Image Processing Apparatus for Automatic Sheet Size Determination

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Solution Overview

Problem

Images taken with digital cameras often lack resolution or sheet size information, making it impossible to properly print them on an IFAX machine without specifying the paper size, as existing technologies rely on this information to determine the correct printing dimensions.

Innovation Solution

An image generating apparatus that extracts pixel count information, determines if resolution information is present, transforms the image to a suitable size, and adds margins if necessary, allowing printing on any available sheet size without user input, using a multifunctional peripheral connected through a network.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Extent of automation

If digital camera images are printed without resolution or sheet size information, then the printing process becomes simpler and more automated, but the image cannot be properly printed because the sheet size cannot be determined

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveautomated printingVSAvoidsheet size information

Core Design Contradiction:

Extent of automationVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The system automatically determines sheet size by extracting pixel count information from the image itself and referencing a database of standard sheet sizes, eliminating the need for manual user input or pre-recorded sheet size information in the image

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary extraction of pixel count information from the image and compares it against a database of standard sheet sizes before printing, so that the appropriate sheet size is determined in advance without requiring user specification

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Adaptability or versatility

If the image is transformed to fit a predetermined sheet size, then the image can be printed on standard sheets, but the original image dimensions may be distorted or cropped

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesheet size compatibilityVSAvoidimage dimensions

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically adjusts the transformation based on the extracted pixel count information and the specific sheet size determined from the database, applying scaling or cropping only when necessary to fit the determined sheet size while preserving as much of the original image as possible

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

3Adaptability or versatility

If pixel count information is extracted and used to determine sheet size, then images without resolution information can be printed, but additional processing steps are required

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveimage format compatibilityVSAvoidprocessing steps

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system replaces the need for manual resolution information recording with an automated image processing approach that extracts pixel count information through digital analysis and uses this data to determine appropriate sheet sizes from a database

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Data Source

PatentUS7733518B2Image processing apparatus with resolution determined by pixel count and used for print image, method, program, and recording

Publication Date: 2010.06.08 CANON KK

AI summary

There are provided an image generating apparatus, method, program, and recording medium that eliminate the need for specifying the size of paper on which a captured image is to be printed and are capable of printing the image on paper of a suitable size even when information about the paper size is unavailable. An MFP 101 obtains an image from a device such as a digital camera 105, extracts pixel count information from the image, and determines whether or not the image contains resolution information. If the image does not contain resolution information, the image is transformed to an image of a size that fits an A4-size sheet and the resolution of the image is determined on the basis of the pixel count information. Then, the size-transformed image is printed on an A4-size sheet with the determined resolution.