Granted Patent B2

US 7,142,332 · App. 09/750,597 · Granted Nov 28, 2006

Abstract

Claims (114)

1. A method for applying individualized calibrated tone-reproduction curves to enable printing of image data, comprising:

(a) providing a plurality of calibrated tone-reproduction curves, each calibrated tone-reproduction curve corresponding to a distinct media type;

(b) determining a media type to be used in printing the image data;

(c) selecting a calibrated tone-reproduction curve based on the determined media type;

(d) applying the selected calibrated tone-reproduction curve to print the image data; and

(e) generate a map to link a stored tone-reproduction curve to a media type; wherein said stored tone-reproduction curve selected based on the determined media type is capable of being mapped to more than one media type.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising:

determining a halftone to be used in printing the image data;

said (a) providing a plurality of stored calibrated tone-reproduction curves, each calibrated tone-reproduction curve corresponding to a distinct halftone type and media type combination;

said (c) selecting a calibrated tone-reproduction curve based on the determined media type and determined halftone type combination.

3. The method as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising:

performing a plurality of calibration operations, each calibration operation using a distinct media type;

generating a tone-reproduction curve for each media type; and

storing the generated the tone-reproduction curves;

said (a) providing a plurality of stored calibrated tone-reproduction curves, each stored calibrated tone-reproduction curve corresponding to a distinct media type.

4. The method as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising:

performing a plurality of calibration operations, each calibration operation using a distinct media type and halftone type combination;

generating a tone-reproduction curve for each media type and halftone type combination;

storing the generated the tone-reproduction curves; and

determining a halftone to be used in printing the image data;

said step (a) providing a plurality of stored calibrated tone-reproduction curves, each stored calibrated tone-reproduction curve corresponding to a distinct media type and halftone type combination;

said step (c) selecting a calibrated tone-reproduction curve based on the determined media type and determined halftone type.

5. The method as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising:

performing a plurality of calibration operations, each calibration operation using a distinct media type;

generating a tone-reproduction curve for each media type calibration;

comparing the plurality of tone-reproduction curves to group tone-reproduction curves having similar characteristics,

selecting a single tone-reproduction curve from a group of tone-reproduction curves having similar characteristics, each single tone-reproduction curve being the tone-reproduction curve associated with the media types that generated the tone-reproduction curve having similar characteristics;

storing selected and non-grouped tone-reproduction curves; and

said (a) providing a plurality of stored calibrated tone-reproduction curves, each stored calibrated tone-reproduction curve corresponding to a distinct media type.

6. The method as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising:

performing a plurality of calibration operations, each calibration operation using a distinct media type and halftone type combination;

generating a tone-reproduction curve for each media type and halftone type combination calibration;

comparing the plurality of tone-reproduction curves to group tone-reproduction curves having similar characteristics;

selecting a single tone-reproduction curve from a group of tone-reproduction curves having similar characteristics, each single tone-reproduction curve being the tone-reproduction curve associated with the media type and halftone type combinations that generated the tone-reproduction curve having similar characteristics;

storing selected and non-grouped tone-reproduction curves; and

determining a halftone to be used in printing the image data;

said (a) providing a plurality of stored calibrated tone-reproduction curves, each stored calibrated tone-reproduction curve corresponding to a distinct media type and halftone type combination;

said (c) selecting a calibrated tone-reproduction curve based on the determined media type and determined halftone type.

7. The method as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising:

printing of image data on a xerographic printing device using the selected calibrated tone-reproduction curve.

8. A system for applying individualized calibrated tone-reproduction curves to enable printing of image data, comprising:

a storage device to store and provide a plurality of calibrated tone-reproduction curves, each calibrated tone-reproduction curve corresponding to a distinct halftone type and media type combination;

an input device to select a media type to be used in printing the image data and to select a halftone to be used in printing the image data;

a processor to select a calibrated tone-reproduction curve based on the selected media type and determined halftone type and to apply the selected calibrated tone-reproduction curve to print the image data; and

a said calibration means generating a map to link a stored tone-reproduction curve to a media type, wherein said stored tone-reproduction curve selected based on the determined media type is capable of being mapped to more than one media type.

