ICC Profile Adjustment via Automatic Point Interpolation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing color management systems, such as those used in inkjet printers, face challenges in maintaining high color reproduction precision and gradation properties, particularly when adjusting ICC profiles, as they often require numerous adjustment points and settings, making it cumbersome to achieve accurate color representation across a range of colors.

Innovation Solution

A profile adjustment method that automatically sets additional adjustment points and generates adjustment data between predefined points, allowing for improved gradation properties in output images by interpolating adjustment amounts and ranges, thereby simplifying the process of adjusting ICC profiles.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If adjustment amounts are set at only the adjustment points P1 and P2, then the setting process is simple, but the gradation property of the output image deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesimplicity of setting adjustment pointsVSAvoidgradation property of output image
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by automatically generating multiple adjustment points between the user-specified points P1 and P2, and pre-calculates the adjustment amounts for these intermediate points through interpolation. This preliminary generation of adjustment data eliminates the need for users to manually set each point while ensuring proper gradation across the color spectrum.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system serves itself by automatically generating the intermediate adjustment points and calculating their adjustment amounts based on the user's simple input of points P1 and P2. The automatic interpolation and distribution of adjustment amounts across intermediate points allows the system to maintain high gradation quality without requiring extensive manual configuration.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

2Manufacturing precision

If many adjustment points and adjustment amounts are set between adjustment points P1 and P2, then the gradation property of the output image is improved, but the setting process becomes very troublesome

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvegradation property of output imageVSAvoidcomplexity of setting adjustment points
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs self-service by automatically generating the intermediate adjustment points and calculating their adjustment amounts through interpolation algorithms. Users only need to specify the start point P1 and end point P2, while the system autonomously creates all necessary intermediate points and determines their adjustment parameters, eliminating the troublesome manual setting process.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system introduces an intermediary automated process that acts as a mediator between the user's simple point selection and the complex requirement for multiple adjustment points. The automatic interpolation and point generation mechanism serves as this intermediary, translating minimal user input into comprehensive adjustment data without requiring users to directly manage the complexity of multiple adjustment points.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Adaptability or versatility

If adjustment points P1 and P2 are set far apart from each other, then the adjustment range is wide, but it is necessary to execute extensive setting to maintain gradation quality

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveadjustment rangeVSAvoidtime for setting adjustment points
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by automatically generating multiple intermediate adjustment points between the widely separated points P1 and P2, and pre-calculates the adjustment amounts for these intermediate points through interpolation. This preliminary generation of adjustment data ensures that even when P1 and P2 are far apart, the system maintains gradation quality without requiring extensive manual setting time.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP3413552B1Profile adjustment method, profile adjustment program, and profile adjustment system
Publication Date: 2021.04.07 SEIKO EPSON CORP
  • EP3413552B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3413552B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3413552B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A profile adjustment method is a method of adjusting a profile defining a correspondence relationship between input coordinate values of an input color space and output coordinate values of an output color space. The profile adjustment method includes: accepting setting of a first adjustment point of first coordinates and a second adjustment point of second coordinates; setting a third adjustment point of third coordinates based on the first and second coordinates; generating third adjustment data indicating degree of adjustment at the third adjustment point based on first adjustment data indicating degree of adjustment at the first adjustment point and second adjustment data indicating degree of adjustment at the second adjustment point; and adjusting the profile based on the first adjustment data, the second adjustment data, and the third adjustment data.