Handheld Appearance Measuring Device with Beam Splitter
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current hand-held measuring devices are inadequate for simultaneously and accurately capturing the complex appearance properties of materials, particularly effect pigments, as they fail to generate consistent, calibrated data sets for color, gloss, and texture due to separate measurement systems and sequential data acquisition processes, which limits their applicability in industrial applications.
Innovation Solution
A hand-held measuring device with a measurement arrangement that includes multiple illumination devices and pick-up devices, utilizing a beam splitter to direct measurement light to both a spectrometer and a digital color camera, allowing for simultaneous spectral and spatially resolved measurements under the same observation conditions, enabling the capture of color, gloss, and texture data with a single optical system.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If separate measurement systems are used for color, gloss, and texture measurements, then each specific appearance property can be measured with dedicated optimization, but the device complexity increases and consistent calibrated data sets cannot be generated simultaneously
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple measurement functions (color, gloss, texture) into a single integrated handheld measuring device. The measurement arrangement includes a common illumination system and detection system that can perform all three measurement types sequentially, eliminating the need for separate devices and enabling consistent calibrated data sets to be generated simultaneously under identical observation conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The measuring device is designed as a universal instrument capable of performing multiple appearance measurements. The control arrangement can selectively activate different measurement modes (color measurement, gloss measurement, texture measurement) using the same hardware platform, making the device adaptable to various measurement requirements while maintaining a compact form factor.
2Measurement precision
If sequential data acquisition processes are used for different appearance properties, then measurement accuracy for each property can be maintained, but the measurement time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The device performs preliminary calibration and setup actions once, establishing a common observation geometry and calibration state that remains valid for subsequent color, gloss, and texture measurements. This preliminary configuration eliminates the need for repeated calibration between different measurement types, allowing rapid sequential measurements without sacrificing accuracy and significantly reducing total measurement time.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple measurement systems are integrated in a handheld device, then comprehensive appearance data can be captured, but the device size and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The measurement arrangement is segmented into functional modules: illumination devices for different illumination directions, pick-up devices for detecting measurement light, and a control arrangement for coordinating measurements. This modular segmentation allows the system to perform comprehensive appearance measurements while maintaining a compact handheld form factor by efficiently packing functional components.
4Measurement precision
If separate observation conditions are used for different appearance measurements, then each measurement can be optimized independently, but consistent calibrated data sets cannot be generated
Solution Approach 1:
The device establishes a common observation geometry that serves as a reference frame for all measurement types. The beam splitter directs measurement light to detectors under identical geometric conditions, creating an equipotential measurement state where all appearance properties (color, gloss, texture) are measured under the same observation conditions, ensuring data consistency and reliability across different measurement modes.
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
Enables the generation of consistent, calibrated appearance data sets for materials, improving measurement accuracy and reproducibility, and reducing measurement time while being compact and cost-effective, suitable for characterizing modern effect pigments and other media with varying appearance behaviors.
Implementation Method 1
utilizing a beam splitter to direct measurement light to both a spectrometer and a digital color camera
Data Source
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AI summary
A handheld measuring device for capturing the visual impression of a measured object comprises a measuring arrangement, an electronic control unit, and a housing containing the measuring arrangement and the electronic control unit, the housing having a measuring aperture through which the illumination of a measuring field on a surface of a measured object occurs and the measurement light reflected from the measuring field is picked up, wherein the measuring arrangement comprises a number of illumination devices (21-27) for providing the measuring field with illumination light in at least three directions of illumination relative to a device standard (DN), and a number of pickup devices (31, 32, 33) for capturing the measurement light in at least one observation direction relative to the device standard, wherein at least one spectral pickup device (31,32) for the spatially integral spectral measurement of the measurement light reflected from the measurement field and at least one imaging pickup device (33) for the spatially resolved measurement of the measurement light, wherein the imaging pickup device is also configured for the color measurement of the measurement light and the spectral pickup device (32) and the imaging pickup device (33) are arranged such that they receive the measurement light reflected from the measurement field under the same observation conditions and in particular from the same observation direction, in particular to create consistent calibrated appearance data sets.