US 5,634,795 A · Color cube model

Abstract

A three-dimensional physical model for representing the set of colors reproducible in a given medium by combining three primary colors and a base color. The model consists of a plurality of discrete elements, each representing a distinct color reproducible by combining one or more of the primary colors and base color in a unique proportion. The discrete elements may be physically assembled to form a three-dimensional cuboidal model and disassembled to enable visualization of the interior elements of the model. The model enables development of an intuitive understanding of color theory and facilitates mapping of a selected color from one color medium (such as a computer color monitor) to another color medium (such as a photographic slide).

Claims29

Dependent claims

A cuboidal physical model for representing a set of colors reproducible in a given medium by combining three primary colors and a base color, said model comprising mutually perpendicular first, second and third coordinate axes having a common origin, said model further comprising:

(a) a plurality of spaced elongate rods each extending parallel to one of said coordinate axes;
and
(b) a plurality of discrete elements slidably connected to said rods to maintain said rods in said spaced relation, wherein each of said elements comprises mutually perpendicular first, second and third apertures extending therethrough adapted for slidably receiving three of said rods extending in mutually perpendicular planes, each element having a distinct color derived by combining one or more of said primary colors and base color in selected proportions, and each element having a designated spacial position within said model relative to said origin.

A color mapping tool for mapping selected colors between first and second color media, comprising:

(a) a first model representing the set of colors reproducible in said first medium by combining a first set of primary colors and a base color in selected proportions, said first model comprising a plurality of manually connectable discrete elements each having a color derived by combining one or more of said first set of primary colors and base color in selected proportions, wherein said first model is generally cubical in shape and comprises mutually perpendicular first, second and third coordinate axes having a common origin, each of said discrete elements having a unique identifier marked thereon indicative of its designated spacial position within said first model relative to said origin;
and
(b) a second model representing the set of colors reproducible in said second medium by combining a second set of primary colors and a base color in selected proportions, said second model comprising a plurality of manually connectable discrete elements each having a color derived by combining one or more of said second set of primary colors and base color in selected proportions, wherein said second model is generally cubical in shape and comprises mutually perpendicular first, second and third coordinate axes having a common origin, each of said discrete elements having a unique identifier marked thereon indicative of its designated spacial position within said second model relative to said origin,
wherein each discrete element in said first model bears a first mapping identifier representative of the coordinate position of a discrete element in said second model having a color corresponding to the color of said first model discrete element.

1 more element

A color mapping tool for mapping selected colors between second and third color media, comprising:

(a) a first model representative of a set of colors reproducible from a first set of primary colors, said first model comprising a plurality of manually connectable discrete elements each having a color derived by combining one or more of said first set of primary colors and base color in selected proportions, wherein said first model is generally cubical in shape and comprises mutually perpendicular first, second and third coordinate axes having a common origin, each of said discrete elements having a unique identifier marked thereon indicative of its designated spacial position within said model relative to said origin;
(a) a second model representing the set of colors reproducible in said second medium by combining a second set of primary colors and a base color in different relative proportions, said second model comprising a plurality of manually connectable discrete elements each having a color derived by combining one or more of said second set of primary colors and base color in selected proportions, wherein said second model is generally cubical in shape and comprises mutually perpendicular first, second and third coordinate axes having a common origin, each of said discrete elements having a unique identifier marked thereon indicative of its designated spacial position within said second model relative to said origin;
and
(b) a third model representing the set of colors reproducible in said third medium by combining a third set of primary colors and a base color in different relative proportions, said third model comprising a plurality of manually connectable discrete elements each having a color derived by combining one or more of said third set of primary colors and base color in selected proportions, wherein said third model is generally cubical in shape and comprises mutually perpendicular first, second and third coordinate axes having a common origin, each of said discrete elements having a unique identifier marked thereon indicative of its designated spacial position within said third model relative to said origin;
wherein each discrete element in said second and third models bears a mapping identifier representative of the coordinate position of a discrete element in said first model having a color corresponding to the colors of said second and third model discrete elements.

2 more elements

A method of mapping a selected color from a first color medium to a second color medium, comprising the steps of:

(a) providing a color mapping tool comprising:
(i) a first model representative of a set of colors reproducible in said first medium from a first set of primary colors, said first model comprising a plurality of manually connectable discrete elements each having a color derived by combining one or more of said first set of primary colors and base color in selected proportions, wherein said first model is generally cubical in shape and comprises mutually perpendicular first, second and third coordinate axes having a common origin, each of said discrete elements having a unique identifier marked thereon indicative of its designated spacial position within said first model relative to said origin;
and
(ii) a second model representing the set of colors reproducible in said second medium by combining a second set of primary colors and a base color in different relative proportions, said second model comprising a plurality of manually connectable discrete elements each having a color derived by combining one or more of said second set of primary colors and base color in selected proportions, wherein said second model is generally cubical in shape and comprises mutually perpendicular first, second and third coordinate axes having a common origin, each of said discrete elements having a unique identifier marked thereon indicative of its designated spacial position within said second model relative to said origin,
wherein each discrete element in said first model bears a first mapping identifier representative of the coordinate position of a discrete element in said second model having a color corresponding to the color of said first model discrete element;
(b) identifying a discrete element in said first model bearing a color which most closely matches said selected color;
(c) referring to the first mapping identifier on said first model discrete element to identify the coordinate position of a discrete element in said second model having a color corresponding to said selected color;
and
(d) reproducing said selected color in said second color medium by referring to the unique identifier on said second model discrete element.

