1. A method for determining a paint formula that matches a color of paint of an object, where a plurality of paint formulas are stored in a database, said method comprising the steps of:
inputting information associated with the object into a portable device that is handheld and mobile relative to the object;
communicating the information between the portable device and the database;
determining the paint formula from the plurality of paint formulas based on the information communicated between the portable device and the database; and
displaying a representation of a color defined by the paint formula on the mobile portable device.
2. (canceled)
3. A method as set forth in claim 1 further comprising the step of positioning the mobile portable device adjacent to the paint of the object to compare the displayed representation of the color with the color of the paint of the object.
4. A method as set forth in claim 3 further comprising the step of inputting paint formula adjustment information into the mobile portable device.
5. A method as set forth in claim 4 further comprising the step of adjusting the paint formula based on the paint formula adjustment information.
6. A method as set forth in claim 1 further comprising the step of displaying the paint formula on the mobile portable device.
7. A method as set forth in claim 1 wherein said step of inputting information associated with the object into the mobile portable device is further defined as measuring the color of the paint.
8. A method as set forth in claim 1 further comprising the steps of establishing communication between the mobile portable device and a dispensing apparatus and regulating an amount of toner at the dispensing apparatus in accordance with the paint formula.
9. A method as set forth in claim 8 further comprising the step of updating inventory data based on the amount of toner dispensed by the dispensing apparatus in accordance with the determined paint formula to reflect a present inventory of toner.
10. A method for determining a paint formula that matches a color of paint of a vehicle to be painted in a collision center, where a plurality of paint formulas are stored in a database, said method comprising the steps of:
inputting vehicle information associated with the vehicle into a portable device that is handheld and mobile relative to the vehicle to be repainted in the collision center;
communicating the vehicle information between the portable device and the database;
determining the paint formula from the plurality of paint formulas based on the vehicle information communicated between the portable device and the database; and
displaying a representation of a color defined by the paint formula on the mobile portable device.
11. (canceled)
12. A method as set forth in claim 10 further comprising the step of positioning the mobile portable device adjacent to the paint of the vehicle to compare the displayed representation of the color with the color of the paint of the vehicle.
13. A method as set forth in claim 10 further comprising the step of displaying the paint formula on the mobile portable device.
14. A method as set forth in claim 13 further comprising the step of inputting paint formula adjustment information into the mobile portable device.
15. A method as set forth in claim 14 further comprising the step of adjusting the paint formula based on the paint formula adjustment information.
16. A method as set forth in claim 10 wherein said step of inputting vehicle information into the mobile portable device is further defined as measuring the color of the paint.
17. A method as set forth in claim 10 wherein said step of inputting vehicle information into the mobile portable device is further defined as inputting a vehicle identification number (VIN) into the mobile portable device.
18. A method as set forth in claim 17 wherein said step of inputting the VIN into the mobile portable device is further defined as scanning a barcode representing the VIN.
19. A method as set forth in claim 10 wherein said step of inputting vehicle information into the mobile portable device is further defined as inputting a paint code affixed to the vehicle.
20. A method as set forth in claim 10 further comprising the steps of establishing communication between the mobile portable device and a dispensing apparatus and regulating an amount of toner at the dispensing apparatus in accordance with the paint formula.
21. A method as set forth in claim 20 further comprising the step of updating inventory data based on the amount of toner dispensed by the dispensing apparatus in accordance with the determined paint formula to reflect a present inventory of toner.
22. A system for determining a paint formula that matches a color of paint of a vehicle, said system comprising:
a database storing a plurality of paint formulas corresponding to vehicle information;
a portable device that is mobile relative to the vehicle and in communication with said database for receiving the vehicle information that is inputted, sending the vehicle information to said database, and receiving the paint formula from the plurality of paint formulas from said database;
said portable device further including a color display for displaying a representation of the color defined by the paint formula; and
said portable device being handheld such that said color display may be positioned adjacent to the vehicle for comparing the representation of the color to the paint of the vehicle.
23. A system as set forth in claim 22 further comprising a server computer in communication with said mobile portable device and storing said database.
24. A system as set forth in claim 23 wherein said mobile portable device further includes a wireless transceiver for communicating with said server computer.
25. A system as set forth in claim 22 further comprising a spectrophotometer in communication with said mobile portable device for measuring the color of the paint.
26. A system as set forth in claim 25 wherein said spectrophotometer is integrated with said mobile portable device.
27. A system as set forth in claim 22 further comprising a barcode reader in communication with said mobile portable device for reading a barcode representing the vehicle information.
28. A system as set forth in claim 22 further comprising a camera in communication with said mobile portable device for capturing an image of the vehicle.
29. A system as set forth in claim 22 further comprising a dispensing apparatus in communication with said mobile portable device for receiving the paint formula and regulating an amount of toner in accordance with the paint formula.
30. (canceled)
31. A system as set forth in claim 22 wherein said mobile portable device further includes a power source for powering said mobile portable device.
32. A system as set forth in claim 30 wherein said power source comprises a battery.
33. A system as set forth in claim 22 further comprising a local computer in communication with said mobile portable device.
34. A system as set forth in claim 32 further comprising a server computer in communication with said local computer and storing said database.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. A device for illuminating a surface of a member, comprising:
a light transmissive element having a substantially planar surface adapted to be situated over and separated from said member surface; and
a light source adapted to emit light rays directed between said element surface and said member surface at an angle causing a substantial portion of said light rays to be reflected by said element surface onto said member surface to illuminate said member surface, and from said member surface through said element such that said illuminated member surface can be observed.
2. The device of claim 1, wherein:
said member comprises one of a book and an e-reader; and
said element comprises at least one of glass, Plexiglas and plastic.
3. The device of claim 1, further comprising:
spacer elements for maintaining the separation between said element surface and said member surface;
wherein said spacer elements allow a portion of said light rays to be projected on an area beyond a bottom edge of said element.
4. The device of claim 1, further comprising means for mounting said light source to direct said light rays between said element and said member.
5. The device of claim 1, further comprising means for mounting said element at said member with said light source therebetween, said element being inclined relative to said member.
6. The device of claim 1, further comprising:
a mount for said light source able to mounted in a use position and a stored position;
wherein said mount in said use position contacts a top edge of said surface of said member and said mount in said stored position is above said member.
7. The device of claim 6, further comprising:
a power supply electrically coupled to said light source;
wherein said power supply is positioned one of in the mount and in an e-reader holder.
8. The device of claim 6, further comprising:
means for removably attaching said element to said mount; and
means for aligning said element when said element is attached to said mount.
9. The device of claim 6, further comprising:
a lens coupled to the mount in proximity to said light source;
wherein said lens spreads said light rays emitted from said light source.
10. The device of claim 1, wherein said light source is one or more LEDs.
11. The device of claim 1, wherein said element causes substantially all light rays intersecting said element at a high angle of incidence to be reflected.
12. The device of claim 11, wherein:
said light source is adapted to emit a first set of the light rays directed substantially parallel to said element to intersect the member at a first set of points without being reflected between the light source and the first set of points; and
said light source is adapted to emit a second set of the light rays directed substantially parallel to said element to intersect said element at a second set of points without being reflected between the light source and the second set of points.
13. The device of claim 12, wherein:
said second set of said light rays intersect said element at angles greater than said high angle of incidence and are reflected;
said element is adapted to direct the reflected light rays toward the member;
said member is adapted to reflect a substantial portion of the light rays that are reflected by said element toward the member; and
said element is adapted to transmit a substantial portion of the light rays reflected by the member toward said element at angles less than said high angle of incidence.
14. An apparatus for illuminating a surface of a member, comprising:
means for reflecting light toward the member, the means adapted to be positioned over the member and separated from the member by a gap; and
means for emitting light into the gap.
15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein:
the member comprises one of a book and an e-reader; and
the means for reflecting light comprises at least one of glass, Plexiglas and plastic.
16. The apparatus of claim 14, further comprising means for spacing the means for reflecting light from the member.
17. The apparatus of claim 14, further comprising:
means for mounting said means for emitting light to direct light rays between said means for reflecting light and said member; and
means for mounting said means for reflecting light at said member with said means for emitting light therebetween, said means for reflecting light being inclined relative to said member.
18. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the means for reflecting light causes substantially all light rays intersecting the transparent element at a high angle of incidence to be reflected.
19. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein:
the means for emitting light is adapted to emit a first set of the light rays directed substantially parallel to the element to intersect the member at a first set of points without being reflected between and the first set of points; and
wherein the means for emitting light is adapted to emit a second set of the light rays directed substantially parallel to the element to intersect the element at a second set of points without being reflected between the light source and the second set of points.
20. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein:
the second set of the light rays intersect the element at angles greater than the high angle of incidence and are reflected;
the element is adapted to direct the reflected light rays toward the member;
the member is adapted to reflect substantially all of the light rays that are reflected by the element toward the member; and
the element is adapted to transmit substantially all of the light rays reflected by the member toward the element at angles less than the high angle of incidence.