Image Processing Apparatus for Dot Position Fluctuation Correction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing printing technologies face challenges in maintaining high image quality due to position fluctuations of dots during printing, leading to degradation in sharpness and increased costs from requiring accurate mechanical adjustments and high-cost parts.
Innovation Solution
An image processing apparatus and method that performs multiple printing scans on a single region, utilizing halftone processing and position fluctuation information to adjust the readout position for each scan, allowing for precise correction of dot positions without the need for new mechanical adjustments, thereby minimizing cost and maintaining image quality.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If mechanical adjusting mechanisms are used to correct dot position fluctuations, then position correction accuracy is improved, but device complexity and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical adjusting mechanisms with an image processing approach. The readout unit reads image data at adjusted positions based on detected position fluctuation information, and the print data generation unit processes this data to compensate for dot position fluctuations. This substitutes mechanical physical adjustment with computational image processing, eliminating complex mechanical components while achieving accurate position correction.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses position fluctuation information obtained from one printing scan to create a corrected version of the image data for subsequent scans. By copying and adjusting the image data based on detected position errors, the system achieves position correction without mechanical intervention, reducing device complexity while maintaining correction accuracy.
2Measurement precision
If mechanical adjusting mechanisms are used to correct dot position fluctuations, then position correction accuracy is improved, but manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces expensive mechanical adjusting mechanisms with software-based image processing. The readout unit and print data generation unit work together to correct position fluctuations through computational methods, eliminating the need for high-precision mechanical components and reducing manufacturing costs while maintaining correction accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses disposable or low-cost computational resources (image processing algorithms and data manipulation) instead of expensive, high-precision mechanical components. The position correction is achieved through software processing of image data, which is much cheaper than manufacturing and maintaining high-precision mechanical adjusting mechanisms.
3Stability of the object's composition
If mechanical adjusting mechanisms are used to correct dot position fluctuations, then position stability is improved, but reliability decreases due to mechanical influences
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical adjusting mechanisms with an image processing system that reads and processes digital image data. This substitution eliminates reliability issues associated with mechanical components such as weight, inertia, and mechanical wear. The position correction is achieved through computational algorithms that are not subject to mechanical degradation, providing more stable and reliable correction over time.
4Stability of the object's composition
If density information feedback is used to correct printing errors, then density uniformity is improved, but position correction capability is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges density information feedback with position fluctuation correction into a unified image processing approach. The readout unit uses both density information and position fluctuation information to adjust the readout position for subsequent printing scans. This combination allows the system to simultaneously achieve density uniformity and position correction, resolving the contradiction between the two functions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a multi-functional image processing system where the readout unit and print data generation unit handle both density correction and position correction tasks. By making the image processing system universal, it can perform multiple functions (density uniformity improvement and position correction) simultaneously, eliminating the need for separate correction mechanisms.
Data Source
AI summary
The invention provides a technique which allows high-quality printing. An image processing apparatus for forming an image by executing N printing scans for a single region on a printing medium, comprises: a readout unit configured to read out image data of a region corresponding to a k-th printing scan from input image data; a print data generation unit configured to generate print data from the image data by halftone processing; and an obtaining unit configured to obtain position fluctuation information of dots in a preceding printing scan, wherein the readout unit controls a readout position of the region corresponding to the k-th printing scan in accordance with the position fluctuation information at the time of the preceding printing scan obtained by the obtaining unit.