Print Response Drift Compensation for Stable Color Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
High-speed production printers experience print output Optical Density (OD) changes over time due to printhead wear, leading to inconsistent color management, and recalibration processes are time-consuming.
Innovation Solution
A mechanism to monitor print density drift and automatically update print image compensation using compensation transfer functions applied to print image data, maintaining target print response by generating and applying updated compensation transfer functions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If manual recalibration is performed to correct print density drift, then color management consistency is improved, but production time is lost and productivity decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs automatic self-calibration by monitoring its own print output density and adjusting the transfer function accordingly. The microprocessor measures print output density, compares it to target values, and automatically generates updated transfer functions without requiring external intervention or manual recalibration, enabling the system to maintain color consistency while continuing production
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements a closed-loop feedback mechanism where print output density is continuously measured and fed back to the control system. The microprocessor uses this feedback to detect density drift and automatically adjusts the transfer function to correct the deviation, maintaining color management consistency without stopping production
2Manufacturing precision
If frequent recalibration is performed to maintain print quality, then manufacturing precision is improved, but loss of time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs continuous or periodic density measurements during normal production operation rather than requiring separate recalibration cycles. The microprocessor can measure print output density at scheduled intervals or continuously, maintaining precision without interrupting the printing workflow
Solution Approach 2:
The system proactively monitors print density and detects drift before it significantly degrades print quality. By continuously measuring and comparing density values against target ranges, the system can make small corrective adjustments to the transfer function in advance, preventing the need for extensive recalibration later
Data Source
AI summary
A printing system is disclosed. The printing system includes at least one physical memory device to store compensation logic and one or more processors coupled with the at least one physical memory device to execute the compensation logic to receive print response measurement data corresponding to print image printed on a print substrate with a transfer function applied to print image data that defines the print image, generate first processed print response data based on the print response measurement data, determine whether an absolute difference between the first processed print response data and a target response exceeds a first threshold and generate an updated compensation transfer function based on the first processed print response data and the target response upon a determination that the absolute difference exceeds a first threshold.