What is claimed is:
1. A method for recording a color image on a recording medium by expressing at least one basic color using a plurality of inks that have different densities of the corresponding color, the method comprising the steps of:
preparing a plurality of conversion tables, each for converting color data of at least one basic color into converted color data of the plurality of inks that have different densities of the corresponding color, each conversion table matching one of a plurality of sets of printer characteristics;
selecting a set of printer characteristics, with which printing operation is desired to be performed;
selecting one conversion table from the plurality of conversion tables in accordance with the selected set of printer characteristics;
converting, based on the selected conversion table, the color data of each of the least one basic color into converted color data of the plurality of inks that have different densities of the corresponding color; and
performing printing operation to record a color image on a recording medium based on the converted color data with the selected set of printer characteristics.
2. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the printer characteristics selecting step includes the step of allowing a user to select hisher desired set of printer characteristics.
3. A method for recording a color image on a recording medium by expressing at least one basic color using a plurality of inks that have different densities of the corresponding color, the method comprising the steps of:
receiving color data of at least one basic color;
converting the color data of each of at least one basic color into converted color data of the plurality of inks that have different densities of the corresponding color, while performing tone correction on the color data of each of the at least one basic color; and
performing printing operation to record a color image on a recording medium based on the converted color data.
4. A method as claimed in claim 3, wherein after performing the tone correction on the received color data of each of the at least one basic color, the tone-corrected color data of each of the at least one basic color is converted into the converted color data of the plurality of inks that have different densities of the corresponding color.
5. A method as claimed in claim 4, further comprising the steps of:
preparing a conversion table in advance;
outputting, in accordance with the conversion table, color patches of each of the at least one basic color onto a recording medium using the plurality of inks that have different densities of the corresponding color;
measuring density levels of the color patches; and
preparing a tone correction table based on the measured density levels, and
wherein the tone correction performing step performs the tone correction using the tone correction table, and the conversion step performs the conversion operation using the conversion table.
6. A method as claimed in claim 5, wherein the tone correction table is prepared to achieve a linear relationship between the color data of each of the at least one basic color and density levels to be obtained, the tone correction table being prepared by first producing a measurement curve that represents the density levels measured for the color patches and then by calculating a tone correction curve based on the measurement curve and on a predetermined linear line that represents the linear relationship.
7. A method as claimed in claim 5, wherein the plurality of different inks include a light ink having a predetermined density and a normal ink having another predetermined density greater than that of the light ink,
wherein the conversion table represents, for each of the light and normal inks, correspondence between a plurality of sets of color data and a plurality of sets of converted color data, the converted color data for the normal ink having zero values in correspondence with the color data of values smaller than a predetermined reference value, and
wherein the color patches are produced by using the conversion table to convert several sets of color data, which include one set of color data of the predetermined reference value, into several sets of converted color data for each of the light and normal inks, and by producing each of the several color patches based on the corresponding set of converted color data for the light ink and on the corresponding set of converted color data for the normal ink.
8. A method as claimed in claim 5, wherein a plurality of conversion tables are prepared for a plurality of different sets of printer characteristics, a plurality of tone correction tables being prepared for the plurality of different sets of printer characteristics, further comprising the steps of:
selecting a set of printer characteristics, with which printing operation is desired to be performed;
selecting one tone correction table from the plurality of tone correction tables in accordance with the selected set of printer characteristics, the tone correction performing step performing the tone correction using the selected tone correction table; and
selecting one conversion table from the plurality of conversion tables in accordance with the selected set of printer characteristics, the conversion step performing converting operation using the selected conversion table.
9. An apparatus for recording a color image on a recording medium by expressing at least one basic color using a plurality of inks that have different densities of the corresponding color, the apparatus comprising:
a table storing unit storing a plurality of conversion tables, each for converting color data of at least one basic color into converted color data of the plurality of inks that have different densities of the corresponding color, each conversion table matching one of a plurality of sets of printer characteristics;
a printer characteristics selection unit selecting a set of printer characteristics, with which printing operation is desired to be performed;
a table selection unit selecting one conversion table from the plurality of conversion tables in accordance with the selected set of printer characteristics;
a conversion unit converting, based on the selected conversion table, the color data of each of the least one basic color into converted color data of the plurality of inks that have different densities of the corresponding color; and
a printing unit performing printing operation to record a color image on a recording medium based on the converted color data with the selected set of printer characteristics.
10. An apparatus as claimed in claim 9, wherein the printer characteristics selecting unit includes a unit allowing a user to select hisher desired set of printer characteristics.
11. An apparatus for recording a color image on a recording medium by expressing at least one basic color using a plurality of inks that have different densities of the corresponding color, the apparatus comprising:
a receiving unit receiving color data of at least one basic color;
a conversion unit converting the color data of each of at least one basic color into converted color data of the plurality of inks that have different densities of the corresponding color, while performing tone correction on the color data of each of the at least one basic color; and
a printing unit performing printing operation to record a color image on a recording medium based on the converted color data.
