Apparatus and method for measuring optical characteristics of an object

A method comprising the steps of:

• moving a probe towards an object through relative movement between the probe and the object, wherein light is emitted by the probe onto the object, and light is received from the object by the probe;
• during the step of moving the probe towards the object, taking one or more first measurements;
• when the probe is near the object, taking one or more second measurements;
• based on the first and second measurements, determining optical characteristics of the object including one or more of the characteristics of the group consisting of reflected surface color spectrum, bulk material color spectrum, gloss, translucency, fluorescence, and surface texture;
• wherein, as part of the first and/or second measurements, light is coupled to one or more sensors through a color gradient filter.

A method comprising the steps of:

• moving a probe towards an object through relative movement between the probe and the object, wherein light from one or more light sources is directed from the probe to the object;
• during the step of moving the probe towards the object, taking first measurements;
• when the probe is near the object, taking second measurements;
• based on the first and second measurements, determining optical characteristics of the object including one or more of the characteristics of the group consisting of reflected surface color spectrum, bulk material color spectrum, gloss, translucency, fluorescence, and surface texture;
• and
• storing data indicative of the determined optical characteristics in a data base;
• wherein, as part of the first and/or second measurements, light is coupled to one or more sensors through a color gradient filter.

An apparatus for measuring optical characteristics of an object with a probe as the probe is moved towards the object through relative movement between the probe and the object, comprising:

• a probe having one or more light sources and a plurality of light receivers, wherein the probe provides light to the object from the one or more light sources, and receives light from the object through the plurality of light receivers, wherein the plurality of light receivers comprise one or more first light receivers and one or more second light receivers, wherein the one or more first light receivers have a first numerical aperture and the one or more second light receivers have a second numerical aperture different from the first numerical aperture;
• sensors coupled to receive light from the light receivers, wherein one or more of the sensors receive light from the light receivers through a color gradient filter;
• a processor coupled to receive data from the sensors;
• wherein the processor makes a plurality of measurements and determines data indicative of the optical characteristics of the object based on the data received from the one or more sensors, wherein the measurements include at least first and second measurements with the probe at first and second distances from the object.