Abstract: An image data management method of managing image data includes an image capturing step of capturing an image of an object by an image capturing portion, a storage priority obtaining step of obtaining a storage priority of the image data, an imparting step of associating the image data obtained by the image capturing portion with the storage priority obtained for the image data and storing the image data and the storage priority in a storage device, and an updating step of, in a case where the object whose image is captured by the image capturing portion is in a specific state, updating, on a basis of detection of the specific state, a storage priority associated with image data including image data stored in the storage device before image data in which the object is determined as being in the specific state is stored.

Abstract: An apparatus for inspecting containers includes a rotation device which is adapted to rotate the container about the axis of symmetry; a camera sensitive to said predetermined electromagnetic radiation and with the container located in the field of view thereof; a processing unit to control the rotation device to move the container at a first angular speed constant for a first time period; acquiring at least a first and a second series of images of a portion of the container in a rotation thereof through 360°; to identify defective areas having at least one characteristic different from the characteristics of adjacent areas, generating first and second maps of the defective areas; to compare the position of the defective areas of the maps; to establish that first impurities are present in the container or in the liquid contained in the container.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method includes receiving one or more querying images associated with a container of a pharmaceutical product, each of the one or more querying images being based on a particular angle of the container of the pharmaceutical product, calculating one or more confidence scores associated with one or more defect indications, respectively for the container of the pharmaceutical product, by processing the one or more querying images using a target machine-learning model, and determining a defect indication for the container of the pharmaceutical product from the one or more defect indications based on a comparison between the one or more confidence scores and one or more predefined threshold scores, respectively.

Abstract: A device for acquiring two-dimensional images of a three-dimensional object including a housing having a receptacle for receiving the object. The receptacle has a floor and an interior sidewall. The sidewall has at least one sight window and a plurality of lights for illuminating the object. A rotatable turntable is positioned on the floor of the receptacle, and the object is positioned on the turntable. At least one camera having an iris is located within the housing and positioned so that the iris can obtain images of the object through the sight window, allowing the camera to obtain still images of the object as the object is rotated on the turntable. There is also provided methods for stitching the still images of the three-dimensional object into a two-dimensional image to facilitate optical character recognition and further data processing.

Abstract: An illumination device for providing near isotropic illumination, and particularly an illumination system for detecting the defect in a transparent substrate and a detection system including the same are presented. An illumination system includes: an illumination system for detecting the defect in a transparent substrate, including light source receptacle in bar shape; first spot light sources, each emitting a respective first light, the respective first lights being substantially parallel to each other and the first spot light sources being arranged to a first line of spot light sources along the longitudinal direction of the receptacle; and second spot light sources, each emitting a respective second light, the respective second lights being substantially parallel to each other and the second spot light sources being arranged to a second line of spot light sources along the longitudinal direction of the receptacle.

Abstract: An inspection of a closed carton for acceptable content fill may be provided by a transmitting unit and a receiving unit measuring intensity values of electromagnetic waves directed at the carton. A comparison of a reference intensity value to a measured intensity value may indicate whether the closed carton is filled correctly identifying missing contents such as the main product or a missing leaflet that may contain product instructions.

Abstract: In an exemplary implementation of this invention, light from a scattering scene passes through a spatial light attenuation pattern and strikes a sensor plane of a camera. Based on said camera's measurements of the received light, a processing unit calculates angular samples of the received light. Light that strikes the sensor plane at certain angles comprises both scattered and directly transmitted components; whereas light that strikes at other angles comprises solely scattered light. A processing unit calculates a polynomial model for the intensity of scattered-only light that falls at the latter angles, and further estimates the direct-only component of the light that falls at the former angles. Further, a processing unit may use the estimated direct component to calculate a reconstructed 3D shape, such as a 3D shape of a finger vein pattern, using an algebraic reconstruction technique.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for monitoring the filling of a capsule with a medicament, a corresponding filing method and the corresponding devices. According to the monitoring method, after at least part of the capsule is filled with a given filling mass of given closed shape of medicament, in a first step, at least the filling mass located in the part of the capsule after filling is recorded with a digital image, in a second step, the shape of the filling mass located in the part of the capsule is determined from the digital image and, in a third step, the shape analysed to give an analysis of the filling in comparison with given shapes.

