X-Ray Quality Index for Woody Breast Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing X-ray inspection devices struggle to accurately detect low-quality articles, such as chicken breast with woody breast, which are unnaturally hardened, amidst normal articles and foreign matters.
Innovation Solution
An X-ray inspection device that calculates a quality index value based on the area size and shading in the X-ray transmission image, distinguishing between good and low-quality articles by their appearance in the image, and determines the quality of the article as low if the quality index value exceeds a threshold.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If conventional X-ray inspection methods are used to detect foreign matter, then foreign matter detection is achieved, but low-quality articles (such as woody breast) cannot be accurately distinguished from good articles
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the inspection parameters from simple foreign matter detection to multi-parameter quality assessment. It introduces a quality index calculated from multiple parameters including area ratio, standard deviation of pixel values, and mean pixel values in different regions. This parameter transformation enables the system to distinguish low-quality articles from good articles based on their different X-ray transmission characteristics, resolving the inability to accurately detect quality variations.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the article into multiple regions for differential analysis: a first region (central area) and a second region (peripheral area). By calculating mean pixel values and standard deviations separately for each region and comparing their ratios, the system can detect internal quality variations that single-region analysis would miss. This segmentation approach enables accurate identification of low-quality articles with heterogeneous internal structures.
2Measurement precision
If the inspection focuses on foreign matter detection using threshold-based pixel analysis, then foreign matter is detected, but the system cannot differentiate between good and low-quality articles based on hardness differences
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transforms the inspection from simple threshold-based foreign matter detection to a multi-parameter quality assessment system. It calculates a quality index incorporating area ratio, standard deviation of pixel values, and mean pixel value ratios between different regions. This parameter transformation maintains algorithmic clarity while enabling sophisticated quality differentiation based on X-ray transmission characteristics that reflect article hardness and density variations.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a universal quality inspection system that can simultaneously detect both foreign matter and article quality issues using the same X-ray imaging platform. The multi-parameter quality index serves multiple functions: it detects foreign matter through abnormal pixel value patterns, identifies low-quality articles through characteristic area and density ratios, and provides a comprehensive quality assessment. This multi-functional approach increases device versatility without proportionally increasing complexity.
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
Accurately detects low-quality articles like woody breast by differentiating them from good articles based on their size and darkness in the X-ray transmission image, preventing the shipment of inferior products.
Implementation Method 1
an X-ray irradiation unit that irradiates an article with X-rays, an X-ray detection unit that detects the X-rays
Implementation Method 2
an X-ray detection unit that detects the X-rays, and an inspection unit that inspects the article based on an X-ray transmission image created from a detection result of the X-rays
Data Source
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AI summary
An X-ray inspection device includes an X-ray irradiation unit configured to irradiate an article with X-rays, an X-ray detection unit configured to detect the X-rays, and an inspection unit configured to inspect the article based on an image created from a detection result of the X-rays detected by the X-ray detection unit. The inspection unit is further configured to determine that a quality of the article is low in a case where a quality index value is greater than a threshold value, the quality index value being calculated based on an area size of a region, in which the article is present, in the image and based on shading in the image or a weight of the article.