Patent US3757299A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3757299A
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US
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An assay medium method and apparatus for measuring the size of zones of inhibition in
Assignee: Artek Systems Corp
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Filing: 1972-07-14
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Granted: 1973-09-04
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Expires: 1992-07-14
Abstract
Abstract A pattern recognition and measuring system for zones of inhibition in a biological assay medium which scans and digitally quantizes the entire medium into pulses representing the zone area. A specific zone is selected and the number of pulses representing the zone selected are counted. In one embodiment the medium is divided into sectors and the pulses per sector are counted. In a second embodiment the longest horizontal chord perpendicularly crossing a vertical line through the center of the zone selected is determined as the diameter. In a third embodiment a horizontal chord through the presumed center of the zone selected is perpendicularly bisected and the perpendicular further bisected to locate the actual zone center. In a last embodiment a generated geometric shape is incrementally expanded at the presumed center until it intersects the perimeter of the zone selected. The presumed center is then shifted in accordance with the location of the intersection to locate the actual center. The geometric shape is again concentrically changed in size by increments until a predetermined number of coincident points occur with the zone perimeter.
Inventors
- 👤 R Perry
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 20:20
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06M; G06M11/00; G06M11/02; G06M11/04
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
146 words
In a field having a plurality of zones at presumed spatial locations within the field, the zones having a generally different grey level than the surrounding field, a method for automatically measuring the size of a particular selected zone comprising the steps of: a. scanning the field to produce an electrical output signal as a function of the grey level of the field scanneD; b. quantizing the output signal into a binary pulse signal, one level representing the presence of a zone and the other level representing the surrounding field; c. synchronizing the scanning to coordinate each particular location being scanned with its corresponding quantized binary signal level thereby forming a digitized picture of the field; d. selecting a particular presumed location of a given zone; e. counting the number of pulses of the one level at the presumed location; and f. displaying the number counted.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
146 words
In a field having a plurality of zones at presumed spatial locations within the field, the zones having a generally different grey level than the surrounding field, a method for automatically measuring the size of a particular selected zone comprising the steps of: a. scanning the field to produce an electrical output signal as a function of the grey level of the field scanneD; b. quantizing the output signal into a binary pulse signal, one level representing the presence of a zone and the other level representing the surrounding field; c. synchronizing the scanning to coordinate each particular location being scanned with its corresponding quantized binary signal level thereby forming a digitized picture of the field; d. selecting a particular presumed location of a given zone; e. counting the number of pulses of the one level at the presumed location; and f. displaying the number counted.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
36 words
A method as in claim 1 wherein said step of selecting further comprises the steps of: a. dividing the field into sectors such that each sector presumably contains one zone; and b. choosing a specified sector.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
163 words
A method as in claim 1 wherein the step of selecting further comprises the steps of: a. generating a grid coordinate system superimposed on the scanned field; b. storing the presumed spatial locations of each zone by its presumed centroid coordinates within the grid system; and c. electrically generating a vertical line passing through the centroid coordinates of the zone selected and extending until the digitized perimeter of the zone selected, and the step of counting further comprises the steps of: d. detecting the number of pulses of said one level in a horizontal scanning line which crosses said generated vertical line at its uppermost end; e. storing said number detected; f. repeating step (d) for the next subsequent horizontal scanning line; g. comparing the number detected in step (f) with the number stored and then storing the larger of the two numbers; and h. repeating the steps (f) and (g) until the horizontal scanning line no longer crosses said vertical generated line.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
161 words
A method as in claim 1 wherein said step of selecting further comprises the steps of: a. generating a grid coordinate system superimposed on the scanned field; b. storing the presumed spatial locations of each zone by its presumed centroid coordinates within the grid system; c. electrically generating a horizontal line passing through the presumed centroid coordinates of the zone selected and extending until the digitized perimeter of the zone selected; d. electrically bisecting said horizontal line thereby forming a first point; e. electrically generating a vertical line passing through said first point and extending until the digitized perimeter of the zone selected; and f. bisecting said vertical line thereby forming a second point, and said step of counting further comprises the steps of: g. electrically generating a horizontal line through said second point and extending until the digitized perimeter of the zone selected; and h. detecting the number of pulses of said one level in said last mentioned horizontal line.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
184 words
