Image Quality Adjustment Triggered by User Operation Count

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing image forming apparatuses do not effectively reduce user waiting time during adjustment operations, as they perform adjustments uniformly without considering the number of user operations.

Innovation Solution

An image forming apparatus with a printing unit and an image quality adjustment unit that performs adjustments only when the number of user operations exceeds a predetermined threshold, optimizing the timing of image quality adjustments based on user activity.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If image quality adjustment is performed uniformly regardless of user operations, then image quality is maintained, but user waiting time increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveimage qualityVSAvoiduser waiting time

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies dynamics by making the image quality adjustment operation conditional rather than uniform. The adjustment is dynamically triggered based on detecting specific user operations (such as job cancellation or pause requests), allowing the system to adapt its behavior to actual user needs and reduce unnecessary waiting time while maintaining image quality when required.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Manufacturing precision

If image quality adjustment is performed frequently, then image quality is improved, but operation efficiency decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveimage qualityVSAvoidoperation efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies partial action by performing image quality adjustment only partially or selectively based on specific triggering conditions rather than continuously or uniformly. The adjustment is initiated only when certain user operations are detected, avoiding excessive adjustments that would reduce operational efficiency while still ensuring image quality when necessary.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

3Productivity

If image quality adjustment is delayed, then operation efficiency is improved, but image quality deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveoperation efficiencyVSAvoidimage quality

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by preparing for image quality adjustment in advance by setting up trigger conditions that detect when adjustment is needed. The system proactively monitors user operations and initiates adjustment before quality deterioration becomes apparent, balancing operational efficiency with maintaining image quality through timely rather than delayed intervention.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS11218600B2Image forming apparatus and non-transitory computer readable medium storing program

Publication Date: 2022.01.04 FUJIFILM BUSINESS INNOVATION CORP

AI summary

An image forming apparatus includes a printing unit that prints an image on a recording medium, and an image quality adjustment unit that performs an image quality adjustment of the printing unit in a case of a state in which an operation is started, which causes the number of operations performed by a user to become larger than a predetermined number.