Lighting for industrial image processing

• US 10,432,838 B2
• Filed: 11/30/2016
• Issued: 10/01/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 12/01/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: B&R Industrial Automation GmbH (ABB Limited)
• Original Assignee: B&R Industrial Automation GmbH (ABB Limited)
• Inventors: Waldl, Andreas
• Primary Examiner(s): Aghevli, Reza
• Application Number:
  US15/365,238
• Publication Number:
  US 20170155813A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,035 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 14/02 by movement of light sources in vehicle head lamps F21S41/657
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 33/0052 Audio or video equipment, e.g. televisions, telephones, cameras or computers; Remote control devices therefor
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 7/0004 Industrial image inspection
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 10/141 Control of illumination
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/56 provided with illuminating means

Abstract

Light source (1) for industrial image processing for illuminating an image area (3), the light source (1) having at least one sensor (40) and the at least one sensor (40) being provided for capturing an actual relative position (6) of the light source (1) in relation to a reference plane (10), and that a comparison unit (11) connected to the sensor (40) is provided for comparing the actual relative position (6) of the light source (1) with a defined relative target position (7).

Claims

1. A light source for industrial image processing for illuminating an image area, comprising:

at least one sensor configured for capturing an actual relative position of the light source in relation to at least one defined reference, which is at least one of;

at least one defined reference point or at least one defined reference plane; and

a position comparer, which is connected to the at least one sensor, being configured for comparing the actual relative position of the light source with a defined relative target position.

2. The light source according to claim 1, wherein the sensor comprises at least an orientation sensor having a defined reference orientation,

wherein the at least one orientation sensor is designed for capturing an actual orientation in relation to the reference orientation and

wherein the position comparer is provided for comparing the actual orientation with a defined target orientation relative to the reference orientation.

3. The light source according to claim 1, wherein the sensor comprises at least a distance sensor for capturing at least an actual distance to the at least one defined reference and

wherein the position comparer is provided for comparing the actual distance with a defined target distance to the at least one reference.

4. The light source according to claim 1, wherein during normal use of the light source, a measurement object is present in the image area and at least part of a surface of the measurement object is provided as the at least one reference.

5. The light source according to claim 1, further comprising an output for outputting a comparison result being connected to the position comparer.

6. The light source according to claim 1, wherein the light source is connected to a camera for industrial image processing.

7. The light source according to claim 6, further comprising an image data manipulator for manipulating the image data generated by the camera as a function of the comparison result.

8. The light source according to claim 1, further comprising a spatial positioner connected to the light source for spatial positioning of the light source as a function of the comparison result.

9. A method for operating a light source for industrial image processing for illuminating an image area, comprising:

capturing with at least one sensor of the light source an actual relative position of the light source in relation to at least one defined reference, which is at least one of;

at least one defined reference point or at least one defined reference plane; and

comparing, with a position comparer connected to the sensor, the actual relative position of the light source with a defined relative target position.

10. The method according to claim 9, wherein the sensor comprises at least an orientation sensor having a defined reference orientation,

wherein the orientation sensor captures an actual orientation in relation to a reference orientation and

wherein the position comparer compares the actual orientation with a defined target orientation relative to a reference orientation.

11. The method according to claim 9, wherein the sensor comprises at least a distance sensor that captures at least an actual distance to the at least one defined reference and

wherein the position comparer compares the actual distance with a defined target distance to the at least one reference.

12. The method according to claim 9, wherein during normal use, a measurement object is present in the image area and at least part of a surface of the measurement object is used as the at least one reference.

13. The method according to claim 9, further comprising outputting, via an output connected to the position comparer, a comparison result.

14. The method according to claim 9, wherein a camera for industrial image processing is connected to the light source.

15. The method according to claim 14, further comprising manipulating image data generated by the camera via an image data manipulator at least as a function of the comparison result.

16. The method according to claim 9, wherein the light source is spatially positioned as a function of the comparison result.