CA1207902A - High speed optical sensor - Google Patents
High speed optical sensorInfo
- Publication number
- CA1207902A CA1207902A CA000433329A CA433329A CA1207902A CA 1207902 A CA1207902 A CA 1207902A CA 000433329 A CA000433329 A CA 000433329A CA 433329 A CA433329 A CA 433329A CA 1207902 A CA1207902 A CA 1207902A
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- output
- light
- signal
- recited
- inspection area
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired
Links
- 230000003287 optical effect Effects 0.000 title claims abstract description 36
- 230000004044 response Effects 0.000 claims abstract description 29
- 238000007689 inspection Methods 0.000 claims abstract description 27
- 230000004043 responsiveness Effects 0.000 claims abstract description 3
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 claims description 7
- 238000012544 monitoring process Methods 0.000 claims 1
- 239000003990 capacitor Substances 0.000 description 8
- 230000035945 sensitivity Effects 0.000 description 8
- 238000004519 manufacturing process Methods 0.000 description 7
- 230000000007 visual effect Effects 0.000 description 4
- 238000001514 detection method Methods 0.000 description 3
- 230000001960 triggered effect Effects 0.000 description 2
- 230000002457 bidirectional effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000010276 construction Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000000463 material Substances 0.000 description 1
- 230000004048 modification Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000012986 modification Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000001105 regulatory effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000004065 semiconductor Substances 0.000 description 1
Classifications
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
- G06K—GRAPHICAL DATA READING; PRESENTATION OF DATA; RECORD CARRIERS; HANDLING RECORD CARRIERS
- G06K7/00—Methods or arrangements for sensing record carriers, e.g. for reading patterns
- G06K7/10—Methods or arrangements for sensing record carriers, e.g. for reading patterns by electromagnetic radiation, e.g. optical sensing; by corpuscular radiation
- G06K7/10544—Methods or arrangements for sensing record carriers, e.g. for reading patterns by electromagnetic radiation, e.g. optical sensing; by corpuscular radiation by scanning of the records by radiation in the optical part of the electromagnetic spectrum
- G06K7/10821—Methods or arrangements for sensing record carriers, e.g. for reading patterns by electromagnetic radiation, e.g. optical sensing; by corpuscular radiation by scanning of the records by radiation in the optical part of the electromagnetic spectrum further details of bar or optical code scanning devices
- G06K7/10851—Circuits for pulse shaping, amplifying, eliminating noise signals, checking the function of the sensing device
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
- B65H23/00—Registering, tensioning, smoothing or guiding webs
- B65H23/04—Registering, tensioning, smoothing or guiding webs longitudinally
- B65H23/046—Sensing longitudinal register of web
Landscapes
- Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Electromagnetism (AREA)
- Artificial Intelligence (AREA)
- Toxicology (AREA)
- General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
- Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
- Computer Vision & Pattern Recognition (AREA)
- General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- Theoretical Computer Science (AREA)
- Length Measuring Devices By Optical Means (AREA)
- Photometry And Measurement Of Optical Pulse Characteristics (AREA)
- Investigating Materials By The Use Of Optical Means Adapted For Particular Applications (AREA)
- Character Input (AREA)
- Facsimile Scanning Arrangements (AREA)
Abstract
ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE
An optical scanner is disclosed for detecting registration marks printed on a sheet of labels and providing an output signal in response thereto. The optical sensor comprises a scanner and includes a light source for illuminating an inspection area and a light sensor responsive to the magnitude of the light reflected from the inspection area. The optical scanner also has a dectector which has a plurality of outputs and is responsive to the light sensor for providing a plurality of parallel signals varying in number in proportion to the magnitude of light reflected from the inspection area, and a display connected to the plurality of outputs of the detector for providing a plurality of visible linear-array signals in response to the plurality of parallel signals. The optical scanner also provides an output connected to one of the plurality of outputs of the detector for providing an output signal in response to the corresponding one of the plurality of parallel signals being applied in response to a registration mark detected in the inspection area. The optical sensor further includes a threshold detector connected to the output for providing a visible threshold signal in response to the output signal, and a control responsive to the light sensor and adjustable for changing responsiveness of the detector to the light sensor so that the output signal is provided only when the registration mark is present in the inspection area.
An optical scanner is disclosed for detecting registration marks printed on a sheet of labels and providing an output signal in response thereto. The optical sensor comprises a scanner and includes a light source for illuminating an inspection area and a light sensor responsive to the magnitude of the light reflected from the inspection area. The optical scanner also has a dectector which has a plurality of outputs and is responsive to the light sensor for providing a plurality of parallel signals varying in number in proportion to the magnitude of light reflected from the inspection area, and a display connected to the plurality of outputs of the detector for providing a plurality of visible linear-array signals in response to the plurality of parallel signals. The optical scanner also provides an output connected to one of the plurality of outputs of the detector for providing an output signal in response to the corresponding one of the plurality of parallel signals being applied in response to a registration mark detected in the inspection area. The optical sensor further includes a threshold detector connected to the output for providing a visible threshold signal in response to the output signal, and a control responsive to the light sensor and adjustable for changing responsiveness of the detector to the light sensor so that the output signal is provided only when the registration mark is present in the inspection area.
Description
~LZ~1~7~
~IGH SPEED OPTICAL SENSOR
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to an optical sensor for detecting registration marks printed on a sheet of labels and providing an output signal in response thereto and, more particularly, to a method and apparatus therefor.
BACRGROUND OF THE INVENTION
A printed-label cutoff machine comprises a pair of cutting wheels which severs individual labels from a sheet of printed labels at registration marks printed therebetween. The registration mark is a readable index mark printed on a contrasting background. Such a mark is read or detected by an optical scanner which provides a signal to a registration controller that causes the cutting wheels to sever an individual label from the sheetO The optical sensor comprises a scanner and a scanner circuit, the former typically comprising a source of light for illuminating an inspection area on the sheet and a photosensor responsive to the light reflected from the inspection area~ The optical sensor can be, for example, the type disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 4,266,123 granted to N. Friberg and assigned to the assignee of the present invention. Although such sensor can be used in many detection applications, it is not responsive at high production speeds because of the slow response time of its scanner circuit which automatically adjusts the intensity of the light source to prevent saturation of the photosensor.
A modification of the optical sensor making it responsive at ~2~
higher production speeds would necessitate more complicated circuitry which would be more expensive and less reliable.
SUMMARY OF THE IMVENTION
The instant invention is based on the discovery of apparatus for detecting registration marks printed on a sheet of labels and for providing an output signal in response thereto. The op~ical sensor comprises a scanner including a light source for illuminating an inspection area and a light sensor responsive to the magnitude of light reflected from the inspection area, and detecting means having a plurality of outputs and responsive to the light sensor for providing a plurality of parallel signals varying in number in proportion to the magnitude of the light reflected from the inspection area. The optical sensor also comprises a display means connected to the plurality of outputs of the detecting means for providing a plurality of visible linear-array signals in response to the plurality of parallel signals. The optical sensor further comprises output means connected to a desired one of the outputs of the detecting means for providing an output signal in response to the corresponding one of the plurality of signals being applied in response to a registration mark detected in the inspection area. The optical sensor finally comprises threshold means connected to the output means for providing a visible threshold signal in response to the output signal and a control means responsive to the light sensor and adjustable for changing the responsiveness of the da~
detecting means to the light sensor so that the output signal is provided only when the registration mark is present in the inspection area~
Rather than designing more sophisticated circuitry to make the optical sensor responsive at higher production speeds, the instant invention reverts to a more simple sensor comprising fewer components. The optical sensor is more simple because it incorporates the control means which provides the scanner circuit with a manual sensitivity control rather than a more complicated automatic control.
The display means and the threshold means provide visual information to facilitate the manual adjustment of the control means. It is, therefore, an object of the invention to provide an optical sensor capable of detecting registration marks at high production speeds without producing spurious output signals due to extraneous markings between the registration marks.
BRIEF DE5CRIPTION_ OF THE DRAWINGS
Fig. 1 is a partially schematic view of a printed-label cutoff machine including an optical sensor in accordance with the invention.
Fig. 2 is a partially schematic pictorial view of a sheet of printed labels moving through the cutoff machine and being scanned by the optical sensor of Fig. 1 showing the scanner and display of the optical sensor in accordance with the invention.
Figs. 3(A) to 3~F) are a series of pictorial views of ~2~
the dislay of the optical sensor with respect to the corresponding view of the sheet of printed labels of Fig. 2 showing the display responses in accordance with the invention.
Fig. 4 is an electrical schematic of the optical sensor of Fig. 1 including a scanner and a scanner circuit in accordance with the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Referring to Fig. 1, a schematic perspective view of a printed-label cutoff machine is indicated generally at 11.
web 12 provides a sheet 13 of material, having a plurality of labels 14 printed serially thereon, to a pair oE feed rollers 15. The ~heet 13 then passes ~hrough a pair of cutting wheels 16 where individual labels 14a are severed by a cutting blade 16a mounted on the periphery of one of the cutting wheels 16~ The particular point at which the labels 14 are to be severed is defined by a registration mark which is a readable index mark printed on a contrasting background. The registration mark can be, for example, a dark mark printed on a light background or a light mark on a dark background, the light registration mark commonly being referred to as an eyemark. Although the instant invention is designed to detect either dark or light registration marks, its operation will be described in terms of detecting light registration marks to facilitate the description. A
series of light registration marks 17 is printed along the bottom edge of the sheet 13. The light registration marks 17 are read or detected individually by an optical sensor 18 which can be of the type disclosed in U.S. Patent No.
4,266,123 granted to N~ Friberg and assigned to the assignee of the present invention. The sensor 18 is electrically connected to a registration controller 19 which is electromechanically coupled to the feed rollers 15 and the cutting wheels 16~ as indicated by dashed lines 19a and l9b respectively, to cut the labels 1~ in register in response to a signal from the sensor 18. One type of controller 19 is disclosed in U.S. Patent 4,384,500 in the name of N. Friberg, assigned to the assignee of the present invention.
Referring in more detail to Fig. 2, the sensor 18 comprises a scanner 21 and a scanner circuit 22. The scanner 21 typically comprises a source of light 23 for illuminating an inspe~tion area 24 on the sheet 13 and a photosensor 25 responsive to the light reflected from the inspection area 24. Although the sensor 18 disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 4,266,123 can be used in many detection applications, it is not responsive at high production speeds because of the slow response time of its scanner circuit which automatically adjusts the intensity of the light source 23 to prevent saturation of the photosensor 25.
. Rather than designing more sophisticated circuitry to make the sensor 18 responsive at higher production cpeeds, the instant invention reverts to a much more simple sensor 18 comprising less components and having a manual adjustment.
Consequently, the instant invention is also cheaper and more reliable. The sc~nner 21 of the instant invention comprises a light source 23 that is an incandescent light bulb and a photosensor 25 that is photovoltaic cell, such as, for example, type 14C30 available from the Hird-Brown Company located in Bloomfield, New Jersey. The light bulb 23 is focused ~y a lens (not shown) through a hole in the center of the photocell 25 to illuminate the inspection area 24 as indicated by the dotted/dashed line L~ Light impinging on the inspection area 24 is reflected back to the photocell 25 which provides a voltage directly proportional to the intensity of the reflected light. Thus, light reflected from a light registration mark 17 is sensed by the photocell 25 which provides a voltage signal Vs that is utilized by the scanner circuit 22 to detect the passage of a registration mark 17.
The scanner 21 is connected to the scanner circuit 22 by three wires 26, 27, and 28. The circuit 22 comprises a display which can be, for example, a multisegment bar graph circuit 29 in combination with a threshold detector 30. The bar graph circuit 29 can be, for example, type LM3914 from National Semiconductor which includes a linear array 31 of N
segments, one through ten, positioned one on top of the other as illustrated, each segment being a light~emitting diode. The number of segments M illuminated is proportional to the voltage signal Vs from the photocell 25. The bar graph 29 is wired to detect when the voltage signal Vs exceeds a predetermined threshold voltge Vt or, more ~..2~
specifically, when a predetermined threshold segment TS, or one higher, illuminates. When the bar graph 29 detects an illuminated threshold segment TS, the circuit 2~ provides an eyemark-detected signal EDS to the registration controller 19. For example, if the bar graph 29 is wired so that the sixth segment is the threshold segment TS, the circuit 22 will provide an eyemark signal EDS when the sixth segment illuminates. The eyemark signal EDS is also provided to the threshold detector 30 which comprises a threshold indicator 32 that is a lisht-emitting diode. The light-emitting diode 32 is positioned adjacent the threshold segment TS of the linear array 31 so that it provides a discrete and stationary visible indication of a detected light registration mark 17.
The content of the visual information is best illustrated in Figs. 3A-3C. When the scanner 21 inspects the area between the light registration marks 17 as shown in Fig. 3A, the voltage signal Vs is low as indicated by only one illuminated segment, the first segment, on the linear array 31. When the light registration mark 17 moves into the inspection area 24 of the scanner 21, the voltage signal Vs is high because the amount of reflected light is increased as îndicated by seven illuminated segments, the first throu~h seventh segments on the linear array 31.
Furthermore, the threshold indicator 32 illuminates to provide a discrete visible indication that the bar graph circuit 29 detected an eyemark 17 and caused the circuit 22 to provide an eyemark signal EDS to the registration ~L2~7~D%
controller 19. Even when there are extraneous markings 33, e.g. fine print, between the light registration marks 17 as shown in Fiy. 3C, the voltage signal Vs is not high enough to illuminate the threshold segment TS causing the bar graph circuit 29 to trigger an eyemark signal EDS if the sensitivity of the scanner 21 is properly adjusted.
The linear array 31 and threshold indicator 32 provide enough visual inFormation to an operator to facilitate manual adjustment of the sensitivity of the sensor 18.
