Smoothing Correction for Light Emitting Segments in Image Forming Devices
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing image forming devices face significant irregularity in image quality due to local changes in correction amounts for positional deviations of light emitting segments, leading to visually defective images when correcting for distortion caused by LED head deformation and temperature changes.
Innovation Solution
An image forming device that includes a correcting unit which smoothes local changes in correction amounts by calculating differences between adjacent light emitting segments, adjusting the irradiation timing to optimize image writing positions and reduce image irregularity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If correction amounts are applied for every position of light emitting segments to correct LED head distortion, then positional deviation in sub-scanning direction is corrected, but local changes in correction amount cause significant image irregularity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the correction process into local segments by identifying continuous ranges where correction amounts change. For each range, it applies localized smoothing that preserves necessary correction while reducing excessive local variations. This allows different parts of the image to have different correction characteristics, maintaining positional accuracy where needed while ensuring uniformity within each local region.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent dynamically adjusts correction amounts based on the detected ranges of local changes. By identifying where significant corrections are needed and applying smoothing only in those specific ranges, the system adapts the correction strategy to the actual distortion pattern, rather than applying uniform smoothing across the entire image.
2Productivity
If correction amounts are stored in advance for each light emitting segment position, then distortion correction is efficient, but significant local changes create visual defects in the image
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary detection of correction amount patterns and identifies ranges where local changes occur before applying the final correction. This preliminary analysis allows the system to prepare smoothing strategies in advance, maintaining efficiency while ensuring quality.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses feedback from detecting significant changes in correction amounts to adjust the smoothing application. By monitoring where correction amounts change significantly and applying smoothing selectively in those regions, the system maintains high correction efficiency while improving image quality through targeted adjustments.
Data Source
AI summary
An image forming device includes a photoreceptor drum including a target surface that is scanned in a main scanning direction and a sub-scanning direction, an exposure head including a plurality of light emitting segments aligned in parallel to the main scanning direction, an exposure driving unit which selectively drives the plural light emitting segments, a storing unit which stores a profile where the respective positions of the plural light emitting segments correspond to a correction amount from the main scanning direction toward the sub-scanning direction at every position, and a correcting unit which smoothes a local change of the correction amount in the profile.