Online inspection for composite structures
AssigneeBombardier Inc.
InventorOctavian IOACHIM
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
There is described an online inspection method and system having an illumination system that provides bright-field and dark-field illumination concurrently or sequentially, at varying intensities, in order to acquire images that may be read by an image processing device. The image processing device may obtain measurements of features in the images and evaluate acceptability of the features.
Claims28
A system for online inspection of a composite structure manufactured by an automated tool, the system comprising:
- an image acquisition device in proximity to a head of the tool above a surface of the composite structure and defining a field of view on the surface of the composite structure, the image acquisition device and the surface of the composite structure defining a bright-field illumination zone and a dark-field illumination zone;
- and
- an illumination system positioned above the surface of the composite structure and comprising:
- a top illumination light source inside the bright-field illumination zone, for projecting light at a first intensity onto the surface of the composite structure within the field of view that is reflected by the surface towards the image acquisition device;
- and
- a side illumination light source inside the dark-field illumination zone, for projecting light at a second intensity different from the first intensity onto the surface of the composite structure within the field of view that is reflected by the surface away from the image acquisition device;
- an optical adapter positioned between the image acquisition device and the surface of the composite structure for directing a vision axis of the image acquisition device substantially perpendicularly to the surface;
- and
- an enclosure housing at least the illumination system and coupled to the image acquisition device, the enclosure blocking out ambient light and providing control of light onto the surface of the composite structure.
(canceled)
A method for online inspection of a composite structure manufactured by an automated tool, the method comprising:
- providing an illumination system comprising a top illumination light source and a side illumination light source;
- illuminating a surface of the composite structure by:
- projecting light at a first intensity onto the surface of the composite structure from the top illumination light source;
- and
- projecting light at a second intensity different from the first intensity onto the surface of the composite structure from the side illumination light source;
- acquiring at least one image of the illuminated surface of the composite structure using an image acquisition device in proximity to a head of the automated tool, the image acquisition device and the surface of the composite structure defining a bright-field illumination zone comprising the top illumination light source and a dark-field illumination zone comprising the side illumination light source;
- and
- directing a vision axis of the image acquisition device substantially perpendicularly to the surface with an optical adapter;
- wherein the illumination system is comprised in an enclosure coupled to the image acquisition device, the method further comprising:
- blocking out ambient light and providing control of light onto the surface of the composite structure with the enclosure.
(canceled)
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.