Thus, the scanner circuit 22 further comprises a manual control 34 for adjusting the sensitivity of the scanner circuit 22 by reducing the voltage signal Vs being provided by the photocell 25 to an acceptable sensitivity value Vsl. With the manual control 34, the operator can adjust the sensitivity of the scanner circuit 22 so that a voltage signal Vse produced by a light registration mark 17 is greater than the threshold voltage Vt while a voltage signal Vsn produced by the extraneous markings 33 between the light registration marks 17 is less than the threshold voltage Vt, i.e.:
Vsn ~ Vt ~,Vse Referring more specifically to Figs. 3B and 3C, the operator performs the adjustment so that the highest seg~ent HS
- illuminating in response to the eyemark voltage signal Vse is higher on the linear array 31 than the threshold segment TS (i.e., the seventh segment is higher than the sixth segment) while the highest segment LS illuminating in response to the extraneous voltage signal Vsn caused by 9.%~
the extraneous markings 33 is lower on the linear array 31 than the threshold segment TS (i~e., the second segment is lower than the sixth segment).
The same type of adjustment is required at high production speeds. However, the linear array 31 looks more like a two-phase display with the upper phase appearing dimmer as shown in Fig. 3D. In such case, the operator adjusts the manual control 34 so that the highest segment HS
(seventh segment) illuminating dimly in response to the eyemark voltage signal Vse is higher on the linear array 31 than the threshold segment TS (sixth segment), while the highest segment LS (second segment) illuminating more brightly in response to the extraneous markings 33 is lower on the linear array 31 than the threshold segment TS. If the scanner circuit 22 is too sen~itive so that spurious eyemark signals EDS are triggered by the extraneous markings 33 as shown in Fig. 3E, the operator must adjust the manual control 34 to reduce the adjusted voltage signal Vsl to obtain the display as illustrated in Fig. 3D. If, on the other hand, the scanner circuit 22 is too insensitive so that the eyemark signal EDS is not triggered even by the light registration mark 17 as shown in Fig. 3F, the operator must adjust the manual control 34 to increase the adjusted voltage signal Vs' to obtain the proper sensitivity level as shown in Fig. 3D.
Referring in more detail to Fig. 4, an electrical schematic of the sensor 18 is shown. In the scanner circuit 22, the light bulb 23 is connected from ground via the wire 27 to a source of positive voltage V via the wire 28. The source of positive voltage V is approximately 5.0 volts.
The photocell 25 is connected from ground via the wire 27 to the manual control 34, a grounded variable resistor, via the wire 26. The wiper 34a of the variable resistor 34 provides the adjusted voltage signal V51 having a magnitude corresponding to the reflected intensity sensed by the photocell 25. ~he operator uses the wiper 34a to control the sensitivity of the scanner circuit 22 as described above. The wiper 34a is connected to one end of a capacitor 41, the other end of which is connected to the input of a preamplifier 42. The capacitor 41 is used to decouple DC
from the preamplifier 42. As shown, the preamplifier 42 comprises an operational amplifier 43, an input resistor 44 connected between the other end of the capacitor 41 and the inverting input of the operational amplifier 43, and a feedback resistor 45 connected between the inverting input and the output of the operational amplifier 43. The preamplifier 42 further comprises a source resistor 46 connected between the noninverting input of the operating amplifier 43 and a source of positive voltage V~2. The source of positive voltage V/2 is approximately 2.5 volts.
The values of the input and feedback resistor 44 and 45, respectively, are selected to provide a gain so~ewhere between about 50 and 100 depending on the characteristics of the photocell 25. The output of the operational amplifier 43 is the output of the preamplifier 42 which i5 connected to the input of an absolute-value amplifier 47.
The absolute-value amplifer 47 comprises an operational amplifier 48, an input resistor 49 connected to the inverting input of the operational amplifier 48, and a feedback resistor 51 connected between the inverting input and the output of the operational amplifier 48. The absolute-value amplifier 47 further comprises a Xirst diode 52 having its anode connected to the other end of the input resistor 49 and its cathode connected to the noninverting input of the operational amplifier 48 and, a second diode 53 also having its cathode connected to the noninverting input of the operational amplifier 48 and its anode connected to the source of positive voltage V/2. The absolute-value amplifier 47 also comprises a ground resistor 54 connected to the noninverting input of the operational amplifier 48 so that the diodes 52 and 53 are sufficiently forward biased.
The output of the operational amplifier 48 is the output of the absolute-value amplifier 47 and provides a quiescent voltage of approximately 2.5 volts varying up to approximately 5.0 volts due to the presence of Vs As mentioned above, the scanner circuit 22 accommodates either a dark or light registration mark. This feature is provided by the diodes 52 and 53 in the absolute-value amplifier 47 so that it provides a voltage change from the quiescent voltage to 5.0 volts whether the voltage at the output of the preamplifier 42 swings low from its quiescent voltage of
~IGH SPEED OPTICAL SENSOR
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to an optical sensor for detecting registration marks printed on a sheet of labels and providing an output signal in response thereto and, more particularly, to a method and apparatus therefor.
BACRGROUND OF THE INVENTION
A printed-label cutoff machine comprises a pair of cutting wheels which severs individual labels from a sheet of printed labels at registration marks printed therebetween. The registration mark is a readable index mark printed on a contrasting background. Such a mark is read or detected by an optical scanner which provides a signal to a registration controller that causes the cutting wheels to sever an individual label from the sheetO The optical sensor comprises a scanner and a scanner circuit, the former typically comprising a source of light for illuminating an inspection area on the sheet and a photosensor responsive to the light reflected from the inspection area~ The optical sensor can be, for example, the type disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 4,266,123 granted to N. Friberg and assigned to the assignee of the present invention. Although such sensor can be used in many detection applications, it is not responsive at high production speeds because of the slow response time of its scanner circuit which automatically adjusts the intensity of the light source to prevent saturation of the photosensor.
A modification of the optical sensor making it responsive at ~2~
higher production speeds would necessitate more complicated circuitry which would be more expensive and less reliable.
SUMMARY OF THE IMVENTION
The instant invention is based on the discovery of apparatus for detecting registration marks printed on a sheet of labels and for providing an output signal in response thereto. The op~ical sensor comprises a scanner including a light source for illuminating an inspection area and a light sensor responsive to the magnitude of light reflected from the inspection area, and detecting means having a plurality of outputs and responsive to the light sensor for providing a plurality of parallel signals varying in number in proportion to the magnitude of the light reflected from the inspection area. The optical sensor also comprises a display means connected to the plurality of outputs of the detecting means for providing a plurality of visible linear-array signals in response to the plurality of parallel signals. The optical sensor further comprises output means connected to a desired one of the outputs of the detecting means for providing an output signal in response to the corresponding one of the plurality of signals being applied in response to a registration mark detected in the inspection area. The optical sensor finally comprises threshold means connected to the output means for providing a visible threshold signal in response to the output signal and a control means responsive to the light sensor and adjustable for changing the responsiveness of the da~
detecting means to the light sensor so that the output signal is provided only when the registration mark is present in the inspection area~
Rather than designing more sophisticated circuitry to make the optical sensor responsive at higher production speeds, the instant invention reverts to a more simple sensor comprising fewer components. The optical sensor is more simple because it incorporates the control means which provides the scanner circuit with a manual sensitivity control rather than a more complicated automatic control.
