Scanner Direction Marking for Faster Image Defect Diagnosis
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Solution Overview
Problem
Investigation of defects in scanned and printed images is time-consuming and labor-intensive due to the lack of clear information on reading and image forming directions.
Innovation Solution
An image processing apparatus and image forming apparatus that includes a scanner to read images, generate data, and combine it with reading-direction and image-forming-direction images, allowing easy identification of these directions through specific patterns and orientations, thereby reducing the time required to investigate defects.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of time
If reading direction and image forming direction information is not included in the image data, then the image data structure remains simple, but defect investigation requires a lot of time and effort
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by embedding reading direction and image forming direction information into the image data during the initial scanning and printing processes. This allows defect investigators to immediately determine the correct orientation of scanned documents and printed images without manual trial-and-error, significantly reducing investigation time while maintaining a manageable data structure through standardized metadata integration
2Productivity
If reading direction and image forming direction information is embedded in the image data, then defect investigation becomes efficient, but the image data structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies universality by using a standardized metadata structure that can serve multiple functions: storing reading direction information for scanned images, image forming direction information for printed images, and both simultaneously in combined datasets. This multi-functional approach enables efficient defect investigation across different image types without requiring separate complex structures for each case
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary metadata layer that sits between the raw image data and the defect investigation process. This intermediary structure contains standardized direction information that facilitates efficient analysis without directly complicating the core image data, acting as a bridge that enables productivity while maintaining data structure manageability
Data Source
AI summary
According to one embodiment, an image processing apparatus has a storage unit and a scanner to read an image from a sheet, generate image data by the reading of the image from the sheet, and store the image data in the storage unit. A control unit combines a reading-direction image indicating a reading direction of the scanner with the generated image data to produce combined image data, and then stores the combined image data in the storage unit, The control unit is configured to set a position where the reading-direction image is arranged in the combined image data and a size of the reading-direction image based on a reading resolution in the reading of the image from the sheet by the scanner and a recording resolution of the image data recorded in the storage unit.