Multi-Height Reference Plate for Colorimeter Thickness Compensation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Color measurement accuracy decreases when the thickness of recording media varies, as existing colorimeters struggle to maintain consistent lighting conditions between the image reading and white reference reading processes.
Innovation Solution
A colorimeter with a reference plate having multiple heights for the white reference reading surface, allowing the reader to adjust its position to match the thickness of the recording medium, ensuring consistent lighting conditions for accurate color information calculation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a single-height reference plate is used for white reference reading, then the device structure is simple, but color measurement accuracy deteriorates when recording medium thickness varies
Solution Approach 1:
The reference plate is segmented into multiple reading surfaces at different heights, each corresponding to different thicknesses of recording media. This allows the system to maintain consistent lighting conditions between image reading and white reference reading by selecting the appropriate height level, thereby improving color measurement accuracy without requiring complex adjustable mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The reference plate extends in the vertical dimension with multiple heights, adding a new spatial dimension to the solution. Instead of adjusting the reader position horizontally or vertically for different media thicknesses, the reference plate itself provides multiple fixed height levels, simplifying the overall device structure while maintaining measurement precision.
2Measurement precision
If the reader position is adjusted to match different recording medium thicknesses, then color measurement accuracy is improved, but the operation complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The reference plate is pre-configured with multiple reading surfaces at different heights during manufacturing. This preliminary action eliminates the need for operators to manually adjust the reader position or perform complex setup procedures when changing recording medium thicknesses. The system automatically selects the appropriate reference surface based on the media thickness, simplifying operation while maintaining accuracy.
3Measurement precision
If lighting conditions are maintained consistently for different thicknesses, then color measurement accuracy is improved, but additional mechanisms are required
Solution Approach 1:
The multi-height reference plate serves as an intermediary element that bridges the gap between different recording medium thicknesses and the fixed reader-lighting system. By providing reference surfaces at multiple heights, it enables consistent lighting conditions without requiring complex adjustable lighting mechanisms or additional optical components.
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
This configuration enhances color measurement accuracy across different thicknesses of recording media without the need for complex setup or additional mechanisms, maintaining consistent lighting conditions for precise spectral reflectance calculations.
Implementation Method 1
read color information on a recording medium... read a white reference from the reference reading surface... performs calculation on the color information using the white reference
Data Source
AI summary
A colorimeter includes a reference plate having a reference reading surface having multiple heights; a reader to read color information on a recording medium having a thickness; and read a white reference from the reference reading surface having one of the multiple heights corresponding to the thickness of the recording medium; and circuitry configured to perform calculation on the color information on the recording medium read by the reader using the white reference read from the reference reading surface by the reader.