Dot Position Correction for Even Printing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional image recording apparatuses and image processing programs cannot correct the shift of each dot at the printing positions on a recording medium individually, leading to uneven printed colors.
Innovation Solution
An image recording apparatus and image processing program that includes an inputting unit, a half-tone processing unit, a printing unit, a correction-value storing unit, and a dot-position correcting unit, which inputs image information, performs half-tone processing, stores correction values for dot positions, and corrects the positions of dots based on these values to prevent color shift.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If color shift is corrected for each color or for each line, then color shift can be partially corrected, but individual dot position shifts at printing positions cannot be corrected, resulting in uneven printed colors
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the correction approach by dividing the recording medium into multiple regions and creating separate correction value sets for each region. Each dot position is individually corrected using region-specific correction values, enabling precise correction of individual dot shifts while managing complexity through regional segmentation rather than requiring individual correction for every single dot across the entire medium.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by storing and applying different correction values for different regions of the recording medium. Each region has its own correction characteristics, allowing the system to adapt to local variations in dot position shifts. This enables precise correction tailored to each specific area rather than applying a uniform correction across the entire medium.
2Manufacturing precision
If individual dot position correction is implemented, then printing quality is improved, but the complexity of storing and managing correction values increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent reduces correction data volume by segmenting the recording medium into multiple regions and storing correction values for each region rather than for every individual dot position across the entire medium. This segmentation approach maintains printing quality while significantly reducing the quantity of correction data that needs to be stored and managed.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies partial correction by selecting representative dot positions within each region and correcting based on those samples rather than correcting every single dot position. This partial action approach achieves sufficient printing quality improvement while avoiding the excessive data storage requirements of correcting every individual dot.
Data Source
AI summary
An image recording apparatus includes an inputting unit, a half-tone processing unit, a printing unit, a correction-value storing unit, and a dot-position correcting unit. The inputting unit inputs image information on an image. The half-tone processing unit performs, based on the image information, a half-tone process for setting a plurality of dots to be printed on a recording medium. The printing unit prints the plurality of dots on the recording medium. The correction-value storing unit stores a set of correction values for correcting positions of the plurality of dots on the recording medium. The set of correction values includes at least one correction value that is provided for each of the positions of the plurality of dots. The dot-position correcting unit corrects the positions of the plurality of dots based on the set of correction values, thereby obtaining output positions for printing the plurality of dots on the recording medium.