Colorimetric Inspection Apparatus Visual Approval Status

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing colorimetric inspection systems fail to intuitively indicate the approval status of patches on a color chart, as they only display measurement errors without showing which patches are affected, making it difficult to recognize the approval status of multiple patches.

Innovation Solution

An inspection apparatus that acquires colorimetric values, decides approval status based on reference values, and displays a chart image simulating the color chart, where patch images are displayed in shapes representing their approval status, using device-dependent color spaces to differentiate between reference and measured colors, allowing intuitive recognition of approved and disapproved patches.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If colorimetric values are measured and compared with reference values, then measurement accuracy is improved, but the intuitiveness of recognizing approval status deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecolorimetric value accuracyVSAvoidintuitive recognition of approval status
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies color changes by displaying patch images in different colors based on their approval status. Approved patches are displayed in their original color, while disapproved patches are displayed in a different color (e.g., red or yellow). This visual color coding allows operators to intuitively recognize which patches have measurement errors without needing to interpret numerical data, thereby resolving the contradiction between measurement precision and ease of operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #32Color changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates a visual copy or representation of the color chart on the display device, where each patch is represented by a patch image. This graphical copy allows operators to visually inspect the approval status of multiple patches simultaneously in a format that is much easier to understand than tabular data, while the underlying colorimetric measurements remain accurate.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

2Measurement precision

If detailed colorimetric data is displayed, then measurement precision is improved, but the complexity of information processing increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecolorimetric value accuracyVSAvoidinformation processing complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts only the essential information needed for quality control - the approval status of each patch - and displays it in a simplified visual format. Instead of displaying all detailed colorimetric data (L*a*b* values, color differences, etc.), the system extracts the binary approval/disapproval status and represents it through color-coded patch images. This reduces information processing complexity while maintaining measurement precision for the actual colorimetric analysis.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Productivity

If multiple patches are inspected simultaneously, then productivity is improved, but the difficulty of detecting and measuring approval status increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinspection speedVSAvoidapproval status detection
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDifficulty of detecting and measuring

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the color chart into individual patch images, each independently displayed and color-coded according to its approval status. This segmentation allows operators to quickly scan through multiple patches and immediately identify which ones have issues. The visual separation of approved and disapproved patches through color coding makes it easy to detect and measure approval status across multiple patches simultaneously, resolving the contradiction between productivity and detection difficulty.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP3327412B1Inspection apparatus, inspection method, and non-transitory computer readable medium for storing inspection program of colorimetric value
Publication Date: 2023.03.15 SEIKO EPSON CORP
  • EP3327412B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3327412B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP3327412B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

An inspection apparatus includes a colorimetric value acquisition unit that acquires a colorimetric value of a patch positioned on a color chart, a decision unit that decides an approval status of the colorimetric value of the patch, on a basis of the colorimetric value of the patch and a reference value prepared for the patch, and a display processing unit that displays, on a display unit, a chart image simulating the color chart, and in which a color representing a patch image positioned in the chart image is displayed in a shape representing a decision result made by the decision unit.