Toner Estimation Correction for Printer Engine Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional methods for estimating the remaining toner amount in electrophotographic image forming apparatuses are inaccurate due to changes in printer engine controls, which are not effectively accounted for in the estimation process.
Innovation Solution
An image forming apparatus that integrates density values of pixels, applies correction coefficients based on job type and print settings, and estimates the consumed toner amount using a correction unit, ensuring accurate toner amount estimation even after print quality adjustments.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If conventional pulse accumulator method is used to estimate consumed toner amount, then the estimation process is simple, but the accuracy deteriorates when printer engine controls change
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces correction coefficients that change based on printer engine control parameters (PWM values, printer density, print speed) to adjust the toner amount estimation. When control parameters change, the correction coefficients are updated accordingly, allowing the estimation to track actual toner consumption accurately without fundamentally changing the pulse accumulator structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the actual consumed toner amount is measured and compared with the estimated amount. The difference is used to update correction coefficients for future estimations, creating a closed-loop system that continuously improves accuracy when printer engine controls change.
2Device complexity
If correction values are determined based on image type only, then the estimation method is simple, but it cannot account for printer engine control adjustments
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extends the correction approach by introducing correction coefficients that depend on printer engine control parameters (PWM, printer density, print speed) in addition to image type. This allows the system to adapt to control adjustments while maintaining a relatively simple correction framework.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a universal correction mechanism that handles both image-type-based variations and printer engine control-based variations through a unified correction coefficient system. This single mechanism serves multiple purposes: correcting for different image types and adapting to control parameter changes.
Data Source
AI summary
A device having a function of adjusting image processing such as PWM setting, printer density setting and engine speed downstream of a video counter or a dot counter determines a correction coefficient of a video count value or a dot count value, according to a combination of adjustment values of image processing for realizing configured print settings, and corrects the count value by applying the correction coefficient to the video count value or the dot count value.