Image Processing Apparatus Index Color Segmentation

Solution Overview

Problem

Current image processing technologies face inefficiencies in processing and printing documents with mixed monochrome and color objects, as they require significant data processing and time to convert RGB images into CMYK format, especially when dealing with documents containing a small number of colors.

Innovation Solution

An image processing apparatus and method that determines whether pixel color information can be expressed using index colors, generates index color images, combines pixels with similar color information across lines, and performs drawing processes on both RGB and index color image regions to reduce data size and processing time.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If RGB images are converted to CMYK format for printing, then color accuracy is improved, but processing time and data size increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecolor accuracyVSAvoidprocessing time

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The image data is segmented into multiple lines, and for each line, the system determines whether index colors can be used. This segmentation allows selective application of processing methods - using efficient index color conversion for suitable lines while maintaining full RGB processing only where necessary, thereby reducing overall processing time while preserving color accuracy where required.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies different processing qualities to different parts of the image data. For lines where colors can be accurately represented by index colors, a simplified processing path is used. For lines requiring full color fidelity, the complete RGB to CMYK conversion is applied. This local differentiation optimizes processing time without compromising overall color accuracy.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Manufacturing precision

If RGB images are converted to CMYK format for printing, then color accuracy is improved, but data size increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecolor accuracyVSAvoiddata size

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The image data is segmented into multiple lines, and for each line, the system determines whether index colors can be used. This segmentation allows selective application of processing methods - using efficient index color conversion for suitable lines while maintaining full RGB processing only where necessary, thereby reducing overall processing time while preserving color accuracy where required.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the color representation parameter from full RGB to index colors for lines where this is sufficient. By switching between different color representation parameters (RGB vs. index colors) based on line-specific requirements, the system reduces data size while maintaining adequate color accuracy for printing.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Productivity

If index colors are used to represent pixel colors, then processing efficiency is improved, but color expression capability deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprocessing efficiencyVSAvoidcolor expression capability

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The image data is segmented into multiple lines, and for each line, the system determines whether index colors can be used. This segmentation allows selective application of processing methods - using efficient index color conversion for suitable lines while maintaining full RGB processing only where necessary, thereby reducing overall processing time while preserving color accuracy where required.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent dynamically selects between index color representation and full RGB representation for each line based on whether the line's colors can be adequately expressed by index colors. This dynamic adaptation allows the system to optimize processing efficiency for suitable cases while maintaining color expression capability where needed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentUS10348933B2Image processing apparatus, image processing method, and non-transitory recording medium

Publication Date: 2019.07.09 RICOH CO LTD

AI summary

An image processing apparatus includes an indexing determiner, an index processor, a line combiner, a drawing processor, and an image forming device. The indexing determiner determines whether color information of pixels forming a line in printing target data are expressible by index colors. The color information is expressed by RGB. The index processor generates an index color image that includes pixels obtained by expressing, using the index colors, the color information of the pixels determined to be expressible by the index colors. The line combiner combines pixels of which the color information is expressed in a same aspect in a plurality of lines to generate an RGB image region and an index color image region. The drawing processor performs a drawing process on each of the RGB image region and the index color image region to generate drawing information. The image forming device processes the drawing information.