WO1997029593A1 - Systeme pour marquer une surface et procede pour visualiser des marques - Google Patents

Systeme pour marquer une surface et procede pour visualiser des marques Download PDF

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Publication number
WO1997029593A1
WO1997029593A1 PCT/US1997/001905 US9701905W WO9729593A1 WO 1997029593 A1 WO1997029593 A1 WO 1997029593A1 US 9701905 W US9701905 W US 9701905W WO 9729593 A1 WO9729593 A1 WO 9729593A1
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WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
marking
light
corner cube
reflective
cavity
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/US1997/001905
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Timothy P. White
Steven M. Leblanc
Original Assignee
Northeast Robotics, Inc.
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Northeast Robotics, Inc. filed Critical Northeast Robotics, Inc.
Priority to US09/117,742 priority Critical patent/US6135350A/en
Priority to AU22612/97A priority patent/AU2261297A/en
Publication of WO1997029593A1 publication Critical patent/WO1997029593A1/fr

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Classifications

    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
    • H04N7/00—Television systems
    • H04N7/18—Closed-circuit television [CCTV] systems, i.e. systems in which the video signal is not broadcast
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
    • G06K—GRAPHICAL DATA READING; PRESENTATION OF DATA; RECORD CARRIERS; HANDLING RECORD CARRIERS
    • G06K1/00—Methods or arrangements for marking the record carrier in digital fashion
    • G06K1/02—Methods or arrangements for marking the record carrier in digital fashion by punching

