Northeast Robotics LLC

Steven M LeBlanc

Timothy P White

Michael C Messina

Surface marking system and method of viewing marking indicia

An illumination device for illuminating an object to be observed, by a machine vision camera or the like for example, with a continuous diffuse wide angle light which is supplied along the observation axis of the machine vision camera. The illumination device contains a light source to illuminate a curved beam splitter and a diffuser is located therebetween. The diffuser is mounted inclined with respect to the observation axis and the curved beam splitter minimizes the height of the illumination source and facilitates supplying a more uniform field of illumination to the object to be observed. The inclined diffuser only indirectly illuminates of the object to be observed.

Illumination device with curved beam splitter for illumination an object

The invention pertains to a method and apparatus for providing a continuous, uniform, diffuse lighting environment for use in conjunction with electronic machine vision, or manual microscope inspection systems to inspect specular surfaces such as soldered circuits, ball bearings, reflective packaging, relective packaging, etc. The disclosed invention effectively eliminates apparent variations in surface brightness caused by the reflection of discontinuities in traditional machine vision lighting systems that typically require windows or viewing openings or orifices to allow visual access to the object being observed, thus allowing for a true observation signal from which the effect of surface geometry has been substantially removed. The object being observed is illuminated using a diffuse lighting system that comprises, in combination, an on-observation axis diffuse light source and an off-observation axis light source each controlled under separate brightness control such that a substantially uniform diffuse lighting environment is created over the entire object.

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Philadelphia, PA, United States of America

Steven M LeBlanc