Claims
- 1. Method of obtaining data of bodies contained within a transparent mass wherein said bodies and said mass have different indexes of refraction comprising
- (a) moving a specimen of the mass containing said bodies into an optical viewing position wherein said specimen is intercepted by a columned beam of parallel light rays of a schlieren optical system whereby rays penetrating said mass are maintained in a columned state and rays penetrating said bodies are deviated from said columned beam of light to form an image of the profile of said bodies within said mass,
- (b) detecting at least a portion of said deviated rays by a television camera, and converting the image into a video signal,
- (c) electrically applying said video signal to the input of separator circuit means which is adapted to produce a control pulse on its output terminal of predetermined duration for each horizontal synchronization pulse contained in said video signal,
- (d) electrically applying the video signal and the control pulse from the separator circuit means to separate input terminals of gate means adapted to pass said video signal through to its output terminal whenever said control pulse is applied to said second input terminal,
- (e) electrically applying the output signal from said gate means to comparator means for converting all pulses of greater than a predetermined amplitude contained within said passed video signal into a digitized signal, and
- (f) feeding the digitized signal into a digital computer whereby the signal is processed into said data.
- 2. Method according to claim 1 wherein said bodies are transparent.
- 3. Method according to claim 1 wherein said bodies are invisible to the unaided eye.
- 4. The method of claim 1 which includes electrically applying the video signal and the output of said separator circuit means to the input of a second gate which is adapted to pass the video signal through to its output terminal whenever said control pulse is absent from said second input terminal, and electrically applying the output of said second gate to a kinescope monitor to display said video signal.
- 5. The method of claim 4 which includes electrically applying the output of said separator circuit to the output of said second gate, whereby said control pulse appears as a vertical line on the kinescope monitor.
- 6. The method of claim 5 which includes passing said control pulse through an amplifier circuit prior to applying it to said kinescope monitor.
- 7. Apparatus for obtaining data from bodies contained within a transparent mass wherein said bodies and said mass have different indexes of refraction comprising
- (a) means for supporting a specimen for examination such that at least the portion to be examined lies in a predetermined position,
- (b) means for directing a collimated beam of light rays into said specimen whereby rays striking portions of a particular refractive index are maintained in a collimated state and rays striking portions of other refractive indexes are deviated from said collimated beam,
- (c) means for condensing said collimated beam subsequent to passing through said specimen,
- (d) means for occulting said condensed column,
- (e) a television camera positioned to receive at least a portion of the light rays which are deviated from said column for producing a video signal thereof;
- (f) separator circuit means adapted to produce a central pulse on its output terminal of predetermined duration for each horizontal synchronization pulse contained in said video signal,
- (g) gate means having a first input terminal electrically connected to said video signal and a second input terminal electrically connected to said output terminal of said separator circuit means, said gate means being adapted to pass said video signal through to its output terminal whenever said central pulse is applied to said second input terminal,
- (h) comparator means connected to said output terminal of said gate means for converting all pulses of greater than a predetermined amplitude contained within said passed video signal into a digitized signal, and
- (i) a digital computer arranged to receive the digitized signal whereby the signal is processed into said data.
- 8. Apparatus according to claim 7 wherein a second gate having a first input terminal electrically connected to said video signal and a second input terminal connected to said output terminal of said separator circuit means, said second gate means being adapted to pass said video signal through to its output terminal whenever said control pulse is absent from said second input terminal, and a kinescope monitor electrically connected to said output terminal of said second gate means for displaying said video signal.
- 9. Apparatus according to claim 8 wherein said output terminal of said separator circuit means is connected to said output terminal of said second gate means whereby said control pulse appears as a vertical line on said kinescope monitor.
- 10. Apparatus according to claim 8 which includes amplifier circuit means for the control pulse being applied to said kinescope monitor.
Parent Case Info
This is a continuation-in-part of pending U.S. application Ser. No. 790,792, filed Apr. 21, 1977, now U.S. Pat. No. 4,121,247.
US Referenced Citations (3)
Non-Patent Literature Citations (1)
Entry |
Soviet Journal of Optical Technology, vol. 41, No. 9, Sep. 1974, pp. 406-409. |
Continuation in Parts (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
790792 |
Apr 1977 |
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