Printer RAW Data Processing via External Demosaicing

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional printers face challenges in printing images from RAW data due to high manufacturing and development costs, as they require significant internal memory to process and store large print data, leading to increased costs and inefficient use of resources.

Innovation Solution

Incorporating a demosaicing processing unit to generate images from RAW data, along with compression and storage features that allow images to be stored on external media, reducing the need for large internal memory and optimizing image processing by separating image generation and correction stages.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a printer processes RAW data directly with full demosaicing and image generation capabilities, then it can print images from RAW data, but the manufacturing and developing costs increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveability to print from RAW dataVSAvoidmanufacturing and developing costs

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the complex demosaicing and image generation functions from the printer and places them in an external image processing apparatus. The printer only performs simple tone correction and printing, while the external device handles the computationally intensive RAW data processing. This division allows the printer to remain simple and cost-effective while still achieving RAW data printing capability through the external device.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Productivity

If the printer stores large print data in internal memory for processing, then it can process images efficiently, but the internal memory capacity and costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveimage processing efficiencyVSAvoidinternal memory capacity

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces an external storage medium as an intermediary between the image processing apparatus and the printer. The processed image data is stored in this external medium rather than requiring large internal memory in the printer. The printer reads data from this external storage during printing, eliminating the need for expensive high-capacity internal memory while maintaining processing efficiency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Manufacturing precision

If multiple image processing functions are executed in sequence, then comprehensive image correction is achieved, but the processing time increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveimage qualityVSAvoidprocessing time

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges multiple image processing functions (demosaicing, sharpness correction, noise reduction, and tone correction) into a single integrated processing stage in the external image processing apparatus. By combining these functions and executing them simultaneously rather than sequentially, the system achieves comprehensive image correction while reducing total processing time compared to sequential execution.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentUS8373885B2Printer and image processing apparatus

Publication Date: 2013.02.12 138 EAST LCD ADVANCEMENTS LTD

AI summary

An input unit inputs RAW data. An image generating unit generates an image from the RAW data using a demosaicing processing. A print unit that prints the image.