Definitions

  • This invention relates to marking a surface with at least one planar surface, and preferably marking with a corner cube cavity, and the accurate viewing of such marking on a surface of an object, especially a highly polished flat or curved metallic surface.
  • the invention is also applicable to virtually any surface capable of receiving an optically reflective surface finish.
  • Marking systems and methods for marking surfaces of objects are well known in the art.
  • the typical marking indicia employed in these conventional systems are dots or recesses, usually having a conical or spherical shape.
  • Such prior art marking indicia are typically formed by a conically or spherically shaped stylus, which is forced or stamped into the surface of the object to be marked via a stamping machine, thereby leaving a conical or spherical recess in the surface (Figs. 7A and 7B) .
  • Vision systems using video cameras and/or sensors, are typically employed in a manufacturing environment to detect such marking indicia to determine the type, style, size, model, make, serial number, part number, etc., of the product carrying the marking indicia.
  • a light source typically accompanies the video camera and/or sensor in order to aid in detection of the marking .indicia.
  • the conventional marking indicia of the prior art marking systems do not reflect all of the light received from the light source back to the video camera and/or sensor due to the geometry of the recess, thereby decreasing the accuracy of the vision system.
  • the amount of light reflected back by the marking indicia varies as well thereby making it difficult to accurately view the marking indicia.
  • corner cube cavity when used in the specification and in the appended claims, includes any formed cavity which comprises three substantially planar or effectively planar surfaces, with each substantially planar or effectively planar surface extending perpendicular to the other two substantially planar or effectively planar surfaces and all three substantially planar or effectively planar surfaces having one common intersection area or point. It is to be appreciated that the interface or joint between any two intersecting planar surfaces may be slightly radiused, i.e. the common intersection point and the three ridges of a tool employed to form the corner cube cavity may have a slight radius to prolong the useful life of the tool. The radius of curvature of the intersection point and the three ridges must be controlled and should not be any greater than about 5-10% of the overall depth of the cavity to be form in the surface by the tool.
  • planar surface when used in this specification and in the appended claims, means any surface area or surface profile which reflects light in substantially the same manner as a complete planar surface.
  • Yet another object of the invention is to project light from a light source onto a surface containing a corner cube indentation or cavity and view the light reflected from the corner cube indentation or cavity with a sensing device to determine the existence of markings or a pattern arrangement of the markings on the surface.
  • a further object of the invention is to provide a marking system which is completely compatible with existing equipment and insensitive to various surface colors or finishes.
  • the present invention relates to a surface marking system for providing a surface with a reflective marking for inspection by a vision system, said surface marking system comprising: means for forming at least one corner cube cavity in the surface to be marked, the at least one corner cube cavity comprising three surfaces, each of said three surfaces being perpendicular to one another, said three surfaces intersecting one another at a point common to all of said three surfaces and a ridge being formed between each of mating adjacent pairs of said three substantially planar surfaces.
  • the present invention also relates to a method of marking a surface with a reflective marking for viewing by an inspection system, said method comprising the steps of: forming at least one corner cube cavity in the surface to be marked, the at least one corner cube cavity comprising three surfaces, each of said three surfaces being perpendicular to one another, said three surfaces intersecting one another at a point common to all of said three surfaces and a ridge being formed between each of mating adjacent pairs of said three surfaces.
  • Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic elevational view of the marking system according to the present invention.
  • Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic elevational view of the impact tool according to present invention.
  • Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic bottom plan view of the impact tool of Fig. 2;
  • Fig. 4 is a diagrammatic partial cross-sectional view of a viewing apparatus according to the present invention
  • Fig. 5 is a diagrammatic top plan view of a corner cube cavity formed in a surface according to the present invention
  • Fig. 6 is a diagrammatic partial cross-sectional view of a second embodiment of a viewing apparatus according to the present invention
  • Fig. 7A diagrammatically shows ray tracing for a 120° cone indentation
  • Fig. 7B diagrammatically shows ray tracing for a 90° cone indentation
  • Fig. 7C diagrammatically shows ray tracing for a corner cube indentation according to the present invention
  • Fig. 8 is a diagrammatic top plan view of an etched corner cube cavity formed in a surface according to the present invention
  • Fig. 9 is a diagrammatic cross-sectional view of Fig. 8 taken along section line 9-9;
  • Fig. 10 is a diagrammatic top plan view of a plurality of etched corner cube cavities formed in a surface
  • Fig. 11 is a diagrammatic cross-sectional view of Fig. 10, taken along section line 11-11, diagrammatically showing light being reflected back parallel to the supplied light source;
  • Fig. 12 is a diagrammatic top plan view of an etched letter "M" formed according to the present invention.
