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US 9,467,609 B2Granted
Machine vision inspection systems and methods and aperture covers for use therewith
AssigneeMettler-Toledo AG
InventorTimothy P. White
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Machine vision inspection systems and methods for inspecting objects, such as objects with shiny surfaces, as well as illuminators with aperture covers for use therewith. Use of such an aperture cover eliminates the void (dark spot) in the illumination field that inherently results from the presence of an aperture through which an associated camera views an object to be inspected.
Claims11
A dome illuminator for the illumination of an object of interest, comprising:
- a substantially hollow housing with an open bottom, the interior of the housing forming a dome-shaped diffuser capable of reflecting light toward the open bottom thereof;
- an illumination source located near the open bottom of the housing and oriented to direct light onto the diffuser to create an illumination field;
- a central aperture providing a view, through the open bottom of the housing, of the object of interest;
- and
- an aperture cover located on the housing exterior and over the central aperture, the aperture cover having a discontinuous pattern of substantially opaque but diffusely reflective features oriented toward the open bottom of the housing.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.