Automated 360-degree dense point object inspection

• Main Authors: Link, Bruce A, Stubler, Peter O, Das, Madirakshi, Axman, Michael S, Johnson, Robert W, Brockler, Frank R, Zegarra, Jose Zvietcovich, Barton, Mark, Ferencz, Jr., Gabor J
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 04.06.2024
• Subjects: CALCULATING; COMPUTING; CONTROL OR REGULATING SYSTEMS IN GENERAL; CONTROLLING; COUNTING; FUNCTIONAL ELEMENTS OF SUCH SYSTEMS; IMAGE DATA PROCESSING OR GENERATION, IN GENERAL; MONITORING OR TESTING ARRANGEMENTS FOR SUCH SYSTEMS ORELEMENTS; PHYSICS; REGULATING

A system and method for performing real-time quality inspection of objects is disclosed. The system and method include a transport to move objects being inspected, allowing the inspection to be performed in-line. At least one optical acquisition unit is provided that captured optical images of the objects being inspected. The captured optical images are matched to CAD models of objects, and the matched CAD model is extracted. A laser with an illumination light beam has a wavelength in the violet or ultraviolet range then conducts scans of the objects, which are formed into three-dimensional point clouds. The point clouds are compared to the extracted CAD models for each object, where CTF are compared to user input or CAD model information and the object is determined to be acceptable or defective based on the extent of deviation between the point cloud and the CAD model.