Toner Save Processing with Feedback Control for Image Forming Apparatus
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing image forming apparatuses face challenges in maintaining desired image quality while adhering to a preset toner consumption amount during toner saving mode, as the toner consumption varies significantly based on the ratio of objects in a document.
Innovation Solution
An image forming apparatus with a setting unit, processing unit, and calculation unit that sets a target toner save value and calculates toner consumption differences, allowing for precise toner saving while maintaining image quality by adjusting toner save amounts for subsequent pages based on calculated differences.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of substance
If toner save processing is performed by switching methods for each object, then toner consumption is reduced, but the toner consumption amount varies significantly and cannot be strictly controlled to a preset value
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback control by calculating the toner consumption difference between normal and save modes for each processed page, then using this difference to adjust the target toner save value for subsequent pages. This ensures the total toner consumption across multiple pages strictly adheres to the preset target value, resolving the issue of uncontrolled toner consumption variation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent dynamically adjusts the target toner save value for each page based on the actual toner consumption difference observed in previously processed pages. This dynamic adjustment mechanism allows the system to adapt to varying document content (text, photos, tables) while maintaining strict control over total toner consumption to meet the preset target.
2Loss of substance
If toner save processing reduces density to save toner, then toner consumption is reduced, but image quality deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies different toner save processing methods based on the local characteristics of document objects. Text regions use one processing approach, photo regions use another, and table regions use a third approach, allowing toner savings to be achieved in each region while maintaining the appropriate image quality for that specific object type.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs partial toner save processing by selectively applying toner reduction only to certain regions and objects within the document, rather than uniformly reducing toner across the entire page. This allows the system to achieve toner savings while preserving image quality in critical areas.
3Device complexity
If uniform toner save processing is applied to all pages, then processing is simple, but the preset toner consumption amount cannot be strictly adhered to due to varying document content
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the document into different object types (text, photos, tables, other) and applies appropriate toner save processing to each segment. This segmentation allows the system to handle varying document content effectively while maintaining relatively simple processing logic for each object category.
Data Source
AI summary
This invention provides an apparatus and method capable of strictly keeping to a preset toner consumption amount and maintaining an image quality the user wants. A target toner save value used in toner save processing is set. In accordance with the set target toner save value, toner save processing is performed for data of the first page of image data formed from a plurality of pages. A toner save amount before and after toner save processing is calculated, and the difference value between the calculated toner save amount and the set target toner save value is calculated. Target toner save values for data of Nth and subsequent pages (N is an integer of 2 or more) of the image data formed from a plurality of pages are decided based on the calculated difference value of the target toner save value.