Color Conversion Table for Image Processing Apparatus
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing color conversion methods for printing gray scale images from RGB format lose color information, leading to reduced distinguishability, especially for images with overlapping colors and individuals with color vision deficiencies, and increase processing load due to pixel-by-pixel conversion.
Innovation Solution
An image processing apparatus that generates intermediate data by analyzing PDL data, switches color conversion methods based on analysis results, and performs specific-color or all-color conversion using a color conversion table to optimize color information rewriting and rendering.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If all-color conversion is performed to maintain tonality in gray scale output, then tonality is preserved, but color information is lost and distinguishability decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the color conversion process into two distinct paths: all-color conversion for maintaining tonality and specific-color conversion for preserving distinguishability. By analyzing PDL data to identify specific colors and selectively applying different conversion strategies to different color components, the system preserves both tonality and color distinguishability in the gray scale output.
2Manufacturing precision
If pixel-by-pixel color conversion is performed to improve color accuracy, then color information is preserved, but processing load increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary analysis of PDL data to identify specific colors and generate a color conversion table before the actual rendering process. This pre-processing step allows the system to prepare conversion mappings in advance, avoiding the need for complex pixel-by-pixel analysis during rendering and significantly reducing the processing load while maintaining color accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a color conversion table as an intermediary data structure that stores pre-calculated color mappings. This table acts as a mediator between the PDL data and the final rendered image, allowing efficient lookup and conversion without requiring complex real-time calculations for each pixel, thus balancing color accuracy with processing efficiency.
3Ease of manufacture
If standard gray scale conversion is applied to all colors, then processing is simple, but boundary lines between overlapping colors disappear
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies different conversion qualities to different color components based on their importance. By analyzing PDL data to identify specific colors that require preservation, the system applies enhanced specific-color conversion with higher processing priority to those colors while using standard conversion for others. This local differentiation ensures boundary lines and important color distinctions are preserved without unnecessarily complicating the entire conversion process.
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is an image processing apparatus comprising: at least one controller, having at least one processor which executes instructions stored in at least one memory and/or at least one circuitry, being configured to: generate intermediate data by analyzing PDL data; generate a color conversion table based on a predetermined color conversion method; rewrite color information contained in the intermediate data by using the color conversion table; and perform rendering based on the intermediate data after the rewrite of the color information.