Patent Publication Number: US-2016248940-A1

Title: Device and method for determining appropriate color patch measurement operation by user based on acquired and predicted measurement values

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is based on and claims priority under 35 USC 119 from Japanese Patent Application No. 2015-035167 filed Feb. 25, 2015. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Technical Field 
     The present invention relates to a determination device and a determination method. 
     SUMMARY 
     According to an aspect of the invention, there is provided a determination device including a first instructing unit, a first acquiring unit, a correcting unit, a predicting unit, a second instructing unit, a second acquiring unit, and a determining unit. The first instructing unit instructs an image output device to output a first patch column in which multiple single-color patch images and at least one multicolor patch image are arranged, the multiple single-color patch images being represented by respective tone values for single colors, the one multicolor patch image being represented by a tone value of a multicolor. The first acquiring unit acquires measurement values of the multiple single-color patch images measured by a user by operating a measurement device along a first patch column output by the image output device. The correcting unit corrects the tone values on a per color basis such that the measurement values of the multiple single-color patch images acquired by the first acquiring unit are made to approach target values predetermined for the single-color patch images. The predicting unit predicts a measurement value of the multicolor patch image included in a second patch column to be output by the image output device, the second patch column being acquired after the correcting unit corrects the tone values in the first patch column. The second instructing unit instructs the image output device to output the second patch column. The second acquiring unit acquires the measurement value of the multicolor patch image measured by performing, by the user, an operation of the measurement device along the second patch column output by the image output device. The determining unit determines whether the operation performed by the user is appropriate on a basis of the measurement value acquired by the second acquiring unit and the measurement value predicted by the predicting unit. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       An exemplary embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail based on the following figures, wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a diagram illustrating an overall configuration of an image forming system according to the present exemplary embodiment; 
         FIG. 2  is a diagram illustrating a functional configuration of a determination device of the image forming system; 
         FIG. 3  is a diagram for explaining patch columns; 
         FIGS. 4A and 4B  are a graph and a chart, respectively, for explaining correction characteristics; 
         FIG. 5  is a diagram for explaining a profile; and 
         FIGS. 6A and 6B  are flowcharts each for explaining operation of the determination device. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     1. Exemplary Embodiment 
     1-1. Overall Configuration of Image Forming System 
       FIG. 1  is a diagram illustrating an overall configuration of an image forming system  9  according to the present exemplary embodiment. As illustrated in  FIG. 1 , the image forming system  9  includes a determination device  1  and an output device  2 . The image forming system  9  may also include a measurement device  3  that measures images output by the output device  2 . 
     The determination device  1  includes a controller  11 , a memory  12 , an operating unit  13 , and a display  14  and further includes signal lines and other components, the signal lines being provided for transmitting control signals to the output device  2 . The determination device  1  determines whether an operation performed by a user for correcting tone values of an image output by the output device  2  is appropriate. The determination device  1  has a function of instructing the output device  2  to output an image and a function of correcting data regarding the output image in response to the operation by the user. 
     The output device  2  includes a transporting unit  21 , developing units  22 C,  22 M,  22 Y, and  22 K, a transfer unit  23 , and a heating unit  24  and further includes an interface that receives the control signals transmitted from the determination device  1 . 
     Note that reference letters C, M, Y, and K respectively denote structures for toner colors of cyan, magenta, yellow, and black. The developing units  22 C,  22 M,  22 Y, and  22 K use different toner but do not have largely different structures. Hereinafter, in a case where the developing units  22 C,  22 M,  22 Y, and  22 K do not particularly have to be distinguished from each other, the term “developing unit  22 ” is used without appending the letter indicating the color of the toner. 
     The controller  11  includes a central processing unit (CPU), a read only memory (ROM), and a random access memory (RAM) and controls the units of the image forming system  9  in such a manner that the CPU reads out and executes a computer program (hereinafter, simply referred to as a program) stored in the ROM or the memory  12 . 
