IP Library Granted Patent US 8,040,390
Granted Patent B2
US 8,040,390 · App. 12/001,585 · Granted Oct 18, 2011

Adjustment for output image of image data

Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,040,390
App. No.
12/001,585
Granted
Oct 18, 2011
Kind
B2
Abstract

When a memory card is inserted into a slot, the control circuit of a color printer obtains image output control information from a memory card and analyzes it. When auto light source is not set as the light source, the CPU references the reference values and coefficients for the characteristics parameters except for color balance and performs correction, and then adjusts the image data image quality to reflect the post-correction characteristics parameters. As a result, it is possible to automatically adjust the image quality of image data without losing the selectively set output conditions.

Claims (45)

1. An output device that outputs an image using image data and white balance information on white balance set at the time of generating the image data, the white balance information being associated with the image data, the output device comprising:

an image data acquisition unit that acquires the image data;

a white balance information acquisition unit that acquires the white balance information associated with the image data acquired by the image data acquisition unit; and

an output unit that outputs the image using the image data color balance thereof adjusted when the white balance information is auto white balance information, and that outputs the image using the image data the color balance thereof not adjusted when the white balance information is not the auto white balance information.

2. An output device that outputs an image using image data and white balance information on white balance set at the time of generating the image data, the white balance information being associated with the image data, the output device comprising:

an image data acquisition unit that acquires the image data;

a white balance information acquisition unit that acquires the white balance information associated with the image data acquired by the acquisition unit; and

an output unit that outputs the image using the image data color balance thereof adjusted at a particular level when the white balance information is auto white balance information, and that outputs the image using the image data the color balance thereof adjusted at a lower level than the particular level when the white balance information is not the auto white balance information.

3. An output device in accordance with claim 1 or 2 further comprising:

an image quality parameter value obtaining unit that obtains an image quality parameter value that indicates the characteristic of the image data,

wherein the output unit adjusts the color balance of the image data based on the obtained image quality parameter value and on a preset reference image quality parameter value.

4. An output device in accordance with claim 3 , wherein the output unit calculates color balance adjustment volume from the reference image quality parameter value and the image quality parameter value, modifies the color balance adjustment volume based on the white balance information, and adjusts the color balance of the image data using the modified color balance adjustment volume.

5. An output device in accordance with claim 3 , wherein the output unit adjusts the color balance of the image data based on the white balance information to reduce the difference between the reference image quality parameter value and the image quality parameter value.

6. An output device in accordance with claim 3 , wherein the output unit adjusts the color balance of the image data based on the white balance information to eliminate the difference between the reference image quality parameter value and the image quality parameter value.

7. An output device in accordance with claim 3 further comprising:

a reference image quality parameter value modification unit that modifies the reference image quality parameter value,

wherein the output unit adjusts the color balance of the image data based on the modified reference image quality parameter value and on the obtained image quality parameter value.

8. An output device in accordance with claim 1 or 2 , wherein the output device comprises a printer that prints the image.

9. An output device in accordance with claim 1 or 2 , wherein the output device comprises a display device that displays the image.

10. An output device in accordance with claim 1 or 2 , wherein the image data and the white balance information are contained in a same image file.

11. An output method of outputting an image using image data and white balance information on white balance set at the time of generating the image data, the white balance information being associated with the image data, the output method comprising:

acquiring the image data;

acquiring the white balance information associated with the image data that is acquired; and

outputting the image using the image data color balance thereof adjusted when the white balance information is auto white balance information, and outputting the image using the image data the color balance thereof not adjusted when the white balance information is not the auto white balance information.

12. An output method of outputting an image using image data and white balance information on white balance set at the time of generating the image data, the white balance information being associated with the image data, the output method comprising:

acquiring the image data;

acquiring the white balance information associated with the image data that is acquired; and

outputting the image using the image data color balance of the image adjusted at a particular level when the white balance information is auto white balance information, and outputting the image using the image data the color balance of the image adjusted at a lower level than the particular level when the white balance information is not the auto white balance information.

13. An output method in accordance with claim 11 or 12 further comprising:

obtaining an image quality parameter value that indicates the characteristic of the image data,

wherein the outputting the image includes adjusting the color balance of the image data based on the obtained image quality parameter value and on a preset reference image quality parameter value.

14. An output method in accordance with claim 13 , wherein the outputting the image includes calculating color balance adjustment volume from the reference image quality parameter value and the image quality parameter value, modifying the color balance adjustment volume based on the white balance information, and adjusting the color balance of the image data using the modified color balance adjustment volume.

15. An output method in accordance with claim 13 , wherein the outputting the image includes adjusting the color balance of the image based on the white balance information to reduce the difference between the reference image quality parameter value and the image quality parameter value.

16. An output method in accordance with claim 13 , wherein the outputting the image includes adjusting the color balance of the image based on the white balance information to eliminate the difference between the reference image quality parameter value and the image quality parameter value.

17. An output method in accordance with claim 13 further comprising:

modifying the reference image quality parameter value,

wherein the outputting the image includes adjusting the color balance of the image data based on the modified reference image quality parameter value and on the obtained image quality parameter value.

18. An output device that outputs an image using image data and white balance information on white balance set at the time of generating the image data, the white balance information being associated with the image data, the output device comprising:

an image data acquisition unit that acquires the image data;

a white balance information acquisition unit that acquires the white balance information associated with the image data acquired by the acquisition unit; and

an output unit that outputs the image using the image data color balance thereof not adjusted when the white balance information is not auto white balance information.

19. An output method of outputting an image using image data and setting information being set at the time of generating the image data, the setting information being associated with the image data, the output method comprising:

determining whether the setting information indicating a image data generating apparatus confirms and sets white balance;

calculating correction level of color balance of the image data; and

outputting the image using the image data color balance thereof adjusted based on the correction level that is calculated.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 15, 2020
From: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
To: 138 EAST LCD ADVANCEMENTS LIMITED
Reel/Frame 052677/0815 →
Priority Claims (1)
JP 2001-034545 · Feb 9, 2001 · national
Continuity (2)
Continuation 10239820 · Sep 24, 2002
Related Publication 20090103806A1 · Apr 23, 2009