Colorimeter

• US 7,391,514 B2
• Filed: 09/14/2006
• Issued: 06/24/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 09/21/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Datacolor AG Europe (Datacolor AG)
• Original Assignee: Datacolor Holding AG
• Inventors: Gonzales, Leonardo C. II, Merle, Cormic K.
• Primary Examiner(s): LAUCHMAN, LAYLA G
• Application Number:
  US11/521,036
• Publication Number:
  US 20070008535A1
• Time in Patent Office: 649 Days
• Field of Search: 356/402, 356/405, 356/406, 356/419, 348/189, 348/191, 348/180
• US Class Current: 356/405
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/02 Details
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/0291 Housings; Spectrometer accessories; Spatial arrangement of elements, e.g. folded path arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/46 Measurement of colour; Colour measuring devices, e.g. colorimeters measuring colour temperature G01J5/60
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/50 using electric radiation detectors

Abstract

A calorimeter for measuring a color of light includes a color sensing device, a suspension means and a counterweight. The suspension means suspends the color sensing device in an operative relationship relative to a color producing device, while the counterweight is secured to the suspension means and balances the color sensing device in the operative relationship relative to the color producing device.

Claims

1. A calorimeter for measuring a color of light, comprising:

a color sensing device;

a suspension means, for suspending the color sensing device in an operative relationship relative to a color producing device; and

a counterweight secured to the suspension means, for balancing the color sensing device in the operative relationship relative to the color producing device.

2. The calorimeter of claim 1, wherein the color sensing device is secured to the suspension means via a dock.

3. The colorimeter of claim 1, wherein the suspension means comprises a flexible material.

4. The calorimeter of claim 3, wherein the flexible material is at least one of:

string, ribbon, flexible plastic or rubber.

5. The calorimeter of claim 3, wherein the suspension means comprises a rigid material.

6. The colorimeter of claim 1, wherein the suspension means comprises:

a first end secured to the color sensing device; and

a second end secured to the counterweight.

7. The colorimeter of claim 1, wherein a mass of the counterweight is approximately equal to a mass of the color sensing device.

8. The colorimeter of claim 1, further comprising:

a suspension device for securing the suspension means to the color producing device.

9. The colorimeter of claim 1, wherein the suspension means is adjustable to vary a vertical position of the color sensing device with respect to the color producing device.

10. The calorimeter of claim 1, wherein the color sensing device further comprises:

means for reducing color distortion on the color producing device when the color sensing device is positioned in the operative relationship relative to the color producing device.

11. A method for measuring a color of light, comprising:

suspending a color sensing device in an operative relationship relative to a color producing device, by securing the color sensing device to a suspension means; and

balancing the color sensing device in the operative relationship relative to the color producing device, using a counterweight secured to the suspension means.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the suspending comprises:

securing the color sensing device to the suspension means via a dock.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the suspension means comprises a flexible material.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the flexible material is at least one of:

string, ribbon, flexible plastic or rubber.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the suspension means comprises a rigid material.

16. The method of claim 11, wherein the suspension means comprises:

a first end secured to the color sensing device; and

a second end secured to the counterweight.

17. The method of claim 11, wherein a mass of the counterweight is approximately equal to a mass of the color sensing device.

18. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

securing the suspension means to the color producing device.

19. The method of claim 11, wherein the suspension means is adjustable to vary a vertical position of the color sensing device with respect to the color producing device.

20. The method of claim 11, wherein the color sensing device further comprises:

means for reducing color distortion on the color producing device when the color sensing device is positioned in the operative relationship relative to the color producing device.