Image Printer Tone Changing Memory Management
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing image printers require excessive memory storage for various image data, particularly when printing images related to different animal signs of the Oriental zodiac, as they need to store multiple image data sets in advance, exceeding the capacity of built-in memory.
Innovation Solution
An image printer with a pictorial tone changing function that allows for dynamic changes in image tone based on identification information like names and addresses, using an original image storage unit, address book storage, attribute setting, pictorial tone changing unit, and printing unit to print images with designated tones on separate areas of printing media.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple image data sets are stored in advance for different animal signs and addressees, then the printer can print customized images for each addressee, but the memory capacity requirement exceeds the built-in memory capacity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by transforming the original image data into different pictorial tones (e.g., watercolor, oil painting, pastel) through image processing. Instead of storing multiple original image data sets for different animal signs, the system stores a single original image and generates multiple tonal variations through parameter transformation, thereby reducing memory requirements while maintaining customized printing capability for each addressee
2Adaptability or versatility
If several types of image data are stored in the printer for different addressees, then the printer can change image data representing animal signs depending on addressees, but the image data to be stored exceeds the capacity of built-in memory
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements universality by creating a single original image storage that serves multiple functions through pictorial tone changing. The same original image data can be transformed into different tones (watercolor, oil painting, pastel, etc.) to suit different addressees and occasions. This multi-functional approach eliminates the need to store separate image data for each addressee type, simplifying memory management while maintaining high adaptability
Data Source
AI summary
An image printer is an image printer including a pictorial tone changing/printing function to change original image data to image data having a different pictorial tone from that of the original data for printing on a printing medium and includes an original image storage unit, an address book storage unit which stores addressee data, an attribute setting unit which sets a pictorial tone changing attribute for changing the original image data to a designated pictorial tone for each piece of the addressee data, an addressee data selection unit, a pictorial tone changing unit which changes the original image data to image data having the pictorial tone associated with the pictorial tone changing attribute, a printing unit, and a control unit, whereby the image is changed to the pictorial tone designated in association with identification information of the addressees.