US5699450A — Detector array method and apparatus for real time…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 219 words

A method of determining the quality of printed colors from a test color patch produced in a color printing apparatus, the method comprising: generating a color patch by the color printing apparatus; producing a reflected light source C total by reflecting a first light source from the color patch; passing 1 st to Z th portions of the reflected light source C total through respective 1 st to Z th color filters to produce a set of Z primary color light signals C 1 . . . C Z ; producing a set of Z×M attenuated color light signals by selectively attenuating the set of Z primary color light signals C 1 . . . C Z with a spatial light modulator unit including a Z×M array of spatial light modulators having transmission coefficients given by: ##EQU3## receiving the set of Z×M attenuated color light signals on a Z×M photoconductive array corresponding to said Z×M array of spatial light modulators; and, generating a set of 1×M light flux intensity signals I out by the Z×M photoconductive array, each of the 1 st to M th light flux intensity signals corresponding to a weighted sum of light intensity of the 1 st to Z th portions of the reflected light source according to: I out =C total *T total .

Claim 2

Independent Claim 219 words

A method of determining the quality of printed colors from a test color patch produced in a color printing apparatus, the method comprising: generating a color patch by the color printing apparatus; producing a reflected light source C total by reflecting a first light source from the color patch; passing 1 st to Z th portions of the reflected light source C total through respective 1 st to Z th color filters to produce a set of Z primary color light signals C 1 . . . C Z ; producing a set of Z×M attenuated color light signals by selectively attenuating the set of Z primary color light signals C 1 . . . C Z with a spatial light modulator unit including a Z×M array of spatial light modulators having transmission coefficients given by: ##EQU3## receiving the set of Z×M attenuated color light signals on a Z×M photoconductive array corresponding to said Z×M array of spatial light modulators; and, generating a set of 1×M light flux intensity signals I out by the Z×M photoconductive array, each of the 1 st to M th light flux intensity signals corresponding to a weighted sum of light intensity of the 1 st to Z th portions of the reflected light source according to: I out =C total *T total .

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 43 words

The method according to claim 1 further comprising the step of generating a color quality control signal for use by the color printing apparatus by comparing the generated set of 1×M light flux intensity signals I out with an expected color quality vector.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 156 words

The method according to claim 2 further comprising the steps of: adjusting the transmission coefficients of said spatial light modulator unit; producing a second set of Z×M attenuated color light signals by selectively attenuating the set of Z primary color light signals C 1 . . . C Z with said spatial light modulator unit including said Z×M array of spatial light modulators having second transmission coefficients given by: ##EQU4## receiving the second set of Z×M attenuated color light signals on said Z×M photoconductive array corresponding to said Z×M array of spatial light modulators; and, generating a second set of 1×M light flux intensity signals I' out by the Z×M photoconductive array, each of the second 1 st to M th light flux intensity signals corresponding to a weighted sum of light intensity of the 1 st to Z th portions of the reflected light source according to: I' out =C' total , T' total .

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 46 words

The method according to claim 3 further comprising the step of generating a second color quality control signal for use by the color printing apparatus by comparing the second generated set of 1×M light flux intensity signals I' out with a second expected color quality vector.

Claim 6

Independent Claim 172 words

A system for color quality control by processing color patch information to generate color quality feedback signals for use by an operatively associated printing apparatus, the system comprising: a light sensor matrix for generating a first set of feedback signals, during a normal operation time of the operatively associated printing apparatus, based on a first matrix of light signals incident on the light sensor matrix; a color filter array disposed between the light sensor matrix and a color patch, provided by the operatively associated printing apparatus, the color filter array filtering light reflected from the color patch to produce a set of filtered light signals; a spatial light modulator array disposed between said color filter array and said light sensor matrix, for attenuating said set of filtered light signals to generate a matrix of attenuated light signals for use by the light sensor matrix as said first matrix of light signals; and, a plurality of signal lines for directly communicating said first set of feedback signals to said operatively associated printing apparatus.

Claim 7

Independent Claim 172 words

A system for color quality control by processing color patch information to generate color quality feedback signals for use by an operatively associated printing apparatus, the system comprising: a light sensor matrix for generating a first set of feedback signals, during a normal operation time of the operatively associated printing apparatus, based on a first matrix of light signals incident on the light sensor matrix; a color filter array disposed between the light sensor matrix and a color patch, provided by the operatively associated printing apparatus, the color filter array filtering light reflected from the color patch to produce a set of filtered light signals; a spatial light modulator array disposed between said color filter array and said light sensor matrix, for attenuating said set of filtered light signals to generate a matrix of attenuated light signals for use by the light sensor matrix as said first matrix of light signals; and, a plurality of signal lines for directly communicating said first set of feedback signals to said operatively associated printing apparatus.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 37 words

The system according to claim 5 wherein said light sensor matrix is a photoconductive matrix for generating a first set of analog current signals based on said first matrix of light signals incident on the photoconductive matrix.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 41 words

The system according to claim 6 wherein said spatial light modulator is responsive to a matrix of attenuation signals from an external signal source for selectively attenuating said set of filtered light signals to generate said matrix of attenuated light signals.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 29 words

The system according to claim 7 further comprising means for performing a non-linear matrix mapping of said set of filtered light signals into said first set of feedback signals.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 73 words

The system according to claim 8 wherein said means for preforming said non-linear matrix mapping includes: a second spatial light modulator array responsive to said first set of analog current signals from the photoconductive matrix and a second light signal to generate a second matrix of attenuated light signals; and, a second light sensor matrix for generating a second set of analog current signals based on said second matrix of attenuated light signals.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 186 words

A color control system in a printing apparatus, configured to generate a color patch on one of a drum or belt of the printing apparatus or document in the printing apparatus, during a printing operation, the system comprising: a color filter array for filtering light reflected from the color patch by said printing apparatus to produce a first set of filtered light signals, wherein the color patch is one of the drum, belt or document; a light modulator array for attenuating the light reflected from the color patch to produce a first set of attenuated light signals, wherein the arrangement relationship between the color filter and the light attenuator array is alterable, whereby the light reflected from the color patch can be first filtered then attenuated or first attenuated and then filtered; a light sensor array for generating a first set of feedback signals based on a first set of light signals incident on the light sensor array which have been filtered and attenuated; and, a plurality of signal lines for communicating said first set of feedback signals to said printing apparatus, during normal printer operation.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 186 words

A color control system in a printing apparatus, configured to generate a color patch on one of a drum or belt of the printing apparatus or document in the printing apparatus, during a printing operation, the system comprising: a color filter array for filtering light reflected from the color patch by said printing apparatus to produce a first set of filtered light signals, wherein the color patch is one of the drum, belt or document; a light modulator array for attenuating the light reflected from the color patch to produce a first set of attenuated light signals, wherein the arrangement relationship between the color filter and the light attenuator array is alterable, whereby the light reflected from the color patch can be first filtered then attenuated or first attenuated and then filtered; a light sensor array for generating a first set of feedback signals based on a first set of light signals incident on the light sensor array which have been filtered and attenuated; and, a plurality of signal lines for communicating said first set of feedback signals to said printing apparatus, during normal printer operation.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 21 words

The color control system according to claim 10 wherein said light modulator array is a static pre-programmed spatial light modulator array.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 38 words

The color control system according to claim 10 wherein said light modulator array is programmable and responsive to a set of attenuation control signals from an external source for selectively attenuating said first set of filtered light signals.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 32 words

The color control system according to claim 10 further comprising means for performing a non-linear matrix mapping of said light reflected from said color patch into said first set of feedback signals.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 60 words

The color control system according to claim 13 wherein said means for performing said non-linear matrix mapping includes: a second light modulator array responsive to i) signals from said light sensor array and ii) a second light source for generating a set of attenuated light signals; and, a second light sensor array for generating a second set of feedback signals.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 105 words

