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:
Oct. 02, 2007
Filed:
Feb. 17, 2004
Wayne Armstrong, Albuquerque, NM (US);
Wayne Armstrong, Albuquerque, NM (US);
ITT Manufacturing Enterprises, Inc., Wilmington, DE (US);
Abstract
A method and apparatus for performing witness card statistical analysis using image processing techniques to quickly and efficiently generate as-sprayed performance statistics for a spray device, or spray, based upon a comprehensive analysis of as-sprayed witness card stains. Calibration and as-sprayed witness cards are scanned to produce images that are processed using image processing techniques to identify stain areas/dimensions. Calibration stain data is associated with known calibration droplet volumes and used to generate a set of calibration equations that model an observed relationship between the area of calibration stains upon a witness card and the volume of the respective fluid droplets that produced the stains. As-sprayed stain area/dimension information is processed using the developed calibration equations to approximate the volume of as-sprayed droplets. The approach provides a direct quantitative assessment of spray device performance based upon a comprehensive assessment of as-sprayed witness cards, resulting in highly accurate, timely spray device performance statistics.