Tristimulus colorimeter having integral dye filters

• US 7,593,105 B2
• Filed: 11/16/2005
• Issued: 09/22/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 11/17/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Datacolor Holding AG
• Original Assignee: Datacolor Holding AG
• Inventors: Slocum, David, Shannon, Colman, Levey, Brian
• Primary Examiner(s): Geisel; Kara E
• Application Number:
  US11/281,152
• Publication Number:
  US 20060119849A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,406 Days
• Field of Search: 356/419
• US Class Current: 356/419
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 1/0214 Constructional arrangements for removing stray light
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 1/0488 with spectral filtering
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 1/4204 with determination of ambient light solar light G01J2001/4266
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 1/4228 arrangements with two or more detectors, e.g. for sensitivity compensation
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 2001/4247 for testing lamps or other light sources
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 2003/1213 Filters in general, e.g. dichroic, band
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/02 Details
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/0256 Compact construction
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/0262 Constructional arrangements for removing stray light
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/10 Arrangements of light sources specially adapted for spectrometry or colorimetry
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/465 taking into account the colour perception of the eye; using tristimulus detection
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/50 using electric radiation detectors
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/505 measuring the colour produced by lighting fixtures other than screens, monitors, displays or CRTs
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/506 measuring the colour produced by screens, monitors, displays or CRTs
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/51 using colour filters
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/513 having fixed filter-detector pairs

Abstract

A tristimulus colorimeter on a single semiconductor chip having at least three detectors, each detector being coated by colorant filters, each filter having at least one layer and at least one filter having a double layer is provided. The colorimeter determines CIE tristimulus values of an incident light from inputs to the filters and detectors. Colorimeters having integral dye filters may be constructed on a single silicon chip embodying all the detectors and electronics, coated over each detector by a deposited filter layer. Colorants may be directly deposited on the detectors, rather than using a plastic substrate for a filter.

Claims

1. A colorimeter, comprising:

a semiconductor substrate having at least four photodetectors;

at least four filters permanently deposited on the at least four photodetectors, one of the at least four filters having a double layer and three of the at least four filters having single layers, wherein the double layer is cyan and magenta and the single layers are red, green, and yellow; and

a plurality of channels including the at least four photodetectors and the at least four filters so that linear combinations of a plurality of spectral responses of the channels approximate a set of CIE-like target color-matching functions.

3. The colorimeter of claim 1, further comprising:

a processor for selecting the plurality of channels from among a set of potential channels so that linear combinations of the plurality of spectral responses approximate the set of CIE-like target color-matching functions.

2. A colorimeter, comprising:

a semiconductor substrate having four photodetectors;

at least four filters permanently deposited on the four photodetectors, wherein at least two of the at least four filters include double colorant layers and at least two of the at least four filters include single colorant layers; and

a plurality of channels including the four photodetectors and the at least four filters so that linear combinations of a plurality of spectral responses of the channels approximate a set of CIE-like target color-matching functions.

4. The colorimeter of claim 2, further comprising:

a processor for selecting the plurality of channels from among a set of potential channels so that linear combinations of the plurality of spectral responses approximate the set of CIE-like target color-matching functions.