Carriage Position Correction in Image Scanners
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing image reading apparatuses face inaccuracies in carriage position detection due to shifts from the actual position, leading to frequent resets and increased power consumption and operational delays.
Innovation Solution
An image reading apparatus with a control device that includes a processor acting as an image acquirer, carriage controller, carriage travel measurer, and reset decider, which measures carriage travel and decides when to reset the position based on measurement values, reducing unnecessary resets and maintaining detection accuracy without additional sensors.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If the carriage position is frequently reset to the home position to cancel positional shifts, then the position detection accuracy is improved, but the power consumption increases and operational delays occur
Solution Approach 1:
The system continuously monitors the carriage position through pulse signals from the motor and compares the detected position with the actual position. When a positional shift exceeds a predetermined threshold, the system automatically corrects the position by adjusting the travel distance calculations, avoiding frequent resets to the home position while maintaining detection accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical reset mechanism (physically moving the carriage to the home position) with a computational correction method. The control device calculates and corrects positional shifts through software algorithms that adjust travel distance measurements, eliminating the need for frequent mechanical resets and reducing associated power consumption and operational delays.
2Measurement precision
If the carriage is frequently moved to the home position to reset position detection, then the position detection accuracy is improved, but the productivity decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The system continuously monitors the carriage position through pulse signals from the motor and compares the detected position with the actual position. When a positional shift exceeds a predetermined threshold, the system automatically corrects the position by adjusting the travel distance calculations, avoiding frequent resets to the home position while maintaining detection accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary position monitoring and correction during normal operation rather than waiting for positional drift to accumulate. By continuously tracking pulse signals and making incremental corrections, the system prevents large positional errors from developing, eliminating the need for interruptive reset operations that would slow down image reading productivity.
3Measurement precision
If additional sensors are added to improve carriage position detection accuracy, then the measurement precision is improved, but the device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses existing components (motor pulse signals and control device) to perform position monitoring and correction functions. The control device leverages the pulse signals already generated by the motor during normal operation to detect positional shifts, eliminating the need for additional dedicated position sensors while maintaining detection accuracy through intelligent signal processing.
Solution Approach 2:
The control device performs multiple functions: it controls motor operation, processes pulse signals for position detection, calculates travel distances, and corrects positional shifts. By making the control device multi-functional, the system eliminates the need for separate position sensing components, reducing device complexity and cost while maintaining measurement precision.
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
This solution reduces the frequency of carriage position resets, minimizes power consumption, and prevents delays in image reading operations while maintaining accurate detection without increasing costs or complexity.
Implementation Method 1
The carriage includes an optical system that emits light to a document, and further reflects the light reflected by the document
Data Source
AI summary
A carriage includes an optical system that detects reflected light from an image reading position on a document. A carriage controller controls, when the image of the document is to be read, movement of the carriage through a drive device, on the basis of the position of the carriage with respect to a predetermined reference position. A carriage travel measurer performs measurement about the movement of the carriage, and generates a measurement value. A reset decider decides whether the position of the carriage recognized by the carriage controller has to be reset, on the basis of the measurement value. When it is decided that the position of the carriage has to be reset, the carriage controller detects the reference position, and resets the position of the carriage.