# US 5,706,083 A · Spectrophotometer and its application to a colorimeter > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 5,706,083 A - Document ID: US5706083A - Status: Granted - Kind: A - Application number: 08/769,264 - Filed: 1996-12-18 - Granted: 1998-01-06 - Earliest claimed: 1995-12-21 - Assignees: Shimadzu Corporation - Inventors: Atsuhiro Iida; Kazumi Yokota; Eiji Ikeda - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US5706083A ## CPC - G01J 3/46: Measurement of colour; Colour measuring devices, e.g. colorimeters (measuring colour temperature G01J5/60) - G01J 3/02: Details - G01J 3/502: {using a dispersive element, e.g. grating, prism} - G01J 3/0264: {Electrical interface; User interface} - G01J 3/0267: {Sample holders for colorimetry} - G01J 3/0278: {Control or determination of height or angle information for sensors or receivers} - G01J 2003/2813: {2D-array} - G01J 2003/283: {computer-interfaced} - 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 spectrophotometer for measuring a two-dimensional area or a spot area in a rather broad surface of a sample, where the spectrophotometer is provided with a camera for taking the picture of the sample surface. The picture is shown on a display screen, and the operator can move a window superimposed on the sample picture in the display screen by using a mouse or the like to a desired place on the sample surface. The sample stage on which the sample is mounted moves according to the movement of the mouse, whereby a spectrophotometric measurement of the desired place (two-dimensional area or the spot area) on the sample is facilitated. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A spectrophotometer comprising: a light source for casting a light on a sample; a spectral element for separating the light coming from a linear portion of the sample with respect to wavelength; a photo-detector including a plurality of elementary photo-sensors arrayed two-dimensionally for measuring the light separated by the spectral element; a first controller for controlling a relative movement of a sample stage on which the sample is mounted and an optical system including the spectral element and the photo-detector in order to perform a spectrophotometric measurement; a camera for taking a picture of the sample; a display device for showing the picture of the sample; an input device used by an operator looking at the picture for designating a photo on the sample; a second controller for controlling a relative movement of the sample stage and the optical system in order to bring the designated place at the optical system; a window generator for generating an image of a window at the designated place; and a superimposer for superimposing the image of the window on the picture of the sample. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The spectrophotometer according to claim 1, wherein a half mirror is placed between the sample and the optical system for splitting the light from the sample to the optical system and to the camera. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The spectrophotometer according to claim 1, wherein a movable mirror is provided, the mirror being movable between a first position on an optical path between the sample and the optical system for reflecting the light from the sample to the camera and a second position out of the optical path for letting the light from the sample toward the optical system. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) A colorimeter using the spectrophotometer according to claim 1. ### Claim 5 A spectrophotometer comprising: a light source for casting a light on a sample; a spectral element for separating the light coming from the sample with respect to wavelength; a photo-detector for measuring the light separated by the spectral element; a camera for taking a picture of the sample; a display device for showing the picture of the sample; an input device used by an operator looking at the picture for designating a place on the sample; a controller for controlling a relative movement of a sample stage and an optical system including the spectral element and the photo-detector in order to bring the designated place at the optical system; a pointer generator for generating an image of a pointer at the designated place; and a superimposer for superimposing the image of the pointer on the picture of the sample. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The spectrophotometer according to claim 5, wherein a half mirror is placed between the sample and the optical system for splitting the light from the sample to the optical system and to the camera. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The spectrophotometer according to claim 5, wherein a movable mirror is provided, the mirror being movable between a first position on an optical path between the sample and the optical system for reflecting the light from the sample to the camera and a second position out of the optical path for letting the light from the sample toward the optical system. ### Claim 8 (depends on 5) A colorimeter using the spectrophotometer according to claim 5. ### Claim 9 A colorimeter for measuring a color or colors of a sample mounted on a sample stage by performing a spectrophotometric measurement of the sample using an optical system, the colorimeter comprising: a camera for taking a color picture of the sample, the picture consisting of two-dimensionally arrayed pixels; a data storage for storing color data of the pixels with an information about a place of each of the pixels; determining means for determining a place and/or a size of a measurement area of the sample based on the color data of the pixels with the information about the place referring to a preset rule; moving means for moving the sample stage and/or the optical system; and a controller for controlling a relative movement of the sample stage and the optical system so that the spectrophotometric measurement is performed on the measurement area. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The colorimeter according to claim 9, wherein the colorimeter further comprises: a pointer generator for generating an image of a pointer at the designated place; and a superimposer for superimposing the image of the pointer on the picture of the sample. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The colorimeter according to claim 9, wherein a half mirror is placed between the sample and the optical system for splitting the light from the sample to the optical system and to the camera. ### Claim 12 (depends on 9) The colormeter according to claim 9, wherein a movable mirror is provided, the mirror being movable between a first position on an optical path between the sample and the optical system for reflecting the light from the sample to the camera and a second position out of the optical path for letting the light from the sample toward the optical system.