Print Controller Ink Density Adjustment Overlapping Ranges
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Solution Overview
Problem
Inkjet printers face issues with color unevenness and reduced image density when printing images using partial printings, as the number of ink droplets ejected per partial printing decreases, leading to paler images in overlapping areas compared to non-overlapping areas.
Innovation Solution
A controller is used to manage a print execution engine with a print head and conveyor, executing multiple partial printings where overlapping ranges have increased image density compared to non-overlapping ranges by adjusting dot sizes and ink distribution, ensuring consistent image quality across the print medium.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If multiple partial printings are executed to print an image, then the printing process can be divided into manageable segments, but the image density decreases in overlapping areas causing paler images
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by differentiating the treatment of overlapping ranges versus non-overlapping ranges. In overlapping areas where multiple partial printings converge, the system increases dot sizes and ink ejection volumes to compensate for the reduced ink deposition per partial printing. This localized adjustment ensures that the final image density remains consistent across the entire print medium, resolving the contradiction between segmented printing efficiency and image quality uniformity.
2Speed
If the number of ink droplets per partial printing is reduced, then the printing speed increases, but the image becomes paler and less vibrant
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements parameter changes by dynamically adjusting dot size and ink ejection volume based on the printing range type. For overlapping ranges, the system increases these parameters to ensure sufficient ink deposition despite reduced droplet counts per partial printing. This adaptive parameter adjustment maintains image brightness and vibrancy while preserving the speed benefits of partial printing segmentation.
3Device complexity
If partial printings are used to cover large areas, then the printing process becomes more manageable, but color unevenness occurs between different printing areas
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by implementing area-specific printing strategies. Non-overlapping ranges use standard dot sizes and ink volumes, while overlapping ranges receive enhanced dot sizes and increased ink ejection volumes. This localized differentiation compensates for the cumulative effect of multiple partial printings in overlapping areas, ensuring color uniformity across the entire print medium while maintaining the manageability of segmented printing processes.
Data Source
AI summary
A controller includes a print controller configured to cause the print execution engine to convey the print medium in a conveying direction and execute a plurality of partial printings. The print controller causes the print execution engine to execute first and second partial printings. On a print medium, first and second target ranges on which printing is to be performed by the first and second partial printings, respectively, form an overlapping range. The first and second target ranges include first and second non-overlapping ranges, respectively, that do not overlap the second and first target ranges, respectively. The print controller generates print data based on non-overlapping range data and overlapping range data. The generating the print data includes increasing a density of at least a portion of the image to be printed in the overlapping range as compared with a density of the images to be printed in the non-overlapping ranges.