Scanner Correction Section for Multi-Sensor Image Displacement

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing scanners face challenges in maintaining image quality when combining outputs from multiple line sensors due to displacement of the document reading position, leading to reduced sharpness and brightness inconsistencies across scan data.

Innovation Solution

A scanner configuration that includes a correction section to analyze and correct image deviations across overlapping regions read by multiple sensor arrays, allowing for dynamic adjustment of image weights and deformations to maintain image quality, even when the document is displaced from the reference reading position.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Area of stationary object

If outputs from multiple line sensors are combined to scan a document, then scanning coverage is improved, but image quality deteriorates due to reading position displacement

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvescanning coverageVSAvoidimage quality
Core Design Contradiction:
Area of stationary objectVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by performing image matching and deviation detection specifically in overlap regions between adjacent line sensor readings. The correction is applied locally to regions affected by displacement rather than uniformly across the entire image, preserving sharpness in areas where multiple sensors contribute while maintaining overall coverage.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes parameters by calculating deviation amounts based on image matching results and using these deviations to adjust the combining position of scan data. The correction section modifies the position parameters of scan lines dynamically based on detected deviations, thereby compensating for reading position displacement and improving image quality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Productivity

If scan data from multiple line sensors is combined without correction, then processing speed is maintained, but sharpness decreases due to positional displacement

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprocessing speedVSAvoidsharpness
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by performing image matching and deviation detection on overlap regions before combining the scan data from multiple line sensors. The correction section uses these pre-calculated deviation amounts to adjust combining positions, ensuring sharpness is maintained in the final composite image without requiring post-processing corrections.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Manufacturing precision

If correction is applied to compensate for reading position displacement, then image quality is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveimage qualityVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces an intermediary approach by using overlap regions between adjacent line sensors as reference areas for image matching. These overlap regions serve as mediators to detect deviation amounts, which then guide the correction process. This intermediary method provides a practical way to measure and correct displacement without requiring complex external reference systems.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

4Measurement precision

If deviation detection is performed across the entire scan region, then correction accuracy is improved, but processing time increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecorrection accuracyVSAvoidprocessing time
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies segmentation by dividing the scan region into overlap regions between adjacent line sensors and non-overlap regions. Image matching and deviation detection are performed only in the overlap regions, which are smaller segments of the total scan area. This segmented approach maintains correction accuracy in critical areas while significantly reducing the total processing time compared to analyzing the entire scan region.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP3352444B1Scanner, scan program, and method of producing scan data
Publication Date: 2021.11.17 SEIKO EPSON CORP
  • EP3352444B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3352444B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP3352444B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5

AI summary

There is provided a scanner that combines images read by a first sensor array and a second sensor array, in which the first sensor array and the second sensor array have read regions which are overlapped partially, and includes a combining section that combines a first read image read by the first sensor array and a second read image read by the second sensor array and a correction section that corrects an image after a combining based on a degree of displacement of a reading position of the document.