Image forming apparatus random number generation circuit reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing image forming apparatuses face increased manufacturing costs due to the need for multiple line buffers and random number generation circuits during the magnification changing process in band processing, which is necessary for accurate image size correction and pixel insertion/deletion in the sub-scanning direction.
Innovation Solution
An image forming apparatus is designed with a dividing unit to split image data into areas, a random number generation unit to determine pixel insertion/deletion positions, and an image processing unit to perform these operations within specified ranges based on scanning widths and area lengths, reducing the number of line buffers and random number generation circuits required.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If multiple line buffers and random number generation circuits are provided for magnification changing in band processing, then image size correction accuracy is improved, but manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The image data in the sub-scanning direction is divided into multiple areas, and random number values are determined for each area separately. This segmentation allows the system to use fewer overall random number generation circuits while maintaining correction accuracy through localized processing. Each area can be processed independently with its own random position determination, reducing the need for extensive buffering and random number generation resources across the entire image.
2Manufacturing precision
If multiple line buffers are provided for storing image data during magnification changing, then processing accuracy is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
By dividing the image into areas in the sub-scanning direction and processing each area separately with its own random number determination, the system reduces the total number of line buffers needed. The segmentation allows for more efficient memory management where buffers are allocated per-area rather than requiring extensive buffers for the entire image, thus reducing device complexity while maintaining processing accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces area division in the sub-scanning direction as an additional dimension of processing organization. Instead of handling the entire image as a single block requiring extensive buffering, the system processes data in smaller area units, effectively using the area dimension to reduce the buffering requirements in the memory dimension.
Data Source
AI summary
An image forming apparatus which can reduce the required number of line buffers and random number generation circuits when performing a magnification changing process in a band process. The CPU 51 determines a range of a random number value (random number value rnd) which is generated by a random number generator, based on the scanning width (band process width d) and the length in a sub-scanning direction of an area (sub-scanning length ay). The CPU 51 receives a random number (random number value rnd), which is in the above range, and performs image processing in which a pixel is inserted or deleted at the position determined by the received random number (random number value rnd).