Patent EP0315938A2 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
EP0315938A2
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Real-time color comparator
Assignee: Honeywell Inc
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Filing: 1988-11-08
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2008-11-08
Abstract
Abstract In a real-time color comparator which performs color comparisons of sample objects to a reference color for the purpose of identification, sorting or matching two optical paths (15, 16) are positioned to collect the light from a reference object (12) and a sample object (11). The light outputs from the two paths are directed onto a spectral dispersive element in the form of a concave diffraction grating (20) that decomposes each light signal into its spectral constituents which are imaged on a dual photodetector array (30). The color signature from the reference and the color signature from the sample are compared.
Inventors
- 👤 Charles T. Sullivan
- 👤 David J. Zook
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 15:23
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01J; G01J3/00; G01J3/02; G01J3/0205; G01J3/0218; G01J3/0221; G01J3/28; G01J3/2803; G01J3/46; G01J3/50; G01J3/502; G01J2003/466; G01J3/463; G01N; G01N21/00; G01N21/17; G01N2021/1748; G01N2201/00; G01N2201/08
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
245 words
Color comparing apparatus, characterized by: a) first optical path means (16) having an input end and an output end, said input end being adapted to collect and transmit the color of a reference object (12) to said output end; b) second optical path means (15) having an input end and an output end, said input end being adapted to collect and transmit the color of a sample object (11) to said output end; c) a photodetector array (30), comprising a reference linear array of photodetectors (R) and a sample linear array of photodetectors (S); d) spectral dispersive element means (20) for imaging and spectral dispersion of the output end color emanations of said first and second optical paths (16, 15) onto said photodetector array (30); e) means positioning said first optical path means (16) output end to direct reference light emanating therefrom to said spectral dispersive element means (20); f) means positioning said second optical path means (15) output end to direct sample light emanating therefrom to said spectral dispersive element means (20); and g) the reference diffracted light from said spectral dispersive element means (20) being directed onto said reference linear array of photodetectors and the sample diffracted light from said spectral dispersive element means being directed onto said sample linear array of photodetectors, said reference array and sample array of photodetectors producing a plurality of light intensity signals representative of the spectral distribution of the reference object color and the sample object color.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
245 words
Color comparing apparatus, characterized by: a) first optical path means (16) having an input end and an output end, said input end being adapted to collect and transmit the color of a reference object (12) to said output end; b) second optical path means (15) having an input end and an output end, said input end being adapted to collect and transmit the color of a sample object (11) to said output end; c) a photodetector array (30), comprising a reference linear array of photodetectors (R) and a sample linear array of photodetectors (S); d) spectral dispersive element means (20) for imaging and spectral dispersion of the output end color emanations of said first and second optical paths (16, 15) onto said photodetector array (30); e) means positioning said first optical path means (16) output end to direct reference light emanating therefrom to said spectral dispersive element means (20); f) means positioning said second optical path means (15) output end to direct sample light emanating therefrom to said spectral dispersive element means (20); and g) the reference diffracted light from said spectral dispersive element means (20) being directed onto said reference linear array of photodetectors and the sample diffracted light from said spectral dispersive element means being directed onto said sample linear array of photodetectors, said reference array and sample array of photodetectors producing a plurality of light intensity signals representative of the spectral distribution of the reference object color and the sample object color.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
48 words
Apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that said photodetector array (30) has a plurality of linear apertures (41-43), with one of said reference photodetectors (R) and one of said sample photodetectors (S) of said reference linear array and of said sample linear array located behind each aperture.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
50 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by comparator means for simultaneously receiving the plurality of light intensity signals from the reference linear array (R) and from the sample linear array (S) and subtracting said signals to get a difference between reference and sample for direct spectral component comparison.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
47 words
Apparatus according to claim 1, 2 or 3, characterized in that said spectral dispersive element means (20) is in the form of a single concave diffraction grating which has a reference area (25-26) and a sample area (22-23) separated from one another on the concave diffraction grating.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
137 words
Apparatus according to claim 4, characterized by : a) means positioning said first optical path means (16) output end to direct reference light emanating therefrom to said grating reference area (25-26); b) means positioning said second optical path means (15) output end to direct sample light emanating therefrom to said grating sample area (22-23); and c) the reference diffracted light from said grating reference area (25-26) being directed onto said reference linear array of photodetectors (R) from a first solid angle and the sample diffracted light from said grating sample area (22-23) being directed onto said sample linear array of photodetectors (S) from a different solid angle, said reference array and sample array of photodetectors producing a plurality of light intensity signals representative of the spectral distribution of the reference object color and the sample object color.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
32 words
Apparatus according to claim 5, characterized in that: said photodetector array (20) has a reference linear array (25-26) of photodetectors (R) and adjacent thereto a sample linear array (22-23) of photodetectors (S).
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
77 words
Apparatus according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said means directing diffracted light from said reference area (25-26) onto said reference linear array (R) and directing diffracted light from said sample area (22-23) onto said sample linear array (S) comprises a plurality of linear apertures (41-43) with one of said reference photodetectors (R) and one of said sample photodetectors (S) of said reference linear array and of said sample linear array behind each aperture.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
104 words
Apparatus according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the output ends of said first (16) and second (15) optical path means are placed in close proximity to each other and oriented such that the axis n R of the light cone (21) emanating from the first optical path means (16) is oriented at an angle ψ with respect to the axis n S of the light cone (24) emanating from the second optical path means (15) such that ψ≧ 2φ, where φ is the far-field half-angle encompassing the cone of light diffracting about each axis n R and n S .
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
27 words
Apparatus according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said first and second optical path means (16, 15) comprise first and second optical fibers respectively.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
78 words
Apparatus according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by : means (41-43) focussing diffracted light from said reference area (25-26) onto said reference linear array of photodetectors (R) and focussing diffracted light from said sample area (22-23) onto said sample linear array of photodetectors (S), said reference array and sample array of photodetectors producing a plurality of light intensity signals representative of the spectral distribution of the reference object (12) color and the sample object (11) color.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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