Process and apparatus for making a numerical determination of the color, or of a change in color, of an object
First Claim
1. Apparatus for making numerical-determination of one of the colors or of a change in a given color of an object, which apparatus is comprised of:
- (a) a source of light to irradiate the object whose numerical-determination of color is desired and to be found;
(b) a photo transducer measn to pick up the light returned by the object;
(c) optical fiber receiving means to direct the light returned by the object to the said photo transducer means;
withthe said optical fiber receiving means having an end that is displaceable substantially perpendicularly to the said object being investigated whose numerical-determination of color is desired and to be found in order to obtain such desired determination;
(d) optical fiber emitter means having an end to direct the emission of said light source to a said object being investigated, said optical fiber receiving means and said emitter means being coaxially disposed at least at said ends to provide coaxial ends and to provide first and second optical fiber bundles;
withsaid optical fiber emitter means and said optical fiber receiving means being disposed as a unit to be passed within and to make traversing entry substantially perpendicularly into a zone of access wherein is located the object to be investigated;
(e) signal processing means for determining the value of the maximum of the signal supplied by the photo transducer means during the displacement of the said optical receiver means;
with said signal processing means including means to provide said maximum signal value determination substantially instantaneously at the time during displacement of the said end of the optical receiving means when said receiving means is at least in very near maximum signal-generating proximity of contact with said object to be investigated; and
(f) a display unit responsive to said signal processing means for substantially instantaneously displaying information according to the determination made;
with(g) means associated with said apparatus assembly for moving said coaxial ends of said first and second optical fiber bundles in said unit towards and away from said object.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A coaxial optical fiber bundle assembly (Reference No. 6 in the following Specification and Drawing), carrying emitted light from a light source and received light which has been returned by an object illuminated from said light source, is moved towards the object (Reference No.: 7) to cause the intensity of the received light, as detected by a photo transistor in light emitter-receiver unit (Reference No.: 1), to attain a maximum value which is amplified and held as a display on digital voltmeter (Reference No.: 11). Comparison of the held value with the corresponding held maximum value resulting from a similar determination made of either a different object of the same object after a color change therein or thereof can thus be made on a numerical basis.
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Citations
17 Claims
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1. Apparatus for making numerical-determination of one of the colors or of a change in a given color of an object, which apparatus is comprised of:
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(a) a source of light to irradiate the object whose numerical-determination of color is desired and to be found; (b) a photo transducer measn to pick up the light returned by the object; (c) optical fiber receiving means to direct the light returned by the object to the said photo transducer means;
withthe said optical fiber receiving means having an end that is displaceable substantially perpendicularly to the said object being investigated whose numerical-determination of color is desired and to be found in order to obtain such desired determination; (d) optical fiber emitter means having an end to direct the emission of said light source to a said object being investigated, said optical fiber receiving means and said emitter means being coaxially disposed at least at said ends to provide coaxial ends and to provide first and second optical fiber bundles;
withsaid optical fiber emitter means and said optical fiber receiving means being disposed as a unit to be passed within and to make traversing entry substantially perpendicularly into a zone of access wherein is located the object to be investigated; (e) signal processing means for determining the value of the maximum of the signal supplied by the photo transducer means during the displacement of the said optical receiver means;
with said signal processing means including means to provide said maximum signal value determination substantially instantaneously at the time during displacement of the said end of the optical receiving means when said receiving means is at least in very near maximum signal-generating proximity of contact with said object to be investigated; and(f) a display unit responsive to said signal processing means for substantially instantaneously displaying information according to the determination made;
with(g) means associated with said apparatus assembly for moving said coaxial ends of said first and second optical fiber bundles in said unit towards and away from said object. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A process for making a numerical determination of one of the colors, and a change in a given color, of an object which comprises the Steps of:
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(I) taking an apparatus characterized in therein having (a) a source of light to irradiate the object whose numerical-determination of color is desired and to be found; (b) a photo transducer means to pick up the light returned by the object; (c) optical fiber receiving means to direct the light returned by the object to the said photo transducer means;
withthe said optical fiber receiving means having an end that is displaceable substantially perpendicularly to the said object being investigated whose numerical-determination of color is desired and to be found in order to obtain such desired determination; (d) optical fiber emitter means having an end to direct the emission of said light source to a said object being investigated, said optical fiber receiving means and said emitter means being coaxially disposed at least at said ends to provide coaxial ends and to provide first and second optical fiber bundles;
withsaid optical fiber emitter means and said optical fiber receiving means being disposed as a unit to be passed within and to make traversin entry substantially perpendicularly into a zone of access wherein is located the object to be investigated; (e) signal processing means for determining the value of the maximum of the signal supplied by the photo receiver (b) during the displacement of the said end of the optical receiver means (c);
withsaid signal processing means for determining the value of the maximum of the signal supplied by the photo transducer means during the displacement of the said optical receiver means;
with said signal processing means including means to provide said maximum signal value determination substantially instantaneously at the time during displacement of the said end of the optical receiving means when said receiving means is at least in very near maximum signal-generating proximity of contact with said object to be investigated; and(f) a display unit responsive to said signal processing means for substantially instantaneously displaying information according to the determination made; and
therewith(II) moving said coaxial ends of said first and second optical fiber bundles in said receiving means and said emitter means towards the said object;
while(III) receiving the light from said light source return from the said object;
then(IV) processing the output signal of said photo transducer means using the detector circuit in said signal processing means; and (V) displaying substantially instantaneously the output of said detector circuit in said signal processing means using for such purpose the display unit. - View Dependent Claims (17)
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Specification