JP2015045618A - Colorimeter - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a colorimeter capable of improving the colorimetric accuracy while increasing the light utilization efficiency with a simple configuration.SOLUTION: The colorimeter 1 includes: an integrating sphere 11; one or more surface light sources 12 that are disposed in at least a part on an inner surface of the integrating sphere 11 and have flexibility; an optical receiver 14 for receiving diffused illumination light Ld (reflected light Lr) that is generated by the integrating sphere 11 from the light Le emitted from the surface light sources 12 and then is reflected on a sample surface (surface of a sample 9); and a measurement unit 15 for acquiring color measurement data by performing predetermined processing on the basis of the light receiving data D acquired by the optical receiver 14.

Description

  The present invention relates to a colorimeter that performs color measurement based on light reception data obtained using an integrating sphere.

  Conventionally, when various color materials (for example, color materials for dyeing, printing, paint, food, etc.) are handled, management of objective color information has been regarded as important. That is, since the color has a property expressed as a psychophysical quantity sensed by human eyes, the sense of the target color varies depending on the person. Also, the color appears to change depending on the light source to be illuminated. For these reasons, attempts have been made to digitize or symbolize colors as means for expressing and expressing common colors.

  Conventionally, various colorimeters have been proposed as apparatuses for measuring such objective color information (performing color measurement) (see, for example, Patent Documents 1 to 3). As an example, a sample surface method is applied by uniformly irradiating light from a light source (halogen lamp, xenon flash lamp, white LED (Light Emitting Diode), etc.) from any direction using an integrating sphere. A colorimeter having a geometric condition of so-called diffuse illumination 0 degree light reception, in which light reflected in a direction whose angle to the line is 10 ° or less is received by a light receiver, can be mentioned. Then, processing is performed based on the received light data obtained by this light receiver, and colorimetric data and the like represented by various color systems such as the XYZ color system are obtained.

JP-A-61-112930 JP 2003-65851 A JP 2005-189129 A

  By the way, in general, such a colorimeter is required to improve the utilization efficiency of light from the light source (reduce the loss of light) or improve the color measurement accuracy. In addition, it is also required to realize a simple configuration without complicating the device configuration. Therefore, it is desired to propose a technique that can improve the colorimetric accuracy while improving the light utilization efficiency with a simple configuration.

  The present invention has been made in view of such problems, and an object thereof is to provide a colorimeter capable of improving the colorimetric accuracy while improving the light utilization efficiency with a simple configuration.

  The colorimeter of the present invention is integrated on the basis of an integrating sphere, one or more surface light sources having flexibility provided on at least a part of the inner surface of the integrating sphere, and light emitted from the surface light source. A photoreceiver that receives the diffuse illumination light that is generated by the sphere and then reflected by the sample surface, and a measurement unit that obtains colorimetric data by performing predetermined processing based on the received light data obtained by the photoreceiver. It is equipped with.

  In the colorimeter of the present invention, since the light source (surface light source) is arranged in the integrating sphere, for example, a light source is arranged outside the integrating sphere and a part of the light from this light source enters the integrating sphere. Compared with the case where the light source is used, the loss of light from the light source can be suppressed (preferably prevented) without complicating the configuration. Further, since this surface light source is flexible and disposed on the inner surface of the integrating sphere, for example, unlike the case where a point light source is disposed inside the integrating sphere, a shadow of the light source is generated. As a result, there is no possibility that the intensity distribution of the diffuse illumination light varies (the uniformity of the intensity distribution is reduced).

  In the colorimeter of the present invention, it is possible to partially arrange the plurality of surface light sources on the inner surface of the integrating sphere. In that case, it is desirable to arrange these surface light sources substantially isotropically on the inner surface of the integrating sphere. In this case, since the uniformity of the intensity distribution in the diffuse illumination light is improved, the colorimetric accuracy is further improved.

