Proximity Array Patch Codes for Printer Calibration
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Solution Overview
Problem
The color printer calibration process is prone to human error due to the manual tracking of printed pages and spectrophotometric measurements, leading to inaccurate calibrations, especially when calibrating multiple printers or using multiple sheets, where pages can get mixed up and scanned results are incorrectly associated.
Innovation Solution
The method involves generating patches from color overprints to encode multiple values per patch, using a proximity array in three-dimensional color space to identify original colors, and augmenting patch codes with error detection and correction bits for increased robustness, allowing for automated identification and correction of calibration data.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If manual tracking of printed pages and spectrophotometric measurements is used, then calibration can be performed, but human error increases and accuracy decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses patch codes printed on calibration targets that automatically identify themselves through color scanning. The patch codes contain encoded information about the target type and printer identifier, allowing the calibration system to self-identify and self-track without manual intervention. This eliminates human error in tracking pages and associating scan results with correct targets.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces manual mechanical tracking of physical pages with an automated optical scanning system that reads color-coded patch codes. Instead of operators manually recording and cross-referencing pages, the system uses spectrophotometric scanning of color patches to automatically identify calibration targets and associate measurements with correct printer identifiers encoded in the patch codes.
2Measurement precision
If more patch codes are used to encode more information, then identification accuracy improves, but decoding complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent encodes information in calibration targets using color patch codes where different colors and color combinations represent different printer identifiers and target types. The decoding process uses color scanning to identify patches and maps colors to encoded values through pre-established color-to-value mappings, avoiding complex computational decoding while maintaining high information density.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the parameter space from manual tracking to color-based identification. By encoding information in color properties (hue, saturation, brightness) of calibration patches, the system transforms the identification problem into a color recognition problem that can be solved through simple spectral measurement and lookup tables rather than complex pattern recognition or computational algorithms.
3Productivity
If automated calibration is implemented, then productivity increases, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The calibration target is segmented into multiple color patches, each encoding specific information about the printer or target type. This segmentation allows the system to process calibration information in discrete, independent units that can be scanned and decoded separately, simplifying the overall automation architecture while enabling parallel processing of multiple calibration parameters.
Solution Approach 2:
The patch codes serve as an intermediary between the physical calibration targets and the automated scanning system. These color-coded patches translate complex calibration identification requirements into simple color patterns that can be easily scanned and decoded, acting as a mediator that bridges the gap between manual calibration practices and automated processing without requiring complex integration systems.
Data Source
AI summary
Patches are generated from the overprinting of one or more separations to encode four or more values per patch each color representing a numerical value. In a calibration step, all possible color overprint combinations are printed multiple times on a calibration sheet. The sheet is scanned and each overprinted patch is entered in to a proximity array, which is a volume data structure representing three dimensional (3D) color space). After all calibration colors are entered, the proximity array is repeatedly dilated. Later, sheets that need to be identified are printed with a code number encoded as one or more patch codes. The sheet is scanned and the patch code colors are looked up in the proximity array to determine which original colors were printed. The identified colors are converted the code number. Patch codes are further augmented with error detection and optionally error correction bits to further increase robustness.