419results about "Investigating jewels" patented technology

A method and associated apparatus (5) for the standardized grading of gemstones is provided. The system gauges the spectral response of a gemstone subject to a plurality of incident light sources (77, 64, 90, 92, 102) within an imaging apparatus. The operation of the imaging apparatus is controlled by an instruction set of a local station control data processor (12). Light energy data is captured in the form of pixel data sets via a charge coupled device of the imaging apparatus of the local station (8). The control data processor data of the local station is operably linked to analysis station (14). Gemstones qualities are analyzed by the plurality of light sources (92, 90, 102) of the imaging apparatus (5) and quantified relative to model pixel data sets of the database and recorded for future reference therein.

A method and an apparatus for laser marking indicia in the volume of gemstones such as diamonds, the indicia being made up of a plurality of microscopic dot-shaped marks whose build-up can be initiated by exposing naturally-occurring internal defects or impurities in the volume of a gemstone to a tightly focused train of laser pulses. Authentication data is encoded in the gemstone from the relative spatial arrangement of the dot-shaped marks that form the indicium. Taking advantage of the presence of otherwise invisible defects in the gemstone allows for inscribing indicia with laser pulses carrying energies substantially lower than the threshold energy required for inscribing in the volume of a perfect gemstone material. The marking process is then much less susceptible to inflict damages to the surface of the gemstone, and the marking can be performed using a broad variety of femtosecond laser systems. The dot-shaped marks engraved at a depth below the surface of a gemstone can be made undetectable with the unaided eye or with a loupe by limiting their individual size to a few micrometres, while devising indicia made up of only a few marks. As a result, the marking does not detract from the appearance and value of the gemstone. The procedure for laser marking accounts for the random spatial distribution of the defects present in natural gemstones as well as for their strongly localized character. The presence of an indicium can be detected by using a dedicated optical reader that can be afforded by every jewellery store.

A method of constructing a virtual model of a gemstone including the steps of performing measurements of the gemstone to construct a three-dimensional (3D) model of an exterior surface of the gemstone; identifying one or more visible inclusions within an interior volume of the gemstone; for each identified inclusion, performing the steps of determining a location and 3D shape of the inclusion within the interior volume of the gemstone; capturing at least one image of the inclusion; using the at least one image to determine relevant optical characteristics of the inclusion; and constructing a 3D virtual model of the inclusion, said model including the 3D shape of the inclusion and optical properties of the inclusion based upon said optical characteristics; constructing a 3D virtual model of the gemstone which includes the 3D virtual model of the exterior surface of the gemstone and the 3D virtual models of the one or more visible inclusions within the interior volume of the gemstone; and generating a dataset representing said 3D virtual model, wherein said dataset may be used in subsequent computer analysis to provide a user with information relating to a visual characteristic of the gemstone.

An apparatus for determining location of at least one inclusion in a gemstone having a first refractive index, comprising:

• • a container adapted for containing a material having a second refractive index,
  • a holder operative to support a gemstone in the material when the container contains the material;
  • an illuminator positioned and adapted to illuminate said gemstone when disposed within said material in said container, with illumination at which said gemstone and said material have their respective first and second indices;
  • a detector that detects illumination from the illuminated gemstone and said material and produces signals responsive thereto;
  • a controller that receives the signals and is operative to determine a location of an inclusion in the gemstone based on the signals; and
  • a system, operative to reduce the presence within said material, at least when the gemstone is disposed therein, of any substance other than inclusions, having a third refractive index.

Various embodiments described herein comprise a gemstone or other piece of jewelry, which incorporates one or more diffractive optical elements to enhance the fire displayed by the gemstone. In certain embodiments, the diffractive optical element comprises a diffraction grating etched on one or more facets of the gemstone.

A computer based expert system and method of grading gems by their inherent properties of shape and color, including hue-tone-saturation. Each of the properties is variable over a practical range derived from a data-base; the database prepared by digital methods from real gems. The grading is conducted interactively on-screen by visual comparison to the image of a real target gem, and the result, translated into alpha-numeric code, can be communicated by phone or via the Internet to any other user of the same system and database. The communicated code can be reconstructed by the system into an identical gem image, enabling remote discussion and evaluation of the same target gem, including matching and pairing of gems. A practical embodiment of the grading system and method is described, including application modes specifically aimed at gems and diamonds.

