Profile Correcting Device for Color Matching Precision

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing color matching techniques, such as ICC profiles, face challenges in achieving high precision while maintaining natural appearance of white and black colors, often resulting in decreased precision or unpleasant color shifts when matching colors between different image forming devices.

Innovation Solution

A profile correcting device and method that acquires and corrects colorimetric values for white, black, near-white, and near-black colors using weighted averages based on profiles from both image forming devices, ensuring accurate color reproduction without significant loss in precision.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If relative color matching using ICC profiles with normalization process is used, then ease of operation is improved, but manufacturing precision deteriorates due to overall color shift

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of operationVSAvoidcolor matching precision

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by treating white and black colors differently from other colors. Specifically, white and black colorimetric values are corrected to exactly match the reference printer without normalization, while other colors use a hybrid approach. This localized differentiation resolves the contradiction by preserving precision for critical colors (white/black) while maintaining operational simplicity through selective application of correction methods.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The patent segments the color correction process into three distinct parts: white color correction, black color correction, and other color correction. Each segment is handled with a different correction strategy - white and black use direct matching while other colors use a combination of methods. This segmentation allows the system to achieve high precision for critical colors without the need for complete normalization, thus resolving the contradiction between ease of operation and precision.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Manufacturing precision

If absolute color matching without normalization is used, then manufacturing precision is improved, but object-generated harmful factors worsen due to colored ink deposition on white paper

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecolor matching precisionVSAvoidcolored ink deposition

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by implementing different correction strategies for different color regions. For white and black colors, it uses direct matching without normalization to achieve high precision. For other colors, it employs a hybrid approach that prevents excessive correction. This selective application ensures precision where needed while avoiding harmful ink deposition in regions where it would be visible and undesirable.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

3Manufacturing precision

If normalization process is applied to match white and black colors, then manufacturing precision for white and black is improved, but object-generated harmful factors worsen due to shift in all other colors

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvewhite and black color matching precisionVSAvoidcolor shift in non-black-and-white regions

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by implementing different correction strategies for different color regions. For white and black colors, it uses direct matching without normalization to achieve high precision. For other colors, it employs a hybrid approach that prevents excessive correction. This selective application ensures precision where needed while avoiding harmful ink deposition in regions where it would be visible and undesirable.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The patent segments the color correction process into three distinct parts: white color correction, black color correction, and other color correction. Each segment is handled with a different correction strategy - white and black use direct matching while other colors use a combination of methods. This segmentation allows the system to achieve high precision for critical colors without the need for complete normalization, thus resolving the contradiction between ease of operation and precision.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentUS8547594B2Profile correcting device

Publication Date: 2013.10.01 BROTHER KOGYO KK

AI summary

The present invention provides a profile calibrating device, method and program capable of performing color matching with no significant loss in precision relative to absolute color matching while preventing strange sensation in the rendered black and white colors. The profile correcting device includes a first profile acquiring unit, a second profile acquiring unit, a first connecting unit, and a second correcting unit. The first profile acquiring unit acquires a first profile representing correspondence relationship between input color values and first colorimetric values. The second profile acquiring unit acquires a second profile representing correspondence relationship between the input color values and second colon metric values. The first correcting unit corrects the second colorimetric value for the white value, and the second colon metric value for the black value. The second correcting unit corrects the second colonimetric value for the near-white color value, and the second calorimetric value for the near-black color value.