Optical Image Measuring Apparatus Synchronization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional optical shape measuring apparatuses face challenges in rapidly acquiring image frames due to the sequential operation of lamps and cameras, leading to prolonged testing times and potential surface damage from contact probes.
Innovation Solution
An optical image measuring apparatus that includes a CCD camera, a lamp, a projection grating, and a driving signal generator unit with a digital-to-analog converter and low pass filter, which synchronizes the illumination and image capture processes to reduce acquisition time and remove noise and high-frequency components, enabling high-speed image capture and precise 3D image measurement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If sequential operation of lamps and cameras is used, then measurement precision is maintained, but image acquisition time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements continuous operation of both the light source and CCD camera simultaneously, eliminating the sequential operation delay. The light source remains continuously illuminated and the camera continuously captures images, allowing immediate acquisition without waiting for trigger-synchronized cycles, thus reducing image acquisition time while maintaining measurement precision through continuous data collection.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent pre-warms the light source before measurement to stabilize its output characteristics. By activating the light source in advance and allowing it to reach thermal equilibrium, the system ensures stable illumination conditions are established before image capture begins, maintaining measurement precision while enabling faster overall acquisition process.
2Measurement precision
If contact probe is used for surface measurement, then precise point measurement is achieved, but surface damage occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical contact probe system with an optical measurement system using a CCD camera and light source. The optical system captures surface information through non-contact optical fields, eliminating mechanical contact that causes scratches and surface damage, while maintaining precise measurement capabilities through optical imaging and coordinate extraction algorithms.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates an optical copy (image) of the object surface using the CCD camera instead of physically contacting the surface with a probe. The camera captures a visual replica of the surface topography, allowing precise point measurements to be extracted from the image coordinates without any physical interaction that could damage the measured surface.
3Productivity
If high-speed image capture is implemented, then productivity increases, but noise and high-frequency components increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a low-pass filter as an intermediary component in the signal processing chain between the CCD camera and the measurement system. This filter mediates between the high-speed captured signals and the final measurement output, removing high-frequency noise components while preserving the essential measurement information, thus maintaining both high capture speed and signal quality.
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 apparatus significantly reduces the time required to capture and transmit image frames, enabling high-speed measurement of 3D images while improving precision by removing noise and high-frequency components, thus overcoming the limitations of conventional systems.
Implementation Method 1
The shape measuring method using Moire pattern forms an interference pattern whose two or more periodic patterns having predetermined configurations are overlapped with each other on a surface of an object to be measured
Implementation Method 2
a low pass filter for removing high frequency components from a signal outputted from the digital-to-analog converter and a signal acquired by the image capturing device
Data Source
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AI summary
An image measuring apparatus for acquiring an image captured by an optical system and a method thereof are disclosed. The apparatus includes a CCD camera for capturing the object and outputting the captured image, a lamp for generating light to illuminate a capturing area of the object, an illumination controller for controlling the lamp to be turned on, a projection grating formed with gratings, a projection grating driving unit for adjusting a distance between the projection grating and the object, an image capturing device for acquiring the image captured by the CCD camera, a driving signal generator for outputting a driving signal to the illumination controller, the projection grating driving unit, and the image capturing unit simultaneously according to an enable signal generated from the CCD camera, and an image signal processor for estimating a three-dimensional image of the object from data transmitted from the image capturing unit.