MXPA00005957A - Color measurement system with color index for skin, teeth, hair and material substances - Google Patents

Abstract

Methods and systems for measuring with a Color Measurement System of predetermined specification and evaluating the color of skin, teeth, hair and material substances with a Color Index. The principles of this invention also relate to techniques for using such a Color Measurement System with the Color Index in medical applications such as the detection of chromogenic disease including bilirubin infant jaundice, cosmetics applications and in the evaluation of the color of hair or teeth, and other applications. The Color Index is measured and calculated from the reflectance spectrum of any skin (or teeth, hair or material substance) by a two step process. The first step is the weighting of the visible spectra with a unique set of weighting factors which calculate a sample's reflectance spectrum's contribution to the appearance of four color components independent of the illuminating condition. The second step places the sample's reflectance spectrum's contribution to the appearance of the four color components in opponency to each other and calculates the Color Index providing attributes representative of correlates of lightness-darkness (L, also referred to as lightness), redness-greenness (M) and yellowness-blueness (N).

Description

COLOR MEASUREMENT SYSTEM WITH COLOR INDEX FOR SKIN, TEETH, HAIR AND MATERIAL SUBSTANCES CROSS REFERENCE OF THE RELATED APPLICATIONS This claims the benefit of jointly assigned United States Provisional Patent Application, copending No. 60 / 068,013, filed on December 18, 1997 and the jointly assigned United States Provisional Patent Application, Copending No. 60 / 068,237, filed on December 19, 1997.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to techniques for measuring with a Color Measurement System and evaluating the color of the skin, teeth, hair and material substances with a Color Index. The invention also relates to techniques for using that Color Measurement System with the color index in medical applications such as the detection of chromogenic disease including infantile jaundice by bilirubin, cosmetic applications and in the evaluation of hair or tooth color and other Applications . It is well known that instruments for measuring color, such as colorimeters and spectrophotometers, can be used to measure the color of surfaces in a variety of useful applications. For example, Macfarlane et al., In U.S. Patent No. 5,313,267, discloses a method and an instrument for selecting colors compatible with persons using a color measuring device. Also, PCT Publication No. WO 96/41140 describes methods and an apparatus for determining the condition or condition of a test individual based on color by using a color measuring instrument to detect the change in a color factor which indicates a condition or condition, such as illness, deterioration, aging, etc. In particular, these methods and apparatus can be used to detect a medical condition known as hyperbilirubinemia by measuring the color of the skin. However, to accurately categorize a skin among others (or teeth, hair or material substances, respectively), it is important that the Color Index used by the Color Measurement System that evaluates the color of skin, teeth, hair and Material substances are independent of the lighting condition and do not need to be calculated with respect to any standard lighting condition. The alternative, which allows the Color Index to be independent of lighting conditions, would allow a sample (such as skin) to be categorized into a lighting condition and another sample (such as skin) to be categorized in another lighting condition, avoiding any Useful correlation of the colors of the two measurements. It would be advisable to develop a System of Color measurement to evaluate the color of skin, teeth, hair and material substances with a color index for skin, teeth, hair and material substances that makes a unique formulation of the opposite process of human vision. It is known that the contribution of the degree of intensity of red and the degree of intensity of green are in opposite situation to each other. In the same way, it is also known that the contribution of the degree of intensity of yellow and the degree of intensity of blue are in opposite situation to each other. In other words, no color can have qualities of intensity degree of red and degree of intensity of green at the same time, nor present qualities of degree of intensity of yellow and degree of intensity of blue at the same time. In this way, it would be convenient to develop a color index for skin, teeth, hair and material substances that makes a unique formulation of the opposite process of human vision. It would also be convenient to develop a Color Measurement System to evaluate the color of the skin, teeth, hair and material substances with an index of P1085 Unique color that is measured and calculated from the contribution of the reflectance spectrum of any skin (or teeth), hair or material substances) to the appearance of four opposite colors, for example, red-green and yellow-blue. Furthermore, it would also be convenient if the opposite process of human vision were formulated linearly with respect to contributions opposed to the appearance of color rather than as an exponential function of contributions as conventionally considered necessary for systems of the opposite type. By virtue of the foregoing, it is an object of this invention to provide a Color Measurement System for evaluating the color of skin, teeth, hair and material substances with a Color Index. It is another object of this invention to provide a Color Measurement System for evaluating the color of skin, teeth, hair and material substances with a Color Index, wherein the Color Index is calculated from the contribution of the reflectance spectrum of the skin (or teeth, hair or substance material) to the appearance of four opposite colors, for example, red-green and yellow-blue. It is yet another object of this invention to provide a Color Measurement System for evaluating the color of skin, teeth, hair and material substances with a Color Index that makes a unique formulation of the opposite process of human vision. It is another object of this invention to provide a Color Measurement System for evaluating the color of skin, teeth, hair and material substances with a Color Index in which the opposite process is formulated in a linear fashion with respect to the opposite contributions to the appearance of color rather than as an exponential function of contributions. It is another object of this invention to provide a Color Measurement System for evaluating the color of skin, teeth, hair and material substances with a Color Index that is independent of the lighting condition.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION These and other objects of this invention are achieved in accordance with the principles of the invention by providing a Color Measurement System that evaluates the color of skin, teeth, hair and material substances with a Color Index. The Color Measurement System and the index of Color for skin, teeth, hair and material substances of this invention is a unique Color Measurement System and a Color Index is measured and calculated from the reflectance spectrum of the skin (or teeth, hair or material substance). Extraordinarily, this System of Color Measurement and Color Index for Skin, Teeth, Hair and Material Substances of the invention is independent of the lighting conditions, since it is necessary to accurately categorize the skins (or teeth, hair or material substances). respectively) in all lighting conditions. In accordance with the principles of this invention, the Color Index is measured and calculated from the reflectance spectrum of the skin (or teeth, hair or material substance) by a two-step process. The first stage is the weighting of the visible spectrum with a unique set of weighting factors that calculate the contribution of the reflectance spectrum of the skin (or teeth, hair or material substance) to the appearance of four opposite colors, for example, red- green and yellow-blue. In conventional manner, contributions to the appearance of colors such as these have been calculated with respect to some standard lighting condition. Extraordinarily, the Color Measurement System and the Color index for skin, teeth, hair and material substances of this invention is independent of the lighting condition.