  • Fig. 13 is a diagrammatic representation showing the "spring-back" of a marked surface once the impact tool is withdrawn;
  • Fig. 14 is a diagrammatic view showing an imprinted mark having two reflective planar surfaces;
  • Fig. 15 is a diagrammatic view showing an imprinted mark with a single reflective planar surface.
  • a marking device generally designated by the reference numeral 2, comprises a movable arm 4 supported by a base member 6. Arm 4 is raised and lowered via a conventional drive mechanism (not shown) contained within base member 6. The drive mechanism is driven by motor 8
  • Power source 10 (e.g. hydraulic, pneumatic, etc.) which is powered by power source 10, typically provided externally of marking device 2.
  • Power source 10 is connected to motor 8 by a power supply cable 12.
  • the power source 10 is preferably an AC supply source, but may be any other power source, such as a battery, a DC power source, etc., suitable for powering the motor 8.
  • a gripping or clamping device 14, shaped to allow impact tool 16 to be received therein, is supported by a remote end portion of arm 4.
  • Clamping device 14 typically includes a set screw 17, or some other suitable fastener for releasably securing impact tool 16 to clamping device 14.
  • Impact tool 16 is generally an elongate cylindrical member which defines a central longitudinal axis 18.
  • the remote end of impact tool 16 has three substantially planar surfaces 20, 22, 24. Each of these three surfaces 20, 22, 24 intersects an adjacent surface 20, 22, or 24 to form ridges 21, 23, 25.
  • Each surface 20, 22, 24 defines a plane which is oriented at an angle ⁇ of approximately 35.265°, measured at a centerline 20A, 22A, 24A of each surface 20, 22, 24, with respect to central longitudinal axis 18.
  • Each surface 20, 22, 24 also lies perpendicular to each of the other two surfaces 20, 22, 24.
  • Surfaces 20, 22, 24 intersect at a common point 26 located at the leading end of impact tool 16.
  • Each ridge 21, 23, 25 forms an angle ⁇ of approximately 54.735° with the central longitudinal axis 18.
  • the tip 28 of impact tool 16, comprising an area proximate point 26, is preferably made of an industrial grade diamond, or some other suitable material which is extremely hard and able to withstand repeated applications of large impact forces of impact tool 16 into other relatively hard surfaces without distorting, breaking, or otherwise losing the precise surface geometry of the tool. All edges in the vicinity of tip 28, i.e. within about 0.01 inches of point 26, preferably have a maximum radius of curvature which is a small fraction of the depth of the indentation or cavity to be formed, e.g. a radius of curvature of less than about 5-10% of the depth of the indentation or the cavity to be formed.
  • the impact tool 16 tip defines a maximum permissible depth DM of an indentation or cavity 42. That is, the maximum depth DM of an indentation or cavity 42 which can be formed by the impact tool is the length of any one of the ridges 21, 23 and 25 measured along the central longitudinal axis 18 of the tool.
  • a corner cube indentation or cavity 42 (Fig. 5) , which will be described in greater detail below, is formed in that surface.
  • a plurality of corner cube cavities 42 are typically created on the surface 19 of object O in a desired arrangement or pattern (Fig. 12) which may, for example, be a bar code, a serial or part number, an alpha ⁇ numeric character, art work such as a logo or some other design.
  • the marking device 2 works in a manner similar to that used by dot matrix printers.
  • Marking device 2 may include only one impact tool 16 used repeatedly or, if desired, may comprise a plurality of impact tools 16 closely arranged in an array, similar to that of a dot matrix printer which has multiple pins located adjacent one another, with each impact tool being individually actuatable.
  • a computer (not shown) may control operation of the marking device 2 and each individual impact tool. As such computer control feature is well known to those skilled in this art, a further detailed description concerning the same is not provided herein. It is to be appreciated that if an impact tool 16, having a corner cube tip as described with reference to Figs.
  • the resulting cavity 42 is not perfectly formed, i.e. the resulting angles vary from that of a perfect corner cube.
  • the dimensions of the tip of the impact tool 16 are appropriately adjusted such that as the impact tool 16 impacts the surface to be marked, the cavity is initially formed oversized, shown by dotted line OV, i.e. greater than the desired cavity.
  • the cavity automatically reduces in size, due to the "spring-back” phenomenon, to the desired surface geometry.
  • a series of tools may be fabricated which vary from the perfect geometry in small incremental steps, e.g. the angle ⁇ and ⁇ of the impact tool can be incrementally increased, by a quarter of a degree or so, for example, for each tool in the series.
  • one of the tip geometries in the series of tools will yield a closer approximation to a perfectly formed corner cube cavity in the marked surface then the remaining tools.
  • the best tool for marking a surface can quickly be checked by marking the surface to be marked once with each of the tools in the series and then visual observing each mark with coaxial light to determine which formed cavity more closely approximates a perfectly formed corner cube cavity, e.g. has the desired reflective optical properties.
  • a viewing apparatus generally designated by the reference numeral 31, is shown.
  • Viewing apparatus 31 comprises light source 30, which projects a light beam 32 toward the exterior surface 19 of object O containing the marking indicia.
  • a collimating lens 34 is located proximate an output of light source 30 and along the travel path of light beam 32, in order to collimate light beam 32.
  • a mirror 36 is located at an angle of 45°, relative to the original travel path of light beam 32, to reflect light beam 32 at a right angle toward beam splitter 38.