  In the colorimeter of the present invention, the surface light source may be arranged over the entire area on the inner surface of the integrating sphere. In this case, the characteristics at the time of light diffuse reflection on the inner surface of the integrating sphere are made uniform in the entire region. Thereby, since the uniformity of the intensity distribution in the diffuse illumination light is improved, the colorimetric accuracy is further improved. In this case, the surface light source may be configured using a plurality of divided pieces, and the surface light source may be formed into a spherical shape by assembling the plurality of divided pieces. In such a case, for example, even when it is difficult for the surface light source to exhibit three-dimensional flexibility, it becomes easy to form the surface light source into a spherical shape. Therefore, it can be realized with a simpler configuration.

  In the colorimeter of the present invention, the measurement unit may switch between the measurement including the regular reflection light from the sample surface and the measurement not including the measurement by partially switching between the light emission state and the non-light emission state of the surface light source. Good. In this case, it is possible to construct a switching mechanism between the measurement including regular reflection light from the sample surface and the measurement not including, for example, without providing the switching plate and its driving unit.

  In the colorimeter of the present invention, the surface light source can be configured using an organic EL element. In this case, it is preferable that the organic EL element includes an organic EL layer provided on a flexible substrate and a light diffusion layer provided on the organic EL layer. In this case, the emitted light from the organic EL element is emitted from the surface light source after being diffused by the light diffusion layer. Thereby, since the uniformity of the intensity distribution in the diffuse illumination light is improved, the colorimetric accuracy is further improved.

  According to the colorimeter of the present invention, since the flexible surface light source is provided on at least a part of the inner surface of the integrating sphere, the loss of light from the light source can be suppressed without complicating the configuration. In addition, it is possible to prevent variations in the intensity distribution of the diffuse illumination light due to the occurrence of shadows from the light source. Therefore, it is possible to improve the colorimetric accuracy while improving the light utilization efficiency with a simple configuration.

It is a schematic diagram showing the example of schematic structure of the colorimeter which concerns on one embodiment of this invention. It is a schematic cross section showing the detailed structural example of the surface light source shown in FIG. 10 is a schematic perspective view illustrating a schematic configuration example of an integrating sphere according to Modification 1. FIG. 10 is a schematic perspective view illustrating a schematic configuration example of an integrating sphere according to Modification 2. FIG. 10 is a schematic perspective view illustrating a schematic configuration example of an integrating sphere according to Modification 3. FIG. It is a schematic diagram showing the detailed structural example of the surface light source shown in FIG. FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram illustrating another detailed configuration example of the surface light source illustrated in FIG. 5.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. The description will be given in the following order.
1. Embodiment (example in which one surface light source is partially arranged on the inner surface of an integrating sphere)
2. Modifications Modifications 1 and 2 (examples in which a plurality of surface light sources are partially arranged on the inner surface of the integrating sphere)
Modification 3 (example in which surface light sources are arranged over the entire area on the inner surface of the integrating sphere)
3. Other variations

<1. Embodiment>
[Constitution]
FIG. 1 schematically shows a schematic configuration example of a colorimeter (colorimeter 1) according to an embodiment of the present invention. The colorimeter 1 obtains colorimetric data represented by various color systems described later for a sample (test piece) 9 made of various color materials (for example, color materials such as dyeing, printing, paint, and food). (Perform color measurement). The colorimeter 1 irradiates the sample 9 evenly from all directions and reflects in the direction where the angle formed with the normal line of the surface (sample surface) of the sample 9 is 8 ° as shown in FIG. In other words, the diffused illumination 0 degree light receiving method (JIS Z 8722) based on the so-called “geometric condition c”, which is measured by receiving received light (reflected light Lr). The colorimeter 1 includes an integrating sphere 11, a surface light source 12, a lens 13, a light receiver 14, a measuring unit 15, and a switching plate 16.

