Method and apparatus for detecting a subject

Abstract

A sensing apparatus comprising a plurality of sensing units, a sensing unit comprising an energy source for transmitting a beam of electromagnetic radiation through a subject object, a detector for receiving the beam from the subject object, and a controller, wherein the detector is arranged in a dispersed configuration, the sensing units comprise a plurality of groups, the controller sends a first activation signal to a single group, and a second activation signal to the next group at a different time, and subsequent signals to other groups, and in the dispersed configuration, the distance between each detector of each group and a detector of another group is greater than the distance between it and the nearest detector of the next sequential group.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to a method and apparatus for detecting components or defects in materials such as food, ceramics, and composite materials. Background Technology

[0002] Sensing devices used to study the internal structure of test objects are well-known and have many different applications. One particular application is the detection of bone or cartilage in processed meat intended for human consumption. These meat products must be free of particulate matter that could endanger the end consumer and comply with various laws and regulations. Because meat for human consumption is processed on an industrial scale and at high speed, there is a need for sensing devices capable of effectively and rapidly detecting the presence of bone or cartilage particles.

[0003] X-ray imaging systems have been used to study the internal structure and properties of a range of objects, including food and the human body. In particular, X-ray imaging systems have been used in the past to detect the presence of bone or cartilage particles in processed meats intended for human consumption. However, this method is only effective when detecting materials with a specific density. Detection in raw foods such as beef or pork is not a problem because the bones or cartilage of the donor animal are developed enough to reach a density level detectable by X-ray imaging systems. However, when it comes to meats such as chicken or other poultry, X-ray imaging systems are not effective because the bones and cartilage of the donor animal are often underdeveloped and therefore not dense enough to form easily detectable particles.

[0004] Other issues with X-ray imaging systems include their potential dangers to operators, large size, and high cost.

[0005] US2009 / 0279773 (GAN et al.) proposes using electromagnetic radiation beams instead of ionizing radiation beams to study the internal structure of test objects. Specifically, in one version, a near-infrared (NIR) laser is used. The NIR source beam is transmitted through the test object to a detector, which detects the portion of the beam that reaches it and generates a detector signal accordingly. A controller then generates a difference corresponding to the difference between the amplitude of the detector signal and the amplitude of a reference signal, which is identical to the driving signal of the source beam. The difference can be used in any suitable manner to detect the presence of a particular material. GAN also discloses the use of NIR detector arrays configured linearly or planarly, allowing simultaneous detection of test objects at multiple spatially separated locations. Theoretically, if the detector signal is digitized, this structure can generate an image of the test object, and the imaging function is configured to present the visual image on a display screen comprising pixels with visual features generated based on the difference.

[0006] However, it has been found that this is practically impossible when attempting to study the internal structure of materials such as chicken meat, because the near-infrared source beam scatters too much as it passes through the material, sending interference to adjacent detectors. Specifically, when an NIR source laser beam passes through a piece of ordinary chicken being processed for human consumption, it scatters over an area approximately 40 mm in diameter or larger. Therefore, a linear array of NIR source beams must be spaced at least 40 mm apart to avoid interference, and because of this distance, sufficient data cannot be collected. To collect enough data to generate a readable image of the internal structure of the test object, the array of source NIR beams needs to be transmitted through it at intervals of approximately 2.5 mm. Summary of the Invention

[0007] The present invention aims to overcome some of the aforementioned problems. This is achieved according to the invention by the method of claim 1 and the apparatus of claim 7, which is applicable to implementing the method of claim 1.

[0008] The method for detecting a test object according to claim 1 includes: The method involves providing multiple beam tracks for an electromagnetic radiation beam, the multiple beam tracks being arranged in a dispersed configuration that can be decomposed into partitions of beam track groups, each of the beam track groups including at least one beam track, the distance between the beam tracks in the beam track group including multiple beam tracks being not less than a predetermined value, the predetermined value being greater than at least one of the distances between the beam tracks in the multiple beam tracks; and sequentially activating each of the beam track groups to transmit the electromagnetic radiation beam along the beam track of the beam track group, while positioning the test object in the multiple beam tracks and sensing electromagnetic radiation in each electromagnetic radiation beam transmitted through or reflected from the test object.

[0009] The apparatus for detecting a test object according to claim 7 comprises: A transmission device for transmitting multiple electromagnetic radiation beams along multiple beam tracks, the multiple beam tracks being arranged in a dispersed configuration that can be decomposed into partitions of beam track groups, each of the beam track groups including at least one beam track, the distance between the beam tracks in the beam track group including multiple beam tracks being not less than a predetermined value, the predetermined value being greater than at least one of the distances between the beam tracks in the multiple beam tracks. A positioning device for positioning the test object within the plurality of beam trajectories; and A sensing device for sensing electromagnetic radiation transmitted through or reflected from the test object in each electromagnetic radiation beam.

