Mirror-Image Color Chart Matrix for Accurate Measurement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current color charts for image forming apparatuses require extensive time for color reproduction concentration adjustment due to the large number of color patches needed, leading to long reading times and significant adjustment errors when using two-dimensional scanning methods, which are affected by adjacent color patches.
Innovation Solution
A color chart comprising mirror-image color blocks arranged in a matrix, where the concentration of specific colors changes unidirectionally across rows and columns, with one color remaining unchanged within each block but varying between blocks, allowing for reduced error in color measurement by surrounding target patches with similar colors, thereby minimizing the impact of adjacent patches on measurement results.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a large number of color patches are arranged in a color chart to ensure comprehensive color reproduction concentration adjustment, then the accuracy and completeness of color data collection is improved, but the reading time and measurement time are significantly increased
Solution Approach 1:
The color chart is divided into multiple color blocks, each containing a subset of color patches. This segmentation allows the reading device to process and measure multiple patches simultaneously in parallel, reducing the total reading time while maintaining comprehensive color data collection across all patches in the segmented structure
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from sequential one-dimensional reading of color patches to two-dimensional simultaneous reading across multiple patches. By arranging color patches in a matrix structure within color blocks and using a two-dimensional reading device, the system can collect data from multiple patches at once, significantly reducing reading time while maintaining measurement accuracy
2Productivity
If two-dimensional scanning method is used to read color patches quickly, then the reading time is reduced, but measurement errors are significantly increased due to influence from adjacent color patches
Solution Approach 1:
Each color patch is surrounded by adjacent patches of similar color characteristics, creating a local environment that minimizes measurement interference. This local quality arrangement ensures that when two-dimensional scanning is performed, the influence from adjacent patches is reduced because they have similar reflectance properties, thereby maintaining measurement accuracy while enabling fast reading
Solution Approach 2:
The color patches are arranged in a homogeneous pattern where adjacent patches have similar color properties. This homogeneity reduces the contrast and interference between adjacent patches during two-dimensional scanning, allowing for accurate measurement of each patch's color characteristics without significant influence from neighbors, thus maintaining both speed and precision
3Adaptability or versatility
If color patches are arranged with varying color reproduction concentrations in all directions, then comprehensive color coverage is achieved, but the impact of adjacent patches on measurement results is increased
Solution Approach 1:
The color chart uses an asymmetric arrangement where the first and second colors vary unidirectionally across rows and columns, while the third color remains constant within each color block. This asymmetric design provides comprehensive color coverage through the varying first and second colors, while the constant third color creates stable regions that reduce adjacent patch influence on measurements
4Productivity
If the number of color patches is reduced to shorten reading time, then the measurement speed is improved, but the color reproduction concentration adjustment accuracy is significantly reduced
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple color patches are merged into color blocks that can be read and measured simultaneously as a group. This merging allows the system to process multiple patches in parallel, effectively increasing the number of patches measured per unit time without requiring a reduction in the total number of patches, thus maintaining color adjustment accuracy while improving overall measurement speed
Data Source
Figure 1(a)~1(d)
Figure 2(a)~2(c)
Figure 3(a)~3(c)
AI summary
A color chart having a plurality of mirror-image color blocks arranged in a matrix, with each color block a mirror image of an adjacent color block, each color block having rows and columns of color patches, wherein the concentration of a first color of the multiple colors changes unidirectionally across color patches in any given row of a color block, the concentration of a second color of the multiple colors changes unidirectionally across color patches in any given column of a color block, and the concentration of a third color of the multiple colors remains unchanged across all the plurality of color patches within a color block and differs only between color blocks.