9. The system as claimed in claim 8 , further comprising: a xerographic printing device using the selected calibrated tone-reproduction curve to print image data.

10. The system as claimed in claim 8 , wherein: said input device selects a halftone to be used in printing the image data; said storage device provides a plurality of calibrated tone-reproduction curves, each calibrated tone-reproduction curve corresponding to a distinct halftone type and media type combination; said processor selects a calibrated tone-reproduction curve based on the selected media type and selected halftone type.

11. The system as claimed in claim 8 , further comprising:

calibration means for performing a plurality of calibration operations, each calibration operation using a distinct media type;

said calibration means generating a tone-reproduction curve for each media type;

said storage device storing the generated the tone-reproduction curves and providing a plurality of stored calibrated tone-reproduction curves, each stored calibrated tone-reproduction curve corresponding to a distinct media type.

12. The system as claimed in claim 8 , further comprising:

calibration means for performing a plurality of calibration operations, each calibration operation using a distinct media type;

said calibration means generating a tone-reproduction curve for each media type; said input device selecting a halftone to be used in printing the image data;

said storage device storing the generated the tone-reproduction curves and providing a plurality of stored calibrated tone-reproduction curves, each stored calibrated tone-reproduction curve corresponding to a distinct halftone type and media type combination;

said processor selecting a calibrated tone-reproduction curve based on the selected media type and selected halftone type.

13. The system as claimed in claim 8 , further comprising:

calibration means for performing a plurality of calibration operations, each calibration operation using a distinct media type;

said calibration means generating a tone-reproduction curve for each media type calibration;

said calibration means comparing the plurality of tone-reproduction curves to group tone-reproduction curves having similar characteristics;

said calibration means selecting a single tone-reproduction curve from a group of tone-reproduction curves having similar characteristics, each single tone-reproduction curve being the tone-reproduction curve associated with the media types that generated the tone-reproduction curve having similar characteristics;

said storage device storing selected and non-grouped tone-reproduction curves;

said storage device providing a plurality of stored calibrated tone-reproduction curves, each stored calibrated tone-reproduction curve corresponding to a distinct media type.

14. The system as claimed in claim 8 , further comprising:

calibration means for performing a plurality of calibration operations, each calibration operation using a distinct media type and halftone type combination;

said calibration means generating a tone-reproduction curve for each media type and halftone type combination calibration;

said calibration means comparing the plurality of tone-reproduction curves to group tone-reproduction curves having similar characteristics;

said calibration means selecting a single tone-reproduction curve from a group of tone-reproduction curves having similar characteristics, each single tone-reproduction curve being the tone-reproduction curve associated with the media type and halftone type combinations that generated the tone-reproduction curve having similar characteristics;

said storage device storing selected and non-grouped tone-reproduction curves;

said calibration means generating a map to link a stored tone-reproduction curve to a media type and halftone type combination, a stored tone-reproduction curve being capable of being mapped to more than one media type and halftone type combination;

and said input device selecting a halftone to be used in printing the image data;

said storage device providing a plurality of stored calibrated tone-reproduction curves, each stored calibrated tone-reproduction curve corresponding to a distinct media type and halftone type combination;

said processor selecting a calibrated tone-reproduction curve based on the selected media type and selected halftone type.

15. The system as claimed in claim 9 , further comprising:

an auto-segmentation circuit to determine a halftone to be used in printing the image data;

said storage device providing a plurality of calibrated tone-reproduction curves, each calibrated tone-reproduction curve corresponding to a distinct halftone type and media type combination;

said processor selecting a calibrated tone-reproduction curve based on the selected media type and determined halftone type.

16. The system as claimed in claim 8 , further comprising:

calibration means for performing a plurality of calibration operations, each calibration operation using a distinct media type;

said calibration means generating a tone-reproduction curve for each media type; and

an auto-segmentation circuit to determine a halftone to be used in printing the image data;

said storage device storing the generated the tone-reproduction curves and providing a plurality of stored calibrated tone-reproduction curves, each stored calibrated tone-reproduction curve corresponding to a distinct halftone type and media type combination;

said processor selecting a calibrated tone-reproduction curve based on the selected media type and determined halftone type.

17. The system as claimed in claim 8 , further comprising:

calibration means for performing a plurality of calibration operations, each calibration operation using a distinct media type and halftone type combination;

said calibration means generating a tone-reproduction curve for each media type and halftone type combination calibration;

said calibration means comparing the plurality of tone-reproduction curves to group tone-reproduction curves having similar characteristics;

said calibration means selecting a single tone-reproduction curve from a group of tone-reproduction curves having similar characteristics, each single tone-reproduction curve being the tone-reproduction curve associated with the media type and halftone type combinations that generated the tone-reproduction curve having similar characteristics;

said storage device storing selected and non-grouped tone-reproduction curves;

said calibration means generating a map to link a stored tone-reproduction curve to a media type and halftone type combination, a stored tone-reproduction curve being capable of being mapped to more than one media type and halftone type combination;

and an auto-segmentation circuit to determine a halftone to be used in printing the image data;

said storage device providing a plurality of stored calibrated tone-reproduction curves, each stored calibrated tone-reproduction curve corresponding to a distinct media type and halftone type combination;

said processor selecting a calibrated tone-reproduction curve based on the selected media type and determined halftone type.

18. A system for applying individualized calibrated tone-reproduction curves to enable printing of image data, comprising:

storage means for storing and providing a plurality of calibrated tone-reproduction curves, each calibrated tone-reproduction curve corresponding to a distinct halftone type and media type combination;

first means for determining a media type to be used in printing the image data;

second means for determining a halftone to be used in printing the image data;

third means for selecting a calibrated tone-reproduction curve based on the determined media type and determined halftone type and applying the selected calibrated tone-reproduction curve to print the image data; and

a calibration means generating a map to link a stored tone-reproduction curve to a media type and halftone type combination, wherein said stored tone-reproduction curve selected based on the determined media type is capable of being mapped to more than one media type and halftone type combination.

19. The system as claimed in claim 18 , further comprising:

a xerographic printing device using the selected calibrated tone-reproduction curve to print image data.

20. The system as claimed in claim 18 , further comprising:

calibration means for performing a plurality of calibration operations, each calibration operation using a distinct media type;

said calibration means generating a tone-reproduction curve for each media type;

said storage means storing the generated the tone-reproduction curves and providing a plurality of stored calibrated tone-reproduction curves, each stored calibrated tone-reproduction curve corresponding to a distinct halftone type and media type combination;

said third means selecting a calibrated tone-reproduction curve based on the determined media type and determined halftone type.

21. The system as claimed in claim 18 , further comprising:

calibration means for performing a plurality of calibration operations, each calibration operation using a distinct media type and halftone type combination;

said calibration means generating a tone-reproduction curve for each media type and halftone type combination calibration;

said calibration means comparing the plurality of tone-reproduction curves to group tone-reproduction curves having similar characteristics;

said calibration means selecting a single tone-reproduction curve from a group of tone-reproduction curves having similar characteristics, each single tone-reproduction curve being the tone-reproduction curve associated with the media type and halftone type combinations that generated the tone-reproduction curve having similar characteristics;

said storage means storing selected and non-grouped tone-reproduction curves;

and said storage means providing a plurality of stored calibrated tone-reproduction curves, each stored calibrated tone-reproduction curve corresponding to a distinct media type and halftone type combination;

said third means selecting a calibrated tone-reproduction curve based on the determined media type and determined halftone type.

Assignments (9)