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Method of processing color image and apparatus therefor

Assignee: Canon Inc
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Filing: 1988-12-29
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2008-12-29
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Abstract

Abstract According to a method and apparatus for processing a color image, three primary color signals are input, and the input three primary color signals are processed to obtain three color reproduction signals and a black reproduction signal. In order to obtain the black reproduction signal, a value corresponding to a minimum value of the three primary color signals is obtained, and the value is transformed by a continuous function having a minimum peak, thereby defining a transformed value as the black reproduction signal.

Inventors

  • 👤 Akio Suzuki
  • 👤 Yoshihiro Takada
  • 👤 Masami Izumizaki

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction EP
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-05 12:09
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04N; H04N1/00; H04N1/46; H04N1/56; H04N1/60; H04N1/6016; H04N1/6022

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 30
Claim 1
Independent Claim 80 words
A method of processing a color image, comprising: inputting three primary color signals; and processing said input three primary color signals to obtain three color reproduction signals and a black reproduction signal, wherein the step of obtaining said black reproduction signal includes the steps of: obtaining a value corresponding a minimum value of said three primary color signals; and transforming the value by a continuous function having a minimum peak, thereby defining a transformed value as said black reproduction signal.
Claim 2
Independent Claim 80 words
A method of processing a color image, comprising: inputting three primary color signals; and processing said input three primary color signals to obtain three color reproduction signals and a black reproduction signal, wherein the step of obtaining said black reproduction signal includes the steps of: obtaining a value corresponding a minimum value of said three primary color signals; and transforming the value by a continuous function having a minimum peak, thereby defining a transformed value as said black reproduction signal.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 14 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein said continuous function is a quadratic function.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 14 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein said continuous function is a cubic function.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 35 words
A method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of multiplying the value corresponding to the minimum value with a predetermined coefficient during transformation by said continuous function, thereby obtaining said black reproduction signal.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 17 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein said three primary signals are R, G, and B signals.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 16 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein said continuous function is a function passing an origin.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 17 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein said reproduction signals are those in an ink-jet recording system.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 24 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein said reproduction signals are those in recording on a back-print film by using an ink-jet recording system.
Claim 10
Independent Claim 106 words
A method of processing a color image, comprising the steps of: obtaining a minimum value K₀ of input three color signals; obtaining function values f₁(K₀) and f₂(K₀) corresponding to said minimum value K₀; and subtracting the function value f₁(K₀) from said three color signals to obtain values as three color reproduction signals and defining the value f₂(K₀) as a black reproduction signal, wherein differential values df₁(K₀)/dK₀ and df₂(K₀)/dK₀ of said function values f₁(K₀) and f₂(K₀) linearly increase within ranges of 0 < f₁ ≦ G₁ and 0 < f₂ ≦ G₂ (0 < G₁ ≦ f 1MAX , and 0 < G₂ ≦ F 2MAX ).
Claim 11
Independent Claim 106 words
A method of processing a color image, comprising the steps of: obtaining a minimum value K₀ of input three color signals; obtaining function values f₁(K₀) and f₂(K₀) corresponding to said minimum value K₀; and subtracting the function value f₁(K₀) from said three color signals to obtain values as three color reproduction signals and defining the value f₂(K₀) as a black reproduction signal, wherein differential values df₁(K₀)/dK₀ and df₂(K₀)/dK₀ of said function values f₁(K₀) and f₂(K₀) linearly increase within ranges of 0 < f₁ ≦ G₁ and 0 < f₂ ≦ G₂ (0 < G₁ ≦ f 1MAX , and 0 < G₂ ≦ F 2MAX ).
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 19 words
A method according to claim 9, wherein said function values f₁(K₀) and f₂(K₀) are represented by quadratic functions, respectively.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 19 words
A method according to claim 9, wherein said function values f₁(K₀) and f₂(K₀) are represented by cubic functions, respectively.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 17 words
A method according to claim 9, wherein said three color signals are Y, M and C signals.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 17 words
A method according to claim 9, wherein said reproduction signals are those in an ink-jet recording system.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim 24 words
A method according to claim 9, wherein said reproduction signals are those in recording on a back-print film by using an ink-jet recording system.
Claim 17
Independent Claim 62 words
An apparatus for processing a color image, comprising: a) means for generating three primary color signals; b) means for obtaining a minimum value of said three primary color signals; c) means for transforming said minimum value by a continuous function having a minimum peak; and d) means for defining a value transformed by said transforming means to be a black reproduction signal.
Claim 18
Independent Claim 62 words
An apparatus for processing a color image, comprising: a) means for generating three primary color signals; b) means for obtaining a minimum value of said three primary color signals; c) means for transforming said minimum value by a continuous function having a minimum peak; and d) means for defining a value transformed by said transforming means to be a black reproduction signal.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim 14 words
An apparatus according to claim 15, wherein said continuous function is a quadratic function.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim 14 words
An apparatus according to claim 15, wherein said continuous function is a cubic function.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim 21 words
An apparatus according to claim 15, further comprising: e) means for subtracting said transformed value from said three primary color signals.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim 16 words
An apparatus according to claim 15, wherein said apparatus reproduces the color image by ink-jet recording.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim 18 words
An apparatus according to claim 15, wherein said apparatus reproduces the color image by a serial scan system.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim 20 words
An apparatus according to claim 19, wherein said apparatus reproduces the color image on a back-print film by ink-jet recording.
Claim 25
Independent Claim 43 words
A method of processing a color image comprising processing a plurality of primary color signals to obtain a black reproduction signal by obtaining a value corresponding to a minimum value of said primary color signals and performing a transformation on said obtained value.
Claim 26
Independent Claim 43 words
A method of processing a color image comprising processing a plurality of primary color signals to obtain a black reproduction signal by obtaining a value corresponding to a minimum value of said primary color signals and performing a transformation on said obtained value.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim 14 words
A method according to claim 22, wherein said transformation is by a continuous function.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim 17 words
A method according to claim 22, wherein said transformation is by a function having a minimum peak.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim 50 words
Color image processing apparatus which comprises processing means for processing a plurality of primary color signals, said processing means being operable for producing a black signal by obtaining a value corresponding to a predetermined value of said primary color signals and transforming said obtained value to derive said black signal.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim 50 words
Color image processing apparatus which comprises processing means for processing a plurality of primary color signals, said processing means being operable for producing a black signal by obtaining a value corresponding to a predetermined value of said primary color signals and transforming said obtained value to derive said black signal.

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