Mobile Spectrum Color Matching Under Ambient Light Variation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for analyzing surface color, such as for cosmetics and painting, often require specialized equipment and are hindered by lighting conditions, leading to inaccurate product recommendations and increased costs.
Innovation Solution
A mobile device equipped with a spectrometer and camera is used to acquire surface color data, compensating for ambient light influences to generate a corrected spectrum, which is then analyzed using machine learning to provide product recommendations and diagnoses.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If specialized equipment and well-controlled environments are used for surface color analysis, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a camera to capture images of the surface and applies computational algorithms to extract color information, creating a digital copy of the color data rather than requiring specialized spectrometers or colorimeters. This allows standard imaging devices to perform color analysis functions previously reserved for specialized equipment.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces physical measurement devices (spectrometers, colorimeters) with a computational approach using standard camera imaging and image processing algorithms. The mechanical/optical measurement system is substituted with an electronic capture and computational analysis system.
2Measurement precision
If specialized equipment is used for surface color analysis, then measurement precision is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables standard mobile devices and cameras to perform color analysis functions, making the technology universally accessible rather than requiring specialized equipment. The same device can be used for general photography and color analysis, eliminating the need for dedicated specialized tools.
Solution Approach 2:
The system automatically captures images, processes the color data, and generates analysis results without requiring manual intervention or specialized operational knowledge. The device performs the entire color analysis process autonomously once the image is captured.
3Ease of operation
If ambient light is present during surface color analysis, then ease of operation is improved, but measurement precision deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent separates the ambient light information from the surface color information by capturing a reference image of the lighting environment and mathematically removing its contribution from the captured image, isolating the true surface color properties.
Solution Approach 2:
The system captures ambient light information as feedback and uses it to adjust and correct the color measurement, continuously refining the accuracy by compensating for environmental lighting conditions based on real-time data.
4Device complexity
If manual color comparison methods are used, then device complexity is reduced, but loss of time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual visual comparison processes with automated computer vision and image processing algorithms that instantly analyze color data and generate product recommendations, eliminating the time-consuming manual swatch comparison process.
Solution Approach 2:
The system creates digital color profiles and comparisons rather than requiring physical swatches, allowing instant virtual comparison and recommendation generation without the time needed to physically handle and compare multiple samples.
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 affordable and reliable surface color analysis, allowing for accurate product recommendations and diagnoses without the need for specialized equipment, improving user satisfaction and reducing costs.
Implementation Method 1
a spectrometer to measure a spectrum of signals reflected from the surface
Data Source
AI summary
An image or a spectrum of a surface may be acquired by a computing device, which may be included in a mobile device in some examples. The computing device may extract a measured spectrum from the image and generate a corrected spectrum of the surface. In some examples, the corrected spectrum may be generated to compensate for ambient light influence. The corrected spectrum may be analyzed to provide a result, such as a diagnosis or a product recommendation. In some examples, the result is based, at least in part, on a comparison of the corrected spectrum to reference spectra. In some examples, the result is based, at least in part, on an inference of a machine learning model.