Image Processing Apparatus Density Non-Uniformity Compensation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing inkjet recording technologies face challenges in maintaining image quality due to errors in recording head positioning and variations in ink ejection characteristics, which can lead to non-uniform densities and increased printing costs when attempting to compensate for these issues.
Innovation Solution
An image processing apparatus that acquires image data from read images and generates a density non-uniformity compensation table by inverting densities and detecting nozzle position marks, allowing for effective compensation without increasing printing costs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If conventional reading devices are used to detect print patterns, then detection capability is limited, but patterns printed with white ink or transparent reaction liquid cannot be detected due to low color contrast
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies color changes by using a color conversion process that transforms the low-contrast white ink or transparent reaction liquid patterns into high-contrast color patterns. The reading device captures the printed pattern, and through color space conversion and processing, the system enhances the visibility and detectability of patterns that originally had poor color contrast against the printing paper background.
2Measurement precision
If multiple print patterns are printed consecutively to detect white ink patterns, then detection accuracy improves, but printing costs increase due to paper and ink consumption
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the detection function with the normal printing operation by enabling the reading device to detect patterns directly from the printed output without requiring separate test patterns. The color conversion process allows the system to extract sufficient detection information from a single print pattern, combining the benefits of accurate detection with reduced material consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces color conversion processing as an intermediary step between printing and detection. This intermediary process transforms the captured image data through color space conversion and enhancement, enabling accurate detection of white ink and transparent reaction liquid patterns without requiring multiple physical print patterns or additional test materials.
3Manufacturing precision
If head shading technique is used to compensate for non-uniform densities, then recording quality improves, but detection of recording agents with low color contrast becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies color changes to overcome the detection difficulty by converting the low-contrast recording agent patterns into high-contrast color patterns through color space conversion. This allows the head shading technique to effectively compensate for non-uniform densities while the color-enhanced patterns remain easily detectable by the reading device.
Data Source
AI summary
An image processing apparatus is configured to acquire image data acquired by reading an image formed on a recording medium using a recording element for ejecting an ink and to generate data representing the density characteristic of the recording element, based on an inverted image acquired by inverting densities in the image represented by the image data.