The display means and the threshold means provide visual information to facilitate the manual adjustment of the control means. It is, therefore, an object of the invention to provide an optical sensor capable of detecting registration marks at high production speeds without producing spurious output signals due to extraneous markings between the registration marks.
BRIEF DE5CRIPTION_ OF THE DRAWINGS
Fig. 1 is a partially schematic view of a printed-label cutoff machine including an optical sensor in accordance with the invention.
Fig. 2 is a partially schematic pictorial view of a sheet of printed labels moving through the cutoff machine and being scanned by the optical sensor of Fig. 1 showing the scanner and display of the optical sensor in accordance with the invention.
Figs. 3(A) to 3~F) are a series of pictorial views of ~2~
the dislay of the optical sensor with respect to the corresponding view of the sheet of printed labels of Fig. 2 showing the display responses in accordance with the invention.
Fig. 4 is an electrical schematic of the optical sensor of Fig. 1 including a scanner and a scanner circuit in accordance with the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Referring to Fig. 1, a schematic perspective view of a printed-label cutoff machine is indicated generally at 11.
web 12 provides a sheet 13 of material, having a plurality of labels 14 printed serially thereon, to a pair oE feed rollers 15. The ~heet 13 then passes ~hrough a pair of cutting wheels 16 where individual labels 14a are severed by a cutting blade 16a mounted on the periphery of one of the cutting wheels 16~ The particular point at which the labels 14 are to be severed is defined by a registration mark which is a readable index mark printed on a contrasting background. The registration mark can be, for example, a dark mark printed on a light background or a light mark on a dark background, the light registration mark commonly being referred to as an eyemark. Although the instant invention is designed to detect either dark or light registration marks, its operation will be described in terms of detecting light registration marks to facilitate the description. A
series of light registration marks 17 is printed along the bottom edge of the sheet 13. The light registration marks 17 are read or detected individually by an optical sensor 18 which can be of the type disclosed in U.S. Patent No.
4,266,123 granted to N~ Friberg and assigned to the assignee of the present invention. The sensor 18 is electrically connected to a registration controller 19 which is electromechanically coupled to the feed rollers 15 and the cutting wheels 16~ as indicated by dashed lines 19a and l9b respectively, to cut the labels 1~ in register in response to a signal from the sensor 18. One type of controller 19 is disclosed in U.S. Patent 4,384,500 in the name of N. Friberg, assigned to the assignee of the present invention.
Referring in more detail to Fig. 2, the sensor 18 comprises a scanner 21 and a scanner circuit 22. The scanner 21 typically comprises a source of light 23 for illuminating an inspe~tion area 24 on the sheet 13 and a photosensor 25 responsive to the light reflected from the inspection area 24. Although the sensor 18 disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 4,266,123 can be used in many detection applications, it is not responsive at high production speeds because of the slow response time of its scanner circuit which automatically adjusts the intensity of the light source 23 to prevent saturation of the photosensor 25.
. Rather than designing more sophisticated circuitry to make the sensor 18 responsive at higher production cpeeds, the instant invention reverts to a much more simple sensor 18 comprising less components and having a manual adjustment.
Consequently, the instant invention is also cheaper and more reliable. The sc~nner 21 of the instant invention comprises a light source 23 that is an incandescent light bulb and a photosensor 25 that is photovoltaic cell, such as, for example, type 14C30 available from the Hird-Brown Company located in Bloomfield, New Jersey. The light bulb 23 is focused ~y a lens (not shown) through a hole in the center of the photocell 25 to illuminate the inspection area 24 as indicated by the dotted/dashed line L~ Light impinging on the inspection area 24 is reflected back to the photocell 25 which provides a voltage directly proportional to the intensity of the reflected light. Thus, light reflected from a light registration mark 17 is sensed by the photocell 25 which provides a voltage signal Vs that is utilized by the scanner circuit 22 to detect the passage of a registration mark 17.
The scanner 21 is connected to the scanner circuit 22 by three wires 26, 27, and 28. The circuit 22 comprises a display which can be, for example, a multisegment bar graph circuit 29 in combination with a threshold detector 30. The bar graph circuit 29 can be, for example, type LM3914 from National Semiconductor which includes a linear array 31 of N
segments, one through ten, positioned one on top of the other as illustrated, each segment being a light~emitting diode. The number of segments M illuminated is proportional to the voltage signal Vs from the photocell 25. The bar graph 29 is wired to detect when the voltage signal Vs exceeds a predetermined threshold voltge Vt or, more ~..2~
specifically, when a predetermined threshold segment TS, or one higher, illuminates. When the bar graph 29 detects an illuminated threshold segment TS, the circuit 2~ provides an eyemark-detected signal EDS to the registration controller 19. For example, if the bar graph 29 is wired so that the sixth segment is the threshold segment TS, the circuit 22 will provide an eyemark signal EDS when the sixth segment illuminates. The eyemark signal EDS is also provided to the threshold detector 30 which comprises a threshold indicator 32 that is a lisht-emitting diode. The light-emitting diode 32 is positioned adjacent the threshold segment TS of the linear array 31 so that it provides a discrete and stationary visible indication of a detected light registration mark 17.
The content of the visual information is best illustrated in Figs. 3A-3C. When the scanner 21 inspects the area between the light registration marks 17 as shown in Fig. 3A, the voltage signal Vs is low as indicated by only one illuminated segment, the first segment, on the linear array 31. When the light registration mark 17 moves into the inspection area 24 of the scanner 21, the voltage signal Vs is high because the amount of reflected light is increased as îndicated by seven illuminated segments, the first throu~h seventh segments on the linear array 31.
Furthermore, the threshold indicator 32 illuminates to provide a discrete visible indication that the bar graph circuit 29 detected an eyemark 17 and caused the circuit 22 to provide an eyemark signal EDS to the registration ~L2~7~D%
controller 19. Even when there are extraneous markings 33, e.g. fine print, between the light registration marks 17 as shown in Fiy. 3C, the voltage signal Vs is not high enough to illuminate the threshold segment TS causing the bar graph circuit 29 to trigger an eyemark signal EDS if the sensitivity of the scanner 21 is properly adjusted.
The linear array 31 and threshold indicator 32 provide enough visual inFormation to an operator to facilitate manual adjustment of the sensitivity of the sensor 18.
Thus, the scanner circuit 22 further comprises a manual control 34 for adjusting the sensitivity of the scanner circuit 22 by reducing the voltage signal Vs being provided by the photocell 25 to an acceptable sensitivity value Vsl. With the manual control 34, the operator can adjust the sensitivity of the scanner circuit 22 so that a voltage signal Vse produced by a light registration mark 17 is greater than the threshold voltage Vt while a voltage signal Vsn produced by the extraneous markings 33 between the light registration marks 17 is less than the threshold voltage Vt, i.e.:
Vsn ~ Vt ~,Vse Referring more specifically to Figs. 3B and 3C, the operator performs the adjustment so that the highest seg~ent HS
- illuminating in response to the eyemark voltage signal Vse is higher on the linear array 31 than the threshold segment TS (i.e., the seventh segment is higher than the sixth segment) while the highest segment LS illuminating in response to the extraneous voltage signal Vsn caused by 9.%~
the extraneous markings 33 is lower on the linear array 31 than the threshold segment TS (i~e., the second segment is lower than the sixth segment).
