Method and apparatus for detecting and characterizing an object
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Disclosed are methods and apparatus for automatic optoelectronic detection and inspection of objects, based on capturing digital images of a two-dimensional field of view in which an object to be detected or inspected may be located, analyzing the images, and making and reporting decisions on the status of the object. Decisions are based on evidence obtained from a plurality of images for which the object is located in the field of view, generally corresponding to a plurality of viewing perspectives. Evidence that an object is located in the field of view is used for detection, and evidence that the object satisfies appropriate inspection criteria is used for inspection. Methods and apparatus are disclosed for capturing and analyzing images at high speed so that multiple viewing perspectives can be obtained for objects in continuous motion.
-
Citations
140 Claims
-
1-72. -72. (canceled)
-
73. A method for detecting an object, and determining a characteristic of the object, comprising:
-
capturing a plurality of frames, each frame of the plurality of frames comprising an image of a two-dimensional field of view;
choosing, responsive to a first analysis of the plurality of frames, a plurality of active frames from the plurality of frames, such that the first analysis indicates sufficient evidence that the object is located in the field of view for each frame of the plurality of active frames;
obtaining a plurality of capture times corresponding to the plurality of active frames, each capture time of the plurality of capture times corresponding to a time at which the corresponding active frame was captured;
computing, responsive to a second analysis of the plurality of active frames, a plurality of location values, each location value of the plurality of location values responsive to a position of the object in the field of view in an associated active frame as computed by the second analysis; and
determining the characteristic of the object using the plurality of location values and the plurality of capture times. - View Dependent Claims (74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 83, 84, 85, 86, 87, 88, 89, 90, 91)
-
-
92. A method for detecting an object, and determining a characteristic of the object, comprising:
-
using a conveyor having motion relative to a two-dimensional field of view to transport the object;
inputting an encoding signal responsive to the motion of the conveyor, from which can be obtained at desired times a corresponding encoder count indicating a relative location of the conveyor;
capturing a plurality of frames, each frame of the plurality of frames comprising an image of the two-dimensional field of view;
choosing, responsive to a first analysis of the plurality of frames, a plurality of active frames from the plurality of frames, such that the first analysis indicates sufficient evidence that the object is located in the field of view for each frame of the plurality of active frames;
obtaining a plurality of capture counts corresponding to the plurality of active frames, each capture count of the plurality of capture counts being responsive to the encoder count corresponding to a time at which the corresponding active frame was captured;
computing, responsive to a second analysis of the plurality of active frames, a plurality of location values, each location value of the plurality of location values responsive to a position of the object in the field of view in an associated active frame as computed by the second analysis; and
determining the characteristic of the object using the plurality of location values and the plurality of capture counts. - View Dependent Claims (93, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98, 99, 100, 101, 102, 103, 104, 105, 106, 107)
-
-
108. A system for detecting an object, and determining a characteristic of the object, comprising:
-
an image capture device that captures a plurality of frames, each frame of the plurality of frames comprising an image of a two-dimensional field of view; and
an analyzer that chooses, responsive to a first analysis of the plurality of frames, a plurality of active frames from the plurality of frames, such that the first analysis indicates sufficient evidence that the object is located in the field of view for each frame of the plurality of active frames;
obtains a plurality of capture times corresponding to the plurality of active frames, each capture time of the plurality of capture times corresponding to a time at which the corresponding active frame was captured;
computes, responsive to a second analysis of the plurality of active frames, a plurality of location values, each location value of the plurality of location values responsive to a position of the object in the field of view in an associated active frame as computed by the second analysis; and
determines the characteristic of the object using the plurality of location values and the plurality of capture times. - View Dependent Claims (109, 110, 111, 112, 113, 114, 115, 116, 117, 118, 119, 120, 121, 122, 123, 124, 125, 140)
-
-
126. A system for detecting an object, and determining a characteristic of the object, comprising:
-
a conveyer, having motion relative to a two-dimensional field of view, that transports the object;
an input device that receives an encoding signal responsive to the motion of the conveyer, from which can be obtained at desired times a corresponding encoder count indicating a relative location of the conveyer;
an image capture device that captures a plurality of frames, each frame of the plurality of frames comprising an image of the two-dimensional field of view; and
an analyzer that chooses, responsive to a first analysis of the plurality of frames, a plurality of active frames from the plurality of frames, such that the first analysis indicates sufficient evidence that the object is located in the field of view for each frame of the plurality of active frames;
obtains a plurality of capture counts corresponding to the plurality of active frames, each capture count of the plurality of capture counts being responsive to the encoder count corresponding to a time at which the corresponding active frame was captured;
computes, responsive to a second analysis of the plurality of active frames, a plurality of location values, each location value of the plurality of location values responsive to a position of the object in the field of view in an associated active frame as computed by the second analysis; and
determines the characteristic of the object using the plurality of location values and the plurality of capture counts. - View Dependent Claims (127, 128, 129, 130, 131, 132, 133, 134, 135, 136, 137, 138, 139)
-
Specification