# US 7,746,474 B2 · Color identifying device for identifying colors of reaction surfaces produced by chemical reaction and gas identifying device > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 7,746,474 B2 - Document ID: US7746474B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 11/723,656 - Filed: 2007-03-21 - Published: 2007-09-27 - Granted: 2010-06-29 - Earliest claimed: 2006-03-22 - Assignees: NEC Corporation - Inventors: Naoki Oda - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US7746474B2 ## CPC - G01N 21/783: {for analysing gases} - G01J 3/26: using multiple reflection, e.g. Fabry-Perot interferometer, variable interference filters - G01J 3/51: using colour filters - G01J 3/513: {having fixed filter-detector pairs} - G01N 21/253: {for batch operation, i.e. multisample apparatus (analytical automats G01N35/00)} - G01N 2021/7793: {Sensor comprising plural indicators} - G01N: INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES (measuring or testing apparatus or processes other than immunoassay, involving enzymes or microorganisms C12M, C12Q) - 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 color identifying device includes a mount block, a color detector, a lens and a color identifier. A reactive board having a plurality of surfaces to be measured in respective predetermined positions is mounted in the mount block. The color detector has a plurality of color measuring areas corresponding respectively to the reaction surfaces of the reactive board mounted in the mount block. The lens forms images of the surfaces of the reactive board mounted in the mount block on the respective color measuring areas. The color identifier identifies the colors of the surfaces based on output signals from the corresponding color measuring areas. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A color identifying device comprising: a mount block for mounting a board to be measured which comprises a plurality of surfaces to be simultaneously measured in predetermined positions, respectively; a color detector comprising a plurality of color measuring areas corresponding respectively to said surfaces while said board is mounted on said mount block; a lens for simultaneously forming respective images of said surfaces of said board mounted on said mount block, respectively on said color measuring areas corresponding respectively to said surfaces; a linear variable filter (LVF) arranged such that output signals from said color measuring areas vary depending respectively on colors of said surfaces; and a color identifier for identifying colors of said surfaces which correspond respectively to said color measuring areas, based on output signals from said color measuring areas corresponding respectively to said surfaces. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The color identifying device according to claim 1, wherein said output signals from said color measuring areas represent spectrums of the colors of said surfaces which correspond respectively to said color measuring areas. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The color identifying device according to claim 1, wherein said output signals from said color measuring areas represent three components of the colors of said surfaces which correspond respectively to said color measuring areas. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The color identifying device according to claim 3, wherein said output signals from said color measuring areas represent red, green and blue components of the colors of said surfaces which correspond respectively to said color measuring areas. ### Claim 5 A gas identifying device comprising: a mount block for mounting a reactive board having a plurality of reaction surfaces disposed in predetermined positions, respectively, said reaction surfaces comprising colors variable by chemical reactions between a gas to be identified and chemical reagents; a color detector comprising a plurality of color measuring areas corresponding respectively to said reaction surfaces while said board is mounted on said mount block; a lens for forming respective images of said reaction surfaces of said board mounted on said mount block, respectively on said color measuring areas corresponding respectively to said surfaces; and a gas identifier for identifying said gas based on output signals from said color measuring areas corresponding respectively to said surfaces. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The gas identifying device according to claim 5, wherein said output signals from said color measuring areas represent spectrums of the colors of said reaction surfaces which correspond respectively to said color measuring areas. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The gas identifying device according to claim 5, wherein said output signals from said color measuring areas represent three components of the colors of said reaction surfaces which correspond respectively to said color measuring areas. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The gas identifying device according to claim 7, wherein said output signals from said color measuring areas represent red, green and blue components of the colors of said reaction surfaces which correspond respectively to said color measuring areas. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The color identifying device according to claim 1, further comprising a light emitting element which simultaneously applies a light to said surfaces. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The color identifying device according to claim 9, wherein said mount block prevents other lights from irradiating said surfaces, and said other lights are different from the light emitted from said light emitting element. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The color identifying device according to claim 1, wherein said LVF filters light such that light passed through to each of said color measuring areas comprises a spectrum of the color of the surface corresponding to said each color measuring area. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The color identifying device according to claim 1, wherein said LVF comprises a multilayer film disposed on a glass substrate. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The color identifying device according to claim 12, wherein said multilayer film is progressively thicker from one end to another end. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The color identifying device according to claim 13, wherein said LVF passes light in a wavelength range from 380 nm to 720 nm. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The color identifying device according to claim 1, further comprising a processor generating color information representing a most similar color to each color identified by said color identifier. ### Claim 16 A color identifying device comprising: a plurality of surfaces to be simultaneously measured; a color detector having a plurality of color measuring areas corresponding respectively to said surfaces; a lens for simultaneously forming images of said surfaces on said color measuring areas corresponding respectively to said surfaces; and a color identifier identifying colors of said surfaces which correspond respectively to said color measuring areas. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The color identifying device according to claim 16, wherein said lens comprises a cylindrical lens. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The color identifying device according to claim 16, further comprising a processor generating color information representing a most similar color to each color identified by said color identifier. ### Claim 19 (depends on 16) The color identifying device according to claim 16, further comprising a linear variable filter (LVF) arranged such that output signals from said color measuring areas vary depending respectively on colors of said surfaces. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The color identifying device according to claim 19, wherein spectrums of said surfaces comprise mutually different spectrums of colors to be identified. ### Claim 21 (depends on 11) The color identifying device according to claim 11, wherein said spectrums comprise mutually different spectrums of colors to be identified.