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Smear-limit based system and method for controlling vision systems for consistently accurate and high-speed inspection

  • US 7,499,584 B2
  • Filed: 10/21/2004
  • Issued: 03/03/2009
  • Est. Priority Date: 10/21/2004
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. A method for programming a workpiece inspection program on a first precision machine vision inspection system, the precision machine vision inspection system comprising an image acquisition system comprising at least a camera;

  • at least one light source;

    a workpiece stage; and

    a control system portion, wherein at least one of the workpiece stage and the camera is movable to provide relative motion with respect to each other, and wherein at least one of the camera and the light source defines a minimum effective exposure time of the precision machine vision inspection system, the method comprising;

    (a) determining acceptable image acquisition exposure parameters for an image of a respective workpiece feature;

    (b) recording at least one parameter indicative of an exposure energy corresponding to the determined image acquisition exposure parameters in the workpiece inspection program;

    (c) recording at least one parameter indicative of an acceptable image smear for the image of the respective workpiece feature in the workpiece inspection program; and

    (d) executing the workpiece inspection program on a current precision machine vision inspection system that is not the first precision machine vision inspection system and that has different specifications than the first precision machine vision inspection system, the current machine vision inspection system comprising an image acquisition system comprising at least a camera;

    at least one light source;

    a workpiece stage; and

    a control system portion that is not the control system portion of the first precision machine vision inspection system, the executing of the workpiece inspection program on the current machine vision inspection system comprising the sub-steps of;

    (i) receiving the at least one parameter indicative of an exposure energy recorded in the workpiece inspection program for the respective workpiece feature;

    (ii) receiving the at least one parameter indicative of an acceptable image smear recorded in the workpiece inspection program for the respective workpiece feature; and

    (iii) determining an operative combination of a light source power setting, an exposure time, and relative motion speed usable in conjunction with the exposure time on the current precision machine vision inspection system to provide an image smear not greater than the acceptable image smear.

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