Dynamic Reflection Position Adjustment for Accurate Color Measurement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Ink jet recording apparatuses face challenges in achieving high accuracy color measurement due to variations in medium thickness and characteristics, leading to lower color reproducibility and measurement accuracy.
Innovation Solution
A liquid ejecting apparatus with a color measuring unit that includes a light projecting unit, a light receiving unit, and a changing unit to adjust the reflection position of light to match the central axis of the light flux, allowing for accurate color measurement by setting the position where lightness is highest, and a control unit to set this position for optimal measurement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If color measurement is performed using a fixed reflection position, then the measurement process is simple, but measurement accuracy decreases due to variations in medium thickness
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a dynamic reflection position adjustment mechanism that changes the light reflection position on the medium based on detected thickness variations. The color measuring unit can move the reflection position to compensate for thickness differences, ensuring accurate color measurements across media of varying thicknesses without requiring a completely complex measurement system.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the reflection position parameter dynamically to adapt to different medium thicknesses. By adjusting where the light reflects off the medium surface, the system compensates for thickness variations and maintains high color measurement accuracy without adding significant complexity to the overall measurement process.
2Measurement precision
If additional sensors are added to measure medium thickness, then measurement accuracy improves, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the color measuring unit multi-functional by enabling it to perform both color measurement and medium thickness measurement using the same optical components. The light projecting unit and light receiving unit serve dual purposes: measuring color properties and detecting thickness variations through reflection position analysis, eliminating the need for separate thickness sensors.
Solution Approach 2:
The color measuring unit performs self-measurement of medium thickness using its own optical system. By analyzing the reflection position of light on the medium, the system automatically determines thickness variations and adjusts its measurement parameters accordingly, without requiring external measurement devices or additional sensors.
3Reliability
If color measurement is performed at a fixed position, then the operation is simple, but color reproducibility decreases due to medium characteristic variations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic adjustment of the reflection position to adapt to different medium characteristics and thicknesses. This dynamic positioning ensures that color measurements are always taken at the optimal location, maintaining high color reproducibility across various media types while keeping the operation relatively simple through automated control.
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 enables highly accurate color measurement and reduces the need for additional sensors, minimizing costs and achieving improved printing quality by identifying medium thickness and optimizing print settings.
Implementation Method 1
a light receiving unit, which receives reflected light obtained by reflecting light emitted from the light projecting unit on the surface to be measured of the medium
Data Source
AI summary
A liquid ejecting apparatus includes a liquid ejecting head that ejects a liquid onto a medium, a color measuring unit configured to measure color of a surface of the medium, having a light projecting unit emits a light flux to the surface of the medium and a light receiving unit receiving light obtained by reflecting light emitted from the light projecting unit on the surface of the medium, a changing unit configured to change a reflection position of light, which matches the central axis of the light flux from the light projecting unit, on the medium, and a control unit configured to set the reflection position where color measurement data indicating the highest lightness of the color measurement data pieces of the surface of the medium is obtained as a color measurement position.