US5434645A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Color image processing apparatus
Assignee: Canon Inc
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Filing: 1993-09-03
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Granted: 1995-07-18
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Expires: 2013-09-03
Abstract
Abstract A color image processing apparatus includes a plurality of image reading units, each of which reads an original image and produces a color image signal; a color image recording unit which records a color image in accordance with the color image signal; and a correction unit provided for each of the plurality of image reading units to correct the color image signal such that each image reading unit has the same overall spectral sensitivity characteristics.
Inventors
- 👤 Akihiro Usami
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 17:29
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04N; H04N1/00; H04N1/46; H04N1/56; H04N1/60; H04N1/603; H04N1/6052
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 41
Claim 1
Independent Claim
188 words
A color image processing system comprising: a plurality of independent image reading units each for reading a respective original to produce color component signals, wherein each of said independent image reading units comprises: an independent lighting system; an image reading sensor for reading the respective original, wherein overall spectral sensitivity characteristics of said lighting system and said image reading sensor of each image reading unit may vary from those of each other image reading unit; and correction means for correcting the color component signals, wherein said correction means of at least one of said image reading units includes means for storing information regarding another of said image reading units and for correcting the color component signals based on the stored information regarding the other image reading unit so that the at least one image reading unit has substantially the same corrected overall spectral sensitivity characteristics as the other image reading unit; and a color image recording unit for selectively receiving corrected color component signals from one of said plurality of independent image reading units and for recording a color image in response to the corrected color component signals.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
188 words
A color image processing system comprising: a plurality of independent image reading units each for reading a respective original to produce color component signals, wherein each of said independent image reading units comprises: an independent lighting system; an image reading sensor for reading the respective original, wherein overall spectral sensitivity characteristics of said lighting system and said image reading sensor of each image reading unit may vary from those of each other image reading unit; and correction means for correcting the color component signals, wherein said correction means of at least one of said image reading units includes means for storing information regarding another of said image reading units and for correcting the color component signals based on the stored information regarding the other image reading unit so that the at least one image reading unit has substantially the same corrected overall spectral sensitivity characteristics as the other image reading unit; and a color image recording unit for selectively receiving corrected color component signals from one of said plurality of independent image reading units and for recording a color image in response to the corrected color component signals.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
40 words
A color image processing system according to claim 1, wherein the characteristics of each said correction means are determined such that each of said image reading units can output a same output color image signal for a same reference color.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
19 words
A color image processing system according to claim 1, wherein said color image recording unit includes an electro-photographic printer.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
30 words
A color image processing system according to claim 1, wherein each of said image reading units comprises converting means for converting a given color image into the color component signals.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
28 words
A color image processing system according to claim 4, wherein said converting means comprises: a color separation filter; and a sensor disposed adjacent to said color separation filter.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
20 words
A color image processing system according to claim 5, wherein said color separation filter includes red, green and blue filters.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
23 words
A color image processing system according to claim 5, wherein said converting means further comprises an infrared cut filter mounted on said sensor.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
147 words
A color image processing system comprising: a plurality of independent image reading units each for reading a respective original to produce color component signals, wherein each of said independent image reading units comprises: an independent lighting system; an image reading sensor for reading the respective original, wherein overall spectral sensitivity characteristics of said lighting system and said image reading sensor of each image reading unit may vary from those of each other image reading unit; and correction means for correcting the color component signals such that each of said independent image reading units has substantially the same corrected overall spectral sensitivity characteristics, said correction means including a matrix calculation circuit; and a color image recording unit for selectively receiving corrected color component signals from one of said plurality of independent image reading units and for recording a color image in response to the corrected color component signals.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
147 words
A color image processing system comprising: a plurality of independent image reading units each for reading a respective original to produce color component signals, wherein each of said independent image reading units comprises: an independent lighting system; an image reading sensor for reading the respective original, wherein overall spectral sensitivity characteristics of said lighting system and said image reading sensor of each image reading unit may vary from those of each other image reading unit; and correction means for correcting the color component signals such that each of said independent image reading units has substantially the same corrected overall spectral sensitivity characteristics, said correction means including a matrix calculation circuit; and a color image recording unit for selectively receiving corrected color component signals from one of said plurality of independent image reading units and for recording a color image in response to the corrected color component signals.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
40 words
A color image processing system according to claim 3, wherein correction coefficients of said matrix calculation circuit are determined such that each of said image reading units can output a same output color image signal for a same reference color.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
20 words
A color image processing system according to claim 9, wherein the correction coefficients are determined using a least square method.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
134 words
An independent color image reading unit for a color image processing system including a plurality of independent image reading units for reading respective color originals and a color image recording unit, said independent color image reading unit comprising: an independent lighting unit for illuminating a color original; converting means for converting an image of a respective color original illuminated by said lighting unit into color component signals; and correction means for correcting the color component signals, said correction means including means for storing information regarding another of the image reading units and for correcting the color component signals for the respective original based on the stored information regarding the other image reading unit so that said independent image reading unit has substantially the same corrected spectral sensitivity characteristics as the other image reading units.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
134 words
An independent color image reading unit for a color image processing system including a plurality of independent image reading units for reading respective color originals and a color image recording unit, said independent color image reading unit comprising: an independent lighting unit for illuminating a color original; converting means for converting an image of a respective color original illuminated by said lighting unit into color component signals; and correction means for correcting the color component signals, said correction means including means for storing information regarding another of the image reading units and for correcting the color component signals for the respective original based on the stored information regarding the other image reading unit so that said independent image reading unit has substantially the same corrected spectral sensitivity characteristics as the other image reading units.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
39 words
A color image reading unit according to claim 11, wherein the characteristics of said correction means are determined such that each of said image reading units can output a same output color image signal for a same reference color.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
18 words
A color image reading unit according to claim 11, wherein said correction means includes a matrix calculation circuit.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
40 words
A color image reading unit according to claim 13, wherein correction coefficients of said matrix calculation circuit are determined such that each of said image reading units can output a same output color image signal for a same reference color.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
20 words
A color image reading unit according to claim 14, wherein the correction coefficients are determined using a least square method.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
28 words
A color image reading unit according to claim 11, wherein said converting means comprises: a color separation filter; and a sensor disposed adjacent to said color separation filter.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
20 words
A color image reading unit according to claim 16, wherein said color separation filter includes red, green and blue filters.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
23 words
A color image reading unit according to claim 16, wherein said converting means further comprises an infrared cut filter mounted on said sensor.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
157 words
A color image processing system comprising: a plurality of independent image reading units each for reading a respective original and producing corrected color component signals, each said independent image reading unit comprising: an image reading sensor for producing analog color component signals corresponding to a respective original; an analog-to-digital converter for converting the analog color component signals to digital color component signals; color correction means for color correcting the digital color component signals, wherein said color correction means of at least one of said image reading units includes means for storing information regarding another of said image reading units and for correcting the digital color component signals based on the stored information regarding the other image reading unit so that the at least one image reading unit has substantially the same corrected overall spectral sensitivity characteristics as the overall spectral sensitivity characteristics of the other image reading unit, and means for outputting the corrected color component signals.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
157 words
A color image processing system comprising: a plurality of independent image reading units each for reading a respective original and producing corrected color component signals, each said independent image reading unit comprising: an image reading sensor for producing analog color component signals corresponding to a respective original; an analog-to-digital converter for converting the analog color component signals to digital color component signals; color correction means for color correcting the digital color component signals, wherein said color correction means of at least one of said image reading units includes means for storing information regarding another of said image reading units and for correcting the digital color component signals based on the stored information regarding the other image reading unit so that the at least one image reading unit has substantially the same corrected overall spectral sensitivity characteristics as the overall spectral sensitivity characteristics of the other image reading unit, and means for outputting the corrected color component signals.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
27 words
A color image processing system according to claim 19, wherein each said independent image reading unit further comprises an independent lighting system for illuminating the original image.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
25 words
A color image processing system according to claim 19, wherein each said color correction means operates in parallel with the other said color correction means.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
30 words
A color image processing system according to claim 19, further comprising a color image recording unit for recording a color image in response to the output corrected color component signals.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
140 words
An image reading unit for a color image processing system comprising a plurality of independent image reading units for reading respective color originals, said image reading unit comprising: an image reading sensor for producing analog color component signals corresponding to a respective original; an analog-to-digital converter for converting the analog color component signals to digital color signals; color correction means for color correcting the digital color component signals, said color correction means comprising means for storing information regarding another of the image reading units and for correcting the digital color component signals based on the stored information regarding the other image reading unit so that said image reading unit has substantially the same corrected overall spectral sensitivity characteristics as the corrected overall spectral sensitivity characteristics of the other image reading unit; and means for outputting the corrected color component signals.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
140 words
An image reading unit for a color image processing system comprising a plurality of independent image reading units for reading respective color originals, said image reading unit comprising: an image reading sensor for producing analog color component signals corresponding to a respective original; an analog-to-digital converter for converting the analog color component signals to digital color signals; color correction means for color correcting the digital color component signals, said color correction means comprising means for storing information regarding another of the image reading units and for correcting the digital color component signals based on the stored information regarding the other image reading unit so that said image reading unit has substantially the same corrected overall spectral sensitivity characteristics as the corrected overall spectral sensitivity characteristics of the other image reading unit; and means for outputting the corrected color component signals.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
34 words
An image reading unit according to claim 23, further comprising a lighting system for illuminating the original image, said lighting system being independent of other lighting systems of the other said image reading units.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
28 words
An image reading unit according to claim 23, wherein said color correction means operates in parallel with other color correction means of the other said image reading units.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
34 words
An image reading unit according to claim 23, wherein said color image processing system comprises a color image recording unit for recording a color image in response to the output corrected color component signals.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
160 words
A color image processing system, comprising: a plurality of image reading sensors for producing color component signals corresponding to respective originals; and a plurality of color signal processing channels, each said channel processing a color signal corresponding to a respective original from a respective image reading sensor and outputting a corrected color component signal, wherein said color signal processing channel corresponding to at least one of said image reading sensors comprises means for storing information regarding another of the image reading sensors and for correcting the color signal from the corresponding image reading sensor based on the stored information regarding the other image reading sensor so that the corrected color component signal has substantially the same corrected overall spectral sensitivity characteristics as the overall spectral sensitivity characteristics of the signals output from the color signal processing channel corresponding to the other image reading sensor, wherein each color signal processing channel operates in parallel with the other color signal processing channels.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
160 words
A color image processing system, comprising: a plurality of image reading sensors for producing color component signals corresponding to respective originals; and a plurality of color signal processing channels, each said channel processing a color signal corresponding to a respective original from a respective image reading sensor and outputting a corrected color component signal, wherein said color signal processing channel corresponding to at least one of said image reading sensors comprises means for storing information regarding another of the image reading sensors and for correcting the color signal from the corresponding image reading sensor based on the stored information regarding the other image reading sensor so that the corrected color component signal has substantially the same corrected overall spectral sensitivity characteristics as the overall spectral sensitivity characteristics of the signals output from the color signal processing channel corresponding to the other image reading sensor, wherein each color signal processing channel operates in parallel with the other color signal processing channels.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
34 words
A color image processing system according to claim 27, further comprising a plurality of independent lighting systems each for illuminating an original image, wherein one lighting system is associated with each image reading sensor.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
30 words
A color image processing system according to claim 27, further comprising a color image recording unit for recording a color image in response to the output color corrected component signals.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
154 words
An image reading unit for a color image processing system comprising a plurality of independent image reading units for reading respective color originals, said image reading unit comprising: an image reading sensor for producing analog color component signals corresponding to a respective color original; a color signal processing channel for processing a color signal from said image reading sensor corresponding to the respective original and outputting a corrected color component signal, said color signal processing channel comprising means for storing information regarding another image reading unit and for correcting the color signal based on the stored information regarding the other image reading unit so that the corrected color component signal has substantially the same overall spectral sensitivity characteristics as the overall spectral sensitivity characteristics of signals output from the other image reading unit, wherein said color signal processing channel operates in parallel with other color signal processing channels of the other image reading units.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
154 words
An image reading unit for a color image processing system comprising a plurality of independent image reading units for reading respective color originals, said image reading unit comprising: an image reading sensor for producing analog color component signals corresponding to a respective color original; a color signal processing channel for processing a color signal from said image reading sensor corresponding to the respective original and outputting a corrected color component signal, said color signal processing channel comprising means for storing information regarding another image reading unit and for correcting the color signal based on the stored information regarding the other image reading unit so that the corrected color component signal has substantially the same overall spectral sensitivity characteristics as the overall spectral sensitivity characteristics of signals output from the other image reading unit, wherein said color signal processing channel operates in parallel with other color signal processing channels of the other image reading units.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
34 words
An image reading unit according to claim 30, further comprising a lighting system for illuminating the original image, said lighting system being independent of other lighting systems of the other said image reading units.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
34 words
An image reading unit according to claim 30, wherein said color image processing system comprises a color image recording unit for recording a color image in response to the output corrected color component signals.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
137 words
A correction unit for an independent image reading unit which has an image reading sensor and an independent lighting source and which has overall spectral characteristics determined by the independent lighting source and by the image reading sensor, said correction unit being usable in a system having a plurality of such image reading units, said correction unit comprising: means for receiving color component values from the image reading unit; memory means for storing information regarding a relationship between the overall spectral characteristics of the independent image reading unit and reference spectral characteristics for a plurality of colors; and calculation means for calculating corrected color component values based on the stored information so that the independent image reading unit exhibits substantially the same overall spectral characteristics as each of the other of the plurality of image reading units.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
137 words
A correction unit for an independent image reading unit which has an image reading sensor and an independent lighting source and which has overall spectral characteristics determined by the independent lighting source and by the image reading sensor, said correction unit being usable in a system having a plurality of such image reading units, said correction unit comprising: means for receiving color component values from the image reading unit; memory means for storing information regarding a relationship between the overall spectral characteristics of the independent image reading unit and reference spectral characteristics for a plurality of colors; and calculation means for calculating corrected color component values based on the stored information so that the independent image reading unit exhibits substantially the same overall spectral characteristics as each of the other of the plurality of image reading units.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1998-07-17 | 1999-01-16 | 1999-07-18 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2002-07-17 | 2003-01-16 | 2003-07-18 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2006-07-17 | 2007-01-16 | 2007-07-18 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |