Abstract: A method has been developed to monitor the aging of an illuminator (such as a lamp) and the interior sphere wall in a sphere-based color measurement instrument. This monitoring process or method is configurable to independently monitor the aging of the illuminator as well as the aging of the interior surface of a color measurement device using standard calibration measurements already present in the color measurement device.

Abstract: By way of overview and introduction, various embodiments of the apparatus, systems and methods described herein are directed improved approaches to aligning and standardizing different total spectral radiance factor shapes measured with different instruments. Furthermore, in one or more configurations and approaches, the disclosure presented herein is directed to obtaining a whiteness calibration value for use in sample measurements without the need of UV filter adjustments.

Abstract: By way of overview and introduction, various embodiments of the apparatus, systems and methods described herein are directed improved approaches to aligning and standardizing different total spectral radiance factor shapes measured with different instruments. Furthermore, in one or more configurations and approaches, the disclosure presented herein is directed to obtaining a whiteness calibration value for use in sample measurements without the need of UV filter adjustments.

Abstract: In accordance with particular implementations of the invention described herein, a sample for analysis is illuminated under each of one or more narrow-band light sources. The light incident upon this sample is received by a sensor that generates measurement data in response thereto. One or more processors are configured to receive the measurement data and derive an excitation response curve and a fluorescent response curve from the measurement data. The processor is further configured to generate a fluorescent profile value using measurements from the fluorescent response curve for each of the captured narrow band measurement data and an excitation profile value corresponding to the area under the fluorescence curve divided by the area under the excitation curve. The generated fluorescent profile and excitation profile are both output as a dataset providing improved measurement values over similar approaches in the art.

Abstract: In accordance with particular implementations of the invention described herein, a sample for analysis is illuminated under each of one or more narrow-band light sources. The light incident upon this sample is received by a sensor that generates measurement data in response thereto. One or more processors are configured to receive the measurement data and derive an excitation response curve and a fluorescent response curve from the measurement data. The processor is further configured to generate a fluorescent profile value using measurements from the fluorescent response curve for each of the captured narrow band measurement data and an excitation profile value corresponding to the area under the fluorescence curve divided by the area under the excitation curve. The generated fluorescent profile and excitation profile are both output as a dataset providing improved measurement values over similar approaches in the art.

Abstract: In one example, an electronic signal is received from a target color measurement instrument that includes a plurality of color channels. A response of the target color measurement instrument to a light emitted by a target light emitting device is extracted from the signal. The response is calibrated to minimize a difference between the response and an output of a color matching function of a standard observer. Calibrating includes multiplying the response by a calibration matrix. The calibration matrix combines measurements of a first plurality of lights from a tunable light source and measurements of a second plurality of lights from the target light emitting device. A first subset of the measurements of the first plurality and second plurality of lights are made by the target color measurement instrument and a second subset of the measurements of the first plurality and second plurality of lights are made by a reference spectroradiometer.

Abstract: In accordance with a broad aspect of the present invention, a system and method are provided for monitoring and compensating thermal drift of the electronic elements in the sensor of a color measurement device, such as a spectrophotometer. Such a system and method involves, obtaining with a color sensor a plurality of measurements of a black trap with and without illumination across a range of temperatures and using those values to generate a correlation function that allows for the compensation of thermal drift in sample measurements.

Abstract: A system and method are disclosed for correcting the color of microscope images for different illuminants. The system includes a microscope having at least one image setting value selector with a plurality of pre-set positions, and an optical train having a distal end and a proximal end and being configured to convey illumination. The optical train is further configured to allow introduction of a calibration slide into the optical train of the microscope at a plurality of possible positions, each position being a conjugate plane of the sample plane, when the sample is in focus. The calibration slide incorporates an integral transmission filter array of known transmission values.

Abstract: Aligning measurements of fluorescent spectral radiance factors taken by a first instrument with measurements of fluorescent spectral radiance factors taken by a second instrument, without knowledge of the matrix of bispectral luminescent radiance factor of any sample, includes obtaining a fluorescent spectral radiance factor of a reference sample, measured by the first instrument, obtaining the fluorescent spectral radiance factor of the reference sample, measured by the second instrument, obtaining a fluorescent spectral radiance factor of a test sample, measured by the first instrument, and estimating the fluorescent spectral radiance factor of the test sample that would be measured by the second instrument, based on the fluorescent spectral radiance factor of a reference sample, measured by the first instrument, on the fluorescent spectral radiance factor of the reference sample, measured by the second instrument, and on the fluorescent spectral radiance factor of the test sample, measured by the first ins

Abstract: One embodiment of a method for aligning measurements taken by a plurality of color measurement instruments with measurements taken by an industry standard color measurement instrument includes receiving a first set of spectral data from the plurality of instruments, receiving a second set of spectral data from the industry standard instrument, generating initial profiles for the plurality of instruments (by producing, for each given instrument, a first correction that aligns the spectral data taken by the given instrument with the second set of spectral data), mathematically correcting the first set of spectral data using the initial profiles to produce a third set of spectral data, and generating new profiles for the plurality of instruments (by calculating a mean of the third set of spectral data, and producing, for each given instrument, a second correction that aligns the spectral data taken by the given instrument with the mean.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a system and method for identifying and implementing a correction to spectrometer measurements in order to compensate for errors in the measurement values due to second order diffracted light. The present invention in one configuration, measures light reflectance percentages across the same wavelength range for at least one calibration target. From these measurements the portion of the reflectance values resulting from second order diffracted light is identified and corrected for, thereby generating a compensated measurement of the reflectance values of a sample. These compensated values are then provided to a user.

