PCE Instruments PCE-TCR 200 User manual

Colour Meter PCE-TCR 200
Instruction Manual
PCE Instruments
Office: Jl. Radin Inten II No. 62 Duren Sawit, Jakarta 13440 - Indonesia
Workshop: Jl. Pahlawan Revolusi No. 22B, Jakarta 13430 - Indonesia
Phone: [phone] (Hunting) Fax: [phone]
Mobile: [phone]
Fax: [phone]

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CONTENTS
1. Using information--------------------------------------------------------------------------1
2. Introduction----------------------------------------------------------------------------------2
2.1 Nomenclature---------------------------------------------------------------------------3
2.2 Function Demonstration--------------------------------------------------------------3
3. Features---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------4
4. Technical Specification---------------------------------------------------------------------5
5. Working Theory-------------------------------------------------------------------------------6
6. Operation --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------8
6.1 Switch on the instrument ------------------------------------------------------------8
6.2 Language Selection-------------------------------------------------------------------8
6.3 Calibration-------------------------------------------------------------------------------8
6.4 Correct white---------------------------------------------------------------------------10
6.5 Enter sampling-------------------------------------------------------------------------12
6.6 Testing------------------------------------------------------------------------------------13
6.7 Testing interface------------------------------------------------------------------------13
6.8 Save data--------------------------------------------------------------------------------14
6.9 USB Communication------------------------------------------------------------------15
6.10 Printing----------------------------------------------------------------------------------15
7. System Function------------------------------------------------------------------------------17
7.1 Light choose-----------------------------------------------------------------------------17
7.2 Time setting------------------------------------------------------------------------------17
7.3 Sample entering------------------------------------------------------------------------18

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7.4 Check records-------------------------------------------------------------------------18
7.5 Tolerance setting----------------------------------------------------------------------19
7.6 Metamerism----------------------------------------------------------------------------19
7.7 Formatting------------------------------------------------------------------------------20
8. USB drive installation------------------------------------------------------------------------21
9. Other Functions-------------------------------------------------------------------------------24
10. Notice------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------25
11. Q&A --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------26

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1. Using Information
Precise color meter PCE-TCR 200 is made in accordance with National Standards
and CIE Standards.
Important information on how to use the instrument effectively, please read the
instruction manual carefully before using the instruments. Any unauthorized
changes may damage or affect the instrument’s precision, which damages users’
legal right to use the instrument.

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2. Introduction
The color meter is brand-new line product for color difference measurement. It is
characterized by stable performance, high precision, portable and can also
measure with batteries and AC-DC external power supply. The instrument can
measure color difference between two different colors for the same material rapidly
and accurately, adopting the TFT display technology which can be used in
apheliotropic display.
The instrument can be used to measure color difference between different colors
for the same material accurately, i.e ,L,a,b,Lab and Lch value. There are three
kinds of light source for analyzing the measured surface and it can do the
metamerism analysis itself or by PC software.
The instrument is mainly applied to color matching of costume、fitment 、building
and indoor decoration and the people who involved in plastic、painting、design、
plating ang chinaware industries.
Precise color reader
instruction
Exterual power
supply
USB wire
White tabula Black cavity

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2.1 Nomenclature
2.2 Function Demonstration
3. Features
ⅰ Stable performance and high precision
Enter
Save
Up/Printing
Down
Cancel
Testing
USB interface
DC interface
Printing interface
ON/OFF

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ⅱ Display directly thousands of color’ s chromatism
ⅲ Display color result by Lab、△E and Lch
ⅳ Three standard optical light sources: D65、D50and F11
ⅴ Samples and groups of color difference can be saved
ⅵ do the metamerism analysis itself or by PC software
ⅶ 4pcs AAA(1.5v)batteries, low power consumption
ⅷ Small volume、light weight and convenient operation
4. Technical Specification
5. Working Theory
Compare the color difference between sample and the measured subject, then
output the data of CIE_Lab , and △E,△L,△a,△b.
△E represents the total color difference.
△L+ represents partial white, △L- represents partial black
(comparing with prototype)
Repeat accuracy Within E*ab0.08 （interval measuring 30 times after calibrating
white tabula）
Lighting/inspecting
system
8/d（8°Falloff/diffuse reflection）
SCI（include Flat Mirror Light））
SCE（eliminate Flat Mirror Light）
Light source White light source
Measured aperture 8mm
Error of instrument Within E*ab0.5
Field of view 10°regulated by CIE
Inspection condition D65，D50，F11
Color space XYZ, RGB, L*a*b, L*C*H, Chroma values and △ E*ab,( △
L*a*b*),(△L*c*h*) color difference values
Language Chinese ,English
Interface USB RS232C
Power supply 4 pcs AA 1.5v batteries, or AC-DC alternating current.
Operating temp 0-70° lower than 85% relative humidity
Dimension 77*86*210mm
Weight 550g

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△a+ represents partial red, △a- represents partial green
(comparing with prototype)
△b+ represents partial yellow, △b- represents partial blue
(comparing with prototype)
CIE color reference system
Range of color difference Color difference analysis
0-0.25△
E
very small or no; very perfect matching
0.25-0.5△E
small; acceptable matching
0.5-1.0△
E
small to medium; acceptable in some areas.
1.0-2.0△
E
Medium; acceptable in some areas.
2.0-4.0△
E
has distance; acceptable in special application
4.0△
E
very big; not acceptable in most applications
6. Operation
6.1 Switch on the instrument

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Move the button to“ON”on the base side, the LCD screen will display “Precise
Color Reader” after short buzzer, then it will get into the “language selection”
screen automatically.
6.2 Language selection
There are two languages installed in the instrument: Chinese and English.
Language can be selected by pressing “up” or“down”. Then press the ”ENTER” to
confirm. It will enter the calibration screen after the buzzing.
6.3 Calibration
There are two parts for calibration: Black calibration、White calibration. In order to
guarantee the precision of the test, “Black calibration” and “White calibration” are
constrained to be operated before entering the main program. Do the “Black
calibration” and “White calibration” orderly by using black cavity and white tabula.

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Black calibration:
Put the instrument testing aperture aim at the aperture of black cavity correctly and
press “Enter” , then “black calibration is over” will be displayed in status bar after
the buzzing.
White calibration:
Put the testing aperture on the white tabula completely and press button “enter”,
then “whole white calibration is over” will be displayed in status bar after the
buzzing.

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Please select “Enter to Main” to get to the sampling screen After above steps.
6.4 Correct white
ⅰ.Correcting white calibrate of XYZ in lower machine (PCE-TCR 200)
Put the testing aperture on the white tabula while selecting “Correct white” and
press “enter”, then “correct white page” will be shown as follows:
The displayed values are real XYZ values of the white tabula. For changing XYZ
values, please press “enter” and change the value by “up” and “down”. Then press
“YES” to confirm the change.
ⅱ. Correcting white calibrate of XYZ in upper monitor (Computer)
(a) Connect instrument with pc by USB communication, then open software of
upper monitor of PCE-TCR 200.
(b) The window “correct white” will pop up by Clicking “control” in status bar.

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Select “correct white” in control of the window and Put the testing aperture on the
white tabula, press “test”. Then the value of XYZ will appear in the dialog window
as follows:
If the value needs to be amended, fill the needed values in the dialog window. Click
“modificate” for saving the amending or “cancel” for deleting the amending.
Note: When doing correct white calibration. Please follow the above steps strictly. If
the absolute values of X、Y、Z are bigger than 0.1, correct white is necessary to be
done.
6.5 Enter sampling

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Enter sampling: testing function of the instrument.
System setting: For classifying the system function.
Language: “Simplified Chinese” and “English” two selections.
USB Comm.: connect the instrument with PC.
Select “Enter sampling” to do the sample test. If there is nothing to be set in system,
the testing data will be acquiesced in the light source D65. “D50” and and“F11” can
be selected before testing in system setting.
6.6 Testing
Press“testing”to start sampling , press “save” to keep the sampling data after
testing , there will be a save number for the sample in the Status Bar. In the latter
testing, all values of measured surface will be compared with current sample result,
unless change another sample. press“Enter” to get into testing screen after
sampling.

