Planar Illumination Device for Fine Defect Detection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing devices for inspecting industrially manufactured components with demanding optical properties, such as shiny or diffuse reflection surfaces, are inefficient and costly, requiring complex installation and high technical effort to detect fine defects.

Innovation Solution

A device with a flat radiation surface and multiple independently controllable lighting devices that produce different lighting distributions, allowing for cost-effective and space-saving illumination from various spatial directions, enabling the detection of fine defects on components with sophisticated optical properties.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If multiple illumination devices are used to illuminate objects from different spatial directions, then the detection capability for fine defects on components with complex optical properties is improved, but the device complexity and installation effort increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedetection capability for fine defectsVSAvoiddevice complexity and installation effort
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Multiple illumination devices are merged into a single planar illumination device with a common radiation surface. The control unit integrates the control of multiple illumination devices, allowing them to be operated independently or in combination through a single integrated system, reducing overall device complexity while maintaining multi-directional illumination capability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The planar illumination device with radiation surface is designed to perform multiple functions by generating different illumination distributions (first, second, and third distributions) from a single device structure. This universal design allows one device to replace multiple separate illumination devices, simplifying installation while providing comprehensive defect detection capability

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

2Adaptability or versatility

If multiple independently controllable illumination devices are integrated into a single device, then the versatility of illumination distributions is improved, but the manufacturing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveversatility of illumination distributionsVSAvoidmanufacturing complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The radiation surface is segmented into multiple regions, each associated with a separate illumination device that can generate specific illumination distributions. This segmentation allows independent control of different illumination patterns while maintaining a unified manufacturable structure, balancing versatility with ease of production

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The illumination devices are designed with dynamic controllability through the control unit, which can independently adjust the operation of each illumination device. This dynamic control capability is integrated into the manufacturing design, allowing flexible illumination patterns to be generated from a standardized device structure

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

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

Enables the detection of even the finest defects on components with complex optical properties in a cost-effective and efficient manner, suitable for integration into production cycles with high-frequency lighting control.

Implementation Method 1

A lighting device is understood in particular to mean a device—that in particular a separately controllable device—that is configured to emit electromagnetic radiation in the visible range, the infrared range, and/or the UV range. The light source can be point-shaped or planar. A light source is understood in particular to mean a single emission element, for example an LED or OLED

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectLight emission from LED/OLED sources: Light Emitting Diode

Implementation Method 2

The at least two lighting devices are arranged on the radiating surface. In particular, they are preferably held, preferably attached, to the radiating surface. By means of the preferably planar structured illumination generated in this way, it is possible to illuminate a component to be tested from several spatial directions

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectLight reflection and distribution: Reflection

Data Source

PatentEP3320303B1Device for illuminating objects
Publication Date: 2024.02.21 COGNEX CORP
  • EP3320303B1 patent drawingFigure 1a~1b
  • EP3320303B1 patent drawingFigure 2

AI summary

The invention relates to a device (1) for illuminating objects, the device comprising an emission surface (3) and at least two illumination assemblies (B1, B2, B3, B4), the at least two illumination assemblies (B1, B2, B3, B4) being arranged and designed to generate at least two different illumination distributions on the at least one emission surface (3).