US5670985A — System and method for adjusting the output of an …

Claim 1

Independent Claim 156 words

A system for compensating the output of an output device for reflected ambient illumination, the system comprising: an output device having a controllable output and an input for receiving an output signal to be output on the output device; a processor, having inputs and outputs, an output of the processor coupled to the output device; and a memory, having inputs and outputs coupled to receive signals from and to send signals to the processor, the memory including routines for displaying a first set of discrete display regions on the output device, each display region in the first set having a different optical characteristic to provide a first range of optical characteristics for comparison to a reflection device with predetermined reflectivity characteristics, and routines for controlling the processor to adjust the output signal based upon a first selected display region chosen from the first set of discrete display regions to compensate for the effects of ambient illumination.

Claim 2

Independent Claim 156 words

A system for compensating the output of an output device for reflected ambient illumination, the system comprising: an output device having a controllable output and an input for receiving an output signal to be output on the output device; a processor, having inputs and outputs, an output of the processor coupled to the output device; and a memory, having inputs and outputs coupled to receive signals from and to send signals to the processor, the memory including routines for displaying a first set of discrete display regions on the output device, each display region in the first set having a different optical characteristic to provide a first range of optical characteristics for comparison to a reflection device with predetermined reflectivity characteristics, and routines for controlling the processor to adjust the output signal based upon a first selected display region chosen from the first set of discrete display regions to compensate for the effects of ambient illumination.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 71 words

The system of claim 1, wherein the memory includes routines for displaying a second set of discrete display regions on the output device, the second set of discrete display regions including the first selected display region, the second set of discrete display regions providing a second range of optical characteristics for comparison to the reflection device, the second range of optical characteristics being narrower than the first range of optical characteristics.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 11 words

The system of claim 2, wherein the optical characteristic is color.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 11 words

The system of claim 2, wherein the optical characteristic is intensity.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 49 words

The system of claim 1, wherein the memory comprises: a calibration memory, having inputs and outputs coupled to the processor, for storing display characteristics of the output device; and a reflectivity memory, having inputs and outputs coupled to the processor, for storing the reflectivity characteristics of the output device.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 17 words

The system of claim 5, wherein the calibration memory and the refelctivity memory are read only memories.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 85 words

The system of claim 5, wherein the memory further comprises: a K 1 memory, having inputs and outputs coupled to the processor, for storing the reflectivity characteristics of the reflection device, the reflectivity characteristics of the reflection device including a first reflectivity constant; and a program memory, having inputs and outputs coupled to the processor, for storing routines for controlling the processor for determining the ambient illumination and compensating the output of the output device for the ambient illumination reflectivity memory are read only memories.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 28 words

The system of claim 7, wherein the routines for controlling the processor determines the ambient illumination using the reflectivity characteristics of the output device and the reflection device.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 40 words

The system of claim 7, wherein the memory further comprises a pointer memory, having inputs and outputs coupled to the processor, for storing, in response to commands from the processor, an adjustment made to the output of the output device.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 46 words

The system of claim 7, wherein the memory further comprises a compensated output memory, having inputs and outputs coupled to the processor, for storing, in response to commands from the processor, bias values for the output device compensated for ambient illumination reflected from the output device.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 14 words

The system of claim 7, wherein the processor further comprises a current time generator.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 35 words

The system of claim 11, wherein the compensated output memory also stores, with each set of compensated bias values, a record of the time at which such compensated bias values were generated by the processor.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 55 words

The system of claim 12, wherein the program memory further comprises: a time comparator for comparing the current time to data stored in the compensated output memory; and an output adjuster, in communication with the time comparator, for automatically adjusting the output of the output device according to data stored in the compensated output memory.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 13 words

The system of claim 1, wherein the output device is a computer monitor.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 28 words

The system of claim 14, wherein the computer monitor is one from the group of: a cathode ray tube, a liquid crystal display, and a gas discharge display.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 12 words

The system of claim 1, wherein the output device is a printer.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 13 words

The system of claim 1, wherein the output device is a photograph developer.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 18 words

The system of claim 1, wherein the reflection device has uniform reflectivity for all wavelengths of visible light.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 13 words

The system of claim 1, wherein the reflection device is an achromatic card.

Claim 21

Independent Claim 121 words

A method for compensating the output of an output device for reflected ambient illumination, the method comprising the steps of: providing a reflection device, having predetermined reflectivity characteristics, for comparing to the output of the output device; adjusting the output of the output device to match the reflection device by selecting one of a plurality of output regions that matches the reflection device; determining the tristimulus values of the output device at the adjusted level; determining the ambient illumination reflected from the output device using the determined tristimulus values and reflectivity characteristics of the reflection device and the output device; and calibrating the output device to remove the effect of the reflected ambient illumination from the output of the output device.

