· User can assign a standard in Workspace Menu : Standard &Tolerances. There are 4 types of standards, retrieve from database, physical, Ad hoc, and numeric.

· To create a Standard from a sample, go to the Color Data Screen and press the Sample Name for a few seconds. When the options appear, select the Set as Standard option. The system will then ask, ‘are you sure you want to set this sample as standard?’. If yes, then the sample is renamed as Standard.

· To rename the sample or standard, press the Sample or Standard Name and then select the Rename function.

· To delete the sample or standard, press the name and then select the Delete function.

AutoSave

· This selection will automatically save a job. Once this feature is selected, a dialog box will be displayed to name the job. This selection will automatically save a job. Once this feature is selected, a dialog box will be displayed to name the job. If there is no name for this job yet, the file name will be default with the date, time, instrument and workspace.

AutoTolerance

AutoTolerance can be calculated under Workspace : Standard and Tolerances. AutoTolerances are calculated for CMC by considering the values as l:C – 2:1 with auto correction factor = 0.75 and commercial factor = 1. However, these ratios can be modified as needed. To use these AutoTolerance parameters, press Apply.

Once this is set, Read the standard of interest. This will populate the column to the left of the screen. Then select Absolute or Difference and press Calculate Auto Tolerances. The tolerances will then be shown in the next two columns.

Once the tolerance parameters are selected, the user cannot manually enter tolerances.

Averaging

Under Workspace: Read Options, the number of readings to average can be set to produce the final measurement. The total number of readings to be averaged can be no less than two. Close the screen and press Read

to initiate Readings. Please note, the continuous read cannot be applied together with average read.

Once the Read button is pressed, the instrument will display a unique dialog box to Read and Average the readings. The second reading is taken using the dialog box button, Read. Once all readings are taken, press Average to obtain the results.

Backup/Restore

Jobs: Data Management: Backup function will copy the entire Aeros Hunter Lab folder to the root folder on a thumb drive. Restore enables you to upload the entire Hunter Lab folder from a thumb dive to the Aeros.

Bias Correction

Index Bias Correction is provided in Workspace: Read Options dialog menu.

When the option Index Bias Correction is checked, the application provides an option to Configure and store the Gain and Bias values to match other instrument values for specific Indices as shown below.

The user can select any Index from the list of Indices and input the desired Gain and Bias values. After selecting (Checking) the required Indices, click the Apply button to save the selected Indices values and update the Views accordingly.

This above methodology will provide an option to the user to apply the Bias Correction to each individual Index configured in Workspace. The Bias Corrected Indices will be marked with * in the respective view display.

Color Data Table

The Color Data Table view shows color scale, color difference, and index data for the standards and samples in the job.

· Options such as Tolerances, Pass or Fail, Date and Time, Data Order and Tolerances can be selected using the View Options.

Color Plot

· This shows the sample location in two-dimensional Color Space with respect to the standard for difference measurements or the samples in absolute measurement. For differences, the standard is the center point of the plot and the samples are plotted separately on the graph.

· All displayed samples are listed in a list box on the right of the screen. The color plot can be zoomed and all data points can be viewed in detail.

· The tolerance plot is available in rectangular and elliptical when tolerances are applied. The pass or fail sample points are shown in green and red, respectively.

· Press and hold on the left and right page arrows to show a small dialog box. This dialog allows you to select the number of records per page to display and the default page number to display.

· Under View options, the Color Plot screen allows a choice of Absolute or difference display and can auto range so that the values are always displayed.

Color Scales & Differences

Workspace:Color Scales provide four screens to configure the Scales, Indices, Differences and Illuminant and Observer (Ill and Obs).

This screen shows the 5 scales available for measurement. Select the absolute scale using the radio button on the right side and color difference scales by checking the box on the lower left side.. Press Apply and begin to read your samples.

To incorporate your selections, press Apply. To use the default set in the current Workspace, press Default.

