Split-Online: Image Initiation and Acquisition
Split-Online: Image Initiation and Acquisition

The software can be configured to run continuously and capture images for processing from each of 8 possible video inputs. Image sampling can be initiated by a timer, relay, combination of both, or can be immediate. Images can also be acquired from file sources.

 

Split-Online® Technical Tour
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Image Initiation and Acquisition
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Figure 1
Figure 1, click to enlarge
Figure 2
Figure 2, click to enlarge
Figure 3
Figure 3, click to enlarge

Images can be collected from live video sources from permanently mounted cameras. The most convenient location for a permanent camera is above a moving conveyor belt. A typical set up for a camera above a conveyor belt is shown in Figures 1 and 2. A light system is normally used containing industrial style lighting for constant and even light. At the center of the light frame the CCD camera is mounted.

The images from live video sources are captured by a framegrabber card in the computer which is located in a dust free environment either near the camera or at a remote location such as a substation orl control room (see Figure 3). The computer can be located up to 3 km from the cameras with multimode fiber optic transmissions.

Figure 4
Primary Crusher Feed,
click to enlarge

Scaling of the images is done only once, after the equipment has been installed and the camera has been focused. The scale only needs to be re-calibrated if the lens settings or the distance between the material and camera is changed. The top image to the left shows a typical image of primary crusher feed, and the bottom image to the left shows a typical image of primary crusher product.

Rather than process individual images, Split-Online is normally set to take a number of images and give the average size distribution for this set of images (the content of which may be considered statistically significant). Split-Online allows the user to set the number if images in a set as well as the interval of time between sets. The speed of the belt is input into the program, and Split-Online determines the time interval between successive images to gather contiguous images.

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Figure 5
Primary Crusher Product, click to enlarge