The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Feb. 07, 1995
Filed:
Sep. 04, 1991
Bernard J Berg, Kentwood, MI (US);
Thomas J Boes, Grandville, MI (US);
Mark A Cargill, Belding, MI (US);
X-Rite, Incorporated, Grandville, MI (US);
Abstract
A spectrophotometer apparatus (200) is adapted to provide spectral reflectance measurements of an object sample (236) under test, particularly optical characteristics of colored surfaces comprising metallic or pearlescent particles. The apparatus (200) comprises a source light (226) and a reflection optics assembly. Signals representative of reflected light are analyzed and data is generated representative of the spectral response characteristics of the object sample (236). The apparatus (200) employs a plurality of fiber optic bundles (248, 250, 252) for receiving light reflected from the object sample (236), with each of the fiber optic bundles (248, 250, 252) being positioned at one of a corresponding plurality of fixed angles different from the angle of illumination of the source light (226). Reflectance is measured at each angle by sequential switching such that light is impaired from being received by all but a subset of the plurality of multiple angles. Light received from the fiber optic bundles is transferred to a single array of integral interference-filter/photodiode devices (284) which modulate the light and determine the spectral characteristics thereof. With the use of fiber optic devices, a single source of illumination and a single optical detector arrangement, the spectrophotometer apparatus (200) is employed within an optimally small packaging configuration, and the apparatus (200) can be maintained in a portable mode while maintaining relatively high accuracy and repeatability.