Print Control Device Position-Based Color Replacement

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing printing devices are limited in their ability to differentiate between colors for printing text and images, restricting the number of colors that can be used and limiting the versatility of print jobs.

Innovation Solution

A print control device that processes input data to output more colors than initially specified by determining or replacing print objects based on their positions, allowing for varied print colors and formats without data input limitations.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a monochrome print command is input with preset colors for text and images, then the printing device can perform color printing, but the number of colors is limited and cannot differentiate between multiple text and image objects

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecolor differentiation capabilityVSAvoidprint control complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments print objects by their position on the page, dividing the printing process into position-based units. Each position can be independently assigned colors, allowing multiple text and image objects to be differentiated without increasing overall system complexity. The print control device segments the print data processing based on position coordinates.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies local quality by assigning different colors to different positions on the page. Instead of applying a uniform color scheme to all objects, each position can have its own color attributes, enabling fine-grained control over color differentiation for individual text and image objects while maintaining simple preset color definitions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Adaptability or versatility

If the print control device processes each print object individually based on position commands, then more colors can be assigned to different objects, but the processing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprint color varietyVSAvoidprint data processing speed

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements preliminary action by pre-defining color schemes and position-based processing rules before actual printing. The print control device stores multiple color schemes and position patterns in advance, allowing it to quickly match and apply appropriate color assignments without complex real-time calculations during the printing process.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses parameter changes by varying color parameters based on position parameters. Instead of complex object analysis, the system changes color attributes according to position coordinates and pre-defined patterns, enabling efficient processing through simple parameter mapping and substitution.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Productivity

If the device uses preset color schemes for all print objects, then processing is simple and fast, but the ability to create diverse and colorful print outputs is limited

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprint processing efficiencyVSAvoidprint output diversity

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements universality by creating a position-based color assignment system that works with any print object type. The same position-command mechanism applies to text, images, and other objects uniformly, allowing the system to handle diverse print outputs with a single versatile framework rather than requiring separate processing for each object type.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies dynamics by making the color assignment flexible and adaptable based on position patterns. The system can dynamically select from multiple pre-defined color schemes and apply them according to the detected position patterns in the print data, enabling diverse color outputs while maintaining efficient processing through pattern matching rather than individual object analysis.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentUS10752021B2Print control device, printing device, and specifying print objects to determine an attribute for replacing the print objects with a different print object

Publication Date: 2020.08.25 SEIKO EPSON CORP

AI summary

Colorful printing using more colors based on data for printing with a single color or few colors is enabled.A printer control unit 15 includes a print data acquisition unit 15c, print data processing unit 15d, and print control unit 15e. The print data acquisition unit 15c acquires data for a print object and a command specifying the print position of the print object. Based on the print position specified by the command acquired by the print data acquisition unit 15c, the print data processing unit 15d applies a process setting an attribute of the print object, or a process replacing the print object with another print object.