Apparatus and method for inspecting golf balls using threshold analysis
View Patent ↗A method for inspecting golf balls is disclosed. An imager such as a camera captures a digital image of the golf ball. The golf ball image is separated into regions, and a brightness level is determined for each region using a histogram tool. The brightness level of the region is compared with a reference level. If the brightness level of the region is significantly different from the reference level, then the golf ball is diverted. The regions are located from image to image using pattern matching and/or edge finding tools. The environmental light conditions are altered to facilitate the pattern matching and edge finding.
1. A method for inspecting a golf ball comprising the steps of:
(i) obtaining at least one image of the golf ball using a sensor after a surface coating has been applied to at least a portion of the golf ball, wherein the image comprises an array of pixels and each pixel is represented by a numerical value indicative of a brightness level of each pixel and transferring the at least one image to an analyzer;
(ii) ascertaining at least one region of interest on the golf ball;
(iii) determining whether the surface coating was applied evenly on the region of interest, wherein a threshold pixel counting tool is employed to analyze the image;
(iv) determining a total number of pixels above a threshold numerical value within the region of interest;
(v) comparing the total number of pixels to a reference number; and
(vi) diverting the golf ball if the total number is greater than the reference number.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the reference number is selected by analyzing a master object.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the reference number is selected by retaining the analysis of a predetermined number of previously inspected images and ascertaining the reference number therefrom.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the reference number is chosen by a user.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the image is captured in gray scale.
6. The method of claim 5 , wherein a color filter is used to select a frequency band.
7. The method of claim 6 , wherein a total number of bright pixels captures in the image is compared to an anticipated total number of bright pixels.
8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the gray scale is separated into 256 units.
9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the image is captured in color.
10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the color scheme comprises RBG, CYMK, or Hue Saturation Intensity.
11. The method of claim 9 , wherein the brightness correlates to a percentage of blue bits in the image.
12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the blue bits whose degree of blueness exceeds a threshold value are counted towards the percentage.
13. The method of claim 9 , wherein the brightness correlates to a percentage of red bits in the image.
14. The method of claim 13 , wherein the red bits whose degree of redness exceeds a threshold value are counted towards the percentage.
15. The method of claim 9 , wherein the brightness correlates to an intensity of a specific frequency band of a bit or a group of bits.
16. The method of claim 11 , wherein the color scheme is Hue Saturation Intensity, and wherein the brightness correlates to a degree of color saturation of the red bits.
17. The method of claim 1 , wherein an environment modification device is used prior to obtaining the image.
18. The method of claim 17 , wherein the environment modification device is a light source.
19. The method of claim 18 , wherein the light source is an ultraviolet light source.
20. The method of claim 18 , wherein the light source is an infrared light source.
21. The method of claim 1 , wherein a summation tool is employed to analyze the image.
22. The method of claim 21 , wherein the summation tool further comprises:
summing the brightness level of each pixel in the array to determine a total brightness number for the golf ball; and comparing the total brightness number to a reference number.
23. The method of claim 22 , wherein the reference number is selected by analyzing a reference object.
24. The method of claim 22 , wherein the reference number is selected by retaining the analysis of a plurality of previously inspected images and extrapolating the reference number therefrom.
25. The method of claim 22 , wherein the reference number is chosen by a user.
26. The method of claim 1 , wherein an averaging tool is employed to analyze the image.
27. The method of claim 26 , wherein the averaging tool further comprises: summing the brightness level of each pixel in the array to determine a total brightness number for golf ball; determining an average brightness number by dividing the total brightness number by a total number of pixels; and
comparing the average brightness number to a reference number.