Scattered/transmitted light information system
First Claim
1. An information gathering system comprising:
- (a) means for directing at least one light beam at a surface of a material having internal light-scattering properties for which information is required in respect of at least one specified characteristic of the material, to impinge upon a target region on said surface of said material,(b) means for effecting scanning displacement of said at least one light beam relative to said surface of said material so that said target region comprises one of a succession of target regions,(c) means for detecting reflected light returned from said target region,(d) means for detecting internally-scattered light emanating from a region of said surface of said material other than said target region, said region other than said target region being one of substantially adjacent and or continuous with said target region,(e) means for deriving a signal indicative of said at least one specified characteristic of the material by analysis of the levels of said reflected light and said emanating light during said scanning displacement, and(f) means for effecting displacement of said surface of said material relative to said at least one light beam in a direction substantially at right angles to said direction of scanning displacement, wherein(i) a speed of said scanning displacement is determined in conjunction with a speed of displacement of said surface of said material so that a succession of scanning displacements of said at least one light beam relative to said surface of said material is achieved, and(ii) said signal deriving means comprises memory means to enable build-up of image data for said surface from the levels of said reflected light and said emanating light during each of said succession of scanning displacements to provide said signal indicative of said at least one specified characteristic of the material by analysis of said image data.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
In an information gathering system especially suited to the monitoring of vegetable products in sorting apparatus, a light beam (23) is directed by a scanning source such as a laser (11) at the surface of an object (2) such as a tomato moving in the direction x--x through a scanning zone. The scanning operation is conducted in the y--y direction. Directly reflected light returned from the surface of the object (2) along a path (17) extending from light beam target region (12) is sensed by a line detector (14), which provides an output signal indicative of the level, of the directly reflected light. Light entering the material of the organic product (2) is subjected to a light scattering or diffusing process within the material of the product, so that at least a region (13) of the surface of the product (12) surrounding the target zone (12) of light beam (23) becomes lit-up or illuminated from within. Further photosensitive line detectors (15) and (16) located one to each side of reflected light detector (14) monitor the levels of light emanating from this illuminated zone (13) surrounding light beam target zone (12) and reaching the detectors (15) and (16) along paths (18) and (19) respectively. Comparison of the relative levels of the directly reflected light and emanating light signals enables information to be derived as to surface and sub-surface defects on or in the product (2). The use of suitable logic circuitry enables rejection of defective product in response to the information provided by the light signals.
31 Citations
21 Claims
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1. An information gathering system comprising:
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(a) means for directing at least one light beam at a surface of a material having internal light-scattering properties for which information is required in respect of at least one specified characteristic of the material, to impinge upon a target region on said surface of said material, (b) means for effecting scanning displacement of said at least one light beam relative to said surface of said material so that said target region comprises one of a succession of target regions, (c) means for detecting reflected light returned from said target region, (d) means for detecting internally-scattered light emanating from a region of said surface of said material other than said target region, said region other than said target region being one of substantially adjacent and or continuous with said target region, (e) means for deriving a signal indicative of said at least one specified characteristic of the material by analysis of the levels of said reflected light and said emanating light during said scanning displacement, and (f) means for effecting displacement of said surface of said material relative to said at least one light beam in a direction substantially at right angles to said direction of scanning displacement, wherein (i) a speed of said scanning displacement is determined in conjunction with a speed of displacement of said surface of said material so that a succession of scanning displacements of said at least one light beam relative to said surface of said material is achieved, and (ii) said signal deriving means comprises memory means to enable build-up of image data for said surface from the levels of said reflected light and said emanating light during each of said succession of scanning displacements to provide said signal indicative of said at least one specified characteristic of the material by analysis of said image data. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. An information gathering system comprising:
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(a) means for directing at least one light beam at a surface of a material having internal light-scattering properties for which information is required in respect of at least one specified characteristic of the material, to impinge upon a target region on said surface of said material during passage of said material through an inspection zone, (b) means for effecting scanning displacement of said at least one light beam relative to said surface of said material so that said target region comprises on of a succession of target regions, (c) means for detecting reflected light returned from said target region, (d) means for detecting internally-scattered light emanating from a region of said surface of said material other than said target region, said region other than said target region being one of substantially adjacent to and continuous with said target region, (e) means for deriving a signal indicative of said at least one specified characteristic of the material by analysis of the levels of said reflected light and said emanating light during said scanning displacement, and (f) means for effecting displacement of said surface of said material through said inspection zone relative to said at least one light beam in a direction substantially at right angles to said direction of scanning displacement, wherein (i) a speed of said scanning displacement is determined in conjunction with a speed of displacement of said surface of said material so that a succession of scanning displacements of said at least one light beam relative to said surface of said material is achieved, (ii) said signal deriving means comprises memory means to enable build-up of image data for said surface from the levels of said reflected light and said emanating light during each of said succession of scanning displacements to provide said signal indicative of said at least one specified characteristic of the material by analysis of said image data, (iii) said means for effecting displacement of said surface of said material comprises a conveyor for advancing said material to an end region of the conveyor at which said material leaves the conveyor in a freefall trajectory, and (iv) said inspection zone is defined by a portion of said freefall trajectory. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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Specification