Computer graphics processing and selective visual display system – Computer graphics processing – Attributes
Reexamination Certificate
2000-03-30
2003-05-13
Bella, Matthew C. (Department: 2676)
Computer graphics processing and selective visual display system
Computer graphics processing
Attributes
C345S589000, C345S591000, C345S597000, C345S549000, C345S530000, C345S635000, C382S162000, C382S165000, C382S167000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06563510
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND
1. Field
The present invention relates generally to architectural paint colors and, specifically, to an architectural paint color matching and coordinating system.
2. Description of the Related Art
Architectural paint (“house paint”) is commonly provided in various colors. Paint color display systems have been developed to display various paint color samples to assist consumers in selecting paint colors. Such systems typically involve a display board, pamphlet, or book having ink-based or paint color samples.
Paint colors are sometimes referenced with respect to systems for arranging and describing color, generally referred to as color-order systems. One well-known color-order system is the Munsell system. According to the Munsell system, colors are characterized by three attributes: hue, value, and chroma. Hue is the attribute of color which is commonly described by words such as “red,” “yellow,” “green,” “blue,” “purple,” etc. Value is the attribute of color which is described by the words “light,” “dark,” etc. Chroma is the attribute of color which is described by the words “bright,” “dull,” etc. For example, the colors of a tomato and a brick may be equal in hue and value, yet the colors are not identical. The difference is that the tomato is brighter, having a higher chroma.
Munsell color space is a three-dimensional space including and describing visual relationships between colors. This color space is based on a collection of actual physical samples arranged so that adjacent samples represent distinct intervals of visual color perception. Although based on physical samples, Munsell color space is theoretically capable of describing all possible colors. According to the Munsell system, color space is described with respect to three dimensions: hue, value, and chroma. Theoretically, the Munsell location of every possible color can be described by three coordinates, corresponding to the hue, value, and chroma of the given color. Although in theory Munsell color space is capable of describing all colors, it is understood that it may not be possible to create physical samples of all of the colors which could theoretically fit within Munsell color space. In particular, not all theoretical colors within the perceived Munsell color space can be made into paints.
Within Munsell color space, a vertical axis, known as the value axis, represents color value. In other words, the value (lightness/darkness) of color is determined by the vertical position within color space. Color becomes lighter as the vertical position increases. The hue of color is determined by the angular position about the vertical value axis. The various hues, i.e., shades of red, yellow, green, blue, purple, etc., are represented by vertical planes extending radially from the value axis. Moreover, every angular position about the axis, from 0° to 360°, represents a different hue. The chroma (brightness/dullness) of color is determined by the radial distance from the value axis. Color is dull (gray) near the axis and becomes brighter, or more “chromatic,” as the radial distance from the value axis increases.
The Munsell system is one of a number of color-order systems based on actual physical samples. Another class of color-order systems are not based on physical samples. One of the most important of these systems is the CIE System (Commission International de l'Eclairage or International Commission on Illumination). The premise of the CIE System is that the stimulus for color is provided by a proper combination of a source of light, an object, and an observer. The CIE System describes color with reference to a standard source of illumination and a standard observer.
One widely used non-linear transformation of the CIE System is CIELAB, an opponent-type space in which color is described by three coordinates L, a, and b. In CIELAB space, L is the lightness of color (similar to Munsell value), a is a redness-greenness coordinate, and b is a yellowness-blueness coordinate.
SUMMARY
The present invention provides an architectural paint color matching and coordinating system to assist in complementary paint color selection. The present invention recognizes that current methods of displaying complementary colors do not effectively assist the consumer in selecting complementary paint colors.
In one aspect, the present invention provides a method of generating a display or “palette” of complementary architectural paint color samples, comprising the steps of (1) receiving an input reference color having a reference hue, (2) selecting a first set of architectural paint colors having a first hue that is one of the hues comprising the five-way harmony of the reference hue, and (3) displaying color samples of the first set of architectural paint colors on one of a display monitor or a hard-copy printout.
In another aspect, the present invention provides a method of generating a display of complementary architectural paint color samples, comprising the following steps: One step is receiving an input reference color. Another step is selecting a reference paint color from a database of architectural paint colors within a color space. The reference paint color is visually closer, with respect to the color space, to the input reference color than any other paint color within the database. Each of the paint colors within the database is located within only one of a plurality of fixed non-overlapping contiguous portions of the color space. Each of the color space portions is defined as the space of all colors within a band of hues within the color space, the color space portions spanning all hues in the color space. The number of the color space portions is advantageously at least 30. Another step is determining a first of the color space portions, the first color space portion including a first hue that is one of the hues comprising the five-way harmony of the hue of the reference paint color. Another step is selecting a first set of architectural paint colors from the database, the first set being located within the first color space portion. Another step is displaying color samples of the first set of architectural paint colors on one of a display monitor or a hard-copy printout.
In another aspect, the present invention provides an architectural paint color coordination system for selecting complementary architectural paint colors, comprising an interface for receiving an input reference color, a processor configured to perform instructions read from a memory, a memory storing instructions configured to be read and performed by the processor, and a display generator. The instructions direct the processor to perform the steps of directing the interface to receive an input reference color having a reference hue, with respect to a color space; selecting a first set of architectural paint colors having a first hue that is one of the hues of the five-way harmony of the reference hue; and directing the display generator to display color samples of the first set of architectural paint colors.
In another aspect, the present invention provides an architectural paint color coordination system for selecting complementary architectural paint colors, comprising an interface for receiving an input reference color, a processor configured to perform instructions read from a memory, a memory storing instructions and a database of architectural paint colors within a color space, and a display generator. The instructions are configured to be read and performed by the processor. The instructions direct the processor to perform the following steps: The processor directs the interface to receive an input reference color. The processor selects a reference paint color from the database. The reference paint color is selected so that it is visually closer, with respect to the color space, to the input reference color than all other paint colors within the database. The paint colors within the database are grouped into a plurality of mutually exclusive sub-sets, each of which subsets of colors being located within only one of a plurality o
Pace James P.
Rice Mary R.
Behr Process Corporation
Bella Matthew C.
Sajous Wesner
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