IP Library Granted Patent US 12680962
Granted Patent B2
US 12680962 · App. 18/602,087 · Granted Jul 14, 2026

Car body inspection device, car body inspection system, and car body inspection method

Inventors: Rie Hirayama (Kanagawa, JP); Koji Masuda (Kanagawa, JP); Teruki Kamada (Kanagawa, JP); Takahiro Kiyama (Tokyo, JP); Yuta Inoue (Kanagawa, JP)
Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
G01N21/8806G01N21/55G01N35/0092G01N2021/8809G01N2201/06153
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12680962
App. No.
18/602,087
Granted
Jul 14, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

A car body inspection device includes a main inspection device includes an illuminator to illuminate a surface of a car body; a light receiver to receive specular reflection light from a first inspection area of the surface illuminated by the illuminator; and circuitry configured to inspect the first inspection area based on the specular reflection light received by the light receiver. The main inspection device is coupled to an auxiliary inspection device to inspect a second inspection area other than the first inspection area on the surface, and the light receiver of the main inspection device does not receive the specular reflection light in the second inspection area.

Claims (48)

1 . A car body inspection device comprising:

a main inspection device including:

an illuminator to illuminate a surface of a car body;

a light receiver to receive specular reflection light from a first inspection area of the surface illuminated by the illuminator; and

circuitry configured to inspect the first inspection area based on the specular reflection light received by the light receiver,

wherein the main inspection device is coupled to an auxiliary inspection device to inspect a second inspection area other than the first inspection area on the surface,

the light receiver of the main inspection device does not receive the specular reflection light in the second inspection area,

the circuitry is further configured to:

control the auxiliary inspection device to inspect the second inspection area, and

determine the first inspection area and the second inspection area based on at least one of:

image information corresponding to the specular reflection light received by the light receiver;

positions of the illuminator and the light receiver, or

a shape of the surface,

the main inspection device is fixed, and

the auxiliary inspection device includes a portable terminal device.

2 . The car body inspection device according to claim 1 ,

wherein the circuitry outputs information relating to the second inspection area to the auxiliary inspection device.

3 . The car body inspection device according to claim 1 ,

wherein the first inspection area and the second inspection area do not overlap each other on the surface of the car body.

4 . The car body inspection device according to claim 1 , wherein the auxiliary inspection device is provided in plurality, and

each of the auxiliary inspection devices includes circuitry to control the operation of the auxiliary inspection device.

5 . A car body inspection system comprising:

a main inspection device including:

an illuminator to illuminate a surface of a car body;

a light receiver to receive specular reflection light from a first inspection area of the surface illuminated by the illuminator; and

circuitry configured to inspect the first inspection area based on the specular reflection light received by the light receiver; and

an auxiliary inspection device coupled to the main inspection device to inspect a second inspection area other than the first inspection area on the surface,

wherein the light receiver of the main inspection device does not receive the specular reflection light in the second inspection area,

the circuitry is further configured to:

control the auxiliary inspection device to inspect the second inspection area, and

determine the first inspection area and the second inspection area based on at least one of:

image information corresponding to the specular reflection light received by the light receiver;

positions of the illuminator and the light receiver, or

a shape of the surface,

the main inspection device is fixed, and

the auxiliary inspection device includes a portable terminal device.

6 . A car body inspection method comprising:

illuminating a surface of a car body;

receiving specular reflection light from a first inspection area of the surface illuminated;

inspecting the first inspection area based on the specular reflection light received from the first inspection area;

inspecting a second inspection area other than the first inspection area in which the specular reflection light is not received by the receiving, to inspect the surface of the car body;

controlling the auxiliary inspection device to inspect the second inspection area,

determining the first inspection area and the second inspection area based on at least one of:

image information corresponding to the specular reflection light received by the light receiver;

positions of the illuminator and the light receiver, or

a shape of the surface,

wherein the main inspection device is fixed, and

the auxiliary inspection device includes a portable terminal device.