Test chart used for calibration in image forming apparatus

• US 9,854,133 B2
• Filed: 02/03/2014
• Issued: 12/26/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 02/20/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Takemura, Taichi
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, Thomas D
• Application Number:
  US14/171,666
• Publication Number:
  US 20140233049A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,422 Days
• Field of Search: 358 11, 358 19, 358 112, 358400, 358401, 358406, 358500, 358501, 358504, 358518
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00045 using a reference pattern designed for the purpose, e.g. a test chart
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/0005 in service, i.e. during normal operation
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/60 Colour correction or control H04N1/54 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/6044 involving a sensor integrated in the machine or otherwise specifically adapted to read the test pattern

Abstract

Multiple measurement images are formed in a test chart. Reflected light from the test patterns is received by light receiving elements of a color sensor for an accumulation time that is determined for the respective test patterns. The lengths of the test patterns in the conveyance direction of the test chart are determined according to the lengths of the accumulation times for the respective test patterns.

Claims

1. An image forming apparatus comprising:

an image forming station configured to form an image on a sheet;

conveyance rollers configured to convey the sheet on which the image is formed;

a sensor configured to measure, based on an accumulation time, reflected light from a measurement image that is formed on a sheet conveyed by the conveyance rollers; and

a processor configured to cause execution of tasks including;

an image forming task that controls the image forming stations to form a plurality of measurement images on a sheet, wherein the plurality of measurement images includes a first measurement image and a second measurement image, and

a measurement task that controls the sensor to measure the first measurement image based on a first accumulation time, and measure the second measurement image based on a second accumulation time, wherein the second accumulation time is longer than the first accumulation time,

wherein the conveyance rollers are configured to reverse the conveyance direction of the sheet,

wherein the processor is further configured to execute the measurement task after reversal of the conveyance direction of the sheet on which the plurality of measurement images is formed, and

wherein a length of the first measurement image in a conveyance direction in which the conveyance rollers convey the sheet is shorter than a length of the second measurement image in the conveyance direction.

2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

the plurality of measurement images further includes a third measurement image,

the measurement task controls the sensor to measure reflected light from the third measurement image based on a third accumulation time longer than second accumulation time, and

the length of the second measurement image in the conveyance direction is shorter than a length of the third measurement image.

3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to cause execution of tasks including:

a determination task that determines a spectral reflectivity of the measurement image based on the reflected light from the measurement image measured by the sensor.

4. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to execute tasks including:

a converting task that converts image data based on a conversion condition,

an updating task that updates the conversion condition based on a measuring result of the sensor, and

an image forming task that controls the image forming stations to form the image on the sheet based on the image data converted by the converting task.

5. The image forming apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the conversion condition is a profile for adjusting a color of an image.

6. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the sensor includes:

a light emitter configured to emit light;

a diffracting grating configured to diffract reflected light from the measuring image; and

a line sensor configured to receive the reflected light diffracted by the diffracting grating.

7. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the third measurement image is formed at an opposite side of the first measurement image in the conveyance direction in view of the second measurement image.

8. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

the plurality of the measurement images further includes a third measurement image,

a length of the third measurement image in the conveyance direction is longer than the length of the first measurement image in the conveyance direction,

the length of the third measurement image in the conveyance direction is shorter than the length of the second measurement image in the conveyance direction, and

the measurement task measures the reflected light from the third measurement image based on the first accumulation time.

9. The image forming apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the third measurement image is formed between the first measurement image and the second measurement image in the conveyance direction.

10. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

the plurality of the measurement images further includes a third measurement image,

a length of the third measurement image in the conveyance direction is longer than the length of the second measurement image in the conveyance direction, and

the measurement task measures the reflected light from the third measurement image based on the second accumulation time.

11. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

the image forming station includes a first image forming station configured to form a first image using a cyan toner, a second image forming station configured to form a second image using a magenta toner and a third image forming station configured to form a third image using a yellow toner,

the first measurement image is formed using the cyan toner, the magenta toner and the yellow toner, and

the second measurement image is formed using the cyan toner, the magenta toner and the yellow toner.

12. An image forming apparatus comprising:

an image forming station configured to form an image on a sheet;

conveyance rollers configured to convey the sheet on which the image is formed;

a sensor configured to measure, based on an accumulation time, reflected light from a measurement image that is formed on a sheet conveyed by the conveyance rollers; and

a processor configured to;

control the image forming stations to form a plurality of measurement images on a test sheet, the plurality of measurement images includes a first measurement image and a second measurement image,

control the conveyance rollers to convey the test sheet to the sensor,

execute a first scan in which the sensor measures reflected light from the plurality of measurement images, and

control the conveyance rollers to convey the test sheet to the sensor again, and configured to execute a second scan in which the sensor measures reflected light from the plurality of measurement images;

wherein the processor determines a first accumulation time for the first measurement image in the second scan based on a measurement result of the first measurement image in the first scan,

wherein the processor determines a second accumulation time for the second measurement image in the second scan based on a measurement result of the second measurement image in the first scan,

wherein the sensor measures, based on a first predetermined accumulation time, reflected light from the first measurement image in the first scan,

wherein the sensor measures, based on a second predetermined accumulation time, reflected light from the second measurement image in the first scan,

wherein the second predetermined accumulation time is longer than the first predetermined accumulation time, and

wherein a length of the first measurement image in a conveyance direction in which the conveyance rollers convey the test sheet is shorter than a length of the second measurement image in the conveyance direction.

13. The image forming apparatus according to claim 12,

wherein the sensor measures, based on a plurality of predetermined times including the first predetermined time, reflected light from the first measurement image,

wherein the sensor measures, based on a plurality of predetermined times including the second predetermined time, reflected light from the second measurement image,

wherein the processor compares a measurement result of the first measurement image in the first scan and the first predetermined accumulation time, and determines the first accumulation time based on a comparison result of the measurement result of the first measurement image in the first scan and the first predetermined accumulation time, and

wherein the processor compares a measurement result of the second measurement image in the first scan and the second predetermined accumulation time, and determines the second accumulation time based on a comparison result of the measurement result of the second measurement image in the first scan and the second predetermined accumulation time.

14. The image forming apparatus according to claim 12,

wherein, in a case where the measurement result of the first measurement image in the first scan is saturated, the first accumulation time is shorter than the first predetermined accumulation time, and

wherein, in a case where the measurement result of the second measurement image in the first scan is saturated, the second accumulation time is shorter than the second predetermined accumulation time.

15. The image forming apparatus according to claim 12,

wherein the processor controls the conveyance rollers to reverse the conveyance direction of the test sheet, and

wherein the processor executes the second scan after reversal of the conveyance direction of the test sheet.

16. The image forming apparatus according to claim 12,

wherein the processor generates information related to a color of the plurality of measurement images based on the measurement result of the plurality of the measurement images in the second scan.

17. The image forming apparatus according to claim 16,

wherein the information corresponds to a spectral reflectance of each of the plurality of measurement images.

18. The image forming apparatus according to claim 12,

wherein the processor generates a color profile based on the measurement result of the plurality of the measurement images in the second scan.