Method and apparatus for locating objects
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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.
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Citations
99 Claims
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1-72. -72. (canceled)
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73. A method for locating a plurality of objects, comprising:
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moving each object of the plurality of objects so that the object passes a fixed mark point;
determining, for each object of the plurality of objects, a corresponding mark time indicating when the object passes the fixed mark point, wherein determining the corresponding mark time occurs at a corresponding decision point that differs from the corresponding mark time by a corresponding decision delay; and
the decision delays corresponding to the plurality of objects are variable;
producing, for each object of the plurality of objects, a corresponding signal at a corresponding report time that follows the corresponding mark time by a delay interval; and
using, for each object of the plurality of objects, the corresponding report time of the corresponding signal to indicate a location of the object. - View Dependent Claims (74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 86)
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80. A method for locating a plurality of objects, comprising:
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using a conveyor having motion relative to a fixed mark point to transport each object of the plurality of objects so that the object passes the fixed mark point;
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;
determining, for each object of the plurality of objects, a corresponding mark count indicating the encoder count corresponding to a time when the object passes the fixed mark point, wherein determining the corresponding mark count occurs at a corresponding decision point that differs from the time when the object passes the fixed mark point by a corresponding decision delay; and
the decision delays corresponding to the plurality of objects are variable;
producing, for each object of the plurality of objects, a corresponding signal at a corresponding report time that occurs when the corresponding encoder count differs from the mark count by a delay count; and
using, for each object of the plurality of objects, the corresponding report time of the corresponding signal to indicate a location of the object. - View Dependent Claims (81, 82, 83, 84, 85)
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87. A system for locating a plurality of objects, comprising:
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a conveyer that transports each object of the plurality of objects so that the object passes a fixed mark point;
an analyzer that determines, for each object of the plurality of objects, a corresponding mark time indicating when the object passes the fixed mark point, wherein the corresponding mark time is determined at a corresponding decision point that differs from the corresponding mark time by a corresponding decision delay; and
the decision delays corresponding to the plurality of objects are variable; and
an output signaler that indicates, for each object of the plurality of objects, a location of the object by producing a corresponding signal at a corresponding report time that follows the corresponding mark time by a delay interval. - View Dependent Claims (88, 89, 90, 91, 92, 93)
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94. A system for locating a plurality of objects, comprising:
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a conveyor having motion relative to a fixed mark point that transports each object of the plurality of objects so that the object passes the fixed mark point;
an input device that receives 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;
an analyzer that determines, for each object of the plurality of objects, a corresponding mark count indicating the encoder count corresponding to a time when the object passes the fixed mark point, wherein determining the corresponding mark count occurs at a corresponding decision point that differs from the time when the object passes the fixed mark point by a corresponding decision delay; and
the decision delays corresponding to the plurality of objects are variable; and
an output signaler that indicates, for each object of the plurality of objects, a location of the object by producing a corresponding signal at a corresponding report time that occurs when the corresponding encoder count differs from the mark count by a delay count. - View Dependent Claims (95, 96, 97, 98, 99)
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Specification