Colorimetric Repeatability

The Repeatability Test assesses how consistently the instrument can measure color. To begin, remove sample tray from the turntable. Go to Workspace menu, select Diagnostics. Click Repeatability Test in the prompted diagnostic dialog. click the New to start a new repeatability test and the user is prompted to standardize the instrument. Then, thirty readings of white tile are taken with each individual reading showing pass or fail. All sample readings must pass for the test to ‘Pass’.

A table of the difference between the current reading and the first reading (Standard) is shown after every measurement. By comparing each reading to the tolerance, a Pass or Fail assessment is shown.

When all 30 readings have been made, the final test result is shown and saved automatically. To Print the result press the Print button in this Repeatability test dialog.

Continuous Read

This feature performs measurements continuously. Measurements are initiated and stopped using the Read Button. The minimum value of the Read interval is 1 second and it will read as fast as it can update. When in Continuous Read mode, the Read Button is enhanced with a checkmark. Please note, the continuous read cannot be applied together with average.

Create Sample Profile

The Read Options: Measurement Configuration: Create Sample Profile button will allow the Aeros to look at the specimen and select the optimum fixed distance from the turntable. When this is pressed, the Sensor will move to the Top position.

When the sample profile is done, the sample height will be shown to the right of the Create sample profile button. The sample profile is automatically saved in the current workspace once sample profile is created. When this workspace is loaded next time, the sensor will move to the stored sensor position.

Data Management

· The data contains the standards and sample measurements saved in a Job and database along with the sensor information. The saved measurements are also associated to respective Workspace and Job.

· Import a Job, Standard, Workspace and Diagnostics from a USB flash drive.

· Export the Job, Standard, Workspace and Diagnostics to a USB flash drive.

Date and Time

To set the current date and time, go to Jobs: Preferences: General and Adjust Clock.

Deleting a Sample or Standard

· Edit– to edit the standard. If Edit is selected, the Workspace : Standard and Tolerances dialog box is presented to allow for editing the name, assigning tolerances or changing the type of standard.

· Delete – to delete the standard. The deleted Standard is reverted into the samples list with its original name.

Deleting a Job, Standard, Workspace, Diagnostics, or Others

· From Jobs: Data Management: Delete, a Job, Standard, Workspace or Others can be deleted. Data can be one file or multiple files. All selected files should be in the same file path location. In addition, one can delete PDF files from the Downloads folder.

Diagnostics

Email a Job

· Saved data can be emailed if there is an active internet connection. When Jobs: Data Management: Email is selected, the following screen is shown prompting the user to browse and enter the recipient mail address.

· Click the Settings button to configure the SMTP mail server configuration (Port, Server) as shown below. The mail settings configuration is mandatory to enable the mail job feature in the application.

· Click Send button to send the mail based on the Mail configuration settings.

Email Settings

· From Jobs: Data Management: Email screen, select Settings button to configure the SMTP mail server configuration (Port, Server) as shown below. The mail settings configuration is mandatory to enable the mail job feature in the application.

Enabling Security and Setting Up User’s Accounts

Security can be enabled on the Aeros to ensure that operators cannot modify or delete folders or files and limit functionality. An administrator is identified and sets up the users’ groups with their privileges.

To begin, go to Workspace & System Settings: User Manager to set up Create Administrative Groups first followed by Create User Groups.

The administrative user then assigns the required application access privileges to the user type accounts as shown below:

Any user with privileges to user manager can delete groups and users and reset passwords.

To begin enabling security, go to Workspace : Preferences : General and select Enable Security on the right side.

When the user selects the Enable Application Security, they must create an administration user account before logging out of Essentials. Otherwise, they will not be able to login again.

For convenience, the user can check the box under Workspace: Preferences: General to use the last login credentials. This eliminates the need for a user name and password each time.

Export

· Data can be one file or multiple files. Please note that all selected files should be in the same file path location.

· Data can be exported using CSV or EZM file to a flash drive for use in Excel or other database program. The following data can be exported:

· Others (i.g. all files in the Hunter Lab folder and all pdf reports in the Download folder.)

· Export Job: This option allows the user to browse and select an existing Job file (.ezm) or the current active Job data and copy into a USB flash drive either in CSV or EZM file format. While exporting into CSV format, the current active Workspace settings can be applied.

· Export Standard: This option allows the user to browse and select an existing Standard in the database and copy into the USB flash drive as a file (.std).

· Export Workspace: This option allows the user to browse and select an existing Workspace in the database and copy into the USB flash drive as a file (.wsp).

· Export Diagnostics: This option allows the user to export Diagnostic results onto a USB flash drive.

· Export Others: This option allows the user to export the PDF reports from the Download folder.

To use the above functions, a USB flash drive must be present in the front USB port.

EZ View

This view provides a simple display of Standard vs. Sample with rendering and pass or fail results.

· View Options include the selection of Pass or Fail, selection of font size, precision and opportunity to exclude a Color Scale.

Green Tile Test

· To do a green tile test, please go to Workspace & System Setting Menu : Diagnostics. Click Green Tile Test and click New to begin a new green tile test.

· Once the target values have been entered, press Next. Standardize the instrument and attach the Green Tile. Press OK to continue.

· Ten readings are taken and compared to the tolerance as an average. This test is then automatically saved and can be printed by pressing Print.

Hitch Standard

· Hitch Standardization is a process by which two or more instruments of similar design can be made to read the same color values on a group of specimens. This process is very useful in expanding the communications of color around the world or between vendor and customer.

· To use this feature, the standard is read on the current instrument and then values from another (master) instrument are input as the target. This will change the current instrument to read as the target unit.

§ Go to Workspace > Standard and Tolerances and select Hitch and then OK.

Illuminant

· Illuminant & Standard Observer combinations can be selected from the Workspace: Color Scale Menu.

Import

· This feature allows the user to import the below data from a USB flash drive into the instrument. Data can be one file or multiple files.

This option allows the user to browse and select one or multiple Job files from the USB flash drive and import into the instrument.

This option allows the user to browse and select one or multiple Standard files (extension .std) from the USB flash drive and import into the database.

This option allows the user to browse and select a Workspace file (extension .wsp) from the USB flash drive and import into the database.

This option allows the user to browse and select a Diagnostics file from the USB flash drive and import into the database.

Note: To use the above functions, a USB flash drive must be present in the port.

This function is available to import other items such as a logo for the printed report. Once the logo is imported, go to Workspace : System Settings : Preferences : Print to add the logo to the Report.

Indices

To select an index, go to Workspace: Color Scales and select the column labeled Indices. Then select the indice(s) from the list by checking the box to the right. To view more, scroll down the right side of the screen. To view Index Differences, check the box on the bottom left. When all selections have been made, press Apply.

Index Bias Correction

This option under Read Options allows the user to input a custom slope and intercept correction for any Index from the List of Indices. After selecting the required Indices, input the new Gain and Bias. Click the Apply button to save the selected Indices values and update the Views accordingly. The Bias-corrected Indices will be marked with * in the Color Data Table view and EZ view display.

For more information on how to calculate the gain and bias for an index, please refer to the User Manual.

Jobs

Jobs can be accessed under the tool bar at the top of the screen. A job consists of samples measured into a specific workspace. A workspace is like a product setup with standard & tolerances and measurement conditions such as Color Scale, Index, illuminant, etc. There can be only one job open at a time. A workspace needs to be selected before a new job is opened. The user can change the settings and these changes are saved automatically in workspace. The main tool bar provides the options to create a new job, open an existing job and save a job. Also, user can click the Workspace Status in the status bar to create a New Job. Jobs carry an ezm extension.

Jobs: About

· The About menu provides information about HunterLab and the current Essentials version and allows you to update the firmware. The current version of EasyMatch QC Essentials is found on the screen.

· To Update the software, download the current version from the HunterLab Support site to a USB. Load the USB in the port and press Update. After Essentials update, it might prompt the Configure-Administrator Account dialog before launching the new Essentials. Please enter or create one administrator account and continue. You can edit this account later in Workspace & Systems Settings : User Manager.

· To view information on the instrument, press Info. The serial number, IP address and hardware versions are shown on the screen. A shortcut to this information can be found on the bottom left i.