The integrating sphere 11 is a spherical body having three openings H0, H1, and H2. The inner surface of the integrating sphere 11 is a diffuse reflection surface Sr except for an arrangement region of the surface light source 12 described later. As will be described later in detail, the emitted light Le from the surface light source 12 is diffusely reflected on the diffuse reflection surface Sr, so that the diffuse illumination light Ld irradiated to the sample 9 is generated. A sample 9 is fixedly arranged by a sample holder (not shown) near the opening H1 outside the integrating sphere 11. That is, the surface (sample surface) of the sample 9 is exposed into the integrating sphere 11 through the opening H1. On the other hand, in the vicinity of the opening H2 outside the integrating sphere 11, a lens 13 and a light receiver 14, which will be described later, are arranged in this order toward the outside of the integrating sphere 11. On the other hand, a switching plate 16 to be described later is disposed in the vicinity of the opening H0 outside the integrating sphere 11. Such an integrating sphere is formed of, for example, a casting or a resin, and is coated with barium sulfate (BaSO ₄ ), magnesium oxide (MgO), or the like in order to give the surface a light diffuse reflection property. Yes.

(Surface light source 12)
The surface light source 12 is a light source disposed on at least a part of the inner surface of the integrating sphere 11. Particularly in the present embodiment, one surface light source 12 is partially arranged on the inner surface of the integrating sphere 11. The surface light source 12 is a thin-film light source having flexibility (flexibility), and emits emitted light Le in the integrating sphere 11. In addition, it is desirable that such a surface light source 12 also has a light diffusive reflectivity like the inner surface (diffuse reflection surface Sr) of the integrating sphere 11.

  FIG. 2 schematically shows a detailed configuration example of the surface light source 12 in a cross-sectional view. The surface light source 12 has a laminated structure (multilayer film structure) in which a plurality of layers are laminated on a flexible substrate (flexible substrate) 120 such as a plastic substrate. Moreover, in this Embodiment, this surface light source 12 is comprised using the organic EL (Electro-Luminescence) element. The organic EL element is a thin planar light emitting element that can be processed flexibly and has good light diffusibility. In the surface light source 12 shown in FIG. 2, specifically, an organic EL layer 121 and a light diffusion layer (diffusion plate) 122 are laminated in this order on a flexible substrate 120. That is, the light diffusion layer 122 is provided on the surface side of the organic EL layer 121. Thereby, although the details will be described later, the light diffusibility in the surface light source 12 is improved.

  The lens 13 is a lens for receiving only the reflected light Lr (reflected light from the sample 9) using the property that the light passing through the focal point is only parallel light. The reflected light Lr is obtained by reflecting the diffuse illumination light Ld generated based on the above-described principle on the surface (sample surface) of the sample 9.

  The light receiver 14 receives reflected light Lr (reflected light from the sample surface of the diffuse illumination light Ld) incident through the opening H1 of the integrating sphere 11 and the lens 13, for example, a Si (silicon) photodiode. Etc. are used. In this light receiver 14, for example, the reflected light Lr can be split and received for each wavelength region.

  The measuring unit 15 performs predetermined processing based on the light reception data D obtained in the light receiver 14. This makes it possible to obtain (generate) colorimetric data and the like represented by various color systems such as the XYZ color system.

  The surface of the switching plate 16 is made of the same material (reflecting material or the like) as that of the integrating sphere 11 described above, and can perform the same reflection as the diffuse reflection surface Sr on the inner surface of the integrating sphere 11. . The switching plate 16 (opening H0) is arranged at a position symmetrical to the light receiver 14 side (opening H2) with respect to the normal line of the sample surface. The switching plate 16 is also configured to be able to be displaced as indicated by an arrow P0 in FIG. 1, for example, according to driving by a driving unit (not shown). Thereby, the measurement (colorimetry operation) including the specularly reflected light from the sample surface in the measurement unit 15 and the measurement not including it can be switched according to the position of the switching plate 16. That is, the switching plate 16 and a driving unit (not shown) constitute a switching mechanism between measurement including regular reflection light from the sample surface and measurement not including it. Specifically, when the switching plate 16 is set at the position indicated by the solid line in FIG. 1 (when the opening H0 is closed with respect to the outside), the measuring unit 15 is positive from the sample surface. Measurements including reflected light are made. On the other hand, when the switching plate 16 is set at the position indicated by the broken line in FIG. 1 (when the opening H0 is open to the outside), the measurement unit 15 emits specularly reflected light from the sample surface. Measurements that do not include are made.