     The operating unit  13  includes operators such as operation buttons for various instructions. The operating unit  13  receives an operation performed by the user and provides the controller  11  with a signal in accordance with the operation. The operating unit  13  further includes an interface for receiving the data supplied from the measurement device  3 . 
     The memory  12  is a bulk memory such as a hard disk drive and is used to store a program to be read by the CPU of the controller  11 . The memory  12  is also used to store patch columns  121 , correction characteristics  122 , and a profile  123  that are illustrated in  FIG. 2 . Specific details of the data stored in the memory  12  will be described later. 
     The display  14  has a liquid crystal display and displays a result of a diagnosis performed by the controller  11 , information stored in the memory  12 , and the like. The display  14  may include a touch panel together with the operating unit  13 . 
     The transporting unit  21  includes a container and transportation rollers. The container contains sheets of paper P (hereinafter, referred to as sheets P) cut in a predetermined size and serving as a medium. The sheets P contained in the container are taken out one by one by using the transportation rollers in accordance with an instruction from the controller  11  and are transported to the transfer unit  23  through a sheet transport path. Note that the medium is not limited to the paper sheets and may be, for example, resin sheets. In sum, as long as an image is recordable on the surface of an object, the object may be used as a medium. 
     Each developing unit  22  includes a photoconductor drum  221 , a charger  222 , an exposure device  223 , a developing device  224 , a first transfer roller  225 , and a drum cleaner  226 . The photoconductor drum  221  is an image holder having a charge generation layer and a charge transportation layer and is rotated by a driving unit (not illustrated) in a direction indicated by an arrow D 22  in  FIG. 1 . The charger  222  charges the surface of the photoconductor drum  221 . The exposure device  223  includes a laser light source, a polygon mirror, and other components (each of which is not illustrated) and, under the control of the controller  11 , radiates a laser beam onto the photoconductor drum  221  charged by the charger  222 , in accordance with data representing an image. The photoconductor drum  221  thereby holds a latent image. 
     Note that the data representing the image includes the patch columns  121  and various image data pieces that are stored in the memory  12  but may be data acquired by the controller  11  from an external device through a communication unit (not illustrated). Examples of the external device include a reading device that reads the original image and a memory in which data representing an image is stored. 
     The developing device  224  contains a two-component developer having toner in the corresponding one of C, M, Y, and K and a magnetic carrier such as ferrite powder. Tip ends of a magnetic brush formed in the developing device  224  come in contact with the surface of the photoconductor drum  221 , and thereby the toner attaches to a portion, of the surface of the photoconductor drum  221 , on which the exposure device  223  performs light exposure, that is, attaches to a line portion of the electrostatic latent image. A toner image (image) is thus formed (developed) on the photoconductor drum  221 . 
     Each first transfer roller  225  in the transfer unit  23  is used to generate a predetermined potential difference at a position where an intermediate transfer belt  231  faces the corresponding photoconductor drum  221 . The potential difference causes the toner image (image) to be transferred onto the intermediate transfer belt  231 . Each drum cleaner  226  removes the toner not transferred and remaining on the surface of the corresponding photoconductor drum  221  after the transfer of the toner image and discharges the surface of the photoconductor drum  221 . 
     The transfer unit  23  includes the intermediate transfer belt  231 , a second transfer roller  232 , belt transportation rollers  233 , a backup roller  234 , and a belt cleaner  239 . The transfer unit  23  transfers the toner images formed by the developing units  22  on the sheets P of a paper type determined in accordance with an operation by the user. 
     The intermediate transfer belt  231  is an endless belt member and stretched around the belt transportation rollers  233  and the backup roller  234 . At least one of the belt transportation rollers  233  and the backup roller  234  includes a driving unit (not illustrated) to move the intermediate transfer belt  231  in a direction indicated by an arrow D 23  in  FIG. 1 . A toner image formed on the intermediate transfer belt  231  due to transfer is thereby moved to a nip region formed by the second transfer roller  232  and the backup roller  234 . 
