Color comparison reference standard and method for using same

• US 4,523,852 A
• Filed: 06/09/1983
• Issued: 06/18/1985
• Est. Priority Date: 06/09/1983
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Miles Laboratories, Inc. (Bayer AG)
• Original Assignee: Miles Laboratories, Inc. (Bayer AG)
• Inventors: Bauer, Robert
• Primary Examiner(s): NOT, DEFINED
• Assistant Examiner(s): NOT, DEFINED
• Application Number:
  US06/502,462
• Time in Patent Office: 740 Days
• Field of Search: 356/421, 356/422, 356/423, 356/424, 356/425, 356/243, 434/98, 434/99, 434/100, 422/55, 422/56, 422/57, 422/58, 436/169
• US Class Current: 356/421
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/52 using colour charts

Abstract

An improved method for visually comparing the results of colorimetric analytical tests to a color reference standard, enabling substantially improved quantitation to be achieved for such tests, is disclosed. Also disclosed is improved apparatus, in the form of an improved color comparision reference standard, which is useful in the method. In one embodiment, the standard can comprise a plurality of colored reference areas of differing hues corresponding to discrete reference values and to which a colored response area of a colorimetric analytical test can be compared to determine the reference value most closely related to the hue of the colored response area, and a background area against which the colored reference areas are displayed. The background area has a luminance (L*) value of from about 15 to about 80, and the luminance (L*) value of any portion of the background area is within about 30 of the average luminance (L*) value of any two or more adjacent ones of the colored reference areas which are displayed against the portion of the background area.

Claims

1. A color comparison reference standard comprising a plurality of colored reference areas of differing hues corresponding to discrete reference values and to which a colored response area of a colorimetric test means can be compared to determine the reference value most closely related to the hue of the colored response area, and a background area against which said colored reference areas are displayed, said background area having a luminance (L*) value of from about 15 to about 80, the luminance (L*) value of any portion of said background area being within about 30 of the average luminance (L*) value of any two or more adjacent ones of said colored reference areas which are displayed against said portion of said background area.

2. The color comparison reference standard of claim 1, wherein the luminance (L*) value of any portion of said background area is within about 20 of the average luminance (L*) value of any two or more adjacent ones of said colored reference areas which are displayed against said portion of said background area.

3. The color comparison reference standard of claim 1, wherein the luminance (L*) value of any portion of said background area is within 10 of the average luminance (L*) value of any two or more adjacent ones of said colored reference areas which are displayed against said portion of said background area.

4. The color comparison reference standard of claim 1, wherein said plurality of colored reference areas and said background area are printed upon a paper substrate.

5. The color comparison reference standard of claim 4, wherein said paper substrate has an adhesive backing.

6. Color matching apparatus comprising a substrate, a colored background area upon said substrate having a luminance (L*) value of from about 15 to about 80, and a plurality of colored areas of differing hues displayed against said background area, said background area further having a luminance (L*) value within about 30 of the average luminance (L*) value of any two adjacent ones of said colored areas.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said substrate is paper.

8. In a color comparison chart comprising a plurality of colored reference standards for comparing a color response produced by an colorimetric analytical test thereto, the improvement wherein said chart further comprises a background against which said colored reference standards are displayed, said background having a luminance (L*) value of from about 15 to about 80 and within about 30 luminance (L*) units of the average luminance (L*) value of any two adjacent colored reference standards.

9. The improved color comparison chart of claim 8, wherein said background of said chart further comprises a color gradient varying from one portion to another thereof such that each of said portions of said background has a luminance (L*) value within about 20 luminance (L*) units of the average luminance (L*) value of any two adjacent colored reference standards.

10. The improved color comparison chart of claim 8, wherein said background of said chart further comprises a color gradient varying from one portion to another thereof such that each of said portions of said background has a luminance (L*) value within about 10 luminance (L*) units of the average luminance (L*) value of any two adjacent colored reference standards.

11. A method for distinguishing differences in hues of a plurality of colors, which method comprises displaying said colors against a colored background having a luminance (L*) value of from about 15 to 80 and within about 30 luminance (L*) units of the average luminance (L*) value of any two or more adjacent ones of said colors, viewing said adjacent colors displayed against said background and determining the extent of visually perceptible hue differences between said colors.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising the steps of displaying a third color proximate to said adjacent ones of said colors and determining the extent of visually perceptible hue differences between said third color and said adjacent colors.

13. A method for matching colors comprising the steps of displaying a color to be matched adjacent one or more of the colored areas of color matching apparatus comprising a substrate, a colored background area upon said substrate having a luminance (L*) value of from about 15 to about 80, and a plurality of colored areas of differing hues displayed against said background area, said background area further having a luminance (L*) value within about 30 of the average luminance (L*) value of any two adjacent ones of said color areas and comparing against said background area of such apparatus the hue of said color to be matched and the hues of the colored areas of said apparatus.