U.S. patent application number 09/778314 was filed with the patent office on 2001-11-01 for portable color measuring device.
Invention is credited to Dallas, Stephen M., Ruevski, Peter A..
Application Number | 20010035955 09/778314 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 22661874 |
Filed Date | 2001-11-01 |
United States Patent
Application |
20010035955 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Ruevski, Peter A. ; et
al. |
November 1, 2001 |
Portable color measuring device
Abstract
A portable color measuring device is provided that includes a
hand-holdable housing. The color measuring device is configured to
receive an independently operable processing device that is mounted
to the housing. The independently operable processing device is a
portable general purpose computer that executes software
applications to control the operation of the color measuring device
and process color data. The color measuring device measures the
color properties of a sample by illuminating the sample with a
light source. The measured properties are processed and/or analyzed
by the independently operable processing device and results are
displayed to a user. Software applications reside on the
independently operable processing device allowing software upgrades
or modifications to be easily performed. New applications can be
downloaded to the processing device or the processing device can be
interchanged with a different processing device.
Inventors: |
Ruevski, Peter A.;
(Lawrenceville, NJ) ; Dallas, Stephen M.; (Dublin,
PA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
CALFEE HALTER & GRISWOLD, LLP
800 SUPERIOR AVENUE
SUITE 1400
CLEVELAND
OH
44114
US
|
Family ID: |
22661874 |
Appl. No.: |
09/778314 |
Filed: |
February 7, 2001 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
60180822 |
Feb 7, 2000 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
356/402 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G01J 3/0272 20130101;
G01J 3/0291 20130101; G01J 3/02 20130101; G06F 8/65 20130101; G01J
3/50 20130101; G01J 3/0251 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
356/402 |
International
Class: |
G01J 003/50 |
Claims
We claim:
1. A color measuring device for measuring color properties of an
object comprising: a light source for transmitting light onto the
object; a sensor for sensing light reflected from the object and
generating electrical signals corresponding to the sensed light; a
portable housing containing the light source and the sensor; a
mounting portion on the portable housing configured for mounting a
portable independently operable computing device; and an interface
configured for electrically connecting a portable independently
operable computing device to the portable housing and for
communicating the electrical signals from the sensor to a portable
independently operable computing device once mounted to the
mounting portion and connected to the interface.
2. The color measuring device as set forth in claim 1 further
including a portable independently operable computing device
mounted to the mounting portion of the portable housing and
connected to the interface.
3. The color measuring device as set forth in claim 2 wherein the
portable independently operable computing device is removable and
includes software allowing a user to control operation of the color
measuring device and for processing the electrical signals into
color properties of the object.
4. The color measuring device as set forth in claim 2 wherein the
portable independently operable computing device is embedded within
the color measuring device.
5. The color measuring device as set forth in claim 1 wherein the
mounting portion is pivotally attached to the portable housing such
that once a portable independently operable computing device is
mounted thereto, the portable independently operable computing
device is selectively positionable.
6. The color measuring device as set forth in claim 1 further
including an integrating sphere attached to the portable housing,
the light source illuminating an interior of the integrating sphere
and transmitting light onto the object.
7. The color measuring device as set forth in claim 1 wherein the
portable housing includes a cover for enclosing a portable
independently operable computing device that is mounted to the
portable housing, the cover having a window such that the portable
independently operable computing device is visible
therethrough.
8. A color measuring device comprising: a housing; data collection
means for collecting color data from an object, the data collection
means being attached to the housing; a communication interface
connected to the housing; an independently operable processing
device attached to the housing and being connected to the
communication interface, the independently operable processing
device receiving the color data from the data collection means via
the communication interface and processing the color data into
color properties.
9. The color measuring device as set forth in claim 8 wherein the
independently operable processing device includes a display for
displaying data to a user.
10. The color measuring device as set forth in claim 8 wherein the
independently operable processing device is a hand-held computing
device.
11. The color measuring device as set forth in claim 8 wherein the
housing includes a mounting surface formed thereon for mounting the
independently operable processing device thereto.
12. The color measuring device as set forth in claim 11 wherein the
mounting surface is hinged to the housing such that the
independently operable processing device is selectively
positionable in relation to the housing.
13. The color measuring device as set forth in claim 8 wherein the
color measuring device further includes an integrating sphere for
diffusely illuminating the object, and wherein the data collection
means includes a sensor for sensing light reflected from the object
and generating electrical signals corresponding to the sensed
light.