[Action / Effect]
(basic action)
In the colorimeter 1, the emitted light Le emitted from the surface light source 12 is diffusely reflected on the inner surface (diffuse reflection surface Sr) of the integrating sphere 11 to generate diffuse illumination light Ld. The diffuse illumination light Ld is applied to the surface (sample surface) of the sample 9 through the opening H1 of the integrating sphere 11, and is reflected on the sample surface, whereby the reflected light Lr is obtained. The reflected light Lr is emitted to the outside of the integrating sphere 11 through the opening H2, and is received by the light receiver 14 through the lens 13. The measuring unit 15 obtains colorimetric data and the like represented by various color systems by performing predetermined processing based on the light reception data D obtained in the light receiver 14. In this way, the colorimetric operation for the sample 9 is performed by the colorimeter 1. At this time, according to the position of the switching plate 16, as described above, the measurement unit 15 is controlled so as to be able to switch between measurement including the specularly reflected light from the sample surface (colorimetry operation) and measurement not including it. The

(Comparative example)
By the way, in a general colorimeter (colorimeter according to a comparative example), a light source (halogen lamp, xenon flash lamp, white LED, etc.) is disposed outside the integrating sphere. A part of the light emitted from the external light source is incident on the integrating sphere.

  For this reason, a loss occurs in the emitted light from the external light source, and the utilization efficiency of the emitted light may be reduced. In order to suppress such loss of emitted light, for example, a lamp house including a light source is provided outside the integrating sphere, or a complicated optical system for guiding emitted light from the external light source into the integrating sphere is constructed. There is a possibility that the apparatus configuration becomes complicated.

  Therefore, for example, when a light source (a point light source such as the above-described various lamps) is disposed inside the integrating sphere, the volume of the light source itself is large, and a shadow of the light source is generated in the integrating sphere. When such a light source shadow is generated, there is a risk that the intensity distribution of the diffuse illumination light irradiated to the sample may vary (the uniformity of the intensity distribution is reduced). Such variation in the intensity distribution may cause a decrease in colorimetric accuracy.

(Operation of the surface light source 12)
On the other hand, in the colorimeter 1 of the present embodiment, a light source (surface light source 12) is arranged inside the integrating sphere 11 as shown in FIGS. Thereby, compared with the said comparative example, the loss of the emitted light Le from the surface light source 12 is suppressed (preferably prevented) without complicating the apparatus configuration. Specifically, in the present embodiment, unlike the comparative example described above, for example, a lamp house including a light source is provided outside the integrating sphere, or a complicated optical system for guiding emitted light from the external light source into the integrating sphere. There is no need to build or. Further, in the present embodiment, almost all of the emitted light Le from the surface light source 12 is used for diffuse reflection in the integrating sphere 11, so that the loss of the emitted light Le hardly occurs (desirably does not occur).

  In the colorimeter 1, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the surface light source 12 has flexibility and is disposed on the inner surface of the integrating sphere 11. Thereby, as described above, unlike the case where the point light source is arranged inside the integrating sphere, the shadow of the light source does not occur. Therefore, unlike such a case, there is no possibility that variations in the intensity distribution of the diffuse illumination light Le occur due to the shadow of such a light source (the uniformity of the intensity distribution decreases).

  As described above, in the present embodiment, since the flexible surface light source 12 is provided on at least a part of the inner surface of the integrating sphere 11, the structure from the surface light source 12 can be reduced without complicating the apparatus configuration. The loss of the emitted light Le can be suppressed, and variations in the intensity distribution of the diffuse illumination light Ld due to the occurrence of a shadow of the light source can be prevented. Therefore, it is possible to improve the colorimetric accuracy while improving the light utilization efficiency with a simple configuration.

  Further, since the device configuration is simplified, the number of parts can be reduced and the device can be downsized. Furthermore, the light source (surface light source 12) can be arranged without causing irregularities on the inner surface of the integrating sphere 11.

