System and method for tracing a gemstones journey from the mine to the consumer by detecting inclusions in the gemstone
US11726045B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jul 29, 2021 |
| Grant date | Aug 15, 2023 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jan 18, 2042 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG01N21/87
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
There are provided method for detecting inclusions in a gemstone comprising illuminating the gemstone by successively producing illumination patterns on the gemstone each selected so as to simultaneously provide an internal uniform illumination of one or more predetermined light exit regions of the gemstone, and each being defined by a unique combination of spaced apart light entrance areas illuminated simultaneously from corresponding illumination directions. The method further comprises capturing a plurality of images of the gemstone when illuminated as indicated above, processing the images and identifying inclusions in the images based on non-uniformities in the internal illumination detected in the images. The illumination patterns can be produced by an illumination system configured to selectively illuminate the spaced apart light entrance areas of the gemstone from corresponding illumination directions. The illumination system can be controlled by a controller configured to cause the system to successively produce the illumination patterns. The images of the gemstone can be captured by an image acquisition device and processed by an image processing system configured for ide…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.