Patent ID: 7728847

Claim:
A color conversion device comprising: a three-dimensional lookup table that divides a three-dimensional color space obtained by three input signals representing colors into a plurality of cube regions, stores output color values with respect to lattice points of the cube regions, and divides each of the input signals into an upper bit portion and a lower bit portion and then outputs each of the output color values as reference data on the basis of a set of the upper bit portion; and an interpolation unit that generates a set of output signals corresponding to the respective input signals by dividing the cube region to be interpolated into six tetrahedrons, each of the tetrahedrons having an edge defined by a diagonal line, the diagonal line obtained by connecting a first point, at which the reference data is stored, with a second point that is farthest from the first point on the cube, the diagonal line being a ridge line, selecting one of the tetrahedrons on the basis of a set of the lower bit portion, and performing an interpolation operation among the output color values with respect to each apex of the selected tetrahedron, wherein the interpolation unit includes a plurality of operation circuits for realizing an operation process based on the following expression: P=K +( W−K )· h/E −( W−T )·( h−n )/ E −( T−S )·( h−m )/ E, in the expression, P is a value representing the set of output signals, K is a value of the reference data, that is, an output color value with respect to the first point of the apices of the tetrahedron, W is an output color value with respect to the second point of the apices of the tetrahedron, S is an output color value with respect to a third point of the apices of the tetrahedron, the third point being one of remaining two points other than the first and second points that is closer to the first point, T is an output color value with respect to a fourth point of the apices of the tetrahedron, the fourth point being a remaining point other than the first, second, and third points, E is a length of a side of the cube region, and h, m, and n are any one of xf, yf, and zf indicating coordinate positions, each of which is determined by the set of the lower bit portion, in the cube region to be interpolated and are determined on the basis of size relation among xf, yf, and zf as follows, the size relation among xf, yf, and zf indicating which of the tetrahedrons is to be selected on the basis of the set of the lower bit portion, if xf≧zf≧yf, h=xf, m=zf, n=yf if xf≧yf>zf, h=xf, m=yf, n=zf if yf>xf≧zf, h=yf, m=xf, n=zf if yf>zf>xf, h=yf, m=zf, n=xf if zf≧yf>xf, h=zf, m=yf, n=xf, and if zf>xf≧yf, h=zf, m=xf, n=yf.