US5911003A — Color pattern evaluation system for randomly orie…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 135 words

A method of inspecting a multicolor pattern on an item with a processor and an imaging device, comprising: (a) moving the item by the imaging device to generate a number of image signals corresponding to the multicolor pattern; (b) correlating each of a number of regions of the multicolor pattern to one of a number of reference color values with the processor using the image signals; (c) modeling the multicolor pattern by deriving a number of test value sets with the processor each corresponding to one of the regions, each set having a first value representative of a first characteristic of a corresponding region and a second value representative of a second characteristic of the corresponding region; and (d) comparing the sets to reference data with the processor to detect variation of the multicolor pattern.

Claim 2

Independent Claim 135 words

A method of inspecting a multicolor pattern on an item with a processor and an imaging device, comprising: (a) moving the item by the imaging device to generate a number of image signals corresponding to the multicolor pattern; (b) correlating each of a number of regions of the multicolor pattern to one of a number of reference color values with the processor using the image signals; (c) modeling the multicolor pattern by deriving a number of test value sets with the processor each corresponding to one of the regions, each set having a first value representative of a first characteristic of a corresponding region and a second value representative of a second characteristic of the corresponding region; and (d) comparing the sets to reference data with the processor to detect variation of the multicolor pattern.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 24 words

The method of claim 1, wherein the first value is determined as a function of a color space first moment of the corresponding region.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 24 words

The method of claim 1, wherein the first value is determined as a function of a physical space first moment of the corresponding region.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 24 words

The method of claim 1, wherein the first value is determined as a function of a principal radius of gyration of the corresponding region.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 27 words

The method of claim 1, further comprising repeating steps (a) through (d) at least one time per second, each repetition corresponding to inspection of a different item.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 14 words

The method of claim 1, further comprising a segmented image of the multicolor pattern.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 126 words

The method of claim 1, further comprising: (e) establishing a first set of color values with the processor as a function of a number of color space coordinates; (f) determining a second set of color values with the processor from a sample item as a function of the coordinates; (g) generating the reference color values as a function of a corresponding one of a number of color pairs, each pair having a first member from the first set and a second member from the second set, the first member being closer in color space to the second member than any other color of the second set, the second member being closer in color space to the first member than any other color of the first set.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 18 words

The method of claim 1, further comprising repeating steps (a) through (d) more than five times per second.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 12 words

The method of claim 1 wherein generating the image signals comprises shuttering.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 16 words

The method of claim 9 wherein the shuttering is accomplished by electronic gating of a camera.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 15 words

The method of claim 9 wherein the shuttering is accomplished by strobing an illumination source.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 16 words

The method of claim 9 wherein the shuttering is accomplished by using a dedicated mechanical device.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 13 words

The method of claim 9 wherein the shuttering comprises selectively triggering a camera.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 14 words

The method of claim 1 further comprising rejecting defective parts based on the comparing.

Claim 16

Independent Claim 236 words

A system for inspecting a multicolor pattern on an item with a number of model data sets, comprising; a conveying means configured to convey the item; an imaging device positioned along said conveyor, said imaging device being configured to provide a number of image signals corresponding to the multicolor pattern of the item moving relative to said imaging device on said conveying means; a processor with a memory, said processor being responsive to said image signals to store a number of pixels in said memory corresponding to an image of the multicolor pattern, each of said pixels having a color value; said processor being configured to correlate the color value of each of said pixels to one of a number of model color values to identify a number of pixel groups with a uniform model color value; said processor being configured to derive a number of test value sets each corresponding to one of said groups, each set having a number of values each corresponding to a different characteristic of a corresponding group, said test value sets being sized to occupy less memory space than said pixels and being independent of orientation of the multicolor pattern; said processor being configured to generate an output signal corresponding to a multicolor pattern variation detected by comparing said test value sets to the model data sets; and an output device responsive to said output signal to indicate said defect.

Claim 17

Independent Claim 236 words

A system for inspecting a multicolor pattern on an item with a number of model data sets, comprising; a conveying means configured to convey the item; an imaging device positioned along said conveyor, said imaging device being configured to provide a number of image signals corresponding to the multicolor pattern of the item moving relative to said imaging device on said conveying means; a processor with a memory, said processor being responsive to said image signals to store a number of pixels in said memory corresponding to an image of the multicolor pattern, each of said pixels having a color value; said processor being configured to correlate the color value of each of said pixels to one of a number of model color values to identify a number of pixel groups with a uniform model color value; said processor being configured to derive a number of test value sets each corresponding to one of said groups, each set having a number of values each corresponding to a different characteristic of a corresponding group, said test value sets being sized to occupy less memory space than said pixels and being independent of orientation of the multicolor pattern; said processor being configured to generate an output signal corresponding to a multicolor pattern variation detected by comparing said test value sets to the model data sets; and an output device responsive to said output signal to indicate said defect.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 28 words

The system of claim 15, wherein said output device includes a display configured to present an image of the multicolor pattern and an indicator to highlight said variation.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 33 words

The system of claim 15, further comprising a sensor coupled to said imaging device to provide a signal corresponding to presence of the item in a field of view of said imaging device.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 38 words

The system of claim 15, wherein said processor includes a means for detecting a defectively colored portion of the multicolor pattern, said portion having a color distinct from any desired color of any part of the multicolor pattern.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 78 words

The system of claim 15, wherein said test value sets are sized to occupy no more than 5% of a memory space occupied by said pixels and at least one of said values is determined as a function of at least one of: a color space first moment of the corresponding group; a physical space centroid of the corresponding group; an inter-centroid distance associated with the corresponding group; and a principal radius of gyration of the corresponding group.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 32 words

The system of claim 15, wherein said processor includes a means to rotationally correlate a randomly oriented image of the multicolor pattern to orientation of a model image of the multicolor pattern.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 36 words

The system of claim 18, wherein said output device includes a sorter configured to separate the item from a number of other items on said conveying means in response to an output signal from said processor.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 12 words

The system of claim 15 wherein the system includes means for shuttering.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 15 words

The system of claim 22 wherein the shuttering means comprises an electronically-gated charge coupled device.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 14 words

The system of claim 22 wherein the shuttering means comprises a strobed illumination source.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 15 words

The system of claim 22 wherein the shuttering means comprises a dedicated mechanical shuttering device.

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 17 words

The system of claim 22 wherein the shuttering means comprises means for selectively triggering the imaging device.

Claim 29

Dependent Claim 22 words

The system of claim 15 wherein the output device comprises a sorter for rejecting items having defects based on the output signal.

Claim 30

Independent Claim 165 words

A method of inspection of a multicolor pattern on an item with a processor, comprising: (a) establishing a first set of color values with the processor as a function of a number of color space coordinates; (b) determining a second set of color values with the processor from a first sample as a function of the coordinates; (c) generating a number of reference colors each being determined from a corresponding one of a number of color pairs, each pair having a first member from the first set and a second member from the second set, the first member being closer in color space to the second member than any other color of the second set, the second member being closer in color space to the first member than any other color of the first set; and (d) comparing a number of detected color values corresponding to the multicolor pattern to the reference color values with the processor to evaluate the multicolor pattern on the item.

Claim 31

Independent Claim 165 words

A method of inspection of a multicolor pattern on an item with a processor, comprising: (a) establishing a first set of color values with the processor as a function of a number of color space coordinates; (b) determining a second set of color values with the processor from a first sample as a function of the coordinates; (c) generating a number of reference colors each being determined from a corresponding one of a number of color pairs, each pair having a first member from the first set and a second member from the second set, the first member being closer in color space to the second member than any other color of the second set, the second member being closer in color space to the first member than any other color of the first set; and (d) comparing a number of detected color values corresponding to the multicolor pattern to the reference color values with the processor to evaluate the multicolor pattern on the item.

Claim 32

Dependent Claim 18 words

The method of claim 28, wherein (d) includes displaying the image with an indication of a detected defect.

Claim 33

Dependent Claim 21 words

The method of claim 28, wherein the reference color values are included in a segmentation look up table in the processor.

Claim 34

Dependent Claim 23 words

The method of claim 28, wherein the first set is determined from a number of samples of the multicolor pattern by the processor.

Claim 35

Dependent Claim 35 words

The method of claim 28, wherein each of the reference colors is determined as a function of averaging the first member and the second member from the corresponding one of the number of color pairs.

Claim 36

Dependent Claim 47 words

The method of claim 28, further comprising: (e) determining a third set of color values within the processor from a second sample as a function of the coordinates; and (f) pairing the reference color values to the third set of color values to update the reference colors.

