Illumination – Plural light sources – With modifier
Patent
1997-08-19
2000-02-08
Patel, Nimeshkumar D.
Illumination
Plural light sources
With modifier
362231, F21V 700
Patent
active
060221240
ABSTRACT:
An illumination method and apparatus for machine-vision systems, including a ring-light source (e.g., LEDs arranged in one or more circular rows), and a reflective-ring focusing element. The illumination source exhibits multidirectional ring-illumination properties which are useful for illumination of small components (which are being inspected or measured) without unwanted shadows. One embodiment provides a darkfield illumination system. One embodiment of the present invention uses a strobed (or pulsed) power supply to drive the LEDs. Yet another embodiment of the present invention uses a xenon strobe ring-light source and a backplane slit in place of the row of LEDs 25. In one such xenon strobe embodiment, a color filter is also placed in series with the light path in order to obtain a monochromatic light. While xenon flashtube light sources tend to exhibit a five per cent (5%) flash-to-flash variation in intensity which makes accurate measurements of certain characteristics difficult, they are useful in certain cases where intense white, or especially ultraviolet, light is desired. Strobed LEDs provide very little flash-to-flash variation in intensity. The compact ring-light generator has little, if any, shadowing. The present invention also provides an inexpensive apparatus and method for changing the light-source-to-optical-axis angle.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5457492 (1995-10-01), Sasaki et al.
patent: 5745176 (1998-04-01), Lebens
patent: 5828449 (1998-10-01), King et al.
Communication from Client, Vision Light Tech. BV, 3 pages, (Apr. 4, 1997).
Communication from Client, Vision Light Tech. BV, 1 page, (May 5, 1997).
Copy of U.S. application No. 08/825,774 entitled "High Speed Digital Video Serial Link", 33 pgs., (Apr. 2, 1997).
Bourn Charles T.
Lebens Gary A.
Hopper Todd Reed
Patel Nimeshkumar D.
PPT Vision, Inc.
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