Predictive Monochrome Processing in Auto Color Scanners
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Solution Overview
Problem
In auto color mode, existing image forming apparatuses face inefficiencies as they require waiting for the completion of document reading before starting image processing, even if subsequent pages are monochrome, leading to delayed processing and reduced performance.
Innovation Solution
An image forming apparatus with a document determination unit that predicts subsequent pages as monochrome if a specific number of monochrome pages continue, allowing immediate monochrome image processing after reading, thereby accelerating processing for monochrome documents and maintaining performance for color documents.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If the apparatus waits for completion of document reading before starting image processing in auto color mode, then color accuracy is ensured, but processing speed deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary monochrome image processing on subsequent pages immediately after reading, based on the prediction that continuous monochrome documents are likely to continue. This preliminary action allows processing to start before reading completes, resolving the contradiction between waiting for accuracy and starting early for speed.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts the processing mode based on real-time detection of monochrome page continuity. When a threshold number of consecutive monochrome pages are detected, the system switches to predictive monochrome processing mode, allowing flexible adaptation between color and monochrome processing paths to optimize both accuracy and speed.
2Productivity
If monochrome image processing is executed immediately after reading without prediction, then processing speed improves, but color document processing quality deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system executes preliminary monochrome image processing immediately after reading when monochrome continuity is detected, rather than waiting for complete reading. This preliminary action maintains high processing speed while the prediction mechanism ensures quality is preserved by only applying monochrome processing when appropriate.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses feedback from detecting consecutive monochrome pages to determine whether to proceed with immediate monochrome processing. This feedback mechanism ensures that processing quality is maintained by validating the monochrome assumption before committing to the processing path.
3Measurement precision
If color mode processing is used for all documents, then color accuracy is maintained, but processing time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary detection of monochrome pages and executes monochrome image processing immediately for subsequent pages in continuous monochrome documents. This preliminary action identifies opportunities to use faster monochrome processing instead of slower color processing, reducing overall processing time while maintaining accuracy through prediction validation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the processing parameter from color mode to monochrome mode based on detected document characteristics. When consecutive monochrome pages are detected, the system switches to monochrome processing parameters, which are faster and more efficient for such documents, thereby reducing processing time without sacrificing color accuracy for color documents.
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is an image forming apparatus that speeds up the auto color mode. The image forming apparatus includes a document reading unit that reads a document including a plurality of pages and outputs image data and can determine whether the document is a color document or a monochrome document. In the document read by the document reading unit, when monochrome pages of the first specific number of pages or more continues in the same job, a document determining unit predicts that the subsequent page is also determined to be a monochrome document. When the document is predicted by the document determination unit to be a monochrome document, an image processing unit performs monochrome image processing for the monochrome document on the image data immediately after reading.