6 more elements

A method of mapping a selected color from a second color medium to a third color medium, comprising the steps of:

(a) providing a color mapping tool comprising:
(i) a first model representative of a set of colors reproducible from a first set of primary colors, said first model comprising a plurality of manually connectable discrete elements each having a color derived by combining one or more of said first set of primary colors and base color in selected proportions, wherein said first model is generally cubical in shape and comprises mutually perpendicular first, second and third coordinate axes having a common origin, each of said discrete elements having a unique identifier marked thereon indicative of its designated spacial position within said first model relative to said origin;
(ii) a second model representing the set of colors reproducible in said second medium by combining a second set of primary colors and a base color in different relative proportions, said second model comprising a plurality of manually connectable discrete elements each having a color derived by combining one or more of said second set of primary colors and base color in selected proportions, wherein said second model is generally cubical in shape and comprises mutually perpendicular first, second and third coordinate axes having a common origin, each of said discrete elements having a unique identifier marked thereon indicative of its designated spacial position within said second model relative to said origin;
and (iii) a third model representing the set of colors reproducible in said third medium by combining a third set of primary colors and a base color in different relative proportions, said third model comprising a plurality of manually connectable discrete elements each having a color derived by combining one or more of said third set of primary colors and base color in selected proportions, wherein said third model is generally cubical in shape and comprises mutually perpendicular first, second and third coordinate axes having a common origin, each of said discrete elements having a unique identifier marked thereon indicative of its designated spacial position within said third model relative to said origin,
wherein each discrete element in said second and third models bears a mapping identifier representative of the coordinate position of a discrete element in said first model having a color corresponding to the colors of said second and third model discrete elements;
(b) identifying a discrete element in said second model bearing a color which most closely matches said selected color;
(c) referring to the mapping identifier on said second model discrete element to identify the coordinate position of a discrete element in said first model having a color corresponding to said selected color;
(d) selecting a discrete element in said third model having a mapping identifier mapping to the coordinate position of said first model discrete element;
and
(e) reproducing said selected color in said third color medium by referring to the unique identifier on said third model discrete element.

7 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application

08/230,096Filed 20 Apr 1994 · continuation in part

Priority

1 Apr 1992

Granted

3 Jun 1997

Term ends

Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification4 codes

G01J 3/52
Measurement of colour; Colour measuring devices, e.g. colorimeters: using colour charts
G09B 19/0023
Teaching not covered by other main groups of this subclass: colour matching, recognition, analysis, mixture or the like
G01J
Measurement of intensity, velocity, spectral content, polarisation, phase or pulse characteristics of
G09B
Educational or demonstration appliances

Abstract

Claims29

Dependent claims

(a) a plurality of spaced elongate rods each extending parallel to one of said coordinate axes;
and
(b) a plurality of discrete elements slidably connected to said rods to maintain said rods in said spaced relation, wherein each of said elements comprises mutually perpendicular first, second and third apertures extending therethrough adapted for slidably receiving three of said rods extending in mutually perpendicular planes, each element having a distinct color derived by combining one or more of said primary colors and base color in selected proportions, and each element having a designated spacial position within said model relative to said origin.

A color mapping tool for mapping selected colors between first and second color media, comprising:

(a) a first model representing the set of colors reproducible in said first medium by combining a first set of primary colors and a base color in selected proportions, said first model comprising a plurality of manually connectable discrete elements each having a color derived by combining one or more of said first set of primary colors and base color in selected proportions, wherein said first model is generally cubical in shape and comprises mutually perpendicular first, second and third coordinate axes having a common origin, each of said discrete elements having a unique identifier marked thereon indicative of its designated spacial position within said first model relative to said origin;
and
(b) a second model representing the set of colors reproducible in said second medium by combining a second set of primary colors and a base color in selected proportions, said second model comprising a plurality of manually connectable discrete elements each having a color derived by combining one or more of said second set of primary colors and base color in selected proportions, wherein said second model is generally cubical in shape and comprises mutually perpendicular first, second and third coordinate axes having a common origin, each of said discrete elements having a unique identifier marked thereon indicative of its designated spacial position within said second model relative to said origin,
wherein each discrete element in said first model bears a first mapping identifier representative of the coordinate position of a discrete element in said second model having a color corresponding to the color of said first model discrete element.

