Method and apparatus for calibrating image output from an image generating device

Claim 1

A method of calibrating output images from an image generating device, comprising the steps of: providing input images, each including a plurality of requested image densities, each said input image being a function of controllable imaging parameters that affect image calibration; reproducing said input images onto image bearing media; measuring a density of each said requested image density of each said input image with a densitometer; generating a plurality of calibration sets in accordance with said measuring step, each said calibration set corresponding to a variation between said requested image density and said respective measured density reading for each said input image at different values of said controllable imaging parameters; and converting a subsequent plurality of input images to a respective plurality of calibrated output images according to changes made to subsequent input images by said calibration sets.

Claim 2

A method of calibrating output images from an image generating device, comprising the steps of: providing input images, each including a plurality of requested image densities, each said input image being a function of controllable imaging parameters that affect image calibration; reproducing said input images onto image bearing media; measuring a density of each said requested image density of each said input image with a densitometer; generating a plurality of calibration sets in accordance with said measuring step, each said calibration set corresponding to a variation between said requested image density and said respective measured density reading for each said input image at different values of said controllable imaging parameters; and converting a subsequent plurality of input images to a respective plurality of calibrated output images according to changes made to subsequent input images by said calibration sets.

Claim 8

A method of calibrating output images from an image generating device, comprising the steps of: providing input images each having a set of requested image densities, wherein each image density is dependent upon controllable imaging parameters of each said input image; reproducing said input images onto image bearing media; measuring a density of each image density of each input image by a densitometer for selected values of said controllable imaging parameters; generating a plurality of calibration sets corresponding to a variation between said requested image density and the density measured by said densitometer for each said input image at different values of said controllable imaging parameters; and mapping said input images through a transfer function process capable of transferring either positive or negative image densities of said input images to either positive or negative image densities of said output images.

Claim 9

A method of calibrating output images from an image generating device, comprising the steps of: providing input images each having a set of requested image densities, wherein each image density is dependent upon controllable imaging parameters of each said input image; reproducing said input images onto image bearing media; measuring a density of each image density of each input image by a densitometer for selected values of said controllable imaging parameters; generating a plurality of calibration sets corresponding to a variation between said requested image density and the density measured by said densitometer for each said input image at different values of said controllable imaging parameters; and mapping said input images through a transfer function process capable of transferring either positive or negative image densities of said input images to either positive or negative image densities of said output images.

Claim 10

A method of producing calibrated output images from an image generating device, comprising the steps of: providing input images, each said image having a set of requested image density values, each image density value being dependent upon selected controllable imaging parameters; reproducing said input images onto image bearing media; measuring a density of each image density of each input image by a densitometer for selected values of said controllable imaging parameters; generating a plurality of calibration sets corresponding to a variation between said requested image density and the density measured by said densitometer for each said input image at different values of said controllable imaging parameters; mapping subsequent input images through a transfer function process to produce positive or negative sense image density values for any subsequent input image; storing said calibration sets and said transfer function in a local memory medium; inputting said subsequent input images, each said subsequent input image having a plurality of image densities; and converting said image densities of each said subsequent input image to respective image densities of said calibrated output images according to programmed retrieval of selected stored calibration sets and said transfer function.

Claim 11

A method of producing calibrated output images from an image generating device, comprising the steps of: providing input images, each said image having a set of requested image density values, each image density value being dependent upon selected controllable imaging parameters; reproducing said input images onto image bearing media; measuring a density of each image density of each input image by a densitometer for selected values of said controllable imaging parameters; generating a plurality of calibration sets corresponding to a variation between said requested image density and the density measured by said densitometer for each said input image at different values of said controllable imaging parameters; mapping subsequent input images through a transfer function process to produce positive or negative sense image density values for any subsequent input image; storing said calibration sets and said transfer function in a local memory medium; inputting said subsequent input images, each said subsequent input image having a plurality of image densities; and converting said image densities of each said subsequent input image to respective image densities of said calibrated output images according to programmed retrieval of selected stored calibration sets and said transfer function.

Claim 13

An apparatus for generating calibrated output images from a image generating device, comprising: a means for converting an input image into a page description language, said input image including a plurality of image density values, each said image density value having a requested density value; an image processor having a channel for receiving said page description language and converting said language into a representation of said input image; a recorder connected to said image processor, for recording said representation onto image bearing media; a densitometer for measuring a density of each said image density value of said recorded image; a computer for receiving a plurality of programmed calibration sets, said sets including variations between density measured by said densitometer and corresponding requested density; a selector accessed by said computer for receiving subsequent uncalibrated input images represented in said page description language, and for selecting a corresponding said calibration set stored in said computer to programmably adjust said uncalibrated input image to said calibrated output image; and mapping means for mapping either positive or negative sense representations of said subsequent uncalibrated input images through said image processor, and said recorder, to be output as said calibrated output images on said image bearing media.

Claim 14

An apparatus for generating calibrated output images from a image generating device, comprising: a means for converting an input image into a page description language, said input image including a plurality of image density values, each said image density value having a requested density value; an image processor having a channel for receiving said page description language and converting said language into a representation of said input image; a recorder connected to said image processor, for recording said representation onto image bearing media; a densitometer for measuring a density of each said image density value of said recorded image; a computer for receiving a plurality of programmed calibration sets, said sets including variations between density measured by said densitometer and corresponding requested density; a selector accessed by said computer for receiving subsequent uncalibrated input images represented in said page description language, and for selecting a corresponding said calibration set stored in said computer to programmably adjust said uncalibrated input image to said calibrated output image; and mapping means for mapping either positive or negative sense representations of said subsequent uncalibrated input images through said image processor, and said recorder, to be output as said calibrated output images on said image bearing media.