Systems and methods for illuminating objects for vision systems
First Claim
1. A system for illuminating a target object with focused light at varying angles of incidence relative to an optical axis and comprising:
- a ring light source concentric with the optical axis and providing a hollow cylinder of light directed toward the object;
a first ring reflector having an outer surface of parabolic cross section in a path of the cylinder of light and reflecting the light into an outwardly disbursing pattern;
a second ring reflector having an inner surface of curved cross section disposed about the first ring reflector and concentric therewith in a path of the pattern reflected from the first ring reflector; and
means for varying the spacing of the first and second ring reflector from the object, including means for moving the second ring reflector differentially relative to the first.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An illumination system, particularly suitable for use with automatic vision systems employing an image sensing device or system, illuminates an object under analysis with the cone of light that may cover 360° or only an arc segment about a part of the object under analysis. Light from a ring source is directed toward a curved parabolic surface on a light collector ring that substantially collimates the light and fans it out radially out toward a toroidal reflector surface on an encompassing ring, the relative position of which determines the angle of incidence of a cone of light formed to fall in the region of the object, so as to illuminate particular features with optimal efficiency. To change the angle of incidence while maintaining focus, a differential drive mechanism moves the parabolic collector ring and the toroidal angle generator ring in differential fashion concurrently.
76 Citations
18 Claims
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1. A system for illuminating a target object with focused light at varying angles of incidence relative to an optical axis and comprising:
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a ring light source concentric with the optical axis and providing a hollow cylinder of light directed toward the object; a first ring reflector having an outer surface of parabolic cross section in a path of the cylinder of light and reflecting the light into an outwardly disbursing pattern; a second ring reflector having an inner surface of curved cross section disposed about the first ring reflector and concentric therewith in a path of the pattern reflected from the first ring reflector; and means for varying the spacing of the first and second ring reflector from the object, including means for moving the second ring reflector differentially relative to the first. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A method of examining an object with a vision system having an optical axis to enhance automatic recognition of distinctive features to be measured or identified automatically comprising the steps of:
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illuminating an object with a conical sheath of light concentric with the axis of the vision system and focused on a selected point relative to the object to be analyzed; and changing an angle of incidence of the conical sheath of light while maintaining it in focus at the selected point. - View Dependent Claims (6)
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7. An illumination system for use with a viewing system for inspecting, measuring or recording an image of an object at an optical axis, comprising:
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means providing a hollow cylindrical illuminating light pattern concentric with the optical axis and directed toward the object; a first ring element having a curved reflecting surface concentric with the optical axis and reflecting the cylindrical light in a first direction, a second ring element having a curved reflecting surface in a path of the light reflected from the first curved reflecting surface and reflecting the light into a conical illumination pattern; and means coupled to move the first and second ring elements along the optical axis with differential motion. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A light system for providing light at variable angles of incidence on an object to be viewed at a focal plane along a viewing axis perpendicular to the viewing axis, comprising:
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a first body in the form of a surface of revolution concentric with the viewing axis and having an outer reflecting flange on a side opposite the focal plane, the reflecting flange defining a first reflecting surface that is parabolic in cross section; means disposed about the first body and providing a circular light source concentric with and directed onto the first reflecting surface, the light from the source diverging within a beam angle and the focal point of the first reflecting surface being selected to collimate light from the source; a second body in the form of a surface of revolution concentric with the viewing axis and having an inner reflecting flange on a side facing the focal plane, the reflecting flange defining a second reflecting surface that approximates a circular arc in cross section and reflects light inwardly toward the viewing axis; means coupled to the first and second bodies for moving such bodies along the viewing axis in a selected displacement ratio such that the light reflected from the second surface focuses at the focal plane. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15)
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16. A vision system comprising:
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a stable base having a horizontal upper surface; a stable bridge spanning the upper surface in an X axis direction and overlying a viewing zone on the base; platform means on the upper surface of the base for receiving an object to be viewed, the platform means including Y axis drive means for providing horizontal movement in the Y direction; X axis carriage means mounted on the bridge and including X axis drive means for providing horizontal movement in the X direction; Z axis carriage means mounted on the X axis carriage means and including drive means for providing vertical movement; electronic camera means, including magnification means, mounted on the Z axis carriage means and oriented along an optical axis to view the viewing zone; illuminator means disposed concentrically about the electronic camera means and the optical axis for providing a cone of light on the object to be viewed, the illuminator means comprising a pair of ring reflectors; and illuminator drive means mounted on the Z axis carriage means and coupled to the illuminator means for moving the ring reflectors in a selected displacement ratio to maintain the cone of light in focus at different angles of incidence. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18)
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Specification