Image Forming Apparatus Chart Overlays for Defect Diagnosis
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing image forming apparatuses incorrectly identify image quality defects due to defects in printed chart images that are not visible to the human eye, leading to unnecessary downtime for inspection and adjustment.
Innovation Solution
An image forming apparatus that prints a random noise chart with a visibility-reducing pattern to identify defects, using image difference diagnosis to accurately diagnose conditions and prevent misidentification.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a chart image with identification pattern is printed for image diagnosis, then defect detection capability is improved, but visibility of the identification pattern becomes too high causing misidentification
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by making the identification pattern invisible to the human eye while maintaining its detectability by the diagnosis system. The identification pattern is embedded in specific regions of the chart image with properties (such as frequency, contrast, or spatial distribution) that differentiate it from visible defects, allowing automated detection without human misidentification.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary mechanism - a visibility-reducing pattern or encoding scheme - that mediates between the need for machine-readable identification and human visual inspection. This intermediary layer allows the diagnosis system to detect the identification pattern while preventing human operators from mistakenly identifying it as a defect.
2Reliability
If manual or periodic diagnosis is performed based on scanned chart images, then apparatus condition monitoring is achieved, but unnecessary downtime occurs due to incorrect defect identification
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback by using the scanned chart image to automatically determine apparatus conditions and provide diagnostic information. The system analyzes the scanned image to identify defects in the image forming apparatus, providing continuous feedback on apparatus health without requiring manual intervention or causing production downtime.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces manual mechanical inspection with automated optical scanning and digital image analysis. Instead of human operators visually examining printed charts and manually diagnosing defects, the system uses a scanner to capture the chart image and automated algorithms to identify defects, eliminating unnecessary downtime caused by human error.
3Measurement precision
If identification pattern is made visible for easy detection, then diagnosis accuracy is improved, but false defect identification increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies asymmetry by creating an identification pattern with asymmetric or unique properties that distinguish it from typical image defects. The pattern may use specific spatial frequencies, contrast ratios, or geometric arrangements that are asymmetric compared to natural defects, allowing the diagnosis system to accurately differentiate between the identification pattern and actual defects.
Data Source
AI summary
An image forming apparatus includes a print unit configured to perform printing, and a control unit configured to cause the print unit to print a chart image in which an identification pattern for identifying a defect in the print unit is formed and a pattern image different from the identification pattern such that the pattern image is overlaid on the chart image.