US 12,136,207 B2
Optical inspection of stator slots
John S. Agapiou, Rochester Hills, MI (US); and Sean Robert Wagner, Shelby Township, MI (US)
Assigned to GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC, Detroit, MI (US)
Filed by GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC, Detroit, MI (US)
Filed on Mar. 9, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/690,919.
Prior Publication US 2023/0289953 A1, Sep. 14, 2023
Int. Cl. G06T 7/00 (2017.01); H02K 1/14 (2006.01); H02K 1/16 (2006.01); H02K 15/02 (2006.01)
CPC G06T 7/001 (2013.01) [H02K 1/165 (2013.01); H02K 15/024 (2013.01); G06T 2207/30164 (2013.01)] 14 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A system for inspecting a stator stack, comprising:
a rotary table including a table surface configured to support the stator stack;
an imaging device configured to take a plurality of images of a portion of the stator stack, the portion of the stator stack including a stator slot, the imaging device having an imaging axis that is aligned relative to a surface of the stator stack;
an illuminator configured to apply illumination through the stator slot; and
an alignment and monitoring system configured to monitor and orient the stator slot relative to the imaging axis, the alignment and monitoring system including:
a tilting system configured to move the stator slot between a plurality of orientations relative to the imaging axis, the imaging device configured to take a respective image at each of the plurality of orientations;
a controller configured to control the tilting system based on one or more measurements of each image; and
a processor configured to analyze each image and select an orientation of the stator slot as an optimal orientation for inspection of the stator slot.