     The second transfer roller  232  utilizes the potential difference from the intermediate transfer belt  231  to cause the toner image on the intermediate transfer belt  231  to be transferred onto one of the sheets P that is transported from the transporting unit  21 . The belt cleaner  239  removes the toner not transferred and remaining on the surface of the intermediate transfer belt  231 . The sheet P having the toner image transferred thereon is transported to the heating unit  24  by the transfer unit  23  or the transporting unit  21 . 
     The heating unit  24  heats the toner image transferred on the sheet P to fix the toner image on the sheet P. The heating unit  24  includes a heating roller  241  and a pressure roller  242 . The pressure roller  242  presses the sheet P transported by the transporting unit  21  against the heat emitting heating roller  241 , while being rotated by a driving unit (rolling mechanism) (not illustrated). The pressure roller  242  thereby helps the heating roller  241  to heat the sheet P. 
     1-2. Functional Configuration of Determination Device 
       FIG. 2  is a diagram illustrating a functional configuration of the determination device  1  of the image forming system  9 . The controller  11  of the determination device  1  executes the program stored in the memory  12  to thereby function as a first instructing unit  111 , a first acquiring unit  112 , a correcting unit  113 , a converter  114 , a predicting unit  115 , a second instructing unit  116 , a second acquiring unit  117 , and a determining unit  118 . 
     The first instructing unit  111  reads out the patch columns  121  from the memory  12  to instruct the output device  2  to output the patch columns  121 .  FIG. 3  is a diagram for explaining the patch columns  121 . Each patch column  121  is a group of multiple patch images arranged one after another vertically in  FIG. 3  (in a column direction). The patch column  121  has multiple single-color patch images each represented by single-color tone values and at least one multicolor patch image represented by multicolor tone values. 
     The tone values are signal values in data representing image content, each indicating a density level of a corresponding one of multiple primary colors. In this example, the tone values range from 0% to 100%. 
     The term “single-color tone values” denotes tone values of only one of multiple color components used by the output device  2  for forming an image. Since the output device  2  herein uses toner in four colors of cyan, magenta, yellow, and black when forming an image, such a patch image that has, for example, a tone value of 50% for yellow and a tone value of 0% for each of three components of cyan, magenta, and black is a single-color patch image. 
     The term “multicolor” is used for a color patch not in a single color. In other words, a multicolor patch image has tone values at least two of which are not 0% for the two respective colors. 
     The first instructing unit  111  instructs the output device  2  to sequentially output the patch columns  121 . The patch columns  121  are arranged side by side horizontally in  FIG. 3  (referred to as a row direction) on the sheet P. For example, each patch column  121  has n patch images composed of single-color patch images and at least one multicolor patch image, and m patch columns  121  are formed on one sheet P. The sheet P has thereby color standards  4  formed thereon, the color standards  4  being composed of patch images in m columns and n rows. 
     At the time of being output in accordance with the instruction given by the first instructing unit  111 , the patch columns  121  have not yet undergone correction and conversion (described later). The yet-to-be corrected and converted patch columns  121  are referred to as first patch columns. 
     The user of the image forming system  9  operates the measurement device  3  to measure, every patch column  121 , the toner densities of the color standards  4  output from the output device  2 . The term “toner density” denotes the density of a toner image formed on a recording medium and is expressed using the intensity of reflected light, the toner weight per unit area, or the like. 
     The measurement device  3  includes a light emitting unit, a light receiving unit, and a computing unit. The light emitting unit radiates light onto an image on the sheet P, the light receiving unit receives the light reflected on the image, and the computing unit computes the toner density from the intensity of the received reflected light and outputs the toner density. The measurement device  3  is, for example, a colorimeter. 
     The user places a plate-shaped guide on the sheet P having the color standards  4  formed thereon and manually moves the measurement device  3  along the guide to measure the toner densities of the respective patch images in the color standards  4  every patch column  121 . The measurement device  3  provides the determination device  1  with a measurement result through the operating unit  13 . 
     The first acquiring unit  112  acquires measurement values of the respective single-color patch images as a result of the measurement performed in such a manner that the user operates the measurement device  3  along each first patch column output by the output device  2 . 
     The correcting unit  113  corrects the tone values on a per color basis to make the measurement values of the single-color patch images acquired by the first acquiring unit  112  approach target values predetermined for the single-color patch images. Each tone value is corrected using the corresponding correction characteristic  122  identified from the acquired corresponding measurement value of the single-color patch image and the target value for the measurement value. 
       FIGS. 4A and 4B  are a graph and a chart, respectively, for explaining the correction characteristics  122 . The correction characteristics  122  are determined for the respective colors of cyan, magenta, yellow, and black to make output characteristics of the output device  2  approach predetermined target characteristics. 
     In  FIG. 4A , the horizontal axis represents tone value, and the vertical axis represents density or tone value after correction (corrected tone value). As the density, a value relative to a predetermined density may be used, and thus a unit of the density is hereinafter omitted in the description. 
     The target characteristics predetermined on a per color basis each represent target values of the densities (target densities) of the tone values designated for the corresponding color of a toner image to be output by the output device  2 . Each target characteristic is expressed using a table of correspondence between target densities and the tone values or using a function by which target densities are calculated using an independent variable for tone values. For example,  FIG. 4A  illustrates the target characteristic represented by a line Ct 0  corresponding to a linear function using an independent variable for tone values. In the target characteristic, a tone value of 100% corresponds to the target density of 1.0, a tone value of 50% corresponds to the target density of 0.5, and a tone value of 0% corresponds to the target density of 0. 
     Meanwhile, suppose a case where there are multiple output devices  2 . In such a case, even though the same tone values are designated, the density of a formed toner image might vary depending on the output device  2  because of different conditions including differences in manufacturing processes or in environmental factors such as the temperature and humidity in the area where the output device  2  is used. Hence, to identify the output characteristics of the output device  2 , the user of the image forming system  9  operates the determination device  1  to cause the output device  2  to output the patch columns  121  and operates the measurement device  3  to measure the toner densities of the patch columns  121 . 
     Each output characteristic represents a relation between tone values and measurement values of toner images output by the output device  2  by using the tone values. For the output characteristic, a correspondence table may be used in which multiple tone values designated for the output device  2  are associated, respectively, with measurement values of toner images output by the output device  2  by using the respective tone values. 
     Alternatively, a function representing a relation of the measurement values with the tone values may be used for the output characteristic. In the function, an independent variable x is used for the tone values designated for the output device  2 , and a dependent variable y is used for the measurement values of the densities of toner images output using the tone values by the output device  2 . In this case, the measurement device  3  provides the determination device  1  with parameters to be used for the identified function. The function may be obtained for the measurement device  3  in such a manner that interpolation is performed on points plotted on the graph by using the measured toner densities and the tone values corresponding to the respective toner densities. A curve Cm 0  in  FIG. 4A  represents the output characteristic of the output device  2 . 
     The user then identifies the correction characteristic  122  for the identified characteristic, the correction characteristic  122  being identified for correcting the tone values in such a manner that the identified output characteristic is made to approach the target characteristic. The user stores the correction characteristic  122  in the memory  12  of the determination device  1 . A curve Cr in  FIG. 4A  represents the correction characteristic  122 . The correction characteristic  122  represents a relation between tone values G 0  of images output by the output device  2  and corrected tone values G 1  after correction of the tone values G 0  and is stored in the memory  12  by using a table such as a so-called “lookup table”, for example, illustrated in  FIG. 4B . The corrected tone values G 1  obtained by correcting the tone values G 0  are designated for the output device  2 , and thereby the densities of toner images to be actually output by the output device  2  are made to approach the densities of the toner images to be output with respect to the tone values G 0 , that is, made to approach the target densities. In other words, the correction makes the curve Cm 0  in  FIG. 4A  approach the line Ct 0 . 
