Defacement Degree Determination via Plate-Specific Image Alignment

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for determining the defacement degree of printed materials based on two-dimensional images suffer from low alignment precision, failure to account for positional variations between printing plates, and instability of sampling values due to limitations in image resolution and edge detection techniques.

Innovation Solution

A defacement degree determination apparatus and method that aligns input images with registered images, separates the printed pattern into components specific to each printing plate, and extracts defacement features suited to each plate type, enabling precise defacement degree calculation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If edge detection techniques are used to align printed materials, then alignment process can be performed, but alignment precision is insufficient due to edge deficiency or deformation

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvealignment precisionVSAvoidedge detection reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the printed material into multiple printed components corresponding to different printing plates. Each component is processed separately through alignment and defacement degree determination, allowing precise handling of each region's characteristics and improving overall alignment precision by accounting for relative positional variations between components.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a reference component with high-precision position information as an intermediary. Alignment is performed by matching the input image with registered images through this reference, enabling sub-pixel level precision and overcoming the limitations of direct edge-based alignment methods.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Measurement precision

If simple arithmetic operations are used to aggregate defacement degree determination values, then calculation is simple, but defacement degree determination precision is insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedefacement degree determination precisionVSAvoidcalculation complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent assigns different weights to defacement degree determination values based on the visual characteristic coefficients of respective printed components. Components with higher visual importance or more significant defacement impact are given higher weights, allowing precise aggregation that reflects the actual defacement characteristics of the printed material.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Measurement precision

If sampling values are extracted from images without considering printing plate variations, then processing is simple, but sampling values become unstable

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesampling value stabilityVSAvoidprocessing complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the printed material into multiple printed components corresponding to different printing plates. Each component is processed separately to extract defacement features, allowing the system to account for relative positional variations between printing plates and maintain sampling value stability despite these variations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses registered images with high-precision position information as a reference feedback mechanism. The input image is compared against these registered images to correct for positional deviations, ensuring stable and reliable sampling values even when printing plate positions vary.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

4Measurement precision

If image resolution is used for alignment, then alignment can be performed, but alignment precision cannot exceed pixel pitch limitations

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvealignment precisionVSAvoidpixel pitch limitation
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a reference component with high-precision position information as an intermediary between the input image and the alignment process. This reference allows sub-pixel level alignment precision by using the registered position data to guide the alignment, overcoming the inherent pixel pitch limitations of direct image-based alignment.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent transitions from two-dimensional pixel-based alignment to a multi-dimensional approach that incorporates reference position information and relative positional variations between printing plates. This dimensional expansion enables alignment precision beyond the constraints of single-image pixel pitch limitations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Data Source

PatentEP2088557B1Determination of printed material defacement degree by image processing
Publication Date: 2018.06.13 KK TOSHIBA
  • EP2088557B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2088557B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP2088557B1 patent drawingFigure 4A~4C

AI summary

A defacement degree determination apparatus according to one embodiment of the invention includes an alignment unit (13) which aligns positions of an input image from one printed material printed using a plurality of printing plates with registered images registered in advance, a plate separation processing unit (14, 15) which separates the input image into a plurality of printed components corresponding to the plurality of printing plates, and extracts defacement features from the respective printed components, and a defacement degree determination unit (16) which determines a defacement degree of the printed material based on the defacement features extracted from the respective printed components.