Apparatus and method for measuring optical characteristics of an object
First Claim
1. A method of quantifying the optical properties of an object or material using a protective implement, comprising the steps of:
- applying the protective implement to a measurement implement, wherein the measurement implement having the protective implement is directable to come into contact or near contact with the object or material;
taking at least one measurement of a reference standard with the protective implement applied to the measurement implement, wherein, as part of the measurement of the reference standard, light from at least one light source is provided to the reference standard via the protective implement and light returned from the reference standard is provided to a color measuring system via the protective implement;
taking at least one optical measurement of the object or material, wherein, as part of the optical measurement, light from the at least one light source is provided to the object or material via the protective implement and light returned from the object or material is provided to the color measuring system via the protective implement;
generating optical measurement output data indicative of the optical properties of the object or material, wherein the optical measurement output data is based on data from the measurement of the reference standard and data from the optical measurement.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Color/optical characteristics measuring systems and methods are disclosed. Perimeter receiver fiber optics/elements are spaced apart from a central source fiber optic/element and received light reflected from the surface of the object is measured. Light from the perimeter fiber optics pass to a variety of filters. The system utilizes the perimeter receiver fiber optics to determine information regarding the height and angle of the probe with respect to the object being measured. Under processor control, the color measurement may be made at a predetermined height and angle. Various color spectral photometer arrangements are disclosed. Translucency, fluorescence and/or surface texture data also may be obtained. Audio feedback may be provided to guide operator use of the system. The probe may have a removable or shielded tip for contamination prevention.
157 Citations
42 Claims
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1. A method of quantifying the optical properties of an object or material using a protective implement, comprising the steps of:
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applying the protective implement to a measurement implement, wherein the measurement implement having the protective implement is directable to come into contact or near contact with the object or material;
taking at least one measurement of a reference standard with the protective implement applied to the measurement implement, wherein, as part of the measurement of the reference standard, light from at least one light source is provided to the reference standard via the protective implement and light returned from the reference standard is provided to a color measuring system via the protective implement;
taking at least one optical measurement of the object or material, wherein, as part of the optical measurement, light from the at least one light source is provided to the object or material via the protective implement and light returned from the object or material is provided to the color measuring system via the protective implement;
generating optical measurement output data indicative of the optical properties of the object or material, wherein the optical measurement output data is based on data from the measurement of the reference standard and data from the optical measurement. - 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, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36)
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37. A method of quantifying the optical properties of an object or material using a protective implement, comprising the steps of:
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applying the protective implement to a measurement implement, wherein the measurement implement having the protective implement is directable to come into contact or near contact with the object or material;
taking at least one measurement of a reference standard, wherein, as part of the measurement of the reference standard, light from at least one light source is provided to the reference standard via the protective implement and light returned from the reference standard is provided to a color measuring system via the protective implement;
taking at least one optical measurement of the object or material, wherein, as part of the optical measurement, light from the at least one light source is provided to the object or material via the protective implement and light returned from the object or material is provided to the color measuring system via the protective implement;
generating optical measurement output data indicative of the optical properties of the object or material, wherein the optical measurement output data is based on data from the measurement of the reference standard and data from the optical measurement;
wherein a plurality of optical measurements are made, wherein the color measurement system includes at least a processor and a memory, wherein the method further comprises the steps of;
storing data resulting from the plurality of optical measurements in the memory;
analyzing the stored data resulting from the plurality of optical measurements with the processor, wherein the processor analyzes whether the measurement implement was moved with respect to the object or material between one or more of the plurality of optical measurements; and
based on the analysis of whether the measurement implement was moved with respect to the object or material, selectively generating the optical characteristics output data or rejecting the plurality of optical measurements. - View Dependent Claims (38, 39)
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40. A method of quantifying the optical properties of an object or material using a protective implement, comprising the steps of:
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applying the protective implement to a measurement implement, wherein the measurement implement having the protective implement is directable to come into contact or near contact with the object or material;
taking at least one measurement of a reference standard, wherein, as part of the measurement of the reference standard, light from at least one light source is provided to the reference standard via the protective implement and light returned from the reference standard is provided to a color measuring system via the protective implement;
taking at least one optical measurement of the object or material, wherein, as part of the optical measurement, light from the at least one light source is provided to the object or material via the protective implement and light returned from the object or material is provided to the color measuring system via the protective implement;
generating optical measurement output data indicative of the optical properties of the object or material, wherein the optical measurement output data is based on data from the measurement of the reference standard and data from the optical measurement;
wherein a plurality of optical measurements are made, wherein the color measurement system includes at least a processor and a memory, wherein the method further comprises the steps of;
storing data resulting from the plurality of optical measurements in the memory;
defining an acceptance range for values resulting from the optical measurements;
analyzing the stored data resulting from the plurality of optical measurements with the processor, wherein the processor produces measurement values from the stored data and analyzes whether the values resulting from the optical measurements are within the acceptance range; and
based on the analysis of whether the values resulting from the optical measurements are within the acceptance range, selectively generating optical characteristics output data or rejecting the plurality of optical measurements. - View Dependent Claims (41, 42)
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Specification