Print Controller Black Ink Bleeding Suppression
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Solution Overview
Problem
Inkjet printing devices face image quality degradation due to bleeding of black pigment ink into adjacent dye-based color ink, resulting in noticeable bleeding and loss of black density, as black ink permeates faster than chromatic inks on recording media.
Innovation Solution
A print controller and program that acquire image data, identify black pixels adjacent to chromatic pixels, reduce the black component value, and increase chromatic component values to suppress bleeding while maintaining black density, using a black component correction value table to adjust print processes based on permeability differences between inks.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If black ink is used to form black pixels, then black density is achieved, but black ink bleeds into adjacent chromatic ink areas due to faster permeation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies different processing strategies to different pixel types: subject pixels (black pixels adjacent to chromatic pixels) have their black component reduced and chromatic components increased, while non-subject pixels maintain original values. This localized differential treatment prevents bleeding at critical boundaries while preserving black density in areas where it is acceptable.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preprocessing of image data before printing by identifying subject pixels and adjusting their component values in advance. The black component is reduced and chromatic components are increased beforehand, so that when the ink is ejected, the bleeding phenomenon is prevented at the source rather than requiring post-processing corrections.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If black component value is reduced to prevent bleeding, then bleeding is suppressed, but black density is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple ink components (black and chromatic) to achieve the desired effect. By increasing chromatic component values when reducing black component values in subject pixels, the solution merges the functions of black and chromatic inks to prevent bleeding while maintaining overall density and image quality.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent dynamically adjusts ink component parameters based on pixel location and type. The black component value is reduced from its original level to a reduced level, while chromatic component values are increased accordingly. These parameter changes are applied selectively to subject pixels while leaving non-subject pixels unchanged, thus preventing bleeding without sacrificing black density where needed.
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
Effectively reduces noticeable bleeding of black ink into chromatic ink while preserving black density by adjusting ink component values, ensuring better image quality by preventing ink permeation issues.
Implementation Method 1
Ink has a property called permeability that differs according to the type of ink. Permeability indicates the time required for the fine particles of ink to permeate and become fixed to the recording medium. For example, dye-based inks permeate a recording medium more readily than pigment inks.
Implementation Method 2
the surface tension between the particles of black ink and the particles of color ink draws the black ink particles toward the color ink particles
Data Source
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AI summary
A print controller controlling a print process in which black ink having permeability to a recording medium and a plurality of kinds of chromatic color ink having permeability to the recording medium different from the permeability of the black ink are used to form an image on the recording medium. The subject pixel setting unit sets, as a subject pixel, one pixel that satisfies conditions that the pixel is a black pixel and that peripheral pixels that are located adjacent to the pixel and that surround the pixel include at least one chromatic pixel. The reducing unit reduces a black component value of the subject pixel to a reduced black component value. The increasing unit increases chromatic component values of the subject pixel to increased chromatic component values. The print executing unit executes the print based on the reduced black component value and the increased chromatic component values of the subject pixel.