Selective Halftoning for Mixed Image Printing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing print instruction devices struggle to maintain high quality for both photographic images and code images during the printing process, as halftoning processes often compromise the readability of code images while improving photographic image quality.

Innovation Solution

A print instruction device that includes an obtaining unit, a detection unit, and a processing unit, which obtains image data, detects code images, and performs halftoning only on photographic images, thereby preserving the quality of both image types by avoiding halftoning on code images.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If halftoning process is applied to improve photographic image quality, then photographic image quality is improved, but code image readability deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvephotographic image qualityVSAvoidcode image readability

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies different processing treatments to different regions of the image data. Specifically, the halftoning process is applied only to photographic images while code images are excluded from this process. This local differentiation resolves the contradiction by allowing photographic images to receive quality-enhancing halftoning while code images maintain their original readability without halftoning degradation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Manufacturing precision

If halftoning process is applied to all images, then photographic image quality is improved, but code image accuracy deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvephotographic image qualityVSAvoidcode image read accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the image data into different types (photographic images and code images) and applies different processing to each segment. The halftoning process is selectively applied only to photographic images while code images are processed differently (without halftoning). This segmentation approach allows the system to optimize photographic image quality while preserving code image read accuracy.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements local quality by applying the halftoning process only to specific regions (photographic images) while excluding other regions (code images). This selective application ensures that photographic images benefit from halftoning-induced quality improvement while code images maintain their binary clarity necessary for accurate reading.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

3Ease of manufacture

If halftoning process is applied uniformly, then overall image processing is simplified, but code image readability is compromised

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveimage processing simplicityVSAvoidcode image readability

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the image processing into segmented pathways: one pathway for photographic images that includes halftoning, and another pathway for code images that excludes halftoning. The system detects and categorizes image types, then routes them to appropriate processing streams. This segmentation maintains code image readability while still providing simplified uniform processing for photographic images.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentUS9513852B2Print instruction device, printing system, non-transitory computer readable medium, and print instruction method for increasing quality of a photographic image and read accuracy of a code image

Publication Date: 2016.12.06 FUJIFILM BUSINESS INNOVATION CORP

AI summary

A print instruction device includes an obtaining unit, a detection unit, and a processing unit. The obtaining unit obtains image data including a photographic image and a code image. The detection unit detects the code image from the image data obtained by the obtaining unit. The processing unit performs, for the image data obtained by the obtaining unit, a halftoning process on the photographic image and performs no halftoning process on the code image.