A method as in claim 1 and wherein the step of selecting further comprises the steps of: a. generating a grid coordinate system superimposed on the scanned field; b. storing the presumed spatial location of each zone by its presumed centroid coordinates within the grid system; c. electrically generating a trial geometric shape using the presumed centroid coordinates of the zone selected as the centroid of the trial shape; d. detecting the number of coincident points between the trial shape and the digitized perimeter of the zone selected; e. comparing the number of coincident points with a predetermined fixed number; f. electrically altering the size of the geometric shape to form a further trial geometric shape concentric with the previous trial geometric shape; and g. repeating steps (d), (e), and (f), until the number of coincident points equals or exceeds the predetermined fixed number, and the step of counting further includes the steps of: h. storing the size of the shape which satisfied step (g); and i. determining the number of pulses of said one level compRising the size of said last mentioned shape.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
25 words
A method as in claim 5 further including between steps (c) and (d) the step of: visually superimposing the generated geometric shape on the field.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
14 words
A method as in claim 5 and wherein said geometric shape is a circle.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
184 words
A method as in claim 5 and including between the steps (c) and (d) the further steps of: j. testing for the presence of a coincident point between the trial geometric shape and the digitized perimeter of the zone selected; k. electrically incrementing the size of the trial geometric shape to form another trial geometric shape concentric with the previous trial geometric shape; l. repeating steps (j) and (k) until at least one coincident point occurs between the trial geometric shape and the digitized perimeter of the zone selected; m. identifying the position on the trial geometric shape of the coincident points occurring in step (1); n. shifting the presumed centroid coordinates a fixed amount in an opposing direction to the said position identified on the trial geometric shape; o. repeating step (c) using the shifted centroid coordinates as the centroid of the trial shape; p. subsequently repeating steps (j) through (n) until the number of coincident points are spaced throughout the geometric shape; q. recording the centroid of the geometric shape satisfying (p); and r. generating a geometric shape at the recorded centroid.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
211 words
An apparatus for automatically measuring the size of a particular selected zone from a field having a plurality of such zones spaced at presumed locations within the field, the zones having a different grey level than the surrounding field, comprising: scanning means to view the field and producing an electrical output signal as a function of the grey level of the field scanned; quantizing means connected to the output of said scanning means and converting said electrical output signal into a binary pulse signal, one level of which represents the presence of a zone and the other level of which represents the surrounding field; synchronizing means connected to said scanning means for controlling the position of the field being scanned thereby coordinating each particular location being scanned with its corresponding binary signal level from the quantizing means whereby a digitized picture of the field can be produced; selecting means connected to receive inputs from said synchronizing means and said quantizing means for choosing a particular presumed location of a given zone; counting means connected to the output of said selecting means for counting the number of pulses of said one level at the location selected, and display means connected to the output of said counter means to display the number counted.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
211 words
An apparatus for automatically measuring the size of a particular selected zone from a field having a plurality of such zones spaced at presumed locations within the field, the zones having a different grey level than the surrounding field, comprising: scanning means to view the field and producing an electrical output signal as a function of the grey level of the field scanned; quantizing means connected to the output of said scanning means and converting said electrical output signal into a binary pulse signal, one level of which represents the presence of a zone and the other level of which represents the surrounding field; synchronizing means connected to said scanning means for controlling the position of the field being scanned thereby coordinating each particular location being scanned with its corresponding binary signal level from the quantizing means whereby a digitized picture of the field can be produced; selecting means connected to receive inputs from said synchronizing means and said quantizing means for choosing a particular presumed location of a given zone; counting means connected to the output of said selecting means for counting the number of pulses of said one level at the location selected, and display means connected to the output of said counter means to display the number counted.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
52 words
Apparatus as in claim 9 wherein said scanning means is a raster scan device, said quantizing means is a grey level comparator having means to adjust the grey level threshold therein, said synchronizing means includes a synchronizing signal generator and said selecting means includes a clock oscillator in series with gating means.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
60 words
An apparatus as in claim 10 wherein said selecting means further includes sector generating means for dividing the synchronizing signal produced by said synchronizing means into a plurality of adjacent segments such that each segment presumably contains only one zone, and sector selector means for selecting the particular segment containing the zone to be measured while blocking all other sectors.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
202 words
An apparatus as in claim 10 further including grid generating means connected between said clock oscillator and said synchronizing signal generator for generating a grid co-ordinate system superimposed on the scanned field; storage means for retaining the presumed location of each zone by its presumed centroid coordinates within said grid system; vertical line generating means connected to both said storage means and said grey level comparator for generating a vertical line passing through the presumed centroid coordinates of the zone selected and extending until the digitized perimeter of the zone selected; further storage means connected to the outputs from said counting means and said vertical line generating means for storing the number of pulses of the one level produced in each horizontal scan line crossing said generated vertical line; comparison means connected to the output of said counting means and to the output of said further storage means for comparing the number stored in said further storage means with the new number contained in said counting means representing the number of pulses of said one level in the subsequent horizontal scanning line and retaining the larger of the two numbers, and additional storage means for storing the output of said comparison means.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
179 words
An apparatus as in claim 10 further comprising grid generating means connected between said clock oscillator and said synchronizing signal generator for generating a grid coordinate system superimposed on the scanned field; storage means for retaining the presumed location of each zone by its presumed centroid coordinates within said grid system; horizontal line generating means connected to the output of said storage means and said grey level comparator for producing a line passing through the presumed centroid coordinates of the zone selected and extending until the digitized perimeter of the zone selected; computer means connected to the output of said horizontal line generating means for calculating the mid-point of the horizontal line generated; and vertical line generating means connected to said computer means and said horizontal line generating means for producing a vertical line passing through the mid-point of said horizontal line generated and extending until the digitized perimeter of the zone selected, said computer being further connected to the output of said vertical line generating means whereby the midpoint of said vertical line generated can also be determined.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
83 words
An apparatus as in claim 10 further comprising grid generating means connected between said clock oscillator and said synchronizing signal generator for generating a grid coordinate system superimposed on the scanned field; storage means for retaining the presumed location of each zone by its presumed centroid coordinates within the grid system; and geometric shape generating means connected to said storage means and capable of generating a plurality of concentric geometric shapes in index increments about the centroid coordinates stored in said storage means.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
111 words
Apparatus as in claim 14 wherein said geometric shape generating means is a circle generator comprising a cathode ray tube having vertical and horizontal deflection plates, first and second amplifying means each having two inputs and one output, the outputs connected respectively to said vertical and horizontal deflection plates, first and second DC position control means, each connected respectively to one of the inputs of said first and second amplifying means, sine and co-sine generating means each connected respectively to a second one of the inputs of said first and second amplifying means, and control means connected to and controlling said DC position means and said sine and cosine generator means.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
53 words
An apparatus as in claim 14 and further comprising an optical beam splitter wherein said scanning means and said geometric shape generating means are axially spaced with said beam splitter interposed therebetween and said field being scanned is orthogonally placed with respect to said axial position at the position of said beam splitter.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
34 words
An apparatus as in claim 14 wherein said scanning means and said geometric shape generating means are axially spaced and said field being scanned is interposed therebetween, said field capable of passing light therethrough.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
196 words
An apparatus as in claim 9 further comprising storage means for retaining the presumed locations of each zone by itS presumed centroid coordinates within a grid coordinate system superimposed on said scanned field; first and second shift registers connected to the output of said storage means; geometric shape generating means connected to said storage means and capable of generating a plurality of concentric geometric shapes in indexed increments around the centroid coordinates stored; detector means connected to the outputs of said geometric shape generating means and said quantizing means for detecting the coincidence of points between the geometric shape generated and the digitized perimeter of the zone selected and identifying the position on said geometric shape wherein said coincident points occur; computer means connected to the output of said detector means for calculating a fixed amount of shift in centroid coordinate position in opposition to the position on said geometric shape, the output of said computer means connected to said first and second shift register means for shifting the registers by said fixed amount, and output means connected to said computer means for producing an output at the occurrence of a fixed number of coincident points.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-09-03 | 1977-03-05 | 1977-09-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-09-03 | 1981-03-05 | 1981-09-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-09-03 | 1985-03-05 | 1985-09-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |