Patent Publication Number: US-2011075146-A1

Title: Color measurement device

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     Typical color measurement devices are relatively large and expensive. For digital imaging and printing applications, typical color measurement devices are designed for knowledgeable color scientists and are usually focused on measuring color devices and profile creation. The typical color measurement devices lack the price-point and ease-of-use properties that would give them wide appeal among graphic artists, interior designers, photographers, and other color designers. In addition, typical color measurement devices are usually not portable. Rather, they are tethered to another device such as a computer for input/output (I/O) and power and are therefore difficult to use in the field. For these and other reasons, a need exists for the present invention. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a block diagram illustrating one embodiment of a color measurement device system. 
         FIG. 2  is a block diagram illustrating one embodiment of a color measurement device. 
         FIG. 3  is a diagram illustrating another embodiment of the color measurement device. 
         FIG. 4  is a diagram illustrating another embodiment of the color measurement device. 
         FIG. 5  is a diagram illustrating another embodiment of the color measurement device. 
         FIG. 6  is a diagram illustrating another embodiment of the color measurement device. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     In the following detailed description, reference is made to the accompanying drawings which form a part hereof, and in which is shown by way of illustration specific embodiments in which the invention may be practiced. In this regard, directional terminology, such as “top,” “bottom,” “front,” “back,” “leading,” “trailing,” etc., is used with reference to the orientation of the Figure(s) being described. Because components of embodiments can be positioned in a number of different orientations, the directional terminology is used for purposes of illustration and is in no way limiting. It is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and structural or logical changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. The following detailed description, therefore, is not to be taken in a limiting sense, and the scope of the present invention is defined by the appended claims. 
       FIG. 1  is a block diagram illustrating one embodiment of a color measurement device system  100 . Color measurement device system  100  includes a color measurement device  102  and a color application  108 . In one embodiment, color measurement device  102  provides a low cost, compact, wireless color measurement device for measuring the color of a sample  104 . In one embodiment, color measurement device  102  processes the color data obtained from measuring the color of a sample  104  and wirelessly transmits the processed color data to a color application  108  through wireless communication link  106 . In another embodiment, wireless communication link  106  is replaced with a wired communication link for transmitting the processed color data to a color application  108 . 
     Color application  108  includes any suitable application that uses color data, such as a photography application, a graphics application, a catalog application, etc. Color application  108  is executed on any suitable computing device capable of wirelessly receiving the processed color data from color measurement device  102 , such as a computer, a smartphone, etc. In one embodiment, wireless communication link  106  includes a Bluetooth communication link, a wireless local area network (LAN) communication link, an infrared communication link, or another suitable wireless communication link. 
     In operation, color measurement device  102  senses the color of a sample  104  to provide sensed color data. Sample  104  includes any suitable material, such as a color sample, a paint chip, a fabric, a wood, a metal, a photograph, a person&#39;s skin or hair, or any other suitable object. The sensed color data is processed by color measurement device  102  to convert the sensed color data into processed color data that can be used by a color application  108 . The processed color data is then transmitted to a color application  108  by color measurement device  102  through wireless communication link  106 . 
     Color measurement device  102  can be used in a wide variety of applications for custom color matching, automatic color palettes, product color coordination, color consulting, or other suitable applications. For example, color designers could use color measurement device  102  to communicate and match colors during the design and production process. Graphic artists could use color measurement device  102  to import colors from the physical world into a computer application. Interior designers could use color measurement device  102  to produce color palettes that work well with a particular piece. Product photographers could use color measurement device  102  to adjust colors in their images so that the product color is correct. Other professionals could also use color measurement device  102  for matching colors and producing color palettes or complement colors from a measured color. Retailers could use color measurement device  102  for suggesting apparel that complements a customer&#39;s favorite shirt or tie, for measuring a customer&#39;s skin or hair color to suggest appropriate makeup or hair coloring, or to help a color-blind person match their shirt to their pants. A person could also use color measurement device  102  to measure colors at home for producing color-matched paint. Many other applications are also possible. 
