Autofocus Search Range Setting for Stable Industrial Inspection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing autofocus systems in industrial inspection cameras struggle to stably focus on specific target locations due to difficulties in setting appropriate focus ranges, leading to unstable image focus at inspection targets.
Innovation Solution
An imaging system comprising an optical system with a variable focal position, an imaging element, a calculation part for evaluating in-focus degree, an autofocus part, an input device, a setting part, and a display device, which allows users to set a search range for the autofocus part based on input and displays the relationship between focal position and evaluation value, enabling stable focus on desired locations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a limited range for focus lens movement is set, then the autofocus search is constrained to a specific range, but it becomes difficult for workers to set an appropriate limited range according to inspection target location
Solution Approach 1:
The system automatically acquires evaluation values across the entire movable range of the focus lens and generates a figure showing the relationship between focal position and evaluation value. This allows the system to self-diagnose the focus characteristics and present the information needed for setting an appropriate search range, reducing the burden on workers while maintaining focus stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system provides visual feedback by displaying a figure that shows the relationship between focal position and evaluation value, along with the imaging result at the designated position. This feedback mechanism enables workers to understand the focus characteristics and make informed decisions about search range setting, improving both ease of operation and focus reliability.
2Manufacturing precision
If the focus lens movable range is limited, then the system can focus on specific target locations, but multiple locations on the subject cannot be brought into focus
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the search range based on the designated position on the figure. Workers can flexibly set different search ranges for different inspection scenarios and target locations. The system adapts to various inspection needs by allowing reconfiguration of the search range within the entire movable range of the focus lens, maintaining both precision and versatility.
3Ease of operation
If workers manually set the search range without guidance, then the system can operate with custom ranges, but stable focusing on inspection target locations cannot be achieved
Solution Approach 1:
The system displays a figure showing the relationship between focal position and evaluation value, along with the imaging result at the designated position. This visual feedback guides workers in setting appropriate search ranges, ensuring that the configured ranges actually lead to stable focusing on inspection target locations while maintaining operational flexibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The system preliminarily evaluates the entire movable range of the focus lens before the worker sets the search range. By acquiring evaluation values across all positions and generating the figure in advance, the system prepares the necessary information beforehand, enabling workers to make accurate search range settings that ensure stable focusing.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables stable focusing on specific inspection target locations by allowing users to set and confirm the optimal search range, preventing unstable focus positions and ensuring accurate image capture.
Implementation Method 1
an imaging element that generates an image signal by receiving light from a subject via the optical system
Data Source
AI summary
An imaging system capable of stably focusing on a desired location on a subject is provided. An imaging system includes a setting part that sets a search range of an autofocus part in a predetermined range according to an input to an input device. The setting part causes a display device to display a figure indicating a relationship between a focal position of an optical system and an evaluation value indicating an in-focus degree, and an image indicated by an image signal when the optical system has been adjusted to a focal position designated on a figure to support an input of the search range to the input device.