Color sensor
US5963333A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Sep 4, 1997 |
| Grant date | Oct 5, 1999 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Sep 4, 2017 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG01J2003/2866
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A hand-manipulatable device includes a sensor for gathering reflective, densitometric, spectrophotometric, colorimetric, self-luminous or radiometric readings from a sample surface. The device includes a housing having a substantially flat bottom surface and a top surface contoured to fit comfortably in the fingers and palm of the human hand. The housing also includes area on its top surface for seating an index finger of the human hand. Positioned within this area is a pressure-activated switch that is operatively coupled to the sensor circuitry for performing the readings. Preferably, the sensor is mounted into the device such that the focal aperture of the sensor is in axial alignment with the pressure-activated switch. Accordingly, a user will be able to use the device to "point" with his or her index finger to an area of the sample surface, and will then simply press the switch to initiate the readings, using the same index finger.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.