Color reproduction correction device and correction method for an imaging apparatus

Claim 2

A color reproduction correction device for an imaging apparatus that obtains color signals having a plurality of spectral characteristics by imaging an object, and generates a color image to be displayed by subjecting the color signals to signal processing, the color reproduction correction device comprising: a light illuminating source inferring device for inferring an illuminating light source; memory means that stores, for each of a plurality of illuminating light sources, constants for correction matrix operations; and an operating means that extracts from the memory means the correction matrix constants corresponding to the inferred illuminating light source, at the time of the imaging, and performs correction matrix operations on the color signals to be reproduced, wherein the constants of the correction matrix operations are determined by minimizing a mean value of an absolute value of distances between: (a) corresponding color positions on a uniform color space, obtained by converting positions of each of a plurality of colors of the object illuminated by its respective inferred illuminating light source, into the corresponding positions on the uniform color space for a display device; and (b) corresponding color positions on the uniform color space of color signals corresponding to respective colors of the object obtained when output color signals are produced by applying correction matrix operations to the color signals of the imaging apparatus illuminating light source, and are displayed by the display device, and wherein a reference white color of the display device is different than a reference white color of the illuminating light source.

Claim 3

The color reproduction correction device for an imaging apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the light illuminating source inferring device infers the type of the illuminating light source based on white balance control signals used for white balance processing of the plurality of color signals.

Claim 4

The color reproduction correction device for an imaging apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein the the correction matrix operations, for each of the plurality of color signals following the correction operation, is expressed as the sum of: a) one color signal of the plurality of color signals; and b) values obtained by multiplying each of a plurality of difference signals between the plurality of color signals by a constant.

Claim 5

The color reproduction correction device for an imaging apparatus according to claim 3 , wherein the operating means performs correction matrix operations on a plurality of color signals by performing white balance processing on the plurality of color signals.

Claim 6

The color reproduction correction device for an imaging apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein the correction matrix operations, for each of the plurality of color signals following the correction operation, is expressed as the sum of: a) one color signal of the plurality of color signals; and b) values obtained by multiplying each of a plurality of difference signals between the plurality of color signals by a constant.

Claim 7

The color reproduction correction device for an imaging apparatus according to claim 5 , wherein the operating means performs correction matrix operations on a plurality of color signals by performing white balance processing on the plurality of color signals.

Claim 8

The color reproduction correction device for an imaging apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the operating means performs correction matrix operations on a plurality of color signals by performing white balance processing on the plurality of color signals.

Claim 9

A color reproduction correction device for an imaging apparatus that obtains color signals having a plurality of spectral characteristics by imaging an object, and generates a color image to be displayed by subjecting the color signals to signal processing, the color reproduction correction device comprising: a light illuminating source inferring device for inferring an illuminating light source; memory means that stores, for each of a plurality of illuminating light sources, constants for correction matrix operations; a constant inferring means which infers correction matrix constants that approximates most closely the illuminating light source inferred by the light illuminating source inferring device, based on the constants stored in the memory means at the time of imaging; and an operating means which perform correction matrix operations on the color signals based on the correction matrix constants output by the constant inferring means, wherein the constants of the correction matrix operations are determined by minimizing a mean value of an absolute value of distances between: (a) corresponding color positions on a uniform color space, obtained by converting positions of each of a plurality of colors of the object illuminated by its respective inferred illuminating light source, into the corresponding positions on the uniform color space for a display device; and (b) corresponding color positions on the uniform color space of color signals corresponding to respective colors of the object obtained when output color signals are produced by applying correction matrix operations to the color signals of the imaging apparatus illuminating light source, and are displayed by the display device; wherein a reference white color of the display device is different than a reference white color of the illuminating light source.

Claim 10

A color reproduction correction device for an imaging apparatus that obtains color signals having a plurality of spectral characteristics by imaging an object, and generates a color image to be displayed by subjecting the color signals to signal processing, the color reproduction correction device comprising: a light illuminating source inferring device for inferring an illuminating light source; memory means that stores, for each of a plurality of illuminating light sources, constants for correction matrix operations; a constant inferring means which infers correction matrix constants that approximates most closely the illuminating light source inferred by the light illuminating source inferring device, based on the constants stored in the memory means at the time of imaging; and an operating means which perform correction matrix operations on the color signals based on the correction matrix constants output by the constant inferring means, wherein the constants of the correction matrix operations are determined by minimizing a mean value of an absolute value of distances between: (a) corresponding color positions on a uniform color space, obtained by converting positions of each of a plurality of colors of the object illuminated by its respective inferred illuminating light source, into the corresponding positions on the uniform color space for a display device; and (b) corresponding color positions on the uniform color space of color signals corresponding to respective colors of the object obtained when output color signals are produced by applying correction matrix operations to the color signals of the imaging apparatus illuminating light source, and are displayed by the display device; wherein a reference white color of the display device is different than a reference white color of the illuminating light source.

