Battery Cell Exterior Inspection With Single-Camera Multi-Surface Imaging
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing battery cell exterior inspection systems require multiple cameras and additional equipment for rotating the battery cell, leading to increased space occupation, costs, and reduced efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A battery cell exterior inspection system that uses a tray for mounting cells in rows, a first photographing part for horizontal movement to capture the upper surface, a transfer part for moving cells to a shuttle, and a second photographing part to simultaneously capture the side and lower surfaces using a single camera, reducing the need for multiple cameras and rotating equipment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If multiple cameras and rotating equipment are used to photograph all surfaces of the battery cell, then complete exterior inspection is achieved, but equipment volume and costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent positions the camera at an angled location to photograph the battery cell at an angle, capturing the side surface and lower surface simultaneously in one image. This dimensional change in camera positioning eliminates the need for rotating the battery cell or using multiple cameras, thereby reducing equipment volume while maintaining inspection completeness
Solution Approach 2:
The single camera is positioned to perform multiple functions: photographing the upper surface when the battery cell is on the tray, and photographing both the side surface and lower surface when the battery cell is on the shuttle. This multi-functional approach replaces multiple cameras and rotating equipment, reducing overall system volume
2Reliability
If multiple cameras and rotating equipment are used to photograph all surfaces of the battery cell, then complete exterior inspection is achieved, but equipment costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the functions of multiple cameras into a single camera by strategically positioning it to capture multiple surfaces. The same camera photographs the upper surface, side surface, and lower surface at different stages, eliminating the need to purchase and install multiple cameras and rotating equipment, thereby reducing equipment costs
Solution Approach 2:
The single camera serves multiple inspection functions throughout the process, replacing what would traditionally require three separate camera systems. This multi-functionality reduces equipment investment costs while maintaining comprehensive inspection capability
3Reliability
If the battery cell is rotated to photograph the side surface, then complete exterior inspection is achieved, but inspection efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of rotating the battery cell horizontally to capture the side surface, the patent changes the camera's dimensional position to an angled location that can capture the side surface and lower surface simultaneously in one photograph. This eliminates the time-consuming rotation step while maintaining complete exterior inspection
Solution Approach 2:
The inspection process is segmented into two efficient stages: first photographing the upper surface when the battery cell is on the tray, then photographing the side and lower surfaces when the battery cell is on the shuttle. This segmentation eliminates the need for rotation during inspection, improving efficiency while ensuring completeness
Data Source
Figure 1(a)~1(c)
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
A battery cell exterior inspection system includes a tray on which battery cells to be inspected are mounted in a state of being disposed in a plurality of rows, a first photographing part configured to horizontally move on the tray and photograph an exterior of an upper surface of the battery cell mounted on the tray, at least one shuttle on which the battery cell of which the exterior of the upper surface is photographed is mounted, a transfer part configured to transfer the battery cells from the tray to the shuttle, a second photographing part configured to photograph exteriors of a side surface and a lower surface of the battery cell transferred to the shuttle, and an inspection part configured to inspect a photographed image and determine whether the exteriors of the battery cell are defective, and the second photographing part simultaneously photographs the side surface and the lower surface of the battery cell so as to simultaneously display exteriors of the side surface and the lower surface of the battery cell in one image.