Image Processor Interruption Timing Virtual Line Separation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Printers often interrupt printing at inconvenient times, leading to ink wastage and reduced print quality due to interruptions not occurring at page breaks, necessitating reprints of images.

Innovation Solution

An image processing apparatus and system that identifies interruption timing in printers, uses a virtual straight line to separate images into regions, and generates print data to minimize interruptions by rearranging images so they do not print at interruption points, allowing for seamless continuation of printing.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If printing is performed continuously without interruption, then printing speed and productivity are improved, but printing reliability deteriorates due to inevitable interruptions for cleaning and ink supply

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprinting speedVSAvoidprinting continuity

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by obtaining interruption timing information in advance and pre-arranging images around the interruption point. The image processing apparatus calculates the virtual straight line position corresponding to the interruption timing and pre-separates images into regions, so that when interruption occurs, the printing can resume seamlessly without requiring reprints or causing ink wastage.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a virtual straight line as an intermediary concept to represent the interruption point in the printing process. This virtual line divides the target area into upstream and downstream regions, allowing the system to mediate between the continuous printing process and the necessary interruptions by routing images through calculated positions relative to this virtual divider.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If images are arranged to avoid interruption points, then printing reliability is improved by preventing interruptions, but device complexity increases due to additional processing requirements

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprinting continuityVSAvoidimage processing complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system segments the target area into distinct upstream and downstream regions based on the virtual straight line dividing the interruption timing point. Images are then separated and arranged according to which region they fall into, with specific processing applied to each segment. This segmentation approach simplifies the overall complexity by breaking down the image arrangement problem into manageable regional assignments.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the arrangement parameters of images by calculating their positions relative to the virtual straight line and adjusting their placement accordingly. By modifying the spatial parameters of image arrangement based on the interruption timing, the system achieves reliable printing continuity without requiring complex hardware modifications, thus managing device complexity through software-based parameter adjustment.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Reliability

If printing interruptions occur at random positions, then printing reliability deteriorates due to ink wastage and quality deterioration, but the system cannot predict when interruptions will occur

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprint qualityVSAvoidinterruption timing prediction

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDifficulty of detecting and measuring

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements feedback by obtaining actual interruption timing information from the printing process and using this feedback to adjust image arrangements. The image processing apparatus receives interruption timing data, calculates the corresponding virtual straight line position, and uses this information to separate and rearrange images accordingly. This feedback loop ensures that print quality is maintained by adapting the arrangement based on actual interruption occurrences.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentUS10223046B2Image processor, printing system, and image processing method

Publication Date: 2019.03.05 SEIKO EPSON CORP

AI summary

An image processing apparatus includes a timing obtaining unit that obtains an interruption timing at which printing is interrupted in a printer that transports a printing medium in a first direction and performs printing on the printing medium, a division computing unit that arranges, at a position corresponding to the timing in a target area in which plural images are to be arranged, a virtual straight line extending through the target area in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, an arrangement computing unit that separates and arranges the plural images in the target area divided by the virtual straight line into a first region downstream and a second region upstream in the first direction, and a data creating unit that creates and outputs, to the printer, first print data specifying the images arranged in the first region and second print data specifying the images arranged in the second region.