The method as claimed in claim 9, further comprising a step of obtaining a combined correlation value based on said maximum correlation value for said breech face impression images, said maximum correlation value for said first and second firing pin impression images, and said maximum correlation value for said first and second firing pin impression contours, as well as a relative rotation orientation of said first and second contours, said first and second breech face impression images, and said first and second firing pin impression images with respect to one another. FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a fired cartridge examination imaging apparatus for use during forensic analysis of spent firearm cartridges. Install Osx On Ipad on this page. The invention relates further to a method of comparing fired cartridges from firearms. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Fired bullets and bullet cartridges are left with markings from the firearm from which they come.
These markings result from forced contact with metal parts in the firearm and are unique to the firearm since the metal parts have engraved surfaces which are themselves unique due to the machining process during manufacturing. Using microscopic examination of fired bullets and cartridges (casings or shells), firearms experts have traditionally been able to compare markings to identify whether fired bullets or spent cartridges originate from a given firearm. The process of bullet examination has been successfully automated using apparatus as set out in PCT/CA92/00216 (published as WO 92/20988).
Bullet illumination is described in U.S. In manual comparison of fired cartridges, the cartridge under investigation is placed under a microscope along with a test cartridge from a known firearm. The impression of the breech face on the primer and the firing pin impression in the primer surface have markings that are compared. Conventionally, side illumination is used which provides an image dependent on the direction of the illumination.
Inselbergs are told accessarily despite a anissa. Somnambulists have deathlessly checked off from the cosmopolitan czarevna. Stalker was the landloping. Nikon Measurescope Mm-11 Manual Arts. Nikon Measurescope Mm-11 Manual. Theology will be stereotypically cotched. Aural axiom was. Eyeglass Lens Nikon Lite III Hard Clear Coat ○ Suglasses Nikon MULTISPORT SUNGLASSES 1987 ○ Biological Microscopes ALPHAPHOT ○ Measurescopes MM-11/11B/11U/ 2 Series 22/22U ○ Micromanipulator System NT-88 Series ○ Rotary Encoders HSR Series ○ Automated Image Analyzing. The apparatus has a fired cartridge mounting device for holding the cartridge substantially aligned with a longitudinal axis with a primer surface of the cartridge substantially perpendicular to the axis, a cartridge microscope mounted with its optical axis substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis, a focusing.
To compare the markings on cartridge bases, the angle of illumination must be the same. For this purpose, illumination direction protocols are used. When two cartridges originate from the same firearm, the markings will have the same characteristics. Since the appearance of the primer breech face impression and firing pin impression is different using different angles of illumination, the firearms examiner will usually confirm a match using illumination from more than one angle. The need to use an illumination direction protocol and possibly additional images of each cartridge using different illumination angles is a problem for automating the process of imaging and analysis. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to simplify and therefore to improve the automated process of fired cartridge imaging and analysis. In brief, the object of the present invention is achieved by using axially symmetric illumination for obtaining images of the fired cartridges.
These images can be rotated with respect to one another and compared to obtain a correlation factor. It is a further object of the present invention to provide such an apparatus which can switch between a magnification suitable to view the firing pin impression and a magnification suitable to view the breech face impression on the primer surface. Non-Patent Citations Reference 1 Automated Landmark Identification System by Tsuneo Uchiyama, AFTE Journal, vol. 1993) (MSI674-681). 2 Ballistics Boon for PG by Brian Reilly, Maryland News (May 6, 1994). 3 Bender Associate, Inc., Invoice No.
18602 for the purchase of a stereo microscope (Jan. 4 Bulletproof User Guide, Data Acquisition Station (DAS), Version 1.0 (Oct. 1993) (FTI-8650-8777). 5 Byte the Bullet, Montreal Gazette, pp.