White Toner Deposition Control via Lookup Tables
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electrophotographic printers lack precise control over white toner deposition relative to colored toner layers, leading to inefficiencies in toner cost, visual effects, and color gamut optimization.
Innovation Solution
An apparatus with a look-up table and logic and control unit that determines the deposition of white ink at each pixel location based on the deposition of colored and black inks, using one-dimensional look-up tables to optimize white toner laydown in relation to colored toner layers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If white toner is deposited uniformly across the receiver without adjustment to colored toner layers, then the process is simple, but toner cost increases and image quality deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by adjusting white toner deposition based on local conditions - specifically, the density of colored toner layers at each pixel location. The system uses look-up tables to determine variable white toner amounts corresponding to different colored toner densities, ensuring optimal white toner placement only where needed to achieve proper opacity while minimizing overall toner consumption and cost.
2Ease of manufacture
If white toner is deposited without adjustment to colored toner layers, then the process is simple, but printable color gamut is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The system optimizes printable color gamut by locally adjusting white toner deposition according to the specific colored toner layers present at each pixel location. The look-up tables enable the system to determine precise white toner amounts that enhance color saturation and gamut without interfering with the underlying colored toner, thereby expanding the printable color range while maintaining process feasibility.
3Manufacturing precision
If multiple layers of white and colored toner are deposited, then image quality improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-calculating and storing optimal white toner deposition values in look-up tables during system setup. These tables map colored toner layer densities to corresponding white toner amounts, enabling the system to automatically determine correct white toner deposition without real-time complex calculations. This pre-computation simplifies the actual printing process while maintaining high image quality through precise multi-layer toner deposition.
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 reduces total toner cost, preserves special visual effects, and optimizes the printable color gamut by adjusting white toner deposition relative to colored toner layers, enhancing image quality and cost efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
Electrophotographic printers produce images by depositing toner on receivers (or 'imaging substrates')
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus for printing on a receiver with a plurality of colored dry inks and a dry white ink, the apparatus includes a look-up table having a set of one dimensional look-up tables for each of the colored inks and black inks, which look-up table which receives a value corresponding to a laydown at each pixel location of the receiver; wherein the look-up table determines a laydown of white ink at each pixel location depending on the laydown of the colored inks and black ink; and a logic and control unit which determines an amount of white ink to laydown by computing a value from the determined white laydowns of each look-up table.