Patent ID: 6980283
Filing Date: 2005-12-27
Classification: G01N

Abstract:
1. A system for generating, maintaining, and retrieving characterizing information about gemstones comprising: a first illumination source disposed for illuminating a gemstone from a first aspect thereof; a second illumination source disposed for illuminating the gemstone from a second aspect thereof; electronic camera means for viewing the gemstone and for generating a first electronic signal corresponding to a first physical characteristic of the gemstone when illuminated by said first illuminating source and for generating a second electronic signal corresponding to a second physical characteristic of the gemstone when illuminated by said second illuminating source; electronic data processor means operatively connected to said electronic camera for receiving the electronic signals, for controlling the operation of said electronic camera to generate electronic signals corresponding to at least two different physical characteristics of the gemstone, and for analyzing the electronic signals to provide data files containing information identifying said first and second physical characteristics of the gemstone; data storage means operatively connected to said electronic data processor means for storing the information identifying the first and second physical characteristics of the gemstone, and for analyzing the electronic signals to provide data files containing information identifying said first and second physical characteristic of the gemstone; data storage means operatively connected to said electronic data processor means for storing the information identifying the first and second physical characteristics in a database of gemstone identifying information for a plurality of known gemstones; and means for comparing the identifying information of the viewed gemstone provided by said electronic data processor with the identifying information of a known gemstone retrieved from said data storage device so that the gemstone viewed by the electronic camera means can be accurately identified from said database of gemstone identifying information.