US5452112A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Color image reproduction system field calibration method and apparatus
Assignee: Eastman Kodak Co
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Filing: 1994-03-25
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Granted: 1995-09-19
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Expires: 2014-03-25
Abstract
Abstract A method of calibrating a color image reproduction system in the field is provided. The color image reproduction system includes a color input scanner for generating a color digital image, a digital image processor for applying a color transform to the color digital image to produce a transformed color digital image and, and a digital color printer for printing the transformed color digital image. The calibration method includes the steps of: a) providing a set of calibration tools developed on a representative system, the tools including a scanning target, a first reference file recording the response of a scanner to the scanning target in the representative system, an image file for producing a test pattern, and a second reference file recording the response of the scanner in the representative system to the test pattern printed on the printer in the representative system; and b) employing the calibration tools to calibrate the color image reproduction system in the field, by: 1) scanning the scanning target in the color scanner to produce a first test file; 2) employing the first test file and the first reference file, to generate a scanner calibration table; 3) sending the image file to the color printer to produce a second test pattern; 4) scanning the second test pattern in the color scanner and processing the output of the color scanner through the scanner calibration table to produce a second test file; and 5) employing the second test file and the second reference file to generate a printer calibration table.
Inventors
- 👤 Shijie Wan
- 👤 Anthony J. Leone
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 20:33
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04N; H04N1/00; H04N1/46; H04N1/56; H04N1/60; H04N1/603; H04N1/6033
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 7
Claim 1
Independent Claim
275 words
A method of calibrating a color image reproduction system in the field, said color image reproduction system having components including a color scanner for generating a color digital image from an input medium, a digital image processor for applying a color transform to the color digital image to produce a transformed color digital image, and a digital color printer for printing the transformed color digital image on an output medium, wherein the input and output media are different, comprising the steps of: a) providing a set of calibration tools developed on a representative system including a scanning target on a medium that is the same as the input medium, a first reference file recording the response of the scanner in the representative system to the scanning target, an image file for producing a test pattern on a printer, and a second reference file recording the response of the scanner in the representative system to the test pattern produced by the printer in the representative system; and b) employing the calibration tools to calibrate the color image reproduction system, by: 1) scanning said scanning target in the color scanner to produce a first test file; 2) employing said first test file and said first reference file, to generate a scanner calibration table; 3) printing said image file in the color printer on the output medium to produce a test pattern; 4) scanning said test pattern in the color scanner and processing the output of the color scanner through said scanner calibration table to produce a second test file; and 5) employing said second test file and said second reference file to generate a printer calibration table.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
275 words
A method of calibrating a color image reproduction system in the field, said color image reproduction system having components including a color scanner for generating a color digital image from an input medium, a digital image processor for applying a color transform to the color digital image to produce a transformed color digital image, and a digital color printer for printing the transformed color digital image on an output medium, wherein the input and output media are different, comprising the steps of: a) providing a set of calibration tools developed on a representative system including a scanning target on a medium that is the same as the input medium, a first reference file recording the response of the scanner in the representative system to the scanning target, an image file for producing a test pattern on a printer, and a second reference file recording the response of the scanner in the representative system to the test pattern produced by the printer in the representative system; and b) employing the calibration tools to calibrate the color image reproduction system, by: 1) scanning said scanning target in the color scanner to produce a first test file; 2) employing said first test file and said first reference file, to generate a scanner calibration table; 3) printing said image file in the color printer on the output medium to produce a test pattern; 4) scanning said test pattern in the color scanner and processing the output of the color scanner through said scanner calibration table to produce a second test file; and 5) employing said second test file and said second reference file to generate a printer calibration table.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
130 words
The method claimed in claim 1, wherein said step of providing said set of calibration tools, comprises the steps of: a) setting up a representative color image reproduction system to operate in a desired manner, the representative system having components similar to those of the system to be calibrated; b) providing said scanning target having a set of neutral density patches; c) scanning the scanning target in the color scanner of the representative system to generate said first reference file; d) providing said image file for producing a test pattern; e) printing said image file in the color printer of the representative system to produce a representative test pattern; and f) scanning said representative test pattern in the color scanner of the representative system to produce said second reference file.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
92 words
The method claimed in claim 1, wherein said scanner calibration table comprises a 1D lookup table to make the output of the scanner in the field resemble the output of the scanner in the representative system, said color transform comprises a 3D lookup table that is the same as a 3D lookup table developed for the representative system and said printer calibration table comprises a 1D lookup table to cause the printer in the field to respond similarly to the printer in the representative system, arranged in series in said image processor.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method claimed in claim 1, wherein said calibration tables are generated by piece-wise linear interpolation.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
265 words
A color image reproduction system comprising: a) a color input scanner for generating a color digital image from an input medium; b) a digital image processor for applying a color transform to the color digital image to produce a transformed color digital image; c) a digital color printer for printing the transformed color digital image on an output medium, wherein the input and output media are different media; d) a set of calibration tools developed on a representative system including a scanning target on a medium that is the same as the input medium, a first reference file recording the response of a scanner in the representative system to the scanning target, an image file for producing a test pattern, and a second reference file recording the response of the scanner in the representative system to the test pattern produced by the printer in the representative system; and e) means for employing the calibration tools to calibrate the color image reproduction system, including: 1) means for scanning said scanning target in the color scanner to produce a first test file; 2) means employing said first test file and said first reference file, for generating a scanner calibration table; 3) means for sending said image file to the printer to produce a test pattern on the output medium; 4) means for scanning said test pattern in the color scanner and processing the output of the color scanner through said calibration table to produce a second test file; and 5) means employing said second test file and said second reference file for generating a printer calibration table.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
265 words
A color image reproduction system comprising: a) a color input scanner for generating a color digital image from an input medium; b) a digital image processor for applying a color transform to the color digital image to produce a transformed color digital image; c) a digital color printer for printing the transformed color digital image on an output medium, wherein the input and output media are different media; d) a set of calibration tools developed on a representative system including a scanning target on a medium that is the same as the input medium, a first reference file recording the response of a scanner in the representative system to the scanning target, an image file for producing a test pattern, and a second reference file recording the response of the scanner in the representative system to the test pattern produced by the printer in the representative system; and e) means for employing the calibration tools to calibrate the color image reproduction system, including: 1) means for scanning said scanning target in the color scanner to produce a first test file; 2) means employing said first test file and said first reference file, for generating a scanner calibration table; 3) means for sending said image file to the printer to produce a test pattern on the output medium; 4) means for scanning said test pattern in the color scanner and processing the output of the color scanner through said calibration table to produce a second test file; and 5) means employing said second test file and said second reference file for generating a printer calibration table.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1998-09-18 | 1999-03-20 | 1999-09-19 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2002-09-18 | 2003-03-20 | 2003-09-19 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2006-09-18 | 2007-03-20 | 2007-09-19 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |