Color measurement instrument capable of both strip reading and spot reading

• US 20050242191A1
• Filed: 04/28/2005
• Published: 11/03/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 04/30/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: X-Rite Incorporated (Danaher Corporation)
• Original Assignee: X-Rite Incorporated (Danaher Corporation)
• Inventors: Weber, Michael J., Baker, Douglas V., Sutton, Todd A., Newton, Paul D.
• Granted Patent: US 7,322,527 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 235/472.10
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/02 Details
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/0272 Handheld
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/0283 using a charging unit
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/0291 Housings; Spectrometer accessories; Spatial arrangement of elements, e.g. folded path arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/50 using electric radiation detectors
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/524 Calibration of colorimeters
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/251 Colorimeters; Construction thereof
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/5907 Densitometers
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/8483 Investigating reagent band test-element handling not specific to a test method G01N33/4875; analytical elements specific to chemical analysis of biological material G01N33/52; autometer with reagent band G01N35/04

Abstract

A color measurement instrument that is capable of both spot reading and strip reading. The instrument includes a handheld unit and a docking unit. When removed from the docking unit, the handheld unit is used for spot reading. When docked in the docking unit, the handheld unit and the docking unit are used together for strip reading. The handheld unit includes a self-storing target that is deployed for spot reading and stored for strip reading. The handheld unit also includes a self-storing calibration plaque that is deployed for calibration and stored otherwise. When docked, the handheld unit teeters on the docking unit between a normally closed position and a manually selectable open position to accommodate a variety of sample thicknesses.

Claims

1. A color measurement instrument comprising:

a docking unit including drive means for moving a sample relative to said docking unit; and

a handheld unit including a color measurement engine, said handheld unit releasably docked in said docking unit, said handheld unit adapted for spot-reading color measurements when undocked from said docking unit, said handheld unit and said docking unit together adapted for strip-reading color measurements when said handheld unit is docked in said docking unit.

2. A color measurement instrument as defined in claim 1 wherein:

said docking unit includes a sample area and a fulcrum; and

said handheld unit teeters on said fulcrum when docked in said docking unit, said handheld unit biased to teeter toward said sample area on said docking unit, said handheld unit capable of being teetered away from said sample area under manual pressure.

3. A color measurement instrument as defined in claim 1 wherein said docking unit and said handheld unit include a lock actuated when said handheld unit is docked.

4. A color measurement instrument as defined in claim 1 wherein said handheld unit includes a self-storing target movable between (a) an operative position aligned with said color measurement engine and (b) a storage position unaligned with said color measurement engine and permitting said handheld unit to be docked in said docking unit.

5. A color measurement instrument as defined in claim 1 wherein said handheld unit includes a self-storing calibration plaque movable between (a) a calibration position aligned with said color measurement engine and (b) a storage position unaligned with said color measurement engine and permitting said handheld unit to be docked in said docking unit.

6. A color measurement instrument as defined in claim 1 wherein said docking unit and said handheld unit include connector means for making power and control connections when said handheld unit is docked in said docking unit.

7. A color measurement instrument comprising:

a docking unit;

a handheld unit releasably docked in said docking unit, said handheld unit operating in a first color measurement mode when undocked and in a second color measurement mode when docked.

8. A color measurement instrument as defined in claim 7 wherein:

the first mode is a spot-reading mode; and

the second mode is a strip-reading mode.

9. A color measurement instrument as defined in claim 8 wherein said docking unit includes a transport mechanism adapted to move a strip to be measured.

10. A color measurement instrument as defined in claim 7 wherein:

said docking unit includes a sample station; and

said handheld unit when docked teeters on said docking unit toward and away from said sample station, said handheld unit having a bias to teeter toward said sample station.

11. A color measurement instrument as defined in claim 10 wherein said handheld unit and said docking unit cooperate to accommodate strips of varying thicknesses.

12. A color measurement instrument as defined in claim 7 wherein at least one of said docking station and said handheld unit includes a lock adapted to lock said units together when said handheld unit is docked.

13. A color measurement instrument as defined in claim 7 wherein said handheld unit includes a color measurement engine and a self-storing target movable between (a) an operative position aligned with said color measurement engine and (b) a storage position unaligned with said color measurement engine and permitting said handheld unit to be docked in said docking unit.

14. A color measurement instrument as defined in claim 7 wherein said handheld unit includes a color measurement engine and a self-storing calibration plaque movable between (a) a calibration position aligned with said color measurement engine and (b) a storage position unaligned with said color measurement engine and permitting said handheld unit to be docked in said docking unit.

15. A color measurement instrument as defined in claim 7 wherein said docking unit and said handheld unit include connector means for making power and control connections when said handheld unit is docked in said docking unit.

16. A color measurement unit comprising:

a housing;

a color measurement engine within said housing;

a self-storing target movable between an operative position aligned with said color measurement engine and a storage position unaligned with said color measurement engine, said target extending from said housing in the operative position to assist in aligning the color measurement instrument with a sample to be measured.

17. A color measurement unit as defined in claim 16 wherein:

said housing defines a recess; and

at least a portion of said target is located within said recess when said target is in the storage position.

18. A color measurement unit as defined in claim 16 wherein said target includes:

an arm telescopically received within said housing; and

a foot pivotally mounted on said arm.

19. A color measurement unit as defined in claim 18 wherein:

said housing defines a recess; and

said foot is located within said recess when said target is in the storage position.

20. A color measurement unit as defined in claim 16 further comprising a docking unit, said color measurement unit being selectively docked in said docking unit, said target being capable of moving to the operative position when said color measurement unit is undocked, said target being incapable of moving to the operative position when said color measurement unit is docked.

21. A color measurement engine comprising:

a color measurement engine; and

a self-storing target movable between an active position aligned with said color measurement engine and a storage position unaligned with said color measurement engine, said target connected to said color measurement unit in both positions.

22. A color measurement unit as defined in claim 21 further comprising a housing supporting said color measurement engine and said target, said housing defining a recess, at least a portion of said target located within said recess when said target is in said storage position.

23. A color measurement unit as defined in claim 21 wherein said target comprises:

a movable arm; and

a foot pivotally supported by said arm and biased to a selected position.

24. A color measurement unit as defined in claim 21 further comprising:

a housing supporting said color measurement engine and said target; and

a docking unit in which said housing can be selectively docked, said target capable of moving to said active position when said housing is undocked from said docking unit, said target incapable of moving to said active position when said housing is docked in said docking unit.

25. A color measurement unit comprising:

a housing;

a color measurement engine within said housing;

a self-storing calibration assembly including a calibration plaque and an arm supporting said plaque on said housing, said calibration assembly movable between an operative position in which said calibration plaque is aligned with said color measurement engine and a storage position in which said calibration plaque is unaligned with said color measurement engine.

26. A color measurement unit as defined in claim 25 wherein:

said housing defines a recess; and

at least a portion of said calibration assembly is located within said recess when said calibration assembly is in the storage position.

27. A color measurement unit as defined in claim 25 wherein;

said arm defines a pocket; and

said calibration plaque is located within said pocket.

28. A color measurement unit as defined in claim 27 wherein:

said housing defines a recess; and

said pocket and said calibration plaque are located within said recess when said calibration assembly is in the storage position.

29. A color measurement unit as defined in claim 25 further comprising a docking unit, said color measurement unit being selectively docked in said docking unit, said calibration assembly being capable of moving to the operative position when said color measurement unit is undocked, said calibration assembly being incapable of moving to the operative position when said color measurement unit is docked.

30. A color measurement engine comprising:

a color measurement engine; and

a self-storing calibration assembly including a calibration plaque, said calibration assembly movable between an active position in which said calibration plaque is aligned with said color measurement engine and a storage position in which said calibration plaque is unaligned with said color measurement engine, said calibration assembly connected to said color measurement unit in both positions.

31. A color measurement unit as defined in claim 30 further comprising a housing supporting said color measurement engine and said calibration assembly, said housing defining a recess, at least a portion of said calibration assembly located within said recess when said calibration assembly is in the storage position.

32. A color measurement unit as defined in claim 30 wherein said target comprises:

a support arm defining a pocket; and

a calibration plaque located within said pocket.

33. A color measurement unit as defined in claim 30 further comprising:

a housing supporting said color measurement engine and said calibration assembly; and

a docking unit in which said housing can be selectively docked, said calibration assembly capable of moving to the active position when said housing is undocked from said docking unit, said calibration assembly incapable of moving to the active position when said housing is docked in said docking unit.

34. A color measurement instrument comprising:

a docking unit including a sample station and a fulcrum; and

a handheld unit that can be selectively docked in said docking station, said handheld unit teetering on said fulcrum when said handheld unit is docked, said docking unit and said handheld unit configured to bias the teetering of said handheld unit toward said sample station and to permit said handheld unit to be teetered under manual pressure away from said sample station.

35. A color measurement instrument comprising:

a handheld unit; and

a docking unit releasably receiving said handheld unit, said docking unit including a sample station and a drive mechanism adapted to transport a sample through said sample station, said handheld unit teetering within said docking unit when received in said docking unit, said handheld unit having an inclination to teeter toward said sample station, said handheld unit capable of teetering away from said sample station under manual pressure.

36. A color measurement instrument as defined in claim 35 wherein:

said docking unit includes a fulcrum; and

said handheld unit rests on said fulcrum when received in said docking unit.