Image capturing unit, color measuring device, image forming device, color measuring system, and color measuring method

A color measuring system comprising an image capturing unit that captures a subject of color measurement target, and a calculating unit that calculates a color measurement value of the subject, wherein

• the image capturing unit includes:
• a sensor unit that captures a predetermined area including the subject;
• an optical path length changing member that is arranged on an optical path extending from the subject to the sensor unit and is capable of changing an optical path length;
• and
• a reference chart unit that is arranged in the predetermined area and captured together with the subject by the sensor unit, and
• a housing having an opening on a first surface facing the subject, wherein
• the sensor unit captures the subject positioned outside the housing through the opening from inside the housing, and captures the reference chart unit not through the opening,
• the opening is arranged at a center of the predetermined area, and
• the calculating unit calculates a color measurement value of the subject based on an image of the subject and the reference chart unit captured by the sensor unit of the image capturing unit.

A color measuring method executed in a color measuring device including a sensor unit, a reference chart unit, a calculating unit, an optical path length changing member arranged on an optical path extending from the subject to the sensor unit, and a housing having an opening on a first surface facing the subject, the method comprising:

• capturing a subject of a color measurement target and the reference chart unit in a predetermined area using the sensor unit;
• and
• calculating a color measurement value of the subject using the calculating unit based on an image of the subject and the reference chart unit captured using the sensor unit, wherein
• said capturing using the sensor unit captures the subject positioned outside the housing through the opening from inside the housing, and captures the reference chart unit not through the opening, and
• the opening is arranged at a center of the predetermined area.