# US 12,007,282 B2 · Instrument monitoring

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- Number: US 12,007,282 B2
- Document ID: US12007282B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 17/687,005
- Filed: 2022-03-04
- Published: 2023-09-07
- Granted: 2024-06-11
- Earliest claimed: 2022-03-04
- Assignees: Datacolor Inc.
- Applicants: Datacolor Inc.
- Inventors: Michael H. Brill; Zhiling Xu; Kathleen A. Edwards
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12007282B2

## CPC

- G01J 3/524: {Calibration of colorimeters}
- G01J 3/0251: {Colorimeters making use of an integrating sphere}
- G01J 3/027: {Control of working procedures of a spectrometer; Failure detection; Bandwidth calculation}
- G01J 3/0291: {Housings; Spectrometer accessories; Spatial arrangement of elements, e.g. folded path arrangements}
- G01J 3/10: Arrangements of light sources specially adapted for spectrometry or colorimetry
- G01J 3/501: {Colorimeters using spectrally-selective light sources, e.g. LEDs}
- G01J: MEASUREMENT OF INTENSITY, VELOCITY, SPECTRAL CONTENT, POLARISATION, PHASE OR PULSE CHARACTERISTICS OF INFRARED, VISIBLE OR ULTRAVIOLET LIGHT; COLORIMETRY; RADIATION PYROMETRY (light sources F21, H01J, H01K, H05B; investigating properties of materials by optical means G01N)

## Abstract

A method has been developed to monitor the aging of an illuminator (such as a lamp) and the interior sphere wall in a sphere-based color measurement instrument. This monitoring process or method is configurable to independently monitor the aging of the illuminator as well as the aging of the interior surface of a color measurement device using standard calibration measurements already present in the color measurement device.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method of monitoring components of a color measurement device comprising:
illuminating, with at least one illuminator, a sample using a measurement enclosure at a first time and at a second time wherein the second time is later than the first time;
obtaining, from at least one sample channel sensor using at least one processor, a first sensor output signal generated from measuring light reflected off the sample at the first time and a second sensor output signal generated from measuring light reflected off the sample at the second time;
obtaining, from at least one reference channel sensor using at least one processor, a first reference output signal generated from measuring light reflected off a portion of the measurement enclosure at the first time and a second reference output signal generated from measuring light reflected off the portion of the measurement enclosure at the second time; and
determining, using at least one processor, at least one of a reflectance value for the portion of the measurement enclosure and at least one lamp intensity value for the at least one illuminator based on at least the first and second sample sensor output signal measurements and the first and second reference output signal measurements.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The color measurement method of claim 1, wherein the reflectance value of the portion of the measurement enclosure Rwall(t) is obtained according to:
Rwall
⁡
(
t
)
=
Rwall
⁡
(
0
)
*
Iwall
⁡
(
t
)
/
Isam
⁡
(
t
)
Iwall
⁡
(
0
)
/
Isam
⁡
(
0
)
where Isam(0) is the raw signal of the sample obtained from the sample channel sensor at a first time and Isam(t) is the raw signal of the sample obtained from the sample channel sensor at the second time, Iwall(0) is the raw signal of the portion of the measurement enclosure obtained by the reference channel sensor at the first time and Iwall(t) is the raw signal of the portion of the measurement enclosure obtained by the reference channel sensor at the second time.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The color measurement method of claim 1, wherein the lamp intensity value Ilamp(t) is obtained according to:
Ilamp
⁡
(
t
)
=
Ilamp
⁡
(
0
)
*
Isam
⁡
(
t
)
2
Isam
⁡
(
0
)
2
*
Iwall
⁡
(
0
)
Iwall
⁡
(
t
)
where Isam(0) is the raw signal of the sample obtained from the sample channel sensor at a first time and Isam(t) is the raw signal of the sample obtained from the sample channel sensor at the second time, Iwall(0) is the raw signal of the portion of the measurement enclosure obtained by the reference channel sensor at the first time and Iwall(t) is the raw signal of the portion of the measurement enclosure obtained by the reference channel sensor at the second time.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The color measurement method of claim 1, further comprising comparing the at least one reflectance value for the reference area and the at least one lamp intensity value to a threshold value, and where at least one reflectance value for the reference area and the at least one lamp intensity value exceeds the threshold value; and generating an alert for display on a display device.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The color measurement method of claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to store the at least one reflectance value for the reference area and the at least one lamp intensity value in at least one data storage device.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The color measurement method of claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to transmit the at least one reflectance value for the reference area and the at least one lamp intensity value to at least one remote processor.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The color measurement method of claim 1, wherein the sample is a white calibration tile.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The color measurement method of claim 1, further comprising:
obtaining a reflectance value and a lamp intensity value at a first measurement time (t1) and a second measurement time (t2) for a first wavelength (λ1) and a second wavelength (λ2);
calculating a Cross-Ratio according to:
Cross
-
Ratio
=
Rwall
⁡
(
t
⁢
1
,
λ
⁢
1
)
⁢
Rwall
⁡
(
t
⁢
2
,
λ
⁢
2
)
/
[
Rwall
⁡
(
t
⁢
1
,
λ
⁢
2
)
⁢
Rwall
⁡
(
t
⁢
2
,
λ1
)
]
=
Rwall
′
(
t
⁢
1
,
λ
⁢
1
)
⁢
Rwall
′
(
t
⁢
2
,
λ
⁢
1
)
/
[
Rwall
′
(
t
⁢
1
,
λ
⁢
2
)
⁢
Rwall
′
(
t
⁢
2
,
λ1
)
]
,
comparing, for t2>t1 and λ2>λ1, the Cross-Ratio value to a pre-determined threshold, and
generating least one of an alert for display on a display device, a data value for storage in a data storage device, and a data value for transmission to a remote processor where the Cross-Ratio value exceeds the pre-determined threshold.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The color measurement method of claim 8, wherein Rwall(t) is obtained according to:
Rwall
⁡
(
t
)
=
Rwall
⁡
(
0
)
*
Iwall
⁡
(
t
)
/
Isam
⁡
(
t
)
Iwall
⁡
(
0
)
/
Isam
⁡
(
0
)
,
and wherein Ilamp(t) is obtained according to:
Ilamp
⁡
(
t
)
=
Ilamp
⁡
(
0
)
*
Isam
⁡
(
t
)
2
Isam
⁡
(
0
)
2
*
Iwall
⁡
(
0
)
Iwall
⁡
(
t
)
where Isam(0) is the raw signal of the sample obtained from the sample channel sensor at a first time and Isam(t) is the raw signal of the sample obtained from the sample channel sensor at a later time, Iwall(0) is the raw signal of the portion of the measurement enclosure obtained by the reference channel sensor at the first time and Iwall(t) is the raw signal of the portion of the measurement enclosure obtained by the reference channel sensor at the later time.

