Color measurement instrument

Abstract

A color measurement system includes a multi-purpose filter and optics assembly. The filter and optics assembly includes at least one tube array for segmenting received light. The segmented light is mixed and the polarization qualities of the light are modified so to minimize the effects caused by angular adjustments. A diffuser mixes the segmented light. Additionally, the color measurement system includes an ambient light attachment for collecting light from the viewing area surrounding the computer display. The ambient light collected is then analyzed, and a viewing area profile is created. The viewing area profile then can be used by software to adjust the colors displayed on the computer displays.

1 . A color measurement instrument for measuring light output of a display comprising: 
 a color measurement device; and    an ambient color detector.    
     
     
         2 . The color measurement instrument of  claim 1  further comprising an ambient light attachment for collecting ambient light.  
     
     
         3 . The color measurement instrument of  claim 2  further comprising a light receiver.  
     
     
         4 . The color measurement instrument of  claim 3  further comprising a first light tube array.  
     
     
         5 . The color measurement instrument of  claim 4  further comprising a polarization effect minimization element.  
     
     
         6 . The color measurement instrument of  claim 5  where the first light tube array is positioned between the light receiver and a photodetector.  
     
     
         7 . The color measurement instrument of  claim 6  further comprising a photocell separator.  
     
     
         8 . The color measurement instrument of  claim 7  further comprising a diffuser.  
     
     
         9 . The color measurement instrument of  claim 8  where the ambient light attachment is removably attachable over the light receiver.  
     
     
         10 . The color measurement instrument of  claim 9  where the ambient light attachment diffuses ambient light for use by the light receiver.  
     
     
         11 . The color measurement instrument of  claim 10  further comprising an IR blocking filter.  
     
     
         12 . The color measurement instrument of  claim 11  further comprising a precision filter.  
     
     
         13 . The color measurement instrument of  claim 11  further comprising a filter array.  
     
     
         14 . The color measurement instrument of  claim 12  or  claim 13  where the first light tube array, the diffuser, and the polarization effect minimization element are contained within an optics assembly.  
     
     
         15 . The color measurement instrument of  claim 14  where the ambient light attachment is flat.  
     
     
         16 . The color measurement instrument of  claim 15  where the ambient light attachment is spherical.  
     
     
         17 . The color measurement instrument of  claim 16  where the ambient light attachment is hemispherical.  
     
     
         18 . An optics assembly for use within a color measurement instrument comprising a first light tube array and a polarization effect minimization element.  
     
     
         19 . The optics assembly of  claim 18  further comprising a diffuser.  
     
     
         20 . The optics assembly of  claim 19  further comprising a photocell separator.  
     
     
         21 . The optics assembly of  claim 20  further comprising a precision filter.  
     
     
         22 . The optics assembly of  claim 21  further comprising a second light tube array.  
     
     
         23 . The optics assembly of  claim 22  further comprising a housing, the housing substantially containing the light tube array, the polarization effect minimization element, the diffuser, the photocell separator and the precision filter.  
     
     
         24 . A color measurement instrument for measuring light output of a display, the color measurement instrument having a first surface for placement adjacent the display and a second surface spaced apart from the display comprising: 
 a display light receiver located in the first surface; and    an ambient detector located in the second surface.    
     
     
         25 . The color measurement instrument of  claim 24  where the ambient detector comprises one of a photodetector, a CIE calorimeter filter set and a multiband spectral sensor.  
     
     
         26 . The color measurement instrument of  claim 25  further comprising a cowl attached between the first photodetector and the ambient light receiver.  
     
     
         27 . The color measurement instrument of  claim 26  further comprising a second photodetector located between the first surface and the second surface.  
     
     
         28 . The color measurement instrument of  claim 27  further comprising a photocell separator located between the first photodetector and the ambient light receiver.  
     
     
         29 . The color measurement instrument of  claim 28  where the display light receiver has a display light output and the ambient light receiver has an ambient light output, and further comprising a light analyzer for analyzing the display light output and the ambient light output to determine the color output of the display.  
     
     
         30 . The color measurement instrument of  claim 29  where the light analyzer includes a profile generator for generating a color profile.  
     
     
         31 . The color measurement instrument of  claim 29  where the light analyzer allows real time updating of the color profile.  
     
     
         32 . The color measurement instrument of  claim 28  where the first surface includes a feature to prevent damage to the display while maintaining the reference optical path reference.  
     
     
         33 . The color measurement of  claim 32  where the feature is a foam gasket.  
     
     
         34 . An instrument for measuring light output of a display comprising: 
 a light receiver;    a photodetector; and    a light tube array intermediate the light receiver and the photodetector.    
     
     
         35 . The instrument of  claim 34  further comprising a polarization effect minimization element.  
     
     
         36 . The instrument of  claim 35  further comprising a photocell separator.  
     
     
         37 . The instrument of  claim 36  further comprising an IR blocking filter.  
     
     
         38 . A color instrument comprising: 
 a first color measurement device for performing a first color measurement of a first object;    a second color measurement device for performing a second color measurement; and    a color profile generator for creating a color profile from the first color measurement and the second color measurement.    
     
     
         39 . The color instrument of  claim 38  where the first color measurement device has a location, and the second color measurement is an ambient light measurement for the location.  
     
     
         40 . The color instrument of  claim 38  where the second color measurement is of a reference color plane.  
     
     
         41 . The color instrument of  claim 39  or  claim 40  where the first object is a CRT display.  
     
     
         42 . The color instrument of  claim 39  or  claim 40  where the first object is a liquid crystal display.  
     
     
         43 . The color instrument of  claim 39  or  claim 40  where the first color measurement device is one of a colorimeter, a densitometer, and a spectrophotometer.  
     
     
         44 . A method of creating a color profile comprising: 
 measuring the color of a first object to create a first measurement;    measuring the color of a second object to create a second measurement;    generating a color profile from the first measurement and the second measurement.    
     
     
         45 . The method of  claim 44  where the first object is a CRT display.  
     
     
         46 . The method of  claim 45  where the first object is a liquid crystal display.