Machine-vision illumination system and method for delineating a lighted volume from an unlighted volume
First Claim
1. An illumination source for illuminating an object in a machine-vision system the machine-vision system including an imaging device that has an optical axis, comprising:
- a light source that emits non-collimated light from a plurality of locations, the locations being on a substantially straight line;
a focusing element, the focusing element focusing light from the light source in one dimension to a focal line, wherein the focusing element is separated from the straight line by a distance sufficient to focus rays from the plurality of locations into the focal line, and wherein there is a light path from the straight line to the focusing element and then to the focal line; and
a first diaphragm located in the light path between the light source and the focal line and defining a sharp edge in the rays in order to produce a surface substantially delineating a illuminated volume having light from the light source from an unilluminated volume that has substantially no light from the light source and substantially less light overall, and wherein the optical axis of the imaging device passes through the surface such that a portion of the object viewable by the imaging device lies within the illuminated volume and another portion of the object otherwise viewable by the imaging device lies in the unilluminated volume.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention takes advantage of the efficiency of high-brightness red, infra-red, or other color LEDs arranged in a single row, the properties inherent to a focusing element such as a cylindrical lens, as well as the advantages of having a straight-edged diaphragm and a light-absorbing enclosure to produce an illumination source for machine-vision systems. The illumination source exhibits multi-directional properties on one side of an imaginary plane defined by the positions of the row of LEDs, the straight-edged diaphragm, and the focusing element, and minimize light cast on the other side of the plane. The present invention provides a compact light line generator which has no shadowing or secondary lines. The present invention also provides a method for measuring the height of a raised surface. The present invention provides a method and apparatus which provide an illumination source for illuminating an object in a machine-vision system, and includes a light source emitting light from a plurality of points, the points being on a straight line, a focusing element, the focusing element focusing light from the light source in one dimension to a focal line, wherein the focusing element is separated from the straight line by a distance sufficient to focus rays from the plurality of points into the focal line, and wherein there is a light path from the straight line to the focusing element and then to the focal line, and a first diaphragm located in the light path and defining a sharp edge in the rays. This embodiment provides a light which has a sharply defined virtual surface which separates lighted areas from areas not lit, and within the lighted areas, provides light from multiple directions to reduce shadowing.
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Citations
24 Claims
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1. An illumination source for illuminating an object in a machine-vision system the machine-vision system including an imaging device that has an optical axis, comprising:
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a light source that emits non-collimated light from a plurality of locations, the locations being on a substantially straight line; a focusing element, the focusing element focusing light from the light source in one dimension to a focal line, wherein the focusing element is separated from the straight line by a distance sufficient to focus rays from the plurality of locations into the focal line, and wherein there is a light path from the straight line to the focusing element and then to the focal line; and a first diaphragm located in the light path between the light source and the focal line and defining a sharp edge in the rays in order to produce a surface substantially delineating a illuminated volume having light from the light source from an unilluminated volume that has substantially no light from the light source and substantially less light overall, and wherein the optical axis of the imaging device passes through the surface such that a portion of the object viewable by the imaging device lies within the illuminated volume and another portion of the object otherwise viewable by the imaging device lies in the unilluminated volume. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A method for illuminating an object in a machine-vision system the machine-vision system including an imaging device that has an optical axis, comprising the steps of:
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(a) emitting non-collimated light from a plurality of locations, the locations being on a substantially straight line; (b) focusing the emitted light from the plurality of locations into a focal line, and wherein there is a light path from the straight line to a focusing element and then to the focal line; and (c) defining a sharp edge in the rays in order to produce a surface substantially delineating a illuminated volume having light from the light source from an unilluminated volume that has substantially no light from the light source and substantially less light overall, and wherein the optical axis of the imaging device passes through the surface such that a portion of the object viewable by the imaging device lies within the illuminated volume and another portion of the object otherwise viewable by the imaging device lies in the unilluminated volume. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A machine-vision illumination system, comprising:
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an imaging device that has an optical axis; an image processor coupled to the imaging device; and an illumination source coupled to the image processor, the illumination source comprising; a light source that emits non-collimated light from a plurality of locations, the locations being on a substantially straight line, a focusing element, the focusing element focusing light from the light source in one dimension to a focal line, wherein the focusing element is separated from the straight line by a distance sufficient to focus rays from the plurality of locations into the focal line, and wherein there is a light path from the straight line to the focusing element and then to the focal line, and a first diaphragm located in the light path and defining a sharp edge in the rays in order to produce a surface substantially delineating a illuminated volume having light from the light source from an unilluminated volume that has substantially no light from the light source and substantially less light overall, and wherein the optical axis of the imaging device passes through the surface such that a portion of the object viewable by the imaging device lies within the illuminated volume and another portion of the object otherwise viewable by the imaging device lies in the unilluminated volume. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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Specification