Imaging color sensor

Claim 1

A method of measuring the color of a sample, said method comprising the steps of: illuminating the sample with light; collecting at least a portion of the light reflected from said sample; transforming the collected light reflected from said sample into a three-color digital image; and transforming the three-color digital image of said sample into a reflectance compensated three-color digital image and including the step of illumination compensating the three-color digital image.

Claim 2

A method of measuring the color of a sample, said method comprising the steps of: illuminating the sample with light; collecting at least a portion of the light reflected from said sample; transforming the collected light reflected from said sample into a three-color digital image; and transforming the three-color digital image of said sample into a reflectance compensated three-color digital image and including the step of illumination compensating the three-color digital image.

Claim 7

A method of measuring the color of a sample, said sample comprising at least one substantially cylindrically-shaped sample, said method comprising the steps of: illuminating the sample with light; collecting at least a portion of the light reflected from said sample; transforming the collected light reflected from said sample into a three-color digital image; and transforming the three-color digital image of said sample into a reflectance compensated three-color digital image and including the step of transforming the three-color digital image into a monochrome intensity digital image.

Claim 8

A method of measuring the color of a sample, said sample comprising at least one substantially cylindrically-shaped sample, said method comprising the steps of: illuminating the sample with light; collecting at least a portion of the light reflected from said sample; transforming the collected light reflected from said sample into a three-color digital image; and transforming the three-color digital image of said sample into a reflectance compensated three-color digital image and including the step of transforming the three-color digital image into a monochrome intensity digital image.

Claim 10

A method of measuring the color of a sample, said method comprising the illuminating the sample with light; collecting at least a portion of the light reflected from said sample; transforming the collected light reflected from said sample into three-color digital image; transforming the three-color digital image of said sample into a reflectance compensated three-color digital image; transforming the reflectance compensated three-color digital image into at least one three-color color signal for said sample; and transforming the at least one three-color color signal for said sample into an XYZ color signal for said sample.

Claim 11

A method of measuring the color of a sample, said method comprising the illuminating the sample with light; collecting at least a portion of the light reflected from said sample; transforming the collected light reflected from said sample into three-color digital image; transforming the three-color digital image of said sample into a reflectance compensated three-color digital image; transforming the reflectance compensated three-color digital image into at least one three-color color signal for said sample; and transforming the at least one three-color color signal for said sample into an XYZ color signal for said sample.

Claim 12

The method of claims 8, wherein the step of transforming the three-color color signal into an XYZ color signal includes the step of calibrating the last-recited transformation using at least one three-color digital image produced for at least one standard sample having at least one known color on its surface.

Claim 13

A method of measuring the color of a sample having pre-determined geometric features, said method comprising the steps of: illuminating the sample with light; collecting at least a portion of the light reflected from said sample; transforming the collected light reflected from said sample into a three-color digital image; and detecting the three-color color signal values in the three-color digital image corresponding to the predetermined geometric features of said sample.

Claim 14

A method of measuring the color of a sample having pre-determined geometric features, said method comprising the steps of: illuminating the sample with light; collecting at least a portion of the light reflected from said sample; transforming the collected light reflected from said sample into a three-color digital image; and detecting the three-color color signal values in the three-color digital image corresponding to the predetermined geometric features of said sample.

Claim 17

A device for measuring the color of a nonplanar sample comprising: a three-color camera for transforming light received by said camera into electrical signals providing color information, said camera being positioned with respect to said sample to receive at least a portion of any light reflected by said nonplanar sample; a signal processor, coupled to said three-color camera, for processing the electrical signals produced by said camera to obtain the color information about said nonplanar sample embedded in the electrical signals; said signal processor comprising: a frame grabber for transforming the electrical signals into a three-color digital image; and a digital image processor, coupled to said frame grabber, for transforming the three-color digital image into at least one three-color color signal for said nonplanar sample.

