Abstract: An illumination apparatus for reducing speckle effect in light reflected off an illumination target includes a laser; a linear diffuser positioned in an optical path between an illumination target and the laser to diffuse collimated laser light in a planar fan of diffused light that spreads in one dimension across at least a portion of the illumination target; and a beam deflector to direct the collimated laser light incident on the beam deflector to sweep across different locations on the linear diffuser within an exposure time for illumination of the illumination target by the diffused light. The different locations span a distance across the linear diffuser that provides sufficient uncorrelated speckle patterns, at an image sensor, in light reflected from an intersection of the planar fan of light with the illumination target to add incoherently when imaged by the image sensor within the exposure time.

Abstract: A system for forming a homogenized illumination line which can be imaged as a low-speckle line is disclosed. The system includes a laser configured to emit a collimated laser beam; and an illumination-fan generator that includes one or more linear diffusers. The illumination-fan generator is arranged and configured to (i) receive the collimated laser beam, (ii) output a planar fan of diffused light, such that the planar fan emanates from a light line formed on the distal-most one of the one or more linear diffusers, and (iii) cause formation of an illumination line at an intersection of the planar fan and an object.

Abstract: A calibration fixture that enables more accurate calibration of a touch probe on, for example, a CMM, with respect to the camera. The camera is mounted so that its optical axis is approximately or substantially parallel with the z-axis of the probe. The probe and workpiece are in relative motion, along a plane defined by orthogonal x and y axes, and optionally the z-axis and/or and rotation R about the z-axis. The calibration fixture is arranged to image from beneath the touch surface of the probe and, via a 180-degree prism structure, to transmit light from the probe touch point along the optical axis to the camera. Alternatively, two cameras respectively view the fiducial location relative to the CMM arm and the probe location when aligned on the fiducial. The fixture can define an integrated assembly with an optics block and a camera assembly.

Abstract: This invention provides a system and method for detecting and imaging specular surface defects on a specular surface that employs a knife-edge technique in which the camera aperture or an external device is set to form a physical knife-edge structure within the optical path that effectively blocks reflected rays from an illuminated specular surface of a predetermined degree of slope values and allows rays deflected at differing slopes to reach the vision system camera sensor. The light reflected from the flat part of the surface is mostly blocked by the knife-edge. Light reflecting from the sloped parts of the defects is mostly reflected into the entrance aperture. The illumination beam is angled with respect to the optical axis of the camera to provide the appropriate degree of incident angle with respect to the surface under inspection. The surface can be stationary or in relative motion with respect to the camera.

Abstract: An illumination apparatus for reducing speckle effect in light reflected off an illumination target includes a laser; diffuser positioned in an optical path between an illumination target and the laser to diffuse collimated laser light in a planar fan of diffused light that spreads in one dimension across at least a portion of the illumination target; and a beam deflector to direct the collimated laser light incident on the beam deflector to sweep across different locations on the linear diffuser within an exposure time for illumination of the illumination target by the diffused light. The different locations span a distance across the linear diffuser that provides sufficient uncorrelated speckle patterns, at an image sensor, in light reflected from an intersection of the planar fan of light with the illumination target to add incoherently when imaged by the image sensor within the exposure time.

Abstract: A system for forming a homogenized illumination line which can be imaged as a low-speckle line is disclosed. The system includes a laser configured to emit a collimated laser beam; and an illumination-fan generator that includes one or more linear diffusers. The illumination-fan generator is arranged and configured to (i) receive the collimated laser beam, (ii) output a planar fan of diffused light, such that the planar fan emanates from a light line formed on the distal-most one of the one or more linear diffusers, and (iii) cause formation of an illumination line at an intersection of the planar fan and an object.

Abstract: A coherent beam moves across a stationary line generator, allowing the speckle pattern projected through the diffuser onto the surface—for example using a MEMS mirror, or another arrangement that is free of a moving mass, such as solid state beam deflector (e.g. an AOM). Where an image sensor is employed, such as a DS, the beam is moved at a speed of at least ½ cycle per image frame so that the full length of the line within the imaged scene is captured by the image sensor. The distance traversed on the diffuser provides sufficient uncorrelated speckle patterns within an exposure time to average to a smooth line. The MEMS mirror can be arranged to oscillate in two substantially orthogonal degrees of freedom so that the line is generated along a first direction and the line moves along the working surface in a second direction.

