value of the permeability STD regarding the implementation method.

[0140] The “predicted value of permeability STD” refers to the value of permeability STD of the printing medium PM obtained by substituting one or more of the brightness statistic KT, the resistance value DT, and the infrared absorption amounts SK1 and SK2 into the permeability calculation formula EQ.

[0141] Fig.14 The “predicted value of permeability STD” in EQ is a value of permeability STD of the printing medium PM obtained by substituting only the brightness statistic KT into the permeability calculation formula EQ.

[0142] Fig.15 The “predicted value of permeability STD” in EQ is a value of permeability STD of the printing medium PM obtained by substituting the resistance value DT and the infrared absorption amounts SK1 and SK2 into the permeability calculation formula EQ.

[0143] Fig.16The “predicted value of permeability STD” in EQ is the value of permeability STD of the printing medium PM obtained by substituting the brightness statistic KT, the resistance value DT, and the infrared absorption amounts SK1 and SK2 into the permeability calculation formula EQ.

[0144] The so-called "true value of permeability STD" refers to the amount of droplet movement (movement volume) per unit time in the printing medium PM, obtained by, for example, imaging with a high-resolution and high-speed camera (e.g., 0.1 to 0.5 μm / pixel, 10 to 20 μsec / frame).

[0145] exist Figure 14 to Figure 16 In the example, the points drawn (depicted) are points of each of the multiple sheets of paper. The multiple sheets of paper are specified by parameters. The parameters are, for example, the type of paper and the brand of paper (manufacturing company, factory).

[0146] The types of paper include, for example, glossy coated paper and matte coated paper. The brands of paper are paper manufacturing companies (eg, manufacturing company A, manufacturing company B) and paper factories (eg, factory a1, factory a2 owned by paper manufacturing company A).

[0147] For example, in Figures 14 to 16 In the figure, it is shown that a certain paper (plotted dots) is, for example, glossy coated paper and is manufactured in factory a1 of manufacturing company A. It is shown that other paper (plotted dots) is, for example, glossy coated paper and is manufactured in another factory a2 of manufacturing company A. It is shown that still another paper (plotted dots) is, for example, glossy coated paper and is manufactured in factory b of manufacturing company B.

[0148] like Figure 14 to Figure 16 As shown, a straight line can be drawn between the predicted value of the permeability STD and the plurality of plotted points representing the true value of the permeability STD under the least square method. Therefore, it can be said that there is a linear relationship between the true value of the permeability STD of the printing medium PM and the predicted value of the permeability STD of the printing medium PM, regardless of the paper type and paper brand.

[0149] In other words, it can be said that the predicted value of the permeability STD of the printing medium PM obtained by the permeability calculation formula EQ represents or symbolizes the true value of the permeability STD of the printing medium PM. That is, the permeability STD of the printing medium PM can be estimated by substituting the brightness statistics KT, resistance value DT, and infrared absorption amounts SK1 and SK2 obtained in a small-scale and inexpensive environment such as the white light emitting diode 31 and the CMOS sensor 32 into the permeability calculation formula EQ, without obtaining the true value of the permeability STD of the printing medium PM in a large-scale and expensive environment such as using a laser microscope.

[0150] <Modification>

[0151] Regarding the substitution into the permeability calculation formula EQ, for example, (1) the brightness statistic KT and the resistance value DT can be substituted, (2) the brightness statistic KT and the infrared absorption amounts SK1 and SK2 can be substituted, (3) only the resistance value DT can be substituted, and (4) only the infrared absorption amounts SK1 and SK2 can be substituted.

[0152] <Supplementary information about processor and program>

[0153] In addition, in the above-mentioned embodiment, the processor refers to a processor in a broad sense, including a general-purpose processor (e.g., CPU: Central Processing Unit, etc.), a dedicated processor (e.g., GPU: Graphics Processing Unit, ASIC: Application Specific Integrated Circuit, FPGA: Field Programmable Gate Array, programmable logic device, etc.).

