Image Forming Apparatus Selective Area Resolution Conversion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing image forming apparatuses, such as MFPs, cannot accurately edit and enlarge specific areas of documents containing images like photographs, graphics, and text without affecting other areas, leading to undesired output and operational inefficiencies.
Innovation Solution
An image forming apparatus with a reading portion that generates image data, an information detecting portion that identifies area attributes, a modifying portion that performs resolution conversions based on user instructions, and a printer that prints modified data, allowing for precise editing and enlargement of specific image areas.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a usual enlarged copy is made to enlarge a specific area (graph), then the graph can be viewed in detail, but other areas (text or photograph) are also enlarged unnecessarily and may come off the copy
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the document into multiple areas (first area, second area, third area) with different attributes (text area, photograph area, graph area). This segmentation allows independent processing of each area, enabling the graph to be enlarged while keeping text and photograph areas at their original sizes, thus solving the problem of unwanted enlargement of non-graph areas.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies different enlargement ratios to different areas based on their attributes. The graph area is enlarged with a first enlargement ratio while text and photograph areas maintain their original sizes or use different enlargement ratios. This local quality approach allows precise control over which areas are enlarged, improving measurement precision and ease of operation simultaneously.
2Manufacturing precision
If accurate positioning or magnification settings are made for enlarging a specific area, then a desired output image can be produced, but the operation becomes complex and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary classification of areas by attribute (text, photograph, graph) before the enlargement operation. This preliminary action allows the system to automatically determine which areas should be enlarged and by what ratio, eliminating the need for manual positioning and magnification settings during the copying process, thus reducing time loss while maintaining output quality.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent enables the copying system to automatically identify area attributes and apply appropriate enlargement ratios without requiring manual intervention for positioning or magnification settings. The system serves itself by automatically classifying areas and determining enlargement parameters, which reduces operational complexity and time consumption while maintaining precise output image quality.
Data Source
AI summary
An image forming apparatus is provided with a scanner that reads a document and generates image data thereof, an information detecting portion that detects, from the image data generated by the scanner, attribute information about areas divided in accordance with a type of an image, a resolution converting portion that modifies the image data for each of the areas by performing a resolution converting process on the image in accordance with instructions that are provided by a user based on the attribute information detected by the information detecting portion, an image replacement processing portion, and a printer that prints an image based on the image data thus modified on a recording medium.