US3849650A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Automatic x-ray inspection system
Assignee: Philips Nuclear Medicine Inc
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Filing: 1973-03-29
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Granted: 1974-11-19
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Expires: 1993-03-29
Abstract
Abstract An X-ray system for automatically inspecting a test object. The inspection system includes a source of X-rays for irradiating the object, a video system for converting an image produced by the irradiated object to video signals representative of the image, and processor circuitry for electronically analyzing the video signals. The processor circuitry includes circuitry for activating a video gating circuit in response to the receipt of a predetermined number of horizontal lines and at a preselected segment of the horizontal line. The video signals occurring during that segment of the horizontal line are applied to circuitry for digitizing the video signals and comparing the digitized signals with reference signals of preset minimum and maximum values. In the event the value of the digitized signals is greater than the maximum value reference signal or less than the minimum value reference signal, a reject signal is developed by error detection circuitry.
Inventors
- 👤 T Patten
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 10:48
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01N; G01N23/00; G01N23/02; G01N23/04; G01N23/043; H; H04; H04N; H04N23/00; H04N23/30
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 31
Claim 1
Independent Claim
226 words
In an X-ray inspection apparatus including a source of X-ray for irradiating an object under inspection; and video means positioned to view an image resulting from the irradiation of said object for developing video signals having values representative of the viewed image, and horizontal and vertical scan synchronizing pulses, the improvement comprising an automatic video processor circuit including; adjustable line counter means for developing a first control signal upon the receipt of a preselected number of horizontal synchronizing pulses; adjustable line position generator means for developing a second control signal upon the occurrence of a first control signal and at a predetermined period of time after the receipt of a vertical synchronizing pulse; video gating means having an output circuit and being coupled to said video means for, upon receipt of a second control signal, applying video signals to its output circuit; standardizer circuit means coupled to said output circuit of said video gating means for converting video signals to digitized signals having values representative of the values of the video signals; adjustable reference generator means for developing a signal representative of a preselected limit; and, comparator circuit means for comparing said digitized signals with said limit reference signal and for developing an error signal if the value of said digitized signals attain a predetermined level with respect to the value of said limit reference signal.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
226 words
In an X-ray inspection apparatus including a source of X-ray for irradiating an object under inspection; and video means positioned to view an image resulting from the irradiation of said object for developing video signals having values representative of the viewed image, and horizontal and vertical scan synchronizing pulses, the improvement comprising an automatic video processor circuit including; adjustable line counter means for developing a first control signal upon the receipt of a preselected number of horizontal synchronizing pulses; adjustable line position generator means for developing a second control signal upon the occurrence of a first control signal and at a predetermined period of time after the receipt of a vertical synchronizing pulse; video gating means having an output circuit and being coupled to said video means for, upon receipt of a second control signal, applying video signals to its output circuit; standardizer circuit means coupled to said output circuit of said video gating means for converting video signals to digitized signals having values representative of the values of the video signals; adjustable reference generator means for developing a signal representative of a preselected limit; and, comparator circuit means for comparing said digitized signals with said limit reference signal and for developing an error signal if the value of said digitized signals attain a predetermined level with respect to the value of said limit reference signal.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
62 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said adjustable reference generator means includes signal limit generator means for developing a reference signal having a preselected width, and said comparator circuit means including circuit means for developing an error signal if the width of one of said digitized signals exceeds the width of the reference signal developed by said signal limit generator.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
62 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said adjustable reference generator means includes signal limit generator means for developing a signal having a preselected width, and said comparator circuit means includes circuit means for developing an error signal if the width of one of said digitized signals is less than the width of the signal developed by said signal limit generator.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
95 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said adjustable reference generator means includes first signal limit generator means for developing a first output signal having a preselected width, second signal limit generator means for developing a second output signal having a preselected width which is greater than the width of said first signal, and said comparator circuit means including circuit means for developing an error signal if the width of one of said digitized signals exceeds the width of said second output signal or is less than the width of said first output signal.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
167 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said adjustable referencE generator means includes first signal limit generator means for developing a first output signal having a preselected width, second signal limit generator means for developing a second output signal having a preselected width which is greater than the width of said first signal, and said comparator circuit means including first comparator means coupled to said first limit generator means and to said standardizer circuit means for developing an output signal if the width of one of said digitized signals exceeds the value of said second signal, second comparator means coupled to said second limit generator means and to said standardizer circuit means for developing an output signal if the value of one of said digitized signals is less than the value of said first signal, and summation circuit means coupled to said first and second comparator means for developing an error signal if an output signal is developed by either said first or second comparator means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
260 words
In an object inspection apparatus for automatically measuring a dimension of an object and including a source of electromagnetic radiation for irradiating the object,; means for producing video signals in response to the irradiation of said object, said video signals having values representative of said dimension of said object, and further including horizontal scan synchronizing pulses, the improvement comprising an automatic video processor circuit including: a video gate having an input circuit and an output circuit for, in response to a first control signal, applying video signals received by its input circuit to its output circuit; a control circuit coupled between said video signal producing means and said video gate and responsive to the occurrence of a predetermined number of horizontal scan synchronizing pulses received by said control circuit for applying said first control signal to said video gate for an interval limited to a time between two successive horizontal scan synchronizing pulses; an adjustable reference generator for developing a reference signal independently of an actual dimension of an object, said reference signal representative of a value of said dimension to be automatically measured; and, a comparator circuit coupled to said output circuit of said video gate for comparing said video signals applied to the output of the video gate and representing said dimension of said object with said reference signal and for developing an error signal when the difference between the value of said dimension represented by said video signal applied to the output of the video gate and the value of said reference signal exceeds a predetermined difference.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
260 words
In an object inspection apparatus for automatically measuring a dimension of an object and including a source of electromagnetic radiation for irradiating the object,; means for producing video signals in response to the irradiation of said object, said video signals having values representative of said dimension of said object, and further including horizontal scan synchronizing pulses, the improvement comprising an automatic video processor circuit including: a video gate having an input circuit and an output circuit for, in response to a first control signal, applying video signals received by its input circuit to its output circuit; a control circuit coupled between said video signal producing means and said video gate and responsive to the occurrence of a predetermined number of horizontal scan synchronizing pulses received by said control circuit for applying said first control signal to said video gate for an interval limited to a time between two successive horizontal scan synchronizing pulses; an adjustable reference generator for developing a reference signal independently of an actual dimension of an object, said reference signal representative of a value of said dimension to be automatically measured; and, a comparator circuit coupled to said output circuit of said video gate for comparing said video signals applied to the output of the video gate and representing said dimension of said object with said reference signal and for developing an error signal when the difference between the value of said dimension represented by said video signal applied to the output of the video gate and the value of said reference signal exceeds a predetermined difference.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
79 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 6 further comprising a standardizer circuit for digitizing said video signals, and wherein said adjustable reference generator includes a signal limit generator for developing a reference signal having a value representing a preselected magnitude of said dimension, and said comparator circuit means includes circuit means for developing an error signal if the width represented by said digitized video signals exceeds the width represented by the reference signal developed by said signal limit generator.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
83 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 6 further comprising a standardizer circuit connected to the comparator circuit for digitizing said applied video signals, and wherein said adjustable reference generator includes a signal limit generator for developing a signal having a value representing a preselected magnitude of said dimension and said comparator circuit includes circuit means for developing an error signal if the magnitude represented by said digitized signals is less than the magnitude represented by the signal developed by said signal limit generator.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
125 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 6 further comprising a standardizer circuit connected to the comparator circuit for digitizing said applied video signals, and wherein said adjustable reference generator includes a first signal limit generator for developing a first output signal having a value representing a preselected magnitude of said dimension, a second signal limit generator for developing a second output signal having value representing a preselected magnitude of said dimension which is greater than the magnitude represented by said first output signal, and said comparator circuit includes circuit means for developing an error signal if the magnitude represented by said digitized applied signals exceeds the magnitude represented by said second output signal or is less than the magnitude represented by said first output signal.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
231 words
In an X-ray inspection apparatus including a source of X-ray for irradiating an object under inspection; and video apparatus positioned to view a scene resulting from the irradiation of said object and for developing video signals having values representative of a dimension of the irradiated object, and at least horizontal scan synchronizing pulses, the improvement comprising an automatic video processor circuit including; a video gate coupled to said video apparatus for, upon occurrence of a control signal, developing video output signals having a value representative of the dimension represented by said video signals; a control circuit coupled to said video gate and said video apparatus and responsive to receipt of said horizontal scan synchronizing pulses from said video apparatus for, upon receipt of a predetermined number of horizontal scan synchronizing pulses, applying said control signal to said video gate for producing said video output signals during a time limited between two successive horizontal synchronizing pulses; an adjustable reference generator for developing a preselected reference signal representative of a value of said dimension, said reference signal being developed independently of an actual dimension of an object; and, a signal comparator circuit connected to said video gate for comparing said video output signals to said preselected reference and developing an error signal if the value of the video signal attains a predetermined level with respect to the value of the preselected reference signal.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
231 words
In an X-ray inspection apparatus including a source of X-ray for irradiating an object under inspection; and video apparatus positioned to view a scene resulting from the irradiation of said object and for developing video signals having values representative of a dimension of the irradiated object, and at least horizontal scan synchronizing pulses, the improvement comprising an automatic video processor circuit including; a video gate coupled to said video apparatus for, upon occurrence of a control signal, developing video output signals having a value representative of the dimension represented by said video signals; a control circuit coupled to said video gate and said video apparatus and responsive to receipt of said horizontal scan synchronizing pulses from said video apparatus for, upon receipt of a predetermined number of horizontal scan synchronizing pulses, applying said control signal to said video gate for producing said video output signals during a time limited between two successive horizontal synchronizing pulses; an adjustable reference generator for developing a preselected reference signal representative of a value of said dimension, said reference signal being developed independently of an actual dimension of an object; and, a signal comparator circuit connected to said video gate for comparing said video output signals to said preselected reference and developing an error signal if the value of the video signal attains a predetermined level with respect to the value of the preselected reference signal.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
67 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 10 wherein said adjustable reference generator includes a signal limit generator for developing a reference signal having a value representing a preselected dimension of said object and said comparator circuit includes circuit means for developing an error signal if the dimension represented by said video output signals exceeds the dimension represented by the reference signal developed by said signal limit generator.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
64 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 10 wherein said adjustable reference generator includes a signal limit generator for developing a signal having a value representing a preselected dimension and said comparator circuit includes circuit means for developing an error signal if the dimension represented by said video output signals is less than the dimension represented by the signal developed by said signal limit generator.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
97 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 10 wherein said adjustable reference generator includes a signal limit generator for developing a first output signal having a value representing a preselected width, second signal limit generator means for developing a second output signal representing a preselected width which is greater than that represented by said first signal, and said comparator circuit including circuit means for developing an error signal if the width represented by said video output signals exceeds the width represented by said second output signal or is less than the width represented by said first output signal.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
138 words
Apparatus for inspecting an object comprising: an electromagnetic radiation source for irradiating the object; video scanning apparatus positioned to receive radiation from said irradiated object for developing video signals having values representative of a dimension of said object, said video signals incLuding horizontal and vertical synchronization pulses; a gate coupled to said video apparatus for passing only a preselected portion of said video signals comprising those describing a scan line; a first reference circuit for developing a lower limit reference signal; a second reference circuit for developing an upper limit reference signal; and, a comparator circuit for developing an object error signal if the value represented by said portion of the video signals passed by said gate exceeds the value of said upper limit reference signal or is less than the value of said lower limit reference signal.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
138 words
Apparatus for inspecting an object comprising: an electromagnetic radiation source for irradiating the object; video scanning apparatus positioned to receive radiation from said irradiated object for developing video signals having values representative of a dimension of said object, said video signals incLuding horizontal and vertical synchronization pulses; a gate coupled to said video apparatus for passing only a preselected portion of said video signals comprising those describing a scan line; a first reference circuit for developing a lower limit reference signal; a second reference circuit for developing an upper limit reference signal; and, a comparator circuit for developing an object error signal if the value represented by said portion of the video signals passed by said gate exceeds the value of said upper limit reference signal or is less than the value of said lower limit reference signal.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
