Abstract: A method and apparatus for qualifying an object. Several characteristic values of the object are determined and arranged in a sequence in a polar coordinate system having an origin. At least one quality point is determined as the center of gravity on the basis of the positions of the characteristic values in the polar coordinate system. The object is qualified according to the position of the quality point in the polar coordinate system. In determining the quality point, the characteristic values are taken into account by weighting with their distances from the origin of the polar coordinate system.

Abstract: A data processor for processing a signal representative of fluorescence generated by a meat probe used in determining meat tenderness comprises: I) a format for correlating signal intensity with depth of penetration of a meat probe in a meat sample, the correlating step determining a signal intensity value at an interval in the fluorescent signal which is representative of a unit of penetration in the sample when the correlating format receives a signal from a meat probe indicating that the probe has penetrated the meat sample another unit of penetration, the signal being representative of a series of spaced-apart peaks and valleys for a single pass of a meat probe through a meat sample; II) the signal is dynamically scaled for graphical representation of amplitude of the signal relative to depth of penetration where the scaling is achieved by determining a maximum amplitude value and a minimum amplitude value for the spaced-apart peaks and valleys, the maximum and minimum amplitude values determining an ampl

Abstract: A method and apparatus for processing a time domain reflectometry (TDR) signal having a plurality of reflection pulses to generate a valid output result corresponding to a process variable in a vessel. The method includes the steps of establishing an initial boundary signal before the process variable is locates in the vessel, storing the initial boundary signal, detecting the TDR signal, and determining a baseline signal by subtracting the initial boundary signal from the TDR signal. The method also includes the steps of establishing a signal pattern having a time range based on the width of reflection pulses in the baseline signal, comparing the baseline signal to the signal pattern until a reflection pulse in the baseline signal matches the signal pattern, determining a maximum value of the reflection pulse that matches the signal pattern, and calculating an output result based on the maximum value.

Abstract: A method for providing a standard Raman spectrum from a sample uses a particular Raman spectrometry apparatus or any similar Raman spectrometry apparatus, which is used to simultaneously irradiate a reference material and at least one sample, thereby obtaining their respective convolved Raman spectra. Using a defined standard energy dispersion characteristic and a standard Raman spectrum of the reference material, a convolution function is determined and applied to produce a deconvolved Raman spectrum of the sample. This deconvolved spectrum is multiplied by a defined standard photometric response function to produce a standard Raman spectrum of the sample.