Cylindrical Battery Side Inspection Using Mirrors Without Rotation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cylindrical battery side surface inspection devices require rotation or rolling to capture images, leading to image noise and degraded quality.
Innovation Solution
A side surface inspection device with a first lighting, mirrors, and a camera system that reflects light across different areas of the battery's side surface without rotating or rolling, using a prism to adjust light paths and a camera to form a single image.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a camera is disposed at the end of an arm to photograph the side surface of a cylindrical battery, then the side surface can be inspected, but the photographing angle is limited and the entire side surface cannot be captured in one shot
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from a single-point camera view to a multi-point array camera configuration. Multiple cameras are arranged in specific spatial dimensions (radial and axial directions) to capture the cylindrical battery surface simultaneously from multiple angles, achieving complete surface coverage without requiring complex mechanical movement or post-processing stitching of single-view images.
Solution Approach 2:
The photographing system is divided into multiple independent camera units arranged in arrays. Each camera captures a specific sector of the battery surface, and the segmented views are later synthesized to form a complete inspection image. This segmentation allows the system to overcome the limited field of view of a single camera while maintaining manageable device complexity.
2Measurement precision
If multiple cameras are used to capture the entire side surface, then inspection coverage is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The camera array system is designed to perform multiple functions: capturing images from different angles simultaneously, eliminating the need for mechanical rotation or multiple separate inspection stations. The same multi-camera setup also enables both full-surface coverage and localized defect detection, reducing the need for additional specialized equipment.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of using a single complex high-resolution camera system, the patent employs multiple simpler camera units that replicate basic imaging functionality. Each camera creates a copy of a specific view, and these copies are computationally synthesized into a complete inspection image, achieving high measurement precision through data fusion rather than through a single complex device.
3Measurement precision
If the arm rotates to photograph different parts of the battery, then complete coverage is achieved, but inspection time increases
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple cameras are pre-positioned at optimal locations around the battery to capture all necessary views simultaneously. This preliminary arrangement of imaging devices eliminates the need for time-consuming rotational movements during the inspection process, as all required perspectives are captured in a single static configuration.
Solution Approach 2:
The multi-camera array enables continuous capture of the entire battery surface in a single exposure, eliminating interruptions caused by mechanical rotation or sequential imaging. All cameras operate simultaneously and continuously, capturing the complete side surface without gaps or delays, thereby maximizing inspection speed and productivity.
Data Source
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AI summary
In an embodiment, the present invention provides a side surface inspection device of a cylindrical battery which has a first area that is a part of a side surface, a second area that is another part of the side surface, a third area that is still another part of the side surface, and a fourth area that is a remaining part of the side surface, the first area, the second area, the third area, and the four area being adjacent to each other and arranged sequentially along a circumference. The side surface inspection device includes a first lighting which emits light in a direction toward the side surface of the cylindrical battery; a plurality of mirrors including a first mirror, a second mirror, a third mirror, and a fourth mirror which reflect light emitted from the first lighting to make the light incident on each of the first area, the second area, the third area and the fourth area of the cylindrical battery, and reflect the lights reflected by each of the first area, the second area, the third area, and the fourth area of the cylindrical battery again; and a camera on which light reflected by each of the plurality of mirrors again is incident and which forms an image including images of the first area, the second area, the third area and the fourth area of the cylindrical battery.