Thermochromic Design Image Correction via Lookup Table

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Solution Overview

Problem

The challenge lies in balancing the number of product variations to avoid high stock risks while ensuring a wide range of consumer preferences are met, as excessive variations lead to inventory issues and insufficient variations fail to cater to diverse consumer tastes.

Innovation Solution

A product design system and apparatus that utilize a look-up table to convert design image data into a thermochromic color space, enabling rapid image correction and decoration, allowing for real-time customization of product designs on a thermochromic material-based information recording layer, thus reducing the need for pre-prepared designs.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If the number of variations of colors and decorative designs is increased excessively, then consumer preferences are better met, but stock risk increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveconsumer preference coverageVSAvoidinventory stock

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements dynamic customization where product designs are not fixed in advance but are generated on-demand based on consumer preferences. The system allows real-time modification of design parameters including color, patterns, and decorative elements, enabling the inventory to adapt dynamically to market demands without maintaining excessive static stock

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system enables customization by changing multiple design parameters simultaneously including color schemes, decorative patterns, material textures, and configuration options. This allows a single base product to generate numerous variations through parameter modification rather than producing separate physical inventory for each variation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Quantity of substance

If the number of variations of colors and decorative designs is decreased excessively, then stock risk is reduced, but consumer preference coverage is insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinventory stockVSAvoidconsumer preference coverage

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates a universal design system where a single base product design can serve multiple consumer preferences through configurable parameters. The same product platform can be customized to meet different aesthetic and functional requirements, making one product line universally applicable to diverse consumer tastes without requiring separate inventory for each variation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses digital copying and virtual prototyping to generate design variations. Instead of producing physical samples for each variation, the system creates digital representations that can be instantly replicated and modified, allowing consumers to view and select from numerous design options without the need for extensive physical inventory preparation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

3Manufacturing precision

If profile transformation is performed for color space conversion, then color accuracy is improved, but processing time increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecolor representation accuracyVSAvoidimage correction processing time

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent performs color space conversion and profile transformation in advance during the design setup phase. The system pre-calculates color mappings between different color spaces (such as sRGB, Adobe RGB, and device-specific color profiles) and stores these conversion parameters for rapid application during customization, eliminating the need for time-consuming real-time transformation during the actual design generation process

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system replaces complex real-time color transformation calculations with pre-computed lookup tables and interpolation algorithms. Instead of performing full profile transformation computations during design generation, the system uses simplified mathematical models and pre-established color mapping data to achieve accurate color conversion instantaneously

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

This approach enables quick adaptation to consumer preferences, reduces inventory risks, and allows for faithful color representation on the product chassis, facilitating efficient decoration and minimizing the need for pre-manufactured designs tailored to specific preferences.

Implementation Method 1

a color space that is represented with a thermochromic material

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectThermochromism: Thermochromism

Data Source

PatentUS11386588B2Product design system and design image correction apparatus

Publication Date: 2022.07.12 SONY GROUP CORP

AI summary

A product design system includes a first transmitting section that uses a look-up table to convert second design image data for which image correction is completed into third design image data of a color space that is represented with a thermochromic material, and transmits the third design image data derived from the conversion to an external apparatus, and a second transmitting section that transmits a decorating request based on fourth design image data that is profile-transformed from the second design image data to a decorating apparatus.