Image Forming Apparatus Resolution Converter Data Transfer
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Solution Overview
Problem
High-density image processing in digital printers employing the electrophotographic process faces a bottleneck due to the large amount of data required for transferring image data from the image processor to the light source drive circuit, limiting productivity and complicating corrections for high-resolution image formation.
Innovation Solution
An image forming apparatus is designed with a first image processor, a resolution converter, a modulation signal generator, and a second image processor, which converts and processes image data to higher resolutions, allowing for efficient data transfer and modulation of light source signals to achieve high-resolution image formation without increasing the data transfer amount.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If high-resolution image processing is performed to improve image quality, then manufacturing precision is improved, but productivity deteriorates due to enormous data transfer requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The image data is segmented into multiple resolution levels. The first image processor handles low-resolution data for basic image formation, while the second image processor handles high-resolution data only for specific regions requiring enhanced quality. This segmentation allows the system to achieve high manufacturing precision where needed without processing entire high-resolution images, thereby maintaining productivity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies different quality levels to different regions of the image. High-resolution processing is applied locally to specific areas requiring enhanced detail, while other areas use standard resolution. This local quality approach improves manufacturing precision for critical regions without requiring enormous data transfer amounts for the entire image, thus resolving the productivity conflict.
2Manufacturing precision
If high-resolution image data is transferred from the first image processor to the light source drive circuit, then manufacturing precision is improved, but device complexity increases due to data transfer bottlenecks
Solution Approach 1:
The data processing system is segmented into two independent image processors. The first image processor generates low-resolution data that is transferred to the light source drive circuit using existing data transfer mechanisms. The second image processor generates high-resolution correction data that is integrated without requiring increased data transfer capacity, thereby avoiding device complexity increases while maintaining high manufacturing precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The second image processor acts as an intermediary that generates high-resolution correction data which is then integrated with the low-resolution data from the first image processor. This intermediary approach allows high-resolution processing without requiring direct transfer of enormous high-resolution image data through the existing data transfer bottleneck, thus avoiding increased device complexity.
3Ease of operation
If the light source drive circuit performs correction as in conventional technology, then ease of operation is maintained, but manufacturing precision deteriorates because data is converted to light source ON/OFF information making complicated corrections difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The second image processor performs preliminary high-resolution correction processing on the image data before it reaches the light source drive circuit. By conducting the complex correction operations in advance at the image processor level where full data resolution is available, the system maintains manufacturing precision while keeping the light source drive circuit operation simple, as it only needs to execute the already-corrected data.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This configuration enables high-resolution image processing without increasing the image data transfer amount, improving productivity and allowing for more complex corrections, thereby enhancing image quality and reliability.
Implementation Method 1
the photosensitive drum has a surface that functions as a scanned surface having photosensitivity
Implementation Method 2
The digital printer employing the electrophotographic process modulates the light beam emitted from the light source according to the image data
Implementation Method 3
The polygon mirror deflects the laser beam from the light source
Data Source
AI summary
An image forming apparatus that forms an image according to light emitted from a light source is provided. The image forming apparatus includes: a first image processor that performs image processing on image data having a first resolution and outputs the resulting image data; a resolution converter that acquires the image data having the first resolution output from the first image processor and converts the image data to image data having a second resolution that is higher than the first resolution; a modulation signal generator that modulates the image data having the second resolution according to a clock signal to thereby generate a modulation signal; a light source driver that drives the light source according to the modulation signal; and a second image processor that performs image processing on the image data having the second resolution to be modulated to the modulation signal.