Systems and methods for controlling strobe illumination

A system for controlling image exposure strobe illumination used to illuminate a workpiece such that the workpiece may be imaged by a camera in a machine vision system, the system comprising:

• a camera operable to provide a camera image of the workpiece;
• a strobe light generator that emits radiation usable by the camera for imaging;
• a controllable spatial light modulator configured to provide a first controllable light channel aperture positioned to receive a first portion of the emitted radiation and to control an amount of the first portion of the emitted radiation which it outputs as first channel light, and a second controllable light channel aperture positioned to receive a second portion of the emitted radiation and to control an amount of the second portion of the emitted radiation which it outputs as second channel light;
• a control system portion that controls the spatial light modulator;
• and
• at least first and second light channel light cables,
• wherein:
• the first light channel light cable comprises a first optical fiber bundle, and has an input end positioned to receive the first channel light through the first light channel aperture, and is configured to output the first channel light through a first light source that projects first channel illumination from a first position relative to the workpiece;
• the second light channel light cable comprises a second optical fiber bundle, and has an input end positioned to receive the second channel light through the second light channel aperture, and is configured to output the second channel light through a second light source that projects second channel illumination from a second position relative to the workpiece;
• the first light channel aperture comprises a first portion of the spatial light modulator that is controllable to provide at least three respective configurations which respectively minimally attenuate at a minimal attenuation level, partially attenuate at a partial attenuation level that is greater than the minimal attenuation level, and substantially block at a full attenuation level, the amount of emitted radiation which it outputs as first channel light during a strobe flash;
• and
• the second light channel aperture comprises a second portion of the spatial light modulator that is controllable to provide at least three respective configurations which respectively minimally attenuate at a minimal attenuation level, partially attenuate at a partial attenuation level that is greater than the minimal attenuation level, and substantially block at a full attenuation level, the amount of emitted radiation which it outputs as second channel light during a strobe flash.