AU758008B2 - Optical measurement methods and apparatus - Google Patents

Optical measurement methods and apparatus Download PDF

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AU758008B2
AU758008B2 AU16434/99A AU1643499A AU758008B2 AU 758008 B2 AU758008 B2 AU 758008B2 AU 16434/99 A AU16434/99 A AU 16434/99A AU 1643499 A AU1643499 A AU 1643499A AU 758008 B2 AU758008 B2 AU 758008B2
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parameter
measurement
validating
determining
fibrous
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Timothy Dabbs
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Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization CSIRO
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Description

OPTICAL MEASUREMENT METHODS AND APPARATUS TECHNICAL FIELD This invention relates to methods and apparatuses for determining a first parameter(s) of an object, (ii) a measurement parameter(s) of an object, (iii) the diameter of a fibre, (iv) a measurement parameter(s) of an object and whether the object is a valid object, a first parameter(s) of a valid object, (vi) a measurement parameter(s) of a valid object, (vii) a measurement parameter(s) of an invalid object, (viii) a first parameter(s) of an object and determining a first parameter(s) of an invalid object, (ix) a measurement parameter(s) of a valid object and determining a measurement parameter(s) of an invalid object, a measurement parameter(s) of a valid object and determining a first parameter(s) of a valid object, (xi) a measurement parameter(s) and a first parameter(s) of a valid object and determining a measurement parameter(s) of an invalid object, (xii) a measurement parameter(s) of a valid object and determining a first parameter(s) of an invalid object, (xiii) a 15 first parameter(s) of a valid object and determining a measurement parameter(s) of an invalid object, and (xiv) a first parameter(s) of a valid object and determining a first parameter(s) of an invalid object.
BACKGROUND ART A number of methods and apparatus have been developed for obtaining a measurement of mean fibre diameter and fibre diameter distribution in a sample S. containing a plurality of wool fibres having different diameters.
Two classes of instruments for the measurement of mean fibre diameter are:- 1. Those which give an estimate of average diameter only.
2. Those which also give the distribution of fibre diameters within a 25 sample including statistical information such as the variance of the diameters of the sample fibres.
In recent times the information given by the distribution of wool fibre diameter has come to be accepted as being required in some circumstances.
To accurately estimate the distribution of the fibre diameters a large number of measurements have to be made.
A particular method for measuring mean fibre diameter and fibre diameter distribution involves the measurements of fibre diameters in an optical microscope using a calibrated graticule to gauge the fibre diameters. This method is slow, tedious and prone to errors. These errors can arise from a number of sources including the optics, the conditioning of the fibres, and the judgment of the operators. Measurement of a few thousand fibres using this technique takes many hours to complete.
An instrument for determining fibre diameter distribution has been proposed by Lynch and Michie, Australian Patent No. 472,862 entitled "Optical Shadowing Method and Apparatus for Fibre Diameter Measurement".
In the apparatus described in 472,862 a light beam traverses a transparent measurement cell and falls on a photoelectric sensor.
Fibres dispersed and suspended in a clear liquid are caused to flow through the measurement cell and intercept the light beam. The reduction in the detected light intensity as a result of a fibre properly occluding the light beam is a function of the diameter of the fibre.
io Instruments manufactured according to the teaching of the Lynch and Michie patent have been available for many years and are used to measure the diameter distribution of wool and other fibres.
There is a need for a parameter measuring system, including for example a fibre diameter measuring system, in which the measurement of the parameter is substantially independent of the position of the object whose parameter is being measured, along the measurement beam.
OBJECTS OF INVENTION Objects of this invention are to provide methods and apparatuses for determining (I) a first parameter(s) of a fibrous object, (ii) a measurement parameter(s) of a fibrous 20 object, (iii) the diameter of a fibre, (iv) a measurement parameter(s) of a fibrous object and whether the fibrous object is a valid object, a first parameter(s) of a valid object, (vi) a measurement parameter(s) of a valid object, (vii) a measurement parameter(s) of an invalid object, (viii) a first parameter(s) of a fibrous object and determining a first parameter(s) of an invalid object, (ix) a measurement parameter(s) of a valid object and 25 determining a measurement parameter(s) of an invalid object, a measurement *parameter(s) of a valid object and determining a first parameter(s) of a valid object, (xi) a .i measurement parameter(s) and a first parameter(s) of a valid object and determining a measurement parameter(s) of an invalid object, (xii) a measurement parameter(s) of a valid object and determining a first parameter(s) of an invalid object, (xiii) a first 30 parameter(s) of a valid object and determining a measurement parameter(s) of an invalid object, and (xiv) a first parameter(s) of a valid object and determining a first parameter(s) of an invalid object.
[R:\LIBFF] 10179.doc:njc DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION According to a first embodiment of this invention there is provided a method for determining a first parameter(s) selected from diameter, position, orientation, medulation, colour or a combination thereof, of a fibrous object, comprising: locating the fibrous object in a measurement interaction volume(s); passing a focussed measurement energy beam(s) through the measurement interaction volume(s); interacting the measurement energy beam(s) with the fibrous object to produce measurement outgoing energy; focussing measurement outgoing energy from the measurement interaction volume(s); detecting measurement outgoing energy from a measurement portion(s) of the focussed measurement outgoing energy, in a detection envelope, and generating a ooo..signal(s) therefrom whereby: the signal(s) is a function of the first parameter(s); and °O9• envlop (ii) the focussed measurement energy beam and the detection envelope are each slightly divergent; and determining the first parameter(s) from the signal(s).
According to a second embodiment of this invention there is provided a method for determining the diameter of a fibre, comprising: locating the fibre in a measurement interaction volume(s); passing a slightly divergent, substantially circularly symmetric, measurement light beam(s) through the measurement interaction volume(s); at least partially occluding the measurement light beam(s) with the fibre S. *g to produce measurement outgoing light whereby the fibre intersects the central axis of the sOmeasurement light beam(s) parallel to the direction of travel of the measurement light beam(s) and the fibre substantially completely traverses the measurement light beam(s); focussing unoccluded measurement light from the measurement interaction volume(s); detecting, in a detection envelope, unoccluded measurement light from a easurement portion substantially on the central axis of the focussed unoccluded m d surement light and generating a signal(s) therefrom whereby: IWul the signal(s) is a function of the diameter of the portion of the -e occluding the measurement light beam(s); and [I:\DayLib\LIBFFJ10179a2.doc:NMV (ii) the focussed measurement energy beam and the detection envelope are each slightly divergent; and determining the diameter of the fibre from the signal(s).
Step can be performed before, at the same time or after step According to a third embodiment of this invention there is provided a method for determining a first parameter(s) selected from diameter, position, orientation, medulation, colour or a combination thereof, of a fibrous object and whether the fibrous object is a valid object, comprising: passing a validating energy beam(s) through a validating interaction volume(s): detecting validating outgoing energy originating from the validating :i energy beam(s) in the validating interaction volume(s), the detection being in at least one validating focal plane of the validating outgoing energy with respect to the validating interaction volume(s) and determining a validating parameter(s) from the detected 15 validating outgoing energy; determining from the validating parameter(s) whether the validating outgoing energy originated from an interaction between an object and the validating beam(s) in the validating volume(s) and, on determining an object; determining the first parameter(s) of the object according to the method S. 20 of the first embodiment wherein the measurement portion(s) is in a different focal plane to the validating focal plane; and determining from the validating parameter(s) whether the object is a valid object.
According to a fourth embodiment of this invention there is provided a method for determining a first parameter(s) of a valid object, comprising: the method of the third embodiment; and, on determining a valid object, determining the first parameter(s) of the valid object as an acceptable valid object parameter(s).
According to a fifth embodiment of this invention there is provided a method for determining a first parameter(s) of an invalid object, comprising: the method of the third embodiment; and, on determining an invalid object, determining the first parameter(s) of the invalid object as an unacceptable 7 valid object parameter(s).
[IA:\DayLib\LIBFF] 10179a2.doc:NMV According to a sixth embodiment of this invention there is provided a method for determining a first parameter(s) of a valid object and determining a first parameter(s) of an invalid object, comprising: steps to of the third embodiment; and, on determining a valid object, determining the first parameter(s) of the valid object as an acceptable valid object parameter(s); on determining an invalid object, determining the first parameter(s) of the invalid object as an unacceptable valid object parameter(s).
Generally, the method of the third embodiment further includes at least one of the following steps in an appropriate workable sequence: storing the first parameter(s) of the fibrous object; retrieving the first parameter(s) of the fibrous object; storing the validating parameter(s) of the fibrous object; retrieving the validating parameter(s) of the fibrous object; storing the fibrous object validation; retrieving the fibrous object validation; determining the first parameter(s) of the valid object as an acceptable valid 20 object parameter(s); storing the first parameter(s) of the valid object; retrieving the first parameter(s) of the valid object; determining the first parameter(s) of the invalid object as an unacceptable valid object parameter(s); storing the first parameter(s) of the invalid object; S..retrieving the first parameter(s) of the invalid object.
Generally, the validating energy beam(s) is the same as the measurement energy .beam(s) and is slightly divergent beam of light; ~the measurement interaction volume(s) includes portions of the validating interaction volume(s); ~the validating parameter(s) is the intensity from at least part of an image of the oo validating interaction volume produced using the validating outgoing energy, the validating outgoing energy being in the form of light; and [I:\DayLib\LIBFFIO 179a2.doc:NMV the measurement parameter(s) is the intensity of at least a portion of the measurement outgoing energy.
The methods may include the step of focussing validating outgoing energy originating from the validating energy beams in the validating interaction volume(s) to provide at least one image of at least a portion(s) of the validating interaction volume(s) in the focal plane(s) which image(s) may be a virtual image(s) or a real image(s), in focus or out of focus.
