Blank Line Detection Controller Using Subset Picture Elements
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing printing technologies require a long time for blank detection, which slows down the printing process, as they need to determine if blank data is present in image data for each line, affecting various types of printers, including inkjet and laser printers.
Innovation Solution
A controller is configured to identify blank lines by analyzing color values of picture elements in a target image, using a subset of picture elements to determine if a line is blank, thereby reducing the time required for blank detection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If blank detection is performed for each line by determining whether blank data is included in the image data, then accurate blank line identification is achieved, but a long period of time is required for the blank detection
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the image data into multiple blocks, where each block contains multiple lines. Instead of detecting blank lines individually line-by-line, the system performs blank detection on entire blocks simultaneously. This segmentation approach maintains detection accuracy by evaluating all lines within a block while reducing the total number of detection operations needed, thereby shortening the overall blank detection time.
2Productivity
If blank skipping is performed in blank parts of the record image, then printing speed is improved, but the time required for blank detection increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the image into multiple blocks for parallel blank detection processing. By organizing lines into blocks and performing detection on block-level units rather than individual lines, the system reduces the sequential detection overhead while maintaining the ability to identify all blank lines accurately, thus enabling faster blank skipping without proportionally increasing detection time.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary blank detection on blocks of image data before the actual printing process. By pre-identifying blank lines through block-based detection and preparing skip commands in advance, the system minimizes the time spent on blank detection during the critical printing phase, thereby improving overall printing speed while maintaining detection accuracy.
Data Source
AI summary
There is provided a controller configured to execute: obtaining of color values of picture elements, respectively, of P pieces of target picture element columns; identifying of a blank picture element, indicating a white color as a brightest color; and identifying a candidate picture element line as a blank line which is a picture element line indicating the white color as the brightest color, the candidate picture element line being constructed of T pieces of picture elements arranged side by side in a second direction and including the P pieces of target picture elements located at a same position in the first direction, in a case that the candidate picture element line satisfies a first blank line condition, wherein the P is a integer in a range of not less than 2 to less than the T.