14. The color measuring device as set forth in claim 8 wherein the
independently operable processing device includes a graphical user
interface for receiving input from a user to control the color
measuring device.
15. The color measuring device as set forth in claim 8 wherein the
independently operable processing device includes at least one of
software for controlling operation of the color measuring device,
software for interpreting the color data, and software for
processing the color data.
16. The color measuring device as set forth in claim 8 wherein the
independently operable processing device includes a wireless
communication means for communicating color data from the color
measuring device to a remote network.
17. The color measuring device as set forth in claim 8 wherein the
independently operable processing device is removable from the
housing.
18. The color measuring device as set forth in claim 8 wherein the
independently operable processing device is embedded into the color
measuring device.
19. The color measuring device as set forth in claim 8 wherein the
independently operable processing device includes an expansion slot
for connection to the communication interface of the color
measuring device.
20. The color measuring device as set forth in claim 8 wherein the
color measuring device is a spectrophotometer.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional
Application No. 60/180,822 filed Feb. 7, 2000.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention relates to the spectral analysis arts.
It finds particular application to a portable color measuring
device that is configured to receive and function with an
independently operable processing device. It will be appreciated
that the present invention will also find application to color
measuring devices such as spectrophotometers, colorimeters,
tristimulus colorimeters, single and multiple beam
spectrophotometers, Gonio spectrophotometers and the like, and
light emission type measuring devices.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] Color measuring devices, such as spectrophotometers, are
instruments used to determine the color of an object under test.
They typically include a source of light that illuminates the
object and a photodetector that detects and measures light signals
reflected from the object. Then, signal processing circuitry
connected to the photodetector computes curves or numerical values
indicative of color. The general principles of construction and use
of these instruments are well known and understood by those skilled
in the art.
[0004] One known type of spectrophotometer uses an integrating
sphere in which the light reflected from the object is integrated
to obtain an average reading of the color over an exposed surface
area of the object. Known integrating spheres can provide readings
which represent "total" reflections or "diffuse-only" reflections.
The total reflections include all reflections from the exposed
object, including specular reflections from the surface and diffuse
reflections from particles in the body of the object. A
"diffuse-only" or specular-excluded measurement is obtained by
excluding specular light that is reflected from the surface of the
sample at an angle equal to the incident angle. This reflected
light is referred to as the specular component. Exclusion of the
specular component eliminates the light contribution due to gloss,
and the color values obtained from a specular-excluded reading are
independent of the glossiness of the surface of the object under
test.
[0005] Typical bench-top or portable color measuring instruments
include custom designed processing components such as a simple
eight-bit processing unit and small amounts of memory. Most of the
data processing function is performed by a remote personal computer
that receives the measurement data from the spectrophotometer.
Furthermore, the display is typically small and uses complicated
menus and endless keystroke sequences to input and select data and
request functions. Updating the device software requires a user to
ship the entire spectrophotometer to the manufacturer. Overall, the
device lacks flexibility and has limited processing power.
[0006] The present invention provides a new and unique color
measuring device that cures the above problems and others.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] In accordance with the present invention, a color measuring
device for measuring color properties of an object is provided. The
color measuring device includes a light source that transmits light
onto the object. A sensor senses the light reflected from the
object and generates electrical signals corresponding to the sensed
light. The light source and the sensor are contained within a
portable housing. The housing includes a mounting portion
configured for mounting a portable independently operable computing
device. An interface is configured to electrically connect a
portable independently operable computing device to the portable
housing and to communicate the electrical signals from the sensor
to a portable independently operable computing device once mounted
to the mounting portion and connected to the interface.
[0008] In accordance with a more limited aspect of the present
invention, the color measuring device includes a portable
independently operable computing device mounted to the portable
housing and connected to the interface.
[0009] One advantage of the present invention is that a color
measuring device can be produced in less time since custom made
processing components and user interface and display are eliminated
by configuring the color measuring device to mount an independently
operatble computing device. With the present invention, the cost of
manufacturing a color measuring device is also reduced.
[0010] Still further advantages of the present invention will
become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon reading
and understanding the following detailed description of the
preferred embodiments.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0011] The following is a brief description of each drawing used to
describe the present invention, and thus, are being presented for
illustrative purposes only and should not be limitative of the
scope of the present invention, wherein:
[0012] FIG. 1A is a transparent side view of a color measuring
device in accordance with the present invention;
[0013] FIG. 1B is a transparent front view of FIG. 1A;
[0014] FIG. 2A illustrates a independently operable processing
device connected to a data interface in accordance with the present
invention;
[0015] FIG. 2B is a side view of FIG. 2A;
[0016] FIG. 3A is an alternative configuration of the present
invention; and
[0017] FIG. 3B is a transparent side view of FIG. 3A.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0018] With reference to FIGS. 1A and 1B, a side view and a front
view, respectively, illustrate components of an exemplary color
measuring device 10 in accordance with the present invention. For
purposes of explanation, the color measuring device 10 is
illustrated as a portable hand-held spectrophotometer. The
spectrophotometer includes a housing 15 that is sized such that it
may be hand-held by a user. Fingergrips 20 may be formed on the
exterior of the housing 15 to accommodate a user's fingers. To
measure color properties of an object, the housing includes a
sample aperture 25 formed through an exterior wall against which an
object under test is placed.
[0019] The color measurement components of the color measuring
device 10 are well known in the art. They include, for example, an
integrating sphere 30 that is hollow and has an inner surface that
is highly reflective. A light source 35 is mounted to the sphere to
provide light within the sphere and diffusely illuminate the object
under test through the sample aperture 25. Light reflected from the
object under test is directed to a data collection means, for
example, a light measuring sensor 40 such as a photodiode array or
other photodetector devices as is known in the art. The light
sensor generates color data signals representative of the light
reflected from the object under test. It will be appreciated, as is
known in the art, that the color data signals may be processed
according to the functions of the color measuring device. For
example, the color data signals may be communicated as raw
electronic impulses, may be converted to reflectance data that, for
example, corresponds to the amount of reflection wavelength by
wavelength for the measured light, or may be converted into Lab or
XYZ terms.
[0020] Other components of the color measuring device 10, as is
known in the art, include a charger printed circuit board 50, a
flash capacitor 55, a connector 60 for external power and
communications cable (e.g. RS232), and a removable battery 65.
Other components (not shown) include a serial port for external
communication of data.
[0021] With further reference to FIG. 1A, the housing 15 includes a
mounting surface 100 to which an independently operable processing
device 105 (hereinafter "IOPD") can be mounted and attached. The
mounting surface 100 forms part of the housing or can be pivotally
attached or hinged to the housing 15 such that the IOPD can be
selectively positioned at different angles relative to the housing
once it is mounted. The IOPD 105 is a stand-alone general purpose
computing device such as, for example, a personal digital assistant
(hereinafter "PDA") made by 3Com.RTM. or any other portable
computing devices available and known in the art. These include,
for example, Palm.RTM. OS devices, Windows.RTM. CE devices,
portable personal computers, pocket computers and the like. The
IOPD 105 includes, for example, a microprocessor, memory, data
storage, a display, communication components and/or other
components as is known in the art that form an stand-alone
computing device. The display presents a graphical user interface
that displays information to a user and allows a user to easily
input data. The display includes a touch activated screen, button
control or a combination of both.
[0022] With reference to FIGS. 1B, 2A and 2B, the color measuring
device 10 includes an interface 110 that electrically and
physically connects to the IOPD 105 to establish communication
therebetween and directly connect the IOPD 105 to the color
measuring device. It will be appreciated that depending on the
configuration of the IOPD 105, a different configuration for the
interface 110 is needed in order to directly connect with the
interface port of the IOPD 105 as is known in the art. Also shown
in FIG. 2A is an exemplary display 115 and function keys 120 for
selecting and inputting data by the user. With the interface 110,
the IOPD 105 can be easily disconnected and removed by pulling it
out by hand. Alternately, the IOPD can be embedded in the color
measuring device 10 which, although removable, would not be easily
disconnected by hand.
[0023] The IOPD 105 includes application software that allows it to
communicate and operate the functions of the color measuring device
10. Once the remote processing device 105 is connected to the
interface 110, the device becomes an autonomous portable color
measuring device. The IOPD 105 provides data storage for the color
measuring device and performs colorimetric calculations from
measurements taken by the color measuring device. Of course, other
types of processing and data analysis can be performed as is known
in the art. For example, measurement of absolute color represented
in various colorimetric formats (CIE, etc.); the measurement of
relative color represented in various colorimetric formats; color
matching by using one or more databases of pre-measured colors and
color searching and comparison analysis algorithms as is known in
the art; graphic display of colorimetric values for various color
standards; and color quality control functions such as acceptance
of an unknown color sample to a known reference sample. The data is
then displayed to the user in a variety of formats including
numerical and/or graphical outputs on the display 115.
[0024] Due to the independent functionality of the IOPD 105, it can
be replaced and interchanged with a different IOPD from another
color measuring device. In doing so, the color measuring device is
re-characterized with the preferences existing in the different
IOPD. In this manner, a user can simply remove their preprogrammed
IOPD 105 from a first color measuring device and connect it to a
second color measuring device so that the second color measuring
device operates in the same manner as the first color measuring
device.
[0025] Other configurations are possible with the IOPD 105 and
color measuring device 10 combination rather than being a
self-contained color measuring device. For example, the color
measuring device 10 can be connected to a remote computer which
performs colorimetric functions without using the IOPD 105 (which
can be connected or not). The IOPD 105 can be removed and connected
to a computer via connections of various types, for example,
RS-232, universal serial bus, wireless connection, intranet,
infrared communications, and global networks. Once connected, color
data can be transmitted in various formats for different color
processing applications. In another configuration, the remote
processing device 105, while connected to the color measuring
device 10, can transmit information in various formats as stated
above to the internet, a remote network or computer by direct
connection or by wireless communication as is know in the art. For
wireless communication, the IOPD 105 includes a signal transmitter
and receiver and associated circuitry as is known in the art.
[0026] The IOPD 105 includes an industry standard operating system
and user interface. This results in less training and easier
operation of the color measuring device for users familiar with the
standard operating system and interface. Using the standard
operating system of the IOPD, software development is made easier
and faster as well as hardware development. Upgrading the
processing system of the color measuring device 10 is performed
simply by replacing the IOPD 105 with a newer model and loading the
color measuring device application software on it.
[0027] Another configuration includes connecting the color
measuring device with an interface to a personal computer. Then the
color measuring device can be transparent to the system while the
remote processing device 105 and the personal computer directly
exchange color information. Another configuration includes
detaching the IOPD from the color measuring device and directly
connecting it to a personal computer. Color data is then exchanged
therebetween. Upgrades to the color measuring device software
application on the IOPD can be performed by downloading a new
version of the software from an internet site, from a remote
computer, or by using other downloading or software installation
techniques as is known in the art. The software application can
also be "tied" to a particular color measuring device, for example
at the time of registration, which prevents unauthorized
copying.
[0028] The present invention has many applications to measure color
attributes, perform color matching, color analysis, color
verification, and other calculations. Exemplary applications
include measuring textiles, inks, plastics, powdered substances,
liquid substances, metals, paints, metallic paints, cosmetics, food
stuffs, wood stuffs, and paper. Of course, one of ordinary skill in
the art will appreciate that the present invention can be used for
other applications and can be programmed to perform other desired
functions associated to color measuring and analysis. Although the
above examples have been described using an integrating sphere,
other types of spectrophotometers and/or color measuring devices
can be used. For example, spectrophotometers commonly referred to
as 0/45 or 45/0 sensor based instruments, other sphere based
spectrophotometers, Gonio spectrophotometers, colorimeters or
densitometers.
[0029] With reference to FIGS. 3A and 3B, the present invention is
shown having an alternative configuration. FIG. 3A shows a
transparent top view of the color measuring device 10 and FIG. 3B
shows a transparent side view showing the inner components. In this
configuration, the color measuring device generally is positioned
horizontal to the object being measured which would be positioned
against the sample aperture 25. This type of configuration is
suited for the print and ink industries. Also shown on the housing
15 is a cover 200 which can be snapped-on or hinged to the housing
15. The cover 200 secures the IOPD 105 to the housing and serves to
protect it. The cover 200 includes a window such that a user can
view the processing device 105 therethrough. Of course, the cover
200 can be used with the color measuring device configuration
described above. Also shown is a power supply 210 and a stapler
foot-type targeting device 215 that helps a user align a test
sample with the aperture 25. The targeting device 215 is hinged to
the housing 15 at 220 for movement.
[0030] The invention has been described with reference to the
preferred embodiment. Obviously, modifications and alterations will
occur to others upon a reading and understanding of this
specification. It is intended to include all such modifications and
alterations insofar as they come within the scope of the appended
claims or the equivalence thereof.
* * * * *