EP0313796A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
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Computer display color control and selection system
Assignee: Tektronix Inc
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Filing: 1988-09-16
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2008-09-16
Abstract
Abstract The present invention constitutes an interface system for used by a computer operating in selecting and controlling colors in graphics images generated by a computer system. The interface comprises a mechanism and method for displaying a graphical representation of hue, chroma and lightness combinations available based on a color appearance type color space and associated mechanism. The interface includes a method for selecting any of the combinations of hue, chroma and lightness which are graphically displayed as available for use. In the preferred embodiment, the interface system incorporates the use of a specially defined HVC color space (90) for displaying and selecting hue, chroma and value combinations which exhibits a high degree of perceptual uniformity. Further, the graphical representation includes a first graph (40) depicting the range hues in one dimension and a second graph (42) depicting the range of chroma and value combinations in two dimensions. The preferred embodiment also includes a mechanism and method for operating the interface in three different modes providing functions corresponding to picture editing, color map editing and continuous shading. Picture editing allows the individual colors for different parts of a graphics image to be edited by picking a pixel associated with the color and positioning a cursor on the pixel. Color map editing allows the color data corresponding to various parts of a graphics image to be directly manipulated. Continuous shading allows a range of colors to be generated between two colors specified by the user for smooth shading applications. A number of other features are provided which, among other things, furnish one or more displays of samples of selected colors after translation of HVC color information into RGB signals suitable for controlling a color display device (20) and display numerical information on the CIE chromaticity coordinates of selected colors.
Inventors
- 👤 Joann Malone Taylor
- 👤 Roxanna Fundis Rochat
- 👤 Novia Ann Weiman
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 05:39
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F3/00; G06F3/01; G06F3/048; G06F3/0484; G06F3/04845
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim
121 words
A user interface for controlling color selection in a computer system having a color display monitor, comprising: means for displaying on the monitor a graph depicting a range of hues in one dimension; means for selecting any hue displayed on the hue graph in response to input from the user and generating data representing this hue; means for displaying on the monitor a graph depicting chroma and lightness combinations in two-dimensions in a selected hue; means for selecting any chroma and lightness combination displayed on the chroma and lightness graph in response to input from the user and generating data representing this chroma and lightness; and register means for storing data representing one or more selected hue, chroma and lightness combinations.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
121 words
A user interface for controlling color selection in a computer system having a color display monitor, comprising: means for displaying on the monitor a graph depicting a range of hues in one dimension; means for selecting any hue displayed on the hue graph in response to input from the user and generating data representing this hue; means for displaying on the monitor a graph depicting chroma and lightness combinations in two-dimensions in a selected hue; means for selecting any chroma and lightness combination displayed on the chroma and lightness graph in response to input from the user and generating data representing this chroma and lightness; and register means for storing data representing one or more selected hue, chroma and lightness combinations.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
72 words
The interface of claim 1, further comprising: frame buffer means including a plurality of registers associated with images on the display monitor for designating the colors for sections of graphic image displayed on the monitor; and wherein said register means includes: color map means including a plurality of registers for separately storing data representing different hue, chroma and lightness combinations which are addressable in accordance with entries in said frame buffer means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
52 words
The interface of claim 2, further comprising: means for automatically selecting a set of data representing hue, chroma and lightness combinations which uniformly vary in color between two endpoint combinations of hue, chroma and lightness stored in said register means in order to provide continuous shading between sections of a graphic image.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
34 words
The interface of claim 1, further comprising: means for displaying on the monitor a sample of color corresponding to a combination of hue, chroma and lightness represented by data stored in said register means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
31 words
The interface of claim 1 wherein: said hue, chroma and lightness color attributes are defined as Hue, Chroma and Value dimensions, respectively, in a HVC color space having substantial perceptual uniformity.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
176 words
A user interface for controlling color selection in a computer system having a color display monitor, comprising: means for displaying on the monitor a one-dimensional graph of a range of hue selections representing hues based upon on HVC color space; means for selecting any hue displayed on the hue graph and generating data representing this hue in response to input from the user; means for displaying on the monitor a graph of chroma and value combinations in two dimensions representing chromas and values based upon the HVC color space in a selected hue; means for selecting any chroma and value combination displayed on the chroma and value graph and generating data representing this chroma and value in response to input from the user; and means for translating data representing a selected hue, chroma and value combination based upon the HVC color space into RGB data corresponding to the same color in the RGB color space of the monitor and adjusting said RGB data in accordance with the gamma profiles for the electron guns of the monitor.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
176 words
A user interface for controlling color selection in a computer system having a color display monitor, comprising: means for displaying on the monitor a one-dimensional graph of a range of hue selections representing hues based upon on HVC color space; means for selecting any hue displayed on the hue graph and generating data representing this hue in response to input from the user; means for displaying on the monitor a graph of chroma and value combinations in two dimensions representing chromas and values based upon the HVC color space in a selected hue; means for selecting any chroma and value combination displayed on the chroma and value graph and generating data representing this chroma and value in response to input from the user; and means for translating data representing a selected hue, chroma and value combination based upon the HVC color space into RGB data corresponding to the same color in the RGB color space of the monitor and adjusting said RGB data in accordance with the gamma profiles for the electron guns of the monitor.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
