US3748046A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Measurement of reflection density
Assignee: Harris Graphics Corp
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Filing: 1971-12-13
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Granted: 1973-07-24
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Expires: 1991-12-13
Abstract
Abstract A density measuring system in which light is reflected from part of an image area to measure ink density of ink applied. This light is compared with a reference test patch and the ratio of the light reflected by the test patch is multiplied by another ratio which is the ratio of the light reflected from the test light patch to light reflected from the surface of paper to obtain the indication of ink density.
Inventors
- 👤 J Murray
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 00:08
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01J; G01J3/00; G01J3/46; G01J3/50
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 6
Claim 1
Independent Claim
306 words
In an apparatus for measuring density of ink printed onto material comprising means for sequentially directing light to a printed area of the printed material having ink thereon whose density is to be measured and to an unprinted reference area of the material to reflect light from the material and means for simultaneously with the directing of light to the printed area and to the unprinted reference area directing light to a standard area to reflect light therefrom, means for detecting the light reflected from the printed area to provide a color signal and for detecting the light reflected from the unprinted reference area to provide a reference signal and simultaneously with said detecting of the light from the printed area and from the unprinted test area detecting light reflected from the standard area and establishing signals in accordance with the detected reflections which have magnitudes which are dependent upon the amount of light reflected, first means connected to said detecting means for multiplying the signal derived from the printed area with The signal derived simultaneously from the standard area and establishing a first electrical signal which is a function of the ratio of the light reflected from the printed area to the light reflected from the standard area and for multiplying the signal derived from the unprinted reference area with the signal derived simultaneously from the standard area to establish a second signal which is a function of the ratio of the light reflected from the unprinted reference area to the light reflected from the standard area and second multiplying means connected to said first multiplying means for receiving and multiplying the first and second signals to provide a resultant which is a function of the ratio of the reflectance of the printed area to the unprinted area as a measure of the ink density.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
306 words
In an apparatus for measuring density of ink printed onto material comprising means for sequentially directing light to a printed area of the printed material having ink thereon whose density is to be measured and to an unprinted reference area of the material to reflect light from the material and means for simultaneously with the directing of light to the printed area and to the unprinted reference area directing light to a standard area to reflect light therefrom, means for detecting the light reflected from the printed area to provide a color signal and for detecting the light reflected from the unprinted reference area to provide a reference signal and simultaneously with said detecting of the light from the printed area and from the unprinted test area detecting light reflected from the standard area and establishing signals in accordance with the detected reflections which have magnitudes which are dependent upon the amount of light reflected, first means connected to said detecting means for multiplying the signal derived from the printed area with The signal derived simultaneously from the standard area and establishing a first electrical signal which is a function of the ratio of the light reflected from the printed area to the light reflected from the standard area and for multiplying the signal derived from the unprinted reference area with the signal derived simultaneously from the standard area to establish a second signal which is a function of the ratio of the light reflected from the unprinted reference area to the light reflected from the standard area and second multiplying means connected to said first multiplying means for receiving and multiplying the first and second signals to provide a resultant which is a function of the ratio of the reflectance of the printed area to the unprinted area as a measure of the ink density.
Claim 3
Independent Claim
263 words
A method of measuring density of ink printed onto material comprising the steps of sequentially directing light to a printed area of the printed material having the ink thereon whose density is to be measured and to an unprinted reference area of the material to reflect light from the material, simultaneously with the directing of light to the printed area and to the unprinted reference area directing light to a standard area to reflect light therefrom, detecting the light reflected from the printed area to provide a color signal, detecting the light reflected from the unprinted reference area to provide a reference signal and simultaneously with said detecting of the light from the printed area and from the unprinted area detecting light reflected from the standard area and establishing signals in accordance with the detected reflections which have magnitudes which are dependent upon the amount of light reflected, combining the signal from the printed area with the signal obtained simultaneously from the standard area to provide a first electrical signal which is a function of the ratio of one to the other, combining the signal from the unprinted reference area with the signal obtained simultaneously from the reference area to provide a second electrical signal which is a function of the ratio of one to the other, and operating on said first and second signals to provide a resultant signal which is a function of the ratio of the reflectance of the printed area and the unprinted reference area as a measure of the ink density of the ink printed onto the material.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
263 words
A method of measuring density of ink printed onto material comprising the steps of sequentially directing light to a printed area of the printed material having the ink thereon whose density is to be measured and to an unprinted reference area of the material to reflect light from the material, simultaneously with the directing of light to the printed area and to the unprinted reference area directing light to a standard area to reflect light therefrom, detecting the light reflected from the printed area to provide a color signal, detecting the light reflected from the unprinted reference area to provide a reference signal and simultaneously with said detecting of the light from the printed area and from the unprinted area detecting light reflected from the standard area and establishing signals in accordance with the detected reflections which have magnitudes which are dependent upon the amount of light reflected, combining the signal from the printed area with the signal obtained simultaneously from the standard area to provide a first electrical signal which is a function of the ratio of one to the other, combining the signal from the unprinted reference area with the signal obtained simultaneously from the reference area to provide a second electrical signal which is a function of the ratio of one to the other, and operating on said first and second signals to provide a resultant signal which is a function of the ratio of the reflectance of the printed area and the unprinted reference area as a measure of the ink density of the ink printed onto the material.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
280 words
In an apparatus for measuring density of ink printed onto material comprising means for sequentially directing light from a light source to a printed area of the printed material having ink thereon whose density is to be measured and to an unprinted reference area of the material to reflect light from the material, first means for detecting the light reflected from the printed area to provide a color signal and for detecting the light reflected from the unprinted reference area to provide a reference signal, means for providing a standard signal simultaneously with providing said color signal and including second light detecting means for receiving light directed from said light directing means in such a manner that the received light varies in intensity essentially only in dependence upon the characteristics of the light source and providing a standard signal in accordance with the said amount of light received, first multiplying means connected to said first and second detecting means for multiplying the signal derived from the printed area with the simultaneously derived standard signal and establishing a first electrical signal which is a function of the ratio of the color signal to the standard signal and for multiplying the signal derived from the unprinted reference area with the simultaneously derived standard signal to establish a second signal which is a function of the ratio of the reference signal to the standard signal, and second multiplying means connected to said first multiplying means for receiving and multiplying the first and second signals to provide a resultant which is a function of the ratio oF the reflectance of the printed area to the unprinted area as a measure of the ink density.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
280 words
In an apparatus for measuring density of ink printed onto material comprising means for sequentially directing light from a light source to a printed area of the printed material having ink thereon whose density is to be measured and to an unprinted reference area of the material to reflect light from the material, first means for detecting the light reflected from the printed area to provide a color signal and for detecting the light reflected from the unprinted reference area to provide a reference signal, means for providing a standard signal simultaneously with providing said color signal and including second light detecting means for receiving light directed from said light directing means in such a manner that the received light varies in intensity essentially only in dependence upon the characteristics of the light source and providing a standard signal in accordance with the said amount of light received, first multiplying means connected to said first and second detecting means for multiplying the signal derived from the printed area with the simultaneously derived standard signal and establishing a first electrical signal which is a function of the ratio of the color signal to the standard signal and for multiplying the signal derived from the unprinted reference area with the simultaneously derived standard signal to establish a second signal which is a function of the ratio of the reference signal to the standard signal, and second multiplying means connected to said first multiplying means for receiving and multiplying the first and second signals to provide a resultant which is a function of the ratio oF the reflectance of the printed area to the unprinted area as a measure of the ink density.
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) | 1976-07-23 | 1977-01-22 | 1977-07-24 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-07-23 | 1981-01-22 | 1981-07-24 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-07-23 | 1985-01-22 | 1985-07-24 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |