Imaging Device Weighted Average Resolution Conversion
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Solution Overview
Problem
The resolution of photographed data from a line scan camera depends on the transport speed of a printing medium, requiring conversion to match the necessary inspection resolution, which is challenging due to varying transport speeds.
Innovation Solution
An imaging device with a camera, image data output unit, and external output signal generator that calculates a weighted average of photographed data using time gaps between camera and external output signals, allowing for conversion of data resolution to match inspection requirements, with optional use of a transport amount detector and rotary encoder for generating external output signals based on transport distance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If the transport speed of the printing medium is reduced to increase the resolution of photographed data, then the resolution improves, but the productivity decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary processing system consisting of a buffer memory and weighted average calculation unit. The buffer stores multiple pieces of photographed data captured at different transport speeds, and the weighted average calculation unit processes these data with appropriate weights to generate image data at the desired inspection resolution. This intermediary processing layer decouples the camera's constant photographing rate from the variable transport speed, allowing resolution conversion without requiring actual changes in transport speed.
2Productivity
If the transport speed of the printing medium is increased to improve productivity, then the productivity increases, but the resolution of photographed data decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary action by capturing multiple pieces of photographed data in advance and storing them in the buffer memory before final image data output. By pre-capturing data at the camera's constant photographing period regardless of transport speed variations, the system ensures sufficient data are available for subsequent weighted average calculation to achieve the target inspection resolution, even when transport speed increases reduce the effective resolution of individual captures.
3Adaptability or versatility
If resolution conversion processing is performed on photographed data to match inspection resolution, then the adaptability to different inspection requirements improves, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements adaptability through parameter changes in the data processing domain rather than hardware configuration. The weighted average calculation unit dynamically adjusts calculation parameters (weights and number of data pieces) based on the relationship between camera photographing period, transport speed, and target inspection resolution. This allows the system to adapt to different inspection resolution requirements by changing processing parameters without adding physical resolution conversion hardware, thereby limiting the increase in device complexity to software/firmware level.
Data Source
AI summary
An object is to provide a technique allowing photographed data acquired by a camera to be converted properly to an image having a resolution necessary for inspection. An imaging device includes a camera, an image data output unit, and an external output signal generator. The camera outputs photographed data obtained by photographing an image on the basis of a camera output signal generated with a constant period. The image is printed on a printing medium transported in a transport direction X. The image data output unit outputs image data based on the photographed data to an inspection device. The external output signal generator generates an external output signal indicating timing of output of the image data by the image data output unit. The image data output unit calculates a weighted average of several pieces of photographed data stored in a buffer while giving respective weights responsive to a time gap between the camera output signal and the external output signal to the several pieces of photographed data.