Image analysis – Applications – Manufacturing or product inspection
Reexamination Certificate
2007-10-31
2008-12-02
Bella, Matthew C. (Department: 2624)
Image analysis
Applications
Manufacturing or product inspection
C382S108000, C382S152000
Reexamination Certificate
active
07460703
ABSTRACT:
The present invention is directed to solving the problems associated with the detection of surface defects on metal bars as well as the problems associated with applying metal flat inspection systems to metal bars for non-destructive surface defects detection. A specially designed imaging system, which is comprised of a computing unit, line lights and high data rate line scan cameras, is developed for the aforementioned purpose. The target application is the metal bars (1) that have a circumference/cross-section-area ratio equal to or smaller than 4.25 when the cross section area is unity for the given shape, (2) whose cross-sections are round, oval, or in the shape of a polygon, and (3) are manufactured by mechanically cross-section reduction processes. The said metal can be steel, stainless steel, aluminum, copper, bronze, titanium, nickel, and so forth, and/or their alloys. The said metal bars can be at the temperature when they are being manufactured. A removable cassette includes various mirrors. A protection tube isolates the moving metal bar from the line light assembly and image acquisition camera. A contaminant reduction mechanism applies a vacuum to remove airborne contaminants.
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Chang Tzyy-Shuh
Gutchess Daniel
Huang Hsun-Hau
Bella Matthew C.
Dykema Gossett PLLC
OG Technologies, Inc.
Tucker Wesley
LandOfFree
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