Jobs: New

Create a new empty Job. Select New Job and the current job is closed. There will be a dialog prompted to ask you to load a workspace for the new job. A shortcut to initiate a New Job is to click the workspace name in the status bar. Select a workspace and open a new job.

Jobs: Open

A list of available jobs under the current path are displayed for selection. If the job that is needed exists in another folder, then it is an option to change the folder (New Folder). When the job to be opened is displayed select the appropriate button and press Open. A shortcut to open a Job is to click the job name in the status bar. The Open job dialog will be shown.

Measurement

· First, make sure that the instrument is Standardized. Press the Read button to measure a Sample using the default configuration. If needed, you can create a workspace for your product. From the Workspace Menu, press New Workspace and enter a name for this Workspace. A new job will be opened together with this new workspace.

Measurement Configuration

Read

· This tool can be moved around the screen by pressing the icon and moving it to a new location.

Read Options

Read Options can be found under Workspace. Read Options allows configuration of Averaging, Auto Save, Continuous Read, Index Bias and Prompt for Name. The Read command performs the operation based on the configured options. Averaging and Continuous Read Interval cannot be checked at the same time.

Sample or Standard Name

Select this feature to input the Sample name manually during the measurement cycle so that the Sample measurement will be inserted with the specified name. If this option is not selected, the Samples will be named with the specified default sample name suffixed with the auto incremented index number. Press Apply when done.

· To modify a name, initiate a long press on the name to be changed. This will enable you to edit the name as needed.

Sample Profile

The Create Sample Profile button will allow the Aeros to look at the specimen and select the optimum fixed distance from the turntable. When this is pressed, the Sensor will move to the Top position. When profile is complete, press OK to continue. The sample height will be shown next to the Create Sample Profile button.

Sensor Status

· The connected sensor and serial number is shown at the bottom left side of the System Bar when the i is pressed. The current state of standardization is reported in the same area.

Spectral Data

· The Spectral Data Table displays percent reflectance values for each selected measurement at the wavelengths being measured.

· Selections include Absolute or Difference, Reflectance or K/S. Enter the start and stop wavelength, the interval and the precision and press OK to continue.

Spectral Plot

· Press Clear All to remove all the samples to display. Press Select All to enable display of all samples. To select an individual sample, click on the respective Sample in the list located on the right edge of the screen.

· The Samples List is paginated. Click the left and right arrow buttons below the samples list to navigate between pages.

· Select the spectral plot type to be displayed and then select the wavelength range under X-axis. Uncheck the option Show Background, to display the plot with white background color.

· Check Auto Range option to scale the contents to fit into plot or manually input the Y-axis.

Standard Observer

· Illuminant and Standard Observer combinations can be selected from the Workspace: Color Scale Menu. To see all of the choices, scroll through the selections using the bar on the right side. When you have selected the Ill/Obs, press Apply to continue.

Standardization

· To perform a Standardization, go to the Workspace menu and select Standardization. Alternately, one can click the Standardization status on the left bottom of the screen to initiate the Standardization prompts. The sensor will then move to the top and then ask the user to place the standards box on the end of the sensor.

· When standardization is complete, the status is reported in the lower-left screen status bar

Standards & Tolerances

1. Go to standard & tolerances dialog to get a standard or long press the sample to set it as standard. (we need to change the content here)

After reading one or several samples, one can be selected as a Standard for difference measurements. A long press on the name will show a menu with the following options:

2. Under Workspace > Standards and Tolerances can be configured. Standards can be one of four types: retrieve from database, physical, and ad hoc and numeric. The standards stored in the database can be retrieved and applied to a workspace. A physical standard is one that is read on the instrument. An Ad Hoc (or working) standard is one that is read at the beginning of a job and becomes the standard for a run. In this case, auto tolerances are recommended. A numeric standard is one that has color measurement values but is not present and cannot be read. A subset of this is the Hitch Standard. All types of standards can apply Hitch.

