Patent ID: 6178007
Filing Date: 2001-01-23
Classification: H04N

Abstract:
A color printer color calibration system for updating color calibration values for a color printer, which said color printer during normal printing operations is responsive to device-independent electronic printing signals to print normal color images of selectable combinations of a plurality of printer colorants on print substrates, wherein a device memory controls said color printer by initially storing a look-up table with a large amount of stored information relating said device-independent electronic printing signals to said printing of printer colorants to provide the initial color calibration values for said color printer; comprising:a memory for storing electronic color calibration signals which are suitable for printing color calibration patches with said color printer,a color calibration image generation system for automatically printing plural different color calibration patches on selected said print substrates with said printer colorants from said electronic color calibration signals stored in said memory;a printer controller controlling said color printer and said color calibration image generation system to print said color calibration patches on selected said print substrates during said normal printing operations;a color sensor associated with said color printer for measuring the color of a color calibration patch printed on a print substrate by said color printer; anda converter for sequentially converting said color of said color calibration patch printed on said print substrate measured by said color sensor into an color calibration update value for a small portion of said large amount of stored information in said look-up table,wherein said color calibration image generation system automatically prints different said color calibration patches during said normal printing operations to incrementally update said large amount of stored information in said look-up table relating said device-independent electronic printing signals to said printing of printer colorants during said normal printing operations.