US4686374A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Surface reflectivity detector with oil mist reflectivity enhancement
Assignee: Diffracto Ltd Canada
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Filing: 1985-10-16
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Granted: 1987-08-11
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Expires: 2005-10-16
Abstract
Abstract A method an apparatus are provided for inspecting the surface of objects such as panels for automobile vehicles wherein the surface of the object is sprayed with an oil mist or the like to increase the reflectivity thereof. The surface is then illuminated with light so that the light image reflected therefrom is formed on a light detector such as a photodiode array. The output of the light detector is analyzed to determine surface features of the object such as "dings" and dents therein.
Inventors
- 👤 Nicholas Liptay-Wagner
- 👤 Roland Renaud
- 👤 Timothy R. Pryor
- 👤 Donald A. Clarke
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 20:44
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01B; G01B11/00; G01B11/02; G01B11/024
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 32
Claim 1
Independent Claim
97 words
A method for inspecting the surface of objects such as panels for automotive vehicles or the like, said method comprising: spraying a surface of the object with an oil mist to increase the reflectivity of the surface of the object and to thereby enable the detection of light reflected therefrom by an optical-electrical detector; illuminating the object with light to produce a light image for detection by a said optical-electrial detector; detecting the light image using a said optical-electrical detector; and analyzing the output of said optical-electrical detector so as to determine surface features of the object.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
97 words
A method for inspecting the surface of objects such as panels for automotive vehicles or the like, said method comprising: spraying a surface of the object with an oil mist to increase the reflectivity of the surface of the object and to thereby enable the detection of light reflected therefrom by an optical-electrical detector; illuminating the object with light to produce a light image for detection by a said optical-electrial detector; detecting the light image using a said optical-electrical detector; and analyzing the output of said optical-electrical detector so as to determine surface features of the object.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
42 words
A method for inspecting objects as claimed in claim 1 wherein said object is made from a die containing oil and the oil used in the oil mist sprayed thereon is of the same type as the oil contained in the die.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
36 words
A method for inspecting objects as claimed in claim 1 wherein said object with the oil mist sprayed thereon is also brushed with a brush to provide smoothing of the oil prior to said detecting step.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
68 words
A method for inspecting objects as claimed in claim 3 wherein said optical-electrical detector comprises a scanned photodetector array which scans in a predetermined direction and wherein brush marks are produced by said brush during brushing of the oil, said brush marks being oriented relative to the direction of scan of the array so as to substantially eliminate the effect of undulations produced in the oil during brushing.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
39 words
A method for inspecting objects as claimed in claim 4 wherein said a plurality of objects are moved on a conveyor and the brush marks produced during brushing are oriented transversely to the direction of movement of the conveyor.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
31 words
A method for inspecting objects as claimed in claim 3 wherein an air stream is directed over said object to provide smoothing of said oil mist prior to said detecting step.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
30 words
A method for inspecting objects claimed in claim 1 wherein an air stream is directed over said. object to providing smoothing of said oil mist prior to said detecting step.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
40 words
A method for inspecting objects as claimed in claim 1 wherein said image comprises a grid pattern comprising a plurality of spaced line projected onto said object and the grid pattern on the object is detected by said optical-electrical detector.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
31 words
A method for inspecting objects as claimed in claim 8 wherein variations in the spacing between the lines of the grid pattern over the entire surface of the object are detected.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
40 words
A method for inspecting objects as claimed in claim 8 wherein said grid pattern is repeated sequentially for a plurality of separate locations on the surface of the said objects and localized distortions of a said grid pattern are detected.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
129 words
An apparatus for inspecting the surface of an object such as a panel for an automotive vehicle or the like, said apparatus comprising: an optical-electrical detector means for producing an output in accordance with the light received thereby; means for spraying a surface of an object with an oil mist to increase the reflectivity of the surface of the object to thereby enable the detection of light reflected therefrom by said optical-electrical detector means; means for illuminating the object with the oil mist sprayed thereon with light to produce a light image which is received by said optical-electrical detector means; and means for analyzing the output produced by said optical-electrical detector means in response to receiving said light image to determine surface features of the surface of the object.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
129 words
An apparatus for inspecting the surface of an object such as a panel for an automotive vehicle or the like, said apparatus comprising: an optical-electrical detector means for producing an output in accordance with the light received thereby; means for spraying a surface of an object with an oil mist to increase the reflectivity of the surface of the object to thereby enable the detection of light reflected therefrom by said optical-electrical detector means; means for illuminating the object with the oil mist sprayed thereon with light to produce a light image which is received by said optical-electrical detector means; and means for analyzing the output produced by said optical-electrical detector means in response to receiving said light image to determine surface features of the surface of the object.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
35 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 11 wherein said object made from a die containing oil and wherein said spraying means sprays the same type of oil on said object as contained in said die.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
35 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 11 further comprising brushing means for brushing said object after the oil mist has been sprayed thereon by said spraying means so as to provide smoothing of the oil.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
61 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 13 wherein said optical-electrical detector means comprises a scanned photodetector array which scans in a predetermined direction and said brushing means produces brush marks which are oriented relative to the direction of the scan of the photodetector array so as to substantially eliminate the effect of undulations in the oil produced by said brushing means.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
56 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 14 further comprising conveyor means for moving said objects in a predetermined direction along a path of travel, said brushing means being oriented relative to said conveyor means such that the brush marks produced thereby are transverse to the direction of movement of the objects provided by the conveyor means.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
42 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 15 further comprising means, disposed at a location along said path upstream of said detector means, for directing an air stream over said object to provide smoothing of the oil sprayed thereon by said spraying means.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
33 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 11 further comprising means for directing an air stream over the surface of said object to provide smoothing of the oil sprayed thereon by said spraying means.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
34 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 11 wherein said illuminating means comprising means for projecting a grid pattern comprising a plurality of spaced lines onto said object for detection by said optical-electrical detector means.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
30 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 18 wherein said detector means detects variations in the spacing between the lines of the grid pattern over the entire surface of the object.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
37 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 18 wherein said grid pattern is sequentially repeated for a plurality of locations on the surface of said object and said detector means detects localized distortions of a said grid pattern.
Claim 23
Independent Claim
100 words
A method for inspecting the surface of an object such as a panel for an automotive vehicle or the like, said method comprising: applying a fluid to the surface of the object to render the surface sufficiently reflective to enable the detection of light reflected therefrom by an optical-electrical detector; illuminating the surface of the object with light so that a light image reflected therefrom is detected by a said optical-electrical detector; and analyzing the output produced by said optical-electrical detector in response to the detection of said light image thereby so as to determine surface features of the object.
Claim 24
Independent Claim
100 words
A method for inspecting the surface of an object such as a panel for an automotive vehicle or the like, said method comprising: applying a fluid to the surface of the object to render the surface sufficiently reflective to enable the detection of light reflected therefrom by an optical-electrical detector; illuminating the surface of the object with light so that a light image reflected therefrom is detected by a said optical-electrical detector; and analyzing the output produced by said optical-electrical detector in response to the detection of said light image thereby so as to determine surface features of the object.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
30 words
A method as claimed in claim 21 wherein the fluid applied to the surface of the object is an oil mist and said oil mist is sprayed onto the surface.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method as claimed in claim 21 wherein the surface of the object is illuminated with a light grid pattern of spaced lines.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
55 words
A method as claimed in claim 21 wherein the surface to which the fluid is applied is brushed to provide smoothing of the fluid, said brushing being carried out in a predetermined direction so as to reduce the effect of brush marks left by the brushing on the light image detected by the optical-electrical detector.
Claim 28
Independent Claim
125 words
An apparatus for inspecting the surface of an object such as a panel for an automotive vehicle or the like, said apparatus comprising: an optical-electrical detector means; means for applying a fluid to the surface of the object to render the surface sufficiently reflective to enable detection of light reflected therefrom by said electrical-optical detector means; means for illuminating the surface of the object with light so that a light image reflected therefrom is detected by said optical-electrical detector means whereby said optical-electrical detector means produces an output in accordance therewith; and means for analyzing the output produced by said optical-electrical detector means in response to the detection of said light image thereby so as to determine surface features of the surface of the object.
Claim 29
Independent Claim
125 words
An apparatus for inspecting the surface of an object such as a panel for an automotive vehicle or the like, said apparatus comprising: an optical-electrical detector means; means for applying a fluid to the surface of the object to render the surface sufficiently reflective to enable detection of light reflected therefrom by said electrical-optical detector means; means for illuminating the surface of the object with light so that a light image reflected therefrom is detected by said optical-electrical detector means whereby said optical-electrical detector means produces an output in accordance therewith; and means for analyzing the output produced by said optical-electrical detector means in response to the detection of said light image thereby so as to determine surface features of the surface of the object.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
25 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 25 wherein said fluid applying means comprises means for spraying the surface of the object with an oil mist.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
28 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 25 wherein said illuminating means comprises means for projecting a light grid pattern of spaced lines onto the surface of the object.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
61 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 25 further comprising brushing means for, in order to provide smoothing of the fluid applied to the surface of the object, brushing the fluid applied to the surface in a predetermined direction to reduce the effect produced by brush marks left by the brushing means on the light image detected by the optical-electrical detector means.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US4508452A
Cited
US4335962A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1990-08-10 | 1991-02-09 | 1991-08-11 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1994-08-10 | 1995-02-09 | 1995-08-11 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1998-08-10 | 1999-02-09 | 1999-08-11 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |