Transparent Media Inspection Using Holder Image Subtraction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing inspection methods for light-transmitting media, such as transparent or semi-transparent media, fail to account for the influence of the holding surface's image due to suction holes, which are visible through the medium, making it difficult to accurately inspect images formed on these media.
Innovation Solution
An inspection device and method that utilizes a holder with a non-plane surface having suction holes, and a controller that adjusts inspection and reference images based on the medium's transparency, allowing for the subtraction or combination of background images to eliminate the influence of the holding surface's image.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the inspection device inspects images on light-transmitting media using a holder with suction holes, then the medium can be held and inspected, but the suction holes create visible images through the transparent medium that interfere with defect detection
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the harmful background image component from the inspection process by separately capturing the holding surface image and subtracting it from the inspection image. This isolation and removal of the interfering element (holding surface image) allows clear detection of actual defects on the medium without the background interference.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary processing step - image subtraction - where the holding surface image acts as a reference that mediates between the raw inspection image and the final defect detection result. By using this intermediary reference image, the system can eliminate the harmful background patterns while preserving actual defects.
2Ease of operation
If the inspection device uses a non-plane holding surface with suction holes to hold the medium, then the medium can be securely held during inspection, but the complex surface structure creates additional image interference
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a copy of the holding surface image separately and uses this copy for subtraction processing. By capturing and storing a reference image of the holding surface pattern, the system can repeatedly use this copy to eliminate the same background interference across multiple inspections, simplifying the overall process while maintaining effectiveness.
3Measurement precision
If the inspection device applies conventional background subtraction methods designed for opaque media, then defect detection can be performed, but the method fails to account for light transmission through the medium and the holding surface
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the fundamental parameter of the inspection method by adapting the image processing approach specifically for light-transmitting media. Instead of using conventional background subtraction optimized for opaque surfaces, the system modifies the processing to account for light transmission characteristics, enabling accurate inspection of transparent and semi-transparent materials.
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
Effectively inspects images on light-transmitting media by accounting for the holding surface's image, ensuring accurate detection of defects and faults without interference from suction holes.
Implementation Method 1
a holder (suction part) that holds (suctions) an inspection medium (image forming medium)
Data Source
AI summary
An inspection device includes: a holder that holds an inspection medium that is a medium on which an image is formed; an image sensor that reads the image on the inspection medium; and a controller that inspects the inspection medium by comparing, with a reference image, an inspection image obtained by performing image processing on a read image read by the image sensor. The holder has a non-plane surface as a holding surface, and the controller changes one or both of the inspection image and the reference image based on a transparency of the medium.