Gradation Patch Segmentation for Accurate Color Measurement
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing printing systems face challenges in accurately applying gradation patches for image quality adjustment due to limited space in the margin of output products, leading to reduced accuracy in image quality adjustment when patches overlap.
Innovation Solution
An apparatus that includes a control unit to print gradation patches of multiple colors on a recording sheet of a first size and fewer colors on a smaller sheet size, with a measurement unit for color measurement, a generation unit for generating gradation correction data, and a correction unit for performing gradation correction, which divides and prints patches across multiple sheets when necessary to ensure accurate measurement and correction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If patches for image quality adjustment are printed on a single sheet to enable real-time feedback, then measurement accuracy is improved, but when the sheet size is reduced, the patches may overlap and cause measurement errors
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the gradation patches of multiple colors into multiple recording sheets when the sheet size is reduced. Instead of printing all patches on a single small sheet (which would cause overlap), the system segments the patches across multiple sheets, ensuring each patch has sufficient space for accurate measurement while maintaining the real-time feedback capability.
2Device complexity
If the number of gradation levels of patches is reduced to prevent overlap on small sheets, then device complexity is reduced, but image quality adjustment accuracy deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
Rather than reducing the number of gradation levels, the patent segments the patches across multiple recording sheets. This allows the system to maintain the full set of gradation levels for accurate measurement while avoiding overlap by distributing patches across multiple smaller sheets instead of compressing them onto a single sheet.
3Productivity
If all gradation patches of multiple colors are printed on a single small sheet, then productivity is improved by reducing the number of sheets, but measurement accuracy deteriorates due to patch overlap
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments gradation patches across multiple recording sheets based on the available margin area. When the sheet size is reduced, the system automatically divides the patches into multiple sheets to prevent overlap, ensuring measurement accuracy is maintained. This segmentation approach balances productivity by minimizing the number of sheets needed while preserving measurement precision.
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 high-accuracy gradation correction by ensuring sufficient space for patch printing and measurement, even on smaller sheets, thereby maintaining or improving image quality adjustment accuracy compared to systems without patch overlap.
Implementation Method 1
a measurement unit configured to read each of the gradation patches printed on the recording sheet and perform color measurement on the gradation patches
Data Source
AI summary
On a recording sheet of a first size, an image combined with gradation patches of a plurality of colors is printed, on a recording sheet of a second size smaller than the first size, images combined with the gradation patches of the plurality of colors are divided and printed into a plurality of recording sheets, color measurement is performed on each of the gradation patches, and gradation correction data is generated.