Dual Beam Laser Engine Buffering for Image Forming Speed
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Solution Overview
Problem
Image forming devices face a compromise between performance and cost, with higher component costs enhancing performance but increasing costs, and lower costs decreasing performance, necessitating a solution that optimizes both factors.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a dual beam laser engine combined with single beam image processing circuitry and conversion circuitry that buffers alternate lines of image data to enable efficient operation, allowing for the simultaneous processing and transfer of consecutive lines of image data to form high-quality images using a dual beam laser engine.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a dual beam laser engine is used to enhance image forming performance and speed, then productivity and image quality are improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the image data processing into separate odd and even line buffers, allowing the single beam processing circuitry to handle different lines at different times while the dual beam laser engine processes them simultaneously. This segmentation enables the complex dual beam system to work efficiently with simpler processing circuitry.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements buffer circuitry that pre-stores odd and even lines of image data before they are needed by the laser engine. This preliminary buffering allows the processing circuitry to operate at its own pace while the laser engine receives data in the required sequence, resolving the timing mismatch between single beam processing and dual beam output.
2Productivity
If dual beam laser modules are used to form high-quality images faster, then productivity increases, but component cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the single beam processing circuitry serve a dual purpose: it processes image data for both the odd and even lines that will be formed by the dual beam laser engine. This multi-functionality allows the same processing circuitry to support the enhanced productivity of the dual beam system without requiring duplicate processing units, thereby reducing component costs.
3Ease of manufacture
If single beam processing circuitry is used to reduce cost, then component cost decreases, but productivity is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces buffer circuitry as an intermediary between the single beam processing circuitry and the dual beam laser engine. This buffer acts as a mediator that decouples the processing speed from the output speed, allowing the cheaper single beam processing circuitry to feed data to the faster dual beam engine without being a bottleneck, thus achieving both cost reduction and productivity enhancement.
Data Source
AI summary
A method comprising storing a first line of data that is received from processing circuitry across a first set of conductors prior to receiving a first signal from a laser engine having a plurality of laser units and providing the first line of data and a second line of data that is received from the processing circuitry across the first set of conductors to the laser engine in response to receiving the first signal is provided.