48 words
The interface of claim 6, further including: means for displaying on the monitor a sample of color corresponding to a combination of hue, chroma and value represented by the HVC color space data by using the gamma profile adjusted RGB data to generate the color of the sample.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
66 words
The interface of claim 6, further comprising: frame buffer means including a plurality of registers associated with the display monitor for designating the color for sections of graphic image displayed on the monitor; and color map means including a plurality of registers for storing RGB data corresponding to different hue, chroma and value combinations which are addressable in accordance with entries in said frame buffer means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
54 words
The interface of claim 8, further comprising: means for automatically selecting a set of data corresponding to hue, chroma and value combinations which uniformly vary in color between two endpoint combinations of hue, chroma and value stored in two of said registers in order to provide continuous shading between sections of a graphic image.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
131 words
A process for interfacing between a computer system having a color display monitor and a computer operator in order to control the selection of color for display on the color monitor, comprising the steps of: displaying on the monitor a graph depicting a range of hues in one dimension; a hue displayed on the hue graph in response to input from the user and generating data representing this hue; displaying on the monitor a graph depicting chroma and lightness combinations in two-dimensions in a selected hue; selecting a chroma and luminance combination displayed on the chroma and lightness graph in response to input from the user and generating data representing this chroma and lightness; and storing color data in one or more register representing a selected hue, chroma and lightness combination.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
131 words
A process for interfacing between a computer system having a color display monitor and a computer operator in order to control the selection of color for display on the color monitor, comprising the steps of: displaying on the monitor a graph depicting a range of hues in one dimension; a hue displayed on the hue graph in response to input from the user and generating data representing this hue; displaying on the monitor a graph depicting chroma and lightness combinations in two-dimensions in a selected hue; selecting a chroma and luminance combination displayed on the chroma and lightness graph in response to input from the user and generating data representing this chroma and lightness; and storing color data in one or more register representing a selected hue, chroma and lightness combination.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
93 words
The process of claim 10 further comprising the steps of: designating the colors for sections of a graphic image comprised of different pixel elements displayed on said monitor by entering the addresses of data representing combinations of hue, chroma and lightness into a frame buffer including a plurality of registers correlating with the pixel elements of the image on the display monitor; storing data in a plurality of memory registers representing different hue, chroma and lightness combinations in a plurality of registers addressable in accordance with the addresses entered in said frame buffer.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
32 words
The process of claim 10 further comprising the step of: displaying on the monitor a sample of color corresponding to a combination of hue, chroma, and lightness represented by stored color data.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
59 words
The process of claim 11 further comprising the step of: generating color data suitable for providing continuous shading between sections of a graphic image by automatically selecting a set of color data representing hue, chroma and lightness combinations which uniformly vary in color between two endpoint combinations of hue, chroma and lightness stored in said plurality of memory registers.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
31 words
The process of claim 10, wherein said hue, chroma and lightness color attributes are defined as Hue, Chroma and Value dimensions, respectively, in an HVC color space having substantial perceptual uniformity.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
161 words
An apparatus for modifying the color characteristics of a color image formed from a plurality of pixels on a color display monitor, comprising: memory means for storing data relating to pixel color, including pixel index values and values defining specific colors in terms of hue (H), chroma (C) and lightness (L) parameters, each index value correlating a set of H, C and L values to at least one pixel; means for selecting a specific pixel for color modification; means for displaying on the monitor a graphical representation of hue, chroma and lightness combinations available based upon a color appearance-type color space characterized by perceptually uniform spacing between color selections; means for selecting any combination of hue, chroma and lightness graphically represented on the monitor in response to input from a user and generating data representing this combination; means for writing data representing a selected combination of H,C and L to the location within the memory means correlating with the selected pixel.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
161 words
An apparatus for modifying the color characteristics of a color image formed from a plurality of pixels on a color display monitor, comprising: memory means for storing data relating to pixel color, including pixel index values and values defining specific colors in terms of hue (H), chroma (C) and lightness (L) parameters, each index value correlating a set of H, C and L values to at least one pixel; means for selecting a specific pixel for color modification; means for displaying on the monitor a graphical representation of hue, chroma and lightness combinations available based upon a color appearance-type color space characterized by perceptually uniform spacing between color selections; means for selecting any combination of hue, chroma and lightness graphically represented on the monitor in response to input from a user and generating data representing this combination; means for writing data representing a selected combination of H,C and L to the location within the memory means correlating with the selected pixel.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
43 words
The apparatus of claim 15, wherein said means for displaying a graphical representation includes: means for displaying on the color display monitor a first graph depicting a range of hues in one-dimension and a second graph depicting chroma and lightness combinations in two-dimensions.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
17 words
The apparatus of claim 15, wherein: said color appearance type color space comprises an HVC color space.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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