Abstract: An installation of optical inspection of integrated circuits or the like, comprising: a photographic system placed above a scene in a plane defined by a first and a second direction, the photographic system comprising several digital cameras each comprising an orthogonal array of pixels, all cameras having their respective optical axes inclined by a first angle with respect to a third direction perpendicular to the two others; and two projectors of determined patterns, these patterns being such that two straight lines projected by each of the projectors are aligned in the plane defined by the first two directions and are coplanar with a straight line interconnecting the optical centers of the two projectors.

Abstract: The sheet transporting device of the invention includes: a transferring device (64) adapted to transfer a sheet (30), a conveying device (66; 66A) for conveying a sheet transferred from the transferring device (64) onto the conveying device, and a controlling means (76) adapted to control the speed of the conveying device (66; 66A) and defining a transfer cycle (CT). The controlling means (76) is adapted to slow down the conveying device (66) when a sheet is conveyed by the related conveying device and to accelerate the conveying device when no sheet is present on said conveying device. The invention can be used for the cutting devices of rotary printing machines.

Abstract: The invention relates to a sheet (30) conveying device (D1, D2) comprising a transport roll (56, 58) for conveying a flat substrate (18, 30), said transport roll having a transport surface (82, 102) which comes into contact with the flat substrate and has a plurality of recesses (84, 104), and a vacuum device (64) for creating a depression in the plurality of recesses. The device also comprises a device (120) for cleaning the transport surface (82, 102). The invention is applicable to devices for ejecting sheets from printing presses.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of focusing, by an imaging device, of images of a substantially planar surface of an object including the step of determining the attitude of the surface of the object with respect to a reference plane by scanning this surface by means of at least one triangulation sensor along exactly two parallel lines in the reference plane. The invention further includes the steps of splitting the surface of the object into areas of a size corresponding to the size of a taken image, inferring from the attitude respective elevations of the image areas, and adjusting, for each area, the focus with respect to the elevation thereof.

Abstract: Two stereo images are created by splitting a single image into two images using a field of view dividing splitter. The two images can be displayed side by side so that they can be viewed directly using stereopticon technology, heads-up display, or other 3-D display technology, or they can be separated for individual eye viewing. The two images focus on one imager such that the right image appears on the right side of the monitor and the left image appears on the left side of the monitor. The view of the images is aimed to converge at a given object distance such that the views overlap 100% at the object distance. Measurement is done with at least one onscreen cursor.

Abstract: A system and method for storing, within an image transfer medium, an image and image-specific data associated with the image includes obtaining the image-specific data from a probe such as a borescope or endoscope, obtaining the corresponding image, choosing a specific image transfer medium, writing the image to the medium, and writing the image-specific data to a marker in the medium. In this manner, storing a combination of image data and one or more of system calibration data, overlay replacement data, and audio comment data in a single file of either a non-standard file format or a standard file format that does not explicitly support the inclusion of these data types is possible.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for enhancing the contrast and visual clarity of an image captured by a remote viewing device. A luminance component of a captured image is isolated and represented within a first distribution of luminance values. One or more transformation functions are performed upon the first distribution of luminance values to generate a second distribution of luminance values. The second distribution of luminance values are used to construct and display a second image having enhanced visual clarity relative to the captured image. A portion of the captured image, such as a portion functioning as a magnified zoom window, can be enhanced for visual clarity independently from the remaining portion of the captured image.

Abstract: Devices and methods for protecting components of imaging devices are provided. In the illustrative embodiment, a plano-concave protective cover is provided which is bonded to an imager window by applying a thick, quick-setting adhesive to the exterior of the cover and of the imager window.

Abstract: The present invention features a remote viewing device that is capable of improving its operation by removing slack in its control cables and/or by increasing the range of motion of its viewing head. In one embodiment, the method for improving the operation involves removing at least a portion of the slack in at least one control cable attached to a servo motor. The removal of at least a portion of the slack includes changing the position of a servo motor relative to a flexible tube termination block until a specified tension is encountered in at least one of the control cables. The method further includes determining first and second servo control signal values corresponding to no angular deflection and a specified deflection in a viewing head.

Abstract: A modular remote video inspection system for inspecting the interior of a living thing or of an inanimate object, such as a machine. The system comprises a base module connected by way of an interconnection module to a handset comprising a unitary display module and control module. The system makes observations by generating light that is caused to impinge on a surface of the interior of the object of interest. An inspection module attached to the handset comprises both a light guide for providing the light to the area of interest, and a selected one of a sensor and a light receiver. The inspection module comprises a steerable tip configured to be located adjacent the area of interest. The handset includes both controls for operating the system, and a display for providing a view of the region being inspected, as well as status information for the user of an operator.

Abstract: A probe controller is integral with a gripper for the probe's insertion tube. The gripper is easily operated with one hand, permitting a user to hold, release, and insert the insertion tube with the same hand that operates the controls on the controller, thus freeing the user's other hand to feed the insertion tube into the opening, perform other operations, or optionally to operate the controls.

Abstract: Devices and methods for protecting components of imaging devices are provided. In the illustrative embodiment, a plano-concave protective cover is provided which is bonded to an imager window by applying a thick, quick-setting adhesive to the exterior of the cover and of the imager window.

Abstract: A system and method for storing, within an image transfer medium, an image and image-specific data associated with the image includes obtaining the image-specific data from a probe such as a borescope or endoscope, obtaining the corresponding image, choosing a specific image transfer medium, writing the image to the medium, and writing the image-specific data to a marker in the medium. In this manner, storing a combination of image data and one or more of system calibration data, overlay replacement data, and audio comment data in a single file of either a non-standard file format or a standard file format that does not explicitly support the inclusion of these data types is possible.

Abstract: The system automatically performs analysis on images from a remote video inspection apparatus to provide an operator with an indication of areas that are potentially out of specification, or which require more detailed analysis by the operator. Pattern recognition algorithms are applied to sequential images to search for anomalies or defects in the images. The search area is initially limited to edges of the item being inspected where the probability of defects is much higher. To reduce the processing requirements and probability of false detection, the search area is narrowed to a limited field of view and depth. Defects such as dents and small cracks are detected using stereo measurement techniques or by projecting a known supplementary image into the defect. These techniques are used to provide an image disparity map. Using known triangulation algorithms, this map provides depth and distance information to the processing system.

Abstract: A probe controller is integral with a gripper for the probe's insertion tube. The gripper is easily operated with one hand, permitting a user to hold, release, and insert the insertion tube with the same hand that operates the controls on the controller, thus freeing the user's other hand to feed the insertion tube into the opening, perform other operations, or optionally to operate the controls.

Abstract: In a flying splice roll changer a splice tail occurs at the splice joint that may induce problems in a downstream processing station. The present invention is directed to shortening of the splice tail (2) by directing the paper web (1) around a deflection roller (3) so that the splice tail (2) is located on the outer face of the roller and extends radially under the action of centrifugal force while being optionally supported by air ejected from blowing nozzles (8, 9). The splice tail is then cut with a blade (7) located in the vicinity of the outer surface of the deflection roller (3) so that only an insignificant length of a few millimeters remains.

Abstract: A system comprises: (a) an imaging system having an imaging device for transmitting an electrical signal corresponding to an area being imaged, and magnification functionality adapted to magnify the imaged area; (b) a portable support system for supporting the imaging system having a power supply for supplying power to the imaging system, at least one controller for controlling the zooming functionality of the imaging device, and an image output device; and (c) a positioning system for positioning the imaging system independently of the support system; and a method of using the same which comprising: (a) positioning the imaging system independently of the support system such that a target area is in the field of view of said imaging system while at a first magnification level; (b) imaging the area at a second magnification level greater than the first magnification level; and (c) outputting an image of the area.

Abstract: An apparatus applies a coating composition consisting of a resin and fine abrasive particles like corundum particles, to a paper web by feeding the composition to the paper web as it loops around a guide roller to a metering roller juxtaposed with the guide roller. The coating composition, which may develop stripes, is then equalized with a structured roller engaging the paper-web pass leaving the guide roller and formed with at least one thread-like structuring element which may be followed by or preceded by a doctor blade arrangement or a smooth-surfaced roller.

Abstract: Glutathione (GSH) is a tripeptide of extreme importance as a catalyst, reductan, and reactant. It can be depleted intra-cellularly either by forming a direct complex with an electrophilic agent (accomplished investigationally by agents such as bromobenzene or diethyl maleate), by way of inhibition of synthesis, or by subjecting cells to oxidant stress. Most cells, except for epithelia cells, do not have a direct transport capacity for intact GSH. Non-epithelial cells must either transport precursor substrates for GSH synthesis or salvage amino acids from circulating GSH for reuse in intracellular resynthesis. Dietary cysteine is a rate limiting substrate for the synthesis of glutathione and also inhibits GSH efflux. Although GSH is synthesized from precursors in virtually all cells, the liver is the main source of plasma GSH. Protection and support of liver function is paramount to elevating GSH levels.

Abstract: Glutathione (GSH) is a tripeptide of extreme importance as a catalyst, reductan, and reactant. It can be depleted intracellulary either by forming a direct complex with an electrophilic agent (accomplished investigationally by agents such as bromobenzene or diethyl maleate), by way of inhibition of synthesis, or by subjecting cells to oxidant stress. Most cells, except for epithelia cells, do not have a direct transport capacity for intact GSH. Non-epithelial cells must either transport precursor substrates for GSH synthesis or salvage amino acids from circulating GSH for reuse in intracellular resynthesis. Dietary cysteine is a rate limiting substrate for the synthesis of glutathione and also inhibits GSH efflux. Although GSH is synthesized from precursors in virtually all cells, the liver is the main source of plasma GSH. Protection and support of liver function is paramount to elevating GSH levels.