US6588879B2
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method for ink jet printing a digital image on a textile, the system and apparatus for practicing the method, and products produced by the system and apparatus using the method
Assignee: Lackenbach Siegel LLP
•
Filing: 2001-12-03
•
Granted: 2003-07-08
•
Expires: 2021-12-03
Abstract
Abstract The present invention provides a method of printing a digital image on a textile including the steps of selecting 8 to 16 inks to form an ink set, calibrating the ink set to create an ink set profile, using the ink set profile to calculate hue and shade-based look-up tables directly correlating the inks with the color space coordinates of the pixels of the digital image. The present invention also is a system and an apparatus performing the calibration of the ink set and direct correlation of the color space coordinates. The printed fabric has a first plurality of dots having 8 to 16 differently colored inks per dot and a second plurality of dots having one color per dot. Significantly, the present invention produces printed textiles having a high detail, deep color, and broad shading, as well as a combination of dyes heretofore considered incompatible.
Inventors
- 👤 David S. Kushner
- 👤 Charles R. Hoffman, III
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 02:49
CPC Classifications
B; B41; B41J; B41J2/00; B41J2/005; B41J2/01; B41J2/21; D; D06; D06P; D06P5/00; D06P5/30; H; H04; H04N; H04N1/00; H04N1/46; H04N1/54
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 81
Claim 1
Independent Claim
112 words
A method for color printing on a textile comprising the steps of: providing a digital image having a plurality of pixels; selecting a plurality of inks correlated to the digital image to create a user-defined ink set; creating an ink set profile from user-defined calibrations for the user-defined ink-set; defining a chromatic value and a shade value for each of the plurality of pixels without CIE lab, CIE xyz, CIE luv, CIE xyY, CIE uvY, or CMYK colorspace transformation; determining an amount of inks corresponding to the chromatic and shade values as a function of the ink set profile; and printing the selected amount of inks as a dot on the textile.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
112 words
A method for color printing on a textile comprising the steps of: providing a digital image having a plurality of pixels; selecting a plurality of inks correlated to the digital image to create a user-defined ink set; creating an ink set profile from user-defined calibrations for the user-defined ink-set; defining a chromatic value and a shade value for each of the plurality of pixels without CIE lab, CIE xyz, CIE luv, CIE xyY, CIE uvY, or CMYK colorspace transformation; determining an amount of inks corresponding to the chromatic and shade values as a function of the ink set profile; and printing the selected amount of inks as a dot on the textile.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of inks is at least 12 inks.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
58 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the user-defined calibrations are established by: printing a grayscale of each ink in the ink set on a pre-selected textile, measuring color densities for each grayscale to generate measured color density data, and defining a calibrated grayscale for each ink in the ink set based on the measured color density data.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the user-defined calibrations is a function of the Kubelka-Munk equation.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the user-defined calibrations is linear.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the user-defined calibrations is a function of gamma.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the user-defined calibrations is a function of a ease equation.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the chromatic value of the pixel includes a hue value and a saturation value.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method of claim 8 , wherein the pixel is a set of coordinates in a color space and the hue value is determined using linear interpolation of at least two coordinates of the set of coordinates.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of claim 8 , wherein the pixel is a set of coordinates in a color space and the saturation value is determined using the largest coordinate of the set of coordinates.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the pixel is a set of coordinates in a color space and the shade value is determined by the smallest coordinate of the set of coordinates.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein at least one look-up table is calculated to correlate the ink set profile to the chromatic value of the pixel.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 12 , wherein the look-up table correlates a pixel hue value to an ink hue and a pixel saturation value to an ink saturation.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 12 , wherein the look-up table correlates a pixel hue to a pseudo-color ink hue and a pixel saturation to a pseudo-color ink saturation.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 12 , wherein the look-up table correlates the shade value of the pixel to a shade value for the ink set.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein a look-up table is calculated to correlate the ink set profile to the shade value of the pixel.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the amount of inks corresponding to the chromatic value is selected from neighboring inks in the ink set.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the amount of inks corresponding the hue and saturation values are summed before printing.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the amount of inks corresponding to the shade value is selected from complementary inks in the ink set.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the digital image is a 24-bit RGB image.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the selected amount of inks is printed on the textile using an ink-jet printer.
