Optics: measuring and testing – By shade or color – With color determination by light intensity comparison
Patent
1998-04-14
2000-11-14
Font, Frank G.
Optics: measuring and testing
By shade or color
With color determination by light intensity comparison
356328, 356334, G01J 328, G01J 318, H04J 1500
Patent
active
061477613
ABSTRACT:
A sensor for measuring reflective, transmissive, or self-luminous samples, comprises a plurality of light sources, where each of the light sources emit light of a substantially different wavelength band spaced in the visible spectrum; a reference channel photodetector; a sample channel photodetector; an optical cap adapted to direct a first portion of the light emitted by each of the light sources to the reference channel photodetector, a reflector cone for directing a second portion of the light emitted by each of the light sources to the sample; and a receptor piece for directing the diffuse portion of the light reflected from the sample to the sample channel photodetector. Preferably, the reference channel and sample channel photodetectors are identical devices and are mounted back-to-back to share environmental characteristics, and in turn, minimize the variation between their respective responses. The sensor is preferably incorporated into a hand-held "mouse" device, which includes an area on its top surface for seating an index finger of the human hand. Positioned within this area is a pressure-activated switch that is operatively coupled to the sensor circuitry for performing the various readings. And the sensor is preferably mounted into the mouse device such that the focal aperture of the downward pointing reflector cone is in axial alignment with the pressure-activated switch. Accordingly, a user will be able to use the mouse to "point" with his or her index finger to an area of the sample surface, and will then simply press the switch using the same index finger.
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Patent Abstracts of Japan, vol. 008, No. 101 (P-273), May 12, 1984.
Duke Ronald J.
Iseli Victor L.
Sam Long B.
Walowit Eric
Color Savvy Systems Limited
Font Frank G.
Stafira Michael P.
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