US 7,443,508 B1Granted

Spectrophotometric scanner

AssigneeVIE Group, LLC

InventorsMichael J Vrhel, Victor L Iseli

Life of this patent

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Abstract

A spectrophotometric scanner suitable for producing spectral reflectance images of surfaces of samples for a plurality of wavelength bands is disclosed. The spectrophotometric scanner comprises a scanner head for collecting spectral reflectance data, a positioning mechanism for positioning the scanner head in relation to a surface, and a computing device for controlling the mechanism and recording and analyzing the spectral reflectance data. The computing device directs the positioning mechanism to position the scanner head on a row of locations in a grid of locations of the surface; directs the scanner head to measure spectral reflectance data for each location in the row of locations; records and analyzes the spectral reflectance data; and produces spectral reflectance images from the spectral reflectance data. A light source in the scanner head comprises a plurality of sequentially controllable LEDs, each producing light in a different wavelength band.

Claims21

Dependent claims

A spectrophotometric scanner for producing spectral reflectance images of the surface of a sample, the spectrophotometric scanner comprising:

(a) a scanner for scanning the surface of a sample, the scanner comprising:
(i) a spectral energy source for producing spectral energy in different wavelength bands;
(ii) an imaging device including a row of sensors for detecting spectral energy;
(iii) a first spectral energy director for directing the spectral energy produced by said spectral energy source onto the surface of the sample;
(iv) a second spectral energy director for directing spectral energy reflected from the target surface to the row of sensors;
(v) a reference detector for detecting changes in the spectral energy of each wavelength band produced by the spectral energy source;
and
(vi) a U-shaped substrate having a first leg, a second leg, and a cross leg that joins the first and second legs, wherein:
(1) the row of sensors is located on the cross leg of the U-shaped substrate;
(2) the spectral energy source is located on the first leg of the U-shaped substrate;
and
(3) the reference detector is located on the second leg of the U-shaped substrate;
and
(b) a controller coupled to said scanner for:
(i) causing the spectral energy source to sequentially produce spectral energy in different wavelength bands;
(ii) causing the spectral energy source to make at least one scan of the sample by moving the spectral energy source relative to the sample for each different wavelength band;
and
(iii) adjusting the spectral energy detected by the row of sensors resulting from the scanning of the sample based on changes detected by the reference detector.

15 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 11/435,505Filed 17 May 2006 · us provisional application
Priority: 18 May 2005
Granted: 28 Oct 2008
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification17 codes

G01J 3/10
Details: arrangements of light sources specially adapted for spectrometry or colorimetry
G01J 3/2823
Investigating the spectrum: imaging spectrometer
G01J 3/32
Measuring the intensity of spectral lines directly on the spectrum itself: investigating bands of a spectrum in sequence by a single detector
G01J 3/50
Measurement of colour; Colour measuring devices, e.g. colorimeters: using electric radiation detectors