Image Reading System Blank Paper Removal Preview

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing image reading systems inaccurately remove desired document pages as blank paper or fail to remove undesired blank paper pages, leading to user dissatisfaction.

Innovation Solution

An image reading system with a preview display processing unit, display switching unit, data generation unit, and blank paper removal level setting unit that allows users to selectively remove blank paper pages by previewing and confirming image data, enabling precise control over blank paper removal based on user-defined criteria.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If automatic blank paper removal is performed based on image analysis, then blank paper pages can be removed, but documents with text or images may be incorrectly removed as blank paper

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveblank paper removal capabilityVSAvoidaccuracy of blank paper detection

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary display of images identified as blank paper removal candidates before actually removing them. Users can review the previewed images and confirm or cancel the removal operation, ensuring that documents with text or images are not incorrectly removed while maintaining the ability to remove actual blank pages.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system provides visual feedback by displaying preview images of blank paper removal candidates to users. This feedback loop allows users to verify the accuracy of automatic detection and make final decisions on removal, improving reliability while maintaining automated processing capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

2Reliability

If all images are displayed for user confirmation, then accurate selection of blank paper pages is possible, but processing time and user workload increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaccuracy of blank paper identificationVSAvoidtime for user confirmation

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of displaying all images for user confirmation, the system only displays images that are identified as blank paper removal candidates. This partial display approach reduces processing time and user workload while maintaining accurate identification, as users only need to review potentially problematic images rather than all documents.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Solution Approach 2:

The system segments the display task by separating images into different categories: confirmed blank pages (automatically removed), non-blank pages (automatically retained), and candidate pages (displayed for user confirmation). This segmentation reduces the burden on users and speeds up processing by automating clear-cut cases.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentUS11622051B2Image reading system, image reading control apparatus, and image reading method

Publication Date: 2023.04.04 SEIKO EPSON CORP

AI summary

An image reading system including a blank paper removal function includes a preview display processing unit configured to preview-display at least a portion of an image among images of a read document in a selectable state on a display unit, a display switching unit configured to switch a display mode of an image to a selected state in which a blank paper removal candidate or a non-removal candidate is selected when the image is selected by an operation of an input unit, a data generation unit, and a blank paper removal level setting unit. The data generation unit generates reading data based on remaining image data obtained by removing image data of a blank paper removal target including the confirmed blank paper removal candidate from image data of the document when the selected state is confirmed by an operation of an input unit.