Defect and maintenance detection for image capture device

A maintenance detection system for use with an image capture device having a plurality of sensing elements for creating an image of an object, the system comprising:

• a device video profiler that accesses a stored device video value for each sensing element;
• an image video profiler that acquires an image video value for each sensing element that experiences the object, each image video value representing a brightest video value experienced by the respective sensing element during imaging of the object;
• a value combiner that combines each image video value with a corresponding device video value to create a combined value for each image video value;
• a defect determinator that determines the presence of a defect in the image capture device based on a combined value exceeding a defect threshold;
• and
• a maintenance determinator that determines when maintenance is required based on the defect determinator outcome;
• wherein the device video profiler updates each device video value that is used to create a combined value by combining:
• a) a first percentage of the used device video value, and
• b) a second percentage of a corresponding image video value,
• wherein the second percentage is greater when the corresponding image video value is brighter than the used device video value versus when the corresponding image video value is darker than the used device video value.

A maintenance detection system for use with an image capture device having a plurality of sensing elements for creating an image of an object, the system comprising:

• a device video profiler that accesses a stored device video value for each sensing element;
• an image video profiler that acquires an image video value for each sensing element that experiences the object, each image video value representing a brightest video value experienced by the respective sensing element during imaging of the object;
• a value combiner that combines each image video value with a corresponding device video value to create a combined value for each image video value;
• a defect determinator that determines the presence of a defect in the image capture device based on a combined value exceeding a defect threshold;
• and
• a maintenance determinator that determines when maintenance is required based on the defect determinator outcome;
• wherein the value combiner multiplies each image video value by a corresponding device video value to create the combined value.

A method for detecting when maintenance is required in an image capture device having a plurality of sensing elements for imaging an object, the method comprising the steps of:

• a) accessing a device video value for each sensing element;
• b) imaging an object with the image capture device;
• c) acquiring an image video value for each sensing element that experiences the object, each image video value representing a brightest video value experienced by the respective sensing element during imaging of the object;
• d) updating each device video value;
• e) combining each image video value with a corresponding device video value to create a combined value for each image video value;
• f) determining a defect is present in the image capture device for each combined value that exceeds a defect threshold;
• g) determining when maintenance is required based on the presence of at least one defect;
• and
• h) indicating when maintenance is required for the image capture device.

A method for detecting when maintenance is required in an image capture device having a plurality of sensing elements for imaging an object, the method comprising the steps of:

• a) accessing a device video value for each sensing element;
• b) imaging an object with the image capture device;
• c) acquiring an image video value for each sensing element that experiences the object, each image video value representing a brightest video value experienced by the respective sensing element during imaging of the object;
• d) combining each image video value with a corresponding device video value to create a combined value for each image video value;
• e) determining a defect is present in the image capture device for each combined value that exceeds a defect threshold;
• f) determining when maintenance is required based on the presence of at least one defect;
• and
• g) indicating when maintenance is required for the image capture device;
• wherein the step of combining includes multiplying each image video value by a corresponding device video value to create the combined value.