US5537516A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Method for calibrating a color printer using a scanner for color measurements
Assignee: Electronics for Imaging Inc
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Filing: 1994-03-15
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Granted: 1996-07-16
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Expires: 2014-03-15
Abstract
Abstract The present invention is a method for calibrating color reproduction devices such as printers and for stabilizing the print colors generated by a computer controlled color reproduction device. Further, the present invention acts to standardize the print colors produced across a family or series of color reproduction devices. It may be incorporated into a color management system used to produce consistent colors across a variety of reproduction devices. In the first embodiment of the present invention, an object scanning device and an object color reproduction device are used. In the second embodiment, an object densitometer is used as the measuring device to measure densities. In yet another embodiment, an object colorimeter is used as the measuring device to measure CIE values. The present invention enables generation of a set of calibration curves for correcting the color output of the color reproduction device. The calibration curves provide modification functions for each of the individual color print channels of the color reproduction device (e.g., CMYK). The calibration curves are used to alter the rendering of color reproductions, and thereby achieve a desired result. The calibration curves may be downloaded to a color management system to alter the rendering of color images, pages, documents, etc., and thereby achieve a desired result. The calibration curves may also be downloaded directly to the controller of the color reproduction device. The present invention further provides an improved method of measuring ink values using a subject scanner by defocusing or diffusing a target.
Inventors
- 👤 Doron Sherman
- 👤 Yigal Accad
- 👤 Eran Steinberg
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 13:19
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06K; G06K15/00; G06K15/02; H; H04; H04N; H04N1/00; H04N1/46; H04N1/56; H04N1/60; H04N1/603; H04N1/6052; H04N1/6055; G06K2215/00; G06K2215/0082; G06K2215/0094
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 56
Claim 1
Independent Claim
159 words
A method of calibrating a color reproduction device, comprising the steps of: (a) scanning a standard target using a subject scanning means to generate a first plurality of color signals; (b) obtaining a second plurality of color signals, said second plurality of color signals generated by an object measurement means using said standard target; (c) creating scanner tables for said subject scanning means dependent on said first plurality of color signals and said second plurality of color signals; (d) scanning a subject target using said subject scanning means to generate a third plurality of color signals; (e) generating a fourth plurality of color signals using said third plurality of color signals and said scanner tables; (f) obtaining a fifth plurality of color signals, said fifth plurality of color signals representing desired color signals; and, (g) creating calibration curves for a subject color reproduction device dependent on said fourth plurality of color signals and said fifth plurality of color signals.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
159 words
A method of calibrating a color reproduction device, comprising the steps of: (a) scanning a standard target using a subject scanning means to generate a first plurality of color signals; (b) obtaining a second plurality of color signals, said second plurality of color signals generated by an object measurement means using said standard target; (c) creating scanner tables for said subject scanning means dependent on said first plurality of color signals and said second plurality of color signals; (d) scanning a subject target using said subject scanning means to generate a third plurality of color signals; (e) generating a fourth plurality of color signals using said third plurality of color signals and said scanner tables; (f) obtaining a fifth plurality of color signals, said fifth plurality of color signals representing desired color signals; and, (g) creating calibration curves for a subject color reproduction device dependent on said fourth plurality of color signals and said fifth plurality of color signals.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
42 words
The method of claim 1 wherein: said standard target comprises a plurality of patches; each patch of said plurality of patches simulates a single colorant; said single colorant has a spectral characteristics similar to the spectral characteristic of a subject printer colorant.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
41 words
The method of claim 2 wherein: said plurality of patches simulates varying amounts of each colorant in a set of colorants wherein said set of colorants has spectral characteristics similar to the spectral characteristics of a set of subject printer colorants.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 3 wherein said set of colorants comprises C, M, and Y colorants.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 4 wherein said set of colorants further comprises K colorant.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 2 wherein said subject target is produced by said subject color reproduction means dependent upon a digital target.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 6 wherein each patch of said plurality of patches comprises a mixture of one or more standard colorants.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 7 wherein said mixture of one or more standard colorants comprise a mixture of one or more PANTONE® pigments.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
42 words
The method of claim 6 wherein said standard target is a reference target; each patch of said plurality of patches comprises an object printer colorant; said object printer colorant has spectral characteristic similar to the spectral characteristic of a subject printer colorant.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 9 wherein said scanner tables are scanner translation tables.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 6 wherein said subject target comprises a plurality of patches, each patch of said plurality of patches containing a single colorant.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 6 wherein said fifth plurality of color signals is a second digital file.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said object measurement means comprises an object scanning means.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 13 wherein said fifth plurality of color signals is generated by said object scanning means and an object target.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 14 wherein said object target is produced by an object color reproduction means dependent upon said digital target.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 15 wherein said subject color reproduction means is of a same type of color reproduction means as said object color reproduction means.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 14 wherein said object target comprises a plurality of patches, each patch of said plurality of patches containing a single colorant.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 13 wherein said subject scanning means is of a same type of scanning means as said object scanning means.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said scanner tables are scanner correction tables.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said object measurement means comprises a densitometer.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said object measurement means comprises a colorimeter.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said second plurality of color signals is a first digital file.
Claim 24
Independent Claim
114 words
A method of modifying reproduction means, comprising the steps of: (a) generating first measured data of a standard target using a first scanning means; (b) obtaining first reference data of said standard target; (c) creating scanner tables for first color channels of said first scanning means; (d) generating second measured data of a subject target using said first scanning means, said subject target produced by a first reproduction means; (e) computing third measured data dependent on said second measured data and said scanner table; (f) obtaining second reference data of an object target; (g) modifying second color channels of said first reproduction means dependent on said second reference data and said third measured data.
Claim 25
Independent Claim
114 words
A method of modifying reproduction means, comprising the steps of: (a) generating first measured data of a standard target using a first scanning means; (b) obtaining first reference data of said standard target; (c) creating scanner tables for first color channels of said first scanning means; (d) generating second measured data of a subject target using said first scanning means, said subject target produced by a first reproduction means; (e) computing third measured data dependent on said second measured data and said scanner table; (f) obtaining second reference data of an object target; (g) modifying second color channels of said first reproduction means dependent on said second reference data and said third measured data.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
42 words
The method of claim 23 wherein: said standard target comprises a plurality of patches; each patch of said plurality of patches simulates a single colorant; said single colorant has a spectral characteristics similar to the spectral characteristic of a subject printer colorant.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
41 words
The method of claim 24 wherein said plurality of patches simulates varying amounts of each colorant in a set of colorants wherein said set of colorants has spectral characteristics similar to the spectral characteristics of a set of subject printer colorants.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 25 wherein each patch of said plurality of patches comprises a mixture of one or more standard colorants.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 26 wherein said mixture of one or more standard colorants comprise a mixture of one or more PANTONE® pigments.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 25 wherein said set of colorants comprises C, M, and Y colorants.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 28 wherein said set of colorants further comprises K colorant.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
42 words
The method of claim 24 wherein: said standard target is a reference target; each patch of said plurality of patches comprises an object printer colorant; said object printer colorant has spectral characteristic similar to the spectral characteristic of a subject printer colorant.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 30 wherein said first reference data is obtained by a densitometer.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 30 wherein said second reference data is obtained by said densitometer measuring said object target.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 30 wherein said first reference data is obtained by a colorimeter.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 30 wherein said second reference data is obtained by said colorimeter measuring said object target.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 30 wherein said second scanning means is calibrated.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 30 wherein said standard target comprises said first reference data.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 23 wherein said first reference data is obtained by a second scanning means.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 37 wherein said second reference data is obtained by said second scanning means scanning said object target.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 37 wherein said first scanning means is of a same type of scanning means as said second scanning means.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 23 wherein said scanner tables are scanner correction tables.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 23 wherein said scanner tables are scanner translation tables.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 23 wherein said scanner tables are created using curve fitting dependent on said first measured data and said first reference data.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
11 words
The method of claim 42 wherein curve fitting comprises linear regression.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 42 wherein curve fitting comprises piecewise linear curve fitting.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 23 wherein said subject target is dependent on a digital target.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 23 wherein said object target is produced by a second reproduction means.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 46 wherein said first reproduction means is a same type of reproduction means as said second reproduction means.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 23 wherein said reference target comprises said second plurality of color signals.
Claim 51
Independent Claim
67 words
A method of generating color signals using a scanning means, comprising the steps of: (a) disposing a target on a scanning means, said target comprising a plurality of single-colorant patches; (b) disposing a distortion means connected to said scanning means and to said target; (c) generating a plurality of scan signals using said scanning means and distorting means, said plurality of scan signals dependent on said target.
Claim 52
Independent Claim
67 words
A method of generating color signals using a scanning means, comprising the steps of: (a) disposing a target on a scanning means, said target comprising a plurality of single-colorant patches; (b) disposing a distortion means connected to said scanning means and to said target; (c) generating a plurality of scan signals using said scanning means and distorting means, said plurality of scan signals dependent on said target.
Claim 53
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 49 wherein said distortion means defocuses said target.
Claim 54
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 49 wherein said distortion means diffuses said target.
Claim 55
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 49 wherein said plurality of single-colorant patches are randomly positioned on said target.
Claim 56
Dependent Claim
60 words
The method of claim 49 further including the step of generating at least one reference signal dependent using said first plurality of scan signals, said reference signal generated by averaging a second plurality of scan signals corresponding to a second plurality of patches wherein said second plurality of patches is less than or equal to said first plurality of patches.
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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) | 1999-07-16 | 2000-01-15 | 2000-07-16 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2003-07-16 | 2004-01-15 | 2004-07-16 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2007-07-16 | 2008-01-15 | 2008-07-16 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |