Image Forming Apparatus Moire Suppression via Periodic Data Analysis
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing image forming apparatuses face challenges in suppressing moire interference, particularly when using AM screens for printer printing, which can lead to performance degradation due to delayed position control of the image-forming unit until the printing color is determined after image processing is completed.
Innovation Solution
The apparatus incorporates a system with a data-processing unit that determines periodicity in printing data, allowing parallel speculative processing for color conversion and screen processing, enabling early position control of the image-forming unit and suppressing moire by switching between AM and FM screen processes based on periodicity analysis.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If AM screen process is used for printer printing, then printing quality is improved, but moire interference occurs due to periodicity in halftone dots
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary analysis of periodicity in printing data before executing the screen process. By detecting periodic patterns in advance, the system can preemptively switch from AM screen to FM screen processing, preventing moire interference before it occurs in the final output.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the screening method parameter based on the detected periodicity of the printing data. When periodicity is detected, the system transitions from AM screen parameters (regularly arranged halftone dots) to FM screen parameters (randomly arranged small halftone dots), thereby adapting the printing process to eliminate moire while maintaining quality.
2Reliability
If periodicity analysis is performed before screen processing, then moire suppression is improved, but processing time increases due to sequential operations
Solution Approach 1:
The periodicity analysis is performed as a preliminary step before the main screen processing. This allows the system to determine the appropriate screen method in advance, avoiding the need for trial-and-error processing or post-processing corrections, thereby optimizing the overall processing time despite the additional analysis step.
Solution Approach 2:
The system maintains continuous processing flow by integrating the periodicity analysis seamlessly into the workflow. The analysis is performed without interrupting the main processing pipeline, and the results are used to immediately adjust subsequent processing steps, ensuring that no time is lost to idle waiting or reprocessing.
3Manufacturing precision
If printing color determination is delayed until after image processing, then color accuracy is improved, but position control of image-forming unit is delayed
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary determination of the printing color during the image processing stage, rather than waiting until after processing is complete. This allows the position control of the image-forming unit to be initiated earlier, improving the timing coordination between color determination and physical printing operations.
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is an image forming apparatus that suppresses degradation of performance of processing up to completion of printing while suppressing the occurrence of moire. A data-compression unit stores identification data indicating the presence or absence of periodicity obtained by analyzing printing data, and printing data correlated with the identification data in a first memory area of a RAM. A color-conversion-processing unit that performs a speculative process, causes printing data that has undergone a color conversion process corresponding to printer printing to be stored in a second memory area of a RAM. A screen-processing unit that performs a speculative process, performs an AM screen process on printing data. In addition, a system-control unit causes the image-forming unit to move from a printing pre-start position to a printing start position based on a determination result of a printing color in a color conversion process corresponding to a first printer printing by the color-conversion-processing unit by a speculative process.