Claim 18

A device for measuring the color of a nonplanar sample comprising: a three-color camera for transforming light received by said camera into electrical signals providing color information, said camera being positioned with respect to said sample to receive at least a portion of any light reflected by said nonplanar sample; a signal processor, coupled to said three-color camera, for processing the electrical signals produced by said camera to obtain the color information about said nonplanar sample embedded in the electrical signals; said signal processor comprising: a frame grabber for transforming the electrical signals into a three-color digital image; and a digital image processor, coupled to said frame grabber, for transforming the three-color digital image into at least one three-color color signal for said nonplanar sample.

Claim 22

A device for measuring the color of a nonplanar sample, said sample comprising at least one substantially cylindrical strand, said strand having a longitudinal axis, said device comprising: a three-color camera for transforming light received by said camera into electrical signals providing color information, said camera being positioned with respect to said sample to receive at least a portion of any light reflected by said nonplanar sample; said camera being oriented with respect to said strand so as to receive light having a path of reflection from said strand along a line oriented at a substantially predetermined angle with respect to the longitudinal axis of said strand, the substantially predetermined angle being approximately 45°; and a signal processor, coupled to said three-color camera, for processing the electrical signals produced by said camera to obtain the color information about said nonplanar sample embedded in the electrical signals.

Claim 23

A device for measuring the color of a nonplanar sample, said sample comprising at least one substantially cylindrical strand, said strand having a longitudinal axis, said device comprising: a three-color camera for transforming light received by said camera into electrical signals providing color information, said camera being positioned with respect to said sample to receive at least a portion of any light reflected by said nonplanar sample; said camera being oriented with respect to said strand so as to receive light having a path of reflection from said strand along a line oriented at a substantially predetermined angle with respect to the longitudinal axis of said strand, the substantially predetermined angle being approximately 45°; and a signal processor, coupled to said three-color camera, for processing the electrical signals produced by said camera to obtain the color information about said nonplanar sample embedded in the electrical signals.

Claim 25

A device for measuring the color of a nonplanar sample wherein said sample comprises a sample including at least two measurably distinct colors at two respective locations on the surface of said sample said device comprising: a three-color camera for transforming light received by said camera into electrical signals providing color information, said camera providing electrical signals constituting a three-color digital image of said sample and being positioned with respect to said sample to receive at least a portion of any light reflected by said nonplanar sample; and a signal processor, coupled to said three-color camera, for processing the electrical signals produced by said camera to obtain the color information about said nonplanar sample embedded in the electrical signals; said signal processor comprising: a digital image processor adapted to transform the three-color digital image of said sample to a reflectance compensated three-color digital image of said nonplanar sample; said digital image processor being further adapted to process the three-color digital image of said sample so as to differentiate between the distinct colors at the different locations.

Claim 26

A device for measuring the color of a nonplanar sample wherein said sample comprises a sample including at least two measurably distinct colors at two respective locations on the surface of said sample said device comprising: a three-color camera for transforming light received by said camera into electrical signals providing color information, said camera providing electrical signals constituting a three-color digital image of said sample and being positioned with respect to said sample to receive at least a portion of any light reflected by said nonplanar sample; and a signal processor, coupled to said three-color camera, for processing the electrical signals produced by said camera to obtain the color information about said nonplanar sample embedded in the electrical signals; said signal processor comprising: a digital image processor adapted to transform the three-color digital image of said sample to a reflectance compensated three-color digital image of said nonplanar sample; said digital image processor being further adapted to process the three-color digital image of said sample so as to differentiate between the distinct colors at the different locations.

Claim 27

A device for measuring the color of a nonplanar sample wherein said sample comprises a sample with a plurality of measurably distinct colors on the surface of said sample said device comprising: a three-color camera for transforming light received by said camera into electrical signals providing color information, said camera providing electrical signals constituting a three-color digital image of said sample and being positioned with respect to said sample to receive at least a portion of any light reflected by said nonplanar sample; and a signal processor, coupled to said three-color camera, for processing the electrical signals produced by said camera to obtain the color information about said nonplanar sample embedded in the electrical signals; said signal processor comprising: a digital image processor adapted to transform the three-color digital image of said sample to a reflectance compensated three-color digital image of said nonplanar sample; said digital image processor being further adapted to process the three-color digital image of said sample so as to identify at least one of the measurably distinct colors on the surface of said sample.

