Apparatus and method for measuring optical characteristics of an object
First Claim
1. A system for applying pigment to a substrate, comprising:
- a spectrophotometer integral to the system supplying light to the substrate and receiving light from the substrate, wherein light received from the substrate is spectrally analyzed by a spectrometer;
one or more pigment dischargers integral to the system, wherein the one or more pigment dischargers apply one or more pigments to the substrate;
wherein, the spectrometer spectrally analyzes the one or more pigments applied to the substrate;
wherein the spectrometer comprises;
an optical sensing circuit having a plurality of optical sensors and one or more processing elements;
a plurality of filter elements fixedly positioned with respect to at least a first group of the optical sensors, wherein each of the plurality of filter elements have spectral transmission characteristics over predetermined wavelengths;
an optical manifold fixedly positioned with respect to the plurality of filter elements, wherein the optical manifold has a plurality of exit windows and at least one entrance port, wherein light entering the entrance port is transmitted to an interior portion of the optical manifold, wherein at least a portion of the light is transmitted from the exit ports through at least certain of the filter elements for sensing by at least certain of the optical sensors;
wherein light may be coupled from the substrate to the entrance port, wherein spectral data corresponding to the light is generated by the one or more processing elements, wherein the spectrometer is fabricated in a unitary manner.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system for applying pigment to a substrate includes a spectrophotometer integral to the system. Light received from the substrate is spectrally analyzed by a spectrometer. One or more pigment discharges apply one or more pigments to the substrate. The spectrometer spectrally analyzes the one or more pigments applied to the substrate. The spectrometer includes an optical sensing circuit having thereon a plurality of optical sensors and one or more processing elements. A plurality of filter elements are fixedly positioned over at least a first group of the optical sensors, and an optical manifold having a plurality of exit windows and at least one entrance port is fixedly positioned with respect to the plurality of filter elements.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A system for applying pigment to a substrate, comprising:
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a spectrophotometer integral to the system supplying light to the substrate and receiving light from the substrate, wherein light received from the substrate is spectrally analyzed by a spectrometer; one or more pigment dischargers integral to the system, wherein the one or more pigment dischargers apply one or more pigments to the substrate; wherein, the spectrometer spectrally analyzes the one or more pigments applied to the substrate; wherein the spectrometer comprises; an optical sensing circuit having a plurality of optical sensors and one or more processing elements; a plurality of filter elements fixedly positioned with respect to at least a first group of the optical sensors, wherein each of the plurality of filter elements have spectral transmission characteristics over predetermined wavelengths; an optical manifold fixedly positioned with respect to the plurality of filter elements, wherein the optical manifold has a plurality of exit windows and at least one entrance port, wherein light entering the entrance port is transmitted to an interior portion of the optical manifold, wherein at least a portion of the light is transmitted from the exit ports through at least certain of the filter elements for sensing by at least certain of the optical sensors; wherein light may be coupled from the substrate to the entrance port, wherein spectral data corresponding to the light is generated by the one or more processing elements, wherein the spectrometer is fabricated in a unitary manner. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A system for applying pigment to a substrate, comprising:
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a spectrophotometer integral to the system supplying light to the substrate and receiving light from the substrate, wherein the light received from the substrate is spectrally analyzed by a spectrometer; one or more pigment dischargers integral to the system, wherein the one or more pigment dischargers apply one or more pigments to the substrate; wherein, the spectrometer spectrally analyzes the substrate at one or more points on the substrate not having pigments applied thereto; wherein the spectrometer comprises; an optical sensing circuit having a plurality of optical sensors and one or more processing elements; a plurality of filter elements fixedly positioned with respect to at least a first group of the optical sensors, wherein each of the plurality of filter elements have spectral transmission characteristics over predetermined wavelengths; an optical manifold fixedly positioned with respect to the plurality of filter elements, wherein the optical manifold has a plurality of exit windows and at least one entrance port, wherein light entering the entrance port is transmitted to an interior portion of the optical manifold, wherein at least a portion of the light is transmitted from the exit ports through at least certain of the filter elements for sensing by at least certain of the optical sensors; wherein light may be coupled from the substrate to the entrance port, wherein spectral data corresponding to the light is generated by the one or more processing elements, wherein the spectrometer is fabricated in a unitary manner. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
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Specification