Investigation of vehicle glazing panels

• US 7,868,291 B2
• Filed: 06/27/2005
• Issued: 01/11/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 06/28/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Belron Hungary Kft.Zug Branch
• Original Assignee: Carglass Luxembourg Sarl-Zug Branch
• Inventors: Davies, Christopher
• Primary Examiner(s): Porta; David P
• Assistant Examiner(s): Malevic; Djura
• Application Number:
  US11/571,173
• Publication Number:
  US 20080094611A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,024 Days
• Field of Search: 250/330, 250/334, 250/338.1, 250/559.01, 250/559.4, 250/559.45, 356/51, 356/239.7, 356/239.8, 356/237.1, 356/239.1, 356/239.2
• US Class Current: 250/330
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2021/9586 Windscreens
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/3563 for analysing solids; Preparation of samples therefor
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/958 Inspecting transparent materials or objects, e.g. windscreens for conveyed flat sheet or rod G01N21/896

Abstract

The condition of a glazing panel (2) is investigated using a viewing device (1) to view an illuminating electromagnetic radiation profile at a target zone. Data relating to the viewed radiation profile is compared to datum data, to produce an output related to the condition of the glazing panel at the target zone.

Claims

1. A system for investigating a glazing panel, the system comprising:

a hand-holdable housing having a distal end and a wall defining an internal dark space chamber;

an electronic infra-red image capture device supported within said housing and facing said dark space chamber;

a compressible light seal provided at said distal end of said housing to enable the housing to be held against the glazing panel in a region of a target zone to be investigated;

an annular array of infra-red light emitters positioned at said distal end of said housing peripherally about said dark space chamber, wherein said wall is disposed between said annular array of infra-red light emitters and said infra-red image capture device;

a processor to process data related to captured image data from the electronic infra-red image capture device; and

an output device in communication with the processor and adapted to produce an output related to a condition of the glazing panel at the target zone.

2. A system according to claim 1, wherein:

the system is configured to compare data relating to a captured image to system stored data.

3. A system according to claim 2, wherein:

the stored data relates to a captured image for a non-flawed glazing panel viewed zone.

4. A system according to claim 1, wherein:

the image capture device comprises a multiplicity of radiation sensitive pixels.

5. A system according to claim 1, wherein:

the image capture device comprises an electronic camera device.

6. A system according to claim 1, wherein:

the annular array of infra-red light emitters are configured to direct infra-red light into the glazing panel in order to facilitate viewing of a radiation profile by the infra-red image capture device.

7. A system according to claim 1, wherein:

the system is configured to view a flaw zone before and after a repair and to generate an output to quantify or gauge a quality of the repair.

8. A system according to claim 1, wherein:

the system is configured to view a flaw zone after a repair and to generate an output to quantify or gauge a quality of the repair.

9. A system according to claim 1, further comprising:

a backing positioned opposite the housing adjacent a reverse face of the glazing panel in order to enhance a viewing process.

10. A system according to claim 1, wherein:

the image capture device, the processor, and the output device are provided integrally in the housing.

11. A system according to claim 1, wherein:

the processor is situated remotely from the hand held device.

12. A method of investigating a glazing panel, comprising:

providing a system according to claim 1;

using the system to capture an image of a glazing panel; and

using the output device of the system to produce an output related to a condition of the glazing panel for investigation thereof.

13. A system according to claim 1, wherein:

said compressible light seal is adapted to contact the glazing panel when the housing is held against the glazing panel.

14. A system according to claim 1, wherein:

said annular array of light emitters are disposed adjacent a distal end of said wall.

15. A system according to claim 1, wherein:

said annular array of light emitters are disposed adjacent said compressible seal.

16. A system according to claim 1, wherein:

said wall includes an interior surface opposite an exterior surface, and wherein said annular array of light emitters are disposed adjacent and exterior to said exterior surface of said wall.

17. A system according to claim 1, wherein:

said dark space chamber has a proximal end, and said infra-red image capture device is positioned at said proximal end of the dark space chamber.