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Apparatus for monitoring, converting and calibrating the spectra displayed by a colored object, using wavelength dispersion provided by a variable wavelength filter. The apparatus may serve as a spectrophotometer, as a colorimeter, or as a spectroradiometer or other device that monitors and calibrat

Apparatus for monitoring, converting and calibrating the spectra displayed by a colored object, using wavelength dispersion provided by a variable wavelength filter. The apparatus may serve as a spectrophotometer, as a colorimeter, or as a spectroradiometer or other device that monitors and calibrates a light signal by decomposition of the signal into a wavelength distribution. The apparatus may also be used as part of a feedback network to monitor and correct colors displayed by a color monitor, color printer, color scanner or other similar peripheral device controlled by a computer that is part of the network.

대표청구항 ▼

A color measurement device for determining the color composition of a small predetermined area at an arbitrary position on an object having an exposed surface, the apparatus comprising: a variable wavelength light filter having a light-receiving surface, to receive an incident light beam from the ob

A color measurement device for determining the color composition of a small predetermined area at an arbitrary position on an object having an exposed surface, the apparatus comprising: a variable wavelength light filter having a light-receiving surface, to receive an incident light beam from the object, the light having a plurality of wavelengths in a selected wavelength band, and to disperse the beam into a plurality of four or more narrow, non-overlapping wavelength pass bands, each pass band having a wavelength width no more than 20 nm, with a central wavelength lc(x) that increases monotonically with an increase of a position coordinate x measured in a selected direction lying on the light-receiving surface; light restriction means that defines a small predetermined area for receiving and admitting light from a restricted portion of the object and for directing this light to the light-receiving surface of the light filter, where the light restriction means comprises a window that approximately coincides with the small predetermined area and has a first area transparent to light in the selected wavelength band and has a second area surrounding the first area that is substantially opaque to light in the selected wavelength band; an array of photosensors, positioned to receive light that is transmitted through or reflected from the light filter so that each photosensor in the array receives light in a very narrow band of wavelengths having the central wavelength lc(x) and having a wavelength width no more than a wavelength width of a pass band of the light filter, for light received or transmitted at the position with coordinate x on the light filter, with each photosensor in the array issuing an output signal that represents the cumulative light energy received by that photosensor from the light filter; and color measurement means for receiving the photosensor output signals and for determining the color or colors present in the incident light based on the relative amounts of light of different wavelengths received at four or more of the photosensors.