Method and apparatus for adjusting illumination angle
US6788411B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Jul 10, 2000 |
| Grant date | Sep 7, 2004 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | May 13, 2022 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG01N2201/0626
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
In a machine-vision system for inspecting a part or either object, the invention provides a method and apparatus providing illumination with high-speed changing and/or automatic adjustment of not only the illumination's angle, but also the dispersion, intensity, and/or color. Optionally, a light source emits polarized light, a machine-vision imager obtains an image, and a processor receives the image and generates a quality parameter based on the image. One or more of the various means described selectively direct the light in a predetermined pattern based on its polarization and based on the quality parameter of the image. A machine-vision method includes setting one or more illumination parameters, illuminating the object based on the one or more illumination parameters, obtaining an image of the illuminated object, generating a quality parameter based on an image quality of a predetermined region of interest in the image, and iterating using a different illumination parameter.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.