Light-Source Timing Control for Faster Industrial Inspection
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing inspection methods for industrial products require excessive imaging time due to the activation of multiple light sources and capturing multiple images, which is inefficient for high-volume production scenarios.
Innovation Solution
A control apparatus synchronizes the activation of multiple light sources with imaging to reduce the number of images needed for inspection, utilizing a control apparatus with processors and memory to manage light source activation timings and output signals for efficient imaging.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If multiple light sources are activated one by one to capture multiple images, then the inspection precision is improved, but the imaging time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple light sources and their corresponding imaging operations into a single integrated imaging process. By merging the illumination from multiple light sources simultaneously, the system captures comprehensive surface information in one shot, eliminating the need for sequential imaging while maintaining inspection precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary arrangement of multiple light sources in specific spatial configurations before the actual imaging process. This pre-positioning allows all light sources to illuminate the inspection surface simultaneously from different angles, so that when imaging occurs, all necessary lighting conditions are already prepared and no sequential activation is needed.
2Illumination intensity
If multiple light sources are activated one by one, then the lighting coverage is improved, but the productivity decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple light sources into a simultaneous illumination system where all light sources activate together during a single imaging cycle. This combination maintains comprehensive lighting coverage across different surface angles while executing the inspection in one operation rather than multiple sequential steps.
Solution Approach 2:
The system ensures continuous useful action by having all light sources active simultaneously during the imaging process. This eliminates idle time between sequential light source activations, maintaining continuous illumination and imaging action that directly improves inspection throughput and productivity.
3Measurement precision
If the number of images captured increases, then the inspection accuracy is improved, but the time for the inspection process increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple imaging operations into a single captured image by simultaneously activating multiple light sources. This allows the system to gather information that would normally require multiple separate images all in one shot, maintaining inspection accuracy while reducing the total number of imaging cycles needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The system segments the illumination function across multiple light sources positioned at different angles, with each light source providing specific directional illumination information. This segmentation of the lighting function allows comprehensive surface inspection in a single image capture, eliminating the need for multiple sequential images.
Data Source
AI summary
A control apparatus includes at least one processor and at least one memory that is in communication with the at least one processor. The at least one memory stores instructions for causing the at least one processor and the at least one memory to acquire a first signal indicating activation timings of light sources synchronized with an imaging, activate a plurality of light sources among the activation timings of the light sources based on the first signal at a first timing, and output, to a lighting unit, a second signal for activating a light source different from the plurality of light sources at a second timing.