Method and apparatus for approving color samples

• US 8,482,762 B2
• Filed: 10/09/2008
• Issued: 07/09/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 04/26/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Archroma IP GmbH
• Original Assignee: Clariant Finance (Bvi) Limited
• Inventors: Agarwal, Niraj
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Madelein A
• Application Number:
  US12/248,457
• Publication Number:
  US 20090097736A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,734 Days
• Field of Search: 358/1.15, 358/1.13, 358/1.16, 358/518, 358/530, 358/1.9, 705/27, 382/167
• US Class Current: 358/1.15
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/524 Calibration of colorimeters
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions

Abstract

A color approval system that facilitates the use of electronic color submissions. The electronic color submissions contain reflectance values for a physical color sample to be submitted for approval. The system includes a data storage area accessible by a submitter of the electronic color sample and a reviewer of the color sample. The submitter upload the submission to the data storage area, from which the reviewer retrieves the submission and replies with an acceptance or rejection, typically via e-mail. The system provides tools for the analysis of the electronic color sample and automatic formation of acceptances and rejections.

Claims

1. A method for approving or rejecting the color of an article, the method comprising the steps of:

developing or selecting an electronic color standard for the article;

developing color tolerances for the article;

storing the electronic color standard and color tolerances in a central database;

requesting an electronic color submission from at least one vendor;

receiving the electronic color submission from the at least one vendor;

analyzing the electronic color submission from the at least one vendor with software tools;

comparing the electronic color submission from the at least one vendor to the electronic color standard and the color tolerances stored in the central database by comparing one or more reflectance values for the electronic color submission from the at least one vendor with one or more reflectance values for the electronic color standard stored in the central database, identifying any differences between such values, displaying any differences between the reflectance values of the electronic color submission from the at least one vendor and the electronic color standard stored in the central database, comparing the electronic color submission from the at least one vendor with the electronic color standard stored in the central database by generating a CIE a*-b* plot for the electronic color submission from the at least one vendor and the electronic color standard stored in the central database, and identifying any deviances in such a plot, and displaying the CIE a*-b* plot of the electronic color submission from the at least one vendor and the electronic color standard stored in the central database, as well as any deviances in such a plot without the use of artificial intelligence;

determining an approval or rejection status of the electronic color submission from the at least one vendor based on the comparison of the electronic color submission to the electronic color standard and the color tolerances stored in the central database;

preparing a response to the electronic color submission from the at least one vendor;

recording the response to the electronic color submission from the at least one vendor in the central database; and

electronically sending the response to the electronic color submission of the at least one vendor to the at least one vendor.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the response to the electronic color submission from the at least one vendor further includes at least one recommendation for correcting the color of the article.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of developing the electronic color standard from a physical color standard.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein analyzing the electronic color submission from the at least one vendor comprises simulating the appearance of the electronic color submission under a plurality of lights.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein analyzing the electronic color submission from the at least one vendor comprises simulating the appearance of the electronic color submission on one or more textures.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of

comparing the electronic color submission from the at least one vendor with the electronic color standard stored in the central database further comprises the step of calculating a color difference for the electronic color submission from the at least one vendor and the electronic color standard stored in the central database with a color difference equation.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the color difference equation is at least one of CIELAB DE and DE_cmc.