Abstract: An improved cassette for detecting and quantifying particles in a liquid is provided. A sample volume of a liquid is held by a housing with an inlet and an outlet for the liquid. Light is emitted across the sample volume and reflected creating a doubled length of the optical path in the sample volume. The probability of detecting particles is increased and the measurement is improved. The housing reduces noise due to air bubbles and improves sensitivity of detection of particles in the liquid sample.

Abstract: Machine vision is used to identify a discontinuity in the boundary of an object in an image. An image of one or more objects is captured. One or more skeletons of the one or more objects are calculated. One or more boundaries of the one or more objects are calculated. A plurality of radial lines is extended from a spine point of a skeleton to the one or more boundaries. Each radial line intersects a boundary at a radial endpoint producing a plurality of radial endpoints. For each radial endpoint an expected radial endpoint is calculated based on two or more neighboring radial endpoints. If the difference between the radial endpoint and its expected radial endpoint exceeds a threshold, a radial line including the radial endpoint is identified as a discontinuity in a boundary of an object.

Abstract: Method and device for determining a foam density of foam in beverage containers utilizing the Tyndall effect, and having a focused light bundle emitted into the foam by means of a light source, where the light bundle is refracted in the foam and a scattered ray becomes visible on a surface of the foam. Via a measurement of the contour of such a light spot, conclusions on the foam density can be drawn. For this, one or several lasers can be integrated into existing filling level measuring means which are coupled to the already existing measuring means.

Abstract: A photomask inspection method that identifies a foreign particle such as dirt on a photomask with high sensitivity by suppressing erroneous identification due to an influence of noise is provided. The photomask inspection method includes acquiring image data of a photomask having regions with different layer structures on a surface thereof, creating inverted image data by subtracting the image data from pixel value data of the regions, creating offset inverted image data by raising pixel values of the inverted image data by a fixed amount, creating normalized correlation image data by computing a normalized correlation of the offset inverted image data and an offset Gaussian distribution-type kernel, and identifying foreign particles by comparing the normalized correlation image data and a predetermined threshold.

Abstract: A method of producing an image of an object residing inside a transparent container of a first color includes: illuminating the container and the object with light of a second color, the second color being substantially the inverse of the first color; and producing an image of the object through the container. An image produced by this method can exhibit substantially the same color as the object itself, even when the image is taken through a colored transparent wall.

Abstract: A method of producing an image of an object residing inside a transparent container of a first color includes: illuminating the container and the object with light of a second color, the second color being substantially the inverse of the first color; and producing an image of the object through the container. An image produced by this method can exhibit substantially the same color as the object itself, even when the image is taken through a colored transparent wall.

Abstract: Method and device for determining a foam density of foam in beverage containers utilizing the Tyndall effect, and having a focused light bundle emitted into the foam by means of a light source, where the light bundle is refracted in the foam and a scattered ray becomes visible on a surface of the foam. Via a measurement of the contour of such a light spot, conclusions on the foam density can be drawn. For this, one or several lasers can be integrated into existing filling level measuring means which are coupled to the already existing measuring means.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for rapidly distinguishing positive blood cultures from negative bloodcultures in sealable containers, and for determining the combination of blood volume and hematocrit in a sealable container. The apparatus comprises an optical source for illuminating the culture with a light beam under an oblique angle to generate an asymmetric spatial distribution of backscattered light, which is imaged onto an imaging detector connected to a data analyzer.

Abstract: A device and a method for detection of characteristic features of a medium that is wholly or partly transparent, wherein said medium is placeable in an observation area in a light path extending between a light source and a light detector, wherein said medium is illuminated by the light source in the observation area, wherein at least one light-directing optical element is arranged in connection with the observation area. Light transmitted through said medium, which is deflected by said medium when it is in said area and thus causes a change of light direction in said area, is detected. Characteristics of said medium are determined by spectrometry of the received light-deflected light, and a wavelength-sensitive element is used at a position in the light path, either at or as a part of the light source or the light detector.

