Method and apparatus for detecting surface features of translucent objects

A method of classifying a translucent object according to at least one selected surface feature of the object, comprising the steps of:

• illuminating the object to cause light to be scattered therewithin;
• detecting such scattered light transmitted through the surface of the object;
• converting such detected light to data representing the relative intensity of light transmitted through each of a plurality of defined areas of the surface;
• analyzing such data to determine the existence of the selected feature of the surface;
• and
• classifying the object on the basis of such determination,
• wherein a plurality of surface features are considered, and said step of analyzing comprises determining if any of such surface features exists on the object,
• wherein the object is a citrus fruit with a peel, and wherein said step of analyzing comprises determining the extent of porosity of the peel of the citrus fruit.

A method of classifying a translucent object according to at least one selected surface feature of the object, comprising the steps of:

• illuminating the object to cause light to be scattered therewithin;
• detecting such scattered light transmitted through the surface of the object;
• converting such detected light to data representing the relative intensity of light transmitted through each of a plurality of defined areas of the surface;
• analyzing such data to determine the existence of the selected feature of the surface;
• and
• classifying the object on the basis of such determination,
• wherein a plurality of surface features are considered, and said step of analyzing comprises determining if any of such surface features exists on the object,
• wherein the object is a citrus fruit with a peel, and wherein said step of analyzing comprises determining the extent of puff and crease in the peel of the citrus fruit.

A method of classifying a translucent object according to at least one selected surface feature of the object, comprising the steps of:

• illuminating the object to cause light to be scattered therewithin;
• detecting such scattered light transmitted through the surface of the object;
• converting such detected light to data representing the relative intensity of light transmitted through each of a plurality of defined areas of the surface;
• analyzing such data to determine the existence of the selected feature of the surface;
• and
• classifying the object on the basis of such determination,
• wherein a plurality of surface features are considered, and said step of analyzing comprises determining if any of such surface features exists on the object,
• wherein the object is a citrus fruit with a peel, and wherein said step of analyzing comprises determining the extent of ridges and valleys in the peel of the citrus fruit.

A method of classifying a translucent object according to at least one selected surface feature of the object, comprising the steps of:

• illuminating the object to cause light to be scattered therewithin;
• detecting such scattered light transmitted through the surface of the object;
• converting such detected light to data representing the relative intensity of light transmitted through each of a plurality of defined areas of the surface;
• analyzing such data to determine the existence of the selected feature of the surface;
• and
• classifying the object on the basis of such determination,
• wherein a plurality of surface features are considered, and said step of analyzing comprises determining if any of such surface features exists on the object,
• wherein the object is a citrus fruit with a peel, and wherein said step of analyzing comprises determining the extent of fractures in the peel of the citrus fruit.

A method of classifying a translucent object according to at least one selected surface feature of the object, comprising the steps of:

• illuminating the object to cause light to be scattered therewithin;
• detecting such scattered light transmitted through the surface of the object;
• converting such detected light to data representing the relative intensity of light transmitted through each of a plurality of defined areas of the surface;
• analyzing such data to determine the existence of the selected feature of the surface;
• and
• classifying the object on the basis of such determination,
• wherein a plurality of surface features are considered, and said step of analyzing comprises determining if any of such surface features exists on the object,
• wherein the object is a citrus fruit with a peel, and wherein said step of analyzing comprises determining the extent of surface decomposition in the peel of the citrus fruit.

A method of classifying a translucent object according to at least one selected surface feature of the object, comprising the steps of:

• illuminating the object to cause light to be scattered therewithin;
• detecting such scattered light transmitted through the surface of the object;
• converting such detected light to data representing the relative intensity of light transmitted through each of a plurality of defined areas of the surface;
• analyzing such data to determine the existence of the selected feature of the surface;
• and
• classifying the object on the basis of such determination,
• wherein the step of detecting further comprising the step of optically forming an image of the transmitted scattered light from the object, and
• wherein said step of analyzing comprises:
• separating the image into a background image and an object image;
• and removing the background image, leaving an object image,
• wherein the object is a fruit with a peel and wherein said step of analyzing comprises determining the extent of porosity of said peel, and further comprising:
• scanning the object image;
• filtering the scanned image for high frequency data using a high pass data filter;
• establishing a threshold of pixel intensity of the filtered image;
• and tabulating a number of pixels having an intensity above the threshold.

A method of classifying a translucent object according to at least one selected surface feature of the object, comprising the steps of:

• illuminating the object to cause light to be scattered therewithin;
• detecting such scattered light transmitted through the surface of the object;
• converting such detected light to data representing the relative intensity of light transmitted through each of a plurality of defined areas of the surface;
• analyzing such data to determine the existence of the selected feature of the surface;
• and
• classifying the object on the basis of such determination,
• wherein the step of detecting further comprising the step of optically forming an image of the transmitted scattered light from the object, and
• wherein said step of analyzing comprises:
• separating the image into a background image and an object image;
• and removing the background image, leaving an object image,
• wherein the object is a fruit with a peel and wherein said step of analyzing comprises determining the existence of hills and valleys in the peel, and further comprising:
• scanning the object image;
• filtering the scanned image for low frequency data using a low pass/smoothing data filter;
• establishing a threshold of pixel intensity of the filtered image;
• and
• tabulating the number of pixels having an intensity above the threshold.

