Barcode-Based Optical Measurement Data Association

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional methods for optical characteristic measurement, such as colorimetry and glossmetry, often fail to accurately associate measurement data with the corresponding image data, leading to potential errors due to manual association by operators, and do not reliably specify the measurement object, risking incorrect data association or input errors.

Innovation Solution

A support apparatus comprising a measurement data inputter, image inputter, measurement table, and measurement data manager that automatically associates measurement data with image data and allows for image-based specification of measurement objects, using a digital camera and reader to capture and record images and measurement data, ensuring accurate and reliable data correlation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If measurement value and image data are associated by operator manually, then data association can be performed, but association accuracy deteriorates due to possible operator mistakes

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemanual data associationVSAvoiddata association accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system enables automatic self-association of measurement data with image data through barcode identification. The barcode attached to the measurement object serves as a unique identifier that automatically links the measurement value and image data without requiring manual operator intervention, thereby eliminating human error while maintaining ease of operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the manual mechanical process of operator-based data association with an automated optical recognition system using barcodes and image capture. This substitution eliminates human error in data association while maintaining operational simplicity through automatic identification and linking mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Reliability

If measurement value is superimposed on image data, then data association is achieved, but measurement value cannot be used as-is requiring re-input by hand

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedata associationVSAvoiddata usage

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system separates the image data and measurement data into distinct storage locations (image database and measurement table) linked through barcode identification. This segmentation allows each data type to be stored, accessed, and used independently without requiring manual re-input, while maintaining reliable association through the barcode link.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

3Reliability

If color value data from displayed image is associated with position data, then image data association is achieved, but measurement object and measurement value association is not achieved

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveimage data associationVSAvoidmeasurement object identification

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The barcode serves as an intermediary element that directly links the measurement object to the measurement value. By attaching the barcode to the measurement object and using it as a unique identifier in both the image database and measurement table, the system ensures accurate association between the physical measurement object and its measurement data, eliminating the indirect association problems of conventional methods.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

4Ease of operation

If language specification is used for measurement object identification, then specification can be performed, but operator mistake possibility increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveobject specificationVSAvoidobject identification accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses barcode patterns (which can be considered visual/ optical changes rather than linguistic) to identify measurement objects. The barcode's visual pattern serves as an unambiguous identifier that cannot be misinterpreted like language, thereby maintaining ease of operation through visual recognition while eliminating operator mistake possibilities in object identification.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #32Color changes

Data Source

PatentUS7668408B2Support apparatus for optical characteristic measurement, and program product used for same

Publication Date: 2010.02.23 KONICA MINOLTA SENSING INC

AI summary

A support apparatus for optical characteristic measurement includes a measurement data inputter configured to input measurement data obtained by an optical characteristic measuring instrument, an image inputter configured to input an image of a measurement object, a measurement table in which the measurement data and the image of the measurement object corresponding to the measurement data are recorded, and a measurement data manager configured to record the measurement data inputted by the measurement data inputter in the measurement table so as to be associated with the image of the measurement object every time an optical characteristic of the measurement object is measured.