Dynamic Error Diffusion Gain for Ink Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing techniques for ink saving in printing, particularly in half-toning operations, lack flexibility in controlling ink consumption and do not effectively address the high cost of ink, especially for error diffusion methods which offer higher spatial resolution and better quality but lack ink-saving techniques.
Innovation Solution
A method and system that converts an image into pixels, compares pixel values with a threshold, generates black or white pixels, calculates errors, and distributes weighted error values among neighborhood pixels using a gain value to control ink consumption, allowing for adjustable ink savings.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If error diffusion technique is used for half-toning, then spatial resolution and image quality are improved, but ink consumption control flexibility deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the error diffusion process adjustable through a gain parameter. The error diffusion is performed with a gain value that can be dynamically changed to control ink consumption rate, transforming a static error diffusion algorithm into a dynamic one that adapts to different ink saving requirements while preserving spatial resolution.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter of error diffusion by introducing a gain value that scales the error distribution. By varying this gain parameter, the system can control the rate of ink consumption without compromising the spatial resolution benefits of error diffusion, thus resolving the contradiction between quality and control flexibility.
2Loss of substance
If dot gain reduction techniques are applied, then ink consumption is reduced, but control flexibility over ink consumption rate deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transforms static dot gain reduction into a dynamic process by introducing adjustable gain values. The error diffusion is performed with controllable gain parameters that allow flexible adjustment of ink consumption rates, enabling the system to adapt to different printing requirements while maintaining dot gain reduction benefits.
Solution Approach 2:
By changing the gain parameter in the error diffusion process, the patent enables continuous control over ink consumption rates. This parameter change approach allows the system to achieve both ink savings and flexible control, overcoming the limitation of fixed ink consumption in traditional dot gain reduction techniques.
3Loss of substance
If ink saving techniques are applied to screening or dithering, then ink consumption is reduced, but image quality deteriorates compared to error diffusion
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics to error diffusion by introducing adjustable gain values, making it possible to control ink consumption rates while preserving the high image quality that error diffusion inherently provides. This dynamic approach allows error diffusion to outperform static screening and dithering methods in both quality and ink savings.
Data Source
AI summary
System(s) and method(s) for controlling a rate of consumption of printing material are described. The method includes receiving an image to be printed or copied and converting the image into a plurality of pixels. A value of a pixel, from among the plurality of pixels, is compared with a predefined threshold value. When the value of the pixel is below the predefined threshold value, a black pixel indicative of a pixel with printing material is generated. An error between the value of the pixel and a value of the black pixel is determined. The error value is multiplied by a gain value and then the weighted value of resultant is distributed among neighborhood pixels. The gain value is varied to control the rate of consumption of the printing material, as the consumption of the printing material is reduced when the gain value is increased.