Konica Minolta CR-400 Portable Color Difference Meter
| Brand | Konica Minolta |
|---|---|
| Origin | Japan |
| Model | CR-400 |
| Type | Portable Color Difference Meter |
| Optical Geometry | d/8° integrating sphere (diffuse illumination, 8° viewing, including specular component) |
| Light Source | Pulsed Xenon Lamp |
| Spectral Range | Y Reflectance: 0.01–160.00% |
| Repeatability | ΔE*ab ≤ 0.07 (std. dev., white calibration, 30 measurements at 10 s intervals) |
| Instrument Error | ΔE*ab ≤ 0.6 (BCRA Series II 12-color average, CIE D65 illuminant, 2° standard observer) |
| Measurement Aperture | 8 mm (measuring), 11 mm (illumination) |
| Measurement Time | 1 s |
| Minimum Interval | 3 s |
| Data Storage | 1,000 measurements (instrument only) |
| Display | Backlit dot-matrix LCD (15×9 characters + icon line) |
| Power | 4× AAA alkaline/Ni-MH batteries or AC adapter AC-A17 (120 V / 230 V, 50–60 Hz) |
| Dimensions | 102 × 244 × 63 mm |
| Weight | ~550 g (incl. batteries, excl. cable) |
Overview
The Konica Minolta CR-400 is a precision portable color difference meter engineered for consistent, traceable color evaluation across industrial quality control environments. It operates on the CIE tristimulus principle using a d/8° integrating sphere optical geometry compliant with JIS Z 8722 and ISO/CIE standards for diffuse illumination and 8° viewing—capturing both diffuse and specular-reflected components (SPIN mode). The pulsed xenon lamp provides stable, daylight-simulated illumination (CIE D65 and C illuminants), eliminating thermal drift and enabling rapid, repeatable spectral reflectance measurements over the visible range (380–780 nm equivalent). Designed for robust field and production-floor use, the CR-400 delivers metrological-grade performance with ΔE*ab repeatability ≤ 0.07 and instrument error ≤ 0.6 against BCRA Series II reference tiles—meeting the accuracy requirements of ISO 13655, ASTM E308, and CIE Publication 15 for colorimetric instrumentation.
Key Features
- High-stability pulsed xenon light source ensures consistent spectral output without warm-up time or lamp aging effects, critical for long-term measurement stability.
- d/8° integrating sphere optics conform to ISO 7724-1 and JIS Z 8722, supporting both SCI (specular component included) and SCE (excluded) modes via optional accessories—enabling accurate assessment of textured, glossy, and matte surfaces.
- Integrated 6-channel silicon photodiode array enables simultaneous XYZ tristimulus calculation, supporting full CIE color space conversion: L*a*b*, L*C*h, Yxy, XYZ, CMC(l:c), CIE 1994, CIEDE2000, and WI/Tw indices (ASTM E313, D1925).
- On-device pass/fail evaluation with user-definable tolerance limits—configurable as rectangular (box) or elliptical (ΔL*, Δa*, Δb*) boundaries per CIEDE2000 guidelines.
- Dual-mode operation: standalone handheld use (1,000-measurement memory) or expanded functionality with DP-400 data processor (2,000 measurements, statistical analysis, thermal printing, and GLP-compliant audit trail).
- Backlit multilingual LCD interface (English, German, French, Italian, Spanish, Japanese) with intuitive soft-key navigation and SMS-style alphanumeric input for label entry—optimized for operator efficiency in multinational facilities.
- Comprehensive power management: 800+ measurements per battery set (AAA), auto-backlight timeout (30 s), and universal AC adapter compatibility (120 V / 230 V).
Sample Compatibility & Compliance
The CR-400 accommodates flat, curved, and textured samples within its 8 mm measuring aperture—including painted panels, plastic injection-molded parts, textile swatches, ceramic glazes, food surfaces, and pharmaceutical tablets. Its non-contact design and low-pressure contact measurement head minimize sample damage. Calibration adheres to NIST-traceable standards via included CR-A43 white calibration tile. Device compliance includes ISO 13655:2017 (spectral measurement), ISO 11664-4 (CIE colorimetry), and JIS Z 8722:2012 (reflectance measurement methods). When paired with DP-400 and SpectraMagic NX software, the system supports FDA 21 CFR Part 11–compliant electronic records, including user authentication, audit logs, and immutable measurement history—suitable for GMP/GLP-regulated environments in pharma, food safety, and medical device manufacturing.
Software & Data Management
Data acquisition and reporting are enhanced through two tiers of software integration. The CR-S4w utility enables basic configuration, firmware updates, and CSV export for Excel-based trending. For enterprise-level color management, SpectraMagic NX (CM-S100w) provides full CIE color space visualization, multi-instrument fleet calibration tracking, statistical process control (SPC) charts, and automated report generation with embedded metadata (operator ID, timestamp, location, instrument serial number). All exported data retain full traceability: each record includes raw reflectance values, illuminant/observer settings, tolerance parameters, and pass/fail status. RS-232C interface supports baud rates up to 19,200 bps; USB-to-RS232 adapters are validated for Windows/macOS/Linux compatibility. Data files conform to ASTM E2849-22 (standard format for color measurement data exchange).
Applications
The CR-400 serves as a primary color verification tool in industries where visual consistency directly impacts brand integrity and regulatory compliance. In automotive and industrial coatings, it validates batch-to-batch match for OEM paint lines and refinish applications. Within polymer and rubber manufacturing, it monitors pigment dispersion stability during extrusion and molding. Print and packaging operations rely on its CIEDE2000 ΔE scoring to verify CMYK spot color fidelity against ISO 12647-2 standards. Textile and dye houses deploy it for shade sorting across fiber types (cotton, polyester, wool) under standardized D65 lighting. In food processing, it quantifies surface color shifts indicative of oxidation, ripeness, or thermal degradation—supporting HACCP-critical monitoring. Additional validated use cases include ceramic tile glaze QC, pharmaceutical tablet film coating uniformity, and architectural finish specification verification per ASTM D2244.
FAQ
What CIE illuminants and observers does the CR-400 support?
Standard configurations include CIE D65 and C illuminants with 2° standard observer. Additional illuminants (e.g., F2, A) require SpectraMagic NX software configuration.
Can the CR-400 measure transparent or translucent materials?
No—its optical design is optimized for opaque, diffusely reflecting surfaces. Transmission or transmittance measurement requires dedicated instruments such as the CM-5 or CM-700d with transmission port.
Is the CR-400 compliant with FDA 21 CFR Part 11?
The hardware itself is not Part 11–certified, but when used with SpectraMagic NX v2.9+ and DP-400 data processor, full electronic signature, audit trail, and role-based access controls meet Part 11 requirements for regulated workflows.
How often should white calibration be performed?
Per ISO 13655, white calibration is recommended before each measurement session and after ambient temperature shifts >5°C. The CR-400 stores white calibration data per channel (ch00–ch19), enabling material-specific correction matrices.
Does the CR-400 support network connectivity or wireless data transfer?
No native Wi-Fi or Bluetooth; data transfer occurs exclusively via RS-232C. Ethernet or USB connectivity requires third-party serial server hardware validated per IEC 61000-4-3 EMC standards.
