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Measuring Instruments
Introducing the Chroma Meter CL-200A,
a compact, lightweight incident-color/color-temperature meter
ideal for quality control of white LED illumination
July 21, 2010
Konica Minolta Sensing, Inc. (Headquarters: Sakai, Osaka, JAPAN; President: Toshihiko Karasaki; hereinafter referred to as “Konica Minolta”) is proud to announce that the Chroma Meter CL-200A, a compact, lightweight, handheld instrument for measuring incident color and color temperature with characteristics that make it ideal for measurements of white LED illumination and LED lighting fixtures, will be introduced around the middle of August 2010.
| Product | Chroma Meter CL-200A |
|---|---|
| Start of sales | Mid-August 2010 |
LEDs are often referred to as “next-generation light sources” because they have low energy consumption and, unlike fluorescent lamps, are mercury-free. With the introduction of high-luminance white LEDs, they have become more practical and popular for both general-purpose lighting and as backlights for large-size LCD displays.
Konica Minolta has gained a reputation as a leading manufacturer of high-performance illuminance meters for a quarter of a century. Konica Minolta Chroma Meters which measure not only illuminance but also the color temperature*1 and chromaticity*2 of a light source at the same time are highly praised by the R&D departments and production lines of many manufacturers of LEDs and LED lighting modules, and Konica Minolta Sensing, Inc. enjoys a top market share in the LED lighting field.
The Chroma Meter CL-200A is the successor to the Chroma Meter CL-200 introduced in 2000, and offers improved characteristics for measuring white LEDs. In addition to measuring the color temperature, chromaticity and illuminance of light sources, the CL-200A can also show the dominant wavelength*3 and excitation purity*4 directly in the display, making the CL-200A an ideal tool for controlling the light quality of new lighting devices such as LED modules, etc. It also includes PC software as a standard accessory, providing further functionality such as automatic ranking of LEDs and plotting of measurement data on the xy chromaticity diagram.
The CL-200A is battery-powered for portability and the low-battery indicator is also compatible with rechargeable batteries.
Environmental concerns were also considered in the CL-200A’s design and manufacture, and it fully complies with the European RoHS directive regarding non-use of hazardous substances in products.
This instrument is useful not only for LED manufacturers but also for lighting designers in the field. When producing illumination for a stage or space, the color temperature, chromaticity and illuminance suitable for the space need to be specified and correctly communicated with the workers setting up the event, especially when comfort, safety and efficiency are important to the original designer of the space. The CL-200A is the ideal tool to exactly produce the spatial lighting imagined by the lighting designer.
Konica Minolta continues to develop precise sensing technology and applications in order to offer solutions matching customer needs and to maintain our status as “essential” for customers.
- *1
- A method of expressing color, based on the temperature at which a perfect blackbody would emit the same color. Units: K (Kelvin)
- *2
- A method of expressing color in terms of x and y defined by the CIE (International Commission on Illumination) in 1931.
- *3
- In the evaluation of light, the wavelength which is most apparent in the light being evaluated. Units: nm
- *4
- Value indicating the vividness of a color. White has the lowest value.
Main Features of Chroma Meter CL-200A
1 Suitable for quality control of white LEDs
Most white LEDs are comprised of a blue LED which is coated with yellow phosphor. The resulting white light in this case is actually a mixture of the yellow light emitted by the yellow phosphor coating and the blue light emitted by the blue LED. As the wavelength distribution of the blue LED emission spectrum differs from LED to LED, the white light generated also varies.
Because of this, it is very important to control not just brightness but also color when white LEDs are measured.
The CL-200A is a revolutionary tool to obtain all necessary indexes for controlling white LED light in a single operation.
2 Detachable receptor makes remote measurement possible.
Optional adapters can be used to connect the CL-200A receptor and the main body at a distance via commercially available LAN cable. This is convenient for taking measurements with the receptor placed far away or in areas which are difficult to reach, such as in a darkroom box.
3 Automatic LED ranking function
The included Data Management Software CL-S10w adds a variety of functions for the CL-200A, including showing data transferred from the CL-200A to the software on a chromaticity diagram and automatically determining the rank of each LED measured. This enables anyone to rank LEDs accurately based on numerical data, instead of having to rely on specialists.
4 Battery warning compatible with rechargeable batteries
Rechargeable batteries have become popular because they are more environmentally friendly. They also maintain their voltage until they are almost exhausted, unlike alkaline batteries for which voltage gradually declines. On conventional products, when using rechargeable batteries the change battery alert doesn’t appear until just before the batteries become exhausted, but the CL-200A properly monitors even rechargeable batteries and provides warning at the appropriate time so that users can change batteries and continue taking measurements with the CL-200A.
Chroma Meter CL-200A Specifications
| Model | Chroma Meter CL-200A | |
|---|---|---|
| Luminance meter class | Conforms to requirements for Class AA of JIS C 1609-1: 2006 "Illuminance meters Part 1: General measuring instruments" | |
| Relative spectral response | Closely matches CIE standard observer curves x (λ), y (λ), and z (λ) Within 6% (f1') of the CIE spectral luminous efficiency V(λ) |
|
| Cosine response (f2) | Ev: Within 3% | |
| Receptor | Silicon photocell | |
| Measurement functions | Tristimulus values: | XYZ |
| Chromaticity: | Ev xy; Ev u'v'; Ev, Dominant wavelength, Excitation purity | |
| Correlated color temperature: | Ev, Tcp, Δuv; Tcp (JIS method; available only with CL-S10w) | |
| Color difference: | Δ(XYZ), Δ(Ev xy), Δ(Ev u'v'), ΔEvΔu'v' (One target color) |
|
| Other functions | User calibration function, Data hold function, Multi-point measurement (2 to 30 receptors) | |
| Measuring range | 0.1 to 99,990 lx, 0.01 to 9,999 fcd (Chromaticity: Available at 5 lx or 0.5 fcd and above) in four automatically selected ranges (lux or fcd selectable) | |
| Accuracy | Ev (Linearity): ±2%, ±1 digit of displayed value (based on Konica Minolta standard) xy: ±0.002 (800 lx, Standard light source A measured) |
|
| Repeatability | Ev: 0.5% ±1 digit (2σ) xy: ±0.0005 (800 lx, Standard light source A measured) | |
| Temperature drift | Ev: ±3%, ±1 digit of displayed value xy: ±0.003 (Based on Konica Minolta's standard measurement conditions) | |
| Humidity drift | Ev: ±3%, ±1 digit of displayed value xy: ±0.003 (Based on Konica Minolta's standard measurement conditions) | |
| Response time | 0.5 sec. (continuous measurement) | |
| Data communication | USB for connection to PC using included USB Cable T-A15; Terminal for output to printer using optional Printer Cable T-A12 | |
| Display | 4-significant-digit LCD with back-light illumination | |
| Operating temperature/ humidity range | -10 to 40°C, relative humidity 85% or less (at 35°C) with no condensation | |
| Storage temperature/ humidity range | -20 to 55°C, relative humidity 85% or less (at 35°C) with no condensation | |
| Power source | 2 AA-size batteries / AC adapter (optional) | |
| Battery life | 72 hours or longer (when alkaline batteries are used) in continuous measurement | |
| Dimensions | 69 × 174 × 35mm (2-3/4 × 6-7/8 × 1-3/8 in.) | |
| Weight | 215g (7.6 oz) not including batteries | |
| Standard accessories | Case T-A10, Cap T-A13, Strap, AA-size batteries (not included in some areas), Data Management Software SL-S10w, USB Cable T-A15 | |
| Optional accessories | Additional receptor heads, Adapter Unit for Main Body T-A20; Adapter Unit for Receptor Head T-A21; AC Adapter AC-A308 (for 1 to 10 receptor heads); AC Adapter AC-A311 (for 1 to 30 receptor heads); Printer Cable T-A12; Hood CL-A11; Hard Case CL-A10 | |
Chroma Meter CL-200A Specifications
Type |
Add-in for Excel®(Excel is required to use this add-in.) |
|---|---|
Operating environment |
One of the following environments with Excel®installed: |
Compatible instruments |
CL-200A, CL-200 (Some functions not available with CL-200.) |
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