The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Feb. 05, 1991
Filed:
Oct. 02, 1989
Kazunori Noso, Yokohama, JP;
Hiroshi Saito, Yokosuka, JP;
Nissan Motor Co., Ltd., , JP;
Abstract
An apparatus for estimating a surface condition of a plate object. The apparatus comprises a lighting unit for generating light toward the plate object. A light sensor is located out of paths of the light generated from the lighting unit for producing an electrical signal in response to light of diffused reflection from the plate object. The apparatus also includes a processing unit for processing the electrical signal fed thereto from the light sensor for producing an image including a defective portion reflective of the light of diffused reflection, and an estimating unit for estimating the surface condition of the plate object based on the defective portion of the produced image. In another aspect of the invention, the apparatus comprises a lighting unit for generating light toward the plate object. A light sensor is provided for converting brightness variations of the light impinging on the plate object into an electrical signal. The apparatus also includes a processing unit for processing the electrical signal fed thereto from the light sensor for producing a plurality of image segments forming a full image of the surface of the plate object, and an estimating unit for estimating the surface condition of the plate object based on a defective portion included in each of the image segments. The estimating unit includes means for providing a heavier weight on a defective portion of at least one of the image segments than that of the other image segments.