Apparatus and methods for weld measurement
AssigneeAlcoa Inc.
InventorsWei Huang, Michael Globig, Donald J. Spinella, K. Rao Vemuri
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Abstract
An apparatus and method for measuring broken spot weld artifacts has a framework for supporting a light and a plurality of cameras for acquiring controlled images of a specimen with minimal distortion and parallax. The framework holds the specimen flat and in a reproducible position, controlling movement while imaging. The image data is received in a computer programmed with image processing software capable of isolating and measuring the artifacts. A calibration standard is used to correct for aberrations.
Claims22
An apparatus for inspecting a specimen with at least one bond artifact, comprising:
- a light capable of illuminating the specimen;
- a camera capable of capturing a digital image of the specimen;
- a computer capable of receiving the digital image of the specimen from the camera and programmed with an image processing program capable of measuring the bond artifact and reporting the result of measuring to a user.
A method for inspecting a specimen with at least one bond artifact, comprising:
- illuminating the specimen;
- acquiring digital image data of the specimen and the bond artifact with a camera;
- receiving the digital image data of the specimen from the camera into a computer programmed with an image processing program;
- measuring the at least one bond artifact as represented in the image data;
- and reporting the result of the step of measuring to a user.
A method for inspecting a specimen with at least one bond artifact, comprising:
- positioning a calibration standard with a pattern before a camera;
- illuminating the calibration standard;
- acquiring digital image data of the calibration standard with the camera;
- receiving the digital image data of the calibration standard in a computer;
- further receiving dimension data pertaining to the pattern on the calibration standard in the computer;
- comparing the dimension data and the digital image data, and then calculating a correction matrix to compensate for divergence of the image data of the calibration standard from the dimension data of the calibration standard;
- positioning the specimen before the camera;
- illuminating the specimen;
- acquiring digital image data of the specimen and bond artifact with a camera;
- receiving the digital image data of the specimen from the camera in the computer programmed with an image processing program;
- applying the correction matrix to image data associated with image data of the specimen acquired during the step of acquiring;
- identifying a region of interest in the image data of the specimen;
- thresholding the image of the specimen relative to a criteria value;
- filtering insignificant features from the image of the specimen;
- detecting edges of the at least one bond artifact;
- measuring the area of the at least one bond artifact as represented in the image data;
- and
- reporting the result of the step of measuring to a user.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.