A method of imaging a cut stone. The method comprises a) identifying an orientation of a cut stone, b) creating a volumetric model of the cut stone according to the orientation, c) capturing a plurality of images of the cut stone from a plurality of viewing angles around the cut stone, d) cropping a plurality of segments depicting the cut stone from the plurality of images using the volumetric model, and e) generating a volumetric image of the cut stone from the plurality of segments.

In an object verifier having a housing and an object holder, an object may be placed in the object holder for observation by an operator. The object is illuminated using a collimated beam of white light that is generated by a light generator. The collimated beam of white light is passed through a beam splitter with the two portions of the collimated beam of white light presented to the object at a 90 degree angle one from the other. The interior of the housing includes a reflective surface for maximal illumination of the object. The observer may view the illuminated object through a viewing window and/or through a magnification window. The magnification window provides for the viewing of the object in greater detail.

The present invention presents a non-destructive method and means of obtaining either the inner portion or the outer contour of a two-dimensional or three-dimensional model of the outer contours of a gemstone. The method comprising the steps of placing the gemstone on a holder such that the gemstone to be scanned is located in a radiation path comprising inter alia at least one emitter and at least one detector synchronized by a processor; radiating said gemstone by means of said emitter; detecting the emitted irradiation by means of said detector; processing said detection such that a two-dimensional in-scan of said gemstone is obtained by means of said processor; displacing the gemstone in respect to said emitter and said detector; repeating steps (b) through (e) for a plurality of predetermined displacements; and, if a three-dimensional model is required, integrating the obtained multiple two-dimensional in-scans into a three-dimensional model of the gemstone's outer contours; wherein the emitter is an irradiation delivery device, selected from a group consisting of either monochromatic or white light, UV or IR emitters; X-ray radiation source and/or collimator of the same; NMR, CT, NQR and/or MIR scatters; beta radiation emission devices; gamma radiation emission devices; laser beam cannons; photons cannons; microwave or RF emitters; sonic or ultrasonic emitters or any combination thereof.

Of the “four C's,” cut has historically been the most complex to understand and assess. This application presents a three-dimensional mathematical model o study the interaction of light with a fully faceted, colorless, symmetrical round-brilliant-cut diamond. With this model, one can analyze how various appearance factors (brilliance, fire, and scintillation) depend on proportions. The model generates images and a numerical measurement of the optical efficiency of the round brilliant-called DCLR—which approximates overall fire. DCLR values change with variations in cut proportions, in particular crown angle, pavilion angle, table size, star facet length, culet size, and lower girdle facet length. The invention describes many combinations of proportions with equal or higher DCLR than “Ideal” cuts, and these DCLR ratings may be balanced with other factors such as brilliance and scintillation to provide a cut grade for an existing diamond or a cut analysis for prospective cut of diamond rough.

A system for analyzing the chemical composition of a sample, comprising exciting a portion of the sample to generate atomic spectral emissions; a spectrometer for determining atomic emission characteristics; processor for receiving an output from the spectrometer, analyzing said output to determine atomic composition, said processor predicting at least one of (i) an origin of the sample, (ii) a treatment applied to said sample, (iii) a composition of the sample, and (iv) a feedback signal for controlling a process. Calibration samples are also provided for standardizing readings from the spectrometer.

Prior methods of measuring diamond proportions in order to construct a complete model, such as a three dimensional virtual wire-frame model, of a diamond have been found to be inadequate. In particular, there has been no commercially available, automated and objective method for measuring the dimensions of a diamond with similar or greater accuracy as compared with the accuracy that can be achieved with manual gauges or micrometers. The present invention provides a method of measuring a physical characteristic of a facet of a diamond, such as the location of one or more points on an edge of a facet. The method comprises illuminating the diamond to visually distinguish a facet from adjacent facets when viewed from a predetermined location, and then capturing an image of the diamond as viewed from this predetermined location. The image is then analyzed to determine the location of at least one point located on an edge of a facet by identifying a discontinuity in the properties of light transmitted from the diamond to the viewing location.

The invention relates to a device for automatically grading pearls on line according to the size and the shape on the basis of monocular multi-view machine vision. The device comprises a flow line, a monocular multi-view machine vision device and a microprocessor, wherein the flow line is used for automatically detecting and classifying pearls and comprises a feeding action mechanism, an inspection action mechanism, a discharging action mechanism, a classifying action mechanism and a classifying execution mechanism; the multi-view machine vision device is used for shooting images of pearls to be detected; and the microprocessor is used for carrying out image processing, detecting, identifying and classifying on the pearls to be detected and coordinately controlling coordinated action of the action mechanisms. The device for automatically grading the pearls on line according to the size and the shape on the basis of the monocular multi-view machine vision, disclosed by the invention, has the advantages of simple mechanism, low manufacturing cost, capability of meeting the detection of quality indexes, such as size and shape, high grading efficiency, convenience for use and maintenance and high automation degree.

