Vision system and a method for scanning a traveling surface to detect surface defects thereof
First Claim
1. A vision system mountable on a vehicle traveling onto a traveling surface for scanning said traveling surface to detect surface defects thereof, said vision system comprising:
- a linear imaging system having a linear sensor directed towards said traveling surface substantially transversally thereto for successively imaging adjacent transversal linear portions of said traveling surface as said vehicle advances, the linear imaging system providing corresponding adjacent transversal linear images of said traveling surface;
laser line projecting means having a laser beam axis angularly directed towards said traveling surface for angularly projecting a laser line along said laser beam axis across said traveling surface to generate a transverse profile thereof in the corresponding image;
said linear imaging system and said laser line projecting means lying in a same plane, said plane being substantially perpendicular to said traveling surface and transverse to said traveling surface; and
processing means operatively connected to said imaging system for processing said adjacent transversal linear images, thereby detecting surface defects on said traveling surface;
wherein said vision system comprises an additional linear imaging system mountable on said vehicle distal from said imaging system, said additional linear imaging system having a linear sensor directed towards said traveling surface substantially transversally thereto along an optical axis substantially perpendicular to said traveling surface for successively imaging additional adjacent transversal linear portions of said traveling surface, each being transversally adjoined to a corresponding one of said transversal linear portions, thereby providing corresponding additional adjacent transversal linear images of said traveling surface, said vision system further comprising additional laser line projecting means mountable on said vehicle distal from said additional linear imaging system and having a laser beam axis angularly directed towards said traveling surface in a substantially coplanar relationship with the optical axis and the linear sensor of said additional imaging system for angularly projecting an additional laser line along said laser beam axis across said traveling surface on the corresponding additional transversal linear portion thereof to generate a transverse profile thereof in the corresponding additional image.
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Abstract
There is provided a vision system and a method for scanning a traveling surface such a road to detect surface defects thereof such as cracks. The vision system, which is mountable on a vehicle, is provided with a linear imaging system for imaging successive adjacent transversal linear portions of the traveling surface as the vehicle advances. The vision system is also provided with laser line projecting means angularly projecting a laser line onto the transversal linear portion of the traveling surface to be imaged in a substantially coplanar relationship with the linear imaging system. The present vision system is particularly devised to be immune to surrounding light conditions variations to provide optimum cracks image contrast for both transverse and longitudinal cracks.
24 Citations
15 Claims
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1. A vision system mountable on a vehicle traveling onto a traveling surface for scanning said traveling surface to detect surface defects thereof, said vision system comprising:
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a linear imaging system having a linear sensor directed towards said traveling surface substantially transversally thereto for successively imaging adjacent transversal linear portions of said traveling surface as said vehicle advances, the linear imaging system providing corresponding adjacent transversal linear images of said traveling surface; laser line projecting means having a laser beam axis angularly directed towards said traveling surface for angularly projecting a laser line along said laser beam axis across said traveling surface to generate a transverse profile thereof in the corresponding image;
said linear imaging system and said laser line projecting means lying in a same plane, said plane being substantially perpendicular to said traveling surface and transverse to said traveling surface; andprocessing means operatively connected to said imaging system for processing said adjacent transversal linear images, thereby detecting surface defects on said traveling surface;
wherein said vision system comprises an additional linear imaging system mountable on said vehicle distal from said imaging system, said additional linear imaging system having a linear sensor directed towards said traveling surface substantially transversally thereto along an optical axis substantially perpendicular to said traveling surface for successively imaging additional adjacent transversal linear portions of said traveling surface, each being transversally adjoined to a corresponding one of said transversal linear portions, thereby providing corresponding additional adjacent transversal linear images of said traveling surface, said vision system further comprising additional laser line projecting means mountable on said vehicle distal from said additional linear imaging system and having a laser beam axis angularly directed towards said traveling surface in a substantially coplanar relationship with the optical axis and the linear sensor of said additional imaging system for angularly projecting an additional laser line along said laser beam axis across said traveling surface on the corresponding additional transversal linear portion thereof to generate a transverse profile thereof in the corresponding additional image. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method for scanning a surface to detect surface defects thereof, said method comprising the steps of:
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a) providing a vehicle traveling on said surface, said vehicle being provided with a vision system comprising laser line projecting means for projecting a laser line on said surface and linear imaging means distal from said laser projecting means for imaging said laser line said laser line projecting means and said linear imaging means lying in a same plane; b) i) angularly projecting said laser line across said surface within a laser projection plane extending in a substantially transversal and perpendicular relationship with said surface; and ii) angularly projecting an additional laser line across said surface within a distinct additional laser projection plane adjoining said laser projection plane and extending in a substantially transversal and perpendicular relationship with said surface; c) i) successively imaging said laser line substantially perpendicularly to said surface in a substantially coplanar relationship with said laser projection plane for providing successive adjacent transversal linear images of said surface as said vehicle advances; and ii) successively imaging said additional laser line substantially perpendicularly to said surface in a substantially coplanar relationship with said additional laser projection plane; and d) processing with a computer said adjacent transversal linear images for detecting surface defects on said surface.
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Specification