# US 10,311,562 B2 · Imaging system for granular material with homogeneous background

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- Number: US 10,311,562 B2
- Document ID: US10311562B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 15/302,637
- Filed: 2015-03-30
- Published: 2017-02-02
- Granted: 2019-06-04
- Earliest claimed: 2014-04-07
- Assignees: Cgrain AB
- Applicants: Cgrain AB
- Inventors: Jaan Luup
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10311562B2

## CPC

- B07C 5/3425: {of granular material, e.g. ore particles, grain (investigation moving fluids or granular solids using optical means G01N21/85)}
- B07C 5/34: Sorting according to other particular properties {(material testing per se G01N; quality control G07C3/14)}
- G01B 11/00: Measuring arrangements characterised by the use of optical techniques
- G01N 15/1433: using image recognition
- G01N 15/147: {the analysis being performed on a sample stream}
- G01N 21/85: Investigating moving fluids or granular solids
- G01N 21/88: Investigating the presence of flaws or contamination
- G01N 21/9508: {Capsules; Tablets}
- G06T 7/0004: {Industrial image inspection}
- G06V 20/69: Microscopic objects, e.g. biological cells or cellular parts
- B07C 2501/009: Sorting of fruit
- G01N 2021/8592: {Grain or other flowing solid samples}
- G01N 2201/062: LED's
- G01N 2201/0636: Reflectors
- G06K 2007/10485: {Arrangement of optical elements}
- G06T 2207/30128: Food products
- B07C: POSTAL SORTING; SORTING INDIVIDUAL ARTICLES, OR BULK MATERIAL FIT TO BE SORTED PIECE-MEAL, e.g. BY PICKING (specially adapted for a specific purpose covered by another class, see the relevant place, e.g. A43D33/06, B23Q7/12)
- G01B: MEASURING LENGTH, THICKNESS OR SIMILAR LINEAR DIMENSIONS; MEASURING ANGLES; MEASURING AREAS; MEASURING IRREGULARITIES OF SURFACES OR CONTOURS
- G01N: INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES (measuring or testing apparatus or processes other than immunoassay, involving enzymes or microorganisms C12M, C12Q)
- G06T: IMAGE DATA PROCESSING OR GENERATION, IN GENERAL
- G06V: IMAGE OR VIDEO RECOGNITION OR UNDERSTANDING
- G06K: GRAPHICAL DATA READING (image or video recognition or understanding G06V); PRESENTATION OF DATA; RECORD CARRIERS; HANDLING RECORD CARRIERS

## Abstract

An imaging system (100) including at least one camera (3), a background element (4) and a pair of mirrors (2a, 2b), where the mirror surfaces of the mirrors in the pair are angled from each other at an angle α, where the imaging system (100) is intended to receive a sample along a main axis extending between the mirrors. The camera (3) is directed towards the mirror pair (2a, 2b) and the background element (4) includes a surface directed towards the mirror pair, where the background element (4) is formed as a cylinder portion with a cylinder axis deviating from the main axis, and the mirrors are arranged with a respective mirror surface edge to edge with each other.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An imaging system (100) comprising:
at least one camera (3),
a pair of mirrors (2a, 2b),
wherein the at least one camera (3) is directed towards the pair of mirrors (2a, 2b),
wherein respective mirror surfaces of the mirrors in the pair of mirrors (2a, 2b) are angled from each other at an angle α and the mirrors (2a, 2b) are arranged with the respective mirror surfaces edge to edge with each other,
wherein the imaging system (100) is intended for receiving a sample along a main axis (V) extending between the pair of mirrors, and
a background element (4) formed as a cylinder portion with a cylinder axis deviating from the main axis,
wherein said background element (4) comprises a surface directed towards the pair of mirrors (2a, 2b) and is placed within a field of view of the at least one camera (3) and an image to be taken by the at least one camera (3) through reflection in the pair of mirrors (2a, 2b), and
wherein a division plane extends through the pair of mirrors and cuts straight through a position where the sample is being imaged by the at least one camera (3), substantially perpendicular to the main axis, where the at least one camera (3) is arranged on a first side of the division plane, and an entirety of the background element (4) is arranged on a second side of the division plane, and the at least one camera (3) is directed obliquely towards the position where the sample is being imaged so that no part of the at least one camera (3) itself is within the field of view of the at least one camera (3) and an image to be taken by the at least one camera (3) through reflection in the pair of mirrors (2a, 2b).

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The imaging system according to claim 1, wherein the surface of the background element (4) that is directed towards the pair of mirrors is illuminated by at least one background illumination element (5a-c) directed towards this surface.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The imaging system according to claim 2, wherein the at least one background illumination element (5a-c) is located outside of the field of view of the at least one camera (3).

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The imaging system according claim 1, wherein the imaging system is intended for receiving samples (1) with a typical colour and wherein the surface of the background element (4) that is directed towards the pair of mirrors has a colour which is substantially complementary to the typical colour of the samples.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The imaging system according to claim 4, wherein the imaging system is intended for receiving seeds (1) and wherein the surface of the background element (4) that is directed towards the pair of mirrors is blue.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The imaging system according to claim 1, wherein light is directed towards the respective mirror surfaces of the pair of mirrors from at least one sample illumination element (6a, 6b), where the at least one sample illumination element is arranged above or below the pair of mirrors as seen from the main axis.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The imaging system according to claim 1, wherein said background element (4) covers the entire field of view of the at least one camera (3).