Abstract: A system and method for correcting the color of microscope images is described wherein a microscope, equipped with a variable light source and at least one microscope setting selector operates in conjunction with an image recording device having at least one image setting selector with a plurality of settings, and is configured to record at least one white balanced sample image of a sample. The system and method also includes the use of at least one white balanced calibration image of an integral transmissive color filter array of known transmission values in combination with an image processor executing code in order to color calibrate the sample images based on the calibration image.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a system and method for calibration and adjustment of the pixel color values represented within a digital image of a sample by a transmission microscope. Furthermore the present invention is directed to providing sufficient color information in order to generate a color mapping matrix that allows for the creation of a synthetic image to depict the sample under a desired illumination. The system and method provides a solution that generates a destination-device independent image that is configurable to any calibrated display device.

Abstract: A system and method are disclosed for correcting the color of microscope images for different illuminants. The system includes a microscope having at least one image setting value selector with a plurality of pre-set positions, and an optical train having a distal end and a proximal end and being configured to convey illumination. The optical train is further configured to allow introduction of a calibration slide into the optical train of the microscope at a plurality of possible positions, each position being a conjugate plane of the sample plane, when the sample is in focus. The calibration slide incorporates an integral transmission filter array of known transmission values.

Abstract: Aligning measurements of fluorescent spectral radiance factors taken by a first instrument with measurements of fluorescent spectral radiance factors taken by a second instrument, without knowledge of the matrix of bispectral luminescent radiance factor of any sample, includes obtaining a fluorescent spectral radiance factor of a reference sample, measured by the first instrument, obtaining the fluorescent spectral radiance factor of the reference sample, measured by the second instrument, obtaining a fluorescent spectral radiance factor of a test sample, measured by the first instrument, and estimating the fluorescent spectral radiance factor of the test sample that would be measured by the second instrument, based on the fluorescent spectral radiance factor of a reference sample, measured by the first instrument, on the fluorescent spectral radiance factor of the reference sample, measured by the second instrument, and on the fluorescent spectral radiance factor of the test sample, measured by the first ins

Abstract: Aligning measurements taken by a second color measurement instrument with measurements taken by first color measurement instrument, wherein the first instrument has access to a first set of standards but not a second set of standards, and the second instrument has access to the second set of standards but not the first set of standards, includes using a third color measurement instrument to generate a profile that mathematically transforms a value measured on the second set of standards to a value measured on the first set of standards, wherein the third instrument has access to the first and second sets of standards, mathematically transforming measurements of the second set of standards taken by the second instrument into virtual measurements of the first set of standards, using the profile, and aligning the measurements taken by the second instrument to the measurements taken by the first instrument, using the virtual measurements.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to an apparatus and method for determining a set of gloss measurement values of a sample to be measured. The invention includes a plurality of light sources having a light output, the plurality of sources configured to project light in the direction of a single sample having a gloss characteristic to be measured, wherein the planes of incidence of the light sources are arrayed at different azimuthal angles about the perpendicular direction of the sample. Furthermore, the invention includes a plurality gloss-sensitive sensors, each positioned at 180 degrees of azimuthal angle from the plurality of light sources so as to receive light reflected off a sample and output a plurality of measured gloss sample channel values and a processor configured to compare the outputs of the plurality of sample channel values and generate a plurality of angle-indexed gloss measurement values.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a system and method for calibration and adjustment of the pixel color values represented within a digital image of a sample by a transmission microscope. Furthermore the present invention is directed to providing sufficient color information in order to generate a color mapping matrix that allows for the creation of a synthetic image to depict the sample under a desired illumination. The system and method provides a solution that generates a destination-device independent image that is configurable to any calibrated display device.

Abstract: One embodiment of a method for aligning measurements taken by a plurality of color measurement instruments with measurements taken by an industry standard color measurement instrument includes receiving a first set of spectral data from the plurality of instruments, receiving a second set of spectral data from the industry standard instrument, generating initial profiles for the plurality of instruments (by producing, for each given instrument, a first correction that aligns the spectral data taken by the given instrument with the second set of spectral data), mathematically correcting the first set of spectral data using the initial profiles to produce a third set of spectral data, and generating new profiles for the plurality of instruments (by calculating a mean of the third set of spectral data, and producing, for each given instrument, a second correction that aligns the spectral data taken by the given instrument with the mean.

Abstract: A method for evaluating a color of a sample includes acquiring an image having a plurality of pixels from a sample and a plurality of pixels from known color calibration patches. The image is color calibrated using the known color patches to endow the pixels from the sample with the tristimulus values they would have under one or more known illuminants. The calibrated image is transmitted, together with metadata, to a remote location where further computations and an approval process are performed. The further computations include comparing all of the pixels in the image of a standard that are of a first color to all pixels of a second color in the similarly calibrated image of the sample, where the second color is a color in the image of the sample that is most similar to the first color from the image of the standard.