Inventors:
Morris D. Ho - Lafayette CA
Walter I Golz - Oakland CA
Assignee:
Webview, Inc. - Dillon Beach CA
International Classification:
G01N 2189
Abstract:
An illumination system (20) and method for use with an optical web inspection assembly (21) to identify surface defects on a moving material web (25). The illumination system (20) includes an elongated light source (26) having an elongated aperture (46) adapted to transmit a substantially continuous elongated strip of non-collimated light therefrom generally in an entrance direction. An elongated light pipe device (32) is provided having an elongated entrance end (33) and an opposite elongated exit end (36) wherein the entrance end (33) is positioned longitudinally adjacent the light source aperture (46) and configured to substantially receive the strip of light therethrough in the entrance direction. The light pipe (32) includes a smoothly curved interior wall (37) extending from the entrance end (33) to the exit end (36), and defines an optical path configured to reflect and transmit substantially all the light received from the entrance end to the exit end (36). The reflected and transmitted light exit the exit end (36) in a line of illumination (38) generally in an exit direction toward the moving material web (25) such that the intensity of the line of illumination exiting the exit end (36) is substantially equal to the intensity of the strip of light entering the entrance end (33) from the light source (26).