     As described above, for a toner image having a single color, the output characteristic is made to approach the target characteristic in such a manner that the correcting unit  113  corrects one of the tone values G 0  for the toner image to the corresponding corrected tone value G 1 . However, for a toner image having multiple colors, an intended toner image might not be obtained because combining multiple colors generally causes the colors to mutually influence each other. To control the influence exerted by combining multiple colors, the converter  114  converts multicolor tone values for forming an image into respectively associated tone values, by using the profile  123  set by the user. 
     The profile  123  defines a conversion rule for sets of multicolor tone values and is stored in the memory  12 . FIG.  5  is a diagram for explaining the profile  123 . The profile  123  illustrated in  FIG. 5  has data pieces for converting a color space of an image into a color space of a color material used to form a toner image by the output device  2 . The profile  123  includes pre-conversion data  1231  and post-conversion data  1232 . 
     The pre-conversion data  1231  is obtained by quantizing a color space formed by data regarding an image and includes groups of data pieces of representative points included in a region requiring conversion in the color space. The post-conversion data  1232  includes groups of data pieces of points converted from the pre-conversion data  1231  in the color space for the output device  2 . One profile  123  is defined using sets of data pieces in the pre-conversion data  1231  and data pieces in the post-conversion data  1232 . 
     Among points in the color space indicated using the multicolor tone values of an image, the converter  114  converts points corresponding to data pieces included in the pre-conversion data  1231  of the profile  123  into associated points corresponding to data pieces in the post-conversion data  1232 . To convert points corresponding to data pieces not included in the pre-conversion data  1231 , the converter  114  performs interpolation on the points corresponding to data pieces included in the pre-conversion data  1231 . 
     For example, when the profile  123  illustrated in  FIG. 5  is applied, the converter  114  converts a tone value set of (C 1 , M 1 , Y 1 , and K 1 ) into a tone value set of (C 2 , M 2 , Y 2 , K 2 ) and converts a tone value set of (C 3 , M 3 , Y 3 , K 3 ) into a tone value set of (C 4 , M 4 , Y 4 , K 4 ). 
     Note that the profile  123  describes points included in a region requiring conversion in the color space as described above and thus does not describe points not to be converted. 
     In a case where any one of tone values of cyan, magenta, and yellow exceeds a corresponding predetermined value, the determination device  1  performs processing called a total amount control, for example, to restrict a total amount of color toner. In the total amount control, the determination device  1  subtracts the predetermined tone value from the corresponding one of the values of cyan, magenta, and yellow and adds a value corresponding to the subtraction result value to the tone value of black. 
     In a case where the tone value of one of the color components in a set of multicolor tone values of an image is distinguishably higher than tone values of the other color components, the determination device  1  performs processing called a pure color guarantee in which only one color component is used to represent the image. In a case where a region in the color space is to undergo the total amount control or the pure color guarantee, the profile  123  is not used for the region. In such a case, the determination device  1  separately performs exception handling. 
     Note that the multicolor patch images in the first patch columns may each have tone values for which the total of the tone values of the respective colors is predetermined as, for example, 50% or less. In a case where the total amount control is applied to a multicolor patch image, and in a case where the total of the tone values of the respective colors of the multicolor patch image is equal to or lower than predetermined value for the total amount control, it is guaranteed that the total amount control is not performed on the multicolor patch image and is thus applicable to the profile  123 . 
     In a case where the converter  114  converts the tone values in the patch columns  121  after the correcting unit  113  corrects the tone values, the patch columns  121  obtained as a result of the conversion are referred to as second patch columns. In a case where the output device  2  is to output the second patch columns obtained as the result of the conversion by the converter  114  after the correcting unit  113  corrects the tone values in the first patch columns, the predicting unit  115  predicts measurement values of multicolor patch images included in the second patch columns to be output. 
