# US 2014/0193042 A1 · Surface contamination determination system

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- Number: US 2014/0193042 A1
- Document ID: US20140193042A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 13/734,746
- Filed: 2013-01-04
- Published: 2014-07-10
- Earliest claimed: 2013-01-04
- Assignees: International Business Machines Corporation
- Applicants: International Business Machines Corporation
- Inventors: Ira L. Allen; Rogerio S. Feris; Yun Zhai
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140193042A1

## CPC

- G06T 7/90: Determination of colour characteristics
- G01N 21/94: Investigating contamination, e.g. dust (G01N21/85 takes precedence)
- G06T 7/0004: {Industrial image inspection}
- G06T 2207/10024: Color image
- G06T 2207/30156: Vehicle coating
- G06T: IMAGE DATA PROCESSING OR GENERATION, IN GENERAL
- 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)

## Abstract

A computer receives a first set of spectral information for a first surface, wherein the first set of spectral information includes a pixel count for each color value of a range of color values, with regard to each color, measured at time one. The computer determines, with regard to the first set, whether dispersion of the pixel count across the range of color values, with regard to each color, exceeds a first threshold value. The computer determines, with regard to the first set, a surface contamination level based on at least whether the dispersion of the pixel count across the range of color values, with regard to each color, exceeds the first threshold value.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method for determining a surface contamination level for a first surface, comprising the steps of:
a computer receiving a first set of spectral information for a first surface, wherein the first set of spectral information includes a pixel count for each color value of a range of color values, with regard to each color, measured at time one;
the computer determining whether dispersion of the pixel count across the range of color values, with regard to each color, exceeds a first threshold value; and
the computer determining a surface contamination level based on at least whether the dispersion of the pixel count across the range of color values, with regard to each color, exceeds the first threshold value.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the dispersion of the pixel count across the range of color values is equivalent to the standard deviation of the pixel count across the range of color values.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:
the computer determining that the dispersion of the pixel count across the range of color values, for at least one color, exceeds the first threshold value; and
the computer determining an amount of cleaning resources to be deployed based on the determined surface contamination level.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:
the computer determining that the dispersion of the pixel count across the range of color values, for at least one color, does not exceed the first threshold value;
for color values less than a first peak value, as the color value increases, the computer determining that an amount that the pixel count decreases, exceeds a second threshold value, or, for color values greater than the first peak value, as the color value increases, the computer determining that an amount that the pixel count increases, exceeds the second threshold value, or both, wherein the first peak value is the color value that corresponds to the highest pixel count;
the computer determining a surface contamination level based on the dispersion of the pixel count across the range of color values, for at least one color, not exceeding the first threshold value, and the amount the pixel count decreases, for color values greater than the first peak value, or the amount that the pixel count increases, for color values less than the first peak value, or both, exceeding the second threshold value; and
the computer determining an amount of cleaning resources to be deployed based on the determined surface contamination level.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:
the computer determining that the dispersion of the pixel count across the range of color values, for at least one color, does not exceed the first threshold value;
for color values less than a first peak value, as the color value increases, the computer determining that an amount that the pixel count decreases, does not exceed a second threshold value, and, for color values greater than the first peak value, as the color value increases, the computer determining that an amount that the pixel count increases, does not exceed the second threshold value, wherein the first peak value is the color value that corresponds to the highest pixel count; and
the computer determining a minimum amount of cleaning resources are to be deployed.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:
the computer receiving a second set of spectral information for the first surface, wherein the second set of spectral information includes a pixel count for each color value of a range of color values, with regard to each color, measured at time two; and
the computer determining, with regard to the second set, whether the dispersion of the pixel count across the range of color values, with regard to each color, exceeds the first threshold value.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The method of claim 6, further comprising the steps of:
the computer determining, with regard to the second set, that the dispersion of the pixel count across the range of color values, for at least one color, exceeds the first threshold value; and
the computer increasing the amount of cleaning resources to be deployed in the future for the determined surface contamination level.

### Claim 8 (depends on 6)

The method of claim 6, further comprising the steps of:
the computer determining, with regard to the second set, that the dispersion of the pixel count across the range of color values, for at least one color, does not exceed the first threshold value;
with regard to the second set, for color values less than a second peak value, as the color value increases, the computer determining that an amount that the pixel count decreases, exceeds a second threshold value, or, for color values greater than the second peak value, as the color value increases, the computer determining that an amount that the pixel count increases, exceeds the second threshold value, wherein the second peak value is the color value that corresponds to the highest pixel count; and
the computer increasing the amount of cleaning resources to be deployed in the future for the determined surface contamination level.

### Claim 9 (depends on 6)

The method of claim 6, further comprising the steps of:
the computer determining, with regard to the second set, that the dispersion of the pixel count across the range of color values, for at least one color, does not exceed the first threshold value;
with regard to the second set, for color values less than a second peak value, as the color value increases, the computer determining that an amount that the pixel count decreases, does not exceed a second threshold value, and, for color values greater than the second peak value, as the color value increases, the computer determining that an amount that the pixel count increases, does not exceed the second threshold value, wherein the second peak value is the color value that corresponds to the highest pixel count; and
the computer decreasing the amount of cleaning resources to be deployed in the future for the determined surface contamination level.

### Claim 10

A computer program product for determining a surface contamination level for a first surface, the computer program product comprising:
one or more computer-readable storage devices and program instructions stored on at least one of the one or more tangible storage devices, the program instructions comprising:
program instructions to receive a first set of spectral information for a first surface, wherein the first set of spectral information includes a pixel count for each color value of a range of color values, with regard to each color, measured at time one;
program instructions to determine whether dispersion of the pixel count across the range of color values, with regard to each color, exceeds a first threshold value; and
program instructions to determine a surface contamination level based on at least whether the dispersion of the pixel count across the range of color values, with regard to each color, exceeds the first threshold value.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The computer program product of claim 10, further comprising:
program instructions to determine that the dispersion of the pixel count across the range of color values, for at least one color, exceeds the first threshold value; and
program instructions to determine an amount of cleaning resources to deploy based on the determined surface contamination level.

### Claim 12 (depends on 10)

The computer program product of claim 10, further comprising:
program instructions to determine that the dispersion of the pixel count across the range of color values, for at least one color, does not exceed the first threshold value;
for color values less than a first peak value, as the color value increases, program instructions to determine that an amount that the pixel count decreases, exceeds a second threshold value, or, for color values greater than the first peak value, as the color value increases, the computer determining that an amount that the pixel count increases, exceeds the second threshold value, or both, wherein the first peak value is the color value that corresponds to the highest pixel count;
program instructions to determine a surface contamination level based on the dispersion of the pixel count across the range of color values, for at least one color, not exceeding the first threshold value, and the amount the pixel count decreases, for color values greater than the first peak value, or the amount that the pixel count increases, for color values less than the first peak value, or both, exceeding the second threshold value; and
program instructions to determine an amount of cleaning resources to deploy based on the determined surface contamination level.

### Claim 13 (depends on 10)

The computer program product of claim 10, further comprising:
program instructions to determine that the dispersion of the pixel count across the range of color values, for at least one color, does not exceed the first threshold value;
for color values less than a first peak value, as the color value increases, program instructions to determine that an amount that the pixel count decreases, does not exceed a second threshold value, and, for color values greater than the first peak value, as the color value increases, the computer determining that an amount that the pixel count increases, does not exceed the second threshold value, wherein the first peak value is the color value that corresponds to the highest pixel count; and
program instructions to determine a minimum amount of cleaning resources are to be deployed.

### Claim 14 (depends on 10)

The computer program product of claim 10, further comprising:
program instructions to receive a second set of spectral information for the first surface, wherein the second set of spectral information includes a pixel count for each color value of a range of color values, with regard to each color, measured at time two; and
program instructions to determine, with regard to the second set, whether the dispersion of the pixel count across the range of color values, with regard to each color, exceeds the first threshold value.

### Claim 15 (depends on 14)

The computer program product of claim 14, further comprising:
program instructions to determine, with regard to the second set, that the dispersion of the pixel count across the range of color values, for at least one color, exceeds the first threshold value; and
program instructions to increase the amount of cleaning resources to be deployed in the future for the determined surface contamination level.

### Claim 16 (depends on 14)

The computer program product of claim 14, further comprising:
program instructions to determine, with regard to the second set, that the dispersion of the pixel count across the range of color values, for at least one color, does not exceed the first threshold value; and
program instructions to decrease the amount of cleaning resources to be deployed in the future for the determined surface contamination level.

### Claim 17

A computer system for determining a surface contamination level for a first surface, the computer system comprising:
one or more processors, one or more computer-readable memories, one or more computer-readable tangible storage devices, and program instructions stored on at least one of the one or more storage devices for execution by at least one of the one or more processors via at least one of the one or more memories, the program instructions comprising:
program instructions to receive a first set of spectral information for a first surface, wherein the first set of spectral information includes a pixel count for each color value of a range of color values, with regard to each color, measured at time one;
program instructions to determine whether dispersion of the pixel count across the range of color values, with regard to each color, exceeds a first threshold value; and
program instructions to determine a surface contamination level based on at least whether the dispersion of the pixel count across the range of color values, with regard to each color, exceeds the first threshold value.

### Claim 18 (depends on 17)

The computer system of claim 17, further comprising:
program instructions to determine that the dispersion of the pixel count across the range of color values, for at least one color, exceeds the first threshold value; and
program instructions to determine an amount of cleaning resources to deploy based on the determined surface contamination level.

### Claim 19 (depends on 17)

The computer system of claim 17, further comprising:
program instructions to determine that the dispersion of the pixel count across the range of color values, for at least one color, does not exceed the first threshold value;
for color values less than a first peak value, as the color value increases, program instructions to determine that an amount that the pixel count decreases, exceeds a second threshold value, or, for color values greater than the first peak value, as the color value increases, the computer determining that an amount that the pixel count increases, exceeds the second threshold value, or both, wherein the first peak value is the color value that corresponds to the highest pixel count;
program instructions to determine a surface contamination level based on the dispersion of the pixel count across the range of color values, for at least one color, not exceeding the first threshold value, and the amount the pixel count decreases, for color values greater than the first peak value, or the amount that the pixel count increases, for color values less than the first peak value, or both, exceeding the second threshold value; and
program instructions to determine an amount of cleaning resources to deploy based on the determined surface contamination level.

### Claim 20 (depends on 17)

The computer system of claim 17, further comprising:
program instructions to determine that the dispersion of the pixel count across the range of color values, for at least one color, does not exceed the first threshold value;
for color values less than a first peak value, as the color value increases, program instructions to determine that an amount that the pixel count decreases, does not exceed a second threshold value, and, for color values greater than the first peak value, as the color value increases, the computer determining that an amount that the pixel count increases, does not exceed the second threshold value, wherein the first peak value is the color value that corresponds to the highest pixel count; and
program instructions to determine a minimum amount of cleaning resources are to be deployed.