GEMSTONE VIEWER
First Claim
1. Apparatus for viewing images of a gemstone, comprising:
- a support structure for supporting the gemstone at an observation position;
an illumination structure arranged to illuminate the gemstone, the illumination structure comprising a plurality of directional light sources directed towards the observation position, the support structure and illumination structure being rotatable relative to one another about a rotation axis; and
an imaging device for obtaining images of the gemstone at the observation position at a variety of relative rotational positions between the illumination structure and support structure, the imaging device having an imaging axis passing through the observation position;
wherein the support structure is arranged so that the gemstone can be placed at the observation position in such a way that the normal to a selected facet of the gemstone is within a range of tilt angles from the rotation axis; and
the arrangement of directional light sources is such that, for any tilt angle within the range, at least one of the directional light sources will be specularly reflected from the selected facet into the imaging device for at least one rotational position of the support structure.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus for viewing images of a gemstone is described. The apparatus comprises a support structure for supporting the gemstone at an observation position. An illumination structure comprises a plurality of directional light sources directed towards the observation position so as to illuminate the gemstone. The support structure and illumination structure are relatively rotatable relative to one another about a rotation axis. An imaging device is arranged to obtain images of the gemstone at the observation position at a variety of relative rotational positions between the illumination structure and support structure: the imaging device has an imaging axis passing through the observation position. The support structure is arranged so that the gemstone can be placed at the observation position in such a way that the normal to a selected facet of the gemstone is within a range of tilt angles from the rotation axis. The arrangement of directional light sources is such that, for any tilt angle within the range, at least one of the directional light sources will be specularly reflected from the selected facet into the imaging device for at least one rotational position of the support structure.
29 Citations
35 Claims
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1. Apparatus for viewing images of a gemstone, comprising:
- a support structure for supporting the gemstone at an observation position;
an illumination structure arranged to illuminate the gemstone, the illumination structure comprising a plurality of directional light sources directed towards the observation position, the support structure and illumination structure being rotatable relative to one another about a rotation axis; and
an imaging device for obtaining images of the gemstone at the observation position at a variety of relative rotational positions between the illumination structure and support structure, the imaging device having an imaging axis passing through the observation position;
wherein the support structure is arranged so that the gemstone can be placed at the observation position in such a way that the normal to a selected facet of the gemstone is within a range of tilt angles from the rotation axis; and
the arrangement of directional light sources is such that, for any tilt angle within the range, at least one of the directional light sources will be specularly reflected from the selected facet into the imaging device for at least one rotational position of the support structure. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 30)
- a support structure for supporting the gemstone at an observation position;
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28. Apparatus for generating and viewing images of the play of light in a loose or mounted gemstone and an inscribed mark on the gemstone in a single integrated unit, comprising:
- a support means for supporting the gemstone in an observation position;
illumination means for illuminating the gemstone in the observation position, the illumination means comprising a plurality of directional light sources and a diffuse light source;
rotation means for rotating the support means relative to the illumination means;
imaging means for obtaining images of the gemstone in the observation position; and
display means for displaying the images of the gemstone to a user at a plurality of rotational positions of the support means. - View Dependent Claims (29)
- a support means for supporting the gemstone in an observation position;
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31. A method for facilitating the visual appreciation of the play of light of a loose or mounted gemstone and a mark inscribed on a selected facet of the gemstone, the method comprising;
- illuminating the gemstone with a plurality of directional light sources;
rotating the gemstone about a rotation axis relative to the plurality of directional light sources, the normal to the selected facet of the gemstone being within a range of tilt angles from the rotation axis;
obtaining images of the gemstone as the gemstone rotates; and
displaying the images to a viewer;
wherein the arrangement of directional light sources is such that, for any tilt angle within the range, at least one of the directional light sources is specularly reflected from the selected facet into the imaging device for at least one rotational position of the gemstone. - View Dependent Claims (32, 33, 34, 35)
- illuminating the gemstone with a plurality of directional light sources;
Specification