Particle Detection in Vessels via Agitation and Background Subtraction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for detecting particles in fluid-filled vessels are inefficient in eliminating common features and identifying particles, especially in fluids with high viscosity, where particles quickly come to rest, making it difficult to acquire images.
Innovation Solution
An inspection system with an agitator and imager that applies a controlled agitation profile, including motions like spinning and rest periods, to keep particles in motion while acquiring images, and generates background images to subtract common features, allowing for effective particle detection and analysis.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a controlled agitation profile is applied to keep particles in motion, then particle detection accuracy is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies a controlled agitation profile that dynamically adjusts the motion state of the fluid and particles during image acquisition. The agitation profile includes acceleration and deceleration phases, as well as rest periods, to optimize particle visibility while managing system complexity through programmable control sequences.
Solution Approach 2:
The agitation system employs periodic motion patterns with defined cycles including acceleration periods, constant velocity periods, and deceleration periods. This periodic action ensures particles remain in motion during critical imaging phases while returning to rest positions systematically, improving detection accuracy without requiring continuous complex agitation.
2Measurement precision
If images are acquired during agitation, then particle motion is captured for better detection, but image quality deteriorates due to motion blur
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by pre-positioning particles through controlled agitation before image acquisition begins. The agitation profile is designed to bring particles to optimal positions and maintain them there during the exposure period, ensuring both motion capture and image quality.
Solution Approach 2:
The agitation system maintains continuous useful action by keeping particles in controlled motion throughout the image acquisition process. Rather than stopping agitation completely, the system sustains optimized motion patterns that prevent particle settling while minimizing blur through synchronized timing.
3Measurement precision
If common features are eliminated through background subtraction, then particle identification is improved, but processing time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system extracts and eliminates common background features through background subtraction techniques. By identifying and removing static or repetitive patterns from the background, the system enhances particle contrast and identification accuracy while reducing the computational burden of processing entire images.
Solution Approach 2:
The background subtraction process applies local quality adjustments by focusing processing efforts on regions where particles are likely to appear. Rather than uniformly processing entire images, the system concentrates computational resources on areas with particle signatures, improving identification accuracy while minimizing overall processing time.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The system effectively identifies, counts, sizes, and tracks particles by maintaining fluid and particle motion during image acquisition, even in high viscosity fluids, improving detection accuracy and reliability.
Implementation Method 1
during an agitation period of an agitation profile, applying a motion to a transparent vessel containing a fluid
Implementation Method 2
acquiring a sequence of original images of a portion of the transparent vessel
Implementation Method 3
acquiring a sequence of original images of a portion of the transparent vessel
Implementation Method 4
generating a background image from the sequence of original images, wherein generating the background image includes i) identifying common features among images that were acquired at a same position and degree of rotation of the transparent vessel
Data Source
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AI summary
A method includes, during an agitation period of an agitation profile, applying a motion to a transparent vessel containing a fluid, and while applying the motion; acquiring a sequence of original images of a portion of the transparent vessel; generating a background image from the sequence of original images; generating a resultant image from the background image and an original image in the sequence of original images; and identifying from the resultant image a particle in the fluid.