Abstract: An apparatus for detecting blisters in a container wall includes a light source for directing light energy onto a container wall in such a way that portions of the light energy are reflected from surfaces of the container wall, including surfaces of blisters in the container wall. A light sensor is disposed to receive light energy reflected from the container wall, and an information processor is coupled to the sensor to detect a blister in the container wall as a bright image against a darker background. Light energy reflected from the inner and outer surfaces of the container wall preferably establish the darker background, and light energy reflected from surfaces of blisters within the container wall establish the bright image.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for measuring the particle diameter of foam on a malt alcoholic drink, which can detennine the quality of the foam of the malt alcoholic drink objectively, are provided. The apparatus for measuring the particle diameter of foam on a malt alcoholic drink according to the present invention includes a laser light source for irradiating a linear laser beam onto the surface of a foam layer created on a malt alcoholic drink, an imaging device for imaging a laser line reflected on the surface of the foam layer to obtain an image of the laser line, and a calculating device for obtaining edge information of the laser line from the image of the laser line to calculate the particle diameter of foam in the foam layer based on the edge information.

Abstract: The invention provides a device to inspect an illumination optical device and a method to inspect an illumination optical device that make it possible to efficiently inspect illumination optical devices and to control manufacturing cost. A lens array inspecting device is provided with a light source device to emit a parallel luminous flux, lens array holders to retain lens arrays, which are test objects that split the parallel luminous flux into a plurality of partial luminous fluxes, and a ground glass on which the optical images of the luminous fluxes emitted through the lens arrays are projected. On the ground glass, a parting frame appropriate to a design illumination region is formed. Therefore, whether the lens arrays are defective or non-defective can be determined by checking whether the optical images projected onto the ground glass include the area of the parting frame.

Abstract: Device for checking the fill level of moving transparent containers comprising at least one light sensitive sensor unit, a light source directed to the sensor unit, and an evaluation unit for sensor signals generated by the sensor unit, whereas the sensor unit generates sensor signals depending on the position of a light beam on the sensor unit, and the evaluation unit determines from the temporal sequence of the sensor signals, whether the light beam was deflected by a container filled with a product.

Abstract: This device provides for measuring the particulate content in a fluid storage tank. A sample of fluid is taken from a fluid storage tank; and compared to a field visual reference chart. Using this chart results in identifying tanks containing a maximum or average particulate allowable.

Abstract: A method and a device of inspection of the transparent bottom of a bottle or similar item by using an optical system which shows the bottom of the bottle, for recording by a camera, in front of a surface which is illuminated by an illumination device, and the surface being located at a distance from the bottom of the bottle, whereby foreign bodies in the bottle can be detected. The illuminated surface can be the liquid level surface in the bottle, the bottom of foam in the bottle, or the bottom of the bottle closure member. The surface in the bottle can be illuminated from below or above the bottle.

Abstract: The present invention is a method and an apparatus for imaging a liquid-filling container in which a light emitting unit is provided for emitting and irradiating light onto the container and a light receiving unit is provided for receiving the light transmitted through the container. The object of the present invention is to provide such a method and an apparatus for imaging a liquid-filling container. This method and apparatus assures reliable detection of the surface of liquid filled in a container or of foreign substance mixed in the liquid or present in the container or the container material not only when the container is transparent, but also when the container is a colored container of a dark color such as black, dark green or dark brown or the container has a frosted surface of when the liquid filled in the container has a dark color.

Abstract: An inspection system completes two inspections with a single camera. In one inspection polarized light illuminates the side wall of a bottle, passes through a pair of electrode surfaces on either side of a ferroelectric crystal which do not change the polarity and passes through a polarizer to image on the camera. In a second inspection the polarized light is rotated 90° by the same structure so that only light rotated as a result of stress in the bottle passes through the polarizer and images on the camera as a defect.

Abstract: A method for measuring the wall thickness of plastic containers (16) during a container manufacturing process includes providing a plastic container (16), the plastic container (16) having a longitudinal axis and at least two side walls spaced radially from the longitudinal axis. The side walls are formed of a material that absorbs light energy in a predetermined molecular absorption band. Light energy is then directed from a source unit (32) through the at least two side walls of the plastic container (16) in a plane transverse to the longitudinal axis of the plastic container (16). A portion of the light energy that passes through the sidewalls of the container (16) is sensed by a sensor (34), and a signal representing a thickness of the sidewalls of the plastic container is generated from the sensed portion of the energy by a computer (56).

Abstract: In an inspection device for inspecting for possible foreign matters contaminating a liquid filled transparent container, a red color illumination unit 23A is disposed behind a glass container 22 filled with liquid and a pair of blue color illumination units 23B and 23C are disposed so as to sandwich the red color illumination unit 23A. Both the red color and blue color illumination units 23A, 23B and 23C are disposed so that the red color light transmits through the glass container 22 and the blue color light reflected by a possible foreign matter in the liquid merges with the red color transmission light. Both the transmission light and the reflection light are separated by a color separation mirror 4 and are imaged by CCD cameras 5 and 6 so as to detect both black color series and white color series foreign matters can be detected at the same time.

Abstract: A system for determining the presence and optionally the position of an ophthalmic product such as a contact lens in a container is provided.

Abstract: A continuous inspection apparatus comprising a central axis placed in a vertical direction, the central axis penetrating a disc-like conveying table which conveys a subject to be inspected, a driving means for driving the conveying table, and a pair of inspection instruments for inspecting the subject to be inspected, one of the inspection instruments being placed at an inside of a circle where a plurality of the subjects are aligned in a circle and another one of the inspection instruments being placed at an outside of the circle, wherein an opening is provided at a place between the central axis and an inner peripheral portion of the conveying table, and a cable extending from one of the inspection instruments is run downward through the opening.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for optically inspecting containers of liquid solutions. The apparatus includes a fixture for gripping the container and a conveyor or indexable table for moving the fixtured container into alignment with a camera or other optical inspection device. The apparatus further includes a vibrator at the inspection station. The vibrator causes the container of the liquid solution to vibrate sufficiently for extraneous material in the solution to move into a position that permits accurate visual inspection.

Abstract: A method of inspecting a wrap-fitted state of a cap that is wrap-fitted to the neck of a bottle by detecting a positional relationship between a bottle mark and a cap mark, wherein an optical lens is arranged at a higher position on the vertical center axis of the bottle to which the cap is wrap-fitted, a single camera is arranged at a higher position on the optical axis of the optical lens to image the bottle mark and the cap mark through the optical lens, an illumination device is arranged for illuminating the bottle mark and the cap mark, the bottle mark and the cap mark are simultaneously shot by the camera, and the obtained image is sent to an image processor to detect a positional relationship between the bottle mark and the cap mark.

Abstract: A system for determining the presence and optionally the position of an ophthalmic product such as a contact lens in a container is provided.

Abstract: A biopsy collection system for use during colonoscopies, esophagogastroduodenoscopy, prostate and liver procedures. The system provides a device and method which enable safe and secure handling of transparent specimen containers during a biopsy collection procedure and which permit the ready visualization of minuscule tissue samples within a minimum of time during such a procedure. The device includes structure for safely securing transparent specimen containers in a hands-free condition on the device and structure for selectively illuminating one or more of the specimen containers by a light source directing light upwardly through the specimen container so that a person looking from a position above the specimen container can readily visualize the presence and quality of a minuscule tissue sample.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for detecting a defect in a barrel portion of a bottle. The defect in the barrel portion of the bottle includes a thin blister and a longitudinal streak. The defect in the bottle barrel is detected by imaging the bottle barrel with a CCD camera based on light which has passed through a light shield plate having a plurality of oblique slits and the bottle barrel, and processing the image of the bottle barrel generated by the CCD camera to determine whether or not the defect is present.

Abstract: The height-of-fill of a container comprising a body having an optically detectable feature, and contents filling the body up to a fill level, at least a measuring portion of the container extending from the optically detectable feature to the fill level being capable of transmitting electromagnetic radiation, is determined by illuminating at least the measuring portion of the container with electromagnetic radiation; forming an image of part of this measuring portion of the container; and analyzing the image by data processing means to identify: (a) a first region having a first intensity that varies in accordance with the properties of the optically detectable feature; and (b) a second region having a second intensity that varies in accordance with the optical properties of the contents below the fill level, and determining the distance between a point within the first region and the upper edge of the second region, thereby determining the height-of-fill.