Owens-Illinois, Inc.

Owens-Illinois Television Products Inc.

O-I Neg Tv Products, Inc. Formerly Known as Owens-Illinois Television

John W Miller

James A Ringlien

John W Juvinall

Jerry D Schermerhorn

William D Petty

Ray L Trogdon

Peter S Miller

An image processing system and filters applicable to such a system wherein digitized discrete signals, as pixel signals, are processed in a look-up table according to the sum of the current digitized value of a discrete signal multiplied by a factor and the digitized value of the signal from the look-up table for a preceding discrete signal multiplied by one less the factor for low pass filtering; and wherein high pass filtering is the difference between a factor times the current digitized value of a discrete signal and the digitized value of the low pass filter from the look-up table for a preceding discrete signal multiplied by a factor. Two dimensional filtering in a two dimensional array of pixels is afforded by identifying pixel signals by row and column and high pass filtering in pixel columns from row-to-row. Vector combinations of row and column filtered values are employed in a system for electro-optical inspection of the image of a product.

Image analysis system employing filter look-up tables

A system for line scan processing video signals from a linear array of photoelectric cells so that the signals for individual cells and individual scan sweep are selectively utilized according to sweep number and cell numbers. A signal window is defined for each sweep individually at a predetermined cell for a beginning of the effective video signal and is terminated at another predetermined cell for the end of the effective video signal so that the video signal is processed for only that portion of each sweep covering the area of interest. In optical inspection of an article the significance of changes in the ratio of light intensity at particular cells from the background light intensity is adjusted by sweep and cell number so that such changes which are predictable in certain locations on the article must exceed threshold levels which are different than for other locations. This enables compensation in the inspection of a number of similar articles for regularly occurring marks on the areas of inspection for those articles.

Method of and apparatus for electrooptical inspection of articles

A system of detecting abrupt optical deviations in an object such as defects in a TV tube faceplate employing a line scan camera operated at a fixed scan frequency to feed analog video signals to a log amplifier the output of which is high-pass filtered to detect on an illumination invariant basis defect indicating deviations in light emanating from the object. The passed logarithmic deviation signals are compared with threshold signal magnitudes predetermined for the areas of the object from which the deviation signals are induced and if equal to the threshold an event signal is issued. The absolute magnitude of the event is measured by high pass filtering the analog video signal so that only the abrupt deviation from background light intensity is passed to a memory enable by the event signal. In defect analysis the size of the defect is measured as a pixel count of those pixels having signals exceeding one half the maximum pixel signal magnitude within the defect.

Method of and apparatus for comparing data signals in an electrooptical

A method and apparatus for optically inspecting and sorting transparent containers such as glass containers having defects in the container sidewalls, and for distinguishing unacceptable major refractive defects and opaque defects from each other and from commercially acceptable minor refractive defects. First and second sources of diffused illumination having differing source widths are sequentially directed onto a container while the container is rotated about its central axis for at least one revolution during each illumination. A camera which includes a plurality of light sensitive elements disposed in a linear array parallel to the axis of container rotation is positioned to receive light energy transmitted through the container sidewall. Electronics monitors the camera light elements during each revolution of the container, identifies defects as a function of differences in light transmitted through the container in each of the first and second illuminations, and generates a reject signal to sort defective containers from otherwise commercially acceptable containers. A conveyor sequentially presents containers for inspection and includes separate selectable exit paths for acceptable and unacceptable containers.

Inspection and sorting of glass containers

A control circuit for an apparatus for inspecting objects, such as glass bottles and the like, for defects includes an interface circuit connected between a source of data signals and means for processing information obtained from the object. The interface circuit receives the data signals, typically in digital series form, and includes a latch for storing one of the digital signals, a pair of adders, and a storage means for a plurality of threshold signals. Each data signal is compared to the preceding data signal stored in the latch in one of the adders to generate a difference signal representing the difference in magnitudes between the two signals. Each difference signal is compared with a selected one of the stored threshold signals in the other adder to generate an event signal representing the difference in magnitudes between the two signals. The means for processing information includes a pair of control units and a master control means for alternately connecting the control units to the interface means, whereby one of the control units is receiving a group of the event signals representing one object while the other control unit is processing a preceding group of the event signals.

Method and apparatus for rapidly extracting significant data from a

The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for generating a comparison signal representing the deviation between two analog video signals representing light received from particular inspection points on an object being inspected. The comparison signal is generated with a magnitude representing the ratio between the values of the two video signals. The ratio is calculated with the one of the two video signals having the larger magnitude as the denominator. In order to calculate the ratio, the present invention first converts the two analog video signals to digital form and then determines the log of each of digitized video signal. Next, the negative difference between the two log signals is determined. The negative difference is then exponentiated to determine the ratio.

Method and apparatus for comparing data signals in a container

A method and apparatus for automatically monitoring the amount of batch material floating on an irradiant pool of melt in a glass melting furnace is disclosed. A video camera is positioned so as to view the surface of the batch and melt mixture through a window formed in a wall of the furnace tank. The video signal is digitized by a computer into a plurality of pixel signals. The pixel signals can be utilized to generate a histogram relating the number of digitized pixel signals to a relative light intensity scale. The generated histogram will be bimodal, with one peak centering around a lower scale value corresponding to the darker batch pixels and the other peak centering around a higher scale value corresponding to the lighter melt pixels. A suitable threshold, such as the minimum point between the two peaks, can be selected to separate the two peaks. The areas defined by the histogram above and below the selected threshold can be determined to provide a reasonable estimate of the amount of batch and melt present in the viewed region of the tank.

