Velocity matching imaging of a target element

A part inspection imaging system comprising:

• an image sensor;
• an actuator configured to cause a controlled movement of the image sensor relative to a target element, the controlled movement being based on an operating velocity of the target element relative to an initial position of the image sensor;
• and
• a controller communicatively coupled to the image sensor, the controller configured to:
• identify the operating velocity;
• determine an activation time to activate the image sensor for a designated exposure time based on the operating velocity and the controlled movement;
• and
• activate the image sensor at the activation time,
• wherein the controlled movement includes an initiation period where the actuator accelerates the image sensor to a steady state velocity that approximately matches the operating velocity, a steady state period where the actuator holds the image sensor at the steady state velocity, and a deceleration period where the actuator decelerates the image sensor away from the steady state velocity,
• wherein the steady state velocity is an angular velocity around a tool axis through which the image sensor is inserted into an interior region that contains the target element, wherein the angular velocity approximately matches the operating velocity when a center point of a camera lens associated with the image sensor has a velocity that approximately matches the velocity of a key point on the target element that is moving at the operating velocity.

A part inspection imaging system comprising:

• an image sensor;
• an actuator configured to cause a controlled movement of the image sensor relative to a target element, the controlled movement being based on an operating velocity of the target element relative to an initial position of the image sensor;
• and
• a controller communicatively coupled to the image sensor, the controller configured to:
• identify the operating velocity;
• determine an activation time to activate the image sensor for a designated exposure time based on the operating velocity and the controlled movement;
• and
• activate the image sensor at the activation time,
• wherein the controlled movement includes an initiation period where the actuator accelerates the image sensor to a steady state velocity that approximately matches the operating velocity, a steady state period where the actuator holds the image sensor at the steady state velocity, and a deceleration period where the actuator decelerates the image sensor away from the steady state velocity,
• wherein the controlled movement includes a reset period where the actuator returns the image sensor to the initial position.

A part inspection imaging system comprising:

• an image sensor;
• an actuator configured to cause a controlled movement of the image sensor relative to a target element, the controlled movement being based on an operating velocity of the target element relative to an initial position of the image sensor;
• and
• a controller communicatively coupled to the image sensor, the controller configured to:
• identify the operating velocity;
• determine an activation time to activate the image sensor for a designated exposure time based on the operating velocity and the controlled movement;
• and
• activate the image sensor at the activation time,
• wherein the controlled movement includes an initiation period where the actuator accelerates the image sensor to a steady state velocity that approximately matches the operating velocity, a steady state period where the actuator holds the image sensor at the steady state velocity, and a deceleration period where the actuator decelerates the image sensor away from the steady state velocity,
• wherein the steady state period is longer than the designated exposure time, and wherein the controller sets the activation time to occur during the steady state period such that the designated exposure time expires before an end of the steady state period.

A part inspection imaging system comprising:

• an image sensor;
• an actuator configured to cause a controlled movement of the image sensor relative to a target element, the controlled movement being based on an operating velocity of the target element relative to an initial position of the image sensor;
• and
• a controller communicatively coupled to the image sensor, the controller configured to:
• identify the operating velocity:
• determine an activation time to activate the image sensor for a designated exposure time based on the operating velocity and the controlled movement;
• and
• activate the image sensor at the activation time,
• wherein the controlled movement includes a continuous periodic velocity pattern for the image sensor, wherein the continuous periodic velocity pattern includes a positive peak period that includes a maximum velocity of the image sensor for the continuous periodic velocity pattern that is within a range of about 20% to about 1% of the operating velocity, and wherein the controller sets the activation time to occur during the positive peak period such that the designated exposure time expires before an end of the positive peak period.

A part inspection imaging system comprising:

• an image sensor;
• an actuator configured to cause a controlled movement of the image sensor relative to a target element, the controlled movement being based on an operating velocity of the target element relative to an initial position of the image sensor;
• a controller communicatively coupled to the image sensor, the controller configured to:
• identify the operating velocity;
• determine an activation time to activate the image sensor for a designated exposure time based on the operating velocity and the controlled movement;
• and
• activate the image sensor at the activation time;
• and
• a movement guide coupled to a borescope unit that includes the image sensor, wherein the movement guide is configured to induce the controlled movement of the image sensor to follow a preconfigured path,
• wherein the preconfigured path includes a curved path of the target element with respect to a rotational axis, and wherein the movement guide includes at least one of a curved guideway or a ball slide.

A part inspection imaging system comprising:

• an image sensor;
• an actuator configured to cause a controlled movement of the image sensor relative to a target element, the controlled movement being based on an operating velocity of the target element relative to an initial position of the image sensor;
• and
• a controller communicatively coupled to the image sensor, the controller configured to:
• identify the operating velocity:
• determine an activation time to activate the image sensor for a designated exposure time based on the operating velocity and the controlled movement;
• and
• activate the image sensor at the activation time;
• and
• a movement guide coupled to a borescope unit that includes the image sensor, wherein the movement guide is configured to induce the controlled movement of the image sensor to follow a preconfigured path,
• wherein the preconfigured path includes a linear path perpendicular to a tool axis through which the image sensor is inserted into an interior region that contains the target element, and wherein the movement guide includes a linear slide or guide.

A method for inspecting a part with an imaging system, the method comprising:

• identifying an operating velocity of a target element;
• performing, with an actuator, a controlled movement of an image sensor, the controlled movement being based on the operating velocity of the target element relative to an initial position of the image sensor;
• identifying an imaging period of the controlled movement for which a maximum velocity of the image sensor is within a range from about 20% to about 1% of the operating velocity and which has a time length that is greater than the designated exposure time;
• setting an activation time to activate the image sensor for a designated exposure time based on the operating velocity and the controlled movement and setting the activation time to occur within the imaging period such that the designated exposure time expires before an end of the imaging period;
• and
• activating the image sensor at the activation time.