IP Library › Granted Patent US 10,267,747
Granted Patent B2
US 10,267,747 · App. 16/123,141 · Granted Apr 23, 2019

Surface defect inspecting device and method for steel sheets

Inventors: Keita Fukui (Tokyo, JP); Syunsuke Shiga (Tokyo, JP)
Assignee: NISSHIN STEEL CO., LTD.
G01N21/8921G01N21/8851G01N21/892G01N21/8914G01N33/2045G01N2021/8854G01N2021/8887G01N2021/8918
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,267,747
App. No.
16/123,141
Granted
Apr 23, 2019
Kind
B2
Abstract

A surface defect inspecting device for steel sheets includes: an illuminating unit configured to illuminate an imaging target portion on a surface of a steel sheet; first and second diffuse reflection light imaging units arranged at a first angle and at a second angle larger than the first angle with respect to a specular reflection direction of illuminated light reflected from the imaging target portion, respectively, imaging simultaneously reflection light of illuminated light reflected from the imaging target portion; and an image signal processor configured to process first and second diffuse reflection image signals acquired by the first and second diffuse reflection light imaging units, respectively, detecting, as a surface defect portion, a portion for which brightness level is lower than a first predetermined threshold in the first diffuse reflection image signal as well as higher than a second predetermined threshold in the second diffuse reflection image signal.

Claims (20)

1. A surface defect inspecting device for steel sheets, comprising:

an illuminating unit having a light source configured to illuminate an imaging target portion, with light of the light source, on a surface of a steel sheet;

a first diffuse reflection light imaging unit having a first light receiver arranged, at a first angle with respect to a specular reflection direction of illuminated light, in such a manner that the first diffuse reflection light imaging unit images reflection light, received by the first light receiver, reflected in a direction of the first angle from the imaging target portion so as not to image specular reflection light but to image first diffuse reflection light;

a second diffuse reflection light imaging unit having a second light receiver arranged, at a second angle larger than the first angle with respect to a specular reflection direction of illuminated light, in such a manner that the second diffuse reflection light imaging unit images reflection light, received by the second light receiver, reflected in a direction of the second angle from the imaging target portion so as not to image specular reflection light but to image second diffuse reflection light; and

an image signal processor configured to process a first diffuse reflection image signal acquired by the first diffuse reflection light imaging unit as a result of performing imaging and a second diffuse reflection image signal acquired by the second diffuse reflection light imaging unit as a result of performing imaging, wherein

the first diffuse reflection light imaging unit and the second diffuse reflection light imaging unit simultaneously image reflection light reflected from the imaging target portion, and wherein

the image signal processor detects, as a surface defect portion, a portion for which brightness level is lower than a first predetermined threshold in the first diffuse reflection image signal acquired by the first diffuse reflection light imaging unit as a result of performing imaging as well as higher than a second predetermined threshold in the second diffuse reflection image signal acquired by the second diffuse reflection light imaging unit as a result of performing imaging.

2. The surface defect inspecting device for steel sheets according to claim 1 , wherein

the image signal processor

sets the first predetermined threshold based upon a value of the first diffuse reflection image signal acquired by the first diffuse reflection light imaging unit as a result of performing imaging of a base texture, and

sets the second predetermined threshold based upon a value of the second diffuse reflection image signal acquired by the second diffuse reflection light imaging unit as a result of performing imaging of a base texture.

3. A surface defect inspecting method for steel sheets, comprising the steps of:

illuminating, by an illuminating unit having a light source, an imaging target portion on a surface of a steel sheet;

imaging, by a first diffuse reflection imaging unit having a first light receiver and a second diffuse reflection imaging unit having a second light receiver, a first diffuse reflection light reflected from the imaging target portion at a first angle with respect to a specular reflection direction of illuminated light and a second diffuse reflection light reflected from the imaging target portion at a second angle greater than the first angle with respect to a specular reflection direction of illuminated light, respectively, without imaging any specular reflection light reflected from the imaging target portion, and

processing, by an image signal processor, a first diffuse reflection image signal acquired as a result of performing imaging and a second diffuse reflection image signal acquired as a result of performing imaging, respectively, wherein

in a step of said imaging by the first diffuse reflection imaging unit and the second diffuse reflection imaging unit, the first diffuse reflection light and the second diffuse reflection light are simultaneously imaged, and wherein

in a step of said processing by the image signal processor, a portion, for which brightness level is lower than a first predetermined threshold in the first diffuse reflection image signal acquired as a result of performing imaging as well as higher than a second predetermined threshold in the second diffuse reflection image signal acquired as a result of performing imaging, is detected as a surface defect portion.

4. The surface defect inspecting method for steel sheets according to claim 3 , wherein

the first predetermined threshold is set based upon a value of the first diffuse reflection image signal acquired as a result of performing imaging of a base texture, and

the second predetermined threshold is set based upon a value of the second diffuse reflection image signal acquired as a result of performing imaging of a base texture.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 6, 2018
From: FUKUI, KEITA; SHIGA, SYUNSUKE
To: NISSHIN STEEL CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 046800/0514 →
Priority Claims (1)
JP 2016-067003 · Mar 30, 2016 · national
Continuity (2)
Continuation PCTJP2016074638 · Aug 24, 2016
Related Publication 20190003987A1 · Jan 3, 2019