Method of and apparatus for determining exposure amount in copying apparatus

Claim 1

A method of determining an exposure amount in a copying apparatus for copying a recorded image onto a copying material, the method comprising the steps of: transmitting light from a light source through a negative film having the image recorded thereon, thereby projecting the image; photometrically measuring the image by dividing the image into a plurality of pixels and by separating each pixel into a plurality of color wavelength bands, thereby generating, for each pixel j, photometric data attributable to each of the plurality of color wavelength bands; fetching a plurality of stored main-component spectral distributions e(λ) which are determined in advance; estimating a spectral distribution T(λ) of the image using the main-component spectral distributions e(λ) and the photometric data attributable to each of the plurality of color wavelength bands; fetching a stored spectral sensitivity distribution Si(λ) of the copying material which is determined in advance; determining, for each of at least three individual color wavelength bands which are a subset of the plurality of color wavelength bands, an average image density D1 using the spectral distribution T(λ) and the spectral sensitivity distribution of the copying material Si(λ), the average image density D1 being equivalent to an image density obtained by photometrically measuring the image using photometric measuring means exhibiting a spectral sensitivity distribution equivalent to the spectral sensitivity distribution Si(λ) of the copying material; calculating, for each average image density D1, a correction amount K2 on the basis of the photometric data attributable to the at least three individual color wavelength bands contributing to said image density D1; obtaining, for each correction amount K2, a corresponding adjusted correction amount K1, wherein the adjusted correction amount K1 is equivalent to a correction amount obtained by photometrically measuring the image using photometric measuring means exhibiting a spectral sensitivity distribution equivalent to the spectral sensitivity distribution Si(λ) of the copying material; calculating, for each of the at least three individual color wavelength bands contributing to said image density D1, an exposure amount based on the respective average image density D1 and the adjusted correction amount K1; and controlling the copying apparatus to expose the copying material to the image with the calculated exposure amount.

Claim 2

A method of determining an exposure amount in a copying apparatus for copying a recorded image onto a copying material, the method comprising the steps of: transmitting light from a light source through a negative film having the image recorded thereon, thereby projecting the image; photometrically measuring the image by dividing the image into a plurality of pixels and by separating each pixel into a plurality of color wavelength bands, thereby generating, for each pixel j, photometric data attributable to each of the plurality of color wavelength bands; fetching a plurality of stored main-component spectral distributions e(λ) which are determined in advance; estimating a spectral distribution T(λ) of the image using the main-component spectral distributions e(λ) and the photometric data attributable to each of the plurality of color wavelength bands; fetching a stored spectral sensitivity distribution Si(λ) of the copying material which is determined in advance; determining, for each of at least three individual color wavelength bands which are a subset of the plurality of color wavelength bands, an average image density D1 using the spectral distribution T(λ) and the spectral sensitivity distribution of the copying material Si(λ), the average image density D1 being equivalent to an image density obtained by photometrically measuring the image using photometric measuring means exhibiting a spectral sensitivity distribution equivalent to the spectral sensitivity distribution Si(λ) of the copying material; calculating, for each average image density D1, a correction amount K2 on the basis of the photometric data attributable to the at least three individual color wavelength bands contributing to said image density D1; obtaining, for each correction amount K2, a corresponding adjusted correction amount K1, wherein the adjusted correction amount K1 is equivalent to a correction amount obtained by photometrically measuring the image using photometric measuring means exhibiting a spectral sensitivity distribution equivalent to the spectral sensitivity distribution Si(λ) of the copying material; calculating, for each of the at least three individual color wavelength bands contributing to said image density D1, an exposure amount based on the respective average image density D1 and the adjusted correction amount K1; and controlling the copying apparatus to expose the copying material to the image with the calculated exposure amount.

Claim 9

A method of determining an exposure amount in a copying apparatus for copying a recorded image onto a copying material, the method comprising the steps of: transmitting light from a light source through a negative film having the image recorded thereon, thereby projecting the image; photometrically measuring the image by dividing the image into a plurality of pixels and by separating each pixel into a plurality of color wavelength bands, thereby generating, for each pixel j, photometric data attributable to each of the plurality of color wavelength bands, and storing the photometric data; retrieving each pixel's photometric data attributable to at least three individual color wavelength bands which are a subset of the plurality of color wavelength bands; for each of the at least three individual color wavelength bands, normalizing each pixel's photometric data attributable to the at least three individual color wavelength bands such that values of the normalized photometric data attributable to the at least three individual color wavelength bands remain in a specified range; selecting only those pixels which have differences between the values of the normalized photometric data attributable to the at least three individual color wavelength bands which are less than a reference value; retrieving, for only the selected pixels, photometric data attributable to all of the plurality of color wavelength bands; fetching a plurality of stored main-component spectral distributions e(λ) which are determined in advance; estimating a spectral distribution T(λ) of the image using the main-component spectral distributions e(λ) and the selected pixel's photometric data attributable to each of the plurality of color wavelength bands corresponding to the selected pixels; fetching a stored spectral sensitivity distribution Si(λ) of the copying material which is determined in advance; determining, for each of the at least three individual color wavelength bands, an exposure amount X1 using the spectral distribution T(λ) and the spectral sensitivity distribution of the copying material Si(λ), the exposure amount X1 being equivalent to an image density obtained by photometrically measuring the image using photometric measuring means exhibiting a spectral sensitivity distribution equivalent to the spectral sensitivity distribution Si(λ) of the copying material; controlling the copying apparatus to expose the copying material to the image with the calculated exposure amount X1.

Claim 10

A method of determining an exposure amount in a copying apparatus for copying a recorded image onto a copying material, the method comprising the steps of: transmitting light from a light source through a negative film having the image recorded thereon, thereby projecting the image; photometrically measuring the image by dividing the image into a plurality of pixels and by separating each pixel into a plurality of color wavelength bands, thereby generating, for each pixel j, photometric data attributable to each of the plurality of color wavelength bands, and storing the photometric data; retrieving each pixel's photometric data attributable to at least three individual color wavelength bands which are a subset of the plurality of color wavelength bands; for each of the at least three individual color wavelength bands, normalizing each pixel's photometric data attributable to the at least three individual color wavelength bands such that values of the normalized photometric data attributable to the at least three individual color wavelength bands remain in a specified range; selecting only those pixels which have differences between the values of the normalized photometric data attributable to the at least three individual color wavelength bands which are less than a reference value; retrieving, for only the selected pixels, photometric data attributable to all of the plurality of color wavelength bands; fetching a plurality of stored main-component spectral distributions e(λ) which are determined in advance; estimating a spectral distribution T(λ) of the image using the main-component spectral distributions e(λ) and the selected pixel's photometric data attributable to each of the plurality of color wavelength bands corresponding to the selected pixels; fetching a stored spectral sensitivity distribution Si(λ) of the copying material which is determined in advance; determining, for each of the at least three individual color wavelength bands, an exposure amount X1 using the spectral distribution T(λ) and the spectral sensitivity distribution of the copying material Si(λ), the exposure amount X1 being equivalent to an image density obtained by photometrically measuring the image using photometric measuring means exhibiting a spectral sensitivity distribution equivalent to the spectral sensitivity distribution Si(λ) of the copying material; controlling the copying apparatus to expose the copying material to the image with the calculated exposure amount X1.

Claim 16

A method of determining an exposure amount in a copying apparatus for copying an image recorded on a negative film onto a copying material, the negative film having recorded thereon film type information, the method comprising the steps of: reading from the negative film the film type information; based on the film type information, fetching stored density relationship information which defines a relationship between an image density of the negative film and an image density of the copying material; transmitting light from a light source through the negative film, thereby projecting the image; photometrically measuring the image by dividing the image into a plurality of pixels and by separating each pixel into at least three individual color wavelength bands, thereby generating, for each pixel j, photometric data attributable to each of the at least three color individual wavelength bands; calculating, for each of the at least three individual color wavelength bands, an average image density D2 based on a sum of the corresponding photometric data of all of the pixels; calculating, for each average image density D2, a correction amount K2 on the basis of the photometric data attributable to the at least three individual color wavelength bands; calculating, for each of the at least three individual color wavelength bands, an exposure amount X2 based on the respective average image density D2 and the correction amount K2; and using the fetched density relationship information to obtain, for each exposure amount X2, a corrected exposure amount X1, wherein the corrected exposure amount X1 is equivalent to an exposure amount obtained by photometrically measuring the image using photometric measuring means exhibiting a spectral sensitivity distribution equivalent to a spectral sensitivity distribution Si(λ) of the copying material; and controlling the copying apparatus to expose the copying material to the image with the corrected exposure amount X1.

Claim 17

A method of determining an exposure amount in a copying apparatus for copying an image recorded on a negative film onto a copying material, the negative film having recorded thereon film type information, the method comprising the steps of: reading from the negative film the film type information; based on the film type information, fetching stored density relationship information which defines a relationship between an image density of the negative film and an image density of the copying material; transmitting light from a light source through the negative film, thereby projecting the image; photometrically measuring the image by dividing the image into a plurality of pixels and by separating each pixel into at least three individual color wavelength bands, thereby generating, for each pixel j, photometric data attributable to each of the at least three color individual wavelength bands; calculating, for each of the at least three individual color wavelength bands, an average image density D2 based on a sum of the corresponding photometric data of all of the pixels; calculating, for each average image density D2, a correction amount K2 on the basis of the photometric data attributable to the at least three individual color wavelength bands; calculating, for each of the at least three individual color wavelength bands, an exposure amount X2 based on the respective average image density D2 and the correction amount K2; and using the fetched density relationship information to obtain, for each exposure amount X2, a corrected exposure amount X1, wherein the corrected exposure amount X1 is equivalent to an exposure amount obtained by photometrically measuring the image using photometric measuring means exhibiting a spectral sensitivity distribution equivalent to a spectral sensitivity distribution Si(λ) of the copying material; and controlling the copying apparatus to expose the copying material to the image with the corrected exposure amount X1.

Claim 21

An apparatus for determining exposure amount in a copying apparatus for copying an image onto a copying material, comprising: photometric measuring means for effecting photometry by dividing the image recorded on a recording material into a plurality of pixels and by separating each pixel into a plurality of color wavelength bands, thereby generating, for each pixel, photometric data attributable to each of the plurality of color wavelength bands; storage means for storing the photometric data; and a controller for calculating an exposure amount X1 which corresponds to an image density obtained by photometrically measuring the image using photometric measuring means exhibiting a spectral sensitivity distribution equivalent to a spectral sensitivity distribution of the copying material, and for controlling the copying apparatus to expose the copying material to the image, with the calculated exposure amount, wherein said controller: fetches a plurality of stored main-component spectral distributions e(λ) which are determined in advance; estimates a spectral distribution T(λ) of the image using the main-component spectral distributions e(λ) and the photometric data attributable to each of the plurality of color wavelength bands; fetches a stored spectral sensitivity distribution Si(λ) of the copying material which is determined in advance; determines, for each of at least three individual color wavelength bands which are a subset of the plurality of color wavelength bands, an average image density D1 using the spectral distribution T(λ) and the spectral sensitivity distribution of the copying material Si(λ); calculates, for each average image density D1, a correction amount K2 on the basis of the photometric data attributable to the at least three individual color wavelength bands contributing to said image density D1; obtains, for each correction amount K2, a corresponding adjusted correction amount K1 based on the spectral sensitivity distribution of the copying material Si(λ); and calculates, for each of the at least three individual color wavelength bands contributing to said image density D1, the exposure amount X1 based on the respective average image density D1 and the adjusted correction amount K1.

Claim 22

An apparatus for determining exposure amount in a copying apparatus for copying an image onto a copying material, comprising: photometric measuring means for effecting photometry by dividing the image recorded on a recording material into a plurality of pixels and by separating each pixel into a plurality of color wavelength bands, thereby generating, for each pixel, photometric data attributable to each of the plurality of color wavelength bands; storage means for storing the photometric data; and a controller for calculating an exposure amount X1 which corresponds to an image density obtained by photometrically measuring the image using photometric measuring means exhibiting a spectral sensitivity distribution equivalent to a spectral sensitivity distribution of the copying material, and for controlling the copying apparatus to expose the copying material to the image, with the calculated exposure amount, wherein said controller: fetches a plurality of stored main-component spectral distributions e(λ) which are determined in advance; estimates a spectral distribution T(λ) of the image using the main-component spectral distributions e(λ) and the photometric data attributable to each of the plurality of color wavelength bands; fetches a stored spectral sensitivity distribution Si(λ) of the copying material which is determined in advance; determines, for each of at least three individual color wavelength bands which are a subset of the plurality of color wavelength bands, an average image density D1 using the spectral distribution T(λ) and the spectral sensitivity distribution of the copying material Si(λ); calculates, for each average image density D1, a correction amount K2 on the basis of the photometric data attributable to the at least three individual color wavelength bands contributing to said image density D1; obtains, for each correction amount K2, a corresponding adjusted correction amount K1 based on the spectral sensitivity distribution of the copying material Si(λ); and calculates, for each of the at least three individual color wavelength bands contributing to said image density D1, the exposure amount X1 based on the respective average image density D1 and the adjusted correction amount K1.

Claim 28

An apparatus for determining exposure amount in a copying apparatus for copying an image onto a copying material, comprising: photometric measuring means for effecting photometry by dividing the image recorded on a recording material into a plurality of pixels and by separating each pixel into a plurality of color wavelength bands, thereby generating, for each pixel, photometric data attributable to each of the plurality of color wavelength bands; storage means for storing the photometric data; and a controller for calculating an exposure amount X1 which corresponds to an image density obtained by photometrically measuring the image using photometric measuring means exhibiting a spectral sensitivity distribution equivalent to a spectral sensitivity distribution of the copying material, and for controlling the copying apparatus to expose the copying material to the image, with the calculated exposure amount, wherein said controller: fetches each pixel's photometric data attributable to at least three individual color wavelength bands which are a subset of the plurality of color wavelength bands; for each of the at least three individual color wavelength bands, normalizes each pixel's photometric data attributable to the at least three individual color wavelength bands such that values of the normalized photometric data attributable to the at least three individual color wavelength bands remain in a specified range; selects only those pixels which have differences between the values of the normalized photometric data attributable to the at least three individual color wavelength bands which are less than a reference value; retrieves, for only the selected pixels, photometric data attributable to all of the plurality of color wavelength bands; fetches a plurality of stored main-component spectral distributions e(λ) which are determined in advance; estimates a spectral distribution T(λ) of the image using the main-component spectral distributions e(λ) and the selected pixel's photometric data attributable to each of the plurality of color wavelength bands corresponding to the selected pixels; fetches a stored spectral sensitivity distribution Si(λ) of the copying material which is determined in advance; and determines, for each of the at least three individual color wavelength bands, the exposure amount X1 using the spectral distribution T(λ) and the spectral sensitivity distribution of the copying material Si(λ).

Claim 29

An apparatus for determining exposure amount in a copying apparatus for copying an image onto a copying material, comprising: photometric measuring means for effecting photometry by dividing the image recorded on a recording material into a plurality of pixels and by separating each pixel into a plurality of color wavelength bands, thereby generating, for each pixel, photometric data attributable to each of the plurality of color wavelength bands; storage means for storing the photometric data; and a controller for calculating an exposure amount X1 which corresponds to an image density obtained by photometrically measuring the image using photometric measuring means exhibiting a spectral sensitivity distribution equivalent to a spectral sensitivity distribution of the copying material, and for controlling the copying apparatus to expose the copying material to the image, with the calculated exposure amount, wherein said controller: fetches each pixel's photometric data attributable to at least three individual color wavelength bands which are a subset of the plurality of color wavelength bands; for each of the at least three individual color wavelength bands, normalizes each pixel's photometric data attributable to the at least three individual color wavelength bands such that values of the normalized photometric data attributable to the at least three individual color wavelength bands remain in a specified range; selects only those pixels which have differences between the values of the normalized photometric data attributable to the at least three individual color wavelength bands which are less than a reference value; retrieves, for only the selected pixels, photometric data attributable to all of the plurality of color wavelength bands; fetches a plurality of stored main-component spectral distributions e(λ) which are determined in advance; estimates a spectral distribution T(λ) of the image using the main-component spectral distributions e(λ) and the selected pixel's photometric data attributable to each of the plurality of color wavelength bands corresponding to the selected pixels; fetches a stored spectral sensitivity distribution Si(λ) of the copying material which is determined in advance; and determines, for each of the at least three individual color wavelength bands, the exposure amount X1 using the spectral distribution T(λ) and the spectral sensitivity distribution of the copying material Si(λ).

Claim 34

An apparatus for determining exposure amount in a copying apparatus for copying an image recorded on a negative film onto a copying material, the negative film having recorded thereon film type information, comprising: reading means for reading from the negative film the film type information; photometric measuring means for effecting photometry by dividing the image recorded on a recording material into a plurality of pixels and by separating each pixel into at least three individual color wavelength bands, thereby generating, for each pixel, photometric data attributable to each of the at least three individual color wavelength bands; storage means for storing the photometric data; and a controller for calculating an exposure amount X1 which corresponds to an image density obtained by photometrically measuring the image using photometric measuring means exhibiting a spectral sensitivity distribution equivalent to a spectral sensitivity distribution of the copying material, and for controlling the copying apparatus to expose the copying material to the image, with the calculated exposure amount, wherein said controller: fetches, based on the film type information, stored density relationship information which defines a relationship between an image density of the negative film and an image density of the copying material; calculates, for each of the at least three individual color wavelength bands, an average image density D2 based on a sum of the corresponding photometric data of all of the pixels; calculates, for each average image density D2, a correction amount K2 on the basis of the photometric data attributable to the at least three individual color wavelength bands; calculates, for each of the at least three individual color wavelength bands, an exposure amount X2 based on the respective average image density D2 and the correction amount K2; and uses the fetched density relationship information to obtain, for each exposure amount X2, the exposure amount X1.

Claim 35

An apparatus for determining exposure amount in a copying apparatus for copying an image recorded on a negative film onto a copying material, the negative film having recorded thereon film type information, comprising: reading means for reading from the negative film the film type information; photometric measuring means for effecting photometry by dividing the image recorded on a recording material into a plurality of pixels and by separating each pixel into at least three individual color wavelength bands, thereby generating, for each pixel, photometric data attributable to each of the at least three individual color wavelength bands; storage means for storing the photometric data; and a controller for calculating an exposure amount X1 which corresponds to an image density obtained by photometrically measuring the image using photometric measuring means exhibiting a spectral sensitivity distribution equivalent to a spectral sensitivity distribution of the copying material, and for controlling the copying apparatus to expose the copying material to the image, with the calculated exposure amount, wherein said controller: fetches, based on the film type information, stored density relationship information which defines a relationship between an image density of the negative film and an image density of the copying material; calculates, for each of the at least three individual color wavelength bands, an average image density D2 based on a sum of the corresponding photometric data of all of the pixels; calculates, for each average image density D2, a correction amount K2 on the basis of the photometric data attributable to the at least three individual color wavelength bands; calculates, for each of the at least three individual color wavelength bands, an exposure amount X2 based on the respective average image density D2 and the correction amount K2; and uses the fetched density relationship information to obtain, for each exposure amount X2, the exposure amount X1.