Color matching system and method

• US 6,772,151 B1
• Filed: 06/16/2000
• Issued: 08/03/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 06/16/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Avient Corp.
• Original Assignee: Polyone Corporation (Avient Corp.)
• Inventors: Russell, Scott, Jacobson, Kenneth E., Bates, Susan, Masterson, Michael E., Johnston, Richard C., Sapp, David L., Burgess, Alan R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Corrielus, Jean M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ly, Anh
• Application Number:
  US09/595,111
• Time in Patent Office: 1,509 Days
• Field of Search: 707/1-10, 707/100, 707/104, 345/600, 345/604, 345/589, 345/591, 345/593, 382/191, 382/209, 382/305, 358/518, 358/523, 358/524, 358/522, 430/11, 359/3, 359/7, 428/407, 428/327
• US Class Current: 707/700
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/46 Measurement of colour; Colour measuring devices, e.g. colorimeters measuring colour temperature G01J5/60
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/463 Colour matching
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/00 Information retrieval; Database structures therefor; File system structures therefor
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/959 Network
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99933 Query processing, i.e. searching
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99934 Query formulation, input preparation, or translation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99936 Pattern matching access
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/2998 including synthetic resin or polymer

Abstract

A system and a method are provided for matching the color of a target sample at a remote location. The system has a first computer that is operative to receive and transmit target spectral data at a first location. A second computer in the system is located at a second location remote from the first computer. The second computer is operative to receive the target spectral data or formula identifier from the first computer. The system includes a database including a plurality of data sets. Each data set has at least spectral data corresponding to standard samples. The system also has software capable of searching the database using the target spectral data as search criteria and returning a match with a data set having standard spectral data that matches the target spectral data. The system optionally has a device that can sense the target spectral data of the target sample and input that target spectral data into the first computer, optionally also non-spectral data and QC capability.

Claims

1. A system for matching a target sample having spectral characteristics, the system comprising:

(a) a first computer at a first location operative to receive and to transmit target spectral data;

(b) a second computer at a second location remote from said first location, said second computer being operative to receive said target spectral data from said first computer;

(c) a database including a plurality of data sets, each data set comprising standard spectral data; and

(d) software residing on said first computer and capable of searching said database using said target spectral data as search criteria and returning a match with a data set having standard spectral data that matches said target spectral data;

wherein;

said first computer is further operative to receive and transmit target non-spectral data;

said second computer is further operative to receive said target nonspectral data from said first computer;

each of said data sets further comprises standard non-spectral data;

said software is further capable of searching said database using both said target spectral data and said target non-spectral data as search criteria and returning a match with a data set having standard non-spectral data that matches said target non-spectral data; and

wherein said target non-spectral data comprises visual effects comprising holographic-flake, granite, marble, or pearlescence.

2. A system as defined in claim 1 wherein said database resides on said second computer.

3. A system as defined in claim 1 wherein said database resides on said first computer.

4. A system as defined in claim 1 further comprising a device operative to sense said target spectral data from a target sample and to input said target spectral data into said first computer.

5. A system as defined in claim 4 wherein said device is a spectrophotometer.

6. A system as defined in claim 1 wherein:

said target non spectral data further comprises resin type;

governmental regulation status;

independent testing laboratory status;

ultra-violet light stability or compatibility;

physical characteristics;

chemical resistance characteristics;

melt or softening temperatures;

industry standard reference identifier;

manufacturing requirements;

delivery requirements;

manufacturing site;

machinery type;

specific machinery identification;

manufacture date;

or manufacture time;

or combinations thereof.

7. A system as defined in claim 1 wherein:

said database further comprises a plurality of formula identifiers corresponding to said plurality of data sets; and

said software is further capable of identifying a formula identifier corresponding to each of said matched data sets.

8. A system as defined in claim 7 wherein said software is further capable of providing a price quote for a product made in accordance with a formula corresponding to a formula identifier.

9. A system for matching a target sample having spectral characteristics, the system comprising:

(e) a first computer at a first location operative to receive and to transmit target spectral data;

(f) a second computer at a second location remote from said first location, said second computer being operative to receive said target spectral data from said first computer;

(g) a database on said second computer including a plurality of data sets, each data set comprising standard spectral data; and

(h) software capable of searching said database using said target spectral data as search criteria and returning a match with a data set having standard spectral data that best matches said target spectral data;

wherein;

said first computer is further operative to receive and transmit target non-spectral data;

said second computer is further operative to receive said target nonspectral data from said first computer;

each of said data sets further comprises standard non-spectral data;

said software is further capable of searching said database using both said target spectral data and said target non-spectral data as search criteria and returning a match with a data set having standard non-spectral data that matches said target non-spectral data; and

wherein said target non-spectral data comprises visual effects comprising holographic-flake, granite, marble, or pearlescence.

10. A system as defined in claim 9 further comprising a device operative to sense said target spectral data from a target sample of polymer material and to input said target spectral data into said first computer.

11. A system as defined in claim 9 wherein said device is a spectrophotometer.

12. A system as defined in claim 9 wherein:

said target non spectral data comprises resin type;

governmental regulation status;

independent testing laboratory status;

ultra-violet light stability or compatibility;

physical characteristics;

chemical resistance characteristics;

melt or softening temperatures;

industry standard reference identifier;

manufacturing requirements;

delivery requirements;

manufacturing site;

machinery type;

specific machinery identification;

manufacture date;

or manufacture time;

or combinations thereof.

13. A system as defined in claim 9 wherein:

said database further comprises a plurality of formula identifiers corresponding to said plurality of data sets; and

said software is further capable of identifying a formula identifier corresponding to each of said matched data sets.

14. A system as defined in claim 13 further comprising:

additional software capable of providing price quotes for products made in accordance with formulae corresponding to said formula identifiers.

15. A method of color matching, said method comprising:

(a) providing a network having a user interface;

(b) receiving through said user interface target spectral data and target non spectral data, thereby forming a target data set;

(c) providing a database comprising a plurality of standard data sets, each standard data set including standard spectral data and standard non-spectral data;

(d) comparing said target data set to said database to determine a match between said target data set and said standard data sets; and

(e) displaying said match on the network; and

wherein said target non-spectral data comprises visual effects comprising holographic-flake, granite, marble, or pearlescence.

16. A method as defined in claim 15 wherein said database further comprises a plurality of formula identifiers, each of which corresponds to a standard data set and a formula, thereby associating each formula with a standard data set;

and each formula comprises specifications for producing a product having the spectral data and non-spectral data of the associated standard data set.

17. A method as defined in claim 16 further comprising:

(f) receiving through said user interface quantity information;

(g) implementing software capable of determining a price quote by utilizing said quantity information and said corresponding formula identifier;

(h) determining said price quote by utilizing said quantity information and said corresponding formula identifier; and

(i) displaying on the network said price quote.

18. A quality control method comprising:

(a) obtaining spectral data and non-spectral data from a target sample to determine target sample spectral data at a first location;

(b) accessing a plurality of standard samples produced at a second location;

(c) identifying a standard sample having the nearest matching standard spectral data to said target sample spectral data;

(d) receiving said standard sample at said first location;

(e) obtaining standard sample spectral data and non-spectral data from said standard sample at said first location;

(f) comparing said target sample spectral data and non-spectral data to said standard sample spectral data and non-spectral data obtained at said first location; and

(g) evaluating the comparison of said standard sample spectral data and non-spectral data obtained at said first location to said target sample spectral data and non-spectral data, whereby the degree of similarity to said standard sample is determined; and

wherein said target non-spectral data comprises visual effects comprising holographic-flake, granite, marble, or pearlescence.

19. A method as defined in claim 18 further comprising:

(h) producing a finalized product sample using a formulation previously used to produce said standard sample;

(i) obtaining product sample spectral data from said product sample;

comparing said product sample spectral data to said standard sample spectral data obtained at said first location; and

(k) evaluating the comparison of said standard sample spectral data to said product sample spectral data, whereby the degree of similarity to said standard sample is determined.

20. A method of color matching, said method comprising:

(a) providing search criteria including target spectral data and non-spectral data obtained from a target sample;

(b) inputting said target spectral data and non-spectral data into a first computer at a first location;

(c) providing a database comprising a plurality of standard data sets, each standard data set including standard spectral data and standard non-spectral data;

(d) specifying a search tolerance to use in searching said database, said search tolerance defining a range of said standard spectral data that provides an acceptable match;

(e) searching said database to determine a match using said search criteria;

(f) determining if said match is acceptable in view of said search tolerance;

(g) forwarding a formula identifier to a second computer at a second location remote from said first location if said match is acceptable; and

(h) forwarding said target spectral data and non-spectral data to a second computer at a second location remote from said first location if said match is not acceptable; and

reformulating at said second location to achieve a formula that when utilized produces an acceptable match; and

wherein said target non-spectral data comprises visual effects comprising holographic-flake, granite, marble, or pearlescence.