Method of taking an image of an object residing in a transparent, colored container

• US 7,990,526 B2
• Filed: 01/05/2011
• Issued: 08/02/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 10/10/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Parata Systems, LLC (Becton, Dickinson & Co)
• Original Assignee: Parata Systems, LLC (Becton, Dickinson & Co)
• Inventors: Newcomb, David
• Primary Examiner(s): Evans; F. L
• Application Number:
  US12/984,920
• Publication Number:
  US 20110096998A1
• Time in Patent Office: 209 Days
• Field of Search: 356/73, 356/239.5, 356/239.6, 356/427
• US Class Current: 356/73
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/255 Details, e.g. use of specially adapted sources, lighting or optical systems
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/9027 in containers after filling
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/9508 Capsules; Tablets
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 20/66 Trinkets, e.g. shirt buttons or jewellery items recognising microscopic objects G06V20/69

Abstract

A method of producing an image of an object residing inside a transparent container of a first color includes: illuminating the container and the object with light of a second color, the second color being substantially the inverse of the first color; and producing an image of the object through the container. An image produced by this method can exhibit substantially the same color as the object itself, even when the image is taken through a colored transparent wall.

Claims

1. A method of producing an image of an object residing inside a transparent container of a first color, comprising:

illuminating the container and the object with light of a second color;

producing an image of the object through the container; and

comparing the image with a stored image of a similar object;

wherein the first color is defined by the RGB range (140-235, 70-160, 0-35), and the second color is defined by the RGB range (20-115, 95-185, 220-255).

2. The method defined in claim 1, wherein the object is a pharmaceutical.

3. The method defined in claim 2, wherein the object is a pharmaceutical tablet.

4. The method defined in claim 1, wherein the container is a pharmaceutical vial.

5. The method defined in claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

detecting the first color prior to the illuminating step; and

selecting the second color responsive to the detecting step.

6. A method of producing an image of an object, comprising:

positioning an object such that a transparent colored wall of a first color is between the object and a light source;

illuminating the wall and the object with light from the light source of a second color, the second color being chosen to substantially cancel the first color;

producing an image of the object through the wall; and

comparing the image with a stored image of a similar object.

7. The method defined in claim 6, wherein the first color is amber, and the second color is blue.

8. The method defined in claim 6, wherein the first color is defined by the RGB range (140-235, 70-160, 0-35), and the second color is defined by the RGB range (20-115, 95-185, 220-255).

9. The method defined in claim 6, wherein the object is a pharmaceutical.

10. The method defined in claim 9, wherein the object is a pharmaceutical tablet.

11. The method defined in claim 6, wherein the wall comprises a pharmaceutical vial.

12. The method defined in claim 6, further comprising the steps of:

detecting the first color prior to the illuminating step; and

selecting the second color responsive to the detecting step.

13. The method defined in claim 6, further comprising the steps of:

irradiating the object with electromagnetic radiation outside of the visible light range;

detecting a property of the electromagnetic radiation after irradiation of the object; and

producing a spectrum of the composition of the object based on the detecting step.

14. A method of producing an image of a pharmaceutical residing inside a transparent pharmaceutical vial of a first color, comprising:

illuminating the vial and the pharmaceutical with light of a second color, the second color being substantially the inverse of the first color;

producing an image of the pharmaceutical through the vial;

irradiating the pharmaceutical with electromagnetic radiation outside the visible light range;

detecting a property of the electromagnetic radiation after irradiation of the pharmaceutical; and

producing a spectrum of the composition of the pharmaceutical based on the detecting step.

15. The method defined in claim 14, wherein the first color is amber, and the second color is blue.

16. The method defined in claim 14, wherein the first color is defined by the RGB range (140-235, 70-160, 0-35), and the second color is defined by the RGB range (20-115, 95-185, 220-255).

17. The method defined in claim 14, further comprising the steps of:

detecting the first color prior to the illuminating step; and

selecting the second color responsive to the detecting step.