Printer Driver Special Color Command for Single-Color Pages

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional printing systems, especially those using general application software that handles only RGB data, lack the capability to designate and print special colors like gold, silver, or transparent tones, which are essential for security and authenticity purposes, as they cannot represent colors beyond cyan, magenta, yellow, and black.

Innovation Solution

The printing system introduces a command to instruct printing with special color toner for single color pages in the print data, allowing the image forming apparatus to convert RGB data into C, M, and Y data, and use the black toner cartridge to store special color materials like transparent toner, enabling the printing of special colors without requiring specific software functionality.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If conventional printing systems use only RGB data and CMYK color model, then the system is simple and compatible with general software, but it cannot print special colors like gold, silver, or transparent tones required for security purposes

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecolor printing capabilityVSAvoidsoftware functionality requirement

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces an intermediary component (the command addition unit in the printer driver) that translates standard RGB print data into specialized print commands without requiring the upper-level software to have special color designation capabilities. This intermediary layer enables special color printing while maintaining compatibility with general-purpose software applications.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The system enables itself to print special colors by automatically analyzing print data and adding appropriate commands without external intervention. The printer driver autonomously identifies single-color pages and applies special color material designation, eliminating the need for software modifications or user configuration.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

2Adaptability or versatility

If the system requires software with special color designation functionality, then special colors can be printed, but user effort and software complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvespecial color printingVSAvoiduser effort

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs automatic analysis of print data to identify single-color pages and adds special color print commands without requiring user intervention. The printer driver autonomously determines which pages should use special color materials, eliminating manual configuration effort while enabling special color printing capabilities.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Adaptability or versatility

If multiple color pages are printed with special color material, then color variety is achieved, but it becomes difficult to distinguish single color pages that require special color material

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecolor varietyVSAvoidsingle color page identification

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDifficulty of detecting and measuring

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies different processing rules to different parts of the print data based on local characteristics. Single-color pages are automatically identified and marked with special print commands, while multi-color pages use standard printing. This local differentiation ensures that special color materials are applied only where necessary, making identification straightforward through automated analysis.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The system utilizes color analysis to identify single-color pages by examining the color composition of print data. Pages containing only a single color (C, M, Y, or K) are automatically detected and designated for special color material printing, while pages with multiple colors follow standard printing processes.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #32Color changes

4Device complexity

If special color materials are stored in the black toner cartridge, then the device structure remains simple, but the black toner is repurposed from its original function

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedevice structureVSAvoidtoner cartridge functionality

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent makes the black toner cartridge multi-functional by enabling it to store and supply both standard black toner and special color materials (such as transparent toner). This universal approach allows a single cartridge to serve multiple purposes: standard black printing, special color printing on single-color pages, and maintaining device structural simplicity without requiring separate cartridges for different functions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS11403049B2Printing system, non-transitory recording medium, and print control method

Publication Date: 2022.08.02 RICOH CO LTD

AI summary

A printing system, a non-transitory recording medium, and a print control method. The printing system adds a command for instructing printing with special color material to a single color page in first print data, the first print data having been generated based on image data including the single color page in which an object is drawn in single color, transmits to the image forming apparatus, second print data that has the command added, and prints the single color page in the second print data with the special color material.