US 8,184,294 B2 · Apparatus and method for measuring haze of sheet materials or other materials

Abstract

A method includes illuminating a material with first light and capturing an image of second light transmitted through the material. The method also includes analyzing multiple regions of the image and determining one or more haze measurements associated with the material based on the analyzing. The method further includes storing and/or outputting the one or more haze measurements. Analyzing the multiple regions of the image may include summing pixel values in each region to produce a total pixel value for that region. The multiple regions of the image may include (i) a first region forming a first disc, (ii) a second region forming either a first annular region around the first region or a second disc larger than and including the first disc, and (iii) a third region forming either a second annular region around the second region or a third disc larger than and including the first and second discs.

Claims21

Dependent claims

A method comprising:

illuminating a material with first light;
capturing an image of second light transmitted through the material;
analyzing multiple regions of the image;
determining one or more haze measurements associated with the material based on analyzing the multiple regions;
and
at least one of storing and outputting the one or more haze measurements;
wherein the multiple regions of the image comprise:
a first region;
and
a second region comprising either (i) a region around the first region or (ii) a region larger than and including the first region.

7 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application

12/400,641Filed 9 Mar 2009

Published

US 2010/0226524 A19 Sep 2010

Granted

22 May 2012

Term ends

Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification6 codes

G01N 21/47
Systems in which incident light is modified in accordance with the properties of the material investigated: scattering, i.e. diffuse reflection
G01N 21/59
Systems in which incident light is modified in accordance with the properties of the material investigated: transmissivity
G01N 21/896
Characterised by the flaw, defect or object feature examined: optical defects in or on transparent materials, e.g. distortion, surface flaws in…
G01N 21/958
Characterised by the material or shape of the object to be examined: inspecting transparent materials or objects, e.g. windscreens

Apparatus and method for measuring haze of sheet materials or other materials

Life of this patent

Apparatus and method for measuring haze of sheet materials or other materials

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims21