Patent · US Expired

Multispectral imaging system for contaminant detection

US6639665B2 · kind B2 · utility

16Cited by
9References
23Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateFeb 9, 2001
Grant dateOct 28, 2003
Priority date
Expiry dateMay 30, 2021

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG01N21/94
  • WIPO fieldMeasurement
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

An automated inspection system for detecting digestive contaminants on food items as they are being processed for consumption includes a conveyor for transporting the food items, a light sealed enclosure which surrounds a portion of the conveyor, with a light source and a multispectral or hyperspectral digital imaging camera disposed within the enclosure. Operation of the conveyor, light source and camera are controlled by a central computer unit. Light reflected by the food items within the enclosure is detected in predetermined wavelength bands, and detected intensity values are analyzed to detect the presence of digestive contamination.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.