Fiber optic color balance monitor

摘要

A fiber optic apparatus and method for monitoring color balance of a product that can consist of a complex two dimensional color pattern. This system employs at least one illuminating optical fiber (18) and at least two pick-up optical fibers (16). Filters (36) associated with each of the pick-up fibers (16) separate the reflected light into different color components. Photodetectors (38) convert the light intensity from each fiber (16) into analog electrical signals which are routed to a microprocessor based signal processing module (10) for conversion to digital output and subsequent analysis for monitoring color balance. If there is a change in color balance, a visual and/or acoustic alarm (62) is automatically activated.