# US 9,436,147 B2 · Calculation method of toner consumption amount for use in image forming apparatus > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,436,147 B2 - Document ID: US9436147B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 14/608,759 - Filed: 2015-01-29 - Published: 2015-08-06 - Granted: 2016-09-06 - Earliest claimed: 2014-02-03 - Assignees: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha - Applicants: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha - Inventors: Hiroyuki Yamazaki - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9436147B2 ## CPC - G03G 15/556: {for toner consumption, e.g. pixel counting, toner coverage detection or toner density measurement} - G06K 15/4075: {Determining remaining quantities of ink or toner} - G03G: ELECTROGRAPHY; ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHY; MAGNETOGRAPHY - G06K: GRAPHICAL DATA READING (image or video recognition or understanding G06V); PRESENTATION OF DATA; RECORD CARRIERS; HANDLING RECORD CARRIERS ## Abstract An edge counter counts the number of edges satisfying a predetermined condition to provide an edge count. A pixel counter counts the number of pixels satisfying a predetermined condition to provide a pixel count. An image determination unit and a toner amount acquisition unit obtain a toner consumption amount based on the edge count and the pixel count for each area. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An image forming apparatus for forming an image on a recording medium, comprising: a count unit configured to count, among a plurality of pixels in image data for forming the image, the number of pixels whose relationship with an adjacent pixel satisfies a predetermined edge condition to provide an edge count and to count the number of pixels having a density greater than or equal to a predetermined density to provide a pixel count; a determination unit configured to determine information regarding a type of the image based on the edge count and the pixel count; and a calculation unit configured to calculate a toner consumption amount based on the determined information regarding the type of the image and the pixel count. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the count unit is further configured to divide the plurality of pixels contained in the image data into a plurality of areas, and to perform the edge count and the pixel count for each area of the plurality of areas, and wherein the calculation unit is further configured to accumulate the toner consumption amount calculated for said each area based on the edge count and the pixel count that have been performed for said each area. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the toner consumption amount is a toner consumption amount correlated with a spatial frequency or a depth and an area of an electrostatic latent image. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising: a selection unit configured to select a conversion table for converting the pixel count into a toner consumption amount based on the edge count and the pixel count. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The image forming apparatus according to claim 4, wherein, when the selection unit selects two conversion tables, and the calculation unit is configured calculate the toner consumption amount by correcting the toner consumption amount obtained from the two conversion tables by using a coefficient obtained from the edge count. ### Claim 6 (depends on 4) The image forming apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the selection unit is further configured to choose a reference table corresponding to the pixel count based on said pixel count, to determine an edge threshold based on the reference table, to determine an attribute of said each area according to a result of comparison between the edge count and the edge threshold, and to select the conversion table according to the attribute. ### Claim 7 (depends on 2) The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the areas are composed of a plurality of windows, the edge count of said each area is an average value of edge counts obtained for each of the plurality of windows constituting said each area, and a pixel count of said each area is an average value of pixel counts obtained for each of the plurality of windows constituting said each area. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The image forming apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the windows are each composed of N pixels, where N is a natural number of 2 or more, included in a plurality of pixels constituting one line of input image in a main-scanning direction. ### Claim 9 (depends on 2) The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein two adjacent areas in the plurality of areas at least partially overlap. ### Claim 10 (depends on 2) The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein two adjacent areas in the plurality of areas do not overlap. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein, when a pixel value of a right pixel located adjacent on the right of a pixel of interest and a pixel value of the pixel of interest are different, or a pixel value of a lower pixel located downwardly adjacent to the pixel of interest and a pixel value of the pixel of interest are different, or a pixel value of a left pixel located adjacent on the left to the pixel of interest and a pixel value of the pixel of interest are different, or a pixel value of an upper pixel located upwardly adjacent to the pixel of interest and a pixel value of the pixel of interest are different, the count unit obtains the edge count by counting the pixel of interest as an edge. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein, when a pixel value of a right pixel located adjacent on the right to a pixel of interest and a pixel value of the pixel of interest are different or a pixel value of a left pixel located adjacent on the left to the pixel of interest and a pixel value of the pixel of interest are different, the count unit counts the pixel of interest as a horizontal edge, and when a pixel value of a lower pixel located downwardly adjacent to the pixel of interest and a pixel value of the pixel of interest are different or a pixel value of an upper pixel located upwardly adjacent to the pixel of interest and a pixel value of the pixel of interest are different, the count unit counts the pixel of interest as a vertical edge, and obtains the edge count by adding the number of the horizontal edges and the number of the vertical edges. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The image forming apparatus according to claim 12, further comprising: a correction unit configured to obtain a ratio between a total edge count obtained by adding the number of the horizontal edges and the number of the vertical edges and said number of the vertical edges as an edge ratio, to obtain a correction amount for the toner consumption amount based on the pixel count and the edge ratio, and to correct the toner consumption amount by adding the correction amount to the toner consumption amount. ### Claim 14 A calculation method of a toner consumption amount, comprising: counting, among a plurality of pixels in image data, the number of pixels whose relationship with an adjacent pixel satisfies a predetermined edge condition to provide an edge count and counting the number of pixels having a density greater than or equal to a predetermined density to provide a pixel count; determining information regarding a type of the image based on the edge count and the pixel count; and calculating a toner consumption amount based on the determined information regarding the type of the image and the pixel count. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The method according to claim 14, wherein the step of counting comprises dividing the plurality of pixels contained in the image data into a plurality of areas, and performing the edge count and the pixel count for each area of the plurality of areas, and the step of calculating comprises accumulating the toner consumption amount calculated for said each area based on the edge count and the pixel count that have been performed for said each area. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The method according to claim 15, further comprising: selecting a conversion table for converting the pixel count into a toner consumption amount based on the edge count and the pixel count. ### Claim 17 (depends on 14) The method according to claim 14, wherein the counting step comprises obtaining the edge count by counting a pixel of interest as an edge, when a pixel value of a right pixel located adjacent on the right of the pixel of interest and a pixel value of the pixel of interest are different, or a pixel value of a lower pixel located downwardly adjacent to the pixel of interest and a pixel value of the pixel of interest are different, or a pixel value of a left pixel located adjacent on the left to the pixel of interest and a pixel value of the pixel of interest are different, or a pixel value of an upper pixel located upwardly adjacent to the pixel of interest and a pixel value of the pixel of interest are different. ### Claim 18 (depends on 14) The method according to claim 14, wherein the step of counting comprises: counting a pixel of interest as a horizontal edge when a pixel value of a right pixel located adjacent on the right to the pixel of interest and a pixel value of the pixel of interest are different or a pixel value of a left pixel located adjacent on the left to the pixel of interest and a pixel value of the pixel of interest are different; counting the pixel of interest as a vertical edge when a pixel value of a lower pixel located downwardly adjacent to the pixel of interest and a pixel value of the pixel of interest are different or a pixel value of an upper pixel located upwardly adjacent to the pixel of interest and a pixel value of the pixel of interest are different; and obtaining the edge count by adding the number of the horizontal edge and the number of the vertical edge. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The method according to claim 18, further comprising: obtaining a ratio between a total edge count obtained by adding the number of the horizontal edge and the number of the vertical edge and said number of the vertical edge as an edge ratio; obtaining a correction amount for the toner consumption amount based on the pixel count and the edge ratio; and correcting the toner consumption amount by adding the correction amount to the toner consumption amount. ### Claim 20 A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing a computer program that, when executed by an image forming apparatus, causes the an image forming apparatus to perform a method comprising: obtaining a ratio between a total edge count obtained by adding the number of the horizontal edges and the number of the vertical edges and said number of the vertical edges as an edge ratio; obtaining a correction amount for the toner consumption amount based on a pixel count comprising the number of pixels having a density greater than or equal to a predetermined density and the edge ratio; and correcting the toner consumption amount by adding the correction amount to the toner consumption amount.