Image Formation Device Recognizability Judgment Unit

Solution Overview

Problem

Image formation devices waste resources on forming index images from data that are unrecognizable to users, such as those containing mostly characters, which are not useful for content verification.

Innovation Solution

An image formation device with an input data acquisition unit, recognizability judgment unit, and reduced image formation unit that acquires and judges input data to form only recognizable reduced images, preventing the formation of unrecognizable images and conserving resources like processing time and ink.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the printer forms index images for all input data including character-only data, then the user can view all data contents, but the processing time and resources are wasted on unrecognizable images

Engineering Contradiction:

Improverecognizability of reduced imagesVSAvoidprocessing time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary judgment on whether a reduced image will be recognizable before actually forming it. The judgment unit analyzes input data characteristics (such as detecting whether data is primarily character-based) and predicts recognizability in advance, allowing the system to skip the image formation step for data that would result in unrecognizable images, thus saving processing time and resources.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system extracts and separates character-only or character-dominant data from the input data set. By identifying and isolating this specific type of data, the system can apply different handling (skipping index image formation) compared to other data types, thereby avoiding waste of resources on unrecognizable images while preserving the ability to process and display recognizable images from other data sources.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Quantity of substance

If the printer forms index images for all input data, then complete data coverage is achieved, but resources (inks, processing time) are wasted on unrecognizable images

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenumber of reduced images formedVSAvoidresource consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary judgment on whether a reduced image will be recognizable before actually forming it. The judgment unit analyzes input data characteristics (such as detecting whether data is primarily character-based) and predicts recognizability in advance, allowing the system to skip the image formation step for data that would result in unrecognizable images, thus saving processing time and resources.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes the parameter of data type handling by introducing a judgment criterion based on data characteristics (character-based vs. image-based). This parameter change allows the system to adapt its behavior dynamically - forming index images for image-based data while skipping the process for character-based data, thereby optimizing resource consumption while maintaining appropriate data coverage.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Adaptability or versatility

If the printer processes all input data for index printing, then comprehensive data processing is achieved, but the efficiency is reduced due to unnecessary processing of character-only data

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecapability to handle various data typesVSAvoidprocessing efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary judgment on whether a reduced image will be recognizable before actually forming it. The judgment unit analyzes input data characteristics (such as detecting whether data is primarily character-based) and predicts recognizability in advance, allowing the system to skip the image formation step for data that would result in unrecognizable images, thus saving processing time and resources.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically adjusts its processing behavior based on the characteristics of input data. Rather than applying a fixed processing approach to all data types, the system adapts its handling by first judging the data type and then selecting the appropriate processing path - full index image formation for image-based data and skipping for character-based data, thereby optimizing processing efficiency while maintaining versatility.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentUS8228516B2Image formation device and computer-readable record medium

Publication Date: 2012.07.24 BROTHER KOGYO KK

AI summary

An image formation device capable of forming a plurality of reduced images on an output medium comprises an input data acquisition unit which acquires input data, a recognizability judgment unit which judges whether each reduced image to be formed corresponding to each piece of input data acquired by the input data acquisition unit is recognizable to a user or not based on the input data and size of the reduced image to be formed, and a reduced image formation unit which forms the reduced images that are judged to be recognizable by the recognizability judgment unit on the output medium while prohibiting the formation of the reduced images that are judged to be unrecognizable by the recognizability judgment unit.