       FIG. 2  is a block diagram illustrating one embodiment of a color measurement device  102   a . In one embodiment, color measurement device  102   a  provides color measurement device  102  previously described and illustrated with reference to  FIG. 1 . Color measurement device  102   a  includes a housing  110 . Within and/or incorporated into housing  110 , color measurement device  102  includes a display  112 , a power source  114 , a controller  116 , a color sensor  118 , a wireless interface  120 , and a trigger  122 . 
     In one embodiment, housing  110  is an elongated, cylindrically-shaped housing, such as a pen-shaped housing. In another embodiment, housing  110  is mouse or puck-shaped. In other embodiments, other suitable shapes are used for housing  110  such that color measurement device  102   a  is compact, portable, and easily manipulated by a hand of a user. 
     Power source  114  is electrically coupled to display  112 , controller  116 , color sensor  118 , wireless interface  120 , and trigger  122  through power lines  124 . Power source  114  provides power to display  112 , controller  116 , color sensor  118 , wireless interface  120 , and trigger  122  through power lines  124 . In one embodiment, power source  114  includes a battery power source and/or another suitable power source, such as a solar or photovoltaic cell. 
     Controller  116  is communicatively coupled to display  112  through communication link  128 , to power source  114  through communication link  126 , to color sensor  118  through communication link  130 , to wireless interface  120  through communication link  132 , and to trigger  122  through communication link  134 . Controller  116  includes a microprocessor, microcontroller, central processing unit (CPU), or another suitable logic device. In one embodiment, controller  116  includes a memory storing firmware and/or software, which is executed by a processor of controller  116  to control the operation of color measurement device  102   a . Controller  116  controls and/or monitors the operation of display  112 , power source  114 , color sensor  118 , wireless interface  120 , and trigger  122  by receiving signals from and/or by transmitting signals to display  112 , power source  114 , color sensor  118 , wireless interface  120 , and trigger  122 . In one embodiment, controller  116  receives a signal from power source  114  through communication link  126  indicating the amount of charge remaining before power source  114  is depleted. 
     Color sensor  118  senses the color of a sample  104 . In one embodiment, color sensor  118  includes a colorimeter, a red-green-blue (RGB) color sensor, a hue-saturation-brightness (HSB) color sensor, a cyan-magenta-yellow (CMY) color sensor, or another suitable color sensor. In one embodiment, color sensor  118  includes a height and/or distance detecting ability. In one embodiment, color sensor  118  is self calibrating. Controller  116  activates and deactivates color sensor  118  through communication link  130 . Color sensor  118  passes sensed color data to controller  116  through communication link  130 . Controller  116  then processes the sensed color data to provide processed color data for a color application  108 . For example, in one embodiment, an image of a sample is obtained with a digital camera. Color sensor  118  senses the color of the sample. Controller  116  converts the sensed color data to a color encoding scheme used by the digital camera. In this way, the image of the sample can be adjusted such that the color of the sample is rendered correctly in the image. 
     Trigger  122  senses a user action for initiating the color sensing of a sample  104  by color sensor  118 . In one embodiment, trigger  122  is a pushbutton that is pressed to initiate the color sensing of a sample  104 . In another embodiment, trigger  122  is a slide switch that is switched to initiate the color sensing of a sample  104 . In another embodiment, trigger  122  is a force feedback tip incorporated into housing  110  that initiates color sensing when the tip is placed on a sample  104 . In another embodiment, trigger  122  is a pulse provided by a device external to color measurement device  102   a . In another embodiment, trigger  122  is a voice command that initiates color sensing of a sample  104 . In other embodiments, other suitable triggers are used. In response to being activated, trigger  122  passes a trigger signal to controller  116 . In response to the trigger signal, controller  116  activates color sensor  118  to obtain a color measurement. 
