Print Data Calibration for Ink Reduction and Quality Balance

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for reducing ink consumption in printing fail to effectively balance image quality and ink usage across different types of images and recording papers, leading to inconsistent results and increased cartridge replacement costs.

Innovation Solution

A data processing program that inputs data, determines an appropriate ink reduction amount based on the type of data and recording medium, and calibrates print data by adjusting lightness and saturation values using pre-defined change values from a calibration table to optimize ink usage while maintaining image quality.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of substance

If a large ink reduction amount is set for photographs, then ink consumption is reduced, but image quality is deteriorated more than expected

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveink consumptionVSAvoidimage quality

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of substanceVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies parameter changes by adjusting lightness and saturation values based on the detected image type and recording medium. Different parameter sets are applied to photographs versus documents, and different adjustments are made for glossy versus plain paper, optimizing the balance between ink reduction and quality maintenance.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements local quality by detecting the specific type of image (photograph or document) and recording medium (glossy or plain paper) to apply different calibration parameters locally. This allows tailored ink reduction strategies for different content and medium combinations rather than a uniform approach.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Manufacturing precision

If a small ink reduction amount is set for documents, then image quality is maintained, but ink consumption is not reduced effectively

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveimage qualityVSAvoidink consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies parameter changes by detecting the specific type of image (photograph or document) and recording medium (glossy or plain paper) to apply different calibration parameters locally. This allows tailored ink reduction strategies for different content and medium combinations rather than a uniform approach.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements local quality by detecting the specific type of image (photograph or document) and recording medium (glossy or plain paper) to apply different calibration parameters locally. This allows tailored ink reduction strategies for different content and medium combinations rather than a uniform approach.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

3Device complexity

If the same ink reduction amount is applied to all data types, then the calibration process is simple, but the degree of quality deterioration varies depending on image type and recording paper

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecalibration process complexityVSAvoidimage quality consistency

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements local quality by detecting the specific type of image (photograph or document) and recording medium (glossy or plain paper) to apply different calibration parameters locally. This allows tailored ink reduction strategies for different content and medium combinations rather than a uniform approach.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies parameter changes by adjusting lightness and saturation values based on the detected image type and recording medium. Different parameter sets are applied to photographs versus documents, and different adjustments are made for glossy versus plain paper, optimizing the balance between ink reduction and quality maintenance.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentUS8300265B2Data processing apparatus capable of calibrating print data to reduce ink consumption

Publication Date: 2012.10.30 BROTHER KOGYO KK

AI summary

An ink reduction rate is set in accordance with the type of image and the type of recording medium. For example, when a photograph is to be printed on a glossy paper with low resolution, the ink reduction rate is set to 10%. When a photograph is to be printed on a plain paper with low resolution, the ink reduction rate is set to 25%. When a document is to be printed with low resolution, the ink reduction rate is set to 50%, irrespective of the type of recording paper.