The second step to measure and calculate the Color index in accordance with the principles of this invention places the contribution of the reflectance spectrum of the skin (or teeth, hair or material substance) to the appearance of four opposite colors, eg, degree of intensity of red-degree of intensity of green and degree of intensity of yellow-degree of intensity of blue in opposite situation between them. The Color Index in accordance with the principles of this invention is calculated from the contribution of the reflectance spectrum of the skin (or teeth, hair or material substance) to the appearance of four opposite color components and provides attributes representative of correlations of brightness-darkness (L, also referred to as brightness), degree of intensity of red-degree of intensity of green (M) and degree of intensity of yellow-degree of intensity of blue (N). According to one embodiment of this invention, evaluating the color includes: A method to evaluate the color of a sample, using a Color Measurement System with a Color Index, the method comprises: measuring the reflectance spectrum of the sample using an instrument of color measurement; Weigh the reflectance spectrum with weighting factors corresponding to four color components that form two opposite pairs of color components, where the weighting factors are used to calculate the contribution of the reflectance spectrum of the sample to the appearance of the four color components; and determine the individual contributions corresponding to each of the four color components and calculate the Color Index using the individual contributions and the respective contributions to each of the four color components by means of a perfect diffuser, the determination comprises: adding the contribution which makes the reflectance spectrum of the sample in the appearance of each of the four respective color components at a plurality of wavelengths, to the individual contributions corresponding to each of the four color components that form the two opposing pairs of color components. A Measurement System is also provided Color that is used with the previous method. According to an illustrative embodiment of this invention: A Color Measurement System that evaluates the color of a sample with a Color Index comprises: means for measuring the reflectance spectrum of the sample; means for weighting the reflectance spectrum with weighting factors corresponding to four color components that form two opposite pairs of color components where the weighting factors are used to calculate the contribution of the reflectance spectrum of the sample to the appearance of the four color components; means to determine the individual contributions corresponding to each of the four color components and calculate the color index using the individual contributions and the respective contributions for each of the respective color components by means of a perfect diffuser, the determination comprises: adding the contribution of the reflectance spectrum of the sample to the appearance of each of the respective four color components at a plurality of wavelengths to the individual contributions corresponding to each of the four color components that form the two opposing pairs of components color. According to another illustrative embodiment of this invention, evaluating the color includes: A method for evaluating the color of a sample using a Color Measurement System with a Color Index, the method comprising: adapting a spectral response function of the measuring instrument to adjust the weighting factors corresponding to four color components that form two opposite pairs of color components where the weighting factors are used to calculate the contribution of the reflectance spectrum of the sample to the appearance of the four color components; measure the reflectance spectrum of the sample using the color measurement instrument where the reflectance spectrum of the sample resulting from the measurement is representative of a sum of the contribution of the reflectance spectrum of the sample to the appearance of each of the respective four color components at a plurality of wavelengths to individual contributions corresponding to each of the respective four color components forming two opposite pairs of color components; and calculating the Color index using the individual contributions corresponding to each of the respective four color components and the respective contributions to each of the respective four color components by means of a perfect diffuser. A Measurement System is also provided P1085 Color used with the previous method. According to an illustrative embodiment of this invention: A Color Measurement System for evaluating the color of a sample with a color index comprises: a color measurement instrument having an associated spectral response function for measuring the reflectance spectrum of the sample, the response function is adapted to adjust weighting factors corresponding to four color components that form two opposite pairs of color components, where the weighting factors are used to calculate the contribution of the reflectance spectrum of the sample to the appearance of the four color components, the reflectance spectrum of the sample resulting from the measurement is representative of the individual contributions corresponding to each of the four color components that form the two opposite pairs of color components; and means for calculating the Color index using the individual contributions corresponding to each of the four color components that form two opposite pairs of color components and the respective contributions of each of the respective four color components by a perfect diffuser.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Figure 1 is a graphic representation of the weighting factors to calculate the contribution to the appearance of the degree of intensity of red, degree of intensity of yellow, degree of intensity of green and degree of intensity of blue by means of of the reflectance spectrum of a sample (skin, teeth, hair and material substances) in which the color is evaluated with a Color index in accordance with an illustrative embodiment of this invention. Figure 2 is a graphical representation of the reflectance spectrum of a darker series of twelve skin samples. Figure 3 is a graphic representation of the reflectance spectrum of a clearer series of twelve skin samples. Figure 4 is a graphic representation of the results of calculations performed to evaluate the color of the samples represented in Figures 2 and 3 with a Color index according to an illustrative embodiment of this invention. Figure 5 is a simplified block diagram of an illustrative Color Measurement System for evaluating the color of skin, teeth, hair and material substances with a color index according to P1085 present invention. Figure 6 is a simplified block diagram of an illustrative Color Measurement System for evaluating the color of skin, teeth, hair and material substances with a Color index according to another illustrative embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED MODALITIES The Color Measurement System and Color Index for Skin, Teeth, Hair and Material Substances in accordance with the principles of this invention uses four contributions to the appearance of the opposite color, for example, intensity degree of red-degree of intensity of green and degree of intensity of yellow-intensity degree of blue, unlike other color formulations that use only three attributes (degree of intensity of red, degree of intensity of green and degree of intensity of blue ). Next, a tabular representation of weighting factors is found in Table 1 to calculate the contribution to the appearance of intensity degree of red, degree of intensity of yellow, degree of intensity of green and degree of intensity of blue through the spectrum of reflectance of a sample (skin, teeth, hair and material substances) in which the P1085 color is evaluated with a Color index in accordance with an illustrative embodiment of this invention. Table 1 P1085 The weighting factors described above in Table 1 are a single set of weighting factors that are used to calculate contributions of the reflectance spectrum of a sample to the appearance of the degree of intensity of red, degree of intensity of yellow, degree of intensity of green and degree of intensity of blue. The headings of the columns Rwt, Ywt, Gwt and Bwt refer respectively to weighting factors corresponding to contributions of red, yellow, green and blue to the appearance of the color, in accordance with the P1085 principles of this invention. The statement of the rows of the information presented in Table 1 corresponds to? (wavelength) measured in nanometers (nm) in increments of 10 nm. However, it will be understood that if the spectrum is measured at intervals other than 10 nm, the necessary data will be easily achieved using Lagrange cubic interpolation. With respect to the data for the first and last intervals, the Lagrange quadratic interpolation can be used. In addition, the values of the functions that fall outside the tabulated range presented in Table 1 can be taken as zero. The values at the end of the columns corresponding to contributions of red, yellow, green and blue to the appearance of the color (enunciated as SUM) correlates with the contributions to each color attribute in the part of a perfect diffuser, ie, a theoretical object that has 100% reflectance. The SUM values corresponding to contributions of red, yellow, green and blue to the appearance of the color are identified as Rn, Yn, Gn and Bn, respectively and correspond to the numerical sum of the values in the corresponding columns. Figure 1 is a graphic representation of the tabulated information presented in Table 1 according to this invention. The Y axis in Figure 1 represents the weighting factors while the X axis represents the P1085 wavelength (measured in nanometers). Curve 110 is a graphic representation of the weighting factors corresponding to the blue color within the visible spectrum (400nm-700nm). These factors are presented in tabular form in Table 1 in the column headed Bwt, which as mentioned above, corresponds to the contribution of the blue color to the appearance of some reflectance spectrum in accordance with the principles of this invention. Similarly, curves 120, 130 and 140 are graphical representations of weighting factors corresponding to the colors green, yellow and red, respectively, within the visible spectrum (400nm-700nm), also presented in tabular form in Table 1 in the corresponding columns headed as Gwt, Ywt and Rwt. These weighted values correspond to the contributions to the appearance of color of the green, yellow and red colors to the appearance of some reflectance spectrum in accordance with the principles of this invention. From the point of view of color, the effect of an object on light can be described by its spectral transmittance or reflectance curve (for transparent or opaque materials, respectively, both are necessary for translucent objects). These curves show the fraction of light reflected at each wavelength by the material (compared to that reflected to P1085 from a white reflective pattern, suitable) or transmitted through it (compared to that transmitted by a suitable pattern, often air). In order to illustrate the particularities of this invention, the reflectance spectra of twenty-four skin samples are used. The twenty-four skin samples are selected such that the test specimens visually represent uniformly staggered color scales through the central portion of the Caucasian skin range. As can be seen from the reflectance spectrum of the skin samples depicted in Figures 2 and 3, the color series are very close to each other and most of the test samples represent differences with respect to their nearest neighbor. only about 2 to 3 times the least noticeable color difference. Figure 2 is a graphical representation of the reflectance spectrum of a series of twenty dark skin samples (1-12). As shown in Figure 2, the percentage of reflectance is plotted along the Y-axis while the wavelength (measured in nanometers) is plotted along the X-axis. The reflectance spectrum of the sample series of The dark skin shown in Figure 2 can be determined using a color measuring instrument, for example, a P1085 spectrocolorimeter or a spectrophotometer or other color measuring instrument suitable for measuring the color of a sample surface such as skin, teeth, hair and material substances. The Color Measurement System that evaluates the color of skin, teeth, hair and material substances according to an illustrative embodiment of this invention comprises a color measuring instrument of this type. Figure 3 is a graphical representation, similar to that illustrated in Figure 2, of the reflectance spectrum of a series of twenty light skin samples (13-24). Similar to the graphic representation of Figure 2, in Figure 3 the percentage of reflectance is plotted along the Y axis while the wavelength is plotted along the X axis. The reflectance spectrum shown in the Figure 3 can also be determined using a color measuring instrument eg a spectrocolorimeter or a spectrophotometer or other suitable color measuring instrument to measure the color of a sample surface such as skin, teeth, hair and material substances. The Color Measurement System that evaluates the color of skin, teeth, hair and material substances according to an illustrative embodiment of this invention comprises a color measuring instrument of this type.