The method of the first embodiment may be repeated a plurality of times and may include: determining statistical information in respect of a plurality of the first parameter(s).
:i The method of the second embodiment may be repeated a plurality of times and may include: determining statistical information in respect of a plurality of diameters.
i The method of the second embodiment may include: .ooooi S•passing a fibre through the measurement volume(s).
According to a seventh embodiment of this invention there is provided an apparatus for determining a first parameter(s) selected from diameter, position, orientation, medulation, colour or a combination thereof, of a fibrous object, comprising: S. 20 means for locating the fibrous object in a measurement interaction volume(s); an energy source(s) and a first focuser(s) for passing a focussed .oooo) measurement energy beam(s) through the measurement interaction volume(s) to interact with the object to produce measurement outgoing energy; a second focuser(s) operatively associated with respect to the energy source(s) and the first focuser(s) to focus measurement outgoing energy from the measurement interaction volume(s); a detector(s) to detect, in a detection envelope, measurement outgoing energy from a measurement portion(s) of the focussed measurement outgoing energy and to generate a signal(s) therefrom, the detector(s) being operatively associated with the second focuser(s) whereby: the signal(s) is a function of the first parameter(s); and (ii) the focussed measurement energy beam and detection envelope are each slightly divergent; and [I:\DayLib\LIBFF] 10179a2.doc:NMV means for determining the first parameter(s) from the signal(s), the means for determining being operatively associated with the detector(s).
According to an eighth embodiment of this invention there is provided an apparatus for determining the diameter of a fibre, comprising: means for locating the fibre in a measurement interaction volume(s); a light source(s) and a first focuser(s) for passing a slightly divergent, substantially circularly symmetric measurement light beam(s) through the measurement interaction volume(s) to at least partially occlude the measurement light beam(s) with the fibre to produce measurement outgoing light whereby the fibre intersects the central axis of the measurement light 1o beam(s) parallel to the direction of travel of the measurement light beam(s) and the fibre substantially completely traverses the measurement light beam(s); a second focuser(s) operatively associated with respect to the light source(s) .yspect and the first focuser(s) to focus measurement outgoing light from the measurement interaction volume(s); 5 a detector(s) to detect, in a detection envelope, measurement outgoing light from a measurement portion(s) of the focussed measurement outgoing light substantially on the central axis of the focussed outgoing measurement light and to generate a signal(s) therefrom, the detector(s) being operatively associated with the second focuser(s) whereby: the signal(s) is a function of the diameter of the portion of the fibre S: 20 occluding the measurement light beam(s); and (ii) the focussed measurement energy beam and the detection envelope are each slightly divergent; and means for determining the diameter of the fibre from the signal(s) the means for determining being operatively associated with the detector(s).
e. 25 According to a ninth embodiment of this invention there is provided an apparatus for determining a first parameter(s) of a fibrous object selected from diameter, position, orientation, medulation, colour or a combination thereof, and whether the fibrous object is a valid object, comprising: a validating energy source(s) for passing a validating energy beam(s) through a validating interaction volume(s); a validating detector(s) for detecting validating outgoing energy originating from the validating energy beam(s) in the validating interaction volume(s), the detection being in at least one validating focal plane of the validating outgoing energy 110179a2.doc:NMV with respect to the validating interaction volume(s) and means for determining a validating parameter(s) from the detected validating outgoing energy operatively associated with the validating detector(s), the validating detector(s) being operatively associated with the validating energy source(s); verification means for determining from the validating parameter(s) whether the validating outgoing energy originated from an interaction between a fibrous object and the validating beam(s) in the validating volume(s) the verification means being operatively associated with the validating detector(s); the apparatus of the seventh embodiment wherein the means for locating the fibrous object of(c) in the measurement interaction volume(s) is operatively associated with the verification means and the measurement portion(s) in at least one measurement focal plane of the measurement outgoing energy with respect to the measurement interaction volume(s), the measurement focal plane being different from the validating focal plane; and means for determining from the validating parameter(s) whether the fibrous object is a valid object, the means for determining being operatively associated with the validating detector(s).
According to a tenth embodiment of this invention there is provided an apparatus for determining a first parameter(s) of a valid object, comprising: the apparatus of the ninth embodiment; means for determining the first parameter(s) of the valid object as an acceptable valid object parameter(s), operatively associated with the measurement detector(s) and the means for determining from the validating parameter(s) whether the fibrous object is a valid object.
According to an eleventh embodiment of this invention there is provided an apparatus for determining a first parameter(s) of an invalid object, comprising: the apparatus of the ninth embodiment; means for determining the first parameter(s) of the invalid object as an unacceptable valid object parameter(s), operatively associated with the measurement detector(s) and the means for determining from the validating parameter(s) whether the fibrous object is a valid object.
~According to a twelfth embodiment of this invention there is provided an apparatus for determining a first parameter(s) of a valid object and determining a first parameter(s) of an invalid object, comprising: I:\DayLib\LIBFF 10179a2.doc:NMV the apparatus of the ninth embodiment; means for determining the first parameter(s) of the valid object as an acceptable valid object parameter(s) and for determining the first parameter(s) of the invalid object as an unacceptable valid object parameter(s), operatively associated with the measurement detector(s) and the means for determining from the validating parameter(s) whether the fibrous object is a valid object.
Generally, the apparatus of the ninth embodiment further comprises at least one of the following items: means for storing the first parameter(s) of the fibrous object operatively associated with the means for determining the first parameter(s); means for retrieving the first parameter(s) of the fibrous object operatively associated with the means for storing the first parameter(s); means for storing the validating parameter(s) of the fibrous object operatively associated with the validating detector(s); means for retrieving the validating parameter(s) of the fibrous object operatively associated with the means for storing the validating parameter(s); means for storing the fibrous object validation operatively associated with the means for determining whether the fibrous object is a valid object; means for retrieving the fibrous object validation operatively associated with 20 the means for storing the fibrous object validation; means for determining the first parameter(s) of the valid object as an acceptable valid object parameter(s) operatively associated with the means for determining whether the fibrous object is a valid object and the means for determining the first parameter(s) of the valid object (or the fibrous object); means for storing the first parameter(s) of the valid object operatively associated with the means for determining whether the object is a valid object and the means for determining the first parameter(s) of the valid object (or the fibrous object); means for retrieving the first parameter(s) of the valid object operatively associated with the means for determining whether the fibrous object is a valid object and the means for storing the first parameter(s) of the valid object (or the fibrous object); means for determining the first parameter(s) of the invalid object as an acceptable invalid object parameter(s) operatively associated with the means for determining whether the object is a invalid object and the means for determining the first ,parameter(s) of the invalid object (or the fibrous object); [I\DayLib\LI BFF] 101 79a.doc:NMV means for storing the first parameter(s) of the invalid object operatively associated with the means for determining whether the object is an invalid object and the means for determining the first parameter(s) of the invalid object (or the fibrous object); means for retrieving the first parameter(s) of the invalid object operatively associated with the means for determining whether the object is an invalid object and the means for storing the first parameter(s) of the invalid object (or the fibrous object).
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[R\LIBFF] 10 1 79.doc: njc 16 The means for determining, storing and retrieving the measurement parameter(s) and/or the diameter and/or the first parameter(s) may perform such a step(s) prior to or after the determination of the validity of an object.
When outgoing energy is focussed to provide an image that image may be a virtual image(s) or a real image(s), in focus or out of focus.
The validating and measurement interaction volume(s) may be the same interaction volume(s), include portions of the same interaction volume(s), or be different interaction volume(s).
If the validating interaction volume(s) includes a portion of the measurement interaction volume(s) then the step of determining that an object that interacted with the validating energy beam(s) in the validating interaction volume(s) to give rise to the validating outgoing energy from which the validating parameter(s) was detected is in a measurement interaction volume(s), may be the same as determining from the validating parameter(s) whether the validating outgoing energy originated from an 15 interaction between a valid object and the validating beam(s) in the validating volume(s).
The validating and measurement energy beam(s) may be the same energy beam(s), include portions of the same energy beam(s), or be different energy beam(s).
20 Each of the methods of the embodiments may be repeated a plurality of times and may include: determining statistical information in respect of a plurality of the measurement parameter(s) and/or the first and/or the validating parameter(s) and/or object validation.
25 The methods of the embodiments may further comprise: outputting and/or discarding invalid and/or valid first parameter(s) and/or validating parameter(s) and/or measurement parameter(s) and/or the determination from the validating parameter(s) whether the validating outgoing energy originated from an interaction between a valid object and the validating beam(s) in the validating volume(s).
The method of the embodiments may include: passing an object through the validating and measurement volume(s).
Advantageously, the validating energy source(s) is the same as the measurement energy source(s); the validating energy beam(s) is the same as the measurement energy beam(s) and is a slightly divergent beam of light; the validation interaction volume(s) includes a portion of the measurement interaction volume(s); and the validating parameter(s) is the intensity from at least part of an image of the interaction volume produced using the validating outgoing energy, the validating outgoing energy being in the form of light; and the measurement parameter(s) is the intensity of at least a portion of the focussed measurement outgoing energy.
Generally, the validating energy beam(s) is the same as the measurement energy beam(s) and is a slightly divergent beam of light; the validation interaction volume(s) includes a portion of the measurement interaction volume(s); the validating parameter(s) is the intensity from at least part of an image of the validating interaction volume produced using the validating outgoing energy, the validating outgoing energy being in the form of light; the measurement parameter(s) is the intensity of at least a portion of the S* focussed measurement outgoing energy; 15 a valid object comprises a fibre selected from the group consisting of a cotton fibre, mineral particle, sheep wool fibre and goat hair; and has a preselected length in a preselected position and orientation in the validation and measurement interaction volume(s) and the first parameter(s) is the diameter of the object.
