Optical Sensor Aperture Calibration for Barcode Print Verification
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional printers face challenges in achieving high visual clarity and print quality, particularly in barcode verification, due to variations in optical system aperture sizes and thermal management settings, which affect resolution and print quality.
Innovation Solution
A system and method for calculating and calibrating the effective aperture size of an optical sensor by scanning test patterns, using a processor to interpolate values from a reference graph, and adjusting thermal management settings to meet predefined acceptance criteria, ensuring consistent print quality.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of moving object
If the optical sensor aperture size is increased to improve scanning coverage, then the area captured increases, but the resolution and measurement precision deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the aperture size adjustable rather than fixed. The optical sensor system allows dynamic modification of the aperture dimension based on the specific scanning requirements, enabling the system to optimize between coverage area and resolution for different test patterns and verification tasks.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements parameter changes by systematically varying the aperture size as a controllable parameter. By treating aperture dimension as a adjustable parameter rather than a fixed specification, the system can modify this parameter to achieve optimal performance for different measurement scenarios, resolving the contradiction between area and precision.
2Productivity
If thermal management settings are increased to improve printing speed, then productivity increases, but print quality and visual clarity deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies feedback by implementing a verification system that scans printed test patterns and provides information about actual print quality. This feedback loop allows the system to monitor print outcomes and adjust thermal management settings accordingly, ensuring that productivity gains do not compromise print quality standards.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements preliminary action by printing and verifying test patterns before actual production printing. This preliminary verification step allows the system to pre-adjust thermal management settings to achieve the optimal balance between printing speed and print quality, preventing quality deterioration before it occurs.
3Measurement precision
If multiple reference optical sensors with different aperture sizes are used to characterize the optical system, then measurement precision improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies copying by creating a reference graph that represents the characteristics of multiple reference optical sensors with different aperture sizes. Instead of physically having all reference sensors present simultaneously, the system uses a graphical representation (copy) of their characteristics to interpolate and determine the effective aperture size, reducing device complexity while maintaining measurement precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements an intermediary approach by introducing a reference graph as a mediator between the test optical sensor and the characterization process. The reference graph serves as an intermediate data structure that stores relationships between aperture sizes and scan reflectance profiles, allowing the system to determine effective aperture size without requiring direct comparison with multiple physical reference sensors.
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
Ensures high visual clarity and compliance with barcode verification standards by accurately determining and adjusting the optical system's effective aperture size and thermal settings, enhancing print quality and readability.
Implementation Method 1
scan the test pattern to generate a scan reflectance profile (SRP)
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2A~2C
Figure 2D
AI summary
A computer-implemented method for improving an image processing efficiency of an optical system, the computer-implemented method comprising: accessing characteristic data of an image to be printed on a print media; identifying at least a first region and a second region of a printed image based on the characteristic data; and scanning the first region in the printed image at a first resolution and the second region in the printed image at a second resolution that is different from the first resolution.