Abstract: An image processing system and filters applicable to such a system wherein digitized discrete signals, as pixel signals, are processed in a look-up table according to the sum of the current digitized value of a discrete signal multiplied by a factor and the digitized value of the signal from the look-up table for a preceding discrete signal multiplied by one less the factor for low pass filtering; and wherein high pass filtering is the difference between a factor times the current digitized value of a discrete signal and the digitized value of the low pass filter from the look-up table for a preceding discrete signal multiplied by a factor. Two dimensional filtering in a two dimensional array of pixels is afforded by identifying pixel signals by row and column and high pass filtering in pixel columns from row-to-row. Vector combinations of row and column filtered values are employed in a system for electro-optical inspection of the image of a product.

Abstract: A system for line scan processing video signals from a linear array of photoelectric cells so that the signals for individual cells and individual scan sweep are selectively utilized according to sweep number and cell numbers. A signal window is defined for each sweep individually at a predetermined cell for a beginning of the effective video signal and is terminated at another predetermined cell for the end of the effective video signal so that the video signal is processed for only that portion of each sweep covering the area of interest. In optical inspection of an article the significance of changes in the ratio of light intensity at particular cells from the background light intensity is adjusted by sweep and cell number so that such changes which are predictable in certain locations on the article must exceed threshold levels which are different than for other locations.

Abstract: A system of detecting abrupt optical deviations in an object such as defects in a TV tube faceplate employing a line scan camera operated at a fixed scan frequency to feed analog video signals to a log amplifier the output of which is high-pass filtered to detect on an illumination invariant basis defect indicating deviations in light emanating from the object. The passed logarithmic deviation signals are compared with threshold signal magnitudes predetermined for the areas of the object from which the deviation signals are induced and if equal to the threshold an event signal is issued. The absolute magnitude of the event is measured by high pass filtering the analog video signal so that only the abrupt deviation from background light intensity is passed to a memory enable by the event signal. In defect analysis the size of the defect is measured as a pixel count of those pixels having signals exceeding one half the maximum pixel signal magnitude within the defect.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for optically inspecting and sorting transparent containers such as glass containers having defects in the container sidewalls, and for distinguishing unacceptable major refractive defects and opaque defects from each other and from commercially acceptable minor refractive defects. First and second sources of diffused illumination having differing source widths are sequentially directed onto a container while the container is rotated about its central axis for at least one revolution during each illumination. A camera which includes a plurality of light sensitive elements disposed in a linear array parallel to the axis of container rotation is positioned to receive light energy transmitted through the container sidewall.

Abstract: A control circuit for an apparatus for inspecting objects, such as glass bottles and the like, for defects includes an interface circuit connected between a source of data signals and means for processing information obtained from the object. The interface circuit receives the data signals, typically in digital series form, and includes a latch for storing one of the digital signals, a pair of adders, and a storage means for a plurality of threshold signals. Each data signal is compared to the preceding data signal stored in the latch in one of the adders to generate a difference signal representing the difference in magnitudes between the two signals. Each difference signal is compared with a selected one of the stored threshold signals in the other adder to generate an event signal representing the difference in magnitudes between the two signals.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for generating a comparison signal representing the deviation between two analog video signals representing light received from particular inspection points on an object being inspected. The comparison signal is generated with a magnitude representing the ratio between the values of the two video signals. The ratio is calculated with the one of the two video signals having the larger magnitude as the denominator. In order to calculate the ratio, the present invention first converts the two analog video signals to digital form and then determines the log of each of digitized video signal. Next, the negative difference between the two log signals is determined. The negative difference is then exponentiated to determine the ratio.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for automatically monitoring the amount of batch material floating on an irradiant pool of melt in a glass melting furnace is disclosed. A video camera is positioned so as to view the surface of the batch and melt mixture through a window formed in a wall of the furnace tank. The video signal is digitized by a computer into a plurality of pixel signals. The pixel signals can be utilized to generate a histogram relating the number of digitized pixel signals to a relative light intensity scale. The generated histogram will be bimodal, with one peak centering around a lower scale value corresponding to the darker batch pixels and the other peak centering around a higher scale value corresponding to the lighter melt pixels. A suitable threshold, such as the minimum point between the two peaks, can be selected to separate the two peaks.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for generating a comparison signal representing the magnitude difference between two successive video signals representing adjacent inspection points on the container. One of the two video signals is multiplied by a first predetermined value to generate a first product signal. The first product signal and the other one of the two video signals are combined to generate a second product signal having a magnitude representing the ratio between the other one of the two video signals and the first product signal with the first product signal as the denominator. A signal having a second predetermined value is then subtracted from the second product signal to generate the comparison signal. A comparison signal generated in this manner is insensitive to general light variations across the container.

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.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method and apparatus for determining whether a glue drop is present on the reflective inner surface of a closure. Collimated light is projected onto the reflective inner surface of the closure, and a measurement is taken of the amount of light which remains collimated after reflection from the closure. The measurement of the amount of light reflected in this way is used to determine whether a glue drop is present.

Abstract: A circuit for generating a square wave form which circuit comprises two MOSFETs and is driven by only one control logic signal. A first MOSFET is connected between a ground potential power supply and the circuit output line while a second MOSFET is connected between the circuit output line and a positive potential power supply. The gate of the second MOSFET is connected to the source of the first MOSFET which has a gate connected to receive the control logic signal. When the logic signal is at a high level, the first MOSFET is turned on and the gate of the second MOSFET is pulled down to ground potential such that the second MOSFET is turned off. Thus, the circuit output line will be near the ground potential. When the logic signal switches to a low level, the first MOSFET is turned off and the voltage across a capacitor which has been charged by a power supply causes the second MOSFET to turn on such that the circuit output line will be near the positive potential.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for operating a gas discharge display/memory panel having a pair of opposed electrode arrays. A pulsating potential sustainer wave form is applied to one electrode array while the other electrode array is maintained at the reference potential of the sustainer wave form, typically the system ground potential. The potentials are applied to the electrodes through switching circuits individual to the electrodes, each circuit including a normally turned on MOSFET and a feed through diode. The MOSFET and the diode are oppositely poled and connected in parallel between the potential sources and the associated electrode.

Abstract: A gas discharge device having at least one dielectric charge storage member the gaseous medium contacting surface of which consists of a low operating voltage material. The material is used in an amount sufficient to increase the operating life span of the device and/or stabilize the operating voltages of the device. An interface and addressing means is connected to a pair of opposed electrode arrays to energize a plurality of discharge cells, each cell including proximate electrode portions of at least one electrode in each opposed array, said dielectric charge storage member insulating at least one of said proximate electrode portions from said gas. A cell presents a capacitive impedance to a voltage pulse applied by the interface and addressing means to the electrode portions to generate a relatively slow rise time leading edge on the voltage pulse for improved addressing of the cell when the electrode arrays are serially addressed.

Abstract: Operating wave forms which are asymmetrical are applied to a gas discharge display and memory panel device to simplify the drive electronics, improve interfacing to logic controls and adapt to integrated circuitry. One bulk sustainer wave form is applied to one array of a pair of transversely oriented electrode arrays. Addressing wave forms for altering the discharge state of discharge sites between the arrays are superimposed on the bulk sustainer and thus referenced to the bulk sustainer voltage levels for electrodes of the one array. The other array has addressing wave forms which are referenced to a fixed voltage level, advantageously ground and are sequenced to function as a component of the composite sustainer wave form for the panel and discharge manipulating wave forms for selected discharge sites of the panel or the entire panel. A system affording the above operations is set forth together with addressing logic suitable for integrated circuit gating to the device electrodes.

Abstract: A gas discharge device having at least one dielectric charge storage member the gaseous medium contacting surface of which consists of a low operating voltage material. The material is used in an amount sufficient to increase the operating life span of the device and/or stabilize the operating voltages of the device. An interface and addressing means is connected to a pair of opposed electrode arrays to energize a plurality of discharge cells, each cell including proximate electrode portions of at least one electrode in each opposed array, said dielectric charge storage member insulating at least one of said proximate electrode portions from said gas. A write voltage pulse having a relatively fast rise time is superimposed on a sloped pedestal to generate a relatively slow rise time portion of said voltage pulse for improved addressing of a cell.

Abstract: A gas discharge device having at least one dielectric charge storage member the gaseous medium contacting surface of which consists of a low operating voltage material. The material is used in an amount sufficient to increase the operating life span of the device and/or stabilize the operating voltages of the device. An interface and addressing means is connected to a pair of opposed electrode arrays to energize a plurality of discharge cells, each cell including proximate electrode portions of at least one electrode in each opposed array, said dielectric charge storage member insulating at least one of said proximate electrode portions from said gas. A cell presents a capacitive impedance to a voltage pulse applied by the interface and addressing means to the electrode portions to generate a relatively slow rise time leading edge on said voltage pulse for improved addressing of said cell.

Abstract: A gas discharge display system utilizing matrix discharge logic utilizing bulk writing of selected block or matrix area on a display panel. Panels incorporated in the invention are constructed to operate by matrix discharge logic whereby each information display site in a panel is constituted by at least a pair of positionally related cell sides, each cell side being positionally related to the other of the cell sides such that when the related side is off or has been erased, it will be written or rewritten by influence of the positional relationship to the related side, these sites being supplied with operating potentials by circuit means provided for bulk writing information to a selected block of display sites in the panel.

Abstract: Multicelled gas discharge display/memory device addressing is enhanced by altering the sustainer voltage waveform during addressing to provide longer intervals for the transfer of addressed cells between an "on state" and an "off state" of discharge. Sustainer waveforms allow more time for "turn on" and "turn off" partial select signals to be effective by extending the sustainer waveform pedestals on which the partial selects are imposed. These sustainer alterations can be performed by extending the sustainer periods in which addressing is performed or by maintaining the sustainer periods and shortening those portions of the period which are not utilized for addressing as by employing only a "write" pedestal or only an "erase" pedestal.

Abstract: There is disclosed the conditioning of a gas discharge display/memory panel by applying a high voltage one cycle pulse to the non-utilized discharge cells of the panel. There is particularly disclosed a conditioning process for a multiple gas discharge display/memory panel having a plurality of discharge cells formed by a series of transversely positioned electrodes, the discharge cells being addressable in a series of matrices, each addressable matrix having a relative size of C by R discharge cells with a spacing between adjacent matrices of at least one column or one row of not-to-be addressed cells, and at least one high voltage cycle pulse being supplied to the not-to-be addressed cells of a matrix so as to condition the to-be addressed cells within the matrix.