1. A method for color measuring, comprising:
collecting light signals from an illuminated sample using a multi-segmented detector;
dividing a total signal received by said detector into groups of one or more of said segments; and
determining respective color information for one or more of said divided groups.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein said multi-segmented detector comprises a digital camera.
3. The method of claim 2, wherein said segments comprise pixels.
4. The method of claim 1, wherein said groups are formed by segments receiving signals having similar color properties.
5. The method of claim 1, further comprising color-characterizing said multi-segmented detector with standard test samples.
6. An apparatus for color measuring, comprising:
a spectrophotometer;
at least one light source for illuminating an interior of the spectrophotometer and at least one sample; and
a multi-segmented detector configured at a port of the spectrophotometer and being adapted to measure light components from said at least one sample.
7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein said spectrophotometer comprises an integrating-sphere.
8. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein said multi-segmented detector comprises a digital camera.
9. The apparatus of claim 6, further comprising at least one photometer for measuring light components from standard test samples for use in color-characterizing at least one of said multi-segmented detector and said spectrophotometer.
10. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein one of said at least one light sources is configured to directly illuminate the at least one sample, and the at least one sample and the multi-segmented detector are apposed to a direction of the light from said one of said at least one light source to form a specular path connecting the light, the sample, and the multi-segmented detector.
11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein said one of said at least one light sources comprises a light projector that projects an illuminated grid image onto the sample which is captured by the multi-segmented detector.
12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein said captured illuminated grid image is used to determine if a sample port of said spectrophotometer is opened or closed, and if open, the size of the opening.
13. The apparatus in claim 6, wherein one of said at least one light sources is configured to diffusely illuminate the sample, and the multi-segmented detector is configured to capture spatial variations in the color of the sample.
14. A computer-readable medium configured to provide processor executable instructions operable to perform a method, the method comprising:
illuminating a test sample within an integrating sphere;
measuring optical signals received from the test sample; and
color-characterizing a digital camera based on the optical signals received where the digital camera is operably connected to the integrating sphere.
15. A computer-readable medium configured to provide processor executable instructions operable to perform a method, the method comprising:
receiving an image generated from measured light signals from a color sample;
selecting a region of interest from within the image; and
determining color information for the selected region of interest independently from other areas of the image.
16. The computer-readable medium of claim 15 where the processor executable instructions are embodied as a graphical user interface.
17. A color measuring system, comprising:
a spectrophotometer for providing and directing light signals from a sample;
at least one light source for illuminating an interior of said spectrophotometer and said sample; and
a digital camera configured in a port of the spectrophotometer and being configured to measure the light signals from the sample;
selection logic configured to enable a region of interest to be selected from the measured light signals; and
analysis logic adapted to determine color information from the region of interest separately from other measured light signals.
18. The color measuring system of claim 17, further comprising:
calibration logic configured to calibrate or characterize the digital camera using the measured light signals and known color values for the sample.
19. The color measuring system of claim 17, further comprising:
logic configured to determine a size of an aperture of a sample port using the measured light signals from the digital camera.
20. The color measuring system of claim 17, wherein said digital camera is adapted to measure optical radiation from the sample and generate image data of the sample and to communicate the image data to a computing device using wireless communication.
21. The color measuring system of claim 17, wherein said color measuring system comprises a plurality of modes of operation including at least a spectrophotometer mode, a mode used to characterize the specular-reflected component of a material, a mode used to image a variegated sample and a mode used to perform shape measurement of a three-dimensional sample.
22. The color measuring system of claim 21, wherein said at least one light source comprises at least two light sources and a light projector that projects an illuminated grid image onto the sample and wherein said color measuring system switches between modes of operation by activating and deactivating specific ones of said light sources.
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 method of controlling a machine during an excavating operation, comprising:
deploying stabilizers to ground contact to stabilize the machine at a first excavation site set-up position;
excavating with an excavating assemblage during a first excavating phase while the machine is stabilized at the first excavation site set-up position;
initiating an automated machine preparation for repositioning mode for preparing the machine, after the first excavating phase, for repositioning to a second excavation site set-up position for a second excavating phase, by activating an input device to send input signals to a controller;
delivering output signals from the controller to control automated machine preparation for repositioning to the second excavation site set-up position; and
driving the machine along the excavation site from the first excavation site set-up position to the second excavation site set-up position.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein delivering output signals includes delivering output signals to:
reduce machine engine speed to a level below the machine engine speed employed during excavating;
retract the stabilizers from ground contact;
move the excavating assemblage to a stowed position; and
engage a machine transmission gear suitable for facilitating machine repositioning.
3. The method of claim 2, including,
during the automated preparation for machine repositioning mode, delivering output signals from the controller to further reduce machine engine speed to idle after the stabilizers are retracted and the excavating assemblage is moved to stowed position, and before engagement of a machine transmission gear suitable for facilitating machine repositioning.
4. The method of claim 2, wherein the machine includes a front loader assembly including a loader bucket, further including:
forcing the loader bucket into ground contact to further stabilize the machine during the first excavating phase at the first set-up position;
and wherein delivering output signals includes delivering output signals to retract the loader bucket from ground contact.
5. The method of claim 4, wherein initiating an automated machine preparation for repositioning mode includes activating a touch screen display, and delivering output signals includes delivering output signals to, in the following order:
reduce machine engine speed to a level below the machine engine speed employed during excavating;
move the excavating assemblage to a stowed position;
retract the loader bucket from ground contact;
retract the stabilizers from ground contact;
further reduce machine engine speed; and
shift a machine transmission into a gear suitable to facilitate machine repositioning.
6. The method of claim 1, wherein initiating an automated machine preparation for repositioning mode includes at least one of:
activating a touch screen display;
moving a toggle switch;
pressing a button; or
manipulating a control lever.
7. The method of claim 1, further including
excavating a portion of a trench at the first excavation site set-up position and during the first excavating phase;
preparing the machine for repositioning during the automated machine preparation for repositioning mode; and
excavating another portion of the trench at the second set-up position and during the second excavating phase.
8. The method of claim 1, wherein delivering output signals includes delivering output signals to at least one of:
reduce machine engine speed to a level below the machine engine speed employed during excavating;
retract the stabilizers from ground contact;
move the excavating assemblage to a stowed position; or
engage a machine transmission gear suitable for facilitating machine repositioning.
9. The method of claim 1, wherein delivering output signals includes delivering output signals to:
retract the stabilizers from ground contact; and
move the excavating assemblage to a stowed position.
10. The method of claim 9, wherein delivering output signals further includes delivering output signals to reduce machine engine speed to a level below the machine engine speed employed during excavating.
11. A system for controlling a machine during an excavating operation, comprising:
an excavating assemblage;
a plurality of machine elements configured to facilitate machine set-up during an excavating operation; and
a control system configured to control the excavating assemblage to excavate material during a first excavating phase at a first excavation site machine set-up position, the control system being configured to control the plurality of machine elements during an automated machine preparation for repositioning mode after the first excavating phase, for preparing the machine for movement along the excavation site from the first excavation site machine set-up position to a second excavation site set-up position for a second excavating phase.
12. The system of claim 11, wherein the control system includes an input device for permitting operator input, and a control module for receiving input signals from the input device and for delivering output signals at least to the plurality of machine elements for controlling the plurality of machine elements during the automated machine preparation for repositioning mode.
13. The system of claim 12, wherein the input device includes at least one of a touch screen display, a joystick, a switch, or a button.
14. The system of claim 11, wherein the plurality of machine elements includes a pair of stabilizers mounted on the machine and configured to be deployed into ground contact for stabilizing the machine during the first excavating phase, and wherein the control system is configured to retract the stabilizers from ground contact during the automated machine preparation for repositioning mode.
15. The system of claim 11, wherein the excavating assemblage includes a backhoe mechanism including a swing assembly, a boom, a stick, and a bucket, and wherein the control system is configured to move the backhoe mechanism to a stowed position during the automated machine preparation for repositioning mode.
16. The system of claim 15, wherein the backhoe mechanism is mounted at the rear of the machine, and wherein one of the plurality of machine elements includes a front loader assembly mounted at the front of the machine.
17. The system of claim 16, wherein the front loader assembly includes a loader bucket configured to be moved into ground contact during the first excavating phase, and wherein the control system is configured to retract the loader bucket from ground contact during the automated machine preparation for repositioning mode.
18. A machine for excavating during a plurality of excavating phases, comprising:
an engine and a transmission mounted on the machine;
an excavating assemblage including a boom pivoted to the machine, a stick pivoted to the boom, and a bucket pivoted to the stick; and
a control system configured to control the excavating assemblage to excavate material during a first excavating phase at a first excavation site machine set-up position, the control system being configured to control machine elements during an automated machine preparation for repositioning mode after the first excavating phase, for preparing the machine for movement along the excavation site from the first excavation site machine set-up position to a second excavation site set-up position for a second excavating phase.
19. The machine of claim 18, including a pair of stabilizers movably mounted to the machine for ground contact during an excavating phase, a front loader bucket movably attached at the front of the machine for ground contact during the first excavating phase, and wherein the boom is pivoted at the rear of the machine.
20. The machine of claim 19, wherein the control system includes a touch screen display configured to enable a machine operator to initiate the automated machine preparation for repositioning mode and a control module configured for receiving input signals from the touch screen display and configured for delivering output signals to:
reduce machine engine speed to a level below the machine engine speed employed during excavating;
move the excavating assemblage to a stowed position;
retract the loader bucket from ground contact;
retract the pair of stabilizers from ground contact;
further reduce machine engine speed; and
engage a transmission gear suitable for machine repositioning.
21. The machine of claim 19, wherein, during the automated machine preparation for repositioning mode, the control system is configured to initiate retraction of the loader bucket from ground contact, initiate retraction of the stabilizers from ground contact, and initiate shifting of the transmission into a gear suitable for machine repositioning.
22. The machine of claim 18, wherein the control system includes an operator input device configured to permit an operator to initiate the automated machine preparation for repositioning mode.
23. The machine of claim 22, including:
an operator station including a seat movable to a position facing toward the machine front and movable to a position facing toward the machine rear;
wherein the input device is positioned proximate the operator station so as to enable an operator to initiate the automated machine preparation for repositioning mode, for repositioning the machine when the operator is in the seat and the seat is in a position facing toward the machine rear.
24. The machine of claim 18, wherein the control system includes a touch screen display configured to enable a machine operator to initiate the automated machine preparation for repositioning mode and includes a control module configured to receive input signals and to deliver output signals to:
move the excavating assemblage to a stowed position;
reduce machine engine speed to a level below the machine engine speed employed during excavating; and
retract a front loader bucket from ground contact.
25. The machine of claim 24, wherein the control module is further configured to deliver output signals to:
retract a pair of stabilizers movably mounted to the machine from ground contact;
further reduce machine engine speed; and
engage a transmission gear suitable for machine repositioning.
26. The machine of claim 18, wherein the control system includes a touch screen display configured to enable a machine operator to initiate the automated machine preparation for repositioning mode and includes a control module configured to receive input signals and to deliver output signals to at least one of:
reduce machine engine speed to a level below the machine engine speed employed during excavating;
move the excavating assemblage to a stowed position;
retract a front loader bucket from ground contact;
retract a pair of stabilizers movably mounted to the machine from ground contact;
further reduce machine engine speed; or
engage a transmission gear suitable for machine repositioning.