Inclination Correction Circuit for Image Scanners
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Image forming apparatuses face challenges in efficiently correcting image inclination due to the skew of original documents during scanning, leading to delays in processing time from image reading to output.
Innovation Solution
An image processing apparatus with a memory and correction circuit that reads image data line by line, extracts pixels corresponding to inclination, and forms inclination-corrected lines, while a calculation circuit determines the movement of image corners to apply corrections, ensuring no mismatch between writing and reading processes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of time
If the image processing apparatus performs inclination correction by sequentially reading and processing image data line by line, then the processing time from reading to output is reduced, but the synchronization between writing and reading processes may be disrupted causing mismatch errors
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-calculating the amount of movement of image corners in the sub-scanning direction before the inclination correction process begins. This advance calculation allows the system to know in advance how many lines need to be skipped or adjusted during correction, enabling the reading process to stay synchronized with the writing process while still achieving faster correction speeds. The correction circuit uses this pre-calculated movement amount to control its reading pace, preventing synchronization disruption.
2Productivity
If the correction circuit processes image data faster to reduce processing time, then productivity increases, but the precision of inclination correction may deteriorate due to potential mismatch between writing and reading positions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback by continuously monitoring the synchronization state between the writing process and reading process during inclination correction. The system uses the pre-calculated amount of corner movement as a reference to adjust the reading speed dynamically. When the reading process approaches a position where mismatch might occur, the system adjusts based on the feedback from the synchronization status, ensuring that correction precision is maintained even at higher processing speeds. This feedback mechanism allows the correction circuit to operate faster while preserving accuracy.
Data Source
AI summary
An image processing apparatus includes a memory, a correction circuit, and a calculation circuit. The memory stores image data of an original image that is moved in a sub-scanning direction with respect to an image sensor. The correction circuit sequentially reads the image data from the memory line by line in the main scanning direction, extracts a pixel in a position corresponding to the inclination, and forms an inclination-corrected line in the main scanning direction to correct the inclination. The calculation circuit calculates an amount of movement of a corner of the original image with respect to the sub-scanning direction before and after correction of inclination of the original image with respect to a main scanning direction. The correction circuit restricts progress of formation of the inclination-corrected line based on the amount of movement. The amount of movement is applied when the inclination of the original image is corrected.