Apparatus and method for classifying glass object using acoustic analysis
Inventors
Assignees
Hong Kong Applied Science and Technology Research Institute ASTRI
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Publication Number
US-12105053-B2
Publication Date
2024-10-01
Expiration Date
Abstract
A method for classifying a glass object via acoustic analysis by a classifying apparatus is provided. The method including: receiving, by a processor, sound data of a knock sound generated by applying a knocking operation on the glass object; determining, by the processor, a type of the glass object by performing a knock-sound analysis to the sound data, wherein the type of the glass object includes an organic glass and an inorganic glass; if the type of the glass object is determined as the inorganic glass, receiving, by the processor, echo data of an echo induced by applying an ultrasonic-echo operation on the glass object; and determining, by the processor, a further type of the glass object by performing an echo-decay analysis to the echo data, wherein the further type of the glass object includes a crystal glass, a borosilicate glass and a soda-lime glass.
Core Innovation
The invention provides a computer-implemented method for classifying a glass object via acoustic analysis by a classifying apparatus. A knock sound corresponding to the glass object is received as sound data from a sensor, where the knock sound is generated by a hard object impacting the glass object. The processor determines a type of the glass object as organic glass or inorganic glass by performing knock-sound analysis on the sound data.
The knock-sound analysis extracts intensity information and frequency information of each data element of the sound data, identifies a target data element having a maximum intensity, and identifies a target frequency of the target data element. The processor determines whether the target frequency is higher than a predefined frequency threshold, and classifies the glass object as organic glass when the target frequency is not higher than the threshold, and as inorganic glass when the target frequency is higher than the threshold.
When the glass object is determined to be inorganic glass, the processor receives echo data of an echo corresponding to the glass object. The echo is induced by a transceiver applying an ultrasonic-echo operation to the glass object and is received by the transceiver. The processor then determines a further type of the glass object by performing either echo-decay analysis or sound-speed analysis on the echo data, where the further type includes crystal glass, borosilicate glass, and soda-lime glass.
Claims Coverage
The independent claims covered are clm-00001, clm-00007, clm-00012, and clm-00019. Across these claims, four main inventive features drive the classification.
Knock-sound organic versus inorganic discrimination using maximum-intensity target frequency
Receiving sound data of a knock sound of a glass object, extracting intensity information and frequency information of each data element, identifying a target data element having a maximum intensity, identifying a target frequency of the target data element, and determining whether the target frequency is higher than a predefined frequency threshold to determine whether the glass object is organic glass or inorganic glass.
Ultrasonic-echo induced echo data reception for inorganic glass
If the type of the glass object is determined to be inorganic glass, receiving echo data of an echo corresponding to the glass object, where the echo is induced by a transceiver applying an ultrasonic-echo operation to the glass object and is received by the transceiver.
Echo-decay analysis to classify crystal, borosilicate, and soda-lime glass
Determining a further type of the glass object by performing an echo-decay analysis to the echo data, where the further type includes crystal glass, borosilicate glass and soda-lime glass.
Sound-speed analysis to classify crystal, borosilicate, and soda-lime glass
Determining a further type of the glass object by performing a sound-speed analysis to the echo data, where the further type includes crystal glass, borosilicate glass and soda-lime glass.
The independent claims collectively cover acoustic classification using knock-sound analysis to distinguish organic glass from inorganic glass, followed by ultrasonic-echo based analysis (echo-decay analysis or sound-speed analysis) to further classify inorganic glass among crystal glass, borosilicate glass, and soda-lime glass.
Stated Advantages
Improving automation over optical methods for commingled waste glass.
Documented Applications
Classifying organic glass versus inorganic glass and further classifying inorganic glass types (crystal glass, borosilicate glass, soda-lime glass) for commingled waste glass using an acoustic glass-classification system.
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