Recording Medium Imaging Pixel Filtering for Dust
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional image forming apparatuses face challenges in accurately determining the type of recording medium due to dirt or scratches on the surface, which can lead to decreased determination accuracy.
Innovation Solution
A recording medium imaging device that captures a surface image and removes pixels with predetermined brightness anomalies to determine the type of recording medium, using a light irradiation unit and imaging unit to capture reflected light and a control unit to analyze the image, thereby improving determination accuracy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a sensor captures the surface image of the recording medium to automatically determine the kind of recording medium, then the user burden is reduced, but paper dust can be generated on the recording medium during conveyance which decreases determination accuracy
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and removes pixels with brightness values outside the predetermined range from the captured surface image. This extraction process isolates the effective image data from contaminated pixels caused by paper dust, scratches, or other foreign matters, allowing accurate determination of recording medium kind despite surface imperfections.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter selection criterion for image analysis by using brightness value thresholds to filter pixels. By设定 a predetermined brightness range and excluding pixels outside this range, the system adapts the image analysis process to focus only on valid surface information, maintaining determination accuracy even when the recording medium has surface contaminants.
2Extent of automation
If the surface image is captured to detect surface smoothness for determining recording medium type, then automated control of transfer and fixing conditions is achieved, but foreign matters on the surface can cause incorrect determination
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and removes pixels with brightness values outside the predetermined range from the captured surface image. This extraction process isolates the effective image data from contaminated pixels caused by paper dust, scratches, or other foreign matters, allowing accurate determination of recording medium kind despite surface imperfections.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the brightness distribution of captured pixels is analyzed, and pixels outside the predetermined brightness range are identified and excluded. This feedback loop ensures that only reliable surface information is used for determination, preventing foreign matters from causing incorrect automated control decisions.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution enables accurate determination of the recording medium type even with surface imperfections, enhancing the reliability of the image forming process by stabilizing the light quantity and selecting an effective image range for analysis.
Implementation Method 1
an imaging unit configured to capture as a surface image having a plurality of pixels, light reflected by the recording medium to which the light is emitted by the irradiation unit
Data Source
AI summary
There is provided a recording medium imaging device capable of properly selecting pixels used for determining the kind of the recording medium from the captured surface image to remove pixels from which the surface property of the recording medium cannot be properly determined because the pixels extremely high in light quantity are affected by some sort of dirt or scratches in determining the kind of a recording medium. This allows the determination of kind of the recording medium based on the normally captured surface image to reduce the decrease in accuracy in determining the kind of the recording medium.