System and method for illumination of an imaged scene using a programmable light source

A system for illuminating a scene as imaged by a vision system camera at a predetermined focal plane, the system comprising:

• an illumination assembly comprising a grid of individually addressable light sources;
• a beam splitter positioned at an angle with respect to the predetermined focal plane such that either an optical axis of the vision system camera or an illumination from the illumination assembly extends through the beam splitter onto the scene;
• and
• at least one processor in communication with the illumination assembly and the vision system camera and configured to:
• control individual intensities of the individually addressable light sources to produce a discrete lighting pattern;
• and
• provide control signals to the vision system camera based on the discrete lighting pattern.

A method for illuminating a scene as imaged by a vision system camera at a predetermined focal plane, the method comprising:

• producing a discrete lighting pattern onto the scene by:
• controlling individual intensities of individually addressable light sources arranged in a grid;
• and
• directing either an optical axis of the vision system camera or illumination from the individually addressable light sources through a beam splitter onto the scene;
• and
• providing control signals to the vision system camera based on the discrete lighting pattern.