The same type of adjustment is required at high production speeds. However, the linear array 31 looks more like a two-phase display with the upper phase appearing dimmer as shown in Fig. 3D. In such case, the operator adjusts the manual control 34 so that the highest segment HS
(seventh segment) illuminating dimly in response to the eyemark voltage signal Vse is higher on the linear array 31 than the threshold segment TS (sixth segment), while the highest segment LS (second segment) illuminating more brightly in response to the extraneous markings 33 is lower on the linear array 31 than the threshold segment TS. If the scanner circuit 22 is too sen~itive so that spurious eyemark signals EDS are triggered by the extraneous markings 33 as shown in Fig. 3E, the operator must adjust the manual control 34 to reduce the adjusted voltage signal Vsl to obtain the display as illustrated in Fig. 3D. If, on the other hand, the scanner circuit 22 is too insensitive so that the eyemark signal EDS is not triggered even by the light registration mark 17 as shown in Fig. 3F, the operator must adjust the manual control 34 to increase the adjusted voltage signal Vs' to obtain the proper sensitivity level as shown in Fig. 3D.
Referring in more detail to Fig. 4, an electrical schematic of the sensor 18 is shown. In the scanner circuit 22, the light bulb 23 is connected from ground via the wire 27 to a source of positive voltage V via the wire 28. The source of positive voltage V is approximately 5.0 volts.
The photocell 25 is connected from ground via the wire 27 to the manual control 34, a grounded variable resistor, via the wire 26. The wiper 34a of the variable resistor 34 provides the adjusted voltage signal V51 having a magnitude corresponding to the reflected intensity sensed by the photocell 25. ~he operator uses the wiper 34a to control the sensitivity of the scanner circuit 22 as described above. The wiper 34a is connected to one end of a capacitor 41, the other end of which is connected to the input of a preamplifier 42. The capacitor 41 is used to decouple DC
from the preamplifier 42. As shown, the preamplifier 42 comprises an operational amplifier 43, an input resistor 44 connected between the other end of the capacitor 41 and the inverting input of the operational amplifier 43, and a feedback resistor 45 connected between the inverting input and the output of the operational amplifier 43. The preamplifier 42 further comprises a source resistor 46 connected between the noninverting input of the operating amplifier 43 and a source of positive voltage V~2. The source of positive voltage V/2 is approximately 2.5 volts.
The values of the input and feedback resistor 44 and 45, respectively, are selected to provide a gain so~ewhere between about 50 and 100 depending on the characteristics of the photocell 25. The output of the operational amplifier 43 is the output of the preamplifier 42 which i5 connected to the input of an absolute-value amplifier 47.
The absolute-value amplifer 47 comprises an operational amplifier 48, an input resistor 49 connected to the inverting input of the operational amplifier 48, and a feedback resistor 51 connected between the inverting input and the output of the operational amplifier 48. The absolute-value amplifier 47 further comprises a Xirst diode 52 having its anode connected to the other end of the input resistor 49 and its cathode connected to the noninverting input of the operational amplifier 48 and, a second diode 53 also having its cathode connected to the noninverting input of the operational amplifier 48 and its anode connected to the source of positive voltage V/2. The absolute-value amplifier 47 also comprises a ground resistor 54 connected to the noninverting input of the operational amplifier 48 so that the diodes 52 and 53 are sufficiently forward biased.
The output of the operational amplifier 48 is the output of the absolute-value amplifier 47 and provides a quiescent voltage of approximately 2.5 volts varying up to approximately 5.0 volts due to the presence of Vs As mentioned above, the scanner circuit 22 accommodates either a dark or light registration mark. This feature is provided by the diodes 52 and 53 in the absolute-value amplifier 47 so that it provides a voltage change from the quiescent voltage to 5.0 volts whether the voltage at the output of the preamplifier 42 swings low from its quiescent voltage of
2.5 volts in response to a detected light registration mark 17 or swings high in response to a detected dark registration mark.
The output of the absolute-value amplifier 47 is connected through a pair of serially connected resistors 55 and 56 to ground. The resistors 55 and 56 function as a voltage divider for the bar graph circuit 29 to provide a reflection signal RS at the junction therebetween. The junction between the resistors 55 and 56 is connected to the input of the bar graph circuit 29. The bar graph circuit 29 also comprises a controller S7 and the linear array of ten light-emitting diodes 31. The controller 57 of the LM 3914 bar graph circuit 29 can be wired to provide a linear display in the form of either a bar graph or a moving dot, the former being the preferred embodiment. As described above, the number of illuminated segments M of the linear ~rray 31 varies in proportion to the adjusted voltage signal Vs' or~ more specifically, the reflection signal RS
applied to the input SIG of the controller 57. The REF. O
terminal and the RLO terminal of the controller 57 are wired to ground through a control resistor 58 which controls the brightness of the light-emitting diodes of the linear array 31, as well as the lower value of the voltage range of the bar graph circuit 29. The REF. A terminal and the V(-) terminal are both grounded, while the V(+) terminal and the RHI terminal are connected to the sources of positive voltage, V and V/2, respectively. The values of the resistors 55 and 56 are selected so that the voltage range of the reflection ~ignal RS matches the voltage range of the bar graph circuit 29 as defined by the voltages at the RHI
and RLO input terminals. The voltage at the RHI terminal is ~L%C3~90~
the quiescent voltage having a value of approximately 2.5 volts, while the voltage at the RLO terminal represents the swing so that the voltage range extends from about 1.7 volts to about 3.4 volts.
All of the outputs 1 and 10-18 of the controller 57 are individual and provide DC regulated current to each one of the corresponding light-emitting diodes (the first through the tenth segment) of the linear array 31. Since successive light-emitting diodes of the array 31 are energized as the reflection signal RS increases, any of the outputs of the controller 57 can be used to detect the threshold voltage Vt as well as drive the corresponding threshold segment TS. In the preferred embodiment and as described above in Fig. 3, the output terminal 14 is connected to the threshold segment TS, the sixth segment, and provides a threshold signal each time the reflecting signal RS exceeds a predetermined threshold voltage Vt of approximately 2.5 volts, the quiescent point. The output terminal 14 of the controller 57 is also connected to the input of a monostable multivibrator 61 which comprises a NOR gate 62, a first inverter 63 connected between the first input 62a of the NOR
gate and the output terminal 14 of the controller 57, a timing capacitor having one end connected to the output of the NOR gate 62, and a timing ~esistor 65 connected between the other end of the timing capacitor 64 and the source of positive voltage V. The multivibrator also comprises a second inverter 66 having an input connected to ~he junction ~2107~
between the timing capacitor 64 and the timing resistor 65 and an output connected to the second input 62b of the NOR
gate 62. The output of the second inverter 66 is also the output of the multivibrator 61. The values of the timing capacitor 64 and the timing resistor 65 are selected so that the pulse width of the multivibrator 61 is approximately 40 milliseconds. A threshold resistor 67 is connected between the output terminal 14 of the controller 57 and the cathode of the sixth light-emitting diode of the linear array 31~
This resistor 67 guarantees a minimum decrease in voltage, at least 2.4 volts, necessary to switch the first inverter 63 of the multivibrator 61.