[0010] Therefore, according to the present invention, the sensing device may include a plurality of sensing units corresponding to a plurality of beam tracks, and includes an energy source for transmitting an electromagnetic radiation beam along each of the beam tracks to a test object, a detector for receiving a portion of the electromagnetic radiation beam transmitted through or reflected from the test object, and a controller; wherein the sensing units are arranged in a distributed configuration, the distributed configuration being decomposed into partitions of beam track groups, each of the beam track groups including at least one beam track, the distance between the beam tracks in the beam track group including a plurality of beam tracks being not less than a predetermined value, the predetermined value being greater than at least one of the distances between the beam tracks in the plurality of beam tracks; specifically, the sensing units include a first group and a second group, and the controller sends a first activation signal to the first group to activate at a first time, and sends a second activation signal to the second group to activate at different second times, and the interval between each beam track of the first group of sensing units and each other beam track in the first group of sensing units is greater than its distance to the nearest beam track in the second group of sensing units. According to the present invention, the distance between beam tracks within the same group is particularly greater than the minimum distance between the plurality of beam tracks, preferably greater than a second minimum distance. The electromagnetic radiation beams remain essentially focused around their respective trajectories as they propagate freely.

[0011] Therefore, in its simplest form, the present invention is a sensing device in which the sensing units of a first group and a second group are distributed and then used at different times. This allows the sensing units of the first group to be activated when there is no interference from the second group, and vice versa.

[0012] It should be understood that the sensing units can be arranged in various two-dimensional or three-dimensional configurations, depending on any specific application. For example, the energy source can be a single energy source, which, for instance, can transmit electromagnetic radiation beams in different directions to detectors arranged in a two-dimensional or three-dimensional dispersed configuration around the single energy source via lenses or prisms. Furthermore, the sensing device can be configured in a reflective arrangement, wherein detectors are arranged to detect electromagnetic radiation beams reflected by the test object (or a reflective element positioned behind it), with the detectors provided on the same side of the test object as the energy source.

[0013] However, in a preferred configuration, each sensing unit may include a separate energy source having a beam propagation direction along a respective beam trajectory, and the sensing units may be arranged in a distributed configuration with beam propagation directions parallel to each other, at least providing space regions through which the test object traverses during movement on the plurality of beam trajectories. Thus, the sensing devices can be arranged to sense the internal structure of the three-dimensional test object in the path of parallel electromagnetic radiation beams, with each sensing unit sensing the properties of the material located between its energy source and detector. The sensing units collectively sense the properties of the material region located between all the parallel energy sources and detectors.

[0014] The sensing units can be arranged in any dispersed configuration, wherein the distance between each beam trajectory of the first group of sensing units and each other beam trajectory of the first group of sensing units is greater than the distance between each beam trajectory and the nearest beam trajectory of the second group of sensing units. In such known sensing devices, the sensing units are arranged in a row. If this configuration is used, the sensing units of the first group of sensing units will simply alternate with the sensing units of the second group of sensing units to achieve the present invention. Other linear arrangements are also possible, such as cross-shaped, or square, circular, or other shaped contours, wherein the detectors of the first and second groups of sensing units can alternate with each other along a line or contour. The present invention may also include any more complex shape or configuration, or wherein the spacing between the sensing units varies randomly, but wherein the distance between each sensing unit of the first group of sensing units and each other beam trajectory of the first group of sensing units is still greater than the distance between each sensing unit and the nearest beam trajectory of the second group of sensing units.

[0015] As described above, NIR source beams scatter as they pass through materials, and in some cases, this scattering may be small enough that the invention can be implemented using only the first and second sets of sensing units. However, the invention has a particular application in detecting the internal structure of processed meat intended for human consumption, and in this application, a greater number of sensing unit sets may be required because the size of the test object is too small for two sets of sensing units to be effective.

[0016] Therefore, the sensing unit may further include a third and a fourth group, wherein each detector in each of the first, second, third, and fourth sensing unit groups is spaced apart from each other unit in its group by a distance greater than the distance between it and the nearest unit in each other sensing unit group. The controller may send a third activation signal to the third group of sensing units and a fourth activation signal to the fourth group of sensing units; the first, second, third, and fourth activation signals are configured to activate the first, second, third, and fourth groups of sensing units at different times from each other. More generally, the number of groups and associated activation signals is not limited to four or fewer. There may be more than four, particularly any even number greater than four, up to the theoretical limit of the total number of beamtrajectories of the plurality of beamtrajectories.

[0017] Therefore, in this form, the invention is a sensing device in which the units of the first, second, third, and fourth groups of sensing units are distributed and then used at different times in a quaternary activation sequence. This allows the sensing units of each group to be activated without interference from any other group. This allows for a more compact array of sensing units, particularly a sufficiently compact array to generate enough detector signals, thereby allowing the creation of a viable visual image.