  In addition, since the surface light source 12 is configured using an organic EL element and the light diffusion layer 122 is provided on the surface side (on the organic EL layer 121), the emitted light Le from the organic EL element is After being diffused by the light diffusion layer 122, the light is emitted from the surface light source 12. Therefore, it is possible to improve the uniformity of the intensity distribution in the diffuse illumination light Ld and further improve the colorimetric accuracy. That is, as described above, the organic EL element itself has good light diffusibility, but the light diffusibility can be further improved by providing the light diffusion layer 122.

  For example, when such a surface light source 12 is provided at a position including the formation region of the opening H0 in the integrating sphere 11, the following effects can be obtained. That is, it is possible to construct a switching mechanism between the measurement including regular reflection light from the sample surface and the measurement not including without the opening H0, the switching plate 16 and the driving unit (not shown). Specifically, a light emission operation control unit (not shown) that controls the light emission operation of the surface light source 12 is used to change the light emission state and the non-light emission (light-off) state of the portion corresponding to the opening H0 of the surface light source 12. By switching automatically, the measurement unit 15 can switch between measurement including regular reflection light from the sample surface and measurement not including it. That is, when the portion corresponding to the opening H0 of the surface light source 12 is set in the light emitting state, the measurement unit 15 performs measurement including specularly reflected light from the sample surface. On the other hand, when the portion corresponding to the opening H0 of the surface light source 12 is set to the non-light emitting state, the measurement unit 15 performs measurement that does not include specularly reflected light from the sample surface.

<2. Modification>
Subsequently, modified examples (modified examples 1 to 3) of the above-described embodiment will be described. In addition, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected to the same thing as the component in embodiment, and description is abbreviate | omitted suitably. Also, in the following modifications 1 to 3, both the case of the switching mechanism using the switching plate 16 and the case of the switching mechanism using the surface light source 12 are assumed as in the embodiment. Below, illustration about the part relevant to the opening part H0 and the switching board 16 is abbreviate | omitted.

[Modifications 1 and 2]
FIG. 3 is a perspective view schematically showing a schematic configuration example of the integrating sphere (integrating sphere 11A) in the colorimeter according to the first modification. In the integrating sphere 11A according to the modified example 1, unlike the integrating sphere 11 of the above-described embodiment, a plurality of surface light sources 12 are partially arranged on the inner surface of the integrating sphere 11A. The plurality of surface light sources 12 are arranged approximately isotropic (preferably isotropic) on the inner surface of the integrating sphere 11A. Specifically, in this example, a plurality of rectangular surface light sources 12 are arranged in a matrix on the inner surface of the integrating sphere 11A.

  FIG. 4 schematically shows a schematic configuration example of the integrating sphere (integrating sphere 11B) in the colorimeter according to the second modification in a perspective view. Also in the integrating sphere 11B according to the second modified example, unlike the integrating sphere 11 of the above embodiment, a plurality of surface light sources 12 are partially arranged on the inner surface of the integrating sphere 11B. The plurality of surface light sources 12 are arranged approximately isotropic (preferably isotropic) on the inner surface of the integrating sphere 11B. Specifically, in this example, a plurality of strip-shaped surface light sources 12 are arranged side by side at a predetermined interval on the inner surface of the integrating sphere 11B.

  Also in Modifications 1 and 2 having such a configuration, basically the same effect can be obtained by the same operation as in the above embodiment.

  In particular, in these modified examples 1 and 2, the plurality of surface light sources 12 are partially arranged substantially isotropically on the inner surfaces of the integrating spheres 11A and 11B, and the following effects are obtained. It is possible. That is, the uniformity of the intensity distribution in the diffuse illumination light Ld can be improved and the colorimetric accuracy can be further improved.

[Modification 3]
FIG. 5 schematically shows a schematic configuration example of an integrating sphere (integrating sphere 11C) in the colorimeter according to the modification 3 in a perspective view. In the integrating sphere 11C according to the modified example 3, unlike the integrating spheres 11, 11A, and 11B described so far, the surface light source 12 is arranged over the entire area on the inner surface of the integrating sphere 11C. Therefore, the surface light source 12 of this modification has a spherical shape.

