Dynamic Light Intensity Control for Toner Pattern Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing image forming apparatuses face challenges in maintaining detection accuracy for color misregistration correction due to locally low reflectance areas on image bearing members, which can lead to incorrect detection of toner patterns for position detection, resulting in decreased correction accuracy.
Innovation Solution
An image forming apparatus with a light emission unit that adjusts light intensity based on reflection light values, ensuring the light intensity exceeds a threshold value, thereby preventing erroneous detection of flaws or dirt as toner patterns and maintaining accurate position detection for color misregistration correction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the light intensity is increased to reliably detect the toner pattern on deteriorated image bearing members with low reflectance, then the detection reliability is improved, but the energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The light emitting portion dynamically adjusts its light intensity based on the actual reflectance conditions of the image bearing member. The control unit varies the light intensity within a predetermined range to match the detection needs, rather than using fixed high intensity, thereby improving detection reliability while optimizing energy consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the light intensity parameter adaptively based on the reflectance characteristics of the image bearing member. By detecting the actual reflectance and adjusting the light intensity accordingly, the system maintains reliable detection across different conditions without unnecessarily consuming energy.
2Reliability
If the masking process is applied to correct reflection light intensity from flaws or dirt, then the false detection of flaws as toner patterns is prevented, but the detection accuracy in the vicinity of masked positions deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of masking (blocking) the light in low reflectance areas, the system changes the light intensity parameter locally. The control unit increases the light intensity specifically in areas with low reflectance to ensure that the reflection light from toner patterns remains detectable, thereby maintaining position detection accuracy without the harmful effects of masking.
3Measurement precision
If the light intensity is controlled to be increased for low reflectance surfaces, then the detection of toner patterns is improved, but the distinction between flaws and toner patterns becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the light intensity based on real-time detection of reflectance characteristics. By continuously monitoring the reflection light and adapting the light intensity, the system maintains the ability to distinguish between flaws and toner patterns while ensuring reliable detection of toner patterns on low reflectance surfaces.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This solution ensures accurate detection and correction of color misregistration even in areas with low reflectance, preventing deterioration of correction accuracy and allowing for stable detection of toner patterns, thus maintaining high precision in image formation.
Implementation Method 1
an optical sensor is used for detecting the position of the toner pattern for position detection purpose (see Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2008-96744). The optical sensor detects the position of the toner pattern for position detection purpose by irradiating the image bearing member and the toner pattern for position detection purpose with light and by detecting reflection light.
Data Source
AI summary
An image forming apparatus, including: an image forming unit configured to form toner images on an image bearing member and toner patterns for detecting a relative position of the toner images; a detection unit having a light emission unit and a light receiving unit configured to receive reflection light from the image bearing member and the toner patterns to output an analog signal; a conversion unit configured to convert the analog signal into a digital signal based on a threshold value; a correction unit configured to correct a misregistration between the toner images on a recording medium based on the digital signal; and a control unit configured to control, when values of the analog signal includes a value lower than the threshold value, light intensity of the light emission unit so that the values of the analog signal become higher than the threshold value.