Caretec Color Star User manual

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Color Star
Advanced Talking Color Identifier
Light Detector and Light Analyzer
________________________________________________________________________________
MANUAL
EN

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TABLE OF CONTENTS
1. Introduction..........................................................3
2. Device description................................................4
3. Charging the battery.............................................6
4. How to turn ON/OFF ............................................6
5. Color Star’s functions ...........................................6
5.1. Color measurement..............................................7
5.2. Identifying patterns and measuring color contrast .7
5.3. Light detector and light analysis ...........................7
5.4. Comparing colors.................................................8
5.5. Color analysis ......................................................9
5.6. Repeat the color announcement ...........................9
5.7. Volume control.....................................................9
6. Having trouble with your Color Star? ..................10
7. Safety and Cleaning...........................................11
8. Technical Data...................................................12
9. Guarantee and Service.......................................13
10. Disposal of used electronic devices ....................13
11. Symbols used ....................................................15
12. Manufacturer......................................................16

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1. INTRODUCTION
Color Star is a high-performance color identifier with leading-edge
technologythat recognizes upto 1000different nuances of colorand offers
clear and natural speech. In addition, it compares colors, identifies
patterns and measures color contrast. It not only recognizes the color of
LED-lights, but also measures the intensity of ambient light.
There are different methods for measuring color. Color Star uses a
sophisticated analysis based on the RGB (red-green-blue) color sensor
module. This method analyzes color the same way that the three receptors
of the eye do.
Color Star announces colors in two different ways:
- using universal color names (scientific names developed by the
International Commission on Illumination CIE)
- using artistic (or „traditional“) color names that are used in everyday
language
Each and eveyone of us has his or her own perception and interpretation
of color and light. Color Star is programmed in a more general way. The
colors may thus vary from the user‘s own individual perception of colors,
but the measurements remain highly precise according to the
programming.

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2. DEVICE DESCRIPTION
Hold your Color Star device in front of you and in such a way that the
control buttons are facing you and the three upper horizontal lines (tactile
markings) - above the color measurement button - are directed away from
you.
Color measurement
button (A)
Measuring contrast and
patterns
Light measurement
button (B)
Light analyzer
Color comparison
Volume button (C)
Battery status
Socket
For pendrive
charger cable
Earphone jack
3,5 mm Standard
Measuring sensor
Speaker
Eyelet for lanyard
Reset-Hole
Light-emitting diode

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The front of the device
Above the three horizontal lines you will find a (centrally located) short
marking that is perpendicular to the horizontal lines. This easily palpable
line shows in the direction of the measuring sensor which is located at the
top end of the device, on the upper narrow side.
Below the horizontal lines, you will find three round tactile buttons (A, B,
C) all lined up in avertical row. All three buttons have clear tactile markings
and allow users to perform all operating steps. If you continue to run your
fingers further down, you will come across a small light-emitting diode that
gives the charge status of the battery. Then, further down, a star shaped
grille covers the speaker installed underneath. At the bottom end of Color
Star‘s case there is an eyelet that you can attach a lanyard to, if you wish.
From top to bottom, the button closest to the measuring sensor is the color
measurement button (A) recognizable with its 6 tactile dots arranged in a
circle. The next button is the light measurement button (B) with one tactile
dot in the middle and the last is the volume measurement button (C) with
three raised dots in one row.
The narrow sides
The measuring sensor is situated on the devices‘ top end or upper narrow
side. You can find the earphone jack on the lower left narrow side of the
device. Right on the other side, on the lower right narrow side, you will find
the socket for the pendrive charger cable. The lower narrow side features
the small (1mm) hole for the reset function.
The back of the device
On the back of the device you will find a sticker with Color Star‘s serial
number and four countersunk screws that hold the case together.
Note:
An audio manual (on CD or pendrive) for blind and visually
impaired users is included in the package content.

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3. CHARGING THE BATTERY
The device is equipped with an integrated battery. As soon as the battery
becomes weaker, you will hear a siren-like noise. This is a reminder to
recharge your battery using the pendrive charger cable included in the
package content.
The recharging process starts with a short „battery is being recharged“.
The diode emits a red light. As soon as the charging process has finished,
you will hear „battery recharged“ and the diode will emit a green light.
Battery charge time is approximately two hours. For information about the
battery status, hold the volume button (C).
4. HOW TO TURN ON/OFF
Turn ON Color Star by pressing the color measurement button (A). Turn
OFF the device by holding the color measurement (A) and light
measurement (B) buttons simultaneously. To save energy, Color Star will
go into standby after 1 minute idle. Five seconds before the device turns
itself off automatically, you will hear a notification sound.
5. COLOR STAR’S FUNCTIONS
Button /
Pressure
Color measurement
button (A)
Light
measurement
button (B)
Volume button
(C)
Short
Turn ON
Color measurement
Color comparison
Volume control
Hold
Color contrast
measurement
Light detector
including light
analysis
Battery charge
level
Short A & B
Repeat the color
announcement
Repeat the color
announcement
Hold A & B
Turn OFF
Turn OFF
Short B & C
Select color name
(universal / artistic)
Select color name
(universal / artistic)

