Abstract: A machine for inspecting containers is disclosed which has a number of adjustable structures such as the focus, orientation and zoom of a camera and mirrors which are used to direct an image to the sensor of the camera. The computer defines a gage for each adjustment and sequentially activates the gages on the computer screen.

Abstract: A comparator is disclosed for examining, inspecting and/or calibrating component parts. The comparator includes a frame, a component supporting system releasably attached to the frame for supporting a component part to be inspected and/or calibrated, a video imaging system attached to the frame for generating a video image of the component part on a video display, a graphic line image generator for superimposing on a video display graphic images arranged to display and represent predetermined dimensional ranges related to the component part, whereby the component part may be compared to the predetermined images of the graphic images.

Abstract: A method is provided for detecting the color of objects such as bottles to be recycled so as to enable the bottles to be separated by color. The method which is particularly concerned with determining the color of an object (bottle) with a label attached thereto, begins with the storing of a reference image. Next, a determination is made of whether a bottle is present or absent. If a bottle is present, the image of the bottle is then separated into an intensity image representation of the bottle image, a saturation image representation of the bottle image, and a hue image representation of the bottle image. Then, the reference image is subtracted from the intensity image so that a resultant image is produced with the background contribution removed. Next, a logical "AND" operation is performed on the resultant image and the hue image to create a further image which has no background components. A histogram is then performed on the further image to determine the hue with the maximum number of occurrences.

Abstract: A calibration system for circuit inspection tools in which analog threshold levels are automatically set by digital signals. The inspection too includes an optical detector system that provides video signals to channels each containing an analog processor. In the analog processor an analog reference signal, an analog video inspection signal which may contain a defect indication and a digital threshold signal are employed. The digital threshold signal is converted into an analog threshold signal which is summed with the analog reference signal that has been inverted. The inverted, thresholded reference signal is then summed with the analog video signal. The summed analog video signal and thresholded reference signal is compared with a zero level. If the sum is greater than zero a defect is indicated.

Abstract: A method of displaying a defect appearing on an elongated object conveyed in one direction. The method comprises the steps of scanning the object in the width direction thereof by means of a sensor camera, and obtaining object image data corresponding to the object, processing the object image data, to detect a defect in the object, storing the object image data in an image memory in a scroll manner, stopping the scroll storing of the object image data in the image memory and storing the object image data output subsequently from the sensor camera in the other image memory in response to the detection of the defect, and retaining the object image data including the defect in the image memories as still image data, and displaying the still image data read out from the image memories on a monitor screen as a still image such that the defect is displayed at a predetermined position on the monitor screen.

Abstract: A focus detecting method includes the step of projecting the real image of an observation object including a plurality of object patterns onto an image pickup device through an optical system and producing image data from an output of the image pickup device, the step of calculating correlation values of the image data of each of the plurality of object patterns and the image data of a prestored reference pattern while varying the relative positional relation among the image pickup device, the optical system and the observation object in the direction of the optical axis of the optical system, and the step of judging a relative positional relation giving the maximum correlation value as an in-focus state. An apparatus is provided for carrying out the above-described focus detecting method.

Abstract: A product gauge is disclosed for use in the optical inspection of products. The product gauge can be produced from the image of a model of the product. The product gauge can also be electronically constructed on a video screen by a computer line-drawing program. The product gauge aids in the alignment and the processing of information by the optical inspecting means including aiding an operator in determining whether a product is acceptable. The product gauge can be used to quickly and accurately tailor a generalized product inspection apparatus to specific products and thus ease the change from inspecting one product to another product.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are disclosed for automatically inspecting two- or three-dimensional objects or subjects. A detector and the object are moved relative to each other. In one form, a detector, such as a camera or radiation receiver, moves around an object, which is supported to be rotatable such that the detector may receive electromagnetic energy signals from the object from a variety of angles. The energy may be directed as a beam at and reflected from the object, as for visible light, or passed through the object, as for x-ray radiation. Alternatively, the detector passively receives energy from the object, as in an infrared detector. The detector generates analog image signals resulting from the detected radiation, and an electronic computer process and analyzes the analog signals and generates digital codes, which may be stored or employed to control a display.

Abstract: A process for examining the appearance of an examination object has the steps of taking an image of the object to obtain image data and processing the image data by an image processing apparatus. A mask is formed to determine, in the image data to be processed, a non-examination region of various configurations and, when the position of the examination object is deviated from the correct position, the position of the mask also is shifted correspondingly to enable appearance examination in varying conditions. To this end, a brightness threshold value is set in the input multi-value image data so as to define the non-examination region to be excluded from said examination region, thereby forming said mask, and the pixels having gradation levels not higher or lower than the threshold value are excluded from the examination region.