Peripheral Image Processing for Punched Document Restoration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional scanners waste toner when printing black hole images and fail to accurately represent documents with holes or unique shapes, requiring time-consuming and complex image processing.
Innovation Solution
A peripheral with a scanning module and control processing module that performs a one-time scan using both visible and infrared light to distinguish holes, allowing for image restoration and true representation of document shapes without advanced image processing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If conventional scanners scan punched documents, then the scanning operation is simple, but black hole images are created wasting toner
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs a preliminary preview scan before the actual scanning operation to identify holes and damaged portions in the document. This preliminary action allows the system to set appropriate boundaries and avoid scanning holes, thereby preventing toner waste in the final printing process while maintaining simple operation for users
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary image processing mechanism that acts as a mediator between the scanning operation and the final output. This intermediary process automatically detects holes through preview scanning and excludes them from the final scan, eliminating the need for manual intervention while preventing toner waste
2Reliability
If image processing software is used to remove black hole images, then hole removal is achieved, but it is time-consuming and requires computer skills
Solution Approach 1:
The scanning system performs self-service by automatically detecting holes through preview scanning and automatically excluding them from the final scan results. This self-service capability eliminates the need for users to manually process images with specialized software, saving time and removing the barrier of requiring computer skills while maintaining reliable hole removal
Solution Approach 2:
The preview scan serves as a preliminary action that automatically identifies and marks holes before the final scanning operation. This preliminary detection allows the system to pre-configure scanning boundaries that exclude holes, achieving reliable hole removal without requiring time-consuming post-processing by users
3Reliability
If preview scan is used to set boundaries, then holes are prevented from being scanned, but information near holes cannot be scanned
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies local quality by setting scanning boundaries that are locally adjusted around holes rather than using uniform global boundaries. The preview scan identifies hole locations and creates localized exclusion zones that precisely fit the holes while minimizing the excluded area, thereby preventing hole scanning while preserving information in regions near holes that are not actually holes
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses partial action by selectively excluding only the hole portions from scanning while including all other areas. The boundary setting is precise enough to exclude holes completely but not so restrictive that it unnecessarily excludes valid document information near the holes, achieving the right balance between hole exclusion and information preservation
4Ease of operation
If rectangular scanning is used for shaped documents, then scanning operation is simple, but the external shape of the original cannot be truly represented
Solution Approach 1:
The system introduces dynamics by making the scanning boundary adaptive rather than fixed. The preview scan detects the actual periphery of shaped documents and dynamically adjusts the scanning boundary to match the document's external shape. This dynamic boundary adjustment maintains simple operation for users while accurately representing the true shape of the document in the scan results
5Shape
If manual boundary setting is used for shaped documents, then shape representation can be accurate, but user operation becomes complex
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs self-service by automatically detecting the document periphery through preview scanning and automatically setting the appropriate scanning boundaries. This eliminates the need for users to manually configure complex boundary settings, maintaining ease of operation while achieving accurate shape representation through the system's automatic periphery detection and boundary configuration capabilities
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables efficient and rapid image restoration and representation of documents with holes or unique shapes, reducing toner usage and eliminating the need for complex image processing.
Implementation Method 1
The scanning module performs a one-time scan operation on a punched document to obtain a visible light image
Implementation Method 2
The scanning module performs a one-time scan operation on a punched document to obtain a visible light image and an infrared image
Data Source
AI summary
A peripheral includes a scanning module and a control processing module. In a restoration mode, the scanning module performs a one-time scan operation on a punched document to obtain a visible light image and an infrared image. The infrared image includes an infrared hole image corresponding to one hole or multiple holes of the punched document. The visible light image includes a visible light hole image corresponding to one hole or multiple holes of the punched document. In the restoration mode, the control processing module, electrically connected to the scanning module, determines the infrared hole image according to the infrared image, determines the visible light hole image according to the infrared hole image and processes the visible light image into a final image according to the visible light hole image, wherein the final image does not contain the visible light hole image.