Linearity Error Correction in Electrophotographic Devices
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Solution Overview
Problem
Electrophotographic devices with a reduced number of lenses suffer from significant linearity errors, leading to print artifacts and increased costs, as existing correction techniques either fail to adequately correct the error or compromise print quality.
Innovation Solution
A method and system that compute and insert additional time-slices into the data processed by the electrophotographic device, using random numbers to correct linearity errors, ensuring the time-slices are inserted in a unique order across and within scan lines, thereby minimizing print artifacts and maintaining print quality.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If a reduced number of lenses is used in the laser scanning unit, then the cost of the electrophotographic device is reduced, but the linearity error increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the timing parameters of the laser beam activation by inserting additional time-slices into the data stream. This temporal parameter adjustment compensates for the spatial non-linearity caused by the reduced lens configuration, allowing the laser beam to be activated at corrected time intervals that account for the actual beam position deviations.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary computation of correction values before the actual printing process. By pre-calculating the time-slice insertions based on the specific linearity error characteristics of the reduced lens system, the system prepares corrected data in advance that will compensate for the optical imperfections during operation.
2Manufacturing precision
If conventional linearity correction techniques are applied, then the linearity error is reduced, but print artifacts such as narrow streaks are produced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the scanning process into discrete time-slices, where each time-slice corresponds to a specific temporal interval for laser beam activation. By controlling the insertion of time-slices at specific positions in the segmented data stream, the system can precisely adjust the timing without creating continuous artifacts, thereby correcting linearity while maintaining print quality.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies different time-slice insertion strategies to different regions of the scan line based on the local linearity error characteristics. By analyzing the specific error profile and inserting time-slices selectively where needed, the system corrects linearity deviations without uniformly affecting the entire scan, thus avoiding the creation of narrow streaks and other print artifacts.
3Ease of operation
If the laser beam is activated at fixed time intervals, then the system is simple to operate, but linearity error causes uneven spacing of marks on the page
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces dynamic adjustment of the laser activation timing by inserting variable numbers of time-slices at different positions in the data stream. This dynamic modification of the timing sequence allows the system to compensate for the non-linear beam motion while maintaining the overall simplicity of the fixed interval activation mechanism, thus achieving uniform mark spacing without complex operational changes.
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
The solution effectively corrects linearity errors in electrophotographic devices with a reduced number of lenses, reducing costs while maintaining print quality by inserting time-slices in a unique order that synchronizes laser beam velocity and data rate, thus eliminating print artifacts.
Implementation Method 1
The surface of the PC drum is exposed to the light from the light source to neutralize the electrostatic charge on the non-image parts of the PC drum
Implementation Method 2
The toner particles are then transferred to different print media by electrostatic attraction
Implementation Method 3
The laser beam is directed towards a rotating polygon mirror, which further directs the beam towards a series of lenses and mirrors
Data Source
AI summary
The invention describes a method and system for correcting linearity error of an electrophotographic device with a reduced number of lenses. The method and system insert additional time-slices in the data being processed by the electrophotographic device. The additional time-slices are inserted in the data in a predefined order based on a plurality of random numbers. The insertion of additional time-slices corrects the linearity error of the electrophotographic device.