Image Processing Apparatus Region-Adaptive Transparent Toner Patterns
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing image processing technologies fail to adaptively apply transparent toner patterns to specific regions of an image, limiting the ability to enhance gloss and texture uniformly, as they lack region-adaptive determination of pattern application.
Innovation Solution
An image processing apparatus and method that divide an image into regions based on spatial frequencies, using algorithms like split-and-merge or mean shift, and generate a pattern for each region using calculated spatial frequencies and line patterns with preset line widths.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If transparent toner is applied uniformly across the entire image surface, then gloss enhancement is achieved, but transparent toner consumption increases considerably
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies transparent toner selectively to specific regions rather than uniformly across the entire image. By dividing the image into multiple regions and determining transparent toner application based on region-specific characteristics (such as spatial frequency, color information, or user-defined areas), the system enhances gloss only where needed, thereby reducing overall transparent toner consumption while maintaining effective gloss enhancement in target areas.
2Manufacturing precision
If transparent toner pattern is applied to enhance image quality, then gloss and texture are improved, but the complexity of image processing increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the image into multiple regions and processes each region independently to determine transparent toner application. This segmentation approach allows the system to apply different processing strategies to different areas (e.g., based on spatial frequency characteristics or color information), improving image quality through region-adaptive processing while managing complexity by breaking down the overall processing task into smaller, more manageable regional operations.
3Reliability
If transparent toner is used to make image surface smooth, then color reproduction range is improved, but total toner amount increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies transparent toner to specific regions rather than the entire image surface. By selectively applying transparent toner only to areas where it is most beneficial for color reproduction and gloss enhancement (determined through region-based analysis), the system achieves improved color reproduction range with a reduced total amount of transparent toner compared to uniform full-surface application.
Data Source
AI summary
An image processing apparatus that generates a pattern of a colorless recording material to form an image using the colorless recording material includes: a region dividing unit that divides an input image into a plurality of regions as divided regions using a designated algorithm and pixel values of pixels that form the image; a spatial-frequency calculating unit that calculates spatial frequencies in each of the divided regions into which the image has been divided using pixel values in the divided region; and a pattern generating unit that generates a pattern of the colorless recording material, which is set to each of the divided regions, using the calculated spatial frequencies and a line pattern having a preset line width.