US 5,781,206 A · Apparatus and method for recalibrating a multi-color imaging system

Abstract

An apparatus and method for recalibrating a multi-color imaging system are provided. The multi-color imaging system is capable of applying different colorants to a substrate based on a plurality of input color values. The input color values control amounts of the colorants to be applied to the substrate by the imaging system. A subset of the input color values is selected and used to control the imaging system to apply one or more of the different colorants to the substrate, thereby forming a plurality of different color patches on the substrate. The subset of input color values is selected such that one or more of the different color patches is formed by application of a combination of at least two of the different colorants to the substrate. Color values are measured for each of the different color patches, and compared to reference color values, representing a calibrated condition of the imaging system. An error value is calculated. The error value represents a deviation of the measured color values from the reference color values. The input color values for each colorant then are independently adjusted to reduce the error value to a predetermined degree.

Claims37

Dependent claims

A method for recalibrating a multi-color imaging system, said imaging system being capable of applying a plurality of different colorants to a substrate based on a plurality of input color values, wherein said input color values control amounts of said colorants to be applied to said substrate by said imaging system, the method comprising a plurality of steps including:

(a) selecting a subset of said plurality of input color values;
(b) forming a plurality of different color patches on said substrate by applying one or more of said different colorants to said substrate based on said subset of said plurality of input color values, wherein step (a) selects said subset of said plurality of input color values such that one or more of said different color patches is formed by application of a combination of at least two of said different colorants to said substrate;
(c) measuring a plurality of color values for each of said different color patches formed on said substrate;
(d) comparing each of the measured color values to a corresponding one of a plurality of reference color values, said reference color values representing a calibrated condition of said imaging system;
(e) calculating an error value representing a deviation of said measured color values from said reference color values;
and
(f) adjusting one or more of said plurality of input color values to reduce said error value to a predetermined degree, wherein the adjustment of the input color values for one of said colorants is performed independently of the adjustment of the input color values for others of said colorants.

4 more elements

An apparatus for recalibrating a multi-color imaging system, said imaging system being capable of applying a plurality of different colorants to a substrate based on a plurality of input color values, wherein each of said plurality of input color values controls an amount of one of said colorants to be applied to said substrate by said imaging system, the apparatus comprising:

(a) means for selecting a subset of said plurality of input color values;
(b) means for controlling said imaging system to apply one or more of said different colorants to said substrate based on said subset of said plurality of input color values, thereby forming a plurality of different color patches on said substrate, wherein said subset of said plurality of input color values is selected by said means (a) such that one or more of said different color patches is formed by application of a combination of at least two of said different colorants to said substrate;
(c) means for measuring a plurality of color values for each of said color patches formed on said substrate;
(d) means for comparing each of the measured color values to a corresponding one of a plurality of reference color values, said reference color values representing measured color values for a calibrated condition of said imaging system;
(e) means for calculating an error value representing a deviation of said measured color values from said reference color values;
and
(f) means for adjusting one or more of said plurality of input color values to reduce said error value to a predetermined degree, wherein the adjustment of the input color values for one of said colorants is performed independently of the adjustment of the input color values for others of said colorants.

4 more elements

A method for recalibrating a multi-color imaging system, said imaging system being capable of applying cyan, magenta, and yellow colorants to a substrate based on a plurality of input color values, wherein said input color values control amounts of said cyan, magenta, and yellow colorants to be applied to said substrate by said imaging system, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) selecting a subset of said plurality of input color values;
(b) controlling said imaging system to apply one or more of said cyan, magenta, and yellow colorants to said substrate based on said subset of said plurality of input color values, thereby forming a plurality of different color patches on said substrate, wherein said subset of said plurality of input color values is selected in said step (a) such that step (b) comprises the steps of:
(i) forming one of said different color patches by application of a combination of said cyan, magenta, and yellow colorants in highlight-tone amounts,
(ii) forming one of said different color patches by application of a combination of said cyan, magenta, and yellow colorants in quarter-tone amounts,
(iii) forming one of said different color patches by application of a combination of said cyan, magenta and yellow colorants in mid-tone amounts,
(iv) forming one of said different color patches by application of a combination of said cyan and magenta colorants in saturated-tone amounts,
(v) forming one of said different color patches by application of a combination of said cyan and yellow colorants in saturated-tone amounts,
(vi) forming one of said different color patches by application of a combination of said magenta and yellow colorants in saturated-tone amounts,
(c) measuring a plurality of color values for each of said different color patches formed on said substrate;
(d) comparing each of the measured color values to a corresponding one of a plurality of reference color values, said reference color values representing measured color values for a calibrated condition of said imaging system;
(e) calculating an error value representing a deviation of said measured color values from said reference color values;
and
(f) adjusting one or more of said plurality of input color values to reduce said error value to a predetermined degree, wherein the adjustment of the input color values for one said colorants is performed independently of the adjustment of the input color values for others of said colorants.

10 more elements

An apparatus for recalibrating a multi-color imaging system, said imaging system being capable of applying cyan, magenta, and yellow colorants to a substrate based on a plurality of input color values, wherein said input color values control amounts of said cyan, magenta, and yellow colorants to be applied to said substrate by said imaging system, the apparatus comprising:

(a) means for selecting a subset of said plurality of input color values;
(b) means for controlling said imaging system to apply one or more of said cyan, magenta, and yellow colorants to said substrate based on said subset of said plurality of input color values, thereby forming a plurality of different color patches on said substrate, wherein said subset of said plurality of input color values is selected by said selecting means such that:
(i) one of said different color patches is formed by application of a combination of said cyan, magenta, and yellow colorants in highlight-tone amounts,
(ii) one of said different color patches is formed by application of a combination of said cyan, magenta, and yellow colorants in quarter-tone amounts,
(iii) one of said different color patches is formed by application of a combination of said cyan, magenta, and yellow colorants in mid-tone amounts,
(iv) one of said different color patches is formed by application of a combination of said cyan and magenta colorants in saturated-tone amounts,
(v) one of said different color patches is formed by application of a combination of said cyan and yellow colorants in saturated-tone amounts,
(vi) one of said different color patches is formed by application of a combination of said magenta and yellow colorants in saturated-tone amounts,
(c) means for measuring a plurality of color values for each of said different color patches formed on said substrate;
(d) means for comparing each of the measured color values to a corresponding one of a plurality of reference color values, said reference color values representing measured color values for a calibrated condition of said imaging system;
(e) means for calculating an error value representing a deviation of said measured color values from said reference color values;
and
(f) means for adjusting one or more of said plurality of input color values to reduce said error value to a predetermined degree, wherein the adjustment of the input color values for one of said colorants is performed independently of the adjustment of the input color values for others of said colorants.

10 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Apparatus and method for recalibrating a multi-color imaging system

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Apparatus and method for recalibrating a multi-color imaging system

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims37