Toner Consumption Calculation Using Edge and Pixel Counts
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electrophotographic printing technologies face challenges in accurately predicting toner consumption due to variations in temperature, humidity, and the state of the apparatus, particularly when printing pages with large or small tone regions, leading to inaccuracies in toner consumption estimation.
Innovation Solution
An image processing apparatus that includes an edge counting unit, pixel counting unit, image feature determination unit, and toner consumption amount calculation unit, which divides the image into regions, counts edges and pixels, determines image features based on these counts and resolution, and uses a toner consumption amount table to calculate toner usage with higher accuracy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a simple toner weight per pixel method is used, then the calculation is simple, but the accuracy of toner consumption prediction is poor
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the image into multiple tone regions based on tonal values, and further divides each region into discrete tone regions and continuous tone regions. This segmentation allows different toner consumption calculations for different regions, improving overall prediction accuracy while maintaining manageable complexity through systematic classification.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies different toner consumption calculation methods to different local regions of the image. Discrete tone regions use one calculation approach while continuous tone regions use another, with each region's specific characteristics (edge count, pixel count, resolution) considered locally. This local differentiation significantly improves prediction accuracy compared to a uniform approach.
2Speed
If toner consumption is calculated without considering image features, then the calculation is fast, but the accuracy varies depending on image type
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary analysis of the image by counting edges and recording pixels in advance, and pre-classifies regions into discrete and continuous tone regions. This preliminary action enables faster subsequent toner consumption calculations while incorporating image feature information, achieving both speed and accuracy improvements.
3Device complexity
If a single toner consumption value is used for all image types, then the calculation is simple, but it cannot accurately predict toner usage for different image characteristics
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a dynamic calculation system where the toner consumption value is not fixed but varies based on image characteristics. The system dynamically adjusts the calculation method and parameters according to the detected image features (edge count, pixel distribution, tone region characteristics), enabling accurate prediction across diverse image types while maintaining a unified calculation framework.
Data Source
AI summary
To provide a technique for enabling to calculate a color material consumption amount with higher accuracy, an image processing apparatus comprises: an edge counting unit configured to count a number of edges forming boundaries between recording pixels and non-recording pixels of an image having undergone halftone processing; a pixel counting unit configured to count the number of recording pixels of the image; an image feature determination unit configured to determine an image feature of the image based on the number of edges, the number of recording pixels, and a resolution of the halftone processing; and a toner consumption amount calculation unit configured to calculate a toner consumption amount in the image using a toner consumption amount table corresponding to the image feature determined by the image feature determination unit.