Claim 23
Independent Claim
137 words
A system for selecting an amount of inks to print on a textile: a multi-color digital image having a plurality of pixels, the plurality of pixels each having a respective set of color space coordinates; a plurality of inks correlated to the multi-color digital image forming a user-defined ink set; an ink set profile based on user-defined calibrations for the plurality of inks on a user-selected textile; means for determining a chromatic value and a shade value for a selected pixel from its respective set of color space coordinates without CIE lab, CIE xyz, CIE luv, CIE xyY, CIE uvY, or CMYK colorspace transformation; means for selecting an amount of inks from the ink set based on the chromatic value; and means for selecting an amount of inks from the ink set based on the shade value.
Claim 24
Independent Claim
137 words
A system for selecting an amount of inks to print on a textile: a multi-color digital image having a plurality of pixels, the plurality of pixels each having a respective set of color space coordinates; a plurality of inks correlated to the multi-color digital image forming a user-defined ink set; an ink set profile based on user-defined calibrations for the plurality of inks on a user-selected textile; means for determining a chromatic value and a shade value for a selected pixel from its respective set of color space coordinates without CIE lab, CIE xyz, CIE luv, CIE xyY, CIE uvY, or CMYK colorspace transformation; means for selecting an amount of inks from the ink set based on the chromatic value; and means for selecting an amount of inks from the ink set based on the shade value.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
15 words
The system of claim 22 , wherein the digital image is a 24-bit RGB image.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
18 words
The system of claim 22 , wherein the plurality of inks is at least 12 differently colored inks.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
58 words
The system of claim 22 , wherein the user-defined calibrations are established by: printing a grayscale of each ink in the ink set on a pre-selected textile, measuring color densities for each grayscale to generate measured color density data, and defining a calibrated grayscale for each ink in the ink set based on the measured color density data.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
21 words
The system of claim 22 , wherein at least one of the user-defined calibrations is a function of the Kubelka-Munk equation.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
16 words
The system of claim 22 , wherein at least one of the user-defined calibrations is linear.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
19 words
The system of claim 22 , wherein at least one of the user-defined calibrations is a function of gamma.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
21 words
The system of claim 22 , wherein at least one of the user-defined calibrations is a function of an ease equation.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
22 words
The system of claim 22 , wherein the chromatic value of the selected pixel includes a hue value and a saturation value.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
30 words
The system of claim 30 , wherein the hue value is determined using linear interpolation of at least two color space coordinates of the respective set of color space coordinates.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
26 words
The system of claim 30 , wherein the saturation value is determined using the largest color space coordinate of the respective set of color space coordinates.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
24 words
The system of claim 22 , wherein the shade value is determined by the smallest coordinate of the respective set of color space coordinates.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
20 words
The system of claim 22 , wherein the means for determining the shade value includes at least one look-up table.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
20 words
The system of claim 22 , wherein the means for determining the chromatic value includes at least one look-up table.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
49 words
The system of claim 35 , wherein the chromatic value of the selected pixel includes a hue value and a saturation value, wherein the look-up table correlates the pixel hue value to an ink hue, and wherein the look-up table correlates a pixel saturation value to an ink saturation.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
45 words
The system of claim 35 , wherein the chromatic value of the selected pixel includes a pseudo-color value, wherein the look-up table correlates a pixel hue to a pseudo-color ink hue, and wherein the look-up table correlates a pixel saturation to a pseudo-color ink saturation.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
25 words
The system of claim 22 , wherein the amount of inks corresponding to the chromatic value is selected from neighboring inks on the hue line.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
42 words
The system of claim 22 , wherein the chromatic value includes a hue value and a saturation value, and wherein the means for selecting an amount of inks from the ink set sums the inks corresponding the hue value and saturation values.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
25 words
The system of claim 22 , wherein the amount of inks corresponding to the shade value is selected from complementary inks in the ink set.
