Abstract: Readable tags on paint chips and on paint cans are used to manage the dispensing of tinted paint to customers so that the paint chips can be monitored to control the recipes and the inventory of chips and the paint cans can be detected to ensure the use of authenticated paint. The tags are preferably contact readable by printed conductors on the chips and on the cans. Further tags can be used to input further paint characteristics. The tinting machine can also store in memory the tint recipe used in a particular can so that it can be later reproduced in a second can. An over-ride switch is provided in the case the system fails and if the customer wants a particular recipe, in which case the recipe actually dispensed is stored in memory. Analysis of the can codes is carried out to prevent counterfeiting of the cans is carried out either in real time or subsequently.

Abstract: There is described a method for detecting relative displacement between an object such as a slow moving vehicle and an illuminated surface which is normally the ground surface illuminated by an infrared light source so as to provide an output indicating the displacement or a velocity calculated from the displacement. The method includes providing an array of CCD or similar elements each arranged to receive light from a portion of a field of view and to provide an output responsive thereto. The method involves selection of a reference image and repeatedly comparing the reference image of the surface with each successive image by calculating the convolution integral of the signals using a fast fourier transform to obtain a probable displacement value. The reference image is maintained as long as possible until a “Q” factor falls below an acceptable minimum, or until a predetermined time elapses or until a predetermined displacement is measured.

Abstract: There is described a method for detecting relative displacement between an object such as a slow moving vehicle and an illuminated surface which is normally the ground surface illuminated by an infrared light source so as to provide an output indicating the displacement or a velocity calculated from the displacement. The method includes providing an array of CCD or similar elements each arranged to receive light from a portion of a field of view and to provide an output responsive thereto. The method involves selection of a reference image and repeatedly comparing the reference image of the surface with each successive image by calculating the convolution integral of the signals using a fast fourier transform to obtain a probable displacement value. The reference image is maintained as long as possible until a “Q” factor falls below an acceptable minimum, or until a predetermined time elapses or until a predetermined displacement is measured.