Gretag-macbeth Ag

Christian Benz

Thomas Senn

A device (strip reader) for an automatic photoelectric measurement of measuring fields contained on a sheet or strip-shaped, opaque or transparent original comprising a housing, transport members for automatically pulling the original into the housing and for transporting the original along a transport path, and a spectrophotometric measurement arrangement as well as a controller in co-operation with the transport members and the measurement arrangement. The measurement arrangement is adjustable in a direction transverse to the transport direction and illuminates the measuring fields provided on the original with light of a defined quality, and receives the light remitted or transmitted from the measuring fields in dependence upon the original and converts this measuring light into electrical signals representing the spectra of the measuring fields. The controller controls the insertion and the transport of the original and converts the electrical signals generated by the measurement arrangement into digital measuring data. The measuring data are provided to an external computer via communication interfaces, preferably via the Internet or via e-mail, for further processing.

Apparatus for automatic measurement of measuring fields

A measuring device, designed as a hand-held device, is disclosed, having a housing, an optical measuring head movably arranged in the housing for charging a test object with measuring light and for collecting light reflected by the test object, an opto-electric converter for converting the collected light into electrical signals, a computer processing the electrical signals and controlling the device, a display for displaying the measurement values obtained from the processing of the electrical signals and operating members working with the computer for controlling the device functions. Upon a triggering of the measuring process, the measuring head is moved, by a motor controller by a computer, out of a rest position into a measuring position and back into the rest position. A calibrating position is provided, in the housing, into which the measuring head can be moved and in which a calibration test object is disposed. The computer measures the calibration test object and generates calibration measurement values. Reference values corresponding to the calibration measurement values are stored in the computer. The computer performs calibration of the device by using calibration measurement values and the stored reference values. An automatic measurement of the calibration test objects in accordance with a predetermined program and a corresponding calibration or checking processes of the device can be performed. An accurate measurement of the calibration test objects is achieved as the calibration test objects are always available and cannot be confused with calibration test objects of other measuring devices.

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Unterehrendingen, Switzerland

Christian Benz