Westinghouse Electric Corporation

United States of America As Represented by the Secretary of the Air Force

Gerald A Breakey

Jeffrey D Taft

Lawrence J Zana

James F Ellison

A camera system for simultaneously recording separate near-infrared and visible light images is disclosed having a visible light source for illuminating a given area with visible white light, indicia generating means for directing an image of a wavelength of light longer than wavelengths of light of the visible white light upon the given area, a first electronic camera for recording an image of the visible light but not the longer wavelength of light and a second electronic camera for recording an image of the longer wavelength of light but not the visible light, and a single cold mirror common to the two cameras for directing the two light images to their respective cameras.

Optical system for obtaining separate and simultaneous near-infrared and

An image processing system uses the digital expression of the video image of a light stripe derived optically from a seam to create a 1-D signal representative of a one-pixel wide line. The target coordinates for the tool operating on the seam is converted directly into 3-D tool position and orientation from the 1-D signal. Matching with models is effected in real time by comparing symbolic attributes of the graphs built up with the 1-D signal and with standard seams. From such matching is selected the operative corner, or target for the tool.

Image processing system for an optical seam tracker

A control processor in a robotic system treats optically sensed locations along the seam path ahead of the tool, which are classified in relation to elapsed distances and identified in 3-D coordinates and 3-axes tool orientation, to apply in real time and under feedforward a control signal representing the error between anticipated tool position and anticipated sensed location on the path. In the process, the anticipated sensed location is obtained by interpolation between acutally sensed locations. A taught path is recovered from the robot. The control processor operation is also based on elapsed distances and related to actual tool position provided by the robot.

Optical automatic seam tracker and real time control system for an

A signal converter adapted for use in a nuclear fuel tube inspection system that inspects the inner diameter and outer diameter of the tubes by comparing their actual diameters to the corresponding nominal values and uses that comparison to reject or pass each fuel tube. The signal converter receives signals corresponding to the inner and outer diameters, adds those signals to inverted reference signals corresponding to the nominal values for the inner and outer diameters, shifts the difference signals by an appropriate level, and amplifies the difference signals. The amplified difference signals can be applied to an analog to digital converter and then supplied to a microprocessor for processing. The signal converter increases the resolution of the inspection system without reducing the range of signal levels that it can process.

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Penn Township, Westmoreland County, PA, United States of America

Gerald A Breakey