Non-contact vision based inspection system for flat specular parts
First Claim
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1. A non-contact vision based inspection system for flat specular parts, the system comprising:
- an imaging camera defining an image and configured for taking an image of a part;
a staging apparatus for moving the part relative to the imaging camera until an image of the part is obtained; and
a subsystem for automatically ensuring that the image plane remains parallel to an object plane defined by the part as the part moves relative to the imaging camera while the image of the part is obtained.
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Abstract
A non-contact vision based inspection system and method for flat specular parts in which an imaging camera defining an image plane is aimed at a part to be inspected for taking a single image of the part. A staging apparatus is used to move the part relative to the camera until the single image of the part is obtained. The image plane is fixed to remain parallel to the object plane defined by the part as the part moves relative to the imaging camera.
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Citations
16 Claims
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1. A non-contact vision based inspection system for flat specular parts, the system comprising:
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an imaging camera defining an image and configured for taking an image of a part;
a staging apparatus for moving the part relative to the imaging camera until an image of the part is obtained; and
a subsystem for automatically ensuring that the image plane remains parallel to an object plane defined by the part as the part moves relative to the imaging camera while the image of the part is obtained. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A non-contact vision based inspection system for flat specular parts including ink jet nozzle plates, the system comprising:
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a linescan camera defining an imaging plane and aimed at a part to be inspected for taking a single image of the part;
a staging apparatus for moving the part relative to the camera until the single image of the part is obtained;
an optical source and a detector for measuring the distance between two points on the part and the image plane;
a goniometer between the part and the staging apparatus; and
a controller programmed to activate the goniometer in response to the optical source and the detector until the object plane defined by the part is parallel to the image plane. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12)
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13. A method of inspecting flat specular parts, the method comprising:
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placing a part defining an object plane in a spaced relationship with respect to an imaging camera defining an image plane;
automatically adjusting one of the object plane and the image plane until they are parallel to each other; and
moving the imaging camera in a direction parallel to the object plane until a single image of the part is recorded.
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14. A method of inspecting flat specular parts including ink jet nozzle plates, the method comprising:
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locating an edge of the part;
determining a location of an opposite edge of the part;
calculating a height difference between each of the two edges of the part relative to an image plane defined by a position of a linescan camera;
automatically adjusting the orientation of the part until the height difference between each of the two edges of the part is below a predetermined threshold;
focusing the linescan camera at one edge of the part;
scanning the part with the linescan camera by moving the linescan camera in a direction along the image plane until the full part is imaged with the single image; and
using the image of the part as input to an inspection algorithm to inspect the part for defects.
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15. An imaging head for a non-contact vision based inspection system, the imaging head comprising:
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an optical housing including a mount for a linescan camera and a 2D CCD array camera;
a light source;
means for directing light from the light source to a part to be inspected;
means for directing light reflected from the part simultaneously to both the linescan camera and the 2D CCD array camera; and
a distance measuring device attached to the housing and configured for measuring the orientation of an image plane as defined by the linescan camera relative to an object plane as defined by the part and configured to inter-operate with a subsystem for automatically adjusting the orientation of the image plane relative to the object plane. - View Dependent Claims (16)
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Specification