Gem identification method and apparatus using digital imaging viewer

• US 9,239,294 B2
• Filed: 08/30/2013
• Issued: 01/19/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 08/31/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Gemex Systems Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Gemex Systems Incorporated
• Inventors: Wagner, Randall, Zhao, Xianghong, Schoeckert, Kurt
• Primary Examiner(s): CHOI, WILLIAM C
• Application Number:
  US14/015,239
• Publication Number:
  US 20140063292A1
• Time in Patent Office: 872 Days
• Field of Search: 359/802, 359/811, 359/818, 359/819, 356/30
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/87 Investigating jewels G01N21/88 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/027 comprising magnifying means G02B27/023, G02B27/025, G02B27/04, G02B27/06 and G02B27/08 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/028 characterised by the supporting structure
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 7/026 using retaining rings or springs G02B7/027 takes precedence

Abstract

A system and an apparatus for capturing a digital image of a particular gemstone from which specific and unique data can be extracted using digital image processing analysis, which data is used to positively identify a single gemstone from a database of gemstone images.

Claims

1. A system for positively identifying a gemstone using an electronic communication device having a camera, the system comprising:

a gemstone viewer removably attached to the electronic communication device;

the gemstone viewer having a bottom plane and a viewer body coaxially aligned with the camera and extending from the bottom plane and terminating at a focusing plane;

a focusing glass attached to the viewer body at the focusing plane; and

a software application running on the electronic communication device facilitating capture of image data regarding the gemstone and thereafter processing the image data into comparative criteria and comparing the data of the gemstone against a database of previously collected data to determine whether a match exists between the image data and a gemstone data file residing in the database.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the viewer body is made of translucent material that causes diffuse ambient light to illuminate the gemstone when it is placed on the focusing glass.

3. A gemstone viewer for working with an electronic communication device having a camera lens, the gemstone viewer comprising:

a base, including a top plane and bottom plane spaced apart from each other by one or more adjoining side planes;

a viewer body, associated with the base;

a viewer lens connected to the viewer body; and

a focusing glass connected to the viewer body, with the viewer lens positioned between the focusing glass and the camera lens, based on a line of sight;

the focusing glass and the viewer lens being held at a sufficient distance from each other by the viewer body such that the camera lens is properly focused through the viewer lens to the surface of a gemstone when the surface of the gemstone is placed against the focusing glass.

4. The gemstone viewer of claim 3, wherein the viewer lens is connected to the viewer body generally coaxially aligned with but not contacting the camera lens.

5. The gemstone viewer of claim 3, wherein the top plane, bottom plane and one or more side planes arranged to make contact with the electronic communication device so as to removably secure the base to the electronic communication device primarily by friction and without applying additional pressure or mechanical means.