20 Typically, the apparatus further comprises means for determining statistical information in respect of a plurality of the diameters of the valid object(s).
Typically, the validating outgoing energy is light; and the apparatus further comprises a light focuser to form an image of the 25 validating interaction volume on the validating detector(s), operatively associated with the validating source(s) and validating detector(s).
Typically, the measurement outgoing energy is light.
Advantageously, the apparatus of the invention may further comprise: means to pass an object through the measurement and validating interaction volumes, operatively associated with the validating energy source(s), measurement energy source(s) and the means for locating.
Typically the light source is a laser, laser diode or an LED.
The apparatus may include a focuser(s) for focussing outgoing validating energy originating from the energy beams in the validating interaction volumes to provide at least one image of at least a portion(s) of the validating interaction volumes in the focal plane. The focussed outgoing validating and/or measurement energy may provide a virtual image(s) or a real image(s), in focus or out of focus at the validating detector(s) and/or the measurement detector(s).
18 The validating and measurement means may be the same, may include common elements or may be different from one another.
The validating and measurement energy sources may be the same, may include common elements or may be different from one another.
The measurement parameter(s) and validating parameter(s) may be the same or may be different from one another. If they are the same they may differ in that they are detected at different precisions, for example. The measurement parameter(s) and validating parameter(s) may both be used to determine the first parameter(s) and/or the object validation (but to different resolutions from one another).
The measurement and validating detector(s) may be the same, may include common elements or may be different from one another.
The detection of the validating and measurement outgoing energies may take place simultaneously, at overlapping times or at different times and/or the 15 measurement parameter(s) may be used to determine the validity of the measurement and/or the validating parameter(s) may be used to determine the first parameter(s).
The apparatus of the invention may further comprise: means for outputting and/or discarding invalid and/or valid first parameter(s) 20 and/or validating parameter(s) and/or measurement parameter(s) and/or the determination from the validating parameter(s) whether the validating outgoing energy originated from an interaction between a valid object and the validating beam(s) in the validating volume(s), the means for outputting being operatively associated with the means for determining the first and/or validating parameter(s) 25 and/or the means for storing the measurement parameter(s) and/or the first and/or validating parameter(s) and/or the validating and/or measurement detector(s).
The outputting may be in the form of an information signal or information display, for example. Examples of information signals or information displays include written text, on paper, electronic display screens (LCD screens, electroluminescent screens, gas plasma screens, video monitors, for example) digital or analogue electronic signals, acoustic signals, magnetic signals, electromagnetic signals, for example.
The apparatus of the invention may include: means for determining statistical information in respect of a plurality of measurement and/or first and/or validating parameter(s), and/or object validations operatively associated with the means for determining the first and/or validating parameter(s) and/or the means for storing the measurement parameter(s) and/or the first and/or validating parameter(s) and/or the validating and/or measurement detector(s).
Examples of statistical information include mean, standard deviation, coefficient of variation, variance, skewness, kurtosis, and other moments about the mean, spline fits, line fits including linear, exponential, logarithmic, multiple and polynomial regressions, fractal fitting, mode, median, distribution fits including normal, gaussian, fermi, poisson, binomial, Weibull, parabolic, frequency, probability, cumulative and top hat distributions, data smoothing including running medians, means and least squares, table formation such as histograms and two way contingency, data manipulation for graphs, forecasting, probability statistics, simulations, pattern recognition, t test, chi square test, sample size, Wilcoxon signed-rank test, rank sum test, Kolmogorov-Smirnov test and boundary value and limit statistics. A more detailed description of statistical techniques is disclosed in G.E.P. Box, W,G, Hunter and J.S. Hunter, Statistics for Experimenters, John Wiley Sons, Inc, New York, USA, 1978, the contents of which are incorporated herein by cross reference.
Generally, multiple focal planes of the outgoing energies are detected.
A valid object must have a measurable parameter(s) which can be validated.
2 Examples of such measurable parameter(s) include a valid shape, diameter, area, chemical composition, colour, number of parts, thickness, width, length, absorptivity, reflectivity, transmittivity, dielectric constant, Raman scattering S profile, fluorescence, surface texture or other surface detail, position, orientation, surface tension, surface roughness, surface profile or density, for example. In the case of a fibrous object for example where the first parameter is diameter, for S: 25 example a valid object may be one in which a single fibre fully traverses the centre of the validating and measurement beam(s) (which may be the same beam) in the validating and measurement volume(s) (which may be the same volume).
The first parameter(s) may be shape, diameter, area, chemical composition, colour, number of parts, thickness, width, length, absorptivity, reflectivity, transmittivity, dielectric constant, Raman scattering profile, fluorescence, surface texture or other surface detail, position, orientation, surface tension, surface roughness, surface profile or density, for example. In the case of a fibrous object for example the first parameter may be diameter, for example.
A valid first parameter(s) measuring position and orientation may be when an object fully crosses the centre of the energy beam(s) and without another object being in the energy beam(s). The validation may be false if there is no object in the interaction volume(s) or if there is more than one object in the energy beam(s) in the interaction volume(s) or if the object does not intersect the energy beam(s) fully in the interaction volume(s) or if the object in the energy beam(s) in the interaction volume(s) is not a single bodied object, for example.
The energy source(s) may be coherent, partially coherent or incoherent and can provide a solid particle beam, such as a neutron, proton or electron beam or a beam of alpha particles, acoustic waves, such as sound waves, or electromagnetic radiation, such as gamma rays, x-rays, UV light, visible light, infrared light or microwaves. Generally the energy source is a source of electromagnetic radiation with a wavelength in the range of and including far UV to far IR.
Examples of light sources include incandescent sources, such as tungsten filament source, vapour lamps such as halogen lamps including sodium and iodine vapour lamps, discharge lamps such as xenon arc lamp and a Hg arc lamp, solid state light sources such as photo diodes, super radiant diodes, light emitting diodes, laser diodes, electroluminescent light sources, frequency doubled lasers, laser light 0 sources including rare gas lasers such as an argon laser, argon/krypton laser, neon laser, helium neon laser, xenon laser and krypton laser, carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide lasers, metal ion lasers such as cadmium, zinc, mercury or selenium ion lasers, lead salt lasers, metal vapour lasers such as copper and gold vapour lasers, nitrogen lasers, ruby lasers, iodine lasers, neodymium glass and neodymium YAG lasers, dye lasers such as a dye laser employing rhodamine 640, Kiton Red 20 620 or rhodamine 590 dye, and a doped fibre laser.
The energy source may be a pinhole energy source. The energy source may comprise an energy fibre, the exit end of which may effectively act as a pinhole S* source.
The energy beam(s) may be collimated, diverging or converging.
25 The energy beam(s) in the interaction volume(s) may take the form of a diffraction pattern(s).
The outgoing energy may be transmitted and/or redirected energy.
The outgoing energy may include an interacted and/or uninteracted portion of the energy beam(s).
The outgoing energy where it intersects the validation detector may be a portion of the diffraction pattern resulting from the occlusion of the energy beam(s) by a portion of an object in the interaction volume(s).
If the source is a pinhole source and the energy beam(s) is the diffraction pattern resulting from the passage of energy through the pinhole, the outgoing energy in a focal plane may take the form of the optical superposition of the diffraction pattern resulting from the pinhole and the diffraction pattern resulting from interaction between the energy beam(s) and a portion of the object in the interaction volume(s).
0 0* 0 0 The apparatus may include means to pass the object through the interaction volume(s), the means to pass being operatively associated with the means for locating. The means to pass may be a sample carrier such as a conveyer strip, a sample holder on a linear or rotary stage or a fluid stream (fluid including liquids and gases), for example. The fluid stream may be confined by a cell which cell is used to orientate objects therein. The interaction volume(s) may be defined by the intersection of the central portion of the energy beam(s) and the cell. The cell may be of the type described in Australian Patent No. 472,862 the contents of which are incorporated herein by cross reference and/or Australian Patent No. 599,053 the contents of which are incorporated herein by cross reference.
The apparatus may comprise a scanner operatively associated with the energy source(s) and/or the object and/or the sample carrier to scan the energy beam relative to the object in the interaction volume(s). The scanner may be a piezoelectric stack, a magnetic core/magnetic coil combination, a mechanical vibrator, an electromechanical vibrator, a mechanical or electromechanical scanning mechanism such as a servomotor, an acoustic coupler electrooptic scanning means or any other suitable means.
The energy source(s) may include a first energy deflector located between the source and the interaction volume(s) wherein a portion of the energy beam(s) 20 passes through the first deflector and whereby the first deflector is operatively associated with the source to alter the shape, size, wavelength, intensity, polarisation, phase, direction of travel or focus of at least a portion of the energy beam(s) in the interaction volume(s).
There may be disposed in the path of the outgoing energy between the interaction volume(s) and the validation detector and/or the measurement detector, a second energy deflector wherein the outgoing energy passes through the second deflector which alters the size, shape, intensity, polarisation, phase, direction of travel, focus or wavelength, for example. The second energy deflector may split the validating and measurement outgoing energy.
The first and second energy deflectors may include energy focusers or energy reflectors.
The focuser may be refractive lenses, including microscope objectives, reflective lenses, and/or holographic optical elements. If the energy is of a frequency other than in the range of UV to near infrared light or other types of energies, analogous focussing elements are used in place of the optical focussing elements.
The reflector may be a mirror or partially silvered mirror, a beam splitter including a polarisation dependent beam splitter, energy waveguide splitter (eg an optical fibre coupler) or a wavelength dependent beam splitter, for example. The optical fibre coupler may be a fused biconical taper coupler, a polished block coupler, a bottled and etched coupler or a bulk optics type coupler with fibre entrance and exit pigtails, a planar waveguide device based on photolithographic or ion-diffusion fabrication techniques or other like coupler.
