Container Base Inspection with Shifted Structured Illumination

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for inspecting the bases of translucent or transparent containers, such as glass or plastic, are limited in reliability and applicability, particularly for non-circular containers, due to measurement errors from relative rotation between the container and camera, and the inability to detect small defects like shards.

Innovation Solution

A method using a matrix camera with structured illumination and stationary relative positioning between the container and camera, where the illumination structure is shifted relative to the container between captures, allowing for precise image compilation without rotation, and a device with a holding structure to maintain rotational invariance during image capture.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If the container and camera rotate relative to each other during inspection, then the inspection method can handle various container shapes, but measurement errors occur reducing inspection reliability

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvehandling various container shapesVSAvoidinspection reliability

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of rotating the container relative to the camera during capture, the patent inverts the approach by keeping them rotationally invariant during capture and then rotating the compiled image digitally. This eliminates measurement errors from physical rotation while maintaining adaptability to various container shapes through software-based image rotation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates a digital copy (image) of the container base and performs rotations on this copy rather than physically rotating the container during inspection. This allows flexible handling of various container shapes without introducing measurement errors from physical rotation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

2Ease of manufacture

If the entire base of the container is illuminated uniformly, then the illumination is simple to implement, but small defects like shards cannot be detected

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveillumination implementation simplicityVSAvoidsmall defect detection capability

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSDifficulty of detecting and measuring

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by using structured illumination that illuminates only specific regions of the container base at different times rather than uniform illumination. This creates local variations in lighting that highlight small defects like shards, improving detection capability while maintaining implementation feasibility through sequential regional illumination.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

3Area of stationary object

If multiple individual captures are compiled to form a complete image, then the image coverage is improved, but measurement errors from rotation accumulate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveimage coverage areaVSAvoidmeasurement precision

Core Design Contradiction:

Area of stationary objectVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent inverts the traditional approach by first compiling multiple individual captures into a complete image while maintaining rotational invariance during capture, and then performing any necessary rotations on the compiled image digitally. This prevents measurement errors from accumulating during the capture and compilation process while still achieving complete image coverage.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

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

This approach enhances the reliability and applicability of container base inspection by reducing measurement errors, enabling detection of small defects and supporting non-circular containers, with high-speed image capture and improved defect detection.

Implementation Method 1

During a single capturing, the base of the container is transilluminated by a light source located on the side of the container opposite the matrix camera

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectTransillumination: Light

Data Source

PatentUS20260029353A1Method and Device for Inspecting the Base of a Container

Publication Date: 2026.01.29 EMHART GLASS SA

AI summary

A method for creating an image of a base of a container uses a matrix camera. The matrix camera captures a series of individual captures of regions of the base of the container which overlap in sections, while the base of the container is transilluminated by a light source arranged on the side opposite the matrix camera. A digital image of the base of the container is compiled from the individual captures. The invention is characterized in that the region of the base of the container captured in an individual capture is defined by an illumination structure, that the illumination structure is shifted relative to the base of the container between two individual captures, and that the container and the matrix camera remain rotationally invariant to one another during the capturing of the series of individual captures. The invention also relates to a device for carrying out the method.