1 more element

A color mapping tool for mapping selected colors between second and third color media, comprising:

(a) a first model representative of a set of colors reproducible from a first set of primary colors, said first model comprising a plurality of manually connectable discrete elements each having a color derived by combining one or more of said first set of primary colors and base color in selected proportions, wherein said first model is generally cubical in shape and comprises mutually perpendicular first, second and third coordinate axes having a common origin, each of said discrete elements having a unique identifier marked thereon indicative of its designated spacial position within said model relative to said origin;
(a) a second model representing the set of colors reproducible in said second medium by combining a second set of primary colors and a base color in different relative proportions, said second model comprising a plurality of manually connectable discrete elements each having a color derived by combining one or more of said second set of primary colors and base color in selected proportions, wherein said second model is generally cubical in shape and comprises mutually perpendicular first, second and third coordinate axes having a common origin, each of said discrete elements having a unique identifier marked thereon indicative of its designated spacial position within said second model relative to said origin;
and
(b) a third model representing the set of colors reproducible in said third medium by combining a third set of primary colors and a base color in different relative proportions, said third model comprising a plurality of manually connectable discrete elements each having a color derived by combining one or more of said third set of primary colors and base color in selected proportions, wherein said third model is generally cubical in shape and comprises mutually perpendicular first, second and third coordinate axes having a common origin, each of said discrete elements having a unique identifier marked thereon indicative of its designated spacial position within said third model relative to said origin;
wherein each discrete element in said second and third models bears a mapping identifier representative of the coordinate position of a discrete element in said first model having a color corresponding to the colors of said second and third model discrete elements.

2 more elements

A method of mapping a selected color from a first color medium to a second color medium, comprising the steps of:

(a) providing a color mapping tool comprising:
(i) a first model representative of a set of colors reproducible in said first medium from a first set of primary colors, said first model comprising a plurality of manually connectable discrete elements each having a color derived by combining one or more of said first set of primary colors and base color in selected proportions, wherein said first model is generally cubical in shape and comprises mutually perpendicular first, second and third coordinate axes having a common origin, each of said discrete elements having a unique identifier marked thereon indicative of its designated spacial position within said first model relative to said origin;
and
(ii) a second model representing the set of colors reproducible in said second medium by combining a second set of primary colors and a base color in different relative proportions, said second model comprising a plurality of manually connectable discrete elements each having a color derived by combining one or more of said second set of primary colors and base color in selected proportions, wherein said second model is generally cubical in shape and comprises mutually perpendicular first, second and third coordinate axes having a common origin, each of said discrete elements having a unique identifier marked thereon indicative of its designated spacial position within said second model relative to said origin,
wherein each discrete element in said first model bears a first mapping identifier representative of the coordinate position of a discrete element in said second model having a color corresponding to the color of said first model discrete element;
(b) identifying a discrete element in said first model bearing a color which most closely matches said selected color;
(c) referring to the first mapping identifier on said first model discrete element to identify the coordinate position of a discrete element in said second model having a color corresponding to said selected color;
and
(d) reproducing said selected color in said second color medium by referring to the unique identifier on said second model discrete element.

6 more elements

A method of mapping a selected color from a second color medium to a third color medium, comprising the steps of:

(a) providing a color mapping tool comprising:
(i) a first model representative of a set of colors reproducible from a first set of primary colors, said first model comprising a plurality of manually connectable discrete elements each having a color derived by combining one or more of said first set of primary colors and base color in selected proportions, wherein said first model is generally cubical in shape and comprises mutually perpendicular first, second and third coordinate axes having a common origin, each of said discrete elements having a unique identifier marked thereon indicative of its designated spacial position within said first model relative to said origin;
(ii) a second model representing the set of colors reproducible in said second medium by combining a second set of primary colors and a base color in different relative proportions, said second model comprising a plurality of manually connectable discrete elements each having a color derived by combining one or more of said second set of primary colors and base color in selected proportions, wherein said second model is generally cubical in shape and comprises mutually perpendicular first, second and third coordinate axes having a common origin, each of said discrete elements having a unique identifier marked thereon indicative of its designated spacial position within said second model relative to said origin;
and (iii) a third model representing the set of colors reproducible in said third medium by combining a third set of primary colors and a base color in different relative proportions, said third model comprising a plurality of manually connectable discrete elements each having a color derived by combining one or more of said third set of primary colors and base color in selected proportions, wherein said third model is generally cubical in shape and comprises mutually perpendicular first, second and third coordinate axes having a common origin, each of said discrete elements having a unique identifier marked thereon indicative of its designated spacial position within said third model relative to said origin,
wherein each discrete element in said second and third models bears a mapping identifier representative of the coordinate position of a discrete element in said first model having a color corresponding to the colors of said second and third model discrete elements;
(b) identifying a discrete element in said second model bearing a color which most closely matches said selected color;
(c) referring to the mapping identifier on said second model discrete element to identify the coordinate position of a discrete element in said first model having a color corresponding to said selected color;
(d) selecting a discrete element in said third model having a mapping identifier mapping to the coordinate position of said first model discrete element;
and
(e) reproducing said selected color in said third color medium by referring to the unique identifier on said third model discrete element.

7 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Color cube model

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims29

Color cube model

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims29