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US 5,331,148 AGranted
Method and a device for the recording of number and size classification of objects, particularly live fish
OwnerTorbjorn Kvassheiminventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A device for the recording of number and size classification of objects, wherein the objects pass between a light source (1) and an objective (3)/CCD-line camera (2) further transmitting data to a signal processing card (4). The signal processing card (4) is connected to a PC-card (5) which executes calculations of the measured data for the determination of the number of objects as well as size classification. When classifying by size, the PC-card (5) also gives signals to an actuator (7) controlling flaps (8) guiding the objects to appropriate channel/chute.
Claims24
A method for counting live fish to obtain the number thereof, said method including the steps of:
- moving the fish, generally in seriatim, along a path, each of the fish moving at generally the same speed;
- adjacent, individual fish in the path being spaced from each other in the path or overlapping one another in the path;
- placing the fish in a given orientation as they move along the path;
- measuring the size of the area of the oriented, moving fish presented in a plane parallel to the direction of movement of the fish in the path;
- establishing at least one preselected parameter of fish area size;
- ascertaining the number of measured fish having an area size meeting the preselected area size parameter, said ascertained number being taken as the number of individual fish that are spaced from each other along the path;
- determining a mean area size for the measured fish meeting the preselected area size parameter;
- accumulating a totalized area size for fish measurements in which the area size of the fish is greater than the preselected area size parameter;
- determining the number of fish represented by said accumulated totalized area size by dividing same by the mean area size, said number being taken as an indication of the number of fish overlapping one another along the path;
- and
- adding the number so determined to the number of fish having an area size meeting the preselected area size parameter to obtain the total number of fish.
8 more elements
Apparatus for counting live fish to obtain the number thereof, said apparatus comprising:
- means for forming a path along which the fish may move, said fish moving generally in seriatim and at the same speed;
- adjacent, individual fish in the path being spaced from each other in the path or overlapping one another in the path;
- means for placing each of the fish in a given orientation as they move along the path forming means;
- means for measuring the size of the area of the oriented, moving fish presented in a plane parallel to the direction of movement of the fish;
- comparison means coupled to said measuring means for comparing the area size of the fish with a preselected fish area size parameter to ascertain the number of measured fish having an area size meeting the preselected area size parameter, said ascertained number being taken as the number of individual fish that are spaced along the path;
- means for determining a mean area size for the measured fish meeting the preselected area size parameter;
- means for accumulating a totalized area size for fish measurements in which the area size of the fish is greater than the preselected area size parameter;
- means for dividing the totalized area size by the mean area size to determine the number of fish represented by said accumulated totalized area size, said number being taken as an indication of the number of fish overlapping along the path;
- and
- adding means for adding the number so determined to the number of fish having an area size meeting the preselected area size parameter to obtain the total number of fish.
7 more elements
A method for counting live fish to obtain the number thereof, said method including the steps of:
- moving the fish, generally in seriatim, along a path, each of the fish moving at generally the same speed;
- placing the fish in a given orientation as they move along the path;
- measuring the size of the area of the oriented, moving fish presented in a plane parallel to the direction of movement of the fish in the path;
- accumulating a totalized area size for the fish measurements;
- establishing a parameter indicative of the area size of an individual fish;
- and
- determining the number of fish represented by accumulated totalized area size by dividing same by the area size parameter.
4 more elements
Apparatus for counting live fish to obtain the number thereof, said apparatus comprising:
- means forming a path along which the fish may move, said fish moving generally in seriatim and at the same speed;
- means for placing the fish in a given orientation as they move along the path;
- means for measuring the size of the area of the oriented, moving fish presented in a plane parallel to the direction of movement of the fish in the path;
- means for accumulating a totalized area size for the fish measurements;
- means for establishing a parameter indicative of the area size of an individual fish;
- and
- divider means for dividing the accumulated totalized area size by the area size parameter to determine the number of fish.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.