Image Processing Apparatus Scanning Line Curvature Correction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional image processing systems face challenges in correcting the curvature of scanning lines in electrographic image forming apparatuses, leading to registration errors, which require significant memory capacity and circuit scale for line buffers, increasing costs.
Innovation Solution
An image processing apparatus and method that corrects scanning line curvature using image data with a simple arrangement, reducing the capacity of line buffers by employing a data reading unit for burst transfer and a setting unit to generate switching addresses, allowing for efficient correction of scanning line curvature.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If blend processing is executed to correct scanning line skew by blending data of target scanning line and adjacent lines, then scanning line curvature is corrected, but the number of line buffers must be increased to store image data of N lines, increasing memory capacity and circuit scale
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the correction process into two independent stages: first, store only one line of image data in the line buffer; second, perform blend processing by reading this one line and combining it with adjacent lines from the storage unit. This segmentation eliminates the need to store multiple lines simultaneously, reducing the number of line buffers from N to 1 while maintaining curvature correction capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent pre-stores correction data (switching addresses) in the storage unit before the actual blend processing. By preparing the corrected line addresses in advance, the system can perform the blending operation using only one line buffer, as the correction information is already prepared and doesn't require storing multiple complete lines of image data.
2Manufacturing precision
If mechanical inclination adjustment is performed during assembly to correct scanning line inclination, then scanning line curvature is corrected, but assembly complexity and adjustment process requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical inclination adjustment during assembly with a digital correction method. Instead of physically adjusting the laser source or drum position during assembly, the system uses a storage unit to store corrected line addresses and a blend processing unit to digitally correct the scanning line curvature during operation. This substitution eliminates complex mechanical adjustment procedures while achieving the same correction goal.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the correction approach from physical parameter adjustment (mechanical inclination) to data parameter adjustment. By storing correction data that maps original scanning line positions to corrected positions in the storage unit, the system corrects scanning line curvature through data transformation rather than mechanical adjustment, simplifying the assembly process.
3Manufacturing precision
If many line buffers are provided to store image data of N lines for skew correction, then scanning line curvature can be corrected, but memory capacity and circuit scale increase, raising cost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the correction function from the storage function. Instead of storing multiple lines of image data in the line buffer for later blend processing, the system stores only one line at a time and uses the storage unit to provide pre-calculated correction addresses. This segmentation reduces the line buffer capacity requirement from N lines to 1 line while maintaining the ability to correct scanning line curvature.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a storage unit as an intermediary that holds correction information (switching addresses) rather than requiring the line buffer to hold complete image data for multiple lines. This intermediary approach allows the line buffer to be minimized to a single line capacity while the storage unit provides the necessary correction data through burst transfer, reducing overall memory requirements.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution effectively corrects scanning line curvature at a lower cost with reduced memory and circuit requirements, preventing color misregistration and improving image quality without the need for extensive line buffers.
Implementation Method 1
a laser source for scanning (irradiating) a photosensitive drum with a laser beam corresponding to image data
Implementation Method 2
a charging roller for electrically charging the photosensitive drum
Implementation Method 3
a developer for developing, with toner, an electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive drum
Data Source
AI summary
There are provided an image processing apparatus which corrects the curvature of a scanning line using image data in image formation, and a control method thereof. When reading out image data by burst transfer from a memory in the line direction of a scanning line on the basis of the read start address of the image data and the burst transfer length, the switching address in the line direction for switching a line of image data is set. The image processing apparatus generates, based on the switching address, the second read start address for reading out image data of the second line, so as to read out image data by burst transfer of at least the first line before line switching and the second line after line switching, in accordance with the set switching address. Image data is read out in accordance with an address generated by the address generator, to form an image in which the curvature of a scanning line is corrected.