Method and apparatus for adjusting illumination angle

A machine-vision system having an optical axis, comprising:

• a machine-vision imager located along the optical axis;
• a controllable light source;
• a first optical element that selectively directs light in a first predetermined pattern relative to the optical axis based on light characteristics;
• a second optical element that directs light in a second predetermined pattern relative to the optical axis;
• and
• an electronic controller operatively coupled to the imager and the controllable light source to control the light characteristics and thereby selecting one or more of the first and second predetermined patterns.

A machine-vision system having an optical axis, comprising:

• a light source emitting light having a polarization;
• a machine-vision imager that obtains an image of an object illuminated by the light;
• a processor coupled to receive an image from the imager, and operative to generate a quality parameter based on the image;
• and
• a light director operatively controlled by the processor that selectively directs the light in a predetermined pattern based on its polarization and based on the quality parameter of the image.