Ink Landing Deviation Detection via Colored Test Patterns

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Solution Overview

Problem

The challenge in recording devices, such as printers, is identifying the landing position of transparent ink, which is colorless and transparent, making it difficult to correct landing deviations without specialized recording media or complex detection methods.

Innovation Solution

A test pattern formation method using overlapping patterns of colored and transparent inks, where the transparent ink forms base regions and gaps, allowing the colored ink to bleed and form deviated dot rows, enabling the detection of landing deviations based on the bleeding patterns without directly detecting the transparent ink.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If transparent ink is discharged to obtain base formation or glossiness, then image quality is improved, but landing position identification becomes difficult

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelanding position accuracyVSAvoidlanding position detection

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSDifficulty of detecting and measuring

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a colored ink test pattern as an intermediary element that interacts with the transparent ink to enable detection. The colored ink forms visible dot rows that overlap with transparent ink regions, creating a detectable interaction pattern that reveals landing position deviations without requiring direct detection of the transparent ink itself.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent utilizes color properties by forming a test pattern with colored ink that creates visible contrast when overlapping with transparent ink. The colored dot rows provide visual detectability through color interaction, allowing the landing position of transparent ink to be identified indirectly through the colored pattern's response.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #32Color changes

2Difficulty of detecting and measuring

If special recording medium with phosphors is used to identify transparent ink landing position, then detection capability is improved, but device complexity and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetransparent ink detection capabilityVSAvoidrecording medium complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Difficulty of detecting and measuringVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates a visible copy or representation of the transparent ink landing pattern by using colored ink to form a test pattern that overlaps with the transparent ink. This colored test pattern serves as a detectable surrogate that replicates the landing position information without requiring special phosphor-containing media.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces expensive, complex special recording media with phosphors with a simple, inexpensive colored ink test pattern. The colored ink pattern is a temporary, disposable element used solely for detection purposes that can be easily applied and removed without requiring specialized materials.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

3Measurement precision

If test pattern with overlapping patterns is formed, then landing deviation detection precision is improved, but pattern complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelanding deviation measurement accuracyVSAvoidtest pattern structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the test pattern into distinct segmented elements: multiple colored dot rows separated by gaps, and transparent ink regions with corresponding gaps. This segmentation creates discrete, identifiable features that make it easier to measure and analyze landing deviations by examining the spatial relationships between individual segments rather than analyzing a continuous complex pattern.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

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

This method allows for accurate detection and correction of landing deviations between colored and transparent inks, enhancing the precision of ink placement and image quality without requiring special media or complex detection techniques.

Implementation Method 1

the other dot rows of the plurality of dot rows and the plurality of regions overlap at positions that deviate from each other incrementally by a distance corresponding to a landing deviation amount

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectBleeding: Diffusion

Data Source

PatentUS11014388B2Test pattern formation method, landing deviation amount acquisition method, and recording device

Publication Date: 2021.05.25 SEIKO EPSON CORP

AI summary

A test pattern formation method includes preparing a first pattern including a plurality of dot rows that are separated, and a second pattern including a plurality of regions having a width greater than a width of the plurality of dot rows and provided spaced apart by a plurality of gaps greater than or equal to the width of the plurality of dot rows. At least a portion of the first pattern and at least a portion of the second pattern are in positions overlapping each other. Given a largest overlap between one of the plurality of dot rows and one of the plurality of gaps as a reference, the other dot rows of the plurality of dot rows and the plurality of regions having a wide width overlap and are deviated from each other incrementally by a respective distance corresponding to a landing deviation amount.