Image Processing System Automating Colorless Pattern Selection

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Solution Overview

Problem

General users face difficulty in determining which colorless pattern to apply to which portion of image data during the image processing and printing process, as existing methods lack efficient methods for segmenting and selecting appropriate colorless patterns based on image features.

Innovation Solution

An image processing system that stores keyword parameter correspondence information to segment input image data into regions, extract features, and generate colorless image data by referring to a look-up table that associates features with suitable colorless patterns, allowing users to select keywords for segmentation and pattern generation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If automatic pattern selection is implemented, then ease of operation is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of operationVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system enables automatic determination of suitable colorless patterns by having the system itself analyze image features and select patterns without user intervention. The image processing apparatus automatically extracts features from input image data, refers to stored correspondence information, and generates colorless image data with appropriate patterns applied to segmented regions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces manual pattern selection (mechanical/user-operated process) with automated image processing and pattern matching algorithms. The system uses feature extraction, image segmentation, and automated pattern selection based on stored correspondence information, substituting the manual mechanical process with computational automation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Manufacturing precision

If image segmentation and feature extraction are performed, then manufacturing precision is improved, but loss of time increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepattern matching precisionVSAvoidprocessing time
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary action by pre-storing correspondence information between image features and suitable colorless patterns in the image processing apparatus. This pre-computed lookup table allows the system to quickly match extracted features with appropriate patterns without performing complex real-time analysis, thereby reducing processing time while maintaining precision.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses copying by creating a simplified representation of the relationship between image features and patterns through the correspondence information table. Instead of performing complex real-time pattern recognition, the system copies pre-analyzed feature-pattern relationships and uses them for rapid pattern selection during image processing.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

Data Source

PatentEP2320635B1Apparatus, system, and method of image processing
Publication Date: 2017.09.20 RICOH CO LTD
  • EP2320635B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP2320635B1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP2320635B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

An image processing system segments input image data into a plurality of regions, and obtains features of at least one region. The system refers to correspondence information to obtain a colourless pattern that is associated with the features of the at least one region of the input image data, and generates colourless image data using the obtained colourless pattern.