73 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 14 wherein said gate comprises a video gating circuit having an input circuit, a gate circuit and an output circuit, a control circuit for applying a gating signal to said gate circuit at the time of occurrence of only a predetermined portion of said video signals, and converter means for converting said video signals passed by said gate to signals representing a dimensional magnitude of said object.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
190 words
A system for measuring a dimension of an object in an electromagnetic irradiated region, comprising a. a video scanning apparatus positioned to respond to the radiation in the region to produce video signals bearing information describing at least a portion of an image containing said dimension of the object placed in the region, including brightness signals and synchronizing pulses defining scan lines of the image described by the video signals; b. circuitry responsive to at least some of the synchronizing signals for selecting a predetermined portion of the video signals describing a scan line of the image described by the video signals, said predetermined portion of said video signals bearing information representing the magnitude of said dimension of said object placed in said region; c. a reference generator for producing, independently of an actual object, a reference signal having a value representing a magnitude of said dimension, and d. a comparator connected to the reference generator and the selecting circuitry for producing an error indication when the dimensional magnitudes represented by said reference signal and said predetermined portion of said video signals, respectively, have a predetermined relationship with one another.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
190 words
A system for measuring a dimension of an object in an electromagnetic irradiated region, comprising a. a video scanning apparatus positioned to respond to the radiation in the region to produce video signals bearing information describing at least a portion of an image containing said dimension of the object placed in the region, including brightness signals and synchronizing pulses defining scan lines of the image described by the video signals; b. circuitry responsive to at least some of the synchronizing signals for selecting a predetermined portion of the video signals describing a scan line of the image described by the video signals, said predetermined portion of said video signals bearing information representing the magnitude of said dimension of said object placed in said region; c. a reference generator for producing, independently of an actual object, a reference signal having a value representing a magnitude of said dimension, and d. a comparator connected to the reference generator and the selecting circuitry for producing an error indication when the dimensional magnitudes represented by said reference signal and said predetermined portion of said video signals, respectively, have a predetermined relationship with one another.
Claim 22
Independent Claim
234 words
A system for measuring a dimension of an object in an electromagnetic irradiated region, comprising a. a video scanning apparatus positioned to respond to the radiation in the region to produce video signals bearing information describing at least a portion of an image containing said dimension of the object placed in the region, including brightness signals and synchronizing pulses defining scan lines of the image described by the video signals; b. circuitry responsive to at least some of the synchronizing signals for selecting a predetermined portion of the video signals describing a scan line of the image described by the video signals, said predetermined portion bearing information representing the magnitude of said dimension of said object placed in said region; c. circuitry for causing said video scanning apparatus to repeatedly scan the region a plurality of times; d. a reference generator for producing a reference signal having a value representing a magnitude of said dimension; e. a comparator connected to the reference generator and the selecting circuitry for producing an error indication when the magnitudes represented by said reference signal and said predetermined portion of said video signals, respectively, have a predetermined relation between them, and f. digital weighing circuitry connected to the comparator for producing a second indication only in response to the occurrence of at least a predetermined number of error indications generated in the course of said plurality of repeated scans.
Claim 23
Independent Claim
234 words
A system for measuring a dimension of an object in an electromagnetic irradiated region, comprising a. a video scanning apparatus positioned to respond to the radiation in the region to produce video signals bearing information describing at least a portion of an image containing said dimension of the object placed in the region, including brightness signals and synchronizing pulses defining scan lines of the image described by the video signals; b. circuitry responsive to at least some of the synchronizing signals for selecting a predetermined portion of the video signals describing a scan line of the image described by the video signals, said predetermined portion bearing information representing the magnitude of said dimension of said object placed in said region; c. circuitry for causing said video scanning apparatus to repeatedly scan the region a plurality of times; d. a reference generator for producing a reference signal having a value representing a magnitude of said dimension; e. a comparator connected to the reference generator and the selecting circuitry for producing an error indication when the magnitudes represented by said reference signal and said predetermined portion of said video signals, respectively, have a predetermined relation between them, and f. digital weighing circuitry connected to the comparator for producing a second indication only in response to the occurrence of at least a predetermined number of error indications generated in the course of said plurality of repeated scans.
Claim 24
Independent Claim
274 words
A system for measuring a dimension of an object disposed in an electromagnetic irradiated region, comprising Pg,44 a. a video scanning apparatus positioned to respond to the radiation in the region to produce video signals bearing information describing at least a portion of an image containing said dimension of the object placed in the region, including brightness signals and synchronizing pulses defining scan lines of the image described by the video signals; b. circuitry responsive to at least some of the synchronizing pulses for selecting a predetermined portion of the video signals describing a scan line of the image described by the video signals, said predetermined portion of video signals indicating the magnitude of said dimension by locating the presence of contrast edges across said scan line indicating edges of the object; c. trigger circuitry for initiating a signal in response to the indication of a first contrast edge of the object by said portion of video signals, said signal having a duration which is a function of the time elapsed before indication of a second contrast edge of the object, said time lapse being a function of the magnitude of the measured dimension of the object; d. a limit signal generator connected to said trigger circuitry for generating a limit signal in response to indication of the first contrast edge, said limit signal representing a predetermined magnitude of said dimension; and e. a comparator connected to the limit signal generator and the selecting circuitry for producing an error indication when the dimensional magnitudes represented by said limit signal and said predetermined portion of said video signals have a predetermined relation to each other.
Claim 25
Independent Claim
274 words
A system for measuring a dimension of an object disposed in an electromagnetic irradiated region, comprising Pg,44 a. a video scanning apparatus positioned to respond to the radiation in the region to produce video signals bearing information describing at least a portion of an image containing said dimension of the object placed in the region, including brightness signals and synchronizing pulses defining scan lines of the image described by the video signals; b. circuitry responsive to at least some of the synchronizing pulses for selecting a predetermined portion of the video signals describing a scan line of the image described by the video signals, said predetermined portion of video signals indicating the magnitude of said dimension by locating the presence of contrast edges across said scan line indicating edges of the object; c. trigger circuitry for initiating a signal in response to the indication of a first contrast edge of the object by said portion of video signals, said signal having a duration which is a function of the time elapsed before indication of a second contrast edge of the object, said time lapse being a function of the magnitude of the measured dimension of the object; d. a limit signal generator connected to said trigger circuitry for generating a limit signal in response to indication of the first contrast edge, said limit signal representing a predetermined magnitude of said dimension; and e. a comparator connected to the limit signal generator and the selecting circuitry for producing an error indication when the dimensional magnitudes represented by said limit signal and said predetermined portion of said video signals have a predetermined relation to each other.
Claim 26
Independent Claim
183 words
A method for measuring a dimension of an object in an electromagnetic irradiated region, comprising the steps of: a. producing video signals bearing information describing at least a portion of an image containing said dimension of the object disposed in the region, said video signals including brightness signals and synchronizing pulses defining scan lines of the image described by the video signals; b. selecting a predetermined portion of the video signals describing a scan line of the image described by the video signals, said predetermined portion of said video signals bearing information representing the magnitude of said dimension of said object disposed in said region; c. producing, independently of an actual object disposed in said region, a reference signal having a value representing a predetermined magnitude of said dimension; d. comparing the magnitudes of said dimension represented by said reference signal and said selected portion of video signals, and e. producing an error indication when the dimensional magnitudes represented by said reference signal and said predetermined portion of said video signals, respectively, have one of a range of predetermined relationships to one another.
Claim 27
Independent Claim
183 words
A method for measuring a dimension of an object in an electromagnetic irradiated region, comprising the steps of: a. producing video signals bearing information describing at least a portion of an image containing said dimension of the object disposed in the region, said video signals including brightness signals and synchronizing pulses defining scan lines of the image described by the video signals; b. selecting a predetermined portion of the video signals describing a scan line of the image described by the video signals, said predetermined portion of said video signals bearing information representing the magnitude of said dimension of said object disposed in said region; c. producing, independently of an actual object disposed in said region, a reference signal having a value representing a predetermined magnitude of said dimension; d. comparing the magnitudes of said dimension represented by said reference signal and said selected portion of video signals, and e. producing an error indication when the dimensional magnitudes represented by said reference signal and said predetermined portion of said video signals, respectively, have one of a range of predetermined relationships to one another.
Claim 28
Independent Claim
208 words
A method for measuring a dimension of an object in an electromagnetic irradiated region, comprising the steps of: a. producing video signals bearing information describing at least a portion of an image containing said dimension of the object placed in the region, including brightness signals and synchronizing pulses defining scan lines of the image described by the video signals; b. selecting a predetermined portion of the video signals in response to at least some of the synchronizing signals, said predetermined portion of video signals describing a scan line of the image described by the video signals, said predetermined portion bearing information representing the magnitude of said dimension of said object placed in said region; c. producing a reference signal having a value representing a predetermined magnitude of said dimension; d. producing an error indication when the difference between the magnitudes represented by said reference signal and said predetermined portion of said video signals, respectively, have a predetermined relation to one another; e. repeating steps a) through d) a predetermined plurality oF times; and f. producing a second indication only in response to the occurrence of at least a predetermined number of said error indications generated in the course of said plurality of repetition of steps a) through d).
Claim 29
Independent Claim
208 words
A method for measuring a dimension of an object in an electromagnetic irradiated region, comprising the steps of: a. producing video signals bearing information describing at least a portion of an image containing said dimension of the object placed in the region, including brightness signals and synchronizing pulses defining scan lines of the image described by the video signals; b. selecting a predetermined portion of the video signals in response to at least some of the synchronizing signals, said predetermined portion of video signals describing a scan line of the image described by the video signals, said predetermined portion bearing information representing the magnitude of said dimension of said object placed in said region; c. producing a reference signal having a value representing a predetermined magnitude of said dimension; d. producing an error indication when the difference between the magnitudes represented by said reference signal and said predetermined portion of said video signals, respectively, have a predetermined relation to one another; e. repeating steps a) through d) a predetermined plurality oF times; and f. producing a second indication only in response to the occurrence of at least a predetermined number of said error indications generated in the course of said plurality of repetition of steps a) through d).
Claim 30
Independent Claim
242 words
A method for measuring a dimension of an object disposed in an electromagnetic irradiated region, comprising the steps of: a. producing video signals in response to the radiation in the region, said video signals bearing information describing at least a portion of an image containing said dimension of the object placed in the region, said video signals further including brightness signals and synchronizing pulses defining scan lines of the image described by the video signals; b. selecting a predetermined portion of the video signals describing a scan line of the image described by the video signals, said predetermined portion of said video signals indicating the magnitude of said dimension by locating the presence of contrast edges across said scan line indicating edges of the object; c. initiating a signal in response to the location of a first contrast edge of the object by said selected portion of video signals, said signal having a duration which is a function of the time elapsed before indication of a second contrast edge of the object, said time lapse being a function of the magnitude of the measured dimension of the object; d. generating a limit signal in response to indication of the first contrast edge, said limit signal representing a predetermined magnitude of said dimension; and e. producing an error indication when the dimensional magnitudes represented by said limit signal and said predetermined portion of said video signals have a predetermined relation to each other.
Claim 31
Independent Claim
242 words
A method for measuring a dimension of an object disposed in an electromagnetic irradiated region, comprising the steps of: a. producing video signals in response to the radiation in the region, said video signals bearing information describing at least a portion of an image containing said dimension of the object placed in the region, said video signals further including brightness signals and synchronizing pulses defining scan lines of the image described by the video signals; b. selecting a predetermined portion of the video signals describing a scan line of the image described by the video signals, said predetermined portion of said video signals indicating the magnitude of said dimension by locating the presence of contrast edges across said scan line indicating edges of the object; c. initiating a signal in response to the location of a first contrast edge of the object by said selected portion of video signals, said signal having a duration which is a function of the time elapsed before indication of a second contrast edge of the object, said time lapse being a function of the magnitude of the measured dimension of the object; d. generating a limit signal in response to indication of the first contrast edge, said limit signal representing a predetermined magnitude of said dimension; and e. producing an error indication when the dimensional magnitudes represented by said limit signal and said predetermined portion of said video signals have a predetermined relation to each other.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
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| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-11-18 | 1978-05-20 | 1978-11-19 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-11-18 | 1982-05-20 | 1982-11-19 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-11-18 | 1986-05-20 | 1986-11-19 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |