Patent ID: 7180524
Filing Date: 2007-02-20
Classification: G01J,G06T,G09G

Abstract:
1. A method for choosing on-screen color elements in a computer system, comprising: (a) providing a color selection arrangement which includes a plurality of color-family selection means, each of said color-family selection means respectively referencing one of a plurality of color family groups, each of said color family groups respectively referencing a plurality of ranges of hue, said ranges of hue each being of sufficient size to encompass a plurality of distinguishable hues of approximately a single general hue sector, but substantially no larger than two general hue sectors, of the general hue sectors of the visible spectrum from the group consisting of red, red-orange, orange, yellow-orange, yellow, yellow-green, green, blue-green, blue, blue-violet, violet, and red-violet, (b) providing an interface including said plurality of color-family selection means for enabling a user to choose one or more of said color family groups and cause to be respectively displayed by color display means on a computer screen one or more of a plurality of color-element selection palettes, each of said color-element selection palettes containing an arrangement of color elements respectively representing said range of hue of one of said chosen color-family groups, and (c) providing each of said chosen color-element selection palettes as an interface for enabling a user to choose a color for use from among said arrangement of color elements, (d) configuring said color-family selection means in a plurality of relative positions substantially corresponding to an arrangement of said general hue sectors on a color diagram, said color diagram distributing said general hue sectors in a circuit sequenced in the order of the visible spectrum, said color diagram having a shape selected from the group consisting of circles, ellipses, hexagons, octagons, decagons, trapezoids, triangles, rectangles, and squares, and (e) including a plurality of color-diagram selection means, said color-diagram selection means providing an interface for determining said color diagram to which said relative positions of said color-family selection means correspond,