Image Quality Evaluation Using Shifted Reference Image Reading
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing image forming apparatuses face challenges in achieving high-speed reading of reference images while maintaining accurate evaluation of image quality, as reducing resolution for reading compromises evaluation accuracy, and methods like shifting or tilting the reading position either increase reading frequency or lead to sheet deformation.
Innovation Solution
An image forming apparatus that forms a reference image and reads it at a lower resolution than formed, using the read values to create evaluation data by shifting the formation position of the reference image to obtain higher resolution read values, combining them based on shift amounts, and smoothing the intensity distributions for accurate evaluation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If the reference image is read at a lower resolution to achieve high-speed reading, then the reading speed is improved, but the evaluation accuracy of image quality deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The reference image is divided into multiple regions, and multiple reading sections read different regions simultaneously. This segmentation allows the system to maintain high reading speed while collecting sufficient data for accurate evaluation, as multiple low-resolution readings across different regions can be combined to achieve effective high-resolution evaluation capability.
Solution Approach 2:
Multiple read values from different reading sections reading the same or overlapping regions are combined through averaging or other processing. This merging of multiple low-resolution readings effectively increases the resolution and accuracy of the evaluation data while maintaining high reading speed, as the combination compensates for the lower individual reading resolution.
2Measurement precision
If the reading position is shifted to increase reading resolution, then the reading resolution is improved, but the reading frequency increases which reduces reading speed
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of shifting one reading section multiple times, the system segments the reading task across multiple reading sections that simultaneously read different regions. This eliminates the need for sequential shifting operations, maintaining high reading speed while achieving comprehensive coverage for accurate evaluation.
Solution Approach 2:
Multiple reading sections are positioned at different regions in advance before reading begins. This preliminary positioning eliminates the need for dynamic shifting during the reading process, allowing simultaneous reading operations that maintain high speed while achieving the resolution needed for accurate evaluation.
3Measurement precision
If the reading position is tilted to increase reading resolution, then the reading resolution is improved, but sheet deformation occurs which reduces reading accuracy
Solution Approach 1:
The reading system is segmented into multiple reading sections that read different regions of the sheet simultaneously in the natural flat position. This eliminates the need to tilt the entire sheet, preventing deformation while still achieving comprehensive coverage for accurate evaluation through the combined data from multiple sections.
Data Source
AI summary
An image forming apparatus includes an image forming section which forms an image on a sheet, a reading section which reads the image formed on the sheet by the image forming section, and a control section. The control section allows the image forming section to form a reference image for evaluation of image quality, allows the reading section to read the reference image at a resolution lower than a resolution at which the reference image is formed, obtains read values of the reference image, the resolution of which has been made higher than the resolution of the reference image read by the reading section using the read reference image, and creates evaluation data based on the obtained read values.