Method and system for inspecting a low gloss surface of an object at a vision station
First Claim
1. A method for inspecting a low gloss surface of an object at a vision station to automatically locate a surface defect in the object, the method comprising the steps of:
- directing a regular, extended pattern of radiation, having a wavelength longer than the wavelength of visible light, but shorter than the dimensions of the surface defect, at the low gloss surface of the object to generate a corresponding reflected radiation signal;
imaging the reflected light signal at the vision station to generate a first set of electrical signals representing the surface defect to be located; and
processing the first set of electrical signals to obtain a second set of electrical signals representing pattern distortions in the reflected radiation signal caused by the surface defect to locate the surface defect in the object.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method and system are provided for inspecting a low gloss surface (12) of an object (14) at a vision station utilizing a regular, extended pattern of infrared radiation. The system includes an infrared radiation source (10) and an infrared image converter and/or infrared cameras (16) to automatically locate a surface defect in the object. A signal processor processes a first set of electrical signals from the infrared cameras to obtain a second set of electrical signals which represent pattern distortions in the reflected infrared radiation signal caused by the surface defect in order to locate the surface defect in the object. The second set of electrical signals may be processed to classify the surface defect in the object as being an “in-dent” or an “out-dent”.
35 Citations
26 Claims
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1. A method for inspecting a low gloss surface of an object at a vision station to automatically locate a surface defect in the object, the method comprising the steps of:
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directing a regular, extended pattern of radiation, having a wavelength longer than the wavelength of visible light, but shorter than the dimensions of the surface defect, at the low gloss surface of the object to generate a corresponding reflected radiation signal;
imaging the reflected light signal at the vision station to generate a first set of electrical signals representing the surface defect to be located; and
processing the first set of electrical signals to obtain a second set of electrical signals representing pattern distortions in the reflected radiation signal caused by the surface defect to locate the surface defect in the object. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A system for inspecting a low gloss surface of an object at a vision station to automatically locate a surface defect in the object, the system comprising:
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a structured radiation source located at the vision station for directing a regular, extended pattern of radiation, having a wavelength longer than the wavelength of visible light, but shorter than the dimensions of the surface defect, at the low gloss surface of the object to generate a corresponding reflected radiation signal;
an imaging detector having an image plane located at the vision station for imaging the reflected radiation signal and to generate a first set of electrical signals representing the surface defect to be located; and
a signal processor coupled to the imaging detector for processing the first set of electrical signals to obtain a second set of electrical signals representing pattern distortions in the reflected radiation signal caused by the surface defect to locate the surface defect in the object. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A method for inspecting a low gloss surface of an object located at a vision station, the method comprising the steps of:
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(a) directing a regular, extended pattern of radiation, having a wavelength longer than the wavelength of visible light, but shorter than the dimensions of the surface defect, at the low gloss surface of the object to generate a corresponding reflected radiation signal; and
(b) converting the reflected radiation signal into a visible image for visual observation of pattern distortions in the reflected radiation signal caused by the surface defect. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23)
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24. A system for inspecting a low gloss surface of an object located at a vision station, the system comprising:
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a structured radiation source located at the vision station for directing a regular, extended pattern of radiation, having a wavelength longer than the wavelength of visible light, but shorter than the dimensions of the surface defect, at the low gloss surface of the object to generate a corresponding reflected radiation signal; and
an image converter located at the vision station for converting the reflected radiation signal into a visible image for visual observation of pattern distortions in the reflected radiation signal caused by the surface defect. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26)
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Specification