  Here, it is generally said that it is relatively difficult for an organic EL element to exhibit three-dimensional flexibility. For this reason, as described above, when the surface light source 12 is configured using an organic EL element, in this modification, for example, the following method is preferably used to make the surface light source 12 have a spherical shape. .

  FIGS. 6 and 7 schematically show a detailed configuration example of the surface light source 12 in such an integrating sphere 11C (an example of an assembly method of the integrating sphere 11C).

  In the example shown in FIGS. 6A to 6C, first, as shown in FIG. 6A, the surface light source 12 is configured using a plurality of divided pieces 12a. Specifically, in the surface light source 12 of this example, a plurality of segment pieces 12a having a ship shape in which the Y-axis direction is the major axis direction and the X-axis direction is the minor axis direction are mutually connected along the X-axis direction. They are connected and arranged side by side. The reason why the one end in the Y-axis direction of each divided piece 12a is notched is to form an opening H3 (see FIG. 6B) corresponding to the opening H1 in the integrating sphere 11C. . An opening H4 corresponding to the opening H2 is formed in a part of the surface light source 12. Next, as shown by an arrow P1, a plurality of divided pieces 12a having such a shape are three-dimensionally assembled, so that the surface light source 12 is spherical as a whole (details) as shown in FIG. 6B. Is formed into a substantially spherical shape having the openings H3 and H4 described above. That is, in this example, the surface light source 12 is formed into a spherical shape using an assembly method similar to the development view on the globe. Then, as shown in the arrows P2 and P3 and FIG. 6C, the spherical surface light source 12 obtained in this way is used as the integrating sphere base 110 composed of a pair of opposing hemispherical members 111 and 112. The integrating sphere 11C shown in FIG. 5 can be obtained by attaching (pasting) on the inner surface of (the base of the integrating sphere 11C).

  On the other hand, in the example shown in FIGS. 7A to 7C, first, as shown in FIG. 7A, the surface light source 12 is configured using a plurality of divided pieces 12b. Specifically, in the surface light source 12 of this example, a plurality of petal-shaped divided pieces 12b extending radially from the vicinity of the center thereof are arranged so as to be connected to each other in the vicinity of the center. The tip of each divided piece 12b has a notch shape, as in the case of FIGS. 6A to 6C, in the opening H3 corresponding to the opening H1 in the integrating sphere 11C (FIG. 7). (See (B)). Also in this example, an opening H4 corresponding to the opening H2 is formed in a part of the surface light source 12. Next, as shown by the arrow P1, the plurality of pieces 12b having such a shape are assembled in a three-dimensional manner, so that the surface light source 12 as a whole has a spherical shape (substantially as shown in FIG. 7B). (Spherical shape). In other words, in this example, the surface light source 12 is formed into a spherical shape by using an assembly method reverse to that for peeling mandarin oranges. Then, as shown by arrows P2 and P3 and FIG. 7C, the spherical surface light source 12 obtained in this way is used for the integrating sphere base 110 in the same manner as in FIG. 6C. By mounting on the inner surface, the integrating sphere 11C shown in FIG. 5 can be obtained.

  Also in Modification 3 having such a configuration, basically the same effect can be obtained by the same operation as in the above embodiment.

  In particular, in Modification 3, since the surface light source 12 is arranged over the entire area on the inner surface of the integrating sphere 11C, the following effects can be obtained. That is, the characteristics at the time of light diffuse reflection on the inner surface of the integrating sphere 11C can be made uniform in the entire region. Therefore, it is possible to improve the uniformity of the intensity distribution in the diffuse illumination light Ld and further improve the colorimetric accuracy.

  Further, when the surface light source 12 is configured using a plurality of divided pieces (divided pieces 12a or divided pieces 12b, etc.) and the surface light source 12 is formed into a spherical shape by assembling the plurality of divided pieces. The following effects can also be obtained. That is, for example, even when it is difficult for the surface light source 12 to exhibit three-dimensional flexibility, it is easy to form the surface light source 12 into a spherical shape. Therefore, the integrating sphere 11C can be realized with a simpler configuration.

