Image Processing Apparatus Bi-Directional Color Compensation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Bi-directional printing techniques often result in color differences when the print head moves in different directions due to varying ink superimposition orders, leading to inconsistent color output, and restricting print direction to one direction reduces printing speed.
Innovation Solution
An image processing apparatus generates partial print data to account for color differences by identifying compensation target pixels and adjusting their colors to minimize differences, allowing for both directional printings while maintaining high speed.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If bi-directional printing is performed to increase printing speed, then productivity is improved, but manufacturing precision deteriorates due to color differences caused by varying ink superimposition orders
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by calculating evaluation values for color differences before actual printing occurs. The image processing apparatus pre-processes image data to identify regions where bi-directional printing would cause color inconsistencies, and applies compensation processing in advance to adjust ink ejection amounts or printing directions for affected areas, thereby preventing color variation before it occurs during high-speed bi-directional printing
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements local quality by applying different processing strategies to different regions of the print area. Instead of uniformly restricting all printing to one direction, the system evaluates each region's color characteristics and selectively applies compensation processing only to areas where color consistency is critical, allowing bi-directional printing to proceed in regions where it won't cause noticeable color differences, thus maintaining both speed and quality
2Manufacturing precision
If print direction is restricted to one direction to maintain color consistency, then manufacturing precision is improved, but productivity deteriorates due to reduced printing speed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the printing direction flexible rather than fixed. The system dynamically determines the optimal printing direction for each region based on real-time evaluation of color characteristics and image content. This allows the printing direction to change adaptively across different areas of the print job, enabling the system to maintain color consistency in critical regions while utilizing bi-directional printing in other areas to preserve high printing speed
Data Source
AI summary
An image processing apparatus configured to generate, using a target image data, multiple pieces of partial print data respectively for multiple partial printings such that, in a particular case where the color difference indicated by the evaluation value of the each of the partial images is larger than a particular reference value, a controller causes the image processing apparatus to identify, using the difference information, compensation target pixels including a pixel causing the color difference from among multiple pixels within the particular partial image, perform, using the difference information, a compensating process of converting a color of the compensation target pixel to a color of which color difference is small, and generate the partial print data using the particular partial image data to which the compensating process has been applied.