Image Processing Apparatus Abnormal Noise Diagnosis

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Solution Overview

Problem

Image processing apparatuses often struggle to promptly identify malfunctions due to their inability to repeat abnormal noises for maintenance operators, especially in secure environments where sound recording is prohibited, leading to increased diagnostic time.

Innovation Solution

The image processing apparatus transmits selected sound information to another device, allowing users to identify and notify maintenance teams of potential malfunctions by selecting sounds similar to those produced during issues, even if the actual noise cannot be recorded.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If sound recording is prohibited for security reasons, then security is maintained, but the ability to identify malfunctions through abnormal noises is lost

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovesecurityVSAvoidmalfunction identification
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of repair

Solution Approach 1:

The system creates a copy of the sound identification process by having users select from pre-recorded abnormal sound samples stored in the apparatus. Instead of recording actual operational sounds (which is prohibited), the system stores reference sound samples of various malfunctions and allows users to copy/select the matching sound pattern to identify the current malfunction, thus maintaining security while enabling diagnosis.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

2Reliability

If the image processing apparatus cannot repeat abnormal noises, then security is maintained, but diagnostic time increases

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovesecurityVSAvoiddiagnostic time
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary action by pre-storing multiple abnormal sound samples and their corresponding malfunction information in the apparatus before any malfunction occurs. When a malfunction happens, users can immediately select from these pre-prepared sound options, eliminating the need to record or repeat actual sounds during diagnosis, thus reducing diagnostic time while maintaining security.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Productivity

If sound samples are pre-stored in the apparatus, then malfunction identification efficiency improves, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemalfunction identification efficiencyVSAvoidstorage requirements
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system uses cheap storage media to store sound samples, treating the storage capacity as a disposable or low-cost resource. The sound samples themselves are static data files that occupy minimal space compared to actual audio recording capabilities, providing high productivity improvement at low cost and minimal complexity increase.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

Data Source

PatentEP3840349B1Image processing apparatus, information processing method, and non-transitory computer readable storage medium
Publication Date: 2023.08.02 TOSHIBA TEC KK
  • EP3840349B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3840349B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3840349B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

An image processing apparatus includes a display device, a network interface, and a processor configured to generate a first screen for display on the display device and through which one or more potential errors of the image processing apparatus are selectable, and control the network interface to transmit error information for the selected error(s) to another apparatus. The errors include a first error type for which an abnormal noise is made by the image processing apparatus. The processor is further configured to, when the first error type is selected, generate a second screen for display on the display device and through which reference sounds potentially corresponding to the abnormal noise are selectable. When a reference sound is selected, sound information corresponding to the selected reference sound is included in the transmitted error information.