Abstract: An imaging device for sequentially imaging a portion of a continuously moving web to provide a digital data stream which is then analyzed by a single computer without the used of dedicated signal processing hardware. Techniques for operating on the data stream from an imaging device are disclosed, particularly including operations based on blob information stored in terms of starting position and segment run lengths in a crossweb direction. These allow definitions of blobs to be accumulated in a line-by-line fashion, and allow classes of defects commonly found in continuous web manufacturing to be identified with far less computing power than was previously required. In particular, in the challenging application of inspecting flexible circuits, data rates in excess of 10 mega-pixels/second are achieved and successfully processed.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for measuring the thickness of a coating on a coated surface. The method uses a solid state array of light-sensitive elements to measure light emitted from a fluorescing coating composition. The intensity of the emitted light corresponds to the thickness of the coating composition, and provides a fast and accurate measure of coating thickness.

Abstract: A water in oil emulsion explosive composition containing inorganic nitrate and the process for its preparation are disclosed. The composition is an explosive mixture which consists of an aqueous inorganic oxidizer salt solution as disperse phase, residual oil and additives as continuous phase, emulsion foamer as occluded bubble producing material, and span-80 as emulsifier. By adjusting the pH of disperse phase and emulsion foamer, the foaming process at elevated temperature is achieved. it is an industrial explosive and has lower production cost, excellent stability, good moisture resistance and low toxicity, and has a storage life longer than 10 months.