Vision systems for quality control

The author details machine vision systems which allow noncontact measurement and evaluation of products and processes. When operating at speeds equal to or faster than the production process itself, manufacturers using machine vision systems achieve 100% product compliance. Speed in a quality control environment refers to the rate of capturing images of product as it goes through the production process. There are two classes of camera architecture that produce images at production rates. In the one-dimensional imaging world, the cameras are of the time delay and integrate (TDI) type. This paper discusses TDI technology and the hardware used in quality control applications. In the two-dimensional imaging world, the appropriate cameras are the fast framing cameras. This paper also discusses the fast frame technology and the hardware used in quality control applications.