Image Forming Apparatus Position Correction Mark Brightness
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Solution Overview
Problem
In image forming apparatuses, position correcting marks with the same brightness as the print image can be difficult to detect, especially in multiple page layouts where marks are printed at intermediate positions between images, leading to detection challenges.
Innovation Solution
The apparatus generates position correcting marks with a brightness lower than the minimum brightness of the print image, allowing for detection using a brightness difference, and employs a binarization threshold to extract the marks from read image data.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If position correcting marks have the same brightness as the print image, then the marks are less visible and harder to detect, but using lower brightness marks improves detectability
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by making the position correcting marks have a different brightness characteristic (lower brightness) than the surrounding print image. This local differentiation allows the marks to be distinguished from the background image content, enabling reliable detection through brightness-based image processing while maintaining the marks' functional purpose for position correction.
2Adaptability or versatility
If position correcting marks are printed at intermediate positions between images in multiple page layouts, then the marks can be placed in available space, but detection becomes more difficult due to complex image backgrounds
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the brightness parameter of the position correcting marks to be lower than the minimum brightness of the print image. This parameter change creates a consistent detection criterion that works regardless of the complex background formed by multiple page layouts, allowing reliable detection through brightness thresholding even when marks are placed at intermediate positions between images.
Data Source
AI summary
An image forming apparatus includes one or more processors and one or more memories storing program instructions, which, when being executed by the one or more processors, causes the one or more processors to generate a print image to be printed on a sheet of paper and a position correcting mark for front and back side registration having a brightness lower than a minimum brightness of the print image; control printing of the print image and the position correcting mark on a first side of the sheet of paper; control reading the print image and the position correcting mark from the first side and control generating of read image data; and detect, from the read image data, the position correcting mark on the first side using a brightness difference.