Abstract: A system for forming a homogenized illumination line which can be imaged as a low-speckle line is disclosed. The system includes a laser configured to emit a collimated laser beam; and an illumination-fan generator that includes one or more linear diffusers. The illumination-fan generator is arranged and configured to (i) receive the collimated laser beam, (ii) output a planar fan of diffused light, such that the planar fan emanates from a light line formed on the distal-most one of the one or more linear diffusers, and (iii) cause formation of an illumination line at an intersection of the planar fan and an object.

Abstract: A calibration fixture is provided that enables more accurate calibration of a touch probe on, for example, a coordinate measuring machine (CMM), with respect to the camera. The camera is mounted so that its optical axis is approximately or substantially parallel with the z-axis of the probe. The probe and workpiece are in relative motion, along a plane defined by orthogonal x and y axes, and optionally the z-axis and/or and rotation R about the z-axis. The calibration fixture is arranged to image from beneath the touch surface of the probe and, via a 180-degree prism structure, to transmit light from the probe touch point along the optical axis to the camera. Alternatively, two cameras respectively view the fiducial location relative to the CMM arm and the probe location when aligned on the fiducial. The fixture can define an integrated assembly with an optics block and a camera assembly.

Abstract: A coherent beam moves across a stationary line generator, allowing the speckle pattern projected through the diffuser onto the surface—for example using a MEMS mirror, or another arrangement that is free of a moving mass, such as solid state beam deflector (e.g. an AOM). Where an image sensor is employed, such as a DS, the beam is moved at a speed of at least ½ cycle per image frame so that the full length of the line within the imaged scene is captured by the image sensor. The distance traversed on the diffuser provides sufficient uncorrelated speckle patterns within an exposure time to average to a smooth line. The MEMS mirror can be arranged to oscillate in two substantially orthogonal degrees of freedom so that the line is generated along a first direction and the line moves along the working surface in a second direction.

Abstract: This invention provides a calibration fixture that enables more accurate calibration of a touch probe on, for example, a CMM, with respect to the camera. The camera is mounted so that its optical axis is approximately or substantially parallel with the z-axis of the probe. The probe and workpiece are in relative motion, along a plane defined by orthogonal x and y axes, and optionally the z-axis and/or and rotation R about the z-axis. The calibration fixture is arranged to image from beneath the touch surface of the probe and, via a 180-degree prism structure, to transmit light from the probe touch point along the optical axis to the camera. Alternatively, two cameras respectively view the fiducial location relative to the CMM arm and the probe location when aligned on the fiducial. The fixture can define an integrated assembly with an optics block and a camera assembly.

Abstract: An illumination apparatus for reducing speckle effect in light reflected off an illumination target (120) includes a laser (150); a linear diffuser (157) positioned in an optical path between an illumination target and the laser to diffuse collimated laser light (154) in a planar fan of diffused light (158, 159) that spreads in one dimension across at least a portion of the illumination target; and a beam deflector (153) to direct the collimated laser light incident on the beam deflector to sweep across different locations on the linear diffuser within an exposure time for illumination of the illumination target by the diffused light. The different locations span a distance across the linear diffuser that provides sufficient uncorrelated speckle patterns, at an image sensor (164), in light reflected from an intersection of the planar fan of light with the illumination target to add incoherently when imaged by the image sensor within the exposure time.

Abstract: A coherent beam moves across a stationary line generator, allowing the speckle pattern projected through the diffuser onto the surface—for example using a MEMS mirror, or another arrangement that is free of a moving mass, such as solid state beam deflector (e.g. an AOM). Where an image sensor is employed, such as a DS, the beam is moved at a speed of at least ½ cycle per image frame so that the full length of the line within the imaged scene is captured by the image sensor. The distance traversed on the diffuser provides sufficient uncorrelated speckle patterns within an exposure time to average to a smooth line. The MEMS mirror can be arranged to oscillate in two substantially orthogonal degrees of freedom so that the line is generated along a first direction and the line moves along the working surface in a second direction.

Abstract: A coherent beam moves across a stationary line generator, allowing the speckle pattern projected through the diffuser onto the surface—for example using a MEMS mirror, or another arrangement that is free of a moving mass, such as solid state beam deflector (e.g. an AOM). Where an image sensor is employed, such as a DS, the beam is moved at a speed of at least ½ cycle per image frame so that the full length of the line within the imaged scene is captured by the image sensor. The distance traversed on the diffuser provides sufficient uncorrelated speckle patterns within an exposure time to average to a smooth line. The MEMS mirror can be arranged to oscillate in two substantially orthogonal degrees of freedom so that the line is generated along a first direction and the line moves along the working surface in a second direction.

Abstract: A system for forming a homogenized illumination line which can be imaged as a low-speckle line is disclosed. The system includes a laser configured to emit a collimated laser beam; and an illumination-fan generator that includes one or more linear diffusers. The illumination-fan generator is arranged and configured to (i) receive the collimated laser beam, (ii) output a planar fan of diffused light, such that the planar fan emanates from a light line formed on the distal-most one of the one or more linear diffusers, and (iii) cause formation of an illumination line at an intersection of the planar fan and an object.

Abstract: A coherent beam moves across a stationary line generator, allowing the speckle pattern projected through the diffuser onto the surface—for example using a MEMS mirror, or another arrangement that is free of a moving mass, such as solid state beam deflector (e.g. an AOM). Where an image sensor is employed, such as a DS, the beam is moved at a speed of at least ½ cycle per image frame so that the full length of the line within the imaged scene is captured by the image sensor. The distance traversed on the diffuser provides sufficient uncorrelated speckle patterns within an exposure time to average to a smooth line. The MEMS mirror can be arranged to oscillate in two substantially orthogonal degrees of freedom so that the line is generated along a first direction and the line moves along the working surface in a second direction.

Abstract: This invention provides a system and method for detecting and imaging specular surface defects on a specular surface that employs a knife-edge technique in which the camera aperture or an external device is set to form a physical knife-edge structure within the optical path that effectively blocks reflected rays from an illuminated specular surface of a predetermined degree of slope values and allows rays deflected at differing slopes to reach the vision system camera sensor. The light reflected from the flat part of the surface is mostly blocked by the knife-edge. Light reflecting from the sloped parts of the defects is mostly reflected into the entrance aperture. The illumination beam is angled with respect to the optical axis of the camera to provide the appropriate degree of incident angle with respect to the surface under inspection. The surface can be stationary or in relative motion with respect to the camera.

Abstract: This invention provides a calibration fixture that enables more accurate calibration of a touch probe on, for example, a CMM, with respect to the camera. The camera is mounted so that its optical axis is approximately or substantially parallel with the z-axis of the probe. The probe and workpiece are in relative motion, along a plane defined by orthogonal x and y axes, and optionally the z-axis and/or and rotation R about the z-axis. The calibration fixture is arranged to image from beneath the touch surface of the probe and, via a 180-degree prism structure, to transmit light from the probe touch point along the optical axis to the camera. Alternatively, two cameras respectively view the fiducial location relative to the CMM arm and the probe location when aligned on the fiducial. The fixture can define an integrated assembly with an optics block and a camera assembly.

Abstract: Methods of bonding optical components are disclosed. Bonding is achieved without use of adhesives or high temperature fusion. The invention is useful for bonding optical fibers together and for bonding optical fiber arrays to lens arrays.

Abstract: Methods of forming bulk optical elements, such as prisms, incorporating gratings are disclosed. Grating structures are formed by etching a uniform-thickness or generally planar substrate. Direct bonding, particularly chemical bonding, is then employed to bond the etched planar substrate to a bulk optical material without the use of adhesives or high temperature fusion.