Image Density Correction for In-Plane Unevenness in Printers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Image forming apparatuses face challenges in achieving uniform image density along the main scanning direction due to in-plane unevenness, which affects image quality and cannot be sufficiently corrected by existing techniques.
Innovation Solution
An image forming apparatus is configured with a generation unit to generate correction data for density unevenness across multiple regions, a storage unit to store this data, a correction unit to adjust image density based on the data, and a changing unit to uniformly adjust image formation density, using a test image and correction table to refine the correction process.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If correction data is generated and applied for density unevenness, then image quality is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The image formation area is divided into multiple regions along the main scanning direction, and correction data is generated and applied separately for each region. This segmentation allows targeted correction of density unevenness in different areas without affecting the entire image, thereby improving image quality while managing system complexity through localized processing.
Solution Approach 2:
Different correction data is applied to different regions of the image based on their specific density characteristics. Each region receives customized correction parameters tailored to its local density unevenness patterns, enabling precise local quality improvement without requiring complex global correction mechanisms.
2Manufacturing precision
If multiple regions are divided for correction, then density uniformity is improved, but processing time increases
Solution Approach 1:
Correction data is generated in advance by forming test images and measuring actual densities before actual image formation. This preliminary generation of correction data allows the correction process during normal operation to be more efficient, as the correction parameters are pre-calculated and stored, reducing real-time processing requirements while maintaining high density uniformity across multiple regions.
Data Source
AI summary
An image forming apparatus includes a forming unit, a generation unit, a storage unit, a correction unit, and a changing unit. The forming unit forms an image. The generation unit generates correction data for correcting density unevenness for each of a plurality of regions divided in a main scanning direction of an image formed by the forming unit. The storage unit stores the correction data generated by the generation unit. The correction unit corrects a density of an image to be formed by the forming unit for each of the plurality of regions based on the correction data stored by the storage unit. The changing unit changes an image formation density by the forming unit with a uniform amount of change for the plurality of regions after the correction data is generated by the generation unit.