Container inspection
First Claim
1. Apparatus for detecting commercial variations in at least a portion of an at least partially transparent container having an open mouth, that includes:
- at least one light source to direct light toward a region of interest of the container such that the light reflects off the region of interest as reflected light rays extending at different reflection angles;
a plurality of light sensors to receive the reflected light rays, wherein parallel reflected light rays travel to common portions of the light sensors and non-parallel light rays travel to different portions of the light sensors, wherein the light sensors are used to establish a light pattern in an angular domain such that a point in the light pattern is generated from a signal from a corresponding portion of the light sensors and represents a light intensity corresponding to a particular reflection angle; and
a processor to receive signals from the light sensors and differentiate between different types of commercial variations in the container by analyzing the light pattern in the angular domain.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Method and apparatus for detecting commercial variations in at least a portion of an at least partially transparent container. A light pattern in an angular domain is established from signals generated by a plurality of light sensors, wherein a point in the light pattern is generated by a signal from a corresponding portion of the light sensors and represents a light intensity corresponding to a particular reflection angle of a light ray reflected off the container. Different types of commercial variations in the container can be differentiated by analyzing the light pattern in the angular domain.
40 Citations
47 Claims
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1. Apparatus for detecting commercial variations in at least a portion of an at least partially transparent container having an open mouth, that includes:
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at least one light source to direct light toward a region of interest of the container such that the light reflects off the region of interest as reflected light rays extending at different reflection angles; a plurality of light sensors to receive the reflected light rays, wherein parallel reflected light rays travel to common portions of the light sensors and non-parallel light rays travel to different portions of the light sensors, wherein the light sensors are used to establish a light pattern in an angular domain such that a point in the light pattern is generated from a signal from a corresponding portion of the light sensors and represents a light intensity corresponding to a particular reflection angle; and a processor to receive signals from the light sensors and differentiate between different types of commercial variations in the container by analyzing the light pattern in the angular domain. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33)
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34. A method for detecting commercial variations in at least a portion of an at least partially transparent container, that includes the steps of:
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directing light toward a region of interest of the container from at least one light source such that the light reflects off the region of interest as reflected light rays extending at different reflection angles; receiving the reflected light rays with a plurality of light sensors, wherein parallel reflected light rays travel to common portions of the light sensors and non-parallel light rays travel to different portions of the light sensors; establishing a light pattern in an angular domain from signals generated by the light sensors, wherein a point in the light pattern is generated by a signal from a corresponding portion of the light sensors and represents a light intensity corresponding to a particular reflection angle; and differentiating between different types of commercial variations in the container by analyzing the light pattern in the angular domain. - View Dependent Claims (35, 36, 37, 38, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47)
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39. The method set forth in 38 wherein the step of monitoring said sensors includes:
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recording the light detected by said light sensors after each of said light sources is energized to direct light onto a container, wherein recording the light detected by said light sensors includes recording the intensity of the light detected by said light sensors, and comparing the intensity of light detected by said light sensors and comparing said intensity of light with a threshold value to determine if the detected light intensity exceeds said threshold.
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Specification