Multi-Channel Image Data Segmentation for Printer Chip Compatibility

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing printer technologies are limited in handling image data with more than 4 channels without significant changes to the chip's circuit configuration, which is costly and time-consuming.

Innovation Solution

An information processing device divides original image data into groups with fewer channels than the processing unit, generates compressed image data for each group, and creates a print command that can be processed by the printer's chip, allowing for printing without altering the chip's configuration.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If the chip's circuit configuration is changed to handle image data with more than 4 channels, then the printer can process higher channel data, but the development time and cost increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvechannel processing capabilityVSAvoidchip development time

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The image data processing is segmented into multiple groups, where each group contains a maximum of 4 channels that the chip can process. The information processing device divides the original multi-channel image data into several such groups, processes them separately through compression, and transmits them individually to the printer. This allows the existing chip to handle higher channel data through software-based grouping rather than hardware modification.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Adaptability or versatility

If the chip's circuit configuration is changed to handle image data with more than 4 channels, then the printer can process higher channel data, but the manufacturing cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvechannel processing capabilityVSAvoidchip manufacturing cost

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The image data processing is segmented into multiple groups, where each group contains a maximum of 4 channels that the chip can process. The information processing device divides the original multi-channel image data into several such groups, processes them separately through compression, and transmits them individually to the printer. This allows the existing chip to handle higher channel data through software-based grouping rather than hardware modification.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

3Adaptability or versatility

If the image data is compressed and transmitted in multiple groups, then existing chips can be used without modification, but the data processing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvechip compatibilityVSAvoiddata processing complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The information processing device performs preliminary actions by dividing the original multi-channel image data into multiple groups of maximum 4 channels each before compression. It also performs preliminary compression processing on each group and generates appropriate print commands. This preliminary preparation simplifies the printer's task, as the printer only needs to receive and execute the pre-processed print commands without performing complex data division and compression operations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS12026405B2Printing system having printer with chip for generating image data and information processing device for dividing original image data for a larger number of channels into groups

Publication Date: 2024.07.02 SEIKO EPSON CORP

AI summary

An information processing device includes a processing unit configured to divide original image data for a larger number of channels Nb than the number of channels Na into a plurality of groups so that a number of channels of each of the groups becomes no larger than the number of channels Na, generate compressed image data for the Na channels according to the processing unit from the original image data included in each of the groups, and generate the print command including the compressed image data for the Na channels corresponding to each of the groups, and a communication unit configured to transmit the print command to the printer.