Cylindrical Battery Side-Surface Inspection Without Rotation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing side surface inspection devices for cylindrical batteries require rotation or rolling to acquire images, leading to image noise and reduced quality and detectability.

Innovation Solution

A side surface inspection device that captures the entire side surface of a cylindrical battery without rotating or rolling it, using mirrors and a camera to reflect and capture images from multiple angles, combined with additional lighting units to enhance visibility.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Area of stationary object

If the cylindrical battery is rotated or rolled to acquire images of the side surface, then the entire side surface can be captured, but image noise is generated and image quality deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveside surface coverage areaVSAvoidimage quality
Core Design Contradiction:
Area of stationary objectVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent transitions from a single-camera perspective to a multi-dimensional imaging approach by arranging multiple cameras (first camera, second camera, third camera, fourth camera) at different spatial positions around the battery. Each camera captures images from its own perspective, and through coordinate transformation and image stitching, these multi-dimensional images are integrated to form a complete side surface image without requiring battery rotation, thereby eliminating rotation-induced noise while achieving full surface coverage.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Area of stationary object

If the cylindrical battery is rotated or rolled to capture the side surface, then all areas can be inspected, but detectability deteriorates due to image noise

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveside surface coverage areaVSAvoiddetectability
Core Design Contradiction:
Area of stationary objectVSDifficulty of detecting and measuring

Solution Approach 1:

The patent transitions from a single-camera perspective to a multi-dimensional imaging approach by arranging multiple cameras (first camera, second camera, third camera, fourth camera) at different spatial positions around the battery. Each camera captures images from its own perspective, and through coordinate transformation and image stitching, these multi-dimensional images are integrated to form a complete side surface image without requiring battery rotation, thereby eliminating rotation-induced noise while achieving full surface coverage.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

3Measurement precision

If multiple cameras are arranged to capture the entire side surface without rotation, then image quality improves, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveimage qualityVSAvoidnumber of cameras and mirrors
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the imaging task into multiple segments by deploying separate cameras at different positions (first camera for first region, second camera for second region, third camera for third region, fourth camera for fourth region). Each camera is responsible for capturing images from its specific perspective, and the system processes these segmented images through coordinate transformation and stitching to produce the complete side surface image, thereby achieving comprehensive coverage without requiring a single complex rotating mechanism.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces virtual cameras as intermediaries to bridge the gap between physical camera positions and the desired final image perspective. The virtual camera coordinates serve as a mediator that transforms images captured from multiple physical camera positions into a unified coordinate system, enabling seamless image stitching and rendering without requiring direct mechanical rotation of the battery or complex optical path adjustments.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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 high-quality image capture of the entire side surface without rotation, improving detectability and reducing image noise, while ensuring visibility of defects across the entire surface.

Implementation Method 1

a first mirror and a second mirror which are disposed on both sides of the cylindrical battery and reflect a region of the first region adjacent to the second region

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectReflection: Reflection

Implementation Method 2

a camera which captures at least a part of the first region of the cylindrical battery, an image reflected on the first mirror, and an image reflected on the second mirror

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectImage capture: Photography

Implementation Method 3

a first light which emits light to the cylindrical battery... a second light which emits light to the cylindrical battery

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectLight emission: Light

Data Source

PatentEP4354123B1Device for inspecting lateral surface of cylindrical battery
Publication Date: 2026.04.01 LG ENERGY SOLUTION LTD
  • EP4354123B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4354123B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4354123B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The present invention provides, as an embodiment, a side surface inspection device for a cylindrical battery which has a first region as a part of a side surface and a second region as a remaining part of the side surface, the first region and the second region being sequentially disposed along a circumference. The side surface inspection device for a cylindrical battery includes a housing which is disposed on the side surface of the cylindrical battery and surrounds at least the first region of the cylindrical battery; a first light disposed on an inner surface of the housing to emit light to the side surface of the cylindrical battery; a first mirror and a second mirror each disposed on both side parts of the cylindrical battery to each reflect a region of the first region of the cylindrical battery adjacent to the second region; and a camera that captures at least a part of the first region of the cylindrical battery, image reflected on the first mirror, and image reflected on the second mirror. The first region of the cylindrical battery is more than half of the side surface of the cylindrical battery, and the image captured by the camera includes an image of the full region of the first region of the cylindrical battery.