US 6,643,455 B1Granted

Object imaging system

AssigneeRMS Research Management Systems, Inc.

InventorKurt David Malmstrom

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Abstract

An object imaging system, particularly for slaughtered animal carcases or meat pieces, includes an imaging station to which the object (10) is introduced, a camera (20) at the imaging station, and lighting means (30). The imaging station includes a backing member (15) for providing a background for the object (10), and an image capture enclosure (21) which has an open side (22) facing towards the backing member (15), the inside surfaces of the enclosure (21) being non-reflective. The camera (20) is mounted in the enclosure (21) and faces towards the open side (22) and towards the backing member (15). The lighting means (30) includes multiple light sources (31), some of the light sources (35, 36, 37) being provided inside the image capture enclosure (21) and located so as to face towards the open side (22) thereof and some of the light sources (32, 33, 34) being provided outside the enclosure to face towards the backing member (15), the light sources (31) being located at points which define an imaginary concave surface (38) with the concavity facing towards and being generally focussed on a region where the object (10) is introduced for imaging. The camera (20) has an associated camera housing (40) completely enclosing the camera in a sealed environment, the housing (40) having an associated temperature control means (45) operative to maintain a predetermined temperature or temperature range for the camera (20).

An object imaging system including an imaging station to which a target object (10) is introduced, a camera (20) provided at the imaging station for capturing an image of the target object, and lighting means (30) for illuminating the target object (10) during the capture of the image, wherein:

the imaging station includes a backing member (15) for providing a background for the target object (10) when it is being imaged by the camera (20) and an image capture enclosure (21) which has an open side (22) facing towards the backing member (15) and spaced from the backing member so that the target object (10) can be introduced into the space between the backing member and the open side (22) of the image capture enclosure (21), the inside surfaces of the image capture enclosure (21) being non-reflective,
the camera (20) being mounted in the image capture enclosure (21) and facing towards the open side (22) thereof and towards the backing member (15), and
the lighting means (30) being at least partially provided inside the image capture enclosure (21) and facing the open side (22) thereof and towards the backing member (15) so as to illuminate the target object (10) when it is introduced,
the object imaging system being characterised in that:
the lighting means (30) includes multiple light sources (31), some of the light sources (35), (36), (37) being provided inside the image capture enclosure (21) and located so as to face towards the open side (22) thereof and some of the light sources (32), (33), (34) being provided outside the image capture enclosure but also being located so as to face towards the backing member (15) so as to illuminate target objects (10) introduced into the space between the backing member and the open side (22) of the image capture enclosure (21), the light sources (31) being located at points which define an imaginary concave surface (38) with the concavity facing towards and being generally focussed on a region where the target object (10) is introduced for imaging.

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Abstract

Claims8