摘要 |
The present invention takes advantage of the efficiency of high-brightness red, infrared, or other color LEDs arranged in a single row, the properties inherent to a focusing element such as a cylindrical lens, as well as the advantages of having a straight-edged diaphragm and light-absorbing enclosure to produce an illumination source for machine-vision systems. The illumination source exhibits multi-diretional properties on one side of an imaginary plane defined by the positions of the row of LEDs, the straight-edged diaphragm, and the focusing element, and minimize light cast on the other side of the plane. The present invention provides a compact light line generator which has no shadowing or secondary lines. The present invention also provides a method for measuring the height of a raised surface. The present invention provides a method and apparatus which provide an illumination source for illuminating an object in a machine-vision system, and includes a light source emitting light from a plurality of points, the points being on a straight line, a focusing element, the focusing element focusing light from the light source in one dimension to a focal line, wherein the focusing element is separated from the straight line by a distance sufficient to focus rays from the plurality of points into the focal line, and wherein there is a light path from the straight line to the focusing element and then to the focal line, and a first diaphragm located in the light path and defining a sharp edge in the rays. This embodiment provides a light which has a sharply defined virtual surface which separates lighted areas from areas not lit, and within the lighted areas, provides light from multiple directions to reduce shadowing.
|