Inkjet Overlap Recording Calibration for Uniform Image Quality
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Solution Overview
Problem
Users find it challenging to select appropriate recording conditions for overlap-processing in inkjet printers to minimize differences in image quality between regions with and without overlap-processing, leading to visible unevenness and misalignment in recorded images.
Innovation Solution
A method and device that perform a one-time test recording to determine optimal overlap-processing by varying the transport distance of the recording medium between main scanings for each patch, using a dot allocation mask to allocate pixels to different main scanings, and adjusting recording conditions accordingly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If overlap-processing is applied to prevent white stripes at band boundaries, then image continuity is improved, but image quality uniformity deteriorates due to visible density differences and pattern misalignment between overlapping and non-overlapping regions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies different recording conditions (transport distance, overlap amount) to different regions of the recording medium. Specifically, the overlap amount is adjusted based on the position along the transport direction, with larger overlap amounts applied to regions where white stripes are more likely to occur, while smaller overlap amounts are used in other regions. This local differentiation resolves the contradiction by maintaining image continuity at critical boundaries while preserving image quality uniformity in non-critical areas.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent dynamically adjusts the transport distance and overlap amount during the recording process based on the current band position and previously recorded image quality. The recording conditions are not fixed but are modified in real-time to optimize both image continuity and uniformity. This dynamic adjustment allows the system to adapt to varying requirements across different regions of the recording medium.
2Ease of operation
If fixed recording conditions are used for overlap-processing, then device operation is simplified, but adaptability to different recording scenarios deteriorates, making it difficult to suppress image quality differences
Solution Approach 1:
The recording device automatically determines and adjusts the optimal recording conditions for overlap-processing without requiring manual user input. The system self-adjusts the transport distance and overlap amount based on pre-stored reference information and real-time recording parameters. This self-service capability maintains ease of operation while achieving high adaptability to different recording scenarios, as the device autonomously optimizes conditions for each specific situation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the recording device uses pre-stored reference information about image quality characteristics to automatically adjust recording conditions. The system continuously monitors recording parameters and modifies overlap-processing settings based on this feedback loop, enabling adaptive optimization while keeping the user interface simple and intuitive.
Data Source
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AI summary
A recording condition determining method executed by a recording device performing recording by a main scanning (P1, P2, P3, P4), in which while moving a recording head (15) in a main scanning direction (D1, D2), dots are ejected from nozzles (17) onto a recording medium (30), and a sub scanning, in which the recording medium is transported in a sub scanning direction (D3). The method includes a patch recording step of recording patches (45, 46, 47, 45-1, 46-1, 47-1) on the recording medium by overlap-processing in which the main scanning is performed on a partial region of the recording medium a plurality of times in an overlapping manner, the patch recording step being performed by recording the patches at a plurality of different positions in the sub scanning direction by a plurality of types of the overlap-processing under respectively different recording conditions, in a single recording job performed by the recording device. The method further includes a selection accepting step of accepting selection of a patch from among a plurality of the recorded patches, and a determination step of determining, as a recording condition of the overlap-processing of an actual recording, the recording condition of the overlap-processing corresponding to the patch selected in the selection accepting step.