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5.1. Color measurement
To ensure correct color measurement please position the measuring
sensor of your Color Star at a right angle to the surface you wish to analyze
and briefly press the color measurement button (A). The color will be
announced in a clear spoken voice.
Be sure that no light enters between the sensor and the object surface,
otherwise the measurement is not reliable or no measurement is possible
at all. Also be sure to keep the device as still as possible during
measurement.
5.2. Identifying patterns and measuring color contrast
Press and hold the color measurement button (A) and scan your Color
Star over the surface of an object or a document. If the signal sequence is
fairly constant, the surface you are measuring is unicolor. Higher-pitched
signals stand for lighter colors and lower-pitched signals for darker colors.
If the tone sequence varies, the surface is patterned (e.g. writing). If you
hear a dynamic and vibrant signal sequence, the surface is multicolored
(e.g. in a picture/photo).
The signal sequence will tell you if there is writing on a document, where
the writing is, if there are pictures included and where exactly these are.
5.3. Light detector and light analysis
This function enables you to detect light sources –be it natural or artificial
–and gives information about the color hue and the intensity of the light.
Color Star can recognize 15 (color) tones with intensities between 0 and
10000.
To be able to detect light sources hold the light measurement button (B)
and move the device in different directions or point the device in the
direction of the assumed light source (for example in direction of a window
in a room). You will be able to determine the intensity of the light source
by the pitch of the signal that you hear.

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The higher the pitch, the stronger the light. As soon as you think you have
found the light source, release the button. Then you will hear information
about the color tone, e.g.: „The color of the light is white. Intensity 1000“.
Using this function you can also detect if a light emitting diode on your
phone, your PC etc. is switched on or not. It will also help you recognize
its color tone and intensity. All you need to do is to point the device in the
direction of the light source and hold the light measurement button (B).
While moving the device around or in the vicinity of the light source you
will hear a signal. The higher the pitch of the signal, the closer the device
is to the light source.
As soon as you release the button you will hear information, e.g.: color
tone of the light is red, intensity 256“.
5.4. Comparing colors
This function enables you to compare the color of the last color
measurement with the color measured previously.
Press Color Star‘s measuring sensor onto the object surface that you
would like to analyze and briefly push the color measurement button (A).
After the device has given you the color measurement of this object, hold
the device onto a different surface and briefly press the light measurement
button (B). Listen to the information given by the device: e.g.: “Colors are
the same”, “Colors are slightly different”, “Colors are appreciable different”
or “Colors are strongly different”.
If only one color measurement has been made, no color comparison is
possible; the information you get will be of this one measurement.

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5.5. Color analysis
The result of the color analysis is announced in two different ways:
Using universal color names (following CIE guidelines) and using artistic
(or „traditional“) color names. By simultaneously holding the buttons (B)
and (C) you can change from one color name to the other.
5.6. Repeat the color announcement
To be able to listen to the result of the color analysis again, please press
the buttons (A) and (B) simultaneously. The last color announcement will
be repeated.
After having turned off the device, the last result will be deleted from the
memory.
5.7. Volume control
The device has five different volume levels.
By briefly pushing the volume control button (C) you will be told the current
volume level.
Every time you continue to push this button, the volume will increase by
one level. After having reached level five, the device will automatically go
back to level one. If it takes you longer than three seconds to change from
one volume level to the next, the device will repeat the last volume
announcement.

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6. HAVING TROUBLE WITH YOUR COLOR STAR?
If you hear loud siren-like noises, be sure to recharge your battery (see
also chapter three „charging the battery“).
In case the device is not functioning, connect the device to the pendrive-
charger (included in the package content) for at least an hour. Then try
switching Color Star on again.
If there is no reaction, take a sharp object –as for example the wire of an
ordinary paper clip. Introduce the wire into the small (1 mm) reset hole on
the lower narrow side of the device and press briefly.
If you hear the startup melody, Color Star is now ready for use again. If
this reset measure does not function, the device needs to be repaired. To
do so, please get in touch with the manufacturer.
Please note that the color measurement depends on the texture of the
object that you wish to examine. A rough knitted sweater can seem darker
than it is.
In addition, if you are measuring a translucent textile (as is the case with
a rough knit) the underground surface can show through and thus distort
the result. We recommend you fold the fabric several times, smooth it out
and then push the fabric against the measuring sensor with your finger
(from behind the fabric). Then examine the textile again.