Adjustable Aperture Surface Characteristic Measurement Device

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional surface characteristic measurement devices cannot adjust measurement diameters, necessitating separate devices for gloss and reflection characteristic measurements, which is complex and inefficient.

Innovation Solution

A surface characteristic measurement device that integrates gloss and reflection characteristic measurement capabilities, with a mechanism to adjust measurement diameters automatically or manually, allowing for appropriate setting of measurement areas based on sample size and surface uniformity.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If a single surface characteristic measurement device is used to measure both gloss and reflection characteristics, then device complexity is reduced, but the ability to appropriately set measurement target areas is compromised due to fixed measurement diameter

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedevice complexityVSAvoidmeasurement target area setting capability
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a movable aperture diaphragm that can be positioned at different locations along the optical path to dynamically change the measurement diameter. This allows a single device to adapt its measurement area size based on the sample characteristics, resolving the contradiction between device simplicity and measurement adaptability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates a universal measurement device that can perform both gloss and reflection characteristic measurements with a single instrument. By incorporating a variable aperture mechanism, the device achieves multi-functionality in terms of both measurement types and measurement area sizes, eliminating the need for multiple separate devices.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Adaptability or versatility

If separate devices are used for gloss and reflection characteristic measurements, then measurement target area can be appropriately set for each measurement type, but device complexity and operational complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemeasurement target area setting capabilityVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges gloss measurement and reflection characteristic measurement functions into a single integrated device. By combining multiple measurement capabilities and a variable aperture system in one instrument, it reduces the number of separate devices needed while maintaining the ability to appropriately set measurement areas for different measurement types.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Measurement precision

If measurement diameter is increased for non-uniform surfaces, then measurement accuracy improves, but the device cannot adapt to small or curved samples requiring smaller measurement diameters

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemeasurement accuracyVSAvoidsample size adaptability
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs a dynamically adjustable aperture diaphragm that can change the measurement diameter size based on sample characteristics. For non-uniform surfaces, a larger diameter can be selected to improve measurement accuracy, while for small or curved samples, a smaller diameter can be used to match the sample size, thus resolving the contradiction between measurement precision and sample adaptability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

4Adaptability or versatility

If measurement diameter is decreased for small or curved samples, then device adaptability to sample size improves, but measurement accuracy may decrease for non-uniform surfaces

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesample size adaptabilityVSAvoidmeasurement accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The variable aperture diaphragm system allows dynamic selection of measurement diameter based on sample characteristics. When measuring small or curved samples, a smaller diameter is selected to match the sample size, and when measuring non-uniform surfaces, a larger diameter is selected to capture sufficient surface area for accurate measurement, thus resolving the contradiction between sample adaptability and measurement accuracy.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

Enables efficient and accurate measurement of both gloss and reflection characteristics using a single device, improving measurement precision and reducing operational complexity by allowing adjustable measurement diameters.

Implementation Method 1

a light receiving section for receiving reflected light

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectReflection: Reflection

Data Source

PatentEP3147648B1Surface characteristic measurement device
Publication Date: 2021.07.21 KONICA MINOLTA INC
  • EP3147648B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3147648B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3147648B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The present invention enables both gloss measurement and reflectance characteristic measurement by means of a single surface characteristic measurement device, and appropriately sets the measurement region for the gloss measurement and the measurement region for the reflectance characteristic measurement. The gloss measurement mechanism and a colorimetry mechanism are integrated in a gloss meter/colorimeter. The gloss measurement mechanism illuminates an illumination subject surface by means of illumination light, receives the reflected light generated by means of a regular reflection of the illumination light by the illumination subject surface, and outputs the result of measuring the reflected light. The size of the measurement region for the gloss measurement can be altered. The colorimetry mechanism illuminates the illumination subject surface by means of ring-shaped illumination light, receives the reflected light generated by means of the ring-shaped illumination light being reflected by the illumina - tion subject surface, and outputs the result of measuring the reflected light. The size of the measurement region for reflectance characteristic measurement can be altered.