Printer Color Verification With Automatic Chart–Device Checks

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing color verification systems face inefficiencies in managing color accuracy for printers, particularly when using custom charts or different measuring devices, requiring manual checks for compatibility and leading to time-consuming correction processes.

Innovation Solution

A color verification system that integrates a color verification apparatus and control apparatus to manage multiple printers and measuring devices, allowing for automatic chart registration, selection, and compatibility checking, ensuring efficient color accuracy verification using predefined and custom charts.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a predefined chart specified by standard is used for color verification, then measurement compatibility is ensured, but user flexibility and customization capability deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemeasurement compatibilityVSAvoiduser flexibility
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically adapts between predefined standard charts and user-customized charts based on measurement device specifications. The chart selection is not fixed but flexible, allowing the system to switch between standard compliance mode and user customization mode, resolving the contradiction between reliability and adaptability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes the parameters of the chart (such as patch size, number of patches, color values) to match the specifications of the measurement device. By adjusting these parameters, the system can use either predefined charts for standard compliance or customized charts for user-specific requirements, thus resolving the contradiction.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Measurement precision

If manual checking of chart-measuring device compatibility is performed, then measurement accuracy can be ensured, but operation time and complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecolor verification accuracyVSAvoidoperation time
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary compatibility checking between charts and measuring devices automatically before the actual color verification process. By pre-establishing the compatibility relationships and storing them in the system, the manual checking step is eliminated, thus reducing operation time while maintaining measurement precision.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs self-service compatibility verification by automatically comparing chart specifications with measuring device specifications using pre-stored data. This automated self-checking process replaces manual verification, reducing both operation time and complexity while ensuring measurement accuracy.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Manufacturing precision

If color correction processing is performed when color accuracy does not meet acceptance criterion, then color accuracy is improved, but correction work time and effort increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecolor accuracyVSAvoidcorrection work efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary color verification using automated compatibility checking between charts and measuring devices, identifying issues before actual color correction work. By detecting compatibility problems in advance, the system prevents unnecessary correction work, thus improving productivity while maintaining color accuracy requirements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

4Adaptability or versatility

If multiple measuring devices and custom charts are supported, then system versatility is improved, but device complexity and management difficulty increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedevice compatibilityVSAvoidsystem management complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system segments the management of multiple measuring devices and charts by maintaining separate specification data for each device and chart in a database. This segmentation allows the system to handle multiple devices and custom charts independently, managing complexity through modular data organization while maintaining high versatility.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements a universal compatibility checking mechanism that works across all measuring devices and chart types. By creating a universal framework for specification comparison and compatibility verification, the system supports multiple devices and custom charts without proportionally increasing management complexity, as the same universal process handles all cases.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentEP4124009B1Information processing apparatus, control method thereof, program, and storage medium
Publication Date: 2025.09.10 CANON KK
  • EP4124009B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4124009B1 patent drawingFigure 2A~2C
  • EP4124009B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

To make it possible for a user to easily grasp, at the time of selection of a measuring device (150a-150c) and a chart, which are necessary for color verification of a printer (130a-130c), whether or not it is possible to use them. Based on a chart configuration information indicating the configuration of a chart on which a color patch is arranged and specification information indicating specifications of a measuring device that is used for colorimetry of the color patch, determination processing (S508) to check whether it is possible to perform colorimetry is performed. Then, results of the determination processing are output (S518) to be presented to a user.