P1085 The Color Measurement System and Color Index for skin, teeth, hair and material substances in accordance with the principles of this invention is a unique Color Measurement System and Color Index measured and calculated from the reflectance spectrum of the skin (or teeth, hair or material substance) through a two-stage process. The first stage is the weighting of the visible spectrum (400nm-700nm) with a unique set of weighting factors that calculate the contribution of the reflectance spectrum of the sample to the appearance of intensity degree of red, degree of intensity of yellow, degree intensity of green and degree of intensity of blue. These unique sets of weighting factors, as mentioned above, are presented in tabular form in Table 1. Also, a graphical representation of the tabulated values of the weighting factors presented in Table 1 is presented in Figure 1. The second step to measure and calculate the Color index in accordance with the principles of this invention places the contribution of the reflectance spectrum of the skin (or teeth, hair or material substance) to the appearance of four opposite colors, eg, degree of intensity of red-degree of intensity of green and degree of intensity of yellow-degree of intensity P1085 blue, in opposite situation. The color index according to the principles of this invention is calculated from the contribution of the reflectance spectrum of the skin (or teeth, hair or material substance) to the appearance of four color components and provides representative attributes of luminosity correlations. darkness (L, also referred to as luminosity), degree of intensity of red-degree of intensity of green (M) and degree of intensity of yellow-degree of intensity of blue (N). It is known that the contribution of intensity degree of red and degree of intensity of green are opposite each other and that the contribution of degree of intensity of yellow and degree of intensity of blue are also opposite each other. That is to say, no color can present qualities of intensity degree of red and degree of intensity of green at the same time, nor present qualities of degree of intensity of yellow and degree of intensity of blue at the same time. By using four contributions to the opposite color appearance, the Color Measurement System and the Color Index for Skin, Teeth, Hair and Material Substances of this invention make a unique formulation of the opposite process of human vision. In addition, the Color Measurement System and the Color Index for Skin, Teeth, Hair and Material Substances of this invention is P1085 is also unique because its opposite process is formulated linearly with respect to contributions opposed to the appearance of color rather than as an exponential function of the contribution as conventionally considered necessary. To evaluate the color of skin, teeth, hair and material substances in accordance with the principles of this invention, the reflectance spectrum of the skin (or teeth, hair or material substance) is measured. To illustrate the principles of this invention, the reflectance spectra of twenty-four skin samples are used (as graphically illustrated in Figures 2 and 3). As described above, the reflectance spectrum of a sample can be determined using a color measuring instrument such as a spectrocolorimeter or a spectrophotometer or other color measuring instrument of a sample surface such as skin, teeth, hair and material substances. In an illustrative embodiment of this invention, the Color Measurement System and Color Index for Skin, Teeth, Hair and Material Substances of this invention comprises a color measuring instrument of this type. According to an illustrative embodiment of this invention, after the reflectance spectrum of a sample in which the color is evaluated is measured, P1085 The contribution of the reflectance spectrum of the sample to the appearance of four color components is calculated by weighting the reflectance spectrum of any color (using the weighting factors in Table 1 and Figure 1) and adding the contributions to the appearance color at all wavelengths to the individual components corresponding to each of the four opposite colors according to the equations described below, referred to generically as equation la. R = S R (?) * Rwt (?) ?? Y = S R (?) * Ywt (?) ?? G = S R (?) * Gwt (?) ?? B = S R (?) * Bwt (?) ?? In the above equations, R is representative of the reflectance factor of the sample for which the color is evaluated and expressed as a decimal fraction, Rwt (?), Ywt (?), Gwt (?) And Bwt (?) Are weighting factors (shown in Table 1 and Figure 1) used to calculate the contribution of the reflectance spectrum of the sample to the appearance of each of the four opposing colored contributions in accordance with the principles of this invention. The data for these weighting factors are given in tabular form in Table 1 at 10 nm wavelength intervals and graphically represented in Figure 1. Also for the equations P1085 referred to generically as the equation, the value of? it varies in measurement intervals from 1 to k, where k is the number of points at which the reflectance spectrum is measured. As mentioned above, although the weighting factors provided in Table 1 are at 10 nm intervals, it is assumed that the weighting factors are continuous. Therefore, if the spectrum is measured at intervals other than 10 nm, Lagrange's cubic interpolation of the missing but necessary data is applicable in the missing intervals that do not correspond to the first and the last. In the same way, Lagrange quadratic interpolation can be used in the first and last missing intervals to determine the necessary data. Also, the values of the functions that fall outside the tabulated range can be taken as zero. The equations referred to generically as an equation may also be represented in matrix notation as: T = AR where T is representative of a vector 4 x 1 of opposite components, A is representative of a matrix 4 xk of weighting factors (Table 1 transposed) , R is representative of a kx 1 vector of reflectance factors for the sample for which the P1085 color and k is the number of points at which the reflectance spectrum is measured at the visible wavelengths. The color index for the skin (or teeth, hair or material substance) in accordance with the principles of this invention is calculated from the contribution of the spectra of the skin (or teeth, hair or material substance) to the appearance of four color components, using the following equations, referred to generically as equation 2: L = 2.55 (33.333 (R / Rn) + 17.333 (Y / Yn) + 16.0 (G / Gn) + 33.333 (B / Bn) + 0.39) 1/3 - 1,863 M = (88 (R / Rn) - 46 (Y / Yn) - 42 (G / Gn)) / LN = (75 (R / Rn) + 40 (Y / Yn) + 35 (G / Gn) - 150 (B / Bn)) / L (2) In the above equations, L is representative of a luminosity-darkness correlation (also referred to as luminosity), M is representative of a correlation of intensity intensity of red-intensity degree of green and N is representative of a correlation of degree of intensity of yellow-intensity degree of blue. R, Y, G and B refer to the summed contribution from equation 1 of the spectrum that is analyzed for each color component. The values corresponding to Rn, Yn, Gn and Bn are P1085 present at the end of the columns corresponding to contributions of red, yellow, green and blue to the appearance of color (enunciated as SUM) in Table 1 and corresponds to contributions of each color attribute in the part of a perfect diffuser, is say, a theoretical object that has 100% reflectance. As described above, the values of L, M and N are continuous and can be calculated at any accuracy guaranteed by the precision of the spectral data. It would be desirable in some color evaluation applications, for example, to calculate a simple six digit numerical SCCI6 index (Color Measurement System and Color Index; six digits) using the Color Measurement System and the Color Index of this invention, even if the index is discrete rather than continuous. When a simple numerical index is desired, it can be calculated using the following equation: SCCI6 = 10000 * INT (10 * (L + 0.05)) + 100 * INT (10 * (M + 0.05)) + INT (10 * (N + 0.05)) (3) In the above equation, the symbol INT represents the value of the integer of the corresponding expression within the parentheses. In the resulting six-digit simple numerical index (SCCI6), the first two digits are a correlation of luminosity- P1085 dark (L, also referred to as brightness), the second two digits are a correlation intensity degree of red-intensity intensity of green (M) and the last two digits are a correlation of intensity degree of yellow-intensity degree of blue (N). As described above, to illustrate the particularities of this invention, the reflectance spectrum of twenty-four samples is selected in such a way that the test samples visually represent color scales uniformly staggered through the central portion of the Caucasian skin range. . Also, as can be seen from the reflectance spectrum of the skin samples depicted in Figures 2 and 3, the color series are very close to each other and most of the test samples represent differences from their nearest neighbor of only about 2 to 3 times the least noticeable color difference. Using the color index calculated in accordance with the principles of this invention, the attributes corresponding to the degree of intensity of red (M) and degree of intensity of yellow (N) can be presented in regular numerical intervals similar to the visual evaluation of the test sample which is located in uniformly staggered colorimetric intervals.

