Robotic Vision Systems, Inc.

Northeast Robotics LLC

Omron Corporation

Microscan Systems Incorporated

Sheila Bergeron Dunn

Howard K Stern

Timothy P White

Michael C Messina

John J Merva

Joseph Marcel Laflamme

An imager for illuminating and imaging encoded symbology to facilitate decoding of the symbology and which provides both &ldquo;bright field&rdquo; and &ldquo;dark field&rdquo; illumination patterns is provided with an illumination directing device to direct the &ldquo;bright field&rdquo; illumination pattern into an alternative &ldquo;dark field&rdquo; illumination pattern. In one embodiment the illumination directing device takes the configuration of a disc that is selectively positionable in front of the imager and removable therefrom depending upon whether or not the illumination pattern is to be changed. The disc snap fits into a position at the front of the imager housing and includes a fresnel configured outer ring, a light blocking inner ring, and a light transmissive center. The fresnel configuration receives light and redirects the light forward of the imager and towards a center line passing through the device to provide the alternative illumination pattern. Other embodiments of illumination directing devices are to be carried by the imager for disposition in either operative or inoperative positions; while still other embodiments of illumination directing devices selectively position collimating lenses and reflective surfaces to receive and redirect light from the images or permit the light from the imager to provide an unmodified illumination pattern.

Optimal symbology illumination-apparatus and method

The method and apparatus for providing a continuous, uniformed, diffused light environment for use in conjunction with an electronic machine vision or manual microscope inspection system, particularly for inspection of specular surfaces such as ball bearings, reflective packaging and other shiny surfaces. The illumination device includes a source of light which is associated with at least the secondary diffusers to provide secondary diffused illumination, of an object to be observed, substantially along the observation axis of the object. The same light source may also illuminate a rear surface of the primary diffuser. The height of the illumination device is approximately three and one half times the clear aperture dimension of the illumination device or less. The illumination devices is arranged to provide uniformed illumination of the object with light which is equal in intensity and character to facilitate accurate viewing of the entire area of the object to be viewed.

Hockey puck shaped continuous diffuse illumination apparatus and method

Growing community of inventors

Mason, NH, United States of America

Sheila Bergeron Dunn