Claim 11

The color reproduction correction device for an imaging apparatus according to claim 8 , wherein the color signals with a plurality of spectral characteristics are selected so that any variation in the correction matrix constants applied to difference signals between the plurality of color signals in the correction matrix of the respective color signals is minimized.

Claim 12

The color reproduction correction device for an imaging apparatus according to claim 9 , wherein the correction matrix operations, for each of the plurality of color signals following the correction operation, is expressed as the sum of: a) one color signal of the plurality of color signals; and b) values obtained by multiplying each of a plurality of difference signals between the plurality of color signals by a constant.

Claim 13

The color reproduction correction device for an imaging apparatus according to claim 10 , wherein the light illuminating source inferring device infers the type of the illuminating light source based on the white balance control signals used for white balance processing of the plurality of color signals.

Claim 14

The color reproduction correction device for an imaging apparatus according to claim 9 , wherein the operating means performs correction matrix operations on a plurality of color signals by performing white balance processing on the plurality of color signals.

Claim 15

The color reproduction correction device for an imaging apparatus according to claim 8 , wherein the correction matrix operations, for each of the plurality of color signals following the correction operation, is expressed as the sum of: a) one color signal of the plurality of color signals; and b) values obtained by multiplying each of a plurality of difference signals between the plurality of color signals by a constant.

Claim 16

The color reproduction correction device for an imaging apparatus according to claim 13 , wherein the light illuminating source inferring device infers the type of the illuminating light source based on white balance control signals used for white balance processing of the plurality of color signals.

Claim 17

The color reproduction correction device for an imaging apparatus according to claim 14 , wherein the operating means performs correction matrix operations on a plurality of color signals by performing white balance processing on the plurality of color signals.

Claim 18

The color reproduction correction device for an imaging apparatus according to claim 13 , wherein the operating means performs correction matrix operations on a plurality of color signals by performing white balance processing on the plurality of color signals.

Claim 19

The color reproduction correction device for an imaging apparatus according to claim 8 , wherein the light illuminating source inferring device infers the type of the illuminating light source based on white balance control signals used for white balance processing of the plurality of color signals.

Claim 20

The color reproduction correction device for an imaging apparatus according to claim 17 , wherein the operating means performs correction matrix operations on a plurality of color signals by performing white balance processing on the plurality of color signals.

Claim 21

The color reproduction correction device for an imaging apparatus according to claim 8 , wherein the operating means performs correction matrix operations on a plurality of color signals by performing white balance processing on the plurality of color signals.

Claim 22

A color reproduction correction method for an imaging apparatus that obtains color signals having a plurality of spectral characteristics by imaging an object, and generates a color image to be displayed by subjecting the color signals to signal processing, the color reproduction correction method comprising the steps of: inferring a light illuminating source; storing for each of a plurality of illuminating light sources, constants for correction matrix operations in a memory means; and extracting from the memory means the correction matrix constants corresponding to the inferred illuminating light source, at the time of the imaging, and performs correction matrix operations on the color signals to be reproduced, wherein the constants of the correction matrix operations are determined by minimizing a mean value of an absolute value of distances between: (a) corresponding color positions on a uniform color space, obtained by converting positions of each of a plurality of colors of the object illuminated by its respective inferred illuminating light source, into the corresponding positions on the uniform color space for a display device; and (b) corresponding color positions on the uniform color space of color signals corresponding to respective colors of the object obtained when output color signals are produced by applying correction matrix operations to the color signals of the imaging apparatus illuminating light source, and are displayed by the display device; wherein a reference white color of the display device is different than a reference white color of the illuminating light source.

Claim 23

A color reproduction correction method for an imaging apparatus that obtains color signals having a plurality of spectral characteristics by imaging an object, and generates a color image to be displayed by subjecting the color signals to signal processing, the color reproduction correction method comprising the steps of: inferring a light illuminating source; storing for each of a plurality of illuminating light sources, constants for correction matrix operations in a memory means; and extracting from the memory means the correction matrix constants corresponding to the inferred illuminating light source, at the time of the imaging, and performs correction matrix operations on the color signals to be reproduced, wherein the constants of the correction matrix operations are determined by minimizing a mean value of an absolute value of distances between: (a) corresponding color positions on a uniform color space, obtained by converting positions of each of a plurality of colors of the object illuminated by its respective inferred illuminating light source, into the corresponding positions on the uniform color space for a display device; and (b) corresponding color positions on the uniform color space of color signals corresponding to respective colors of the object obtained when output color signals are produced by applying correction matrix operations to the color signals of the imaging apparatus illuminating light source, and are displayed by the display device; wherein a reference white color of the display device is different than a reference white color of the illuminating light source.

