Scattered Light Measurement in Machine Vision
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing machine vision systems face challenges in efficiently measuring scattered light, particularly in triangulation systems, where determining the intensity of detected light at a fixed position away from the incoming light is necessary, leading to complex setups and reduced sampling speed.
Innovation Solution
The method involves using an imaging sensor to detect both reflected and scattered light, generating intensity distribution curves with a peak, and measuring the width of these curves to determine the amount of scattered light, eliminating the need to store intensity data around the peak and avoiding cross-talk between reflected and scattered light.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If the complete image is retrieved from the sensor for processing, then the measurement of scattered light can be performed, but the sampling speed is limited and bandwidth usage increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the sensor data by identifying and processing only the relevant region around the peak intensity position. Instead of retrieving and processing the complete image, the system divides the data into relevant (peak region) and irrelevant portions, processing only the necessary segment to determine scattered light intensity. This segmentation approach maintains measurement precision while reducing data processing requirements and increasing sampling speed.
2Measurement precision
If separate sensor rows are used for directly reflected light and scattered light as in prior art, then the measurement accuracy improves, but the device complexity and difficulty of setup increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the measurement of directly reflected light and scattered light into a single sensor row or array. By detecting both types of light simultaneously with one sensor and then separating them through signal processing (identifying the peak position and measuring intensity at fixed positions relative to the peak), the system achieves the same measurement precision as separate sensor rows would provide, but with significantly reduced device complexity and easier setup.
3Measurement precision
If data around the peak is kept and exported for further processing as in prior art, then the scattered light intensity can be determined, but the processing complexity and external processing requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the essential information needed for scattered light measurement directly from the sensor data. By identifying the peak position and measuring intensity at fixed positions relative to this peak, the system extracts the necessary scattered light intensity information without needing to export and process the complete raw data set. This extraction approach maintains measurement precision while significantly reducing processing complexity and eliminating external processing requirements.
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
This approach simplifies the setup and tuning of scattered light measurement, increases sampling speed, and provides a measure independent of reflected light intensity, reducing bandwidth usage and eliminating the need to first determine the peak position.
Implementation Method 1
an imaging sensor detecting light emanating from said object, wherein said emanated light is reflected light on the surface of said object and light scattered in said object
Implementation Method 2
a light source illuminating said object with incident light having a limited extension in at least one direction
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to a method and an apparatus for determining the amount of light scattered in an object in a machine vision system comprising: a light source illuminating said object with incident light having a limited extension in at least one direction; and, an imaging sensor detecting light emanating from said object, wherein said emanated light is reflected light (R) on the surface of said object and light scattered (S) in said object, said detected light is resulting in at least one intensity distribution curve on said imaging sensor having a peak where said reflected light (R) is detected on said imaging sensor. A width (w) of said at least one intensity distribution curve around said peak is measured, whereby said measured width (w) indicates the amount of light scattered (S) in said object. In the Tracheid-effect, light striking a wooden surface is scattered into the wood.