A method includes receiving an x-ray signal transmitted from an x-ray transmitter through a coated separator membrane. The method also includes obtaining infrared (IR) signals from the coated separator membrane. The IR signals include two or more spectral components including peaks that include a first peak from the separator membrane. The method also includes the processor determining whether a second peak is present, and determining if at least one contaminant/additive exists in the coating present within the coated separator membrane. The method also includes calculating, by the processor, a concentration/area weight of the at least one contaminant/additive and a weight, density, or thickness of the coating.

This invention utilizes sensing technologies in combination with or in isolation of an automated inspection vehicle to conduct inspections of internal rail flaws in steel railroad track. A vehicle equipped with X-radiation sensing is used as a secondary method to assess the deviations in magnetic fields that are sensed by a primary sensor consisting of a single or multiple magnetometers. The magnetometers sense changes in magnetic field that are correlated to the flaws inside the steel rail. The technologies improve the probability to detect railroad flaws and offer the ability to accurately track and monitor flaws.

This invention utilizes sensing technologies in combination with or in isolation of an automated inspection vehicle to conduct inspections of internal rail flaws in steel railroad track. A vehicle equipped with X-radiation sensing is used as a secondary method to assess the deviations in magnetic fields that are sensed by a primary sensor consisting of a single or multiple magnetometers. The magnetometers sense changes in magnetic field that are correlated to the flaws inside the steel rail. The technologies improve the probability to detect railroad flaws and offer the ability to accurately track and monitor flaws.

A radiation transmission inspection method includes: when one side surface of the reel is a side end A and another side surface is a side end B, a first foreign body detection process in which radiation emitted from a first radiation source, incident from the side end A of the film reel, transmitted through the reel, and exited from the side end B is detected by a first detector, and information regarding a foreign body is obtained; and a second foreign body detection process in which radiation emitted from a second radiation source, incident from the side end B of the film reel, transmitted through the reel, and exited from the side end A is detected by a second detector, and information regarding a foreign body is obtained.

A radiation transmission inspection method includes: when one side surface of the reel is a side end A and another side surface is a side end B, a first foreign body detection process in which radiation emitted from a first radiation source, incident from the side end A of the film reel, transmitted through the reel, and exited from the side end B is detected by a first detector, and information regarding a foreign body is obtained; and a second foreign body detection process in which radiation emitted from a second radiation source, incident from the side end B of the film reel, transmitted through the reel, and exited from the side end A is detected by a second detector, and information regarding a foreign body is obtained.

A method of inspecting a membrane-electrode assembly includes obtaining an X-ray transmission image by applying X-rays to the membrane-electrode assembly, and determining whether a foreign matter having a size equal to or larger than a predetermined value is included in the membrane-electrode assembly, according to a brightness reduction amount in each pixel of the X-ray transmission image obtained, while referring to a correlative relationship between the size of the foreign matter measured in a planar direction of the membrane-electrode assembly, and the brightness reduction amount in the X-ray transmission image.

An image processing device capable of high-accuracy foreign object inspection is provided. The image processing device include a background value setting section configured to (i) obtain a value for use as a background value on a basis of a first pixel value of at least one reference pixel present in the vicinity of a target pixel and having a predetermined positional relationship with the target pixel, and (ii) set the background value of the target pixel to the value obtained.

An image processing device capable of high-accuracy foreign object inspection is provided. The image processing device include a background value setting section configured to (i) obtain a value for use as a background value on a basis of a first pixel value of at least one reference pixel present in the vicinity of a target pixel and having a predetermined positional relationship with the target pixel, and (ii) set the background value of the target pixel to the value obtained.

This invention utilizes two sensing technologies in combination with or in isolation of an automated inspection vehicle to conduct inspections of internal rail flaws in steel railroad track. A vehicle equipped with X-radiation sensing is used as a secondary method to assess the deviations in magnetic fields that are sensed by a primary sensor consisting of a single or multiple magnetometers. The magnetometers sense changes in magnetic field that are correlated to the flaws inside the steel rail. The combination of technologies improves the probability to detect railroad flaws and offers the ability to accurately track and monitor flaws.

This invention utilizes two sensing technologies in combination with or in isolation of an automated inspection vehicle to conduct inspections of internal rail flaws in steel railroad track. A vehicle equipped with X-radiation sensing is used as a secondary method to assess the deviations in magnetic fields that are sensed by a primary sensor consisting of a single or multiple magnetometers. The magnetometers sense changes in magnetic field that are correlated to the flaws inside the steel rail. The combination of technologies improves the probability to detect railroad flaws and offers the ability to accurately track and monitor flaws.