     Display  112  indicates the color sensed by color sensor  118 . In one embodiment, display  112  includes a tricolor RGB light emitting diode (LED) display that provides a color display approximating the color sensed by color sensor  118 . In another embodiment, display  112  includes an LCD display. In other embodiments, display  112  provides another suitable indicator for indicating the color sensed by color sensor  118 . In one embodiment, display  112  is excluded from color measurement device  102   a  and is provided by a device external to color measurement device  102   a . In response to receiving sensed color data from color sensor  118 , controller  116  provides a signal to display  112  through communication link  128  to activate display  112  to display the sensed color. In one embodiment, after a preset time or in response to trigger  122  being deactivated, controller  116  deactivates display  112 . 
     Wireless interface  120  transmits and/or receives data from a color application  108  and/or another suitable device. Wireless interface  120  includes a Bluetooth interface, a LAN interface, an infrared interface, or another suitable wireless interface. Wireless interface  120  receives processed color data from controller  116  through communication link  132 . Wireless interface  120  then wirelessly transmits the processed color data to a color application  108  or another suitable device. In one embodiment, wireless interface  120  wirelessly receives configuration data from a color application  108  or another suitable device for configuring color measurement device  102   a . In one embodiment, the configuration data includes information for processing the color data obtained by color sensor  118  and/or other suitable information for configuring color measurement device  102   a . Wireless interface  120  passes the received configuration data to controller  116  through communication link  132 . In another embodiment, wireless interface  120  is replaced with a wired interface for transmitting and/or receiving data. 
     In operation, to obtain a color measurement, a user places color measurement device  102   a  proximate a sample  104 . The user activates trigger  122  to initiate the sensing of a sample  104  by color sensor  118 . Color sensor  118  senses the color of a sample  104  and passes the sensed color data to controller  116 . Controller  116  processes the sensed color data to provide processed color data to wireless interface  120  and to control display  112 . Display  112  indicates the sensed color to the user. By viewing display  112 , the user receives feedback that the color measurement was successful. Wireless interface  120  transmits the processed color data to a color application  108  or another suitable device. The process is repeated to take another color measurement. 
     In one embodiment, a user can move color measurement device  102   a  over a sample  104  to take multiple color measurements in response to activating trigger  122 . In one embodiment, the multiple color measurements are transmitted to a color application  108  by wireless interface  120 . In another embodiment, controller  116  processes the multiple color measurements to generate an average color value, a range of color values, or other suitable data based on the multiple color measurements. The average color value, the range of color values, or the other suitable data based on the multiple color measurements is then transmitted to a color application  108  by wireless interface  120 . 
       FIG. 3  is a diagram illustrating another embodiment of a color measurement device  102   b . In one embodiment, color measurement device  102   b  provides color measurement device  102  previously described and illustrated with reference to  FIG. 1 . Color measurement device  102   b  includes a diffuse housing portion  140 , an LED color display  142 , a Bluetooth transceiver  144 , a power source  146 , a CPU  148 , a digital-to-analog converter (DAC)  150 , LEDs  152 , a diffuse sensor  154 , a calibration sensor  156 , a pocket  158 , a tube  160 , lenses  162  and  164 , and a trigger  166 . 
     Power source  146  is electrically coupled to LED color display  142  through power line  174 , to Bluetooth transceiver  146  through power line  176 , to CPU  148  through power line  180 , and to LEDs  152  through power line  182 . In other embodiments, power source  146  is also electrically coupled to trigger  166 , DAC  150 , diffuse sensor  154 , and calibration sensor  156 . Power source  146  provides power to LED color display  142 , Bluetooth transceiver  144 , CPU  148 , and LEDs  152 . In one embodiment, power source  146  includes a battery power source or another suitable power source, such as a solar cell or photovoltaic cell. 
     CPU  148  is communicatively coupled to LED color display  142  through communication link  172 , to Bluetooth transceiver  144  through communication link  178 , to trigger  166  through communication link  184 , to diffuse sensor  154  through communication link  186 , to DAC  150  through communication link  188 , and to calibration sensor  156  through communication link  190 . CPU  148  controls and/or monitors the operation of LED color display  142 , Bluetooth transceiver  144 , trigger  166 , diffuse sensor  154 , and calibration sensor  156 , and DAC  150  by receiving signals from and/or by transmitting signals to LED color display  142 , Bluetooth transceiver  144 , trigger  166 , diffuse sensor  154 , calibration sensor  156 , and DAC  150 . 
