Surface Texture Inspection via Multidimensional Mapping
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current surface inspection methods for molded products are inadequate in evaluating texture uniformity, particularly in assessing micro roughness, as they rely solely on color information and fail to effectively quantify texture differences.
Innovation Solution
A surface inspection apparatus equipped with an imaging device and a processor that calculates texture scores by processing images, displaying texture information on a multidimensional distribution map, and quantifying texture differences using selected quantification models.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If appearance inspection uses only color information (L*a*b*), then the inspection process is simple, but texture evaluation including micro roughness cannot be performed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from 2D color information (L*a*b* values) to 3D surface topology information by introducing height data acquisition through optical interferometry. This adds a vertical dimension (Z-axis) to the traditional planar inspection, enabling measurement of micro roughness and emboss textures that were invisible in color-only inspection.
2Ease of operation
If texture is displayed only as evaluation values, then the inspection method is simple, but texture uniformity cannot be easily checked
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a visual copy of the actual surface texture by mapping height information onto a color-coded contour map. This visual representation preserves the spatial distribution and uniformity characteristics of the original surface, allowing inspectors to easily assess texture consistency without losing critical spatial information that would be present in the physical sample.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs color coding to represent different height levels and texture characteristics on the surface. By assigning specific colors to different height ranges and texture types, the system transforms invisible micro roughness variations into visually distinguishable patterns, enabling easy assessment of texture uniformity across the inspected surface.
Data Source
AI summary
A surface inspection apparatus includes an imaging device that images a surface of an object to be inspected; and a processor configured to: calculate a texture of the object through processing of an image imaged by the imaging device; and display a symbol representing the texture of the object at a coordinate position on a multidimensional distribution map.