A method of classifying a translucent object according to at least one selected surface feature of the object, comprising the steps of:

• illuminating the object to cause light to be scattered therewithin;
• detecting such scattered light transmitted through the surface of the object;
• converting such detected light to data representing the relative intensity of light transmitted through each of a plurality of defined areas of the surface;
• analyzing such data to determine the existence of the selected feature of the surface;
• and
• classifying the object on the basis of such determination,
• wherein the step of detecting further comprising the step of optically forming an image of the transmitted scattered light from the object, and
• wherein said step of analyzing comprises:
• separating the image into a background image and an object image;
• and removing the background image, leaving an object image,
• wherein the object is a fruit with a peel and wherein said step of analyzing comprises determining the existence of raised and recessed wedges in the peel, and further comprising:
• selectively scanning the object image for sharp transitions in pixel intensity;
• establishing a threshold of pixel intensity;
• tabulating the number of pixels having an intensity above the threshold in neighborhoods contiguous to pixel boundaries corresponding to sharp transitions, said neighborhoods being defined as blobs;
• and
• tabulating the number of blobs which exceed a predetermined characteristic parameter, whereby raised and recessed wedges in the peel are identified.

A method of classifying a translucent object according to at least one selected surface feature of the object, comprising the steps of:

• illuminating the object to cause light to be scattered therewithin;
• detecting such scattered light transmitted through the surface of the object;
• converting such detected light to data representing the relative intensity of light transmitted through each of a plurality of defined areas of the surface;
• analyzing such data to determine the existence of the selected feature of the surface;
• and
• classifying the object on the basis of such determination,
• wherein the step of detecting further comprising the step of optically forming an image of the transmitted scattered light from the object, and
• wherein said step of analyzing comprises:
• separating the image into a background image and an object image;
• and removing the background image, leaving an object image,
• wherein the object is a fruit with a peel and wherein said step of analyzing comprises determining the existence of fractures in the peel surface, and further comprising:
• scanning the object image for sharp transitions and pixel intensity;
• establishing a selected threshold of pixel intensity of the object image;
• and tabulating the number of pixels having an intensity above the selected threshold in neighborhoods continuous to pixel boundaries with sharp transitions, such neighborhoods being defined as blobs;
• and tabulating the number of such blobs which exceed a selected area and width, whereby fractures in the peel are identified.

A method of classifying a translucent object according to at least one selected surface feature of the object, comprising the steps of:

• illuminating the object to cause light to be scattered therewithin;
• detecting such scattered light transmitted through the surface of the object;
• converting such detected light to data representing the relative intensity of light transmitted through each of a plurality of defined areas of the surface;
• analyzing such data to determine the existence of the selected feature of the surface;
• and
• classifying the object on the basis of such determination,
• wherein the step of detecting further comprising the step of optically forming an image of the transmitted scattered light from the object, and
• wherein said step of analyzing comprises:
• separating the image into a background image and an object image;
• and removing the background image, leaving an object image,
• wherein the object is a fruit with a peel and wherein said step of analyzing comprises determining the existence of surface decomposition, and further comprising:
• scanning the object image for gradual transitions in pixel intensity;
• establishing a selected threshold of pixel intensity;
• tabulating the number of pixels having an intensity above the selected threshold in neighborhoods contiguous to pixel boundaries with gradual transitions, such neighborhoods being defined as blobs;
• and
• tabulating the number of such which exceed a given characteristic parameter,
• whereby surface decomposition is identified.

An apparatus for identifying at least one selected surface feature pattern on a translucent object, said object having a plurality of possible surface feature patterns, comprising:

• means for illuminating the object to cause light to be scattered therewithin;
• means or detecting such scattered light transmitted through the surface of the object;
• means for converting such detected light to data representing the relative intensity of light transmitted through each of a plurality of defined areas of the surface;
• and
• means for analyzing said data to derive a statistical measure of said data to identify said one of said surface feature patterns on said surface of said object,
• wherein said means for analyzing said data to derive a statistical measure of said data comprises means for forming a stored two dimensional digital image of said object, means for scanning said stored two dimensional digital image along a at least one straight line to obtain a scan of image intensity, means for generating a histogram of image intensity of said stored two dimensional digital image along said at least one straight line, and means for comparing said histogram to predetermined criteria to identify said one of said surface feature patterns.

An apparatus for identifying at least one selected surface feature pattern on a translucent object, said object having a plurality of possible surface feature patterns, comprising:

• means for illuminating the object to cause light to be scattered therewithin;
• means for detecting such scattered light transmitted through the surface of the object;
• means for converting such detected light to data representing the relative intensity of light transmitted through each of a plurality of defined areas of the surface;
• and
• means for analyzing said data to derive a statistical measure of said data to identify said one of said surface feature patterns on said surface of said object,
• wherein said means for detecting scattered light comprises a scanning camera directed at said object, but not in a line of sight with said means for illuminating said object, said scanning camera being otherwise shielded from said means for illuminating said object so that said scanning camera receives only signals scattered through said object and not from direct or reflected rays from said means for illuminating said object.