Apparatus and method for inspecting golf balls using threshold analysis
AssigneeAcushnet Company
InventorsKevin Harris, William Brum, Brian St. Aubin
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method for inspecting golf balls is disclosed. An imager such as a camera captures a digital image of the golf ball. The golf ball image is separated into regions, and a brightness level is determined for each region using a histogram tool. The brightness level of the region is compared with a reference level. If the brightness level of the region is significantly different from the reference level, then the golf ball is diverted. The regions are located from image to image using pattern matching and/or edge finding tools. The environmental light conditions are altered to facilitate the pattern matching and edge finding.
Claims43
A method for inspecting an object comprising the steps of
- (i) obtaining at least one image of the object using a sensor after a surface coating has been applied to at least a portion of the object, wherein the image comprises an array of pixels and each pixel is represented by a numerical value indicative of a brightness level of each pixel;
- (ii) ascertaining at least one region of interest on the object;
- and
- (iii) determining whether the surface coating was applied evenly on the region of interest, wherein a threshold pixel counting tool is employed to analyze the image.
A method of determining a part of an object in an image comprising the steps of:
- (i) placing the object against a dark background;
- (ii) increasing a light intensity around the object;
- (iii) capturing the image;
- and
- (iv) locating the part with a tool.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.