Image Forming Apparatus Bus Competition Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
In image forming operations, the competition for using buses to transfer image data between memory devices can lead to inefficiencies and potential deficiencies or excesses in data transfer, affecting the quality and continuity of the image formation process.
Innovation Solution
The image forming apparatus employs a configuration with multiple storage units and controllers to manage image data flow, using a PCIe bus efficiently by encoding and decoding data within the memory and hard disk, thereby reducing the frequency and competition for bus usage, and ensuring consistent data transfer speeds to match the printer engine's operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If multiple controllers share a common bus for data transfer, then device complexity is reduced, but bus competition occurs leading to data transfer inefficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the image data processing into multiple storage units (first storage, second storage, third storage) with dedicated controllers (first, second, third, fourth controllers). Each controller handles specific data transfer tasks independently, eliminating bus competition while maintaining modular architecture. The segmentation of data flow paths allows parallel operations without contention.
2Productivity
If data transfer speed is increased to match printer engine operation, then productivity is improved, but data transfer bottlenecks and chipping occur due to bus competition
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary encoding of image data in the first storage unit before transfer to subsequent storage units. This pre-processing prepares data in advance for high-speed transfer, ensuring that data is ready for immediate transmission at printer engine speeds without causing bottlenecks or chipping during the actual transfer process.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces intermediate storage units (second storage, third storage) that act as buffers between the encoder and the printer engine. These intermediary storages decouple the encoding process from the printing process, allowing independent optimization of each stage's speed while maintaining reliable data flow without bus competition.
3Reliability
If bus usage frequency is reduced to minimize competition, then data transfer reliability is improved, but device complexity increases due to multiple storage units
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes each storage unit multi-functional: the first storage unit both encodes image data and stores it; the second storage unit both decodes and stores data; the third storage unit both stores and outputs data. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional dedicated components, managing complexity while ensuring reliable data transfer through dedicated pathways.
Data Source
AI summary
An image forming apparatus, which includes a first storage, a second storage, and a bus, includes a first controller configured to store first image data based on input image data, in the first storage, when the input image data is input via the bus; a second controller configured to store second image data based on the first image data, in the second storage; a third controller configured to store third image data based on the second image data, in the first storage; a fourth controller configured to output output image data based on the third image data; and an image former configured to perform image formation based on the output image data.