Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention are directed towards systems, methods and computer program products for correcting inter-instrumentation variation among color measurement devices. In one particular implementation, a method for correcting inter-instrument variation among color measurement devices includes obtaining a set of color measurements of an item under analysis. The described approach also includes accessing a conversion model, wherein the conversion module has been generated using one or more ANN back propagated over a collection of data points, where the data points correspond to measurements of a color standard using devices from a control device batch and a test device batch. Using the conversion module, a processor is configured to transform the set of color measurements into a calibrated color measurement set. The calibrated color measurement set is then output to at least one display, memory or remote computing device.

Abstract: A color measurement system is provided that includes an integrating sphere having at least one specular component included (SCI) sensor configured to output a signal in response to light incident thereupon and at least one specular component excluded (SCE) sensor configured to output a signal in response to light incident thereupon, a sample port, a SCE port, a light source configured to direct a beam of light into the sphere and provide illumination at the sample port and a specular component excluded port. The system also includes a processor having a memory and configured by code to activate the light source so as to cause a beam of light to be directed into the sphere and provide illumination to the sample port. The processor is also configured to receive a signal output by the SCI sensor and a signal output by the SCE sensor.

Abstract: In one example, an initial transform is stored for converting wavelength channel responses of a color measurement instrument to color readings. The initial transform is set in-factory by a manufacturer of the color measurement device. A color selection of a sample is subsequently retrieved from a database, where the color selection was made by an end user in response to a color reading by the color measurement instrument using the initial transform. An adjustment to the initial transform is calculated using the color selection. The adjustment is then sent to the color measurement instrument for use in making future color measurements.

Abstract: A method and a system are provided for obtaining improved spectra recovery results of a measurement of a sample through the use of a calibration matrix obtained from calibration measurement values using at least one illumination source. By calculating the reflectance spectrum of a collection of calibration samples across several rounds of measurements and cascading the results, an improved calibration matrix can be used to convert the sample measurement values to more accurate results.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention are directed towards systems, methods and computer program products for correcting inter-instrumentation variation among color measurement devices. In one particular implementation, a method for correcting inter-instrument variation among color measurement devices includes obtaining a set of color measurements of an item under analysis. The described approach also includes accessing a conversion model, wherein the conversion module has been generated using one or more ANN back propagated over a collection of data points, where the data points correspond to measurements of a color standard using devices from a control device batch and a test device batch. Using the conversion module, a processor is configured to transform the set of color measurements into a calibrated color measurement set. The calibrated color measurement set is then output to at least one display, memory or remote computing device.

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: A method and a system are provided to measure transmittance or reflectance of a color specimen by using a transformation matrix obtained from the measurement values of a series of known transmittance or reflectance calibration color standards and multiple flashes from different illumination sources. A color spectrum can be determined with reduced error by calculating the reflectance spectra of an object using measurement matrices obtained under at least two illuminants and the transformation matrix.

Abstract: A method and a system are provided to measure transmittance or reflectance of a color specimen by using a transformation matrix obtained from the measurement values of a series of known transmittance or reflectance calibration color standards and multiple flashes from different illumination sources. A color spectrum can be determined with reduced error by calculating the reflectance spectra of an object using measurement matrices obtained under at least two illuminants and the transformation matrix.

Abstract: Various embodiments of the systems and methods described herein are directed towards training an artificial neural network to identify color values of a sample by providing image data obtained through multiple image capture devices under a plurality of lighting conditions. The present invention also includes using a pre-trained neural network to identify the color values of a sample having an unknown color value by capturing an image of an unknown color sample and known color reference samples under any illumination or hardware configuration.

Abstract: A method is provided for identifying colors across illuminants using a processor configured by code executing therein, the method comprising capturing a sample image with an image recording device, the image including pixels resenting a color sample under analysis and a color reference chart. The processor is also configured to execute comparing the color values of pixels representing the color reference chart of the sample image to the pixel values corresponding to a plurality of entries within a plurality of color reference datasets to determine the color reference having the closest match of sample captured in the image. The reference identifier of the color that is the closest match to the sample is then output for further use.

Abstract: Various embodiments of the systems and methods described herein are directed towards training an artificial neural network to identify color values of a sample by providing image data obtained through multiple image capture devices under a plurality of lighting conditions. The present invention also includes using a pre-trained neural network to identify the color values of a sample having an unknown color value by capturing an image of an unknown color sample and known color reference samples under any illumination or hardware configuration.

Abstract: A method is provided for identifying colors across illuminants using a processor configured by code executing therein, the method comprising capturing a sample image with an image recording device, the image including pixels representing a color sample under analysis and a color reference chart. The processor is also configured to execute comparing the color values of pixels representing the color reference chart of the sample image to the pixel values corresponding to a plurality of entries within a plurality of color reference datasets to determine the dataset representing the closest match of the illumination present at the time the sample image was captured. Using the identified illuminant, the color reference dataset having the closest illuminant is searched for the color under analysis.

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: Various embodiments of the systems and methods described herein are directed towards training an artificial neural network to identify color values of a sample by providing image data obtained through multiple image capture devices under a plurality of lighting conditions. The present invention also includes using a pre-trained neural network to identify the color values of a sample having an unknown color value by capturing an image of an unknown color sample and known color reference samples under any illumination or hardware configuration.

Abstract: In accordance with a broad aspect of the present invention the system and method described are directed to correcting with a single reference channel thermally dependent spectrum shifts of a light source used with a spectrophotometer. In one embodiment of the system and method described, a light measuring device uses the measured light intensity values to generate a correction coefficient for use in correcting measured light from an object under analysis.

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: In accordance with a broad aspect of the present invention the system and method described are directed to correcting with a single reference channel thermally dependent spectrum shifts of a light source used with a spectrophotometer. In one embodiment of the system and method described, a light measuring device uses the measured light intensity values to generate a correction coefficient for use in correcting measured light from an object under analysis.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for providing a solution that enables technicians or other technical professionals to obtain accurate gloss, haze and DOI values for a reflecting sample due to the surface conditions of the sample. The apparatus and method allow for the generation of a data model of the surface of a sample using a sensor array designed to detect the divergence of a collimated beam of light reflected off the surface of the sample. The same principle enables technical professionals to obtain accurate haze and clarity values for a transparent or translucent sample that is trans-illuminated by light.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to an apparatus and method for measuring the haze value of transmissive samples. The apparatus comprises a first light source selectively configurable to emit a first light beam, a second light source selectively configurable to emit a second light beam, an integrating sphere having an outer surface and an inner surface, the inner surface configured to reflect light incident upon the inner surface, the inner surface further enclosing an interior volume. The integrating sphere is further equipped with an exit port configured to emit light from the interior volume of the integrating sphere. The exit port is positioned such that light from the first light source exits the integrating sphere without obstruction, and light from the second light source is diffused on the interior surface of the integrating sphere prior to exiting the exit port.

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