Contour Processing for Trapping and Thinning Coordination

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing image processing techniques face challenges in achieving both trapping and thinning effects simultaneously, leading to inaccuracies in contour detection and potential space generation between objects and backgrounds due to shifts in tone values during electrophotographic image formation.

Innovation Solution

An image processing apparatus that includes a contour extraction section and a contour processing section, which performs thinning and trapping processing by adjusting tone values of object and background colors, linking the adjustment amounts to ensure accurate overlap and prevent space generation between the object and background.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If trapping processing is performed to overlap the object and background image, then space generation between object and background is prevented, but the contour of object cannot be detected accurately and the accuracy of thinning processing is lowered

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprevention of space generation between object and backgroundVSAvoidaccuracy of contour detection

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the processing into two distinct stages: first performing trapping processing to create overlap between object and background, then performing thinning processing to reduce line width. This segmentation allows each process to be optimized independently, with the thinning process operating on the already-trapped image data to achieve both effects without mutual interference.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent performs trapping processing as a preliminary action before thinning processing. By establishing the overlap between object and background first, the subsequent thinning operation can accurately detect contours and reduce line width without compromising the trapping effect, thereby resolving the contradiction between maintaining overlap accuracy and achieving precise contour detection.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Manufacturing precision

If thinning processing is performed to reduce tone values of the contour of the object, then line width increase is suppressed, but the object region is reduced to lose the portion overlapping the background and space is generated

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesuppression of line width increaseVSAvoidmaintenance of overlap between object and background

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent performs trapping processing as a preliminary action before thinning processing. By establishing the overlap between object and background first, the subsequent thinning operation can accurately detect contours and reduce line width without compromising the trapping effect, thereby resolving the contradiction between maintaining overlap accuracy and achieving precise contour detection.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent divides the processing into two distinct stages: first performing trapping processing to create overlap between object and background, then performing thinning processing to reduce line width. This segmentation allows each process to be optimized independently, with the thinning process operating on the already-trapped image data to achieve both effects without mutual interference.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

3Manufacturing precision

If both trapping processing and thinning processing are performed independently, then each effect can be achieved, but the adjustment amounts of tone values are not coordinated and accurate overlap cannot be maintained

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveachievement of thinning and trapping effectsVSAvoidaccuracy of tone value adjustment coordination

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the trapping and thinning processing into a unified workflow where both operations are performed on the same image data in sequence. The trapping processing establishes the overlap, and the thinning processing subsequently adjusts the contour tone values within that established framework, ensuring coordinated adjustment amounts and maintaining accurate overlap throughout the process.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentUS9965710B2Image processing apparatus and non-transitory computer readable recording medium

Publication Date: 2018.05.08 KONICA MINOLTA INC

AI summary

An image processing apparatus including a contour extraction section which extracts a contour pixel of an object from pixels in image data that has tone values of a plurality of colors for each of the pixels; and a contour processing section which executes thinning processing of adjusting a tone value of an object color of the object and trapping processing of adjusting a tone value of a background color among tone values of colors in the contour pixel of the object which is extracted by the contour extraction section or in a contour pixel of the background of the object, wherein the contour processing section links an adjustment amount of the tone value of the background color by the trapping processing to an adjustment amount of the tone value of the object color by the thinning processing.