Image Processing Apparatus Adjusting Component Image Resolutions
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional inkjet printers face image quality issues due to the lack of resolution changes in the specific direction between chromatic color component images and black component images, leading to unnatural appearances in image edges.
Innovation Solution
An image processing apparatus adjusts the pixel count and gradation values of component images to match different resolutions, using a controller to generate adjusted image data by selecting target pixels and determining their values based on correspondence pixels under specific conditions, ensuring consistent image quality across different color components.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the pixel count in the specific direction is modified for one component image among multiple component images, then the printing speed and nozzle utilization are improved, but the image quality deteriorates with unnatural appearance in edge parts
Solution Approach 1:
The image data is divided into multiple component images (e.g., CMYK channels), and each component image is processed independently with appropriate pixel count adjustments. This allows different resolutions for different color components while maintaining overall image quality through selective segmentation of the image data processing.
Solution Approach 2:
Different pixel counts and resolutions are applied to different component images based on their specific requirements. The black component image may use a different pixel count than the chromatic color components, allowing each to be optimized locally for its function while maintaining overall image coherence.
2Ease of manufacture
If different pixel counts are used for different component images, then the nozzle arrangement efficiency is improved, but the resolution consistency between components deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The pixel count parameter is changed differently for different component images to match the nozzle arrangements. By adjusting the pixel count parameter for each component image according to its corresponding nozzle pitch, the system achieves efficient nozzle utilization while maintaining appropriate resolution for each color component.
3Device complexity
If the number of nozzles is decreased for chromatic colors compared to black, then the manufacturing complexity is reduced, but the image rendering quality for chromatic components deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of using the same high resolution for all component images, the system applies partial action by using different pixel counts for different components. The black component image maintains higher resolution requirements, while chromatic components use appropriately reduced pixel counts that match their nozzle arrangements, avoiding excessive processing for components that don't require full resolution.
Data Source
AI summary
An image processing apparatus adjusts first and second component images. The adjusted first component image has a pixel count in a prescribed direction determinative of a first resolution. The adjusted second component image has a pixel count in the prescribed direction determinative of a second resolution lower than the first resolution. Each adjusted component image is generated by: selecting a target pixel; acquiring gradation values of correspondence pixels in the pre-adjusted component image; and determining a gradation value of the target pixel based on gradation values of the correspondence pixels. The correspondence pixels are overlapped by the target pixel when the pre-adjusted component images are shifted in the prescribed direction relative to the adjusted component images and superimposed in the adjusted component image.