Multispectral Sparkle Measurement with Segmented Aperture Geometry

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current measuring devices face challenges in accurately capturing the multi-spectral properties and sparkle density of surface coatings with embedded effect pigments, particularly due to limitations in illumination and pick-up aperture angles, which affect color measurement accuracy and contrast.

Innovation Solution

A multispectral measuring device with adjustable illumination and pick-up aperture angles, where the illumination aperture angle is 2-10 times larger than the pick-up aperture angle, optimized to +/-2.5° to +/-0.5°, and a computer system for correcting image data to ensure uniform point spread functions across wavelengths, providing accurate multi-spectral data that mimics human perception.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If the illumination aperture angle and pick-up aperture angle are kept small to match human observation conditions, then the measurement geometry corresponds well to visual perception, but the angular variation caused by material dispersion cannot be fully captured, reducing measurement accuracy

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecolor measurement accuracyVSAvoidspectral range coverage
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the measurement task into two separate measuring arrangements: one optimized for color measurement with small aperture angles matching human observation, and another optimized for capturing angular variation with larger aperture angles. This segmentation allows each arrangement to excel at its specific function without compromise.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates a universal measurement system that can perform both color measurement and angular variation measurement by combining two specialized measuring arrangements. The system adapts to different measurement needs by selecting the appropriate arrangement or combining results from both.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Measurement precision

If the illumination aperture angle is increased to capture angular variation, then spectral measurement accuracy improves, but the contrast between sparkles and background decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvespectral properties accuracyVSAvoidsparkle contrast
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSIllumination intensity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent separates the measurement functions into two specialized arrangements: one with optimized illumination/pick-up geometry for maximum sparkle contrast, and another with larger aperture angles for accurate spectral measurement. Each arrangement is optimized for its specific purpose without compromise.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Quantity of substance

If the pick-up aperture angle is increased to maximize sparkle density detection, then the number of detectable sparkles increases, but the color measurement accuracy deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesparkle densityVSAvoidcolor accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the measurement system into two specialized arrangements: one optimized for detecting sparkle density with larger pick-up aperture angles, and another optimized for color measurement with smaller aperture angles matching human observation conditions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

4Device complexity

If a single measuring arrangement is used with fixed aperture angles, then the device complexity is reduced, but it cannot simultaneously optimize for both color measurement accuracy and sparkle contrast

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemeasuring arrangement configurationVSAvoidmulti-spectral measurement accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates a universal measurement system that combines two specialized measuring arrangements, each optimized for different measurement tasks. The system can adaptively select which arrangement to use based on the specific measurement requirements, achieving both color accuracy and sparkle contrast optimization.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

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 device achieves high accuracy in measuring sparkle color and density, maximizing contrast and reproducibility, while ensuring that the visualized data aligns with human observation, thereby improving the characterization of sparkles and background differentiation.

Implementation Method 1

The illumination arrangement has at least one light source and is designed to expose a region of the measurement object to illumination light at an illumination angle and an illumination aperture angle. The pick-up arrangement has a photoelectric image sensor and is designed to capture measurement light reflected back from the measurement object

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectLight reflection: Reflection

Implementation Method 2

Platelet-like effect pigments act like tiny mirrors in the substrate or medium in which they are embedded and reflect the incident light. Sparks become visible when a coating material containing effect pigments is illuminated with directed light

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectLight reflection: Reflection

Implementation Method 3

The pick-up arrangement has a photoelectric image sensor and is designed to capture measurement light reflected back from the measurement object at a pick-up angle and a pick-up aperture angle and direct it onto the image sensor

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectLight reflection: Reflection

Implementation Method 4

The illumination arrangement is designed to generate illumination light in a number of spectral ranges and/or the pick-up arrangement is designed to split captured measurement light into a number of spectral ranges, so that the image sensor generates multi-spectral image data

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSpectral decomposition: Dispersion (of waves)

Data Source

PatentEP3467475B1Sparkle measurement
Publication Date: 2020.04.22 X RITE EUROPE GMBH
  • EP3467475B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3467475B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP3467475B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5

AI summary

A method for configuring a multispectral measuring device with correction parameters, wherein the multispectral measuring device comprises an image sensor and a plurality of spectral measurement channels, comprises the following steps: illuminating a point broadening function characterization mask having a plurality of apertures to provide a plurality of point light sources, measuring the plurality of point light sources with the multispectral measuring device for each of the measurement channels, wherein the measurement includes capturing at least one image of the plurality of point light sources for each measurement channel, and detecting a position for each of the plurality of point light sources in the captured images.Determination of a point broadening function form for the multispectral measuring device for each of the detected positions, determination of at least one point broadening function correction parameter in an optimization process such that the form of the corrected point broadening function best matches a given target point broadening function form, and storage of the at least one point broadening function correction parameter in a firmware of the multispectral measuring device;