US4561104A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Automated inspection of hot steel slabs
Assignee: Honeywell Inc
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Filing: 1984-01-16
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Granted: 1985-12-24
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Expires: 2004-01-16
Abstract
Abstract The disclosure relates to a real time digital image enhancement system for performing the image enhancement segmentation processing required for a real time automated system for detecting and classifying surface imperfections in hot steel slabs. The system provides for simultaneous execution of edge detection processing and intensity threshold processing in parallel on the same image data produced by a sensor device such as a scanning camera. The results of each process are utilized to validate the results of the other process and a resulting image is generated that contains only corresponding segmentation that is produced by both processes.
Inventors
- 👤 Ronald J. Martin
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 05:58
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06T; G06T7/00; G06T7/0002; G06T7/0004; G06T7/0006; G06T5/00; G06T5/20; G06T5/73; G01; G01N; G01N21/00; G01N21/84; G01N21/88; G01N21/8851; G01N2021/8896; G06T2207/00; G06T2207/30; G06T2207/30108; G06T2207/30136
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
102 words
A method for the real time enhancement of an image to provide for detection and classification of characteristic type surface imperfections occurring on the surface of a material of interest, comprising the steps of; forming a single digital image of said surface having digital values, processing said digital image to simultaneously perform, on the fly and in parallel, edge enhancement and intensity interval extraction of said digital image to respectively form edge and intensity enhanced intervals; and simultaneously comparing said edge and intensity enhanced intervals to generate image enhanced intervals which correspond to the joint existence of edge intervals and intensity intervals.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
102 words
A method for the real time enhancement of an image to provide for detection and classification of characteristic type surface imperfections occurring on the surface of a material of interest, comprising the steps of; forming a single digital image of said surface having digital values, processing said digital image to simultaneously perform, on the fly and in parallel, edge enhancement and intensity interval extraction of said digital image to respectively form edge and intensity enhanced intervals; and simultaneously comparing said edge and intensity enhanced intervals to generate image enhanced intervals which correspond to the joint existence of edge intervals and intensity intervals.
Claim 3
Independent Claim
151 words
A method for the real time enhancement of an image to provide for detection and classification of characteristic type surface imperfections occurring on the surface of a material of interest, comprising the steps of; forming a single digital image of said surface having digital values, processing said digital image to simultaneously perform, on the fly and in parallel, edge enhancement and intensity interval extraction of said digital image, said edge enhancement being performed with an edge enhancement operator to form an edge enhanced image containing intervals of said image corresponding to the edges of surface imperfections, said intensity interval extraction being performed with an image intensity enhancement operator to form image intensity intervals of said image corresponding to the intensity of areas of surface imperfections; and simultaneously comparing said edge and intensity enhanced intervals to generate image enhanced intervals which correspond to the joint existence of edge intervals and intensity intervals.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
151 words
A method for the real time enhancement of an image to provide for detection and classification of characteristic type surface imperfections occurring on the surface of a material of interest, comprising the steps of; forming a single digital image of said surface having digital values, processing said digital image to simultaneously perform, on the fly and in parallel, edge enhancement and intensity interval extraction of said digital image, said edge enhancement being performed with an edge enhancement operator to form an edge enhanced image containing intervals of said image corresponding to the edges of surface imperfections, said intensity interval extraction being performed with an image intensity enhancement operator to form image intensity intervals of said image corresponding to the intensity of areas of surface imperfections; and simultaneously comparing said edge and intensity enhanced intervals to generate image enhanced intervals which correspond to the joint existence of edge intervals and intensity intervals.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
17 words
A method according to claim 2 wherein said edge enhancement operator is a Roberts gradient edge operator.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
69 words
A method according to claim 2 wherein said edge and intensity intervals are each derived with first and second thresholds, said first threshold being an average pixel value over each scan line used to determine if each computed pixel value indicates the beginning or ending of an interval, said second threshold being a minimum pixel value for qualifying the use of pixel values in computing said first threshold value.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
39 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein said comparison of edge and intensity enhanced intervals determines the existence of overlap of corresponding intervals and allows predetermined interval beginning and ending tolerances in the generating of said image enhanced intervals.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
105 words
A system for the real time enhancement of an image to provide for detection and classification of characteristic type surface imperfections occurring on the surface of a material of interest, comprising; means for forming a single digital image of said surface having digital values, means for proccessing said digital image to simultaneously perform, on the fly and in parallel, edge enhancement and intensity interval extraction of said digital image to respectively form edge and intensity enhanced intervals, and means for simultaneously comparing said edge and intensity enhanced intervals and generating image enhanced intervals which correspond to the joint existence of edge intervals and intensity intervals.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
105 words
A system for the real time enhancement of an image to provide for detection and classification of characteristic type surface imperfections occurring on the surface of a material of interest, comprising; means for forming a single digital image of said surface having digital values, means for proccessing said digital image to simultaneously perform, on the fly and in parallel, edge enhancement and intensity interval extraction of said digital image to respectively form edge and intensity enhanced intervals, and means for simultaneously comparing said edge and intensity enhanced intervals and generating image enhanced intervals which correspond to the joint existence of edge intervals and intensity intervals.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
153 words
A system for the real time enhancement of an image to provide for detection and classification of characteristic type surface imperfections occurring on the surface of a material of interest, comprising, the for forming a single digital image of said surface having digital values, means for processing said digital image to simultaneously perform, on the fly and in parallel, edge enhancement and intensity interval extraction of said digital image, an edge enhancement operator for performing to form said edge enchancement an edge enhanced image containing intervals of said image corresponding to the edges of said surface imperfections, an image intensity enhancement operator for performing said intensity interval extraction to form image intensity intervals of said image corresponding to the intensity of areas of surface imperfections, and means for simultaneously comparing said edge and intensity enhanced intervals and generating image enhanced intervals which correspond to the joint existence of edge intervals and intensity intervals.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
153 words
A system for the real time enhancement of an image to provide for detection and classification of characteristic type surface imperfections occurring on the surface of a material of interest, comprising, the for forming a single digital image of said surface having digital values, means for processing said digital image to simultaneously perform, on the fly and in parallel, edge enhancement and intensity interval extraction of said digital image, an edge enhancement operator for performing to form said edge enchancement an edge enhanced image containing intervals of said image corresponding to the edges of said surface imperfections, an image intensity enhancement operator for performing said intensity interval extraction to form image intensity intervals of said image corresponding to the intensity of areas of surface imperfections, and means for simultaneously comparing said edge and intensity enhanced intervals and generating image enhanced intervals which correspond to the joint existence of edge intervals and intensity intervals.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1988-12-23 | 1989-06-24 | 1989-12-24 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1992-12-23 | 1993-06-24 | 1993-12-24 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1996-12-23 | 1997-06-24 | 1997-12-24 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |