Colorimeter Chamber Block Field of View Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing colorimeters face challenges in achieving high signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and accurate color measurements due to mismatched field of view with the human eye and inadequate handling of ambient light effects, leading to variations in mounting distance and alignment issues, as well as degradation in measurement accuracy under varying ambient conditions.
Innovation Solution
A colorimeter design featuring a chamber block with overlapping spectral light passages and multiple light sensors, along with an ambient light sensor, that matches the human eye's field of view and continuously reads ambient light impinging on the target surface without reorienting the device, ensuring precise alignment and compensation for ambient light effects.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If a basic aperture plate with oblong holes is used to reduce cost, then manufacturing cost decreases, but field of view becomes four times larger than human eye and mounting distance varies due to suction cup relaxation
Solution Approach 1:
The optical system is segmented into multiple independent light passages, each with its own aperture and sensor. This allows precise control of field of view for each passage while maintaining cost-effective manufacturing. The segmentation enables the system to achieve accurate color measurement without requiring a single complex optical path.
Solution Approach 2:
A mounting plate is introduced as an intermediary component between the aperture plate and sensor array. This mounting plate provides a stable reference plane that maintains consistent spacing relationships, eliminating the field of view variations caused by suction cup relaxation while keeping the overall structure simple and cost-effective.
2Ease of operation
If sensor alignment relies on secondary reference surface on sensor diode, then alignment process is simplified, but accurate alignment of sensor in plane parallel to measured surface cannot be assured
Solution Approach 1:
The mounting plate incorporates reference features that replicate the geometric relationships needed for precise alignment. By copying the required spatial relationships into the mounting plate structure, the system achieves accurate sensor positioning without complex alignment procedures or expensive precision optics.
3Device complexity
If ambient light effects are not compensated, then device complexity is reduced, but color measurement accuracy degrades under varying ambient conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The ambient light sensor is merged with the main sensor array on the same mounting plate, sharing the same structural support and reference features. This integration allows ambient light compensation functionality to be added without significantly increasing device complexity, as the ambient light sensor uses the same mounting infrastructure as the color sensors.
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
The solution significantly enhances the signal-to-noise ratio and improves color measurement accuracy by aligning the colorimeter's field of view with the human eye and continuously accounting for ambient light, resulting in more reliable and consistent color measurements across different viewing conditions.
Implementation Method 1
a chamber block having at least three overlapping spectral light passages extending through the chamber block configured to select a preferred field of view between the target surface and a corresponding sensor
Implementation Method 2
a corresponding sensor adapted to detect light from the target surface
Implementation Method 3
an ambient light sensor disposed at one of with and within the first housing facing ambient light impinging the target surface
Data Source
AI summary
A colorimeter method and apparatus is described. The colorimeter includes a plurality of sensors/filter systems with non overlapping spectral responses, adequate for providing data capable of translation into standard coordinates system such as, CIE XYZ, CIE L*a*b*, or CIE Luv, as well as non-standard operable coordinate systems. The field of view of the colorimeter is chosen to closely track the response of the human eye using an optical path configured to select and limit the field of view in a manner that is insensitive to placement of the colorimeter on the source image. The optical path from the source image to the sensor is configured to select preferred light rays while rejecting undesirable light rays to maximize the signal/noise ratio. A rearward facing sensor channel is included to simultaneously measure ambient light impinging on the source image and feedback means to provide status and/or change of information.