Machine vision system and method with steerable mirror
AssigneeCognex Corporation
InventorsTorsten Kempf, Saul Sanz Rodriguez, Pepe Fernandez-Dorado, Laurens Nunnink
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Abstract
Systems and methods are provided for acquiring images of objects using an imaging device and a controllable mirror. The controllable mirror can be controlled to change a field of view for the imaging device, including so as to acquire images of different locations, of different parts of an object, or with different degrees of zoom.
Claims20
An imaging system for acquiring images of objects that move in a direction of travel along a conveyor, the imaging system comprising:
- at least one imaging sensor and at least one lens arrangement;
- a mirror arrangement that includes a first mirror that is controllably movable;
- and
- a control device that is configured to, as a first object is moved along the direction of travel:
- using the at least one imaging sensor and the at least one lens arrangement, acquire a first image that includes the first object in a first location along the conveyor, the first image being acquired along a first optical path defined by the mirror arrangement, wherein a first field of view corresponding to the first optical path extends across a substantially full width of the conveyor at an intersection with the conveyor at the first location;
- move the first mirror to define a second optical path with the mirror arrangement, the second optical path being different from the first optical path, wherein a second field of view corresponding to the second optical path extends, at a second location along the conveyor, over a smaller width of the conveyor than does the first field of view at the first location along the conveyor;
- and
- using the at least one imaging sensor and the at least one lens arrangement, acquire a second image that includes the first object in the second location, the second image being acquired along the second optical path.
An imaging system comprising:
- an imaging device that includes at least one imaging sensor and at least one lens arrangement;
- a first mirror;
- a second mirror;
- and
- a control device that is configured to:
- with the first mirror in a first orientation, control the imaging device to acquire a first image of an object with a first field of view that is defined at least in part by the second mirror and that provides a first degree of zoom;
- move the first mirror from the first orientation to a second orientation;
- control the imaging device to acquire a second image of the object using a second field of view that is defined by the first mirror in the second orientation, is different from the first field of view, and provides a second degree of zoom;
- based on the first image, determine a first pixel dimension of a feature of the object;
- based on the second image, determine a second pixel dimension of the feature of the object;
- and
- based on the first and second pixel dimensions, determine a height dimension of the object.
A method of analyzing a symbol on an object, using an imaging system that includes an imaging device with at least one imaging sensor and at least one lens arrangement, a first mirror, and a second mirror, the method comprising:
- with the imaging device, acquiring a first image of the object along a first optical path that includes the second mirror;
- moving the first mirror to define a second optical path that does not include the second mirror;
- and
- with the imaging device, acquiring a second image of the object along the second optical path;
- based on the first image, determining a first pixel dimension of a feature of the object;
- based on the second image, determining a second pixel dimension of the feature of the object;
- and
- based on the first and second pixel dimensions, determining one or more of a distance from the object to the imaging device or a height of the object.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.