Duplex Document Copying With Block-Pixel Duplicate Detection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing duplex copying systems require manual flipping of documents, leading to potential errors and inefficiencies, such as duplicate scanning and resource waste due to user forgetfulness or distraction.

Innovation Solution

A duplex document copying system that uses block pixel comparisons to determine the similarity between scanning data from both sides of a document, employing a scanning device and a processing device with block pixel thresholds to avoid repeated scans.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If manual flipping is used for duplex copying, then the user can control the scanning process, but the user may forget to flip the document causing duplicate scanning and resource waste

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaccuracy of scanningVSAvoidtime for duplicate scanning

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system compares pixel data from the first and second scanning results to detect similarity. When similarity exceeds a threshold, the system provides feedback by alerting the user that duplicate content was detected, preventing automatic printing of redundant pages. This feedback mechanism resolves the contradiction by maintaining reliability through automated detection while avoiding time loss from duplicate scanning.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the manual mechanical action of flipping the document with an automated image processing system. The processing device automatically compares pixel data between scans to detect duplicates, substituting the manual flipping operation with computational analysis that eliminates human error and forgetfulness.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Reliability

If manual flipping is used for duplex copying, then the user can control the scanning process, but the user may forget to flip the document causing waste of copy ink

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaccuracy of scanningVSAvoidcopy ink consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The system provides feedback by comparing scanned images and alerting users to duplicate content before printing occurs. This prevents waste of copy ink by stopping the printing process when duplicates are detected, while maintaining scanning accuracy through the comparison mechanism.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary comparison of scanned images before the printing operation. By detecting duplicate content in advance and providing user feedback, the system prevents unnecessary ink consumption while ensuring accurate scanning is performed only when needed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Productivity

If block pixel comparison is implemented, then duplicate scanning is detected and resources are saved, but the processing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvework efficiencyVSAvoidprocessing complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the image comparison task into blocks of pixels rather than processing entire images at once. This segmentation reduces computational complexity by breaking down the large-scale comparison into smaller, more manageable pixel blocks, thereby improving productivity while controlling processing complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs partial comparison by analyzing only pixel blocks that are likely to contain distinguishing features rather than comparing every pixel in detail. This approach achieves sufficient accuracy for detecting duplicates while reducing overall processing complexity and improving work efficiency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Data Source

PatentUS12449750B2Duplex document copying system and method thereof

Publication Date: 2025.10.21 AVISION

AI summary

Disclosed are a duplex document copying system and a method thereof applied to a manual operation for a document. A scanning device is connected to a processing device. The processing device stores one or more block pixel thresholds. After the scanning device obtains first scanning data and second scanning data from scanning the document, the processing device compares pixel difference information between the first scanning data and the second scanning data with the one or more block pixel thresholds to calculate a similarity between the first scanning data and the second scanning data so as to avoid repeated scans. In this way, it avoids the manual errors and outputting the repeatedly scanned document, thereby improving overall work efficiency and saving resources.