Miniature colorimeter

The invention is a colorimeter for measurement of the color of an object. The colorimeter comprises a hand-held probe which is similar in size and shape to a large writing pen and provides the capability of measuring the color of a spot or target on, or within, the surface of an object. A measurement is made while placing the tip of the probe against, or in close proximity to, the surface of the object. The calorimeter generates from a single measurement three color data points representing the reflectance of the spot measured at the wavelengths of three primary colors. From those data points, a microprocessor can perform analyses yielding a single color value represented in various standard formats, or it can compare the measured values with a preloaded table of values. The colorimeter can then present the results on a liquid crystal display. The colorimeter contains multiple light emitting diodes (LEDs) for successively emitting light of different colors toward a target, a light sensor for receiving light reflected from the target, and a light pipe for directing light from the LEDs to the target. The display may be an integral part of the probe or contained in a separate display module connected to the probe by an electrical cable.