Printer Tone Calibration via Automatic Color Sample Processing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing color adjustment techniques in printers do not guarantee that the tone characteristic is in the standard state during printing, leading to inaccurate results, especially when special color conversion is required for specific corporate colors or when transferring color settings from an old printer to a new one.

Innovation Solution

An apparatus that automatically performs calibration and image processing to generate print data, ensuring the tone characteristic of the printer is in the standard state by printing and processing a color sample chart, which includes creating a special color conversion lookup table to accurately convert RGB values to CMYK values based on user-defined destination colors.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a user manually performs tone calibration before printing a color sample, then the tone characteristic may be in the standard state, but the calibration is not guaranteed to be performed and depends on user will

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetone characteristic standard state guaranteeVSAvoidmanual calibration requirement

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The printing apparatus automatically performs tone calibration when a color sample print job is received, without requiring manual user intervention. The system detects the color sample print request and autonomously executes the calibration process before printing, ensuring the tone characteristic is in the standard state while eliminating the need for users to manually perform calibration steps.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

2Manufacturing precision

If tone calibration is not performed automatically, then the system is simpler to operate, but the color accuracy and tint guarantee are compromised

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecolor accuracyVSAvoidautomatic calibration process

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs tone calibration as a preliminary action automatically when a color sample print request is detected. The calibration process is executed before the actual color sample printing, ensuring that the tone characteristic is in the standard state. This preliminary automatic calibration guarantees color accuracy without requiring complex user操作流程.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Reliability

If manual tone calibration is required, then the system has fewer automatic processes, but the printing results may be inaccurate when tone characteristic deviates from standard state

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprinting result accuracyVSAvoidautomatic tone calibration

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSExtent of automation

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements a feedback mechanism where the printing apparatus detects when a color sample print job is received and automatically responds by performing tone calibration before printing. This closed-loop feedback ensures that the tone characteristic is in the standard state, guaranteeing accurate printing results while maintaining appropriate automation levels.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentUS11487488B2Control apparatus, control method, and storage medium for performing a predetermined image processing based on a result of calibration on image data

Publication Date: 2022.11.01 CANON KK

AI summary

In response to reception of instructions to print a color sample from a user, first, a printing unit is caused to perform calibration. Then, after the calibration is completed in the printing unit, control is performed so that print data is generated by execution of predetermined image processing for image data representing the color sample and printing processing of the print data is performed in the printing unit.