Stamp Image Composition for N-Up Printing Orientation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing image processing systems face difficulties in seamlessly integrating stamps into combined images, particularly when dealing with mixed vertical and horizontal compositions, and require user input for orientation settings, leading to inefficiencies and unnecessary steps.

Innovation Solution

An image processing apparatus that automatically selects and composes stamps based on document orientation and size, using a controller and storage device to manage stamp images and generate combined images with adaptable layouts for N-up printing, allowing for flexible and user-friendly integration of stamps without manual orientation adjustments.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a stamp is divided into multiple pages or reduced in size to fit combined images, then the stamp can be integrated into N-up prints, but the processing complexity increases and user operation becomes more difficult

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestamp integration capabilityVSAvoiduser operation simplicity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system automatically detects document orientation and selects appropriate stamp images without user intervention. The controller identifies whether the document is in portrait or landscape orientation and autonomously composes the stamp at the correct position in the combined image, eliminating the need for users to manually configure stamp settings.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

Multiple stamp images are pre-stored in the system with different orientations and sizes. When a document is processed, the controller automatically selects the most suitable pre-prepared stamp image based on the detected document orientation, avoiding real-time stamp manipulation and simplifying the processing workflow.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Manufacturing precision

If manual orientation settings are required for stamp composition, then precise control is achieved, but processing time increases and productivity decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestamp positioning accuracyVSAvoidimage processing throughput
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The system incorporates automatic orientation detection that provides feedback about the document's orientation state. Based on this feedback, the controller automatically adjusts stamp composition parameters to achieve correct positioning without requiring manual intervention, thereby maintaining precision while improving throughput.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The controller autonomously determines the optimal stamp orientation and position based on detected document characteristics, eliminating the need for manual configuration steps and accelerating processing speed while maintaining accurate stamp placement.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Adaptability or versatility

If multiple stamp images with different layouts are stored and automatically selected, then adaptability to various document orientations is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveorientation compatibilityVSAvoidstamp image management complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system stores multiple stamp images that can serve different orientation requirements, making the stamp composition function universal across portrait and landscape documents. The controller intelligently selects the appropriate stamp variant based on detected orientation, allowing a single system to handle diverse document types without requiring separate processing paths.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentEP3544279B1Image processing apparatus
Publication Date: 2024.09.25 KYOCERA DOCUMENT SOLUTIONS INC
  • EP3544279B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3544279B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3544279B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

An image processing apparatus includes a raw image obtaining unit, a combined image generating unit, and a stamp image composing unit. The raw image obtaining unit obtains N raw images for generating an N-up image. The combined image generating unit generates the combined image from the obtained raw images. The stamp image composing unit selects a stamp image adapted for a combined image generating condition from a plurality of stamp images having mutually different layouts of stamps to compose the selected stamp image on the combined image.