The output of the multivibrator 61 is connected to the input of a driver circuit 71. The driver circuit 71 comprises an operational amplifier 72, a diode 73 having its anode as the input of the driver circuit 71 and its cathode connected to the noninverting terminal of the operational amplifier 72, a resistor 74 connected between the noninverting terminal of the operational amplifier 72 and the source of positive voltage V/2, and a feedback resistor 75 connected between the output and the inverting input of the operational amplifier 72. The driver circuit 71 further comprises a loading resistor 76 and capacitor 77 connected . in parallel between the output of the operational amplifier 72 and ground~ an NPN transistor 78 having its base connected to the output of the operational amplifier 72 and its collector connected to the source of positive voltage V, 3L~7~
and a grounded resistor 79 connected to the emitter of the transistor 78. The output of the driver 71 is the emitter of the transistor 78 which provides the eyemark signal EDS
to the registration controller 19. When the multivibrator 61 applies the 40~millisecond pulse to the driver 71 so that the applied voltage exceeds approximately 2.5 volts, the diode 73 becomes forward biased so that the operational amplifier 72 provides an output ranging from abou~ 2.5 volts to about 5.0 volts. 5uch an output from the operational amplifier 72 causes the transistor 78 to turn on and provide a five-volt eyemark detection signal EDS of approximately 5.0 volts and 40-millisecond duration. The output of the driver 71 is al50 connected to the input of the threshold detector 30 which also comprises a comparator 82 having an inverting input as the input of the threshold detector 30 and a noninverting input connecting to the source of positive voltage V/2, and an output resistor 83 connected between the output of the comparator 82 and the cathode of the threshold indicator 32. The anode of the threshold indicator 32 is connected to the source of positive voltage V. When the eyemark signal EDS is applied to the inverting input of the ~omparator 82, the output of the comparator 82 goes low and causes the threshold indicator 32 to illuminate and provide a visible indication that the eyemark signal EDS
has been applied tc the registration controller 19. As indicated by a bidirectional arrow 84, the ~hreshold indicator 32 is positioned adjacent the threshold segment TS, the sixth segment, to provide additional visual information that the adjusted voltage signal Vs' provided by the photocell 26 exceeded the threshold voltage Vt indicating the presence of a light registration mark 17.
The foregoing disclosure is the best mode devised by the inventor for practicing this invention. It is apparent, however, to one skilled in the per~inent art that various changes may be made in details of construction from those shown in the attached drawings and discussed in conjunction therewith without departing from the spirit and scope of this invention. The detail in the foregoing disclosure is intended to enable one skilled in the pertinent art to practice the instant invention. Therefore, it is to be understood that this invention is not to be limited to the specific details shown and described.
The output of the absolute-value amplifier 47 is connected through a pair of serially connected resistors 55 and 56 to ground. The resistors 55 and 56 function as a voltage divider for the bar graph circuit 29 to provide a reflection signal RS at the junction therebetween. The junction between the resistors 55 and 56 is connected to the input of the bar graph circuit 29. The bar graph circuit 29 also comprises a controller S7 and the linear array of ten light-emitting diodes 31. The controller 57 of the LM 3914 bar graph circuit 29 can be wired to provide a linear display in the form of either a bar graph or a moving dot, the former being the preferred embodiment. As described above, the number of illuminated segments M of the linear ~rray 31 varies in proportion to the adjusted voltage signal Vs' or~ more specifically, the reflection signal RS
applied to the input SIG of the controller 57. The REF. O
terminal and the RLO terminal of the controller 57 are wired to ground through a control resistor 58 which controls the brightness of the light-emitting diodes of the linear array 31, as well as the lower value of the voltage range of the bar graph circuit 29. The REF. A terminal and the V(-) terminal are both grounded, while the V(+) terminal and the RHI terminal are connected to the sources of positive voltage, V and V/2, respectively. The values of the resistors 55 and 56 are selected so that the voltage range of the reflection ~ignal RS matches the voltage range of the bar graph circuit 29 as defined by the voltages at the RHI
and RLO input terminals. The voltage at the RHI terminal is ~L%C3~90~
the quiescent voltage having a value of approximately 2.5 volts, while the voltage at the RLO terminal represents the swing so that the voltage range extends from about 1.7 volts to about 3.4 volts.
All of the outputs 1 and 10-18 of the controller 57 are individual and provide DC regulated current to each one of the corresponding light-emitting diodes (the first through the tenth segment) of the linear array 31. Since successive light-emitting diodes of the array 31 are energized as the reflection signal RS increases, any of the outputs of the controller 57 can be used to detect the threshold voltage Vt as well as drive the corresponding threshold segment TS. In the preferred embodiment and as described above in Fig. 3, the output terminal 14 is connected to the threshold segment TS, the sixth segment, and provides a threshold signal each time the reflecting signal RS exceeds a predetermined threshold voltage Vt of approximately 2.5 volts, the quiescent point. The output terminal 14 of the controller 57 is also connected to the input of a monostable multivibrator 61 which comprises a NOR gate 62, a first inverter 63 connected between the first input 62a of the NOR
gate and the output terminal 14 of the controller 57, a timing capacitor having one end connected to the output of the NOR gate 62, and a timing ~esistor 65 connected between the other end of the timing capacitor 64 and the source of positive voltage V. The multivibrator also comprises a second inverter 66 having an input connected to ~he junction ~2107~
between the timing capacitor 64 and the timing resistor 65 and an output connected to the second input 62b of the NOR
gate 62. The output of the second inverter 66 is also the output of the multivibrator 61. The values of the timing capacitor 64 and the timing resistor 65 are selected so that the pulse width of the multivibrator 61 is approximately 40 milliseconds. A threshold resistor 67 is connected between the output terminal 14 of the controller 57 and the cathode of the sixth light-emitting diode of the linear array 31~
This resistor 67 guarantees a minimum decrease in voltage, at least 2.4 volts, necessary to switch the first inverter 63 of the multivibrator 61.
