Printer Dot Control Apparatus Grain Recognition
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Solution Overview
Problem
Printers that form dots of different sizes struggle to maintain image quality when transitioning between areas with varying grain recognition degrees, leading to visible borders and low image quality.
Innovation Solution
A control apparatus that generates print data by correcting pixel values using neighboring pixel errors, determining the type of dot to form based on specific ranges and prohibiting dot formation at certain pixel positions to reduce grain recognition degree differences between adjacent areas.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If dots of different sizes are formed in different areas to express solid images, then the image expression capability is improved, but visible borders appear between areas with different grain recognition degrees
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by determining dot formation prohibition in specific local areas (neighboring pixels of the subject pixel) rather than uniformly across the entire image. This allows different regions to have different dot formation characteristics, suppressing visible borders at area transitions while maintaining optimal grain recognition in other regions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies preliminary anti-action by proactively prohibiting dot formation in neighboring pixels of subject pixels before the border visibility problem occurs. This preventive approach addresses the root cause of visible borders by eliminating the grain recognition degree difference between adjacent areas before it manifests as a quality issue.
2Productivity
If error diffusion method is used to binarize image data, then the image data processing capability is improved, but grain recognition degree varies between adjacent areas
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by implementing position-dependent dot formation prohibition based on the spatial relationship between subject pixels and their neighboring pixels. This creates locally optimized grain patterns that maintain uniformity across area transitions while preserving the error diffusion processing capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses the concept of 'prohibited pixels' as an intermediary mechanism to mediate between the error diffusion processing output and the final dot formation. This intermediary layer adjusts the grain recognition degree uniformly across area transitions without interfering with the underlying error diffusion algorithm.
3Manufacturing precision
If dots are formed at all pixel positions to express solid images, then the solid image expression is improved, but the grain recognition degree becomes non-uniform between adjacent areas
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by selectively prohibiting dot formation in specific local areas (neighboring pixels) while allowing dot formation in other areas. This creates a non-uniform dot distribution pattern that maintains solid image expression in subject areas while ensuring uniform grain recognition degree across area transitions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies segmentation by dividing the image into subject pixels and neighboring pixels, applying different dot formation rules to each segment. Subject pixels follow standard error diffusion binarization, while neighboring pixels have dot formation prohibited, creating segmented control over grain patterns to achieve uniformity.
Data Source
AI summary
When a corrected pixel value of a target pixel is within a first range and the target pixel is not a prohibited pixel, a first value indicating formation of a dot of a first type having a minimum size is determined as a pixel value of a print pixel corresponding to the target pixel. When the corrected pixel value is within a second range different from the first range and the target pixel is not the prohibited pixel, a second value indicating formation of a dot of a second type having a size greater than the dot of the first type is determined as the pixel value of the print pixel. When the corrected pixel value is within the first range and the target pixel is the prohibited pixel, a non-formation value indicating formation of no dots is determined as the pixel value of the print pixel.