Abstract: The specification discloses a dental curing light including 1) a light engine, 2) a coaxially aligned, camera-based viewing system, and 3) a control system providing a variety of safety features and simplified, operator-friendly operation. The camera’s field of view (FOV) is coaxial with the centerline of the curing beam of the light engine. The curing light includes a multi-planar dichroic mirror (MDM) providing viewing and light beam direction aligned with the target. The MDM provide multiple images to the camera from different angles. The camera provides real-time measurement of light intensity reflected back from the targeted surface. Using the multiple image portions reflected by the multi-planar dichroic mirror, the control system computes the distance between the curing light and the target. The reflected intensity and the calculated distance enable the control system to compute a light engine irradiance to achieve a desired irradiance at the targeted surface.

Abstract: The specification discloses a dental curing light including 1) a light engine, 2) a coaxially aligned, camera-based viewing system, and 3) a control system providing a variety of safety features and simplified, operator-friendly operation. The camera's field of view (FOV) is coaxial with the centerline of the curing beam of the light engine. The curing light includes a multi-planar dichroic mirror (MDM) providing viewing and light beam direction aligned with the target. The MDM provide multiple images to the camera from different angles. The camera provides real-time measurement of light intensity reflected back from the targeted surface. Using the multiple image portions reflected by the multi-planar dichroic mirror, the control system computes the distance between the curing light and the target. The reflected intensity and the calculated distance enable the control system to compute a light engine irradiance to achieve a desired irradiance at the targeted surface.

Abstract: The specification discloses a dental curing light including 1) a light engine, 2) a coaxially aligned, camera-based viewing system, and 3) a control system providing a variety of safety features and simplified, operator-friendly operation. The camera's field of view (FOV) is coaxial with the centerline of the curing beam of the light engine. The curing light includes a multi-planar dichroic mirror (MDM) providing viewing and light beam direction aligned with the target. The MDM provide multiple images to the camera from different angles. The camera provides real-time measurement of light intensity reflected back from the targeted surface. Using the multiple image portions reflected by the multi-planar dichroic mirror, the control system computes the distance between the curing light and the target. The reflected intensity and the calculated distance enable the control system to compute a light engine irradiance to achieve a desired irradiance at the targeted surface.

Abstract: A method of automatically mounting a sheet from a cutting table onto a spacer frame of an insulating glass unit begins with identifying a position and orientation of a specified sheet on the cutting table and moving a robotic sheet pickup apparatus to a corresponding position to that identified for the sheet. An edge of the specified sheet is lifted off of the table, beginning with mechanical suction that brings a corner of the sheet to within proximity of a primary vacuum suction of the pickup apparatus. In particular, the pickup apparatus may have a substantially planar platen with a set of channels coupled to a vacuum source. Once the sheet is fully picked up by vacuum suction, the sheet is laid upon a top surface of a tilt table, which can be simply the platen inverted. The table (or platen) is tilted to bring a corner of the sheet to abut against physical fences. Once the position and orientation of the sheet is so known, the sheet is oriented to correspond to a frame, and attached thereto.

Abstract: A method of automatically mounting a sheet from a cutting table onto a spacer frame of an insulating glass unit begins with identifying a position and orientation of a specified sheet on the cutting table and moving a robotic sheet pickup apparatus to a corresponding position to that identified for the sheet. An edge of the specified sheet is lifted off of the table, beginning with mechanical suction that brings a corner of the sheet to within proximity of a primary vacuum suction of the pickup apparatus. In particular, the pickup apparatus may have a substantially planar platen with a set of channels coupled to a vacuum source. Once the sheet is fully picked up by vacuum suction, the sheet is laid upon a top surface of a tilt table, which can be simply the platen inverted. The table (or platen) is tilted to bring a corner of the sheet to abut against physical fences. Once the position and orientation of the sheet is so known, the sheet is oriented to correspond to a frame, and attached thereto.

Abstract: A color measurement system includes a hand held color measurement instrument, which may be provided with a wireless interface to a computer. The color measurement system includes a scanning guide for holding the hand held color measurement instrument in proper alignment with a color target. The scanning guide includes a calibration reference to allow convenient calibration of the hand-held color measurement instrument. The hand-held color instrument includes an illumination ring to provide visual feedback to the user. The color of the illumination ring changes in order to display a color similar to that being read by the hand-held color measurement instrument. Color management profiling of the hand held color measurement instrument illumination ring improves the color rendition capability of the illumination ring.

Abstract: A color measurement system includes a hand held color measurement instrument, which may be provided with a wireless interface to a computer. The color measurement system includes a scanning guide for holding the hand held color measurement instrument in proper alignment with a color target. The scanning guide includes a calibration reference to allow convenient calibration of the hand-held color measurement instrument. The hand-held color instrument includes an illumination ring to provide visual feedback to the user. The color of the illumination ring changes in order to display a color similar to that being read by the hand-held color measurement instrument. Color management profiling of the hand held color measurement instrument illumination ring improves the color rendition capability of the illumination ring.

Abstract: A color measurement system includes a hand held color measurement instrument, which may be provided with a wireless interface to a computer. The color measurement system includes a scanning guide for holding the hand held color measurement instrument in proper alignment with a color target. The scanning guide includes a calibration reference to allow convenient calibration of the hand-held color measurement instrument. The hand-held color instrument includes an illumination ring to provide visual feedback to the user. The color of the illumination ring changes in order to display a color similar to that being read by the hand-held color measurement instrument. Color management profiling of the hand held color measurement instrument illumination ring improves the color rendition capability of the illumination ring.

Abstract: A color measurement system includes a hand held color measurement instrument, which may be provided with a wireless interface to a computer. The color measurement system includes a scanning guide for holding the hand held color measurement instrument in proper alignment with a color target. The scanning guide includes a calibration reference to allow convenient calibration of the hand-held color measurement instrument. The hand-held color instrument includes an illumination ring to provide visual feedback to the user. The color of the illumination ring changes in order to display a color similar to that being read by the hand-held color measurement instrument. Color management profiling of the hand held color measurement instrument illumination ring improves the color rendition capability of the illumination ring.

Abstract: An LED-based color measurement instrument including an illumination system and a sensing system. The illumination system includes modulated LEDs and a temperature control system for regulating the temperature of the LEDs, thereby improving the consistency of their performance. The sensing system includes a photodiode, a transimpedance amplifier, and an integrator in the first stage to cancel the effect of ambient light on the output of the first stage. The sensing system also includes a lens system for imaging a target area of the target sample onto the photo sensor in a manner so that the product of the target area times the solid angle captured by the lens system is generally uniform over a selected range of distances, thereby reducing the positional sensitivity of the instrument with respect to the target sample.

Abstract: Systems, methods, processes, and devices are disclosed for measuring and matching the color and appearance of decorative artifacts to facilitate product selection, such as in a retail store or other commercial environment.

Abstract: An LED-based color measurement instrument including an illumination system and a sensing system. The illumination system includes modulated LEDs and a temperature control system for regulating the temperature of the LEDs, thereby improving the consistency of their performance. The sensing system includes a photodiode, a transimpedance amplifier, and an integrator in the first stage to cancel the effect of ambient light on the output of the first stage. The sensing system also includes a lens system for imaging a target area of the target sample onto the photo sensor in a manner so that the product of the target area times the solid angle captured by the lens system is generally uniform over a selected range of distances, thereby reducing the positional sensitivity of the instrument with respect to the target sample.

Abstract: An LED-based color measurement instrument including an illumination system and a sensing system. The illumination system includes modulated LEDs and a temperature control system for regulating the temperature of the LEDs, thereby improving the consistency of their performance. The sensing system includes a photodiode, a transimpedance amplifier, and an integrator in the first stage to cancel the effect of ambient light on the output of the first stage. The sensing system also includes a lens system for imaging a target area of the target sample onto the photo sensor in a manner so that the product of the target area times the solid angle captured by the lens system is generally uniform over a selected range of distances, thereby reducing the positional sensitivity of the instrument with respect to the target sample.

Abstract: A color measurement system includes a hand held color measurement instrument, which may be provided with a wireless interface to a computer. The color measurement system includes a scanning guide for holding the hand held color measurement instrument in proper alignment with a color target. The scanning guide includes a calibration reference to allow convenient calibration of the hand-held color measurement instrument. The hand-held color instrument includes an illumination ring to provide visual feedback to the user. The color of the illumination ring changes in order to display a color similar to that being read by the hand-held color measurement instrument. Color management profiling of the hand held color measurement instrument illumination ring improves the color rendition capability of the illumination ring.

Abstract: A color measurement system includes a hand held color measurement instrument, which may be provided with a wireless interface to a computer. The color measurement system includes a scanning guide for holding the hand held color measurement instrument in proper alignment with a color target. The scanning guide includes a calibration reference to allow convenient calibration of the hand-held color measurement instrument. The hand-held color instrument includes an illumination ring to provide visual feedback to the user. The color of the illumination ring changes in order to display a color similar to that being read by the hand-held color measurement instrument. Color management profiling of the hand held color measurement instrument illumination ring improves the color rendition capability of the illumination ring.

Abstract: A color measurement system includes a hand held color measurement instrument, which may be provided with a wireless interface to a computer. The color measurement system includes a scanning guide for holding the hand held color measurement instrument in proper alignment with a color target. The scanning guide includes a calibration reference to allow convenient calibration of the hand-held color measurement instrument. The hand-held color instrument includes an illumination ring to provide visual feedback to the user. The color of the illumination ring changes in order to display a color similar to that being read by the hand-held color measurement instrument. Color management profiling of the hand held color measurement instrument illumination ring improves the color rendition capability of the illumination ring.

Abstract: An LED-based color measurement instrument including an illumination system and a sensing system. The illumination system includes modulated LEDs and a temperature control system for regulating the temperature of the LEDs, thereby improving the consistency of their performance. The sensing system includes a photodiode, a transimpedance amplifier, and an integrator in the first stage to cancel the effect of ambient light on the output of the first stage. The sensing system also includes a lens system for imaging a target area of the target sample onto the photo sensor in a manner so that the product of the target area times the solid angle captured by the lens system is generally uniform over a selected range of distances, thereby reducing the positional sensitivity of the instrument with respect to the target sample.

Abstract: A portable spectrophotometer includes a rotating wheel provided with a plurality of filters having filter characteristics in the 400 to 700 nanometer wavelength range. The filters are moved between an optical conduit and a photoelectric sensor as the wheel is rotated. In one embodiment, a lamp housing contains three object illuminating lamps circumferentially spaced apart by 120.degree. and projecting light onto the object sample at a 45.degree. angle to the object sample. Light reflected from the object sample is conducted through the optical conduit and focused on the optical sensor by means of a focusing lens. A blocking filter is interposed between the lens and the wheel and serves to block light outside of the 400 to 700 nanometer wavelength range. A side sensor receives light from one of the three lamps through the filters as the wheel is rotated and provides output signals which are used as reference signals for the individual filters.

Abstract: A spectrophotometer apparatus (200) is adapted to provide spectral reflectance measurements of object samples. The apparatus (200) comprises a source light (254) and a reflection optics assembly (264, 268). Signals representative of reflected light are analyzed and data provided to an operator representative of the spectral response characteristics of the object sample (252). The apparatus (200) further comprises a side sensor (276) having a fixed spectral response characteristic for compensating the reflectance measurements in accordance with the light intensity emanating from the lamp. For purposes of calibration, a series of time-sequenced measurements are made of a reference sample. Utilizing these measurements, the apparatus (200) provides computations of compensation coefficients for each spectral segment.