Color Correction Logic for Image Forming Apparatus
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Solution Overview
Problem
Color image forming apparatuses face challenges in maintaining constant density-gray scale characteristics due to environmental variations and long-term use, leading to color balance issues, especially when transferring images to recording media, which conventional methods struggle to accommodate effectively, resulting in inefficient resource consumption and operator costs.
Innovation Solution
An image forming apparatus equipped with a log obtaining unit, color utilization ratio unit, determination unit, and correction unit that automatically determines the need for mixed color correction based on the color utilization ratio from the print log, opting for single color correction when the ratio is below a threshold, thereby reducing calibration time and resource consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If mixed color correction is performed using a sensor to detect density and chromaticity of patch images on recording medium, then color correction precision is improved and manual read-out operation becomes unnecessary, but correction time is extended and consumption of paper and toner increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies partial action by selectively performing only single-color correction when color utilization ratio is low, rather than always performing comprehensive mixed-color correction. This reduces correction time and resource consumption while maintaining adequate color accuracy for documents that don't require full color fidelity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the correction mode parameter based on the color utilization ratio. When the ratio exceeds a threshold, the system switches from single-color correction to mixed-color correction, dynamically adjusting the correction intensity to match actual color usage patterns in the document.
2Extent of automation
If mixed color correction is performed using a sensor to detect density and chromaticity of patch images on recording medium, then manual read-out operation becomes unnecessary, but consumption of paper and toner increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs only the necessary correction level based on actual color usage. For documents with low color utilization, only single-color correction is applied, significantly reducing toner and paper consumption for calibration patches while maintaining automatic operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The correction mode parameter is dynamically changed based on color utilization ratio analysis, allowing the system to automatically select between single-color and mixed-color correction modes, thereby optimizing resource consumption according to actual document requirements.
3Stability of the object's composition
If conventional single color correction is performed for each toner, then density stabilization is achieved, but color balance changes occur during image transfer and fixing
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediate evaluation step by detecting the actual color values of printed patches using a sensor. This intermediary measurement allows the system to identify color balance deviations caused by transfer and fixing processes, then apply compensatory corrections.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback by measuring the actual color output with a sensor and using this information to adjust correction values. The detected color values feed back into the correction algorithm, enabling continuous optimization of color balance consistency across single-color and mixed-color corrections.
Data Source
AI summary
The image forming apparatus includes: a log obtaining unit configured to obtain a print log which is an execution history of a print job; a color utilization ratio obtaining unit configured to obtain a color utilization ratio which is a ratio of chromatic color material utilization when past print jobs were executed from the print log obtained by the log obtaining unit; a determination unit configured to determine to perform mixed color correction and single color correction when the color utilization ratio obtained by the color utilization ratio obtaining unit is equal to or larger than a threshold value and to perform the single color correction without performing the mixed color correction when the color utilization ratio is smaller than the threshold value; and a correction unit configured to perform the correction determined by the determination unit.