P1085 Table 2 presented below shows in tabular form the results of calculations performed according to the above-described particularity of this invention using equation 3 to evaluate the color of the test samples having a reflectance spectrum that is illustrated graphically in the Figures 2 and 3. TABLE 2 P108S Tabular form shows in Table 2 brightness values (L), degree of intensity of red (R) and degree of intensity of yellow (N) corresponding to each of the twenty-four skin samples with varying degrees of luminosity as it is illustrated in Figures 2 and 3. These values are determined using equations 1 and 2 and the data is presented in Table 1 and Figures 1, 2 and 3. The CSCI6 values corresponding to each are also shown in Table 2. of the twenty-four skin samples of Figures 2 and 3 determined using equation 3. As mentioned above, in the simple six-digit numerical index (CSCIS) the first two digits are a luminosity correlation (L), the second two digits are a correlation of intensity degree of red (M) and the last two digits are a correlation of intensity degree of yellow (N). From the information presented in Table 2 it can be seen that the luminosity attributes L of these spectra according to the developed index are similar to each other within each series of dark and light skin test samples. Figure 4 shows in graphical form the information presented in Table 2. Table 4 shows the intensity degree attributes of red (M) plotted along the X axis and the yellow intensity degree attributes. plotted along the Y axis determined according to the principles of this invention using equations 1 and 2. Figure 4 illustrates that the Color index according to an illustrative embodiment of the principles of this invention presents the attributes corresponding to degree of intensity of red (M) and degree of intensity of yellow (N) in uniform numerical ranges similar to the visual evaluation of the test sample that is located in uniformly staggered colorimetric intervals. In some applications it may be desirable to use a simple, three-digit CSCI3 numeric index (Color Measurement System and Color Index, three digits) using the Color Measurement System e P1085 Color index in accordance with the principles of this invention. If a three-digit number is desired, it can be calculated using the following equation: CSCI3 = 100 * INT (L + 0.5) + 10 * INT (M + 0.5) + INT (N + 0.5) (4) In the resulting three-digit simple numerical index, the first digit is the luminosity correlation (L ), the second digit the correlation of intensity degree of red (M) and the last digit correlation of intensity degree of yellow (N). As in equation 3, the symbol INT in equation 4 represents the integer value of the expression within the parentheses. Even though the data presented in Figure 4 are represented only as a six-digit index (CSCI6), it will be understood, however, that the same data can be presented as a three-digit index according to equation 4 where the first digit would be a correlation of luminosity (L), the second digit the correlation of intensity degree of red (M) and the third digit correlation of degree of intensity of yellow (N). However, it should be noted that if the colors of the samples being evaluated are too close together, then the CSCI3 index may not be a useful unit of measurement for that color series.

P1085 When indexes are made to categorize skin, teeth, hair, and material substances, it may also be convenient to use even broader categories than those provided for the indices mentioned above. For example, in some cases it would be very useful to formulate indexes based on brightness attributes (L) considered together with the yellow-intensity intensity attribute of blue (N) intensity, while in other cases it will be useful to formulate indexes using the luminosity attributes (L) and intensity degree of red-green intensity degree (M). In order to make a broader category formulation based on luminosity attributes (L) considered together with the intensity attribute of yellow-degree of intensity of blue (N), an index can be formulated using the Measurement System of Color and Color Index for Skin, Teeth, Hair and Material Substances in accordance with the principles of this invention. An example of formulating a color index for a specific purpose using the luminosity (L) attributes and intensity degree of yellow-intensity degree of blue (N) of the Color index of this invention is the color correlation with the presence of an abnormal medical condition. Various medical conditions P1085 abnormal may cause jaundice. The most notable abnormal medical condition that could be directly detected by a color index of this type is the serological bilirubin count in a newborn, hyperbilirubinemic baby. In this case, the statistically significant data that relate skin color to the serological bilirubin count may be adjusted to the index. Then, a color measurement of the affected skin evaluated using the Color Measurement System and Color Index for Skin, Teeth, Hair and Material Substances in accordance with the principles of this invention will be able to directly read the serological bilirubin count in a non-invasive procedure. Appropriate color patterns may be chosen for skin color measurements that detect conditions that affect hyperbilirubinemia using skin color categories. The color categories of the skin are revealed in Macfarlane et al. , U.S. Patent No. 5,671,735, Macfarlane et al., U.S. Patent Application Serial No. 08 / 939,462, filed September 29, 1997; Macfarlane et al., U.S. Patent Application Serial No. 08 / 939,588, filed September 29, 1997; Macfarlane et al. U.S. Patent Application Serial No. 08 / 939,784, filed September 29, 1997; P1085 Macfarlane et al., Patent Application of the States United Serial No. 08 / 939,232, filed September 29, 1997 and PCT Publication No. WO 96/41140 (same as in this way are incorporated herein in their entirety as a reference). In the same way, to make a broader category formulation based on luminosity attributes (L) considered together with the intensity intensity attribute of red-intensity intensity of green (M), an index can be formulated using the Color Measurement System and Color Index for Skin, Teeth, Hair and Material Substances in accordance with the principles of this invention to give the attributes L and M. If desired, the red (R), yellow (Y), green (G) and blue (B) components or appropriate combinations of all or some of these components may become in an indicator of the serological bilirubin count of a patient (ie, the type of serological bilirubin count that is usually measured by means of a laboratory spectrophotometer). Infantile jaundice can be diagnosed by measuring the red (R), yellow (Y), green (G), and blue (B) components with an appropriate color measurement instrument and converting the measured components to the serological bilirubin count indicator.