Claim 37

Dependent Claim 119 words

The method of claim 28, wherein the processor includes a model image of the multicolor pattern, and further comprising: (e) generating an observed image of the multicolor pattern, the observed image being randomly oriented in relation to the model image; (f) characterizing the observed image by determining a number of image values each corresponding to one of a number of rotational positions about an image point, each of the image values being determined as a function of an optical property of a portion of the observed image at each of the rotational positions; (g) rotationally correlating the item image to the model image as a function of the image values; and (h) displaying the model image after rotational correlation.

Claim 38

Dependent Claim 18 words

The method of claim 28, further comprising repeating steps (a) through (d) more than five times per second.

Claim 39

Dependent Claim 14 words

The method of claim 28 further comprising generating image signals using an imaging device.

Claim 40

Dependent Claim 35 words

The method of claim 36 wherein the generating comprises shuttering by one of electronic gating of the imaging device, strobing of an illumination device, using a dedicated mechanical device, and selectively triggering the imaging device.

Claim 41

Dependent Claim 14 words

The method of claim 28 further comprising rejecting defective parts based on the comparing.

Claim 42

Independent Claim 157 words

A method of inspecting a multicolor pattern on an item with a processor and an imaging device having a field of view, comprising: (a) generating a number of image signals corresponding to the multicolor pattern of the item which is disposed in the field of view of the imaging device by relative movement of the item and the imaging device; (b) correlating each of a number of regions of the multicolor pattern to one of a number of reference color values with the processor using the image signals; (c) modeling the multicolor pattern by deriving a number of test value sets with the processor each corresponding to one of the regions, each set having a first value representative of a first characteristic of a corresponding region and a second value representative of a second characteristic of the corresponding region; and, (d) comparing the sets to reference data with the processor to detect variation of the multicolor pattern.

Claim 43

Independent Claim 157 words

A method of inspecting a multicolor pattern on an item with a processor and an imaging device having a field of view, comprising: (a) generating a number of image signals corresponding to the multicolor pattern of the item which is disposed in the field of view of the imaging device by relative movement of the item and the imaging device; (b) correlating each of a number of regions of the multicolor pattern to one of a number of reference color values with the processor using the image signals; (c) modeling the multicolor pattern by deriving a number of test value sets with the processor each corresponding to one of the regions, each set having a first value representative of a first characteristic of a corresponding region and a second value representative of a second characteristic of the corresponding region; and, (d) comparing the sets to reference data with the processor to detect variation of the multicolor pattern.

Claim 44

Independent Claim 237 words

A system for inspecting a multicolor pattern on an item with a number of model data sets, comprising; an imaging device having a field of view, said imaging device being configured to provide a number of image signals corresponding to the multicolor pattern of the item which is disposed in the field of view by relative movement of the item and said imaging device; a processor with a memory, said processor being responsive to said image signals to store a number of pixels in said memory corresponding to an image of the multicolor pattern, each of said pixels having a color value; said processor being configured to correlate the color value of each of said pixels to one of a number of model color values to identify a number of pixel groups with a uniform model color value; said processor being configured to derive a number of test value sets each corresponding to one of said groups, each set having a number of values each corresponding to a different characteristic of a corresponding group, said test value sets being sized to occupy less memory space than said pixels and being independent of orientation of the multicolor pattern; said processor being configured to generate an output signal corresponding to a multicolor pattern variation detected by comparing said test value sets to the model data sets; and, an output device responsive to said output signal to indicate said defect.

Claim 45

Independent Claim 237 words

A system for inspecting a multicolor pattern on an item with a number of model data sets, comprising; an imaging device having a field of view, said imaging device being configured to provide a number of image signals corresponding to the multicolor pattern of the item which is disposed in the field of view by relative movement of the item and said imaging device; a processor with a memory, said processor being responsive to said image signals to store a number of pixels in said memory corresponding to an image of the multicolor pattern, each of said pixels having a color value; said processor being configured to correlate the color value of each of said pixels to one of a number of model color values to identify a number of pixel groups with a uniform model color value; said processor being configured to derive a number of test value sets each corresponding to one of said groups, each set having a number of values each corresponding to a different characteristic of a corresponding group, said test value sets being sized to occupy less memory space than said pixels and being independent of orientation of the multicolor pattern; said processor being configured to generate an output signal corresponding to a multicolor pattern variation detected by comparing said test value sets to the model data sets; and, an output device responsive to said output signal to indicate said defect.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	2002-06-07	2002-12-07	2003-06-08	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2006-06-07	2006-12-07	2007-06-08	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2010-06-07	2010-12-07	2011-06-08	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Color pattern evaluation system for randomly oriented articles

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