FPGA Video Extensometer for Real-Time Strain Measurement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing video extensometry systems face challenges with high computational intensity, time latency, and integration issues due to the use of external machine vision cameras and PC-based processing, which limits their real-time performance and portability in materials testing.
Innovation Solution
A real-time video extensometer is developed with a single processing board that combines image sources, data processing, and electrical outputs, utilizing a Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) to process images on a pixel basis and output strain values deterministically, eliminating external latency and optimizing processing speed.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If external machine vision camera and PC are used for video extensometry, then measurement capability is achieved, but time latency and processing speed deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the image capture, processing, and strain calculation functions into a single integrated video processing board with FPGA, eliminating the need for external camera and PC connections. This integration reduces data transmission time and processing latency, achieving real-time strain measurement while maintaining measurement precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the software-based processing system (PC with operating system) with a hardware-based FPGA processing system. This substitution eliminates operating system overhead and enables deterministic real-time processing, significantly reducing time latency while maintaining strain measurement capability.
2Adaptability or versatility
If standard PC processing system is used, then flexibility and adaptability are achieved, but device complexity and computational requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates all processing functions (image capture, processing, and strain calculation) into a single video processing board, simplifying the overall system architecture. This integration reduces the number of external components needed while maintaining adaptability through programmable FPGA logic that can be configured for different testing standards.
3Measurement precision
If image processing is performed on entire image array, then complete image analysis is achieved, but computational intensity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the relevant regions of interest (ROI) from the captured image for processing, rather than analyzing the entire image array. This extraction approach maintains strain measurement precision by focusing computational resources on the specimen area while significantly reducing the computational power required.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements real-time strain measurement by processing images at selected frame rates and focusing on critical measurement points, rather than continuously processing every pixel of every frame. This partial processing approach achieves the necessary measurement precision while reducing computational intensity.
Data Source
AI summary
This disclosure relates to a real-time video extensometer. Typically, the apparatus of the disclosure combines the image source, data processing and electrical output on to a single processing board in order to achieve high frequency images and low latency times on data flow. Further, the video processing engine processes the image on a pixel basis and updating the output the intermediate extension/strain result so that after receipt of the final image pixel, a final extension/strain value is achieved and immediately output for evaluation.