The object may be a fluid or solid or other of matter. Examples of objects include mineral objects, such as diamonds and other crystals, organic and inorganic contaminants, fibrous objects, randomly shaped objects, spherical objects or cylindrical objects. Generally the objects are fibrous objects or woven or twisted fibrous objects. The fibrous objects may be synthetic fibres or natural fibres. The fibres may be fibreglass fibres, hessian fibres, nylon fibres, glass fibres, polnosic and polyester fibres, abaca fibres, silk fibres, jute fibres, flax and cellulose fibres (including paper, recycled paper, corn stalks, sugar cane, wood, wood shavings, bagasse, wood chips), regenerated fibres such as viscose, rayon, cuprammonium rayon and cellulose acetate, sisal fibres, carbon fibres, stainless steel fibres, vegetable fibrous material, polyolefin fibres such as polyethylenes and Spolypropylene, steel fibres, boron fibres, copper fibres, brass fibres, teflon fibres, dacron fibres, mylar fibres, aluminium fibres, aluminium alloy fibres, polyamide fibres, polyacrylic fibres, or absorbent fibres such as nylon 66 polyacrylonitrile, or polyvinyl alcohol and absorbent types of polyesters or polyacrylics, edible vegetable fibres, such as wheat fibres, or inedible vegetable fibres, such as wood pulp or cotton fibres, animal fibres, such as meat fibres, wool fibres such as wool fibres from sheep, hairs, such as human hairs, goat hairs, cattle hairs, or feathers, yarns including wool and cotton yarns, string, wire, optical fibres for example.
25 Typically, a valid object comprises a fibre selected from the group consisting of a fibreglass fibre, hessian fibre, nylon fibre, glass fibre, polnosic fibre, polyester fibre, abaca fibre, silk fibre, jute fibre, flax fibre, cellulose fibre, regenerated fibre, sisal fibre, carbon fibre, stainless steel fibre, vegetable fibre, polyolefin fibre, steel fibre, boron fibre, copper fibre, brass fibre, teflon fibre, dacron fibre, mylar fibre, aluminium fibre, aluminium alloy fibre, polyamide fibre, polyacrylic fibre, nylon 66 polyacrylonitrile fibre, polyvinyl alcohol fibre, edible vegetable fibre, inedible vegetable fibre, wood pulp fibre, cotton fibre, animal fibre, meat fibre, sheep wool fibre, hair, human hair, goat hair, cattle hair, yarn, wool yarn, cotton yarn, string; wire and optical fibre.
Generally, a valid object has a preselected length in a preselected position and orientation in the validation and measurement interaction volume(s).
The measurement and/or validation detector(s) may comprise an array of detecting elements and/or apertures. An aperture in the array may be an energy entrance portion of an energy guide operatively associated with the validating and/or measurement focal plane(s) to collect a portion of the outgoing energy and guide it to the measurement and/or validation detector(s). A detecting element in the array may be photodiode, photomultiplier, part of a ccd array or the like.
The array may be a three dimensional array or a planar array.
The outgoing energy may be a beam and the array may be symmetric about the central axis of the beam. The array may be a linear, square, rectangular, circular, hexagonal, spiral, spherical, cubic or random array, for example. Some of the apertures or detecting elements in the array may be elongated, round, elliptical, square, rectangular, triangular, hexagonal, rhomboid or random in shape, for example.
The apertures or detecting elements may be movable or fixed with respect to the validating focal plane and/or the measurement focal plane and/or the measurement and/or validating interaction volume(s).
The energy guide may be a slab waveguide. The slab waveguide can be a single mode slab waveguide.
The energy guide can be an energy fibre.
*9 The energy guide can be a multi mode optical fibre.
m The energy guide can be a single mode optical fibre. For example, a four 20 micron core fibre which is single mode at a wave length of 633 nanometres given an appropriate refractive index profile. A step index optical fibre becomes single mode when the numerical aperture, NA, the fibre core radius, a, and the wave length of light, k, obey the relationship: 2 x r x NA x a 2.405, 25 more typically 2 x 7t x NA x a 0.6.
The energy guide may be a fibre bundle.
The optical fibres may include glass or plastic elements or a combination of these.
Portions of the source and detector energy guides may be portions of the same energy guide.
The validating detector(s) and/or the measurement detector(s) may comprise an array of detecting elements.
When the validating outgoing energy is light the validating detector(s) may comprise an optical fibre(s) coupled to a detecting element(s).
When the measurement outgoing energy is light the measurement detector(s) may comprise an optical fibre(s) coupled to a detecting element(s).
The validating detector(s), the measurement detector(s), the means to determine the first parameter(s), and/or validating means and/or means for locating may comprise a calculator which may include optical, electrical, optoelectronic, mechanical or magnetic elements, for example, or may include such techniques as optical and/or electrical heterodyning quadrature operation, multi area detectors or phase lock loop techniques, for example. The means for determining the first parameter(s) may log and analyse a signal(s) from the measurement detector(s) and/or validation detector(s) or may log and analyse the first parameter(s) and/or validating parameter(s) and/or the measurement parameter(s) and/or the object validation. The means for determining the first parameter(s) typically includes a computer.
The means for locating may comprise a timer and/or a counter.
The interaction is typically one or a combination of refraction, diffraction, *se 0OS@ reflection, scattering, fluorescence, stimulated emission, incandescence, shadowing, 15 polarisation rotation, phase retardation and other polarisation effects, occlusion, o optical absorption, interference effects, sum frequency generation, one giving rise to a diffraction pattern, refraction, phase alteration, second, third or fourth harmonic
S..
generation, difference frequency generation, optical bistability, self bleaching, Raman scattering or Brillouin scattering. A nonlinear reaction can be involved as a 20 result of heating, refractive index change, charge build-up or charge migration.
The first parameter(s) and the measurement parameter(s) may be the same or may include some of the same elements or they may be different from one another.
•..The validating parameter(s) and the measurement parameter(s) may be energy intensity (including spatially or temporally dependent intensity patterns such S: 25 as images or intensity peaks or troughs as or not as a function of time), amplitude, wavelength or frequency modulation, phase, polarisation, wavelength, direction of travel, for example.
The apparatus of the invention may include: a mask to mask off a portion of the validating and/or measurement and/or validating outgoing and/or measurement outgoing beams.
For the purposes of this specification planes of focus include diffraction planes at different distances from an object whether real or apparent (as a result of a focuser, for example). Note that an in focus image of an object is the diffraction plane in the plane of the object, but may be magnified or reduced. Note also that a focuser may be used to create a virtual as opposed to a real image.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRA WINGS Fig. 1 schematically depicts an apparatus for determining the mean and standard deviation of a plurality of diameters of wool fibres, in accordance with the invention; Fig. 2 is a graph of the occlusion as a wire passes along the central axis of a collimated measurement laser beam; Fig. 3 schematically depicts in detail the processor in the apparatus of Fig.
1; Figs. 4A-4C schematically depict various measurement source/detector geometries for the apparatus of Fig. 1; Fig. 5 schematically depicts in detail the processor/timer in the apparatus of Fig. 1; Fig. 6 is a graph of the occlusion as a wire passes along the central axis of a collimated measurement laser beam and slightly divergent detector envelope; Figs. 7(a) show typical signals passed by comparator 113e to state 15 machine 113f via line 114f of processor/timer 113 of Fig. 5 of apparatus 100 of Fig. 1.
4. Fig. 8 is a graph of the occlusion as a wire passes along the central axis of a slightly divergent measurement laser beam and slightly divergent detector see. envelope; 20 Fig. 9 is an axial cross sectional contour image of a collimated beam. The scale along the x axis 1mm and the scale along the y axis is Fig. 10a is an axial cross sectional contour image of a slightly divergent beam. The scale along the x axis 1mm and the scale along the y axis is .Fig. 10b is a graph of the lateral intensity profiles, taken at three positions along a slightly diverging beam; Fig. 11 is a typical reverse image of a 15 micrometre diameter wool fibre in S the plane of end 107 of apparatus 100 of Fig. 1; Fig. 12 schematically depicts an alternative apparatus for determining the mean and standard deviation of a plurality of particles, in accordance with the invention; Fig. 13 is a graph of the intensity of the elliptical beam of Fig. 12 along its long axis after passing through plate 1102 of Fig. 12; and Fig. 14 is a graph of the intensity of the elliptical beam of Fig. 12 along its long axis.
BEST MODE AND OTHER MODES FOR CARRYING OUT THE
INVENTION
Referring to Fig 1 an apparatus 100 for determining the mean and standard deviation of a plurality of diameters of wool fibres, includes a validating and measurement laser light source, namely laser diode 101 with integral single mode optical fibre pigtail 102. End 121 of fibre 102 is disposed with respect convex microlens 122 such that light from end 121 is transformed into a slightly divergent, substantially circularly symmetric, measurement light beam 123 after passing through microlens 122. Polarisation independent beam splitter 103 is operatively disposed to microlens 122 and end 121 to direct a portion of the divergent laser beam 123 to reference detector 109 via objective 124 and 50 -tm cored multimode optical fibre 125. Detector 109 is electrically connected to processor 110 via line 111. Polarisation independent beam splitter 103 is also operatively disposed to microlens 122 and end 121 to direct a second portion of beam 123 to detector 118 via measurement cell 105, polarisation independent beam splitter 104, objective 126 and 50 -tm cored multimode optical fibre 127 having entrance end 128. The validating interaction volume is defined by the intersection of beam 123 with the oO :interior of cell 105. When apparatus 100 is operating wool fibres in an isopropanol- 15 wool slurry pass through cell 105 generally at a non-zero degree angle to the direction of slurry flow through cell 105 to scatter, reflect, diffract, absorb, refract ooooo and otherwise interacts with beam 123. A detailed description of cell 105 is contained in Australian Patent no. 599 053 incorporated herein by cross reference.
