Toner Consumption Calculation with Edge Emphasis Compensation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing image forming apparatuses face challenges in accurately calculating toner consumption due to the 'edge effect' phenomenon, where toner is consumed more than needed at the boundary between electrostatic latent image dots and non-dots, leading to inefficiencies in toner usage and measurement.
Innovation Solution
The apparatus includes an edge emphasis amount determining unit, a first toner counter, and a second toner counter to differentiate between toner consumption with and without edge emphasis, allowing for precise calculation of toner consumption by performing spatial filter processes and determining edge emphasis amounts, thereby accounting for edge effects in toner counting.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If spatial filter process is performed block by block for toner consumption calculation, then processing efficiency is improved, but measurement precision deteriorates because pixel values from adjacent blocks are required for boundary pixel calculations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the image into blocks and further segments the calculation process into two independent toner counters: one for non-block-edge pixels and another for block-edge pixels. This segmentation allows each counter to operate independently on its designated pixel type, eliminating the need for adjacent block pixel values while maintaining accurate edge effect compensation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies different calculation methods to different regions: block-edge pixels use a different toner counting approach than non-block-edge pixels. By identifying pixel location characteristics (edge vs. non-edge) and applying appropriate calculation methods locally, the system achieves both accuracy for edge effects and efficiency for bulk processing.
2Measurement precision
If edge emphasis amount is added for all pixels, then toner consumption accuracy is improved, but device complexity increases due to additional calculation requirements
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of uniformly applying edge emphasis to all pixels, the system identifies and applies edge emphasis only to block-edge pixels where it is physically relevant. Non-block-edge pixels undergo simpler calculation, reducing overall computational complexity while maintaining accuracy where needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent divides the pixel population into two segments (block-edge and non-block-edge) and applies different calculation logic to each. This segmentation reduces complexity by avoiding unnecessary edge emphasis calculations for pixels that do not experience edge effects.
Data Source
AI summary
An edge emphasis amount determining unit performs a spatial filter process and thereby determines an edge emphasis amount corresponding to edge effect. A first toner counter (a) counts a toner consumption amount including the edge emphasis amount for a non-block-edge pixel in a block as a unit of image processing, and (b) counts a toner consumption amount not including the edge emphasis amount for a block edge pixel in the block. A second toner counter counts a toner consumption amount not including the edge emphasis amount for the non-block-edge pixel and the block edge pixel. A toner consumption amount calculating unit calculates a toner consumption amount of the block on the basis of a difference between a toner counting value of the first toner counter and a toner counting value of the second toner counter.