US 11,946,806 B2
On-line oil and foreign matter detection system and method employing hyperspectral imaging
Henry M. Dante, Midlothian, VA (US); Samuel Timothy Henry, Richmond, VA (US); and Seetharama C. Deevi, Midlothian, VA (US)
Assigned to Altria Client Services LLC, Richmond, VA (US)
Filed by Altria Client Services LLC, Richmond, VA (US)
Filed on Jan. 10, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/571,710.
Application 17/571,710 is a continuation of application No. 16/689,726, filed on Nov. 20, 2019, granted, now 11,222,203.
Application 16/689,726 is a continuation of application No. 15/857,322, filed on Dec. 28, 2017, granted, now 10,592,745, issued on Mar. 17, 2020.
Application 15/857,322 is a continuation of application No. 14/443,990, granted, now 9,886,631, issued on Feb. 6, 2018, previously published as PCT/US2013/070812, filed on Nov. 19, 2013.
Claims priority of provisional application 61/728,123, filed on Nov. 19, 2012.
Prior Publication US 2022/0130144 A1, Apr. 28, 2022
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. G01J 3/28 (2006.01); A24B 3/16 (2006.01); A24B 15/18 (2006.01); B07C 5/342 (2006.01); B07C 5/36 (2006.01); G01N 21/31 (2006.01); G01N 21/84 (2006.01); G06F 16/51 (2019.01); G06T 7/00 (2017.01); G06V 20/10 (2022.01)
CPC G01J 3/28 (2013.01) [A24B 3/16 (2013.01); A24B 15/18 (2013.01); B07C 5/342 (2013.01); B07C 5/366 (2013.01); G01J 3/2823 (2013.01); G01N 21/31 (2013.01); G01N 21/84 (2013.01); G06F 16/51 (2019.01); G06T 7/0008 (2013.01); G06V 20/194 (2022.01); H05K 999/99 (2013.01); G01J 2003/2826 (2013.01); G01N 2021/8461 (2013.01); G01N 2021/8466 (2013.01); G06T 2207/20024 (2013.01); G06T 2207/30108 (2013.01); G06T 2207/30188 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method for detecting foreign matter in an agricultural product stream of a manufacturing process, the method comprising:
scanning a region of an agricultural product stream using at least one light source;
generating a hyperspectral image in real time from the region;
determining a product fingerprint from the hyperspectral image in real time; and
determining in real time whether foreign matter is present in the agricultural product stream based on the product fingerprint and a hyperspectral fingerprint database containing a plurality of hyperspectral fingerprints using a computer processor.