Abstract: The invention relates to a method of determining the optical quality of and detecting faults in flat glass (2) and other transparent materials, especially in float glass, wherein a video camera (1) is arranged to monitor an illuminating device (3) either through the glass (2) or by observing the reflection thereof, the focus being on the glass (2) and the sheet, respectively, and the video camera (1) generates signals in dependence on the quality of the glass (2) and these signals are evaluated, wherein use is made of at least one illuminating device (3), comprising a pattern (4) of adjacent partial portions (5a,5b) alternately different at least in color and/or in intensity, an observation spot of the video camera (1) picks up the pattern (4), two video signals U1,U2 are assigned to the signal of the pattern (4), and a change of the intensity of the video signals U1,U2 is used for evaluating the quality of the glass (2) and the sheet, respectively.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of determining the optical quality of and for detecting faults in flat glass, especially float glass, or other optically transparent materials, a video camera (1) being arranged to monitor an illuminating device (3) either through a glass (2) or by observing the reflection thereof on the glass or material, the focus being on the glass (2) and the material, respectively, and the video camera (1) generating signals in dependence on the quality of the glass (2), with these signals being evaluated, wherein an illuminating device (3) is used whose color and/or intensity is changed in a defined manner, the observation spot (6) of the video camera (1) in the faultless condition of the glass (2) is located substantially in the middle of the illuminating device (3), the illuminating device (3) has assigned thereto two video signals U1,U2, and a change of intensity of the video signals U1,U2 is used for evaluating the quality of the glass (2).