Method of and arrangement for copying a colored original

Claim 3

A method as defined in claim 1, wherein said reference magnitude is an average of the first magnitudes of said one parameter for a multiplicity of originals.

Claim 4

A method as defined in claim 1, wherein the establishing step comprises differentiating between a color tinge and a color dominant.

Claim 5

A method as defined in claim 3, wherein said representative value is the sum of the differences between said first and second magnitudes and said reference value is an average of similar sums for a multiplicity of originals substantially free of color dominants related to said one parameter.

Claim 6

A method as defined in claim 4, wherein said probable source is assumed to be a color dominant when said representative value exceeds said reference value by a predetermined percentage.

Claim 7

A method as defined in claim 5, wherein said predetermined percentage is approximately 10 percent.

Claim 8

A method as defined in claim 1, wherein said selected regions are distributed over essentially the entire colored original.

Claim 9

A method as defined in claim 1, wherein one of said representative and reference values is the number of selected regions having second magnitudes within a predetermined range of said first magnitude and the other of said representative and reference values is the number of selected regions having second magnitudes outside of said predetermined range.

Claim 10

A method as defined in claim 8, wherein said probable source is assumed to be a color tinge when said one value exceeds said other value and a color dominant when said other value exceeds said one value.

Claim 11

A method as defined in claim 9, wherein said predetermined range is selected in such a manner that said one and other values are approximately equal in an average original substantially free of color dominants related to said one parameter.

Claim 12

A method as defined in claim 1, wherein the number of said selected regions is approximately 150.

Claim 13

A method as defined in claim 1, wherein the number of said selected regions is 150 and 10 first locations of said colored original are sensed along a first dimension of the same while 15 second locations of said colored original are sensed along a second dimension of the same at each of said first locations.

Claim 14

A method as defined in claim 1, wherein said one parameter is a ratio of characteristic values of said colored original in two primary colors.

Claim 15

A method as defined in claim 13, wherein said characteristic values are representative of the transparency of said colored original in the respective colors.

Claim 16

A method as defined in claim 13, wherein two additional color-dependent parameters are established each having an additional first magnitude characteristic of at least the major part of said colored original and a plurality of additional second magnitudes which are respectively characteristic of said selected regions, each of said additional parameters being a ratio of characteristic values of said colored original in two primary colors, and each of said parameters representing a different color combination, the comparing and establishing steps being performed for said additional parameters when said deviation exceeds said predetermined amount.

Claim 17

A method as defined in claim 15, wherein the determining step is performed for said additional parameters.

Claim 18

A method as defined in claim 15, wherein the copying step comprises regulating the amount of copying light in each of the three primary colors.

Claim 19

A method as defined in claim 15, wherein one of the representative and reference values for each of said parameters is the number of selected regions having second magnitudes within a predetermined range of the respective first magnitude and the other of the representative and reference values is the number of selected regions having second magnitudes outside of the respective predetermined range.

Claim 20

A method as defined in claim 18, wherein the probable cause corresponding to a parameter is assumed to be a color tinge when the one value for the parameter exceeds the respective other value and a color dominant when the other value exceeds the one value.

Claim 21

A method as defined in claim 19, wherein each predetermined range is selected in such a manner that the corresponding one and other values are approximately equal in an average original substantially free of color dominants related to the respective parameter.

Claim 22

A method as defined in claim 15, wherein the establishing step for each of said parameters comprises differentiating between a color tinge and a color dominant.

Claim 23

A method as defined in claim 21, wherein the representative value for each of said parameters is the sum of the differences between the respective first and second magnitudes and the reference value for each of said parameters is an average of similar sums for a multiplicity of originals substantially free of color dominants related to the respective parameter.

Claim 24

A method as defined in claim 22, wherein the probable source corresponding to a parameter is assumed to be a color dominant when the respective representative value exceeds the corresponding reference value by a predetermined percentage.

Claim 25

A method as defined in claim 23, wherein said predetermined percentages are approximately 10 percent.

Claim 26

A method as defined in claim 21, wherein the establishing steps indicate the probable absence of color dominants and the copying step is performed using a correction factor which results in a substantially neutral gray copy.

Claim 27

A method as defined in claim 21, wherein the establishing steps indicate the probable presence of a color dominant and the copying step is performed using a correction factor smaller than that which results in a substantially neutral gray copy.

Claim 28

An arrangement for copying a colored original comprising: (a) sensing means for sensing selected regions of the colored original and emitting signals representative of a characteristic of the colored original in a primary color; (b) processing means arranged to receive the signals from said sensing means and to: (i) derive from the signals a first magnitude and a plurality of second magnitudes for at least one color-dependent parameter of the colored original, the first magnitude being characteristic of at least the major part of the colored original and the second magnitudes respectively being characteristic of the selected regions; (ii) determine the deviation of the first magnitude from a reference magnitude for the one parameter; (iii) compare the first and second magnitudes when the deviation exceeds a predetermined amount; (iv) calculate a value representative of the probable source of the deviation from the results of the comparison between the first and second magnitudes; (v) establish the probable source by relating the representative value to a reference value; and (vi) copying means responsive to said processing means for copying the colored original under conditions depending upon the probable source of the deviation.

