Apparatus and computer program for generating a feedback code

• US 6,201,889 B1
• Filed: 06/18/1998
• Issued: 03/13/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 04/24/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Shriners Hospitals For Children (Shriner's International Headquarters Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Shriners Hospitals For Children (Shriner's International Headquarters Incorporated)
• Inventors: Vannah, William M.
• Primary Examiner(s): MEHTA, BHAVESH M
• Application Number:
  US09/099,408
• Time in Patent Office: 999 Days
• Field of Search: 382/108-109, 382/128, 382/131-132, 382/141, 382/154, 382/162, 382/164, 348/92, 348/128, 348/65, 348/77
• US Class Current: 382/131
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 21/20 for measuring contours or curvatures, e.g. determining profile
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 21/32 for measuring the deformation in a solid
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 3/40 Investigating hardness or rebound hardness
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 1/0007 Image acquisition

Abstract

The invention features an apparatus and computer program for sampling data corresponding to a property of an object and generating a feedback code indicating the quality of the sampled data. The apparatus includes (a) an input probe for generating digital data points at a plurality of sample points on the surface of the object; (b) an output device arranged to provide the feedback code; and (c) a processor electrically connected to the input probe and the output device and arranged to analyze the digital data and provide a feedback code indicating the quality of the digital data points. The processor is programmed to (i) assign each digital data point to one of a plurality of discrete, unique compartments; (ii) determine a quality value for each of the compartments and assign to each compartment a feedback code representing the quality value; and (iii) transmit the feedback code to the output device.

Claims

1. An apparatus for sampling data corresponding to a property of an object and generating a feedback code indicating the quality of the sampled data, said apparatus comprising

(a) an input probe for generating-digital data points at a plurality of sample points on the surface of the object, each digital data point comprising a property value and a position value corresponding to a particular sample point;

(b) an output device arranged to provide the feedback code; and

(c) a processor electrically connected to said input probe and said output device and arranged to analyze the digital data and provide a feedback code indicating the quality of the digital data points, wherein said processor is programmed to

(i) assign each digital data point to one of a plurality of discrete compartments based on the position value of the data point, each compartment corresponding to a unique location on the object and comprising zero, one, or more digital data points;

(ii) determine a quality value for each of said compartments based on the quality of the digital data points assigned to that compartment and assign to each compartment a feedback code representing said quality value; and

(iii) transmit said feedback code to the output device.

2. An apparatus of claim 1, wherein said output device is a cathode ray tube.

3. An apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a memory arranged to store the digital data points.

4. An apparatus of claim 1, wherein said input probe comprises an indentation stiffness transducer, an ultrasound transducer, a temperature transducer, or an elevation transducer.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said feedback code is a visual code.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said feedback code is color.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said feedback code is a machine-readable control signal.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said property is elevation.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein said input probe is an elevation transducer.

10. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein said elevation is of a structure within the object, and said input probe is an ultrasound transducer.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said probe is an indentation stiffness transducer.

12. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said probe is a temperature transducer.

13. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein prior to transmitting the feedback code to the output device, the processor is further programmed to:

generate and assign new digital data points to each compartment comprising a feedback code indicating an unacceptable quality value, said new data points corresponding to sample points on the object at a location corresponding to said compartment;

determine a new quality value for each compartment to which new digital data points have been assigned and assign to each compartment a feedback code representing said new quality value; and

repeat said generating and determining steps until all compartments are assigned a new feedback code indicating an acceptable quality value.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the feedback code transmitted to the Qutput device is in the form of a three-dimensional topography representing the property of the object.

15. A computer program for analyzing the quality of sampled data points representing a property of an object and generating a feedback code indicating the quality of the sampled data points, said program residing on a computer-readable medium and comprising instructions for causing a processor to:

(a) obtain digital data points representing a plurality of sample points on the surface of the object, each digital data point comprising a property value and a position value corresponding to a particular sample point;

(b) assign each digital data point to one of a plurality of discrete compartments based on the position value of the data point, each compartment corresponding to a unique location on the object and comprising zero, one, or more digital data points;

(c) determine a quality value for each of said compartments based on the quality of the digital data points assigned to that compartment and assign to each compartment a feedback code representing said quality value; and

(d) transmit said feedback code to an output device.

16. The computer program of claim 15, wherein said feedback code is a visual code.

17. The computer program of claim 16, wherein said feedback code is color.

18. The computer program of claim 15, wherein said feedback code is a machine-readable control signal.

19. The computer program of claim 15, wherein prior to transmitting the feedback code to the output device, the program further causes the processor to:

generate and assign new digital data points to each compartment comprising a feedback code indicating an unacceptable quality value, said new data points corresponding to sample points on the object at a location corresponding to said compartment;

determine a new quality value for each compartment to which new digital data points have been assigned and assign to each compartment a feedback code representing said new quality value; and

repeat said generating and determining steps until all compartments are assigned a feedback code indicating an acceptable quality value.

20. The computer program of claim 19, wherein the feedback code transmitted to the output device is in the form of a three-dimensional topography representing the property of the object.