The output of the multivibrator 61 is connected to the input of a driver circuit 71. The driver circuit 71 comprises an operational amplifier 72, a diode 73 having its anode as the input of the driver circuit 71 and its cathode connected to the noninverting terminal of the operational amplifier 72, a resistor 74 connected between the noninverting terminal of the operational amplifier 72 and the source of positive voltage V/2, and a feedback resistor 75 connected between the output and the inverting input of the operational amplifier 72. The driver circuit 71 further comprises a loading resistor 76 and capacitor 77 connected . in parallel between the output of the operational amplifier 72 and ground~ an NPN transistor 78 having its base connected to the output of the operational amplifier 72 and its collector connected to the source of positive voltage V, 3L~7~
and a grounded resistor 79 connected to the emitter of the transistor 78. The output of the driver 71 is the emitter of the transistor 78 which provides the eyemark signal EDS
to the registration controller 19. When the multivibrator 61 applies the 40~millisecond pulse to the driver 71 so that the applied voltage exceeds approximately 2.5 volts, the diode 73 becomes forward biased so that the operational amplifier 72 provides an output ranging from abou~ 2.5 volts to about 5.0 volts. 5uch an output from the operational amplifier 72 causes the transistor 78 to turn on and provide a five-volt eyemark detection signal EDS of approximately 5.0 volts and 40-millisecond duration. The output of the driver 71 is al50 connected to the input of the threshold detector 30 which also comprises a comparator 82 having an inverting input as the input of the threshold detector 30 and a noninverting input connecting to the source of positive voltage V/2, and an output resistor 83 connected between the output of the comparator 82 and the cathode of the threshold indicator 32. The anode of the threshold indicator 32 is connected to the source of positive voltage V. When the eyemark signal EDS is applied to the inverting input of the ~omparator 82, the output of the comparator 82 goes low and causes the threshold indicator 32 to illuminate and provide a visible indication that the eyemark signal EDS
has been applied tc the registration controller 19. As indicated by a bidirectional arrow 84, the ~hreshold indicator 32 is positioned adjacent the threshold segment TS, the sixth segment, to provide additional visual information that the adjusted voltage signal Vs' provided by the photocell 26 exceeded the threshold voltage Vt indicating the presence of a light registration mark 17.
The foregoing disclosure is the best mode devised by the inventor for practicing this invention. It is apparent, however, to one skilled in the per~inent art that various changes may be made in details of construction from those shown in the attached drawings and discussed in conjunction therewith without departing from the spirit and scope of this invention. The detail in the foregoing disclosure is intended to enable one skilled in the pertinent art to practice the instant invention. Therefore, it is to be understood that this invention is not to be limited to the specific details shown and described.
Claims (17)
1. An optical sensor comprising:
a scanner including a light source for illuminating an inspection area and a light sensor responsive to the magnitude of light reflected from said inspection area;
detecting means having a plurality of outputs (N) and responsive to said light sensor for providing a plurality of parallel signals (M) varying in number in proportion to the magnitude of light reflected from said inspection area; and output means connected to one of the plurality of outputs (N) of said detecting means for providing an output signal (EDS) in response to the corresponding one of said plurality of parallel signals (M) being applied in response to a registration mark detected in said inspection area.
a scanner including a light source for illuminating an inspection area and a light sensor responsive to the magnitude of light reflected from said inspection area;
detecting means having a plurality of outputs (N) and responsive to said light sensor for providing a plurality of parallel signals (M) varying in number in proportion to the magnitude of light reflected from said inspection area; and output means connected to one of the plurality of outputs (N) of said detecting means for providing an output signal (EDS) in response to the corresponding one of said plurality of parallel signals (M) being applied in response to a registration mark detected in said inspection area.
2. An optical sensor as recited in Claim 1 further comprising display means connected to the plurality of outputs (N) of said detecting means for providing a plurality of visible linear-array signals in response to said plurality of parallel signals (M).
3. An optical sensor as recited in Claim 2 further comprising threshold means connected to said output means for providing a visible threshold signal in response to said output signal (EDS).
4. An optical sensor as recited in Claim 3 wherein said visible threshold signal is adjacent the corresponding one of the plurality of said visible linear-array signals associated with the output of said detecting means connected to said output means.
5. An optical sensor as recited in Claim 1 further comprising control means responsive to said light sensor and adjustable for changing the responsiveness of said detecting means to said light sensor so that the output signal (EDS) is provided only when the registration mark is present in said inspection area.
6. An optical sensor as recited in Claim 1 wherein said light sensor is a photovoltaic cell providing a voltage signal (Vs) proportional to the magnitude of light sensed and further comprising a preamplifier and an absolute-value amplifier having an input connected to the output of said preamplifier, said amplifiers being connected between said photovoltaic cell and said detecting means, the input of said preamplifier being connected to said photovoltaic cell and the output of said absolute value-amplifier being connected to said detecting means to provide a reflection signal (RS) thereto having a magnitude varying in proportion to the voltage signal (Vs).
7. An optical sensor as recited in Claim 6 wherein said detecting means includes a linear array of N light-emitting diodes each one of which being connected to a corresponding one of the outputs (N) of said detecting means to illuminate in response to a corresponding one of said one of said plurality of applied parallel signals (M), whereby said plurality of parallel signals (M) varies in number from one to N in proportion to the magnitude of the reflection signal (RS) to provide a bar graph display on said linear array of light-emitting diodes.
8. An optical sensor as recited in Claim 7 wherein said output means includes a resistor connected between a desired one of the outputs (N) of said detecting means and a corresponding one of the light-emitting diodes of said linear array, a monostable multivibrator having an input connected to the desired output of said detecting means, and driving means responsive to said multivibrator for providing an output signal (EDS) when the magnitude of the reflecting signal (RS) exceeds a predetermined threshold value (Vt) causing the corresponding one of said plurality of parallel signals to be applied to the desired output of said detecting means to trigger said multivibrator.
9. An optical sensor as recited in Claim 8 further comprising control means connected between said photovoltaic cell and said preamplifier for reducing the voltage signal (Vs) of said photovoltaic cell to an adjusted voltage (Vs') so that a voltage signal produced by the registration mark detected in the inspection area is greater than the threshold (Vt) while the voltage signal produced between registration marks is less than the threshold (Vt).
10. An optical sensor as recited in Claim 8 further comprising threshold means connected to the output of said driving means for providing a visible signal in response to the output signal (EDS).
11. An optical sensor as recited in Claim 10 wherein said threshold means includes a comparator having an inverting input connected to the output of said driving means and a noninverting input connected to a source of positive voltage, a resistor connected to the output of said comparator, and a light-emitting diode having a cathode connected to said resistor and an anode connected to a source of positive voltage whereby said diode illuminates in response to the output signal (EDS).
12. An optical sensor as recited in Claim 11 wherein said light-emitting diode is adjacent the light-emitting diode of said linear array connected to the desired output of said detecting means whereby a discrete visible indication of the output signal (EDS) is provided in conjunction with the bar graph display of said linear array.
13. A method for detecting the presence of a registration mark in an inspection area, the method comprising the steps of:
illuminating the inspection area;
sensing the magnitude of light reflected from the inspection area;
providing a plurality of outputs (N) with a plurality of parallel signals (M) varying in number in proportion to the magnitude of light sensed;
monitoring one of the plurality of outputs (N); and providing an output signal (EDS) when the corresponding one of the plurality of parallel signals (M) is applied to the monitored output as a threshold signal in response to a registration mark being detected in the inspection area.
illuminating the inspection area;
sensing the magnitude of light reflected from the inspection area;
providing a plurality of outputs (N) with a plurality of parallel signals (M) varying in number in proportion to the magnitude of light sensed;
monitoring one of the plurality of outputs (N); and providing an output signal (EDS) when the corresponding one of the plurality of parallel signals (M) is applied to the monitored output as a threshold signal in response to a registration mark being detected in the inspection area.
