Skin Defect Detection via Radio-Transparent Folding Support

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current methods for inspecting animal skins for defects are inefficient, leading to incorrect identification and evaluation of defects, resulting in unnecessary discarding of skins and increased manufacturing costs due to non-uniform judgment and fatigue among inspectors.

Innovation Solution

A diagnostic support system that includes an imaging device and a radio-transparent structure to fold and position the skin within a specific field of view, allowing for precise three-dimensional imaging and spatial cross-referencing with superficial images to accurately locate and evaluate defects.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If visual inspection by human inspectors is used to identify defects on skins, then the inspection process is simple and quick, but the inspection accuracy and uniformity of judgment deteriorate due to inspector fatigue and non-uniformity

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinspection speedVSAvoiddefect identification accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the mechanical visual inspection system (human inspectors) with an automated imaging and processing system. The system uses cameras to capture images of skins, applies enhancement filters to improve defect visibility, and uses coordinate transformation algorithms to accurately locate defects. This substitution eliminates inspector fatigue and non-uniformity while maintaining high inspection speed and improving accuracy.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates a digital copy of the skin surface through imaging. Instead of directly examining the physical skin, the system captures images and processes them digitally using enhancement filters. This allows multiple inspectors to evaluate the same digital copy, ensuring uniformity of judgment while maintaining the simplicity and speed of visual inspection.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

2Ease of operation

If human inspectors visually check and mark defects on skins, then the inspection process is straightforward, but the ability to accurately locate defects deteriorates, resulting in larger portions being discarded than necessary

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinspection process simplicityVSAvoiddefect location accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces manual defect marking with an automated coordinate transformation system. The system captures images with known camera parameters, enhances them digitally, and automatically calculates the precise location of defects by transforming coordinates between the image space and the physical skin space. This eliminates the imprecision of manual marking while keeping the process simple and automated.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a coordinate transformation dimension to bridge the image space and physical skin space. By establishing mathematical relationships between pixel coordinates and physical locations on the skin, the system can accurately locate defects in three-dimensional space based on two-dimensional images, thereby improving defect location precision without complicating the inspection process.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

3Reliability

If larger portions of skin are discarded to ensure removal of all defects, then defect removal reliability is improved, but the quantity of usable skin and cost efficiency deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedefect removal reliabilityVSAvoidskin material waste

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces imprecise manual defect assessment with automated image enhancement and coordinate transformation. The system digitally enhances images to reveal defect boundaries more clearly, then uses coordinate transformation to precisely map defect locations to the physical skin. This allows for minimal and precise cutting around defects, ensuring complete removal while maximizing usable skin area and reducing material waste.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

4Loss of substance

If non-compliant skins are used to reduce discarding, then material utilization is improved, but product quality deteriorates due to undetected defects

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveskin utilization rateVSAvoidproduct quality

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of substanceVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces subjective human judgment with objective automated image analysis. The system captures images of skins, applies enhancement filters to reveal all defects regardless of inspector fatigue or experience levels, and provides precise location data. This objective assessment ensures that only truly compliant skins are approved for use, maintaining high product quality while maximizing the utilization of acceptable skins through accurate defect localization.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Data Source

PatentUS11821888B2Diagnostic support for skins and inspection method of skin

Publication Date: 2023.11.21 EPICA INTERNATIONAL INC

AI summary

A diagnostic support for a skin includes a radio-transparent structure that defines a folding surface of the skin and on which the skin may be stretched and consequently folded, thereby defining folded, mutually superimposed portions spaced apart from each other. The support may be used for radiographic inspection of a folded animal skin.