Abstract: An apparatus and a method for identifying defects in objects, such as glass bottles, utilizing data signals generated from a photodiode camera and light source. Event signals are generated when the magnitudes of adjacent data signals differ by an amount which exceeds a threshold level. Signals are also generated to identify the location of each event signal with respect to a corresponding photodiode and to identify during which vertical sweep of the object the event signal was generated to associate the event signal with a point on the object. The event signals are processed to identify defects. Events in proximity in the same sweep are identified as a string. Event magnitudes and totals in a string are compared with predetermined values to identify defects. Strings in proximity are identified as a blob. Event magnitudes and totals and blob width are compared with predetermined values to identify defects.

Abstract: An apparatus for displaying an output of an inspection device for objects such as glass bottles and the like is connected to a source of data signals each proportional in magnitude to the amount of light received from an associated point on the object being inspected. The data signals are inputs to a storage means and an adder for generating a signal representing the difference between each one of the data points and an adjacent one of the data points stored in the storage means. Each difference signal is compared with a threshold signal to generate an event signal when the magnitudes differ. The event signals are displayed as a two-dimensional representation of the surface of the object as if it had been cut and unwrapped. The operator can repeat the inspection utilizing different threshold values to optimize the defect detection performance of the inspection device.