Quality Vision International Inc.

Optical Gaging Products, Inc.

Stephanie M Bloch

David E Lawson

Fred J Schwab

Albert G Choate

Daniel C Abbas

Kenneth L Sheehan

Timothy Gerard Moriarty

An optical imaging system for a dimensional measuring machine including a digital sensor having an array of addressable pixels, a lens system that provides for forming an image of a test object on the digital sensor, and a variable size aperture of the lens that changes an f-number of the lens system for imaging points of the test object on the digital sensor at different spot sizes. An aperture controller varies the aperture size. An image controller groups contiguous clusters of one or more of the pixels having a common output such that the number of pixels within each of the clusters having a common output can be varied. A magnification controller that works in conjunction with the aperture controller and the image controller provides for (a) increasing the number of pixels within each of the clusters having a common output in accordance with an increase in the spot sizes at which points of the test object are imaged and (b) decreasing the number of pixels within each of the clusters having a common output in accordance with a decrease in the spot sizes at which points of the test object are imaged.

Virtual zoom lens

A video measurement system includes an imaging system, a reticle projector for projecting an image of a reticle through the imaging system onto the test object, and a camera for capturing images of the test object together with the reticle image projected onto the test object through the imaging system. A selective reflector reflects the reticle image into the camera from a position along the imaging system in advance of the test object. A mode selector is operable in a first mode for directing the reticle image to the test object and from the test object to the camera and is operable in a second mode for directing the reticle image to the selective reflector and from the selective reflector to the camera.

Video measuring system with dual-acting reticle projector for focusing and alignment

A method of focusing a telecentric imaging system (), particularly as a part of a measuring machine () includes measuring an image of a feature () of an object () through the telecentric imaging system () in a telecentric operating mode and measuring an image of the feature () of the object () through the telecentric imaging system () in a non-telecentric operating mode. A value is acquired characterizing a function by which the size of the imaged feature varies in the non-telecentric mode with the relative displacement of the object () through the depth of field (D). The measures of the image of the feature () of the object () in the telecentric and non-telecentric modes are related to each other and to the acquired value as an estimate of a relative displacement of the object () from the best focus position.

Focusing system for a telecentric optical measuring machine

An illumination system shares portions of an objective of an optical inspection system. A plurality of beam-shaping optics collects light from a plurality of effective light sources and directs the light through a portion of the objective for illuminating an object under inspection. The objective includes a front relay lens, a rear relay lens, and an objective stop disposed between the front and rear relay lenses for collecting light scattered from the object and forming an image of the object with the collected light. The beam-shaping optics, which surround the objective stop, are arranged together with the associated effective light sources for non-uniformly distributing light within a range of angles required for illuminating the object.

Through-the-lens illuminator for optical comparator

An optical metrological system having a heat-generating light source coaxially mounted near a heat-sensitive lens. The system uses a temperature sensor to monitor the lens temperature and a heating element to heat the lens such that the lens operating temperature is greater than a maximum operating temperature of the light source in order to stabilize the focal length of the lens.

System and method for focal length stabilization using active temperature control

This high performance front objective lens system intended primarily for use with a video inspection apparatus has a first lens set in the form of a doublet, with a second lens set intermediate the first lens set and the imaging plane. The second lens set includes a doublet and an adjacent lens. The overall system has an effective focal length of 50 mm, a front focal length of 38.75 mm, and a numerical aperture greater than 0.2. Further, the material of the doublets is chosen to have a small, gradual transition in index between the elements of the lens and the cement, minimizing back reflections and thereby eliminating the need for index matching coatings on the cemented surfaces of the doublets. Finally, the imaging plane of the system matches that of standard ring lights used with video inspection apparatus.

High performance front objective for video metrological system

An illumination system using, in place of a more typical beam splitter, two right angle triangular prisms that are aligned to each other along their respective hypotenuses to form a cube, but without any reflective materials being used at their interface, and with the two halves separated by some distance so as to create an open/air gap between the two halves. When the upper/lower cube faces are normal to an optical axis of the illumination system, the cube structure reflects virtually all of the illumination from a transverse illumination source using total internal reflection so that said illumination is reflected out of the cube along the system's optical axis. However, rotating the cube structure past the critical angle eliminates total internal reflection and allows the cube to transmit almost all illumination entering the cube out of the cube parallel to the system's optical axis.

Method and apparatus for maximum light intensity for an optical illumination system

The substage illuminator is in the form of a housing having therein an opening disposed to register with the underside of a workpiece that is being inspected by optical gaging apparatus which is disposed to overlie the workpiece and which has an image inlet aperture registering with the opening in the substage housing. A collimating lens is mounted in the opening of the housing beneath an anti-reflection filter, and a light source which is mounted in or connected to the housing, projects a circular beam of light successively through the collimator lens and filter toward the underside of the inspected workpiece. The light source may be in the form of a plurality of radially spaced, circular arrays of LED's that can be selectively illuminated to control the diameter of the beam emitted thereby, or the source may comprise an L.C.D. aperture generator which may be energized to produce light beams of selectively different diameters. An adjustable iris aperture also can be mounted in the housing between the light source and collimating lens further to control the diameter of the light beam transmitted to the collimating lens. A light shaping diffuser may be mounted in the housing between the light source and the adjustable iris diaphragm to homogenize light transmitted by the light source.

Growing community of inventors

Rush, NY, United States of America

Stephanie M Bloch