System for Representing Colors Including an Integrating Light Capsule

• US 20100244700A1
• Filed: 12/22/2008
• Published: 09/30/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/24/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Columbia Insurance Company (Berkshire Hathaway Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Columbia Insurance Company (Berkshire Hathaway Incorporated)
• Inventors: Chong, Patrick, Gutman, Michael, Fairman, Hugh, Minchew, Carl
• Granted Patent: US 8,733,949 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 315/113
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/461 with colour spinners
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/255 Details, e.g. use of specially adapted sources, lighting or optical systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 90/00 Systems or methods specially adapted for administrative, commercial, financial, managerial or supervisory purposes, not involving significant data processing
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 5/00 Means for displaying samples packaging per se B65
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/3102 using two-dimensional electronic spatial light modulators micromechanical modulators as such G02B26/0833; liquid crystal modulators as such G02F1/13
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/3182 Colour adjustment, e.g. white balance, shading or gamut white balance per se H04N9/73; control of amplitude of colour signals H04N9/68; colour control circuits for displays in general G09G5/02, G09G3/2003, G09G3/3607
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/00 Circuit arrangements for operating light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/20 Controlling the colour of the light
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/28 using temperature feedback
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/325 Pulse-width modulation [PWM]

Abstract

Disclosed herein is a color display device that can be deployed at retail paint stores, kiosks, customers'"'"' offices or homes, airports, malls, etc. for rapid color and appearance prototyping. The color display device, which can be mobile, can display color under standardized lighting or simulated ambient lighting. The color display device can augment or replace a traditional paint chip rack or fan deck. The color display device can manipulate light sources additively and/or subtractively using an integrating light mixing capsule or chamber, special optics, mock objects and electronic control for color and appearance representation and for object illumination with desirable simulated ambient lighting.

Claims

1. An optical system comprising a plurality of primary light sources emitting primary lights therefrom, wherein the emitted primary lights are directed to an integrating light mixing capsule or chamber, wherein the emitted primary lights are mixed within the integrating light mixing capsule or chamber to form a mixed exit light, wherein the mixed exit light is projected on to a display surface to display a color on said surface, and

wherein the integrating light mixing capsule or chamber comprises at least one baffle that locates therewithin and prevents the emitted primary lights from exiting the integrating light mixing capsule or chamber without reflecting from the baffle.

2. The optical system of claim 1, wherein the integrating light mixing capsule or chamber has an entrance port and an exit port and the baffle is dimensionally larger than the entrance port and is located between the entrance port and the exit port.

3. The optical system of claim 2, wherein the integrating light mixing capsule or chamber is a polyhedron.

4. The optical system of claim 2, wherein the baffle comprises a dome portion.

5. The optical system of claim 2, wherein the baffle comprises a pointed portion.

6. The optical system of claim 2, wherein the baffle is connected to the integrating light mixing capsule or chamber by a plurality of legs.

7. The optical system of claim 1, wherein the integrating light mixing capsule or chamber comprises a plurality of first mixing chamber and at least one central mixing chamber and wherein one first mixing chamber is associated with one primary light source.

8. The optical system of claim 7, wherein the integrating light mixing capsule or chamber comprises a plurality of reflecting baffle surfaces.

9. The optical system of claim 8, wherein emitting primary lights are reflected between the first mixing chambers and the central mixing chamber prior to exiting the integrating light mixing capsule or chamber.

10. The optical system of claim 1, wherein the surfaces inside the integrating light mixing capsule or chamber are treated to increase the mixing of the emitted primary light.

11. The optical system of claim 10, wherein the surfaces are matted.

12. The optical system of claim 11, wherein the surfaces are coated with barium sulfate or titanium dioxide.

13. The optical system of claim 1, wherein the display surface forms a portion of a display chamber.

14. The optical system of claim 13, wherein the optical system is positioned adjacent to the display chamber.

15. The optical system of claim 1 further comprising a cooling system to regulate the output of the emitted primary lights.

16. The optical system of claim 15, wherein the cooling system comprises fins.

17. The optical system of claim 16, wherein the cooling system comprises sensors connected to a controller.

18. The optical system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of primary light sources are individually dimmed to predetermined level before being projected to the integrating light mixing capsule or chamber.

19. The optical system of claim 18, wherein the primary light sources are dimmed by pulse width modulation.

20. The optical system of claim 1 further comprising simulated ambient light.

21. The optical system of claim 20, wherein the simulated ambient light comprises simulated daylight, halogen, incandescent or fluorescent light or combinations thereof.

22. The optical system of claim 20, wherein one of the primary light sources emits simulated ambient light.

23. The optical system of claim 20, wherein the simulated ambient light is varied by a controller.

24. The optical system of claim 1, wherein the display surface is curved.

25. The optical system of claim 1 further comprising a three-dimensional object with at least one curved surface to receive the mixed exit light.

26. The optical system of claim 1 further comprising at least one optical device to condition the mixed exit light.

27. The optical system of claim 26, wherein the optical device comprises a neutral density filter, a center gradient filter, a spectral modification filter, a projection lens with an internal beam restriction mask or adjustable aperture.

28. The optical system of claim 1, wherein the display surface is textured to simulate a paint finish.

29. The optical system of claim 1, wherein the display surface is a diffusing surface.

30. An optical system comprising a plurality of primary light modules each comprising a broad band primary light source and a lens mount, wherein the lens mounts modulate the spectral quality of the broad band light sources into a narrow band primary light, wherein the emitted narrow band primary lights from the primary light modules are unique, wherein the emitted narrow band primary lights are directed to an integrating light mixing chamber, wherein the emitted narrow band primary lights are mixed within the integrating light mixing chamber to form a mixed exit light, and wherein the mixed exit light is projected on to a display surface to display a color on said surface.

31. The optical system of claim 30, wherein the emitted narrow band primary lights have a peak wavelength at a uniform interval of at most about 20 nm.

32. The optical system of claim 30, wherein the primary light sources are selected from the group consisting of fluorescent, incandescent, halogen, laser, white LED, chromatic LED light, and combinations thereof.

33. The optical system of claim 32, wherein the primary light sources are different.

34. The optical system of claim 32, wherein the primary light sources are identical.

35. The optical system of claim 34, wherein the primary light source comprise white LED light.

36. The optical system of claim 30, wherein the integrating light mixing chamber comprises at least one baffle that locates therewithin and prevents the emitted primary lights from exiting the integrating light mixing chamber without reflecting from the baffle.

37. The optical system of claim 30, wherein the plurality of primary light sources are individually dimmed to predetermined level before being projected to the integrating light mixing chamber.

38. The optical system of claim 37, wherein the primary light sources are dimmed by pulse width modulation.

39. A method for appearance matching a color comprising the steps of:

(a) providing an optical system comprising a plurality of primary light modules each comprising a broad band primary light source and a lens mount;

(b) modulating the primary light source into a unique narrow band primary light;

(c) mixing the unique narrow band primary lights in an integrating light mixing chamber to form a mixed exit light; and

(d) projecting the mixed exit light on to a display surface to display a color on said surface.

40. The method of claim 39, wherein the unique narrow band primary lights comprise a peak wavelength at a uniform interval of at most about 20 nm.

41. The method of claim 39 further comprising a step (e) of returning to step (b) if the display surface does not have an appearance matching a target appearance.