Handheld color measurement instrument

Abstract

The specification discloses a handheld color measurement instrument capable of reading both barcodes and sample colors. The instrument includes a single color measurement engine connected to a control capable of detecting and reading barcodes. When a barcode is detected, the control updates program and/or configuration information in accordance with information contained in the barcode. When a barcode is not detected, the control operates to read sample colors.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:  
     
         1 . A handheld color measurement instrument comprising: 
 a handheld housing;    a color measurement engine within said housing;    a memory within said housing for storing memory information related to the operation of said color measurement instrument; and    a control within said housing and coupled to said color measurement engine and to said memory, said control being capable of determining whether said color measurement engine is receiving barcode information or non-barcode information, said control being capable of altering information within said memory in response to received barcode information, said control being capable of outputting color data in response to received non-barcode information.    
     
     
         2 . A color measurement instrument as defined in  claim 1  wherein the memory information includes at least one of program information and configuration information.  
     
     
         3 . A color measurement instrument as defined in  claim 1  wherein said control is further capable of distinguishing between barcode information of different colors.  
     
     
         4 . A color measurement instrument as defined in  claim 1  further comprising a signal generator coupled to said control, said control being capable of actuating said signal generator in response to the barcode information.  
     
     
         5 . A color measurement instrument as defined in  claim 4  wherein said signal generator includes at least one of a visual signal generator and an audible signal generator.  
     
     
         6 . A color measurement instrument as defined in  claim 1  wherein said control means is further capable of disabling the ability to receive barcode information after receiving non-barcode information.  
     
     
         7 . A color measurement instrument comprising: 
 a color measurement means for outputting color signals representative of colors aligned with said engine; and    a control means coupled to said engine for receiving the color signals, for determining if the color signals correspond to a barcode, for outputting barcode information if the color signals correspond to a barcode, and for outputting color information if the color signals do not correspond to a barcode.    
     
     
         8 . A color measurement instrument as defined in  claim 7  wherein said control means further is for determining if a barcode includes a plurality of colors and for outputting barcode information corresponding to each of the colors.  
     
     
         9 . A color measurement instrument as defined in  claim 7  further comprising a signal means coupled to said control means for providing a signal, said control means further being for actuating said signal means in response to the received barcodes.  
     
     
         10 . A color measurement instrument as defined in  claim 9  wherein said signal means includes at least one of a visual signal means for providing a visual signal and an audible signal means for providing an audible signal.  
     
     
         11 . A color measurement instrument as defined in  claim 7  wherein said control means further is for disabling the determining means after determining that the color signals correspond to a barcode.  
     
     
         12 . A digital device comprising: 
 memory means for storing memory information including at least one of program information and configuration information;    reader means for reading a barcode; and    control means for altering the memory information in response to the read barcodes.    
     
     
         13 . A digital device as defined in  claim 12  wherein the memory information is configuration information.  
     
     
         14 . A digital device as defined in  claim 12  wherein: 
 the barcode includes a plurality of portions each associated with a unique color;  
 said reader means further is for reading each of the portions; and  
 said control means is for altering the memory information in response to each of the read portions.  
 
     
     
         15 . A digital device as defined in  claim 12:   further comprising signal means for producing a signal; and    wherein said control means further is for activating said signal means in response to the barcode.    
     
     
         16 . A digital device as defined in  claim 15  wherein said signal means includes at least one of a visual signal means for producing a visual signal and an audible signal means for producing an audible signal.