Focusing panel illumination method and apparatus
First Claim
12. A system for illuminating an area of interest, the system comprising:
- a light source, a reflector for reflecting light from the light source onto an area of interest, and a film disposed on the reflector, the film having multiple segments arranged in a geometric pattern such that light reflected from the reflector through the multiple segments converges onto the area to provide a solid angle of substantially uniform incident illumination sufficient to allow the area to appear uniformly illuminated.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A device for viewing an object is provided comprising a housing, a camera disposed in a housing for receiving an image of the object, focusing optics associated with the camera, an illumination source and a faceted focusing panel for reflecting illumination to the object in a large solid angle of illumination. Also provided is a method of providing an illumination source for an object, comprising determining the specularity of the object, determining an acceptable defect size in the uniformity of the illumination field, and providing an illumination geometry having defect size less than the acceptable defect size. Illumination geometries are provided that include a faceted reflecting panel.
86 Citations
56 Claims
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12. A system for illuminating an area of interest, the system comprising:
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a light source, a reflector for reflecting light from the light source onto an area of interest, and a film disposed on the reflector, the film having multiple segments arranged in a geometric pattern such that light reflected from the reflector through the multiple segments converges onto the area to provide a solid angle of substantially uniform incident illumination sufficient to allow the area to appear uniformly illuminated. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A method of illuminating an area of interest, the method comprising:
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identifying an area of interest, providing a light source, and providing a reflector for reflecting light from the light source onto the area of interest, the reflector including multiple reflecting surfaces arranged in a geometric pattern such that light reflected therefrom converges onto the area to provide a solid angle of substantially uniform incident illumination sufficient to allow the area to appear uniformly illuminated. - View Dependent Claims (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 22, 23)
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23-1. The method of claim 21, further comprising:
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identifying a point of divergence of the geometric pattern, and positioning the light source such that light passes through the point of divergence.
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24. A method of illuminating an area of interest, the method comprising:
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identifying an area of interest, providing a light source, and providing a reflector for reflecting light from the light source onto the area of interest, the reflector including a film including multiple segments arranged in a geometric pattern such that light reflected from the reflector through the segments converges onto the area to provide a solid angle of substantially uniform incident illumination sufficient to allow the area to appear uniformly illuminated. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27)
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28. A method of fabricating reflecting surfaces for illuminating an area of interest, the method comprising:
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providing reflecting surfaces; and
,shaping the reflecting surfaces such that light reflected from the reflecting surfaces converges onto the area to provide a solid angle of substantially uniform incident illumination sufficient to allow the area to appear uniformly illuminated - View Dependent Claims (29, 30, 31)
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32. A device for viewing an object, comprising:
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a housing;
a camera, disposed in the housing, for receiving an image of the object and transmitting a signal corresponding to the image;
focusing optics associated with the camera;
an illumination source; and
a focusing panel, positioned at a location spaced apart from the illumination source, for reflecting a solid angle of substantially uniform incident illumination sufficient to allow the object to appear uniformly illuminated. - View Dependent Claims (33, 34, 35)
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36. A device for viewing an object, comprising:
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an illumination source; and
a reflector, positioned at a location spaced apart from the illumination source, having a plurality of reflecting surfaces oriented for reflecting a solid angle of substantially uniform incident illumination sufficient to allow the object to appear uniformly illuminated. - View Dependent Claims (37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42)
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43. A method of providing an illumination source for an object, comprising:
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determining the specularity of the object;
determining an acceptable defect size in the uniformity of the illumination field; and
providing an illumination geometry having defect size less than the acceptable defect size. - View Dependent Claims (44, 45, 46)
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47. A method of image processing, comprising:
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providing an illuminating source;
providing a faceted focusing panel for reflecting light in a plurality of directions from the illumination source to an object to be viewed;
providing an electronic camera for viewing the object;
providing a vision processor for processing data from the electronic camera; and
providing a computer for storing, manipulating and retrieving data from the vision processor. - View Dependent Claims (48, 49, 50)
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51. A vision system for viewing an object, comprising:
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an electronic machine vision camera for receiving an image of an object and transmitting data corresponding to the image;
an illumination source;
a faceted focusing panel, positioned at a location spaced apart from the illumination source, for reflecting a solid angle of substantially uniform incident illumination in a plurality of directions from the illumination source sufficient to allow the object to appear uniformly illuminated;
an image processor, for receiving the data from the camera and generating data corresponding to the signal; and
a computer, for receiving, storing, manipulating and retrieving data from the image processor. - View Dependent Claims (52, 53, 54)
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55. A device for viewing an object, the device comprising:
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an illumination source, a panel, positioned at a location spaced apart from the illumination source, for reflecting illumination from the illumination source to the object, and a faceted reflecting surface on a side of the panel proximate to the source for generating a solid angle of substantially uniform incident illumination onto the object from multiple angles of incidence. - View Dependent Claims (56)
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Specification