A color control system comprising: a light sensor device for generating a plurality of feedback signals in response to a first plurality of light signals incident on the light sensor device; a programmable spatial light modulator array for attenuating light reflected from a color patch to produce a plurality of attenuated light signals, responsive to a set of attenuation signals; a color filter device for filtering said plurality of attenuated light signals to produce said first plurality of light signals for use by said light sensor device; and, a plurality of signal lines for communicating said plurality of feedback signals from said color control system.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 105 words

A color control system comprising: a light sensor device for generating a plurality of feedback signals in response to a first plurality of light signals incident on the light sensor device; a programmable spatial light modulator array for attenuating light reflected from a color patch to produce a plurality of attenuated light signals, responsive to a set of attenuation signals; a color filter device for filtering said plurality of attenuated light signals to produce said first plurality of light signals for use by said light sensor device; and, a plurality of signal lines for communicating said plurality of feedback signals from said color control system.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 27 words

The color control system according to claim 15 wherein said color filter device is disposed between said programmable spatial light modulator array and said light sensor device.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 31 words

The color control system according to claim 17 wherein said light sensor device is a photoconductive array for generating a first set of analog signals as said plurality of feedback signals.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 31 words

The color control system according to claim 17 further comprising means for performing a non-linear mapping of said light reflected from said printed color patch into said plurality of feedback signals.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 81 words

The color control system according to claim 18 wherein said means for performing said non-linear mapping includes: a second programmable spatial light modulator array responsive to i) said first set of analog signals from the photoconductive array and ii) a second light signal to produce a second plurality of attenuated light signals; and, a second light sensor device for generating a second set of analog signals as said plurality of feedback signals based on said second plurality of attenuated light signals.

Claim 24

Independent Claim 199 words

A method of determining the quality of printed colors from a test color patch produced in a color printing apparatus, the method comprising: generating a color patch by the color printing apparatus; producing a reflected light source by reflecting a first light source from the color patch; passing 1 st to Z th portions of the reflected light source through respective 1 st to Z th color filters to produce a set of Z primary color light signals; producing a set of Z×M attenuated color light signals by selectively attenuating the set of Z primary color light signals with a spatial light modulator unit including a Z×M array of spatial light modulators having transmission coefficients given by: ##EQU5## receiving the set of Z×M attenuated color light signals on a Z×M photoconductive array corresponding to said Z×M array of spatial light modulators; generating a set of 1×M light flux intensity signals I out by the Z×M photoconductive array, each of the 1 st to M th light flux intensity signals corresponding to a weighted sum of light intensity of the 1 st to Z th portions of the reflected light source, according to: I out =C total *T total .

Claim 25

Independent Claim 199 words

A method of determining the quality of printed colors from a test color patch produced in a color printing apparatus, the method comprising: generating a color patch by the color printing apparatus; producing a reflected light source by reflecting a first light source from the color patch; passing 1 st to Z th portions of the reflected light source through respective 1 st to Z th color filters to produce a set of Z primary color light signals; producing a set of Z×M attenuated color light signals by selectively attenuating the set of Z primary color light signals with a spatial light modulator unit including a Z×M array of spatial light modulators having transmission coefficients given by: ##EQU5## receiving the set of Z×M attenuated color light signals on a Z×M photoconductive array corresponding to said Z×M array of spatial light modulators; generating a set of 1×M light flux intensity signals I out by the Z×M photoconductive array, each of the 1 st to M th light flux intensity signals corresponding to a weighted sum of light intensity of the 1 st to Z th portions of the reflected light source, according to: I out =C total *T total .

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	2000-12-15	2001-06-16	2001-12-16	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2004-12-15	2005-06-16	2005-12-16	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2008-12-15	2009-06-16	2009-12-16	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Detector array method and apparatus for real time in situ color control in printers and copiers

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