Imaging apparatus

• US 20030026110A1
• Filed: 08/05/2002
• Published: 02/06/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 08/06/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Moritex Corporation (Cognex Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Moritex Corporation (Cognex Corporation)
• Inventors: Shirai, Yasuo, Toyota, Makoto, Satoh, Masao
• Application Number:
  US10/211,588
• Publication Number:
  US 20030026110A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 362/572
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0059 using light, e.g. diagnosis by transillumination, diascopy, fluorescence A61B5/0093, A61B5/1455, A61B5/02416 and A61B5/0261 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/442 Evaluating skin mechanical properties, e.g. elasticity, hardness, texture, wrinkle assessment
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/446 Scalp evaluation or scalp disorder diagnosis, e.g. dandruff
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/51 Housings
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/56 provided with illuminating means

Abstract

An illumination system previously determined for an illumination direction and an illumination position to an object to be observed is disposed to an imaging head, while a lens 4 is disposed to an apparatus body, so that the number of parts for the imaging head mounted to an apparatus body can be reduced, precision fabrication such as alignment of lens optical axis is no more necessary upon manufacture of the imaging head and optimum illumination can be illuminated in accordance with the magnification ratio or the object to be observed by merely exchanging the imaging head, illumination light optimal to the magnification ratio or object to be observed can be obtained with no provision of various kinds of expositive lens units.

Claims

1. An imaging apparatus for illuminating an illumination light by way of an observation hole formed at the top end of an imaging head from the inside of the hole to an object to be observed and focusing images of the object taken by way of the observation hole by a lens and then picking-up the same by an imaging device disposed to an apparatus body, wherein

the lens is disposed being arranged on an optical axis identical with the imaging device to the apparatus body, the imaging head is mounted exchangeably to the apparatus body so as to cover the lens, and a light emission portion of an illumination system is disposed to the imaging head for illuminating a light to the object along a predetermined illumination direction and at a predetermined illumination position.

2. An imaging apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein the lens is mounted exchangeably to the apparatus body.

3. An imaging apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein light emission devices as light emission portions of the illumination system are disposed to the imaging head, and a power supply circuit is disposed to the apparatus body and the imaging head for conducting a current to the light emission device in a state where they are mounted integrally.

4. An imaging apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein the light source of the illumination system is disposed to the apparatus body, and the imaging head includes optical fibers for guiding the light of the light source as far as a light emission end as the light emission portion for illumination in a state where the apparatus body and the imaging head are mounted integrally.

8. An imaging apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein the lens is attached to a slider sliding on an optical axis, and is disposed moveably from a low magnification imaging position on the side of the imaging device to a high magnification imaging position on the side of the observation hole, resiliently biased to the high magnification imaging position on the side of the observation hole by the resiliency of a spring, and a pressing portion is formed to the imaging head for pressing the slider to a position corresponding to a desired magnification ratio against the resiliency of the spring.

9. An imaging apparatus as defined in claim 1, comprising at least two kinds of light emission portions capable of illuminating lights individually in which a polarizer is disposed to an optical channel extending from one emission portion to the object, and a detector is disposed in an optical channel of a light reflected by the object and extending to an imaging device in a cross Nicol state to the polarizer.

5. An imaging apparatus for illuminating an illumination light by way of an observation hole formed at the top end of an imaging head from the inside thereof to an object to be observed, focusing images of the object intaken by way of the observation hole by a lens and picking-up the same by an imaging device disposed to an apparatus body, wherein

a lens holder for positioning the lens on the optical axis identical with the imaging device is detachably mounted to the apparatus body, the imaging head is mounted exchangeably to the lens holder and a light emission portion of an illumination system for illuminating a light along the predetermined illumination direction and at a predetermined illumination position to the object is disposed to the imaging head.

6. An imaging apparatus as defined in claim 5, wherein the light emission device as the light emission portion of the illumination system is disposed to the imaging head and a power supply circuit is formed to the apparatus body, the lens holder and the imaging head for conducting current to the light emission device in a state where they are mounted integrally therewith.

7. An imaging apparatus as defined in claim 5, wherein the light source of the illumination system is disposed to the apparatus body, and the imaging head includes optical fibers for guiding a light from the light source as far as the light emission end as the light emission portion for illumination in a state where the apparatus body, the lens holder and the imaging head are mounted integrally.