Claim 24

The color reproduction correction method for an imaging apparatus according to claim 20 , wherein the light illuminating source inferring device infers the type of the illuminating light source based on white balance control signals used for white balance processing of the plurality of color signals.

Claim 25

The color reproduction correction method for an imaging apparatus according to claim 20 , wherein the correction matrix operations, for each of the plurality of color signals following the correction operation, is expressed as the sum of: a) one color signal of the plurality of color signals; and b) values obtained by multiplying each of a plurality of difference signals between the plurality of color signals by a constant.

Claim 26

The color reproduction correction method for an imaging apparatus according to claim 20 , wherein the operating means performs correction matrix operations on a plurality of color signals by performing white balance processing on the plurality of color signals.

Claim 27

A color reproduction correction method for an imaging apparatus that obtains color signals having a plurality of spectral characteristics by imaging an object, and generates a color image to be displayed by subjecting the color signals to signal processing, the color reproduction correction method comprising the steps of: inferring a light illuminating source; storing for each of a plurality of illuminating light sources, constants for correction matrix operations in a memory means; inferring correction matrix constants that approximate most closely the illuminating light source inferred by the light illuminating source inferring device, based on the constants stored in the memory means at the time of imaging; and performing correction matrix operations on the color signals based on the correction matrix constants output by the constant inferring means, wherein the constants of the correction matrix operations are determined by calculating a mean value of an absolute value of a distance between corresponding color positions on a uniform color space, obtained by converting positions of each of a plurality of colors of the object imaged, illuminated by its respective inferred illuminating light source, into the corresponding positions on the uniform color space for a display device, and wherein a reference white light of the display device is different than a reference white light of the illuminating light source and the positions of color signals corresponding to respective colors of the object imaged on the uniform color space that are obtained when output color signals produced by applying correction matrix operations to the color signals of the imaging apparatus displayed by the display device, are minimized.

Claim 28

A color reproduction correction method for an imaging apparatus that obtains color signals having a plurality of spectral characteristics by imaging an object, and generates a color image to be displayed by subjecting the color signals to signal processing, the color reproduction correction method comprising the steps of: inferring a light illuminating source; storing for each of a plurality of illuminating light sources, constants for correction matrix operations in a memory means; inferring correction matrix constants that approximate most closely the illuminating light source inferred by the light illuminating source inferring device, based on the constants stored in the memory means at the time of imaging; and performing correction matrix operations on the color signals based on the correction matrix constants output by the constant inferring means, wherein the constants of the correction matrix operations are determined by calculating a mean value of an absolute value of a distance between corresponding color positions on a uniform color space, obtained by converting positions of each of a plurality of colors of the object imaged, illuminated by its respective inferred illuminating light source, into the corresponding positions on the uniform color space for a display device, and wherein a reference white light of the display device is different than a reference white light of the illuminating light source and the positions of color signals corresponding to respective colors of the object imaged on the uniform color space that are obtained when output color signals produced by applying correction matrix operations to the color signals of the imaging apparatus displayed by the display device, are minimized.

Claim 29

The color reproduction correction method for an imaging apparatus according to claim 24 , wherein the color signals with a plurality of spectral characteristics are selected so that any variation in the correction matrix constants applied to difference signals between the plurality of color signals in the correction matrix of the respective color signals is minimized.

Claim 30

The color reproduction correction method for an imaging apparatus according to claim 24 , wherein the correction matrix operations, for each of the plurality of color signals following the correction operation, is expressed as the sum of: a) one color signal of the plurality of color signals; and b) values obtained by multiplying each of a plurality of difference signals between the plurality of color signals by a constant.

Claim 31

The color reproduction correction method for an imaging apparatus according to claim 24 , wherein the light illuminating source inferring device infers the type of the illuminating light source based on white balance control signals used for white balance processing of the plurality of color signals.

Claim 32

The color reproduction correction method for an imaging apparatus according to claim 24 , wherein the operating means performs correction matrix operations on a plurality of color signals by performing white balance processing on the plurality of color signals.