Image Reading Apparatus Pattern Detection Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing image reading apparatuses face challenges in quickly and reliably detecting a predetermined pattern, especially when the carriage is not at the home position upon power-on, leading to potential errors in pattern detection.
Innovation Solution
The image reading apparatus includes a control unit with multiple instruction units that acquire and process image data to search for a predetermined pattern, using a characteristic portion to specify the pattern's position and adjust reading positions to ensure accurate detection, preventing erroneous re-detection at the same position.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the carriage is not at the home position when power is turned on, then the pattern detection process becomes more complex and time-consuming, but the system must still reliably detect the predetermined pattern
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by first searching for the characteristic portion (e.g., black line) before attempting to detect the full predetermined pattern. This preliminary search establishes a reference position that guides subsequent pattern detection, ensuring reliability even when the carriage starts at an unknown position while minimizing overall detection time through structured sequential searching.
Solution Approach 2:
The pattern detection process is segmented into distinct phases: first searching for the characteristic portion to establish reference, then using that reference to locate the full predetermined pattern. This segmentation allows the system to handle arbitrary starting positions reliably while avoiding unnecessary full-pattern searches from unknown positions, thus reducing time loss.
2Reliability
If the system performs comprehensive pattern searching to ensure reliable detection, then detection accuracy improves, but the complexity of the detection process increases
Solution Approach 1:
The detection process is divided into two complexity-managed segments: characteristic portion search and full pattern search. Each segment has simplified search criteria appropriate to its purpose, reducing overall process complexity while maintaining comprehensive detection capability through the sequential combination of both segments.
Solution Approach 2:
The characteristic portion (black line) serves as an intermediary element that simplifies the detection process. By first locating this simple, distinctive feature and using it as a reference, the system reduces the complexity of subsequent full pattern detection while ensuring accurate and reliable results through this intermediate reference establishment.
3Reliability
If the system repeatedly searches for the characteristic portion to correct erroneous detection, then detection reliability improves, but the processing time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements feedback by monitoring whether the detected characteristic portion leads to successful full pattern detection. When erroneous detection occurs, the system uses this feedback to adjust the search strategy in subsequent attempts, improving reliability through iterative correction while minimizing time loss by learning from previous errors and avoiding repeated mistakes.
Solution Approach 2:
The detection process is made dynamic by allowing the search strategy to adapt based on detection results. When erroneous detection is identified, the system dynamically adjusts by repositioning and retrying the search, enabling reliable correction of errors while optimizing reprocessing time through adaptive rather than rigid repeated searching.
Data Source
AI summary
An image reading apparatus includes a reading unit, a control unit, and a pattern region. The reading unit moves a linear reading range, which is provided in a main scanning direction, in a sub-scanning direction that intersects with the main scanning direction while reading an object that faces the reading range, and generates image data on the basis of a read result. The control unit controls the reading unit. The pattern region includes a predetermined pattern that defines a reference position for specifying a reading position that is read by the reading unit. The predetermined pattern has a characteristic portion that specifies a schematic position of the predetermined pattern in the sub-scanning direction. The control unit includes a first image acquisition unit, a pattern searching unit, a second image acquisition unit, a characteristic portion searching unit, a first reprocessing instruction unit, and a second reprocessing instruction unit.