[0154] In the above-described embodiments, the actions of the processors may be implemented by a single processor or by cooperation of a plurality of processors. In addition, the order of the actions of the processors is not limited to the order in the above-described embodiments, and may be appropriately changed.

[0155] In the described embodiment, the program PR can also be provided by being recorded in a recording medium such as a CD-ROM (Compact Disc Read Only Memory), a DVD-ROM (Digital Versatile Disc Read Only Memory), and a USB (Universal Serial Bus) memory instead of being pre-stored (installed) in the storage medium 14, or it can be downloaded from an external device via a network.

[0156] The above description of the embodiments of the present invention is provided for the purpose of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed. Obviously, many modifications and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art. The embodiments selected and described are to best explain the principles of the present invention and its practical application, so that those skilled in the art can understand the various embodiments of the present invention and adopt various modifications suitable for the specific use envisioned. The scope of the present invention is defined by the following claims and their equivalents.

Claims

1. An information processing device comprising a processor, The processor performs the following processing: Acquiring a brightness statistic obtained from a diffuse light quantity image as a first characteristic value, the brightness statistic representing a shape characteristic of a surface of a medium, the diffuse light quantity image representing an amount of light reflected and diffused on the surface of light incident on the surface of the medium; Calculating the penetration of the droplet into the medium based on the first characteristic value; as well as The first characteristic value is calculated by counting the number of pixels showing a possibility of being a hole among a plurality of pixels within a unit area constituting the diffused light amount image, each of the plurality of pixels indicating brightness.

2. The information processing device according to claim 1, wherein: The pixel showing a possibility of being the hole is a pixel having a brightness at a position that is at least a predetermined distance away from the brightness of the most frequent value in the distribution diagram representing the relationship between the brightness and the plurality of pixels.

3. The information processing device according to claim 1, wherein: The pixels that are likely to be the holes are pixels having a luminance value that is greater than or equal to a predetermined first threshold value and pixels having a luminance value that is less than or equal to a predetermined second threshold value.

4. The information processing device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein: The processor performs the following processing: acquiring a second characteristic value representing a physical characteristic of the surface of the medium; and The permeability is calculated based on at least one of the first characteristic value and the second characteristic value.

5. The information processing device according to claim 4, wherein: The processor uses a resistance value on a surface of the medium as the second characteristic value.

6. The information processing device according to claim 4, wherein: The processor uses, as the second characteristic value, an amount of infrared light absorbed among an amount of infrared light irradiated to the surface of the medium.

7. The information processing device according to claim 4, wherein: The processor uses both the resistance value on the surface of the medium and the amount of infrared light absorbed among the amount of infrared light irradiated to the surface of the medium as the second characteristic value.

8. A storage medium storing an information processing program for causing a computer to execute the following processing: Acquiring a brightness statistic obtained from a diffuse light quantity image as a first characteristic value, the brightness statistic representing a shape characteristic of a surface of a medium, the diffuse light quantity image representing an amount of light reflected and diffused on the surface of light incident on the surface of the medium; Calculating the penetration of the droplet into the medium based on the first characteristic value; as well as The first characteristic value is calculated by counting the number of pixels showing a possibility of being a hole among a plurality of pixels within a unit area constituting the diffused light amount image, each of the plurality of pixels indicating brightness.

9. A computer program product, comprising an information processing program, the information processing program being configured to cause a computer to execute the following processing: Acquiring a brightness statistic obtained from a diffuse light quantity image as a first characteristic value, the brightness statistic representing a shape characteristic of a surface of a medium, the diffuse light quantity image representing an amount of light reflected and diffused on the surface of light incident on the surface of the medium; Calculating the penetration of the droplet into the medium based on the first characteristic value; as well as The first characteristic value is calculated by counting the number of pixels showing a possibility of being a hole among a plurality of pixels within a unit area constituting the diffused light amount image, each of the plurality of pixels indicating brightness.

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