Inkjet Nozzle Array Interpolation for White Streak Suppression
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Solution Overview
Problem
Inkjet printers experience clogging due to dust or other factors leading to non-ejection nozzles, causing white streaks in printed images, which degrade image quality, and existing interpolation methods fail to adequately address this issue.
Innovation Solution
The inkjet printer employs nozzle arrays arranged in parallel, with a controller that controls ink ejection from adjacent nozzles to interpolate defects caused by non-ejection nozzles, using an achromatic ink to minimize visible streaks and maintain image quality.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If ink is ejected only at pixels where white streak has occurred using a different color nozzle array, then the white streak can be interpolated, but landing position deviation due to sheet meandering or head displacement causes insufficient interpolation and image quality degradation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by differentiating the function of specific nozzles within the nozzle array. The first nozzle corresponds to the pixel position of the non-ejection nozzle for targeted interpolation, while adjacent second nozzles provide additional coverage. This localized functional differentiation ensures that interpolation is performed precisely where needed while accounting for potential position deviations, thereby resolving the contradiction between interpolation accuracy and reliability under varying conditions.
2Device complexity
If a non-ejection nozzle is present in the nozzle array, then the nozzle array structure is maintained, but a white streak is generated in the printed image which lowers image quality
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts the harmful effect of the non-ejection nozzle (white streak generation) into a beneficial process by using the controller to activate adjacent nozzles that eject ink to interpolate the white streak. The harmful defect becomes an opportunity to demonstrate the system's corrective capability, transforming image quality degradation into an image quality restoration process through controlled ink ejection from alternative nozzles.
3Reliability
If multiple nozzles are used for interpolation, then the white streak can be sufficiently interpolated even with position deviation, but the control complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The controller is pre-configured with knowledge of nozzle positions and adjacencies within the nozzle array. When a non-ejection nozzle is detected, the controller automatically activates the predetermined first and second nozzles based on their pre-established spatial relationships. This preliminary structuring of control logic eliminates the need for complex real-time calculations, thereby maintaining reliability through multi-nozzle interpolation while keeping control complexity manageable through pre-programmed responses.
Data Source
AI summary
An inkjet printer includes nozzle arrays and a controller. Each of the nozzle arrays includes nozzles arranged in a row along a nozzle array direction. The nozzle arrays are arranged in parallel with each other in a direction perpendicular to the nozzle array direction. The controller is configured to perform such control that in a case where the nozzle arrays include a first nozzle array including a non-ejection nozzle, a defect in a printed image due to the non-ejection nozzle is interpolated by using ejection of an ink by a first nozzle and at least one second nozzle in a second nozzle array different from the first nozzle array among the nozzle arrays, the first nozzle being at a position corresponding to a pixel onto which the non-ejection nozzle is intended to eject an ink, the at least one second nozzle being adjacent to the first nozzle.