Color Measurement Instrument Fleet Synchronization via Digital Profiling
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Solution Overview
Problem
The variability in performance of color measurement instruments over time and across different manufacturers complicates the management of consistent and accurate color data, leading to differences in color measurements within a laboratory and across supply chains, making existing systems cumbersome and prone to errors.
Innovation Solution
A method and system for generating and applying a profile to adjust the color measurements of a secondary instrument based on those of a master instrument, compensating for spectral differences between the two, using a computer system with modules for data storage, profile generation, and application to synchronize color measurements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If existing systems use master color standards and working color standards to profile and synchronize color measurements, then color measurement consistency across instruments is improved, but the system becomes cumbersome and labor intensive due to requiring many sets of tiles to be created, transported, and maintained
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the essential profiling function from the complex multi-standard system and implements it through a simplified single-working-standard approach. The profile generation is separated into distinct modules (profile generation module and profile application module) that work with a single working standard rather than multiple master and working standards, reducing the number of physical tiles needed while maintaining measurement consistency across the instrument fleet.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates digital profiles that capture the spectral characteristics of instruments and applies these profiles to adjust measurements. Instead of physically transporting and maintaining multiple sets of color tiles, the system creates digital copies of instrument response characteristics that can be stored and applied computationally, eliminating the need for physical tile management while preserving measurement accuracy.
2Measurement precision
If existing systems use multiple color standards for profiling, then measurement accuracy across different instruments is improved, but labor intensity and error susceptibility increase due to manual tile management
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs self-profiling by automatically generating profiles from measurements of a single working standard without requiring manual intervention to manage multiple tile sets. The profile generation module automatically processes measurements and creates adjustment profiles, while the profile application module automatically applies these profiles to correct instrument measurements, eliminating manual tile handling and reducing operational complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transforms the physical tile management problem into a computational parameter adjustment problem. Instead of physically managing multiple color standards, the system measures spectral parameters from a single working standard and generates digital profile parameters that are applied computationally to adjust instrument responses, changing the nature of the task from manual physical handling to automated computational processing.
3Adaptability or versatility
If color measurement instruments are used across different manufacturers and time periods, then fleet versatility is improved, but measurement variability increases due to component aging and environmental factors
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a universal profiling system that can be applied across instruments from different manufacturers and models. The profile generation module generates instrument-specific profiles that capture the unique spectral characteristics of each device, and the profile application module applies appropriate profiles to ensure consistent measurements across the entire instrument fleet, making the system universally applicable to diverse instruments while maintaining measurement reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements continuous feedback through periodic remeasurement of the working standard and profile updates. The profile generation module can remeasure the working standard and regenerate profiles to account for instrument drift over time, and the profile application module applies these updated profiles to maintain measurement stability. This feedback loop compensates for component aging and environmental factors, ensuring long-term reliability across the instrument fleet.
Data Source
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AI summary
A method for adjusting a color measurement of a secondary color measurement instrument. The method includes generating a profile for the secondary color measurement instrument based on color measurements of a master color measurement instrument, and applying the profile to adjust the color measurement of the secondary color measurement instrument.