System and method for the collection of spectral image data

• US 6,853,447 B2
• Filed: 12/20/2001
• Issued: 02/08/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 02/12/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Malvern Panalytical, Inc. (Spectris PLC)
• Original Assignee: Analytical Spectral Devices Incorporated (Spectris PLC)
• Inventors: Goetz, Alexander
• Primary Examiner(s): Toatley, Jr., Gregory J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nguyen, Sang H.
• Application Number:
  US10/023,396
• Publication Number:
  US 20020109835A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,146 Days
• Field of Search: 3562371-2373, 356/388, 356390-394, 250/223.R, 250/226, 250/339.08, 250/339.12, 382/254, 382/260, 382/274, 382/110, 209/589, 378/57
• US Class Current: 356/237.1
• CPC Class Codes: B07C 5/342 according to optical properties, e.g. colour according to radiation transmittivity B07C5/3416
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 2003/2866 Markers; Calibrating of scan
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/274 Calibration, base line adjustment, drift correction
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/3563 for analysing solids; Preparation of samples therefor
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/359 using near infrared light
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/9508 Capsules; Tablets

Abstract

A method of verifying the contents of a package comprising obtaining a spectral image of a first package, the first package having a plurality of receptacles configured to receive an item, wherein the plurality of first package receptacles do not contain any items, acquiring a spectral image of a second package, the second package having a plurality of receptacles configured to receive an item, wherein the plurality of second package receptacles each contain an item, and comparing the spectral image of the first package with the spectral image of the second package wherein acquiring a spectral image of a second package comprises acquiring a plurality of spectral image lines and wherein each of the spectral image lines comprises a plurality of image pixels.

Claims

1. A push-broom scanning spectrometer, comprising:

an imager adapted to simultaneously acquire a line of image pixel from a moving package, wherein the image pixel line comprises a plurality of contiguou spectral bands, wherein the image pixel line is oriented perpendicular to the direction of motion of the package, wherein the package includes a plurality of items;

a conveyer system adapted to move the package through field of view corresponding to the imager; and

a processor capable of being programmed to compare the line of image pixels with a references signal and to determine the location of the plurality of items within the package based on the comparison of the line of image pixels to the reference signal.

2. The push-broom scanning spectrometer of claim 1, wherein the imaging element is a two-dimensional array of photo-detectors.

3. The push-broom scanning spectrometer of claim 1, wherein the line of image pixels corresponds to a plurality of pixel elements.

4. The push-broom scanning spectrometer of claim 1, wherein the scanning spectrometer is incorporated into a pharmaceutical packaging system.

5. The scanning spectrometer of claim 1, wherein the processor is further capable of being programmed to determine the chemical composition of at leas one of the items in the package.

6. The scanning spectrometer of claim 1, wherein the processor is further capable of being programmed to determine the chemical composition of the plurality of items in the package.

7. A push-broom scanning spectrometer, comprising:

an imager adapted to simultaneously acquire line of image pixels from a moving package, wherein the image pixel line comprises a plurality of contiguous spectral bands, wherein the image pixel line is oriented perpendicular to the direction of motion of the package, wherein the package includes a plurality of items having a chemical composition, and wherein the plurality of contiguous spectral bands corresponds to the chemical composition of the plurality of items;

a conveyer system adapted to move the through a field of view corresponding to the imager; and

a processor capable of being programmed to compare the line of image pixels with a references signal and to determine the location of the plurality of items within the package based on the comparison of the line of image pixels to the reference signal.

8. The scanning spectrometer of claim 7, wherein the processor is further capable of being programmed to determine the chemical composition of the plurality of items based on the comparison of the line of image pixels to the reference signal.

9. A method of determining the location of a plurality of items within a package using a scanning spectrometer, comprising:

acquiring a line of image pixels from a moving package through an imager, wherein the image pixel line comprises a plurality of contiguous spectral bands, wherein the image pixel line is oriented perpendicular to the direction of motion of the package and wherein the package includes a plurality of items having a chemical composition and wherein the plurality of contiguous spectral bands corresponds to the chemical composition of the plurality of items;

moving the package through a field of view of the imager;

comparing the line of image pixels with a reference signal; and

determining the location of the plurality of items within the package based on the comparison of the line of image pixels to the reference signal.

10. The method of claim 9 further comprising determining the chemical composition of at least one of the plurality of items.

11. The method of claim 9 further comprising determining the chemical composition of the plurality of items.

12. The method of claim 9 wherein the package is a blister pack.

13. The method of claim 9 wherein the plurality of items are sealed within the package.

14. The method of claim 9 further comprising storing information corresponding to the location of at least one of the plurality of items.