Apparatus and method for camera-based color measurements
First Claim
1. A method comprising:
- disposing a material between a filter and a plurality of backings, each backing comprising a different color;
receiving light from a plurality of sections of the material at a digital imaging device, each section disposed over a different one of the backings, the light comprising a defocused image of the material, the light in the defocused image comprising an average light from the material;
filtering the light into at least three spectral bands using the filter, wherein different regions of the filter pass different spectral bands, the different regions of the filter arranged in a matrix having a plurality of rows and a plurality of columns;
measuring the light in each of the spectral bands, wherein the light in each spectral band comprises a portion of the average light from the material falling within that spectral band; and
determining at least one colorimetric quantity associated with the material using the measured light in the spectral bands, the at least one colorimetric quantity comprising at least one CIE value.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method includes receiving light from a material at a digital imaging device. The method also includes filtering the light into at least three spectral bands using a filter, where different regions of the filter pass different spectral bands. The method further includes measuring the light in each of the spectral bands and determining at least one color associated with the material using the measured light in the spectral bands. The different regions of the filter could include multiple masks (where each mask passes one of the spectral bands), different areas of a linear variable filter, and/or individual filters (where each individual filter passes one of the spectral bands). The digital imaging device could include a digital camera. The filter could be formed on a detector in the digital camera, and/or a component of the digital camera could be replaced with the filter.
85 Citations
22 Claims
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1. A method comprising:
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disposing a material between a filter and a plurality of backings, each backing comprising a different color; receiving light from a plurality of sections of the material at a digital imaging device, each section disposed over a different one of the backings, the light comprising a defocused image of the material, the light in the defocused image comprising an average light from the material; filtering the light into at least three spectral bands using the filter, wherein different regions of the filter pass different spectral bands, the different regions of the filter arranged in a matrix having a plurality of rows and a plurality of columns; measuring the light in each of the spectral bands, wherein the light in each spectral band comprises a portion of the average light from the material falling within that spectral band; and determining at least one colorimetric quantity associated with the material using the measured light in the spectral bands, the at least one colorimetric quantity comprising at least one CIE value. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. An apparatus comprising:
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a filter configured to receive light associated with a plurality of sections of a material and to filter the light into at least three spectral bands, different regions of the filter configured to pass different spectral bands, the different regions of the filter arranged in a matrix having a plurality of rows and a plurality of columns; a plurality of backings disposed on a side of the material opposite the filter, each backing comprising a different color, each backing associated with a different one of the sections of the material; a detector configured to generate a measurement of the light in each of the spectral bands; and an interface configured to output the measurements for use in determining at least one colorimetric quantity associated with the material, the at least one colorimetric quantity comprising at least one CIE value; wherein the filter is configured to receive light comprising a defocused image of the material, the light in the defocused image comprising an average light from the material; and wherein the detector is configured to measure the light in each of the spectral bands, wherein the light in each spectral band comprises a portion of the average light from the material falling within that spectral band. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A system comprising:
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an illumination source configured to illuminate a material having a plurality of sections; a plurality of backings disposed in proximity of a first side of the material, each backing comprising a different color, each backing associated with a different one of the sections of the material; and a color sensor comprising; a filter disposed on a second side of the material opposite the first side, the filter configured to receive light associated with each of the sections of the material and to filter the light into at least three spectral bands, different regions of the filter configured to pass different spectral bands, the different regions of the filter arranged in a matrix having a plurality of rows and a plurality of columns; a detector configured to generate a measurement of the light in each of the spectral bands; and an interface configured to output the measurements for use in determining at least one colorimetric quantity associated with the material, the at least one colorimetric quantity comprising at least one CIE value; wherein the filter is configured to receive light comprising a defocused image of the material, the light in the defocused image comprising an average light from the material; and wherein the detector is configured to measure the light in each of the spectral bands, wherein the light in each spectral band comprises a portion of the average light from the material falling within that spectral band. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22)
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Specification