An apparatus and method for fluorescence spectral and color measurements of diamonds, gemstones and the like. The apparatus comprises a spectrometer, and computer and a dual integrating sphere measurement arrangement comprising a measurement integrating sphere, a sample integrating sphere, a sample platform, a lens system, a baffle, an ultraviolet radiation source on the top of the sample integrating sphere, and another light source attached to the measurement integrating sphere. The sample on the sample platform is radiated by the ultraviolet radiation source on the top of the measurement integrating sphere. The sample emits fluorescent light into the measurement integrating sphere, and the fluorescent light is received by the lens system. The spectrometer separates the fluorescent light into spectral signals, and the computer calculates the fluorescence spectrum and colorimetric data.

A reflected dark field structure includes a bottom plate, a support tube, a light unit, a diffuser structure, and a reflector unit that provides reflected dark field illumination, such that a gem held by the support tube and surrounded by the diffuser structure is illuminated and viewable through an aperture in the reflector unit. A method for imaging and analyzing a gem includes placing the gem onto a support tube where it is illuminated with dark field and reflected dark field illumination, and viewing the gem via an aperture located on a top reflector unit, which provides a top cover for the gem. Furthermore, a method and apparatus for obtaining images of a gem includes a dark field stage, a reflector unit, and an image-acquiring device, such that a gem placed in the dark field stage is illuminated, and such that the reflector unit covers the dark field stage and provides reflected dark field illumination, and such that the image-acquiring device is directed towards an aperture in the reflector unit.

A method of determining the position of inclusions in a gemstone, comprising:

(a) placing the gemstone within a material having a refractive index within 0.5, optionally 0.2 or 0. 1, of that of the gemstone;

(b) illuminating the gemstone and imaging the illuminated gemstone; and

(c) determining the position of inclusions based on images of the inclusions in the images.

An arrangement and a method are provided for non-destructively analyzing the composition of a delicate sample. The value of the sample depends at least partly on absence of visual defects. A laser source (301) produces a pulsed laser beam, and focusing optics (302) focus said pulsed laser beam into a focal spot on the sample. A sensor (312) receives and detects optical emissions from particles of the sample excited by said pulsed laser beam. A processing subsystem (111) produces information of the composition of the sample based on the optical emissions detected by said sensor (312).

The invention discloses a method and a detection device used for distinguishing natural gemstone and synthetic gemstone. The method comprises following steps: continuous wave band ultraviolet light with a wavelength ranging from 220 to 360nm is used for irradiating sample surfaces; sample surfaces and surface right lower regions are irradiated; fluorescence and phosphorescence are excited so as to form fluorescence images capable of reflecting growth of the irradiated regions, and phosphorescence illuminate images are formed when irradiation is shut down; image characteristic difference is obtained via observation based on the fluorescence images and the phosphorescence illuminate images so as to determine that the detected samples are natural gemstone or synthetic gemstone; if the images are not capable of emitting phosphorescence and blue white fluorescence, and horny growth patterns are observed, the detected samples are natural gemstone; if the images are capable of emitting phosphorescence, blue green or yellow green fluorescence, and layered growth structures and octagonal growth structures are observed, the detected samples are synthetic gemstone. According to the method, only the surface regions of gemstone are irradiated without influences by other factors, and it is possible to determine the detected samples are natural or synthetic based on patterns, or fluorescence, or phosphorescence generated by the gemstone samples.

An apparatus (10) for assessment, evaluation and grading of gemstones has a stage (11) upon which a gemstone may be supported. The stage is enclosed in a housing (15) that is impervious to light. There is at least one light source (14) located in the housing which is adapted to project incident light onto the gemstone. Means for rotating and tilting the stage so as to vary the orientation of the gemstone to the incident light are also present. A digital camera (16) is located in the housing adjacent the or each light source and is adapted to take images of the gemstone based on reflection and/or refraction of the incident light. The apparatus also includes information processing means for calibrating and analysing the images. The information processing means is programmed with instruction sets for assessing one or more of colour, cut, clarity, scintillation, brilliance, lustre, dispersion and sheen. The gemstone is supported upon the stage by securing means (17) engaging the gemstone at its bottom surface.