Method and calibration apparatus for calibrating computer monitors used in the printing and textile industries

Claim 2

Apparatus for calibrating color settings of a monitor for enabling said monitor to display a proof image which essentially matches a corresponding image when printed on a selected standard medium, said apparatus comprising: a first sensor oriented to sense red, green and blue components of infrared-filtered illumination from said monitor; a second sensor oriented to sense red, green and blue components of infrared-filtered ambient illumination; means for providing a set of red, green and blue display values as a function of said components sensed by said first and second sensors; a data storage table storing, for each of a plurality of standard media, sets of predetermined red, green and blue calibration values respectively representing white point, black point and gray balance reference plaques; means for causing said monitor to display said white point, black point, and gray balance reference plaques; and means responsive to a difference between (1) display values produced as a consequence of said monitor displaying said reference plaques and (2) calibration values defined by said table for said selected standard medium, for calibrating said monitor color settings to cause a displayed proof image to essentially match a corresponding image when printed on said selected standard medium.

Claim 3

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said first sensor, said second sensor, and said providing means are contained within a calibrator housing detachably coupled to the monitor via suction cups.

Claim 4

The apparatus of claim 2, wherein said first sensor, said second sensor, and said providing means are powered by a plurality of batteries contained within said calibrator housing.

Claim 5

The apparatus of claim 3, additionally comprising an on/off switch coupled to at least one of said suction cups wherein power from said batteries to said first sensor, said second sensor and said providing means is automatically switched on when said suction cup is depressed.

Claim 6

The apparatus of claim 4, wherein each said first and second sensors individually comprise: a photocell, sensitive to illumination between wavelengths of 400 to 700 mμ corresponding to red, green and blue illumination; an infrared filter, restricting the passage of infrared radiation below 500 mμ to said photocell; and a color filter allowing the passage of either red, green or blue illumination.

Claim 7

The apparatus of claim 5, wherein said second sensor additionally comprises an outer layer of plexiglass to diffuse the ambient illumination before sensing by said second sensor.

Claim 8

The apparatus of claim 6, wherein said display values are a function of respective components of infrared-filtered illumination sensed by said first and second sensors, where said function is described by the equation: Z=(b*y)-(a*x), where Z is one of said display values, x is a value representative of one of said components sensed by said second sensor and y is a value representative of one of said components sensed by said first sensor.

Claim 9

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said first sensor, said second sensor, and said providing means are contained within a calibrator housing permanently coupled to the monitor.

Claim 10

The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the monitor is driven by a computer and said first sensor, said second sensor and said providing means are coupled to said computer to communicate said display values to said computer for adjusting the monitor according to an automated procedure.

Claim 11

The apparatus of claim 9, wherein said data storage table is contained within memory of said computer.

Claim 12

The apparatus of claim 10, wherein said first sensor, said second sensor, and said providing means receive power from said computer.

Claim 13

The apparatus of claim 11, wherein each said first and second sensors individually comprise: a photocell, sensitive to illumination between wavelengths of 400 to 700 mμ corresponding to red, green and blue illumination; an infrared filter, restricting the passage of infrared radiation below 500 mμ to said photocell; and a color filter allowing the passage of either red, green or blue illumination.

Claim 14

The apparatus of claim 12, wherein said second sensor additionally comprise an outer layer of plexiglass to diffuse the ambient illumination before sensing by said second sensor.

Claim 15

The apparatus of claim 13, wherein said display values are determined according to the equation: Z=(b*y)-(a*x), where Z is one of said display values, x is a value representative of one of said components sensed by said second sensor and y is a value representative of one of said components sensed by said first sensor.

Claim 16

Apparatus for calibrating settings of a monitor for enabling said monitor to display a proof image which essentially matches a corresponding image printed on a selected standard medium, said apparatus comprising: a monitor sensor coupled to the face of the monitor, wherein said monitor sensor generates a signal in response to infrared-filtered illumination from the monitor; an ambient sensor capable of facing upwards to sense infrared-filtered ambient illumination at the face of the monitor, wherein said ambient sensor generates a signal in response to ambient illumination; a digital display displaying a display value as a function of said monitor sensor and said ambient sensor; a data storage table storing for each of a plurality of standard media, sets of predetermined calibration values respectively representing white point, black point and gray balance reference plaques; means for causing said monitor to display said white point, black point, and gray balance reference plaques; and means responsive to a difference between (1) display values produced as a consequence of said monitor displaying said reference plaques and (2) calibration values defined by said table for said selected standard medium, for calibrating said monitor settings to cause a displayed proof image to essentially match a corresponding image when printed on said selected standard medium.

Claim 17

Apparatus for calibrating settings of a monitor for enabling said monitor to display a proof image which essentially matches a corresponding image printed on a selected standard medium, said apparatus comprising: a monitor sensor coupled to the face of the monitor, wherein said monitor sensor generates a signal in response to infrared-filtered illumination from the monitor; an ambient sensor capable of facing upwards to sense infrared-filtered ambient illumination at the face of the monitor, wherein said ambient sensor generates a signal in response to ambient illumination; a digital display displaying a display value as a function of said monitor sensor and said ambient sensor; a data storage table storing for each of a plurality of standard media, sets of predetermined calibration values respectively representing white point, black point and gray balance reference plaques; means for causing said monitor to display said white point, black point, and gray balance reference plaques; and means responsive to a difference between (1) display values produced as a consequence of said monitor displaying said reference plaques and (2) calibration values defined by said table for said selected standard medium, for calibrating said monitor settings to cause a displayed proof image to essentially match a corresponding image when printed on said selected standard medium.

Claim 18

The apparatus of claim 15, wherein said monitor sensor, said ambient sensor, and said digital display are contained within a calibrator housing detachably coupled to the monitor via suction cups.

Claim 19

The apparatus of claim 16, wherein said monitor sensor, said ambient sensor, and said digital display are powered by a plurality of batteries contained within said calibrator housing.

Claim 20

The apparatus of claim 17, additionally comprising an on/off switch coupled to at least one of said suction cups wherein power from said batteries to said monitor sensor, said ambient sensor and said digital display is automatically switched on when said suction cup is depressed.

Claim 21

The apparatus of claim 18, wherein said monitor sensor and said ambient sensor are individually comprised of: a photocell, sensitive to illumination between wavelengths of 400 to 700 mμ corresponding to red, green and blue illumination; and an infrared filter, restricting the passage of infrared radiation below 500 mμ to said photocell.

Claim 22

The apparatus of claim 19, wherein said ambient sensor additionally comprises an outer layer of plexiglass to diffuse the ambient illumination before sensing by said ambient sensor.

Claim 23

The apparatus of claim 20, additionally comprising a compensator providing a compensated signal to said digital display as a function of signals from said monitor sensor and said ambient sensor, wherein said function is described by the equation: Z=(b*y)-(a*x), where Z is said compensated signal, x is said signal from said ambient sensor and y is said signal from said monitor sensor.

Claim 24

The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the monitor is a black and white monitor.

Claim 25

The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the monitor is a color monitor.