Contoured Reflector for Uniform Ring Light Focusing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing lighting systems for imaging elongated objects, especially those with highly reflective surfaces, face challenges in achieving uniform light intensity and high resolution imaging due to limited light intensity, restricted scanning rates, and inability to control light direction effectively.
Innovation Solution
An illumination assembly comprising a light source, a ring light, and a reflector with a contoured circular reflective surface that focuses and directs light onto the object's circumference, creating a uniformly illuminated light band with adjustable intensity and direction, suitable for high-speed imaging of elongated objects.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If multiple line lights with individual light boosters are used to illuminate elongated objects, then light intensity can be increased, but uniformity of light distribution deteriorates and device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The illumination system is divided into multiple independent light guides arranged in a circular array, each contributing to the overall illumination. This segmentation allows the system to achieve high light intensity while maintaining uniformity through the distributed arrangement of light sources around the object circumference.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from linear light sources (line lights) to a circular two-dimensional arrangement of light guides. This dimensional change enables uniform illumination around the entire object circumference, eliminating the non-uniformity problems associated with linear light boosters while maintaining high intensity.
2Ease of operation
If a true optical fiber ring light with many fine light guides is used, then uniform light distribution can be achieved, but the fan angle of light makes focusing difficult without interrupting uniformity
Solution Approach 1:
A curved reflector is introduced as an intermediary element between the ring light and the object surface. This reflector mediates the light paths from the fan-shaped light guides, redirecting and focusing them onto the object while preserving the uniformity provided by the circular light guide arrangement.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a curved reflector with a specific arc shape that matches the geometry of the ring light. This curvature enables the reflector to effectively redirect light from all light guides in the ring onto the object surface, achieving focusing without disrupting the uniform distribution of light.
3Area of stationary object
If cloudy-day illumination with multiple light sources from all directions is used, then illumination coverage is improved, but light intensity is limited by reflected light and scanning rate is restricted
Solution Approach 1:
The circular array of light guides provides continuous illumination around the entire object circumference, eliminating gaps in coverage. This continuous illumination maintains high light intensity at all points, enabling faster scanning rates without sacrificing coverage or resolution.
4Adaptability or versatility
If segmented lighting with individual line lights is used, then light direction can be controlled, but uniform stripes appear in captured images of highly reflective surfaces
Solution Approach 1:
Each light guide in the circular array provides localized illumination from a specific angular position, allowing control over light direction. The circular distribution ensures that highly reflective surfaces receive illumination from multiple angles simultaneously, eliminating the uniform stripe artifacts that occur with single-direction linear lighting.
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
The solution enables high-speed imaging with uniform light intensity across the object's surface, effectively illuminating highly reflective surfaces and emphasizing specific defects by controlling the light direction, thus improving imaging resolution and defect detection.
Implementation Method 1
The reflector has an annular body with a contoured reflective surface that is configured to focus and direct the ring of light from the ring light onto a circumference of the object to form an illuminated light band
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus and method for the function to control the lighting direction onto an object surface, focus the light, and maintain the lighting uniformity. A ring light system takes advantage of a contoured reflector to match with the uniform, non-focused ring light source, and converting the non-focused ring light source into a focused uniform ring light source.