Lexmark International, Inc.

Robert Reed Booth

Kerry Leland Embry

Claudia Alexandra Marin

Paul Wesley Etter

Ryan David Brockman

Michael Jo Phelps

Larry Steven Foster

Niko Jay Murrell

Travis Alan Riggs

Brian Patrick Weaver

Gregorio Balandran

Systems and methods identify consumer products in images. Known consumer products are captured as grayscale or color images. They are converted to binary at varying thresholds. Connected components in the binary images identify image features according to pixels of a predetermined size, shape, solidity, aspect ratio, and the like. The image features are stored and searched for amongst image features similarly extracted from unknown images of consumer products. Identifying correspondence between the features of the images lends itself to identifying or not known consumer products.

Identifying consumer products in images

Systems and methods convert to binary an input image having pixels defining text and background. Thresholds are determined by which pixels in the input image and a corresponding blurred image will be defined as either binary black or binary white. Thresholds derive from grouped together neighboring pixels having pixels separated out that correspond to the background. For pixels of the input image defined as binary black and having corresponding pixels in the blurred image defined as binary black relative to their thresholds, those are set to black in the binary image, else they are set white. Techniques for devising thresholds, blurring images, grouping together pixels, statistical analysis, etc., typify the embodiments.

Image binarization

Image binarization for optical character recognition

A system for adjusting a selected operating parameter of an image forming device to control white vector based on selected environmental conditions includes an image forming station having a photoconductive surface with a latent image formed by discharged areas leaving non-discharged areas different from the discharged areas, a sensor mechanism for measuring selected environmental conditions of dry-bulb temperature and relative humidity, a control mechanism for reading the sensor mechanism to adjust the voltage bias of a charging unit by an offset applied to the charging unit based on a wet-bulb temperature value so as to minimize white vector without enabling onset of development of toner background on non-discharged areas, and a memory connected to and accessible by the control mechanism and storing a lookup table of a list of wet-bulb temperature values related to measured dry-bulb temperature and relative humidity values and correlated to a list of voltage bias offsets.

System and method for adjusting voltage bias of a charge roller of an image forming device based on environmental conditions to control white vector

An electrographic image forming device may use a feedback loop to determine environmental conditions and accordingly set one or more operating parameters. The device may detect a resistance/capacitance characteristic of a feedback loop comprising an interface between a first component and a second component of an image forming unit. The device may detect temperature measurements and humidity measurements that can be used to calculate wet-bulb temperature or other metrics used to characterize ambient environmental conditions. The interface may be one in which a toner image is transferred during image forming device operation. A controller may adjust the resistance/capacitance characteristic in response to wet-bulb temperature in conjunction with measured transfer feedback voltage.

Transfer print voltage adjustment based on temperature, humidity, and transfer feedback voltage

The present application is directed to methods of controlling the transfer voltage in a transfer nip formed between the photoconductive member and the transfer member. The methods offset the effects of large transfer current spikes caused when a media sheet enters and exits the transfer nip and account for temperature and humidity operating parameters using wet-bulb temperature measurements to adjust the transfer voltage. The control may include either ramping up or ramping down the transfer voltage. The ramped transfer voltage may include a series of alternating positive and negative steps that generally trend to ramp up or down. The size of the steps may further be adjusted to provide a smooth transition.

Method for adjusting transfer voltage controls based on environmental conditions to improve print quality in a direct transfer image forming device

A system for adjusting selected operating parameters of an image forming device to improve color registration based on selected environmental conditions includes a first image forming station to print a first registration mark on a substrate, a second image forming station to at least partially erase the first registration mark to form a registration pattern in a reverse transfer process of the color registration, and a control mechanism to adjust voltage biases of charge and developer rolls of the second image forming station based on wet-bulb temperature values determined from measured dry-bulb temperature and relative humidity values and stored in a lookup table so as to maintain a predetermined potential difference between charged and uncharged areas of a PC drum of the second image forming station that avoids Paschen breakdown and the development of toner at charged areas of the PC drum during the reverse transfer process of the color registration.

System and method for adjusting selected operating parameters of image forming device based on selected environmental conditions to improve color registration

Image transfer quality in an electrophotographic image forming device is improved by preconditioning a media sheet prior to transferring a toner image thereto at an image transfer station. The media sheet is preconditioned by applying a static charge to it. In a color DTM type device, the charge reduces the transfer voltages required at downstream image transfer stations to account for charge accumulated on the media sheet as a result of the image transfer process at upstream image transfer stations. The charge may be applied to the media sheet at a media sheet preconditioning element positioned upstream of an image transfer station. Alternatively, an initial charge may be applied to the media sheet at an image transfer station, without transferring a toner image to the sheet, and returning the sheet via a duplex path to positioned upstream of an image transfer station prior to an image transfer operation.

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Lexington, KY, United States of America

Robert Reed Booth