P1085 Figure 5 is a simplified block diagram of an illustrative Color Measurement System that evaluates the color of the skin, teeth, hair and material substances with a Color Index in accordance with the present invention. The Color Measurement System 500 which evaluates the color of skin, teeth, hair and material substances with a Color Index in accordance with the principles of this invention measures the reflectance spectrum of the sample 510 using the color measuring instrument 530 The color measuring instrument 530 could be, for example, a spectrocolorimeter or a spectrophotometer suitable for measuring the color of a sample surface such as skin, teeth, hair or material substances. The memory device 520 provides data related to the weighting factors corresponding to four color components, for example, red, green, yellow and blue. As described above, these weighting factors place the appearance of the four color components in opposite situation. The memory device 520 also provides data related to the individual contributions to the appearance of color to each of the four color components in the part of a perfect diffuser, ie a theoretical object having 100% reflectance. The data P108? provided by the memory device 520 are presented in tabular form in Table 1 as well as graphically illustrated in Figure 2. The microprocessor 540 uses the data provided by the color measurement instrument 530 as well as the memory device data 520 and performs the necessary calculations (in accordance with equations 1 and 2) to determine the individual contributions to the color appearance corresponding to each of the four color components, ie, red, green, yellow and blue and uses the Derived data for calculating the Color index for the sample 510. Although for illustrative purposes the memory device 520 and the microprocessor 540 are shown as separate components of the Color Measurement System 500, it will be understood that both the memory device 520 and the 540 microprocessor can be integrated with the 530 color measuring instrument. The previous construction of the indices d Write the procedure to evaluate the indexes beginning with the reflectance spectrum of the test sample being evaluated. However, this is not the only method by which the index can be evaluated. According to another illustrative embodiment of this invention, the indices can be evaluated equally well P108S causing the spectral response function of a color measuring instrument such as a spectrocolorimeter or a spectrophotometer or other suitable color measuring instrument to measure the color of a sample surface such as skin, teeth, hair or material substances is adjusted to the weighting functions of Table 1 (Figure 5). With a minimum of additional calculations, the spectrocolorimeter can then read the index or its resulting category, directly. According to the above-described embodiment of this invention, the spectral response function of a color measuring instrument such as a spectrocolorimeter or a spectrophotometer or other suitable color measuring instrument for measuring the color of a surface sample as skin, teeth, hair or Material substances are adapted to adjust the weighting factors shown in Table 1 and Figure 1. The spectral response function of a color measuring instrument can be adapted to adjust the weighting factors accordingly. invention, for example, using four or more filters having in cumulative form the transmission spectrum of Figure 1. According to the above described embodiment of the invention, the spectral response function of the P1085 33 Color measurement instrument is adapted to respond to light of various wavelengths according to the weighting factors tabulated in Table 1 and illustrated graphically in Figure 1. After adapting the spectral response function of a measuring instrument of color to adjust the weighting factors set forth in this invention, the color measurement instrument may then read the color index or its resulting category, directly with a minimum of additional calculations. Figure 6 is a simplified block diagram of an illustrative Color Measurement System which evaluates the color of skin, teeth, hair and material substances with a Color index according to the above-described embodiment of the present invention. The Color Measurement System 600 which evaluates the color of skin, teeth, hair and material substances with a Color Index in accordance with the principles of this invention measures the reflectance spectrum of the sample 610 using the color measurement instrument 620 The color measuring instrument 620 could be, for example, a spectrocolorimeter or a spectrophotometer suitable for measuring the color of a sample surface such as skin, teeth, hair or material substances. The memory device 630 provides data related to individual contributions for each P1085 of the four color components in the part of a perfect diffuser, that is to say a theoretical object that has 100% reflectance. The data provided by the memory device 630 is listed as SUM in Table 1. The microprocessor 640 uses the data provided by the color measurement instrument 620 as well as the data of the memory device 630 and performs the necessary calculations (according to the equation 2) to calculate the color index for the sample 610. Although for illustrative purposes the memory device 630 and the microprocessor 640 are shown as separate components of the Color Measurement System 600, it will be understood that both the memory device 630 and the the microprocessor 540 may be integrated with the color measuring instrument 530. While the Color Measurement System and the color index for Skin, Teeth, Hair and Material Substances in accordance with the principles of this invention has been described for the categorization of skin, teeth, hair and human material substances, it will be understood that the principles of this invention They are extensive to the full range of producible surface colors allowing the attributes degree of intensity of red-intensity degree of green (M) and degree P1085 intensity of yellow-intensity degree of blue (N) acquire negative values. For example, green pastures will have negative M values and positive N values. Blue greens, like cyan, will have negative M and N values. Purples will have positive values M and negative values N. However, it should be noted that simple numerical indexes for example, CSCI6 and CSCI3, are inapplicable when the index is extended to the entire color range because some parameters may acquire negative values. Thus, it is evident that, according to the invention, methods and systems have been provided for measuring with a Color Measurement System of predetermined specification and evaluating the color of skin, teeth, hair and material substances with a Color Index. that fully satisfies the objects, purposes and advantages stated above. While the invention has been described by considering the specific embodiments thereof, it is evident that many alternatives, modifications and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art and in light of the aforementioned description. Accordingly, it is intended to cover all such alternatives, modifications and variations to the extent that they fall within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

P1085

Claims (38)

