Smartphone Ink Level Detection via Image Analysis
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Solution Overview
Problem
Managing ink levels in printers with large-capacity ink tanks is challenging due to difficulties in accurately determining the remaining ink amount, leading to potential incorrect reset operations and inefficient ink management.
Innovation Solution
A system comprising a smartphone and printer that communicate via a local area network, where the smartphone acquires management information, captures images of the ink levels, analyzes them to estimate remaining ink, and transmits control commands to the printer to accurately manage and reset ink levels, preventing user errors.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a sensor is provided in the ink tank to detect the amount of ink, then the measurement precision of ink remaining amount is improved, but the initial costs of the printer increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses image capture units to capture images of the ink tank and analyzes them to estimate ink remaining amount, creating a visual copy/representation of the ink level rather than using direct physical sensing. This allows indirect measurement through image analysis, avoiding the need for expensive sensors while maintaining measurement capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical/electrical sensor system with an optical imaging system. Instead of using sensors that directly detect ink levels through electrical or mechanical means, the system uses cameras to capture images and processes these images to determine ink remaining amount, substituting a different detection mechanism.
2Ease of operation
If the estimated ink remaining amount is reset manually by the user, then the ease of operation is improved, but the reliability of ink management decreases due to potential incorrect reset operations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the system captures images of the ink tank, analyzes the ink remaining amount visually, and automatically performs the reset operation based on this analysis. This closed-loop feedback system ensures that the reset is based on actual ink levels rather than user estimation, improving reliability while maintaining ease of operation through automated processing.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs the reset operation autonomously based on image analysis of the ink tank. Instead of relying on manual user input for reset operations, the system self-determines the appropriate reset value through image processing, reducing human error and improving the reliability of ink management while keeping the user interface simple.
3Productivity
If the ink tank capacity is made larger to reduce running costs, then the productivity is improved, but the difficulty of detecting and measuring the ink remaining amount increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses image capture and analysis to create a visual representation of the ink level in the large-capacity tank. By capturing images of the ink tank and processing these images to estimate ink remaining amount, the system can accurately measure ink levels in large tanks without requiring complex sensors, thus maintaining measurement capability while supporting larger capacity for cost efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces complex mechanical or electrical sensing systems with an optical imaging system that can effectively measure ink levels in large-capacity tanks. The image capture and analysis approach provides a practical solution for measuring ink remaining amount in large tanks, avoiding the need for expensive or complex sensor systems that would be required for direct measurement in large volumes.
Data Source
AI summary
There is provided a system capable of appropriately managing a management target in an image processing apparatus. A smart phone (information processing apparatus) configured to be communicable with a printer (image processing apparatus) includes a management information acquisition unit configured to acquire management information of the printer from the printer, a camera application activation unit configured to acquire an image of a management target of the printer captured based on the management information, and a control command transmission unit configured to transmit a control command related to the management target to the printer, based on an analysis result of the image of the management target acquired by the camera application activation unit.