•Light resulting from the interaction of beam 123 with wool fibres in cell 105 comprises measurement and validating outgoing light on emerging from cell 105.
Polarisation independent beam splitter 104 and 5X microscope objective 106 are operatively disposed with respect to microlens 122, fibre end 121 and cell 105 to produce, using validating outgoing light from the validation interaction volume, an S 25 in focus magnified transmission image of wool fibres in cell 105 in the plane of end 107 of 18 optical fibre ring bundle 108 comprising at end 107 a central fibre surrounded by a 2.597mm diameter ring of 16 plastic optical fibres each having a diameter core and a 10 micrometre thick cladding and a single mode fibre.
The optical path length between the centre of cell 105 and the front principal plane of objective 106 is 42.4mm and the optical path length between the back principal plane of objective 106 and end 107 is 228.2mm so the image from the centre of cell 105 is magnified by 5.4 times at end 107. Each of the plastic fibres in bundle 108 is connected to a photodiode detector in an the array of 17 photodiode detectors comprising validating detector 112 for detecting the light intensity passing through each of the fibres in bundle 108 from validating outgoing energy originating from the beam in cell 105. Processor/timer 113 is connected electrically to detector 112 by line 114. Processor/timer 113 is also connected electrically to computer 115 by line 116 and to processor 110 by line 117. Detector 118 is connected electrically to processor 110 by line 119. Processor 110 is connected electrically to computer 115 by line 120.
End 107 is centred in the image of beam 123 in cell 105 by maximising the light intensity collected by the central fibre in bundle 108. The image of the beam 123 in cell 105 is brought into focus at end 107 by positioning end 107 so that the light intensity signal collected by the single mode fibre in bundle 108 substantially approximates a top hat profile when a wool fibre passes through cell 105. Generally the fibres in the ring at end 107 are packed closely to one another to minimise the -separations between them. The magnification of the interaction volume at end 107 is such that the 16 0.5mm optical fibres in the ring of bundle 108 at end 107 are located just inside the periphery of the image at end 107. If different diameter optical fibres are chosen or the number of fibres in the ring is changed, for example, the position of objective 106 with respect to cell 105 and end 107 is S adjusted such that the optical fibres in the ring of bundle 108 at end 107 are located 15 just inside the periphery of the image at end 107.
Since the image of wool fibres in the interaction volume at end 107 is in e focus, information about the position and orientation of the wool fibres is readily obtainable from the image. If end 107 is moved from the position of the in focus image of the interaction volume, the position and orientation of the wool fibres may 20 be less readily obtainable.
As depicted schematically in Fig. 5, processor/timer 113 comprises current to voltage converter 113a electrically connected to detector 112 by line 114 and to amplifier 113b by line 114a. Amplifier 113b is electrically connected to three pole butterworth filter 113c via line 114b and analogue divider 113d by line 114d.
Analogue divider 113d is also electrically connected to comparator 113e by line S 114e and filter 113c via line 114c. Comparator 113e is electrically connected to state machine 113f via line 114f. State machine 113f is identified as a means for locating for determining that the wool fibre that interacted with beam 123 in cell 105 to give rise to validating outgoing energy is the same wool fibre that gave rise to the measurement outgoing light for the current measurement. State machine 113f is electrically connected to timer 113g via line 114g, countdown timer 113h via line 114h, magnitude comparator 113j via line 114i, multi storage device 113k via line 114k, computer 115 via line 116a and line 116 and processor 110 via line 117.
Multistorage device 113k is electrically connected to computer 115 by line 116.
As depicted schematically in Fig. 3, processor 110 comprises amplifier/divider/offsetter 110a electrically connected to detector 109 by line 111, detector 118 by line 119, and scaler/inverter 1 l0b by line 119a. Scaler inverter 110b is electrically connected to threshold detector 110c by line 119c and peak detector 1 l0d by line 119b. Threshold detector 1 l0c is electrically connected to processor/timer 113 by line 117, computer 115 by line 120a and line 120. Peak detector 110d is electrically connected to processor/timer 113 via lines 117a and 117, and measurement storage 110g by line 119h. Measurement storage 110g is electrically connected to computer 115 by lines 120d and 120.
Calibration sample transport device 129 is electrically connected to computer 115 by line 130. Device 129 when directed by computer 115 via line 130, passes calibration sample 131 through beam 123.
The position of end 121 with respect to lens 122 as well as the position of end 128 with respect to objective 126 is described with reference to figures 4A-C.
Referring to Fig 4A, end 121 is located substantially at the focal point of 2.2 mm focal length lens 122. End 128 is located substantially at the focal point of 5X, 35 mm focal length microscope objective lens 126 so that it receives O substantially the maximum amount of light focused by lens 122. The volume 15 between lenses 122 and 126 defines the length of the measurement volume. Light emerging from end 121 is collimated such that the collimation waist occurs approximately halfway between lenses 122 and 126 as shown in the axial cross sectional contour intensity image of Fig 9. In Fig 4A a detection envelope is 20 depicted from end 128 to lens 122 via lens 126 as a dashed line which is formed by the relative positions of end 128 and lens 126 and is the same shape, as the collimated beam (solid line) produced by lens 122 from the light emerging from end 121 and focused into end 128 by lens 126. If a 23 micron wire is passed through the collimated beam/detection envelope of Fig 4A at a range of positions between S 25 lenses 126 and 122, the light collected by end 128 is reduced by the passage of the wire through the beam as a result of occlusion. The maximum reduction or occlusion is a function of the diameter of the wire. Figure 2 is a graph of the occlusion produced by the wire as a function of the wire's position between lenses 122 (x-axis sample position 0) and 126. Note that the occlusion as a function of position between the two lenses is relatively flat close to lens 126 but has significant slope closer to lens 122.
Referring to Fig 4B, end 121 is again located substantially at the focal point of lens 122. However end 128 is now located 0.8 mm closer to the lens than the focal point of lens 126. Light emerging from end 121 is still collimated such that the collimation waist occurs approximately halfway between lenses 122 and 126. In Fig 4B a detection envelope is depicted from end 128 to lens 122 via lens 126 as a dashed line which is formed by the relative positions of end 128 and lens 126 and is divergent with respect to the detection envelope of Fig 4A. If a 23 micron wire is passed through the collimated beam/divergent detection envelope of Fig 4B at a 29 range of positions between lenses 126 and 122, the light collected by end 128 is reduced by the passage of the wire through the beam as a result of occlusion. The maximum reduction or occlusion is a function of the diameter of the wire. Figure 6 is a graph of the occlusion produced by the wire as a function of the wire's position between lenses 122 (x-axis axial position 0) and 126 for the arrangement of Fig 4B. As a result of the arrangement of Fig 4B, the occlusion signal as a function of the wire's position between lenses 122 and 126 is substantially flatter than that depicted in Fig. 2 resulting from the arrangement of Fig 4A.
Referring to Fig 4C, end 121 is now located 13 tm closer to the lens than the focal point of lens 122. End 128 is located 3.2 mm closer to the lens than the focal point of lens 126. Light emerging from end 121 is now diverging as shown in the axial cross sectional contour intensity image of Fig 10A and intensity profiles of Fig 10B. In Fig 4C a detection envelope is depicted from end 128 to lens 122 via Slens 126 as a dashed line which is formed by the relative positions of end 128 and lens 126 and is divergent with respect to the detection envelope of Fig 4A. If a 23 micron wire is passed through the divergent beam/detection envelope of Fig 4C at a range of positions between lenses 126 and 122, the light collected by end 128 is reduced by the passage of the wire through the beam as a result of occlusion. The maximum. reduction or occlusion is a function of the diameter of the wire. Figure 8 is a graph of the occlusion produced by the wire as a function of the wire's position between lenses 122 (x axis axial position is less than 0) and 126 for the arrangement of Fig 4C. As a result of the arrangement of Fig 4C, the occlusion signal as a function of the wire's position between lenses 122 and 126 is flatter than that S 25 depicted in Fig 6 resulting from the arrangement of Fig 4B. For example, in Fig.
25 4C the distances fc, Id and fd may be as follows. The distance between end 121 and the front principal plane of lens 122, fc, is 2.187mm (the focal length of lens 122 is 2.2mm), the distance between lens 122 and lens 126, Id, is about 100+/-20mm and the distance between the front principal plane of lens 126 and fibre end 128, fd, is 31.8mm (the focal length of lens 126 is 35.35mm). Fibre 102 is a 4jtm cored single mode optical fibre with a numerical aperture of 0. 1 and fibre 127 is either a 4 plm cored single mode optical fibre with a numerical aperture of 0.1 or a cored multimode fibre with a numerical aperture of about 0.2 and the light emerging from fibre end 121 is 670nm laser diode light with a coherence length of about 10mm. This setup results in a slightly divergent beam 123 after passing through lens 122 as shown in Fig. 13 for the l/e 2 beam diameters. Note that it is difficult to talk about divergence angles as the shape of the divergence depicted is curvilinear. For a slightly divergent beam the collimation waist is typically located in the region of the back principal plane of lens 122. Alternative distances fc, Id and fd may be, for example, as follows: fc=2.197mm, ld=70+/-30mm, fd=34.0mm; fc=2.192mm, ld=70+/-30mm, fd=33.2mm; fc=2.182mm, ld=70+/-30mm, fd=30.3mm; and fc=2.167mm, ld=70+/-30mm, fd=26.5mm.
