Dot Arrangement Unit for Reducing Ink Bleeding in Edge Pixels
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing image processing techniques fail to adequately improve image quality in edge portions of objects, particularly in printing applications where ink bleeding leads to image deterioration.
Innovation Solution
An image processing apparatus comprising a print unit capable of printing dots at a higher resolution than the image data, a quantization unit for performing quantization processing, and a dot arrangement unit that uses a specific dot arrangement pattern based on quantization values to adjust dot placement in edge pixels, ensuring a lower ratio of dots in one region compared to another in edge pixels.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If dots are printed at high resolution in all pixels, then printing precision is improved, but ink bleeding occurs in edge portions causing image quality deterioration
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies different dot arrangement patterns to different regions of pixels based on their position relative to object edges. Specifically, it distinguishes between first edge pixels in first edge portions and second edge pixels in second edge portions, assigning different dot arrangement patterns to each type. This local differentiation allows the system to reduce ink bleeding in edge portions while maintaining high printing precision in non-edge areas.
2Ease of operation
If uniform dot arrangement is used across all pixels, then printing process is simplified, but image quality in edge portions deteriorates due to ink bleeding
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the image into different pixel types based on edge detection results. It identifies first edge pixels in first edge portions and second edge pixels in second edge portions, creating distinct categories that require different processing. This segmentation enables targeted application of different dot arrangement patterns to different edge portions, effectively reducing ink bleeding while maintaining manageable processing complexity.
3Manufacturing precision
If dot arrangement is optimized for one edge portion, then image quality in that portion is improved, but other edge portions may not achieve optimal quality
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs asymmetric dot arrangement patterns that are specifically designed for different types of edge portions. By detecting the specific type of edge pixel (first edge pixels vs. second edge pixels) and assigning correspondingly different dot arrangement patterns to each, the system achieves optimal image quality across all edge portions simultaneously, rather than optimizing for only one type of edge.
Data Source
AI summary
The print unit includes a first print unit configured to be able to print a dot in a first region of each pixel of the object, and a second print unit configured to be able to print a dot in a second region of each pixel of the object. As a result of the processing by the dot arrangement unit, in first edge pixels in a first edge portion of the object, a ratio of arranging dots in the second regions is lower than a ratio of arranging dots in the first regions, and in second edge pixels in a second edge portion different from the first edge portion of the object, a ratio of arranging dots in the first regions is lower than a ratio of arranging dots in the second regions.