Apparatus and methods for automated observation of three-dimensional objects

A method of analyzing the interior of a three-dimensional object comprising:

• (a) causing penetrating radiation to pass through at least a portion of the object and to be modulated by variations in the object's structure;
• (b) detecting the modulated penetrating radiation and generating electrical signals that vary in accordance with variations in the detected radiation;
• (c) computer analyzing said electrical signals and generating electrical code signals defining characteristics of the electrical signals;
• (d) recording in a storage device said electrical code signals;
• (e) reproducing said electrical code signals from the storage device;
• (f) applying the reproduced electrical code signals to generate and display information about the internal characteristics of said object;
• and
• (g) storing a plurality of command control signals in an electronic storage device, and selectively addressing, reproducing and using said command control signals to automatically control the detecting and analyzing operations.

An apparatus for automatically observing three-dimensional objects comprising:

• (a) means for supporting a three-dimensional object at an observation station;
• (b) means for detecting electromagnetic energy signals emanating from at least a portion of said object, and for detecting variations in the detected signals, which variations define at least one characteristic of the three-dimensional object;
• (c) means for moving said object and said detection means relative to each other;
• (d) means for generating image signals representing a characteristic defined by the detected energy signals.
• (e) means for storing the image signals in a storage device along with an associated code that identifies the location in the storage device where the associated image signals are stored;
• (f) electronic processing means for locating in and obtaining from the storage device selected image signals, for analyzing the selected image signals, and for generating electrical code signals defining a characteristic about said object;
• and
• (g) wherein the storage device includes a plurality of command control signals, and further comprising computing means for selectively addressing, reproducing and using said command control signals to automatically control the means for relatively moving the object and the detection means.

A method for automatically observing three-dimensional objects comprising:

• (a) supporting a three-dimensional object at an observation station, and employing an imaging device to precisely position said object relative to the observation station;
• (b) causing the object to modulate electromagnetic energy signals;
• (c) detecting electromagnetic energy signals modulated from a first portion of said object;
• (d) detecting electromagnetic energy signals modulated from at least one different portion of said object;
• (e) computer processing the detected energy signals and generating and electronically storing image signals representing a characteristic of the observed object;
• (f) computer analyzing the stored image signals and generating electrical code signals representing further characteristics of the object;
• and
• (g) storing a plurality of command control signals at selectable locations of a signal storage device, and selecting, reproducing, and using some of said stored command control signals to control at least one of the positioning, detecting, computer processing, or computer analyzing operations.

A method for automatically generating and using image information relative to work-in-process, comprising:

• (a) supporting work-in-process proximate a controllable imaging system;
• (b) storing a plurality of selectable command control signals on an electronic storage device for use in automatically controlling the imaging system;
• (c) operating the imaging system to locate the work-in-process relative to the imaging system;
• (d) selecting and reproducing command control signals from the storage device and applying the reproduced signals to automatically control the imaging system to conduct an imaging operation on the work-in-process;
• (e) generating electrical imaging signals during the imaging operation, which imaging signals correspond to characteristics about the work-in-process;
• (f) computer processing the imaging signals and generating and storing in an electrical storage device coded signals defining characteristics of the work-in-process;
• (g) computer processing the coded signals and generating feedback control signals;
• and
• (h) using at least a portion of the feedback control signals to affect further imaging operations by the imaging system.

A method for generating, storing and processing image information relating to work-in-process, comprising:

• (a) supporting work-in-process proximate a controllable imaging device;
• (b) storing a plurality of selectable command control signals on an electronic storage device, which signals are suitable for use in automatically controlling the imaging device and for conducting a plurality of image processing operations;
• (c) controlling the imaging device to automatically locate the work-in-process and the imaging device relative to each other;
• (d) selecting and reproducing command control signals from the storage device and applying the selected reproduced signals to automatically control the imaging device to conduct an imaging operation on the work-in-process;
• (e) generating electrical imaging signals during the imaging operation, which imaging signals correspond to characteristics about the work-in-process;
• (f) selecting and reproducing further command control signals from the storage device and applying the further signals to process at least a portion of the imaging signals and to generate and store coded signals defining characteristics of the work-in-process;
• and
• (g) selecting and reproducing still further command control signals from the storage device and applying the further signals to process the coded signals and to generate information signals defining further characteristics of the work-in-process.

A method for automatically generating, interpreting and using image information related to an object comprising:

• (a) conducting a preliminary imaging operation to precisely locate the object relative to an inspection station;
• (b) illuminating the aligned object with radiant energy;
• (c) detecting radiant energy reflected from the object and modulated in accordance with physical characteristics of the object;
• (d) generating characteristic electrical signals which vary in accordance with the detected modulated reflected radiant energy;
• (e) storing the generated characteristic electrical signals in an addressable electrical storage device;
• (f) storing in an addressable electrical storage device command control and reference data signals applicable for effecting computer analysis and interpretation of stored characteristic electrical signals;
• (g) retrieving stored characteristic electrical signals and command control and data signals from the addressable electrical storage device and computer analyzing the retrieved characteristic electrical signals to derive and interpret image information about the object;
• (h) storing in an addressable electrical storage device coded electrical signals defining the image information resulting from the computer analyzing operation;
• and
• (i) applying the coded electrical signals to generate further output control signals for use in controlling electrical equipment.