Cognex Corporation

Andreas Weber

Laurens Nunnink

Rene Delasauce

Ivan A Bachelder

Esther Oteo Lozano

Chen Gao

Francisco Azcona Guerrero

William H Equitz

Jose Fernandez Dorado

Richard Reuter

Ben R Carey

Nicole Dippel

Francisco Javier Azcona Guerrero

Saul Sanz Rodriguez

Pepe Fernandez-Dorado

Pablo Garcia Campos

Esther Oteo

Jens Ruetten

Martijn Visser

José Fernández Dorado

Jürgen Vogel

This invention provides a system and method for detecting and acquiring one or more in-focus images of one or more barcodes within the field of view of an imaging device. A measurement process measures depth-of-field of barcode detection. A plurality of nominal coarse focus settings of a variable lens allow sampling, in steps, of a lens adjustment range corresponding to allowable distances between the one or more barcodes and the image sensor, so that a step size of the sampling is less than a fraction of the depth-of-field of barcode detection. An acquisition process acquires a nominal coarse focus image for each nominal coarse focus setting. A barcode detection process detects one or more barcode-like regions and respective likelihoods. A fine focus process fine-adjusts, for each high-likelihood barcode, the variable lens near a location of the barcode-like regions. The process acquires an image for decoding using the fine adjusted setting.

System and method for auto-focusing a vision system camera on barcodes

Illumination assembly for an imaging system

Rack for feeding animals

This invention provides a vision system having a housing and an interchangeable lens module is provided. The module is adapted to seat on a C-mount ring provided on the front, mounting face of the housing. The module is attached via a plurality of fasteners that pass through a frame of the module and into the mounting face. The module includes a connector in a fixed location, which mates with a connector well on the mounting face to provide power and control to a driver board that operates a variable (e.g. liquid) lens within the optics of the lens module. The driver board is connected to the lens body by a flexible printed circuit board (PCB), which also allows for axial motion of the lens body with respect to the frame. This axial motion can be effected by an adjustment ring that can include an indexed/lockable, geared, outer surface.

Vision system camera with mount for multiple lens types and lens module for the same

This invention provides an integrated time-of-flight sensor that delivers distance information to a processor associated with the camera assembly and vison system. The distance is processed with the above-described feedback control, to auto-focus the camera assembly's variable lens during runtime operation based on the particular size/shape object(s) within the field of view. The shortest measured distance is used to set the focus distance of the lens. To correct for calibration or drift errors, a further image-based focus optimization can occur around the measured distance and/or based on the measured temperature. The distance information generated by the time-of-flight sensor can be employed to perform other functions. Other functions include self-triggering of image acquisition, object size dimensioning, detection and analysis of object defects and/or gap detection between objects in the field of view and software-controlled range detection to prevent unintentional reading of (e.g.) IDs on objects outside a defined range (presentation mode).

Lens assembly with integrated feedback loop and time-of-flight sensor

Systems and methods reduce temperature induced drift effects on a liquid lens used in a vision system. A feedback loop receives a temperature value from a temperature sensor, and based on the received temperature value, controls a power to the heating element based on a difference between the measured temperature of the liquid lens and a predetermined control temperature to maintain the temperature value within a predetermined control temperature range to reduce the effects of drift. A processor can also control a bias signal applied to the lens or a lens actuator to control temperature variations and the associated induced drift effects. An image sharpness can also be determined over a series of images, alone or in combination with controlling the temperature of the liquid lens, to adjust a focal distance of the lens.

Systems and methods to reduce temperature induced drift effects on a liquid lens

An illumination system is provided for an optical system that includes an imaging device for acquiring an image of a target, for decoding of a symbol or other analysis. The illumination system can include a first light source configured to provide illumination of a first wavelength, a second light source configured to provide illumination of a second wavelength that is different from the first wavelength. The light sources can be controlled for operations that include: illuminating the target with the first and second light sources simultaneously for acquisition of the image of the target; and altering an illumination output of at least one of the first light source or the second light source, while maintaining non-zero illumination output for at least one of the first light source or the second light source, to indicate a status of the optical system.

Optical illumination for status indication

This invention provides an integrated time-of-flight sensor that delivers distance information to a processor associated with the camera assembly and vision system. The distance is processed with the above-described feedback control, to auto-focus the camera assembly's variable lens during runtime operation based on the particular size/shape object(s) within the field of view. The shortest measured distance is used to set the focus distance of the lens. To correct for calibration or drift errors, a further image-based focus optimization can occur around the measured distance and/or based on the measured temperature. The distance information generated by the time-of-flight sensor can be employed to perform other functions. Other functions include self-triggering of image acquisition, object size dimensioning, detection and analysis of object defects and/or gap detection between objects in the field of view and software-controlled range detection to prevent unintentional reading of (e.g.) IDs on objects outside a defined range (presentation mode).

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Aachen, Germany

Andreas Weber