Component attachment devices and related systems and methods for machine vision systems

• US 9,188,839 B2
• Filed: 10/04/2012
• Issued: 11/17/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 10/04/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cognex Corporation
• Original Assignee: Cognex Corporation
• Inventors: Rodriguez, Saul Sanz, Nunnink, Laurens
• Primary Examiner(s): ELAHI, SHAN E
• Application Number:
  US13/645,371
• Publication Number:
  US 20140098225A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,139 Days
• Field of Search: 348/143
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 15/03 Combinations of cameras with lighting apparatus; Flash units
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 2215/056 Connection with camera, e.g. adapter
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 2215/0567 Solid-state light source, e.g. LED, laser
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 2215/0575 Ring shaped lighting arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/51 Housings
• 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

Abstract

In some aspects, camera systems can include a camera enclosure, a lens disposed in or along the camera enclosure along an optical axis of the camera system, and an optical accessory attached to camera enclosure, where the optical accessory is attached using a magnetic retention force that is provided by at least one magnetic element.

Claims

1. A camera illumination module that positions at least one illumination element relative to a lens of a separate machine vision device, the illumination module comprising:

an illumination board defining a first surface and a central viewing area through which the machine vision device can inspect a field of view and comprising at least one illumination element disposed along the first surface;

at least one mounting element extending from a second surface of the illumination board to engage a surface of the separate machine vision device; and

a magnetic element arranged at a distal end of one of the at least one mounting elements, the magnetic element

generating a magnetic retention force that removably secures the illumination module to the surface of the separate machine vision device.

2. The camera illumination module of claim 1, further comprising an alignment feature that limits the orientation of the camera illumination module relative to the machine vision device.

3. The camera illumination module of claim 2, wherein the at least one mounting element comprises a first mounting element and a second mounting element, and the alignment feature comprises a size and/or shape of the first mounting element being different than a size and/or shape of the second mounting element.

4. The camera illumination module of claim 2, wherein the at least one mounting elements comprises at least two mounting elements and the alignment feature comprises a difference in angular spacing between two adjacent mounting elements relative to a central axis of the illumination module.

5. The camera illumination module of claim 2, wherein the magnetic element comprises a first magnet and the alignment feature comprises an arrangement of the first magnet relative to the machine vision device.

6. The camera illumination module of claim 1, wherein the at least one mounting element comprises an elongated member extending from the second surface.

7. The camera illumination module of claim 1, further comprising an electrical attachment element coupled to the illumination board, the electrical attachment element electrically connecting the at least one illumination element to at least one of a power source, a control device, or a signal generating device of the machine vision device.

8. The camera illumination module of claim 1, wherein the magnetic element comprises a ferromagnetic element generating the magnetic retention force with a magnet disposed along the surface of the machine vision device.

9. A machine vision system for imaging an inspection field, the machine vision system comprising:

a camera device comprising a housing defining a camera axis;

a lens disposed within a lens receptacle of the housing along the camera axis;

an optical accessory separate from and removably connected to the camera device, the optical accessory comprising;

a structural base having a first surface and defining a central viewing area for the lens;

at least one mounting element extending from a second surface of the structural base to engage a surface of the housing; and

a magnetic element arranged at a distal end of one of the at least one mounting elements, the magnetic element

generating a magnetic retention force that temporarily secures the optical accessory to the surface of the housing in a removable and replaceable manner.

10. The machine vision system of claim 9, further comprising an electrical attachment element electrically coupled to the structural base, the electrical attachment element electrically connecting the optical accessory to at least one of a power source or a control device of the machine vision device.

11. The machine vision system of claim 10, wherein the electrical attachment element comprises an electrical contact region along a distal end of the at least one mounting element, the electrical contact region, upon contact with a mating electrical contact surface, electrically connecting the optical accessory to the at least one of the power source or the control device.

12. The machine vision system of claim 11, wherein the electrical attachment element comprises one or more resilient, deflectable electrical connecting pins.

13. The machine vision system of claim 11, wherein the magnetic retention force connects the electrical contact region to the mating electrical contact surface.

14. The machine vision system of claim 9, wherein the optical accessory comprises a camera lens illumination module and the structural base comprises an illumination board comprising at least one illumination element disposed along the first surface.

15. A supplemental lens device to be temporarily coupled to a surface of a separate machine vision device along a camera axis of an imaging device of the machine vision device, the supplemental lens device comprising:

a lens module configured to be attached in a removable and replaceable manner to a lens of the imaging device, the lens module defining a lens receiving opening though which the lens of the imaging device can view an inspection area; and

a magnetic element disposed in or on the lens module around the lens receiving opening, the magnetic element generating a magnetic retention force to attach the lens module to a surface of the separate machine vision device.

16. The supplemental lens device of claim 15, wherein the surface of the machine vision device comprises a surface of a ferromagnetic retaining element disposed around the lens.

17. The supplemental lens device of claim 15, wherein the lens module comprises an adjustable lens that changes an optical characteristic of the machine vision device.

18. The supplemental lens device of claim 15, further comprising an electrical attachment element electrically coupled to the lens module, the electrical attachment element electrically connecting the lens module to at least one of a power source or a control device of the machine vision device.

19. The supplemental lens device of claim 18, wherein the electrical attachment element comprises an electrical connector in a wired connection to the lens module, the electrical connector that connects to the machine vision device.

20. The supplemental lens device of claim 18, wherein, when connected to a power source, the electrical attachment element provides electrical power to adjust a focal distance of the machine vision device.

21. A camera system comprising:

a camera enclosure;

a lens disposed in or along a front face of the camera enclosure along an optical axis of the camera system; and

an optical accessory removably attached along the front face of the camera enclosure in a separable and replaceable manner around the lens, the optical accessory being attached using a magnetic retention force that is provided by at least one magnetic element.

22. The camera system of claim 21, wherein the at least one magnetic element is a component of the optical accessory.

23. The camera system of claim 21, wherein the optical accessory comprises an alignment device that limits an installed orientation of the optical accessory relative to the camera enclosure.

24. The camera system of claim 21, wherein the magnetic retention force is generated between a first magnetic element of the at least one magnetic element that is disposed on the optical accessory and a ferromagnetic retaining element disposed on the lens, and in an attached configuration, the first magnetic element is spaced apart from the ferromagnetic retaining element.