Image Adjustment Unit for Unified Color Monochrome Printing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing image forming apparatuses face challenges in unifying image transmission systems for both color and monochrome data, leading to increased complexity and development costs, as well as cumbersome processing flows and maintenance requirements, especially when handling color data in frame sequential systems.

Innovation Solution

An image forming apparatus is designed with a generator unit to create dot sequential data from PDL color data, an image adjustment-conversion unit to process the data based on set printing conditions, and a rendering unit to print the processed data, allowing the monochrome image adjustment-conversion function to be compatible with color data in frame sequential systems, thus serving as a shared function for both monochrome and color image adjustments and conversions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If the image transmission system is unified into a single system for both color and monochrome data, then device complexity and maintenance workload are reduced, but processing flow complexity increases due to branching requirements for color and monochrome systems

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveimage transmission system complexityVSAvoidprocessing flow complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent inverts the conventional approach by making the monochrome image adjustment-conversion function compatible with color data instead of creating separate color processing functions. This allows the existing monochrome processing flow to handle both monochrome and color data, eliminating the need for separate color processing branches and reducing overall system complexity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Solution Approach 2:

The monochrome image adjustment-conversion function is designed to universally handle both monochrome and color image data. By making this function multi-functional, the system eliminates the need for separate color-specific adjustment-conversion functions, thereby reducing device complexity and maintenance workload while maintaining efficient processing flows

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Adaptability or versatility

If an extended function is added to carry out image adjustment-image conversion on TIFF color data, then color image processing capability is improved, but development cost and maintenance complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecolor image processing capabilityVSAvoiddevelopment cost and maintenance complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The existing monochrome image adjustment-conversion function is enhanced to universally process both monochrome and color TIFF data. This multi-functional approach eliminates the need for separate extended color processing functions, thereby maintaining color image processing capability while avoiding increased development cost and maintenance complexity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent merges color image processing capability into the existing monochrome image adjustment-conversion function. By combining these functions, the system achieves color processing adaptability without the overhead of separate function implementations, reducing both development cost and maintenance complexity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Manufacturing precision

If separate processing flows are created for color and monochrome image transmission systems, then processing specificity is improved, but device complexity and development workload increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprocessing specificityVSAvoidprocessing flow branching

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of creating separate processing flows for color and monochrome systems, the patent inverts the approach by making the monochrome processing flow capable of handling color data. This eliminates processing flow branching while maintaining the specificity needed for different data types, thereby reducing device complexity without sacrificing processing precision

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Data Source

PatentUS8625158B2Apparatus, method, and computer program product for forming images

Publication Date: 2014.01.07 RICOH CO LTD

AI summary

A disclosed image forming apparatus for color printing includes a generator unit configured to generate dot sequential data as printing data based on received PDL color data, an image adjustment-conversion unit configured to carry out image adjustment processing and/or image conversion processing on the printing data generated by the generator unit based on a set printing condition, a rendering unit configured to render the printing data held in a page memory on which the image adjustment processing and/or the image conversion processing has been carried out by the image adjustment-conversion unit, and a printing unit configured to print the printing data rendered by the rendering unit.