Image Reading Apparatus Block Color Determination
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Solution Overview
Problem
Image reading apparatuses face challenges in accurately determining whether a document is chromatic or monochrome due to fluctuations in document transport speed, leading to color misregistration issues that affect the accuracy of image analysis.
Innovation Solution
The apparatus employs a block color determination process and document color determination process, segmenting the read image into blocks with a specific pixel count in the scanning direction to differentiate between color and monochrome blocks, using thresholds to determine the color nature of the document, thereby mitigating the impact of speed fluctuations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the reading unit reads continuously while the document moves at fluctuating speed, then productivity is improved, but color determination accuracy deteriorates due to speed fluctuations causing color misregistration
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the read image into multiple blocks along the scanning direction, where each block spans a distance greater than the maximum expected color misregistration. This segmentation allows the system to determine color at the block level rather than pixel level, effectively filtering out the impact of speed fluctuations while maintaining continuous reading operation.
2Productivity
If the output interval is shortened to increase output frequency, then productivity is improved, but measurement precision deteriorates because the interval becomes shorter than the color misregistration distance
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the image into blocks with a specific length in the scanning direction that is greater than the maximum color misregistration distance. Color information is output at block intervals rather than continuous pixel intervals, ensuring that each measurement spans the full range of expected speed variations.
3Measurement precision
If color information is determined at every pixel position, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity increases due to the need to handle and process every pixel
Solution Approach 1:
The patent reduces processing complexity by segmenting the image into blocks and determining color information at the block level rather than processing every individual pixel. This approach maintains adequate measurement precision while significantly reducing the computational burden and device complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
An image reading apparatus includes a reading unit that reads a plurality of colors in a document, a relative movement unit that causes the reading unit and the document to make a relative movement in a first scanning direction, and an output unit that outputs color information at an interval, the color information indicating whether the document read by the reading unit is chromatic, the interval being longer in the first scanning direction than a length in the first scanning direction of a color misregistration, the color misregistration being expected to occur in an image if a speed of the relative movement fluctuates owing to a unique performance characteristic of the relative movement unit, the image being obtained as a result of reading by the reading unit.