System for modeling a color imaging device

Computer graphics processing and selective visual display system – Computer graphics processing – Attributes

Reexamination Certificate

Rate now

  [ 0.00 ] – not rated yet Voters 0   Comments 0

Details

Reexamination Certificate

active

06310626

ABSTRACT:

FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is directed to a system for modeling color imaging peripherals for the purpose of managing color reproduction properties and, more particularly, to a system that models an input device in regions of the input device color space that are incomplete because of inadequate data using slope information.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Today, because of the importance of conveying images from one computer system to another, such as over the Internet, managing the color reproduction properties of color imaging peripherals or input devices, such as scanners and cameras, has also become important. Color management software uses device description data called “profiles” to describe the color rendering properties of the device. These profiles typically include a multidimensional interpolation table that transforms input device code values, such as RGB, into a CIE colorimetric color space such as CIELAB or CIE XYZ. Such a table is often built using a multi-dimensional polynomial model. Like the table, the model also transforms the code values into colorimetry.
The polynomial model is fit using measurements and data captured from the device to be modeled, the “characterization data.” The use of a polynomial having a number of coefficients provides a convenient way to smooth out noise from the imaging device. The polynomial also allows one to predict device performance for code values in-between the values for which measurements are available. Using the polynomial in this way is called “interpolation” as long as there are measured values that surround the point at which the model is to be evaluated. When using the polynomial for values outside of the domain for which measurements are available the process is called “extrapolation.” Because of the lack of surrounding measurements, extrapolation often produces much poorer results than interpolation.
When modeling an “output” device such as a color printer, one can easily collect data for the entire range of code value combinations that the device can print. One simply creates a digital target image that includes all the desired code values, prints it using the device, and measures the resulting colors. However, for an “input” device such as a digital camera or a scanner that digitizes an image from photographic or other input materials, it is difficult to collect data for the entire range of potential code values. For example, the input device can probably resolve colors much lighter than a diffuse white object in the scene being captured. Since data is typically collected from a color chart positioned somewhere in the scene, this implies that the color chart must somehow provide these very high reflectances. Even if this could be done using a self-luminous color chart or using special lighting or exposure techniques, it would be very cumbersome. To sum up, no practical color chart contains colors as bright, dark, or vivid as those of the real world.
Because of these difficulties, the characterization data used to fit mathematical models for input devices is incomplete. However, when building a profile for the device, one must anticipate the presence of values that are outside the domain covered by the characterization data. This means that the model must be used for extrapolating beyond the domain of the characterization data. This places much greater demands on the model than if it were only to be used for simply interpolating for values that are in-between measured values and still within their domain (or “convex hull”). As a result, the overall performance of the resulting profiles is compromised.
What is needed is an approach that allows the model to be accurately extended into regions where measured data is not available.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to extend a color model of an input device to input regions where measured input data is not available.
It is another object of the present invention to provide an extended model that does not suffer from unrealistic fluctuations in regions where the input device is operable and measured input values arc not available.
It is still another object of the present invention to provide an extended higher order model using the slope of a lower model.
The above objects can be attained by a system that extends a high-order polynomial model of an input device into a device input region where measured input data is not available by selecting points in the unmeasured region, determining a slope at each of the selected points using a lower order model, and fitting the higher order model to the measured values and the slope values. The invention creates a high-order model using measured device values and slope values of a low-order model in a region where measured data exists and in a region where measured data does not exist.


REFERENCES:
patent: 4500919 (1985-02-01), Schreiber
patent: 4658286 (1987-04-01), Schwartz et al.
patent: 5317426 (1994-05-01), Hoshino
patent: 5414537 (1995-05-01), Omuro et al.
patent: 5991525 (1999-11-01), Shah et al.
patent: 5999703 (1999-12-01), Schwartz et al.
patent: 6043909 (2000-03-01), Holub
patent: 6075888 (2000-06-01), Schwartz
patent: 6108442 (2000-08-01), Edge et al.
Merriam-Webster, Inc.; Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary, Tenth Edition, 1997, p. 413.*
Robert Hall Wallis, “Film Recording Of Digital Color Images”, May, 1975, USCIPI Report 570, pp. 1-184.

LandOfFree

Say what you really think

Search LandOfFree.com for the USA inventors and patents. Rate them and share your experience with other people.

Rating

System for modeling a color imaging device does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.

If you have personal experience with System for modeling a color imaging device, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and System for modeling a color imaging device will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

     

Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2583499

  Search
All data on this website is collected from public sources. Our data reflects the most accurate information available at the time of publication.