     For example, suppose a case where the correcting unit  113  corrects tone values of C 1  for cyan, M 1  for magenta, Y 1  for yellow, and K 1  for black in one of the first patch columns to C 3 , M 3 , Y 3 , and K 3 , respectively. In this case, the correcting unit  113  corrects a tone value set of (C 1 , M 1 , Y 1 , and K 1 ) to a tone value set of (C 3 , M 3 , Y 3 , and K 3 ). Accordingly, the converter  114  using the profile  123  illustrated in  FIG. 5  converts the tone value set of (C 3 , M 3 , Y 3 , and K 3 ) into a tone value set of (C 4 , M 4 , Y 4 , and K 4 ), not into a tone value set of (C 2 , M 2 , Y 2 , and K 2 ). The conversion causes the first patch column to be changed into the second patch column. 
     In this example, the predicting unit  115  predicts measurement values of a multicolor patch image having the tone value set of (C 4 , M 4 , Y 4 , and K 4 ) in the second patch column as measurement values corresponding to a multicolor patch image having the tone value set of (C 1 , M 1 , Y 1 , and K 1 ) in the first patch column. 
     The second instructing unit  116  instructs the output device  2  to output the second patch columns. The output device  2  outputs the second patch columns in response to the instruction. 
     The second acquiring unit  117  acquires measurement values of the multicolor patch images measured in such a manner that the user operates the measurement device  3  along the second patch columns output by the output device  2 . 
     The determining unit  118  determines whether an operation performed by the user and the profile  123  set by the user are appropriate on the basis of the measurement values acquired by the second acquiring unit  117  and the measurement values predicted by the predicting unit  115 . For example, in a case where a difference between a measurement value acquired by the second acquiring unit  117  and a corresponding measurement value predicted by the predicting unit  115  exceeds a predetermined threshold, the determining unit  118  determines that either the operation performed by the user on the measurement device  3  at the time of measuring the toner densities of the color standards  4  or setting of the profile  123  selected by the user is inappropriate. A result of the determination performed by the determining unit  118  is provided to the display  14 . 
     1-3. Operation of Determination Device 
       FIGS. 6A and 6B  are flowcharts each for explaining operation of the determination device  1 . The flowchart in  FIG. 6A  illustrates operations performed at the stage of preparing the correction and conversion, and the flowchart in  FIG. 6B  illustrates operations performed at the stage of checking the correction and conversion. 
     The controller  11  of the determination device  1  instructs the output device  2  to output the first patch columns (Step S 101 ). The output device  2  outputs the first patch columns in response to the instruction, and the user measures toner densities of the output first patch columns by using the measurement device  3 . The controller  11  acquires the measurement values of the first patch columns (Step S 102 ). 
     The controller  11  generates the correction characteristics  122  on the basis of the acquired measurement values and the target values of the first patch columns (Step S 103 ). The first patch columns are corrected using the correction characteristics  122 , and prediction is performed of measurement values to be obtained when the toner densities of the multicolor patch images included in the second patch columns are measured by using the measurement device  3 , the second patch columns being obtained by converting tone values by using the profile  123  set by the user (Step S 104 ). 
     Next, the controller  11  actually corrects the first patch columns in accordance with the correction characteristics  122  (Step S 201 ), performs conversion in accordance with the profile  123  (Step S 202 ), acquires the second patch columns, and instructs the output device  2  to output the acquired second patch columns (Step S 203 ). 
     The output device  2  outputs the second patch columns in response to the instruction, and the user measures the toner densities of the output second patch columns by using the measurement device  3 . The controller  11  then acquires the measurement values of the second patch columns (Step S 204 ). 
     The controller  11  compares the measurement values predicted in Step S 104  with the measurement values acquired in Step S 204  and determines whether the operation performed by the user and the profile  123  set by the user are appropriate on the basis of a comparison result (Step S 205 ). A result of the determination in Step S 205  is sent to the display  14  and is displayed by the display  14  to be notified to the user (Step S 206 ). 
     As described above, based on the measurement values of the corrected and converted patch images, the determination device  1  determines whether the operation performed by the user for correcting the tone values of the images and the profile set by the user to be used for converting the tone values are appropriate. 
     2. Modification 
     The exemplary embodiment has been described above. The exemplary embodiment may be modified as follows, and the following modifications may be combined. 
     2-1. Modification 1 
     In the exemplary embodiment described above, each patch column  121  includes multiple single-color patch images each represented by single-color tone values and at least one multicolor patch image represented by multicolor tone values. However, the patch column  121  may include two or more multicolor patch images that are not arranged in series. 
     Suppose a case where the user measures the toner densities of the patch images every patch column  121  while manually moving the measurement device  3  in the column direction in  FIG. 3 . Even though the guide is placed along the patch column  121 , radiated light might be spilled beyond the patch column  121  and enter the next patch column  121 , or the measurement device  3  might be off the sheet P and cause variation in focused position. A manual operation might cause an operation mistake as described above. In addition, before one multicolor patch image per patch column  121  is measured, an operation mistake might have occurred. Accordingly, the use of one multicolor patch image per patch column  121  for determination leads to limited determination reliability. The use of two or more multicolor patch images enables a so-called “double-check”, thus leading to higher reliability in determination performed by the determination device  1  than in the case of using one multicolor patch image. 
     If the two or more multicolor patch images used for the determination are not arranged in series, the determination performed on at least one single-color patch image between the multicolor patch images has enhanced reliability. In other words, if the user operation performed on the two multicolor patch images disposed across the single-color patch image is not inappropriate, the measurement device  3  is less likely to deviate from the intended course at least when the single-color patch image disposed between the multicolor patch images is measured. Accordingly, the determination performed on the single-color patch image has enhanced reliability. 
     2-2. Modification 2 
     The determination device  1  is incorporated in the output device  2  in the image forming system  9  illustrated in  FIG. 1  but does not have to be incorporated in the output device  2 . For example, the determination device  1  may be a mobile phone wirelessly connected to the output device  2  or a terminal device such as a slate computer. 
     2-3. Modification 3 
     In the exemplary embodiment described above, the converter  114  uses the profile  123  set by the user to convert the multicolor tone values forming an image into the associated tone values, but the profile  123  may be a profile that is not set by the user. The converter  114  may also convert the tone values in accordance with, for example, a predetermined formula or a rule, instead of using the profile  123 . In addition, the determination device  1  does not have to control the influence exerted by combining multiple colors. In this case, the controller  11  does not have to function as the converter  114 . Moreover, the predicting unit  115  only has to predict measurement values of multicolor patch images included in the second patch columns obtained after the correcting unit  113  corrects the tone values in the first patch columns. 
     2-4. Modification 4 
     The program run by the controller  11  of the determination device  1  may be provided in such a manner as to be stored in a computer readable recording medium, for example, a magnetic recording medium such as a magnetic disk or a magnetic tape, an optical recording medium such as an optical disk, a magneto-optical recording medium, or a semiconductor memory. The program may be downloaded through the Internet. Note that various devices in addition to the CPU are applicable to a controller exemplified by the aforementioned controller  11  in some cases, and, for example, a dedicated processor or the like is used. 
     The foregoing description of the exemplary embodiment of the present invention has been provided for the purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed. Obviously, many modifications and variations will be apparent to practitioners skilled in the art. The embodiment was chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and its practical applications, thereby enabling others skilled in the art to understand the invention for various embodiments and with the various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. It is intended that the scope of the invention be defined by the following claims and their equivalents.