Rotating Camera Probe Inspection for Motion-Blur-Free Imaging

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Solution Overview

Problem

Image blurring occurs when using camera probes to inspect select features on objects due to relative motion, and stopping the motion increases inspection time significantly.

Innovation Solution

The camera probe is made rotatable about at least one axis, allowing it to track features of interest by turning while moving relative to the object, thereby slowing the passage of features across its field of view and capturing images during this turning motion, enabling continuous motion and longer exposure times without blurring.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If the camera probe moves continuously about the object, then inspection time is reduced, but image blurring occurs due to relative motion

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinspection timeVSAvoidimage quality
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The camera probe is made rotatable about at least one axis to dynamically adjust its orientation during movement. This allows the camera to track features of interest by changing its angular position while maintaining continuous linear motion, thereby capturing sharp images without stopping the inspection process

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses feedback from the measurement apparatus to control the rotational movement of the camera probe. The camera's rotation is coordinated with its linear movement along the inspection path, allowing real-time adjustment of the camera's orientation to keep features of interest centered in the field of view during continuous motion

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Manufacturing precision

If the camera probe stops to capture images, then image blurring is eliminated, but inspection time increases dramatically

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveimage qualityVSAvoidinspection time
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of stopping the camera probe to capture images, the system implements continuous motion with dynamic rotational adjustment. The camera rotates to track features while moving along the inspection path, maintaining sharp images through coordinated motion control rather than stationary capture

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The inspection process maintains continuous motion of the camera probe along the inspection path without interruption. The useful action of image capture occurs during continuous movement by rotating the camera to track features, eliminating idle stopping time while maintaining image quality

Inventive Principle:
Principle #20Continuity of useful action

3Productivity

If the camera probe moves at high speed, then productivity is improved, but image blurring increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinspection speedVSAvoidimage quality
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The camera probe system allows high-speed linear movement along the inspection path while dynamically rotating the camera to track features. This dynamic orientation adjustment compensates for the high relative velocity between camera and object, maintaining sharp images at high inspection speeds

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes the orientation parameter (angular position) of the camera probe during movement. By adjusting the rotation angle in coordination with linear position and speed, the system maintains optimal imaging conditions even at high velocities, separating the effects of linear speed from image quality

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP3052926B1Method of inspecting an object with a camera probe
Publication Date: 2021.12.01 RENISHAW PLC
  • EP3052926B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3052926B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3052926B1 patent drawingFigure 3a~3c

AI summary

A method of inspecting an object with a camera probe for capturing an image of an object, the camera probe being movable along a path by a measurement apparatus, at least a part of the camera probe being rotatable about at least one axis. The method comprises: a) the measurement apparatus moving the camera probe relative to the object along an inspection path and b)for at least one period as the camera probe moves along the inspection path: turning at least a part of the camera probe about the at least one axis thereby slowing the passage of a feature of interest on the object across the camera probe's field of view; and capturing at least one image of the feature of interest during at least a portion of said turning.