System and apparatus for gloss correction in color measurements

An apparatus for compensating the gloss measurement value of a gloss meter comprising:

• an activated light source, configured to project light in the direction of a sample having a gloss characteristic to be measured, wherein there are variations in the intensity of the light source over time;
• at least one gloss-sensitive sensor positioned as a sample channel so as to receive light reflected from the sample and output a measured gloss-sensitive value;
• at least one color-sensitive sensor positioned as a gloss reference channel so as to receive light reflected from a light division device prior to contact with the sample and output a measured color-sensitive value;
• and
• a processor configured to compare the outputs from the sample channel to the gloss reference channel and generate a calibrated gloss measurement value that is substantially free of variations of the activated light source, wherein the processor is further configured to output the calibrated gloss measurement value.

A computer-implemented method for utilizing a particular connection with an electronic device in compensating the measurement of a gloss characteristics of a sample using a gloss meter, the particular electronic device having a processor, a memory, an input device, an output device and a compensation application stored in the memory and executable by the processor, the method comprising:

• projecting light onto a sample to be measured, the light having at least one characteristic that varies over time;
• generating a sample channel value from a gloss sensor related to the amount of gloss possessed by the sample;
• generating a gloss reference channel value from a color sensor wherein the gloss reference channel value is related to the variation in the light projected onto the sample;
• comparing the sample channel value with the gloss reference channel value using the processor by executing the compensation application so as to identify a component of the sample channel value due to intensity variations;
• generating a calibrated gloss measurement value based on the comparison of the sample channel value with the gloss reference channel value;
• comparing the calibrated gloss measurement values to a reference gloss value range stored in the electronic device memory;
• and
• outputting a signal when the gloss measurement value is outside the reference gloss range.

A computer-implemented method for utilizing a particular connection with an electronic device in compensating the measurement of a gloss characteristics of a sample using a gloss meter, the particular electronic device having a processor, a memory, an input device, an output device and a compensation application stored in the memory and executable by the processor, the method comprising:

• projecting light onto a sample to be measured, the light having at least one characteristic that varies over time;
• from a sample channel, generating a sample channel value from a gloss sensor related to the amount of gloss possessed by the sample;
• monitoring variation in the at least one characteristic of the light using a color sensor arranged to pick up the light from (a) the sample channel, or (b) a gloss reference channel in which the light is projected onto the sample, or (c) both the sample channel and the gloss reference channel;
• executing the compensation application on the monitored variation so as to identify a component value due to intensity variations;
• generating a calibrated gloss measurement value based on the identified component value;
• comparing the calibrated gloss measurement values to a reference gloss value range stored in the electronic device memory;
• and
• outputting a signal when the gloss measurement value is outside the reference gloss range.