Method and apparatus for analyzing a visible object

• US 4,831,641 A
• Filed: 07/10/1986
• Issued: 05/16/1989
• Est. Priority Date: 04/24/1972
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Niemi, Antti
• Original Assignee: Niemi, Antti
• Inventors: Niemi, Antti
• Primary Examiner(s): Shoop, Jr., William M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Young, Brian K.
• Application Number:
  US06/883,853
• Time in Patent Office: 1,041 Days
• Field of Search: 235/92 PC, 235/92 DN, 340/146.3 F, 340/155, 356/102, 356/156, 358/294, 250/560, 250/223 R, 250/224, 250/359.1, 250/560-565, 250/571, 250/224, 377/11, 377/24, 377/53, 357/30, 209/524, 209/525, 209/536
• US Class Current: 377/53
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 15/0227 using imaging; using holography
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 15/147 the analysis being performed on a sample stream
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 21/00 Microscopes

Abstract

The visually observable information is expressed in quantitive form according to an arrangement wherein there is firstly detected the distribution, size, shape and similar characteristics of objects appearing essentially in one level or plane of the sample and deviating visually from their environment. This detection is carried out by forming an image of the primary physical object on a light sensitive detector using known optic means, such as a microscope, in order to code the random information into a digital form, and thereupon the results of detection, that is the information thus brought into digital form, is transferred for further analysis to a computing and registering unit, such as a special purpose or process computer. Preferably, the detector unit comprises an array or matrix of light sensitive elements, such as photo-transistors.

Claims

1. An improved method for analyzing a material containing visible objects of the type wherein a continuous two-dimensional real image of said objects or a part thereof is formed by focusing optical means, and serial, digital video signals corresponding to said image are transferred to a computing and registering unit, wherein the improvement comprises, in combination:

transforming the optically formed image into discrete electric signals by means of a detector unit located in the plane of the continuous two-dimensional image and consisting of at least one row of individually responsive detector elements;

reading serially periodically said discrete electric signals and obtaining separate electric output signals, corresponding serially to each detector element;

coding said output signals into said serial, digital video signals; and

extracting by means of a freely programmable digital real-time computer, used as the computing and registering unit, quantities representing the size, boundaries and characteristics related to the shape of said visible objects contained in a flowing material of which no physical sample is detached for the analysis, and expressing said quantities in quantitative digital form.

2. A method according to claim 1 wherein said flowing material comprises solid articles on a continuously operating conveyor.

3. An improved device for analyzing a material containing visible objects of the type wherein a continuous two-dimensional real image of said objects or a part thereof is formed by focusing optical means;

and serial, digital video signals corresponding to said image are transferred to a computing and registering unit, wherein the improvement comprises, in combination;

a detector unit consisting of at least one row of individually responsive detector elements located in the plane of said continuous two-dimensional image and transforming the optically formed image into discrete electric signals;

means for periodically transforming said discrete electric signals with separate electric output signals being obtained corresponding serially to each detector element, and for coding said output signals into said serial, digital video signals; and

the computing and registering unit being a freely programmable digital real-time computer programmed to extract quantities representing the size, boundaries and characteristics related to the shape of said visible objects contained in a flowing material of which no physical sample is detached for the analysis, and to express said quantities in quantitative digital form.

4. An improved method for analyzing a flowing material containing visible objects, of the type wherein light transmitted onto the surface of a detector unit is transformed into locally discrete electric signals by said detector unit consisting of a row of individually responsive detector elements, and wherein digital signals are transferred to a digital computing unit capable of storing variable reference models and making comparisons with them, wherein the improvement comprises, in combination:

forming with focusing optical means, located between the material and the detector unit, a continuous two-dimensional continuously variable real image of said objects on the surface of the detector unit, said image being formed as the flowing material passes a fixed area,

reading serially, periodically, under control of said computer, said locally discrete electric signals with separate electric output signals being obtained corresponding serially to each detector element,

thresholding by means of at least one adjustable threshold, said output signals into the form of a serial, digital video signal to be transferred to said computing unit, and

extracting by means of a freely programmable digital real-time computer, used as the computing unit, quantities representing the size, boundaries and characteristics related to the shape of said visible objects, and expressing said quantities in quantitative digital form.

