Automatic colorant mixing method and apparatus
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method of mixing colorants to achieve a target color, comprising:
- combining individual colorants;
detecting an output color of the combined colorants with a color sensing device; and
automatically adjusting the output color based on comparison between the detected output color and the target color;
wherein the step of adjusting includes transforming transmission spectra from spectral space to control parameter space and the transforming includes calculating control parameters β
;
space="preserve" listing-type="equation">β
=H.sup.-1 Gwherein H is a correlation matrix of basis functions and G is a cross-correlation vector of basis functions and spectra.
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Abstract
A method of mixing colorants to achieve a target color includes combining individual colorants, detecting an output color of the combined colorants with a color sensing device and automatically adjusting the output color based on comparison between the detected output color and the target color. An apparatus for mixing colorants according to this method is also disclosed.
152 Citations
32 Claims
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1. A method of mixing colorants to achieve a target color, comprising:
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combining individual colorants; detecting an output color of the combined colorants with a color sensing device; and automatically adjusting the output color based on comparison between the detected output color and the target color; wherein the step of adjusting includes transforming transmission spectra from spectral space to control parameter space and the transforming includes calculating control parameters β
;
space="preserve" listing-type="equation">β
=H.sup.-1 Gwherein H is a correlation matrix of basis functions and G is a cross-correlation vector of basis functions and spectra. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. An apparatus for mixing colorants to achieve a target color, comprising:
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a plurality of colorant dispensers for the colorants to be mixed; a container that is capable of receiving the colorants to be mixed; a color sensing device, the color sensing device being capable of detecting an output color of a colorant mixture; and a controller linked to each of the plurality of colorant dispensers and operatively connected to the color sensing device, wherein the controller adjusts the output color to match the target color based on a signal received from the color sensing device by outputting a signal to at least one of the plurality of colorant dispensers indicating an amount of colorant to be added to the container; wherein the controller includes a transformation block that transforms transmission spectra from spectral space to control parameter space and yields an output of control parameter β
;
space="preserve" listing-type="equation">β
=H.sup.-1 Gwherein H is a correlation matrix of basis functions and G is a cross-correlation vector of basis functions and spectra. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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27. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein the controller includes a multiplier that multiplies the error signal E by a gain matrix K to yield a weighted error.
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28. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the color sensing device is linked to the controller by a feedback loop, and wherein signal received by the controller from the color sensing device is closed loop feedback.
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29. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the container is disposable.
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30. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the container includes a disposable liner.
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31. An apparatus for mixing inks to achieve a target color, comprising:
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a plurality of colored ink dispensers for the inks to be mixed; a container that is capable of receiving the inks to be mixed; a color sensing device, the color sensing device being capable of detecting an output color of an ink mixture; and a controller linked to each of the plurality of colored ink dispensers and operatively connected to the color sensing device, wherein the controller adjusts the output color to match the target color based on a signal received from the color sensing device by outputting a signal to at least one of the plurality of colored ink dispensers indicating an amount of colorant to be added to the container, and wherein the controller includes a transformation block that transforms transmission spectra from spectral space to control parameter space and yields an output of control parameter β
;
space="preserve" listing-type="equation">β
=H.sup.-1 Gwherein H is a correlation matrix of basis functions and G is a cross-correlation vector of basis functions and spectra.
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32. A printing apparatus, comprising:
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a) a colorant mixing device, for mixing colorants to achieve a target color, comprising; a plurality of colored ink dispensers for the inks to be mixed; a container that is capable of receiving the inks to be mixed; a color sensing device, the color sensing device being capable of detecting an output color of an ink mixture; and a controller linked to each of the plurality of colored ink dispensers and operatively connected to the color sensing device, wherein the controller adjusts the output color to match the target color based on a signal received from the color sensing device by outputting a signal to at least one of the plurality of colored ink dispensers indicating an amount of colorant to be added to the container, and wherein the controller includes a transformation block that transforms transmission spectra from spectral space to control parameter space and yields an output of control parameter β
;
space="preserve" listing-type="equation">β
=H.sup.-1 Gwherein H is a correlation matrix of basis functions and G is a cross-correlation vector of basis functions and spectra; and b) an image output device for printing an image using said target color on a recording medium.
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Specification