US 11,717,973 B2
Machine vision system with multispectral light assembly
Jose Fernandez-Dorado, Vaals (NL); and Laurens Nunnink, Simpelveld (NL)
Assigned to COGNEX CORPORATION, Natick, MA (US)
Filed by COGNEX CORPORATION, Natick, MA (US)
Filed on Jul. 31, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/390,920.
Prior Publication US 2023/0034494 A1, Feb. 2, 2023
Int. Cl. F21K 9/62 (2016.01); B25J 9/16 (2006.01); G02B 5/02 (2006.01); F21V 5/04 (2006.01); F21V 8/00 (2006.01); F21Y 115/10 (2016.01)
CPC B25J 9/1697 (2013.01) [F21V 5/04 (2013.01); G02B 5/0252 (2013.01); G02B 6/0096 (2013.01); F21Y 2115/10 (2016.08)] 15 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A machine vision system illumination assembly comprising:
a plurality of multispectral light assemblies, each multispectral light assembly of the plurality of multispectral light assemblies comprising:
a multispectral light source configured to generate a plurality of different wavelengths of light;
a light pipe having an entrance surface and an exit surface and positioned in front of the multispectral light source, relative to an illumination direction, the light pipe configured to receive two or more of the plurality of different wavelengths of light generated by the multispectral light source and to provide color mixing for the two or more of the plurality of different wavelengths of light;
a diffusive surface on the exit surface of the light pipe and configured to receive color-mixed light transmitted from the light pipe; and
a projection lens positioned in front of the diffusive surface and configured to receive the color-mixed light from the diffusive surface and to project a light beam onto an object that include the color-mixed light; and
a processor device in communication with the plurality of multispectral light assemblies, the processor device being configured to control activation of the multispectral light source of each of the plurality of multispectral light assemblies;
wherein the plurality of multispectral light assemblies project a light pattern in an illuminated area with a shape approximately equal to a field of view of the machine vision system.