1. CLAIMS; 1. A method to evaluate the color of a sample using a Color Measurement System with a Color Index, the method comprises: measuring the reflectance spectrum of the sample using a color measurement instrument; Weigh the reflectance spectrum with weighting factors corresponding to four color components that form two opposite pairs of color components, where the weighting factors are used to calculate the contribution of the reflectance spectrum of the sample to the appearance of the four color components; and determine individual contributions corresponding to each of the four color components and calculate the Color Index using the individual contributions and the respective contributions of each of the four color components, by means of a perfect diffuser, the determination comprises: adding the contribution of the reflectance spectrum of the sample in the appearance of each of the respective four color components at a plurality of wavelengths, to the contributions corresponding to each of the four color components that form the two opposing pairs of components of P108S color. The method according to claim 1, wherein the sample comprises skin, teeth, hair and material substances. 3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the measurement is independent of the lighting conditions. The method according to claim 1, wherein red and green, yellow and blue form the two opposite pairs of color components. 5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the red is placed opposite to the green and the yellow is placed opposite to the blue. 6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the individual contributions are determined using: R = S R (?) * Rwt (?) ?? Y = S R (?) * Ywt (?) ?? G = S R (?) * Gwt (?) ?? B = S R (?) * Bwt (?) ?? where R is the reflectance factor of the sample, Rwt (?), Ywt (?), Gwt (?) and Bwt (?) are weighting factors (shown in Table 1 and Figure 1) and? it varies between the measurement intervals 1 to k. 7. The method according to claim 1, in P1085 where the Color index is calculated using: L = 2.55. { 33,333 (R / Rn) + 17,333 (Y / Yn) + 16.0 (G / Gn) + 33,333 (B / Bn) + 0.39} 1/3 - 1,863 M =. { 88 (R / Rn) - 46 (Y / Yn) - 42 (G / Gn)} / L N =. { 75 (R / Rn) + 40 (Y / Yn) + 35 (G / Gn) - 150 (B / Bn)} / L where L is a luminosity-darkness correlation (also referred to as luminosity), M is a correlation of intensity intensity of red-intensity degree of green, N is a correlation of intensity degree of yellow-intensity degree of blue, R, Y, G and B are the individual contributions corresponding to each of the four color components and Rn, Yn, Gn and Bn are contributions to each color component by means of a perfect reflector diffuser. The method according to claim 7, wherein the luminosity-dark correlation L, the correlation of red intensity-intensity degree of green M and the correlation intensity degree of yellow-intensity degree of blue N is used to generate a simple six-digit numerical index (CSCI6) indicative of the color of the sample. The method according to claim 8, wherein the simple six digit numerical index (CSCI6) is determined using: P1085 SCCIS = 10000 * INT (10 * (L + 0.05)) + 100 * INT (10 * (M + 0.05)) + INT (10 * (N + 0.05)) where L is a luminosity-darkness correlation ( also referred to as luminosity), M is a correlation of intensity degree of red-intensity intensity of green, N is a correlation of intensity degree of yellow-degree of intensity of blue and INT represents an integer value of the corresponding expression within of the parentheses. The method according to claim 7, wherein the luminosity-dark correlation L, the correlation of intensity degree of red-degree of intensity of green M and the correlation of degree of intensity of yellow-intensity degree of blue N is used to generate a simple three-digit numerical index (CSCI3) indicative of the color of the sample. 11. The method according to claim 10, where the simple three-digit numerical index (CSCI3) is determined using: CSCI3 = 100 * INT (L + 0.5) + 10 * INT (M + 0.5) + INT (N + 0.5) where L is a correlation of luminosidad-oscuridad (also referred to as luminosity), M is a correlation of intensity degree of red-intensity degree of green P1085 and N is a correlation of intensity degree of yellow-degree of intensity of blue and INT represents an integer value of the corresponding expression within the parentheses. 12. A Color Measurement System for evaluating the color of a sample with a color index comprising: means for measuring the reflectance spectrum of the sample; means for weighting the reflectance spectrum with weighting factors corresponding to four color components forming two opposite pairs of color components, wherein the weighting factors are used to calculate the contribution of the reflectance spectrum of the sample to the appearance of the four color components; means to determine individual contributions corresponding to each of the four color components and calculate the color index using the individual contributions and respective contributions to each of the respective color components by means of a perfect diffuser, the determination comprises: adding the contribution that makes the spectrum of reflectance of the sample in the appearance of each of P1085 the respective four color components at a plurality of wavelengths, to the corresponding contributions to each of the four color components that form the two opposite pairs of color components. 13. The Color Measurement System according to claim 12, wherein the sample comprises skin, teeth, hair and material substances. The Color Measurement System according to claim 12, wherein the means for storing the weighting factors comprises an EEPROM. The Color Measurement System according to claim 12, wherein the means for measuring the reflectance spectrum of the sample comprises a color measuring instrument. 16. The Color Measurement System according to claim 12, wherein the means for calculating the Color index comprises a microprocessor. 17. A method for evaluating the color of a sample using a Color Measurement System with a Color Index, the method comprises: adapting a spectral response function of the color measurement instrument to adjust weighting factors corresponding to four components of color forming two opposite pairs of color components, in P1085 where the weighting factors are used to calculate the contribution of the reflectance spectrum of the sample to the appearance of four color components; measure the reflectance spectrum of the sample using the color measurement instrument, where the reflectance spectrum of the sample resulting from the measurement is representative of a sum of the contribution of the reflectance spectrum of the sample to the appearance of each one of the respective four color components at a plurality of wavelengths at individual contributions corresponding to each of the respective four color components forming two opposite pairs of color components; and calculating the Color index using the individual contributions corresponding to each of the respective four color components and respective contributions to each of the respective four color components, by means of a perfect diffuser. 18. The method according to claim 17, wherein the sample comprises skin, teeth, hair and material substances. The method according to claim 17, wherein the measurement is independent of the lighting conditions. 20. The method according to claim 17, in P1085 where red and green and yellow and blue form two opposite pairs of color components. 21. The method according to claim 20, wherein the red is placed opposite to the green and the yellow is placed opposite to the blue. The method according to claim 17, wherein the reflectance spectrum of the sample resulting from the measurement is representative of individual contributions corresponding to each of the four color components placed in opposite situation by the weighting factors and characterized by: R = SR (?) * Rwt (?) ?? Y = S R (?) * Ywt (?) ?? G = S R (?) * Gwt (?) ?? B = S R (?) * Bwt (?) ?? where R is the reflectance factor of the sample, Rwt (?), Ywt (?), Gwt (?) And Bwt (?) Are weighting factors (shown in Table 1 and Figure 1) and 1 varies between the measurement ranges 1 to k. The method according to claim 17, wherein the Color index is calculated using: L = 2.55. { 33,333 (R / Rn) + 17,333 (Y / Yn) + 16.0 (G / Gn) + 33,333 (B / Bn) + 0.39} 1/3 - 1,863 M =. { 88 (R / Rn) - 46 (Y / Yn) - 42 (G / Gn)} / L N =. { 75 (R / Rn) + 40 (Y / Yn) + 35 (G / Gn) - 150 P1085 (B / Bn)} / L where L is a luminosity-darkness correlation (also referred to as luminosity), M is a correlation of intensity intensity of red-intensity degree of green, N is a correlation of intensity degree of yellow-intensity degree of blue, R, Y, G and B are the individual contributions corresponding to each of the four color components and Rn, Yn, Gn and Bn are contributions to each color component by means of a perfect reflector diffuser. The method according to claim 23, wherein the brightness-dark correlation L, the correlation of red intensity-degree intensity of green M and the correlation intensity degree of yellow-intensity degree of blue N is used to generate a simple six-digit numerical index (CSCI6) indicative of the color of the sample. 25. The method according to claim 24, wherein the simple six-digit numerical index (CSCI6) is determined using: SCCI6 = 10000 * INT (10 * (L + 0.05)) + 100 * INT (10 * (M + 0.05) )) + INT (10 * (N + 0.05)) where L is a luminosity-darkness correlation (also referred to as luminosity), M is a correlation P1085 of intensity intensity of red-degree of intensity of green, N is a correlation of degree of intensity of yellow-intensity degree of blue and INT represents an integer value of the corresponding expression within the parentheses. 26. The method according to claim 23, wherein the luminosity-dark correlation L, the correlation of red intensity degree-green intensity degree M and the correlation of intensity degree of yellow-intensity degree of blue N is used to generate a simple three-digit numerical index (CSCI3) indicative of the color of the sample. The method according to claim 26, wherein the simple three-digit numerical index (CSCI3) is determined using: CSCI3 = 100 * INT (L + 0.5) + 10 * INT (M + 0.5) + INT (N + 0.5 ) where L is a luminosity-darkness correlation (also referred to as luminosity), M is a correlation of intensity intensity of red-intensity degree of green and N is a correlation of intensity degree of yellow-intensity intensity of blue and INT represents an integer value of the corresponding expression within the parentheses. 28. A Color Measurement System to evaluate PX085 the color of a sample with a color index comprising: a color measuring instrument that has an associated spectral response function that measures the reflectance spectrum of the sample, the spectral response function is adapted to adjust weighting factors corresponding to four color components that form two opposite pairs of color components, where the weighting factors are used to calculate the contribution of the reflectance spectrum of the sample to the appearance of the four color components, the reflectance spectrum of the sample resulting from the measurement is representative of individual contributions corresponding to each of the four color components that form the two opposing pairs of color components; and means for calculating the Color Index using the individual contributions corresponding to each of the four color components that form the two opposing pairs of color components and the respective contributions to each of the respective four color components by means of a perfect diffuser . 29. The Color Measurement System according to claim 28, wherein the sample comprises skin, teeth, hair and material substances. P1085 30. The Color Measurement System according to claim 28, wherein the respective contributions to each of the respective four color components by a perfect diffuser are stored in an EEPROM. 31. The Color Measurement System according to claim 28, wherein the means for calculating the Color index comprises a microprocessor. 32. An apparatus for evaluating the color of a sample with a color index comprising: a color measuring instrument for measuring the reflectance spectrum of the sample; means for storing weighting factors that weight the reflectance spectrum, the weighting factors correspond to four color components that form two opposite pairs of color components where the weighting factors are used to calculate the contribution of the reflectance spectrum of the shows the appearance of the four color components; means to determine individual contributions corresponding to each of the four color components and calculate the color index using the individual contributions and the respective contributions to each of the respective color components by means of a perfect diffuser, the determination comprises: PÍO85 means to add the contribution made by the reflectance spectrum of the sample in the appearance of each of the respective four color components at a plurality of wavelengths, to the contributions corresponding to each of the four color components that they form the two opposite pairs of color components. 33. The apparatus according to claim 32, wherein the sample comprises skin, teeth, hair and material substances. 34. The apparatus according to claim 32, wherein the means for storing the weighting factors comprises an EEPROM. 35. The apparatus according to claim 32, wherein the means for calculating the Color index comprises a microprocessor. 36. An apparatus for evaluating the color of a sample with a color index comprising: a color measuring instrument having an associated spectral response function that measures the reflectance spectrum of the sample, the spectral response function is adapted to adjust weighting factors corresponding to four color components that form two opposite pairs of color components, where the weighting factors are used to calculate the P1085 contribution of the reflectance spectrum of the sample to the appearance of the four color components, the reflectance spectrum of the sample resulting from the measurement is representative of individual contributions corresponding to each of the four color components that form the two opposite pairs of color components; and a microprocessor for calculating the color index using the individual contributions corresponding to each of the four color components that form the two opposing pairs of color components and the respective contributions to each of the respective four color components by a diffuser perfect . 37. The apparatus according to claim 36, wherein the sample comprises skin, teeth, hair and material substances. 38. The apparatus according to claim 36, wherein the respective contributions to each of the respective four color components by a perfect diffuser are stored in an EEPROM. P1085 SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Methods and systems to measure with a Color Measurement System of predetermined specification and evaluate the color of skin, teeth, hair and material substances with a Color index. The principles of this invention also relate to techniques utilizing said Color Measurement System with color index in medical applications, such as the detection of chromogenic disease including infantile jaundice by bilirubin, cosmetic applications and in the evaluation of hair color or teeth or other applications. The Color Index is measured and calculated from the reflectance spectrum of the skin (or teeth, hair or material substance) by a two-stage process. The first stage is the weighting of the visible spectrum with a unique set of weighting factors that calculates a contribution of the reflectance spectrum of a sample to the appearance of four color components independent of lighting conditions. The second stage places the contribution of the reflectance spectrum of a sample to the appearance of the four color components in opposite situation and calculates the Color index by providing representative attributes of luminosity-darkness correlations (L, also referred to as luminosity), degree of red-degree intensity P1085 intensity of green (M) and degree of intensity of yellow-degree of intensity of blue (N). P108S