Claim 29

An arrangement for copying a colored original comprising: (a) sensing means for sensing selected regions of the colored original and emitting signals representative of a characteristic of the colored original in a primary color; (b) processing means arranged to receive the signals from said sensing means and to: (i) derive from the signals a first magnitude and a plurality of second magnitudes for at least one color-dependent parameter of the colored original, the first magnitude being characteristic of at least the major part of the colored original and the second magnitudes respectively being characteristic of the selected regions; (ii) determine the deviation of the first magnitude from a reference magnitude for the one parameter; (iii) compare the first and second magnitudes when the deviation exceeds a predetermined amount; (iv) calculate a value representative of the probable source of the deviation from the results of the comparison between the first and second magnitudes; (v) establish the probable source by relating the representative value to a reference value; and (vi) copying means responsive to said processing means for copying the colored original under conditions depending upon the probable source of the deviation.

Claim 30

An arrangement as defined in claim 27, wherein said processing means comprises a memory for storing the magnitudes of the one parameter, and a computer connected with said memory.

Claim 31

An arrangement as defined in claim 28, wherein said sensing means is connected with both said memory and said computer.

Claim 32

An arrangement as defined in claim 27, wherein said sensing means is designed to emit signals representative of a characteristic of the colored original in each of the three primary colors, said processing means being designed to derive the one parameter and two additional parameters by forming three different ratios of characteristic values of the colored original in the primary colors, and the additional parameters each having an additional first magnitude characteristic of at least the major part of the colored original and a plurality of additional second magnitudes which are respectively characteristic of the selected regions, said processing means also being designed to perform the comparing, calculating and establishing operations for the additional parameters when the deviation between the first and reference magnitudes of the one parameter exceeds the predetermined amount.

Claim 33

An arrangement as defined in claim 27, wherein said sensing means is designed to emit signals representative of the transparency of the colored original in a primary color.

Claim 34

An arrangement as defined in claim 27, wherein said processing means is designed to establish whether the probable source of the deviation is a color tinge or a color dominant.

Claim 35

An arrangement as defined in claim 27, wherein said sensing means is designed to scan the colored original substantially in its entirety.

Claim 36

An arrangement as defined in claim 27, wherein said processing means is designed to calculate the value representative of the probable source of the deviation by summing the differences between the first and second magnitudes of the one parameter.

Claim 37

An arrangement as defined in claim 27, wherein said processing means is designed to calculate the value representative of the probable source of the deviation by counting the number of selected regions having second magnitudes within a predetermined range of the first magnitude of the one parameter and outside of the predetermined range.

Claim 40

A method as defined in claim 36, wherein one of said representative and reference values is the number of selected regions having respective second magnitudes within a predetermined range of the first magnitude associated with said one deviation and the other of said representative and reference values is the number of selected regions having respective second magnitudes outside of said predetermined range, said probable source being assumed to be a color tinge when said one value exceeds said other value and a color dominant when said other value exceeds said one value.

Claim 41

An arrangement for copying a colored original comprising: (a) sensing means for measuring the transparencies of selected regions distributed over substantially the entire colored original, said sensing means being designed to measure the transparencies in each of the primary colors and to emit signals representative of the transparencies; (b) processing means arranged to receive the signals from said sensing means and to: (i) form a plurality of first ratios for the colored original overall, the first ratios having respective first magnitudes, and each of the first ratios being the quotient of the overall transparencies of the colored original in two primary colors; (ii) form a plurality of second ratios for each of the selected regions, the second ratios having respective second magnitudes, and each of the second ratios being the quotient of the transparencies of the respective region in two primary colors, each first ratio having a corresponding second ratio for each selected region; (iii) determine the deviation of each first magnitude from a respective reference magnitude representing an average of the corresponding first ratio for a large number of colored originals; (iv) compare each of the first magnitudes with the respective second magnitudes when at least one of the deviations exceeds a predetermined amount; (v) calculate a value which is based on the results of the comparison between the first and second magnitudes and is representative of whether the probable source of the one deviation is a color tinge or a color dominant; (vi) establish whether the probable source is a color tinge or a color dominant by relating the representative value to a reference value; and (c) copying means responsive to said processing means for copying the colored original under conditions depending upon the probable of the one deviation.

Claim 42

An arrangement for copying a colored original comprising: (a) sensing means for measuring the transparencies of selected regions distributed over substantially the entire colored original, said sensing means being designed to measure the transparencies in each of the primary colors and to emit signals representative of the transparencies; (b) processing means arranged to receive the signals from said sensing means and to: (i) form a plurality of first ratios for the colored original overall, the first ratios having respective first magnitudes, and each of the first ratios being the quotient of the overall transparencies of the colored original in two primary colors; (ii) form a plurality of second ratios for each of the selected regions, the second ratios having respective second magnitudes, and each of the second ratios being the quotient of the transparencies of the respective region in two primary colors, each first ratio having a corresponding second ratio for each selected region; (iii) determine the deviation of each first magnitude from a respective reference magnitude representing an average of the corresponding first ratio for a large number of colored originals; (iv) compare each of the first magnitudes with the respective second magnitudes when at least one of the deviations exceeds a predetermined amount; (v) calculate a value which is based on the results of the comparison between the first and second magnitudes and is representative of whether the probable source of the one deviation is a color tinge or a color dominant; (vi) establish whether the probable source is a color tinge or a color dominant by relating the representative value to a reference value; and (c) copying means responsive to said processing means for copying the colored original under conditions depending upon the probable of the one deviation.

Claim 43

An arrangement as defined in claim 38, wherein said processing means is designed to calculate the representative value by counting the number of selected regions having respective second magnitudes within the outside of a predetermined range of the first magnitude associated with the one deviation.

Claim 44

An arrangement as defined in claim 38, wherein said processing means comprises a memory for storing the first and second magnitudes, and a computer connected with said memory, said sensing means being connected with both said memory and said computer.