Print Quality Evaluation via Simulated Defect Comparison
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Solution Overview
Problem
Page wide array printers lack flexibility in addressing print defects caused by missing, misplaced, or irregular print dots, and it is challenging to evaluate print quality effectively without incurring unnecessary servicing or repair costs.
Innovation Solution
The printer employs a diagnostic print mode that includes printing check and reference images with simulated defects, allowing users to assess print quality visually by comparing them, thereby determining if servicing or repair is necessary.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a page wide array printer is used, then printing speed is improved and carriage movement defects are eliminated, but flexibility in addressing print defects is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by printing reference images with simulated defects before actual printing. This allows the printer to proactively identify and characterize its own defect patterns, enabling adaptive compensation during normal operation without requiring slow multi-pass printing modes.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes parameters by varying print quality settings and comparing output at different quality levels. By analyzing how defects manifest across different print quality parameters, the system can adaptively adjust printing parameters to compensate for identified defects, maintaining both speed and quality.
2Ease of operation
If print quality evaluation is performed without external tools, then ease of operation is improved, but measurement precision may be reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The system creates copies of reference images with known simulated defects and compares them against actual print output. This copying approach enables users to perform accurate defect identification using simple visual comparison, achieving high measurement precision through image replication rather than requiring complex external measurement tools.
3Manufacturing precision
If multiple passes are used for highest quality printing, then manufacturing precision is improved, but productivity is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary defect characterization by printing reference images and analyzing defect patterns before production printing. This preliminary action enables the system to identify specific defect locations and types, allowing for targeted compensation strategies that maintain high print quality in single-pass mode without requiring multiple corrective passes.
Solution Approach 2:
The system adjusts printing parameters based on identified defect patterns, modifying ink deposition, nozzle selection, or timing to compensate for defects. This parameter adaptation allows the printer to achieve high manufacturing precision in single-pass mode by optimizing parameters for the specific defect profile rather than relying on multiple passes.
Data Source
AI summary
Certain examples described herein relate to evaluating print quality. In these examples, a check image is printed at a first print quality in accordance with test image data for at least one test image, and a reference image is printed at a second print quality with reference image data corresponding to the one or more test images modified to simulate one or more print defects. A comparison of the printed reference image and the printed check image allows evaluation of a quality level for the printed check image.