ON-THE-FLY DIMENSIONAL IMAGING INSPECTION
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method for inspecting a plurality of target features arrayed in spaced arrangement on a surface of a target object, comprising the steps of:
- providing a fixture for holding the target object;
providing a high speed camera;
selectively positioning at least one of the holding fixture and the high speed camera relative to the other in a continuous relative motion along a three-dimensional path over a plurality of selected target features without pause; and
each time the high speed camera orientates to a selected target feature, capturing an image of the selected target feature during an exposure duration using the high speed camera while in relative motion.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method and system are provided for inspecting a plurality of target features arrayed in spaced arrangement on a surface of a target object, such as but not limited to inspection of the location of cooling air holes in the surface of a turbine blade or vane.
20 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method for inspecting a plurality of target features arrayed in spaced arrangement on a surface of a target object, comprising the steps of:
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providing a fixture for holding the target object; providing a high speed camera; selectively positioning at least one of the holding fixture and the high speed camera relative to the other in a continuous relative motion along a three-dimensional path over a plurality of selected target features without pause; and each time the high speed camera orientates to a selected target feature, capturing an image of the selected target feature during an exposure duration using the high speed camera while in relative motion. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. An inspection system for inspecting a plurality of target features arrayed in spaced arrangement on a surface of a target object, comprising:
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a position manipulator having a fixture for holding the target object; a high speed camera, the high speed camera having an exposure duration of less than 3 millisecond; a light array in operative association with the high speed camera; a controller operatively associated with the high speed camera and with the position manipulator; and a processor operatively associated with the high speed camera for processing an image of a target feature received from the high speed camera. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A method for inspecting a turbine airfoil for measuring the location of at least of a plurality of selected holes of a multiplicity of holes arrayed in spaced arrangement in a surface of the turbine airfoil, comprising the steps of:
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providing a position manipulator having a fixture for holding the turbine airfoil during inspection, the position manipulator having a 5-degree of freedom positioning system for selectively positioning the holding fixture to orientate the turbine airfoil; providing a high speed camera having an exposure duration; providing a plurality of light emitting diodes in operative association with the high speed camera; selectively positioning at least one of the holding fixture and the high speed camera relative to the other in a continuous relative motion along a three-dimensional path over the plurality of selected holes without pause; and each time the high speed camera orientates to a selected one of the plurality of selected holes, powering at least selected light emitting diodes of the plurality of the lighting emitting diodes to illuminate the selected hole at least for the exposure duration and capturing an image of the selected hole during the exposure duration using the high speed camera while in relative motion with respect to the selected hole. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification