High Power Exposure Pixel Group for Micro-Image Fidelity
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Solution Overview
Problem
In electrophotography, achieving high image quality and stabilization while controlling the image height of micro-sized electrostatic latent images without reducing the beam size for exposure is challenging, leading to increased costs and fidelity loss due to differences in toner adhesion and sensitivity between line and solid images.
Innovation Solution
An image forming method that sets specific pixels at the boundary between image and non-image portions to high power exposure, adjusting light power values to form high-quality micro-sized images by varying exposure intensity based on image identification information, allowing for precise control of latent image electric vectors.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If the beam size for exposure is reduced to form small electrostatic latent images, then resolution is increased, but controlling image height becomes difficult and cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by differentiating exposure conditions between boundary pixels and non-boundary pixels. Boundary pixels (adjacent to non-image portions) receive higher light power values than non-boundary pixels, creating localized variations in exposure intensity that control the image height of micro-sized latent images without reducing the overall beam size.
2Manufacturing precision
If different sensitivity is set for line image and solid image latent images to control pile height, then pile height can be controlled, but fidelity of the latent image is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the exposure parameter (light power value) based on pixel position rather than changing sensitivity. By setting higher light power values for boundary pixels, the patent controls the electric vector magnitude and image height while maintaining uniform sensitivity across all pixels, thus preserving latent image fidelity.
3Ease of operation
If high light power value is applied to all pixels uniformly, then exposure is simplified, but boundary pixels cannot be properly controlled for image height
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the pixel array into boundary pixels (adjacent to non-image portions) and non-boundary pixels. By applying different light power values to these segments, the patent achieves precise control of image height at boundaries while maintaining simpler exposure for non-boundary regions.
4Device complexity
If micro-sized electrostatic latent images are formed without reducing beam size, then cost is reduced, but image quality and fidelity become difficult to control
Solution Approach 1:
The patent maintains a constant beam size for exposure but applies local quality by differentiating light power values between boundary and non-boundary pixels. This creates controlled variations in the electrostatic latent image properties at boundaries, improving image quality and fidelity without reducing beam size or increasing cost.
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 method enables the formation of high-quality micro-sized images with improved latent image resolution and fidelity, reducing costs by maintaining beam size while enhancing image quality and toner adhesion uniformity.
Implementation Method 1
exposing a surface of an image bearer with light according to an image pattern to form an electrostatic latent image
Data Source
AI summary
An image forming method exposes a surface of an image bearer with light according to an image pattern including an image portion to form an electrostatic latent image, and includes: setting, among pixels constituting the image portion, at least a group of pixels existing at a boundary with respect to a non-image portion as a non-exposure pixel group, and at least a group of pixels existing at a boundary with respect to the non-exposure pixel group as a high power exposure pixel group; specifying, among the pixels constituting the image portion, a predetermined pixel as a target pixel, and a group of pixels existing at a boundary with respect to the non-image portion close to the target pixel as a boundary pixel group; and specifying a light power value of the target pixel based on image identification information acquired from the pixels constituting the image portion.