Feature detection illumination system

Abstract

A feature detection lighting system includes a body that contains an interior surface having a plurality of flats. A printed circuit board substrate made of a malleable material is mounted to the interior surface of the body. The printed circuit board substrate includes portions that correspond to the flats of the interior surface of the body. Light emitters are mounted to the printed circuit board substrate. Thermal interfaces between the portions of the printed circuit board substrate and the flats of the body facilitate heat transfer. A flexible printed circuit board electrically connects the printed circuit board substrate to a cable for powering the lighting system. One or more diffusers are provided to achieve a desired illumination of a target object and to isolate the interior of the assembly from contaminants.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] In some examples, this invention relates to the field of detection systems and their light sources. Background Technology

[0002] In industrial production, image recognition is used to detect surface features of products, such as metal castings. However, conventional light sources are often less than ideal for imaging products with specific surfaces, features, and / or those being inspected in specific environments when capturing images. Furthermore, conventional light sources may be incompatible with imaging different types of features, including actual product features as well as manufacturing defects or other unintended features such as scratches or dirt. Additionally, conventional light sources may not be suitable for creating satisfactory images in varying environments. The light quality of the captured image directly affects the ability to detect product surface features, and poor light quality can lead to reduced accuracy in identifying these features. Utility Model Content

[0003] On the one hand, this utility model provides a feature detection lighting system, including:

[0004] A body comprising an inner surface in which a plane is defined;

[0005] A printed circuit board substrate formed of a malleable material, the printed circuit board substrate including a portion corresponding to a plane of an inner surface of a body, the printed circuit board substrate being mounted to the inner surface of the body; and

[0006] Light emitters mounted on a printed circuit board substrate.

[0007] In some embodiments, the feature detection illumination system further includes a flexible cable comprising electrical conductors for electrical connection to a printed circuit board substrate, and defining holes therein corresponding to at least some light emitters mounted on the printed circuit board substrate, the flexible cable covering at least a portion of the printed circuit board substrate, and at least some light emitters located within the holes defined in the flexible cable.

[0008] In some embodiments, the body includes a first end having a hole therein and a second end having an outer periphery. The feature detection illumination system also includes a light diffuser with its first end located at the hole in the body and its second end located at the outer periphery of the body. The light diffuser is sealed to the surface of the hole by at least one O-ring and to the outer periphery by a gasket.

[0009] In some embodiments, the body includes a first end having a hole therein and a second end having an outer periphery. The feature detection illumination system also includes a light diffuser with its first end located at the hole in the body and its second end located at the outer periphery of the body. The light diffuser is sealed to the surface of the hole by at least one O-ring and to the outer periphery by a gasket.

[0010] In some embodiments, the malleable material is aluminum.

[0011] In some embodiments, the flexible cable includes a flexible printed circuit board.

[0012] In some embodiments, the flexible printed circuit board includes copper traces encapsulated in plastic.

[0013] In some embodiments, the feature detection illumination system further includes a detachable diffuser connected to the body.

[0014] In some embodiments, a thermal interface material is provided between the inner surfaces of the printed circuit board substrate and the body to facilitate heat transfer between the printed circuit board substrate and the body.

[0015] In some embodiments, the body is made of metal, and a thermal interface material is provided between the plane of the body and a portion of the printed circuit board substrate.

[0016] In some embodiments, the body also includes heat sinks on its outer surface.

[0017] On the other hand, this utility model provides a feature detection lighting system, including:

[0018] A body having a mounting structure at a first end and defining an outer periphery at a second end, the body including an inner surface having a plane between the first end and the second end;

[0019] A printed circuit board substrate formed of a malleable material, the printed circuit board substrate including a portion corresponding to a plane of an inner surface of a body, the printed circuit board substrate being mounted to the inner surface of the body; and

[0020] Light emitters mounted on a printed circuit board substrate.

[0021] In some other embodiments, the feature detection illumination system further includes a light diffuser with a first end located near the mounting structure at the first end of the body and a second end located at the outer periphery of the body. The light diffuser is sealed to the first end of the body by at least one O-ring and to the outer periphery by a gasket.

[0022] In some other embodiments, a thermal interface material is provided between the inner surface of the printed circuit board substrate and the body to facilitate heat transfer between the printed circuit board substrate and the body.

[0023] In some other embodiments, the malleable material is a metal.

[0024] In some other embodiments, the metal is aluminum.

[0025] In some other embodiments, a thermal interface material is provided between the inner surface of the printed circuit board substrate and the body to facilitate heat transfer between the printed circuit board substrate and the body.

[0026] In some other embodiments, lines are marked between these portions to facilitate bending the printed circuit board substrate into these portions.

[0027] In some other embodiments, slots are defined between these portions to facilitate bending the printed circuit board substrate into these portions.

[0028] As described above, the feature detection lighting system provided by this utility model includes a main body containing an inner surface with multiple planes. A printed circuit board substrate made of a malleable material is mounted on the inner surface of the main body. The printed circuit board substrate includes portions corresponding to the planes of the inner surface of the main body. A light emitter is mounted on the printed circuit board substrate. The thermal interfaces between the portions of the printed circuit board substrate and the planes of the main body facilitate heat transfer. A flexible printed circuit board electrically connects the printed circuit board substrate to a cable for powering the lighting system. One or more diffusers are provided to achieve the desired illumination of the target object and to isolate the interior of the component from contaminants. Attached Figure Description

[0029] To facilitate identification of any particular element or action being discussed, the most important one or more digits in the reference number refer to the drawing number in which the element was first introduced.

[0030] Figure 1 A block diagram of a detection system based on some examples is shown.

[0031] Figure 2 The following are examples. Figure 1 A perspective view of one embodiment of a light source.

[0032] Figure 3 The following are examples. Figure 2 Perspective view of the bottom of the light source.

[0033] Figure 4 The following are examples. Figure 2Perspective view of the bottom of the light source.

[0034] Figure 5 The bottom of a flexible printed circuit board (PC) is shown according to some examples.

[0035] Figure 6 The top of two metal-based printed circuit boards is shown according to some examples.

[0036] Figure 7 It is an exploded perspective view of the main body, flexible printed circuit board, two first metal-based printed circuit boards and two second metal-based printed circuit boards, based on some examples.

[0037] Figure 8 It is a perspective view of some components, including a flexible printed circuit board, two first metal-based printed circuit boards, and two second metal-based printed circuit boards, based on some examples.

[0038] Figure 9 It is a cross-sectional view of a fully assembled light source based on some examples.

[0039] Figure 10 It is based on some examples for Figure 2 Perspective view of a transparent diffuser and a semi-transparent diffuser for a medium light source.

[0040] Figure 11 It is based on some examples Figure 2 A partial cross-sectional perspective view of the light source body.

[0041] Figure 12 It is based on some examples Figure 2 A partial cross-sectional view of the external connector of the light source and the connector housing of the power cord.

[0042] Figure 13 These are perspective views illustrating how a metal-based printed circuit board is attached to a body, based on some examples.

[0043] Figure 14 It is based on some examples for Figure 2 A top view of the washer of the light source body.

[0044] Figure 15 The following are examples. Figure 1 A perspective view of another embodiment of the light source.

[0045] Figure 16 The following are examples. Figure 15 Perspective view of the bottom of the light source.

[0046] Figure 17 It is based on some examples for Figure 15 Flexible printed circuit board with light source.

[0047] Figure 18 It is based on some examples for Figure 15 Perspective view of a transparent diffuser and a semi-transparent diffuser for a medium light source. Detailed Implementation

[0048] In industrial production, image recognition is used to detect surface features of products, such as metal castings. However, conventional light sources are often less than ideal for imaging products with specific surfaces, features, and / or those being inspected in specific environments when capturing images. For example, material properties that affect the light quality of captured images include reflectivity, transparency, or black / opacity. In other examples, conventional light sources may be incompatible with imaging different types of features, including, for example, actual product features such as dots, lines, and circles, as well as manufacturing defects or other unintended features such as scratches or dirt. In yet another example, conventional light sources may be unsuitable for creating satisfactory images in different environments, such as laboratories or production lines. The light quality of the captured image directly affects the ability to detect product surface features, and poor light quality can lead to reduced accuracy in identifying these features.

[0049] As mentioned above, manufacturing currently faces many obstacles in terms of light sources used for capturing images of industrial products. For different surface materials, such as those with reflective, transparent, or black surfaces, a variety of wavelengths and patterns of light from the light source are traditionally required to capture high-quality images to achieve sufficient image quality. Furthermore, traditional single-source light sources cannot provide sufficient illumination for capturing images with different types of features, such as product features, scratches, dirt, and features with random locations, sizes, or shapes. Traditionally, such imaging requires custom light sources with specific incident angles and patterns. Finally, traditional light sources have consistently fallen short in providing sufficient illumination for image capture in diverse environments, as different environments, such as laboratories and production lines, typically produce products made of different materials under varying ambient lighting conditions. Therefore, capturing images of sufficient quality for feature inspection has traditionally relied on manually adjusting the distance and geometry between the lighting, camera, and product to capture high-quality images.

[0050] Furthermore, removing the heat generated by the light-emitting diodes (LEDs) located inside the light source and below the diffuser can be challenging. A light source configuration that facilitates this heat transfer ensures lower operating temperatures, better reliability, and a longer lifespan. Additionally, if contaminants from the surrounding environment, such as dust or other particulate matter, enter the light source, this can affect the performance and light quality provided. Therefore, it is desirable to ensure that the internal components of the light source are isolated from such contaminants.

[0051] Other technical features will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art from the following figures, description and claims.

[0052] Figure 1 A block diagram of a detection system 100 according to some examples is shown. The detection system 100 includes a light source 102, a camera 108, a controller 106, an industrial computer 112, and a factory computer 116 and / or a programmable logic controller (PLC). The factory computer 116 or other factory control unit communicates with the controller 106 and the computer 112 via a wired or wireless factory network 124.

[0053] The light source 102 illuminates the target object 104. The light source 102 includes a housing containing multiple emitters, as will be described in more detail below. In some examples, the emitters include one or more LEDs, or one or more other light-emitting devices. The emitters are arranged to provide flexibility in illuminating the target object 104. The emitters are selectively activated by the controller 106 using one or more power lines 110. A light channel is a unit of illumination that can be individually addressed by the controller 106 to illuminate the target object 104. Thus, a light channel may include a single LED or multiple LEDs that can be addressed as a group. Preferably, the light source 102 includes at least ten individually addressable light channels, each light channel including one or more emitters arranged within the light source 102 to provide illumination flexibility.

[0054] Camera 108 can be mounted to light source 102 via mounting ring 114 including screw holes. It captures images of the illuminated target object 104 through a hole on the top of light source 102. Camera 108 is triggered by controller 106 via trigger line 118, synchronized with the activation of the emitter in light source 102.

[0055] Controller 106 controls the operation of camera 108 and the illumination of target object 104 by light source 102. Controller 106 receives instructions from computer 112 via control line 122. Controller 106 may include hardware components, including a central processing unit (“CPU”), bus, volatile and non-volatile storage devices, storage units, non-transitory computer-readable media, data processor, processing device, control device, transmitter, receiver, antenna, transceiver, input device, output device, network interface device, and other types of components well known to those skilled in the art. These hardware components within the user equipment can be used independently of other devices disclosed herein to perform the various applications, methods, or algorithms disclosed herein.

[0056] Controller 106 illuminates the target object according to one or more optimal lighting configurations. The lighting configuration can be defined as a matrix, where each value of the lighting configuration matrix represents the operating state of each independent controllable light channel (e.g., one or more emitters). The lighting configurations can also be arranged into a configuration sequence that specifies the order in which the lighting configurations to be executed for a particular target object 104, allowing camera 108 to capture multiple images under different lighting conditions. A controller 106 can control one or more light sources. In some examples, controller 106 controls a reference... Figure 2 The two light sources 102 are described, and the reference is controlled. Figure 15 One of the larger light sources described is 1500, because the latter has a greater number of emitters.

[0057] Computer 112 runs software that provides a user interface for specifying lighting configurations and sequences, which can be loaded into controller 106. Computer 112 also instructs controller 106 to operate via control line 122 and receives images captured by camera 108 via data line 120.

[0058] The factory computer 116 provides overall control of the factory and can receive operational data and captured images from the controller 106 and the computer 112 via the factory network 124. The factory computer 116 can also provide instructions to control or initiate the operation of the detection system 100 based on, for example, other factory operations, such as the movement of the target object 104 past the light source 102.

[0059] Figure 2 The following are examples. Figure 1 A perspective view of one embodiment of the central light source 102. Figure 2 The visible light source 102 has a dome-shaped body 202, which includes a mounting ring 114 for mounting a camera 108. The mounting ring 114 is located around the upper edge of the ring 208, and the ring 208 defines a hole at the first or upper end of the body 202 through which the camera 108 can see the target object 104.

[0060] An external connector 204 is also provided, through which power can be supplied to the individual LEDs within the light source 102.

[0061] Figure 2 The diagram also shows one or more surfaces or locations 210 for mounting the light source 102. In some examples, the body 202 is made of metal to provide good heat transfer characteristics between the emitter and the outer surface of the body 202; in the illustrated example, the body 202 includes a heat sink 214 to facilitate cooling of the light source 102. One or more diffusers 212 are mounted inside the light source 102 to seal the interior of the light source 102 and provide light diffusion when needed.

[0062] Figure 3 It shows Figure 2 The perspective view of the bottom of the central light source 102 shows the positioning of the printed circuit board including the light emitter (such as LED 306) according to some examples. In this view, the diffuser 212 has been removed to show the details of the bottom of the body 202 in addition to showing the positioning of LED 306.

[0063] According to some examples, the inner surface of the body 202 is typically hemispherical and includes a flexible printed circuit board 302 mounted on the body 202 and four metal-based printed circuit boards 304. The bottom of the body 202 has planes 402 defined thereon that receive corresponding portions of the flexible printed circuit boards 302 and the metal-based printed circuit boards 304, as will be described in more detail below. The planes 402 of the inner surface of the body 202... Figure 3 They are not visible because they are located beneath the metal-based printed circuit board 304, but the planes 402 in the body 202 generally correspond to the shape and size of a particular portion of the metal-based printed circuit board 304, and in Figure 4 As shown in the image.

[0064] Each metal-based printed circuit board 304 includes a metal printed circuit board substrate on which LEDs 306 are mounted. The metal-based printed circuit board 304 includes at least one connector for electrical connection to the flexible printed circuit board 302 (see...). Figure 6 (Connectors 608 and 610 in the diagram). Power is supplied from the connectors to the LED 306 via traces formed on a metal printed circuit board substrate. The high-power LED 306 selectively illuminates the target object 104 under the control of the controller 106.

[0065] In some examples, the flexible printed circuit board 302 includes electrical conductors made of copper traces encased in plastic, although other materials and forms of connecting cables may also be used. In some examples, a thermal interface material may be used between the metal-based printed circuit board 304 and the body 202. In some examples, adhesive may be used between the metal-based printed circuit board 304 and the body 202 instead of thermal paste or as a supplement to thermal paste. The stacked structure consisting of the metal substrate of the metal-based printed circuit board 304, the thermal interface material, and the metal body 202 provides good thermal conductivity between the LED 306 and the heat sink 214 of the body 202. This is further facilitated by the mating of a portion 618 of the metal-based printed circuit board 304 with the plane of the body 202.

[0066] The metal substrate of the metal-based printed circuit board 304 is bent to match the plane of the inner surface of the body 202, which also facilitates heat transfer between the LED 306 and the body 202. Aluminum is used as the metal substrate in the example shown herein, but any suitable malleable material with good thermal transfer properties can be used.

[0067] A transparent diffuser 902 (see Figure 9 The gasket 312 is placed against the lower sealing surface 404 of the lower end or the outer periphery of the second end of the main body 202 (see...). Figure 4 The main body 202 has a diffuser mounting hole 308 for mounting a transparent diffuser 902.

[0068] Figure 4 The following are examples. Figure 2 A perspective view of the bottom of the main body 202. In this view, the plane 402 and the sealing surface 404 within the main body 202 can be seen. As previously mentioned, the plane 402 typically corresponds to the shape and size of a portion 618 of a particular metal-based printed circuit board 304, and... Figure 4 As shown in the image.

[0069] Figure 5 The bottom of a flexible printed circuit board (PC) is shown according to some examples. Flexible printed circuit board 302 is used for... Figure 2 and Figure 3 Electrical connections are made between the external connector 204 in the light source 102 shown and the four metal-based printed circuit boards 304. The flexible printed circuit board 302 covers... Figure 2 At least a portion of the metal-based printed circuit board 304 within the central light source 102, although the flexible printed circuit board may alternatively or additionally be located below at least a portion of the metal-based printed circuit board 304.

[0070] The flexible printed circuit board 302 includes a flexible substrate 502, through which, in some examples, an aperture 508 is defined, into which an LED 306 of the underlying metal-based printed circuit board 304 can be inserted. The flexible printed circuit board 302 includes a connector 506 connected to a connector 610 on a second metal-based printed circuit board 604 and a connector 504 connected to a connector 608 on a first metal-based printed circuit board 602 (see [link to documentation]). Figure 6 ).

[0071] The flexible printed circuit board 302 includes mounting holes 512 for mounting it onto the body 202 during use. Slots 510 are also provided in the flexible printed circuit board 302, corresponding to planar edges formed on the inner surface of the body 202. The slots 510 provide additional flexibility for fitting the flexible printed circuit board 302 to the planar inner surface of the body 202.

[0072] Figure 6 The top surfaces of a first metal-based printed circuit board 602 and a second metal-based printed circuit board 604, according to some examples, are shown. The two sets of metal-based printed circuit boards 602, 604 shown together cover the interior of the body 202 to provide a consistent light output from the light source 102.

[0073] Each metal-based printed circuit board 602, 604 includes a metal substrate 606 on which LEDs 306 are mounted, as shown. A slot 614 and a bend line 616 are also provided to facilitate the proper positioning and bending of the metal-based printed circuit boards 602, 604 to conform to the planar inner surface of the body 202. The slot 614 provides additional flexibility in bending the metal-based printed circuit boards 602, 604 to fit the planar inner surface of the body 202, and the bend line 616 provides visual alignment cues during bending. The bend line 616 divides each row 620 into portions 618 corresponding to planes defined on the inner surface of the body 202.

[0074] The first metal-based printed circuit board 602 includes a connector 608 that connects to a connector 504 on the flexible printed circuit board 302. The second metal-based printed circuit board 604 includes a connector 610 that connects to a connector 506 on the flexible printed circuit board 302.

[0075] Metal-based printed circuit boards 602 and 604 each include multiple rows 620. A tab 612 is formed at the end of each row 620 to provide additional fixing points for fasteners used to mount the metal-based printed circuit boards 602 and 604 to the inner surface of the body 202. The tab 612 on each row 620 of the first metal-based printed circuit board 602 is complementary to the tab 612 on the corresponding row 620 of the second metal-based printed circuit board 604. See also Figure 13 .

[0076] Figure 7 This is an exploded perspective view of the main body 202, the flexible printed circuit board 302, two first metal-based printed circuit boards 602, and two second metal-based printed circuit boards 604. It can be seen that the flexible printed circuit board 302 and the metal-based printed circuit boards 602 and 604 arrange the LEDs 306 into a series of rings, which... Figure 3 and Figure 8 This can also be seen in the text.

[0077] Figure 8 This is a perspective view of a portion of the assembly, including a flexible printed circuit board 302, two first metal-based printed circuit boards 602, and two second metal-based printed circuit boards 604. For illustrative purposes only, this assembly 800 is shown removed from the body 202. Figure 8Reinforcing member 802 is also visible, protecting connectors 504 and 506 on the flexible printed circuit board 302 and providing support during the installation of connectors 504 and 506. Connectors 504 and 506 on the flexible printed circuit board 302 cover connectors 608 and 610 on the metal-based printed circuit boards 602 and 604, thus connectors 608 and 610 are also not visible. Complementary tabs 612 on adjacent metal-based printed circuit boards 602 and 604 are also visible.

[0078] Figure 9 This is a cross-sectional view of a fully assembled light source 102 according to some examples. The light source 102 shown includes a body 202, a flexible and metal-based printed circuit board assembly 800, a transparent diffuser 902, and a translucent diffuser 904.

[0079] The transparent diffuser 902 rests against an undercut 910 beneath the ring 208 of the body 202. This contact area is sealed by one or more O-rings 906 located in a groove 908 formed at the upper end of the transparent diffuser 902. The flange 1002 at the lower end of the transparent diffuser 902 is secured to the body 202 by fasteners passing through diffuser mounting holes 308 and 1004 in the body 202. A gasket 312 is located between the flange 1002 of the transparent diffuser 902 and a sealing surface 404 on the outer periphery of the lower or second end of the body 202. Thus, the O-rings 906 and the gasket 312 provide an hermetically tight seal between the transparent diffuser 902 and the body 202, preventing contaminants from entering the area between the transparent diffuser 902 and the inner surface of the body 202.

[0080] The translucent diffuser 904 is optional and removable, and can be inserted into the transparent diffuser 902 if needed during use. The translucent diffuser 904 has a bevel 1008 that rests against a corresponding surface inside the transparent diffuser 902. The flange 1006 at the lower edge of the translucent diffuser 904 is secured to the body 202 by fasteners that pass through mounting holes 1014 in the flange 1006 and into diffuser mounting holes 314 in the gasket 310 located at the corner of the body 202.

[0081] Figure 10 These are perspective views of a transparent diffuser 902 and a translucent diffuser 904, based on some examples. It can be seen that the transparent diffuser 902 includes a groove 908 formed in a tubular portion 1010 thereon, in which an O-ring 906 is received. A mounting hole 1004 is formed on the flange 1002 for mounting the transparent diffuser 902 to the body 202.

[0082] The translucent diffuser 904 includes a bevel 1008 formed on the exterior of its upper tubular portion 1012. The upper tubular portion 1012 of the translucent diffuser 904 is housed within the upper tubular portion 1010 of the transparent diffuser 902. A mounting hole 1014 is formed on the flange 1006 for mounting the translucent diffuser 904 to the body 202 as described above.

[0083] Figure 11 This is a perspective partial cross-sectional view of the main body 202 based on some examples. The figure shows two metal-based printed circuit boards 304, a flexible printed circuit board 302 covering at least a portion of the metal-based printed circuit boards 304, and an external connector 204 for the flexible printed circuit board 302.

[0084] Before the metal-based printed circuit board 304 is positioned against the inner surface of the body 202, it is bent into a portion corresponding to the plane constituting the inner surface of the body 202. Before the flexible printed circuit board 302 covers one or more metal-based printed circuit boards 304 and the connector connecting the flexible printed circuit board 302 and the metal-based printed circuit board 304 is used, it is also bent into a portion corresponding to the plane constituting the inner surface of the body 202.

[0085] The flexible printed circuit board 302 passes through a slot 1104 in the body 202 to establish an electrical connection with the outside of the body 202 via an external connector 204. The flexible printed circuit board 302 and the metal-based printed circuit board 304 are secured in place by several fasteners 1102. The external connector 204 is also secured in place in the body 202 by fasteners.

[0086] Figure 12 It is based on some examples Figure 2 A partial cross-sectional view of the external connector 204 of the light source and the connector housing 1202 of the power cord 110. It can be seen that the connector housing 1202 includes a washer 1204 located in a recess 1206. This washer surrounds the external connector 204 and makes a sealing contact with the body 202, which also surrounds the plane 1208 of the external connector 204.

[0087] The gasket 1204 between the connector housing 1202 and the body 202, together with the O-ring 906 and the gasket 312, prevents contaminants from entering.

[0088] Figure 13This is a perspective view illustrating, based on some examples, how a metal-based printed circuit board 304 is secured to a body 202. Adjacent metal-based printed circuit boards 304 are joined and secured in place by threaded fasteners 1102. The horizontal edges of the tabs 612 of the two metal-based printed circuit boards 304 are located below the heads of the fasteners, as are portions of the vertical edges at the ends of each metal-based printed circuit board 304. This additional contact between the fasteners 1102 and the metal-based printed circuit boards 304 provides a more secure hold to the metal-based printed circuit boards 304.

[0089] The positioning feature 1302, located below the fastener 1102 at the contact point of adjacent metal-based printed circuit boards 304, facilitates the assembly of the metal-based printed circuit boards 304 into the body 202. The positioning feature 1302 provides a horizontal reference surface 1304 to assist in the vertical positioning of the metal-based printed circuit boards 304, and a vertical reference surface 1306 to assist in the horizontal positioning of the metal-based printed circuit boards 304. The positioning feature 1302 shown is T-shaped, but of course, other shapes and configurations are also possible.

[0090] Figure 13 The image also shows slots 614 in the metal-based printed circuit board 304 to help bend each metal-based printed circuit board 304 into a portion corresponding to the plane of the inner surface of the body 202.

[0091] Figure 14 This is a top view of the washer 312 for body 202, based on some examples. See reference... Figure 9 and Figure 10 As described above, the gasket 312 is located between the flange 1002 of the transparent diffuser 902 and the sealing surface 404 of the body 202. The gasket 312 has a shape corresponding to the shape of the sealing surface 404, including a cutout 1402 for receiving the reinforcing member 802 of the flexible printed circuit board 302, and a hole 1404 corresponding to the diffuser mounting hole 308 in the body 202.

[0092] The gasket 312 also includes an interlocking feature 1406 that engages with an interlocking cutout 1408 in the second gasket 312, together forming a gasket that covers the entire sealing surface 404 of the body 202.

[0093] Figure 15 The following are examples. Figure 1A perspective view of another embodiment of the light source. The light source 1500 includes a larger dome-shaped body 1502, which includes a mounting ring 1506 on which a camera 108 can be mounted. The mounting ring 1506 is located around the upper edge of the ring 1508, which defines an opening at a first or upper end of the light source 1500 through which the camera 108 can see the target object 104.

[0094] The light source 1500 is larger than the light source 102 and provides two external connectors 1504 through which power can be supplied to the optical channel within the light source 1500.

[0095] One or more mounting surfaces or locations 1510 can be used to mount the light source 1500 into place. In some examples, the body 1502 is made of metal to provide good heat transfer characteristics between the light emitter and the outer surface of the body 1502. In the example shown, the body 1502 includes a heat sink 1512 to facilitate cooling of the light source 1500.

[0096] As previously mentioned, one or more diffusers 1802, 1804 (not shown, see...) Figure 18 It is installed inside the light source 1500 to seal the interior of the light source 1500 and provide appropriate light diffusion as needed.

[0097] Similar to body 202, the inner surface of body 1502 has planes, and corresponding portions of the metal-based printed circuit board 1602 are mounted on these planes, as described above with reference to body 202. However, due to the available space in the larger body 1502, the connection between the metal-based printed circuit board and the external connector 1504 is achieved via a flexible printed circuit board 1700, which is arranged below and between the metal-based printed circuit board. Otherwise, except for dimensional adjustments, the basic configuration of the metal-based printed circuit board, with its planar inner surface bent to match the portion of the light source 1500, is the same as that of the light source 102 described above.

[0098] Figure 16 It shows Figure 15 A perspective view of the bottom of the light source 1500. Based on some examples, this figure shows the positioning of the printed circuit board including the light emitter (such as LED 1604). For clarity, diffusers 1802 and 1804 and the flexible printed circuit board 1700 have been omitted.

[0099] As previously described, according to some examples, the inner surface of the body 1502 is generally hemispherical, and a flexible printed circuit board 1700 is mounted thereon. The bottom of the body 1502 has flat planes defined thereon, which accommodate corresponding portions of the metal-based printed circuit board 1602. The planes of the inner surface of the body 1502... Figure 16They are not visible because they are located below the metal-based printed circuit board 1602, but the planes in the body 1502 generally correspond to the shape and size of a specific portion of the metal-based printed circuit board 1602 in the aforementioned body 202.

[0100] Each metal-based printed circuit board 1602 includes a metal printed circuit board substrate on which the LED 1604 is mounted. The metal-based printed circuit board 1602 includes at least one connector 1608 for electrical connection to the flexible printed circuit board 1700. Power is supplied to the LED 1604 from the connector 1608 via lines formed on the metal printed circuit board substrate. The high-power LED 1604 selectively illuminates the target object 104 under the control of the controller 106.

[0101] In some examples, a thermal interface material is used between the metal-based printed circuit board 1602 and the body 1502. In some examples, adhesive may be used between the metal-based printed circuit board 1602 and the body 1502, in addition to thermal paste or as an alternative to thermal paste. The stacked structure consisting of the metal substrate of the metal-based printed circuit board 1602, the thermal interface material, and the metal body 1502 provides good thermal conductivity between the LED 1604 and the heat sink 1512 of the body 1502.

[0102] The metal substrate of the metal-based printed circuit board 1602 is also bent to a portion that matches the plane of the inner surface of the body 1502, which also facilitates heat transfer between the LED 1604 and the body 1502. Aluminum is used as the metal substrate in the example shown herein, but any suitable malleable material with good thermal transfer properties can also be used.

[0103] A transparent diffuser 1802 (see Figure 18 The diffuser 1502 is positioned against a gasket that rests against the lower sealing surface 1612 of the body 1502. Optionally, a translucent diffuser 1804 is then mounted onto the body 1502, abutting against the translucent diffuser 1802. For this purpose, a diffuser mounting hole 1606 is provided in the body 1502. The diffuser mounting hole 1606 is provided in a gasket 1610 located at a corner of the body 1502 for mounting one or more diffusers.

[0104] Figure 17 It is based on some examples for Figure 15The flexible printed circuit board 1700 of the light source 1500 includes a central portion 1702 and a branch 1704 that connects an external connector 1504 to several connectors 1706 for electrical contact with connectors 1608 of the metal-based printed circuit board in the light source 1500. Mounting holes 1708 are also provided for mounting the flexible printed circuit board 1700 to the inner surface of the body 1502. In some examples, the flexible printed circuit board 1700 includes electrical conductors composed of copper traces encapsulated in plastic; however, other materials and forms of connecting cables may also be used.

[0105] Figure 18 These are perspective views of a transparent diffuser 1802 and a translucent diffuser 1804, based on some examples. It can be seen that the transparent diffuser 1802 includes a groove 1814 formed in a tubular portion 1816 therein, in which an O-ring is received. A mounting hole 1808 is formed on the flange 1806 for mounting the transparent diffuser 1802 to the body 1502.

[0106] The translucent diffuser 1804 includes an upper tubular portion 1818 that is received within the upper tubular portion 1816 of the transparent diffuser 1802. A mounting hole 1812 is formed on the flange 1810 for mounting the translucent diffuser 1804 to the body 1502 as described above.

[0107] Various examples are considered. Example 1 is a feature detection lighting system comprising: a body including an inner surface defining a plane therein; a printed circuit board substrate formed of a stretchable material including a portion corresponding to the plane of the inner surface of the body, the printed circuit board substrate being mounted to the inner surface of the body; and a light emitter mounted on the printed circuit board substrate.

[0108] In Example 2, the subject of Example 1 includes a flexible cable comprising electrical conductors for electrical connection to a printed circuit board substrate, and defining holes therein corresponding to at least some light emitters mounted on the printed circuit board substrate, the flexible cable covering at least a portion of the printed circuit board substrate, and at least some light emitters located within the holes defined in the flexible cable.

[0109] In Example 3, the subject of Examples 1-2 includes a body comprising a first end having a hole formed therein and a second end having an outer periphery. The feature detection illumination system further includes a light diffuser with the first end located at the hole in the body and the second end located at the outer periphery of the body. The light diffuser is sealed to the surface of the hole by at least one O-ring and to the outer periphery by a gasket.

[0110] In Example 4, the subject of Examples 2-3 includes a body comprising a first end having a hole formed therein and a second end having an outer periphery. The feature detection illumination system further includes a light diffuser with the first end located at the hole in the body and the second end located at the outer periphery of the body. The light diffuser is sealed to the surface of the hole by at least one O-ring and to the outer periphery by a gasket.

[0111] In Example 5, the subject matter of Examples 1-4 includes the fact that the malleable material is aluminum.

[0112] In Example 6, the subject matter of Examples 2-5 includes the fact that the malleable material is aluminum.

[0113] In Example 7, the subject of Examples 2-6 includes the flexible cable comprising a flexible printed circuit board.

[0114] In Example 8, the subject of Example 7 includes the flexible printed circuit board comprising copper traces encapsulated in plastic.

[0115] In Example 9, the subject of Examples 3-8 includes a detachable diffuser attached to the body.

[0116] In Example 10, the subject matter of Examples 1-9 includes a thermal interface material disposed between the inner surfaces of the printed circuit board substrate and the body to facilitate heat transfer between the printed circuit board substrate and the body.

[0117] In Example 11, the subject of Examples 1-10 includes a body made of metal, and a thermal interface material is provided between a plane of the body and a portion of a printed circuit board substrate.

[0118] In Example 12, the subject of Example 11 includes a heat sink on its outer surface.

[0119] Example 13 is a feature detection lighting system comprising: a body having a mounting structure at a first end and defining an outer periphery at a second end, the body including an inner surface having a plane between the first and second ends; a printed circuit board substrate formed of a stretchable material, the printed circuit board substrate including a portion corresponding to the plane of the inner surface of the body, the printed circuit board substrate being mounted to the inner surface of the body; and a light emitter mounted on the printed circuit board substrate.

[0120] In Example 14, the subject of Example 13 includes a light diffuser having a first end located near a mounting structure at the first end of the body and a second end located at the outer periphery of the body. The light diffuser is sealed to the first end of the body by at least one O-ring and to the outer periphery by a gasket.

[0121] In Example 15, the subject matter of Examples 13-14 includes a thermal interface material disposed between the inner surfaces of the printed circuit board substrate and the body to facilitate heat transfer between the printed circuit board substrate and the body.

[0122] In Example 16, the subject matter of Examples 13-15 includes the fact that the stretchable material is a metal.

[0123] In Example 17, the subject of Example 16 includes, wherein the metal is aluminum.

[0124] In Example 18, the subject matter of Examples 16-17 includes a thermal interface material disposed between the inner surfaces of the printed circuit board substrate and the body to facilitate heat transfer between the printed circuit board substrate and the body.

[0125] In Example 19, the subject of Examples 16-18 includes lines marking between these portions to facilitate bending a printed circuit board substrate into these portions.

[0126] In Example 20, the subject matter of Examples 16-19 includes a slot defined between these portions to facilitate bending a printed circuit board substrate into these portions.

[0127] Example 21 is at least one machine-readable medium including instructions that, when executed by processing circuitry, cause the processing circuitry to perform operations to implement any of Examples 1-20.

[0128] Example 22 is an apparatus that includes components for implementing any of Examples 1-20. Example 23 is a system for implementing any of Examples 1-20. Example 24 is a method for implementing any of Examples 1-20.

Claims

1. A feature detection illumination system characterized in that, The feature detection illumination system includes: A body comprising an inner surface in which a plane is defined; A printed circuit board substrate formed of a malleable material, the printed circuit board substrate including a portion corresponding to a plane of an inner surface of a body, the printed circuit board substrate being mounted to the inner surface of the body; and Light emitters mounted on a printed circuit board substrate.

2. The feature detection illumination system of claim 1, wherein, It also includes a flexible cable comprising an electrical conductor for electrical connection to a printed circuit board substrate, and defining holes therein corresponding to at least some light emitters mounted on the printed circuit board substrate, the flexible cable covering at least a portion of the printed circuit board substrate, and at least some light emitters located within the holes defined in the flexible cable.

3. The feature detection illumination system of claim 1, wherein, The body includes a first end having a hole therein and a second end having an outer periphery. The feature detection illumination system also includes a light diffuser, the first end of which is located at the hole in the body and the second end of which is located at the outer periphery of the body. The light diffuser is sealed to the surface of the hole by at least one O-ring and to the outer periphery by a gasket.

4. The feature detection illumination system of claim 2, wherein, The body includes a first end having a hole therein and a second end having an outer periphery. The feature detection illumination system also includes a light diffuser, the first end of which is located at the hole in the body and the second end of which is located at the outer periphery of the body. The light diffuser is sealed to the surface of the hole by at least one O-ring and to the outer periphery by a gasket.

5. The feature detection illumination system of claim 1, wherein, The malleable material is aluminum.

6. The feature detection illumination system of claim 2, wherein, The malleable material is aluminum.

7. The feature detection illumination system of claim 2, wherein, The flexible cable includes a flexible printed circuit board.

8. The feature detection illumination system of claim 7, wherein, The flexible printed circuit board includes copper lines encapsulated in plastic.

9. The feature detection illumination system according to claim 3, characterized in that it further includes a detachable diffuser connected to the main body.

10. The feature detection illumination system of claim 1, wherein, A thermal interface material is provided between the inner surface of the printed circuit board substrate and the body to promote heat transfer between the printed circuit board substrate and the body.

11. The feature detection illumination system of claim 1, wherein, The body is made of metal, and a thermal interface material is provided between the plane of the body and a portion of the printed circuit board substrate.

12. The feature detection illumination system of claim 11, wherein, The body also includes heat sinks on its outer surface.

13. A feature detection illumination system characterized by, The feature detection illumination system includes: A body having a mounting structure at a first end and defining an outer periphery at a second end, the body including an inner surface having a plane between the first end and the second end; A printed circuit board substrate formed of a malleable material, the printed circuit board substrate including a portion corresponding to a plane of an inner surface of a body, the printed circuit board substrate being mounted to the inner surface of the body; and Light emitters mounted on a printed circuit board substrate.

14. The feature detection lighting system according to claim 13, characterized in that it further includes a light diffuser, the first end of which is located near the mounting structure at the first end of the main body, and the second end of which is located at the outer periphery of the main body, the light diffuser being sealed to the first end of the main body by at least one O-ring and sealed to the outer periphery by a gasket.

15. The feature detection illumination system of claim 13, wherein, A thermal interface material is provided between the inner surface of the printed circuit board substrate and the body to promote heat transfer between the printed circuit board substrate and the body.

16. The feature detection illumination system of claim 13, wherein, The malleable material is a metal.

17. The feature detection illumination system of claim 16, wherein, The metal is aluminum.

18. The feature detection illumination system of claim 16, wherein, A thermal interface material is provided between the inner surface of the printed circuit board substrate and the body to promote heat transfer between the printed circuit board substrate and the body.

19. The feature detection illumination system of claim 16, wherein, Lines are marked between the sections to facilitate bending of the printed circuit board substrate into the sections.

20. The feature detection illumination system of claim 16, wherein, Slots are defined between the sections to facilitate bending of the printed circuit board substrate into the sections.

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