     DAC  150 , LEDs  152 , diffuse sensor  154 , calibration sensor  156 , pocket  158 , tube  160 , and lenses  162  and  164  provide a colorimeter, such as color sensor  118  previously described and illustrated with reference to  FIG. 2 . DAC  150  converts digital signals from CPU  148  to analog signals for controlling LEDs  152 , which are selected to emit light at different peak wavelengths across the visible spectrum (e.g., 450 mm, 470 mm, 520 mm, 560 mm, 610 mm, and 650 mm) for color sensing. The analog signals enable or disable each LED  152  in sequence for sensing the color of a sample  104 . LEDs  152  emit light to tube  160  through light path  194  and to pocket  158  through light path  196 . 
     Pocket  158  reflects the light from LEDs  152  to provide the light to calibration sensor  156  through light path  198 . Calibration sensor  156  senses the light and passes signals based on the sensed light to CPU  148  through communication link  190 . CPU  148  processes the received signals from calibration sensor  156  for measuring any changes in the LED intensities. Based on the measurements, CPU  148  corrects for any LED intensity drift of LEDs  152 . 
     Tube  160  passes the light from LEDs  152  to lens  164  through light path  200 . Lens  164  focuses the light from tube  160  onto sample  104  through light path  202 . Sample  104  reflects the light focused by lens  164  based on the color of sample  104  to lens  162  through light path  204 . Lens  162  focuses the reflected light onto diffuse sensor  154  through light path  206 . Diffuse sensor  154  senses the reflected light and passes signals based on the sensed light to CPU  148  through communication link  186 . CPU  148  then processes the received signals from diffuse sensor  154  to determine a color measurement for sample  104 . In one embodiment, the color measurements are XYZ values, LAB values, spectral reflectance functions, or other suitable values. 
     Trigger  166  senses a user action for initiating the color sensing of a sample  104  by color measurement device  102   b . In one embodiment, trigger  166  is similar to trigger  122  previously described and illustrated with reference to  FIG. 2 . 
     LED color display  142  provides an indication of the sensed color measurement. LED color display  142  provides colored light to diffuse housing portion  140  through light path  170 . In one embodiment, LED color display  142  includes a red, green, and blue LED that provides a color display approximating the sensed color measurement. In response to determining a color measurement of sample  104 , CPU  148  provides a signal to LED color display  142  through communication link  172  to activate LED color display  142  to display the sensed color. In one embodiment, after a preset time or in response to deactivating trigger  166 , CPU  148  deactivates LED color display  142 . 
     Bluetooth transceiver  144  transmits and/or receives data from a color application  108  and/or another suitable device. Bluetooth transceiver  144  receives processed color data from CPU  148  through communication link  178 . Bluetooth transceiver  144  then wirelessly transmits the processed color data to a color application or another suitable device. In one embodiment, Bluetooth transceiver  144  wirelessly receives configuration data from a color application  108  or another suitable device for configuring color measurement device  102   b . In one embodiment, the configuration data includes information for processing the color data and/or other suitable information for configuring color measurement device  102   b . Bluetooth transceiver  144  passes the received configuration data to CPU  148  through communication link  178 . 
     In operation, to obtain a color measurement, a user places color measurement device  102   b  on a sample  104 . The user activates trigger  166  to initiate LEDs  152  in sequence for sensing the color of sample  104 . Diffuse sensor  154  senses the light reflected by sample  104  and passes signals indicating the sensed light to CPU  148 . Calibration sensor  156  senses the light reflected by pocket  158  and passes signals indicating the sensed light to CPU  148 . CPU  148  processes the received signals to provide a color measurement of sample  104 . CPU  148  passes the color measurement to Bluetooth transceiver  144  and passes a signal based on the color measurement to LED color display  142 . LED color display  142  indicates the sensed color to the user. By viewing LED color display  142 , the user receives feedback that the color measurement was successful. Bluetooth transceiver  144  transmits the color measurement data to a color application  108  or another suitable device. The process is repeated to take another color measurement. In another embodiment, a user can move color measurement device  102   b  over a sample  104  to take multiple color measurements in response to activating trigger  166  as previously described with reference to  FIG. 2 . 
       FIGS. 4 and 5  are diagrams illustrating another embodiment of a color measurement device  102   c . In one embodiment, color measurement device  102   c  provides color measurement device  102  previously described and illustrated with reference to  FIG. 1 . Color measurement device  102   c  includes an elongated pen-shaped housing  220 . Housing  220  is fabricated from metal, plastic, or another suitable material. In one embodiment, the diameter of housing  220  is larger toward the center of the housing and smaller towards the ends of the housing. One end of housing  220  includes a force feedback tip  166  trigger for activating color measurement device  102   c  when the tip contacts a sample  104 . In one embodiment, the exposed portion of force feedback tip  166  is cone shaped. In one embodiment, force feedback tip  166  includes a spring  224  for providing the force feedback. 
     The other end of housing  220  opposite force feedback tip  166  includes diffuse housing portion  140  for LED color display  142 . In one embodiment, diffuse housing portion  140  is dome shaped. In one embodiment, LED color display  142 , a Bluetooth transceiver  144 , a power source  146 , a CPU  148 , a DAC  150 , a diffuse sensor  154 , LEDs  152 , a calibration sensor  156 , a pocket  158 , a tube  160 , and lenses  162  and  164  as previously described and illustrated with reference to  FIG. 3  are all contained within housing  220 . A reset switch  226  is accessible through an opening in housing  220  for resetting color measurement device  102   c.    
     In one embodiment, a power and/or data port  222  extends through housing  220  for connecting a power/and or data cable. Power and/or data port  222  is used for recharging the battery within housing  220  and/or for passing data between color measurement device  102   c  and another device. In one embodiment, port  222  is a universal serial bus (USB) port. 
       FIG. 6  is a diagram illustrating another embodiment of a color measurement device  102   d . In one embodiment, color measurement device  102   d  provides color measurement device  102  previously described and illustrated with reference to  FIG. 1 . Color measurement device  102   d  includes a cylindrical housing  230 . One end of housing  230  includes a force feedback tip  232  for activating color measurement device  102   d  when the tip contacts a sample  104 . The other end of housing  230  opposite force feedback tip  166  includes diffuse housing portion  234  for an LED color display. In this embodiment, force feedback tip  232  and diffuse housing portion  234  are cylindrical in shape. An LED color display  142 , a Bluetooth transceiver  144 , a power source  146 , a CPU  148 , a DAC  150 , a diffuse sensor  154 , LEDs  152 , a calibration sensor  156 , a pocket  158 , a tube  160 , and lenses  162  and  164  as previously described and illustrated with reference to  FIG. 3  are all contained within housing  230 . 
     Color measurement device  102   d  also includes a power and/or data port  236  and a diagnostic port  240 . Power and/or data port  236  is configured for receiving a power and/or data cable  238 . In one embodiment, power and/or data port  236  is a USB port. Power and/or data port  236  is used for powering color measurement device  102   d  and/or for recharging a battery within housing  230 . Power and/or data port  236  is also used for passing data, such as configuration data, color data, or other suitable data, between color measurement device  102   d  and another device. Diagnostic port  240  is configured for receiving a diagnostic cable  242 . In one embodiment, diagnostic port  240  is used for receiving an external trigger pulse or strobe for initiating the color sensing of a sample. In one embodiment, diagnostic port  240  is excluded. 
     Embodiments provide a low cost, compact, easily manipulated, wireless color measurement device for use in a wide variety of applications. Embodiments of the color measurement device include a built in power source, processor, wireless interface, color sensor, and color display. 
     Although specific embodiments have been illustrated and described herein, it will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art that a variety of alternate and/or equivalent implementations may be substituted for the specific embodiments shown and described without departing from the scope of the present invention. This application is intended to cover any adaptations or variations of the specific embodiments discussed herein. Therefore, it is intended that this invention be limited only by the claims and the equivalents thereof.