12. An apparatus as claimed in claim 11, wherein the conversion unit includes:
a tone correction unit performing the tone correction on the received color data of each of the at least one basic color; and
a converting unit converting the tone-corrected color data of each of the at least one basic color into the converted color data of the plurality of inks that have different densities of the corresponding color.
13. An apparatus as claimed in claim 12, further comprising a table storing unit storing a conversion table and a tone correction table, the tone correction table being produced based on the conversion table by measuring density levels of color patches for each of the at least one basic color, which are produced in accordance with the conversion table using the plurality of inks that have different densities of the corresponding color.
wherein the tone correction unit performs the tone correction using the tone correction table, and the converting unit performs the conversion operation using the conversion table.
14. An apparatus as claimed in claim 13, wherein the tone correction table has a characteristic to attain a linear relationship between the color data of each of the at least one basic color and density levels to be obtained, the tone correction table being prepared by first producing a measurement curve that represents the density levels measured for the color patches and then by calculating a tone correction curve based on the measurement curve and on a predetermined linear line that represents the linear relationship.
15. An apparatus as claimed in claim 13, wherein the plurality of different inks include a light ink having a predetermined density and a normal ink having another predetermined density greater than that of the light ink,
wherein the conversion table represents, for each of the light and normal inks, correspondence between a plurality of sets of color data and a plurality of sets of converted color data, the converted color data for the normal ink having zero values in correspondence with the color data of values smaller than a predetermined reference value, and
wherein the color patches are produced by using the conversion table to convert several sets of color, data, which include one set of color data of the predetermined reference value, into several sets of converted color data for each of the light and normal inks, and by producing each of the several color patches based on the corresponding set of converted color data for the light ink and on the corresponding set of converted color data for the normal ink.
16. An apparatus as claimed in claim 13, wherein the table storing unit stores a plurality of conversion tables for a plurality of different sets of printer characteristics and a plurality of tone correction tables for the plurality of different sets of printer characteristics, further comprising;
a printer characteristic selection unit selecting a set of printer characteristics, with which printing operation is desired to be performed;
a tone correction table selection unit selecting one tone correction table from the plurality of tone correction tables in accordance with the selected set of printer characteristics, the tone correction unit performing the tone correction using the selected tone correction table; and
a conversion table selection unit selecting one conversion table from the plurality of conversion tables in accordance with the selected set of printer characteristics, the converting unit performing converting operation using the selected conversion table.
17. A data storage medium storing, in a manner readable by a computer, data of a program for recording a color image on a recording medium by expressing at least one basic color using a plurality of inks that have different densities of the corresponding color, the program comprising:
a program of preparing a plurality of conversion tables, each for converting color data of at least one basic color into converted color data of the plurality of inks that have different densities of the corresponding color, each conversion table matching one of a plurality of sets of printer characteristics;
a program of selecting a set of printer characteristics, with which printing operation is desired to be performed;
a program of selecting one conversion table from the plurality of conversion tables in accordance with the selected set of printer characteristics;
a program of converting, based on the selected conversion table, the color data of each of the least one basic color into converted color data of the plurality of inks that have different densities of the corresponding color: and
a program of performing printing operation to record a color image on a recording medium based on the converted color data with the selected set of printer characteristics.
18. A data storage medium storing, in a manner readable by a computer, data of a program for recording a color image on a recording medium by expressing at least one basic color using a plurality of inks that have different densities of the corresponding color, the program comprising;
a program of receiving color data of at least one basic color;
a program of converting the color data of each of at least one basic color into converted color data of the plurality of inks that have different densities of the corresponding color, while performing tone correction on the color data of each of the at least one basic color; and
a program of performing printing operation to record a color image on a recording medium based on the converted color data.
19. A data storage medium as claimed in claim 18, wherein after performing the tone correction on the received color data of each of the at least one basic color, the tone-corrected color data of each of the at least one basic color is converted into the converted color data of the plurality of inks that have different densities of the corresponding color.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. An apparatus for measuring a gap between a first mating surface of a first component and a second mating surface of a second component comprising:
a substrate;
a plurality of capacitive sensors coupled to the substrate; and
a controller coupled to the plurality of capacitive sensors to select each individual capacitive sensor to measure the gap between the first mating surface of the first component and the second mating surface of the second component.
2. An apparatus for measuring a gap between a first mating surface of a first component and a second mating surface of a second component in accordance with claim 1 further comprising an oscillator coupled to the plurality of capacitive sensors to send a signal to the plurality of capacitive sensors.
3. An apparatus for measuring a gap between a first mating surface of a first component and a second mating surface of a second component in accordance with claim 1 wherein the plurality of capacitive sensors are arranged in an X-Y matrix.
4. An apparatus for measuring a gap between a first mating surface of a first component and a second mating surface of a second component in accordance with claim 3 wherein the controller comprises:
a first multiplexer for controlling selection of the plurality of capacitive sensors along an X-axis; and
a second multiplexer for controlling selection of the plurality of capacitive sensors along a Y-axis.
5. An apparatus for measuring a gap between a first mating surface of a first component and a second mating surface of a second component in accordance with claim 1 wherein the substrate is a flexible substrate.
6. An apparatus for measuring a gap between a first mating surface of a first component and a second mating surface of a second component in accordance with claim 1 wherein the flexible substrate is a flexible tape substrate.
7. An apparatus for measuring a gap between a first mating surface of a first component and a second mating surface of a second component in accordance with claim 1 wherein the flexible substrate is a printed circuit board.
8. A method for measuring a gap between a first mating surface of a first component and a second mating surface of a second component comprising:
providing a gap measurement device comprising:
a flexible substrate;
a plurality of capacitive sensors coupled to the flexible substrate; and
a controller coupled to the plurality of capacitive sensors to select each individual capacitive sensor;
coupling the gap measurement device to an initial position on the first mating surface of the first component, the plurality of capacitive sensors directed towards the second mating surface of the second component; and
measuring data from the plurality of capacitive sensors.
9. The method of claim 8 further comprising transmitting the data from the plurality of capacitive sensors to a machine tool to manufacture a shim.
10. The method of claim 8 wherein measuring data from the plurality of capacitive sensors comprises selecting each individual capacitive sensor sequentially by the controller to measure data from the plurality of capacitive sensors.
11. The method of claim 8 further comprising arranging the plurality of capacitive sensors in an X-Y matrix.
12. The method of claim 8 further comprising:
adjusting a position of the gap measurement device to the first surface of the first component if the surface area of the first mating surface and the second mating surface is larger than the flexible substrate; and
measuring data from the plurality of capacitive sensors in the adjusted position.
13. The method of claim 12 further comprising compiling all data transmitted from the plurality of capacitive sensors from the initial position and the adjusted position.
14. The method of claim 12 further comprising transferring the compiled data to a tooling machine to manufacture a shim.
15. A method for measuring a gap between a first mating surface of a first component and a second mating surface of a second component comprising:
providing a gap measurement device comprising:
a flexible substrate;
a plurality of capacitive sensors coupled to the flexible substrate; and
a controller coupled to the plurality of capacitive sensors to select each individual capacitive sensor;
coupling a planar reference to known reference points on the first mating surface of the first component;
coupling the gap measurement device to an initial position on the planar reference, the plurality of capacitive sensors directed towards the first mating surface of the first component;
measuring data from the plurality of capacitive sensors for a gap between the planar reference and the first mating surface of the first component;
coupling the planar reference to known reference points on the second mating surface of the second component;
coupling the gap measurement device to an initial position on the planar reference, the plurality of capacitive sensors directed towards the second mating surface of the second component; and
measuring data from the plurality of capacitive sensors for a gap between the planar reference and the second mating surface of the second component.
16. The method of claim 15 further comprising:
compiling the measurement data from the gap between the planar reference and the first mating surface of the first component and the gap between the planar reference and the second mating surface of the second component; and
transmitting the compiled measurement data to a machine tool to manufacture a shim.
17. The method of claim 15 wherein measuring data from the plurality of capacitive sensors for a gap between the planar reference and the first mating surface of the first component further comprises selecting each individual capacitive sensor sequentially by the controller to measure data from the plurality of capacitive sensors.
18. The method of claim 17 wherein measuring data from the plurality of capacitive sensors for a gap between the planar reference and the second mating surface of the second component further comprises selecting each individual capacitive sensor sequentially by the controller to measure data from the plurality of capacitive sensors.
19. The method of claim 15 further comprising:
adjusting a position of the gap measurement device to the planar reference if the surface area of the first mating surface is larger than the flexible substrate; and
measuring data from the plurality of capacitive sensors for a gap between the planar reference and the first mating surface of the first component.
20. The method of claim 15 further comprising:
adjusting a position of the gap measurement device to the planar reference if the surface area of the second mating surface is larger than the flexible substrate; and
measuring data from the plurality of capacitive sensors for a gap between the planar reference and the second mating surface of the second component.
21. A method for manufacturing a shim for installation in an aircraft comprising:
positioning a gap measurement device comprising a flexible substrate, a plurality of capacitive sensors coupled to the flexible substrate; and a controller coupled to the plurality of capacitive sensors to select each individual capacitive sensor between a first mating surface of a first component and a second mating surface of a second component;
measuring data from the plurality of capacitive sensors; and
transmitting the data from the plurality of capacitive sensors to a machine tool to manufacture the shim.
22. The method of claim 21 further comprising coupling the gap measurement device to an initial position on the first mating surface of the first component, the plurality of capacitive sensors directed towards the second mating surface of the second component.
23. The method of claim 21 wherein measuring data from the plurality of capacitive sensors comprises selecting each individual capacitive sensor sequentially by the controller to measure data from the plurality of capacitive sensors.
24. The method of claim 21 further comprising arranging the plurality of capacitive sensors in an X-Y matrix.
25. The method of claim 22 further comprising:
adjusting a position of the gap measurement device to the first surface of the first component if the surface area of the first mating surface and the second mating surface is larger than the flexible substrate; and
measuring data from the plurality of capacitive sensors in the adjusted position.
26. The method of claim 25 further comprising compiling all data transmitted from the plurality of capacitive sensors from the initial position and the adjusted position.