System and method for three-dimensional location of inclusions in a gemstone

• US 20060062446A1
• Filed: 09/21/2004
• Published: 03/23/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 09/21/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Zvi Porat
• Original Assignee: LSR, Inc.
• Inventors: Porat, Zvi
• Granted Patent: US 7,755,072 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 382/154
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 11/24 for measuring contours or curvatures
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/87 Investigating jewels G01N21/88 takes precedence

Abstract

The present invention presents a non-destructive method and means of obtaining either the inner portion or the outer contour of a two-dimensional or three-dimensional model of the outer contours of a gemstone. The method comprising the steps of placing the gemstone on a holder such that the gemstone to be scanned is located in a radiation path comprising inter alia at least one emitter and at least one detector synchronized by a processor; radiating said gemstone by means of said emitter; detecting the emitted irradiation by means of said detector; processing said detection such that a two-dimensional in-scan of said gemstone is obtained by means of said processor; displacing the gemstone in respect to said emitter and said detector; repeating steps (b) through (e) for a plurality of predetermined displacements; and, if a three-dimensional model is required, integrating the obtained multiple two-dimensional in-scans into a three-dimensional model of the gemstone'"'"'s outer contours; wherein the emitter is an irradiation delivery device, selected from a group consisting of either monochromatic or white light, UV or IR emitters; X-ray radiation source and/or collimator of the same; NMR, CT, NQR and/or MIR scatters; beta radiation emission devices; gamma radiation emission devices; laser beam cannons; photons cannons; microwave or RF emitters; sonic or ultrasonic emitters or any combination thereof.

Claims

1. A non-destructive method of obtaining either a two-dimensional or three-dimensional model of the outer contours of a gemstone, comprising:

a. placing the gemstone on a holder such that the gemstone to be scanned is located in a radiation path comprising inter alia at least one emitter and at least one detector synchronized by a processor;

b. radiating said gemstone by means of said emitter;

c. detecting the emitted irradiation by means of said detector;

d. processing said detection such that a two-dimensional in-scan of said gemstone is obtained by means of said processor;

e. displacing the gemstone in respect to said emitter and said detector;

f. repeating steps (b) through (e) for a plurality of predetermined displacements; and

,

g. if a three-dimensional model is required, integrating the obtained multiple two-dimensional in-scans into a three-dimensional model of the gemstone'"'"'s outer contours;

wherein the emitter is an irradiation delivery device, selected from a group consisting of either monochromatic or white light, UV or IR emitters;

X-ray radiation source and/or collimator of the same;

NMR, CT, NQR and/or MIR scatters;

beta radiation emission devices;

gamma radiation emission devices;

laser beam cannons;

photons cannons;

microwave or RF emitters;

sonic or ultrasonic emitters or any combination thereof.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the emitter is an X-ray radiation source and/or a collimator of the same.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the gemstone is selected from rough gemstones diamonds, or semi-precious gemstones or half-processed gemstones thereof;

before processing the gemstone for determining its value before purchasing it or for planning its subsequent process stages;

in its processing stages, following its cleaving, sawing, bruting, and/or polishing stages;

or after these preparation processes, for evaluating its quality and value of the product produce thereof.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the detector is a sensing device adapted to detect the radiation delivered by the emitter either directly or indirectly.

5. The method according to claim 4, wherein the detector detects by means of at least one interpreter.

6. The method according to claim 5, wherein the interpreter is selected from phosphorescent radiating surfaces.

7. The method according to claim 4, wherein the detector is located on a single plane or on a plurality of tangent planes, and wherein the detection of the emitted radiation is at least partially qualitative or quantitative, amplified, filtered or any combination thereof.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein the displacement is provided by rotating the scanned gemstone by circulating the holder along a predetermined plane to a predetermined angle.

9. The method according to claim 8, wherein for imaging the inner and/or outer portions of the gemstone, the gemstone is rotated in an overall rotation angle of about 45°

to about 360°

or more, wherein images are taken in intervals of about 1°

to about 10°

or more;

10. The method according to claim 8, wherein for imaging and or locating the inclusions, the gemstone is rotated in an overall rotation angle of about 45°

to about 360°

or more, wherein images are taken either in relatively large intervals, in any predetermined intervals as function of the inclusion specific geometry, or in small intervals, of about 1°

to about 10°

or more.

11. The method according to claim 1, wherein the processor synchronizes the radiating step with the displacing step such that every radiation is targeted towards another portion of the face of the scanned gemstone.

12. The method according to claim 1, wherein the radiation is provided either in a synchronized series of pulses or continuously, while the gemstone displacement is synchronized at any given time.

13. The method according to claim 1, additionally comprising radiating the gemstone such that a phosphorescent radiation interpreter radiates a visible light towards the detector.

14. The method according to claim 1, additionally comprising the steps of radiating the gemstone such that a phosphorescent radiation interpreter radiates a invisible light;

and emitting a laser radiation towards said towards the interpreter or detector such that a visible image is detectable.

15. The method according to claim 1, adapted for obtaining either a two dimensional or a three-dimensional coordinated model of inclusions located in the inner and/or outer portion of a gemstone, comprising:

a. placing the gemstone on a holder such that it is located in a radiation path comprising inter alia at least one emitter and at least one detector synchronized by a processor;

b. radiating said gemstone by means of said emitter;

c. detecting the emitted irradiation by means of said detector;

d. processing said detection such that a two-dimensional in-scan of said gemstone is obtained by means of said processor;

e. displacing the gemstone in respect to said emitter and said detector;

f. repeating steps (b) through (e) for a plurality of predetermined displacements; and

,

g. if a three dimensional model is required, integrating the obtained multiple two-dimensional in-scans into a three-dimensional model of the inclusions of the gemstone.

16. The method according to claim 15, wherein the inclusions are either internal and/or external features, wholly or partially surrounded by the gemstone.

17. The method according to claim 1, adapted for obtaining either a two dimensional or a three-dimensional model of inclusions located in the inner and/or outer portion of a gemstone in respect to the outer contours of the gemstone, comprising:

a. placing the gemstone on a holder such that it is located in a radiation path comprising inter alia at least one emitter and at least one detector synchronized by a processor;

b. radiating said gemstone by means of said emitter;

c. detecting the emitted irradiation by means of said detector;

d. processing said detection such that a two-dimensional in-scan of said gemstone is obtained by means of said processor;

e. displacing the gemstone in respect to said emitter and said detector;

f. repeating steps (b) through (e) for a plurality of predetermined displacements; and

,

g. if a three dimensional model is required, integrating the obtained multiple two-dimensional in-scans into a comprehensive three-dimensional model of the inclusions and the outer contours of the gemstone.

18. A non-destructive method for identifying, analyzing and/or commercially evaluating a gemstone, comprising obtaining either a two-dimensional or a three-dimensional coordinated model of the inclusions in respect to the outer contours of the gemstone by one or more of the methods as defined in claim 1.

21. The system according to claim 18, wherein the detector is a sensing device adapted to detect the radiation delivered by the emitter either directly or indirectly.

22. The system according to claim 21, wherein the detector detects by means of at least one interpreter.

23. The system according to claim 22, wherein the interpreter is selected from phosphorescent radiating surfaces.

24. The system according to claim 21, wherein the detector is located on a single plane or on a plurality of tangent planes, and wherein the detection of the emitted radiation is at least partially qualitative or quantitative, amplified, filtered, or any combination thereof.

25. The system according to claim 18, wherein the displacement is provided by rotating the scanned gemstone by circulating the holder along a predetermined plane to a predetermined angle.

26. The system according to claim 18, wherein for imaging the inner and/or outer portions of the gemstone, the gemstone is rotated in an overall rotation angle of about 45°

to about 360°

or more, wherein images are taken in intervals of about 1°

to about 10°

or more;

27. The system according to claim 18, wherein for imaging and or locating the inclusions, the gemstone is rotated in an overall rotation angle of about 45°

to about 360°

or more, wherein images are taken either in relatively large intervals, in any predetermined intervals as function of the inclusion specific geometry, or in small intervals, of about 1°

to about 10°

or more.

28. The system according to claim 18, wherein the processor synchronizes the radiating step with the displacing step such that every radiation is targeted towards another portion of face of the scanned gemstone.

29. The system according to claim 18, wherein the radiation is provided either in a synchronized series of pulses or continuously, while the gemstone displacement is synchronized at any given time.

30. The system according to claim 18, additionally comprising means for radiating the gemstone such that a phosphorescent radiation interpreter radiates a visible light towards the detector.

31. The system according to claim 18, additionally comprising means for radiating the gemstone such that a phosphorescent radiation interpreter radiates a invisible light;

and means for emitting a laser radiation towards said towards the interpreter or detector such that a visible image is detectable.

19. A non-destructive system for obtaining either a two-dimensional or three-dimensional coordinated model of a gemstone comprising:

a. a holder adapted to carry the scanned gemstone;

b. at least one emitter adapted to radiate said gemstone;

c. at least one detector adapted to detect the emitted irradiation targeted on the gemstone;

d. a displacing means adapted to both repeatedly displace said gemstone in respect to said emitter and said detector, to a predetermined location;

e. a processor adapted to process said detection such that a two-dimensional in-scan of said gemstone is obtained; and

if a three dimensional model is required, to integrate the obtained multiple two-dimensional in-scans into a three-dimensional model of the gemstone,

wherein the emitter is an irradiation delivery device, selected from a group consisting of either monochromatic or white light, UV or IR emitters;

X-ray radiation source and/or collimator of the same;

NMR, CT, NQR and/or MIR scatters;

beta radiation emission devices;

gamma radiation emission devices;

laser beam cannons;

photons cannons;

microwave or RF emitters;

sonic or ultrasonic emitters or any combination thereof; and

further

wherein the obtained two-dimensional or three-dimensional coordinated model is selected from the group consisting of the gemstone'"'"'s outer contours;

a model of either the inner and/or outer inclusions of the gemstone, if any;

a comprehensive model of said inclusions in respect to said outer contours or any combination thereof.

20. The system according to claim 19, wherein gemstone is selected from rough gemstones diamonds, or semi-precious gemstones or half-processed gemstones thereof;

before processing the gemstone for determining its value before purchasing it or for planning its subsequent process stages;

in its processing stages, following its cleaving, sawing, bruting, and/or polishing stages;

or after these preparation processes, for evaluating its quality and value of the product produce thereof.