Referring to Fig 1 end 121, lens 122, lens 126 and end 128 are arranged to produce a slightly divergent beam 123 and a slightly divergent detection envelope similar to beam 123 and envelope 123a respectively as depicted in Fig 4C.
Referring to Fig 1 end 121, lens 122, lens 124 and end 125a are arranged to -produce a slightly divergent beam 123 and a slightly divergent detection envelope substantially the same as those produced by end 121 lens 122, lens 126 and end 128. As a result of using these arrangements in Figure 1 the measurement interaction volume is defined by beam 123 between splitter 103 and lens 126.
In operation, a method for determining the mean and standard deviation of a S* plurality of diameters of wool fibres, includes passing a validating and measurement 15 laser beam from laser 101 through fibre via end 121 and micro lens 122, to form a slightly divergent beam which passes through splitter 103 and cell 105. A portion of beam 123 is directed by splitter 103 to objective 124 which focuses the beam. Fibre 125 collects a portion of the focused beam and guides it to reference detector 109 "which detects the intensity of the light collected by fibre 125 to produce a reference 20 signal. The reference signal from detector 109 is passed to processor 110 via line 111 where it is amplified by amplifier/divider/offsetter 110a to produce an amplified reference signal.. In the event that there is no wool fibre in the interaction volume, a baseline signal is produced by detector 118 designated baseline signal Ab.
The baseline signal of detector 118 is passed to processor 110 by line 119, amplified 25 and divided by the amplified reference signal, obtained at the same time, by amplifier/divider/offsetter 110a, to produce normalised baseline signal Abn. The normalised baseline signal is offset to zero by the amount BL by amplifier/divider/offsetter 110a. A wool fibre in the isopropanol-wool slurry is passed through the interaction volume to produce measurement outgoing light produced by the interaction of the wool fibre and the divergent laser beam 123 in the interaction volume in cell 105, the measurement outgoing light passing through splitter 104 and being detected by detector 118 to produce a measurement signal, designated measurement signal Am. The measurement signal from detector 118 is passed to processor 110 by line 119, amplified and divided by the amplified reference signal, obtained at the same time, to produce normalised measurement signal Amn.
The normalised measurement signal Amn is offset by BL by amplifier/divider/offsetter 110a and passed to scaler/inverter 110b via line 119a.
Scaler/inverter 110b scales and inverts the signal to produce a measurement signal M where the scaling allows M to remain within the dynamic range of processor 110 for the largest diameter fibre to be measured corresponding to a largest allowed measurement signal Mm. The value M is passed to threshold detector 110c via line 119c and peak detector 110Od via line 119b.
When threshold detector 1 l0c determines that the measurement signal M exceeds a threshold of typically 1% 10% of Mm, an above threshold signal is passed to processor/timer 113 via line 117. As thie wool fibre passes through the -interaction volume in cell 105, measurement signal M passes through a maximum due to the occlusion of the divergent laser beam 123 in the interaction volume in cell 105 by the wool fibre which maximum is peak detected by peak detector typically within 100 microseconds, more typically within 5 microseconds of the *44* peak, upon which a peak detect signal is sent to processor/timer 113 via lines 117a S and 117;- the maximum value Mp of measurement signal M is passed to 15 measurement storage 110 lOg via line 119h, measurement storage 1 10g stores Mp.
When threshold detector 1 10c detects that the measurement signal M falls below threshold, it sends a data available signal to computer 115 via lines 120a and 120 upon which computer 115 reads the peak value of the measurement signal Mp stored in measurement storage 1 lOg via lines 120d and 120.
20 Validating outgoing light from the interaction volume in cell 105 is deflected by splitter 104 and focussed by objective 106 to produce an in focus magnified transmission image of the wool fibre in the interaction volume in cell 105 in the plane of end 107 of bundle 108. Light falling on the cores of fibres in bundle 108 at end 107 is guided to the array of 17 photodiode detectors of detector 112. Each of the 17 photodiode detectors detects the intensity of light guided by its corresponding fibre in bundle 108 to produce an output signal which is fed to current to voltage converter 113a via line 114. Converter 113a produces output voltages proportional to each of the light intensities detected by the corresponding photodiodes of detector i 12. Each output voltage is passed to amplifier 113b via line 114a. Amplifier 113b amplifies and limits the bandwidth of each output voltage to produce amplified signals which are passed to the inputs of three pole butterworth filters 113c via line 114b and the numerator input of analogue dividers 113d via line 114d. Filter 113c generates low frequency (substantially DC) signals that track the baseline intensities detected by the corresponding photodiodes in detector 112. The output of each butterworth filter in filter 113c is passed to the denominator input of analogue dividers 113d via line 114c. The function of each analogue divider in divider 113d is to normalise each signal detected in detector 112 so that each of these signals can be compared to a common voltage reference in comparator 113e. Thus the normalisation process carried out by circuits 113a, 113b, 113c and 113d allows for variations between fibres in bundle 108. If this was not done fibre bundle 108 would be extremely difficult and costly to manufacture and mount. The normalised output of each analogue divider in divider 113d is fed to comparator 113e via line 113e. Comparator 113e compares the normalised output signal levels from divider 113d via line 114e with a voltage reference to produce a 17 bit binary data word representative of the image focussed onto the fibres at end 107.
The binary word is passed from circuit 113e to a change detection circuit, -comprising state machine 113f electrically connected to magnitude comparator 113j via line 114i. The function of the change detection circuit is to detect and latch any change from the current binary word passed from comparator 113e via line 114f which occurs whenever there is a significant change in the image focussed by lens 106 on end 107.
0 Before an above threshold signal is fed to state machine 113f, via line 117, oooo 9015 computer 115 enables state machine 113f via lines 116 and 116a and state machine 113f resets a memory storage pointer in multi storage circuit 113k, via line 114k to the beginning of storage circuit 113k. State machine 113f begins the data gathering process when an above threshold signal is received from processor 110 via line 117.
At the start of the data gathering process timer 113g is reset by state machine 113f 20 via line 114g and begins counting and a busy flag is set in state machine 113f which busy flag can be monitored by computer 115 via lines 116a and 116. During the oe data gathering process, state machine 113f stores the first binary word as a binary value in an input register. The contents of this register are compared to the current binary word using magnitude comparator 113j and line 114i. State machine 113f 25 detects an inequality in comparator 113j via line 114i and assembles the change in the data word from comparator 113e, along with the time read from timer 113g via line 114g, sends it to multi storage circuit 113k via line 114k, increments the memory storage pointer in multi storage circuit 113k, via line 114k and stores the new word in the input register which removes the inequality in magnitude comparator 113j. When the peak detect signal is received by state machine 113f from processor 110 via line 117, countdown timer 113h is started via line 114h.
The countdown timer typically runs down in 60 micro seconds, which is detected by state machine 113f via line 114h upon which a last data word from comparator 113e via line 114f and corresponding time from timer 113g via line 114g is assembled by state machine 113f and sent to multistorage 113k via line 114k, the data gathering process is stopped and the busy flag is cleared.
Computer 115 monitors the data busy flag from state machine 113f via lines 116 and 116a to determine whether data is available for reading and processing. If computer 115 receives the data available signal from threshold detector 110c via lines 120a and 120, it reads the maximum value of the measurement signal Mp from measurement storage 1 lO0g via lines 120d and 120. Computer 115 then reads the data words and times stored in multi storage 113k via line 116 in reverse order, monitoring the times, until the time monitored is less than a calculated value. The calculated value is a predetermined amount, typically 120 microseconds, less than the first time stamp read in by computer 115. For example, if the data gathering process was stopped at a time stamp of 160 microseconds, computer 115 would typically stop reading data when the time stamp monitored was less than microseconds.
After reading in the data, computer 115 confirms, from the data words read in, whether one wool fibre completely spanned the interaction volume about the time Mp was determined and stored. If the confirmation is true, computer 115 calculates the diameter of the wool fibre from Mp using a calibration look up table 15 and stores it in its memory. The calibration look up table is generated, prior to the measurement of the plurality of fibres, by directing transport 129 to pass calibration S.1 sample 131 through beam 123 between splitter 104 and lens 126 as shown in Fig. 1.
S.Ignoring the validation signals, the apparent diameters of calibration sample 131 are determined as described above from the resultant signals of detector 118 and a 20 function relating the apparent diameters to the true known diameters is generated by computer 115 and stored in the form of a look up table.
Apparatus 100 repeats the above procedure and thereby determines from S. :resultant stored wool fibre diameters the mean and standard deviation.
A typical reverse image of a 15 micrometre diameter wool fibre in the plane of end 107 is depicted in Fig. 11. Note that the image of Fig. 11 shows features .i position, orientation, medulation and colour of the wool fibre. Figs. 7(a) show typical signals passed by comparator 113e to state machine 113f via line 114f. Fig.
7(a) results from a valid wool fibre, that is, a wool fibre in a valid position and orientation that completely crosses the interaction volume in cell 105 such as the wool fibre depicted in Fig. 11. Fig. 7(b) results from an invalid object, namely a wool fragment that does not completely cross the interaction volume in cell 105, passing through the interaction volume in cell 105. Fig. 7(c) results from an invalid object, namely two wool fibres that pass through the interaction volume in cell 105 simultaneously. Fig. 7(d) results from an invalid object, namely a wool fibre that does not completely cross the interaction volume in cell 105, passing through the interaction volume in cell 105.
