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US4893180A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Color image signal processing method

Assignee: Fujifilm Holdings Corp
•
Filing: 1989-04-06
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Granted: 1990-01-09
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Expires: 2009-04-06
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Abstract

Abstract A color image signal processing method for a color image input/output system reads an original by an image input section and corrects the color and gradation of the thus obtained image signals and feeds output density signals for each color to an image output device. The processing method includes the steps of calculating differences between desired finished densities and the output density signals at specified points on the original which are obtained by converting input density signals on the specified points based upon reference gradation conversion curves and then prepares characteristic curves of the differences with respect to the output density signals using the same functions for the respective colors and then prepares corrected gradation conversion curves by adding the reference gradation conversion curves to the functions. The functions are then determined so that the corrected gradation conversion curves are within a specified inclination range so as to thereby correct a gradation conversion table as well as correcting a color correction table by limiting the values of color correction coefficients so as to remove color distortion of output images.

Inventors

  • 👤 Takao Shigaki
  • 👤 Osamu Shimazaki
  • 👤 Hitoshi Urabe

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-06 20:28
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04N; H04N1/00; H04N1/46; H04N1/56; H04N1/60; H04N1/6027

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 6
Claim 1
Independent Claim 217 words
A color image signal processing method for a color image input/output system which is adapted to read an original by an image input section, to correct in color and gradation thus obtained image signals, and to feed output density signals for each color to an image output device, which comprises the steps of; calculating differences (ΔD B , ΔD G , ΔD R ) between desired finish densities and the output density signals (D i ') at specified points on said original which are obtained by converting input density signals at said specified points based upon reference gradation conversion curves; preparing characteristic curves (f(D i ')) of said differences with respect to said output density signals utilizing a same function for the respective colors, said same function satisfying specified restraint conditions; preparing corrected gradation conversion curves by adding said reference gradation conversion curves to said functions; and determining said functions so that said corrected gradation conversion curves F i are within a specified inclination range (F imin <F i <F imax ), wherein F imin is a minimum inclination and F imax is a maximum inclination; thereby correcting a gradation conversion table as well as correcting a color correction table by limiting the values of color correction coefficients so as to remove color distortion of output images.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 217 words
A color image signal processing method for a color image input/output system which is adapted to read an original by an image input section, to correct in color and gradation thus obtained image signals, and to feed output density signals for each color to an image output device, which comprises the steps of; calculating differences (ΔD B , ΔD G , ΔD R ) between desired finish densities and the output density signals (D i ') at specified points on said original which are obtained by converting input density signals at said specified points based upon reference gradation conversion curves; preparing characteristic curves (f(D i ')) of said differences with respect to said output density signals utilizing a same function for the respective colors, said same function satisfying specified restraint conditions; preparing corrected gradation conversion curves by adding said reference gradation conversion curves to said functions; and determining said functions so that said corrected gradation conversion curves F i are within a specified inclination range (F imin <F i <F imax ), wherein F imin is a minimum inclination and F imax is a maximum inclination; thereby correcting a gradation conversion table as well as correcting a color correction table by limiting the values of color correction coefficients so as to remove color distortion of output images.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 28 words
A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said original is positioned at a coordinate input device so that the specified points can be specified by color patches.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 15 words
A method as claimed in claim 2, wherein said coordinate input device is a digitizer.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 112 words
A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein, if said output density signals for each color are D Bj ', D Gj ' and D Rj ' and said desired finish densities are D Bj , D Gj and D Rj , then said differences are calculated in accordance with the following equations: ΔD.sub.Bj =D.sub.Bj.sup.o -D.sub.Bj ' ΔD.sub.Gj =D.sub.Gj.sup.o -D.sub.Gj ' ΔD.sub.Rj =D.sub.Rj.sup.o -D.sub.Rj ' wherein j=1, 2, . . . N, and further wherein said gradation conversion table is determined when the curves are obtained by repeatedly processing the following equations: ##EQU6## based upon said difference and said reference gradation conversion curves F B , F G , F R .
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 54 words
A method as claimed in claim 4, wherein an optimization function OPF is defined and minimized in accordance with the following equations: ##EQU7## wherein: i=Y,M,C j=Y,M,C,B,G,R Q ij : color correction coefficients Q ij o : reference color correction coefficients ##EQU8## wherein: i=B,G,R F i =corrected gradation conversion curve a, b, c k =weight.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US4328515A Cited
US4472736A Cited
JPS58175055A Cited
US4591904A Cited
JPS60216350A Cited
JPS60216353A Cited
US4642684A Cited
US4677465A Cited
JPH0637878A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1993-01-08 1993-07-10 1994-01-09 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1997-01-08 1997-07-10 1998-01-09 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2001-01-08 2001-07-10 2002-01-09 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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