US5745176A — Machine-vision illumination system and method for…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 217 words

An illumination source for illuminating an object in a machine-vision system the machine-vision system including an imaging device that has an optical axis, comprising: a light source that emits non-collimated light from a plurality of locations, the locations being on a substantially straight line; a focusing element, the focusing element focusing light from the light source in one dimension to a focal line, wherein the focusing element is separated from the straight line by a distance sufficient to focus rays from the plurality of locations into the focal line, and wherein there is a light path from the straight line to the focusing element and then to the focal line; and a first diaphragm located in the light path between the light source and the focal line and defining a sharp edge in the rays in order to produce a surface substantially delineating a illuminated volume having light from the light source from an unilluminated volume that has substantially no light from the light source and substantially less light overall, and wherein the optical axis of the imaging device passes through the surface such that a portion of the object viewable by the imaging device lies within the illuminated volume and another portion of the object otherwise viewable by the imaging device lies in the unilluminated volume.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 217 words

An illumination source for illuminating an object in a machine-vision system the machine-vision system including an imaging device that has an optical axis, comprising: a light source that emits non-collimated light from a plurality of locations, the locations being on a substantially straight line; a focusing element, the focusing element focusing light from the light source in one dimension to a focal line, wherein the focusing element is separated from the straight line by a distance sufficient to focus rays from the plurality of locations into the focal line, and wherein there is a light path from the straight line to the focusing element and then to the focal line; and a first diaphragm located in the light path between the light source and the focal line and defining a sharp edge in the rays in order to produce a surface substantially delineating a illuminated volume having light from the light source from an unilluminated volume that has substantially no light from the light source and substantially less light overall, and wherein the optical axis of the imaging device passes through the surface such that a portion of the object viewable by the imaging device lies within the illuminated volume and another portion of the object otherwise viewable by the imaging device lies in the unilluminated volume.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 37 words

The illumination source as recited in claim 1, wherein the first diaphragm has at least one straight-line segment lying substantially within a plane which also contains substantially the surface and the straight line of the light source.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 38 words

The illumination source as recited in claim 2, further comprising an enclosure having an interior surface which is anti-reflective at a wavelength of the light source, the straight line of the light source being located inside the enclosure.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 25 words

The illumination source as recited in claim 3 wherein the focusing element is a plano-convex cylindrical lens having a flat surface and a cylindrical surface.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 52 words

The illumination source as recited in claim 4, wherein the first diaphragm has a straight edge located near the cylindrical surface of the cylindrical lens, and further comprising a second straight-edged diaphragm having a straight edge located near the flat surface of the cylindrical lens to reduce reflections from the light source.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 22 words

The illumination source as recited in claim 1 wherein the light source comprises at least one light-emitting diode (LED) which emits light.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 19 words

The illumination source as recited in claim 6 wherein the light emitted from the LEDs is blue in color.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 30 words

The illumination source as recited in claim 7 wherein the light emitted from the LEDs is at an angle of about 22.5° from a center line of each individual LED.

Claim 10

Independent Claim 169 words

A method for illuminating an object in a machine-vision system the machine-vision system including an imaging device that has an optical axis, comprising the steps of: (a) emitting non-collimated light from a plurality of locations, the locations being on a substantially straight line; (b) focusing the emitted light from the plurality of locations into a focal line, and wherein there is a light path from the straight line to a focusing element and then to the focal line; and (c) defining a sharp edge in the rays in order to produce a surface substantially delineating a illuminated volume having light from the light source from an unilluminated volume that has substantially no light from the light source and substantially less light overall, and wherein the optical axis of the imaging device passes through the surface such that a portion of the object viewable by the imaging device lies within the illuminated volume and another portion of the object otherwise viewable by the imaging device lies in the unilluminated volume.

Claim 11

Independent Claim 169 words

A method for illuminating an object in a machine-vision system the machine-vision system including an imaging device that has an optical axis, comprising the steps of: (a) emitting non-collimated light from a plurality of locations, the locations being on a substantially straight line; (b) focusing the emitted light from the plurality of locations into a focal line, and wherein there is a light path from the straight line to a focusing element and then to the focal line; and (c) defining a sharp edge in the rays in order to produce a surface substantially delineating a illuminated volume having light from the light source from an unilluminated volume that has substantially no light from the light source and substantially less light overall, and wherein the optical axis of the imaging device passes through the surface such that a portion of the object viewable by the imaging device lies within the illuminated volume and another portion of the object otherwise viewable by the imaging device lies in the unilluminated volume.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 44 words

The method for illuminating an object as recited in claim 9, wherein the step 2 of defining includes providing at least one straight-line diaphragm segment lying substantially within a plane which also contains substantially the surface and the straight line of the emitted light.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 41 words

The method for illuminating an object as recited in claim 10, further comprising the step of enclosing the straight line and the focusing element with an enclosure having an interior surface which is anti-reflective at a wavelength of the emitted light.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 26 words

The method for illuminating an object as recited in claim 9, wherein the step of emitting comprises emitting light from at least one light-emitting diode (LED).

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 36 words

The method for illuminating an object as recited in claim 12, wherein the object is an electrical connector, and further including the step of inspecting an aspect of the connector that affects functionality of the connector.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 33 words

The method for illuminating an object as recited in claim 12, wherein the light emitted from the LEDs is at an angle of about 22.5° from a center line of each individual LED.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 28 words

The method for illuminating an object as recited in claim 9, wherein the focusing element is a plano-convex cylindrical lens having a flat surface and a cylindrical surface.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 75 words

The method for illuminating an object as recited in claim 15, wherein, step of defining includes providing at least a first diaphragm has a straight edge, and the step of placing includes locating the straight edge near the cylindrical surface of the cylindrical lens, and further comprising the step of placing a second straight-edged diaphragm having a straight edge located near the flat surface of the cylindrical lens to reduce reflections from the light source.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 219 words

A machine-vision illumination system, comprising: an imaging device that has an optical axis; an image processor coupled to the imaging device; and an illumination source coupled to the image processor, the illumination source comprising: a light source that emits non-collimated light from a plurality of locations, the locations being on a substantially straight line, a focusing element, the focusing element focusing light from the light source in one dimension to a focal line, wherein the focusing element is separated from the straight line by a distance sufficient to focus rays from the plurality of locations into the focal line, and wherein there is a light path from the straight line to the focusing element and then to the focal line, and a first diaphragm located in the light path and defining a sharp edge in the rays in order to produce a surface substantially delineating a illuminated volume having light from the light source from an unilluminated volume that has substantially no light from the light source and substantially less light overall, and wherein the optical axis of the imaging device passes through the surface such that a portion of the object viewable by the imaging device lies within the illuminated volume and another portion of the object otherwise viewable by the imaging device lies in the unilluminated volume.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 219 words

A machine-vision illumination system, comprising: an imaging device that has an optical axis; an image processor coupled to the imaging device; and an illumination source coupled to the image processor, the illumination source comprising: a light source that emits non-collimated light from a plurality of locations, the locations being on a substantially straight line, a focusing element, the focusing element focusing light from the light source in one dimension to a focal line, wherein the focusing element is separated from the straight line by a distance sufficient to focus rays from the plurality of locations into the focal line, and wherein there is a light path from the straight line to the focusing element and then to the focal line, and a first diaphragm located in the light path and defining a sharp edge in the rays in order to produce a surface substantially delineating a illuminated volume having light from the light source from an unilluminated volume that has substantially no light from the light source and substantially less light overall, and wherein the optical axis of the imaging device passes through the surface such that a portion of the object viewable by the imaging device lies within the illuminated volume and another portion of the object otherwise viewable by the imaging device lies in the unilluminated volume.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 38 words

The machine-vision illumination system as recited in claim 17, wherein the first diaphragm has at least one straight-line segment lying substantially within a plane which also contains substantially the surface and the straight line of the light source.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 39 words

The machine-vision illumination system as recited in claim 18, further comprising an enclosure having an interior surface which is anti-reflective at a wavelength of the light source, the straight line of the light source being located inside the enclosure.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 26 words

The machine-vision illumination system as recited in claim 19 wherein the focusing element is a piano-convex cylindrical lens having a flat surface and a cylindrical surface.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 53 words

The machine-vision illumination system as recited in claim 20, wherein the first diaphragm has a straight edge located near the cylindrical surface of the cylindrical lens, and further comprising a second straight-edged diaphragm having a straight edge located near the flat surface of the cylindrical lens to reduce reflections from the light source.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 23 words

The machine-vision illumination system as recited in claim 17 wherein the light source comprises at least one light-emitting diode (LED) which emits light.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 20 words

The machine-vision illumination system as recited in claim 20 wherein the light emitted from the LEDs is blue in color.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 31 words

The machine-vision illumination system as recited in claim 23 wherein the light emitted from the LEDs is at an angle of about 22.5° from a center line of each individual LED.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	2001-04-27	2001-10-27	2002-04-28	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2005-04-27	2005-10-27	2006-04-28	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2009-04-27	2009-10-27	2010-04-28	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Machine-vision illumination system and method for delineating a lighted volume from an unlighted volume

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