US3737239A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Machine color recognition
Assignee: F Hoffmann La Roche AG
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Filing: 1971-07-16
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Granted: 1973-06-05
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Expires: 1991-07-16
Abstract
Abstract Automatic cross-correlation specimen monitoring apparatus and method for identifying spectral reflectance characteristics of a specimen relative to a standard comprising: sensing reflectance values of the specimen at each of two or more overlapping bandwidths covering the spectrum, generating electrical output signals indicative of the reflectance values, modifying the signals with standard reference values one for each of the bandwidths, relating the modified and unmodified signals to generate a cross-correlation coefficient between the specimen reflectance values and the standard reference values, and comparing the cross-correlation coefficient with a preset value representative of a minimum deviation from the standard to quantitatively determine the similarity in spectral reflectance between the specimen and the standard.
Inventors
- 👤 J Adams
- 👤 W Grimmell
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 03:38
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01J; G01J3/00; G01J3/46; G01J3/50; G01J3/51; G01J3/513
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
179 words
Automatic cross-correlation apparatus for identifying a spectrum selected bandwidth characteristics of a specimen product relative to a standard comprising: means for sensing reflectance values of a specimen product at each of two or more overlapping bandwidths covering the spectrum and for generating separate electrical output signals for each of said bandwidths having a magnitude indicative of each of said reflectance values; means for forming a signal ratio of a signal ratio numerator to a signal ratio denominator for generating the cross-correlation coefficient between the standard and reference values; first modifying means having reference values derived from reflectance values of the standard for each of said bandwidths for respectively modifying said output signals with said reference values to generate the signal ratio numerator and to input said numerator to said signal ratio means second modifying means for receiving said separate electrical output signals and for generating a signal ratio denominator for inputting said denominator to said signal ratio means; and means coupled to said ratio forming means for comparing said cross-correlation coefficient with an optimum value representative of thE standard.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
179 words
Automatic cross-correlation apparatus for identifying a spectrum selected bandwidth characteristics of a specimen product relative to a standard comprising: means for sensing reflectance values of a specimen product at each of two or more overlapping bandwidths covering the spectrum and for generating separate electrical output signals for each of said bandwidths having a magnitude indicative of each of said reflectance values; means for forming a signal ratio of a signal ratio numerator to a signal ratio denominator for generating the cross-correlation coefficient between the standard and reference values; first modifying means having reference values derived from reflectance values of the standard for each of said bandwidths for respectively modifying said output signals with said reference values to generate the signal ratio numerator and to input said numerator to said signal ratio means second modifying means for receiving said separate electrical output signals and for generating a signal ratio denominator for inputting said denominator to said signal ratio means; and means coupled to said ratio forming means for comparing said cross-correlation coefficient with an optimum value representative of thE standard.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
32 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said ratio forming means includes: ratio means for relating said modified output signals to a nonlinear function of said output signals to provide the cross-correlation coefficient.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
30 words
Apparatus according to claim 2 wherein said first modifying means further includes: means for summing the respectively modified output signals to provide a first input to said signal ratio numerator.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
40 words
Apparatus according to claim 3 wherein said second modifying means further includes: means for generating the square root of the summed squares of said output signals to derive said nonlinear function of said output signals as said signal ratio denominator.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
29 words
Apparatus according to claim 4 wherein said first modifying means includes selectively preset impedance means for each bandwidth defining said reference values for multiplying the respective bandwidth output signals.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
174 words
Automatic cross-correlation apparatus for identifying in the visible spectrum selected bandwidth color characteristics of a specimen product relative to a standard comprising: means for optically determining reflectance values of a specimen product at each of two or more overlapping bandwidths covering the visible spectrum and for producing separate electrical output signals for each of said bandwidths indicative of each of said reflectance values; first modifying means having an impedance representing a reference value derived from reflectance values of the standard for each of said selected bandwidths, for modifying the respective output signals and summating the same to produce a first output signal; second modifying means for generating a second output signal representing a nonlinear function of said output signals means for forming a ratio of said first output signals to said second output signals for generating a cross-correlation coefficient between the specimen and standard reference value; and means for comparing the cross-correlation coefficient with a minimum optimum value representative of the standard to measure the variance of the specimen color from the standard color.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
174 words
Automatic cross-correlation apparatus for identifying in the visible spectrum selected bandwidth color characteristics of a specimen product relative to a standard comprising: means for optically determining reflectance values of a specimen product at each of two or more overlapping bandwidths covering the visible spectrum and for producing separate electrical output signals for each of said bandwidths indicative of each of said reflectance values; first modifying means having an impedance representing a reference value derived from reflectance values of the standard for each of said selected bandwidths, for modifying the respective output signals and summating the same to produce a first output signal; second modifying means for generating a second output signal representing a nonlinear function of said output signals means for forming a ratio of said first output signals to said second output signals for generating a cross-correlation coefficient between the specimen and standard reference value; and means for comparing the cross-correlation coefficient with a minimum optimum value representative of the standard to measure the variance of the specimen color from the standard color.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
25 words
Apparatus according to claim 6 wherein: said second modifying means includes means for taking the square root of the summed squares of said output signals.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
158 words
The method of identifying in the visible spectrum the color of a specimen product relative to a standard comprising the steps of: optically determining reflectance characteristics of a specimen product at each of two or more overlapping bandwidths covering the visible spectrum and generating electrical output signals indicative of the magnitude of said reflectance values; generating standard reference values derived from reflectance values of the standard for each of the selected bandwidths; modifying said output signals with their respective reference values and producing a combined first output signal; modifying said output signals by forming a nonlinear function of said signals for producing a second output signal; forming a cross-correlation coefficient between the reflectance values of the specimen and the standard reference values by relating the first output signal to the second output signal; and comparing the cross-correlation coefficient with an optimum value representative of the standard to measure the variance of the specimen color from the standard color.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
158 words
The method of identifying in the visible spectrum the color of a specimen product relative to a standard comprising the steps of: optically determining reflectance characteristics of a specimen product at each of two or more overlapping bandwidths covering the visible spectrum and generating electrical output signals indicative of the magnitude of said reflectance values; generating standard reference values derived from reflectance values of the standard for each of the selected bandwidths; modifying said output signals with their respective reference values and producing a combined first output signal; modifying said output signals by forming a nonlinear function of said signals for producing a second output signal; forming a cross-correlation coefficient between the reflectance values of the specimen and the standard reference values by relating the first output signal to the second output signal; and comparing the cross-correlation coefficient with an optimum value representative of the standard to measure the variance of the specimen color from the standard color.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
180 words
Automatic cross-correlation apparatus for identifying in a spectrum selected bandwidth characteristics of a specimen product relative to a standard comprising: means for sensing transmittance values of a specimen product at each of two or more overlapping bandwidths covering the spectrum and for generating separate electrical output signals for each of said bandwidths having a magnitude indicative of each of said transmittance values; means for forming a signal ratio of a signal ratio numerator to a signal ratio denominator for generating the cross-correlatIon coefficient between the standard and reference values; first modifying means having reference values derived from transmittance values of the standard for each of said bandwidths for respectively modifying said output signals with said reference values to generate the signal ratio numerator and to input said numerator to said signal ratio means; second modifying means for receiving said separate electrical output signals and for generating the signal ratio denominator for inputting said denominator to said signal ratio means; and means coupled to said ratio forming means for comparing said cross-correlation coefficient with an optimum value representative of the standard.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
180 words
Automatic cross-correlation apparatus for identifying in a spectrum selected bandwidth characteristics of a specimen product relative to a standard comprising: means for sensing transmittance values of a specimen product at each of two or more overlapping bandwidths covering the spectrum and for generating separate electrical output signals for each of said bandwidths having a magnitude indicative of each of said transmittance values; means for forming a signal ratio of a signal ratio numerator to a signal ratio denominator for generating the cross-correlatIon coefficient between the standard and reference values; first modifying means having reference values derived from transmittance values of the standard for each of said bandwidths for respectively modifying said output signals with said reference values to generate the signal ratio numerator and to input said numerator to said signal ratio means; second modifying means for receiving said separate electrical output signals and for generating the signal ratio denominator for inputting said denominator to said signal ratio means; and means coupled to said ratio forming means for comparing said cross-correlation coefficient with an optimum value representative of the standard.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
32 words
Apparatus according to claim 9 wherein said ratio forming means includes: ratio means for relating said modified output signals to a nonlinear function of said output signals to provide the cross-correlation coefficient.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
30 words
Apparatus according to claim 10 wherein said first modifying means further includes: means for summing the respectively modified output signals to provide a first input to said signal ratio numerator.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
40 words
Apparatus according to claim 11 wherein said second modifying means further includes: means for generating the square root of the summed squares of said output signals to derive said nonlinear function of said output signals as said signal ratio denominator.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
29 words
Apparatus according to claim 12 wherein said first modifying means includes selectively preset impedance means for each bandwidth defining said reference values for multiplying the respective bandwidth output signals.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
174 words
Automatic cross-correlation apparatus for identifying in the visible spectrum selected bandwidth color characteristics of a specimen product relative to a standard comprising: means for optically determining transmittance values of a specimen product at each of two or more overlapping bandwidths covering the visible spectrum and for producing separate electrical output signals for each of said bandwidths indicative of each of said transmittance values; first modifying means having an impedance represent a reference value derived from transmittance values of the standard for each of said selected bandwidths, for modifying the respective output signals and summating the same to produce a first output signal; second modifying means for generating a second output signal representing a nonlinear function of said output signals means for forming a ratio of said first output signals to said second output signals for generating a cross-correlation coefficient between the specimen and standard transmittance value; and means for comparing the cross-correlation coefficient with a minimum optimum value representative of the standard to measure the variance of the specimen color from the standard color.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
174 words
Automatic cross-correlation apparatus for identifying in the visible spectrum selected bandwidth color characteristics of a specimen product relative to a standard comprising: means for optically determining transmittance values of a specimen product at each of two or more overlapping bandwidths covering the visible spectrum and for producing separate electrical output signals for each of said bandwidths indicative of each of said transmittance values; first modifying means having an impedance represent a reference value derived from transmittance values of the standard for each of said selected bandwidths, for modifying the respective output signals and summating the same to produce a first output signal; second modifying means for generating a second output signal representing a nonlinear function of said output signals means for forming a ratio of said first output signals to said second output signals for generating a cross-correlation coefficient between the specimen and standard transmittance value; and means for comparing the cross-correlation coefficient with a minimum optimum value representative of the standard to measure the variance of the specimen color from the standard color.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
25 words
Apparatus according to claim 14 wherein: said second modifying means includes means for taking the square root of the summed squares of said output signals.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
158 words
The method of identifying in the visible spectrum the color of a specimen product relative to a standard comprising the steps of: optically determining transmittance characteristics of a specimen product at each of two or more overlapping bandwidths covering the visible spectrum and generating electrical output signals indicative of the magnitude of said transmittance values; generating standard reference values derived from transmittance values of the standard for each of the selected bandwidths; modifying said output signals with their respective transmittance values and producing a combined first output signal; modifying said output signals by forming a nonlinear function of said signals for producing a second output signal; forming a cross-correlation coefficient between the transmittance values of the specimen and the standard reference values by relating the first output signal to the second output signal; and comparing the cross-correlatiOn coefficient with an optimum value representative of the standard to measure the variance of the specimen color from the standard color.
Claim 22
Independent Claim
158 words
The method of identifying in the visible spectrum the color of a specimen product relative to a standard comprising the steps of: optically determining transmittance characteristics of a specimen product at each of two or more overlapping bandwidths covering the visible spectrum and generating electrical output signals indicative of the magnitude of said transmittance values; generating standard reference values derived from transmittance values of the standard for each of the selected bandwidths; modifying said output signals with their respective transmittance values and producing a combined first output signal; modifying said output signals by forming a nonlinear function of said signals for producing a second output signal; forming a cross-correlation coefficient between the transmittance values of the specimen and the standard reference values by relating the first output signal to the second output signal; and comparing the cross-correlatiOn coefficient with an optimum value representative of the standard to measure the variance of the specimen color from the standard color.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-06-04 | 1976-12-04 | 1977-06-05 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-06-04 | 1980-12-04 | 1981-06-05 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-06-04 | 1984-12-04 | 1985-06-05 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |