Abstract: A system and method for imaging an interior of a substantially cylindrical object are disclosed. In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, a substantially cylindrical illuminator is positioned above an opening of a substantially cylindrical object to be imaged (e.g., a beverage can) in order to illuminate at least a portion of the interior surface of the object. A truncated conical mirror is positioned within an interior space of the illuminator to reflect an image of at least a portion of the interior surface of the object. A single camera is positioned above the illuminator and mirror to capture a single image of at least the interior surface of the object via light reflected directly from at least a portion of the interior surface of the object to the camera and from the mirror to the camera. The entire interior surface of the object is captured in the single image which may be analyzed for defects.

Abstract: System and method for automatically measuring and monitoring the quality of acoustic data is disclosed. The system also provides suggestions for corrective actions to the system or user. The method monitors the quality of data and provides feedback to the system or user for corrective actions. The quality of data includes a combination of either a signal clipping detector, a microphone ON/OFF detector, an air puff detector, and a low signal-to-noise ratio detector.

Abstract: A method and system to monitor randomly oriented objects on a process line are disclosed. A color camera is used initially to collect a set of reference images of at least one reference object. The reference images represent various spatial orientations of the reference object. The reference object serves as the standard for the process. The reference images are stored in a computer-based platform. The color camera is then used to capture images of monitored objects as the monitored objects pass by the color camera on a process line. The monitored objects may have a random spatial orientation with respect to the color camera as the monitored objects pass through the field-of-view of the color camera. The captured images of the monitored objects are processed by the computer-based platform and compared to the reference images in order to determine if certain characteristic parameters of the monitored objects have deviated from those same characteristic parameters of the reference object.

Abstract: A method and system to monitor randomly oriented objects on a process line are disclosed. A color camera is used initially to collect a set of training images from a set of training objects on a process line. The training images represent various random spatial orientations of the training objects with respect to the color camera. The training objects serve as the standard for the process. The training images are stored in a computer-based platform. The color camera is then used to capture images of monitored objects as the monitored objects pass by the color camera on the process line. The monitored objects have a random spatial orientation with respect to the color camera as the monitored objects pass through the field-of-view of the color camera.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to inspection of sealing surfaces of containers for defects which may prevent proper sealing of the container. The present invention provides an inspection apparatus, system, and method for dark-field machine vision inspection of containers, such as glass containers or other containers having a sealing surface. The illumination system provides a dual directional helical illumination technique, which enhances the ability to distinguish any defects in the sealing surface area. The illumination system may also provide the ability to adjust the diameter of a circular illumination pattern, so as to allow adjustability and optimization of the illumination characteristics for differing container configurations.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to inspection of sealing surfaces of containers for defects which may prevent proper sealing of the container. The present invention provides an inspection apparatus, system, and method for dark-field machine vision inspection of containers, such as glass containers or other containers having a sealing surface. The illumination system provides a dual directional helical illumination technique, which enhances the ability to distinguish any defects in the sealing surface area. The illumination system may also provide the ability to adjust the diameter of a circular illumination pattern, so as to allow adjustability and optimization of the illumination characteristics for differing container configurations.

Abstract: An imaging device coupled to a processor generates a number of image signals corresponding to a multicolor pattern of an item in motion. Each of a number of regions of the pattern is correlated to one of a number of reference colors to generate a segmented image of the pattern. The processor models the multicolor pattern by deriving a number of test values from the segmented image representation. Each test value is representative of a corresponding one of the regions and is determined as a function of region size independent of orientation of the multicolor pattern. The test values are compared to reference data to detect a variation of the item. The reference colors may be determined from color pairs with each pair having a first member from a first set of sample colors and a second member from a second set of sample colors.

Abstract: An apparatus and method is disclosed for facilitating calibration of a dual energy digital radiography system having a focused multi-element detector assembly. The apparatus includes two sets of calibration elements, each set made of a different basis material. Each calibration element defines a segment of an annulus and is positionable between the system source and detector such that the center defined by the annulus is substantially coincident with the focal spot of the source. Within individual sets, the thicknesses of the respective member elements differ one from another in accordance with a binary progression. Each of the calibration elements is positioned and sized such that it intercepts and attenuates all radiation which ultimately falls upon the detector.

Abstract: An energy discriminating apparatus and method is disclosed for use in connection with digital radiography and fluoroscopy. In use of the detection system and method an X-ray source is actuated to direct X-rays through a patient's body, the X-rays including both higher and lower energy radiation. A first detector element, including a plurality of segments each segment including a phosphor coating layer and a sensor, is positioned opposite the source to receive and respond predominantly to X-rays in a lower energy range, the remaining X-rays, being generally of higher energy, passing through the first detector element. A second detector element, also including a plurality of segments, each segment including a phosphor coating layer and a sensor, is positioned to receive and respond to the higher energy radiation passing through the first element.

Abstract: An artifact inducing image acquisition mapping system and technique is described for use in connection with digital imaging. A gray scale mapping technique is employed to indicate to an operator the brightness function of each pixel of an image. Where the brightness function is less than 95% of saturation, the image is displayed normally. Where the brightness function is at least equal to the saturation full scale value, that portion of the image is displayed in total black. Where the brightness function is between 95% and 100% of saturation full scale value, the image portion is displayed as mixed dark and light, i.e., a speckled region. An alternate embodiment simply displays saturated regions to total black.

Abstract: A digital scan projection radiography system is disclosed which is particularly adapted for the rigors of portable deployment. The system scans by gravity. A cam mechanism is employed which raises the pivot of a pivotally suspended scanner assembly including source, detector and other components to render gravitational potential energy of the scanner assembly approximately linear with respect to angular scanning displacement. This feature enables limiting scanning angular velocity to an approximately constant value with the aid of only a friction brake. The feature also causes the detector scanning path to more closely approximate a linear path than an arcuate path which would result from simple pivotal pendulum scanning.

Abstract: A fan beam of radiation (12) is projected on first and second detector arrays (18, 20). The detector arrays and fan beam are swept across a phantom (D). Fine wires (82) in the phantom each cast shadows over fractions of a plurality of the detectors during the sweep. Phantom images (44, 46) are generated from the first and second detector arrays with corresponding pixels of each image corresponding to the same path between a radiation source (10) and corresponding detectors in the arrays. A linear interpolation (50) interpolates the pixels of one of the images to shift their effective spatial position. A transform means (52) transforms the linear interpolated and second phantom image into at least one composite image (54). The linear interpolation is iteratively adjusted (C) to minimize phase change artifacts in corresponding pixels of the composite image. After the appropriate interpolation for each detector or group of detectors has been determined, the appropriate linear interpolations are stored (72).

Abstract: A radiation imaging system is disclosed. A radiation source directs a thin spread beam of radiation toward a detector assembly which is aligned with the radiation beam. The detector assembly includes a printed circuit board having a bowed configuration and bearing board circuitry. An array of photodiode detector elements are attached to the board. The detector includes a front and a rear array of elements arranged one behind the other. The circuit board defines a slot between the front and rear arrays in which a radiation filter can be removably and slidably interposed. The detector elements are buried or recessed in outer surfaces of the circuit board to a depth sufficient to position contact fingers of the elements substantially flush with the unrecessed surface of the board. Radiation sensitive phosphor material is removably positioned over each of the respective front and rear detector element arrays.

Abstract: A system and method is disclosed for utilizing image pixel value information generated by a digital radiographic system for quantifying the amount of calcium in a particular object of interest within a subject, wherein the subject also contains additional quantities of calcium located at positions such that the additional calcium interfers with the acquisition of data describing the object of interest. A cursor configured as a parallelogram is described and pixel values are summed along lines parallel to the sides of the parallelogram. A profile is generated from these summations. A portion of the profile corresponding to pixel lines not intersecting the object of interest is used to estimate the contribution of background and other calcium to the profile as a whole, and this estimated value is subtracted from the total profile. Integration of the remainder of the profile provides a scalar value corresponding to the amount of calcium in the object of interest.

Abstract: A digital radiographic system and method is disclosed having improved detector resolution. The system includes an X-ray source and a spaced detector assembly having several staggered columns of uniform square detector elements. The detector elements are thus arranged in interspersed rows with the center-to-center spacing between successive members of each row being about twice the lateral dimension of each square element. In response to incident X-radiation, each detector element produces an electrical charge signal indicative of the radiation. Power means actuates the source to propagate X-ray energy in a beam along a path toward the detector assembly, in which path a subject may be interposed for examination. Mechanism is provided for scanning the detector assembly, synchronously and in alignment with the X-ray beam, relative to a subject. The relative scanning motion is perpendicular to the columns of detector elements.

Abstract: A radiographic scanner (A) generates a high energy image representation which is stored in a high energy image matrix (V) and a low energy image representation which is stored in a low energy image memory (U). A pair of filter functions selecting circuits (C) select a first or soft tissue specific filter function and second or bone specific filter function, respectively. The soft tissue filter function selecting circuit selects and adjusts the soft tissue filter function in accordance with the pixel value of the low energy image representation for each corresponding pair of pixel values. Convolvers (44, 46) convolve pixel values from the high and low energy image representations with the selected and adjusted filter functions. A soft tissue transform function (48) transforms the filtered high and low energy image representations into a soft tissue or other material specific image representation (42).

Abstract: A method and apparatus for calibrating the detector gain of a dual energy digital radiography system is provided. A basis material calibration object is scanned to create low and high energy pixel data. A regression is performed on the pixel data to derive at least one high energy calibration vector and at least one low energy calibration vector. The calibration vectors are transformed into high and low energy gain functions represented by a Taylor series expansion. An examination object is scanned to create low and high energy image data. The image data is combined with the gain function to create corrected low and high energy image data.

Abstract: A digital radiography system is disclosed having a multi-element curved detector assembly. The system includes an X-ray tube having a focal spot from which its X-ray energy primarily emanates, and which is spaced from the detector assembly to define a subject examination space. The detector assembly includes a number of individual detector elements each having a radiation sensitive face, the element faces collectively defining a concave curved surface oriented toward the focal spot. The assembly of elements can embody forms including a single curved line of elements, multiple similarly curved lines defining collectively a portion of a cylinder, or a three-dimensional curved array defining a portion of a sphere. Multiple layer stacked arrays can also be used. Each element responds to incident X-rays to produce an electrical charge signal indicative of the radiation.