Ink Usage Estimation via Drop Fraction Histogram Calibration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional ink estimation methods for printing systems are computationally intensive and require rasterization and halftoning processes, which are inefficient and time-consuming.
Innovation Solution
A method involving direct drop fraction conversion using a print engine calibration transfer function to generate calibrated drop fraction data, combined with uniformity calibration for each nozzle, to estimate ink usage accurately and efficiently.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If conventional ink estimation methods using rasterization and halftoning are used, then ink usage can be estimated, but the process becomes computationally intensive and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a simplified copy of the actual printing process by using histogram data that mirrors the drop fraction distribution without requiring full rasterization and halftoning. This allows ink estimation to be performed on a representative sample (histogram) rather than the complete image data, significantly reducing computational load while preserving estimation accuracy
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transforms the estimation approach by changing from processing spatial image data (rasterized bitmaps) to processing statistical parameter data (histograms of drop fractions). This parameter transformation reduces the data dimensionality and computational complexity while maintaining the essential information needed for accurate ink usage calculation
2Measurement precision
If conventional ink estimation methods using full rasterization are used, then comprehensive ink usage data can be obtained, but the computational complexity increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the essential information needed for ink estimation from the print job data. Instead of processing the complete rasterized image, it extracts histogram data representing the distribution of drop fractions across different gray levels, discarding redundant spatial information while retaining the critical statistical characteristics for ink calculation
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the ink estimation problem into two independent parts: (1) analyzing the print data to generate histograms of drop fractions for each color plane, and (2) using these histograms to calculate total ink usage. This segmentation allows each part to be processed independently and efficiently without the complexity of full image rendering
Data Source
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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 receive a histogram for each of a plurality of color planes, receive uncalibrated drop fraction data for each of a plurality of drop sizes in a printing system, perform a direct drop fraction conversion of the uncalibrated drop fraction data to generate calibrated drop fraction data for each of the plurality of drop sizes by applying a first transfer function to the uncalibrated drop fraction data and generate estimated ink usage data for each of the plurality of drop sizes based on the histograms and the calibrated drop fraction data.