Claim 43
Independent Claim
129 words
An apparatus for printing on a textile comprising: a plurality of user-selected inks forming a user-defined ink set; an ink set profile based on user-defined calibrations for the plurality of inks on a user-selected textile; means for determining a chromatic value and a shade value for a pixel having a set of color space coordinates by correlating the color space coordinates to the ink set profile without CIE lab, CIE xyz, CIE luv, CIE xyY, CIE uvY, or CMYK colorspace transformation; means for selecting a first amount of inks from the ink set based on the chromatic value; means for selecting a second amount of inks from the ink set based on the shade value; and means for printing the first and second amounts of inks on a textile.
Claim 44
Independent Claim
129 words
An apparatus for printing on a textile comprising: a plurality of user-selected inks forming a user-defined ink set; an ink set profile based on user-defined calibrations for the plurality of inks on a user-selected textile; means for determining a chromatic value and a shade value for a pixel having a set of color space coordinates by correlating the color space coordinates to the ink set profile without CIE lab, CIE xyz, CIE luv, CIE xyY, CIE uvY, or CMYK colorspace transformation; means for selecting a first amount of inks from the ink set based on the chromatic value; means for selecting a second amount of inks from the ink set based on the shade value; and means for printing the first and second amounts of inks on a textile.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
18 words
The apparatus of claim 41 , wherein the plurality of inks is at least 8 differently colored inks.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
18 words
The apparatus of claim 41 , wherein the plurality of inks is at least 12 differently colored inks.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
58 words
The apparatus of claim 41 , wherein the user-defined calibrations are established by: printing a grayscale of each ink in the ink set on a pre-selected textile, measuring color densities for each grayscale to generate measured color density data, and defining a calibrated grayscale for each ink in the ink set based on the measured color density data.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
21 words
The apparatus of claim 41 , wherein at least one of the user-defined calibrations is a function of the Kubelka-Munk equation.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
16 words
The apparatus of claim 41 , wherein at least one of the user-defined calibrations is linear.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
19 words
The apparatus of claim 41 , wherein at least one of the user-defined calibrations is a function of gamma.
Claim 51
Dependent Claim
21 words
The apparatus of claim 41 , wherein at least one of the user-defined calibrations is a function of an ease equation.
Claim 52
Dependent Claim
21 words
The apparatus of claim 41 , wherein the chromatic value of the pixel includes a hue value and a saturation value.
Claim 53
Dependent Claim
37 words
The apparatus of claim 49 , wherein the pixel is a set of coordinates in a color space and the hue value is determined using linear interpolation of at least two coordinates of the set of coordinates.
Claim 54
Dependent Claim
33 words
The apparatus of claim 49 , wherein the pixel is a set of coordinates in a color space and the saturation value is determined using the largest coordinate of the set of coordinates.
Claim 55
Dependent Claim
33 words
The apparatus of claim 41 , wherein the pixel is a set of coordinates in a color space and the shade value is determined by the smallest coordinate of the set of coordinates.
Claim 56
Dependent Claim
42 words
The apparatus of claim 41 , wherein the chromatic value of the pixel includes a hue value and a saturation value, wherein at least one look-up table is calculated to correlate the ink set profile to the chromatic value of the pixel.
Claim 57
Dependent Claim
28 words
The apparatus of claim 53 , wherein the look-up table correlates a pixel hue value to an ink hue and a pixel saturation value to an ink saturation.
Claim 58
Dependent Claim
28 words
The apparatus of claim 53 , wherein the look-up table correlates a pixel hue to a pseudo-color ink hue and a pixel saturation to a pseudo-color ink saturation.
Claim 59
Dependent Claim
25 words
The apparatus of claim 41 , wherein the look-up table correlates the shade value of the pixel to a shade value for the ink set.
Claim 60
Dependent Claim
25 words
The apparatus of claim 41 , wherein a look-up table is calculated to correlate the ink set profile to the shade value of the pixel.
Claim 61
Dependent Claim
25 words
The apparatus of claim 41 , wherein the amount of inks corresponding to the chromatic value is selected from neighboring inks in the ink set.
Claim 62
Dependent Claim
21 words
The apparatus of claim 41 , wherein the amount of inks corresponding the hue and saturation values are summed before printing.
Claim 63
Dependent Claim
25 words
The apparatus of claim 41 , wherein the amount of inks corresponding to the shade value is selected from complementary inks in the ink set.
Claim 64
Dependent Claim
15 words
The apparatus of claim 41 , wherein the digital image is a 24-bit RGB image.
Claim 65
Dependent Claim
21 words
The apparatus of claim 41 , wherein the selected amount of inks is printed on the textile using an ink-jet printer.
Claim 66
Independent Claim
113 words
A method for color printing on a printable substrate comprising the steps of: providing a digital image having a plurality of pixels; selecting a plurality of inks correlated to the digital image to create a user-defined ink set; creating an ink set profile from user-defined calibrations for the user-defined ink-set; defining a chromatic value and a shade value for each of the plurality of pixels without CIE lab, CIE xyz, CIE luv, CIE xyY, CIE uvY, or CMYK colorspace transformation; determining an amount of inks corresponding to the chromatic and shade values as a function of the ink set profile; and printing the selected amount of inks as a dot on the substrate.
Claim 67
Independent Claim
113 words
A method for color printing on a printable substrate comprising the steps of: providing a digital image having a plurality of pixels; selecting a plurality of inks correlated to the digital image to create a user-defined ink set; creating an ink set profile from user-defined calibrations for the user-defined ink-set; defining a chromatic value and a shade value for each of the plurality of pixels without CIE lab, CIE xyz, CIE luv, CIE xyY, CIE uvY, or CMYK colorspace transformation; determining an amount of inks corresponding to the chromatic and shade values as a function of the ink set profile; and printing the selected amount of inks as a dot on the substrate.
Claim 68
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 63 wherein the plurality of inks is at least 12 inks.
Claim 69
Dependent Claim
58 words
The method of claim 63 , wherein the user-defined calibrations are established by: printing a grayscale of each ink in the ink set on a pre-selected textile, measuring color densities for each grayscale to generate measured color density data, and defining a calibrated grayscale for each ink in the ink set based on the measured color density data.
Claim 70
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 63 , wherein at least one of the user-defined calibrations is a function of the Kubelka-Munk equation.
Claim 71
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 63 , wherein at least one of the user-defined calibrations is linear.
Claim 72
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 63 , wherein at least one of the user-defined calibrations is a function of gamma.
Claim 73
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 63 , wherein at least one of the user-defined calibrations is a function of a ease equation.
Claim 74
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 63 , wherein the chromatic value of the pixel includes a hue value and a saturation value.
Claim 75
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method of claim 70 , wherein the pixel is a set of coordinates in a color space and the hue value is determined using linear interpolation of at least two coordinates of the set of coordinates.
Claim 76
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of claim 71 , wherein the pixel is a set of coordinates in a color space and the saturation value is determined using the largest coordinate of the set of coordinates.
Claim 77
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of claim 63 , wherein the pixel is a set of coordinates in a color space and the shade value is determined by the smallest coordinate of the set of coordinates.
Claim 78
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 63 , wherein at least one look-up table is calculated to correlate the ink set profile to the chromatic value of the pixel.
Claim 79
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 74 , wherein the look-up table correlates a pixel hue value to an ink hue and a pixel saturation value to an ink saturation.
Claim 80
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 74 , wherein the look-up table correlates a pixel hue to a pseudo-color ink hue and a pixel saturation to a pseudo-color ink saturation.
Claim 81
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 74 , wherein the look-up table correlates the shade value of the pixel to a shade value for the ink set.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US5073818A
Cited
US5111301A
Cited
US5128876A
Cited
US6033066A
Cited
US5537228A
Cited
US5473446A
Cited
US5657137A
Cited
US5917994A
Cited
US5377024A
Cited
US6051036A
Cited
US5416612A
Cited
US5612795A
Cited
US6142619A
Cited
US6269184B1
Cited
US5450217A
Cited
US5483360A
Cited
US5888253A
Cited
US5910812A
Cited
US6058207A
Cited
US5833743A
Cited
US6039434A
Cited
US6178008B1
Cited
US6315391B1
Cited
US6115031A
Cited
US6312101B1
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2006-07-07 | 2007-01-06 | 2007-07-08 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2010-07-07 | 2011-01-06 | 2011-07-08 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2014-07-07 | 2015-01-06 | 2015-07-08 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |