Colorimeter

• US 20030058448A1
• Filed: 09/20/2002
• Published: 03/27/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 09/21/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Datacolor AG Europe (Datacolor AG)
• Original Assignee: Colorvision Administrative AG
• Inventors: Merle, Cormic K., Gonzales, Leonardo C. II
• Granted Patent: US 6,784,995 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 356/402
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/02 Details
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/0291 Housings; Spectrometer accessories; Spatial arrangement of elements, e.g. folded path arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/46 Measurement of colour; Colour measuring devices, e.g. colorimeters measuring colour temperature G01J5/60
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/50 using electric radiation detectors

Abstract

A colorimeter for measuring a color of light includes a color sensing device, a hanging means, and a means for reducing color distortion. The hanging means hangs the color sensing device in an operative relationship relative to a color producing device. The means for reducing color distortion reduces color distortion on the color producing device while the color sensing device is in the operative relationship relative to the color producing device.

Claims

1. A colorimeter for measuring a color of light, comprising:

a color sensing device;

a hanging means for hanging the color sensing device in an operative relationship relative to a color producing device; and

means for reducing color distortion on the color producing device while the color sensing device is in the operative relationship relative to the color producing device.

2. The colorimeter as set forth in claim 1, wherein the hanging means includes:

a suspension device; and

means for suspending the color sensing device from the suspension device.

3. The colorimeter as set forth in claim 2, wherein the means for suspending includes a flexible material secured to the color sensing device and the suspension device.

4. The colorimeter as set forth in claim 3, wherein the flexible material includes rubber.

5. The colorimeter as set forth in claim 3, wherein the means for suspending further includes:

a dock, the flexible material being secured to the color sensing device via the dock; and

a counterweight secured to the suspension device, the counterweight balancing the color sensing device, dock, and means for reducing color distortion.

6. The colorimeter as set forth in claim 1, further including:

means for substantially limiting light received by the sensing device to be light emitted from the color producing device within a predetermined angle.

7. The colorimeter as set forth in claim 6, wherein the means for substantially limiting is a baffle.

8. The colorimeter as set forth in claim 1, wherein the means for reducing color distortion includes:

a housing secured to the color sensing device; and

a flat surface on the housing contacting the color producing device, the flat surface substantially minimizing any pressure points on the color producing device.

9. A colorimeter for measuring a color of light, comprising:

a color sensing device;

a suspension device for placing the color sensing device in a first plane for operative relationship relative to a color producing device; and

a color distortion reduction device for placing the color sensing device in a second plane for operative relationship relative to the color producing device and substantially eliminating color distortion on the color producing device.

10. The colorimeter as set forth in claim 9, wherein:

the first plane is substantially parallel to a display of the color producing device; and

the second plane is substantially perpendicular to a display of the color producing device.

11. The colorimeter as set forth in claim 9, wherein the color distortion reduction device includes:

a housing secured to the color sensing device; and

a flat surface on the housing contacting the color producing device, the flat surface substantially minimizing any pressure points on the color producing device.

12. The colorimeter as set forth in claim 9, further including:

a baffle between the color producing device and the color sensing device for substantially limiting light received by the sensing device to be light emitted from the color producing device within a predetermined angle.

13. The colorimeter as set forth in claim 12, wherein the predetermined angle is ±

45°

.

14. The colorimeter as set forth in claim 9, further including a flexible material secured to the color sensing device and the suspension device.

15. A system for measuring a color of light, comprising:

a color producing device;

a color detection device for measuring a color produced by the color producing device;

a suspension device, secured to the color producing device, for placing the color sensing device in a substantially parallel plane for operative relationship relative to the color producing device; and

a color distortion reduction device for placing the color sensing device in a substantially perpendicular plane for operative relationship relative to the color producing device and substantially eliminating color distortion on the color producing device.

16. The system for measuring a color of light as set forth in claim 15, wherein the color detection device is a colorimeter.

17. The system for measuring a color of light as set forth in claim 15, further including:

a counterweight secured to the suspension device for balancing the color sensing device in the operative relationship relative to the color producing device.

18. The system for measuring a color of light as set forth in claim 15, wherein the color distortion reduction device includes:

a housing secured to the color sensing device; and

a flat surface of the housing contacting the color producing device, the flat surface substantially minimizing any pressure points on the color producing device.

19. The system for measuring a color of light as set forth in claim 18, wherein the color producing device has a soft screen display which distorts colors upon the application of pressure.

20. The system for measuring a color of light as set forth in claim 15, further including:

a baffle between the color producing device and the color sensing device for substantially limiting light received by the sensing device to be light emitted from the color producing device within a predetermined angle.

21. A method for measuring a color of light, the method comprising:

placing a color sensing device in a substantially parallel plane for operative relationship relative to a color producing device;

placing the color sensing device and a color distortion reduction device in a substantially perpendicular plane for operative relationship relative to the color producing device, the color sensing device being secured to the color distortion reduction device, which substantially eliminates color distortion on the color producing device; and

receiving light from the color producing device in the color sensing device.

22. The method for measuring a color of light as set forth in claim 21, further including:

placing a baffle, for substantially limiting light received by the sensing device to be light emitted from the color producing device within a predetermined angle, between the color producing and color sensing devices.

23. The method for measuring a color of light as set forth in claim 21, further including:

securing a suspension device to the color producing device;

securing the color sensing device to the suspension device for placing the color sensing device in the operative relationship relative to the color producing device; and

securing a counterweight to the suspension device for balancing the color sensing device.

24. The method for measuring a color of light as set forth in claim 21, further including:

securing a housing to the color sensing device; and

substantially minimizing any pressure points between the housing and the color producing device.

25. The method for measuring a color of light as set forth in claim 24, wherein the minimizing includes:

contacting a flat surface of the housing to the color producing device.