[0018] The sensing units in the first, second, third, and fourth groups can be arranged in any distributed configuration, wherein the distance between each unit in the first, second, third, and fourth groups and another unit in its group is greater than the distance between it and the nearest unit in each other group. As described above, in such known sensing devices, the sensing units are arranged in a row, and if so, the units of the first, second, third, and fourth groups can be arranged in this repeating order to implement the present invention.

[0019] However, the area of ​​near-infrared laser scattering transmitted into the chicken meat is approximately 40 mm. This means that if the first, second, third, and fourth groups of sensing units are arranged in a row, the sensing units must be spaced at least 10 mm apart within that row to ensure that interference between sensing units within the same group is avoided. This would make the spatial resolution of the sensing device too low for this application. One way to overcome this problem is to have more groups of sensing units, thereby increasing the distance between each group of sensing units, but this means that all sensing units require a longer time to activate, which in itself creates a problem.

[0020] In addition to the above, the closer the sensing units are to each other, the better the quality of the data that can be collected on the internal structure of the test object, and in particular, the better the visual images that can be generated. One way to achieve closer sensing is to take advantage of the fact that the test object passes by the sensing device at a constant speed, so it can be sensed at different moments during its passage.

[0021] Therefore, the sensing units can be arranged in an array comprising rows and columns, and in the direction from the top row to the bottom row of the array, each row can be laterally offset from the previous row by a distance equal to the distance between the sensing units in each row divided by the number of rows. With this configuration, conventional single-row sensing units are rearranged into a two-dimensional array, which is distributed along the direction of travel of the test object. In a particular embodiment, the rows extend laterally to the direction of travel. The number of rows can be two or more, particularly three or more. The number of sensing units in each row can be two or more, particularly three or more.

[0022] Due to the lateral offset between each row, each column includes a set of sensing units arranged at a pitch angle, so that each sensing unit is only a short lateral distance from the next. Therefore, if the test object passes the sensing device at a speed that is a factor of the distance between rows, the data collected from each sensing unit in each column can be collected back into a single line representing a plane of the test object, where the gaps between the sensing units are small.

[0023] In a particular embodiment, each of the first set of alternating columns of the array may include alternating sensing units from the first and second groups, and each of the second set of alternating columns of the array may include alternating sensing units from the third and fourth groups. This results in an array consisting of a square configuration of four sensing units, which include sensing units from the first, third, fourth, and second groups in a clockwise direction. In this configuration, the nearest sensing unit of a sensing unit 2 in one group belongs to another group, while the nearest sensing unit in its own group is always two distances apart along each row or column.

[0024] It should be understood that the array can include any number of sensing units. In one particular embodiment, the total number is divisible by four. However, preferably, the array can include sixty-four sensing units arranged in eight rows and eight columns.

[0025] Using this configuration, sixty-four sensing units can be located in an array only 16 cm wide. To achieve this, the sensing units in each row can be spaced approximately 20 mm apart, and the rows can also be spaced approximately 20 mm apart. The lateral offset between rows (column spacing) can be 2.5 mm. Thus, the plane of the test object is initially sensed by the top row of the array at 20 mm intervals, then moves to the next row, where similar 20 mm intervals are sensed, but with a width of 2.5 mm. This process continues through all eight rows until a complete sensing line with 2.5 mm intervals is obtained. This is sufficient to collect enough data to form a readable image.

[0026] As described below, the quaternary activation sequence of the first, second, third, and fourth groups of sensing units can occur within 1 ms. If so, the speed at which the test object passes through the sensing device can be set such that the plane of the test object perpendicular to the direction of travel will travel 20 mm from the first row to the second row within 1 ms. However, this is a high speed, so a speed can be set such that the plane of the test object moves 20 mm from the first row to the second row in more than 1 ms, for example, at 4 ms (5 meters per second) or 8 ms (2.5 meters per second). Any speed that is an integer multiple of the distance between rows can be chosen; all that is needed is to collect the data from each sensing unit in each column back to a single line representing a plane of the test object and take that speed into account. For example, if the speed is 2.5 meters per second, then the eighth detection in the second row, the sixteenth detection in the third row, and the twenty-fourth detection in the fourth row, etc., all need to be aligned with the first detection in the first row to form a single plane of the test object.

[0027] However, there is a more complex factor: the sensing units are activated in a quaternion sequence, resulting in a spatial offset due to the phase time delay between the quaternion phases. However, this spatial offset is very small. Once this small offset is combined with the pixel average multiple times, for example, data is created every 1ms, the small offset becomes a negligible error.

[0028] In addition to the above, the sensing units in each row can be spaced any other suitable distance, and the rows can also be spaced any other suitable distance, depending on the overall size of the sensing device and the size of the test object to be sensed, which may be very different from chicken meat. Similarly, each row can be offset laterally from the previous row by any appropriate distance as needed.

[0029] The wavelength of the energy source can be any wavelength in the electromagnetic spectrum capable of interacting with the test object, allowing the detectable remainder to pass through it. The energy source itself can be any object capable of emitting such electromagnetic radiation, including LEDs or other forms of emitters. However, preferably, the energy source can include a near-infrared laser for transmitting a laser beam through the test object. Near-infrared radiation is electromagnetic radiation with wavelengths in the range of 700 to 2000 nm. Within this wavelength range, most materials are relatively transparent to electromagnetic radiation, meaning that a sufficient amount passes through, enabling the detection of internal structures.

[0030] Energy sources can be activated in various ways. For example, they can be turned on and off, or they can be continuously powered energy sources activated by an on / off switch. Furthermore, energy sources can be activated by a drive signal that tilts the intensity of the energy source up and down, and / or adjusts the frequency of the energy source.

[0031] However, preferably, the controller can send a pulse wave signal to each sensing unit, which sequentially turns the near-infrared laser on and off. The pulse wave signal can have a pulse duration of approximately 1 ms and a peak amplitude duration of approximately 0.25 ms.

[0032] Subsequently, the controller can simultaneously send first, second, third, and fourth pulse wave signals to the first, second, third, and fourth groups of sensing units, respectively, with a phase difference of 0.25ms between each pulse wave signal and the next pulse wave signal. Therefore, the first, second, third, and fourth groups of sensing units are activated in a continuous 1ms quaternary transmission sequence.

[0033] As described above, the present invention aims to provide a method for detecting the internal structure of processed meat intended for human consumption, particularly the presence of bone or cartilage particles in chicken. Data collected by the sensing device can be used in any suitable or advantageous manner. For example, the data can be simply processed by a suitable computer program that can determine the presence of bone or cartilage particles in a particular test subject based on the raw data collected by the detector. This can be achieved by comparing a detection signal sent by the detector with a reference signal corresponding to an activation signal sent to an energy source. The difference can then be readily determined, and a determination made. If so, appropriate automatic actions, such as alarms or activation mechanisms, can be executed to remove the test subject from the production line.

[0034] However, preferably, the sensing device may further include an imaging device comprising an imaging function and a visual display screen. Each detector may send a detection signal to the imaging device corresponding to the electromagnetic radiation detected in use. The visual display screen may include multiple pixels, and the imaging function may establish the visual characteristics of each pixel based on the detection signal received from the sensing unit. The visual characteristics of each pixel may simply be a scale from white to black. Thus, fundamentally, the greater the amount of electromagnetic radiation detected by the detector, the lighter the corresponding pixel appears to be in the imaging function. Therefore, if any bone or cartilage particles are present in the test object, these particles will be visible as dark objects on the visual display screen. This imaging technique is known, and there are many enhancement and adjustable parameters, such as filters and phase adjustments, to manipulate the detection signal, thereby creating a viable image. Since these features are known, they will not be described in further detail here.

[0035] Each detector can send continuous real-time detection signals to the imaging device, enabling the visual display to show real-time animated images. This is due to the speed of the continuous quaternary emission sequence.

[0036] Due to the inherent phase issues and array shape in the quaternary activation sequence, the data collected and transmitted to the imaging device by the first, second, third, and fourth groups of sensing units will be correlated with different regions of the object as it passes through the array of sensing units. Therefore, the imaging device can include a phase compensation function to ensure that the detection signals transmitted from the detectors of the first, second, third, and fourth groups of sensing units are in phase with each other, thereby creating a readable image.

[0037] In a preferred configuration, the sensing device may include an upper housing in which an energy source may be disposed, a lower housing in which a detector may be disposed, and a conveyor belt device for moving test objects between the upper and lower housings. This is a configuration commonly known in the sensing industry and is applicable to the present invention because it provides a method by which continuous test objects are moved past the sensing device at a constant speed. Attached Figure Description

[0038] This invention can be implemented in various ways, but one embodiment will now be described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 This is a perspective view of the sensing device according to the present invention; Figure 2 yes Figure 1 A bottom view of the upper housing of the sensor shown; Figure 3 yes Figure 1 A top view of the lower housing of the sensor shown; Figure 4 yes Figure 1 A schematic diagram of the energy source for the sensor unit array of the sensing device shown in the first operating mode; Figure 5 yes Figure 4 The diagram shown is a schematic of the energy source in the second operating mode; Figure 6 yes Figure 4 The diagram shown illustrates the energy consumption in the third operating mode. Figure 7 yes Figure 4 The diagram shown illustrates the energy consumption in the fourth operating mode. Figure 8 yes Figure 1 A schematic diagram of the operating components of the sensor shown; Figure 9 Is sent to, for example Figure 1 A schematic diagram showing the first, second, third, and fourth pulse wave signals of the first, second, third, and fourth groups of sensing units in the shown sensing device; and Figure 10 yes Figure 1 Side view of the sensing unit of the sensing device shown. Detailed Implementation

[0039] As shown in the figure, the sensing device 1 includes multiple sensing units 2. Each sensing unit 2 includes an energy source in the form of an NIR laser 3 for transmitting an electromagnetic radiation beam along a beam trajectory to a test object (not shown), a detector 4 for receiving the electromagnetic radiation beam from the test object, and a controller in the form of a computer processor 5. As explained further below, the sensing units 2 are arranged in a distributed configuration; the sensing units 2 include a first group 6 and a second group 7, and the controller 5 sends a first activation signal 8 to the first group 6 for activation at a first time, and sends a second activation signal 9 to the second group 7 for activation at different second times. In the distributed configuration, the distance between each beam trajectory of the first group 6 and each other beam trajectory of the first group 6 is greater than the distance between each beam trajectory of the first group 6 and the nearest beam trajectory of the second group 7.