5. An improved device for analyzing a flowing material containing visible objects, of the type wherein light transmitted onto the surface of a detector unit consisting of a row of individually responsive detector elements is transformed into locally discrete electric signals by said detector unit;

and wherein is used a digital computing unit receiving said discrete electric signals and capable of storing variable reference models and making comparisons with them, wherein the improvement comprises, in combination;

focusing optical means located between said material and said detector unit and forming a continuous two-dimensional continuously variable real image of said objects on the surface of the detector unit, said continuously variable image being formed as the flowing material passes a fixed area;

means for reading serially, periodically, under control of said computing unit, said locally discrete electric signals with separate electric output signals being obtained corresponding serially to each detector element, and for thresholding, by means of at least one adjustable threshold, said output signals into the form of a serial, digital video signal to be transferred to said computing unit; and

the digital computing unit being a freely programmable digital real-time computer programmed to extract quantities representing the size, boundaries and characteristics related to the shape of said visible objects, and to express said quantities in quantitative digital form.

6. An improved method for analysing a flowing material of the type wherein light transmitted from the material onto the surface of a detector unit through lenses located between said flowing material and said detector unit is transformed into locally discrete electric signals by said detector unit consisting of a row of individually responsive detector elements, and wherein serial digital signals are obtained and handled further, wherein the improvement comprises, in combination:

applying a visual observation to primary physical visible bodies transported by said flowing material, by focusing with said lenses a continuous two-demensional continuously variable real image of said flowing material, containing said bodies, on the surface of said detector unit, said image being formed as said flowing material passes a fixed area,

reading serially, under computer control, periodically said locally discrete electric signals with separate electric output signals being obtained corresponding serially to each detector element,

thresholding by means of at least one adjustable threshold said output signals into the form of a serial, digital video signal,

transferring the obtained serial digital video signals to freely programmable digital real-time computer, and

extracting by means of said computer quantities representing the size, boundaries and characteristics related to the shape of said visible bodies, and expressing said quantities in quantitative digital form.

7. An improved method for visual analysis, of the type whrein light transmitted from a moving material containing primary physical visible bodies onto the surface of a detector unit, through lenses located between said material and said detector unit, is transformed into locally discrete electric signals by said detector unit consisting of a row of individually responsive detector elements which signals are read, thresholded by at least one adjustable threshold, and handled further, wherein the improvement comprises, in combination:

applying a visual observation to said bodies contained in a moving material, by forming with said lenses a continuous two-demensional continuously variable real image of said bodies in said material on the surface of said detector unit, said image being formed as the material passes a fixed area,

reading serially, periodically, under computer control, said locally discrete electric signals with separate electric output signals being obtained corresponding serially to each detector element and submitting said output signals to said thresholding,

transferring said signals, thresholded into the form of a serial, digital video signal, to a freely programmable digital real-time computer, and

extracting by means of said computer quantities representing the size, boundaries and characteristics related to the shape of said visible bodies, and expressing said quantities in quantitative digital form.

8. An improved device for analysing a flowing material of the type including a detector unit consisting of a row of individually responsive detector elements, lenses located between said material and said detector unit, said lenses transmitting light from the material onto the surface of the detector unit and the light being transformed by the detector unit into locally discrete electric signals, whereby serial digital signals are obtained and handled further, wherein the improvement comprises in combination:

the lenses being adapted to focus a continuous two-dimensional continuously variable real image of primary physical visible bodies transported by said flowing material, on the surface of said detector unit, said image being formed as said flowing material passes a fixed area,

means for reading serially, under computer control, periodically said locally discrete electric signals with separate electric output signals being obtained corresponding serially to each detector element,

means for thresholding, by using at least one adjustable threshold said output signals into the form of a serial, digital video signal,

a freely programmable digital real-time computer adopted to receive said digital video signal, and

the computer being programmed to extract quantities representing the size, boundaries and characteristics related to the shape of said visible bodies, and to express said quantities in quantitative digital form.

9. An improved device for visual analysis of a moving material containing primary physical visible bodies, including a detector unit consisting of a row of individually responsive detector elements, lenses located between said material and said detector unit for transmitting light from said material onto the surface of a detector unit, which transforms the light into locally discrete electric signals, said signals being read, thresholded by at least one adjustable threshold, and handled further, wherein the improvement comprises, in combination:

the lenses being adapted to form a continuous two-dimensional continuously variable real image of said bodies in said material on the surface of said detector unit, said image being formed as the material passes a fixed area,

means for reading serially, periodically, under computer control, said locally discrete electric signals with separate electric output signals being obtained corresponding serially to each detector element, and to submit said output signals to said thresholding, and

a freely programmable digital real-time computer adopted to receive said signals, thresholded into the form of a serial, digital video signal, and to extract quantities representing the size, boundaries and characteristics related to the shape of said visible bodies, and to express said quantities in quantitative digital form.