Ink Consumption Estimation via Variable Resolution Segmentation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing inkjet printing technologies face challenges in accurately estimating ink consumption during printing, particularly in variable printing where different content is printed on each page, leading to inefficiencies in ink usage and increased processing time due to the trade-off between estimation accuracy and speed.
Innovation Solution
A method that divides the printing region into two areas, one for high-resolution estimation and another for low-resolution estimation, allowing for the combination of both methods to calculate the total ink consumption, ensuring accuracy while reducing processing time.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a high-resolution image is used for amount-of-ink-consumed estimation, then estimation accuracy is improved, but processing time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the printing region into multiple regions and processes them using different resolutions. Specifically, it segments the image into a first region processed at high resolution and a second region processed at low resolution, allowing selective application of processing intensity based on regional importance or characteristics.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies different quality levels (resolutions) to different regions of the printing area. High-resolution processing is applied only where necessary for accurate estimation, while low-resolution processing is used in other areas, optimizing the balance between accuracy and speed.
2Productivity
If a low-resolution image is used for amount-of-ink-consumed estimation, then processing time is reduced, but estimation accuracy deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the printing region into multiple zones and applies appropriate resolution processing to each segment. This allows the system to achieve fast processing overall while maintaining accuracy in critical regions.
Solution Approach 2:
Different quality processing is applied locally to different regions based on their specific requirements, ensuring that speed is optimized without sacrificing necessary accuracy in important areas.
3Reliability
If amount-of-ink-consumed estimation is performed for variable printing with many pages, then comprehensive coverage is improved, but processing time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the large-scale printing task into regional segments and processes them using different resolutions. This segmentation allows comprehensive coverage of all pages while reducing the computational burden through selective processing.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies full high-resolution processing only to necessary regions rather than uniformly across the entire printing area, achieving sufficient accuracy with reduced processing effort and time.
Data Source
AI summary
After obtaining printing data, a user is allowed to specify regions whose amounts of ink consumed are estimated using high-resolution images, by which two regions (high-resolution estimation areas and low-resolution estimation areas) are set in a printing region. Thereafter, the amounts of ink (first amounts of ink) consumed are estimated using the high-resolution images regarding the regions set as the high-resolution estimation areas, and the amounts of ink (second amounts of ink) consumed are estimated using low-resolution images regarding the regions set as the low-resolution estimation areas. Finally, the total amount of ink consumed by printing is calculated from the first amounts of ink and the second amounts of ink.