EP0346045A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
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Product discrimination system and method therefor
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1989-06-05
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2009-06-05
Abstract
Abstract A product discrimination system using a lens assembly for projecting an image of the product unit toward a randomized fiber optic cable. The end of the fiber optic cable is constructed in a rectangular section such that a long thin section of the product unit is viewed at any given time. The cable discharges the light at a lens and filter arrangement such that the emitted light may be divided into portions and filtered for measurement by photodiodes of specific and different wavelengths. Through a comparison of the wavelengths to a standard, attributes of the product unit can be determined.
Inventors
- 👤 Gerald Ray Richert
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 12:17
CPC Classifications
B; B07; B07C; B07C5/00; B07C5/34; B07C5/342; B07C5/3425
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
86 words
A product discrimination system comprising a first lens; a randomized fiber optic cable having a first end and a second end, said first end being rectangular and being positioned at the focal plane of said first lens for objects placed a predetermined distance from said first lens; a plurality of photodiodes facing said second end; a filter assembly including a plurality of filter elements each for filtering light spectra different from one another and each being positioned between said second end and a separate said photodiode.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
86 words
A product discrimination system comprising a first lens; a randomized fiber optic cable having a first end and a second end, said first end being rectangular and being positioned at the focal plane of said first lens for objects placed a predetermined distance from said first lens; a plurality of photodiodes facing said second end; a filter assembly including a plurality of filter elements each for filtering light spectra different from one another and each being positioned between said second end and a separate said photodiode.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
21 words
The product discrimination system of claim 1 further comprising a second lens positioned between said second end and said filter assembly.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
21 words
The product discrimination system of claim 2 wherein said second end is located at the focal point of said second lens.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
36 words
The product discrimination system of claim 1 further comprising multiple said first lenses, randomized fiber optic cables, pluralities of photodiodes and filter assemblies, said first lenses being directed at a common point from angularly displaced positions.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
95 words
A method for discriminating product units by physical attribute using light spectra, comprising the steps of viewing a product unit including viewing sequentially in a first direction across the product unit thin rectangular segments each substantially narrower than the product unit in the first direction and at least as wide as the product unit in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction; averaging the viewed light from each segment; dividing the averaged light into portions; filtering the portions of averaged light for spectra different from one another; sensing the magnitude of each filtered portion.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
95 words
A method for discriminating product units by physical attribute using light spectra, comprising the steps of viewing a product unit including viewing sequentially in a first direction across the product unit thin rectangular segments each substantially narrower than the product unit in the first direction and at least as wide as the product unit in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction; averaging the viewed light from each segment; dividing the averaged light into portions; filtering the portions of averaged light for spectra different from one another; sensing the magnitude of each filtered portion.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 5 further comprising the step of summing the magnitude of portions of like spectra from the segments ofthe product unit.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 5 wherein said step of viewing a product unit includes viewing the product unit from two different directions.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method of claim 5 wherein said step of dividing the viewed electromagnetic energy includes randomly mixing the viewed image with a randomized fiber optic cable and directing light from the cable to different filter elements.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
45 words
The method of claim 5 further comprising the steps of establishing a standard by performing the aforestated steps on products having known attributes to be measured and collecting the magnitudes of each filtered portion; comparing the magnitudes sensed of the product unit with the standard.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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