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US5067012A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Methods and systems for scanning and inspecting images

Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1990-03-27
•
Granted: 1991-11-19
•
Expires: 2010-03-27
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Abstract

Abstract An automatic scanning apparatus and method for detecting the presence of one or more objects in an image field under investigation or inspection. Electro-optical scanning means, such as a television camera, is employed to scan an image field and generate output electrical signals which vary in accordance with variations in the optical characteristics of the matter and objects in the image field scanned. Such signals are computer processed and analyzed to generate coded electrical signals which define optical characteristics of portion of the image field scanned, such as objects or the images of objects scanned, their shape, color of a combination of color and shape. Electronic means is provided to generate further coded electrical signals which indicate the presence of one or more objects in the image field scanned and may be used to effect intelligent indications thereof, to control one or more devices such as a motor or motors, and/or to provide information for computational purposes to be reprocessed and utilized by a computer. In one form, that shape of an object or objects is detected and coded signals generated are employed to effect a comparison of such shape with information relating to the shapes of known objects to identify the object or objects scanned. In another form, the color of surface characteristics of an object is detected and resulting signals indicative thereof are compared with information derived from a memory to identify either the object or its color or surface characteristics. In a third form both shape and color are detected and compared with recorded information for identification purposes.

Inventors

  • 👤 Jerome H. Lemelson

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-29 22:45
CPC Classifications
G; G08; G08B; G08B13/00; G08B13/18; G08B13/189; G08B13/194; G08B13/196; G08B13/19602; B; B07; B07C; B07C5/00; B07C5/04; B07C5/10; G01; G01B; G01B11/00; G01B11/02; G01B11/022; G06; G06T; G06T1/00; G06T1/0014; G07; G07D; G07D7/00; G07D7/06; G07D7/12; G08B13/19617; G08B13/1963; G08B13/19634; G08B13/19639; G08B13/19652; H; H04; H04N; H04N5/00; H04N5/76; H04N5/78; H04N5/782

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim 113 words
An automatic inspection apparatus comprising: (a) means for positioning an object to be inspected at an inspection work station; (b) electronic scanning means disposed at the work station for examining the object under inspection; (c) said scanning means including means for generating analog information signals that are representative of variations in the physical characteristics of the object under inspection; (d) means for effecting relative movement between the object under inspection and the electronic scanning means so as to present different portions of the object in the field scanned by the scanning means; and (e) electronic circuit means for analyzing the information content of the analog information signals generated by the electronic scanning means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 113 words
An automatic inspection apparatus comprising: (a) means for positioning an object to be inspected at an inspection work station; (b) electronic scanning means disposed at the work station for examining the object under inspection; (c) said scanning means including means for generating analog information signals that are representative of variations in the physical characteristics of the object under inspection; (d) means for effecting relative movement between the object under inspection and the electronic scanning means so as to present different portions of the object in the field scanned by the scanning means; and (e) electronic circuit means for analyzing the information content of the analog information signals generated by the electronic scanning means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 40 words
The inspection apparatus of claim 1 including: (a) means for digitizing the analog information signals; and (b) means for generating a plurality of coded signals which are digital representations of the characteristics of the object inspected by the scanning means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 19 words
The inspection apparatus of claim 1 wherein the electronic circuit means includes means for digitizing the analog information signals.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 45 words
The inspection apparatus of claim 3 wherein the electronic circuit means includes means responsive to the digitized analog information generated by the digitizing means and being operable for performing computations therewith to produce information which is representative of specific characteristics of the object under inspection.
Claim 6
Independent Claim 113 words
A method for automatically inspecting objects comprising the steps of: (a) positioning an object to be inspected at an inspection work station; (b) scanning the object under inspection with an electronic scanning device disposed at the inspection work station; (c) generating analog information signals with the electronic scanning device, the information signals being representative of variations in the physical characteristics of the object under inspection; (d) effecting relative movement between the object under inspection and the electronic scanning device so as to present different portions of the object in the field scanned by the scanning means; and (e) analyzing with an electronic circuit the analog information signals generated by the electronic scanning device.
Claim 7
Independent Claim 113 words
A method for automatically inspecting objects comprising the steps of: (a) positioning an object to be inspected at an inspection work station; (b) scanning the object under inspection with an electronic scanning device disposed at the inspection work station; (c) generating analog information signals with the electronic scanning device, the information signals being representative of variations in the physical characteristics of the object under inspection; (d) effecting relative movement between the object under inspection and the electronic scanning device so as to present different portions of the object in the field scanned by the scanning means; and (e) analyzing with an electronic circuit the analog information signals generated by the electronic scanning device.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 39 words
The method of claim 5, further including the step of; (a) digitizing the analog information signals; and (b) generating a plurality of digital coded signals which are representations of the characteristics of the object inspected by the scanning means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 15 words
The method of claim 5, further comprising the step of digitizing the analog information signals.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 31 words
The method of claim 7 further comprising the step of further analyzing the digitized analog information to produce computational results which are representative of specific characteristics of the object under inspection.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US4118730A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1994-11-18 1995-05-20 1995-11-19 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1998-11-18 1999-05-20 1999-11-19 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2002-11-18 2003-05-20 2003-11-19 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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