[0040] refer to Figure 1 The sensing device 1 includes an upper housing 10 and a lower housing 11. An NIR laser 3 and a computer processor 5 are disposed in the upper housing 10, and a detector 4 is disposed in the lower housing 11. The upper housing 10 and lower housing 11 are designed to be mounted on an existing frame (not shown) that forms part of a meat production line for human consumption. When mounted in this manner, the NIR laser 3 of each sensing unit 2 is vertically aligned with its corresponding detector 4 below it, so that the beam trajectories are parallel to each other. The lower housing 11 is mounted below a conveyor platform 12, which is designed to be integrated into a conveyor belt mechanism (not shown) that forms part of the meat production line for human consumption. An opening 13 is provided in the conveyor platform 12, exposing the detector 4. Therefore, a test object in the form of processed chicken can pass between the upper housing 10 and the lower housing 11 at a constant speed.

[0041] Figure 2 and Figure 3 The lower side 14 and upper side 15 of the upper housing 10 and lower housing 11 are shown respectively. This shows that the sensing unit 2, consisting of opposing NIR lasers 3 and detectors 4, is arranged in an array 16. In fact, in the sensing device 1, there are two such arrays 16 and 16a, each array comprising sixty-four sensing units 2, which are arranged in eight rows 17 and eight columns 18.

[0042] Now for reference Figures 4 to 7These figures illustrate the arrangement of sensing units 2 in array 16, which consists of sixty-four sensing units arranged in eight rows 17 and eight columns 18. Specifically, in sensing device 1, in addition to the first group 6 and the second group 7 of sensing units, there are also a third group 19 and a fourth group 20. Computer processor 5 sends a third activation signal 21 to the third group 19 and a fourth activation signal 22 to the fourth group 20. Although the invention can be implemented with only two such groups, four are used in the preferred embodiment. Figures 4 to 7 The NIR lasers 3 in the first group 6, the second group 7, the third group 19, and the fourth group 20 are shown emitting, indicating their positions.

[0043] It should be understood that the first set of alternating columns 23 of array 16 each includes alternating sensing units 2 of the first group 6 and the second group 7, and the second set of alternating columns 24 of array 16 each includes alternating sensing units of the third group 19 and the fourth group 20. This results in an array 16 consisting of sixteen square configurations 25 of four sensing units 2, which include sensing units of the first group 6, the third group 19, the fourth group 20, and the second group 7 in a clockwise direction. In this configuration, the nearest sensing unit of a group of sensing units 2 belongs to another group, while the nearest sensing unit 2 in its own group is always separated by two spacings along each row 17 or each column 18.

[0044] The array 16 is 16cm wide. The sensing units 2 in each row 17 are spaced 20mm apart by a distance A, and the rows 17 are spaced 20mm apart by a distance B. The lateral offset C between the rows 17 is 2.5mm.

[0045] refer to Figure 8 The computer processor 5 includes an operating system 27, which includes a drive signal subroutine 28. This generates a first activation signal 8, a second activation signal 9, a third activation signal 21, and a fourth activation signal 22, and sends them to the first group 6, the second group 7, the third group 19, and the fourth group 20 of the sensing unit 2, respectively.

[0046] These activation signals 8, 9, 21, and 22 are as follows: Figure 9 As shown, these are pulse wave signals with a period D of 1 ms and a peak amplitude duration E of 0.25 ms. These four signals 8, 9, 21, and 22 are simultaneously transmitted to the first group 6, the second group 7, the third group 19, and the fourth group 20 of sensing unit 2, respectively, with a phase difference of 0.25 ms between each pulse wave signal and the next. Therefore, the sensing units of the first group 6, the second group 7, the third group 19, and the fourth group 20 are activated at intervals separate from each other in a continuous 1 ms quaternary transmission sequence.

[0047] The operating system 27 also includes a reference signal subroutine 29, which generates and sends reference signals corresponding to activation signals 8, 9, 21 and 22, and is used to compare with detection signals.

[0048] The sensing device 1 also includes an imaging device 30, which includes an operating system 31. The operating system 31 includes an imaging subroutine 32, a phase compensation subroutine 33, and a visual display screen 34. The detectors 2 send detection signals to the imaging device 30, which correspond to the electromagnetic radiation they detect during use. The visual display screen 34 includes multiple pixels, and the imaging subroutine 32 establishes the visual characteristics of each pixel based on the detection signals received from the sensing unit 2. This is achieved in a known manner by comparing the detection signals with a reference signal provided by a reference signal subroutine 29 to determine the differences. The visual characteristics of each pixel can simply be a scale from white to black. If there is no difference between the detection signal and the reference signal, the corresponding pixel is set to white. If the detection signal is zero, the corresponding pixel is set to black, and if the detection signal has values ​​between these two extremes, the pixel is set to an appropriate grayscale. Therefore, the greater the amount of electromagnetic radiation detected by the detector 4, the lighter the corresponding pixel is set by the imaging subroutine 32. Thus, if any bone or cartilage particles are present in the test object, these will be visible as dark objects on the visual display screen 34. This imaging technique is known, and there are many enhancements and adjustable parameters, such as filters and phase adjustments, to correct the detection signal, thereby creating a viable image. Since these features are known, they will not be described in further detail here.

[0049] (Understandable, Figure 8 The schematic diagram shown is very simplified and is only used to illustrate the basic functions of the sensing device 1. In practice, any known computer programming method or structure can be employed to implement the functions of this invention, depending on the individual programmer and the software and / or hardware used. For example, the imaging device 30 can be integrated with the computer processor 5, rather than being separate from it. Many other subroutines and functions known in computer science can also be applied to the sensing device 1 to improve its performance in any known way. All that is required is to provide the functions of this invention, and for the sensing device 1 to perform the novel features as described herein.

[0050] Detector 4 sends continuous real-time detection signals to imaging device 30, causing visual display screen 34 to display real-time animated images. This is due to the continuous quaternary emission sequence.

[0051] Figure 10A sensing unit 2 of array 16 is shown. This is a known structure and includes opposing NIR lasers 3 and detectors 4. The NIR laser 3 includes an energy-emitting diode 35 located in a slot 36 formed in the upper housing 10. A lens assembly 37 is located above the diode 35, so that when activated, the NIR laser beam passes through the upper channel 38 and through the gap 39 to the lower housing 11. The NIR laser beam has a wavelength suitable for the application. In this case, the NIR laser beam has a wavelength that substantially penetrates the chicken meat, but at least partially does not penetrate the bone or cartilage particles in the chicken meat, thus allowing their presence to be detected. When the NIR laser beam reaches detector 4, it passes through lens 40 and then through the lower channel 41 to detector diode 42. Detector diode 42 is a detector of a known type that can detect the NIR laser beam and can transmit a detection signal.

[0052] See again Figure 4 When a near-infrared laser beam passes through a test object (such as chicken meat), it can scatter over an area 43 with a diameter of 40 mm or larger. Therefore, the scattering caused by the activation of sensing unit 6a will interfere with all eight surrounding sensing units, as shown in the figure, when they are activated simultaneously.

[0053] In use, the sensing device 1 of the present invention operates as follows. The sensing device 1 is mounted on the frame (not shown) of a meat production line for human consumption, and a conveyor belt is arranged to travel between the upper housing 10 and the lower housing 11 at a constant speed of 2.42 meters per second. Chicken meat for human consumption is placed on the conveyor belt, such that it passes between the upper housing 10 and the lower housing 11 at this constant speed.

[0054] Operate the computer processor 5 so that the drive signal subroutine 28 follows the instructions. Figure 9 The phase sequence shown indicates that the first activation signal 8, the second activation signal 9, the third activation signal 21, and the fourth activation signal 22 are simultaneously sent to the first group 6, the second group 7, the third group 19, and the fourth group 20 of sensing unit 2. Therefore, the near-infrared lasers 3 of the first group 6, the second group 7, the third group 19, and the fourth group 20 of sensing unit 2 are activated with a 1ms quaternary emission sequence, as shown. Figures 4 to 7 As shown. The computer processor 5 operates to send the reference signal to the imaging subroutine 32 of the imaging device 30.

[0055] The detectors 4 of the first group 6, the second group 7, the third group 19, and the fourth group 20 of the sensing unit 2 detect the NIR laser beams arriving at them and send the detection signals to the imaging device 30. The imaging subroutine 32 then compares the detection signals with a reference signal provided by the reference signal subroutine 29 to determine the difference. It then establishes the visual characteristics of each pixel on the visual display screen 34 to create an image. The visual characteristics of each pixel are a scale from white to black. If there is no difference between the detection signal and the reference signal, the corresponding pixel is set to white. If the detection signal is zero, the corresponding pixel is set to black, and if the detection signal has a value between these two extreme values, the pixel is set to an appropriate grayscale.

