Image Data Conversion Device Brightness Threshold Adjustment

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Solution Overview

Problem

In backside composition, when a deep color background image is converted to black-and-white, characters and the background often mix, making it difficult to read the characters, especially for users without technical knowledge to adjust the image properly.

Innovation Solution

An image data conversion device that determines whether the black-and-white image data is for a background and converts color image data to black-and-white using brightness values from the background's minimum to maximum brightness, ensuring the background is suitable for printing with characters.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If color image data is converted to black-and-white using full gray scale range, then the image detail is preserved, but characters and background mix making characters unreadable

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveimage detail preservationVSAvoidcharacter readability

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the brightness parameter range by excluding dark tones (setting lower brightness threshold to 50% or higher). This parameter adjustment ensures characters remain readable by preventing background pixels from being converted to black, while still preserving sufficient image detail through the remaining brightness range.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent segments the brightness range into distinct zones: dark tones (excluded), mid-tones (background), and light tones (characters). By applying different processing to different brightness segments, the system maintains character readability while preserving image detail in the mid-to-light range.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Reliability

If user adjusts background image concentration manually, then character readability can be improved, but technical knowledge is required making it difficult for ordinary users

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecharacter readabilityVSAvoiduser operation simplicity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs automatic brightness threshold adjustment without requiring user intervention. The control unit automatically determines the appropriate lower brightness threshold based on the input image characteristics, enabling the system to self-optimize for character readability while eliminating the need for users to possess technical adjustment knowledge.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies brightness threshold adjustment as a preliminary processing step before composition. By pre-adjusting the background image brightness values to exclude dark tones, the system prepares the image in advance to ensure character readability, eliminating the need for post-adjustment by users.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Loss of information

If deep color background images are converted to black-and-white, then color information is preserved, but the background becomes too dark causing character-background mixing

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecolor information preservationVSAvoidcharacter-background mixing

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of informationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the brightness conversion parameters by setting a minimum brightness threshold (50% or higher). This prevents dark color information from being converted to black values that would cause mixing, while still preserving the relative brightness relationships and detail in lighter portions of the image.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent converts potentially harmful dark background pixels into beneficial mid-tone or light pixels by applying brightness threshold adjustment. This transforms the harmful effect of dark backgrounds causing mixing into a benefit where the background provides sufficient contrast while maintaining image detail.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

Data Source

PatentUS10523842B2Image data conversion device, image data conversion method, image data conversion program, computer, POS terminal device, and server

Publication Date: 2019.12.31 STEERETAIL CO LTD

AI summary

The present invention provides an image data conversion device that can convert color image data to black-and-white image data suitable for a background image. One example embodiment of the present invention is an image data conversion device that represents color image data in gray scale to convert the color image data to black-and-white image data and that includes determination means for determining whether or not the black-and-white image data is data used for a background image; and image data conversion means for converting the color image data to black-and-white image data using brightness values ranging from a background image minimum brightness value to a maximum brightness value when the black-and-white image data is data used for a background image.