Ink Estimation Adjustment Mechanism Using Histogram Modification
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional ink usage estimation methods for inkjet printers are computationally intensive and require rasterization and halftoning processes, making it inefficient to quickly estimate ink usage changes due to parameter modifications, especially for large print jobs.
Innovation Solution
The method generates estimated ink usage data using gray level histograms and multibit halftone designs, allowing for adjustments based on tone curve changes without recomputing the entire image, thereby reducing computational load and improving accuracy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If conventional ink estimation methods using rasterization and halftoning are used, then accurate ink usage estimation is achieved, but computational complexity and processing time increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the essential information needed for ink estimation by using gray level histograms that capture the distribution of pixel intensities without requiring full rasterization and halftoning. This selective extraction of critical data (histogram statistics) eliminates unnecessary computational steps while preserving the information needed for accurate ink usage prediction.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a simplified statistical representation (histogram) that copies only the essential characteristics of the image data needed for ink estimation. Instead of processing the complete halftoned bitmap, the method uses histogram copies that capture gray level distributions, enabling fast ink calculation without full image reconstruction.
2Productivity
If down-sampling is used to reduce computational load, then processing speed improves, but estimation accuracy deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from spatial domain processing (which requires high-resolution bitmaps) to statistical domain processing using histograms. By changing the dimension of analysis from pixel-level spatial data to gray level distribution statistics, the method achieves both speed and accuracy without being constrained by image resolution.
3Measurement precision
If full rasterization and halftoning are performed to estimate ink usage, then accurate results are obtained, but processing time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary analysis by computing gray level histograms from the original image data before any halftoning operations. This preliminary statistical characterization captures the essential ink-related information early, allowing subsequent ink estimation to proceed rapidly without waiting for time-consuming rasterization and halftoning processes.
4Measurement precision
If parameter changes require complete recomputation of rasterization and halftoning, then accurate updated estimates are achieved, but adaptability to parameter changes decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a dynamic estimation approach where gray level histograms can be efficiently updated when parameters change. Instead of static complete recomputation, the method allows incremental adjustments to histogram-based estimates, enabling rapid adaptation to parameter changes while maintaining accuracy through selective recalculation of affected histogram components.
Data Source
AI summary
A system is disclosed. The system at least one physical memory device to store ink estimation logic and one or more processors coupled with the at least one physical memory device, to execute the ink estimation logic to generate first estimated ink usage data for each of one or more color planes based one or more gray level histograms and one or more halftone designs, detect a change to a tone curve of one or more of the color planes, modify the gray level histograms and generate second estimated ink usage data for each of the color planes based on the modified gray level histograms, wherein each gray level histogram corresponds to one of the one or more color planes and each halftone design corresponds to one of the one or more color planes.