Multi-angle Lighting for Curved Surface Defect Detection

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional machine vision detection systems struggle with detecting surface defects on complex curved surfaces, such as steel rails and smoke collecting hoods, due to limited illumination modes and inability to obtain dense three-dimensional surface information, leading to high omission rates and low accuracy.

Innovation Solution

An automatic machine vision detection device with a camera and multiple light sources arranged on a detection unit bracket, where light sources are sequentially activated to illuminate the workpiece from different angles, allowing for non-overlapping strongest illumination areas and enabling the capture of multiple images for fusion into a normal map to reconstruct the surface texture, thereby enhancing defect detection and accuracy.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If a single lighting solution is used for machine vision detection, then the device complexity is reduced, but the detection accuracy and defect presentation are insufficient for complex curved surfaces

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelighting device configurationVSAvoiddefect detection accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The lighting device is segmented into multiple independent light sources (first light source, second light source, third light source) positioned at different locations and angles. Each light source independently illuminates the workpiece from a specific direction, allowing the system to capture different defect types that would be invisible under a single lighting condition.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different regions of the workpiece surface receive different lighting conditions tailored to reveal specific defect types. The first light source illuminates for general surface defects, the second light source targets inclined surface defects, and the third light source highlights curved surface defects, creating locally optimized illumination quality for each detection zone.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Measurement precision

If multiple light sources are used to illuminate from different angles, then the defect detection accuracy is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedefect detection accuracyVSAvoidlighting device configuration
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Multiple light sources and the camera are merged into an integrated detection device structure. The first light source, second light source, and third light source are combined with the camera in a coordinated arrangement, allowing simultaneous multi-angle illumination and image capture without requiring separate complex systems.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The detection device is designed with multi-functionality to handle various workpiece types (flat surfaces, inclined surfaces, curved surfaces) and defect types using a single integrated system. The multiple light sources provide universal coverage for different inspection scenarios, eliminating the need for multiple specialized devices.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Illumination intensity

If light sources are positioned close to the workpiece, then the illumination intensity is increased, but the illumination areas overlap and reduce detection effectiveness

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelight intensity on workpieceVSAvoiddefect differentiation capability
Core Design Contradiction:
Illumination intensityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The light sources are positioned asymmetrically at different distances and angles from the workpiece. The first light source is positioned at a standard distance for general illumination, while the second and third light sources are positioned at inclined angles and different distances to create non-overlapping illumination zones that target specific surface regions and defect types.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #4Asymmetry

Solution Approach 2:

The lighting configuration transitions from one-dimensional (single direction) to three-dimensional multi-angle illumination. The light sources are arranged in different spatial dimensions (horizontal angles and vertical angles), creating illumination areas that complement rather than overlap, thereby enhancing defect detection across different surface orientations.

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

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 system effectively presents various surface defect types and achieves high detection accuracy by fusing spatial and inter-frame information, reducing interference from highlights and improving defect detection rates, enabling full-automatic qualitative and quantitative surface quality inspection of complex curved surfaces.

Implementation Method 1

the strongest illumination areas of the light sources in the same detection unit on the to-be-inspected object are not overlapped with one another

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectLight reflection: Reflection

Data Source

PatentEP4016058B1Automatic machine of vision on detection device for workpiece with complex curved surface
Publication Date: 2023.11.15 ZHEJIANG UNIV
  • EP4016058B1 patent drawingFigure 1~3
  • EP4016058B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5
  • EP4016058B1 patent drawingFigure 6~8

AI summary

The present invention discloses an automatic machine of vision detection device for a workpiece with a complex curved surface, wherein the system is provided with at least one defect detection unit, the defect detection unit comprises a camera, light sources and an detection unit bracket; the camera and the light sources are arranged on the detection unit bracket; one camera and a plurality of light sources configured for the camera are used as one detection unit, the distance between the light source and a to-be-inspected workpiece is five times greater than the shooting field of view of the camera, when the same detection unit performs a shooting task, the light sources are sequentially lightened, when the light sources are lightened once, the camera shoots an image of the to-be-inspected object once, only one light source is lightened when the camera shoots each time, and the strongest illumination areas of the light sources in the same detection unit on the to-be-inspected object are not overlapped with one another.