Claim 28

A device for measuring the color of a nonplanar sample wherein said sample comprises a sample with a plurality of measurably distinct colors on the surface of said sample said device comprising: a three-color camera for transforming light received by said camera into electrical signals providing color information, said camera providing electrical signals constituting a three-color digital image of said sample and being positioned with respect to said sample to receive at least a portion of any light reflected by said nonplanar sample; and a signal processor, coupled to said three-color camera, for processing the electrical signals produced by said camera to obtain the color information about said nonplanar sample embedded in the electrical signals; said signal processor comprising: a digital image processor adapted to transform the three-color digital image of said sample to a reflectance compensated three-color digital image of said nonplanar sample; said digital image processor being further adapted to process the three-color digital image of said sample so as to identify at least one of the measurably distinct colors on the surface of said sample.

Claim 29

A device for measuring the color of a nonplanar sample comprising; a three-color camera for transforming light received by said camera into electrical signals providing color information, said camera being positioned with respect to said sample to receive at least a portion of any light reflected by said nonplanar sample; and a signal processor, coupled to said three-color camera, for processing the electrical signals produced by said camera to obtain the color information about said nonplanar sample embedded in the electrical signals; said signal processor comprising: a frame grabber for transforming the electrical signals into a three-color digital image of said sample; and a digital image processor, coupled to said frame grabber, said digital image processor being adapted to transform the three-color digital image generated by said frame grabber to a reflectance compensated three-color digital image of said sample.

Claim 30

A device for measuring the color of a nonplanar sample comprising; a three-color camera for transforming light received by said camera into electrical signals providing color information, said camera being positioned with respect to said sample to receive at least a portion of any light reflected by said nonplanar sample; and a signal processor, coupled to said three-color camera, for processing the electrical signals produced by said camera to obtain the color information about said nonplanar sample embedded in the electrical signals; said signal processor comprising: a frame grabber for transforming the electrical signals into a three-color digital image of said sample; and a digital image processor, coupled to said frame grabber, said digital image processor being adapted to transform the three-color digital image generated by said frame grabber to a reflectance compensated three-color digital image of said sample.

Claim 32

A device for measuring the color of a nonplanar sample comprising: a three-color camera for transforming light received by said camera into electrical signals providing color information constituting a three-color digital image including three-color signals corresponding to said sample; a light source for illuminating said sample with light; the three-color digital image having three-color color signal values corresponding to at least one area on the surface of said sample, said at least one area receiving light emitted by said light source, the emitted light being incident on said sample substantially perpendicular to the surface of said sample, said camera being positioned with respect to said sample to receive at least a portion of any light reflected by said nonplanar sample; and a signal processor, coupled to said three-color camera, for processing the electrical signals produced by said camera to obtain the color information about said nonplanar sample embedded in the electrical signals; said signal processor comprising a digital image processor adapted to locate the three-color color signal values in the three-color digital image corresponding to said at least one area.

Claim 33

A device for measuring the color of a nonplanar sample comprising: a three-color camera for transforming light received by said camera into electrical signals providing color information constituting a three-color digital image including three-color signals corresponding to said sample; a light source for illuminating said sample with light; the three-color digital image having three-color color signal values corresponding to at least one area on the surface of said sample, said at least one area receiving light emitted by said light source, the emitted light being incident on said sample substantially perpendicular to the surface of said sample, said camera being positioned with respect to said sample to receive at least a portion of any light reflected by said nonplanar sample; and a signal processor, coupled to said three-color camera, for processing the electrical signals produced by said camera to obtain the color information about said nonplanar sample embedded in the electrical signals; said signal processor comprising a digital image processor adapted to locate the three-color color signal values in the three-color digital image corresponding to said at least one area.