Tire Inspection Laser Alignment for Diffuse Reflection
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Solution Overview
Problem
The challenge in visual control of vehicle tire production is the shiny surface of tire build-up drums, which requires high-powered lasers (class 3x) for sufficient image quality, necessitating safety precautions and changes in the operating process.
Innovation Solution
A procedure that aligns a laser source and camera to receive diffuse reflection rather than reflective reflection on the tire surface, allowing for reliable visual control using a lower-powered laser (class 2m) without altering safety precautions or operating processes, by positioning the camera and laser unit to capture diffuse reflections and avoiding direct reflective reflections.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If high-powered Class 3x lasers are used to achieve sufficient image quality on glossy tire surfaces, then image quality is improved, but safety precautions and operating procedure changes are required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the angular parameter of light reception from the conventional specular reflection angle to a diffuse reflection angle range (45°-90° from the surface normal). This parameter change allows the use of lower-powered Class 2M lasers while maintaining sufficient image quality, thereby eliminating the safety precautions required for high-powered lasers.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent converts the harmful effect of laser safety concerns into a benefit by utilizing diffuse reflection instead of specular reflection. The diffuse reflection naturally scatters the light, reducing the intensity reaching the sensor while still providing sufficient image quality, thus eliminating the need for high-powered lasers and their associated safety requirements.
2Ease of operation
If specular reflection is used for visual inspection, then alignment is simplified, but sensor saturation occurs and image quality deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the reception angle parameter from the specular reflection angle (equal to incidence angle) to a diffuse reflection angle range (45°-90° from the surface normal). This parameter change prevents sensor saturation by avoiding the concentrated specular reflection while still capturing sufficient light for high-quality images.
3Measurement precision
If high laser power is used to overcome surface glossiness, then image quality is improved, but device complexity and safety requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the angular parameter of light detection from specular to diffuse reflection, which allows the use of simpler, lower-powered laser sources (Class 2M instead of Class 3x). This parameter change reduces both the laser power requirements and the associated safety system complexity while maintaining high image quality.
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 detailed visual inspection of tire surfaces with reduced laser intensity, preventing sensor saturation and allowing for more detailed representations, thus eliminating the need for special safety precautions and maintaining operational efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
the camera receives a diffuse reflection of laser light from the laser source at the surface of the vehicle tire
Data Source
Figure 1~2
AI summary
Method for the visual inspection of vehicle tires during manufacturing, comprising: - aligning at least one laser source (2) onto an inspection region (7) of a surface (6) of the vehicle tire arranged on a cylindrical tire building drum (5) and - aligning at least one camera (3) onto the inspection region (7) of the surface (6) of the vehicle tire, wherein the camera (3), the laser source (2) and the surface (6) of the vehicle tire are aligned to each other such that the camera (3) receives a diffuse reflection of laser light from the laser source (2) on the surface (6) of the vehicle tire, but not a specular reflection.