Combined Format and Transpose Operation for Image Data
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Ink jet printing systems face challenges in efficiently processing high-resolution image data due to the cost versus performance tradeoff in direct memory access (DMA) bandwidth, particularly in the separate and independent format and transpose operations, which require significant memory accesses and logic area without substantial performance gains.
Innovation Solution
A method that combines the format and transpose operations to generate transposed image data, dividing the halftone image data into data blocks, performing formatting and transposing on each block, and storing the results in memory, thereby optimizing DMA bandwidth and reducing processing time.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If separate format and transpose operations are used, then processing can be performed independently, but processing time increases and DMA bandwidth efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the format operation and transpose operation into a single integrated process. The format/transpose mechanism performs both operations simultaneously on halftone image data, eliminating the need for separate processing stages. This merging of operations reduces the total number of memory accesses and eliminates intermediate storage requirements, directly addressing the technical contradiction by improving processing speed while reducing processing time.
2Productivity
If larger transpose arrays are used to increase DMA bandwidth, then performance improves, but logic area and cost increase substantially
Solution Approach 1:
By merging the format and transpose operations into a single mechanism, the patent eliminates the need for large dedicated transpose arrays. The integrated format/transpose mechanism processes data in a single pass, requiring minimal buffering and transposition logic. This approach achieves efficient DMA bandwidth utilization without the substantial logic area increases that would result from implementing separate, high-capacity transpose arrays.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the image data processing into manageable blocks that can be formatted and transposed in a single operation. By processing data in organized blocks through the integrated mechanism, the system achieves efficient memory access patterns without requiring large transpose arrays, thus maintaining low logic area while preserving DMA bandwidth efficiency.
Data Source
AI summary
A method for generating transposed image data for use in an imaging apparatus having access to a memory includes (a) generating a set of data blocks corresponding to at least a portion of image data representing an image to be printed; (b) performing a combined format and transpose operation on the set of data blocks; and (c) storing a result of the combined format and transpose operation in the memory.