Systems and methods for analyzing a fabric article
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for assessing fiber damage in fabric articles, such as pilling and fuzzing, lack sensitivity and accuracy, particularly in differentiating between varying degrees of damage and attributing damage to laundry formulations, leading to inadequate guidance for reformulating laundry chemicals.
Innovation Solution
The use of three-dimensional imaging devices, like the Antera 3D camera, captures images of fabric articles and processes them with a contrast function to produce data sets representing fiber damage, including measurements of surface roughness, elevation density, and depression density, enabling more sensitive and accurate differentiation of fiber damage through statistical analysis.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If optical analysis with a 1-5 rating scale is used to assess fiber damage, then the assessment method is simple and widely applicable, but the sensitivity and precision are insufficient to differentiate between fabric articles with different degrees of fiber damage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from traditional 2D optical imaging to 3D imaging to assess fiber damage. The three-dimensional imaging device captures depth information and surface topography, enabling differentiation of fabric articles with similar apparent damage levels. This dimensional enhancement provides the sensitivity needed to detect subtle variations in fiber damage that 2D imaging cannot resolve.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs multiple imaging parameters including focus variation, illumination angles, and contrast functions to enhance the detection of fiber damage. By capturing images at different focal planes and processing them with contrast enhancement algorithms, the system extracts detailed surface topography information that reveals subtle differences in pilling and fuzzing levels.
2Loss of information
If traditional optical grading systems are used to assess fiber damage, then the assessment process is quick and automated, but the results are not sufficiently sensitive to guide laundry formulation reformulation
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary image capture with multiple focal planes and contrast adjustments before final analysis. By pre-processing images to enhance surface topography features and applying contrast functions during the imaging stage, the system prepares optimized data that accelerates subsequent statistical analysis and reduces overall processing time.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates detailed 3D digital copies of fabric surfaces through multi-focal plane imaging. These digital replicas preserve complete surface topography information including subtle fiber damage features, allowing repeated analysis without re-imaging and enabling efficient comparison across multiple fabric articles and laundry formulation conditions.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods for analyzing a fabric article to determine fiber damage are provided herein. In an embodiment of a method for analyzing a fabric article, the fabric article is provided and at least one image of the fabric article is captured using a three-dimensional imaging device. The at least one image is processed using a contrast function to produce a processed data set that is representative of fiber damage in a viewing area of the three-dimensional imaging device. Optionally, a processed image is produced based upon the processed data set.