Systems and methods for diffuse illumination
First Claim
1. An apparatus for diffuse illumination, the apparatus comprising:
- a light source;
a light pattern controller that receives light from the light source and creates a prescribed pattern of light;
a collimator that receives and collimates the prescribed pattern of light; and
a focusing element that focuses the collimated light pattern of light.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A light pattern controller provides a pattern of light to a collimator. The light pattern controller includes a beam deflector that sweeps a circular pattern with a radius that is directly proportional to the rotational speed of the beam deflector. Alternatively, the light pattern controller includes a two-dimensional scanning galvanometer that sweeps out the circular pattern or a liquid crystal shutter. The pattern of light is collimated and reflected such that it is substantially parallel to the optical axis of an imaging system. A focusing element redirects the collimated light pattern onto a sample part at an angle of incidence which is a function of the radius of the light column.
118 Citations
52 Claims
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1. An apparatus for diffuse illumination, the apparatus comprising:
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a light source;
a light pattern controller that receives light from the light source and creates a prescribed pattern of light;
a collimator that receives and collimates the prescribed pattern of light; and
a focusing element that focuses the collimated light pattern of light. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 39, 47)
a motor having a rotatable shaft; and
a mirror mounted on the rotatable shaft, the mirror adapted to tilt in response to rotation of the rotatable shaft.
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13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the deflector further comprises:
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a barrel having a first end, a second end and an internal cavity, wherein the mirror is attached to the second end and the rotatable shaft is received through the first end into the internal cavity, the rotatable shaft connected to the barrel along a hinge axis, and the barrel having a center of mass offset from the axis of the rotatable shaft; and
a spring that provides a force opposing a centrifugal force acting through the center of mass, the centrifugal force generated in response to a rotation of the rotatable shaft and the barrel.
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14. The apparatus of claim 13, further comprising a position adjuster that sets a position of the barrel when not rotating.
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15. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the collimating element is a spherical lens.
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16. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the collimating element is an aspherical lens.
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17. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the collimating element comprises a plurality of annular mirrored surfaces.
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18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein each of the plurality of annular mirrored surfaces is parabolic.
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19. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the collimating element comprises a Fresnel lens.
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20. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the focusing element is a spherical lens.
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21. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the focusing element is an aspherical lens.
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22. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the focusing element comprises a plurality of annular mirrored surfaces.
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23. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein each of the plurality of annular mirrored surfaces is parabolic.
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24. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the focusing element comprises a Fresnel lens.
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25. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the light source comprises at least one solid state device.
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26. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein each of the at least one solid state device is a light emitting diode.
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27. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein at least two of the at least one light emitting diode emits light in a different frequency range.
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39. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the focusing element focuses the collimated light pattern of light onto an object, further comprising a camera that outputs an image of the illuminated object.
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47. A machine vision system having an optical axis and comprising the apparatus of claim 1, wherein the collimated pattern of light circumscribes the optical axis of the machine vision system.
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28. A machine vision system, comprising:
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a light source;
a light pattern controller that receives light from the light source and creates a prescribed pattern of light;
a collimator that receives and collimates the prescribed pattern of light;
a focusing element that focuses the pattern onto an object; and
a camera that outputs an image of the object. - View Dependent Claims (29, 40, 48)
the camera receives an image of the object, the image transmitted along an optical axis; and
the collimated pattern of light circumscribes the optical axis.
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30. A method for providing diffuse illumination at a prescribed angle of incidence, comprising:
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generating a prescribed pattern of light;
collimating the prescribed pattern of light; and
focusing the collimated prescribed pattern of light. - View Dependent Claims (31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 49)
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41. An apparatus for diffusely illuminating an object, the apparatus comprising:
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a light source;
a light pattern controller that receives light from the light source and creates a prescribed pattern of light;
a collimator that receives and collimates the prescribed pattern of light;
a focusing element that focuses the collimated light pattern of light onto the object; and
a camera that outputs an image of the object. - View Dependent Claims (42, 50)
the camera receives an image of the object, the image transmitted along an optical axis; and
the collimated pattern of light circumscribes the optical axis.
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43. An apparatus for diffuse illumination, the apparatus comprising:
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a light source;
a light pattern controller that receives light from the light source and creates a prescribed pattern of light, comprising a movable deflector which deflects a beam of light from the light source to create the prescribed pattern of light over a period of time; and
a focusing element that focuses the prescribed pattern of light. - View Dependent Claims (44, 51)
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45. An apparatus for diffuse illumination, the apparatus comprising:
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a light source;
a light pattern controller that receives light from the light source and creates a prescribed pattern of light;
a collimator that receives and collimates the prescribed pattern of light, the collimated prescribed pattern of light transmitted along a zone generally surrounding an optical path of an imaging system; and
a focusing element that focuses the collimated pattern of light. - View Dependent Claims (46, 52)
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Specification