Method and apparatus for monitoring a glass furnace

The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for generating a comparison signal representing the magnitude difference between two successive video signals representing adjacent inspection points on the container. One of the two video signals is multiplied by a first predetermined value to generate a first product signal. The first product signal and the other one of the two video signals are combined to generate a second product signal having a magnitude representing the ratio between the other one of the two video signals and the first product signal with the first product signal as the denominator. A signal having a second predetermined value is then subtracted from the second product signal to generate the comparison signal. A comparison signal generated in this manner is insensitive to general light variations across the container.

An apparatus and a method for identifying defects in objects, such as glass bottles, utilizing data signals generated from a photodiode camera and light source. Event signals are generated when the magnitudes of adjacent data signals differ by an amount which exceeds a threshold level. Signals are also generated to identify the location of each event signal with respect to a corresponding photodiode and to identify during which vertical sweep of the object the event signal was generated to associate the event signal with a point on the object. The event signals are processed to identify defects. Events in proximity in the same sweep are identified as a string. Event magnitudes and totals in a string are compared with predetermined values to identify defects. Strings in proximity are identified as a blob. Event magnitudes and totals and blob width are compared with predetermined values to identify defects.

Apparatus and method for detecting defects in glass bottles using event

An apparatus for displaying an output of an inspection device for objects such as glass bottles and the like is connected to a source of data signals each proportional in magnitude to the amount of light received from an associated point on the object being inspected. The data signals are inputs to a storage means and an adder for generating a signal representing the difference between each one of the data points and an adjacent one of the data points stored in the storage means. Each difference signal is compared with a threshold signal to generate an event signal when the magnitudes differ. The event signals are displayed as a two-dimensional representation of the surface of the object as if it had been cut and unwrapped. The operator can repeat the inspection utilizing different threshold values to optimize the defect detection performance of the inspection device. If the storage means is disabled and the threshold signals magnitudes are set to zero, the data signals will pass through to be displayed as the data signal magnitudes on one orthogonal axis and the location of the associated points on the other axis.

Method and apparatus for setup of inspection devices for glass bottles

This invention relates to a method and apparatus for determining whether a glue drop is present on the reflective inner surface of a closure. Collimated light is projected onto the reflective inner surface of the closure, and a measurement is taken of the amount of light which remains collimated after reflection from the closure. The measurement of the amount of light reflected in this way is used to determine whether a glue drop is present.

Glue drop detector

A circuit for generating a square wave form which circuit comprises two MOSFETs and is driven by only one control logic signal. A first MOSFET is connected between a ground potential power supply and the circuit output line while a second MOSFET is connected between the circuit output line and a positive potential power supply. The gate of the second MOSFET is connected to the source of the first MOSFET which has a gate connected to receive the control logic signal. When the logic signal is at a high level, the first MOSFET is turned on and the gate of the second MOSFET is pulled down to ground potential such that the second MOSFET is turned off. Thus, the circuit output line will be near the ground potential. When the logic signal switches to a low level, the first MOSFET is turned off and the voltage across a capacitor which has been charged by a power supply causes the second MOSFET to turn on such that the circuit output line will be near the positive potential. This circuit is typically used to drive capacitive type loads such as those found in gas discharge display devices.

MOS Circuit for generating a square wave form

A method and apparatus for operating a gas discharge display/memory panel having a pair of opposed electrode arrays. A pulsating potential sustainer wave form is applied to one electrode array while the other electrode array is maintained at the reference potential of the sustainer wave form, typically the system ground potential. The potentials are applied to the electrodes through switching circuits individual to the electrodes, each circuit including a normally turned on MOSFET and a feed through diode. The MOSFET and the diode are oppositely poled and connected in parallel between the potential sources and the associated electrode. When a cell is addressed, either written or erased, the MOSFETs in the switching circuits connected to the one electrode array are turned off except for the MOSFET connected to the electrode of the selected cell and the MOSFET in the switching circuit for the other electrode array connected to the electrode of the selected cell is turned off while an address pulser for each electrode array is turned on to apply partial select address voltage pulses to the selected cell. During this addressing, the electrodes of the one electrode array are clamped at a predetermined potential and the selected electrode of the other array can have a keyer pulse voltage applied thereto to improve the addressing of the cell.

Method and apparatus for open drain addressing of a gas discharge

A gas discharge device having at least one dielectric charge storage member the gaseous medium contacting surface of which consists of a low operating voltage material. The material is used in an amount sufficient to increase the operating life span of the device and/or stabilize the operating voltages of the device. An interface and addressing means is connected to a pair of opposed electrode arrays to energize a plurality of discharge cells, each cell including proximate electrode portions of at least one electrode in each opposed array, said dielectric charge storage member insulating at least one of said proximate electrode portions from said gas. A cell presents a capacitive impedance to a voltage pulse applied by the interface and addressing means to the electrode portions to generate a relatively slow rise time leading edge on the voltage pulse for improved addressing of the cell when the electrode arrays are serially addressed. If at least a portion of the electrodes in one of the arrays are connected for parallel addressing, a keyer pulser connected to these electrodes is turned on to generate a relatively fast rise time leading edge portion on the voltage pulse followed by a relatively slow rise time portion during which the cell is written.

Slow rise time write pulse for gas discharge device

A ground-reference addressing power supply is connected to the driving and addressing circuitry of a gas discharge display/memory panel for generating write and erase pulse voltages. The addressing power supply is referenced to the same ground potential as the sustainer power supply and is switched on at the desired points in the sustainer wave form for the selective addressing of the panel cells. The addressing power supply can generate different potentials for the write and erase pulse voltages so that each potential level can be set independently of the other to maximize the size of the addressing window.

Growing community of inventors

Toledo, OH, United States of America

John W Miller