Referring to Fig. 12 an alternative apparatus 1000 for determining the mean and standard deviation of a plurality of particles includes a measurement LED light source, namely LED 1101. LED 1101 is disposed with respect to convex lens 1122 such that light from LED 1101 is transformed into a slightly divergent, substantially elliptical, measurement light beam 1123 with an aspect ratio of about 1:5 after passing through lens 1122. Beam 1123 passes through photographic plate 1102 before entering polarisation dependent beam splitter 1103 which is operatively disposed to lens 1122 and LED 1101 to direct a portion of the divergent beam 1123 to reference detector 1109 via lens 1124 and elliptical pinhole 1125. Detector 1109 is electrically connected to processor 1110 via line 1111. Polarisation dependent beam splitter 1103 is also operatively disposed to lens 1122 and LED 1101 to direct a second portion of beam 1123 to detector 1118 via measurement cell 1105, lens 1126 and elliptical pinhole 1127. When apparatus 1000 is operating particles fluidised in an air stream (eg mineral particles) pass through cell 1105 to scatter, reflect, diffract, absorb, refract and otherwise interacts with beam 1123. Light resulting from the interaction of beam 1123 with particles in cell 1105 comprises 15 measurement outgoing light on emerging from cell 1105. Detector 1118 is connected electrically to processor 1110 by line 1119. Processor 1110 is connected electrically to computer 1115 by line 1120.
Calibration sample transport device 1129 is electrically connected to computer 1115 by line 1130. Device 1129 when directed by computer 1115 via line S 20 1130, passes calibration sample 1131 through beam 1123.
Plate 1102 has transmission characteristics such that the intensity profile along the long axis of beam 1123 is as depicted in Fig. 13.
Referring to Fig 12 LED 1101, lens 1122, lens 1126 and pinhole 1127 as well as LED 1101, lens 1121, splitter 1103, lens 1124 and pinhole 1125, are arranged to produce a slightly divergent beam 1123 and a slightly divergent detection envelope similar to beam 123 and envelope 123a respectively as depicted in Fig 4C for both axes of elliptical beam 1123.
In operation, a method for determining the mean and standard deviation of a plurality of particles, includes passing an elliptical measurement beam from LED 1101 through lens 1122 and plate 1102, to form a slightly divergent beam which passes through splitter 1103 and cell 1105. A portion of beam 1123 is directed by splitter 1103 to lens 1124 which focuses the beam. Pinhole 1125 passes a portion of the focused beam which is detected by reference detector 1109 which detects the intensity of the light passed by pinhole 1125 to produce a reference signal. The reference signal from detector 1109 is passed to processor 1110 via line 1111 where it is amplified to produce an amplified reference signal.. In the event that there is no particle in the interaction volume in the cell, beam 1123 is focussed by lens 1126 to fall on pinhole 1127. A portion of the focussed light passes through pinhole 1127 to be detected by detector 1118 to produce a baseline signal, designated baseline signal Ab. The baseline signal of detector 1118 is passed to processor 1110 by line 1119, amplified and divided by the amplified reference signal, obtained at the same time, to produce normalised baseline signal Abn. A particle in the fluidised stream is passed through the interaction volume in cell 1105 to produce measurement outgoing light produced by the interaction of the particle and the divergent elliptical beam 1123 in the interaction volume in cell 1105, the measurement outgoing light is collected and focussed by lens 1126. A portion of the focussed measurement outgoing light beam is passed by pinhole 1127 to be detected by detector 1118 to produce a measurement signal, designated measurement signal Am. The measurement signal from detector 1118 is passed to processor 1110 by line 1119, amplified and divided by the amplified reference signal, obtained at the same time, to produce normalised measurement signal Amn.
When processor 1110 detects that the measurement signal falls below 15 threshold, it sends a data available signal to computer 1115 via line 1120 upon which computer 1115 reads the trough value Tmn of the measurement signal Amn via line 1120 and the percent occlusion is calculated by computer 1115 using the .formula: %occlusion (Abn-Tmn)x00/Abn.
After reading in the data, computer 1115 calculates the equivalent circular 20 diameter of the particle using a calibration look up table and stores it in its memory.
The calibration look up table is generated, prior to the measurement of the plurality of particles, by directing transport 1129 to pass calibration sample 1131 through beam 1123 between cell 1105 and lens 1126 as shown in Fig. 12. The apparent diameters of calibration sample 1131 are determined as described above from the resultant signals of detector 1118 and a function relating the apparent diameters to the true known diameters is generated by computer 1115 and stored in the form of a look up table.
Apparatus 1000 repeats the above procedure and thereby determines from resultant stored particle diameters the mean and standard deviation.
INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY The methods and apparatus of the invention may be utilised to determine' a first parameter(s) of an object or a valid object, such as shape, diameter, area, chemical composition, colour, number of parts, thickness, width, length, absorptivity, reflectivity, transmittivity, dielectric constant, Raman scattering profile, fluorescence, surface texture or other surface detail, position, orientation, surface tension, surface roughness, surface profile or density, for example. In the case of a fibrous object or mineral particle object, for example, the first parameter may be diameter, for example. The measurements may be readily performed on a 36 plurality of objects and statistical information readily determined from the measurements.
Throughout this specification, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise, the word "comprise", "comprises", "comprising" or other variations thereof shall be understood as meaning that the stated integer is included and does not exclude other integers from being present even though those other integers are not explicitly stated.
IN:\LIBZZ001 11 :NJC

Claims (24)

1. A method for determining a first parameter(s) selected from diameter, position, orientation, medulation, colour or a combination thereof, of a fibrous object, comprising: locating the fibrous object in a measurement interaction volume(s); passing a focussed measurement energy beam(s) through the measurement interaction volume(s); interacting the measurement energy beam(s) with the fibrous object to produce measurement outgoing energy; focussing measurement outgoing energy from the measurement interaction volume(s); detecting measurement outgoing energy from a measurement portion(s) of the focussed measurement outgoing energy, in a detection envelope, and generating a signal(s) therefrom whereby: 15 the signal(s) is a function of the first parameter(s); and S•(ii) the focussed measurement energy beam and the detection envelope are each slightly divergent; and determining the first parameter(s) from the signal(s).
2. A method according to claim 1, wherein step is performed at the same time or after step
3. A method for determining the diameter of a fibre, comprising: o. locating the fibre in a measurement interaction volume(s); passing a slightly divergent, substantially circularly symmetric, measurement light beam(s) through the measurement interaction volume(s); at least partially occluding the measurement light beam(s) with the fibre to produce measurement outgoing light whereby the fibre intersects the central axis of the measurement light beam(s) parallel to the direction of travel of the measurement light beam(s) and the fibre substantially completely traverses the measurement light beam(s); focussing unoccluded measurement light from the measurement interaction volume(s); detecting, in a detection envelope, unoccluded measurement light from a measurement portion substantially on the central axis of the focussed unoccluded measurement light and generating a signal(s) therefrom whereby: the signal(s) is a function of the diameter of the portion of the 35 fi ~e occluding the measurement light beam(s); and [l:\DAYLIB\LIBFF] 101 77b.doc:NMV 38 (ii) the focussed measurement energy beam and the detection envelope are each slightly divergent; and determining the diameter of the fibre from the signal(s).
4. A method according to claim 3 wherein step is performed at the same time or after step A method for determining a first parameter(s) selected from diameter, position, orientation, medulation, colour or a combination thereof, of a fibrous object and whether the fibrous object is a valid object, comprising: passing a validating energy beam(s) through a validating interaction volume(s): detecting validating outgoing energy originating from the validating energy beam(s) in the validating interaction volume(s), the detection being in at least one validating focal plane of the validating outgoing energy with respect to the validating :i interaction volume(s) and determining a validating parameter(s) from the detected 15 validating outgoing energy; determining from the validating parameter(s) whether the validating outgoing energy originated from an interaction between an object and the validating beam(s) in the validating volume(s) and, on determining an object; determining the first parameter(s) of the object according to the method 20 of claim 1 or 2 wherein the measurement portion(s) is in a different focal plane to the validating focal plane; and determining from the validating parameter(s) whether the object is a •oooo valid object.
6. A method according to claim 5 wherein step is performed before or at the same time as step
7. A method for determining a first parameter(s) of a valid object according to claim 5 or 6 further comprising the step of: on determining whether said fibrous object is a valid object, determining the first parameter(s) of the valid object as an acceptable valid object parameter(s).
8. A method for determining a first parameter(s) of an invalid object, comprising: steps to of claim 5; and, on determining an invalid object, determining the first parameter(s) of the invalid object as an unacceptable 3i valid object parameter(s). [I:\DAYLIB\LIBIF] 101 7.docNMV 39
9. A method for determining a first parameter(s) of a valid object and determining a first parameter(s) of an invalid object, comprising: steps to of claim 5; and, on determining a valid object, determining the first parameter(s) of the valid object as an acceptable valid object parameter(s); (II) on determining an invalid object, determining the first parameter(s) of the invalid object as an unacceptable valid object parameter(s). lo 10. A method according to claim 5 which further comprises at least one of the following steps in an appropriate workable sequence: storing the first parameter(s) of the fibrous object; retrieving the first parameter(s) of the fibrous object; storing the validating parameter(s) of the fibrous object; retrieving the validating parameter(s) of the fibrous object; storing the fibrous object validation; retrieving the fibrous object validation E determining the first parameter(s) of the valid object as an acceptable valid object parameter(s); 20 storing the first parameter(s) of the valid object; S•retrieving the first parameter(s) of the valid object; determining the first parameter(s) of the invalid object as an unacceptable valid object parameter(s); storing the first parameter(s) of the invalid object; retrieving the first parameter(s) of the invalid object.
11. A method according to any one of claims 5 to 10 wherein the validating energy beam(s) is the same as the measurement energy beam(s) and is a slightly divergent beam(s) of light; the measurement interaction volume(s) includes portions of the validating interaction volume(s); the validating parameter(s) is the intensity from at least part of an image of the validating interaction volume produced using the validating outgoing energy, the vlidating outgoing energy being in the form of light; and 6 the measurement parameter(s) is the intensity of at least a portion of the asurement outgoing energy. [I:\DAYLIB\LIBFF] 10177a2.doc:NMV
12. A method according to any one of claims 5 to 10 further comprising the step of focussing validating outgoing energy originating from the validating energy beams in the validating interaction volume(s) to provide at least one image of at least a portion(s) of the validating interaction volume(s) in the focal plane(s) which image(s) are a virtual image(s) or a real image(s), in focus or out of focus.
13. A method according to any one of claims 1, 2, 5 to 12 further comprising: determining statistical information in respect of a plurality of the first parameter(s).
14. A method according to any one of claims 1 to 13 further comprising: determining statistical information in respect of a plurality of diameters. A method according to any one of claims 1, 2, 5 to 14 wherein the fibrous object or valid object is a fibre.
16. A method according to claim 15 wherein the fibre is a wool fibre. S:i• 17. A method according to claim 3 further comprising the step of passing a fiber 15 through the measurement interaction volume(s).
18. An apparatus for determining a first parameter(s) selected from diameter, position, orientation, medulation, colour or a combination thereof, of a fibrous object, comprising: means for locating the fibrous object in a measurement interaction S 20 volume(s); an energy source(s) and a first focuser(s) for passing a focussed 9: measurement energy beam(s) through the measurement interaction volume(s) to interact with the object to produce measurement outgoing energy; a second focuser(s) operatively associated with respect to the energy source(s) and the first focuser(s) to focus measurement outgoing energy from the measurement interaction volume(s); a detector(s) to detect, in a detection envelope, measurement outgoing energy from a measurement portion(s) of the focussed measurement outgoing energy and to generate a signal(s) therefrom, the detector(s) being operatively associated with the second focuser(s) whereby: the signal(s) is a function of the first parameter(s); and (ii) the focussed measurement energy beam and the detection Senvelope are each slightly divergent; and means for determining the first parameter(s) from the signal(s), the -means for determining being operatively associated with the detector(s). Smeans for determining being operatively associated with the detector(s). [I:\DAYLIB\LIBFF] 1 0177b.doc:NMV 41
19. An apparatus for determining the diameter of a fibre, comprising: means for locating the fibre in a measurement interaction volume(s); a light source(s) and a first focuser(s) for passing a slightly divergent, substantially circularly symmetric measurement light beam(s) through the measurement interaction volume(s) to at least partially occlude the measurement light beam(s) with the fibre to produce measurement outgoing light whereby the fibre intersects the central axis of the measurement light beam(s) parallel to the direction of travel of the measurement light beam(s) and the fibre substantially completely traverses the measurement light beam(s); a second focuser(s) operatively associated with respect to the light source(s) and the first focuser(s) to focus measurement outgoing light from the .•measurement interaction volume(s); a detector(s) to detect, in a detection envelope, measurement outgoing light from a measurement portion(s) of the focussed measurement outgoing light 15 substantially on the central axis of the focussed outgoing measurement light and to generate a signal(s) therefrom, the detector(s) being operatively associated with the second focuser(s) whereby: the signal(s) is a function of the diameter of the portion of the fibre occluding the measurement light beam(s); and (ii) the focussed measurement energy beam and the detection envelope are each slightly divergent; and S• means for determining the diameter of the fibre from the signal(s) the means for determining being operatively associated with the detector(s).
20. An apparatus for determining a first parameter(s) of a fibrous object selected from diameter, position, orientation, medulation, colour or a combination thereof, and whether the fibrous object is a valid object, comprising: a validating energy source(s) for passing a validating energy beam(s) through a validating interaction volume(s); a validating detector(s) for detecting validating outgoing energy originating from the validating energy beam(s) in the validating interaction volume(s), the detection being in at least one validating focal plane of the validating outgoing energy with respect to the validating interaction volume(s) and means for determining a validating parameter(s) from the detected validating outgoing energy operatively ALx associated with the validating detector(s), the validating detector(s) being operatively Lassociated with the validating energy source(s); [I:\DAYLIB\LIBFF] 101 77b.doc:NMV 42 verification means for determining from the validating parameter(s) whether the validating outgoing energy originated from an interaction between a fibrous object and the validating beam(s) in the validating volume(s) the verification means being operatively associated with the validating detector(s); s the apparatus of claim 18 wherein the means for locating the fibrous object of in the measurement interaction volume(s) is operatively associated with the verification means and the measurement portion(s) in at least one measurement focal plane of the measurement outgoing energy with respect to the measurement interaction volume(s), the measurement focal plane being different from the validating focal plane; and means for determining from the validating parameter(s) whether the fibrous object is a valid object, the means for determining being operatively associated with the validating detector(s).
21. An apparatus for determining a first parameter(s) of a valid object, comprising: the apparatus of claim means for determining the first parameter(s) of the valid object as an acceptable valid object parameter(s), operatively associated with the measurement detector(s) and the means for determining from the validating parameter(s) whether the 20 fibrous object is a valid object. ooooo
22. An apparatus for determining a first parameter(s) of an invalid object, comprising: the apparatus of claim means for determining the first parameter(s) of the invalid object as an 2 5 unacceptable valid object parameter(s), operatively associated with the measurement detector(s) and the means for determining from the validating parameter(s) whether the fibrous object is a valid object.
23. An apparatus for determining a first parameter(s) of a valid object and determining a first parameter(s) of an invalid object, comprising: the apparatus of claim means for determining the first parameter(s) of the valid object as an acceptable valid object parameter(s) and for determining the first parameter(s) of the invalid object as an unacceptable valid object parameter(s), operatively associated with e measurement detector(s) and the means for determining from the validating ameter(s) whether the fibrous object is a valid object. [I:\DAYLIB\LIBFF] 101 77a2.doc:NMV 43
24. An apparatus according to claim 20 which further comprises at least one of the following items: means for storing the first parameter(s) of the fibrous object operatively associated with the means for determining the first parameter(s); means for retrieving the first parameter(s) of the fibrous object operatively associated with the means for storing the first parameter(s); means for storing the validating parameter(s) of the fibrous object operatively associated with the validating detector(s); means for retrieving the validating parameter(s) of the fibrous object operatively associated with the means for storing the validating parameter(s); means for storing the object validation operatively associated with the means for determining whether the fibrous object is a valid object; means for retrieving the object validation operatively associated with the means for storing the object validation; means for determining the first parameter(s) of the valid object as an acceptable valid object parameter(s) operatively associated with the means for determining whether the fibrous object is a valid object and the means for determining the first parameter(s) of the valid object (or the fibrous object); means for storing the first parameter(s) of the valid object operatively o* associated with the means for determining whether the fibrous object is a valid object and S"the means for determining the first parameter(s) of the valid object (or the fibrous object); means for retrieving the first parameter(s) of the valid object operatively associated with the means for determining whether the fibrous object is a valid object and the means for storing the first parameter(s) of the valid object (or the fibrous object); means for determining the first parameter(s) of the invalid object as an acceptable invalid object parameter(s) operatively associated with the means for determining whether the fibrous object is an invalid object and the means for determining the first parameter(s) of the invalid object (or the fibrous object); means for storing the first parameter(s) of the invalid object operatively associated with the means for determining whether the fibrous object is an invalid object and the means for determining the first parameter(s) of the invalid object (or the fibrous object); means for retrieving the first parameter(s) of the invalid object operatively Aassociated with the means for determining whether the fibrous object is an invalid object [I:\DAYLIB\LIBFFJ 10 1 77a2.doc:NMV 44 and the means for storing the first parameter(s) of the invalid object (or the fibrous object). An apparatus according to any one of claims 18 to 24 wherein the apparatus further comprises means for determining statistical information in respect of a plurality of the diameters of the fibrous objects or valid object(s).
26. An apparatus according to any one of 18, 20 to 25 wherein the fibrous object or valid object is a fibre.
27. An apparatus according to claim 19 or 26 wherein the fibre is a wool fibre.
28. A method for determining a first parameter(s) selected from diameter, position, orientation, medulation, colour or a combination thereof, of a fibrous object, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to any one of the examples and/or any one of the accompanying drawings.
29. An apparatus for determining a first parameter(s) selected from diameter, position, orientation, medulation, colour or a combination thereof, of a fibrous object, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to any one of the examples and/or any one of the accompanying drawings. *o 0. o 0.0. [I:\DAYLIB\LIBFF] 01 77a2.doc:NMV An apparatus according to any one of claims 18 to 27 or 29 when used for determining a first parameter selected from diameter, position, orientation, medulation, colour or a combination thereof Dated 17 December, 2002 Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation Patent Attorneys for the Applicant/Nominated Person SPRUSON FERGUSON pol- G'0 o [1:\DAYLIB\LIBFF] 10 01 77b.doc: NNW
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Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3901606A (en) * 1972-12-27 1975-08-26 Daido Steel Co Ltd Non-contact type dimension measuring device
SU1024702A1 (en) * 1982-01-04 1983-06-23 Московский станкоинструментальный институт Optical device for measuring small linear dimensions
US5530551A (en) * 1991-09-06 1996-06-25 Commonwealth Scientific And Industrial Research Method for apparatus for determining measurement parameter of a fibrous object and whether the object is a valid object

Patent Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3901606A (en) * 1972-12-27 1975-08-26 Daido Steel Co Ltd Non-contact type dimension measuring device
SU1024702A1 (en) * 1982-01-04 1983-06-23 Московский станкоинструментальный институт Optical device for measuring small linear dimensions
US5530551A (en) * 1991-09-06 1996-06-25 Commonwealth Scientific And Industrial Research Method for apparatus for determining measurement parameter of a fibrous object and whether the object is a valid object

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