Processor controlled measuring device

Abstract

A processor controlled measuring device, especially a colour meter or a spectrophotometer, includes a measuring unit, unit detects the parameters to be measured and converts them into corresponding electrical signals, a control arrangement cooperating with the measuring unit, which controls the measuring unit and processes the electrical signals produced thereby, and an input/output unit cooperating with the control arrangement for the manual operation of the measuring device and for the display of measurement results and user instructions. The control arrangement is provided by a processor on which a control program runs which implements the functionalities of the measuring device. Furthermore, an interface is provided which cooperates with the processor and through which the processor can communicate with an external processor, whereby measured data produced by the measuring device can be called up therefrom and control data controlling the processor can be fed to the processor. A data file system is implemented in the processor wherein the measurement and/or control data are stored in the form of data files of defined format. Furthermore, the data file system is available to a network through the interface. The communication between the processor and an external processor connected to the network takes place by way of the data files stored in the data file system and can thereby be achieved without a manufacturer specific data exchange protocol.