Edge-Portion Correction for Print Misregistration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional color printers face issues with misalignment of toner images, leading to the special color spreading out from under the base colors or vice versa, which deteriorates the quality of the print image due to assembly precision errors.
Innovation Solution
An image processing device with a correction processor that adjusts the edge-portion correction area in the print image data to ensure the ground color is narrower than the upper color, allowing the ground color to retreat towards the center from the image edges, thereby preventing misregistration and improving image quality.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If the ground color and upper color are transferred with the same width in the print image data, then the color coverage is complete, but misalignment causes the ground color to spread out from under the upper color and stand out, deteriorating image quality
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by differentiating the treatment of ground color and upper color in the edge portion correction area. The ground color's width is reduced or density is lowered specifically in this area, while the upper color maintains its original properties. This local differentiation ensures that even if misalignment occurs, the ground color will not visibly spread out from under the upper color, thus improving manufacturing precision without making misregistration difficult to detect.
2Manufacturing precision
If the ground color width is reduced in the edge portion correction area, then misregistration visibility is reduced, but the color coverage and saturation may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements local quality by applying width reduction or density lowering of the ground color only in the edge portion correction area, while maintaining full color coverage in other areas. This localized adjustment provides alignment tolerance where needed (at edges) without compromising overall color coverage and saturation (in central areas), thus resolving the contradiction between manufacturing precision and quantity of substance.
3Productivity
If no correction is applied to the print image data, then the processing is simple and fast, but the print image quality deteriorates due to misalignment of toner images
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-correcting the print image data before transfer, specifically adjusting the ground color width or density in the edge portion correction area. This preliminary adjustment compensates for expected misalignment issues before they occur during the transfer process, thereby improving print image quality without requiring complex real-time corrections, thus maintaining productivity while enhancing manufacturing precision.
4Manufacturing precision
If the ground color density is lowered in the edge portion correction area, then misregistration visibility is reduced, but the overall color intensity may be affected
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements local quality by lowering the ground color density specifically in the edge portion correction area, while maintaining normal density in other areas. This localized density reduction minimizes misregistration visibility at edges where it is most problematic, without affecting the overall color intensity and saturation in the main image area, thus resolving the contradiction between manufacturing precision and illumination intensity.
Data Source
AI summary
An image processing device includes a correction processor that corrects print image data by correcting an edge-portion correction area in an edge portion of a print image based on the print image data. The edge-portion correct area extends along image edge having a ground color and an upper layer color over the ground color in the edge portion.