  • Beam splitter 38 is aligned parallel to mirror 36 and reflects a portion of light beam 32, e.g. about 20-80% and typically about 50% of the light, toward the object O while the remainder of the light passes through beam splitter 38 and is absorbed by light trap 40, located behind and proximate beam splitter 38.
  • the light beam 32 reflected toward object 0, at a right angle relative to the light reflected by mirror 36 is supplied parallel to its original collimated path.
  • collimated light beam 32 moves across object 0 as well, thereby at some point striking the corner cube indentation or cavity 42 marking(s) on the surface 19.
  • Light beam 32 is then reflected back by the corner cube indentation or cavity 42 as light beam 44, parallel to light beam 32.
  • a portion of light beam 44 e.g. usually about 20-80% and typically about 50% of the light, then passes through beam splitter 38 toward video camera 46 where the light is sensed and an image is determined by the camera by conventional technology. The sensed image may be supplied to a monitor or used during further manufacturing of an item or object.
  • the video camera 46 is connected with a computer 50 (only diagrammatically shown) for determining the sensed image, e.g. by a comparison of the sensed image with prior inputted images, characters, indicia, etc.
  • a computer 50 for determining the sensed image, e.g. by a comparison of the sensed image with prior inputted images, characters, indicia, etc.
  • the object O can then be further manipulated by the system, i.e. the object can be accepted or rejected, sorted by size or type, packaged, conveyed, etc., depending upon the particular application.
  • Computer 50 is typically electrically connected by cable 52 to motor M, which drives conveyor C or some other transportation or conveying device for controlling further manipulation or manufacturing of the object O, e.g. for inspection, transportation, processing, orientation, etc.
  • FIG. 4 two alternate positions of the viewing apparatus 31 are shown in that Figure and designated as 31' and 31".
  • Light sources 30'' and SO'' project light beams 32', 32" at different angles of incidence, with respect to object O, compared to light source 30.
  • the geometry of corner cube cavities 42 insures that light beams 44' and 44'' are reflected back parallel to light beams 32' and 32", respectively. Marking indicia comprising of a plurality of corner cube cavities 42 can therefore be imaged from a wide variety of viewing angles. Because of the corner cube cavities 42 geometry, it will always reflect the light beam 32 directly back to the source as light beam 44, 44', 44'' when the angle of incidence, in relation to the central axis of the cavity, is 35° or less.
  • Corner cube cavity 42 formed as a depression in an exterior surface 19 of an object 0, comprises three planar surfaces 48, 50, 52. Each surface 48, 50, 52 is formed by surfaces 20, 22, 24, respectively, of impact device 16 striking the exterior surface 19 of object O. Surfaces 48, 50, 52, in the same manner as surfaces 20, 22, 24, are perpendicular to one another and form a point 54 at their intersection, within object O. It is to be appreciated that the three formed ridges 49, 51, 53 of the indentation or cavity as well as the point have a substantially identical radius of curvature to that of the tool 16.
  • each corner cube cavity 42 has a highly polished inner surface microfinish. Ridges 49, 51, 53 are formed between adjacent surfaces 48, 50, 52.
  • a relatively low-powered highly focused light source such as an LED or diode laser, will cause the corner cube cavities 42, and thus any pattern created by multiple corner cube cavities 42, to appear extremely bright relative to ambient light.
  • the high intensity of the reflected light allows a small aperture to be used on the video camera 46, thus creating a great depth of focus which allows the corner cube cavities 42 to be viewed from a variety of different viewing distances and angles.
  • Viewing apparatus 56 comprises light source 58, which projects a desired dimension light band 60 toward the surface 19 of object O.
  • Collimating lens 62 is located proximate light source 58 and along the travel path of light band 60, in order to collimate light band 60.
  • a mirror 64 is located at an angle of about 45°, relative to the uncollimated original travel path of light band 60, to reflect light band 60 at a right angle toward beam splitter 66.
  • Beam splitter 66 reflects a portion of light band 60, e.g.
  • light band 60 moves across object O as well, thereby striking corner cube cavities 42 formed in the surface and along the light source path of movement.
  • Light band 60 strikes the surface 19 of object 0 and the angle of reflection depends on the area of the exterior surface 19 contacted.
  • a portion of light band 60 is reflected by the unmarked exterior surface 19 to the surrounding environment as light beam 70' while a portion of light band 60 is reflected back, by the corner cube cavities 42, as light beam 70, parallel to light band 60.
  • a portion of the reflected light beams 70 then pass through beam splitter 66 and is sensed by video camera 72 and processed into an image as with the prior embodiment.
  • the corner cube indentation according to the present invention (Fig. 7C) , on the other hand, always provides sufficient illumination of the entire area of each indentation or cavity, directly perceivable or viewable by the sensing device, as long as the supplied light forms an angle of 35° or less with a central axis CA extending normal to the opening of the indentation or cavity. Accordingly, the sensing device is able to discern readily virtual the entire viewable cavity or planar surface of each marking indicia formed on a surface to be viewed.
  • Video camera 72 may be a one-dimension line scan video camera or a two-dimension area camera or two- dimension array video camera. Since line scan cameras have significantly higher resolution in one dimension than a typical two-dimension array video camera, wider areas can be imaged by this technique at an equivalent resolution. For example, a two-dimensional camera may image a single character or marking pattern, while a number of one-dimensional line scan cameras 72 operating in parallel may image an area of arbitrary width including an arbitrary number of marks.
  • the corner cube cavity 42 alternatively may be formed by a molding process, or may be etched into the surface 19 of object 0 by photo-chemical, photo lithograph, or mechanical means, with the cavity size and spacing being appropriately selected depending upon the application.
  • a further description concerning one possible etching technique follows hereinafter.
  • the corner cube indentation or cavity 42' is either etched into a surface or built up through superimposing a plurality of successive layers of art work, in a conventional manner, onto a substrate 80, for example as part of the art work making up a semiconductor circuit.
  • a corner cube cavity can be seen which effectively has three substantially or effectively planar surfaces 20', 22' and 24'.
  • Each of these effectively planar surfaces is formed by a plurality of different layers 82 forming the art work.
  • the art work is stepped and a plane extending through a center of the steps forms an angle of approximately 35.27° with a central axis CA of the corner cube cavity.
  • Each formed cavity typically has a width (W) and a depth (D) which is approximately 0.47 times the width (W) .
  • ten (10) separate layers 82 of art work are used to form the indentation or cavity 42'.
  • each formed reflective wall of the reflective cavity has a "stepped" appearance.
  • the size of the steps is dependent upon the wavelength of the particular light to be reflected so that the formed steps reflect the supplied light almost as well as if the cavity walls were truly planar instead of being a "stepped" surface which effectively functions as a planar surface.
  • the discrete reflective cavity patterns can be laid out in a repetitive hexagonal array to create a homogeneous reflective area or areas.
  • the cavities can be formed into a pattern which is representative of the letter M (Fig. 12) or any other desired character, numeral, emblem, logo, and/or other design.
  • the reflective area etching has the advantage of greatly simplifying the optics and the illumination used to image such art work.
  • the overall dimensions of the corner cube cavity 24' etched in a surface can be varied as long as the overall proportions of the corner cube cavity is retained.
  • the number and thickness of the layers forming the corner cube cavity can vary depending upon the application and the wavelength of the light to be reflected by the corner cube cavity. It is important to remember that as long as the overall dimensions of the corner cube cavity are maintained, the cavity will function in the manner disclosed by the present application.
  • alphanumeric art work is created on semiconductor surfaces through one of two known methods, i.e. a "hard mark” process or a “soft mark” process.
  • a "hard mark” process an industrial laser is used to create desired pits in the surface of the semiconductor wafer with the patterns of the pits making up the desired art work.
  • This method has the disadvantage of creating debris, during creation of the pits, which become problematic during the remainder of the semiconductor fabrication process, i.e. contamination.
  • one advantage of the "soft mark” process is that the mark is made as part of the normal semiconductor etching process and is, therefore, fairly clean. This is an important consideration in a process where high yield of large high- density semiconductor components is required.
  • the advantage of the built up art work, according to the present invention is that the art work can be imaged with a simple co-axial illumination source from any angle except precisely perpendicular to the surface; the art work is created in the same manner as the current "soft mark" process; the reflective art work can fill a solid contiguous area rather than appearing either as a disconnected dots or a thin edged pattern; and the imaging device used to read art work is identical to that use to image art work through mechanical impact or other types of surfaces.
  • an imperfectly formed corner cube cavity will still exhibit substantially complete reflection of the mark, when viewed via a coaxial illumination source, from any of three particular viewing angles, i.e. the particular viewing angles correspond to viewing axes which extend normal to each of the three planar surfaces forming the cavity.
  • a simple two-sided wedge having a pair of planar surfaces 48', 50' formed thereon, will also yield an imprinted mark which is suitable for reflecting, via coaxial illumination, an image of the marking along two viewing axes VA1, VA2 (Fig. 14) .
  • the two viewing axes extend perpendicular to each one of the two planar reflective surfaces 48', 50' of the mark formed in the surface 19'.
  • the unifying principle is that a camera and coaxial illumination source are used to image a mark incorporating at least one planar reflective surface whose reflective geometry causes the coaxial illumination to be efficiently reflected back along the viewing axis.
  • the cavities formed in the surface comprise either a single or a pair of planar reflective surfaces, as opposed to true corner cavities, then all of the planar surfaces which are formed in the marked surface must lie or extend parallel to one another if only one planar reflective surface is imprinted or aligned in the same direction if two planar reflective surfaces are imprinted, i.e. the orientation of the impact tool 16 relative to the surface to be marked must not be changed or altered during the marking process so that all of the markings can be viewed by an observation device at the same viewing angle or orientation. It is to be appreciated that the illumination device disclosed in United States Patent No. 5,461,417 issued

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Theoretical Computer Science (AREA)
  • Multimedia (AREA)
  • Signal Processing (AREA)
  • Length Measuring Devices By Optical Means (AREA)

Abstract

L'invention concerne un système pour réaliser sur une surface (19) une marque réfléchissante permettant une visualisation par un dispositif optique (72). Le système comprend au moins une cavité en coin de cube (42) formée sur la surface à marquer, la cavité en coin de cube (42) ayant trois surfaces sensiblement planes perpendiculaires l'une par rapport à l'autre. Les trois surfaces sensiblement planes se coupent en un point commun aux trois surfaces et une crête est formée entre chaque paire de surfaces adjacentes d'accouplement, des trois surfaces. Le système comprend, également, un outil fonctionnant par impact pour former la cavité en coin de cube (42); une source de lumière (58); une lentille de collimation (62); et un miroir (64) pour réfléchir la lumière vers un diviseur de faisceau (66), qui transmet une portion de lumière vers la surface (19) de l'objet où elle est réfléchie par les cavités en coin de cube (42) et renvoyée par le diviseur de faisceau (66) où elle est détectée par un dispositif détecteur (72).
PCT/US1997/001905 1996-02-06 1997-02-05 Systeme pour marquer une surface et procede pour visualiser des marques WO1997029593A1 (fr)

Priority Applications (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US09/117,742 US6135350A (en) 1997-02-05 1997-02-05 Surface marking system and method of viewing marking indicia
AU22612/97A AU2261297A (en) 1996-02-06 1997-02-05 Surface marking system and method of viewing marking indicia

Applications Claiming Priority (4)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US59956496A 1996-02-06 1996-02-06
US08/599,564 1996-02-06
US64105096A 1996-04-23 1996-04-23
US08/641,050 1996-04-23

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WO1997029593A1 true WO1997029593A1 (fr) 1997-08-14

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Citations (11)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4582986A (en) * 1980-11-21 1986-04-15 Stockburger H Method and apparatus for the characteristic marking and/or identification of a data-carrier
US4731853A (en) * 1984-03-26 1988-03-15 Hitachi, Ltd. Three-dimensional vision system
US4767211A (en) * 1984-10-08 1988-08-30 Hitachi, Ltd. Apparatus for and method of measuring boundary surface
US5015070A (en) * 1989-03-14 1991-05-14 Mouse Systems Corporation Reference grid for optical scanner
US5039868A (en) * 1988-11-24 1991-08-13 Omron Corporation Method of and apparatus for inspecting printed circuit boards and the like
US5187611A (en) * 1991-08-27 1993-02-16 Northeast Robotics, Inc. Diffuse on-axis light source
US5396279A (en) * 1991-12-06 1995-03-07 Meurer Nonfood Product Gmbh Method and apparatus for setting flat elements in relation to a reference device, in particular stamping dies or the like
US5408591A (en) * 1992-06-01 1995-04-18 Calcomp Inc. Automatic calibration and servo control scheme for offsetting mechanical and electronic component variances
US5461417A (en) * 1993-02-16 1995-10-24 Northeast Robotics, Inc. Continuous diffuse illumination method and apparatus
US5585616A (en) * 1995-05-05 1996-12-17 Rockwell International Corporation Camera for capturing and decoding machine-readable matrix symbol images applied to reflective surfaces
US5606160A (en) * 1993-03-25 1997-02-25 Asahi Kogaku Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha Symbol reading device

Patent Citations (11)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4582986A (en) * 1980-11-21 1986-04-15 Stockburger H Method and apparatus for the characteristic marking and/or identification of a data-carrier
US4731853A (en) * 1984-03-26 1988-03-15 Hitachi, Ltd. Three-dimensional vision system
US4767211A (en) * 1984-10-08 1988-08-30 Hitachi, Ltd. Apparatus for and method of measuring boundary surface
US5039868A (en) * 1988-11-24 1991-08-13 Omron Corporation Method of and apparatus for inspecting printed circuit boards and the like
US5015070A (en) * 1989-03-14 1991-05-14 Mouse Systems Corporation Reference grid for optical scanner
US5187611A (en) * 1991-08-27 1993-02-16 Northeast Robotics, Inc. Diffuse on-axis light source
US5396279A (en) * 1991-12-06 1995-03-07 Meurer Nonfood Product Gmbh Method and apparatus for setting flat elements in relation to a reference device, in particular stamping dies or the like
US5408591A (en) * 1992-06-01 1995-04-18 Calcomp Inc. Automatic calibration and servo control scheme for offsetting mechanical and electronic component variances
US5461417A (en) * 1993-02-16 1995-10-24 Northeast Robotics, Inc. Continuous diffuse illumination method and apparatus
US5606160A (en) * 1993-03-25 1997-02-25 Asahi Kogaku Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha Symbol reading device
US5585616A (en) * 1995-05-05 1996-12-17 Rockwell International Corporation Camera for capturing and decoding machine-readable matrix symbol images applied to reflective surfaces

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