Abstract: An apparatus and method for an inspection apparatus for inspecting a component. The inspection apparatus including a robotic arm. A micro-XRF instrument having an instrument head coupled to the robotic arm. A seat supporting the component within a scanning area during inspection; and a computer in communication with the robotic arm and the micro-XRF instrument.

Abstract: A method of inspecting a component includes storing at least one inspection image file in a memory and receiving a search request associated with the at least one inspection image file. The method also includes accessing a database including a plurality of image files, comparing the hash code of the at least one inspection image file to the hash code of each image file of the plurality of image files, and identifying a first subset of image files based on the hash code comparison. The method also includes comparing the feature data of the at least one inspection image file to the feature data of each image file of the first subset of image files and classifying a second subset of image files as relevant based on the feature data comparison. The method further includes generating search results based on the second subset of image files.

Abstract: A method of inspecting a component includes storing at least one inspection image file in a memory and receiving a search request associated with the at least one inspection image file. The method also includes accessing a database including a plurality of image files, comparing the hash code of the at least one inspection image file to the hash code of each image file of the plurality of image files, and identifying a first subset of image files based on the hash code comparison. The method also includes comparing the feature data of the at least one inspection image file to the feature data of each image file of the first subset of image files and classifying a second subset of image files as relevant based on the feature data comparison. The method further includes generating search results based on the second subset of image files.

Abstract: A method of autofocusing includes capturing first, second and third images of a sample, at respective first, second and third sample distances and respective first, second and third lateral positions determined with respect to an objective; determining a quantitative characteristic for the first, second and third images; determining a primary sample distance based upon at least the quantitative characteristics for the first, second, and third images; and capturing a primary image of the sample at the primary sample distance and at a primary lateral position that is offset from the first, second and third lateral positions.

Abstract: An imaging detection system includes at least one location detection device configured to determine coordinates of a target, at least one detector configured to detect events from a source associated with the target, and a processor coupled in communication with the at least one location detection device and the at least one detector. The processor is configured to receive the coordinates from the at least one location detection device and the events from the at least one detector, translate the events using the coordinates acquired from the at least one location detection device to compensate for a relative motion between the source and the at least one detector, and output a processed data set having the events translated based on the coordinates.

Abstract: A method and system is described for optimizing a digital filter defined by coefficients that are multiplied by input data and accumulated to generate output data. A factorization set of candidate factors is compiled based on the coefficients. For each of the candidate factors, an optimized solution is generated. To generate the optimized solution, the candidate factor is applied to the coefficients and a working set of terms is compiled. Terms in the working set are converted to power-of-two representations and grouped with other terms that have a common partial sum, or multiple of the partial sum, within their respective power-of-two representations. A reduction set is compiled from the grouped terms and an order of application is selected based on optimization objectives. The reduction set is then applied to the working set of terms to generate the optimized solution, which is ranked and stored based on the optimization objectives.

Abstract: A method, system and apparatus for processing a radiographic image of a scanned object is disclosed. A pixel offset correction is performed in integer format on the radiographic image using saturation arithmetic to produce an image in integer format with any negative corrected values clipped to a value of zero. The resulting pixels are converted to floating point format and the converted pixels are multiplied by a gain factor. Optionally the resulting pixels are recursively averaged with previous results. The resulting pixels are converted to integer format and the converted pixel values are clamped to a maximum value using saturation arithmetic. Non-functional pixel correction is performed in integer format and the resulting pixel values are clamped to a maximum value using saturation arithmetic. An optional processing path replaces the recursive average by a linear average. The resulting pixel values are optionally filtered to enhance features of interest.

Abstract: A system for monitoring the integrity of a container having at least one door. The system includes a data interpretation device disposed inside the container. The system further includes a radar sensor interoperably connected to the data interpretation device for monitoring internal conditions of the container and for providing radar data to the data interpretation device, a motion-detection sensor for monitoring motion inside the container, and an antenna interoperably connected to the data interpretation device for communicating information relative to the internal conditions of the container to a location outside the container.

Abstract: A method and program product for real-time correction of non-functioning pixels in digital radiography, where the method comprises: receiving a list of non-functioning pixels; determining which neighboring functioning pixels are needed to correct the non-functioning pixels; organizing those neighboring functioning pixels and corresponding non-functioning pixels into a plurality of groups by a number of pixels used to perform correction; and performing correction of data from non-functioning pixels within one of the plurality of groups and subsequently performing correction of data from non-functioning pixels within another one of the plurality of groups.

Abstract: A method of autofocusing includes capturing first, second and third images of a sample, at respective first, second and third sample distances and respective first, second and third lateral positions determined with respect to an objective; determining a quantitative characteristic for the first, second and third images; determining a primary sample distance based upon at least the quantitative characteristics for the first, second, and third images; and capturing a primary image of the sample at the primary sample distance and at a primary lateral position that is offset from the first, second and third lateral positions.

Abstract: A method and system are provided for processing an acquired image signal in parallel to generate a reconstructed image signal. In one embodiment, a processing component is provided comprising one or more field-programmable gate arrays configured as co-processors. Other aspects of the present technique provide a pipelined processor configured to forward- and back-project image data using the same data path and arithmetic units.

Abstract: An energy discrimination radiography system includes at least one radiation source configured to alternately irradiate a component with radiation characterized by at least two energy spectra, where the component has a number of constituents. At least one radiation detector is configured to receive radiation passing through the component and a computer is operationally coupled to the detector. The computer is configured to receive data corresponding to each of the energy spectra for a scan of the component, process the data to generate a multi-energy data set, and decompose the multi-energy data set to generate material characterization images in substantially real time. A method for inspecting the component includes irradiating the component, receiving a data stream of energy discriminated data, processing the energy discriminated data, to generate a multi-energy data set, and decomposing the multi-energy data set, to generate material characterization images in substantially real time.

Abstract: A method and system of processing raw images for display. First, a processor corrects the raw images with respect to an offset image to generate an offset corrected image. Next, a level of the offset corrected image is adjusted with respect to a gain adjust by employing saturation arithmetic to clip the level of the offset corrected image to generate a gain corrected image. Next, a window of the gain corrected image is adjusted with respect to a reference window to generate an output image. Next, the output image is packed into a register for display.

Abstract: An imaging system includes a programmable detector framing node controlling generation of radiation and controlling radioscopic image detection. Radioscopic image data is acquired and communicated independently of a host computer operating system. The detector framing node controls events in real time according to an event instruction sequence and communicates received radioscopic image data to host memory through a computer communication bus. Image data is received from a selected flat panel detector of a plurality of different flat panel detectors. The image data is selectively reordered according to parameters of the selected flat panel detector before communication to host memory.

Abstract: A detector framing node controls generation of radiation and radioscopic image detection Radioscopic image data is acquired and communicated independently of a host computer operating system. The detector framing node controls events in real time according to an event instruction sequence and receives the image data by way of an image detection interface into a memory unit. The image data is output from the memory unit to host memory of the host computer through a computer communication interface and under the control of a control unit. The detector framing node selects a flat panel detector from a plurality of different flat panel detectors and the image data is selectively reordered according to parameters of the selected flat panel detector before communication to host memory.

Abstract: In one embodiment of the present invention, an apparatus for detecting a hot rail car surface comprises: an infrared sensor for acquiring an infrared signal from a rail car surface of a rail car and transducing the infrared signal into an electrical signal; a rank filter for filtering the electrical signal to produce a filtered array; a first peak detector for detecting a maximum filtered value of the filtered array; and a first comparator for comparing the maximum filtered value to a detection threshold to produce a filtered alarm signal.

Abstract: An imaging system includes a programmable detector framing node controlling generation of radiation and controlling radioscopic image detection. Radioscopic image data is acquired by the detector framing node and communicated to a host memory of a host computer independently of a host computer operating system. Image data is received from a flat panel detector and is selectively reordered according to parameters of the selected flat panel detector before communication to the host memory. The detector framing node includes an image detection interface to receive the image data and a control unit to select a predetermined portion of the image data for storage into a detector memory unit before communication to the host memory.

Abstract: A method and program product for real-time correction of non-functioning pixels in digital radiography, where the method comprises: receiving a list of non-functioning pixels; determining which neighboring functioning pixels are needed to correct the non-functioning pixels; organizing those neighboring functioning pixels and corresponding non-functioning pixels into a plurality of groups by a number of pixels used to perform correction; and performing correction of data from non-functioning pixels within one of the plurality of groups and subsequently performing correction of data from non-functioning pixels within another one of the plurality of groups.

Abstract: An imaging system shares control of host memory between a detector framing node and a host processor. The detector framing node is programmable to control generation and reception of image data. Image data is acquired and communicated to host memory independently from control by a host operating system. The detector framing node controls events according to an event instruction sequence and communicates received image data to the host memory through a computer communication bus. Image data is received by the detector framing node from a flat panel detector. Host memory has a first section managed by the host operating system and a second section not managed by the host operating system. Image data is communicated from the detector framing node into the second section of host memory. Event instruction sequences are communicated from the first section of host memory to the detector framing node to control the generation and reception of image data.

Abstract: In one embodiment of the present invention, an apparatus for detecting a hot rail car surface comprises: an infrared sensor for acquiring an infrared signal from a rail car surface of a rail car and transducing the infrared signal into an electrical signal; a rank filter for filtering the electrical signal to produce a filtered array; a first peak detector for detecting a maximum filtered value of the filtered array; and a first comparator for comparing the maximum filtered value to a detection threshold to produce a filtered alarm signal.