### Claim 10

A color measurement system comprising:
an enclosure, the enclosure having at least one illuminator;
at least one sample channel sensor for measuring light reflected off a sample positioned at a sample port of the enclosure at the first time and a second sensor output signal generated from measuring light reflected off of the sample at a second time, wherein the second time is later than the first time;
at least one reference channel sensor for measuring light reflected off of a portion of the enclosure at the first time and a second reference output signal generated from measuring light reflected off the portion of the enclosure at the second time; and
a processor, configured to receive the first and second sample signal and the first and second reference signal and determine at least one of a reflectance value for the portion of the measurement enclosure and at least one lamp intensity value for the at least one illuminator based on at least the first and second sample sensor output signal measurements and the first and second reference output signal measurements.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The color measurement system of claim 10, wherein the reflectance value of the reference area Rwall(t) is obtained according to:
Rwall
⁡
(
t
)
=
Rwall
⁡
(
0
)
*
Iwall
⁡
(
t
)
/
Isam
⁡
(
t
)
Iwall
⁡
(
0
)
/
Isam
⁡
(
0
)
where Isam(0) is the raw signal of the sample obtained from the sample channel sensor at a first time and Isam(t) is the raw signal of the sample obtained from the sample channel sensor at the second time, Iwall(0) is the raw signal of the portion of the measurement enclosure obtained by the reference channel sensor at the first time and Iwall(t) is the raw signal of the portion of the measurement enclosure obtained by the reference channel sensor at the second time.

### Claim 12 (depends on 10)

The color measurement system of claim 10, wherein the lamp intensity value Ilamp(t) is obtained according to:
Ilamp
⁡
(
t
)
=
Ilamp
⁡
(
0
)
*
Isam
⁡
(
t
)
2
Isam
⁡
(
0
)
2
*
Iwall
⁡
(
0
)
Iwall
⁡
(
t
)
where Isam(0) is the raw signal of the sample obtained from the sample channel sensor at a first time and Isam(t) is the raw signal of the sample obtained from the sample channel sensor at the second time, Iwall(0) is the raw signal of the portion of the measurement enclosure obtained by the reference channel sensor at the first time and Iwall(t) is the raw signal of the portion of the measurement enclosure obtained by the reference channel sensor at the second time.

### Claim 13 (depends on 10)

The color measurement system of claim 10, wherein the processor is further configured to store the at least one reflectance value for the reference area and the at least one lamp intensity value in at least one data storage device.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The color measurement system of claim 13, wherein the processor is further configured to access at least one of the at least one stored reflectance value for the reference area and a lamp intensity for the at least one illuminator.

### Claim 15 (depends on 14)

The color measurement system of claim 14, wherein the processor is further configured to store Isam(0), Isam(t), Iwall(0) and Iwall(t) in a remotely accessible database.

### Claim 16 (depends on 13)

The color measurement system of claim 13, wherein the processor is configured to compare the at least one reflectance value for the reference area and the at least one lamp intensity value to a threshold value, and where at least one reflectance value for the reference area and the at least one lamp intensity value exceeds the threshold value, generating an alert for display on a display device.

### Claim 17 (depends on 16)

The color measurement system of claim 16, wherein the alert is sent to at least one of a local or remote processor, wherein the alert includes information about the reflectance value for the portion of the measurement enclosure and at least one lamp intensity value for the at least one illuminator.

### Claim 18

A method of monitoring components of a color measurement device comprising:
illuminating, with at least one illuminator, a first sample placed in a sample port of a measurement enclosure at a first time;
obtaining, using at least one processor, from at least one sample channel sensor, a first sensor output signal generated from measuring light reflected off the sample at the first time;
obtaining, using at least one processor, from at least one reference channel sensor, a first reference output signal generated from measuring light reflected off of a portion of the measurement enclosure at the first time;
illuminating, with at least one illuminator, a second sample placed in a sample port of a measurement enclosure at a second time;
obtaining a second sensor output signal generated from measuring light reflected off of the second sample at the second time;
obtaining a second reference output signal generated from measuring light reflected off the portion of the measurement enclosure at the second time; and
determining, using at least one processor, at least one of a reflectance value for the portion of the measurement enclosure and at least one lamp intensity value for the at least one illuminator based on at least the first and second sensor output signal measurements and the first and second reference output signal measurements.

### Claim 19 (depends on 18)

The method of claim 18, wherein the reflectance value of the reference area Rwall(t) is obtained according to:
Rwall
⁡
(
t
)
=
Rwall
⁡
(
0
)
*
Iwall
⁡
(
t
)
/
Isamnew
⁡
(
t
)
Iwall
⁡
(
0
)
/
Isam
⁡
(
0
)
*
Rsamnew
Rsam
where Isam(0) is the raw signal obtained from the sample channel sensor at a first time when measuring the first sample, and Isamnew(t) is the raw signal obtained from measuring the second sample at the second time, Iwall(t) is the raw signal of reference area obtained by the reference channel sensor at the first time and the second time, Rsam is the reflectance of first sample, and Rsamnew is the reflectance value of the second sample.

### Claim 20 (depends on 18)

The method of claim 18, wherein the lamp intensity value Ilamp(t) is obtained according to:
Ilamp
⁡
(
t
)
=
Ilamp
⁡
(
0
)
*
Isamnew
⁡
(
t
)
2
Isam
⁡
(
0
)
2
*
Iwall
⁡
(
0
)
Iwall
⁡
(
t
)
*
Rsam
2
Rsamnew
2
where Isam(0) is the raw signal obtained from the sample channel sensor at a first time when measuring the first sample, and Isamnew(t) is the raw signal obtained from measuring the second sample at the second time, Iwall(t) is the raw signal of reference area obtained by the reference channel sensor at the first time and the second time, Rsam is the reflectance of first sample, and Rsamnew is the reflectance value of the second sample.