Rotating Prism Line Scan Imaging System for Compact Inspection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current handheld line scan inspection systems are not compact, light, or efficient enough for versatile and effective inspection of foods, agricultural commodities, and medical applications, requiring a more capable and efficient design.
Innovation Solution
A line scan illumination inspection system comprising a rotatable mirror-faced triangular prism, a line illumination source, and a line-scan hyperspectral camera, where the prism's rotation converges the camera's instantaneous field of view and illumination at a nadir convergence scan line, allowing for efficient data collection of fluorescence and reflectance data.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Weight of moving object
If a handheld line scan inspection system is designed to be more compact and lighter, then portability and ease of operation are improved, but the capability for effective target illumination and data collection may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a rotational dimension to the illumination system. Instead of using a larger, stationary illumination source, the system employs a compact UV LED array that rotates with the prism, sweeping illumination across the inspection area over time. This temporal-spatial transformation allows a small, lightweight illumination source to cover a large area effectively.
Solution Approach 2:
The illumination system is made dynamic through rotation. The UV LED array rotates synchronously with the prism, creating a moving illumination pattern that sweeps across the inspection area. This dynamic approach allows a compact rotating assembly to provide adequate illumination coverage without requiring a large, heavy stationary illumination system.
2Productivity
If the system uses a rotating prism to converge illumination and camera IFOV, then inspection efficiency and data collection speed are improved, but the mechanical complexity of the system increases
Solution Approach 1:
The rotating prism serves multiple functions simultaneously: it directs illumination to the target area, positions the camera IFOV to capture the illuminated region, and enables the UV LED array to sweep across the inspection area. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate illumination and imaging mechanisms, thereby limiting the increase in overall system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the illumination delivery system and the imaging system into a single rotating assembly. The UV LED array, prism, and camera are integrated so that they rotate together as one unit, sharing common mechanical support and control systems. This consolidation reduces the number of independent mechanical subsystems.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the system is designed for versatile application in food safety, agricultural inspection, and medical monitoring, then adaptability is improved, but the device complexity and calibration requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system achieves versatility through software-based parameter adjustment rather than hardware reconfiguration. By changing illumination wavelength, exposure time, gain settings, and analysis algorithms through software, the same physical system can be adapted to different applications (food safety, agricultural inspection, medical monitoring) without adding physical complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The rotating prism and synchronized illumination-camera system provides a universal inspection platform that can handle multiple application types. The same mechanical assembly and data collection mechanism work across different industries by adjusting operational parameters and analysis methods, rather than requiring application-specific hardware variants.
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 system provides a more compact, capable, and efficient handheld inspection solution with improved target illumination, enabling faster and higher-quality inspections in various applications.
Implementation Method 1
The prism has a mirrored camera face and a mirrored illumination face. The hyperspectral camera is positioned so that the camera face of the prism is within an instantaneous field of view (IFOV) of the camera, and the line illumination source is positioned so that the illumination source's projected illumination is reflected by the illumination face of the prism.
Implementation Method 2
As the nadir convergence scan line is illuminated, the camera receives fluorescence and reflectance data along the illuminated convergence scan line.
Data Source
AI summary
A line scan imaging system scans a targeted inspection area and gathers reflectance and fluorescence data. The inspection system comprises at least a rotatable/pivotable mirror-faced triangular prism, a line illumination source, and a line scan hyperspectral camera. The prism has a mirrored camera face and a mirrored illumination face. In operation, as the prism rotates, the camera instantaneous field of view (IFOV) and the projected illumination line converge at a nadir convergence scan line so that the hyperspectral camera receives line scan data from the nadir convergence scan line as the nadir convergence scan line traverses an inspection area.