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Operation method of re-sampling: Press “CANCEL”, back to “Entering sampling”
screen. Press “Enter” to sample. Then press “Testing”, the data will be for new
sample surface.
6.7 Testing interface
Let the instrument aim at tested sample, press “Testing”, the difference between
tested surface and standard sample will be displayed in main screen.
The instrument can make a primary estimation for testing data and show estimated
result for reference. the test data△E、△L、△a and △b respectively are displayed
and the state of the tested data will be shown.
The result of △Eab is judged by tolerance setting of system setting will be shown
in status bar. Please note the proper judging range while setting the tolerance.
Under default, the tolerance range of color difference △Eab is “1”
Tolerance range can be set if required. Please refer to function setting of Tolerance
setting.
After accepted tolerance setting, it will give judge automatically for each test. There
will be one buzzing if the result is within the accepted tolerance, or twice buzzing
will be happened.
6.8 Save data

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Under default, the instrument does not save testing data. Press “save” to save it,
then it will save the data in the current sample.
The instrument can save 12 kinds of samples and for every sample, it can save 30
groups of data of color differences. The instrument can save sampling time
automatically as well. Please keep the saving number data when checking the
testing data.
In system setting, “inquire records” is for checking the testing data as well.
When records of samples exceed 12, the instrument will cover the front records
circularly. Similarly, when the number of saving data of every sample exceed 30 ,
the front records will be covered by latter ones circularly.
6.9 USB Communication
PCE-TCR 200 has function of communication. All operations can be done by
instrument itself or connecting to computer after installing application.
Please note: Before operating online, please read the information of software
carefully and install application. The introduction is provided in CD.
After connecting to PC successfully, do the relative operations according the
introduction of the application software to complete the testing.
6.10 Printing
The mini special printer is the optional accessory.
PCE-TCR 200 has the function for instant print current samples and color difference
data only connect with the special mini printer.
Software to connect with PC is available for output data.
There is an interface in the back of the instrument. Connecting with the mini printer

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like the diagram as following.
Print Sample: Press “UP/Printing” key to print the current test value after sampling
test.
Print the color difference result: Press “Testing” key, the current values for color
difference would be displayed, then print the values by “UP/Printing” key.
7. System Function
There are eight functions in“System setting”mode.
7.1 Light source
There are three light sources for difference testing environment, which are D65、
D50 and F11. Generally, it is defaulted as D65.
Select the needed light source by “up/dowm”

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7.2 Time setting
Set “year/month/day/hour/minute” in “Time setting”, select the content need to be
amended first and press “enter” to amend the time.
After saving the time setting, the time will be applied to the succedent operation
automatically.
7.3 Sample entering
The “sample entering” means that the instrument will make the saved sample as
current testing sample. Choose the needed sample in “sample display” by
“up/down”, the sampled time will be displayed as well. The test result will be the
color difference between the current sample and the selected saved sample.

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7.4 Check record
The “check records” means that the saved sample and testing records can be
checked.
Only one sample can be displayed when checking. check the record of the sample
by “up/down”.
7.5 Tolerance setting
Tolerance setting is for setting maximal accepted error. The instrument will judge
the color difference according to the tolerance and display the result.
Tolerance setting affects the judging result directly. So the tolerance should be set
based on the acceptable range of test surface. The tolerance is defaulted as 0.1.
7.6 Metamerism

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Metamerism is the three stimulation values are the same but the distribution of the
spectrum is different.
The difference of spectrum distribution can judge roughly the degree of
metamerism for the same color samples. If the shape of spectrum reflectivity curve
between copy and standard sample is almost same and has lots of the cross points
and superposition, which means low degree of metamerism and small color
difference, and vice versa. This is an effective and qualitative way to judge the
degree of metamerism according to the spectrum distributing difference.
Check the records of metamerism by “up/down”.
7.7 Formatting
This function is to manage the memory of the instrument. Format the instrument
before the firs use in the system setting
Warning: All the saved data in the instrument will lose after formatting.

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8. USB drive installation
After doing black and white calibration, enter sampling page, select “USB
communication”.
Connect PCE-TCR 200 to the computer, “find new hard ware” will be displayed.
Select “Yes, this time only”, then click “Next”.