[0056] Simultaneously, the phase compensation subroutine 33 is operated to synthesize the received detection signals into a readable image. This is sometimes referred to as the re-stitching function. The quaternary activation sequence of the first group 6, the second group 7, the third group 19, and the fourth group 20 of the sensing units 2 occurs within 1 ms, and the conveyor belt moves at a speed of 2.42 meters per second. Thus, the complete detection plane of a piece of chicken traveling on the conveyor belt consists of detection data from all sixty-four sensing units 2, but from the detection data at four different times when they are activated. In particular, the four sensing units 2 of the first group 6 in the first row 17 (located in the first alternating column 23) are the first to detect the internal structure of the specific plane of the chicken piece. At the same time, the four sensing units 2 of the first group 6 in the third, fifth, and seventh rows 17 are also activated, and they detect the internal structure of three other planes 20 mm apart from each other, which may or may not intersect with the chicken piece. After 0.25ms, the four sensor units 2 of the second group 7 in rows 2, 4, 6, and 8 (17) are activated, and they detect the internal structure of four other planes 20mm apart from each other. These planes may or may not intersect with the chicken piece. After 0.25ms, all sensor units 2 of the third group (19) are activated, and after 0.25ms, all sensor units 2 of the fourth group (20) are activated, thus detecting the internal structure of another eight planes. This 1ms four-transmission process is repeated continuously, so as the chicken piece passes through the sensing device 1, data is collected for each 2.5mm interval region of each consecutive plane of the chicken piece. The problem is to re-stitch all the data together to generate a readable image.

[0057] In this example, 8.25ms after the four sensing units 2 of the first group 6 on the first row 17 detect the internal structure of the plane of the chicken piece, the plane aligns with the four sensing units 2 of the second group 7 on the second row 17, because its speed of 2.42 meters per second means it has traveled a distance of 20mm. Therefore, when the plane of the chicken piece reaches this point, the four sensing units 2 of the second group 7 on the second row 17 will be activated for the ninth time after the plane of the chicken piece is below the first row 17. Therefore, these specific detections need to be stitched together to form the detection of the plane of the chicken piece.

[0058] The sensing units 2 located in the third group 19 and the fourth group 20 of the second alternating column 24 perform the same process, but are offset by 0.5 ms from the first group 6 and the second group 7, because they are activated in the third and fourth sections of the 1 ms four-transmission sequence. The phase compensation subroutine 33 also takes this into account and reassembles all the collected data so that each row of pixels on the visual display 34 is associated with a specific plane passing through the sensing device 1. Since the sensing device 1 includes two arrays 16 and 16a, the visual display 34 can display an image that includes 128 data collection points in each row.

[0059] Due to the dispersion of sensing units 2 in array 16, when each sensing unit is activated, an interference area (such as...) is generated. Figure 4 (As shown in column 43) is insufficient to reach any sensing unit 2 in the same group. Therefore, this interference does not affect data collection. The quaternary transmission sequence solves the lateral interference problem because each sensing unit 2 in the first group 6, the second group 7, the third group 19, and the fourth group 20 always maintains a distance of at least 40 mm from the next sensing unit in that row 17. Arranging the sensing units 2 into eight rows 17 solves the longitudinal interference problem because each sensing unit 2 in the first group 6, the second group 7, the third group 19, and the fourth group 20 always maintains a distance of at least 40 mm from the next sensing unit in the 18th column. The spacing of column 18 from one row to another is 2.5 mm, and the re-stitching of data by the phase compensation subroutine 33 allows the array 16 of sensing units to provide planar detection with a spacing of only 2.5 mm between detection points.

[0060] The invention may be modified without departing from the scope of claims 1 or 7. For example, in an alternative embodiment (not shown), the sensing device is configured in a reflective arrangement, wherein a detector is arranged to detect a beam of electromagnetic radiation reflected by the test object (or a reflective element arranged behind it), and the detector is provided on the same side of the test object as the energy source.

[0061] In other alternative embodiments (not shown), the energy source is activated in different ways, including by activating a continuously powered energy source by turning a switch on and off, and by activating an energy source by a drive signal that tilts the intensity of the energy source up and down, and / or adjusts the frequency of the energy source.

[0062] In another alternative embodiment (not shown), the data collected by the sensing device is processed by a suitable computer program to determine the presence of bone or cartilage particles in a particular test object based on the raw data collected by the detector, rather than using the data to generate a visual image.

[0063] In other alternative embodiments (not shown), the sensing device of the present invention is configured and operated to study the internal structure of various test objects, such as other food, luggage, human bodies, etc. This requires the use of different energy sources suitable for the application.

[0064] Therefore, the present invention provides a sensing device capable of detecting the internal structure of a test object at intervals much smaller than the interference area caused by sensing. This allows the use of an NIR laser array to detect the presence of bone or cartilage particles in chicken being processed for human consumption, which was previously impossible because the test object caused scattering of the NIR laser beam.

Claims

1. A method for detecting a test object, characterized in that, include: Multiple beam tracks are provided for an electromagnetic radiation beam, the multiple beam tracks are arranged in a dispersed configuration, the dispersed configuration can be decomposed into partitions of beam track groups, each of the beam track groups includes at least one beam track, the distance between the beam tracks in the beam track group including multiple beam tracks is not less than a predetermined value, the predetermined value is greater than at least one of the distances between the beam tracks in the multiple beam tracks; A plurality of sensing units corresponding to the plurality of beam trajectories are provided. Each sensing unit includes an energy source and a detector. The energy source is used to transmit an electromagnetic radiation beam to the test object along a corresponding one of the beam trajectories. The detector is used to receive electromagnetic radiation from the electromagnetic radiation beam transmitted or reflected from the test object. The sensing units are arranged in a two-dimensional or three-dimensional configuration, and each sensing unit senses the properties of the material located in the electromagnetic radiation beam path between the energy source and the detector. as well as Each of the beam trajectory groups is activated sequentially to transmit the electromagnetic radiation beam along the beam trajectory of the beam trajectory group, while the test object is positioned in the plurality of beam trajectories, and electromagnetic radiation in each of the magnetic radiation beams transmitted through or reflected from the test object is sensed.

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that, Positioning includes the test object moving along the plurality of beam trajectories.

3. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that, Establish a correspondence between the electromagnetic radiation in each sensed electromagnetic radiation beam that passes through or is reflected from the test object and the corresponding location of the test object through which the electromagnetic radiation is reflected or transmitted.

4. The method according to claim 2, characterized in that, Establish a correspondence between the electromagnetic radiation in each sensed electromagnetic radiation beam that passes through or is reflected from the test object and the corresponding location of the test object through which the electromagnetic radiation is reflected or transmitted.

5. The method according to claim 3, characterized in that, The correspondence between the location and the electromagnetic radiation transmitted through or reflected from the test object is converted into a pixel representation on the screen.

6. The method according to claim 4, characterized in that, The correspondence between the location and the electromagnetic radiation transmitted through or reflected from the test object is converted into a pixel representation on the screen.

7. The method according to any one of claims 1-6, characterized in that, The number of bundle tracks is the same in all bundle track groups.

8. The method according to any one of claims 1-6, characterized in that, At least one of the beam trajectory groups can be created by offsetting one of the other beam trajectory groups.

9. An apparatus for examining a test object, characterized in that, include: A transmission device for transmitting multiple electromagnetic radiation beams along multiple beam tracks, the multiple beam tracks being arranged in a dispersed configuration that can be decomposed into partitions of beam track groups, each of the beam track groups including at least one beam track, the distance between the beam tracks in the beam track group including multiple beam tracks being not less than a predetermined value, the predetermined value being greater than at least one of the distances between the beam tracks in the multiple beam tracks. A positioning device for positioning the test object in the plurality of beam trajectories; as well as It includes multiple energy sources, each adapted to supply an electromagnetic radiation beam to one of the beam paths, and multiple detectors, each adapted to sense electromagnetic radiation in each of the electromagnetic radiation beams transmitted through or reflected from the test object. The detectors are arranged in a two-dimensional or three-dimensional configuration, and each detector senses the properties of the material located in the electromagnetic radiation beam path between the energy source and the detector.

10. The apparatus according to claim 9, characterized in that, The positioning device includes a movement device for moving the test object along the plurality of beam trajectories.

11. The apparatus according to claim 9, characterized in that, The beam trajectories are parallel to each other within a spatial region provided for positioning the test object within the plurality of beam trajectories.

12. The apparatus according to claim 10, characterized in that, The beam trajectories are parallel to each other within a spatial region provided for positioning the test object within the plurality of beam trajectories.

13. The apparatus according to claim 11, characterized in that, The beam trajectories are arranged in an array of parallel rows and columns in regions where they are parallel to each other, the rows extending transversely to the direction of motion of the test object and at equal intervals along the direction of motion, and the beam trajectories being equally spaced apart in the rows.

14. The apparatus according to claim 13, characterized in that, The lateral offset of the bundle trajectory in each row from the bundle trajectory in the adjacent row is equal to the distance between the bundle trajectories in each row divided by the number of rows.

15. The apparatus according to claim 13, characterized in that, The distance between bundle tracks in each row direction of the bundle track group is equal to or greater than twice the distance between bundle tracks in each row, and the distance in the orthogonal direction is equal to or greater than twice the spacing between rows.

16. The apparatus according to claim 14, characterized in that, The distance between bundle tracks in each row direction of the bundle track group is equal to or greater than twice the distance between bundle tracks in each row, and the distance in the orthogonal direction is equal to or greater than twice the spacing between rows.

17. The apparatus according to any one of claims 9 to 16, characterized in that, The energy source is a near-infrared laser.

18. The apparatus according to any one of claims 9 to 16, characterized in that, include: An activation device for continuously activating each of the beam trajectory groups to transmit the electromagnetic radiation beam along the beam trajectory in each of the beam trajectory groups, wherein the test object is positioned appropriately on the plurality of beam trajectories.

19. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that, The predetermined value is selected to avoid interference between the bundles on the bundle trajectory.

20. The apparatus according to any one of claims 9 to 16, characterized in that, The predetermined value is selected to avoid interference between the bundles on the bundle trajectory.

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