Image Processing Apparatus Automatic Tone Correction Stabilization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing image forming technologies require users to manually manage and sequence multiple correction charts and stabilization charts for automatic tone correction, which is inconvenient and prone to errors due to the need to stabilize the printing of each correction chart before reading them with a scanner.
Innovation Solution
An image processing apparatus that prints correction charts and stabilization charts in a one-to-one correspondence on multiple print media, with identification images for each correction chart, and generates conversion tables using scan images obtained from these charts, allowing for automatic identification and tone conversion without the need for manual sequencing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If multiple correction charts and stabilization charts are printed separately and manually managed, then the printing stability of correction charts can be achieved, but the operation complexity and user effort increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple correction charts and stabilization charts into a single printed sheet, where each correction chart is printed on a separate page number but all are produced in one printing operation. This merging eliminates the need for manual printing of separate charts while maintaining printing stability through the stabilization chart mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
The stabilization chart is printed immediately before each correction chart in the same printing sequence, performing the temperature stabilization action in advance. This preliminary stabilization ensures consistent printing quality for subsequent correction charts without requiring separate printing operations.
2Ease of manufacture
If correction charts are printed without stabilization charts, then the printing process is simpler, but the color appearance and tone characteristics become unstable
Solution Approach 1:
The stabilization chart is printed immediately before each correction chart to pre-stabilize the fixing unit temperature. This preliminary action ensures that the correction chart prints under stable thermal conditions, achieving consistent color appearance and tone characteristics.
Solution Approach 2:
The stabilization chart acts as an intermediary element between the printing process and the correction chart. It absorbs thermal fluctuations and provides a stable baseline, ensuring that the correction chart prints with consistent quality without requiring complex temperature control mechanisms.
3Measurement precision
If multiple types of automatic tone correction are performed with separate correction charts, then the tone correction accuracy improves, but the time required for reading and processing increases
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple correction charts for different tone correction types are combined on a single printed sheet with distinct page numbers. The scanner reads all charts in one continuous operation, and the image processing apparatus automatically identifies and processes each chart type, reducing total reading time while maintaining correction accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The system incorporates identification images on each correction chart that provide feedback to the image processing apparatus about the chart type and intended correction purpose. This automatic identification enables the system to efficiently route and process each chart type without manual intervention, reducing processing time while maintaining accuracy.
4Ease of manufacture
If correction charts are printed without identification images, then the printing process is simpler, but the automatic identification of correction charts becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
Identification images with distinct color characteristics are incorporated into each correction chart. These color-coded identifiers enable the image processing apparatus to automatically recognize and categorize different correction chart types during scanning, facilitating efficient automated processing without complicating the printing process.
Solution Approach 2:
The identification image serves as an intermediary element between the correction chart and the image processing apparatus. It carries metadata about the chart type and purpose, enabling automatic identification and routing without requiring complex analysis of the correction chart content itself.
Data Source
AI summary
An object is to save a user's trouble in a case of printing correction charts and stabilization charts and performing automatic tone correction with the correction charts among the printed charts. An image processing apparatus performs: control for printing correction chart images along with identification images for respectively identifying the correction chart images on print media in a one-to-one correspondence; and control for printing a stabilization chart image on a print medium before the control for printing the correction chart images. Then, from among scan images obtained by reading correction charts and one or more stabilization charts, the apparatus identifies the scan images respectively corresponding to the correction charts based on the identification images appearing in the scan images, the correction charts each being obtained by printing a correction chart image along with the corresponding identification image, the stabilization charts each being obtained by printing the stabilization chart image.