· Tolerances can be entered manually for a selected scale, index and difference, or can be auto-calculated using AutoTolerance. Tolerances will be displayed on the measurement screen if enabled under the View Options for the Color Data and the Color Plot Screens. Pass/Fail based on these tolerances can be used on the EZ View Screen.

· AutoTolerances are calculated for CMC by considering the values as l:C – 2:1 with auto correction factor = 0.75 and commercial factor = 1. However, these ratios can be modified as needed.

Once the tolerance parameters are selected, press Apply and then Calculate AutoTolerances. The calculated tolerances are displayed under the Autotolerance tab. If Auto Tolerances are selected, the user cannot manually enter tolerances.

System Settings: Preferences

· This menu item shows a dialog box with two pages General & Print as shown below, where the General page contains the options to configure.

· To Load the Last Workspace at Startup, check this box and press Apply.

· The Standardization Time Interval is a useful reminder to restandardize after time (hours). Press Apply to set the new interval. When the time has lapsed, a prompt to restandardize will be displayed before measurements can be taken.

· Set the Date and Time, time zone, date and time format using the Adjust Clock feature.

· Enable Novice Tooltips by checking on the box. Once enabled, on screen tips can be are displayed for 3 seconds. To display again, roll over the ‘lightbulb icon’ on the lower right part of the screen.

System Settings: Print

· Print an open Job using the parameters set up under Preferences. Drivers included in the Aeros are shown below.

Printer	Driver
Canon	Canon Print Service 4.4+
HP	HP Print Service Plugin 4.1+
Epson	Epson Print Enabler 4.4+
Konica Minolta	Konica Minolta Print Service Plugin 4.4+
Kyocera	Kyocera Print Service Plugin 4.4+
Lexmark	Lexmark Print Service Plugin 4.4+
Samsung	Samsung Print Service Plugin 4.4+
Sharp	Sharp Print Service Plugin 4.4+
Xerox	Xerox Print Service Plugin 4.4+

· Additional drivers can be added under System Settings : Diagnostics : Advanced.

· To upload a new print driver, download the apk file needed from the internet onto a flash drive. Place the flash drive into the instrument (front port) so that it can access the list of apk files. Select the driver to upload and press OK.

· The Aeros will install the new printer driver and it will be then available to use

System Settings: User Manager

Security can be enabled on the Aeros to ensure that operators cannot modify or delete folders or files and limit their functionality. An administrator is identified to set up the users/groups with selected privileges. After enabling security, each user must enter a name and password when logging into Aeros.

Trend Plot

· This tool can be used to study the trends in production and identify color variations. There are four parameters of color measurement (three scale values and optional indices) which can be represented in four traces. If a sample point is selected in one of the four traces, it is highlighted in the other 3 traces in blue. The name is shown at the bottom right hand corner of the View. The Average and Standard Deviation can be shown as per the view configuration settings.

· View Options for the Trend Plot include the type of display, the statistics and the number of readings per display. Continuing with the View Options : Traces, this dialog box sets the ranges for the traces or allows selection of AutoRange. Trace 1 to 3 uses the current Color Measurement Scale and Trace 4 will allow for measurement of differences or an index. The user can select which Traces to view and set control limits as a percent.

Update

To update the software, download the current version from the HunterLab Support site to a USB. Load the USB in the port and press Update. After update, open Essentials and it will prompt to enter or create an Administrator Account. If needed, you can edit this account in User Manager later.

Views

Views under the Workspace menu are used to select the screens for viewing results. Simply check on the box of the screen needed. Press Apply to show one or all of the screens. The default screen is the Color Data Table. To navigate between screens once the selections have been applied, use the View Flippers on the left and right of the screen.

View Options

· There are six screens for viewing data on the Aeros (Color Data, Spectral Data, Color Plot, Spectral Plot, EZ View, Trend Plot). Each one of these screens has its own set of unique options.

Workspace & System Settings

Workspace: New Workspace

· This allows the user to create a new workspace. A warning is shown to make sure that the current Job is saved. All settings in the previous workspace will be loaded in the new workspace.

Assigning a Standard

Color Data Table

Enabling Security and Setting Up User’s Accounts

Trend Plot

Workspace: New Workspace