Patent ID: 7925468
Filing Date: 2011-04-12
Classification: G01N

Abstract:
1. A method of characterizing hiding of a coating composition, said method comprising: (i) applying a monotonic layer of said coating composition over a test pattern affixed to a hiding test panel to produce a monotonic coating thereon; (ii) sequentially uniformly illuminating target areas P (iii) sequentially directing reflections of said target areas P (iv) sequentially measuring applied measured thicknesses X (v) sequentially computing measured Y wherein i ranges from 1 to n, and said measured Y 1 to Y n are measured ΔRGBs; (vi) storing on a computing device hiding data comprising said measured Y (vii) determining a threshold measured Y said measured Y max being the maximum value within the range of said measured Y 1 to Y n ; (viii) sequentially comparing said measured Y (ix) computing a ratio (q/n) to classify said hiding data, wherein said is classified as: (i) type 1 hiding data when said ratio is in the range of 0.01 to less than 0.25, (j) type 2 hiding data when said ratio is in the range of 0.25 to less 0.35, (k) type 3 hiding data when said ratio is in the range of 0.35 to less 0.50, or (l) type 4 hiding data when said ratio is in the range of 0.50 to 1.00; (x) selecting one or more fitting equations applicable for said type 1 hiding data, type 2 hiding data, type 3 hiding data or type 4 hiding data, wherein said fitting equations define a relationship between (y) and (x), said (y) being a fitted color difference that corresponds to said (x), which is a fitted thickness on a fitted curve generated by said one or more fitting equations; (xi) fitting said one or more selected fitting equations to match paired measured (X (xii) selecting a fitted threshold value y (xiii) locating a hiding thickness x