<3. Other variations>
While the present invention has been described with reference to the embodiments and modifications, the present invention is not limited to these embodiments and the like, and various modifications can be made.

  For example, the shape, arrangement position, number, material, and the like of each member in the colorimeter are not limited to those described in the above embodiment and the like, and other shapes, arrangement positions, number, material, and the like may be used. Specifically, for example, in the organic EL element, the light diffusion layer may not be provided on the organic EL layer (surface side).

  Further, the members provided in the colorimeter are not limited to those described in the above embodiments and the like, and other members may be substituted or other members may be added. Specifically, for example, in addition to the light receiver 14 that outputs the light reception data D for obtaining the colorimetric data, a light receiver (compensation light receiver) for compensating the value of the light reception data D is separately provided. It may be.

  Furthermore, in the said embodiment etc., although the surface light source using an organic EL element was mentioned and demonstrated as an example of the surface light source using the light emitting element which has flexibility, it is not restricted to this. That is, in the colorimeter of the present invention, a flexible surface light source is configured using a light emitting element other than such an organic EL element (a thin film light emitting element having flexibility). May be.

  In addition, the series of processes described in the above embodiments and the like (predetermined processes in the measurement unit 15) may be performed by hardware (circuit), or may be performed by software (program). May be. When performed by software, the software is composed of a program group for causing the above-described functions to be executed by a computer (microcomputer or the like). Each program may be used by being incorporated in advance in the computer, for example, or may be used by being installed in the computer from a network or a recording medium.

  In the above-described embodiments, the colorimeter according to the so-called “geometric condition c” has been described as an example. It can also be applied to a colorimeter. The “geometric condition d” is a condition for 0 ° illumination diffused light reception. Light from the light source is irradiated from a direction of 10 ° or less with respect to the normal of the sample surface, and the reflected light is integrated into an integrating sphere. It is a method of diffusing within and receiving light with a light receiver.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Colorimeter 11, 11A, 11B, 11C ... Integrating sphere, 110 ... Integrating sphere base, 111, 112 ... Hemispherical member, 12 ... Surface light source, 12a, 12b ... Divided piece, 120 ... Flexible substrate 121 ... Organic EL layer, 122 ... Light diffusion layer, 13 ... Lens, 14 ... Light receiver, 15 ... Measuring unit, 16 ... Switching plate, 9 ... Sample, H0, H1, H2, H3, H4 ... Opening, Sr ... Diffuse reflection surface, Le... Emission light, Ld... Diffuse illumination light, Lr.

Claims (8)

An integrating sphere,
One or more surface light sources provided on at least a portion of the inner surface of the integrating sphere and having flexibility;
A light receiver that receives the diffuse illumination light that is generated by the integrating sphere based on the light emitted from the surface light source and then reflected by the sample surface;
A colorimeter comprising: a measurement unit that obtains colorimetric data by performing predetermined processing based on light reception data obtained in the light receiver. The colorimeter according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of surface light sources are partially disposed on an inner surface of the integrating sphere. The colorimeter according to claim 2, wherein the plurality of surface light sources are arranged approximately isotropically on the inner surface of the integrating sphere. The colorimeter according to claim 1, wherein the surface light source is arranged over the entire area on the inner surface of the integrating sphere. The surface light source is configured using a plurality of divided pieces,
The colorimeter according to claim 4, wherein the surface light source is formed into a spherical shape by assembling the plurality of divided pieces. The measurement including the specularly reflected light from the sample surface and the measurement not including the specularly reflected light from the sample surface are switched in the measurement unit by partially switching between the light emission state and the non-light emission state of the surface light source. The colorimeter according to any one of the above. The colorimeter according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the surface light source is configured using an organic EL element. The organic EL element is
An organic EL layer provided on a flexible substrate;
The colorimeter according to claim 7, further comprising: a light diffusion layer provided on the organic EL layer.

Images