Component Attachment Devices and Related Systems and Methods for Machine Vision Systems

• US 20160191771A1
• Filed: 11/12/2015
• Published: 06/30/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 10/04/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cognex Corporation
• Original Assignee: Cognex Corporation
• Inventors: Rodriguez, Saul Sanz, Nunnink, Laurens
• Granted Patent: US 10,097,743 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 15/03 Combinations of cameras with lighting apparatus; Flash units
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 2215/056 Connection with camera, e.g. adapter
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 2215/0567 Solid-state light source, e.g. LED, laser
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 2215/0575 Ring shaped lighting arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/51 Housings
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/55 Optical parts specially adapted for electronic image sensors; Mounting thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/56 provided with illuminating means

Abstract

In some aspects, camera systems can include a camera enclosure, a lens disposed in or along the camera enclosure along an optical axis of the camera system, and an optical accessory attached to camera enclosure, where the optical accessory is attached using a magnetic retention force that is provided by at least one magnetic element.

Claims

1. A camera illumination module capable of positioning at least one illumination element relative to a lens of a machine vision device, the illumination module comprising:

an illumination board having a first surface and comprising at least one illumination element disposed along the first surface;

at least one mounting element extending from a second surface of the illumination board; and

a magnetic element arranged at a distal end of one of the at least one mounting elements, the magnetic element being configured to;

(i) be received along a surface of the machine vision device; and

(ii) generate a magnetic retention force suitable to secure the illumination module to the surface of the machine vision device.

2. The camera illumination module of claim 1, further comprising an alignment feature that limits the orientation of the camera illumination module relative to the machine vision device.

3. The camera illumination module of claim 2, wherein the at least one mounting element comprises a first mounting element and a second mounting element, and the alignment feature comprises a size and/or shape of the first mounting element being different than a size and/or shape of the second mounting element.

4. The camera illumination module of claim 2, wherein the at least one mounting elements comprises at least two mounting elements and the alignment feature comprises a difference in angular spacing between two adjacent mounting elements relative to a central axis of the illumination module.

5. The camera illumination module of claim 2, wherein the magnetic element comprises a first magnet and the alignment feature comprises an arrangement of the first magnet relative to the machine vision device.

6. The camera illumination module of claim 1, wherein the at least one mounting element comprises an elongated member extending from the second surface.

7. The camera illumination module of claim 1, further comprising an electrical attachment element electrically coupled to the illumination board, the electrical attachment element electrically being configured to connect the at least one illumination element to at least one of a power source, a control device, or a signal generating device of the machine vision device.

8. The camera illumination module of claim 1, wherein the magnetic element comprises a ferromagnetic element configured to generate the magnetic retention force with a magnet disposed along the surface of the machine vision device.

9. A machine vision system for imaging an inspection field, the machine vision system comprising:

a camera device comprising a housing defining a camera axis;

a lens disposed within a lens receptacle of the housing along the camera axis;

an optical accessory comprising;

a structural base having a first surface;

at least one mounting element extending from a second surface of the structural base; and

a magnetic element arranged at a distal end of one of the at least one mounting elements, the magnetic element;

(i) being received along a surface of the housing; and

(ii) generating a magnetic retention force suitable to secure the optical accessory to the surface of the housing.

10. The machine vision system of claim 9, further comprising an electrical attachment element electrically coupled to the structural base, the electrical attachment element electrically connecting the optical accessory to at least one of a power source or a control device of the machine vision device.

11. The machine vision system of claim 10, wherein the electrical attachment element comprises an electrical contact region along a distal end of the at least one mounting element, the electrical contact region being configured to, upon contact with a mating electrical contact surface, electrically connect the optical accessory to the at least one of the power source or the control device.

12. The machine vision system of claim 11, wherein the electrical attachment element comprises one or more resilient, deflectable electrical connecting pins.

13. The machine vision system of claim 11, wherein the magnetic retention force connects the electrical contact region to the mating electrical contact surface.

14. The machine vision system of claim 9, wherein the optical accessory comprises a camera lens illumination module and the structural base comprises an illumination board comprising at least one illumination element disposed along the first surface.

15. A supplemental lens device to be coupled to a surface of a machine vision device along a camera axis of an imaging device of the machine vision device, the supplemental lens device comprising:

a lens module configured to be removably attached to a lens of the imaging device; and

a magnetic element disposed in or on the lens module, the magnetic element being configured to generate a magnetic retention force to attach the lens module to a surface of the machine vision device.

16. The supplemental lens device of claim 15, wherein the surface of the machine vision device comprises a surface of a ferromagnetic retaining element disposed around the lens.

17. The supplemental lens device of claim 15, wherein the lens module comprises an adjustable lens that is configured to change an optical characteristic of the machine vision device.

18. The supplemental lens device of claim 15, further comprising an electrical attachment element electrically coupled to the lens module, the electrical attachment element being configured to electrically connect the lens module to at least one of a power source or a control device of the machine vision device.

19. The supplemental lens device of claim 18, wherein the electrical attachment element comprises an electrical connector in a wired connection to the lens module, the electrical connector being configured to be connected to the machine vision device.

20. The supplemental lens device of claim 18, wherein, when connected to a power source, the electrical attachment element provides electrical power to adjust a focal distance of the machine vision device.

21. A camera system comprising:

a camera enclosure;

a lens disposed in or along the camera enclosure along an optical axis of the camera system; and

an optical accessory attached to camera enclosure, the optical accessory being attached using a magnetic retention force that is provided by at least one magnetic element.

22. The camera system of claim 21, wherein the at least one magnetic element is a component of the optical accessory.

23. The camera system of claim 21, wherein the optical accessory comprises an alignment device that limits an installed orientation of the optical accessory relative to the camera enclosure.

24. The camera system of claim 21, wherein the magnetic retention force is generated between a first magnetic element of the at least one magnetic element that is disposed on the optical accessory and a ferromagnetic retaining element disposed on the lens, and in an attached configuration, the first magnetic element is spaced apart from the ferromagnetic retaining element.