Surface Property Determination via Image Contrast Analysis
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for quantitatively assessing surface properties, particularly high-gloss and effect pigment coatings, fail to accurately differentiate surfaces that appear identical or similar optically but have distinct visual effects when viewed directly by humans.
Innovation Solution
A method that evaluates spatially resolved images to determine specific physical properties, including a result value and a further characteristic value independent of the result value, such as contrast or color properties, allowing for the detection of optical differences that prior methods miss, using a radiation detector device like a CCD chip to output measured values and process them for display in a coordinate system.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If a threshold value for intensity of reflected light is defined and only surface regions above this threshold are taken into account, then the measurement can be simplified and integrated across surface segments, but surfaces with identical result values cannot be differentiated when viewed directly by human eye
Solution Approach 1:
The evaluation method segments the surface analysis into multiple independent characteristic values (e.g., intensity, contrast, color properties) rather than relying on a single integrated threshold measurement. This allows each parameter to be evaluated separately and combined, providing both simplified individual measurements and comprehensive overall classification that matches human visual perception.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention transitions from one-dimensional intensity-based evaluation to multi-dimensional evaluation by introducing additional characteristic dimensions such as contrast and color properties. This dimensional expansion enables differentiation of surfaces that appear identical in intensity alone, resolving the limitation where identical result values cannot be distinguished by human observers.
2Productivity
If only intensity integration across surface segments is performed, then the evaluation process is straightforward, but optical differences that give different visual impressions are not detected
Solution Approach 1:
The method performs preliminary evaluation of multiple characteristic values (intensity, contrast, color) simultaneously from the spatially resolved image, rather than sequentially or selectively. This preliminary multi-parameter assessment maintains evaluation efficiency while ensuring all relevant optical differences are captured for accurate surface classification.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the evaluation parameters from单一的intensity integration to multiple independent parameters including contrast and color properties. This parameter diversification allows the system to detect various types of optical differences that affect human visual perception while maintaining computational efficiency through standardized image processing techniques.
3Measurement precision
If multiple characteristic values are determined and displayed together, then more accurate surface classification is achieved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The evaluation system is designed with multi-functionality to extract multiple characteristic values (intensity, contrast, color properties) from a single spatially resolved image using universal image processing algorithms. This universal approach avoids the need for separate specialized devices for each parameter, reducing overall system complexity while achieving accurate multi-parameter surface classification.
Solution Approach 2:
The method uses digital copying and processing of the spatially resolved image to generate multiple characteristic values through computational analysis rather than physical measurement. This virtual copying and processing approach eliminates the need for multiple physical sensors and measurement systems, significantly reducing device complexity while maintaining measurement precision.
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 more accurate classification of surface properties by separating surface areas based on intensity and size, distinguishing between surfaces that appear identical optically but have different visual effects, and providing a warning signal for unacceptable regions, thus improving the reproducible evaluation of surface quality.
Implementation Method 1
at least a proportion of the radiation thrown back from the surface is received by a radiation detector device
Data Source
AI summary
A method is provided for the quantitative determination of surface properties, wherein a spatially resolved image of a surface to be analyzed, which contains a large number of measured values, is recorded. In a first method step, the measured values are analyzed in order to determine those surface areas which have a specific physical property. A result value of this physical property is then determined, wherein this result value is characteristic of the values of the physical property of all those surface areas of the image determined by analyzing the image. In addition to the result value, a further value (B) characteristic of the surface is determined and this characteristic value is displayed together with the result value (I).