US5638461A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Stereoscopic electro-optical system for automated inspection and/or alignment of imaging devices on a production assembly line
Assignee: Kollmorgen Instrument Corp
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Filing: 1996-04-12
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Granted: 1997-06-10
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Expires: 2016-04-12
Abstract
Abstract Disclosed is a stereoscopic optical inspection system. A computer uses the stereoscopic information to compute and correct for angular and distance misalignments between the unit-under-test and the inspection system. A feature of the optical system is the use of multiple high-resolution inspection cameras, in conjunction with a single stereoscopic reference camera. One example of a preferred embodiment is presented as an electro-optical inspection system for inspection and/or alignment of cathode-ray-tube displays and other video displays on a production assembly line.
Inventors
- 👤 David A. Fridge
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 19:47
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06T; G06T7/00; G06T7/30; G01; G01N; G01N21/00; G01N21/84; G01N21/88; G06T7/0002; G06T7/0004; G06T7/80; G06T7/85; G06T7/97; H; H04; H04N; H04N13/00; H04N13/20; H04N13/204; H04N13/239; H04N13/243; H04N13/246; G06T2207/00; G06T2207/10; G06T2207/10004; G06T2207/10012; H04N13/25; H04N2013/0074; H04N2013/0081
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
109 words
A three-dimensional optical inspection and alignment system for electronically adjustable visual displays on a production assembly line comprising a rigid support, two cameras mounted on said support, said cameras oriented to have an overlapping field of view with each camera being calibrated to define two-dimensional locations in said overlapping field of view, computer means for identifying calibrated two-dimensional locations of said visual displays in said overlapping field of view from said cameras, determining three-dimensional coordinates of said visual displays in said field of view, and transforming three-dimensional coordinates to two-dimensional coordinates in an ideal viewpoint, and means for electronically adjusting said visual displays based on said two dimensional coordinates.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
109 words
A three-dimensional optical inspection and alignment system for electronically adjustable visual displays on a production assembly line comprising a rigid support, two cameras mounted on said support, said cameras oriented to have an overlapping field of view with each camera being calibrated to define two-dimensional locations in said overlapping field of view, computer means for identifying calibrated two-dimensional locations of said visual displays in said overlapping field of view from said cameras, determining three-dimensional coordinates of said visual displays in said field of view, and transforming three-dimensional coordinates to two-dimensional coordinates in an ideal viewpoint, and means for electronically adjusting said visual displays based on said two dimensional coordinates.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
59 words
The inspection system as defined by claim 1 and including a plurality of high resolution cameras and at least one stereo reference camera, said stereo reference camera viewing all of said field of view, and said plurality of high resolution cameras each covering a portion of said field of view and collectively covering all of said field of view.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
45 words
The inspection system as defined by claim 1 and further including a frame grabber means for storing image frames from said plurality of cameras and providing said image frames to said computer means for identifying calibrated two-dimensional locations and determining three-dimensional locations of said objects.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
57 words
The inspection system as defined by claim 3 wherein each image frame has a plurality of pixels each identified by row and column, each pixel being associated with a line in space, a three dimensional location of an object in said field of view being defined by the intersections of lines in space from said image frames.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
92 words
A method of optically inspecting and aligning an electronically adjustable visual display on a production line comprising the steps of: a) viewing said visual display with two rigidly mounted separated cameras having an overlapping field of view with each camera being calibrated to define two-dimensional locations in said overlapping field of view, b) determining three-dimensional locations of said visual display in said overlapping field of view from said two-dimensional locations, c) transforming said three-dimensional locations to a two-dimensional coordinate system, and d) electronically adjusting said display based on said two-dimensional coordinate system.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
92 words
A method of optically inspecting and aligning an electronically adjustable visual display on a production line comprising the steps of: a) viewing said visual display with two rigidly mounted separated cameras having an overlapping field of view with each camera being calibrated to define two-dimensional locations in said overlapping field of view, b) determining three-dimensional locations of said visual display in said overlapping field of view from said two-dimensional locations, c) transforming said three-dimensional locations to a two-dimensional coordinate system, and d) electronically adjusting said display based on said two-dimensional coordinate system.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
54 words
The method as defined by claim 5 wherein each frame of each camera has a plurality of pixels, each identified by row and column, each pixel being associated with a line in space, said step of determining three-dimensional locations including determining the intersections of lines in space from frames from said plurality of cameras.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
199 words
A three-dimensional optical inspection and alignment system for electronically adjustable visual displays on a production assembly line comprising a rigid support, a plurality of cameras mounted on said support, said cameras oriented to have an overlapping field of view with each camera being calibrated to define two-dimensional locations in said overlapping field of view, said plurality of cameras including a plurality of high resolution cameras and at least one stereo reference camera, said stereo reference camera viewing all of said field of view, and said plurality of high resolution cameras each covering a portion of said field of view and collectively covering all of said field of view, computer means for identifying calibrated two-dimensional locations of said visual displays in said overlapping field of view from said cameras, determining three-dimensional coordinates of said visual displays in said field of view, and transforming three-dimensional coordinates to two-dimensional coordinates in an ideal viewpoint, a frame grabber means for storing image frames from said plurality of cameras and providing said image frames to said computer means for identifying calibrated two-dimensional locations and determining three-dimensional locations of said objects, and means for electronically adjusting said visual displays based on said two dimensional coordinates.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
199 words
A three-dimensional optical inspection and alignment system for electronically adjustable visual displays on a production assembly line comprising a rigid support, a plurality of cameras mounted on said support, said cameras oriented to have an overlapping field of view with each camera being calibrated to define two-dimensional locations in said overlapping field of view, said plurality of cameras including a plurality of high resolution cameras and at least one stereo reference camera, said stereo reference camera viewing all of said field of view, and said plurality of high resolution cameras each covering a portion of said field of view and collectively covering all of said field of view, computer means for identifying calibrated two-dimensional locations of said visual displays in said overlapping field of view from said cameras, determining three-dimensional coordinates of said visual displays in said field of view, and transforming three-dimensional coordinates to two-dimensional coordinates in an ideal viewpoint, a frame grabber means for storing image frames from said plurality of cameras and providing said image frames to said computer means for identifying calibrated two-dimensional locations and determining three-dimensional locations of said objects, and means for electronically adjusting said visual displays based on said two dimensional coordinates.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2000-06-09 | 2000-12-09 | 2001-06-10 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2004-06-09 | 2004-12-09 | 2005-06-10 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2008-06-09 | 2008-12-09 | 2009-06-10 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |