Laser scanner method for determining number and size of particles

Claim 1

A method for counting the total number of solid particles and for measuring the cross-sectional area of each solid particle contained in a sample of a solids-loaded plastic matrix material, utilizing an interfacing electronics package to place a laser scanner under the control of a computer, comprising the steps of: gathering a first line of data points representing leading and trailing particle strip edge location data; processing the data associated with the first line to determine the number of particle strips on the first line and the area of each strip; storing the edge location data and areas of the particle strips on the first line by strip number and line number identification; gathering a second line of data points representing leading and trailing particle strip edge location data; processing the data associated with the second line to determine the number of particle strips on the second line and the area of each strip; storing the edge location data and areas of the particle strips on the second line by strip number and line number identification; testing for strip overlapping by comparing the edge location data of strips on the second line with strips on the first line; gathering a next line of data points representing leading and trailing particle strip edge location data; processing the data associated with the next line to determine the number of particle strips on the next line and the area of each strip; storing the edge location data and areas of the particle strips on the next line by strip number and line number identification; testing for strip overlapping by comparing the edge location data of strips on the next line with strips on the preceding line; repeating the above sequence of gathering, processing, storing, and testing steps for each successive line of data until the data for all the lines have been gathered, processed, stored, and tested; associating the data from sequentially overlapping particle strips with a particular whole particle; calculating the cross-sectional area of each whole particle; and counting the number of particles.

Claim 2

A method for counting the total number of solid particles and for measuring the cross-sectional area of each solid particle contained in a sample of a solids-loaded plastic matrix material, utilizing an interfacing electronics package to place a laser scanner under the control of a computer, comprising the steps of: gathering a first line of data points representing leading and trailing particle strip edge location data; processing the data associated with the first line to determine the number of particle strips on the first line and the area of each strip; storing the edge location data and areas of the particle strips on the first line by strip number and line number identification; gathering a second line of data points representing leading and trailing particle strip edge location data; processing the data associated with the second line to determine the number of particle strips on the second line and the area of each strip; storing the edge location data and areas of the particle strips on the second line by strip number and line number identification; testing for strip overlapping by comparing the edge location data of strips on the second line with strips on the first line; gathering a next line of data points representing leading and trailing particle strip edge location data; processing the data associated with the next line to determine the number of particle strips on the next line and the area of each strip; storing the edge location data and areas of the particle strips on the next line by strip number and line number identification; testing for strip overlapping by comparing the edge location data of strips on the next line with strips on the preceding line; repeating the above sequence of gathering, processing, storing, and testing steps for each successive line of data until the data for all the lines have been gathered, processed, stored, and tested; associating the data from sequentially overlapping particle strips with a particular whole particle; calculating the cross-sectional area of each whole particle; and counting the number of particles.