14. A method as recited in Claim 13 further comprising the step of displaying the plurality of parallel signals (M) being provided to the plurality of outputs (N).
15. A method as recited in Claim 14 further comprising the step of displaying the threshold signal when applied to the monitored output.
16. A method as recited in Claim 15 wherein the threshold signal is displayed adjacent the corresponding one of the plurality of parallel signals (M) being displayed.
17. A method as recited in Claims 13 or 16 further comprising the step of providing an adjustable control for scaling the magnitude of light sensed so that the output signal (EDS) is provided only when the registration mark is present in the inspection area.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| US42467082A | 1982-09-27 | 1982-09-27 | |
| US424,670 | 1982-09-27 |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA1207902A true CA1207902A (en) | 1986-07-15 |
Family
ID=23683448
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000433329A Expired CA1207902A (en) | 1982-09-27 | 1983-07-27 | High speed optical sensor |
Country Status (12)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| JP (2) | JPS5960684A (en) |
| AU (1) | AU539002B2 (en) |
| BR (1) | BR8305228A (en) |
| CA (1) | CA1207902A (en) |
| DE (1) | DE3331753C2 (en) |
| ES (2) | ES8503878A1 (en) |
| FR (1) | FR2533734B1 (en) |
| GB (1) | GB2130362B (en) |
| GR (1) | GR78994B (en) |
| IT (1) | IT1170502B (en) |
| MX (1) | MX154292A (en) |
| NL (1) | NL8303141A (en) |
Families Citing this family (9)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US4673807A (en) * | 1984-10-12 | 1987-06-16 | Dai Nippon Insatso Kabushiki Kaisha | Automatic range control method for an optical density/dot percentage measuring device |
| GB2217833A (en) * | 1988-04-30 | 1989-11-01 | Cranfield Inst Of Tech | Registration mark detection system |
| DE29818419U1 (en) | 1998-10-15 | 1999-01-28 | Idento - Gesellschaft für industrielle Kennzeichnung mbH, 63322 Rödermark | Label sheet |
| EP1026619A3 (en) * | 1999-02-04 | 2001-09-19 | Matsushita Electronics Corporation | Optical information reader and optical information reading system |
| DE102004033507A1 (en) | 2003-09-19 | 2005-04-14 | Thomson Licensing S.A., Boulogne | Film conveyor in film scanner, determines conveyance speed of film, based on image data output from linear array sensor extending along film conveyance direction |
| JP5063974B2 (en) * | 2006-10-10 | 2012-10-31 | 住友電装株式会社 | Lighting device |
| JP4962260B2 (en) * | 2007-10-16 | 2012-06-27 | パナソニック株式会社 | Air conditioner indoor unit |
| GB2477951B (en) * | 2010-02-19 | 2013-04-10 | Innovia Films Sarl | Article tracking method |
| CN110950149A (en) * | 2019-11-02 | 2020-04-03 | 上海弘吉印刷科技有限公司 | Intelligent label checking and mixing system |
Family Cites Families (9)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GB1140074A (en) * | 1965-03-12 | 1969-01-15 | Japan Atomic Energy Res Inst | Improvements in or relating to analogue to digital conversion systems |
| US3603953A (en) * | 1967-08-18 | 1971-09-07 | John E Lindberg | Fire detector circuit |
| JPS4831035A (en) * | 1971-08-26 | 1973-04-24 | ||
| GB1477318A (en) * | 1974-01-29 | 1977-06-22 | Tobias M | Electrical circuit means for use in analogue display and/ or control systems |
| JPS5275236A (en) * | 1975-12-19 | 1977-06-24 | Matsushita Electric Ind Co Ltd | Signal processing circuit |
| US4207473A (en) * | 1977-06-17 | 1980-06-10 | Minolta Camera Kabushiki Kaisha | Frame detection circuitry for microfilm reader apparatus |
| US4266123A (en) * | 1978-11-20 | 1981-05-05 | Owen-Illinois, Inc. | Automatic scanner |
| JPS5775379A (en) * | 1980-10-29 | 1982-05-11 | Fujitsu Ltd | Quantizing circuit |
| DE3147035C1 (en) * | 1981-11-27 | 1989-10-12 | Ingenieurbüro Rudolf Weber KG, 6100 Darmstadt | Detector for registering marks |
-
1983
- 1983-07-27 CA CA000433329A patent/CA1207902A/en not_active Expired
- 1983-07-29 GR GR72078A patent/GR78994B/el unknown
- 1983-08-03 AU AU17549/83A patent/AU539002B2/en not_active Ceased
- 1983-08-23 JP JP58152615A patent/JPS5960684A/en active Pending
- 1983-08-31 ES ES525275A patent/ES8503878A1/en not_active Expired
- 1983-09-02 DE DE3331753A patent/DE3331753C2/en not_active Expired
- 1983-09-12 NL NL8303141A patent/NL8303141A/en not_active Application Discontinuation
- 1983-09-14 GB GB08324680A patent/GB2130362B/en not_active Expired
- 1983-09-20 IT IT48995/83A patent/IT1170502B/en active
- 1983-09-23 BR BR8305228A patent/BR8305228A/en unknown
- 1983-09-26 FR FR8315267A patent/FR2533734B1/en not_active Expired
- 1983-09-26 MX MX198837A patent/MX154292A/en unknown
-
1984
- 1984-11-16 ES ES537743A patent/ES537743A0/en active Granted
-
1987
- 1987-09-18 JP JP1987142919U patent/JPS6368065U/ja active Pending
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| FR2533734B1 (en) | 1987-11-20 |
| ES8600996A1 (en) | 1985-10-16 |
| AU539002B2 (en) | 1984-09-06 |
| GB8324680D0 (en) | 1983-10-19 |
| NL8303141A (en) | 1984-04-16 |
| BR8305228A (en) | 1984-05-02 |
| AU1754983A (en) | 1984-04-19 |
| FR2533734A1 (en) | 1984-03-30 |
| ES537743A0 (en) | 1985-10-16 |
| GB2130362A (en) | 1984-05-31 |
| ES525275A0 (en) | 1985-03-01 |
| GB2130362B (en) | 1986-09-17 |
| JPS6368065U (en) | 1988-05-07 |
| DE3331753A1 (en) | 1984-03-29 |
| DE3331753C2 (en) | 1987-03-19 |
| ES8503878A1 (en) | 1985-03-01 |
| JPS5960684A (en) | 1984-04-06 |
| IT1170502B (en) | 1987-06-03 |
| GR78994B (en) | 1984-10-02 |
| MX154292A (en) | 1987-06-29 |
| IT8348995A0 (en) | 1983-09-20 |
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