Process for the detection of marked components of a composite article using infrared blockers

A process of detecting whether components of a composite article are properly positioned with respect to one another, each component at least partially inhibiting infrared radiation from passing therethrough, the process comprising:

• irradiating the composite article with infrared radiation;
• producing an image from infrared radiation received from the irradiated composite article;
• identifying positions of variations in the produced image, including identifying a position of a first variation in the produced image corresponding to an edge position of a first component in the composite article, and identifying a position of a second variation in the produced image corresponding to an edge position of a second component in the composite article;
• and
• comparing at least one of the identified positions with predetermined position data to thereby determine whether the first component and the second component are properly positioned with respect to one another in the composite article.

A system for detecting whether one or more components are properly positioned in a composite article, the system comprising:

• an infrared radiation source for irradiating the composite article with infrared radiation;
• an infrared detector for producing an image from infrared radiation received from one side of the irradiated composite article;
• an image analyzer operatively connected to the infrared detector for identifying a position of a first variation in the produced image corresponding to an edge position of a first component in the composite article;
• and
• a comparator operatively connected to the image analyzer for comparing the identified position with predetermined position data to thereby determine whether the first component is properly positioned in the composite article.

A process of detecting a presence or a position of at least a first component in a composite article, the process comprising:

• irradiating the composite article with incident radiation, the first component having a predefined response to the incident radiation;
• detecting infrared radiation received from the irradiated composite article;
• and
• identifying the predefined response of the first component in the detected infrared radiation to thereby detect the presence or the position of the first component.

A system for detecting a presence or a position of at least a first component in a composite article, the system comprising:

• a radiation source for irradiating the composite article with incident radiation, the first component having a predefined response to the incident radiation;
• an infrared detector for producing an image from infrared radiation received from the irradiated composite article;
• and
• an image analyzer operatively connected to the infrared detector for identifying the predefined response of the first component in the produced image to thereby detect the presence or the position of the first component.

A process of detecting a distribution of components in a composite article, the process comprising:

• irradiating the composite article with incident radiation, said components having a predefined response to the incident radiation;
• detecting infrared radiation received from the irradiated composite article;
• producing an image from the detected infrared radiation;
• identifying a pattern in the produced image formed by the predefined response of said components;
• and
• comparing the identified pattern with reference data to thereby determine whether said components are properly distributed in the composite article.

A system for detecting a distribution of components in a composite article, the system comprising:

• a radiation source for irradiating the composite article with incident radiation, said components having a predefined response to the incident radiation;
• an infrared detector for producing an image from infrared radiation received from the irradiated composite article;
• an image analyzer operatively connected to the infrared detector for identifying a pattern in the produced image formed by the predefined response of said components;
• and
• a comparator for comparing the identified pattern with reference data to thereby determine whether said components are properly distributed in the composite article.

A process of detecting a concentration of components in a composite article, the process comprising:

• irradiating the composite article with incident radiation, said components having a predefined response to the incident radiation;
• measuring the predefined response of said components to the incident radiation;
• and
• comparing the measured response with reference data to thereby determine the concentration of said components in the composite article.

A process of detecting a distribution of components in a composite article, the process comprising:

• irradiating the composite article with incident radiation, said components each having a predefined response to the incident radiation;
• measuring a level of infrared radiation received from each of a plurality of regions of the irradiated composite article;
• and
• comparing the measured level of infrared radiation for each of the plurality of regions with reference data to thereby determine whether said components are properly distributed in the composite article.

A process for detecting whether one or more components are properly positioned in a composite article, the process comprising:

• treating one or more components of the composite article with an infrared blocker to increase the absorption or reflection of infrared radiation by the blocked component;
• irradiating the composite article with infrared radiation;
• producing an image from the near infrared or infrared radiation received from the irradiated composite article;
• identifying a position of a first variation in the produced image which represents an edge position of a first component in the composite article;
• and
• comparing the identified position with predetermined position data to thereby determine whether the first component is properly positioned in the composite article.