Modular vision system

• US 9,979,933 B1
• Filed: 11/15/2013
• Issued: 05/22/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 11/15/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cognex Corporation
• Original Assignee: Cognex Corporation
• Inventors: Nunnink, Laurens, Delasauce, Rene
• Primary Examiner(s): Velez, Roberto
• Assistant Examiner(s): Pham, Quan
• Application Number:
  US14/081,884
• Time in Patent Office: 1,649 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 17/02 Bodies
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 17/04 collapsible, foldable or extensible, e.g. book type
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10821 further details of bar or optical code scanning devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10831 Arrangement of optical elements, e.g. lenses, mirrors, prisms optical elements per se G02B
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10881 constructional details of hand-held scanners
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0264 for a camera module assembly
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/55 Optical parts specially adapted for electronic image sensors; Mounting thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/56 provided with illuminating means
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/57 Mechanical or electrical details of cameras or camera modules specially adapted for being embedded in other devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/18 Closed-circuit television [CCTV] systems, i.e. systems in which the video signal is not broadcast

Abstract

This invention provides a modular vision system. In an embodiment, the modular vision system comprises at least three primary modules/components. A main module contains a vision sensor and processor. An optical module contains a lens, focusing and illumination assemblies. An interface module contains external connectors. This combination enables either a linear or angled arrangement. The main module includes with a mating surface on the side opposite the sensor that is angled with respect to the sensor plane. The interface module defines a mating surface with respect the surface containing the connectors for the cables. A connector removably interconnects the interface module and the main module. The connector assembly, and each individual contact, is constructed and arranged to enable interconnection of the main and interface modules in both the straight and right angle arrangements by rotating the modules about a 180-degree orientation. In each orientation, the connector delivers appropriate electrical contact.

Claims

1. A modular vision system comprising:

a main module having a vision system processor and an image sensor, the main module defining a main module longitudinal axis and a main module mating surface with a single main module connector; and

an interface module having a power interconnect and communication interconnect each respectively constructed and arranged to operatively link to a remote location, the interface module defining an interface module longitudinal axis and an interface module mating surface with a single interface module connector,

wherein the main module mating surface and the interface module mating surface are constructed and arranged to be located in a mating relationship in each of two rotational orientations in which an angle between the main module longitudinal axis and the interface module longitudinal axis varies for each of the two rotational orientations and a first side of the single main module connector is aligned with a first side of the single interface module connector and a second side of the single main module connector is aligned with a second side of the single interface module connector to define a first electrical connection in a first rotational orientation of the two rotational orientations and the second side of the single main module connector aligns with the first side of the single interface module and the second side of the single interface module connector aligns with the first side of the single main module connector to define a second electrical connection in a second rotational orientation of the two rotational orientations.

2. The modular vision system as set forth in claim 1 wherein the main module mating surface is rotationally symmetrical about a rotation axis between the main module and the interface module over 180 degrees.

3. The modular vision system as set forth in claim 2 wherein the rotation axis is angled at approximately 45 degrees with at least one of (a) the main module longitudinal axis and (b) the interface module longitudinal axis.

4. The modular vision system as set forth in claim 3 further comprising fasteners that interconnect the main module to the interface module proximate to a joint therebetween.

10. The modular vision system as set forth in claim 1 wherein (a) the interface module connector is a male connector and the main module connector is a female connector or (b) the interface module connector is a female connector and the main module connector is a male connector, respectively.

11. The modular vision system as set forth in claim 10 wherein at least one of the male connector and the female connector is recessed with respect to a surrounding housing perimeter.

12. The modular vision system as set forth in claim 10 wherein at least one of the male connector and the female connector includes two opposing strips of first contacts and the other of the male connector and the female connector includes at least one strip of second contacts, each opposing strip of the first contacts being selectively interconnected with the strip of second contacts in each of the two rotational orientations, respectively.

13. The modular vision system as set forth in claim 1 wherein the main module includes a user interface panel located on an exterior thereof.

14. The modular vision system as set forth in claim 1 wherein the two rotational orientations are located 180-degrees apart.

15. The modular vision system as set forth in claim 1 wherein the interface module mating surface and the main module mating surface each define a non-planar surface.

16. The modular vision system as set forth in claim 15 wherein the non-planar surface defines a cylindrical or spheroidal surface.

17. The modular vision system as set forth in claim 2, wherein the rotation axis is non-parallel with the main module longitudinal axis.

18. The modular vision system as set forth in claim 2, wherein

the rotation axis is non-parallel with the interface module longitudinal axis.

19. The modular vision system as set forth in claim 1,

wherein the first electrical connection comprises electrical contact between the second side of the single main module connector and the first side of the single interface module connector, and

wherein the second electrical connection comprises electrical contact between the first side of the single main module connector and the first side of the single interface module connector.

5. The modular vision system as set forth in claim I further comprising an optical module constructed and arranged to mate with a front surface of the main module in optical communication with the image sensor, the optical module including at least one of a lens assembly, auto focus assembly, an illumination assembly and a structured illumination assembly.

6. The modular vision system as set forth in claim 5 wherein each of the optical module and the front surface include mating electrical connectors that interconnect electrical signals between the main module and the optical module.

7. The modular vision system as set forth in claim 6 wherein the front surface includes alignment structures for guiding placement of the optical module with respect to the main module.

8. The modular vision system as set forth in claim 6 wherein the optical module is constructed and arranged to provide optical and illumination functions with respect to one of either inspection, alignment, manipulation, ID-reading, or part detection.

9. The modular vision system as set forth in claim 6 wherein the front surface of the main module includes aimer LEDs constructed and arranged to project through the optical module.

20. A modular vision system comprising:

a main module having a vision system processor and an image sensor, the main module defining a main module longitudinal axis and a main module mating surface with a main module connector; and

an interface module having a power interconnect and communication interconnect each respectively constructed and arranged to operatively link to a remote location, the interface module defining an interface module longitudinal axis and an interface module mating surface with a interface module connector,

wherein the main module mating surface and the interface module mating surface are constructed and arranged to be located in a mating relationship in each of two rotational orientations in which an angle between the main module longitudinal axis and the interface module longitudinal axis varies for each of the two rotational orientations and a first side of the main module connector is aligned with a first side of the interface module connector and a second side of the main module connector is aligned with a second side of the interface module connector to define a first electrical connection in a first rotational orientation of the two rotational orientations and the second side of the main module connector aligns with the first side of the interface module and the second side of the interface module connector aligns with the first side of the main module connector to define a second electrical connection in a second rotational orientation of the two rotational orientations.