Automated monitoring and control of contamination activity in a production area
First Claim
1. An automated process for monitoring and controlling contamination activity in a production area, comprising:
- (A) capturing image data from the production area over a period of time;
(B) processing the image data with a computer to determine whether a contamination event has occurred in the production area; and
(C) activating a contamination control device in accordance with the processing of the image data,wherein the image data is processed using a stabilization algorithm to determine whether the image data satisfies a threshold image value for a threshold time period, with the threshold image value being a pre-determined minimum image value correlating with an absence of the contamination event or a pre-determined minimum image value correlating with a presence of the contamination event, and the threshold time period being a pre-determined minimum time period that the threshold image value is satisfied.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An automated process for monitoring and controlling contamination activity in a production area comprises capturing image from the production area over a period of time, processing the image data with a computer to determine whether a contamination event has occurred in the production area, and activating a contamination control device in accordance with the processing of the image data. The contamination event can be a germ-releasing event from an individual in the production area, a pipe leaking fluid into the production area, etc. The automated monitoring and control may also determine whether an article of contamination control equipment (e.g., face mask, glove, etc) is properly positioned on the individual to prevent the contamination from entering the production area in a form that could contaminate product, equipment, or the production area itself. An automated system for monitoring and controlling contamination includes a computer, an imaging sensor in communication with the computer, and a computer-readable program code disposed on the computer.
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Citations
28 Claims
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1. An automated process for monitoring and controlling contamination activity in a production area, comprising:
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(A) capturing image data from the production area over a period of time; (B) processing the image data with a computer to determine whether a contamination event has occurred in the production area; and (C) activating a contamination control device in accordance with the processing of the image data, wherein the image data is processed using a stabilization algorithm to determine whether the image data satisfies a threshold image value for a threshold time period, with the threshold image value being a pre-determined minimum image value correlating with an absence of the contamination event or a pre-determined minimum image value correlating with a presence of the contamination event, and the threshold time period being a pre-determined minimum time period that the threshold image value is satisfied. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. An automated process for monitoring and controlling contamination activity in a production area, comprising:
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(A) capturing image data from the production area over a period of time; (B) processing the image data with a computer to determine whether a contamination event has occurred in the production area, wherein the processing of the image data further comprises processing the image data with a computer to determine; (i) whether an individual is present within the production area, (ii) whether the individual has engaged in the contamination event while in the production area, (iii) whether an article of contamination control equipment is present in association with the individual during the contamination event, and (iv) whether the article of contamination control equipment is properly positioned or properly configured during the contamination event; and (C) activating a contamination control device in accordance with the processing of the image data, wherein the image data is processed to find an image of at least a portion of the individual present in the production area while the individual is in motion, with the image data being processed using a stabilization algorithm to determine whether the image data satisfies a threshold image value for a threshold time period, with the threshold image value being a pre-determined minimum image value correlating with an absence of the contamination event by the individual and/or a pre-determined minimum image value correlating with the contamination control equipment being present and properly positioned while the individual is in the production area, with the threshold time period being a pre-determined minimum time period that the threshold image value is satisfied, and the activation of the contamination control device providing a positive indication of an absence of the contamination event by the individual.
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9. An automated process for monitoring and controlling contamination activity in a production area, comprising:
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(A) capturing image data from the production area over a period of time; (B) processing the image data with a computer to determine whether a contamination event has occurred in the production area, wherein the processing of the image data further comprises processing the image data with a computer to determine; (i) whether an individual is present within the production area, (ii) whether the individual has engaged in the contamination event while in the production area, (iii) whether an article of contamination control equipment is present in association with the individual during the contamination event, and (iv) whether the article of contamination control equipment is properly positioned or properly configured during the contamination event; and (C) activating a contamination control device in accordance with the processing of the image data, wherein the image data is processed to find an image of at least a portion of the individual present in the production area while the individual is in motion, with the image data being processed using a stabilization algorithm to determine whether the image data satisfies a threshold image value for a threshold time period, with the threshold image value being a pre-determined minimum image value correlating with the occurrence of the contamination event by the individual and a pre-determined minimum image value correlating with the contamination control equipment being absent or improperly positioned during the contamination event, with the threshold time period being a pre-determined minimum time period that the threshold image value is satisfied, and the contamination control device being activated to provide a positive indication of the contamination event in the production area, due to a determination of both; (i) the occurrence of the contamination event in the production area, and (ii) the absence or improper positioning of the contamination control equipment during the contamination event. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. An automated system for monitoring and controlling contamination in a production area, the system comprising:
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(A) a computer; (B) an image sensor in communication with the computer, the image sensor being configured and arranged to capture image data of at least a portion of the production area; and (C) computer-readable program code disposed on the computer, the computer-readable program code comprising; (i) a first executable portion for processing the image data to produce an image of at least the portion of the production area captured by the image sensor, (ii) a second executable portion for processing image data and determining if a contamination event occurs within the portion of the production area captured by the image sensor, (iii) a third executable portion for activating a contamination control device in accordance with the processing of the image data, and (iv) a stabilization algorithm to determine whether the image data satisfies a threshold image value for a threshold time period, with the threshold image value being a pre-determined minimum image value correlating with an absence of the contamination event or a pre-determined minimum image value correlating with a presence of the contamination event, and the threshold time period being a pre-determined minimum time period that the threshold image value is satisfied. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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Specification