Color Chart Sheet Guidance for Accurate Colorimeter Positioning

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Solution Overview

Problem

Inexperienced users may fail in color measurement due to uncertainty about proper methods and procedures when using a colorimeter, as existing technologies lack clear guidance on the correct positioning and direction for color measurement.

Innovation Solution

A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium and method for producing a printing system that includes a color chart sheet with a color chart and images indicating the start position and direction for the colorimeter, allowing users to easily understand and perform color measurement by printing the sheet and using a control device to adjust settings based on measurement results.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If a colorimeter is used for color measurement, then color measurement function is achieved, but inexperienced users fail due to uncertainty about proper measurement method and positioning

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecolor measurement accuracyVSAvoiduser operation difficulty

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by pre-printing guidance images on the color chart that indicate the correct starting position and measurement direction before the user begins measurement. This allows inexperienced users to correctly position the colorimeter without requiring prior knowledge of proper measurement procedures, thereby resolving the contradiction between measurement precision and ease of operation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses an intermediary approach by introducing visual guidance images as a mediator between the colorimeter and the color chart. These images serve as a communication bridge that translates complex measurement requirements into simple visual cues, enabling users to understand correct positioning and direction without technical expertise

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of operation

If clear visual guidance is printed on the color chart, then ease of operation improves for inexperienced users, but the chart design complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveuser operation simplicityVSAvoidcolor chart design complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies segmentation by dividing the color chart into distinct functional regions: color measurement patches and separate guidance image areas. This segmentation allows the chart to provide comprehensive visual instructions without interfering with the color measurement function, resolving the contradiction between ease of operation and device complexity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses another dimension by adding a visual information layer to the color chart that operates independently from the color measurement data layer. The guidance images provide spatial and directional information in a visual dimension, while the color patches maintain their measurement function, allowing both simplicity and functionality to coexist

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Data Source

PatentUS11370226B2Non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing program and method of producing printing system

Publication Date: 2022.06.28 SEIKO EPSON CORP

AI summary

A PC causes a printing apparatus to print a color chart sheet including a color chart and a first image, the first image indicating a color measurement start position and a color measurement start direction of a colorimeter in a forward path in a leading line of the color chart.