Claim 22

Independent Claim 121 words

A method for compensating the output of an output device for reflected ambient illumination, the method comprising the steps of: providing a reflection device, having predetermined reflectivity characteristics, for comparing to the output of the output device; adjusting the output of the output device to match the reflection device by selecting one of a plurality of output regions that matches the reflection device; determining the tristimulus values of the output device at the adjusted level; determining the ambient illumination reflected from the output device using the determined tristimulus values and reflectivity characteristics of the reflection device and the output device; and calibrating the output device to remove the effect of the reflected ambient illumination from the output of the output device.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 39 words

The method of claim 20, wherein the step of determining the ambient illumination comprises the steps of: calculating tristimulus values of the ambient illumination reflected from the output device; and generating a signal according to the calculated tristimulus values.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 38 words

The method of claim 21, wherein the step of calibrating comprises the step of applying the signal to reduce the bias of the output device by the tristimulus value of the ambient illumination reflected by the output device.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 18 words

The method of claim 21, wherein the signal generated in the generaling step is stored in a memory.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 53 words

The method of claim 21, wherein the step of adjusting comprises the steps of: displaying on the output device a first output region and a second output region that differs by a known amount in color; and selecting one of the first or second output regions that most closely matches the reflection device.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 53 words

The method of claim 21, wherein the step of adjusting comprises the steps of: displaying on the output device a first output region and a second output region that differs by a known amount in intensity; and selecting one of the first or second output regions that most closely matches the reflection device.

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 33 words

The method of claim 24, wherein the step of adjusting further comprises the steps of: designating the selected output region as the first output region; and repeating the steps of displaying and selecting.

Claim 29

Dependent Claim 28 words

The method of claim 24 wherein the first output region and the second output region are confined to outputs approximately described by the black body radiation of platinum.

Claim 30

Independent Claim 226 words

A system for adjusting color and intensity to compensate for ambient illumination, the system comprising: an output device having a controllable output and an input for receiving an output signal to be output on the output device, the output device having predetermined reflectivity characteristics; a first means, having inputs and outputs coupled to the output device, for calibrating the output device to a reference output; a first adjustment means, having inputs and outputs coupled to the first means and the output device, for generating a signal to adjust the output of the output device; a determining means, having inputs and outputs coupled to the first means, for determining the tristimulus values of the output device at the adjusted level; a calculating means, having inputs and outputs coupled to the first means, the first adjustment means, and the output device, for calculating the ambient illumination reflected from the output device using the determined tristimulus values of the output device, the reflectivity characteristics of the output device, and the reflectivity characteristics of the reference output; and a second adjustment means, having inputs and outputs coupled to the first means, the first adjustment means, the calculating means, and the output device, for generating a signal to adjust the output of the output device by the amount, calculated by the calculating means, of ambient illumination reflected from the output device.

Claim 31

Independent Claim 226 words

A system for adjusting color and intensity to compensate for ambient illumination, the system comprising: an output device having a controllable output and an input for receiving an output signal to be output on the output device, the output device having predetermined reflectivity characteristics; a first means, having inputs and outputs coupled to the output device, for calibrating the output device to a reference output; a first adjustment means, having inputs and outputs coupled to the first means and the output device, for generating a signal to adjust the output of the output device; a determining means, having inputs and outputs coupled to the first means, for determining the tristimulus values of the output device at the adjusted level; a calculating means, having inputs and outputs coupled to the first means, the first adjustment means, and the output device, for calculating the ambient illumination reflected from the output device using the determined tristimulus values of the output device, the reflectivity characteristics of the output device, and the reflectivity characteristics of the reference output; and a second adjustment means, having inputs and outputs coupled to the first means, the first adjustment means, the calculating means, and the output device, for generating a signal to adjust the output of the output device by the amount, calculated by the calculating means, of ambient illumination reflected from the output device.

Claim 32

Independent Claim 119 words

A method for compensating the output of an output device for reflected ambient illumination, the method comprising: providing a reflection device, having predetermined reflectivity characteristics, for comparing to the output of the output device; displaying a first set of discrete display regions on the output device, each display region in the first set having a different optical characteristic to provide a first range of optical characteristics; comparing the optical characteristics of the first set of discrete display regions to the reflection device; selecting a first selected display region from the first set of discrete display regions; and adjusting the output of the output device based upon the first selected display region to compensate for the effects of ambient illumination.

Claim 33

Independent Claim 119 words

A method for compensating the output of an output device for reflected ambient illumination, the method comprising: providing a reflection device, having predetermined reflectivity characteristics, for comparing to the output of the output device; displaying a first set of discrete display regions on the output device, each display region in the first set having a different optical characteristic to provide a first range of optical characteristics; comparing the optical characteristics of the first set of discrete display regions to the reflection device; selecting a first selected display region from the first set of discrete display regions; and adjusting the output of the output device based upon the first selected display region to compensate for the effects of ambient illumination.

Claim 34

Dependent Claim 104 words

The method of claim 29, further comprising: displaying a second set of discrete display regions on the output device, the second set of discrete display regions including the first selected display region, the second set of discrete display regions providing a second range of display characteristics for comparison to the reflection device, the second range of optical characteristics being narrower than the first range of display characteristics; selecting a second selected display region from the second set of discrete display regions; and adjusting the output of the output device based upon the second selected display region to compensate for the effects of ambient illumination.

Claim 35

Dependent Claim 11 words

The method of claim 30, wherein the optical characteristic is color.

Claim 36

Dependent Claim 11 words

The method of claim 30, wherein the optical characteristic is intensity.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	2000-09-22	2001-03-24	2001-09-23	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2004-09-22	2005-03-24	2005-09-23	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2008-09-22	2009-03-24	2009-09-23	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

System and method for adjusting the output of an output device to compensate for ambient illumination

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